advanced | For Tony Stark

For Tony Stark

[He's been on the run for what feels like decades, but is really only a few months. He knows he's doing a good job at being hidden because ever since the helicarriers fell out of the air there hasn't been a single confirmed sighting of him, and he knows that Steve is looking. Not just Steve, either. He's just not ready to be found yet.

The easiest way to move between countries, he's found, is by stowing away on private chartered flights. They're usually less attended than commercial flights, and if he can get on board then it's fairly easy to avoid the one or two passengers and crew. He has no idea that the flight he's stowed away on is Tony Stark's private jet, and that it's only Tony himself on board.

At least not until he hears a disembodied voice speaking throughout the plane once they're in the air. It's JARVIS, not that he has any idea who that is.]

Sir, scans of the plane show that there's a man crouching in your cargo hold. I wasn't aware you were transporting any men today.

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[Something in that statement makes Tony's eyebrows lift, but he's not going to chance after it for the moment. For one, he has no idea what he'd even say if Barnes is suggesting what Tony thinks he is. Not for the first time, Tony suspects that he is wildly out of his depth in this conversation. But here they are.]

You might. You seem to be doing alright for the moment. [Comparatively speaking, anyway. Maybe that's what prompts the next thing, the words coming out almost with Tony realizing them.] Would it help if you had somewhere fixed to stay for a bit? Somewhere out of the way, I mean.

What?!

[Pure surprise breaks through his usually neutral expression, just staring at Tony as if he must have imagined what he just heard.]

What are you-- suggesting?

[One eyebrow goes right up. What's with the surprise, Barnes?]

I'm suggesting I've got a house in Dubai that's empty. I could probably have worse squatters than you.

[If he doesn't already. But Barnes can look after himself, clearly.]

[Is it a trap? A way to get him into place so he can call Rogers over? Why would this man he's never met just offer him a place to stay? It doesn't make sense. But there's a longing on his face for somewhere finally safe that he can stop and rest; he's been running for so long, he's so tired.]

How do I know you wouldn't tell anyone?

[Tony can't help an amused snort.]

You do remember that you are currently in my clutches, right? If I wanted, all I'd have to do is tase your ass and present you to Steve with a bow on your head.

[Not that he would, but it is a fun mental image.]

[That wouldn't end well, he's fairly sure that he can stand up to a tasing, but he can get where Stark is coming from.]

You're risking a lot.

[Stark might be on his side about needing some space, but that's a whole different ballgame to literally sheltering him from Steve.]

From you? Worst you can do is raid the fridge or throw a wild kegger or something.

[Okay, yes, he knows what Barnes means. Tony also still waves it off.]

I'd think he'd want you to be safe. And I can do that, so hey, everybody wins.

You're one hell of a weird guy, Stark.

[But that's not a no. He should say no, he should stay silent and get off this plane as soon as it lands to disappear, but he's genuinely considering it. To not have to run, to have a secure place to figure out who the hell he was, it was an attractive proposition.]

I've heard that before.

[He doesn't sound particularly upset about it. More amused than anything.]

Look, I'll give you the code, use it or not. It's not like I'm ever there, I won't know either way. Plausible deniability, or something.

[Nope, he definitely doesn't know where Barnes is. Tony needs some kind of defense against Steve's goddamn lethal puppy eyes.]

You'll know.

[His remote AI would likely tell him as soon as anyone entered any of his properties, he's not dumb enough to assume he'd be able to move in and out with total impunity.

He's still not saying no.]

What's the code?

[He gives Barnes a long look, like he's weighing something, then quirks an amused smile. The glass he's been holding gets set down on the nearest flat surface as Tony slowly climbs to his feet and moves over to one of the nearby tables and snags a pen and paper. Sometimes it's better to have things that can't be hacked. And somehow, he suspects Barnes would prefer it.]

Here.

[He wanders back over, holding the strip of paper out to him.] Now don't flash that around or all the kids will want one.

[He takes the piece of paper and folds it as if it's precious, before sliding it into one of his pockets.]

You're a weird man, Tony Stark.

[Is that a compliment, an insult, or just a fact?]

But thank you.

I've heard worse.

[He shrugs and drops back into his seat, immediately reaching for his drink.]

So whatever shall we do for the next few hours?

You know how to play cards?

[The question is asked in a complete deadpan, not giving away if he's joking or being serious.]

[Tony shoots him an immensely dry look over the top of his glass.]

We are we talking here, poker? Rummy? Go fish?

You're making that last one up.

[Poker and rummy he knows, though it's only really poker that he sort of remembers the rules for.]

[There's the briefest pause before Tony lets out what can only be described as a cackle. He's almost instantly on his feet again to see if there's a deck around anywhere.]

Oh, now we're definitely playing. If you're good, I might even introduce you to War afterwards.

[Playing kid's card games with a notorious assassin. What even is his life.]

[JARVIS very helpfully highlights the cupboard with a set of cards in, though otherwise he keeps his opinion to himself. Which is that his master is being a bit reckless this time-- and every time.]

Okay-- how the hell do you play Go Fish, then?

[Why can't they just go with poker?!]

Okay you realize this is literally a game for children?

[He sounds entirely too gleeful about that as Tony wanders over to open the drawer and fetch the cards out. Still wrapped too, nice.]

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to keep up.

I still think you're making it up.

[Oddly, this is the most relaxed he's been in-- well, since he can remember, and it's probably obvious. He's still sat like a man ready for an attack, but he's more engaged with watching the deck of cards rather than his surroundings and his accent is subtly shifting more towards Brooklyn.]

Believe me, if I was making this up I'd come up with something a lot more interesting.

[He flops gracelessly back into his chair, absently shuffling the cards from one hand to the other, though he stops long enough to tug a small table into place mostly between them.]

So. [He grins a little as he deals out five cards to each of them.] It works like this. You want to get four of a kind. Pick a card, as me if I have any. If I do, I have to hand it over. If I don't, I tell you to go fish and you pick up a card from the deck. When you get your four, you put them down. Whoever clears out their hand first wins. Following?

Sure.

[Those rules seem simple enough, and he doesn't have an issue with learning and remembering new things. It's all his past memories that have so many holes that they might as well be a type of swiss cheese.

He picks up his cards and flicks his eyes up to Tony.]

You allowed to lie in this game?

You are not.

[He says it will all the gravity he can muster, shooting Barnes a very serious look over the top of his own cards.]

Do not sully this children's game with your falsehoods, Barnes.

Seems like it would be more interesting if you could, but okay.

[He glances down at his own cards, struck for a moment at how bizarre this whole situation is.]

Got any fours?

Let me remind you that this was your idea.

[And Tony makes a show of studying the cards held in front of him.]

Go fish.

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