quite probably going to beyondtherift

[deadandred]

You sure you want to do this, doll? --Not that I don't think you can, it's just not gonna be pretty. Especially with where you want to bring me from. You just had to pick that, didn't ya? Showing up in Chicago isn't bad enough, I gotta have no memories either? Thanks.

....At least I'll get to see Steve. And her friend. That makes up for a lot of it.

Anyway, finish up, would you? I've waited long enough.

Comments

[runbeforeyouwalk]

Well, there you go. Guess I know even less than we thought.

[deadandred]

A Stark admitting they don't know somethin'? There's a first.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

[ Eyeroll. Don't remind her you knew her dad. It's weird and uncomfortable for several reasons. ] Only due to a lack of information. Fury and Rogers aren't big sharers, you know?

[deadandred]

[Good luck with that, Tony.] Dunno about Fury, never met the guy. You might just need to know Steve better.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

I know she trusts you, and she's not going to be rational about anything to do with you. Can't say I have a lot of warm fuzzy feelings about that, considering.

[deadandred]

[He just lifts his eyebrows a little and shrugs.] You're just gonna have to deal with it, looks like, 'cause this gal ain't changing her mind.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

Yeah, I kind of figured.

But just so we're clear, if you show up and it goes bad, if she can't make the call... I will.

[deadandred]

[--And that would be something in his expression closing off a little.]

Yeah, well. Maybe I'll deserve it.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

Well, it's not exactly Plan A...

[deadandred]

Might be the only plan you can use. I trained your Black Widow.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

[ Shrug. ] I won't say she's not... terrifying, but I think between me and the supersoldier, we could take her. Or you.

[ ...says someone who has never actually... fought Natasha. Yeah. ]

[deadandred]

[He just gives her a tired, skeptical look.]

You grew up during the Cold War. You ever hear of the Winter Soldier?

[runbeforeyouwalk]

Nnnnot so much. Should I have?

[deadandred]

Well, just means I was doing my job right, I guess -- but..[He shrugs.]

Doesn't matter, then.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

What, was I supposed to be scared of some big bad Cold War boogeyman? Did I disappoint you?

[deadandred]

[This is almost a grin. Not quite.]

Not really. I just figured you had some sense in that genius brain of yours.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

[ And there's a careless grin of her own, the one that seems to come standard with the Stark genius and confidence and attitude. Along with all the issues and special brand of insanity. It's a package deal. ]

Actually, genius and so-called common sense don't really play well together. Sense just... gets in the way.

[deadandred]

...Good point. Your dad said somethin' like that a time or two, if I remember right.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

[ ...oh, and this would be Tony immediately shutting down. ] I'm not surprised. He thought a lot of things got in the way.

[deadandred]

[...Well, that was easier than he expected. And good to know, too, something to keep an eye on and possibly exploit in future. But all of that, of course, is carefully hidden, aside from the slight glint in his eye and that same maddening little smirk.]

Sometimes, he mighta been right.

[runbeforeyouwalk]

[ A snort, and a thin smile plastered over a glare. ] You can't have known him that well. He never mentioned you.

[deadandred]

[A bit of a shrug.] He still built our weapons, knew him about as well as anyone else did. Aside from Steve and Peggy, anyway.

THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY HERE.

[thebestman]

Tony stop. Just stop. Why are you so dumb.

[runbeforeyouwalk]