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Trying on a new name?

One with my condition has to make a habit of it every so often.

[Steve looks up from his sketchbook, filled with images that weren't exactly from a six foot plus perspective to quirk an eyebrow at his friend.]

Isn't it a little soon for you to use that name?

Your condition requires that you change your name?

It's been 30 years... and well I was thinking it's time he knows the truth. [ He says carefully. ] I owe him at least that much.

I have the nasty habit of not aging and living off of blood.

[For a few seconds he can only stare, trying to think of something to say but no words come. Swallowing hard, he tries to think of how Tony'll take that.

Not well. Not at all.]

You realize if he doesn't try to kill you, it'll probably drive him insane.

You don't think he should know his heritage. [ His face falls a little and he leans back against the chair slumping a little. ] It might explain a few thing about his life.

I stayed as long as I could. I stayed until awkward questions rose up. I tried to be a good father. I didn't even think I could be a father.

If you think it a mistake then I will leave him be. But it is hard given he is the only thing connected to me with a heartbeat.

Excluding, you my friend. [ he smirks a little. ]

[Steve smiles wryly at the reference to himself.] Heartbeat but I'm not exactly normal. Tony doesn't know that I'm more than just a science experiment.

[Which makes things awkward for everyone involved. If he'd told Tony, maybe Henry's nature wouldn't be so much of a shock if he did tell him.]

I dunno if it's a mistake or not, Henry. I think he should know, but how do you tell him without it hurting him? Your death...And Maria's. [He won't say too much about that. He won't betray a friend's confidences but it's obvious how much it had hurt Tony when his parents had 'died.'] He's going to hate you for awhile.

Everyone lives off of blood in some way. Be it animal or something else. Not aging doesn't seem a bad gig, after all you are quite handsome. It's a good face to keep for an eternity.

I think it will always hurt. But I can not watch him do what he does to himself any longer with out stepping in. It may be to late to be an actual father... but I can still help him. I am tired of making sure he doesn't destroy himself from the shadows.

I am 452 years old Steven... I have seen and done very much, though Anthony is by no means a failure. I feel have have failed him. I need to amend it.

What he does to himself is make himself a hero. Some of his choices before might have been questionable but no one can deny he's a hero. [A faint flush crosses his features as he remembers what he'd said to Tony because of Loki's spell.] He's been living in your shadow for years. I don't know what will happen to him if you show up.

How do you make amends without making that shadow harder to climb out of?

I have watched those I love wither and die over the centuries it does grow tiring.

He is a hero, I never doubt that he would be anything less. [ There is a small smirk. ] My shadow is not that great, no one knows the name Howard now, Tony is the Stark they think of. The hero they know.

That my friend I do not know... [ He rubs his hand across his face. ]

[Steve smiles, wishing he could tell Tony that his father was proud of him and have Tony believe him. He's tried, but he couldn't tell Tony how he know that it was true.] We might know that he's a hero and that he's found his own place, but he still hasn't figured it out yet.

[Twisting the pencil between his fingers, he sighs, trying to think of some way to make this easier for Tony. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, thoughtful.] Maybe I should tell him about me. Get him used to the supernatural before he finds out about you.

I would imagine that it is quite disheartening. Howard, hm? What was it before?

Yes. Let the boy know there are werwolves and vampires in the same week, he'll handle that well. Could soften the blow I suppose, he handled Thor showing up rather well.

I want you you to know, I never wanted to leave him Steve, I never wanted to have to disappear. I didn't even think having a child after this... [ gestures to himself ] He is in many ways a miracle.

I have had many names... But I was born Henry.

I don't think Thor really counts as supernatural. He's just... [He struggles for a few seconds for the right word then gives up.] Thor.

[Despite being Henry's friend and knowing that the vampire hadn't wanted to leave, Steve still can't help seeing the situation from the perspective of an orphan boy who had lost everything.] He's the one you're going to have to convince of that. Whether you had a choice or not, you deserted him. That's going to take a long time to forgive. If he ever does.

We know he's a miracle, but... [But Tony only saw himself as a liability no matter how much Steve tried to convince him otherwise.] You've hurt him, Henry. And you're going to do it again.

I was born Selene. It is a pleasure, Henry.

"Then you think he should not know the truth of his heritage, it could explain much about many of his habits. I would never hurt him again Steve. It may not beat but I still have a heart." He says voice slightly pained. 'I planed on talking to him the night of the crash, but then it seems the faits had other plans."

"I'm not doubting that you do, Henry. It's just - " He's trying to understand and on some level he does. But an orphan kid who eventually had to learn to coexist with an entity in his head that focused almost solely on pack and family made it difficult.

"How's he supposed to accept it? You were alive and never said anything until now. He went through some terrible things alone. How's he supposed to feel about you showing up now that he's putting his life together instead of when he needed someone beside him?"

"What do you think would have happened if I showed up when his chest was open, his heart exposed and he was bleeding everywhere, I do not act as if I have the will power of a saint because I don't, I could have killed hi or worse. " He says voice low and slightly pained. "Your condition is controlled by the moon, you instinct drives you to protect what's yours... much like a normal wolf." His voice still solum.

"My condition is driven by blood, by lust, by excess... do you think where he was when he was in a bad place he could have handled knowing where he came from? Knowing he really was the spawn of what are thought to be demons?"

"My staying away was both a torment and a blessing he can never understand, and it my cross to bare, I made the best choice to keep him safe from both myself and my enemies."