#Howard Stark imagibes

[shelbgrey]

Time In A Bottle(young!Howard Stark X reader)

Paring: young!Howard X Carter!Reader

Summary: after a time machine going wrong a few faces from the past get knocked into our century.

A/N: this is an old story of mine that I posted on Wattpad a while back. It's not edited but I hope you all enjoy.

"can't believe how long it's been since you've been in the ice" I mumbled looking through a magazine that was just published. It was full of articles and pictures of Steve, my aunt peggie, and Howard Stark. I kept flipping through when I stopped on a picture of my aunt.

"you know you kinda look like her" Steve said standing behind the stool I was sitting on and looked over my shoulder looking at the picture of Peggy. I smiled and nodded. I was proud to be a Carter and I didn't hide it like my sister Sharon did. Before I could say anything else there was a loud crash coming for the lab. "what the hell was that?" I asked Tony who was sitting on the couch with pepper.

"you didn't leave anything on did you?" pepper asked. "it's probably just Bruce" Tony mumbled and got up.

"no because Bruce and natasha went on vacation... Remember?" tony stopped in his tracks and looked guilty. He knew exactly what he did he just wasn't ready to admit to what he did. "I'll be back" he said running towards the lab.

"miss. Carter, Mr stark has requested your assistance in the lab" I hear Friday call out from the speakers of the lab. I sighed and threw the magazine onto the coffee table and walked towards the lab. "Tony way do I always have to save your ass" I asked walking into the lab.

When I looked up I saw a treo of people serounding the time machine we've been working on for months. "who's your friends?" I asked crossing my arms. Tony tried to talk but I ignored him looking at three people. One that I recognized made my heart skip a beat.

"aunt Peggy?" I mumbled. She didn't hear me which I was thankful for. No need to add more to the confusion.

"how did you guys get here?" I asked my question was competly ignored and my aunt Peggy started to attack a man who looked like Tony. "Howard you buffoon I told you to not mess with that damed robot again"

"time machine!" Howard correct. "it's a time machine and it obviously worked so I'm a genius" he said with a smirk and crossed his arms over his chest with pride. Now we know where tony gets his ego. "what year is it miss?" the third one asked. He sounded like Jarvis just more human.

"2022" I said crossing my arms. As the three conversed with Tony and I couldn't help but feel a pair of eyes on me I looked over and noticed Howard staring at me. Howard was pretty handsome in his younger years. He looked at lot like Tony but maybe a bit taller. They both seemed to have the same attitude and the same eyes and hair.

I looked at him and raised an eyebrow questioning him. He simply winked and tried to get his two since in the conversation. After a few minutes of arguing we finally came to agreement.

"okay so they'll stay here In till we can figure out how to send them back home" I said walking to the time machine. It looked burnt to the crisp and refused to turn one. I sighed as I picked up a piece that fell off and sat on top of the waist of space.

"(y/n) why don't you show our guests around and show them where the extra rooms are" Tony said before I could escorts them to their destinations Peggy chimed in. "that won't be necessary" she said to me. "I think I can find my way around" she left the lab and literally walked the opposite direction of where she was supposed to go. I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes at the woman I shared blood with. "she's going the wrong way isn't she?" Howard asked clearly reading my expressions right.

"yup" I said turning to him. He flashed me a smirk and looked me up and down. "if the offer of a tour of our new living facilities are still open I would love if you'd show me around" I rolled my eyes at him. He was definitely cocky and very brave you could also tell him and Tony are related. I scoffed "fine" I then started to walk down the hallway as Howard tried to catch up with me.

-----------(1st pov)-----------

I tossed and turned in my bed. Once comfy bed felt like a brick and the room felt like a hundred degrees. Millions of things ran through my head. From the simplest things to more hectic things. My first thoughts were on my aunt and how hard it felt to tell her I was her blood or the fact me and Tony couldn't figure out how to send her back to the right time period.

It also felt wired that I couldn't get Howard out of my head. The man was indeed a charming man much like his son. He also held the same ego and sarcasm but he seemed to know when to hide it unlike Tony.

The man wouldn't leave me alone the rest of the day. He would follow me around the compound like a lost puppy or try to 'help' me in the lab. On the contrary I don't need help in my lab and I felt that he needed to know I don't need a man to help me get my job done. That's why I own my own lab because dispit Tony being my best friend it was always hard to do a job with out him breathing down my neck.

I sighed giving up on sleep and left my room. I quietly walked down the hallway trying not to wake anyone and headed into the kitchen for some tea and maybe a snack. I sighed rumgimg through the cabinets in the dim almost dark room.

"can't sleep either?" I voice said making me jump. I quickly turned around and saw Howard setting at the counter in the middle of the kitchen. He looked just as tired as I felt. His brown hair slightly wet from a shower but in some strainds of hair were fluffy and Stubele peppered his jaw. He was wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans that Tony possibly gave him. Above all he was handsome I wasn't denying that but in the end I would have to stop myself from getting close to him. For his, mine, and especially Tony's sake.

"no I can't sleep too much on my mind" I sighed setting a crossed from him. He simply smirked and shook his head. "this hole thing is a mystery to me too. I think this is an amazing experience but then I want to get Peggy and Jarvis home where they belong"

"if ony Bruce was home, he's just as smart as you and Tony"

"your pretty intelligent yourself doll" he responded. His brown eyes looked at me and he smirked making me blush.

"me and Tony will try to get you home" I said. "I mean no rush... This time period can't be that bad could it?" he asked.

I titled my head to the side and my straight face broke to a smile. "are you kidding? I would love to live in the 40s"

"why?" he asked with a chuckle. "I Love the history, the music, the cars are my favorite" I smiled.

"you like cars?" he smirked like he was surprised. I slightly nodded and He looked amused.

"what was Steve like back then? I mean before the serum?" I asked breaking the silence.

"much like he is now I'm guessing. I didn't really know him much before he took the serum" he said drinking the last of his coffee. As we fell into comfortable silence I started to feel my eyes get heavy. I rested my elbow on the tabe and my head was supported by my  fist. "you look tired.. You should go back to bed..we gotta lot of work to do tomorrow" Howard smiled at me. I only nodded and stood up from the counter. I smiled and padded his shoulder. "get some sleep too Stark" he only nodded.

"good night doll" he called out as I left the room.

------------

The next morning I woke up before anyone else. It was pretty quiet which in my opinion was good. That ment Tony was getting the right amount of sleep he deserves and hopefully the rest of the team was doing the same.

I really didn't feel like working on the time machine before Tony and Howard got up so I just went down to the grauge where all the cars we owned sat. All of them were different in size in color. To Scott's rust bucket of a van to clint and Steve's motorcycles. I like to think my baby out shined them all. My car is back 1967 chivy impala. I worked hard to keep in shape and always made sure I ran to perfection.

I smiled at the black automobile and turned on my CD player. The silver machine flashed one and played Elvis Presley on a low volume. Tony and Clint always called me old school. I didn't use Bluetooth speakers to listen to music and I never saw the reason to by modern cars. I hated New music and new anything. I'm a old soul as steve would say. I loved old movies like Alfred Hitchcock movies or Friday the 13th. I refused to listen to any new music which annoyed Wanda and Peter in some ways.

I digged out the tools I needed and started tinkering under the hood. Things were going through smoothly in till I felt one bolt that wouldn't loosen. I grunted getting aritated and started to pull harder while cussing under my breath.

I then herd the door open and close. I ignored it and continued to work. So after the noises disappeared I felt someone come up behind me. The figure the bigger than mine and I felt his arms reach and grabbed the rinch I had. When I felt his chest against my back I quickly elbowed him. "hay doll I'm only trying to help" it was howard. I rolled my eyes and moved away from the car. "thanks but I got it" I said crossing my arms.

As I turned back around and finished my work on the engine. As I had my back to him I heard him snort and let out a sigh. I quickly wiped around and crossed my arms and Clinched the wrinch I had. "what?"

"nothing" he smiled and moved closer. I stepped back and leaned on my car. "your different from anyone I've ever met"

"oh?" I said not really amused but wanting to know what he meant. "you don't fall at my feet and you stand your ground" he explained. "your kind to me with out trying to be a flert and I really admire how smart you are"

"well... Thanks I think" I slightly blushed and turned back around before he could see. When I leaned over into the car under the hood I saw him move over to the side of the car in the corner of my eye. I sighed as he watched me closely as I worked.

When I went back to the bolt I was struggling with I pushed down as hard as I could and got it lose. But when I did I smashed my had making me hiss and pull back. I grumbled and shook my hand to hit rid of the pain. I squeezed my eyes shut not seeing Howard come up and grabbed my jammed hand in his hand. I opened my eyes and saw him looking down at my hand and rubbing where it hurt. "what are you doing?" I asked stepping back slowly.

"it's bruised let me see" he said taking my hand back and examining my thumb and palm. "im fine really" his chocolate eyes looked up at me making my heart race. My cheeks faded into a pink color and this time he saw it.

"I'm making you nervous, aren't I doll?" he asked kissing my knuckles then Releasing my hand. "n-no you don't" I said trying to stand my ground. I quickly turned around to my car and shut the hood. As soon as the hood shut with a thud I felt him behind me.

"so now your being shy around me?" he asked and kissed my cheek then my jaw. "what happened to your little attitude?" I sighed and turned around facing him. One of his hands fell to my hip and his other went under my chin lifting it up so we made eye contact. "we should see if Tony's up" I whispered.

He leaned in closer brushing his nose to mine. "he's not up yet" his brown eyes stared into my soul as his free hand moved to the back of my neck and pulled me closer. "can I kiss you?"

His question surprised me. I wanted to say yes but when I stared into his brown eyes all I saw was tony. What would he think or react to his best friend kissing a young version of his father. He would always tell me how much he hated Howard and I was always Tony's shoulder to cry on and was always there to listen when he needed to rant about his father.

"I can't" I whispered as I placed my hands on his chest as a single tear left the corner of my eye. "we- I cant do this to tony" he looked at me with hurt and confusion glossing over his eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to over step-" he started but I cut him off.

"I'm sorry... It's not you" I shook my head and left his arms. "I should get to work Tony's probably waiting" I said leaving him alone in the garage.

-----------

"sorry about intrupting your vacation Bruce" I said crossing my arms and looking at him through the screen. "we wouldn't have called you unless it wasn't important" I said.

"don't worry about, sorry I cant be there to help" he responds. "no, you and natasha deserve to get away"

"wait I've got a quick question" Scott said behind me. "what?" me and Bruce said at the same time.

"so if Howard doesn't get back to his normal time period doesn't that mess up Tony's chance of being born?"

"no not necessarily" I said hoping up on my desk and flipping through my notebook of notes we've taken the last month.

"most likely when Howard and Peggy went into the future they made a different time line" Tony chimed in.

"wait, what do you mean?" Peggy asked crossing her arms. I looked over to my aunt and Howard. Howard avoided looking at me which made me upset but that was the least of my problems.

"okay like 5 or so years ago a member of the X-men had to trave into the future to fix something. Now when he did he made two different time lines. The one he was originally from the a different one...kinda like an alternate reality" I explained. "now if Tony's right you being here won't affect the past."

"so ignore everything you learned from back to the future Scott" Bruce committed through my computer.

"what if we don't want to go back?" Howard spoke up. Peggy whipped her head around and glared at him. "and take the chance of messing up the future? Messing up the chance of your son being born?" he said kinda shouting at him.

"aunt Peggy" I started she turned around and looked at me without any of the aggretion she gave Howard. "if you trave to the past or the future, that becomes your future/past and the your  future becomes the present. Which now can't be changed by your new future"

"so we could stay here if we wanted?" she asked looking at Steve. He was in the back of the lab trying to stay out of the way. "it's a risk to take, but most likely yes" Tony responded.

"we need to look more into it before you guys make any decisions" I said looking at Peggy then Howard. He immediately looked down and started to fiddle with button on the sleeve of his gray dress shirt.

------------

Another week passed and we got a little bit closer at cracking the codes. Last week we were lucky enough to get Shuri to trave from Wakanda and help us. Me and her worked into the night so Tony and Howard could get sleep and then we got sleep in the early mornings.

"almost done with the coding on this" shuri said taping on one of the hologram screens in the lab. "I'm putting in the last of the wiring now" I respond twisting the red and blue wire together then closing the lid to cover it. Before I could continue with anything else the alarm went off signaling there was a mission.

I sighed and ran off after apologizing to shuri for ditching her. "what do we got?" I asked running into the jet were everyone else was. "just a standard Hydra base, nothing we aren't already use to" steve said.

The mission was longer than we intesapated and a lot of us got engerd especially me but I didn't really care. When we got home I tried to go to bed but Tony and Steve dragged me to the lab were Howard was working with Shuri. "what happened?" he asked as steve picked me up and sat me on Tony's desk. "I'm fine" I mumbled.

"Howard check her enjeries will ya" Steve said walking out of the lab. "I'm fine really" I said as Howard rolled up my sleeve to check the cut on my arm.

"so what happened?" he asked cleaning the cut that was on my forehead. "it was just harder than we expected... More weapons and better sacurity than we thought" I replied and tried to leave but he pushed me back down. "come on Stark"

"you know it's not a bad thing to get help some times" he said kinda irritated. I sighed and let him help. "thanks" I mumbled.

"your welcome" he simply replied and wrapped up my forearm with a bandeges. "I'm only trying to help ya know" he said breaking the silence.

"I know" I mumbled looking down not wanting to face him. He didn't seem to like that so he gently lifted my chin with his fingers. I looked into his brown eyes and felt the familiar feeling. My heart pounded as he leaned in closer than pressed his lips to mine softly. I surprisingly didn't push him away I let it happen. I felt his hands move to both sides of my jaw and pulled me close as he depend the kiss. "Howie.." I said.

He only hummed. "I like that" he said against my lips smirking. He tilted his head to the side for another but placed my hands on his chest stopping him.

"okay I'm sorry" he whispered.

"I'm not, but I can't get attached" I said. "why?" he asked looking scared of rejection. "because we live in two different worlds and time periods.. We have to get you back home" I said tearing up. I moved away and left him but he quickly grabbed my hand before I could get to far.

"you can honestly tell me you feel nothing for me" he spoke.

"yes... I have feelings for you Howard" I said with a whimper.

"then-then what's wrong? Why can't we be together?" he said stepping up closer. "you really want to know why?" I spoke getting frustrated.

"yes! I want to know why" he said shouting. "because I don't trust myself with you" I whispered. I wanted to hug him, kiss him, but I couldn't. The idea of being with someone always seemed to be slim or negative for me. I did care about him but I was scared.

------------

"have you seen my father?" Tony asked coming into the kitchen where I was reading.  "how should I know? I'm not his babysitter" I said not looking up from my book.

"well I just noticed how he started following you around like a lost puppy" he said setting down in front of me. I looked up from my book and locked eyes with genius. "what are you implying?"

He tilted his head to the side like he didn't know what I was talking about. He gave me the soft puppy eyes he always gave me when he knew something was wrong. "okay forget my father, are you okay?"

I shook my head and felt the clinch in my chest as I tried to hold back the tears. "me and Howard kiss" I sob and covered my face afraid of his reaction.

"did he kiss you?"

"yes" I responded

"did you kiss back?"

"I'm sorry Tony, I tried to not get close bu-"

"I'm not mad" he said cutting me off. I raised my droppie head and gave him and questioning look. "why aren't you mad? You always told me how much you hated your father, now I'm starting to fall for him"

"it's okay" he whispered then wrapped his arms around me. "he just better not hurt you"

"it doesn't matter" I spoke pulling away from his arms. "once we get the time machine to work he's going back home.. It would have never worked between us"

"I'm sorry (n/n)" he wrapped his arms around me again and rested my head on his shoulder. "we'll figure this out okay?"

"okay" I mumbled.

----------(Howard's pov)----------

"okay let's start it up" Tony shouts. The machine that's supposed to take us home fired up. I stood there not really wanting to leave and I could tell Peggy didn't want to leave either.

I watched the time machine glow and slightly shake signaling us it was time to leave. I sighed feeling bad that I didn't tell (y/n) goodbye. She was probably the first woman a genuinely loved and was more than a fling or lust. She was smart and sarcastic and didn't fall to my feet when first met her. She made me work for her affection and attention which I actually liked and I worked hard for it.

The times she pushed me away only told me she cared more about other people's happiness than her own. She had a heart of gold and I admired that. She pushed me away because she was afraid of hurting Tony.

"wait" Peggy's voice said grabbing my arm. I looked at her kinda sad and stood in my place. "do you love her?"

I tilted my head to the side trying to play dumb. "don't you look at me like that, you know what I'm thinking about" she said.

I dropped my head and sighed. "I do" i shook my head and started fiddling with the insides of the pockets of my jeans. "than go to her" she said crossing her arms. "stay here and be happy"

"what if effects something? What if I screw up the time line?" I asked pacing back and forth.

"you won't" Tony butted in. "I've talked to Bruce and Strange, and they both said you can't mess it up" I looked down not wanting to look at the man that would be my son in the future. "look she loves you so just stay with her" he said with a sigh. He had the look of someone being forced to say something they didn't.

"I don'-" I started. "go!" Jarvis and Peggy both said at the same time cutting me off.

I nodded and ran out of the room than down the hallway looking for her. I frantically looked around and found a lot of dead ends before I found her in one of the labs. "hay" I said casually.

She quickly looked at me with big dough eyes. "aren't you supposed to be back in the 40's now?"

"I've come to a conclusion" I said walking up to her. "and what is that?" she said crossing her arms. "I'm staying here"

She stared at me with shock painted all over her face. "why would you? What dose this time period have to offer really?"

"you" I said truthfully and stepped up closer maybe only leaving five inches between us. "I want to stay here with you"

I placed my hand on her cheek and slowly leaned in connecting my lips to hers. I felt her arms slowly wrap around my neck and deepen the kiss.

"I love you" I whispered against her lips.

She slowly pulled away and smirked. "I know" I playfully rolled my eyes knowing she was joking. I kissed her forehead and smiled. "your gonna have to teach me about modern time though"

"oh that should be tons of fun" she chuckled than wrapped her small arms around my waist.

"is Peggy staying too?" her small voice spoke making me sighed. She's going back for me, for us. She was on of my closest friends and she's giving up the opportunity to be with steve just so I could be with (y/n). She told me of one of us stays someone needs to be on the 40's keeping it safe. She also told me to keep her safe because (y/n) was her niece. Even though the the two just met you could tell how much Peggy loved her. "she's going back so I could stay with you"

"she also told me to take care of you and if I break your heart she'll come back and kick my ass" I said trying to make her smile. She sadly smiled and looked up at me with her (e/c) eyes.

Everything happens for a reason. I was supposed to screw up with the time machine so it would take us into the future. I like to think I was supposed to find (y/n) and maybe I was supposed to make myself a better father to tony. What ever it supposed to be its definitely a second chance and I'm grateful for that.

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