(no subject)

[starkingenuity]

"Not.  My.  Problem."  He's been raging over the finer points of his Jaeger Academy graduation dispatch for the last three hours.  "Do you not know who I am?  Do you not know the contributions I've made to the PPDC?  How about the genius I've lent to the program?  To the pons devices?  To the Jaeger control cores?  The drivesuits?  I do not--  Listen.  Marshall.  I should get a damned say in who you stick me with."

"That's not how it works, Ranger," the calm man tells the somewhat older gentleman sitting across from him.  Stark is a genius.  No one can or will ever doubt that.  He went through a year's worth of training and breaking and mental and physical exhaustion in the span of three months time.  It's...unheard of.  It's completely unheard of.

There's just one trouble.

Stark isn't Drift Compatible with anyone.  Well, with almost anyone.  Somehow, getting a neural bridge to the brain of his dad's science project isn't really high on the to-do list.  "Let me try the Kwoon room again.  Find someone else not in the Academy.  Just not him.  Yanno, I think you're trying to punish me!"

The Marshall sighs.  Director Fury had warned him about Stark.  He just hadn't listened.

Comments

[starkingenuity]

It's hard to say when he actually started to like Steve, but the smile on the blond now seals it. That teasing is remarkably pretty, and Tony's not ashamed to be thinking that. He winks at the blond and says in roughly in the same tone: "I guess that all depends on if you really do end up snoring or not."

They're going to get along all right. Two very lonely men suddenly thrust together, regardless of ideologies, or even shared memories, will eventually form a companionship. Tony can already feel it too.

That night, as he falls asleep, the way Steve breathes across the room leaves him calm and Tony ends up having a fairly good rest. Training the next day goes as planned, and the day after that goes better. But by the end of the week, Tony's starting to suspect something is wrong.

As they're turning in, Tony putting aside some new design and his screwdriver, Steve doing a little strip tease he probably doesn't even realize he's doing it, Tony chances a small, projected: Hey, can you still hear me?

He feels immediately stupid for thinking it, but he's pretty sure he's been picking up little tidbits all evening from the blond. Especially while he had been over there sketching or writing emo poetry or whatever closeted young men from the forties do.

[starspangledspandex]

Steve does not end up snoring. He had been speaking honestly the last time. He had snored before the serum but whatever it is that caused that had been fixed when he'd gone super-soldier. Bucky had noticed it on one of the missions with the Commandos.

Lonely covers it pretty nicely, especially in Steve's case and he knows what buttons not to push when it comes to Tony. The other man should know the same but he really wouldn't put it past him to push them anyway.

Also, sharing a room with the man is a little unfair. Steve is almost convinced he undresses with that flair on purpose. Tony is handsome; he has eyes, it'd be stupid to deny it. After the week they've spent together, he finds him infinitely more agreeable to be around too.

Steve wouldn't say that he's noticed anything particularly odd. He writes most of the flashes off to memories settling in his head and really doesn't think too much more about it. Some things are better not to question.

He hesitates, stripped down to just his work-out pants and half-turns toward Tony. He feels like he's missed something like he'd zoned out and had missed something the other man had said.

"I'm sorry? Did you say something?"

[starkingenuity]

Tony sucks in a breath and slowly lifts his eyes. Sorry, Steve, he's not actually checking you out at the moment, even if the drag of his gaze might suggest otherwise. He's just having a hard time here realizing what's just happened.

Fuck.

You can hear me. Steve can hear him. Tony's eyes widen slightly before he climbs out of bed. He might even be standing on his toes just a little bit so their eyes can match up.

"Holy shit. You try."

[starspangledspandex]

His brow furrows as he watches Tony and his reaction to the question. So he had missed something. The first time had just been a niggling feeling. It had been the passing certainty that Tony had asked him a question.

It's a little muddled but the second time, now that Steve is concentrating, the message comes through and he jerks a little in shock.

I can hear you. He tries, meeting Tony's eyes uncertainly. "It's... fuzzy. A little like you're trying to talk underwater but that was clearer than the first time."

[starkingenuity]

Ghost drifting. This shouldn't be possible. They haven't been inside of a real Jaeger yet. They've only drifted six times. Five with complete success.

Oh. This is exciting. Tony almost wants to hug Steve. Or maybe Steve wants to hug him. Or it's a mutual need for hugging. Either way, Tony is going to refrain. It's not something he tends to do. Touching is... Awkward.

Do we tell someone? It wasn't suppose to be exactly like this. They're just suppose to share emotions and ideas in a ghost drift. Not become telepathic!

Tony's eyes shimmer.

"I think we're ready, Cap." He pats Steve on the arm. And squeezes his bicep. And Jesus. He's built like a Ford truck.

[starspangledspandex]

Steve barely even knows the concept exists but he's vaguely picking things up from Tony. He knows it has to be a result of their normal drifting but no one had warned him of this side effect. He feels like they should have mentioned it.

He can also feel Tony's excitement. Steve doesn't quite get why he's excited. There are only flashes. He definitely doesn't have the urge for hugging though he feels it.

That I'm built like a truck? Steve raises an eyebrow. He couldn't resist that one. Tony had pretty much handed it to him. "I think so," he agrees. I don't know. Do you think we should tell someone? It might affect the Drift.

[starkingenuity]

If this is some new sort of Drifting side effect, they might be pulled off of active duty or the roster completely and Tony can't have that. He shakes his head quickly. They can't tell anyone.

And he's ignoring the fact that you heard him think about how damned built you are, Steve. Thank God that he's not the sort to blush and definitely the sort to own up to his like of pretty things. Should it come up. Man. Sometimes he really wishes Rhodey or Happy could be here.

Or JARVIS. Just someone normal to talk to.

"It's not going to affect the Drift," he replies. Can't. Could only help. I need to work out more.

[starspangledspandex]

He frowns, he doesn't like the idea of keeping something from the higher-ups but he does know this could end up with them in a lab and quite frankly, he's not interested in being a lab rat. Steve is a soldier; he's always wanted to protect people and he can't do it in the lab.

Steve isn't the kind to dwell on it either. He just finds it amusing. It'll be weird to adjust to someone else always being able to hear what he thinks. Tony of all people. Steve had disliked him so much at the Academy.

"I hope you're right," he tells him because Steve doesn't pretend to understand how it works. If it does, we're telling someone. He hesitates but it's hard not to think about it. You look pretty good to me.

He ducks his head a moment later--that's probably crossing a line somewhere.

[starkingenuity]

Tony does agree, with a nod, that if something goes wrong, they'll tell someone. The idea of losing his mind is worse than any other issue that might come up here. Even death. Tony really would rather die than lose his genius.

He plops back down onto his bunk when Steve gives him quite the compliment and leans back against the wall. He knows where Steve's tastes lie. "Probably not something I can take at face value, but thanks," he tells the blond. He knows Steve had at least found Howard attractive. At least, he's seen a week's worth of memories here or there of longing looks secretly exchanged behind his father's back.

And maybe this conversation shouldn't come up but--

"I know you knew my dad when he was younger than I am, but c'mon, who do you think looks better? Me or him?" Feed his ego!

[starspangledspandex]

It makes him feel better that Tony agrees to tell someone if something is wrong. Right now it's just a little weird but once he's used to it he thinks it'll be alright.

Steve rubs a hand over the back of his neck. This is all a bit awkward. He can't deny he's attracted to Tony. Again, he has eyes. He doesn't know whether it's more than that yet. It's all muddled up because he's essentially lived the man's life.

He eyes Tony--his dad is usually a subject that is off-limits--but he thinks back to Howard. Steve considers a moment, "I'd have to say you."

[starkingenuity]

Ob! Good job! You've selected the proper answer! Tony actually straightens a little. He knows he's gorgeous. Blogs have been mentioning that for years, but it's Steve's opinion that matters. No one alive from back then to remember how Howard looked.

And Tony can get into Steve's head. He knows the blond is telling the truth. And he also knows why.

Older men.

Huh. Well. Howard had been older back then. And Tony has aged gracefully. "You're allowed to stay then," he tells Steve and lays back down, head pillowed on his arms. "Even if its because of the crows feet."

[starspangledspandex]

Well, Steve's opinion is honest. Tony certainly shares traits with his dad but he's very much his own person with his own looks in the super-soldier's mind.

Correction: handsome older men and particularly those that are incredibly intelligent.

Steve shakes his head at the reasoning and glances away as he mutters, "You also have a stronger jaw and..."

He trails off enough that he's probably inaudible but if Tony wants to pick at his brain now that he can and he'll learn his eyes are prettier than Howard's. Oh, and he's definitely more muscular than his dad too.

[starkingenuity]

Tony doesn't have a problem with any of that. In fact, Steve, if you want to spend the next few hours before sleep just thinking about how awesome he is, go right ahead. It's probably unfair being in Steve's brain like this, getting up close and personal outside of a Drift, where their thoughts rarely linger on anything outside of a task at hand.

This is different. Tony gets the lights as Steve crawls into bed himself and though there is near darkness, some emergency lighting strips around the light switch and the door handle give Stark just enough light to see Steve's outline.

He's had the odd male lover. No one like Steve but--

Okay. Don't. Stop. Don't honk about it. Don't think about him. And stop the inner dialogue because that's not helping anyone.

[starspangledspandex]

While that would certainly be fun, Steve's thoughts always drift to the people in his pictures before he goes to bed at night. It helps keep his mind off other things. It's awkward having a roommate sometimes.

Steve knows, he's seen those memories. It had been surprising considering the amount of women he also knows Tony had around during school. He would have never guessed that the man's interests leaned that way.

No, it isn't. It's actually keeping your roommate awake.

[starkingenuity]

Fuck you, Steve Rogers.

Ignore me then. That's actually so much more easily said than it is done. Opening up had been slow but now it's as if the flood gates are open.

Steve's gotten into his system. And that's annoying. Normally Tony would just fuck him and be done with it, but he can't turn him out and never see him again. They have to work together. Continue to work together. And so Tony turns his back to Steve and stares himself into a headache at a little dot of light before letting himself fall asleep.

It takes less than an hour for the Kaiju alarm to go off.

[starspangledspandex]

It had just been a reminder. Steve's not sure he wants to see any fantasies about him that Tony comes up with. This whole attraction to one another thing might end up being a problem.

Once the talking in his head stops, Steve doesn't have as much trouble falling asleep as Tony does though he wonders if there's a way to filter out the other man's thoughts unless Steve's focusing on him. Mental blocks, or something. He has no idea.

When the alarm goes off, he jerks to his feet with his fists clenched and once his brain catches up to where he is he raises a hand to rub his forehead. Kaiju. Not one of Schmidt's bases.

Not the forties anymore, Rogers. He internally berates himself before he remembers that Tony can hear him too. Steve ignores that fact and starts pulling on clothes. "There's still a possibility they won't send us out."

[starkingenuity]

"We don't have a Jaeger," Tony agrees but that doesn't stop him for getting into his underlayer drive suit and zipping up a PPDC uniform over it. From what he's heard, they're still working on it. The systems aren't tested yet. And they've never been inside of an actual conn-pod before. Still. They have a duty.

His eyes fixate briefly on the dog tags Steve wears before they are tucked out of sight and he jogs after the blond who is, likely, keeping things slow for him. Or at least slow enough for Tony to keep up.

Bastard.

What if its not even anywhere close to California? What if Australia or Hong Kong gets the fun again? What will it look like? Jesus I'm shaking.

[starspangledspandex]

Not having a Jaeger is definitely the thing holding them back most at this point. They need practice in a real one but pilots are very touchy and possessive of their Jaegers. If they want one to practice in, theirs needs to get finished.

It doesn't stop Steve from dressing in his undersuit either. He doesn't have the snazzy jacket yet but he should with the next shipment. If they've come up with a name by then, it'll have that embroidered on it somewhere.

He doesn't think twice about his dog tags. He's always worn them. When he's ready to go and it looks like Tony is too, he heads out the door. Steve is trying not to pry too much into the man's mind. He knows a lot because of the Drift but he doesn't need to know what the man is thinking every second.

People are dying, Tony. You shouldn't be so excited about it, Steve berates.

[starkingenuity]

"Your asshole is showing," Tony glowers. He's not happy that people might be getting hurt soon. Lately, they've been able to take care of the Kaiju before they reach the shore but it doesn't always happen. He doesn't like the idea of hurting people even if he had, until very recently, been a weapon's designer. It doesn't actually occur to him that those things can hurt people.

Not the way Kaiju do. Even if his demonstrations have blown up hillsides all over the world.

They hit the main engineering pad and watch two other sets of pilots and their crews being loaded into the launch bays.

That means that the Kaiju is close.

Tony's heart pounds. Especially when the launch doors pull back and an unpainted Jaeger is lined up on its own bay beside the others.

It's the first time he's laid eyes on it. Outside of a diagram on paper.

His heart actually flutters. So, he thinks, this is love.

[starspangledspandex]

He glances toward Tony but he keeps quiet. Let him glower, it's something that had needed said regardless. Sometimes he's not sure if the man really gets it. It's hell on Earth. He's seen what war is like through Steve and he's still excited; the super-soldier just doesn't understand.

Steve listens to the orders being shouted and the distances being called out from the command center. It is close. He raises his eyes to the Jaegers being loaded and shipped out, then turns his attention on the the third one.

Unpainted, maybe, but he can tell from Tony's reaction that this one is theirs. Honestly, it's just a machine to him. A tool. A powerful one that certainly deserves respect but it's the pilots that make it work. He could care less what it looks like so long as it's sturdy.

He turns to Fury as the man strides up, "Should we be in drive suits, Sir?"

[starkingenuity]

Though he tells himself that it's not contempt that has Steve pulling back, Tony can't help but marvel at the robot that he's destined to be inside of and control. Steve doesn't get it. Not yet. And maybe he never will, though Tony hopes that it'll eventually happen for him, that love and connection to their Jaeger. It's not just a machine, Steve Rogers.

There's no such thing as 'just' any way. Machines are like people. Even if most don't realize it.

"Not just yet. Lets hope you don't need to, gentlemen," Fury says in passing. "Both of you up to LOCCENT when you're done oggling that new Mark IV."

Tony will have the worst time tearing his eyes away.

[starspangledspandex]

It is impressive. Steve can appreciate the amount of work and effort that must go into making a Jaeger. It runs on some kind of electricity--that's about what he knows. He's going to need to know everything about it and he suspects if he poked Tony's brain a little all he'd get is scientific jargon.

Machines are not people. This is a thing Steve is sure about. They don't feel things. Their pilots do, but they don't.

"Yes, Sir," Steve nods in acknowledgment and he gives the Jaeger another look over before he turns toward the stairs. He pauses and turns back, "Tony, you can look at it later."

[starkingenuity]

"Yeah, fine, but I'm gonna need some alone time tonight, Steve-oh," Tony says, jogging to catch up. Yes, the man is turned on by machines. No. He probably is not joking. That means that you are S-O-L for the bunk tonight, at least for a little while.

He slips into the command center behind the blond, watching people scurry around with little interest until the Jaeger launch sequences start.

Soon, he'll be in one of those. Tony doesn't like war. But he would very much like to be a hero.

[starspangledspandex]

He opens his mouth to say... something and then closes it again. Steve doesn't know what to do with that statement. He's very aware just what it means but he doesn't want to be judgmental. It's a little, well, weird for lack of a better word. At least he still has his room.

"Alright, I'll stay away then."

Steve stands in the command center with his arms crossed and leaning against a railing out of the way of the scrambling. He's listening, sort of, to the people there but half of it goes over his head.

He's a soldier, not a scientist and he's not interested enough to prod Tony's brains for the answers. If he even can, communication is one thing but treating the other man's brain like a computer is another thing.

It helps to know the process and see this side of things before he's one of the ones in the Jaeger's launching.

[starkingenuity]

Little bits of that seep through and as the Jaegers are launched, Tony glances over at Steve, eyes fixed on the blond, not the monitors. If you want to know, I'll show you. He's not so much a computer as a television, really. He even tries to dumb it down, explaining how it all works.

Go ahead, Steve. Feel the joy in that. At least sample Tony's. And try not to pay too much attention to the other guy that keeps looking back at you. He's with the PPDC too, but he's not a Ranger. He's not from the Academy. He will, however, be asking to an autograph in the very near future because, hello! Captain America! Standing just behind him! Dream come true!

When Tony does look back to the screen, it's only because the forward guard of aircraft have found the Kaiju as it's surfaced and--

"Fuck. Pardon my language. But fuck." It's huge.

"Sir, we're reading it as a level three," Coulson says. "Nickname Karloff."