( WHOOPS sorry this chapter's a bit late, I've been busy making some costumes and stuff as well as going on a small vacation which…you probably don't care about so ONTO THE CHAPTER
Also I have a tumblr .com FOLLOW ME MAYBE?)
Chapter 7
"Mom, ….mom you're dead….."
"No Stevie , Stevie it's me."
"Mom you're dead! You died of pneumonia remember! You're not here…."
"But Stevie I am! Look at you….still so small even after many years…."
"I..I wasn't always like this, I became a super solider. I was a hero….I wish you could have seen me Mom. I saved people!"
"I know you did. I've watched you. You're like the heroes in those comic books you used to write. You're still a hero Stevie. No matter what anyone tells you. But something's….something's happening to you alright and I want you to be okay so…..Stevie, Stevie don't- "
"…..Mom? Mom? Please don't go! What were you going to say? MOM?"
"Steve! Calm down!"
Tony grabbed Steve's shoulders and shook him until they made eye contact.
"Steve, no one is there. "
"B-but, my mom! My mom was right there! Talking to me! Stark I saw her…..I did."
Tony just stares at the frightened Steve while he frantically explains what he saw. He could see in his eyes that Steve was speaking the truth, well, somewhat but, that's what worried him. Something was definitely wrong with Steve.
"Steve, you're hallucinating. Your mind is projecting images and sounds based off of your memories I'm assuming. "
"…..but my mother had something to say to me. About me currently! How was that a memory if she was talking about the way I am now. She was warning me and you shook me out of it!"
"Steve no, listen-"
"No she was there! I give you my word! "
"I understand you saw her but could you calm your frozen butt for 1 minute. The serum has not only worn off…it has left you with….well some side effects. "
"Side effects. Like medicine? "
"Exactly."
"….I know what I saw. What I heard. What I felt. All of it! My parents, my friends, my war mates, my enemies! It's telling me something! Stark this isn't, this can't just be some side effect. My past wants my attention."
"Steve I realize it hurts. To have lost everyone. To have lived passed it all. I'm sorry but you're off your rocker kid."
"I might be sick. I understand that this is strange. But there is no way that this is just a bunch of hallucinations! This has to mean somethi-"
"Steve go lie down. Just Go. Lie. Down."
Tony gave Steve a very stern look. As much as Steve's upset, puppy dog look practically broke him; he remained as serious as possible. Steve turned away and headed to the guest room, slamming the door.
…
"Bruce, you sure you're alright with producing more serum?"
"Oh, sure. I mean, what else do I have to do. Fury has half the team out on this whole gang case. I think the hulk would be a bit, well, much for something like that. This is more my area."
Tony nodded once and walked over to a lab counter. He took the small test tub of remaining Serum from years ago and dropped it on a petri dish. Meanwhile, Bruce layed out a small amount of the serum under a microscope to see it up close and inspect the particles. The goal was less about discerning the "ingredients" of the serum but to acquire them, mix them together right, then apply the "Vita-Ray Stablization" and inject it into to Steve. More complicated than it sounds? Possibly.
"Bruce, I'm uh…. worried about Steve."
"Are you? "
"Well he's been acting up. And,..seeing things. He's tripped over nothing, heard voices, fallen out, and this morning he was screaming for his mother. Talking to her like she was right in front of him. First I just assumed maybe he's just striving for attention- "
"Like you, heh."
"…well I do love 'certain' attention. But I'm serious."
"Well if we work hard enough we could probably improve the serum so that it's less likely to wear off and leave side effects. I mean, it will help him and make you feel better…"
Tony notices a slight smirk upon Bruce's face as he looks into the microscope."
"Um, and you're smirking because?"
"Well, I think it's cute how you're pretty worried about Steve."
"Cute? Really?"
"Heh, I'm just saying. He's living with you I presume."
"…..why would you assume that?"
"Because it's obvious that you're very fond of each other, it just seems like the kind of thing you'd offer him."
"Well that may or may not be true. But see, I'm worried about him because he's more a colleague."
"A colleague that you, I don't know, sleep with on occasion?"
"….Where do you get these silly ideas from?"
"It's alright Tony. In actuality I'm mildly jealous, not, not about the intimacy just the fact that you and Steve have a comfortable connection with each other. You've really got his back."
Tony smiles. He always felt close to Bruce. Despite the fact that on the inside he's angry and that half of him is a giant, green, ball of rage, he really was a sweetheart.
"…Well I've got your back too buddy, there's plenty of me to go around."
Bruce chuckles while Tony playfully pokes him on the cheek. They grin at each other and resume to their work on the Serum.
