(FIC) You Were Made For Me Ch.VII

[glasgowsmiles.livejournal.com]

Title: You Were Made For Me Ch.VII
Author: GlasgowSmiles
Rating: PG-13
Warning/Spoilers: Character deaths (in alternate universe). Alternate universes.
Pairing: Steve/Tony and pre-Steve/Tony
Word Count: 1,474
A/N: I enjoy alternate universes, and seeing them meet. Also, I tend to keep my chapters short, and I try to post them regularly as I can, so if you're a fan of bite-sized bits of fic, read on, and if you prefer getting the whole story at once, then wait until it's finished and I'll have links to previous chapters.
Summary: A warning arrives of a potential threat from an alternate universe, and Tony Stark reaches new levels in self-loathing.

Intro here:  http://community.livejournal.com/cap_ironman/502031.html
And Chapter One: http://community.livejournal.com/cap_ironman/502581.html
And Chapter Two: http://community.livejournal.com/cap_ironman/503530.html
And Chapter Three: http://community.livejournal.com/cap_ironman/504764.html
And Chapter Four: http://community.livejournal.com/cap_ironman/505481.html
And Chapter Five: http://community.livejournal.com/cap_ironman/506078.html
And Chapter Six: http://community.livejournal.com/cap_ironman/507013.html

A/N II: Thanks for the concrit, concrit-ers! Advice has been taken. After this there's a sequel with similarly bite-sized chapters, and then there's a fic that's not broken into chapters at all that I'm working on, that will be posted all in one go. Which is weird for me.

 

“Steve?”

Steve grinned and looked up from his painting. “Tony. Um...”

“Oh, right. Black eye faded. I’m the other one again.”

“Right. I really do feel bad about calling you ‘the other Tony’ all the time...”

“Anthony works.”

“Did—Is it what you’re used to? Back in your universe?”

 “No.” He shook his head. “But... maybe a little distance isn’t a bad thing.”

“Hey... do you want to take a look at this? I’d like your opinion, since it’s for, well, another you, and I kind of hoped... I mean, you still like the same things.”

He came around the easel. “Yeah. Oh, that’s...”

Steve blushed. “It’s for the office. Which is why it’s so big. And, um... why it’s—Anyway, I’m nowhere near finished. But do you think—I mean, would you like it?”

“From you? Yes. I—It’s magnificent. I think he’ll be happy to get it.”

Steve blushed, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Anyway, it’ll be better when it’s finished. And then I have to seal it, and I guess he’ll want to buy a frame for it, I didn’t really think of that, but I’m sure he won’t have any trouble finding one.”

“Or, he won’t have any trouble telling Pepper to find one. Now she, she never has trouble finding anything.”

“Yeah, she’s swell like that. She’s very... um, helpful.” He blushed slightly.

“Steve... I’m not coming back this time. Whatever universe I wind up in when Richards sends me through for another one of his crazy tests, I’m smashing the Traveler and staying there. Every time, it just... I get this crawling feeling, the risk goes up, and I—Anyway, I’ll just disappear. You won’t have to wonder who you’re talking to anymore, and I... I don’t know. We’ll see when I get there. And when I don’t come back, everyone is going to assume the worst, and they’re going to dismantle the hub, and you’re going to let them, because for all we know, it’s going to be a living hell anyway. I... I wanted to tell somebody.”

“Will you be all right, do you think?”

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll kind of miss having you around. It was... it was sure interesting, having two of you for a while. Um, very... enlightening. Having three of you that one afternoon was real enlightening, come to think of it.”

“Don’t remind me.” He rolled his eyes. “But thanks. I didn’t think anyone was going to bother missing me. After all, I’m kind of an... extra.”

“Yeah, well... dunno, guess I know a little about feeling like you don’t belong.”

“But you do. You’re this universe’s Captain America. You’re the only one of you here. Besides, you adapt well for a man out of time.”

“Thanks, I think. The painting’s okay?”

“It’s more than okay. Steve... could I ask you a favor? If it’s too much, just say so, and—I mean, I understand if—“

“Anything I can do, I’ll do. What is it?”

“... It’s nothing. Just... I’m going, in just a few minutes actually. And... In addition to not letting Reed know I wasn’t killed by universe-destroying monsters, don’t tell your Tony, all right? I mean, don’t tell him I planned it out and didn’t let him in on it. Because I’m kind of a control freak and I’d want to be in on a thing like that. So...”

“Is that it?” Steve laughed softly. “I won’t tell anyone. Honestly... honestly, I think getting rid of it while we’re ahead is probably a good thing. I liked getting a little glimpse into what could have been, but... maybe it’s better. I mean, I don’t want to destroy the world, after all. Besides, sometimes getting a glimpse into what might have been... sometimes in the long run maybe you’re better off not knowing. So, I guess you’re set...?”

“Well, no, there’s one more thing. Could—could you say goodbye to me?”

“Sure. Thought that was what this was.”

“No, I mean... Just, hold me for a sec, and say goodbye, and tell me it’s okay. Because I never got—Because it just—It’s too much, isn’t it? I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry, I’ll just—I’ll go now...”

“No! No, wait... It’s not too much.” He put a hand out to stop Anthony. “I mean, it’s not like you’re asking for much, right?”

“No.” He smiled wryly. “Just peace of mind, I guess.”

“You didn’t even ask me to kiss you. I mean, so—“

“No, not the gentlemanly thing. I... I think that would be crossing a line.”

“C’mere.” He pulled Anthony into a bear hug. “Everything is going to be all right. And... and you’ll see me in the next world. The other me. And the other me is going to be happy to see you.”

The man in his arms swallowed hard. He wasn’t sure if that was a metaphor for the afterlife, or a factual statement about his cross-metaverse jaunts. Either way, he hoped it was true. And if the next universe he found already had a Tony Stark... well, he could be someone else if he had to. Maybe it would work out.

“It’s going to be okay.” Steve whispered. “You’re going to be okay. Goodbye, Tony. Take care of yourself.”

And then, even though he hadn’t been asked, he kissed the top of Anthony’s head. Lips would have been crossing a line, but top of the head seemed safe.

“Goodbye, Steve. And thanks. That was—I needed that.”

 ---/-/---

Tony was whistling on his way into the mansion. He had a box of donuts and he was going to watch Steve paint, and it was going to be a very excellent evening.

He started rewriting that last thought when he saw the tense group gathered together in the sitting room.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s your double.” Clint whispered. “He’s been gone about four hours.”

Tony looked around the room. Richards was monitoring the hub with a greater intensity than usual, hissing encouragements and insults at it in turns. Steve was biting his lip and avoiding the others. Thor looked about ready to eulogize. Hank was standing by with a screwdriver to dismantle the hub, and even Jan looked... sorry? Sad?

“I take it four hours is a long time.”

“Well, the Traveler has been off-line for all four of ‘em, so... you put it together.”

“The hub can’t talk to it?”

Clint shook his head.

“So...”

Finally, Hank sighed and started forward. “I’m not waiting twenty more hours, Reed. Not knowing what must be on the other side. What if it can repair the Traveler? You might be willing to risk your family, but I won’t risk mine.”

Reed looked stricken. “Risk—No, no, I never... I never thought... No, no, of course, just...” He sighed heavily. “Dismantle it. I can’t get a signal, he... he’s gone.”

The mood was somber, and it only grew worse when eulogize Thor did. Jan left first. Clint made it through most of Thor’s speech before slinking out, and once Thor had finished, he left as well. Steve came to stand at Tony’s shoulder, and they watched as Hank and Reed dismantled the hub together, in silence.

“I... I’m sure he’s okay.” Steve offered. “I mean... maybe it just... broke on accident?”

“Thanks.”

“Sure. Or he could have found a world where... where he was the one who died. Or where Tony Stark was never born.”

“Yeah. Maybe he could be happy there. I don’t know.” Tony sighed and scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “I brought donuts. Um... I guess they’ll keep ‘til tomorrow. They’re not really hot anymore. They were fresh when I bought them, but...”

“Asgardian funeral speeches.” Steve smiled. “No donut could last against that.”

“Glad Reed’s finally being reasonable, at any rate.”

Steve’s smile brightened, just a little. “You forgive him for building it.”

“Maybe.”

“You do. You’ve been calling him ‘Richards’ ever since he built the thing. Now he’s ‘Reed’ again.”

“Maybe I forgive him.”

“I’m glad everyone’s friends again.”

“I said maybe.”

“Uh-huh. Of course you did.”

“So show me what you’re working on.” Tony changed the subject. He wasn’t sure if he was subtly leading Steve or just as subtly being led, but they wound up at the tarp and easel that had been set up.

“When it’s finished. You can wait until then.”

“I’ll watch from here, then. I promise whatever’s on the canvas will still be a surprise.”

“You... you wanna watch me work?”

“Yeah. If you’re getting back to it, yeah. Or are you one of those sensitive artist types? Do I have to wait in the other room?” He teased.

“Nah, you can watch. I mean, if you really want to. But I must be pretty boring.”

Tony shook his head. “Never.”

---TBC---