[ It's been seventy years since the first time they met, since a kid called Bucky Barnes looked across a crowded room at a sharp man in a suit with the wickedest smile he'd ever seen. Seventy years since his stomach was a mix of fear and longing, a boy about to go to war and wanting to feel someone pressed up against him one last time. Seventy years since a car failed to fly and Bucky had abandoned two beautiful young woman, had found Howard drowning his sorrows in a dirty and questionable bar and kissed him stupid in the alley outside after.
It's been seventy years and they both have blood still rushing through their veins.
The Expo is a little more classy this time round. It's full of people in glitzy clothes, sleek dresses and fancy suits and jewellery that could have bought half of Brooklyn back in the day, the press with their cameras that set the whole place glittering with little lights. The booze is flowing more now too, a world that is no longer shaking off a depression that crippled it. James has pretty much tried all of the cocktails on the list, the glittering and dimante'd young thing who served them to him flirting up a storm. He indulges her until the show starts and then slips off into the crowd.
He's not even supposed to be here. Actually, he's definitely supposed to be here. Howard had invited him specifically, all full of joy and enthusiasm that had burst from him in the days leading up until Fury had come and whisked James away to use his black kevlar and deadly grip. It's only luck that he's back now and Howard definitely doesn't expect him. So James watches from where he can't be seen, a smile on his face as the show gets under way. Howard gives as good as he can but there's something off about it, there's less about him than their should be. It makes something sad twist inside of him, sad and a little bit sorry that he didn't get back earlier, that the surprise could have been more. Because it's important. James knows why the minute he sees the car lift from the stage, sleek and beautiful and gorgeous. It's been exactly seventy years and the car can fly.
He doesn't even care about the spectacle he makes as he pushes through the crowd, leaving people whispering angrily about his rudeness, or openly curious about him as he passes. James salutes the bouncer cheerfully as he he jumps on to the stage, grinning at the dawning understanding on his partner's face. It's easy to pull Howard into his arms then, dipping him with a smirk just before he lands a kiss on him. He can hear some people whooping, can see the burst of light from cell phones at the corner of his eyes. The best thing is the delighted shock on Howard's face though. ]
(This is a moment that had been seventy years in the making. Closer to 75, really, since he had thought about it the first time, but the seventy year anniversary was more important, and more exact. It marked the seventy year anniversary of the first night he met James Barnes, a man who would crash into his life like a wrecking ball, and throw his whole life into a delicious upheaval that he had yet to find his way out of, but if you asked him, he didn't want to be pulled from it, either.
There had been expos intermittently throughout the years. Over the years it had changed, it wasn't just him showing at the World's Fair anymore, no, today it was the Stark Expo, and people were paying him to let them have pavilions set up inside, while he owned the main stage. People wanted to see him, to speak to him, sometimes it was almost crushing the sense of people surrounding him, but he had learned to handle it like a champ. Plus, it was easier now that James was back.
And tonight was supposed to be for James.
That was why he had been so furious when Fury had taken him away from him again. He'd almost felt as if it was personal, deep down he knew that it wasn't. But he had been planning this for so long, keeping the fact that he had gotten the car up and running for almost six months. He was the only one who knew, and then the week before he had let a select few in on the secret as he arranged the show. He had asked James there specifically, told him that he had something real special in store that was going to blow the whole world away. He'd been vibrating with excitement, and then James had told him that he couldn't, and it had all come crashing down.
In truth he almost cancelled it. Or postponed it, but as it always was, he never knew how long James would be gone, so he couldn't delay it. It was disapponting, crushingly, but at least he would see it on the news. It would, hopefully, be on TV for weeks to come
To most the show seemed to go as they were meant to. He was all smiles and cockiness, telling the whole congregation, which in some ways it was really, his following was practically a cult. He started it with the story of a boy with a dream, the boy becoming a man, and making a whole metaphor about it. And then the curtain comes down to reveal the car, it's the exact one he had had on the stage seventy years before, improved and renewed, but still the original. Maybe it was for the better that James wasn't there. if he was, all he would look at would be him, and maybe a tear would shed because it had become such a symbol for them.
He's basking in the applause so he doesn't see James coming until he's suddenly in his arms, being kissed, and even then he's not fully sure it's him the first moment. But then it's his taste, his smell, and his arms wrap tightly around his neck, the microphone dropping to the side as he kisses him back. He doesn't care that anyone sees, it's not like they're a secret, so. He laughs a bit at the comment, and leans up to kiss him again.)
I wanted to make sure I kept you around until you couldn't live without me.
(He straightens himself up a bit, trying to regain just a bit of composure, even if he just wants to get off the stage now and kiss James again.)
Everyone knows James, right? (It's said to the crowd, who all holler and laugh.)
He's a menace, but he's the reason we have this baby, so I can't complain too much.
[ He doesn't care about the spectacle any more. He might have done in the early days when the press was full of the atrocities he'd committed and the man he'd been, when the black and white rags were full of red and Bucky Barnes was dragged through the dirt as a killer. He'd hated it back then, snarling into bright camera lights or shrinking back into the shadow of Steve's body and the cool leather of Howard's cars. It had almost been like hell. But then things had changed. Some people still saw him as a monster but through his friends' careful diligence most started to see him differently. A victim, not a villain. It got easier after that to be charming.
Maybe without Howard's influence he wouldn't be quite this bad though.
His arm slips around his partner's waist, his most dazzling smile on his face and a bow to the audience in general. James Barnes was many things but he still had a pretty face. ] As if they could forget me. [ He lifts his hand and gives a jiggling little wave. ] 'Sup Cynthia. Mervyn.
[ The crowd titters a little, knowing full well that he has some sort of pigheaded war going on with several journalists. He doesn't pull his punches. ]
(And he is, in some ways, though Howard doesn't mind. This is all so much better than the first...year? was it that long? that he was back with them. When he was scared, hiding away behind himself and Steve. When he wouldn't leave the house unless it was under cover of darkness in cars with tinted windows so dark you could barely see through them with your face pressed against the glass. It had been hard work getting him out of his shell again. But Howard had coaxed and pleaded and begged. Showering him with compliments and love and praise every time he made the tiniest of steps. Going out to dinner together, first, then going on holiday with him, to a film premier, a charity gala. He introduced him to the press carefully, arranged for him to have a chance to share his side of the story. It turned out to be a four hour CNN special, and Howard stayed with him the whole time at his side if he needed a hand to hold.
And then the James he'd known and fallen in love with came back. Slowly, but surely, the snark returned, the cocksure grin and sparkle in his eye, and Howard had fallen more and more in love.
Sometimes he would pretend to curb and contain him. James, please, and You shouldn't provoke them like that, but he was loving every second of it. Every rude and hostile comment thrown, whether it be about his past, or their relationship, he'd turn it around. Howard was especilly fond of the times it was about them and he would dip him, kissing him so hard he felt dizzy, like now.
He rolls his eyes, fondly, but leans into him, his own going around his waist in turn.)
Alright alright, I think that's quite enough for now, darling.
(He leans up to kiss his cheek, before his attention turns back to the crowd.)
Starting tomorrow we'll be having these to test in the north yard. Everyone may enter their name once a day into a raffle to get a ride in one of them. Once you've ridden, you can't enter again, that just wouldn't be fair. Sign ups start every day at 6am, and you'll have to bring a valid ID with you. But all that's on the app, so if you go into there, you can read all about it.
Thank you, everyone. I do this all for you. Except for this. This is for him.
(To which he inclines his head to James, and he slips out of his grasp for a moment, to set the microphone back, give a quick bow, and then take James's hand to drag him off the stage despite the thunderous applause. Once back there he's throwing his arms around his neck again, to kiss him, but then he pull sback to give him a shove.)
[ James has never really been good with people telling him what he can and can't do. That was the first thing that came back once he shook Hydra's shackles off. He became more confident, more sure of himself, and therefore more sure of what he wanted and needed to say. Howard has always been in the spotlight but James wasn't and now he's allowed to be, now he's not hidden, well he makes sure people know why that's important.
So for every homophobic asshole he's got a cutting comment, for every new aged journalist who thinks that war is for the bad people of the world he's got words that rain like bullets. He's never liked bullies and it feels good to be able to show them that all around the world.
That's not where his thoughts are now though, humming against Howard's mouth before laughing as he's pushed. ] Couldn't.
[ His hand goes to his pocket where he pulls out his slim Stark phone. Or what's left of it anyway. It's mostly just circuit boards and melted plastic now. ] You like surprises.
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It's been seventy years and they both have blood still rushing through their veins.
The Expo is a little more classy this time round. It's full of people in glitzy clothes, sleek dresses and fancy suits and jewellery that could have bought half of Brooklyn back in the day, the press with their cameras that set the whole place glittering with little lights. The booze is flowing more now too, a world that is no longer shaking off a depression that crippled it. James has pretty much tried all of the cocktails on the list, the glittering and dimante'd young thing who served them to him flirting up a storm. He indulges her until the show starts and then slips off into the crowd.
He's not even supposed to be here. Actually, he's definitely supposed to be here. Howard had invited him specifically, all full of joy and enthusiasm that had burst from him in the days leading up until Fury had come and whisked James away to use his black kevlar and deadly grip. It's only luck that he's back now and Howard definitely doesn't expect him. So James watches from where he can't be seen, a smile on his face as the show gets under way. Howard gives as good as he can but there's something off about it, there's less about him than their should be. It makes something sad twist inside of him, sad and a little bit sorry that he didn't get back earlier, that the surprise could have been more. Because it's important. James knows why the minute he sees the car lift from the stage, sleek and beautiful and gorgeous. It's been exactly seventy years and the car can fly.
He doesn't even care about the spectacle he makes as he pushes through the crowd, leaving people whispering angrily about his rudeness, or openly curious about him as he passes. James salutes the bouncer cheerfully as he he jumps on to the stage, grinning at the dawning understanding on his partner's face. It's easy to pull Howard into his arms then, dipping him with a smirk just before he lands a kiss on him. He can hear some people whooping, can see the burst of light from cell phones at the corner of his eyes. The best thing is the delighted shock on Howard's face though. ]
About damn time.
no subject
There had been expos intermittently throughout the years. Over the years it had changed, it wasn't just him showing at the World's Fair anymore, no, today it was the Stark Expo, and people were paying him to let them have pavilions set up inside, while he owned the main stage. People wanted to see him, to speak to him, sometimes it was almost crushing the sense of people surrounding him, but he had learned to handle it like a champ. Plus, it was easier now that James was back.
And tonight was supposed to be for James.
That was why he had been so furious when Fury had taken him away from him again. He'd almost felt as if it was personal, deep down he knew that it wasn't. But he had been planning this for so long, keeping the fact that he had gotten the car up and running for almost six months. He was the only one who knew, and then the week before he had let a select few in on the secret as he arranged the show. He had asked James there specifically, told him that he had something real special in store that was going to blow the whole world away. He'd been vibrating with excitement, and then James had told him that he couldn't, and it had all come crashing down.
In truth he almost cancelled it. Or postponed it, but as it always was, he never knew how long James would be gone, so he couldn't delay it. It was disapponting, crushingly, but at least he would see it on the news. It would, hopefully, be on TV for weeks to come
To most the show seemed to go as they were meant to. He was all smiles and cockiness, telling the whole congregation, which in some ways it was really, his following was practically a cult. He started it with the story of a boy with a dream, the boy becoming a man, and making a whole metaphor about it. And then the curtain comes down to reveal the car, it's the exact one he had had on the stage seventy years before, improved and renewed, but still the original. Maybe it was for the better that James wasn't there. if he was, all he would look at would be him, and maybe a tear would shed because it had become such a symbol for them.
He's basking in the applause so he doesn't see James coming until he's suddenly in his arms, being kissed, and even then he's not fully sure it's him the first moment. But then it's his taste, his smell, and his arms wrap tightly around his neck, the microphone dropping to the side as he kisses him back. He doesn't care that anyone sees, it's not like they're a secret, so. He laughs a bit at the comment, and leans up to kiss him again.)
I wanted to make sure I kept you around until you couldn't live without me.
(He straightens himself up a bit, trying to regain just a bit of composure, even if he just wants to get off the stage now and kiss James again.)
Everyone knows James, right? (It's said to the crowd, who all holler and laugh.)
He's a menace, but he's the reason we have this baby, so I can't complain too much.
no subject
Maybe without Howard's influence he wouldn't be quite this bad though.
His arm slips around his partner's waist, his most dazzling smile on his face and a bow to the audience in general. James Barnes was many things but he still had a pretty face. ] As if they could forget me. [ He lifts his hand and gives a jiggling little wave. ] 'Sup Cynthia. Mervyn.
[ The crowd titters a little, knowing full well that he has some sort of pigheaded war going on with several journalists. He doesn't pull his punches. ]
no subject
(And he is, in some ways, though Howard doesn't mind. This is all so much better than the first...year? was it that long? that he was back with them. When he was scared, hiding away behind himself and Steve. When he wouldn't leave the house unless it was under cover of darkness in cars with tinted windows so dark you could barely see through them with your face pressed against the glass. It had been hard work getting him out of his shell again. But Howard had coaxed and pleaded and begged. Showering him with compliments and love and praise every time he made the tiniest of steps. Going out to dinner together, first, then going on holiday with him, to a film premier, a charity gala. He introduced him to the press carefully, arranged for him to have a chance to share his side of the story. It turned out to be a four hour CNN special, and Howard stayed with him the whole time at his side if he needed a hand to hold.
And then the James he'd known and fallen in love with came back. Slowly, but surely, the snark returned, the cocksure grin and sparkle in his eye, and Howard had fallen more and more in love.
Sometimes he would pretend to curb and contain him. James, please, and You shouldn't provoke them like that, but he was loving every second of it. Every rude and hostile comment thrown, whether it be about his past, or their relationship, he'd turn it around. Howard was especilly fond of the times it was about them and he would dip him, kissing him so hard he felt dizzy, like now.
He rolls his eyes, fondly, but leans into him, his own going around his waist in turn.)
Alright alright, I think that's quite enough for now, darling.
(He leans up to kiss his cheek, before his attention turns back to the crowd.)
Starting tomorrow we'll be having these to test in the north yard. Everyone may enter their name once a day into a raffle to get a ride in one of them. Once you've ridden, you can't enter again, that just wouldn't be fair. Sign ups start every day at 6am, and you'll have to bring a valid ID with you. But all that's on the app, so if you go into there, you can read all about it.
Thank you, everyone. I do this all for you. Except for this. This is for him.
(To which he inclines his head to James, and he slips out of his grasp for a moment, to set the microphone back, give a quick bow, and then take James's hand to drag him off the stage despite the thunderous applause. Once back there he's throwing his arms around his neck again, to kiss him, but then he pull sback to give him a shove.)
Why didn't you call?
no subject
So for every homophobic asshole he's got a cutting comment, for every new aged journalist who thinks that war is for the bad people of the world he's got words that rain like bullets. He's never liked bullies and it feels good to be able to show them that all around the world.
That's not where his thoughts are now though, humming against Howard's mouth before laughing as he's pushed. ] Couldn't.
[ His hand goes to his pocket where he pulls out his slim Stark phone. Or what's left of it anyway. It's mostly just circuit boards and melted plastic now. ] You like surprises.