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nasafic-archive · 6 years ago

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Hi there, nasa. I know this probably isn't the question you want right now, but one of the fics I bookmarked from you was a WIP--three's a crowd--now I'm not asking for you to post anything or finish it, but I was wondering if you could give a brief outline as to what was going to happen in that story? Just so my imagination can take care of the rest? I wish you well as you leave tumblr.

hi! I totally understand. I know a couple fics that were never continued and it haunts me to this day. I…. really should have never posted that fic, haha. i’d been writing random scenes for it for ages and I was like ‘making it a WIP will help me post it!’ and then it… didn’t. I didn’t have a really set plan for how it was going to work, but since you ask, pasted below is everything I had written for that fic that wasn’t posted. I probably wouldn’t have included all of it in the story, and some of it is very disjointed, and i may have ended up including versions of these scenes in other fics after i wrote them, but here it is anyway (names at the beginning are whose POV it’s trailing):

TONY

Maybe it was for the best.

The moment the thought enters his mind, Tony tries to push it away, but it’s hard to stifle. It had plagued the early days of their relationship, Tony’s quiet but sure conviction that Steve was, in the end, too good for him. He’d take all he could while it lasted, of course - he was Tony Stark, after all, which meant he could be a selfish prick when he wanted to be - but the thought had been there nonetheless. It had taken months for Tony to admit it to Steve, and months more before Tony began to agree with Steve that maybe love didn’t have anything to do with deserve.

And now.

Cosmic balance, Tony thinks bitterly, tossing a spare part into a drawer with far too much vigor. The universe really was determined with this one. If they couldn’t get Steve to realize he was too good for Tony, then, hey, they’d just bring back his first choice option.

Then his opinions of Tony don’t really matter, right?

“Sir, I must remind you that you have been in the workshop for twenty-four hours now. A break for food and rest is highly recommended.”

Tony shakes his head, looking down at his shaking hands. “I’m fine, Jarvis. Just gotta get this done, okay?”

What this is Tony can’t really say. He hasn’t been able to focus on anything since his Aunt Peggy popped up in his living room, twenty years younger than he had ever seen her and clearly lusting after his now-husband. Now, all he can think of now is how Steve will break it to him that they’re getting a divorce, if he’ll come ready with papers, or try to ease Tony into it. Maybe he won’t say anything; maybe Tony will just be expected to know that, hey, as nice as this was, it’s over now.

No, Tony tells himself. It’s irrational thinking, immediately moving to the worst case outcome; he’s had too many therapists diagnose his symptoms not to recognize them itself. Steve wouldn’t do that. He might break up with Tony, but he wouldn’t do it immediately, wouldn’t do it without at least giving their marriage the fair shot he thinks it deserves. He once promised Tony that, if things got bad, he wouldn’t give up on their marriage without significant couples counseling. That takes months, Tony knows, so, realistically, worst case scenario, he’s got at least that long to convince Steve this is worth it. And if all that fails? Well. For most of his life, Tony had expected he’d end up alone. It would be hard, to go back to that, but at least he’d have these five years to look back on; at least he’d be able to say he experienced true love in his life.

True love for him, anyway.

“Sir,” Jarvis says, with the air of someone who has said it several times. “As you are unresponsive and have been in the workshop for over your predetermined limit, I have contacted Captain Rogers.”

That gets Tony’s attentions, and he straightens. “What? No, don’t do that, I’m here, I’ll leave right now -“

“Unfortunately, it’s too late, sir,” Jarvis says. “Captain Rogers is already on his way down.

“Fuck,” Tony hisses. For a split second, he considers blacking out the workshop. He’s done it a few times before, when he was upset, and Steve has never pressed past his boundaries and forced his way in, even though Tony has never disabled his emergency access codes. Still, it just pushes the conversation back, and now Steve will want to know why Tony is avoiding him, why he’s so upset -

“I come bearing gifts!”

Tony manages not to whirl around. Instead, he moves casually, leaning against his worktable - because that’s a thing he does, right? Steve’s in a simple t-shirt and jeans, and carrying a plate with a sandwich on it, some chips, and a glass of milk. His hair is wet and messy like he’s just got out of the shower, and he smiles at Tony as he sets the food down. “Special delivery,” he says, but his smile flickers when he doesn’t get one in response. “Something wrong?”

Tony focuses on the food. “Did you steal that from someone? How did you make it so fast?”

Steve’s expression dips into a full-on frown, now. “Fast? I was already headed down here when Jarvis notified me. I figured you hadn’t eaten dinner.”

“Oh.” The act is surprising enough that Tony has absolutely no idea what to say. It shouldn’t be so weird - Steve does this all the time, after all, and always has, even before they were dating, but it seems like he should have bigger problems to deal with right now than what Tony ate for supper.

“Is something wrong?” Steve presses. He’s got the Concerned Husband face on, now, the one that makes his brows furrow in just that way, and Tony’s heart aches.

“I’m fine,” Tony says, turning back to his worktable and fumbling for something to distract himself. “You can just leave that there. I promise I’ll eat it. Scout’s honor.”

“You weren’t a Boy Scout,” Steve says, “And you can’t distract me. Is this about Peggy?”

Tony stiffens for a split second before he forces himself to relax, but it’s enough for Steve to spot it.

“Jeez. Really?” Steve asks. He sounds more surprised than annoyed, but Tony can still hear it there, the threads in his tone, and he’s not sure if he’s imagining it. “Shit. Bucky told me I should come talk to you, but I thought -“ Steve sighs, and he sounds so tired, it makes Tony feel even worse. “I though you knew. I didn’t think I’d have to say it.”

And oh, oh, jeez, this sounds like Tony’s worst case scenario, and he’s trying not to jump to conclusions but it’s really hard when his husband is talking like he’s about to tell him he’s leaving him. Tony’s eyes sting. “Well, I’m sorry my deficiencies are inconveniencing to you,” Tony says. “I’ll just shut up like a good little boy, shall I?”

Steve huffs. “That’s not - Tony, don’t be ridiculous. Hey. Hey. Can you look at me, please?”

Tony sets his jaw and whirls around. Steve just stares at him for a moment, like he’s scanning, before something in his expression gives and he’s sighing again. “I’m going to need you to listen to me for a minute. Can you do that?”

Tony huffs, swiping at his eye with one sleeve. “I’m not a child, Steve,” he snaps, daring to send Steve a glare, “You don’t have to treat me like one.”

But Steve ignores him. Instead, he leans forward and grabs Tony’s hands in his own. His grip is tight and sure, and his eyes are wide and clear where they meet Tony’s. “You are the love of my life,” he says resolutely. Tony heart twists in his chest, like oh, as Steve continues, “Not my love of the decade. Not my love of the century. The love of my life. You know what that means, don’t you?”

Tony swallows hard and doesn’t reply.

“It means that there is no one on this Earth I would rather be with than you. Absolutely nothing, or no one, could convince me to leave you. You are my -“ Steve sighs, a gust of warm air. “You are my everything, Tony. I don’t know what I can say that I didn’t in my vows. When I woke up in this century, I had no one, nothing. You gave me a purpose, somewhere to belong. You gave me a home. You are my home. And I’m sorry, because clearly I don’t tell you enough, if you thought for one second it was any different, but I love you, sweetheart. More than anything or anyone, and that includes Peggy. You’re not my second-choice, or someone I settled for. You’re first. You’re always first.”

Tony throat works. It’s not often he’s at a loss for words, but then, that’s Steve for you - always pulling out surprises.

“Steve,” Tony manages, then cuts himself off. He takes a deep breath. “So is that it? Am I suppose to burst into tears and fall into your manly arms, now?”

Steve smiles, and it seems genuine this time. “Well, I don’t know about the crying, but it has been a while since I’ve had a hug from my fella.” Steve holds his arms out, raises an eyebrow, and how is Tony supposed to not give in to that?

He falls forward, trusting Steve to catch him, so he can throw his arms around Steve’s shoulders and pull him into the tightest of hugs. Steve accepts easily, wrapping his own arms around Tony’s waist. Tony buries his face in Steve’s neck and breathes slowly, in-and-out, and waits for the knot in his chest to ease. He’s not going to cry, not today, not because of this, but Steve almost gets him, with the way he starts stroking long, careful lines up and down Tony’s spine. Eventually, Tony’s sure enough that he won’t spontaneously fall into hysterics, and he pulls back, sparing a moment to wipe at his nose.

“Is that settled, then?” Steve asks, and it could so easily sound brusque or unkind, but his voice is kind and filled with warmth. Tony rolls his eyes, almost at himself, and nods.

“Yeah,” he says. “It’s settled. Happy, asshole?”

“Thrilled,” Steve says, ducking forward to press a quick kiss to Tony’s cheek.

Tony resolutely beats back his stubborn blush, present even after five years. “I should probably introduce myself to Peggy,” Tony says after a moment. Steve does a weird little twitch thing in Tony’s arms, and Tony frowns, starts, “Unless you think that’s not a good idea -“

“No,” Steve interrupts. “No, I just. You and Peggy, meeting. It’s weird. Worlds colliding.”

Tony huffs. “Yeah, I guess I can see that. Like your college friends meeting your high school friends. Well, bucker up, buddy, because it’s gotta happen.”

“I know,” Steve says. “Do you have anything to finish here, though? I was hoping you’d gotten to work on a time machine.”

“A time machine? Do we think -“

Steve gives a half-shrug. “Well, Loki is Loki, who knows what he’s going to do. And she wants to go back.”

“Okay.” It shouldn’t be surprising, considering that was Steve’s first instinct when he woke up in 2012, but it is, somehow. Maybe because Tony thinks if he woke up in a future with Steve in it, if his was gone, he would stay in a heartbeat. Whether Steve was single or not. “Well, I guess I’ll get started on that, then. Hey, pass me that sandwich, I’m hungry.”

“It’s two inches from your hand,” Steve says, but still grabs it and hands it over.

“Thanks,” Tony says, and shoves half of it into his mouth. It’s Amish Chicken Salad, done up extra-style, with tons of creamy mayo and shaved carrot bits, little chunks of cucumber. The bread is dense and heavy with seeds, and even the chips are kettle-baked. It’s something Tony has always loved about Steve’s food: not only does Steve take the time to make it, he uses the stuff that will make it taste good, and clearly doesn’t care abut calorie content. It’s probably just habit for him, considering his metabolism lets him eat anything, but the idea that Steve just wants to provide for Tony, make him strong and not-hungry, never fails to warm Tony’s heart.

“Come on, hot stuff.” The words come out garbled around the food in Tony’s mouth, and Steve wrinkles his nose, but Tony knows he understands. “Let’s find your ex-girlfriend.”

With Steve’s hand in his, it almost doesn’t hurt to say.

—

PEGGY

“Peggy,” Steve says, “I’d like you to meet Tony. My husband.”

Peggy manages to force a tight-lipped smile on her face. The worst thing is, this man - Tony, Steve’s husband - looks very nice. He’s attractive, a few years older than Steve, and he’s got the laugh lines to show for it, crinkling out from around his eyes. More than that, though, he’s looking at Peggy with an almost painfully sympathetic expression thinly veiled behind a smile. Clearly, he’s imagining how he’d feel in Peggy’s shoes.

The show of empathy should make her like him more, but in reality it just makes her more bitter. Why should it have worked out this way? Why should Tony have gotten to keep Steve, while Peggy lost him to time and the ice?

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says, and Tony smiles sadly as he shakes her proffered hand.

“Likewise,” he says. “Well - I knew your older counterpart. But it’s good to meet you at this age.”

“Oh?” Peggy says, raising an eyebrow. “How did we meet?”

“Well, we’re not sure how this will effect the space-time continuum, so I don’t want to give too many details, but you were a big part of my life growing up. Steve did mention I’m a Stark, right?”

“Yes, he did,” Peggy says. “Howard was a great man and a good friend.”

Peggy’s sure she doesn’t imagine the slight downward quirk of Tony’s mouth, the way Steve’s hands twitch at his sides.

“Well, I’ve definitely heard a lot about you from Steve,” Tony says, steering around the subject completely. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the woman lives up to the legend.”

“Competing against my older self? I can’t say that’s a situation I ever thought I’d be in.

STEVE

“Mario Kart?” someone asks from the doorway, and Steve turns to find Tony paused in the doorway, an almost tentative half-smile on his face. He’s wearing black slacks, shiny shoes, and a gorgeous wool coat; dressed up for their date.

“Shit,” Steve says, “Is it seven already?”

Tony waves a hand. “I’m a bit early.”

“It is 6:58, sir,” JARVIS pipes up, and Steve sighs.

“I’m sorry,” he says, “We just lost track of time. Give me ten minutes to change?”

“Of course,” Tony says. “But if you don’t have time tonight, we don’t have to -“

“No!” Steve interrupts. “No, it’s date night, I want to go out, I feel like I’ve barely seen you all week. I just lost track of time, I promise.” He steps forward so he can pull Tony into a loose embrace, and kiss him. After a moment, Tony relaxes into his arms.

“You look incredible,” Steve murmurs when he pulls back, and Tony grins at him, all earlier insecurity forgotten.

“So do you,” Tony says. “I’m really digging the t-shirt.”

Steve glances down at what he’s wearing and almost laughs. It’s his Iron Man Christmas t-shirt, the one Tony had given him as a gag gift a couple of years previously. It’s definitely not pretty, but it’s soft and worn and reminds Steve of Tony, so he wears it probably more than is socially acceptable.

“You’ll have to get me a new one this year,” Steve says. “Maybe a size bigger? It’s a bit tight.”

Tony snorts. “Really? And lose this - lovely view?” He waggles his eyebrows suggestively, stroking a hand down Steve’s chest. “I don’t think so.”

“Okay, lovebirds,” Bucky pipes up from the couch, almost making Steve startle. “We get it, Steve’s pretty, but, Stark, if you don’t let him go get changed, you’ll be late for your reservation, and then Steve’ll be apologizing to the waitstaff all night.”

Tony frowns even as Steve makes an apologetic expression. “He’s right,” Steve admits, and Tony sighs and steps back.

“Ten minutes,” he says. “I’ll meet you downstairs? The Mustang?”

“Sounds good,” Steve says, and can’t resist stepping in to press one more chaste kiss to Tony’s lips. “See you soon.”

As he leaves, he hears a conversation starting up behind him - Bucky and Tony giving each other shit, probably - and he smiles as he heads towards his room.

STEVE

“I want ice cream,” Tony declares as they step out of the restaurant. It’s chilly, and there’s a strong breeze blowing; Tony tucks his coat tighter around himself even as Steve slings his arm across Tony’s shoulder, pulling him snug against his side.

“In this weather?”

Tony hums, rubbing his cheek against Steve’s shoulder.

“Yep,” he confirms. “Ice cream. From that place down by NYU - with the peanut butter gelato?”

“And the mulberry jam,” Steve says. “Yeah, that place was pretty good, wasn’t it? I’d be down. They’re’ll be a line, though.”

Tony shrugs a bit. “I don’t mind. I got my own personal shield to protect me from the wind.”

Steve smiles. “Walk or car?”

They end up getting Happy to drive them, because it’s fifteen blocks, and while Steve would be happy to nag Tony into walking that far during the warmer months, it is cold outside, and not everyone holds up so well in the wind as a super soldier. Besides - Steve doesn’t really like the weather, either.

Happy drops them off on the curb a block from the ice cream place because, sure enough, despite the dreary weather there’s a long line of NYU students winding out the door. Steve and Tony take their place at the back of the line, and Tony tucks himself back against Steve’s side until Steve takes the cue to throw his arm over Tony’s shoulder again.

“I’m glad we decided to do this,” Tony says, after a few moments of silence.

Steve glances down at him. He’s looking down, his eyelashes splayed across his cheeks. “What, get ice cream?”

“No,” Tony says, “Just going out tonight. I’ve missed you.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Steve murmurs, something tightening in his chest, “I missed you, too. I’m sorry I’ve been so -“

“Don’t apologize,” Tony says, finally turning to face Steve. His eyes are wide and sincere. “I don’t want to - begrudge you the time that you spend with her. I know you’re friends, and I know you’ve missed her. If it was Pepper - hell, I’d be doing exactly the same thing.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been neglecting you,” Steve counters, burying his face in Tony’s soft hair. “I want to spend more time with you. Maybe all three of us - you and me and Peggy together? I know it’s not quite the same as a one on one date, but I really do want you two to get to know each other.”

“I don’t think she likes me very much,” Tony mumbles.

“That’s just because she hasn’t gotten to know you yet,” Steve argues.

“No, it’s because she’s jealous,” Tony says. “Which, I mean - I would be, too, if I got magically transported to a future where you were married to some hot brunette that wasn’t me.”

“That’s never going to happen,” Steve says, tightening his grip on Tony’s shoulder.

“Well, I agree it’s pretty unlikely I’ll ever get to time travel, sad as that makes me -“

“That’s not what I meant,” Steve says, “Come on, don’t be deliberately dense.”

“Well,” Tony says after a long moment. “I appreciate the show of faith.”

“It’s not a show of faith,” Steve says, “It’s the truth. But we can pretend otherwise, if you’d rather.”

PEGGY

“I’m not as good a person as you,” Tony says ruefully. “If I woke up in a future where Steve was married to some stranger, I’d probably fight for him.”

Peggy stares out at New York City spread below her. She’s above it all: but in this moment, she doesn’t feel like she has any more perspective than someone on the ground.

“I don’t know,” she says. “Perhaps that’s better.”

PEGGY

“Did you call Tony?” Steve asks Peggy, and she shakes her head.

“Thought you’d like to tell him yourself,” she says.

“Tony your emergency contact?” the nurse butts in.

“Yeah, he’s my husband.”

“Then he’s already been contacted by the hospital,” she says. “It’s protocol, when anyone comes here in an ambulance.”

Peggy’s not sure what she’s expecting - relief, maybe - but it’s not Steve giving a full groan and slumping back against the pillows.

“Oh, he’s probably freaking out,” Steve says. “Shit. Shit, shit, shit.”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” Peggy says doubtfully. “He’s seen you hurt plenty of times before, and he knows you’re resilient.”

“His parents died in a car accident,” is all Steve says in reply.

Peggy probably shouldn’t be surprised to know this, but it turns out Steve is right about Tony. It takes a few more minutes, but he does show up, and he shows up panicking.

He all but blasts into the room, looking frantic. His cheeks are pink, his hair askew, and he’s breathing hard; Peggy thinks he might be wearing pajamas.

“Steve,” he gasps, “Steve, are you -“

“I’m fine,” Steve says, and, stupid idiot that he is, starts to push himself up onto his elbows. The nurse next to him shoves him back down. “Sweetheart, come here, I’m fine,” Steve says, holding his hand out towards Tony.

Tony doesn’t need to be asked twice; he stumbles forward, clasping his hand in Steve’s and slumping forward over his bed to press his forehead to Steve’s.

“Hi,” Peggy hears him mumble. Steve says something back, but Peggy tries to focus on not eavesdropping, turning instead towards the nurse fussing with the equipment in the room.

Finally, Tony pulls back. “They said you were probably fine, but I wanted to -“ Peggy watches Tony’s jaw work. “To see myself. What’s happened?”

“Nothing,” Steve assures him, the liar. “I’m fine, they’re just overreacting -“

“He got hit by a car,” Peggy interrupts. Tony finally tears his gaze away from Steve to look at her. “There was a girl in the street, and the driver didn’t see her, so Steve, of course, dives out in the middle of the bloody road to shove her out of the way and got hit in the process.”

“Steve,” Tony chastises, turning back to his husband. “What the hell, I thought we talked about this!”

It says something about Steve Rogers that Peggy’s not the slightest bit surprised this isn’t the first time it’s happened.

“Oh, come on, Tony, what was I supposed to do, let her get hit?”

“No, but you could have just stopped the fucking car instead!”

“There wasn’t time for that,” Steve argues. “And besides, the driver could have gotten hurt.”

“You got hurt, you fucking walnut!”

Steve grins at him. “Walnut? That’s a new one. You think that up on the way here?”

“Yeah,” Tony grumbles, “Laugh away, you’re not the one who spent half a hour wondering if you were dead -“

Steve softens. “Come on, honey, I’m fine,” he says. “Promise. All I got was a couple of cracked ribs and a bit of internal bleeding, it’ll be gone by tomorrow.”

An absurd statement from anyone else, but Peggy sees the way it makes Tony relax. “I still hate you,” Tony says, leaning down to press one more quick kiss to Steve’s lips.

“Love you too,” Steve murmurs when he pulls back.

PEGGY

at a gala and

“Care to dance?” Steve asks, with an outstretched hand, and for a split second, Peggy thinks he’s talking to her.

But he isn’t, of course: he’s speaking to his husband, who’s standing at Peggy’s side. Peggy watches the way Tony’s expression softens as he smiles, the way he squeezes Steve’s hand for just a moment before allowing himself to be tugged forward.

“I suppose I could be persuaded,” Tony says, glancing over his shoulder at Peggy as he goes. “You all right by yourself?”

Peggy nods, hiding the tightness of her expression by taking a sip of her drink. “Go on, dance a little. I’m sure I’ll find something to entertain myself.”

#not an edit

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