ext_11744 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
kijikun.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
cap_ironman2008-10-29 07:25 pm
kijikun.livejournal.com) wrote in cap_ironman2008-10-29 07:25 pm
Entry tags:
All That Remains (10/?) (PG-13|Tony/Steve)
Title: All That Remains (10/?)
Previous Parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,Part 7,Part 8, Part 9
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kijikun
Betas:pensive1, pandanoai, adafrog
Rating: PG-13 (NC-17 Overall)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Warnings: Spoilers through "Fallen Son", references to an institutionalized childhood
Author's Notes: Marvel Time is always kind of flexible, so we're setting this somewhere in the first half of 2008. Secret Invasion does not exist in our universe. Nope, never happened. As always, con-crit welcome.
Kiji here - I'd like to thankmiriel for co-writing the last nine parts with me, it was a blast. Also posting will happen on a Wednesday/Sunday basis now.
It seemed like hours before Tony could get Carol to leave, though Steve knew it had only been an hour. He still wasn’t sure Carol believed that he was who he said he was, or that Tony hadn’t gone off his rocker – but she seemed to believe that Tony believed he was Steve Rogers.
She hadn’t been very happy with him and Steve couldn’t blame her for that. He knew it was selfish letting his friends think he was still dead – but he just couldn’t handle it yet. He needed to figure out who the hell Steve Rogers was if he wasn’t Captain America, if he wasn’t a superhero. Just because he’d used different codenames at times didn’t mean he’d ever stopped being Captain America. The last time he’d just been Steven Rogers he’d been a scrawny art student, and Steve wasn’t sure if he knew that half-grown boy anymore.
“Sorry, my fault for giving her the access code to the lab.” Tony said with a slight shrug.
Steve returned it, and carefully reached out and wrapped a hand around the back of Tony’s neck pulling him closer. “She would have found out sooner or later.”
It was probably a testament to how tired Tony was that he put up no resistance leaning into Steve. “It still could have gone better.”
“You say that about everything,” Steve teased affectionately. “Now, bed before you fall over.”
Tony opened his mouth, and Steve could already hear the argument, but instead Tony closed his mouth and nodded. He let Steve lead him into the elevator.
Steve kept his arm around Tony, half-afraid that if he let go the distance would build right back up between them. He’d had more than enough of that.
Still, something nagged at his mind as they rode up in the elevator then stepped out into the quiet empty penthouse. Well not so empty, given the young girl not far away and hopefully fast asleep. It was probably a very good thing that the conversation with Carol hadn’t taken place up in the penthouse – given Maria’s tendency to wake up easily, and Tony’s protectiveness of her.
Steve was quiet as they walked across the darkened living room towards Tony's bedroom. Tony was quiet too, but Steve would lay money down on his mind being entrenched in code and emails and all the feeds that Tony never seemed to completely shut off.
It was only after the door of the bedroom was shut and Tony sat heavily on the bed that Steve spoke. "How do you know I'm who I say I am?" He sat down next to Tony, titling his head so he could watch the other man’s face.
Tony looked like he didn't understand the question for a moment.
"I-I don't mean that I don't appreciate your belief in me, but how can you just take my word for it that I'm Steve Rogers? I could be Skrull or a shape shifter -- or anything."
"Because I know you," Tony said tiredly.
Steve felt a rush of warmth at Tony's words. He knew that wasn't the only reason because he knew Tony too well. He let the back of his hand touch Tony's leg. "And I know you. But -- you buried another body. Someone you thought was me." Steve closed his eyes for a moment before speaking his greatest fear. "What if I'm not who I think I am? I don't want to hurt you, or Maria."
"I checked the homeless shelter,” Tony stopped for a moment."The video feeds from the morgue."
"The video feeds from the morgue," Steve repeated as if it would make more sense.
Tony's shoulders slouched and he hung his head forward. "I should have had guards on your bod— on you all the time. My fault."
"Tony --"
"It was one of the techs. I checked his background -- his sister was killed last year during the attack on New York." Tony rubbed a hand over his face. "I should have had guards down there, I should have had everyone's background checked even if they already had clearance. It shouldn't have happened."
Steve very carefully wrapped an arm around Tony and pressed closer. "It wasn't your fault."
"It was!" Tony snapped, getting to his feet. "I should have known something was wrong when your-- when the body shriveled up like it did. We thought it had to do with the super-serum. I should have known it was something else. I'm supposed to know these things! Someone should not have been able to switch your body out for an inscrolled one. Some little creep with a grudge should not have been able to toss you into the Hudson!" He was pacing, looking more and more agitated.
And it hit Steve what Tony was doing. "Stop it," he ordered, getting to his feet and grabbing Tony's arms.
Tony halted his movements, staring at Steve, then at his hands. His eyes had the strange cloudy look Steve had learned to associate with Extremis. "I should have known." Tony said softly, dipping his head.
Steve pulled Tony to his chest. "Shut off the video feeds. Stop re-watching them, it's not going to change anything."
"What good am I if I can't see these things?" Tony asked hoarsely.
"What good am I if I'm not Captain America?" Steve countered.
Tony arms slid around him, his fingers clenching Steve's shirt. "You're more than just Captain America to me."
Steve desperately wanted to believe that. "And you're more than the code running through your head, Tony."
"Not anymore," Tony told him, his entire body trembling with what Steve knew was exhaustion.
"Bed," Steve said gently, not only because Tony was tired, but because he didn't know what to say to make Tony believe otherwise.
For once Tony didn't argue. When they were both in bed, Steve wrapped an arm around Tony's waist and pulled him to his chest. Neither of them spoke, but Tony's thumb brushed against the back of Steve's hand in a regular pattern until Tony was asleep.
***
Several days after the scene at the dinner table, Maria found herself out shopping.
She'd rather have gone to visit Franklin again. His family, while exhibiting behaviors far outside anything Maria had known, was interesting and his Uncle Ben gave her and Franklin cookies. The smaller child that Franklin called Val troubled her slightly because she was younger than Maria was. No one in the complex had been younger than Maria, and while she'd been aware that some of the children on the playground in Beijing were younger than her, she'd never been faced with a much younger child before.
Franklin had called her his sister as if Maria should be familiar with the word. After she'd waited for him to clarify, he'd rolled his eyes and asked 'weren't the others you talked about your sisters?"
That troubled her even more than Val did.
But still, Franklin was enjoyable to talk to. He knew important tactical things like who Spiderman was and that Jan had been a 'superhero'.
Tony had told her when she'd inquired if the shopping trip was really required that she was going, but promised Franklin could come visit soon.
Maria still didn't like shopping but she liked Tony's friend, Jan. At least she thought like was the right word. She was sometimes a bit confusing, and a lot different from Carol or any of the older women she'd seen at the Complex. She moved differently too -- graceful and purposed -- in a way that reminded Maria slightly of one of the early gymnastics instructors she’d had. Her smile reminded Maria of that woman as well.
Shopping with Jan was nothing like shopping with Jarvis. Jan picked out the clothing instead of the shop-workers, and the few times they'd brought something over Jan had rolled her eyes and told them she was not putting a child in that. She'd even laughed when she'd finally gotten Maria to tell her why she scowled so at the dresses, though Maria had a moment of panic when she realized she was caught with a tell.
Apparently her babbled answer of 'they're impractical' was the right one, and Jan told her she agreed but that sometimes they were necessary, and wearing impractical things every now and then could be fun. Maria wasn't sure about the fun part, but she did enjoy spinning around in the dresses like Jan taught her and watching the skirt float up and spin with her.
Maria was unaware of it but later Jan would tell Tony that she actually giggled.
"I need to talk to Tony about enrolling you in some ballet classes, I think," Jan had commented with a smile watching Maria.
Maria made a mental note to research ballet on the computer she'd been provided with when she was returned to Stark Tower.
They'd acquired more clothing than Maria had during her first shopping trip, along with things called necklaces and bracelets. Maria was intrigued by how some bracelets would slide and twirl around her wrist and others fit snuggle against her skin. She couldn't see the purpose to them, but she liked the loose ones best. She could easily slip them off to use as weapons if the need arose.
After they'd left the last store, Jan had declared they both deserved a treat.
Maria decided that if all shopping ended with ice cream, she would go shopping as often as she could.
"Tony tells me you're quite the artist." Jan told her over a large bowl of the dessert.
Maria nodded, her mouth full of ice cream. Chocolate was even better than vanilla she had decided. "We're going to build a model from one of my drafts," she told Jan. "I'm not as skilled as Steve though. I still need to improve my technique to reach his level. My drafts look 'too flat'." Maria hadn't understood that until Steve had shown her.
"Tony has showed you some of Steve's drawings?" Jan asked after several moments of silence. She sounded like this surprised her. Maria wasn't sure why it would.
Maria nodded again, licking her spoon. "He was explaining the real difference between drafting designs and art. Tony does design drafts and Steve draws art." Maria told her, pleased with how well she remembered Tony's words. "Steve said he'll teach me if I want."
At that Jan started coughing. "Steve said?" she repeated.
Maria’s heart rate accelerated. Had she said something wrong? "Am I not -- I didn't --"
Jan reached out and patted her hand. "No, no, you didn't say anything wrong. You're not in trouble, Maria. I just wasn't aware Steve was -- living -- at the penthouse again."
Maria nodded. "He's been there a week. He said you're friends with him too, like you're friends with Tony."
Jan smiled at her. "Yes, we're friends. Let's finish our ice cream before it melts shall we?"
***
Tony wasn't sure what was up when Jan asked to speak to him alone when she brought Maria back from shopping. But like most things, he was sure it wouldn’t be good news.
It couldn't be about Maria though, the girl had seemed happy when she had gotten back. She told Tony excitedly that she had new training clothes -- which it sadly figured that new gymnastic uniforms would excite her more than anything else. Plus Jan had been full of 'sign her up for ballet, Tony', ‘do not let her take fashion advice from Carol, Tony', and ‘I remember the pink shirt, Tony'.
"Did something happen with Maria?" Tony asked, leaning against the desk in the penthouse office.
"No, she was fine. She was a sweet girl, if a little quiet for her age." Jan told him shaking her head. "Just something she mentioned and --" Jan broke off biting her bottom lip. "Tony, you know I adore you and you’re one of my dearest friends, and I trust you -- "
Tony crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t like where this was going. What could Maria have said? Something about the complex? That wouldn't make sense since Jan knew Maria came from a lab. "But?" he prompted.
"I know you and Steve were lovers before, well before everything went to hell," Jan said softly, looking at Tony carefully.
Tony opened his mouth to ask how but Jan had known both him and Steve for years, and if anyone could have figured it out other than Jarvis, it made sense it would be her. "Jan, what is this about? You didn't mention anything before Steve - died. Why bring it up now?"
He knew why. Really it was the only thing that made sense. Maria had said something about Steve, and really it was his own fault for not talking to her about that. So, he knew why she was bringing it up, he just didn't know if he could take another round of 'have you been drinking?'
He still didn't think Carol was completely convinced Steve was real and he didn't need a second person thinking he'd gone off the deep end. Again.
"Because Steve isn't dead, is he?" Jan’s voice was quiet, but he could hear the anger in it.
Even though he leaned heavily against his desk, part of Tony was relieved that her first words weren't 'drinking' or 'clone'. "I take it Maria told you." He kept his voice even and calm.
"Don't be angry with her, she didn't know she was saying anything wrong." Jan told him.
Tony shook his head at the notion. "I'm not angry with her, and I didn't tell her she shouldn't talk to anyone about Steve." Though he wished he didn't have to try and teach her so early about lying to people you’re supposed to trust. He couldn't help but be bitter at Steve for that. "Steve is alive. I didn't know until about a week ago when he showed up at the penthouse." It was closer to two weeks but who was counting?
"Are you," Jan paused for a moment, reaching out to touch his arm. "Are you sure it's him?"
Tony nodded. "As sure as I can be without Hank or Henry McCoy running tests on him."
"Then why hide him? Tony if you've know for a week --"
"Because he didn't want anyone to know yet. I was respecting his wishes," Tony told her. She'd been one of the original Avengers. Maybe he should have told her and Hank when Steve had showed up. It should have been his first thought, but he'd always had trouble denying Steve anything.
"And you’re sure he's not a Skrull or an LMD or--” Jan persisted.
"I'm pretty damn sure he's not an LMD," Tony couldn't help but smirk.
Jan flushed. "Still, Tony --"
"I've checked him out as well as I could. Like I said, Hank would be able to test for certain but --" Tony didn't want to say out loud that part of him had been selfish, wanting to keep Steve to himself for as long as he could, even if things weren't the best between them most of the time. "I wouldn't have let him stay if I thought he was danger to Maria."
"Who else knows?" Jan asked finally, seeming to accept Tony's answers. He was grateful someone still did.
"Jarvis, of course, and Carol but that's only because she walked in on us in the lab. I think she still thinks I've lost my mind and made an LMD of Steve.” Tony shrugged. "Would you like to see Steve? He's in the gym, but I think he'd like to see you."
Jan nodded quickly. "I would if only so I can yell at him for making me cry," Jan told him, surprising Tony by pulling him into a hug. "But we're telling Hank, and you’re letting Hank test him, okay?"
"Agreed." Tony nodded, calling Steve on the intercom in the gym. He'd hoped for a quiet evening with Maria and Steve but it looked like that wasn't going to happen. Still it could have been worse.
***
Tony was happily surprised to find his early prediction wrong as Indian Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark played on the large flat screen. Steve had always been fond of the movie and seemed to be enjoying answering Maria's questions and pointing out what model certain vehicles were to her.
There were a dozen things that needed his attention but Tony couldn't bring himself to leave the warmth of the couch.
Jan hadn't stayed long after seeing Steve. She'd hugged him, then smacked his arm lightly, then hugged him again after Steve explained what had happened between his 'death' and showing up at Tony's penthouse. At least as much as Steve could explain. She'd agreed to hold off telling Hank but insisted that they needed to tell him soon.
All and all it had gone better than with Carol.
Steve put his arm up on the back of the couch, playing with Tony's hair, and Tony smiled over at him. Steve smiled back and a warmth Tony hadn't felt in a while filled him. Maria was in-between them leaning slightly against Tony. Her questions had stopped a little while ago, as she'd become more engrossed in the film.
It seemed impossible that he should have this. He and Steve still hadn’t worked everything out and Maria was still too fragile to risk on the chance they could work things out between them. This quiet little moment should have been impossible.
But Tony Stark did excel at the impossible.
Next Part
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15,Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21
Previous Parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,Part 7,Part 8, Part 9
Author:
kijikun Betas:
pensive1, pandanoai, adafrogRating: PG-13 (NC-17 Overall)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Warnings: Spoilers through "Fallen Son", references to an institutionalized childhood
Author's Notes: Marvel Time is always kind of flexible, so we're setting this somewhere in the first half of 2008. Secret Invasion does not exist in our universe. Nope, never happened. As always, con-crit welcome.
Kiji here - I'd like to thank
miriel for co-writing the last nine parts with me, it was a blast. Also posting will happen on a Wednesday/Sunday basis now. It seemed like hours before Tony could get Carol to leave, though Steve knew it had only been an hour. He still wasn’t sure Carol believed that he was who he said he was, or that Tony hadn’t gone off his rocker – but she seemed to believe that Tony believed he was Steve Rogers.
She hadn’t been very happy with him and Steve couldn’t blame her for that. He knew it was selfish letting his friends think he was still dead – but he just couldn’t handle it yet. He needed to figure out who the hell Steve Rogers was if he wasn’t Captain America, if he wasn’t a superhero. Just because he’d used different codenames at times didn’t mean he’d ever stopped being Captain America. The last time he’d just been Steven Rogers he’d been a scrawny art student, and Steve wasn’t sure if he knew that half-grown boy anymore.
“Sorry, my fault for giving her the access code to the lab.” Tony said with a slight shrug.
Steve returned it, and carefully reached out and wrapped a hand around the back of Tony’s neck pulling him closer. “She would have found out sooner or later.”
It was probably a testament to how tired Tony was that he put up no resistance leaning into Steve. “It still could have gone better.”
“You say that about everything,” Steve teased affectionately. “Now, bed before you fall over.”
Tony opened his mouth, and Steve could already hear the argument, but instead Tony closed his mouth and nodded. He let Steve lead him into the elevator.
Steve kept his arm around Tony, half-afraid that if he let go the distance would build right back up between them. He’d had more than enough of that.
Still, something nagged at his mind as they rode up in the elevator then stepped out into the quiet empty penthouse. Well not so empty, given the young girl not far away and hopefully fast asleep. It was probably a very good thing that the conversation with Carol hadn’t taken place up in the penthouse – given Maria’s tendency to wake up easily, and Tony’s protectiveness of her.
Steve was quiet as they walked across the darkened living room towards Tony's bedroom. Tony was quiet too, but Steve would lay money down on his mind being entrenched in code and emails and all the feeds that Tony never seemed to completely shut off.
It was only after the door of the bedroom was shut and Tony sat heavily on the bed that Steve spoke. "How do you know I'm who I say I am?" He sat down next to Tony, titling his head so he could watch the other man’s face.
Tony looked like he didn't understand the question for a moment.
"I-I don't mean that I don't appreciate your belief in me, but how can you just take my word for it that I'm Steve Rogers? I could be Skrull or a shape shifter -- or anything."
"Because I know you," Tony said tiredly.
Steve felt a rush of warmth at Tony's words. He knew that wasn't the only reason because he knew Tony too well. He let the back of his hand touch Tony's leg. "And I know you. But -- you buried another body. Someone you thought was me." Steve closed his eyes for a moment before speaking his greatest fear. "What if I'm not who I think I am? I don't want to hurt you, or Maria."
"I checked the homeless shelter,” Tony stopped for a moment."The video feeds from the morgue."
"The video feeds from the morgue," Steve repeated as if it would make more sense.
Tony's shoulders slouched and he hung his head forward. "I should have had guards on your bod— on you all the time. My fault."
"Tony --"
"It was one of the techs. I checked his background -- his sister was killed last year during the attack on New York." Tony rubbed a hand over his face. "I should have had guards down there, I should have had everyone's background checked even if they already had clearance. It shouldn't have happened."
Steve very carefully wrapped an arm around Tony and pressed closer. "It wasn't your fault."
"It was!" Tony snapped, getting to his feet. "I should have known something was wrong when your-- when the body shriveled up like it did. We thought it had to do with the super-serum. I should have known it was something else. I'm supposed to know these things! Someone should not have been able to switch your body out for an inscrolled one. Some little creep with a grudge should not have been able to toss you into the Hudson!" He was pacing, looking more and more agitated.
And it hit Steve what Tony was doing. "Stop it," he ordered, getting to his feet and grabbing Tony's arms.
Tony halted his movements, staring at Steve, then at his hands. His eyes had the strange cloudy look Steve had learned to associate with Extremis. "I should have known." Tony said softly, dipping his head.
Steve pulled Tony to his chest. "Shut off the video feeds. Stop re-watching them, it's not going to change anything."
"What good am I if I can't see these things?" Tony asked hoarsely.
"What good am I if I'm not Captain America?" Steve countered.
Tony arms slid around him, his fingers clenching Steve's shirt. "You're more than just Captain America to me."
Steve desperately wanted to believe that. "And you're more than the code running through your head, Tony."
"Not anymore," Tony told him, his entire body trembling with what Steve knew was exhaustion.
"Bed," Steve said gently, not only because Tony was tired, but because he didn't know what to say to make Tony believe otherwise.
For once Tony didn't argue. When they were both in bed, Steve wrapped an arm around Tony's waist and pulled him to his chest. Neither of them spoke, but Tony's thumb brushed against the back of Steve's hand in a regular pattern until Tony was asleep.
Several days after the scene at the dinner table, Maria found herself out shopping.
She'd rather have gone to visit Franklin again. His family, while exhibiting behaviors far outside anything Maria had known, was interesting and his Uncle Ben gave her and Franklin cookies. The smaller child that Franklin called Val troubled her slightly because she was younger than Maria was. No one in the complex had been younger than Maria, and while she'd been aware that some of the children on the playground in Beijing were younger than her, she'd never been faced with a much younger child before.
Franklin had called her his sister as if Maria should be familiar with the word. After she'd waited for him to clarify, he'd rolled his eyes and asked 'weren't the others you talked about your sisters?"
That troubled her even more than Val did.
But still, Franklin was enjoyable to talk to. He knew important tactical things like who Spiderman was and that Jan had been a 'superhero'.
Tony had told her when she'd inquired if the shopping trip was really required that she was going, but promised Franklin could come visit soon.
Maria still didn't like shopping but she liked Tony's friend, Jan. At least she thought like was the right word. She was sometimes a bit confusing, and a lot different from Carol or any of the older women she'd seen at the Complex. She moved differently too -- graceful and purposed -- in a way that reminded Maria slightly of one of the early gymnastics instructors she’d had. Her smile reminded Maria of that woman as well.
Shopping with Jan was nothing like shopping with Jarvis. Jan picked out the clothing instead of the shop-workers, and the few times they'd brought something over Jan had rolled her eyes and told them she was not putting a child in that. She'd even laughed when she'd finally gotten Maria to tell her why she scowled so at the dresses, though Maria had a moment of panic when she realized she was caught with a tell.
Apparently her babbled answer of 'they're impractical' was the right one, and Jan told her she agreed but that sometimes they were necessary, and wearing impractical things every now and then could be fun. Maria wasn't sure about the fun part, but she did enjoy spinning around in the dresses like Jan taught her and watching the skirt float up and spin with her.
Maria was unaware of it but later Jan would tell Tony that she actually giggled.
"I need to talk to Tony about enrolling you in some ballet classes, I think," Jan had commented with a smile watching Maria.
Maria made a mental note to research ballet on the computer she'd been provided with when she was returned to Stark Tower.
They'd acquired more clothing than Maria had during her first shopping trip, along with things called necklaces and bracelets. Maria was intrigued by how some bracelets would slide and twirl around her wrist and others fit snuggle against her skin. She couldn't see the purpose to them, but she liked the loose ones best. She could easily slip them off to use as weapons if the need arose.
After they'd left the last store, Jan had declared they both deserved a treat.
Maria decided that if all shopping ended with ice cream, she would go shopping as often as she could.
"Tony tells me you're quite the artist." Jan told her over a large bowl of the dessert.
Maria nodded, her mouth full of ice cream. Chocolate was even better than vanilla she had decided. "We're going to build a model from one of my drafts," she told Jan. "I'm not as skilled as Steve though. I still need to improve my technique to reach his level. My drafts look 'too flat'." Maria hadn't understood that until Steve had shown her.
"Tony has showed you some of Steve's drawings?" Jan asked after several moments of silence. She sounded like this surprised her. Maria wasn't sure why it would.
Maria nodded again, licking her spoon. "He was explaining the real difference between drafting designs and art. Tony does design drafts and Steve draws art." Maria told her, pleased with how well she remembered Tony's words. "Steve said he'll teach me if I want."
At that Jan started coughing. "Steve said?" she repeated.
Maria’s heart rate accelerated. Had she said something wrong? "Am I not -- I didn't --"
Jan reached out and patted her hand. "No, no, you didn't say anything wrong. You're not in trouble, Maria. I just wasn't aware Steve was -- living -- at the penthouse again."
Maria nodded. "He's been there a week. He said you're friends with him too, like you're friends with Tony."
Jan smiled at her. "Yes, we're friends. Let's finish our ice cream before it melts shall we?"
Tony wasn't sure what was up when Jan asked to speak to him alone when she brought Maria back from shopping. But like most things, he was sure it wouldn’t be good news.
It couldn't be about Maria though, the girl had seemed happy when she had gotten back. She told Tony excitedly that she had new training clothes -- which it sadly figured that new gymnastic uniforms would excite her more than anything else. Plus Jan had been full of 'sign her up for ballet, Tony', ‘do not let her take fashion advice from Carol, Tony', and ‘I remember the pink shirt, Tony'.
"Did something happen with Maria?" Tony asked, leaning against the desk in the penthouse office.
"No, she was fine. She was a sweet girl, if a little quiet for her age." Jan told him shaking her head. "Just something she mentioned and --" Jan broke off biting her bottom lip. "Tony, you know I adore you and you’re one of my dearest friends, and I trust you -- "
Tony crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t like where this was going. What could Maria have said? Something about the complex? That wouldn't make sense since Jan knew Maria came from a lab. "But?" he prompted.
"I know you and Steve were lovers before, well before everything went to hell," Jan said softly, looking at Tony carefully.
Tony opened his mouth to ask how but Jan had known both him and Steve for years, and if anyone could have figured it out other than Jarvis, it made sense it would be her. "Jan, what is this about? You didn't mention anything before Steve - died. Why bring it up now?"
He knew why. Really it was the only thing that made sense. Maria had said something about Steve, and really it was his own fault for not talking to her about that. So, he knew why she was bringing it up, he just didn't know if he could take another round of 'have you been drinking?'
He still didn't think Carol was completely convinced Steve was real and he didn't need a second person thinking he'd gone off the deep end. Again.
"Because Steve isn't dead, is he?" Jan’s voice was quiet, but he could hear the anger in it.
Even though he leaned heavily against his desk, part of Tony was relieved that her first words weren't 'drinking' or 'clone'. "I take it Maria told you." He kept his voice even and calm.
"Don't be angry with her, she didn't know she was saying anything wrong." Jan told him.
Tony shook his head at the notion. "I'm not angry with her, and I didn't tell her she shouldn't talk to anyone about Steve." Though he wished he didn't have to try and teach her so early about lying to people you’re supposed to trust. He couldn't help but be bitter at Steve for that. "Steve is alive. I didn't know until about a week ago when he showed up at the penthouse." It was closer to two weeks but who was counting?
"Are you," Jan paused for a moment, reaching out to touch his arm. "Are you sure it's him?"
Tony nodded. "As sure as I can be without Hank or Henry McCoy running tests on him."
"Then why hide him? Tony if you've know for a week --"
"Because he didn't want anyone to know yet. I was respecting his wishes," Tony told her. She'd been one of the original Avengers. Maybe he should have told her and Hank when Steve had showed up. It should have been his first thought, but he'd always had trouble denying Steve anything.
"And you’re sure he's not a Skrull or an LMD or--” Jan persisted.
"I'm pretty damn sure he's not an LMD," Tony couldn't help but smirk.
Jan flushed. "Still, Tony --"
"I've checked him out as well as I could. Like I said, Hank would be able to test for certain but --" Tony didn't want to say out loud that part of him had been selfish, wanting to keep Steve to himself for as long as he could, even if things weren't the best between them most of the time. "I wouldn't have let him stay if I thought he was danger to Maria."
"Who else knows?" Jan asked finally, seeming to accept Tony's answers. He was grateful someone still did.
"Jarvis, of course, and Carol but that's only because she walked in on us in the lab. I think she still thinks I've lost my mind and made an LMD of Steve.” Tony shrugged. "Would you like to see Steve? He's in the gym, but I think he'd like to see you."
Jan nodded quickly. "I would if only so I can yell at him for making me cry," Jan told him, surprising Tony by pulling him into a hug. "But we're telling Hank, and you’re letting Hank test him, okay?"
"Agreed." Tony nodded, calling Steve on the intercom in the gym. He'd hoped for a quiet evening with Maria and Steve but it looked like that wasn't going to happen. Still it could have been worse.
Tony was happily surprised to find his early prediction wrong as Indian Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark played on the large flat screen. Steve had always been fond of the movie and seemed to be enjoying answering Maria's questions and pointing out what model certain vehicles were to her.
There were a dozen things that needed his attention but Tony couldn't bring himself to leave the warmth of the couch.
Jan hadn't stayed long after seeing Steve. She'd hugged him, then smacked his arm lightly, then hugged him again after Steve explained what had happened between his 'death' and showing up at Tony's penthouse. At least as much as Steve could explain. She'd agreed to hold off telling Hank but insisted that they needed to tell him soon.
All and all it had gone better than with Carol.
Steve put his arm up on the back of the couch, playing with Tony's hair, and Tony smiled over at him. Steve smiled back and a warmth Tony hadn't felt in a while filled him. Maria was in-between them leaning slightly against Tony. Her questions had stopped a little while ago, as she'd become more engrossed in the film.
It seemed impossible that he should have this. He and Steve still hadn’t worked everything out and Maria was still too fragile to risk on the chance they could work things out between them. This quiet little moment should have been impossible.
But Tony Stark did excel at the impossible.
Re: Question