e twenty-first century seem to find necessary. only his heart that still beats away in his chest, the fluttering of his pulse, the warmth in his skin.

※so. how＊re you doing?,§ seven asks, shifting to getfortable on the grass. ※i assume not all that great considering the escaping act.§

steve hums nomittally, eyes on the not-quite right arrangement of buildings that make up what should be wall street. ※well, i＊ve been asking around, and i＊ve found three steves that married peggy carter, ten that married or were involved with someone called sharon, twelve that were invested in relationships with other women, five who admitted to sleeping with bucky and thirty-one who have somehow be involved with tony stark, including two who married him. and that＊s not counting the ones who admitted kissing or sleeping with tony whilst involved with someone else.§ he shrugs, fingers pulling at the grass by his hip. ※seems i am an awful cad throughout the multiverse.§

※no, it seems you have a thing for tony stark across the multiverse,§ seven says, unapologetically, turning his face up towards the sun and shutting his eyes. ※it＊s not a big deal.§

※for you, maybe,§ steve sighs.

※thought about it?§ seven asks suddenly.

※no,§ steve says abruptly, but he＊s not quite sure that＊s the truth anymore. his mind keeps drifting towards what if more times than he＊sfortable with. he keeps rethinking over everything that＊s ever happened between him and tony with this new context in mind, and he＊s alarmed to find how easily it could fit together. he knows it＊s different to how things are with bruce or clint or any of the others, and he hates that he now recognises it.

※have you really never thought about it?§ seven asks, sounding curious and not altogether convinced.

※no,§ steve groans, flopping down onto his back so all he can see above him is clear blue sky. ※not until now, anyway,§ he continues, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the brightness of the sun. ※and it＊s stupid. if i start thinking about it＃§ he trails off. ※when i get home, i＊m going to be seeing everything differently, even if t- even if everyone else isn＊t. it＊s going to be awkward enough as it is. what do i say? ＆hey, tony, remember the time you got me almost killed? well it＊s okay because there＊s a whole goddamn gang of steve rogers＊ out there across the multiverse that are actually swooning over you.＊§

seven laughs at that, shaking his head. ※i don＊t think swooning is the right word,§ he remarks.

steve pauses, squints over at seven who is idly twisting blades of grass between dexterous fingers. he feels the question on the tip of his tongue, wants to force it back down. he doesn＊t quite manage it.

※what is the right word then?§

seven breathes out, and it＊s clear he knows exactly what steve is asking. ※it wasn＊t some instant falling in love thing,§ he says, beginning the explanation that steve still isnt sure he wants. ※it was＃he＊s like the goddamn sun. so intense, so in your face and just＃hell, i don＊t even know. it＊s not always pretty, and we fight like cats and dogs some days. but we both know that we＊re in it together, we＊ve always got something underneath it all.§

steve swallows, because that＊s exactly how he＊d describe tony some days. ※how did you＃§ he asks hesitantly. ※how did it change?§

seven smiles crookedly. ※not really sure. we were fighting because there＊d been an inter-dimensional breach and we＊d been given orders by shield to remain on standby. of course tony didn＊t listen and stormed off without me to go and raise hell; i could have throttled him for that.§

※but you didn＊t,§ steve says.

seven smiles again, quiet and warm. ※but i didn＊t,§ he murmurs.

※and the whole＃§ steve ventures. he clears his throat. ※being married, thing?§

※years later. we were fighting,§ seven pauses, grimaces. ※hell, what a broken record. we were fighting about changes to the initiative that the government were proposing, and he made some awfulment about us not actually being on the same side, like he didn＊t believe i＊d side with him when it mattered. gets right up in my face and has the balls to say ＆why the hell should i assume we＊re on the same side with anything?＊ i dragged him to the city clerk＊s office in brooklyn and walked up to the counter, asked to apply for a marriage licence. the look on his face. i think he thought i was bluffing, so outes the id, he signs the form with this look on his face, like he＊s daring me to do it. neither of us backed down, and there we are with this valid licence, and clint＊s behind us yelling that we＊vepletely lost the plot, bow in hand and scaring the hell out of the woman behind the counter.§

※i＊d side with clint,§ steve says, and seven laughs again.

※yeah, everyone else did. i don＊t think i＊ve ever seen coulson speechless before.§

※and you went through with it?§

seven nods. ※yep. he locked himself in his workshop, i was ready to knock down the damn door and drag him out, but of course there's an alert and i had to go with clint to deal with a situation in michigan. when i got back he was sparring with thor, and the ass turns around and says ＆if you wanted to pussy out you could have hid in brooklyn, didn＊t realise it was that bad that you＊d consider detroit as the better option.＊§