Armory of the Heart

by Risa Zugva

Steve Rogers is a man out of his time. Tony Stark is in the center of his time bending the world to his image. But images can be deceiving. The war and constant fighting is a cold place. Luckily they are accustomed to the cold world. The warmth is what they both are afraid of.

2. A Clown

Steve Rogers was an ordinary guy. A guy with bad luck but still just an ordinary Joe. He didn't mind that. In fact he took pride in who he was because it was his ordinary nature that got him this life, for it he was chosen. That choice became even more important when everything was ruined and he remained the only one with such power. Steve always wondered how could some people be so unique that no one could replace them when they're gone.

Steve wondered how was it possible that in the 70 years of his slumber no one was able to replicate what was done to him. He would expect that in time everyone would be like him. But fate wanted of him to be unique despite his ordinary nature.

He wasn't a weak man to refuse his fate or to dwell upon this world he wake up in, he just continued to walk, run and do what was needed. He slept for too long, and before that he was a clown for far too long, to be still in this time, to do nothing with his power, to stand aside while others made terrible decisions. No, he was old enough to know wrong from right, and he was removed enough from this world not to fall into its traps. Temptation that this world presented looked like child's play.

That was the thing he resented Tony Stark. He was acting like a child. He was rich enough to build himself power, and smart enough to be unique on his own and he chose daily to behave badly, to play a clown like Steve was once forced to. Steve knew how to spot emptiness of being a clown in him but Tony chose that role for himself. It was even harder for Steve because he knew Howard Stark. For Howard Steve was a child and Steve thought of him as a competitor, friendly one but still. Howard was too smooth, too handsome and too skilled to feel comfortable about yourself compared to him.

"That was the man my father couldn't shut up about" said Tony with disdain and Steve couldn't help but wonder what did he say. What did he think of Steve the powerful clown that made few heroic moves before disappearing.

But that wasn't important, important was the task at hand and Tony did what was needed. He lied on the wires for them to go through. It was such a relief to see him survive that stunt of crossing to another universe and hear him blab on that Steve thought himself being petty and childish. Tony was doing what he could. He too must have been competing against his father whole his life. That must have made him a clown. If he lived on in his time Steve would probably got back in being a clown. What else could he do? In time where no treats were made he wasn't needed and his power was useless. It was God's mercy really to wake him up in this time where he was needed, where there were others like him, unique. Even if they were clowns, monsters and gods. He'll do his part as he always does.

As for Tony, it wasn't hard to make him suit up and do what was needed, you just had to look at him and stare some. For the way he responded it was like nobody looked at him for real, like they all bought his clown performance and stopped paying attention.