[Should he pry for more information? He doesn't want to. Does he have questions that need to be answered? Unfortunately, yes ā and Bucky just gave him a wide open for the most prevalent one on his mind.]
Is that what Rogers' doing with his shield? [Making a sacrifice that's worth it, at least in his mind.] I still have it, y'know. Didn't think I'd be stuck with it when I first found it. [But here he is.]
He doesn't think it feels "right" taking it from me.
[Tony isnāt exactly wrong with his guess; itās definitely a sacrifice to Steve, leaving behind something that became his in order to keep something heād lost. At the same time, the truth is far more complex than to be left with those words alone. Some things will never be so straight forward, and once again, Bucky finds himself holding back for the sake of simplicity.]
Tossing something like that would be a waste. [So heās not surprised Tony still has it. Itās vibranium; only a fool would get rid of it.] But it wasnāt his anymore. Before we got here.
[Tonyās phrasing does bring a question to Bucky's mind. There's no indication of attachment or connection with the item. It...likely should not be so surprising, understanding that this Tony is from a far different universe, yet it is.] You donāt get why he would leave it with you, do you?
I know it has something to do with my alternate from your Earth.
[It would be a waste to just toss the shield away, but Tony would never do that. Not because it's made of vibranium either. The shield is a symbol of Captain America and what he stands for. He has far too much respect for it to dump it in a corner or repurpose it for something else.
It doesn't matter if the current owner of the shield doesn't want it. Doesn't change what it means to people, what it means to him. So even if he doesn't want to hold onto it, he's still going to safeguard it until alt Steve works out whatever issues he has and wants it back.
At this point, all he wants is clarification to what led Rogers to this decision. He needs more insight into what exactly happened between him and alt Tony, yet it doesn't seem like he'll be getting much aside from vague answers and uncertain explanations.]
[He can expand, of course. Heās not really trying to dodge things altogether, but itās not the easiest matter to discuss. Still, if Tony is honest enough to want to try actually making him an arm (which at this point is definitely assured, because even the most sociopathic asshole would have slipped enough by this point for Bucky to have picked up on it), keeping some line of honesty between them, even when itās a matter as complex as this, is the least Bucky can do in return for the favor. Out of courtesy anyway, since he does still owe Tony a proper favor.
He takes a slow breath and nods, thinking for a bit how to even begin. He doesnāt know where the similarities start and end, and that makes explanation even more challenging. Bucky grasps, not having much else to work with.]
[Did he just ask him if he knows Howard? Yes, he did.
To be fair, Tony realizes Bucky is just trying to play it safe and make sure he doesn't jump right into any sort of explanation without getting certain facts straight. Yet, it's still a little weird to be asked if he knows his own father ā unless he's referring to another Howard or the Howard from his Earth is not his alt's father. It's completely possible.]
I do. [A pause and then:] Assuming you mean my father.
[He hums, mildly in recognition of Tony's words but no necessarily in agreement. Names were names and at least a name was a place to start. Histories were obviously not so aligned if he was needing to explain the shield situation to Tony anyway, so he continues to that regard, trying to verify enough of Tony's history to that of the universe from which he, Steve, and Peter come from. It's important, since that is where the shield begins, even if here is where it ends.]
Guy that made you? War hero nearly excommunicated for not following protocol? Gossip, flirt, showman, and one of the founding cornerstones of SHIELD?
Are you going anywhere with this or are you just going to keep rambling off facts about him to me?
[Even if they're talking about alt Howard, Tony would rather they move on with the topic instead of focusing so much on who he was and what he had accomplished in his lifetime. It doesn't exactly stir up a lot of fond memories or heartwarming feelings for him. Frankly, it does the opposite.]
Don't tell me Howard is part of the reason why Rogers doesn't want his shield.
[Bucky smiles dryly, which is to say yes, Howard is part of it.]
Howard gave it to Steve, for Captain America. Tony—the one we know—didnāt think Steve had a right to it anymore following a...fairly tumultuous and rough disagreement. So Steve gave it back. [He makes a quiet noise after that and shrugs his good shoulder.] Wouldnāt say that he doesnāt want it. He just doesnāt like what it represents nowadays, if he needs to have some manner of right to be what he's been from the start.
[Captain America is in Steveās blood, even as much as Bucky knows Steve would rather be rid of the moniker and have Bucky than to be with it and without his best friend. Captain America never came with restrictions before. Captain America was Steve, or at least the side that the public always saw to begin with. If that has strings attached to it now, then whatās the use of still being who he was, is, and not being everything the rest of the country, or even the world, wants him to be now? Itās an uncomfortable notion even for Bucky. Who really won the war, if that's what things have come to?]
[So, this essentially ties into the Accords like he'd suspected. He appreciates the clarity he's been given. Certain things remain vague, but it's enough for him. He doesn't need all the details. Doesn't want them.
It's not all that relevant for him to know much about the Earth Peter, Steve, and Bucky originates from, considering it doesn't exactly affect him and it won't prove useful for what's going on here. The most knowledge of their world serves for him is a better understanding of them as individuals.]
Thanks for telling me this. [Now that he more or less knows why Rogers won't take his shield back, Tony feels slightly more at ease holding onto it for him until the day he decides he wants it back.
And if that day never comes, he hopefully won't be around long enough to watch it all play out.]
[Bucky watches him quietly for a bit before nodding.
Itās nice that things can be simple for once, nothing hidden or veiled and nothing being demanded, only things offered and things accepted as they plainly are. Given everything that's occurred since remembering himself again, the candor is jarring but no less appreciated. Seems he hasnāt much reason to fret when it comes to this version of Tony. Which is nice. Under different circumstances, Bucky is fairly certain he would have gotten along with the Tony from his world anyway.
Even if thereās no assurance of what may come of this, arm aside, itās a good start, and James Buchanan Barnes will take what he can get.]
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no subject
Is that what Rogers' doing with his shield? [Making a sacrifice that's worth it, at least in his mind.] I still have it, y'know. Didn't think I'd be stuck with it when I first found it. [But here he is.]
He doesn't think it feels "right" taking it from me.
no subject
Tossing something like that would be a waste. [So heās not surprised Tony still has it. Itās vibranium; only a fool would get rid of it.] But it wasnāt his anymore. Before we got here.
[Tonyās phrasing does bring a question to Bucky's mind. There's no indication of attachment or connection with the item. It...likely should not be so surprising, understanding that this Tony is from a far different universe, yet it is.] You donāt get why he would leave it with you, do you?
no subject
[It would be a waste to just toss the shield away, but Tony would never do that. Not because it's made of vibranium either. The shield is a symbol of Captain America and what he stands for. He has far too much respect for it to dump it in a corner or repurpose it for something else.
It doesn't matter if the current owner of the shield doesn't want it. Doesn't change what it means to people, what it means to him. So even if he doesn't want to hold onto it, he's still going to safeguard it until alt Steve works out whatever issues he has and wants it back.
At this point, all he wants is clarification to what led Rogers to this decision. He needs more insight into what exactly happened between him and alt Tony, yet it doesn't seem like he'll be getting much aside from vague answers and uncertain explanations.]
Can you expand on it?
no subject
He takes a slow breath and nods, thinking for a bit how to even begin. He doesnāt know where the similarities start and end, and that makes explanation even more challenging. Bucky grasps, not having much else to work with.]
You know Howard?
no subject
To be fair, Tony realizes Bucky is just trying to play it safe and make sure he doesn't jump right into any sort of explanation without getting certain facts straight. Yet, it's still a little weird to be asked if he knows his own father ā unless he's referring to another Howard or the Howard from his Earth is not his alt's father. It's completely possible.]
I do. [A pause and then:] Assuming you mean my father.
no subject
Guy that made you? War hero nearly excommunicated for not following protocol? Gossip, flirt, showman, and one of the founding cornerstones of SHIELD?
no subject
[Even if they're talking about alt Howard, Tony would rather they move on with the topic instead of focusing so much on who he was and what he had accomplished in his lifetime. It doesn't exactly stir up a lot of fond memories or heartwarming feelings for him. Frankly, it does the opposite.]
Don't tell me Howard is part of the reason why Rogers doesn't want his shield.
no subject
Howard gave it to Steve, for Captain America. Tony—the one we know—didnāt think Steve had a right to it anymore following a...fairly tumultuous and rough disagreement. So Steve gave it back. [He makes a quiet noise after that and shrugs his good shoulder.] Wouldnāt say that he doesnāt want it. He just doesnāt like what it represents nowadays, if he needs to have some manner of right to be what he's been from the start.
[Captain America is in Steveās blood, even as much as Bucky knows Steve would rather be rid of the moniker and have Bucky than to be with it and without his best friend. Captain America never came with restrictions before. Captain America was Steve, or at least the side that the public always saw to begin with. If that has strings attached to it now, then whatās the use of still being who he was, is, and not being everything the rest of the country, or even the world, wants him to be now? Itās an uncomfortable notion even for Bucky. Who really won the war, if that's what things have come to?]
no subject
It's not all that relevant for him to know much about the Earth Peter, Steve, and Bucky originates from, considering it doesn't exactly affect him and it won't prove useful for what's going on here. The most knowledge of their world serves for him is a better understanding of them as individuals.]
Thanks for telling me this. [Now that he more or less knows why Rogers won't take his shield back, Tony feels slightly more at ease holding onto it for him until the day he decides he wants it back.
And if that day never comes, he hopefully won't be around long enough to watch it all play out.]
no subject
Itās nice that things can be simple for once, nothing hidden or veiled and nothing being demanded, only things offered and things accepted as they plainly are. Given everything that's occurred since remembering himself again, the candor is jarring but no less appreciated. Seems he hasnāt much reason to fret when it comes to this version of Tony. Which is nice. Under different circumstances, Bucky is fairly certain he would have gotten along with the Tony from his world anyway.
Even if thereās no assurance of what may come of this, arm aside, itās a good start, and James Buchanan Barnes will take what he can get.]