worthallthis | Apocalypse How: IC Inbox

[Not holding something breakable. Check. Winter's not sure he could've waited much longer without exploding or melting into a puddle or fleeing, but he could have waited until Tony wasn't holding anything, at least. Sure.

He still looks kind of terrified, like he expects Tony to explode himself, like he's not sure all those words to say "I'm not mad at you" aren't talking around a truth that actually says "I am mad at you", but he inches closer.]

Of course. I can clean it up. I can't cut myself on the pieces.

[The metal hand can't, anyway.]

[ It's kind of funny how not scared Tony is right now, particularly in comparison to the way Barnes is acting, which isn't dissimilar to how someone might behave when sharing space with a particularly dangerous predatory animal. It might have made sense for him to be so spooked if Tony were wearing his suit, perhaps; he did lop the guy's arm off last time he'd seen him armored up, after all. But nope, no suit, Tony's just wearing sweats and one of Jaeger's shirts that's so comically huge on Tony it makes him appear even less threatening in comparison to Bucky, who looks like a fucking GI Joe even in his civvies.

But Christ, the guy looks liable to bolt if Tony so much as sneezes loudly. It's frankly pitiful, and Tony almost offers him a Xanax...until he remembers he has to pay for those now. So instead he slowly steps away from the shattered pile of ceramic, putting a little more distance between him and Barnes than what is strictly necessary as he nods his thanks. ]

Thanks. I mean, I'm gonna go grab a broom and dustpan, but don't let me stop you getting a head start.

You, uh...still want coffee?

Coffee is great. If you're still making it.

[A ruined cup doesn't mean the whole pot is ruined, he knows. And coffee will be comforting, and be something to hold onto while Tony works, if Tony is still going to work. His brain is still trying to go in little circles of "angry technician equals punishment" and "maintenance equals pain" and even "I made a kind person upset which is bad", but a task helps.

Winter sinks to a crouch over the shattered mug and starts plucking up the bigger pieces, the ones that would be harder to get into a dustpan, setting them on the metal palm to cart to the trash.]

It works on me now. Coffee. It didn't used to.

[ Tony wrings every drop out of those few seconds of increased distance that he can, doing a box-breath and counting things around the room and running through every other stupid trick he's learned to quickly calm anxiety short of that one where he sticks his head under a faucet. He wants to do that one, though. Maybe later. ]

Yeah, I heard from, uh. Your buddy.

[ Just say 'Steve', Tony. Look, if this situation gets any more awkward and uncomfortable Tony might actually literally scream, so...fuck you. Vague allusions it is.

After some rummaging he at last returns with the broom and dustpan, passing them along briskly before he flits over to the coffee machine to finish what he was fucking doing. Before Barnes came in and started acting all...Barnes. God, does Tony know anyone normal? ]

So you figured out your preference yet? Cream? Sugar? Black with a side of hard tack for old timey's sake?

[Sure you do, Tony. Just probably not the ones from your world. They're definitely all weirdos.

He does sound a little less awkward, himself, though, as he answers the question while he sweeps up the last of the shards. Thank goodness there wasn't any coffee in that mug yet.]

With cocoa in it if I can get it. Cream and sugar is okay if there's none of that.

[That's right, Bucky Barnes has discovered mochas and he loves them. He pauses, climbing to his feet, and adds,]

Hard tack is disgusting, though. There's a lot of much better foods around here.

Oh look at Mr. Fancy Pants Starbucks Order over here. [ Tony manages a snort of laughter at that, because it's unexpected and that's funny. ] Sorry, all's I got is Half & Half and a buttload of sugar, that okay by you, High Roller?

[ Ok, coffee time. First Tony sets about fixing a cup for Barnes with all the accoutrements, handling it with care, and then he serves himself. Which just means he fills a mug with straight coffee, downs it in almost a single gulp, then fills it again. He's halfway through the second cup when he turns to Barnes, handing him his mug once the guy's done sweeping. ]

You can set the broom wherever. [ Don't hand him things. Tony does hand over the cup, though. ] Here's your joe. Don't expect a whole lot, it's just Folgers. And I was kidding about the hard tack.

[ Mental note, go easy on the sarcasm with this guy. And the flirting. ]

You asked. I'll take what you have, it's fine. I don't expect most people to have cocoa to add to their coffee.

[He returns the broom to where Tony got it from, because of course he was paying attention to that, and dumps the shards of mug into the trash before accepting the coffee.

He holds it with both hands a moment, as if taking in the warmth of it. Though the metal one doesn't really read heat the same way as the flesh one, so it's a familiar comparison of data in his brain.]

Even the instant stuff here. Is better than some coffee I've had. It smells good, either way. Thank you.

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