billionaires | #inbox

Steve swallows. That's interesting. Right now the important thing is to get it out. The truth is terrifying. He really can't be sure how Tony will react. He is in over his head. The truth is he really needs an ally right now; a friend. A part of Steve thinks that maybe Tony can check one box. "Then you know that James Buchanan Barnes was the only man we lost. You might even know that Armin Zola experimented on him years before that." His voice is heavy with pain. He can't point out the obvious: Bucky is famous for being his best friend. This is as personal as it gets. He forces himself to look at Tony as he delivers the rest of the news.

"The fall didn't kill him. HYDRA's had Sergeant Barnes all this time. They sent him to kill a lot of people including me, Fury, and Nat. As far as I can tell we're one of the only people who managed to survive our encounters with him."

That has a cold sweat pooling at the base of his neck. Bucky Barnes, Steve's BFF from the 40s?? His knuckles turn white as he clutches the coffee cup too tight and hopes Steve can't make out his terrified expression through his glasses. His terror flips into a deeper pain, one that feels like his guts being turned inside out.

"Why..." It seems petty on multiple levels to ask Steve why he didn't loop him in on this. He was scared, he said so, but it still takes some effort to swallow back down that sharp knife of betrayal. If this guy is out there, he needs to be neutralized, one way or another. "Okay... okay."

Tony takes a tremulous sip before setting his cup down on his thigh and pushing another breath out.

"Now we just have to track down a souped-up supersoldier with brain fry. How hard can that be?"

Steve stares a hole into Tony. It's incredibly unfair to judge him now. He needs to know how Tony takes this. He notes those white knuckles and decides fear is a good thing in this scenario. The soldier just finished explaining the terror his best friend caused strangers and close allies. He should be scared.

Steve's blue eyes go up ahead to a patch of weeds as he notes, "I've failed at it every step of the way." This isn't his area of expertise by a long shot. Maybe Tony will have better luck. There's something else he should share before they go there. Steve forces some coffee down his throat before he can voice it. "There's more if you want to hear it." He tellingly doesn't look at Tony as he says it.

Tony swallows dryly, as usual he insulted Steve without trying. But the other man doesn't seem upset with him, just... resigned. He can empathize with that.

"Who are you, Billy Mays?" he volleys the second the words hit his ears. 'Want' has very little to do with this moment. He gives a sad little sigh, knowing that's a reference Steve probably will not get. He pushes up his glasses and levels Steve with his soberest gaze yet. "If it'll help us find him, I've gotta know."

Steve has no idea what he's talking about as evident by his silence. He focuses on what needs to be said. It's hard. He can't look Tony in the eye as he says it which is unnatural for Steve. In the past, he always spoke his mind without a shred of doubt. This is truly awful. It hurts. He knows not as much as it will hurt Tony though. He can't bear to see it even with their differences. "There's no proof, but an evil AI claimed that your father caught wind of some of this, maybe all of it, and HYDRA had him killed."

He turns his head to take in Tony's reaction with a weary sigh. "I was kind of hoping to find something to confirm or deny it before bringing it up to you." He can't wait any longer if Tony is involved. There's too strong a chance that they'll stumble across something on the hunt. He can't blindside him even if that might be easier in the short term.

He stares at him for a moment, working his jaw for long after Steve is finished speaking like he didn't absorb all of what he said. Though he did - oh did he - but he's still processing it all, will probably be for the next millennia.

"I don't really see how that'll help us find your buddy, but mmkay." It sounds cold, but even Steve should be able to recognize it for the defense mechanism it is.

Steve doesn't argue with him. He just meets his gaze with an eerie amount of calmness. This has been his nightmare for a while. He's comfortably numb at this point. "I also have a Russian file on him. It's not for the faint of heart, but maybe you'll get more out of it than me if you're ready to give it a read." God knows Steve isn't rushing him.

Tony goes uncharacteristically quiet, staring down at his lap and holding his glasses in a vice grip. It's starting to fall into place why Steve has been running around behind his back, the picture on the inside isn't any better but somehow it feels... good, to be allowed into the fold. Even if the results will definitely be horrifying, the more he turns over the words in his head.

"I've got it," he says suddenly, switching his shades to his opposite hand before tucking them into the pocket of his shirt. He reaches out for Steve's arm and just barely brushes calloused hands against his wrist from how far they're sitting apart - easily a metaphor for their relationship (or lack thereof) up until now. "We're gonna get to the bottom of this, okay?"

It's actually hard for Steve to digest what's happening. He's let Tony in on this partly because he didn't think Tony would drop it otherwise, but the rest? Well it's been selfish. He's overwhelmed and tired. He needs new eyes on this.

So why is Tony trying to make him feel better about all this? Steve is openly confused, brows knit together as he tries to work out why Tony is being such a good sport about all this even after he brought Howard up. "You're still in?"

It's not really trying to make Steve feel better as just backing him up to do the right thing, but if it gets him there too as a bonus he can live with it.

"When was I out?" he asks, which could sound biting in the wrong tone, but his is soft now. This brief interaction has worn him ragged and he pulls back his hand to rub at the pressure building between his eyes. "Look, do I wish you had told me about this sooner instead of running off when the world needs us most? Uh, yeah. But I get it. I wasn't always a team player either, hold your shock til the encore, please."

Yeah he still has a knack for exhausting people. Steve nods to himself, satisfied, or at least he thinks. That whole comfortably numb thing doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. Steve is certain of one thing at least. "Thank you. I know you've never seen me at my best and this isn't going to bring that out-" He smiles wryly. Clearly withholding vital information isn't a point in his favor.

"But, thank you."

That earns a scowl and a longer silence than he usually ever employs, especially around Steve. When he gathers enough intensity, he fixes his gaze back the other man's way and shakes his head. "Don't thank me, and it feels weird to be the one saying this to someone else, but: pity party's over, Cap. The coat check awaits us."

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