String Theory

Chapter 9

"I don't see how you aren't getting this," Tony says, exasperation evident in his tone. He's seated at his workbench, one hand cradling his forehead, the other drumming the metal absently. Across the room, Steve and Harry are a few feet apart. Harry's glaring at Steve from beneath his black-rimmed glasses, and Steve shares the expression, jaw set and arms crossed. It's been three hours of scouring the lab from top to bottom, looking for any shred of evidence of Peter. All they found was broken glass and drops of blood. Though the lab is relatively clean now, there are a few swept-up piles of glass and three broken gauntlets.

Harry stiffens up and raises his brows. "I am getting it."

"So am I," echoes Steve.

"No, you're not!" Tony turns to face them both, irritated. "Neither of you get it! You're fighting right in front of me like you're— my fucking parents."

"We wouldn't have to argue if he would leave," Harry says.

"If I leave?" Steve bristles instinctively. "I'm not the one who played dead for ten years."

"I hardly think that's comparable to beating my teammate within an inch of his life."

"Hey!" Tony interjects, standing. "What did I just say? Knock it off!"

A silence falls over the room as Tony approaches the two men, who watch him attentively. It's been like this for a while. There have been a few moments where Tony's certain the two are going to physically go for each others' throats. Occasionally either Steve or Harry will step out to get something or to take a break, but the knife-edge tension has been chewing at the trio since Steve set eyes on Harry when he stepped off the plane.

And that was the problem, wasn't it? Steve knew all that he thought there was to know about Harry, and Harry knew all that there was to know about Steve. Tony was always fairly open with Steve about his previous relationships. There was a framed picture of Harry in the kitchen, and Tony had told Steve a few stories about their time together in Afghanistan, but there was much,much more to Harry than simply an army medic who never came home. Harry's life took place from beneath a coffin lid, while Steve's every move was practically broadcast to the public. Yes, there were plenty of things about the captain that weren't published, but Kingsman makes it their business to know the things that aren't in the papers, and that puts Steve at a considerable disadvantage.

Steve's focused on Tony, and his eyes soften with concern when he notices just how exhausted Tony looks. Between the creases in Tony's brow and the subtle shake in his hands, Steve has gotten very good at reading his tolerance level. He nearly reaches out to take Tony's hand; he can imagine the tender, cold skin that he'll feel there, and he knows just how to press his thumb into the crook of Tony's wrist to keep the trembles at bay. It's an old, well-practiced habit, just as calming to Steve as it is to Tony.

But Tony's looking at Harry, hoping for the reassurance that Steve wants to offer, so Steve keeps his hand by his side. Harry's gaze is sharp, resting on Steve without much care as to how aggressive it may seem. Being kind to the man who took it upon himself to tear the Avengers apart isn't on the top of Harry's list of priorities. Maybe it's a result of the distance he was forced to keep, or maybe it's the security footage of the fight in Siberia that Harry watched over and over. Whatever the motivation, Harry's anger is boiling just beneath his skin. Until now, he'd been forced to content himself with being nothing but a spectator to Tony's life. He had hoped that in his absence, Tony would find someone to ground him and keep him safe. Steve Rogers is the opposite of the companion that Harry expected for Tony.

Tony has forgiven Steve. Harry hasn't.

"This isn't our priority," Tony warns, brows raising at the pair before him. Harry doesn't look away from Steve. The dilated pupils, the tilt of his head, the slight pucker of his brows... he can read Steve's body language. A surge of jealousy passes over him, and he has to work to suppress it. Now isn't the time and he knows he doesn't have that right. Not anymore.