Chapter Text
Steve sat at the bar, his hand wrapped around a shot glass filled with a foul tasting amber liquid that Stark had picked out for them. Howard had caught him sitting silently in a corner of the camp they were currently stationed at. He’d told him to ‘quit mopping about and come for a walk’. The walk had turned into lunch and lunch had turned into drinks and here they were.
“You know what, Cap?” Stark slurred from his spot next to him. He’d had more than a few too many but kept the drinks coming. Steve had told him that alcohol had no effect on him and Stark suggested they put that theory to the test. Of course, Steve could drink him under the table but he was enjoying himself too much to tell him that. “You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a friend.”
“Really?” Steve asked, genuinely shocked at the statement.
“Yeah, course you are! We’ve seen each other more than once without you telling me to get nicked.”
Steve chuckled and said “But why? I mean you’re rich, you’re smart-“
“That! Right there!” Stark interrupted, pointing a finger in the Captain’s face. “Smart. People fear intelligence. That’s why.” Howard threw back the shot and Steve did the same.
“Stark, I don’t understand what you’re saying half the time,” Steve didn’t say ‘and the other half is about woman and sex’.
“Exactly! And you’re still here! That’s why you’re my friend.” Howard gave a drunken smile and raised his newly filled glass. “To best and only friends!”
“To best and only friends,” Steve mimicked.
Howard looked at him hard, leaning in and squinting. “You’re not even a little drunk, are you?” Steve laughed, openly and fully for the first time in what felt like forever. “Oh well!” Stark threw back the shot and Steve did the same. Howard toppled backwards off the stool and Steve laughed again. To best and only friends, he thought, to best and only friends.
~AVENGERS~
Tony sat by the window of his house staring out into the deserted streets through a curtain of rain. His dad was out which meant that it was his job to look after the house. It was his birthday and dad had promised he’d be home. He promised. Tony was turning ten today. He’d told his mum he didn’t want a party because he wanted to spend the day with dad. Tony knew exactly where he was. He was at the lab talking to the Captain. Ever since he’d found him, he spent all of his spare time with him. Talking to him, trying to find a way to bring him back, telling him about a woman called Peggy. Tony had been jealous at first but then his dad told him about the Captain. Captain America, a superhero, dad’s only friend. Besides Tony, of course. And that made it okay because his dad had a friend. Tony knew that his dad wasn’t good at making friends but when he did make them, he kept them.
But this was Tony’s day with his dad and he wasn’t going to share it. Tony refocused his eyes on the street. A black car had pulled up outside. Tony’s heart leapt. He came! He remembered! Tony ran down the stairs through the house to the front door.
“Dad!” he called, pushing past his mother and through the door. But his father wasn’t standing there. It was a man in a green uniform. He looked sadly down at the small boy. Tony looked up at his mother. She had her hand to her mouth and tears were falling down her face. He looked back at the tall man. “Where’s my dad?” he asked, feeling the tears falling down his own cheeks now. The man gave a tight-lipped smile.
“Sorry, kiddo.”
~AVENGERS~
A scream tore from the god’s throat. Pain scorched across his skin like fire across a grassy field. He opened his eyes to see the serpent above him. He whimpered and pleaded. He prayed to his father to make it stop. The acid pooled on the edge of its fang once more. He cried louder still, struggling against his bindings. He felt the ropes cut further into his skin and fresh blood dripping down his fingertips. He felt the hard stone beneath his back rip and tear at his skin but still he could not move. The trickster remained bound as he watched the drop begin to fall in horror. It fell slowly, landing on his skin with a splash. He cried out through his hoarse throat, tasting the flecks of blood on his tongue. The acid burned through his face, seeming as a knife slowly being pushed deeper into his flesh. He felt the last strands of intact flesh tear across his cheek. He howled, cursing the gods and giants alike. Then the pain was gone. Loki enjoyed the brief moment of tranquillity. There was no pain. He counted to five and opened his eyes. Above him, the acid had pooled again on the tip of the fang, ready to burn the flesh anew. He steeled himself and, as the acid began to fall, closed his eyes as it all began again.