(no subject)

[latenightfondue]

"Tough look, pal, I ain't available right now, but if y'leave a message I'll be sure to get back to you in a jiffy."

☎ Call.
✉ Voicemail.
⌨ Text.
✔ Action.

Comments

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ Howard's sitting on the couch by an array of empty beer bottles, not quite drunk, but he's trying his best. He calls out loud enough. ]

Door's unlocked, Cap.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[He comes in; he has a bottle of something somewhat expensive in his hand - whiskey - and closes the door behind him]


Are you all right?

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ If it were anyone else he might not look up, but he does for Steve, manages a twitch of a smile. ]

Me? I'm fine, buddy. Oh, but, hey, looks like someone's reaching for the good stuff. Please tell me y'here to share.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

Yeah, I brought you some good stuff. I got it from Bucky's stash.

[He sits next to Howard]

You found out.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

I ain't gonna tell him if you don't.

[ He's finding it hard to meet his gaze. ]

Looks like. Guess you knew all along, too, huh?

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[Silence. Guilty silence]

I wanted to tell you.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ He waves a hand. ]

It's fine, Cap, it ain't like I can't work out the pieces here.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

Are you okay?

[action]

[latenightfondue]

Guess I don't got much choice.

[ He gets up, grabs some glasses, comes back. ]

[action]

[punchedhitler]

What makes you think that?

[action]

[latenightfondue]

We're all stuck here, ain't we? Gotta deal with it one way or the other.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[Steve takes a glass and pours, and hands it to Howard]

Yeah but not all of us learn we got kids.

Kids who turn out like Tony, no less.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ He takes the glass, knocks the whole thing back.

He frowns at that, looks at Steve, because he likes Tony and that's the problem. ]

What's wrong with Tony?

[action]

[punchedhitler]

Nothing's wrong with him.

I mean...that he kept it a secret for a reason. I think he really wants you to like him.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

And y'don't think it's 'cause he'd rather not have to deal with that side'a his life?

[action]

[punchedhitler]

I've spent the whole time you've been here trying to convince him to let you know.

He's almost as stubborn as I am.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

Wouldn't know now if it weren't for the City, huh? Not for certain anyway.

[ He taps the glass with his finger, sighs. ] Even Rhodey thinks he's better off without, Cap, and I think I gotta agree if what I've heard is right.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[Wait, wait, what?]

Colonel Rhodes - what exactly did he say?

[action]

[latenightfondue]

Warned me not to screw it up this time round. Guess he didn't need to say more than that, did he?

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[Steve gets quiet. Serious quiet]

He had no right to say that to you.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

Hey, c'mon, Cap. The guy knows Tony better than anyone, right? If anyone's got a right it's him.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

But he doesn't know you. And whoever the man you turn into is, it's not the man you are now.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

You know that, and I know that. But try telling that to the kid who had a dick for a father. Always said I was married to the job, what'd possess me to think I could raise a kid?

[action]

[punchedhitler]

Women get pregnant. Lots of dad's are worse than you could ever have been.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ Curiously. ] What was yours like?