savesthedance | voicemail;

[Hey, Captain America, have a slightly awkward teenager delivering some slightly awkward news.

Hope you're ready to be uncomfortable!]

Uh, so, hey--

You're 'Captain America', right? [He's Spider-Man, and somehow he still feels ridiculous saying that.]

I-- uh-- well not me, your--

[Ahem. Give him a moment.

Okay.]

Don't kill the messenger, okay? Your obsessive arch-nemesis-slash-possible-date-to-superhero-prom-slash-'Its-Complicated-On-Facebook-Relationship'-buddy-slash-Halloween-Masquerade-Barbie friend... guy... thing...

Wants to call a truce with you.

Uh. So. ...How do we feel about this?

[He's going to hope you remember him from the five seconds you two spoke; actually, he almost hopes you don't. Just please say 'yes' and don't try to make him explain your complicated frienemy relationships anymore?]

Yeah, that's me.

[Steve's puzzled by the random message, but as the male continued, his confusion grew. It wasn't that he didn't understand---

Okay, so he didn't understand. Half of that went over his head and the other half just sounded like nonsense. So he can't help but question it.]

Sorry, who are we talking about?

[Peter has to take his own moment to pause, as he realizes haltingly--

Oh wow. He has no idea what the guy's name is.

Big Red just fit so well, he'd never bothered to ask. ~~So had Blushy, Eyebrows, Matrix Trench Guy... there were loads, he was just so... so nicknameable!~~]

Uh...

[Okay, Pete, stay cool. Don't look like an idiot.]

Tall, dark and... stalker-y? You know, red guy. Can't miss him. Enjoys leather coats, talking about biology projects, and very probably is the future owner of a hairless cat?

[He babbles. He's sorry.]

[The second Peter says red, Steve knows exactly who he's talking about. He fights back a sigh, because he can't possibly guess what Schmidt's playing at now. Wanting a truce? Really?]

You mean Schmidt. No idea how you know him, or how much you know him, but a truce is never something he'd want.

[Oh-- welp. Uh. That sounded... bleak. Not that he wasn't expecting some friction, but--...

Sighing, he chewed on his lip a moment before soldiering on.]

I, um... don't know him really. Or well, all I know about him is that he's way too interested in science projects, 'special snowflakes' and... well. You.

But um... I'm sorry, I saw that dream he had. With the-- with you dying?

[Wincing, because this is an uncomfortable topic.]

And I suggested that he correct that, since... since it isn't right, right?

Look, he agreed to back off if you'd agree to it too. I may not know the situation, but I know that no one deserves to be the target of that kind of violence. And if there's even a small chance of putting a stop to it, it's worth checking out.

[On that point? He's confident.]

[Steve has to pause at that. While it's hard for him to imagine Schmidt actually agreed to something like that, the kid...well, he has a point.

If there was some sort of truce, lives could be saved. If Schmidt stopped targeting him and the people around him, it would stop a lot of needless violence. But with someone like Schmidt, who was to say he would even keep to a truce? A truce would mean he would have to stop pursuing Schmidt when they had leads, and with Schmidt's background, it would be hard to not pursue the man.

But he's listening, at least, and considering what he's being told.]

Schmidt isn't one to be honest. He's lied to more than you can count. But you're right, if we can put a stop to the violence, it's worth at least considering. What did he say, exactly?

[Okay. Okay, okay. Voice, meet video. He figures-- he figures if they're doing this then he should seem a little a more confident in it. Stand by it.

He stands by the principle, even if when the feed cuts in he's chewing his lip and looking mildly sheepish. For the record, that's more about butting into business he has no right to be digging into than anything else.

But, hey. If all that creepin' Big Red did on him could lead to something halfway decent? Then why not.]

I pushed it, a little. Maybe. I don't know, I-- uh. Brought it up and he said he'd agree if you would. Yanno, because you're both special, or something. Special science buddies who have some communication issues.

[He shrugs, looking away from the feed and pulling a face.]

He said he was looking forward to it.

Look, um-- yeah, he could be lying, but. If he's not, then. Could be a good thing?

[And if Schmidt was lying? Peter would take full responsibility. He felt like he could handle that. Maybe.

He said he'd try, so here he was... trying.]

[Steve appreciates the switch to video. Firstly, because he can actually see who the kid is. It's no one he knows, of course, but he admires the gesture. To him, it shows that Peter is standing by his words and isn't afraid of having those words connected to him.

Still, there's a pause on his part before he responds.]

If he means it, then I'd like to hear it from him. No offense. Can't say I'll ever fully trust a word he says, though. But you're right, it could be a good thing.

[But if Schmidt did want this, he would have to stop all his plans. Somehow, Steve didn't see that happening.]

Uh... no offense taken.

[He got the whole 'wanting to hear it from the spouter's mouth', thing. He'd figured on that, anyway. It wasn't like he'd ever met Schmidt in person... he really didn't give off the vibe of 'this is someone I should invite out for tea and scones and bold conversation'. Peter was aware that to actually broker a truce, it might involve, uh... brokering something.

Not that he was the best at human relations, or even good at them, really. So maybe it was lucky that Schmidt was a lot more like a cartoon character than a human? (...No? Okay.)

Taking a deep breath, Peter nodded. Clearly out of his element, but trying.]

I'll set up a meeting. Between you two. I'll go also-- just to uh. To make sure. Yanno. That everyone's safe.

[Which may sound idiotic, coming from a seventeen year old talking to the lauded Captain America of the Many Propaganda Posters and Famous Muscles, but. Look, guy; he saw you get shot in Nazi Barbie's dream. He's not going to just suggest a play date and leave you to the wolves.

Though... on the topic of not being left out?]

There's, uh. Something else I wanna talk to you about, too. If you got a minute.

Are you sure you want to come? [Steve only asks because he knows Schmidt. He knows what Schmidt is like and he knows what Schmidt is capable of. He really will have a hard time trusting him in this, he knows it. He's seen Schmidt do horrible, horrible things countless times. Steve had given him chances before, but to not avail. How did he know this wasn't just another of Schmidt's tricks? And how could he be sure this kid would be safe, should he come?

If you asked him, Schmidt didn't even deserve the chances he had gotten. But this wasn't his world, this was Somarium. And Somarium had different rules.

Still. This...was in the best interest in everyone, just in case Schmidt would keep to his words. If he bothered to try at all, anyway.

When Peter spoke again, Steve shook his head to get his mind back from being lost in his thoughts. He gave the boy a curious look, then nodded.]

I've got time. What is it?

Are you kidding? 'Course I do. [Well no, he doesn't, but with great power comes great need to babysit old men, apparently. Play nice, guys.] Gotta have someone there to call a time out if things don't go well, right?

[Maybe part of the reason he's calmer about this than he should be is how much he doesn't know. Despite working for Bruce Banner, having spoken to Tony Stark, having everyone and their mom bring up Captain America to him, and dealing with Schmidt for a while now, he doesn't know anything. Not about them, not about their pasts, how they relate...

The longer Peter lives here though, the weirder those forms become and the more looming the feeling that he was missing something. He had a lot of experience with information being kept from him, so he knew the signs.

Then, some kid from Ohio with a lot of comic books let something slip. 'I have your figurines, along with the other Avengers. ...It's complicated.'

Welp. That sounded like one heck of a tree-house club. And since everyone and their mom who knew who Spider-man from 'comic books' also seemed to know Captain America from his comics... well, Peter put one and one together and figured this was his best shot of reaching two.]

I wanna talk to you about the Avengers.

[Gonna just. Gauge the reaction here. If Steve stares at him like he just grew antlers, he'd just cough, change topics and say something about Facebook again. Epic distraction tactic with a guy from World War II.]

Edited 2013-01-26 02:11 (UTC)

You're brave, I'll give you that. [He can't think of many people that would willingly come between him and Schmidt. But he can't be sure this kid really knows what he's getting himself into, either.

Still.

When Peter brings up the Avengers, Steve has to pause. He wasn't expecting that, and not just because Peter was young. He knew several young heroes. He was okay with them, because he knew what is was like to be told no. He didn't want to do that to these kids here, especially because he knew they would probably just go behind his back if he did say no. It was what he did. And even then, he doesn't even know if that what Peter is going to ask about.

So, after a brief moment, he clears his throat and looks curiously at Peter.]

Yeah? What about them?

Well, gee, shucks.

[He has no idea. Or some idea. Maybe.

Either way, it doesn't make him brave, really. He'll take the compliment and leave it up to test; they'd see how this truce went, if it wasn't a waste of time.

Peter had a feeling he'd learn, one way or another.

Speaking of learning...]

Mind telling me more about them? Guess I should know, if I'm a member.

[That cocky grin? Yeah, it's hiding the fact that he has no idea what that means and wants to so badly because as far as other 'super heroes' go...?

All Peter knows is there are apparently 'a lot' of them here, and unless they're getting an A++ in Secret Identities 101, he isn't sure why the only one he knows about is you.]

[Guess i should know, if I'm a member.

That takes Steve by surprise, of course. Did that mean this kid was from their world, or an alternate version of their world? Because he didn't have the slightest idea who this kid was, and how he was part of the Avengers. But considering Peter asked for information about the Avengers, he's guessing Peter isn't entirely sure, either.]

It's a team. A team of heroes meant to protect the Earth. Or Somarium, if you will. [Because they still did everything they could to protect this place, as did so many other heroes here.]

[Peter stares a moment, then slowly smirks... then actually starts to laugh. Not a mean laugh, he's not mocking him or anything, but... 'A Team of Heroes, meant to protect the earth'? That was so cheesy, it could have come right out of a comic book.

So Captain America had to be the real deal. Pretty cool then... huh.]

Welp, sign me up then. You can put it under the name 'Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.'

[Peter clicks his tongue, winks and offers a playful salute.]

[Steve tilts his head to the side, pausing briefly again.

Considering everything, he couldn't say no. Not that he would have. Given all the other teen heroes he worked with, it would be wrong to say no to Peter. And Peter seemed older than most of the others, anyway.

So Peter gets a smirk in response, and Steve nods.]

Fair enough, but only if you agree to work with me for a while. I'd like to get to see you in action a bit, first. Plus it's my head that's on the line when it comes to most of the heroes here. I need to know if I can trust you, and the best way to learn that is finding out firsthand.

[Please Hold. Peter's Internal Fanboying is going to need just a moment to fan itself after hugging its mental pillow and sighing like a girl. Captain America... wants to work with him?

The biggest, best, most famous hero, the guy in the suit from the comics, the real, live war vet wanted to work with seventeen-year-old, skinny, geeky Peter Parker?

Well, no, he wanted to work with Spider-man, obviously. But, yanno, still. Same thing, mostly.

Taking a breath and a moment to reply, Peter's face might belay some of his unabashed thrill at the idea, even as he quips,]

Well, sure. But only if you think you can keep up with me, old guy. I don't want you breakin' anything, now...

And you can trust me.

[He nods, a little more serious there.]

One-hundred and ten percent.

Edited 2013-03-17 07:10 (UTC)

[It's not a look Steve's unfamiliar with, and he smirks at the response.]

I'm not the one who needs to worry about keeping up, son.

[But he nods. The boy seems sincere and honest. He still had to be a little hesitant, but he found he hardly was. There was something about Peter he trusted. He'd see what happened, he supposed.]

[That earns a little bit of a laugh, but he's not backing down to that. He has sass, goodsir, and he's glad to see you do, too.]

Says the guy who can't even fly! Let me know if you need to hitch a ride; you can have shotgun.

[Happy with this arrangement? Yeah, just a little.

...Not the carrying you part though, Steve. You look kind of bulky. All dem muscles. You can probably just buy a car or something.]

[Steve chuckles in return.]

Are you saying you can fly?

[He'll have you know, just because he can't fly doesn't mean he can't keep up. His super solider awesomeness made him pretty darn fast on his feet.]

Something like that. [He smiles, winks, then nods.] If you're lucky, I'll show you how it's done!

Catch you later, Cap.

[And with that, he's off.]

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