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[capsicle1919]

*post-battle (genetically-engineered pterodactyls, really?), Steve arrives via helicopter back at the Tower, hops out and gives a tired wave to Natasha and Clint as they power down, makes his way inside and down the elevator to the debriefing room, which is not, in fact, where they are debriefed - that happens at SHIELD - but rather where they shower and change, and so named because Tony decided it's where they are de-briefed, and Steve's never been able to think of it as anything else, goddammit*

Hey. *nods at Bruce, who is drinking a gallon of Gatorade, passes him by and heads straight for the showers, leaning his shield against the wall, starts stripping out of his damaged, blood-spattered uniform*

Comments

[capsicle1919]

Okay... *steps up on to one of the armored boots, feels around and finds a place he can grip, on the back of Tony's shoulder, bounces once, testing his grip, his footing* I think I'm good.

[thestarkside]

Yeah, you are. *the mask snaps shut, eyes glowing, and wraps his arm tightly around Steve's waist* Here we go. JARVIS? *and he takes off, the skylight opening a split second before they reach it, and then they're in the air and climbing*

[capsicle1919]

*the train is roaring through the mountains, there's snow stinging his face, he clings to the side of the destroyed car, staring down into the chasm, he can hear Bucky screaming, and for a second he goes completely tense, his eyes squeezed shut, doesn't realize his fingers are actually denting Iron Man's armor*

[thestarkside]

Whoa -- *stops in midair, just hovering, looks at him, worried* Hey, buddy, you're squashing me a little. Steve, look at me, you're all right, come on.

[capsicle1919]

*it takes a good couple of minutes but now that they're stopped, and it's only the wind, he relaxes a bit and opens his eyes* Sorry. *a little breathless, swallows hard* Sorry. Just- Got a little inside my own head for a minute, there. I'm good. I'm good. *looks at Tony, who is not Bucky, Tony is alive and well and Steve hasn't failed him*

[thestarkside]

You wanna go back? *the mask opens and he meets Steve's eyes, his expression serious* We can go back.

[capsicle1919]

No! No, I- I probably needed to do that, Tony. *looks at him* I gotta face some of this stuff, or I'm useless in the field. *Tony looks genuinely concerned, his eyes dark and frantic, and Steve can't help it, he taps Tony's cheek with a finger* C'mon, let's go, Tony. Stand clear of the closing doors. *lopsided grin, still unsteady but sincere*

[thestarkside]

*laughs, jostles Steve a little with his hip* Yes, sir. *the mask snicks closed again* Buckle up. *secures his grip on Steve, tells JARVIS to monitor him and warn him of significant distress, and then takes off again over the city*

[capsicle1919]

*it's better this time, he keeps his eyes open so he can see the red and gold of Tony's armor, and he knows exactly where he is and it's fantastic, he's soaring over New York and it's bright and blinding, he laughs involuntarily because he just can't keep it inside, no wonder Tony does this*

[thestarkside]

*grins and spins into a barrel roll, letting out a whoop as he does so, it's been ages since he just flew around for the joy of, and it's kind of awesome all over again, seeing it through Steve's eyes*

[capsicle1919]

Jesus Chri- *yelps and holds on, forces himself to keep his eyes open even though he's dizzy as hell, and he's reminded of every single time he threw up on a roller coaster* Fuck, Stark! *calls out, laughing*

[thestarkside]

What I've been saying! *is practically giggling, he made Steve swear* You good? Gonna test out some edge case conditions!

[capsicle1919]

I'm good, I'm good! *shouts, grinning, he can see the Brooklyn Bridge from here* Do your worst, Stark!

[thestarkside]

You're gonna regret that! *tightens his hold around Steve's waist and cuts the repulsors, and they drop*

[capsicle1919]

Oh, shit- *immediately clings to Tony with both arms wrapped around him, his stomach rolling, it's terrifying and exhilarating, like jumping out of a plane but he's got no 'chute, he has to trust Tony that they won't fall right into the river, and he does trust Tony, lets out a whoop as they fall, tears in his eyes from the wind*

[thestarkside]

*laughs, loud and unfettered, and waits until the last possible second before they hit the water to blast them back from it, repulsors blazing, flips horizontal and zooms straight and fast across the water before steadying enough to shoot back up into the sky* How's that for a taxi, Rogers!

[capsicle1919]

*laughs, shaking his head* You are out of your mind, Stark. *giggles, actually giggles, a little hysterically, his stomach's still somewhere back down over the water, he has goosebumps and he hasn't been this happen in - well, if he's technical about it, almost seventy years* That was fantastic!

[thestarkside]

Yeah it was. *looks at him, hanging on with both arms like they're something more than just coworkers, as if Tony is someone Steve could care about for real, it's a nice illusion -- and more importantly, he looks happy, light in a way Tony's never seen him, and thank god the mask is down because he knows he probably has the dopiest, most besotted look on his face right now* Anywhere you wanna go?

[capsicle1919]

Uh... *thinks, then nods* Yeah. *points* Can you fly due southeast a tick? I'll guide you. *still clinging with both hands, not letting go, wishes Tony's mask wasn't down, would like to be able to see his face, can picture him flushed and exhilarated from the flying*

[thestarkside]

Aye-aye, Captain. *veers off in that direction, slowing down a little to his average flying speed*

[capsicle1919]

*keeps a weather eye on the ground as they fly* Take a right as soon as we clear the bridge, and head for that big, empty space - it's a park. *when they reach the park, he squints and - not for the first time - is grateful for enhanced vision* Okay, see that tall, brown building? The third one from the corner on the left? Put us down there.

[thestarkside]

*has JARVIS zoom in on a visual of the building as he heads in that direction* Any records on what this building is? *quietly, asking JARVIS directly, who replies immediately that it's a former tenement, now a protected historical site. interesting.

he touches down as gently as he can on the roof of the building, but doesn't let go right away, just to make sure Steve is steady on his feet first (or so he tells himself)*

[capsicle1919]

*hesitates, doesn't really want to let go, finally does, hopping down and looking off toward the city, exhales slowly, it looks the same, save for a few new skyscrapers here and there* I musta spent days up here, when I was a kid. I can't believe it's still standing. *looks at Tony* This was where I grew up.

[thestarkside]

*flips the mask up and glances around, but mostly watches him* You haven't been back yet?

[capsicle1919]

No. *takes a deep breath, it smells the same, though there's a lot more exhaust in the air, he can still smell the river* I haven't wanted to, not by myself anyway. *shrugs, looks a little sheepish* But, you know, you took me up in your world, kinda, so I figured I'd bring you back to mine. *goes to the edge of the roof and peers down* Wow, the diner's still there. And the barbershop!