Run Before You Can Walk

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

~~

“They should call you God of Miserliness.” Tony piped up the very second he and Thor were left to their own devices by Maria Hill and company, gesturing after them. “See? They’re going where the party is. I’m gonna follow.” From the moment Thor mentioned smuggling some brew aged for god knows how long from god knows where made from god knows what...JUST to rub it in Tony Stark’s face that he didn’t possess the mettle for it, but Steve Rogers did?

Unforgivable. He could forgive the remarks about Pepper due to how laughably and pathetically misinformed they were, but holding out on the host was just an utter insult.

Comments

[st_ormbreaker]

"You simply don't have the constitution," Thor says. "I mean no disrespect, Stark -- I would just hate to see you laid out for the rest of the evening."

As if to rub it in, Thor opens his flask, then takes a long swig of it; all the while, he tries his best to hide his obvious mirth.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“A drop.” Tony clinked the rim of his champagne flute against Thor’s flask.

[st_ormbreaker]

"I don't want to have to carry you out of here," Thor says, recapping it.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony squinted doubtfully, but refused to retreat. “You sound like a man with something to hide.”

[st_ormbreaker]

This allegation only amuses Thor all the more. Thor slips the flask into the inside pocket of his coat.

"Pray tell, what is it that you think I'm hiding?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“Heard you slipped an old vet some.” Tony orbited Thor closely, warming the hidden flask with his hip. “And Rogers. For Christsake—not willing to share with someone who has a discerning palate?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"I'm pretty sure that old man's going to wind up in the hospital," he says, casually. "And Roger's made of hardier stuff."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“Or maybe you’re just playing favorites.” Quick as a bunny, Tony had snuck his fingers into Thor’s denim to filch his flask, striding away a few steps to appraise it against the light.

[st_ormbreaker]

"I have no favorites, Stark," Thor says, half-heartedly reaching for the flask.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“I think you do.” Tony dodged his attempt with a smooth sideways arch, setting his drink aside to unscrew it in short order and giving it a little whiff.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor doesn't make an attempt to reach for it again.

"It was aged for 1000 years in the barrels built from the wreck of Grunhel's fleet," he says, giving Tony the same spiel he gave one of the older men requesting a share of his spirits. "I do not jest when I say it is powerful."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony’s neck stiffened back, ready to double over from the sheer stench of it. It was like Balkan Vodka to the power of Everclear whisked away on a speedboat of Fireball. More than wanting to drink it, Tony wanted to run a liquid analysis on it.

“Yeah, what’s left of my olfactory senses like it.” Tony plucked a stirring stick from the bar, dipping it in, and pressing it to his upper lip.

[st_ormbreaker]

"That's more than enough," he says. Thor reaches out and gently takes the flask from Tony's hand. Tony might protest, but Thor was not particularly fond of hospitals -- not after the visit he had when Jane ran him over and Darcy tazed him; he might bear a visit to the ER with Tony, but he certainly would not enjoy it.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony rolled his wrist irritably but left it at that. The liquor certainly went down smoother that he thought it would, even for just a drop of the stuff. He felt nothing for several seconds and his busy mouth was ready to confront Thor over his excessive fussing but then—

“Judas Priest.” He hissed, waving the stick like a wand.

[st_ormbreaker]

"I did warn you," he says, amused by his response. "We like our alcohol strong. I have yet to find anything here that is up to snuff."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony’s hand was on Thor’s chest for stability and a breathy chuckle escaped his lungs. “I don’t take anyone at their word—that’s one of my rules. I gotta know.”

In stark contrast to his competitive attitude surrounding the Great Girlfriend Debate, he was remarkably more at ease.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor reaches out to steady Tony, his free hand pressed against his companion's smaller arm.

"You should learn to do that. Otherwise, you're going to end up hurting yourself, or someone else."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

With a little humming noise, Tony straightened himself up, batting a few strands of blonde hair from Thor’s eyes with a finger. “Life’s too short to tread in fear of a few bumps.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Agreed," Thor says, giving Tony's arm a little squeeze. He pats the side of it a few times when he's somewhat confident that Tony can hold himself steady. "But I think it is far better to get through life hurting as few people as possible, including yourself."

Thor holds out his hand for the cap for his flask.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“I agree.” Tony gave Thor a look of faux-innocence, stealing away towards the balcony.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor shakes his head, takes a long swig from the still-uncapped flask, then follows Tony out to the balcony.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“Level with me, Point Break.” Tony flicked the metal cap up into the air by his thumb, undaunted by the endless fall it was due for should he flub the landing. The sights of the City That Never Slept was glorious from Stark Tower, and the party boasted very nearly the highest view. Tony caught the cap, leaning well over the clear railing.

“Having an ageless god around—not always great for the terror management.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor leans against the parapet and breathes in the cold night air. When Tony finishes speaking he turns to look at him, his frown slight, but unmistakable.

"What do you mean?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“It’s nothing against you.” His own smile faded somewhat, the seductive touch of the Asgardian liquor washing away his guard. “I’ve kissed death on the nose too many times to count. Seeing others alive one moment and gone the next, and I never took that for granted again. For most, that’s as good as it gets. You can’t top fighting your honorary uncle in a death mech battle.” He toyed with the cap, running his thumb over the stiff grooves etched into its exterior.

“And then I met a deity who can grapple monsters the size of my hometown bare-handed.” He flicked the cap towards Thor, bracing both hands on the edge. “And then...well.” His eyes were drawn to the very spot in the sky the wormhole had once darkened.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor hums at that. For a moment, he says nothing.

"You know," he begins. "There's no need to go off fighting your uncle in a death mech battle by yourself anymore. You have a team now."

Thor gestures at Tony with the flash and for a second, Thor feels himself on the verge of say something else. In the end, he thinks better of it and downs the rest of his beverage.