Marvel AU, in beyondtherift

[thebestman]

Can we please not inform Stark that it's my birthday? I feel like the likelihood she'll do something ridiculous and embarrassing. Please. I just want to go to the Declaration reading at the museum and then watch the fireworks.

No, please don't-- you can't ask if Kenzie knows. I haven't even met this girl, and--

Are you listening? I'm asking politely - please don't let Tony Stark know it's my birthday.

Comments

[deadandred]

...You're seriously going to try and stop a Stark from findin' out something embarrassing about you?

[thebestman]

[ sigh ] At the very least I'd like to put off the worst of it until next year.

[deadandred]

Good luck, sis.

...Happy birthday, anyway.

[thebestman]

[ smile ] Thanks, Bucky.

[ Birthday hug? ]

[deadandred]

[A super-tight birthday hug, even!]

[like_a_gerbil]

Um...you really expect a Stark not to know it's our birthday?

[thebestman]

Well, she doesn't seem to have realized it yet. Might just be she hasn't realized the date, we haven't been in Chicago very long.

[like_a_gerbil]

Distracting her from the date might be the best way 'cause if she's anything like either one of my Starks, she'll know.

[thebestman]

I'm hoping that the problem of the hole in the universe that dropped us here will keep her busy for a few weeks, at least.

...I gotta say, I don't think I've met another me before. Much less a fella. Man? Me.

[like_a_gerbil]

That could keep any Tony distracted. Especially if you make sure the coffee supply doesn't run out.

[He grins a little sheepishly but at least he's not stuttering like he would around Peggy or some of the other ladies he's met.] I've seen other Steves, but I haven't met a version of me that was a lady. Did meet a Bucky once and there's Toni...

How does the rest of it work in your reality. Bucky and Peggy? Were they...?

[thebestman]

I can probably manage that much, at least.

Um, Bucky's a fella and Peggy's a... well, she's Peggy. Was. [ shakes her head ] Tony's Howard's daughter... I don't really know how different any of it is. My mundane says not by much.

[like_a_gerbil]

[He gives a weary smile of understanding over Peggy.] There's a reality where she's alive. Actually, she's here with me. One version that went through what my mundane says is 'canon' and one that got a second chance to be there when the plane was found.

If you want to see her...

[withoutaworld]

Oh, you're... [ BEHOLD! RIKKI'S "WHY IS STEVE A GIRL" FACE. ] ...nnnnever mind.

I just wanted to say... happy birthday.

[thebestman]

[ SMALL GIRL LOOKS FAMILIAR SOMEHOW. Kinda like Peggy, actually. Just enough to remind Stevie of her. She smile crookedly at Rikki ]

Thank you, miss. It's a little earlier than it should be. And 70 years late, I guess.

[withoutaworld]

[ Rikki grins and shrugs. ] I think it's one of the risks of being a superhero. Losing time because of weirdness, never being sure exactly how old you are... Me, I'll take whatever birthdays come along.

[ There's an awkward pause before she explains: ] I've, um... kind of done the universe-hopping thing before.

[thebestman]

[ Stevie nods slowly ] Seems fair enough, I guess. Just roll with the punches.

Ah. [ beat ] It ever get easier?

[withoutaworld]

...sort of. I mean. It doesn't hurt less, and you don't miss whoever you left behind any less, but... the people you find wherever you end up, they help. A lot.

[thebestman]

Well, that seems like pretty good advice. And I guess I've got a bit of practice - getting frozen in an iceburg for 70 years is just as effective as universe hopping for leaving folks behind.

[ Stevie offers her hand ] Stevie Rogers, by the way. Don't think I caught your name.

[withoutaworld]

[ And Rikki shakes her hand without hesitation, though she'd rather a hug. Steve looks like she needs it, and even if it's not her Steve... But no. Polite handshaking. ]

I know who you are. I knew a version of you. ...a couple versions of you, actually.

I'm Rikki Barnes. [ Cautious, 'please don't freak out' smile. ]

[gamblinglady]

Another one o' you? Seems like you're the popular kids on the block these days, chere.

As for Stark, you're outta luck there, mon ami. If'n I know anything 'bout Stark's, s'that they don' pass up a chance t'embarrass their friends.

[thebestman]

[ politely, because who the heck is this southern dame? ] Seems so.

That seems to be pretty true. Howard was like that, too.

[gamblinglady]

[ Everyone's forgotten about little old Gambit these days. Just the little thief hanging around the fringes of the hero community. ] My mun says it's cause the only time they put some version o' me in a movie, the actor couldn' even keep the accent consistent.

Lucky for me, I tend t'start out o' those circles. Too high profile for my tastes.

But where're my manners. [ Offers a hand. ] Reneè LeBeau. Honoured t'meet you, Cap.

[thebestman]

[ If she'd ever met you, she'd remember you! Either that or feel really bad about not being able to remember you... Poor Gambit. ] Almost feel like that's better, considering what these folks put us through sometimes.

[ Stevie smiles automatically, though not insincerely, and shakes Renee's hand firmly ] Pleasure to meet you, Miss LeBeau. Stevie Rogers, though I bet you already had that pegged.

[gamblinglady]

[ All these young whipper snappers and their movies. Why she's been around since the days you were allowed to smoke in comics. ] My mun's a sweetheart. Always done right by me so far. Though i've seen how sadistic he can be to the others.

Met another version o' you awhile back. Always fun t'meet livin' legends.

[thebestman]

Mine is... variable. He seems to take great joy in breaking us, but also in putting us back together and making us happy. He's been decent to me so far, anyway.

[ she gets a little bashful at that ] Well, I just did what I needed to. Whatever the marketing tried to say, I'm just a soldier. [ and the ridiculous thing is that she believes this. A soldier with exceptional abilities, yes, but just a soldier, in the end. ]