definingfuture | IC inbox for duplicity

[Oh, this is a surprise. He wasn't expecting Steve to approach him, but maybe he should have.]

Of course. What can I do for you, Cap? Er, Steve?

Either's fine.

[because he's already long since gotten used to being called about eight different names]

I wanted to say thank you for helping me out when I got here, and to apologize for taking so long to contact you.

[but no, that isn't his main reason for contacting tony. it's just a way to ease himself in to things. hopefully.]

[It's fine, Steve says. Tony hopes that he's not making a bad impression already. If he knows Steve, even if it wasn't fine the man would tell him it was.]

I didn't- You're welcome.

[He's trying to just accept things as they are a bit more. Baby steps.]

I thought you might not want to talk to me.

[it's not really the response he was expecting, and it leaves him frowning at the screen for a moment.]

Why wouldn't I want to talk to you?

[because sure, it might be a little odd to deal with the idea of duplicates. but it's not as though tony has done anything wrong.]

From everything I've been told, we're friends in both of our worlds. I'd like to add this one to the list.

[He hesitates a little. Even if he doesn't know this man personally, he's Steve Rogers and Tony doesn't want to mess up in front of him.]

No, no, yeah, we are. I just-

The last, uh, I had the impression "Stark" wasn't a very popular name in your world. Since I kind of snuck up on you before, I thought you might've been angry.

The only Stark I knew before coming here was Howard.

[though given how much the other tony has avoided talking about the man, he's not expecting a particularly happy reaction to the news.]

If it helps, I was only in the 21st century for about half an hour. Not quite long enough for me to start building any grudges.

Oh.

[Now he's crushed. Why is he sad? At least he didn't disappoint Steve. And yet it bothers him to know this man doesn't know Tony.]

Well, uh, welcome to the future?

Thanks. Though I doubt even spending a couple of years in the 21st century would've prepared me for this place.

[hell, he doesn't think he's met a single person yet who's taking this relocation easily.]

Unless you're telling me that New York has changed a lot more than I thought.

No, this city is definitely a place all its own.

Are you doing okay? I meant what I said about catching you off guard. Especially in this place. It's a lot to take in.

Yeah, I'm good.

[never mind that he's actively avoiding most of his friends right now]

You've been here a while, haven't you?

[Steve, no!]

Haha, well, yeah. Unfortunately I think the place is attached to me. But on the upside I can buy you a coffee.

We can head out for coffee if you want. I'm finished for the night anyway.

[and the less time he spends in his apartment right now, the better. it's a lot easier to avoid someone you're living with that way.]

I'd like to go out for coffee with you. You're right. We should get to know each other.

[Tony thinks the man is great already. It's Steve.]

Meet me at this cafe? My treat.

[He doesn't know if Steve is a dominant or submissive, but either way he sends along the address to a nice cafe in the Up.]

I'll see you there in fifteen.

[as awkward as it might be for them to meet in person, given his last couple of encounters with people named tony stark. but if he's able to separate the two bucky's in his head, surely he can do the same with the tony's. right?]

[At least he's easy enough to recognize. Tony walks up to Steve as soon as he spots him, wearing a nice suit and smile to give him a good first impression.]

Steve? Did anyone tell you you're taller in person?

[That's a great joke, right?]

[with a somewhat ripe smelling duffel bag in hand, steve turns up at the cafe, freshly showered from a late night session in the gym. the bag gets left near the door though, as far from other people as he can, and there's only the briefest amount of hesitation before he's smiling back at tony.

this isn't the one he knows. he's got to remember that.]

I guess the serum was good for something.

[because it's easier to joke about it than to dwell on the memories of the last time someone did point it out. it'll all ultimately lead back to the twisted mess of problems that he's trying to avoid by coming to meet tony.]

Thanks for inviting me.

[Oops. He may have accidentally hit a bit of a spot there with the comment on Steve's looks. If this man is anything like the Steve he knows, he and the serum have a complicated relationship.]

My pleasure. And you look great. Believe me, it's not just the serum.

[That helps, right?]

I'm glad you called me. I know it must be weird talking to someone that knows about you when you've never met, but you can ask me anything you want. I'm all yours.

IC inbox for duplicity

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