Apartment Above Stark Industries, Tuesday Afternoon

[imafuturist]

With another case of one of them being the wrong age for the weekend and Steve having to get back to his team first thing in the morning yesterday, Tony was left a little... bereft. If that was even the right word for it.

He settled on taking a picture of the dog, passed out on the couch to send to Steve. To see if maybe he was near his phone for a call.

Don't judge him.

[for the guy!]

Comments

[heroic_jawline]

Steve wrote back a few minutes later. Aww, hi, Patriot!

[imafuturist]

Apparently being a puppy wore him out.

For as much as he still acted like one, he wasn't anymore.

[heroic_jawline]

Poor little guy. Kiss his head for me.

[imafuturist]

Will do," Tony sent back with a fond smile. Then worried his bottom lip for a moment and add, Free for a call?

[heroic_jawline]

Give me five minutes to get out of this meeting, Steve sent back.

Tony's phone rang exactly five minutes later. "Hey," Steve said. "Miss me?"

[imafuturist]

"Just a little," he replied, smiling with relief at getting to hear his voice. Which was ridiculous, but still.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve chuckled. "Well, happy to help," he said, closing the door to his room and settling down on his bed. "I've got hours until team dinner, so I'll all yours."

[imafuturist]

"Oh, is that so?" Tony asked, going to take a seat on the couch so he too could settle in for the long haul here. "How's it going there?"

[heroic_jawline]

"I think Vision is trying to flirt," Steve said. "It's uncomfortable for everyone."

[imafuturist]

Tony had to sit up at that.

"Really? With who?"

[heroic_jawline]

"Wanda," Steve said. "It's so weird."

[imafuturist]

Tony shouldn't laugh, and yet, there he was. Laughing inelegantly at that mental image.

[heroic_jawline]

"Can we bond as a group because we're all so uncomfortable?" Steve asked. "Rhodey and Tony look like they want to move to an island somewhere."

[imafuturist]

"Oh, I can only imagine," he replied, still laughing. "I think you found a good bonding source, yes."

[heroic_jawline]

"But it's making fun of other team members," Steve fretted.

[imafuturist]

"As long as it doesn't turn into an us against them, it's harmless," Tony replied.

[heroic_jawline]

"Okay," Steve said, sounding relieved. "Because it's...something."

Since there was no Natasha and Bruce in this universe, this was as weird as it had been for Steve.

[imafuturist]

Thank god for that.

"You could offer advice?"

[heroic_jawline]

"What kind of advice?" Steve asked, pulling his boots off. "I'm not sure they're ready for a safe sex PSA video."

Though the rest of the team would love it.

[imafuturist]

"Oh god, now I'm traumatized," Tony replied. "That's still JARVIS to me."

[heroic_jawline]

"Pretty sure it's still JARVIS to the Tony who's here, too," Steve said. "I don't know what to do about that."

[imafuturist]

Tony sighed and went silent for a moment, staring up at the ceiling. "I guess it's kind of like the Bucky situation," he finally said quietly. "It's him, but it isn't. And he's right there."

[heroic_jawline]

And Steve was 0-3 for his interactions with Buckys, thus the little wounded noise he made without meaning to. "Think he'd appreciate me offering sympathy?" he asked just as quietly.

[imafuturist]

"Might help," he suggested, wishing he could hug Steve right now.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve let out a long breath. "I'm getting better at reading him," he said with a tiny smile.