Apartment Above Stark Industries, Monday Morning

[imafuturist]

The dog wasn't with him when he woke up, but there also wasn't any screaming or barking going on, so Tony was hopeful the usual time-line of things held firm here.

Otherwise he was spiking his coffee.

"Steve?" he called out.

[for the guy]

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[heroic_jawline]

"Tony?" Steve called back from the guest room. "You okay?"

[imafuturist]

Tony let out a relieved breath before getting out of bed to find the dog outside the closed guest bedroom, whining pitifully. "Can I come in?"

[heroic_jawline]

"Always," Steve said immediately.

[imafuturist]

The dog burst in the moment the door was open enough for it, launching himself into the side of the bed in his rush to get to Steve.

"Feeling better?" Tony asked, frowning a little in confusion at poor Patriot.

[heroic_jawline]

"More myself," Steve said dryly. "Ransom was...a lot."

Great taste in sweaters, though.

[imafuturist]

"He really was," Tony said with a laugh, helping the dog up to shower Steve with sniffs and licks.

[heroic_jawline]

"Hey, pal, I'm back," Steve said, cuddling the dog.

[imafuturist]

"It's good to know he can tell them apart, isn't it?"

[heroic_jawline]

"It really is," Steve said, giving Patriot all the pats. "So," he said a little wryly, "how was your weekend?"

[imafuturist]

Tony took a deep breath before scooting over to lean against him. "Remember you with the beard?"

[heroic_jawline]

"Yes," Steve said warily, curling his arms around Tony and pulling him close.

[imafuturist]

"Well, he was around too." No clue who it was really, but...

[heroic_jawline]

"Did he kiss you this time too?" Steve asked.

[imafuturist]

"No," Tony said with a laugh. "I was crazy at the time, it was a fluke."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve smiled. "Can I kiss you now?"

Then Tony could tell him the bad news.

[imafuturist]

"Please," Tony said like he hadn't realized how much he'd needed that.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve curled his hand around Tony's cheek and kissed him softly on the mouth.

[imafuturist]

Tony kissed him back like he needed it like he needed air after... all that from the other Steve.

[heroic_jawline]

"Oh, sweetheart," Steve murmured, sliding Patriot off his lap in order to pull Tony closer. "That bad?"

[imafuturist]

"A future I don't want for you," Tony said, wrapping his arms around Steve. "Or us."

[heroic_jawline]

"What happened?" Steve asked.

[imafuturist]

"I think there's a video out there of... of Bucky and your Tony's parents," Tony said. "And that was used against them on top of all the politics going on."

And he knew how much Steve was enjoying those politics!

[heroic_jawline]

"Shit."

Language, Cap.

[imafuturist]

"Right?" So, that was something to keep an eye out for.

[heroic_jawline]

"So Tony's not talking to me?"