UN : The Mechanic

Feeling protective?

[ he dips his head, crackling a quiet laugh as he adds a few more notes. ]

It is a flaw I have.

[ Well it was also something he had always been raised to do. Protect the larger Qunari society. Now he just applied it to the people in his life. ]

Who are the people you know?

Not according to most. Well. Misplaced if you're feeling that way about me. I can take a few hits, I'm fine.

[ Nevermind that he'd almost bled out on arrival, they're not talking about that. ]

Mm? Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, Wanda Maximoff, James 'Bucky' Barnes, Steven Rogers- [ His voice isn't at all cold and flat on that last one, oh no. ] Peter Parker, and Peggy Carter. That one's a little...weird. I will know her? She's a friend of my father's before he gets married. I know her when she's older, kind of was like an aunt to me.

And...right now she's young enough to be my daughter. It's. Weird.

You can take a few hits sure, but I was bred to be a wall between those hits and a civilian. I never became a soldier because I wasn't obedient enough but it doesn't change the fact that protection was my life's purpose.

[ Bull listens as Tony lists the names, nodding slightly. He does notice the tone clear as day but he doesn't say anything. He hasn't talked to them yet, at least not a lot but now that he knows the names he is curious. ]

I can imagine. How does that happen?

...Bred to be a- okay. Yeah maybe don't mention that around...anyone from where I'm from? We had a few historically huge issues with people that had that same philosophy in the worst sort of way.

[ That earlier tension doesn't return, though. It doesn't sound like the same way of handling it.

Doesn't make it better, but. ]

We're pulled from particular points on our individual timelines. So. She was pulled from way early in mine, but what was present for her. I guess? I think. I'll need a bottle of something strong to start entertaining time travel to be honest.

[ Bull raises an eyebrow at that. He can imagine a few things that would make that way of doing it badly. Then he shrugs. ]
It seems like a logical thing to do when you view your people as tools. It...It is a very different way to think than what a lot of people are used to. Humans seem to value the idea of freedom a lot more than we do.

[ He blinks at the idea of time travel as well. He's heard of things that make his brain hurt more thanks to magic though. ]
Maybe some sort of blood magic.

What do you do with tools you consider inferior or worthless?

[ Tony sets down his paper, shaking his head. ]

Genocide. A lot of genocide, based on the idea that the people they were killing weren't worth enough to keep alive. Wars were fought. Questionable choices made on both sides. Ancient history but that shit? Sticks.

Ah, Qunari don't see it like that. Everyone has a place. We...They will kill those we consider a threat but not those that submit to the Qun. They'll find a place within the Qun, everything else is a waste.

[ But he shakes his head as well. ]

But if that is the history your world have, I can see why people are touchy about it.

Context matters. Peggy, especially- she's not far out from the war where the worst of that happened.

[ he wipes his hands off on a rag, eyes flicking over. ]

So- if people get...weird or tense. That's why.

[ Bull nods. This is good information to have. Even if he is from a world that is very different than Tony's. ]

Alright. You got the measurements you need? I figured I was going to head to the inn to grab some lunch if you want some.

Just need to measure your shoulders and then shoulder to floor for the haft.

[ the right length for leverage is kind of key to half the shit Bull seems to like pulling. ]

Mm? No, I'm good. I've got a list to work through and a less basic design to get roughed out for you.

[ Bull comes over to let the other guy take the measurements easier, but he does give Tony a look when he does so. ]

Yeah? When was the last time you ate?

...Couple of hours ago?

[ He. Thinks. He had breakfast or something close to it with Peggy sometime today.

Maybe?

Time flies when you bury yourself in work.

Tony shrugs off the question and hooks his foot around a stool to stand on it, holding the tape measure across the impressive span of Bull's shoulders. ] Less than ten, more than five?

[ Bull gives him a look and shakes his head. ]

Once we're done here I am taking you with me. If we are going to fool around I want you to be not starving. Besides, we can't have half as much fun if you fall over from exhaustion.

I don't starve- [ He mutters, rolling his eyes as he jots down the measurements. ] I forget a few meals sometimes. Not like I don't have fat to burn.

[ More than he'd like thanks to age catching up with him- but probably not as much as he should. ]

[ Bull rolls his eyes and reaches up to bury his hand in Tony's hair again, tightening enough that the other can feel it. ]

You should eat, or at the very least have some tea.

[ His tone makes it clear that it isn't a question this time but rather an order. ]

[ Bull may have been the first person to figure out the best way to get Tony some kind of compliant. Or at least been the quickest about figuring him out. ]

...Guess I'm due for a break.

Good.

[ Bull leans in to give him a quick kiss before he helps Tony down. The hand slides down to settle at the back of Tony's neck, stroking gently. ]

Am I going to have to come get you for lunch every day?

[ Less than an hour and Bull's got Tony figured out. That should be more worrying than it actually is- having someone give half a damn and reinforcing it with insistent affection is-

Reminds him a little of Pepper. Maybe that's why he complies. ]

I've got someone that'll be bringing me lunch most days. Can't promise I'll remember to eat it but. I'm going to try?

I expect you to. At least two meals a day, alright?

[ Again, it isn't really a question this time either. And the hand is still there stroking Tony's neck. But as they near the inn he lets it drop down. It is one thing to not hide that they are fucking, or planning to, it is another to show everyone the little tricks Bull got up his sleeves. ]

Besides, I'd like the company.

Between Peg, Steph, and you I might even manage three.

[ Accidentally. Peggy's got a hold on him with the double punch of nostalgia and protective affection that really shouldn't line up too well, if food is around he'll probably eat it- Bull? Has given Tony every reason to play nice and listen.

For the most part.

The hand on the back of his neck shouldn't be so damn settling, and yet? ]

Charming guy like you? Can't be hurting for company all that much. Unless the horns throw people, I can see that being a thing. Humans are weird. If someone looks like us but not enough like us we get all wound up about it.

They do do that. Been called a monster and a demon since a came here. That last one I didn't take to kindly to. [ In his world, demons are something very different and not at all good. ]

And there is a difference between having a chat with someone and having you there.

Species wide us versus them complex. If we're not turning it on other species we're turning it on each other. [ It's fucking exhausting, honestly. So many other things in the universe to worry about-

Thor was right. They were tiny and petty. ]

I've seen stranger things. Bigger guys. Worst person I met didn't even have horns so that's not much of a metric now, is it?

I am not surprised. Some Qunari don't have horns. They are the scary ones. [ Either because they were born without or cut them off themselves.

He leads Tony inside the inn, moving for him to find a place to sit while Bull gets them food. ]

Guess I'll be glad you're horny.

[ Wait what?

He clears his throat and finds the nearest table with half decent sight-lines, back to a wall, eyes on the room. Easier to keep from winding himself up that way. ]

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