Lessons In Love: Chapter Seventy-Six: Tighten Up (Part 1)
B.L.O.N.D.I.E. became a companion for the younger Steve. He was running drills in his suit, and learning things as he saw fit.
Howard provided the space for Steve to do whatever he wanted, then the father mentioned that he needed sleep. Steve was wide awake.
He was sitting on the floor in a giant lab, and watching videos that related to Dr. Strange. Steve wanted to be ready for his training with him.
He heard Howard, and he muted the video. It was on a screen that only he could see. Steve thanked him for everything, and Howard told him that he was happy to help.
"If you need something, just let me know."
And on that note, Howard Stark left the lab. He left Steve the space in his lab. The blonde watched him leave, then he slowly looked around the gifted space.
He started realizing that people liked to give him things. They liked to build body-enhancing machines for him, and buy him apartments.
Steve really didn't know what to think about all of that. His mind slipped to Tony first, then it drifted off to his conversation with Bucky.
The thought of a partner crossed his mind, and he told himself that Bucky was NOT any sort of partner. Steve was still angry with him, and he glared at some gizmo.
Steve didn't even want to be in New York. He didn't want to go back to his gifted apartment, or talk to Bucky for a long time.
"Would you like to continue your history lesson on Dr. Strange?"
B.L.O.N.D.I.E. interrupted Steve's thought. He gasped when he heard the voice and he thought about what he should do.
Steve kept thinking... and thinking.
" B.L.O.N.D.I.E. can you tell me where Tony is? Is that possible?"
Steve remembered his letter. He knew that Tony planned to spend time with his parents, but the would-be-soldier couldn't get Tony off of his mind. He planned to talk to him when they returned to the Kamar taj, but Steve couldn't help it.
He recognized where he went wrong, and he didn't want to wait a week.
Steve became quiet and he waited for his robotic companion to respond. B.L.O.N.D.I.E. was searching its system for the younger Tony.
Steve heard a few beeps. He glanced over at his screen. A date and time popped up in front of him.
"Sir, Anthony Edward Stark has been located. His last location was documented on SECURITY CAM 26. He is presently at his current address, 10880 Malibu Point, Malibu, California, 90265."
Of course that was where he was. Steve knew that's where he went. He just..
Steve looked at the time on his screen. He was figuring out what time it was for Tony, and he figured that he was asleep. It was almost 1AM way over in California.
"Could you possibly call him? From suit to suit, I mean, his is always on his body."
Steve told his Captain America uniform to go away. The Stars and Stripes disappeared from his skin. He stared at his arms, and noticed that the screen was still on display.
A call to Tony was being connected. Steve started getting nervous. He actually hoped that Tony was asleep.
Steve didn't have very good luck, because another screen opened up, and he was looking right at the younger Tony. Steve could tell that he was in his bedroom.
He looked like he was unpacking his suitcase. Tony was facing his bed. The absolute last thing he expected was to see Steve's face in that moment. That golden thing looked very handsome.
Tony thought that immediately, and he forced his focus onto his suitcase.
"Hello Tony, I'm awful to be doing this.."
"Hey Steve. Awful?"
Tony didn't agree with that statement. He tried to ignore what was going on beneath his skin. Tony busied himself with his filthy clothes. He felt very warm and he kept quiet.
"Yes. Awful. I guess, I don't.."
Steve wanted to be honest. His suit was completely concealed, but those screens remained in place. Steve brought his hand up to the side of his head and he rubbed at his neck.
He looked nervous. Tony noticed it, but he still kept himself busy with his stuff.
"I don't really like it here. It's changed. Everything is different, and I don't think I want to be in New York."
Steve confessed what he felt, and he watched Tony move some stuff around on his bed. He watched Tony's bottom lip migrate beneath a few of his teeth. Steve also saw the color changing on his face.
He wanted to see it in person. Steve took a step and he waited for Tony to respond to what he said.
Tony was deep in thought. He heard what Steve said, and that hyperactive mind kept bouncing back to what he said to Stephen. He was also thinking about what he just spent an entire evening doing with Stephen.
Then he thought about a letter, and his mind returned to that beautiful blonde that was standing before him on a screen. Tony's mouth moved around. He was about to say something, but he thought it through for a while longer.
"You could..come here? Just, to talk. Or stay? That's up .."
Up? That's up. Tony shrugged his shoulders upward. He tossed a stupid shoe far away. Steve was mute for a while. He wanted to go there.
He asked Tony if it was really ok if he went there. He watched him shrug his shoulders up again. Tony was done unpacking his stuff. He saw Stephen's shirt on the pile, and Tony contemplated his actions.
The brunette swallowed his negative thoughts, and told Steve that it was ok. He wanted to talk to him, and see him, so...
Steve Rogers formed a portal. Tony took a few steps back as Steve entered the open space in the room. He smiled at Tony, and the portal disappeared behind him.
Tony thought that Steve looked different. He couldn't place what the change was, but he looked different and, big.
Steve looked even bigger than before. He looked friggen, thick. Uhhmaa, his appearance overwhelmed Tony a little bit.
The blonde spoke first, and Tony started messing with the piles of clothes that he just built. Steve watched his behavior, then he slowly looked over at Tony's bed.
"Just to talk."
"Yes. Just to do that. Talk."
TALK ABOUT WHAT? That was the question. Tony thought about a million different things, but he didn't want to mention any of it.
Chapter: END
Thanks for reading.
