We open to Torchwood HQ. Steve is still unconcious, only now he's in Jack's sleeping area on his bed. He's slowly coming to though, head spinning. He hears nothing but the cries of his loved ones. Peggy...Bucky...all dead...except Jack. Why is that, he wondered. Am I dreaming?
He started hearing voices from a nearby room. It was The Avengers and Team Torchwood getting acqainted in the main hall. Gwen, Toshiko, Ianto, and Owen all at their stations with Clint sitting next to Toshiko (she can't take her eyes of him) wiping his arrows while Tony and Jack were talking in the center of the room.
"What do you mean you've never heard of us?" said a curious and offended Tony. "We saved the Earth."
"So did we, and you don't hear us bragging about it." said an unimpressed Owen. "In fact, didn't we save the entire universe?"
Jack: "Yeah, though I did most of the work from what I remember."
"Yeah yeah yeah...so none of you have ever..."
Gwen: "Nope."
Tosh: "Fraid not, sorry. We don't really keep up with American news."
Ianto: "I think I read an article about a man in an iron suit getting shit faced and trashing his house. Was that you?"
Tony looks embarrased.
"Uh...yeah...BUT when I'm sober I can get the job done. Even when I'm drunk, I'm as amazing as a sober me."
Owen: "I'm sorry, what's your name again?"
Tony looks shocked that anyone wouldn't know who 'The Iron Man' is. He holds his composure. He extends his hand.
"Stark. Tony Stark. Playboy. Genius. Philanthropist. Billionaire. The Iron Man. Nice to meet you Ian."
"It's Owen."
Tony takes back his hand.
"Really? Never heard of it. Not one of my favorite names to begin with. See this suit? Made that. I'm a global phenomenon."
"Wouldn't you have to be known globally to be a phenomenon?"
"Yeah, but Cardiff doesn't count. Never heard of it. Is it even on the UK map? It doesn't even have it's own land. I mean, I've heard of IceLAND. ScotLAND. IreLAND. Then Wales. Cardiff. I mean what's that about? And what the hell is a Torchwood? Never heard of YOU guys and you guys *in air quotes* 'supposedly' saved the entire universe. I mean, the universe is pretty big. Shouldn't news about saving it be bigger?"
Jack (with a big cheeky smile on his face): "You probably haven't heard of it because we are a top secret organization. We keep things about us on a pretty tight lid here in Cardiff."
Clint (still cleaning his arrows) "Torchwood was founded by Queen Victoria in 1879. It began as a private organization used to restore the British Empire to it's former glory, but since it's grown throughout Earth. Even India. It has a few bases around the globe to defend their district from, primarily, alien threats."
Clint looks up to see faces of confusion and shock throughout the room, except from Toshiko whose still lost in Clint's eyes, only this time with a newfound amazement and impressed.
"...I've done a few missions in Cardiff. The locals don't seem to like you guys."
Jack is dumbfounded. Tony can't help but giggle.
"Locals?! What locals can possibly know we even exist?"
"The ones who's homes got a hole in their walls following many, many battles between a 'team of hoodlums' and 'funny looking spacemen'."
Tosh laughs; it's one of those laughs you'd hear from a girl in high school who's nervous around their crush.
"Also, I've done some research."
"Where on Earth could you find info on-"
"Wikipedia."
They all let out a hearty laugh.
Tony: "You know, speaking of info, you still haven't told me anything except your name and that you're a little on the special side."
Jack: "I'm not sure if being immortal makes me special, but if you say so."
Tony: "Actually, we've got a guy on our team who turns into a jolly green giant so that's probably as special as you can get."
They all laugh.
Tony: "Ha...but seriously, tell me the juicy stuff. Like what's up between you and the Star Spangled Banner? I saw the way you two looked at each other. You said you two were in WW2 together. Were you two...you know..."
Ianto's eyes widen.
Jack blushes a bit and looks a bit lost for words.
"Um...oh no...nothing like..."
"Calm down, it's okay, I don't care if you two bump uglies in the past or present. It's 2013. You're all looking at a man wearing an iron suit. Men have stepped on the moon. I'm sure we've all almost seen the end of the world. A Korean man in a tacky blue suit made the most viral video of all time. I think we can all handle two men being in a relationship. By the way, that wasn't a secret you were keeping from the team were you?"
"No, they knew...I mean I'm not...well I am...it's a little more than that."
"Ah, I get it. You're immortal, so you like to 'spread your wings'. Deep into any and all species as you can before this cookie crumbles. Men. Women. Robots. Aliens."
Jack lights up.
"YES! Finally, somebody gets it!"
Him and Tony fist bump.
"Yeah, I can dig it."
"Yeah, but me and Steve aren't any-"
That's when Steve walks in.
"Aren't any what?"
Jack: "Well, if it isn't sleeping beauty himself."
Steve looks like he's dead serious right now.
"I don't wanna joke. I want answers. Now."
"Woah woah, take it easy. If you wanna cash in that free snuggle card, you gotta wait in line just like the rest of these schmucks."
The whole room bursts out laughing. Except for Steve who really means business.
"JACK!"
Jack walks to him and puts his hands up.
"Alright, take it easy. Fine I'll stop, for now. If you wanna talk, please, step into my office."
He puts his hand on Steve's shoulder and walks him into Jack's office. As they walk away...
Tony: "They make such a cute couple."
Gwen: "They do don't they? They practically bicker like one already."
Tony: "Yeah. I'm not gonna lie. Steve's found a good one on his hands. It feels like just yesterday he was in a chunk of ice. They grow up so fast..."
Meanwhile in Jack's office...both men sit at a table. Steve sitting at one end, arms crossed, while Jack sits across from him with his hands crossed on the table.
"Why are you alive?"
Jack can't take that big grin off his face
"It's good to see you too Steve."
Steve takes a whiff of air, a bit impatient and anxious.
"Look...it's not that I'm not grateful to see an old friend, I AM...very much...but the last time I saw that friend was nearly 75 years ago. Last time I checked, all my friends were dead so when one randomly shows up out of the blue it throws me off. Wouldn't you want answers?"
"Well, while you were sleeping, Tony already told me your story and why you're here so I don't have any questions."
"Well, can you at least answer mine?"
The smile goes away from Jack's face, quickly replaced with a coy, sarcastic smile.
"You know, when you've been around for as long as I have, and I don't mean in an iceberg, you get sick of asking questions."
"How long have you been around?"
Jack quickly and casually says "A couple thousand, give or take."
Steve's eyes widen and his jaw drops.
"I...I'm sorry...can you run that by me again? I...thought you said..."
"I did. How about I just tell you the whole damn thing?"
"Um...yeah...please do."
So he did. It was a long story, but Jack got through it. Jack told him everything. About the man in the blue box. About saving the world. About traveling the world after first becoming immortal. About how just seeing that small kid's courage and heart in the alleyway that night inspired him to enlist. About joining Torchwood. Everything.
"Now, any questions?"
Steve is literally speechless.
"Good. I can tell you've been paying attention. You were always a pretty good listener. Now, I have a question for you...
How have you been lately?"
"Um...pretty good. Saved the world."
"Hey! Same here! We have so much in common! Isn't it nice to answer simple questions with simple answers?"
They both laugh.
"Yeah...I guess it is."
"Now, you wanna hang out another day and catch up or just BS like friends are supposed to instead of asking 21 questions?"
Steve giggles.
"Yeah...yeah that sounds nice Jack. I'd love to."
"It's a date."
"Oh that takes me back."
They get up and head toward the door out of Jack's office, but Jack stops Steve.
"Just one more thing."
Steve looks puzzled.
"What did you think of this...our first official date?"
Steve smiles and blushes.
"Well, for it to be a date, you gotta buy me flowers first. If this does constitute as a date...I loved every minute of it."
The biggest smile comes across both their faces.
Back in the main Torchwood entrance...Steve and Jack walk in.
Tony: "And that folks, is how yours truly saved the world...HEY! Our love birds have returned!"
Everyone claps, Ianto a bit reluctant though.
Tony: "How was the quarrel?"
Steve: "Screw you."
Tony: "Please...as long as Jack can join in."
Jack: "Now that's something I'm sure would be fun...as long as you put the suit on Stark."
Tony bursts out laughing.
Steve: "Alright, so I guess we're going now. Sure you don't need help with that creature from earlier?"
Tony: "Please, they saved the galaxy. They can handle a little weird alien thing. Isn't that right Jack?"
"Right. Might have to come to America and bail you guys out one day!"
"Don't push it, soldier. You may have WalesLand, but America is our turf. We are the greatest, because I'm their leader."
Steve: "Oh YOU'RE the leader now?"
Tony: "And don't you forget it."
As they walk towards the elevator, Clint gets up and Toshiko practically jumps up with a piece of paper in her hand.
"Um...um...Hawkeye..."
"Please, call me Clint."
Toshiko gulps as she tries to hide a schoolgirlish grin.
"Um...okay 'Clint', by any chance, if you're not busy, or you have another mission in Cardiff, could you...um...can you...I mean would you like to..."
Clint grins; he knows exactly what she's trying to say. He gently pulls the paper from her hand and puts it in his pocket.
"Yes...I would love to have drink with you Toshiko...and yes...I will cal you."
He winks at her and walks away. She has a big smile on her face, bites her lip, and stares at his ass. Owen tries hard to conceal his laugh.
The Avengers get on the elevator.
Tony: "Alright, folks, it's been swell. For a bunch of Brits, you're all alright."
Gwen: "Jack's American and I'm Welsh."
Tony: "And still no land. What a shame. Well...peace!"
Jack: "See ya."
As they go up, the two captains salute each other farewell...until next time...
