No-One But You (The Zephyr Endeavor)
Chapter 26: (s)AINT (Part 6)
Tony Stark was standing toward the left side of a pretty large closet. His side was an organized chaos, and it looked messy when compared to the other side.
Steve Rogers kept his stuff all neat and tidy. Everything was pressed, folded and organized. Tony noticed it every time he changed his clothes, and his eyes locked onto a yummy blonde as he entered the room.
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"Are you having fun on the farm?"
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LOLZ. He caught that golden smile as soon as Steve processed the question. It didn't take him long, and he enjoyed Tony's teasing. Steve actually welcomed it, and the blonde expected it as soon as he saw him.
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"Yes. Did you have fun, consulting?"
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Ouch. Tony winced a little. The low blow struck a playful nerve, and he almost finished getting dressed. The brunette was changing into his minimal sleepwear, and the look usually consisted of a black T-shirt with red shorts.
Tony skipped the shirt and he just turned himself around. He faced Steve and addressed his sassy comment.
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"He's working really hard, and so is Wade. The merc is doing everything he can to undermine your votes against him."
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Ah. Truthfully speaking, Wade Wilson's presence had become a bit problematic. Steve Rogers was responsible for it, so he gave that subject a small shrug. He didn't say anything to Tony, and he turned to his own clothing change. His evening attire was usually a white shirt with some blue slacks.
When it came down to anything related to Ezekiel Stane, Wade Wilson, and the Surveillant Council, Tony and Steve always voted in opposition. They both refused to speak about it at home as well…and they both did their best to keep the subject outside the apartment.
Steve had barely spoken to Ezekiel, or Wade, since S.H.A.D.O.W. was established. The blonde only read the mandatory updates he was given, and he felt that was best. Because of updates and reports, Steve knew the change to Rae-Ann was taking place, and he also knew Ezekiel's connection to Wade was getting harder to suppress.
He knew other things about that too, but he tried not to think about it. It was out of his hands, and all he could do was vote one way or the other. Steve's eyes caught Tony's for a moment, but the blonde carried on with his clothing change.
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"You know, I thought Ezekiel was crushing on you for a long while. He was so eager to impress you, or accomplish something…I get what the baby Jackal is feeling for now…"
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Tony always spoke with a playful tone. Steve could hear it in his voice, and the blonde felt a bit baited. His Little Red Corvette was clearly dying to chat about the "White Jackal", and Steve wasn't sure if he wanted to indulge in the conversation.
His skin was covered in the clothes he planned to wear for sleep, and he quietly approached their bed. Steve stood toward the left of it, and he studied Tony's playful grin. He was being baited, I mean, Tony gets what the Jackal is "feeling" for now?
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"That's funny, because I thought the same exact thing about you. Ezekiel seemed very obsessed with you when we first met him, so what more is there to get?"
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Historically speaking, Steve Rogers wanted to knock Ezekiel Stane through the floor when they first met. He didn't like the way he communicated with Tony, and he really didn't like what the "Jackal" used to do for a living….
It took a long time for Steve to cool off from that, and now look. Tony stepped a little closer to their bed as well, and his eyes started scanning over Steve's tense looking stance. Blondie seemed bothered, so Tony gave all that ancient history a passive shrug.
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"There's a lot to get Steve, because we're both right in a sense. I know Ezekiel's been wanting to experience what he watched between us. He watched the two of us for a long time, right here in this room and all over this apartment. Remember?"
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Tony had to smirk. Steve's bothered posture and expression tightened up even more, but the brunette lived for shit like that. Ezekiel monitoring his every move was ancient history. Tony was only interested in what was happening with him in the present moment.
The preservation of Ezekiel Stane's soul was very important, and there was something going on that Steve perfect-face Rogers was missing. Tony didn't miss a beat about it tho, so he walked around their bed and he looked that yummy blonde right in the eyes. He needed to remind Blondie and hit him with some facts.
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"The first time I spoke to Ezekiel Stane, I called him my copycat. Steve, he's still a copycat because he knows nothing else. What he's experiencing with Wade now is similar to what he witnessed going on here.."
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Get it? Tony pointed around the room they were in, and he hoped that blonde would get a clue. He hoped the rest of the EFFING Surveillant Council would get a clue as well, but that was wishful thinking. Tony's body was heating up in that moment. He started speaking to Steve with a bit more force.
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"When he watched us, Ezekiel could see that I was happy. He could see that I felt safe and happy here WITH YOU… and I asked him if he wanted to copy that too."
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I mean, OF COURSE they did what Charles Xavier and Ezekiel Stane wanted. OF COURSE they voted against Wade. They put obstacles in his path, and ultimately that suppressed all of those beautiful emotions.
Ezekiel Stane didn't want to be anywhere near those things called emotions, and Charles Xavier only wanted to play it safe.
Steve Rogers closed his eyes for a sec and he brought his hands up to Tony's shoulders. His Little Red Corvette was getting all fired up, and Steve felt like he had to do something to cool the man down.
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"He wants to copy it, Steve, and now you guys keep voting against Wade. I argue that it's keeping someone from being human… Let's all remember that Ezekiel was groomed to see emotions as a weakness. Ok? And that Jackal prefers to feel nothing at all."
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Those yummy soft hands started rubbing on Tony's arms. Steve was hearing him through all of that, and the blonde kept his eyes closed. Tony was always full of passion, and all that talk was heating up the room.
The soldier slowly opened his eyes then he gently asked Tony a simple question. What did he want him to do? Tony clearly had a plan in mind, so that was the question of the night.
Steve also had HIS reasons for doing what he did, thinking what he thought, and voting as he did. The blonde had a passion within him that could match Tony's and then some , but what he heard was breaking through some of it.
Chapter: END
Thanks for reading.
Note: this chapter refers to what happens here - Starchild (Part 2)