(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]

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?

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[Pause. Of course; that question led to this one]

I don't remember very much.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

Guess your old man had a good reason not to be around much, huh?

[ He looks apologetic, pats him on the thigh awkwardly. ] Sorry, Cap.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

You got nothing to be sorry for.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

Guess not. [ Except he sounds like he does.

And the he huffs out a laugh, awkward and humourless. ] The hell am I gonna do with a kid, Steve? Guy's older than me, it's not like he needs me, and it sure don't seen like did him any favours.

[ He grabs for the bottle. ]

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[Steve takes a drink from his glass]

I don't know, but you can't avoid it now. Tony will want to, I think.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

You think so?

[ He sounds slurred by this point, vision blurring so he's squinting, and he hates how hopeful he sounds, how desperate he feels. ]

[action]

[punchedhitler]

I think it will be worth it.

You're drunk.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

Thought that was the point.

[ But he finishes his glass and doesn't pour another quite as eagerly. ] If he's anything like me, he ain't gonna be in a hurry to talk about this.

: [action]

[punchedhitler]

You got that right.

[He takes a drink]

Is it worth worrying over something that might not happen?

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ He smirks at that, but it's twisted and bitter, and lacking humour. ]

Guess not, huh?

[action]

[punchedhitler]

Come on, pal.

I got you.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ It's weird - or he feels that it's weird - that he's worried about a guy older than him, about how he grew up, what happened to him, what goes on with him, and he thinks a part of him always knew, kept an interest in him. ]

You got him, too, though, right? I mean, you and him, you're buddies. [ Huffing a laugh. ] Guess in a weird way I gave him something.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[Steve nods a bit]

Come on, Howard. I've got both of you.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ Clapping him on the shoulder, leaning in a bit too close, and later he'll blame this on the alcohol. ]

You're a good guy, Cap. Get what Ab saw in you.

[action]

[punchedhitler]

You're drunk.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

Sorry, pal, guess it ain't the done thing 'round a guy who can't, huh?

[action]

[punchedhitler]

[Steve shakes his head]

I'm used to it.

[action]

[latenightfondue]

[ He puts it down all the same. ]

Thanks for this, Cap, I appreciate it. But you don't gotta worry, everything's good.