Apartment Above Stark Industries, late Saturday morning

[heroic_jawline]

Steve had come back from his late Saturday morning rock climb (run, coffee with Tony, rock climb: totally normal Saturday, right? Right.) and checked the mailbox, more out of habit than actually expecting anything. The buy one get one Mooby Burger ads were great, but they never extended the deal to the fifteen or so he normally bought, so what was the point, you know?

"Bill, bill, ad, who needs a real estate agent?--" he muttered to himself, sorting, and then stopped dead at some very familiar handwriting. For a brief, heartbreaking moment, he hoped it was his Bucky, trying to come in from the cold. As he read the letter, though, it was much worse: it was the Bucky he'd knew here about to repeat some terrible, terrible history.

He rested his head against the doorframe and breathed. In. Out. In. Out.

He was fine. This was fine. Nothing he couldn't handle.

Just...give him a sec.

Comments

[imafuturist]

"Steve?" Thank God JARVIS was a complete mother hen like his creator to notify Tony when Steve was in distress.

[heroic_jawline]

"I'm okay," Steve replied automatically, self-sacrificing idiot that he was.

[imafuturist]

"Uh..." Tony glanced up like he was confirming things with JARVIS. "Are you sure?"

[heroic_jawline]

Steve nodded. "I just need to go for a run."

Another one. Right now. Yes. Totally normal.

[imafuturist]

"Steve." Next up would be full name with that tone.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then another one.

Then handed over the letter.

"I'm fine."

Clearly.

[imafuturist]

Tony frowned, reading it over quickly. Then sighed and pulled him into a hug. "What does fine stand for?"

That was totally something Rhodey used on him.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve hugged back too tightly and mumbled something unintelligible into Tony's skin.

[imafuturist]

"It's okay," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his back. "Stay with me here."

[heroic_jawline]

"It's just so...horribly unfair," Steve muttered. "Bucky doesn't deserve this. Any of this."

[imafuturist]

"I know, I know," he soothed. "Changing the timeline is--not easily done."

Ask Kang 'this fucking stable time loop is my own fault' the Conqueror.

[heroic_jawline]

"Knowing three of them now is simultaneously the best and the worst thing," Steve said, slumping into Tony. "I worry about them like I breathe."

[imafuturist]

"Because you care. And that's what makes you you," he replied.

[heroic_jawline]

"At least they keep it interestin' by giving me three different things to worry about?" Steve muttered.

[imafuturist]

"Keep you on your toes?" Tony asked, running his fingers through Steve's hair. He knew the best way to relax him at least.

[heroic_jawline]

"Cheater," Steve mumbled, but he rested his head against Tony's shoulder and relaxed slightly anyway.

[imafuturist]

"I can stop." In no way would he. Not right now.

[heroic_jawline]

"Please don't," Steve whispered, swallowing hard. "I'll be okay. I just...need a minute."

[imafuturist]

"I'll give you a whole hour," Tony promised, carefully setting the letter aside to keep it safe so he could add his other hand to the scalp massage.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve let out a low whimper. "That feels really good. Thank you."

[imafuturist]

"C'mon. You are getting ice cream and I'm going to keep doing this for you." It was emergency plan sigma.

[heroic_jawline]

"I love you," Steve said, leaning in and kissing Tony softly.

[imafuturist]

"I love you too," Tony replied, cupping his face to keep close.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve slid his arms around Tony's waist and reeled him in ever more closely.

He needed contact right now.

[imafuturist]

"I've got you," he promised, kissing him gently. "I've got you, sweetheart."