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

[withoutaworld]

It's okay. I didn't mean to bring up anything sensitive, I just...

It's nice to hear what your version was like when he was... Well, he didn't talk about it much. The war and all. I'm not sure why.

[thebestman]

[ cautiously curious ] How much do you know about what happened back then, to him?

[withoutaworld]

[ She ducks her head and brushes some hair from her face, a little awkward. ] He raised me. Him and my grandmother.

She knew you too, at least in my universe. Peggy Carter?

[thebestman]

[ oh my god Peggy's grandkid.

The awe and weird sort of... protectiveness that suddenly flashes across Stevie's face should be proof enough that yes, Stevie knew Peggy. ]

I... yes, I knew her. Your grandmother. She was an amazing woman.

[withoutaworld]

Yeah, she was. [ Pause. ] Is, I guess, maybe, even if I probably won't ever see her again... [ Momentary wibble. ]

She thought you were pretty amazing too. Or that he... Whatever. You know what I mean.

[thebestman]

Yeah, I do.

[ beat ]

I'm gonna hug you, if that's not too weird.

[withoutaworld]

...definitely not.

[ And she's not even going to wait for Steve to come to her. There's just a half-tackle. ]

[thebestman]

[ Steve doesn't 'oof', but she does wobble backwards a little - but whatever, she wraps her arms around Rikki as soon as she processes that she has a teenager attached to her.

Given the hug the girl's giving her, she misses her Steve a lot. Stevie almost feels bad she hadn't hugged her earlier. ]

I'm a little jealous I didn't know you myself, you give good hugs, kiddo.

[withoutaworld]

[ She grins a little against Steve's chest, not pulling away yet. ] Well, now you do. I'm open for hugs any time... and apparently collecting Captain Americas or something?

[thebestman]

Well, apparently we're collectable. Or, the trading cards are. I know a g--

[ Oh. Wait. Right. ] Uh, knew. A guy who had a full set.

[ ...well there went THAT good mood. sorry, Rikki. ]

[withoutaworld]

[ Rikki pulls back, pretending not to notice the sad. She sees it, yeah, but she's not good at talking about it, so... banter is the way to go. ]

Wow, I'll have to step up my game. All I have is a poster...