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cap_ironman2008-10-14 12:30 am
garrideb.livejournal.com) wrote in cap_ironman2008-10-14 12:30 am
Entry tags:
Fic - Scratched
Title: Scratched (1/2)
Rating: PG
Archive: Sure.
Summary: Steve and Tony debate the merits of a community graffiti wall. This part is PG, but the next part will have nighttime shenanigans and nighttime shenanigans.
“I think it’s a good idea.”
Tony didn’t look up from his laptop. “I don’t.”
Anyone else might have been off-put by Tony Stark’s apparent disinclination to discuss the issue, but Steve Rogers wasn’t just anyone. For a start, discouraging him on an issue he cared about was nearly impossible, and he cared about this one. In a neighborhood not too far from Stark Towers, graffiti had become a rising problem. A community art wall had been proposed as a solution, but you would think someone had suggested a complete government overhaul from the passionate support and opposition the idea got.
As an artist who believed in an encompassing definition of art, and as a man who felt invested in youth and community, Steve landed on the ‘passionate supporter’ end of the spectrum. It appeared Tony was closer to the other end.
The cause needed a boost, which Steve was willing to give, but he was worried it wasn’t enough. Tony was the one whose name adorned buildings and swayed politicians, after all. Steve had hoped his fellow Avenger would be willing to help. He’d come up to Tony’s office as soon as Jarvis had informed him the afternoon teleconference was over.
“Most of the businesses in the area are fine with an art wall,” Steve said. He leaned against the doorway to Tony’s office, hands in his pockets. “Some are actively in favor of it.”
“They probably shouldn’t be. It goes against common sense to think promoting graffiti will reduce it.”
“We’re promoting legal graffiti.”
Tony quirked his lips into a smile, amused. “How many kids do you think will really respect that qualifier?”
“I would, back when I was a kid. I would’ve jumped at the chance to share my art and put my voice out in the public.” This seemed to be interesting enough to finally pull Tony’s eyes away from the laptop and on to him. Encouraged, Steve continued. “Think of how powerful a tool this could be for quiet or troubled kids who need to make a point.”
“You can’t apply your own experience to all of today’s youth,” Tony pointed out.
“I’m not. I’m saying that even kids can understand the importance of expression.”
“Today’s youth have a place to express themselves. It’s called the internet. And besides, isn’t the big appeal of graffiti its illegal nature?”
Steve was always sensitive to Tony’s body language, and now something in the way Tony averted his gaze caught Steve’s attention. It was a leap, but Steve suspected there was something in this branch of discussion that Tony didn’t want him to know. He played dumb, hoping that If he fished a little in this direction, he might find the key to winning this argument. “What’s so appealing about illegal graffiti?”
“You know what I’m talking about,” Tony said, looking vaguely uncomfortable. “I’m sure for some people, it’s exciting to sneak around, avoiding the police, marking something that doesn’t belong to you, all under the cover of darkness.”
“You make it sound almost glamourous.”
“It probably is. For some.”
“If you think the wall won’t appeal to graffiti artists, then what’s the problem? A blank wall can’t harm anything.”
“Maybe not, but I guarantee you that once the wall is there, it will be blamed for any illegal graffiti within a couple miles of it, whether or not that blame is logical. That’s how public opinion works.”
Steve resisted the urge to roll his eyes at Tony’s cynicism. “If you’re worried about PR, you could support it anonymously,” Steve said.
“And why should I support something I don’t believe in, if not for PR?”
“You could do it for the youth of today who don’t have the means to put their art on the internet.”
Tony arched an eyebrow. “How many kids don’t have a single friend with a camera phone? Three? Four? Steve, anyone that isolated must be living under a rock. Go tell them to spray paint their rock.”
It was obvious that Tony’s attention was starting to drift again, and Steve was feeling the edges of discouragement. It was time to fight dirty. The super soldier cleared his throat, trying to sound and look hesitant about what he had to say next.
“I’ve had an idea for a while now, about some street art I’d like to do...”
It worked like a charm. Tony continued to stare at his laptop screen, but Steve could tell from the way his brow creased that he was intrigued. He pressed on, victory in sight. “I’ve always thought it would be fun to paint anonymously... you know, have a work out there that’s not connected to Captain America. I suppose it would be easy enough to just pick a wall and hope the owners don’t mind. I’d wake up a few hours early - three or four in the morning would be the best bet.”
Steve noticed Tony was beginning to blush slightly. He shamelessly laid it on thicker. “I guess I’d dress in dark clothes, maybe even wear a ski mask. I have a good set of spray paints, and I’d put them in a backpack and slip out of here unnoticed.”
The blush had spread, turning Tony’s ears pink. Steve had been with Tony long enough to recognize the signs - the man was seriously turned on. Steve almost felt bad about how easy this was.
“But can you imagine if I were caught? I have an image to uphold as Captain America, and I can’t be seen vandalizing property. If I were caught painting a wall legally, though - there’s nothing too scandalizing about that.”
Tony was silent for a moment. The way he was staring at the edge of his keyboard, pupils dilated, made it look as if he was deeply fascinated with the caps lock key. When he spoke, though, his voice was aggressively casual. “Any wall of Stark Towers is yours. You don’t even need to ask.”
Steve sighed and left the doorway, choosing to sit in the leather armchair closest to Tony’s desk. “I appreciate that, but it’s too obvious. If you didn’t have it washed off within eight hours, all the Avengers would guess who painted it. It would also probably give ideas to those less enthused with the Avengers or your company.”
“Fine,” Tony grumbled. “Fine. You said that most of the local businesses were okay with this wall?” Steve nodded. “What about those who weren’t? Are you planning on steamrolling over them?”
“No, of course not. That’s why we need you. The neighborhood wants to set up a fund that would clean up any extra vandalism brought on by the wall. That would be enough insurance for the other local businesses. I’m not asking you to sink your money into this - I’ll put my own money into the fund. But any check of yours will be... well, much more convincing than one of mine.”
“If it’s only for a few thousand, I don’t see why. Like you said, you have an image. Captain America’s checks don’t bounce.” Tony pulled a checkbook out from his desk drawer and started scribbling. “You do know that you haven’t changed my mind, right? A community art wall is a superficial non-solution proposed by people trying too hard to be trendy.”
“Sure, Tony.”
“I don’t want my name splashed around in connection to this. I don’t want any newspapers asking me about it.”
“They won’t. And I won’t mention it to you again, either.”
Tony suddenly looked a bit disappointed. “Well, I think I deserve to know which nights you might be sneaking off to paint, in case there’s an emergency and I need to contact you.”
Steve put on a thoughtful expression. “I guess that’s only fair. I’d hate to worry you by going AWOL during the night.”
“Well, I’ll worry anyway. Villains have such a knack for knowing when super heroes are off by themselves, especially if the hero is attempting an emotionally satisfying activity. I’d say your chances of being attacked are pretty high.” He stared hard at Steve.
“I suppose you could come along, if it’d make you feel better.”
The smile made Tony Stark look less like Tony, the ruthless businessman and more like Tony, the passionate inventor. “I think that’s a great idea.”
Steve did, too.
Part Two
Rating: PG
Archive: Sure.
Summary: Steve and Tony debate the merits of a community graffiti wall. This part is PG, but the next part will have nighttime shenanigans and nighttime shenanigans.
“I think it’s a good idea.”
Tony didn’t look up from his laptop. “I don’t.”
Anyone else might have been off-put by Tony Stark’s apparent disinclination to discuss the issue, but Steve Rogers wasn’t just anyone. For a start, discouraging him on an issue he cared about was nearly impossible, and he cared about this one. In a neighborhood not too far from Stark Towers, graffiti had become a rising problem. A community art wall had been proposed as a solution, but you would think someone had suggested a complete government overhaul from the passionate support and opposition the idea got.
As an artist who believed in an encompassing definition of art, and as a man who felt invested in youth and community, Steve landed on the ‘passionate supporter’ end of the spectrum. It appeared Tony was closer to the other end.
The cause needed a boost, which Steve was willing to give, but he was worried it wasn’t enough. Tony was the one whose name adorned buildings and swayed politicians, after all. Steve had hoped his fellow Avenger would be willing to help. He’d come up to Tony’s office as soon as Jarvis had informed him the afternoon teleconference was over.
“Most of the businesses in the area are fine with an art wall,” Steve said. He leaned against the doorway to Tony’s office, hands in his pockets. “Some are actively in favor of it.”
“They probably shouldn’t be. It goes against common sense to think promoting graffiti will reduce it.”
“We’re promoting legal graffiti.”
Tony quirked his lips into a smile, amused. “How many kids do you think will really respect that qualifier?”
“I would, back when I was a kid. I would’ve jumped at the chance to share my art and put my voice out in the public.” This seemed to be interesting enough to finally pull Tony’s eyes away from the laptop and on to him. Encouraged, Steve continued. “Think of how powerful a tool this could be for quiet or troubled kids who need to make a point.”
“You can’t apply your own experience to all of today’s youth,” Tony pointed out.
“I’m not. I’m saying that even kids can understand the importance of expression.”
“Today’s youth have a place to express themselves. It’s called the internet. And besides, isn’t the big appeal of graffiti its illegal nature?”
Steve was always sensitive to Tony’s body language, and now something in the way Tony averted his gaze caught Steve’s attention. It was a leap, but Steve suspected there was something in this branch of discussion that Tony didn’t want him to know. He played dumb, hoping that If he fished a little in this direction, he might find the key to winning this argument. “What’s so appealing about illegal graffiti?”
“You know what I’m talking about,” Tony said, looking vaguely uncomfortable. “I’m sure for some people, it’s exciting to sneak around, avoiding the police, marking something that doesn’t belong to you, all under the cover of darkness.”
“You make it sound almost glamourous.”
“It probably is. For some.”
“If you think the wall won’t appeal to graffiti artists, then what’s the problem? A blank wall can’t harm anything.”
“Maybe not, but I guarantee you that once the wall is there, it will be blamed for any illegal graffiti within a couple miles of it, whether or not that blame is logical. That’s how public opinion works.”
Steve resisted the urge to roll his eyes at Tony’s cynicism. “If you’re worried about PR, you could support it anonymously,” Steve said.
“And why should I support something I don’t believe in, if not for PR?”
“You could do it for the youth of today who don’t have the means to put their art on the internet.”
Tony arched an eyebrow. “How many kids don’t have a single friend with a camera phone? Three? Four? Steve, anyone that isolated must be living under a rock. Go tell them to spray paint their rock.”
It was obvious that Tony’s attention was starting to drift again, and Steve was feeling the edges of discouragement. It was time to fight dirty. The super soldier cleared his throat, trying to sound and look hesitant about what he had to say next.
“I’ve had an idea for a while now, about some street art I’d like to do...”
It worked like a charm. Tony continued to stare at his laptop screen, but Steve could tell from the way his brow creased that he was intrigued. He pressed on, victory in sight. “I’ve always thought it would be fun to paint anonymously... you know, have a work out there that’s not connected to Captain America. I suppose it would be easy enough to just pick a wall and hope the owners don’t mind. I’d wake up a few hours early - three or four in the morning would be the best bet.”
Steve noticed Tony was beginning to blush slightly. He shamelessly laid it on thicker. “I guess I’d dress in dark clothes, maybe even wear a ski mask. I have a good set of spray paints, and I’d put them in a backpack and slip out of here unnoticed.”
The blush had spread, turning Tony’s ears pink. Steve had been with Tony long enough to recognize the signs - the man was seriously turned on. Steve almost felt bad about how easy this was.
“But can you imagine if I were caught? I have an image to uphold as Captain America, and I can’t be seen vandalizing property. If I were caught painting a wall legally, though - there’s nothing too scandalizing about that.”
Tony was silent for a moment. The way he was staring at the edge of his keyboard, pupils dilated, made it look as if he was deeply fascinated with the caps lock key. When he spoke, though, his voice was aggressively casual. “Any wall of Stark Towers is yours. You don’t even need to ask.”
Steve sighed and left the doorway, choosing to sit in the leather armchair closest to Tony’s desk. “I appreciate that, but it’s too obvious. If you didn’t have it washed off within eight hours, all the Avengers would guess who painted it. It would also probably give ideas to those less enthused with the Avengers or your company.”
“Fine,” Tony grumbled. “Fine. You said that most of the local businesses were okay with this wall?” Steve nodded. “What about those who weren’t? Are you planning on steamrolling over them?”
“No, of course not. That’s why we need you. The neighborhood wants to set up a fund that would clean up any extra vandalism brought on by the wall. That would be enough insurance for the other local businesses. I’m not asking you to sink your money into this - I’ll put my own money into the fund. But any check of yours will be... well, much more convincing than one of mine.”
“If it’s only for a few thousand, I don’t see why. Like you said, you have an image. Captain America’s checks don’t bounce.” Tony pulled a checkbook out from his desk drawer and started scribbling. “You do know that you haven’t changed my mind, right? A community art wall is a superficial non-solution proposed by people trying too hard to be trendy.”
“Sure, Tony.”
“I don’t want my name splashed around in connection to this. I don’t want any newspapers asking me about it.”
“They won’t. And I won’t mention it to you again, either.”
Tony suddenly looked a bit disappointed. “Well, I think I deserve to know which nights you might be sneaking off to paint, in case there’s an emergency and I need to contact you.”
Steve put on a thoughtful expression. “I guess that’s only fair. I’d hate to worry you by going AWOL during the night.”
“Well, I’ll worry anyway. Villains have such a knack for knowing when super heroes are off by themselves, especially if the hero is attempting an emotionally satisfying activity. I’d say your chances of being attacked are pretty high.” He stared hard at Steve.
“I suppose you could come along, if it’d make you feel better.”
The smile made Tony Stark look less like Tony, the ruthless businessman and more like Tony, the passionate inventor. “I think that’s a great idea.”
Steve did, too.
Part Two