Howard ushered Steve and Tony over to his workbench, motioning for the both of then to sit down on one of the stools. Steve sat down immediately, but Tony stayed standing. "So…" Steve began. "What did I miss over the last 70 years?" he asked.
The question was directed to Howard, but Tony butted in with "Rock and roll, Star Wars and a black president." He said. Steve raised an eyebrow. "Really? We have a black president?" he asked with a smile. Tony nodded. "Huh. Good for us." He said.
Howard shot Tony a glare. "I'm trying to catch up with an old friend, Tony." He said sternly. Steve laughed at Tony's kicked puppy look. Howard rolled his eyes. "That one's even more of a punk than you were." He teased. Tony made a face.
"Besides, I highly doubt he can give you the highlights of the last 70 years. He's only 22." He said with a laugh. Steve smirked. "Well I'm only 17." He replied with a shrug.
Howard laughed bitterly. "I know. You're just the way I remember you. I got old." He said. "But…I've been preparing for you. I have a room all set up." He said. Steve grinned. "Really? I hope you didn't go to too much trouble…" he said.
Howard shook his head. "No, no trouble." He assured him. "Listen, Steve. I've got to get some work done. Why don't I have Tony show you your room?" he suggested.
Tony sighed dramatically, grabbing Steve's wrist and pulling him off the stool. "Yeah, alright. Come on, Marty Mcfly." He said with a smirk. Steve stared in confusion. "My name is Steve Rogers." He said, as if Tony had forgotten it. The older man chuckled. "Yeah, I got that. It was supposed to be a joke but…I guess they didn't have the Back to the Future movies in the 40's, did they?" he said, feeling a bit awkward as he lead Steve to his room. "No, they didn't. At least I assume they didn't. I've never heard of it." He said. "Wish I could ask Bucky. He's the one who knew about that kind of thing." He said.
"There's that name again. Bucky. Who's Bucky?" Tony asked, glancing quizzically at the blond man. Steve blushed lightly. "Sorry. …I talk about him a lot. Can't help it," he said awkwardly. "Bucky is short for James Buchanan Barnes. He is- well…he was my best friend back in the 40's." Steve explained "My only friend, actually, besides Peggy and Howard. But Howard was 10 years older and Peggy was…well, it was different with Peggy." He said, not bothering to explain.
When they arrived at the room, Tony opened the door with a dramatic sweeping gesture. "Here you go. Home sweet Home, Rogers." He said. Steve smiled, entering the room and going to sit on the bed. "This is really nice." He said, almost in awe. Tony smirked. "I try." He said smugly. Steve sighed, reaching into his pockets and pulling out his old photographs and birth certificate and lying them down on the bed.
"What are those?" Tony asked, walking over to the bed to examine the photographs. There was one of Steve and his parents when he was little, and one of Steve, Bucky and Peggy taken just a year before he'd been sent to 2014. Tony studied the pictures. "Is that Bucky and Peggy?" he asked. Steve nodded. "She's kind of cute." He commented. "Did you two ever…" he trailed off, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Steve rolled his eyes. "She was my girlfriend, if that's what you're implying." He replied.
Tony laughed. "Wait, really? You and her? Damn. Nice going Steve. How'd you manage that?" he asked, seemingly impressed. Steve sighed. "I don't know. We've been friends since we were 3, everyone just sort of…expected us to fall in love. So two years back, when I was about 15…I asked her to go steady." He explained with a shrug, not meeting Tony's eyes.
Tony raised an eyebrow. "And did you?" he asked. "I mean…did you fall in love." He explained, at Steve's confused look. The younger man blushed furiously. "Well…no." He admitted. "I always cared for her but as a friend." He said. Tony sat down on the bed. "Really? It seems like it'd be pretty difficult to not feel anything for a girl like that." He said. Steve sighed, biting his lip. "I suppose." He said quietly. 'What was wrong with her? Just not your type?" Tony asked. Steve bit his lip." You could say that. And…I actually had feelings for someone else." He admitted softly. Tony nodded. "I see." He said softly. "Are you going to miss them?" He asked
"I didn't really think about it until you just said that." He admitted. "But….yes. I think I will." He said
