Hey Bart, can we stop for ice cream?

[arrogantalloy]

WHO| Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Dave Strider
WHAT| Tony and Steve go out looking for some more food, but they find Dave.
WHEN| Start of week three.
WHERE| Food Court.
WARNINGS| Tooth achingly cute family-like moments maybe?


Tony had said he was bored enough to go look for food, he had announced it to the room and had expected no one to care. Annoyingly, they did care. Or at least Steve did, declaring that he was going to go along with Tony.

He really wanted to believe that it was because Steve was also bored, but then Tony's own record kind of stood against that theory, what with being alone for ten minutes in their first arena was what lead to Tony dying, and while being alone with Bucky had managed to cause both of them to have panic attacks due to their own personal traumas. So he was trying not to get huffy about this as they made it safely down to the food court level without killing themselves on escalators.

He wasn't doing a good job of not being huffy, even so much as mumbling.

"You know I stopped needing a nanny at least two and a half decades ago."

Of course forgetting that he had only told Bruce that he had a nanny when he was still a teenager.

Comments

[aboveangrybees]

Sure, half the reason Steve was tagging along was for Stark's safety, but that wasn't the only reason. The other half had to do with gathering food for the others, for himself as well. Not everyone wanted to brave the food court everyday and he could only let Bucky bring him back so much food before he felt like he was the owner of an over eager killer cat. Half of him expected to find Bucky dragging a dead body one day to lay at his feet in offering.

So, Stark said he was going and Steve figured he'd tag along.

The comment gets a huff, because really, from stories he's heard plus his own experience with the man, that's not exactly a true statement.

"I'm shocked you've survived so long without one," his tone is wry.

[arrogantalloy]

Tony just gives him a look, he's at least managed to learn in some really strange ways that Steve has one hell of a sense of humour and is capable of a lot more amusing moments than Tony would have more recently believed.

So he opts to just shake his head and point at him.

"Then you seriously underestimate J.A.R.V.I.S' ability to nag. Also Pepper. But then she didn't show up until I took over Stark Industries, so I'll give you a pass on her."

As he keeps walking he realises what he says, knits his eyebrows before looking at Steve again. While the way he said it infers more than what he meant, he's hardly about to take it back.

"Any sex with Pepper has to go through me first.... Well second I mean she has to be open to it first."

Let's be fair to Tony here, he is really only just coming out from having to be physically there for Bruce dying and he maybe be trying to overcompensate a little to keep him mind off that little fact. Which apparently means suggesting a threesome with his girlfriend and childhood hero. Yes, he knows he has issues.

[shenunigans]

With the Arena Dave has had, he's surprised he hasn't seen more of the two. He's been all over the place having a goddamn awful time, but seeing Clem die has definitely been the most solid reminder of what he's in store for. He's never going to win, so he doesn't really put much stock into that, but he's gotta keep trucking. Clem will be fine back in the Capitol, but that doesn't mean he isn't a little shaken. And tired. Really goddamn tired.

The topic he's hearing discussed is a welcome change to all of his sulking and the voices are pretty damn telling even from a distance. He's lurking a little ways behind them, dressed in a long sleeved sports jersey in red and white, black jeans and basketball shoes. He's really feeling the teen gangster vibe, but the sword slung in a make-shift hilt over his bag sort of ruins the image.

"Do my tired ears deceive me or did I just here the insinuation canoodling between the denial bros?" He calls out from behind them, walking faster to catch up with them.

[aboveangrybees]

Peggy, Clem, Natasha, Bruce, Clint, they were gone. And other than Clint, he wasn't witness to any of them, wasn't there or too far, screams in the distance and no chance of making it there in time. It left a weak, useless ache in his limbs, a tightness in his chest. The best comfort he has is that now they're out of the arena and back in the Capitol. He knows there's a risk that isn't true, that they weren't revived this time, but he has to believe it or- well, there's nothing easy about losing someone you're invested in.

But, the leader in him knows weakness isn't going to help anything, so he keeps it all tucked away, buried under. It's easier for everyone this way.

So, without effort, he looks at Stark, his brows furrowed in disbelief, because the man just basically suggested Steve sleep with his girlfriend. After permission from both parties. Sleeping with the man's girlfriend is not something he's interested in. "I'm sure Ms. Potts is lovely, but I'll pass."

The voice from behind catches him, he pauses, turning to see the boy and it's definitely something of a relief to see him. "Sorry to say, but you're being decieved," his lip curls up in a crooked smile, the miserable brand on his right cheek making it that way.

It doesn't even occur to him that they probably look like quite the pair, Stark in a Captain America hoodie and him in jeans, a shirt too tight, and a Captain America jacket. What can he say, it's familiar and comfortable.

[arrogantalloy]

"She keeps out of... No she doesn't. She puts up with me, she's more than just lovely." Tony replies without so much as a thought. Because really after all she's done for him, she at least deserves him bigging her up to anyone who will listen. Though he just shrugs at the disbelieving look, because he knew he wasn't entirely meaning it, but he also knew there was no way Pepper would agree to sleep with Captain America.

Right? Though really he wouldn't blame her.

Hearing Dave's voice, Tony looks over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow before turning to look at him.

"Let me guess, they built it?"

He knew that neither of them were really likely to get his reference, Dave was probably too young, and Steve 'too old'. Not that Tony could be surprised that Steve might want to watch an inspirational movie about baseball and angels.

However he was also unaware of the fact that he and Steve matched clothing wise, but really he'd been seeing Steve in the jacket for a week or more and he was barely out of his own Captain America hoodie since he first changed when he got into the Avengers store.

[shenunigans]

"Built what? A baseball field?" Dave can't be sure that's the reference he's making, but that's the closest that comes to mind. It's like a little test he needs to win.

"Oh really, again? I just happen to keep happening upon these totally coincidental happenstances. Guess what? It happens. In your future. Fighting the future is an uphill battle and you don't want to try it- or fighting the past for that matter. Or time in general." He Fonz points at Tony. "This guy knows what I'm talking about. You know I'm a time lord."

He's aware that he's babbling, but he's relieved to take in the sight of both of them for the first time in way too long. They look worse for wear, especially Tony because his clothes are awful- but the brand is pretty bad.. but they're alive. That's good. That reminds him of something else that he should inform them off as he approaches them. "Clem kicked the bucket. That happened." He decides to just get it out of the way quickly. "How many of the Avengers are still around?"

[aboveangrybees]

Yeah, Steve doesn't catch the reference at all. Nor does he realize it's one. He just thinks Stark is just going his own way with things here and isn't bothering to follow. Since the man typically goes whatever direction he wants with a conversation.

"I'm not fighting the future, kid, but there's no canoodling happening, sorry to say," Steve wonders if Dave wants there to be. There isn't anything like that, but Steve won't deny the growing friendship between him and Stark. "And Timelord? Like Doctor Who?"

For a moment there, he seemed to almost be momentarially setting aside the problems of losing people, of what they're going through here, but Dave brings it back. His eyes shutter in the emotional hurt at the mention Clem's passing - he only knew because he checks the clothing store every morning. He's quick to throw his arm around the boy's shoulders, bring him in for a one armed side hug.

"Sorry to hear that," he means it sincerely, before he loosens his hold, letting the boy escape if he wants or stay under the arm slung over his shoulders. "Avengers wise, us two and Thor. Both the Buckys too, if you count them."

[arrogantalloy]

Tony just sighs as everyone misses his reference. He really does hang out with the wrong crowd, but at the same time that movie was strange enough that he thought that a kid like dave might have actually seen it. Win some lose some.


When Steve actually makes the right connection of Timelord = Dr Who, Tony gives him an amused yet pleased smirk.

"You've been looking up scifi without my input. Interesting initiative, Rogers." While Tony really didn't have all that much say in what Steve had on his list of things to catch up on, he had at least made a comment or two here and there when he had thought of something and had enough presence of mind to tell JARVIS to pass it on.

Unlike Steve however, nothing obvious about Tony's demeanor changed when Dave let them know about Clem passing, he was able to make enough of a connection that Steve knew Clem better than he did, and really the idea of any child dying was bad enough let alone one you knew and actually liked.

"At least she gets to sleep in a real bed now." Is all he really says about it before clearly going quiet when Steve lists the remains of their group. He stuffs his hands into his pockets, indication he wasn't enjoying the conversations direction, then to show how much he wasn't loving it he just walks past both of them then turns to look at them while walking backwards.

"We were getting food. Hungry, kid?"

[shenunigans]

Dave would sigh right back at Tony if he knew he was thinking that, considering he had asked about the baseball field. Alas, there are bigger things to focus on, like the fact that Captain America gets references as well. Dave seems vaguely impressed as well, looking from Steve to Tony with raised brows.

"Yeah, like him. Only better and I don't regenerate." Is now the time to elaborate about his powers once again? Probably not. "You should have told him." He looks to Tony again, putting on a dejected voice and slumping his shoulders ever so slightly like he actually cares. That's roughly when Steve manages to step in and throw an arm around him, to which Dave is unsure how to react beyond just standing there and letting it happens. He wants to say if she comes back, but he doesn't want to consider that an option.

"She'll be fine." He says decidedly. "Sounds like you've kept your shit together, then." He vaguely considers mentioning that Loki is alive too, but decides to move past it and on to the invitation. "Did you really just ask a teenage boy if he's hungry? Of course I'm hungry." He squirms away from Steve's arm, sparing him a side glance as he does. "I dunno about you guys, but I could go for some ice cream."

[aboveangrybees]

Yes, Steve gets some references you two, jeez. He's missed a lot, but he's not dead.

"Yeah, I'm curious why you didn't tell me," he gives Stark look, but there's nothing there to say he means it. All in good play.

It's easier to keep it together when he has confidence of seeing people - seeing Clementine and Peggy - when he wakes up again. He knows it might not last, there will be a time when someone isn't there, but he tries to not think about that. There's little rhyme and reason to it from what he can tell, so it's pointless to dwell on the possibility of it happening.

He decides it's better to let the depressing topic fade and focus on the current quest at hand.

"Your diet's terrible," but really, what's it really matter in this situation. "How about we compromise and get frozen yogurt?" Plus, it's supposed to be healthier than ice cream... right? Sure.

[arrogantalloy]

Tony simply shrugs at Steve's look and his statement at him then gives him a playful grin.

"Even I like to have some secrets to myself."

Though really, even if Tony had thought enough about it to actually considering telling Steve, he would have just figured Dave had already told him, what with them both on the same floor and all. But then Tony also isn't aware how much of an Ironette Dave really is.

When the topic of Frozen Yogurt comes up, Tony snorts.

"Not that much of a step up. But you can have berries and chocolate sprinkles at the same time. I'm game."

Tony will never say it out loud, but aside from never having enough of or the right tools, the other thing he tends to hate about the arenas is the fact he generally lacks the ability to just graze on food. Which is his general style of eating.

Then after that is the fact people are dying for no reason other than entertainment.

[shenunigans]

"Stark doesn't want me to fight alongside the big dogs, that what this is." He pulls the corners of his shirt forward defiantly, like the essence of a stereotypical gangster before pointing an accusing finger at Tony "Yooou mother..flipper." He thinks better of the swear, folding his arms over his chest and shrugging.

"You can call it terrible all you like, but if I didn't know how to live off greasy pizza and fries I would have expired long ago." He sniffs, like he isn't a shade skinnier than he was when he left for prison. As if that's possible, given how lanky he is already.

"I haven't had frogurt since I was like. Twelve. And I swear to god, that was not a few months ago, don't even start." He shoots Tony a look, padding ahead toward the food court. "Sure hope it isn't filled with potassium benzoate." There's never a bad time for a Simpsons reference.