Texts to Pietro, Bucky, and Bigby (backdated to 7/29)

[om_patriot]

Bucky:

So, Tony has a project he needs done and basically hired me to do it. I'll be out here for the rest of the summer.

I'll be back on weekends, though, for squad and to hang out.

We should go to your parents' one weekend though.

Bigby:

I'll be out at Tony's for the rest of the summer- he's hired me/the company I work for (mostly me) to do some landscaping at his building. Will be back on weekends.

Pietro:

So, Tony hijacked me.

He ordered a bunch of plants because he was bored and I couldn't come over because of work. And now I'm landscaping for him, alone.

I tried telling him that I had no idea what I was doing but he says he doesn't care. It'd serve him right if it ended up being horrible.

Sometimes I really wonder about him, with me. I know it's just Tony being Tony and having more money than anyone needs. It sure is easy to let myself read into it sometimes, though.

Comments

[om_sarge]

Hired you as what? haha

Yeah the parent visit has to happen, I know. Will sort something asap

Also I gotta visit you sometime too, gotta see this fancy new apartment of yours!

[om_sarge]

And you're lucky I'm such a well-adjusted guy or I'd take your heading to NY once I got here kinda personal ;D

[om_patriot]

That's actually exactly why I did it, you caught me.

[om_sarge]

I am hurt. Hurt and shocked :P

Have fun, don't do anything I wouldn't

[om_patriot]

Truth hurts, Buck.

I'm having trouble coming up to what that might be.

[om_sarge]

I'll never get over it ha

ass

Either you're sullying my good name or lack a proper imagination. Or both!!

[om_patriot]

Landscaper. He had some trees he needed planted and I got myself a job.

Cool! Just let me know.

Yes, come visit whenever. I need to buy a bed now, I hadn't really set it up much before now.

[om_sarge]

Landscaping? He does realise that trying to buy the friend after making the friend is weird and backwards, right? haha

Will do.

Bed not necessary dude, don't gotta get all fancy on me. I have a sleeping bag you know :)

Or, more likely, the ability to steal your bad haha

[om_quicksilver]

Steve. Sweetness. Do you remember what I texted you after the fourth of July?

That thing where I said "just kiss him"?

Hang on let me see I got something written here for you... just let me dig it out... it's really old and archaic and been here for like FOREVER but...

OMG FUCKING JUST KISS HIM.

No seriously he told you to go find him a shrubbery. Like literally was like "You must find a shrubbery."

That is ALWAYS the universal (MONTY PYTHON) sign for 'just kidding I just wanted to make you do a thing for me bc I really want this other thing.'

Read: A KISS. OR FIFTY.

[om_patriot]

We actually watched the Holy Grail after the funeral.

I really, really want to, Pietro. You have no idea.

I'm...considering just telling him that I'm interested.

He won't be a jerk about it. Even if he doesn't return my feelings, he'll be okay about it, and we'll still be friends.

So I'm starting to wonder what I have to lose.

And I really would like to kiss him.

[om_quicksilver]

... why am I not surprised that after a funeral, Tony was watching Monty Python.

And yeah, exactly. Tony won't fuck around. And--come on, he totally bought plants just so you'd hang out with him. I know he doesn't really like being alone over there but that's just extreme.

KISS. HIM.

[om_patriot]

I think he just wanted something he didn't have to think about. Plus, I'd never seen it. I was real confused in the beginning, but I liked it.

The Black Knight's my favorite part. I feel a real kinship with him.

...I've got to admit, that felt nice. After I got over the shock. That he wanted to see me enough for that. I know he throws money around like nothing else, but. Still.

[om_patriot]

Pietro, I need you to be honest about something with me.

Am I taking advantage of Tony by taking this job?

I know he's real lonely over there by himself, and I'd never want to take advantage of him like that.

I mean, hell, I'd do it for free if I could afford to not have a job, but still.

I worry sometimes that he feels like he's got to spend money on people, and I don't want to take advantage of that either.

[om_quicksilver]

... dude you ARE the Black Knight. Just with a better cause. That's fuckin hilarious.

Um, whoa there dude, no. It's just Tony being cute. Like, are Wanda and I taking advantage of him by accepting the apartment?

You know: It's how he lets people know he likes them and wants to hang out with them, but without him having to say those things. It's not taking advantage, it's understanding and accepting, like... the way he is.

Where did that even come from?

[om_patriot]

Yeah, I know. I just got...I don't know. Worried.

I know it's just how he says he cares about people. He just does so much for me, and I always feel a little bad about it, but then someone kind of...made a comment about it.

Something about Tony trying to buy my friendship with the landscaping work.

I know it's not true, at all, but it made me worry about it more.

[om_quicksilver]

Tony is emotionally non-functional and he knows it. A better friend would probably confront him with reality more, but I let him get away with it because I'm better for blowing off steam. It's what I can do for him, I guess?

So I appreciate what he can do for me. That's how he operates. You and I know this. You're a good friend, man. The best.

Sounds like someone's passive-aggressively jealous. Just saying.

[om_patriot]

He is. And I think he's getting that these things are...difficult for me sometimes. Or. Overwhelming is a better word. Nearly cried over the apartment.

Just. After a life of barely being able to make (or not making) rent for our 500 sq ft studio in Brooklyn, an entire apartment, free, is just. Overwhelming.

He swoops in and takes care of things for me and I always feel like maybe I should stop him, but I know he does it because he cares, and, well. I like that he cares. And I don't want to reject that. But I already worry about taking advantage of his kindness, and hearing that didn't help.

I don't know. Everything's just a mess in my head right now. I'll get over it.

and I don't know where it came from. It might be. I don't know.

[om_quicksilver]

Yeah no, I think your instinct is true, man. Don't reject it; it'd break his damn heart.

(And he'd pretend it didn't. And I'd have to go drink with him and pretend I don't know and pointedly not talk about it. You see where this is heading.)

I feel you tho. Wanda and I had nothing but each other. It's overwhelming, but it comes from the right place.

And yeah, uh. It is. Even if it was 'a joke'. That's what P/A people always say.

[om_grimm]

I think his interest lies more with watching you lift heavy things while shirtless.

That's great! Congrats on the gig.

Have a good summer, Steve. I'll see you around.