[ You're gonna have to forgive him for not noticing right off. Those subtle changes, the hints of grey, the new tinge of vein-scars along one jaw and cheek, those come several seconds after the processing of who exactly it is standing beside him. There's a very, very clear moment where he tenses up, shoulders tight, stance shifting to a defensive heel like he's ready to take a punch.
Which doesn't come, and that's... a surprise, to understate it.
Instead comes actual words. Calm ones, mostly, that involve buying him a beer, and what the hell parallel universe is this version from?
Or, what history does he have to look forward to that leads to talking and not fighting, tense though it may be? ]
Do.... what.
[ Skeptically, warily.
I'm not doing this as in...
You know what, too many variables to guess, what in the hell is happening right now, Christ, it's goddamn Tony Stark. He came here hoping for Steve and instead he's getting the personification of all things guilt and history. ]
no subject
Which doesn't come, and that's... a surprise, to understate it.
Instead comes actual words. Calm ones, mostly, that involve buying him a beer, and what the hell parallel universe is this version from?
Or, what history does he have to look forward to that leads to talking and not fighting, tense though it may be? ]
Do.... what.
[ Skeptically, warily.
I'm not doing this as in...
You know what, too many variables to guess, what in the hell is happening right now, Christ, it's goddamn Tony Stark. He came here hoping for Steve and instead he's getting the personification of all things guilt and history. ]