I trained myself to give up on the past

[valuedstrength]

The situation with AIM was bad enough. He didn't even hear about it until a week after the fact, Steve was (suspiciously) busy with his work at SHIELD. Much of it was additional training in just about everything imaginable (computers, fighting, everything a modern soldier needs to know in order to be effective in the field would be the short of it) but, of course the field tests just happened to take place during that mess. He's cleared by the time news of Tony's surgery comes up. It would be a lie to say he isn't tempted to say it's none of his business and call it a day. Tony clearly doesn't need him if the situation with the Mandarin is any indication. Major surgery applies even more so. 

Something nags at him to at least try so on a whim he goes for it. He takes a few sick days and heads out to the hospital where Natasha says he's recovering. Truth be told, he doesn't know what he's doing. It couldn't be more clear when he actually gets there. How exactly is he going to get into a hospital holding a celebrity? No one in their right mind will buy his ID is real. He's not sure it's wise to break in given what Tony has been through lately. Eventually it dawns on him he still has the man's card from after the Battle of New York.

He frantically punches in numbers into his new cell and waits the phone to ring. Hopefully the number still works after all these months.

Comments

[valuedstrength]

Steve passes the ice over swiftly. He hasn't missed the fact that Tony can't fill in the blanks while sucking on ice or at least he can't without choking. That leaves him to fill the silence. He tries to pick out something positive.

"The thing enjoy most so far is the movies. There were a lot of great movies put out while I was asleep." His smile widens. The first indication that Steve actually can feel passionate about something. "It was really cool to see how far animation has come. The stuff they can do now is so amazing. I could watch it all day."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He gives a shiver as the ice goes down, but then he's smiling with his eyes half-lidded the same way as before. That's adorable, actually. "Do you still draw?" Wait, how does Tony know that? He's too far gone to realize it's odd for him to have that info tbh. "Technically, it is amazing. Though there's something about the old flat animation. It's charming, or something." He prefers the new, as he always does, but there are certain classics even he can't turn up his nose at.

[valuedstrength]

His brow furrows as he asks himself why Tony would know that. It doesn't take long for him to reason out he's done- did it around Howard enough times for him to remember. Maybe he mentioned it at some point. "I do." He goes into his pant pocket to pull out a small brown leather notebook. "Not as much as I should, but you know how that goes." He slips it back into pocket with an amused snort.

"No argument there. You really feel the heart in those."

[letmetakeaselfie]

His eyes flicker as he watches the movement, but then Steve is putting the notebook away before he can fully register it. "I don't have an artistic bone in my body, as Pepper will tell you. But I can take your word for it." He's a busy dude, after all. "Tell me more. What's up with this SHIELD stuff?" Tony rests his eyes, but seems to enjoy the way Cap's voice washes over him -- he does have a really nice voice. But mostly he's lacking the ability to be as interactive as he usually is.

[valuedstrength]

Steve lets out a loud sigh. He doesn't particularly like his work. Since Tony is resting his eyes, he makes no effort to hide his dissatisfaction with it. "There isn't much to tell. Fury gets himself into problems, calls me and Romanoff up, and then he has less problems." You know other than the fact Steve chews him out sometimes.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"That is his ultimate MO, huh?" Steve doesn't sound happy, and Tony frowns in response without opening his eyes. "Remind me to take a picture of that pie before I eat it."

[valuedstrength]

"Pretty much." He can't help sounding salty about it. Steve rolls with the change in topic easily. "That I can do. You know you could sleep now if you wanted to. I won't leave until after we've eaten." He doesn't mind just hanging out on his own. He's used to it.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He cracks an eye, wondering if he should take that at face value. Cap wouldn't lie right to his face, right? But it's been so long... "I don't want to sleep. It's these damn meds..." Tony rubs at his eyes and does his best to keep them open.

[valuedstrength]

"You're healing." Steve reminds him gently. He gets how annoying this part too, but it really is necessary even when you don't have noticeable results the moment you wake up like he does. "Just go with it. I can keep myself busy until Ms. Potts gets here."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"You're super annoying when you're right," he groans, finally giving in and laying back. "She should be back soon." But that's all he gets out before he's out cold again, having weird morphine dreams but feeling safer just for Cap's presence.

[valuedstrength]

He decides to take that one as a compliment and smiles. "Goodnight, Stark." Steve brings the notebook back out along with his pencil and starts sketching the room. It's the quietest way of killing time save for scrolling Tumblr. At least this way he has something to show Tony when he gets up.

crashes in here!!!

[efficacy]

Eventually the sound of clicking heels herald Pepper's approach, the tapping ceasing on the other side of the door a beat before she raps her knuckles gently against it a couple of times to politely announce herself. But she doesn't wait to be admitted, pushing the door open with her free hand, her other arm curled around a brown paper bag. It's a day off, but she's still dressed neatly in grey slacks and plum purple shirt under a light jacket, pale orange hair pulled into a low-hanging ponytail.

She takes a quick look at still sleeping Tony before her gaze darts back to Steve, a polite but warm smile spreading to her lips. "Hi. I don't think we've been officially introduced."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He begins to fight through the haze when he hears Pepper's arrival, registering her shoes and the scent of food when she comes into the room. It still takes him a few moments to wake properly however, battling himself for consciousness though a smile tugs at his lips at their introduction. Why had they waited so long for this?

"Cap made me pie," is the first thing he says when his eyes snap open at long last, shooting Pepper an impossibly grateful look. "Thank you, baby."

[valuedstrength]

Steve has no way of knowing the heels equals Pepper Potts. The ceasing outside the door is enough indication that he should stop what he's doing. He's on his feet by the time she steps inside. Steve wastes no time crossing over to her and offering his hand. "We haven't. Steve Rogers. I fought with Mr. Stark in New York." He glances back at Tony's introduction. He can't help smiling in amusement. "I also bake pies."

[efficacy]

"Pepper Potts. I tell Mr. Stark what to do and how to do it," she cracks with a crooked smile, a joke and decidedly not as she shakes Steve's hand. She chuckles a little at the addition, moving to Tony's side to run the backs of her fingers gently down his cheek at his gratefulness, her smile softening in return. You're welcome, it conveys wordlessly, before she picks up the bed controls and elevates the head of Tony's bed just a bit so it's easier for him to eat.

"SHIELD doesn't keep you too busy then, Mr. Rogers, or is this a special pie occasion?" she asks with a small smile.

[letmetakeaselfie]

All the formalities floating through the air have him rolling his eyes, even if he just ends up closing them at the light touch. He should remember the bed does that and stop trying to move so much, but it's nearly impossible for him as it is. "It's true," he chirps cheerfully. "She's the boss of me." He grabs for the bag in her hand.

"Milkshake?" he asks hopefully before turning to Steve. "I'm the special pie occasion... apparently." It's still weird for him, but he's grateful for that too.

[valuedstrength]

He shakes his head fondly at Tony's addition, heading back for the chair he was sitting on before. "Mr. Stark is right. He is the special pie occasion." He retakes his seat and looks back to Pepper. "If I had known his boss was coming, I would have made two." Just because he's got a rocky relationship with his boss doesn't mean Tony has to as well.

[efficacy]

"A small one," Pepper agrees, nodding toward the bag. She laughs lightly at Steve's comment, grinning. "Thank you, but I think one is plenty. Tony would only steal most of it anyway and I'd end up having to wheel him out of here by the time he's released."

No, recovering from major surgery doesn't shield Tony from Pepper's fond teasing, sorry.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Wow," he clips dryly, pulling out his shake and a burger before passing the bag Steve's way. He takes a long sip through the straw before rejoining. "I resemble that remark." Because like, yeah they all know he doesn't do well being sedentary... ever.

His eyes flash on Steve, shaking his head. "Every time you call me Mr. Stark I'm pretty sure my father rolls over in his grave, just saying." He takes a bite and closes his eyes, allowing the taste to take him back to that car ride with Pepper and Happy so many years ago. Cheeseburger first. So many things have changed... just as many have remained the same.

[valuedstrength]

"Well I'd hate to make your job harder." Steve quips back at her. He grabs a cheeseburger out of the bag for himself. Tony's comment catches him before he can unwrap. He frowns at the mention of Howard, but doesn't get upset over it. Tony has a point. That's exactly what he called his father.

He gives it a moment's thought before presenting a solution. "Just Stark then?" Granted it's not a very good one, but he's trying.

[efficacy]

Pepper's lips quirk at Steve's rejoinder, chuckling a little at Tony's wry affront as she perches on the edge of the bed, patting his leg in a there, there gesture.

"How about just Tony?" Pepper suggests a beat after Steve, with a small smile.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"What she said," he manages around a mouthful, near constantly disturbed by Steve's penchant for distancing everyone. He thinks he's starting to get it now that they're meeting on a personal level, however, and he can find no real reason to find affront in the man's fumbling. He smiles at the pat to his knee before rearranging himself slightly so he can look at both of them and eat at the same time. "We've shwarma'd together. That's totally first name status."

[valuedstrength]

The sad thing is he doesn't even realize he's doing it. Steve looks uncomfortable for a second before conceding the point. "Okay, Tony." It makes him nervous to say it in all honesty. He tries to move past that with what else? Another quip. "But that means Steve is now on the table so I expect a lot less ice puns." He unwraps his burger and starts eating. He doubts that will change anything, but he had to try.

[efficacy]

Pepper gives Tony a look at Steve's ice pun mention, a hint of dry reproach in her tone as she speaks. "You've been your old, charming self, I see." Turning toward Steve with another polite smile, she asks, "So, how long are you in town for?"

[letmetakeaselfie]

He tips his head and shrugs a shoulder at Pepper's observation. There's no use denying it, he knows he says things just to get a reaction and so do Steve and Pepper. "He said not long. Fury keeps him busy." His eyes flash on Steve's, curious but also... guarded. He doesn't want to give away just how much it means to him that Steve is here at all, and he expects him to up and leave the second he gets the chance anyway. But it was still nice that he even made the effort.