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[punchedhitler]

[A standard message comes on, with the same tinny recording of someone who hasn't set up their voicemail]

You have reached 555-1776. Please leave a message after the tone.

Beep!




[ooc: THIS POST IS NOW DEFUNCT. Kindly use the one above!]

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[latenightfondue]

[ He takes a moment to watch him, see the panic there. ]

Y'mean do I see you any different to how I did before?

[punchedhitler]

Yes.

[latenightfondue]

[ He huffs a laugh, as inappropriate as it is, and shifts closer, drapes an arm around Steve's shoulders and gives him a playful tug. ]

'Course not. You're still the best thing I ever created, and you're the best guy I ever had the pleasure of meeting. But you gotta be careful with that stuff, it don't matter to some who the hell y'are, if they don't like what you're doing...

[punchedhitler]

[There's a sudden release of tension from Steve's shoulders, because Howard's opinion is something he holds highly]

You won't tell anyone, right?

[latenightfondue]

No one's gonna be hearing it from me, Cap, you've got my word on that.

[punchedhitler]

[He puts his arm around Howard, then, friendly.]

You don't know what this means to me.

[latenightfondue]

[ The idea of being anything but okay with this is a strange concept to him, and he hugs Steve sideways, awkward and manly, and he doesn't care. ]

You worry too much. But if you guys wanna keep it a secret, you might need to have a chat with Barney.

[punchedhitler]

What did Bucky say?

[Steve looks a little confused.]

[latenightfondue]

It ain't what he said so much as how he goes about saying things.

[ He looks at him, wonders how serious a thing it is. ]

Guy never stops talking about you, buddy, and he's always so possessive.

[ He even admitted that he thought Howard was going to somehow replace him, but as a man of secret insecurities, he holds that part in. ]

[punchedhitler]

He thinks-

He's protected me his whole life. He doesn't know how to stop.

[latenightfondue]

I get that, pal.

[ Except that he really doesn't, never having had a close friend never mind one with a friendship like the two of them have. It's foreign to him, which is why he's fascinated by it, envies it in a way. ]

But if he thinks you're even remotely under threat, the guy don't know how to stop himself.

[punchedhitler]

You can't tell him you know.

[Steve puts his head in his hands. Why are there so many lies?]

[latenightfondue]

He's not gonna be pleased in finding out I know, huh?

[ The hints he put out there over the last while were enough to determine that from. ]

[punchedhitler]

No, he's really not.

[A small sigh]

It's nothing against you. Or even...it's complicated, Howard.

[latenightfondue]

[ He hates seeing Steve upset, it's stupid and he shouldn't be so attached, but he awkwardly places a hand on his arm anyway. ]

Bucky ain't gonna hear it from me, not if that's how you want it.

[punchedhitler]

I need to figure that out.

[He kind of laughs]

I hope you're better at secrets than I am.

[latenightfondue]

You kidding me, Cap? I'm a Stark, and if there's one thing we learn from an early age it's how to put on a good show.

[ But he feels bad for him. ]

Y'really do need to work on that whole lying thing, pal, it ain't getting any better.

[punchedhitler]

I don't think I should get better at it.

[latenightfondue]

Best not, you've got that good guy thing to maintain.

[punchedhitler]

I guess I do.

[latenightfondue]

This been playing on your mind since I got here?

[punchedhitler]

[there's a cautious silence, then]

Yeah, it has. Sort of.

[latenightfondue]

[ It hurts a little to realise this, but it's no surprise. ]

You thought I'd report you? Tell the world what Cap likes to do in his spare time?

[punchedhitler]

[Steve feels guilty, now]

It's illegal, Howard. I didn't know if you would think I was-

[Perverted. Sick.]

[latenightfondue]

[ He laughs. He doesn't mean to, but he does, and it's almost as if he hears the words. ]

You do know who I am, right? I ain't exactly one for following the traditional rules or whatever.

[ He leans in closer, lowers his voice. ]

And if y'get drunk enough? It's funny how you'll try anything once. Twice. Well, okay, it might've been three times, but it ain't like I make a habit outta it.