Steve & Tony's Apartment, Stark Tower But 50 Percent Scale, Thursday Morning

[heroic_jawline]

Steve was trying to get out the door for his classes today, truly he was. Every time he turned around, though, he was blocked by duffel bags labeled "HOWLING COMMANDOS" or neat, compact and heavy hatboxes with "PEGGY" and "SHARON" on them. The suitcases labeled "BUCKY", "BUCKY (OTHER)," and "BUCKY (OTHER OTHER)" had already been shoved against the wall with some super-strength and he honestly wasn't sure if the giant safe labeled "NEVER ENOUGH" that was blocking the elevator belonged to him or to Tony, but either way, it wasn't moving.

So he'd retreated to the kitchen and the comfort of reheated bagels from New York and ignoring the "FOOD INSECURITY" box blocking his way to the pantry.

It was gonna be a day. He could tell.

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[heroic_jawline]

"Anthony," Steve said quietly. "Look at me, please."

[imafuturist]

"I'm looking at you," Tony insisted, looking... around Steve. Helpfully. "C'mon. It'll make you feel better."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve reached out to squeeze Tony's hand, hopefully reassuringly. "Feeling a little exposed?" he asked.

[imafuturist]

Tony went quiet for a moment, looking at the bags still around them. "Do you really think I'm a narcissist?"

[heroic_jawline]

"I think that there are parts of your personality that you play up to get a certain reaction," Steve said, "but I don't think you disregard other people's feelings, and I have a pretty good idea why you seek approval."

There was a Howard bag around here somewhere, right? "I think you put on a show," he said softly, "and depending on the audience, you don't take it off."

[imafuturist]

There were several Howard based bags around the apartment, shoved into places where Steve wouldn't see them. Healthy!

"Well, I guess I was always a bit of a fixer upper," he joked, proving Steve's point as he shoved things down, down deep.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve knew that little smile and kind of hated it. "That's not what I said."

[imafuturist]

"It's fine," Tony insisted, relaxing into it because boy was it easier than processing things in the moment. "Forget I asked."

[heroic_jawline]

"I won't," Steve said, "but I won't follow up today."

[imafuturist]

He would follow up never if Tony had any say in the matter. He did not need to hear more, thank you. Let him live in his delusion.

"Lab. Right?"

[heroic_jawline]

"Right," Steve said. "With both of our baggage."

[imafuturist]

"I'll race you down there," Tony said, making for the elevator.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve headed for the stairs, giving Tony some space to recover a bit. "You're on."

[imafuturist]

It was just a quiet moment to reset! Come back with the wry humor expected of him!

It was hardly the first time someone had called him that. Granted, it was usually as an insult. But it was Steve, so... it must be true then. And maybe that was what hurt about it.

He inhaled shaply, pulling focus back to the task at hand once the elevator chimed at the lab.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve was waiting for him because of course he was. He was surrounded by a tiny, anxious mountain of bags that said 'SPEAKS BEFORE HE THINKS'.

[imafuturist]

Tony immediately put on a smile and offered him the gauntlet. "I'll get scans going so we can see about maybe a bag free force field."

Aw yeah. Science. The best distraction.

[heroic_jawline]

"That sounds like a good plan," Steve said, smiling. "Lead the way."

[imafuturist]

Tony maneuvered his way around boxes, not looking at them because he did not need to know. "Maybe we'll figure out where they come from."

[heroic_jawline]

"So they can't return?" Steve asked a little eagerly.

[imafuturist]

"Hopefully," Tony muttered, focused on the readings as what looked like a very stylish Hermés bag dropped with 'EMOTIONAL REPRESSION' on it that he just kicked to the side and kept at it.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve didn't need a bag to tell him that was happening. He rested his hand on Tony's shoulder, trying to apologize with his presence.

[imafuturist]

"What are you waiting for? Get to shooting," Tony suggested.

Because this was a Tony issue. Like so many things were. Meant to be dissected alone at 2 am while working on a new armor that could totally... patch things.

[heroic_jawline]

"Do you have a prototype you want me to try out?" he asked.

[imafuturist]

Tony's eyes darted around for something that was deemed safe for people who weren't Tony to test out.

"It's just sonic waves," he hedged.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve nodded. "Show me how it works?"