Chapter Text
“Do you know what bugged me about that video?” They were the first words Stark had spoken since he froze almost five minutes before; a tool lifting the largest shoulder plate from the remains of Barnes’ arm. That tool lay on the bench now, having been placed with the exaggerated care one gave to spun glass, but the man was still staring at the interior mechanics with a horrified fascination.
“Actually I suppose that sounds funny, obviously everything about it is still giving me nightmares, and some crucial highlights had me making the worst rage fueled mistakes since I invited a terrorist to my house, but there was one bit that just wouldn’t settle, didn’t make sense… it just bugged me. Howard recognized you.”
His eyes finally strayed from the wires and hydraulics to run assessingly over the other man’s features. “I mean, he hadn’t seen you in 40 years and wasn’t your BFF to begin with. You had long hair and resting murder face, to say nothing of the ninja gear and big honking metal arm.” A slight giggle with only a tinge of hysteria slipped out. “It was nighttime and he was concussed for Thor’s sake! But he sees you coming and knew you immediately. I couldn’t figure it out, would have thought the tape was faked somehow if you and Rogers hadn’t confirmed it.”
“But now…” He stared back into the arm and Barnes noticed that his hands had begun to tremble slightly. “Howard never taught me much directly, but he let me help in his workshop; hold parts and fetch tools. I learned the basics, but I learned his style too.” Stark grabbed hold of the table edge, knuckles white. “The spacing of gaps in a long line of solder, or the marks drawn on wires, because ‘oft times emergency repairs happen under emergency lighting, Anthony’ and he never wanted to be stuck telling the difference between a blue and black wire under red lights. He signed everything he made, from a missile prototype to a toaster repair.”
Stark finally tore his eyes away and turned to leave, stumbling a little against a workbench. “We’ll have to finish this tomorrow, Barnes. I need to get very drunk, then break some things, then hack some people, then get drunk again. Maybe come back Sunday to be safe.”