Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Steve found Tony lying on the couch, a bowl of popcorn balanced precariously on his stomach as the younger man slept to the sound of doctors discussing their love lives with each other. It was a rare moment to see Tony resting; one Steve had managed to catch only once or twice since Tony had fallen under their care. Under any other circumstances, Steve would have removed the popcorn, turned the television’s volume to low and covered Tony with a blanket, but things being as they were, they had somewhere to be and no time to lose.

Steve removed the popcorn from Tony and set it down out of reach on the coffee table before gently shaking the brunet until he jerked awake, hands swinging uselessly in no certain direction. Tony blinked a few times, eyes hooded and confused. “Whaaa?”

Steve pursed his lips slightly to stop from smiling. “Get up, Tony. We’ve got somewhere to be.”

Tony slowly pushed himself up until he could rest on his elbows, one hand moving to rub at his eyes. He spoke slowly, voice still rough with sleep. “What? Okay? We’re going…somewhere.” He yawned and Steve struggled not to compare it to that of a sleepy kitten. “As in, out of the house somewhere?”

Steve couldn’t hold back his grin when Tony attempted to push himself all the way to a sitting position only to fall back to his elbows as if his body were suddenly two times its previous weight. “Yeah. Out of the house somewhere.”

“For what?”

“You’ll see,” was all Steve said. “Go get changed into something not covered in oil and grease, okay? If there’s anything left that you haven’t stained.”

Tony grumbled as he sluggishly walked away, flipping Steve a lazy bird the whole way.

“Captain,” came a high chirping voice from the ground.

Steve knelt down on the floor, hand outstretched to pat the bot who began racing his way around the legs of the coffee table when acknowledged. “Congratulations, little guy. It looks like you’re getting much better at coordination.” He tried to catch a glance at the bot’s screen as he shot by, just barely able to make out the words. “Captain Nuts-N-Bolts. You’re about to surpass me. I’m going to be honest with you Bolts, I don’t know how I feel about that.”

Nuts-N-Bolts merely chirped, and began fussing at Steve’s shoelaces. Steve got more comfortable on the floor, Nuts-N-Bolts as his entertainment until Tony finally reappeared.

Steve checked his watch for the seventh time before Tony reappeared, dressed and looking more awake, though that was probably due to the coffee he had clutched in his hand. Tony gestured at where Nuts-N-Bolts was unplugging and then plugging the lights in.

“He’s learning fast, really hoping to pass you in rank. I always say, goals:  Gotta have ‘em. Now let’s go.”

Steve stood up and brushed off his pants. “You know, that actually took less time than I thought it would.”

Tony shrugged and sipped at his coffee. “I haven’t been outside since HYDRA kidnapped me. I’m not counting my escape because I was half out of it, stumbling, and injured.”

“Right,” Steve replied, voice soft. “Well, I guess today is your lucky day then.”

The younger man smiled and pulled down a pair of sunglasses that Steve could almost swear materialized from nowhere. “Come on, Steve. Viva la fresh air. Did I use that right?” He took another long drag of his coffee. “Not that it matters, the sentiment is what counts.”

Steve gestured for Tony to follow him, out the door, past the guards and to his car. They drove in what was mostly silence, peppered only by Tony’s period question of where they were going followed by Steve’s never wavering answer of ‘you’ll see’, though the other man did spend most of his time staring out the passenger side window in apparent reverence. Time passed quickly as familiar landmarks gave way to scenery Steve only saw a few times a year if that. Even Tony stopped asking where they where they were going about halfway to their location, instead resting in his seat and watching everything disappear in a blur as they drove pass.

Eventually they pulled up to a small house, on a street like any other, surrounded by houses plucked straight out of a catalogue.

Tony gave him a sardonic grin. “Is this a romantic getaway, Steve? I would have dressed nicer if I had known. What anniversary are we celebrating? I’ve always been bad with dates.”

Steve snorted as he turned off the car. “Please, Tony. I don’t take dates home with me on the first date.”

Tony unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the passenger door, one foot already out before the door was half a foot opened. “You a good girl, Cap?”

Steve stepped out of the car and looked at Tony over the roof with a shit eating grin. “The best girl.”

Tony laughed. “Noted.” He looked at the house with wary eyes. “So, not a romantic getaway. Are you bringing me here to kill me? Because I swear I only drank your orange juice from the jug like three times. Clint does it every day!”

Steve’s eyebrows drew in. “Wait, what? No.” Steve began walking toward the door. “Follow me. And don’t think for a second that we aren’t going to be talking about what you just said the second we get back home. You and Clint both.”

Tony groaned as he trailed behind Steve to the front door, radiating a level of curiosity that must have been killing him. Steve made a point of unlocking the door as slow as possible, if only because he sort of liked the way Tony bounced eagerly on his feet while Steve made him wait.

Tony pushed passed Steve the second the lock clicked open, practically shoving Steve into the door in his effort to look around. He paused in the entranceway, eyes searching when they found Steve’s. “What is this place?”

Steve closed the door behind him and reactivated the security settings. “It serves several purposes. Nat and Bucky come here on occasion, just to get away. As do the others in their own time. Tight security, away from everything happening back home but close enough to show up if the call comes in; it’s a safe place.”

Tony looked around the room a second time, eyes clearer as they swept over everything within their range. “You know, I can do better? I can upgrade this so that it’s safer.”

Steve frowned, opened his mouth to explain that that’s not why he brought Tony here but was stopped by voice, just a broken breath really, calling out. “Tony?”

Tony whipped around, brown eyes wide as they registered a teary eyed redhead, clutching the arm of a dark-skinned man, who wasn’t as teary-eyed but had an air about him that said he was only barely holding it back.

Tony was away from Steve before Steve could take his next breath, running forward until he crashed into the redhead—Pepper—his arms closing around her waist, her arms wrapping around his shoulders and squeezing tight.

Pepper’s breathing was controlled but heavy as she hugged Tony, her eyes puffy and cheeks splotchy with color. She pushed him back after a few moments; her hands on Tony’s shoulders as she took in his face in silence before nodding and smiling, satisfied with what she saw.

Tony didn’t look like he could have kept a smile off his face even if he tried. “So…I’m alive.”

Pepper and Rhodey both grinned, relief almost palpable in the air. Pepper whacked Tony on the shoulder. “You’re alive and you haven’t called. We’ve been worried sick and Obadiah’s been sending out search teams to try and find you and you’ve been alive this whole time, Tony! Why didn’t you come home?”

Tony was saved from answering when Rhodey cut him off, pulling Tony toward him. “Come on Pepper, don’t hog him.” He wrapped his arms around Tony in a bone crushing hug, though Tony didn’t seem to mind, holding on just as tight as Rhodey seemed to be. “Don’t think that when this is all over that I’m not going to kick your ass for making us worry.”

Tony laughed delightedly and patted Rhodey’s back, pulling away about a foot. “Empty threats, pooh-bear. You were never very good at them.”

Rhodey just grinned and clapped Tony’s shoulder, then his cheek. “I’m happy you’re back, Tones.”

Tony looked down at the ground and scrubbed at his eyes for a moment. “Yeah, me too.” When Tony looked back up, his face was clearer than Steve had ever seen it. “We need to talk.”

Rhodey and Pepper just nodded and followed Tony as he made his way to the dining room table where they all sat down, each bracketing Tony on both sides, bodies angled toward the genius.

Steve moved to give the three space, rooting himself by the window, close enough to hear but not to intrude upon their moment.

Pepper was the first to speak. “Where have you been, Tony?”

Tony glanced between his two friends, took a deep breath. “Have you ever heard of HYDRA?”

Pepper’s face fell to confusion even as Rhodey’s clouded over with anger. Rhodey’s hand twitched at his side, as if he wanted to reach out to Tony but couldn’t. “Yeah,” he said, voice clipped. “We’ve got them labeled as possible domestic terrorists back at the base. They’ve got a lot of shady shit going on but we haven’t been able to nail them with anything concrete just yet.”

Pepper covered her mouth with a hand, eyes wide and afraid. “Tony, please don’t tell me—“

Tony shrugged. “ Yeah, they took me. Had me for close to three months?”

Pepper reached out and covered Tony’s hand with hers, squeezing tight. Rhodey looked murderous, hands balled up just under the table.

Rhodey opened his mouth but Pepper was the first to speak. “How--- Tony, how did that happen?”

A slight shudder went through Tony’s body and Steve reminded himself that it wasn’t his place to comfort the younger man, not now that he had his friends with him. Tony narrowed his eyes at the table as he spoke. “Obie—Obie did it.”

Rhodey and Pepper both sat in stunned silence for a few minutes before Rhodey’s voice cracked through the air, low and menacing. “I think you need to start at the beginning.”

Steve crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall as Tony explained to his friends how he was captured, tortured and held for three months until he finally managed to escape. He let them know about Johann Schmidt being HYDRA’s mastermind, how he went by the name Red Skull most of the time, the things he made Tony do, the way Obie was likely just another pawn in Johann’s game of chess.  

He spoke in hushed tones when he got to Obie’s involvement, eyes hard as he stared at the wall in front of him, fists balled up in front of him, only relaxing once he spoke about going to find Steve and his team and the way they’d helped him out.

Steve turned his head and stared out the window, trying and just barely managing to keep an impassive face as Tony told Rhodey and Pepper everything that was happening—everything that was going to happen in the future. He tried to remind himself that he was trusting Tony, even if that included trusting Rhodey and Pepper as well.

Steve turned back when he heard the screech of the chair, seeing all three of them huddled as close together as possible without actually touching, Rhodey and Pepper acting as protective shields, almost as if they could keep anything and everything at bay as long as they kept formation surrounding the genius.

Rhodey caught Steve’s eye, gaze searching and untrusting. “So…you left one mob to work for another?”

Tony glanced back at Steve for just a second before looking at Rhodey. He brought one hand town to touch his thigh until Rhodey put his attention back on him, smiling softly until Rhodey’s mistrustful look dissipated, leaving nothing but unmistakable worry. Tony patted his thigh once more before pulling away, placing his hand back on the table. “Yes and no. A little yes.” Rhodey raised a concerned brow and Tony conceded, spreading his hands flat. “Okay, mostly yes. I’m fine though. Steve—they’re okay. Just—Don’t worry about me. I’m perfectly fine. Better than.”

Pepper just snorted and wiped at her eyes. “’Don’t worry about me’, he says. We’ve been worried about you for weeks, Tony. And now here you are telling us about all the horrible things that have happened to you and how it isn’t over and you want us not to worry?” She sounded incredulous, shaking her head as if Tony was a problem she could never hope to solve but resigned herself to sticking with anyway.

Tony ducked his head and rubbed at his neck, shrugging slightly. “Pretty much, yeah.”

“You. Are. Unbelievable,” Pepper bit out. “This entire time, Tony. All this time you were out with the mafia or whatever they call themselves you never thought to pick up a phone and say, ‘hey, I’m not dead?’”

“Well, technically I still am. At least as far as Obadiah is concerned.” Tony glanced between his two friends, eyes wide and serious. “I don’t want to put you guys in danger. I thought about calling earlier, when I first escaped but it wasn’t a good idea.”

Rhodey looked skeptical. “And now it is?”

Tony shook his head. “No. It’s still not. This was all Steve’s idea, bringing you guys here. Which…” Tony looked at Steve, a little bit confused, but mostly happy. “Not that I’m complaining, but how exactly did you guys get here anyway?”

Rhodey and Pepper shared a look over Tony’s head.

Rhodey was the first to speak. “We got a message, addressed to Pepper and I…it hinted at finding you so we came.” He shrugged as if that was all it took.

“Happy drove us,” Pepper said, touching Tony’s hand lightly. “The message said not to bring any guests so he had to leave, but he really wanted to stay. We’ve all really missed you, Tony.”

Tony’s smile wobbled for a moment. “Yeah. Tell Happy—tell him that I’m good and that I owe him that promotion to head of security I’ve been promising him for keeping my best girl safe while I’ve been away.”

Pepper laughed, squeezing gently where she still held Tony’s hand. “He’ll like that. He’s going to go overboard checking everyone for clearance from now on.”

Tony grinned wide. “He deserves it.” He looked between his friends again. “You know. I would be upset that you two trusted a mysterious letter with only a hint of finding me with no proper backup if I had any room to speak, but things being as they are, how about we call it a draw?”

Rhodey rolled his eyes. “Yeah right. If you think you’re getting out of that lecture once this is all said and done, then you have another thing coming.” Rhodey held up his hand when Tony moved to interject. “Ah ah, later. Now, tell us how we can help end this as soon as possible.”

Tony blinked, then blinked again. “Uh…I don’t…you guys can’t just—“

“Tony, If the next words out of your mouth are some variation of the ‘I’m not involving you in this’ speech, then I will actually kill you.”

Tony looked back at Steve searching, and Steve shrugged. It would be impossible not to involve them at this point. “Look, I’d be asking you guys to compromise your lives, your jobs—“

Both Pepper and Rhodey snorted. “No offense, Tones, but our lives and jobs were compromised the moment we became friends.”

Steve covered his mouth with his palm to hide the smile that broke out on his face at both the teasing and the wounded look Tony shot at both his friends.

Tony’s play at being offended was belied by the fact that he couldn’t keep a grin off his face. “That really hurts, Sourpatch.” He leaned towards Pepper and clutched at her arm. “Potts, tell Rhodey that was rude.”

Pepper shook her head and reached around Tony to pat Rhodey on the shoulder in apparent commiseration. “You’ve been in it longer than I have. The things you must have seen.”

Rhodey mock shuddered. “I wish I could say MIT was one giant blur but…” he trailed off, shaking his head forlornly.  

“No respect at all,” Tony grumbled, sliding down in his seat a little with his arms folded across his chest, bottom lip jutted out in a pout that was just a little too tempting for Steve to look at for too long.

Rhodey clapped Tony on the shoulder and shook him gently. “You’re alive, Tony. And here with us. If you think we’re just going to let you run off on your own and get involved with who knows what, then you don’t know us as well as I thought you did. You’re in this, so now we’re in this.”

Pepper squared her shoulders, sitting up tall and sure. “James is right, we aren’t leaving you….besides, we’ve handled you for this long, anything else seems like a walk in the park in comparison.”

Rhodey nodded, expression fond. “If anyone gets to kill you, it’s going to be one of us. We’ve earned it.”

Tony rubbed his forehead wearily and muttered under his breath. “Well aren’t you two full of sunshine and daisies today.” He continued in a louder voice. “You’ll have to talk to the Captain then.”

Pepper and Rhodey lifted their brows.

“Steve. Steve is the Captain, call him Cap.”  He waved his hand at Steve, gesturing him closer. “Take a seat, old timer. Don’t want you to hurt your back or anything.”

Steve pinched Tony on the arm as he made his way to his seat across the table from the three.

Rhodey huffed a laugh at Tony’s indignant cry. Tony flipped his best friend off while idly rubbing his arm at the abused spot.

Steve eyed Tony briefly when he’d made himself comfortable, looking for any sign that Tony wasn’t absolutely sure about involving his friends in this past the point they already were. When he received nothing but a shrug, that seemed to say ‘this is out of my hands’, in return he turned his attention to Pepper and Rhodey.

Steve folded his hands in front of him on the table. “So. It’s nice to officially meet you two. Tony’s talked a great deal about you all.” Steve watched a flush heat along the back of Tony’s neck and forced himself to focus elsewhere. “I’d also like to thank you for your discretion regarding today, and I hope we can agree that it would be best if things remained as private as possible from here on out.”

Both Rhodey and Pepper nodded curtly, shifting just that much more to block Tony. Steve didn’t take offense, he’d do the same with any of his people. Including Tony.

Pepper cleared her throat, polite if not just a tad intimidating. “Captain. Don’t get me wrong here, we can see that Tony appears to be in...” she eyed Tony from head to toe. “Well, he appears to be his usual self and most importantly alive and well, but I have to ask what exactly you are getting out of all of this?”

Steve spread his hands slightly. “With all due respect, ma’am, what I’m getting out of this is of no concern at the moment. If Tony wishes to divulge that information at a later date, then the choice is his. I find it better to focus on what we have in common, that being that we are all determined to keep Tony safe, no matter how it is we as individuals have come to that consensus.”

Rhodey and Pepper shared a heavy look before they both turned to meet Steve’s gaze, the beginnings of approval shining through their mistrust.

Rhodey leaned forward, resting heavily against the table. “As long as we get him back in one piece, then we’ll have no problems, Captain.” Rhodey smiled warmly at Tony for a moment. “What I’d like to know is how Tony became acquainted with you in the first place?”

Tony smirked, answering for Steve. “Let’s just say I made his friend and offer he couldn’t refuse.”

Steve rolled his eyes heavenward and sighed. “He’s not exactly wrong.”

“Well that’s not intentionally vague are anything.”

Tony snickered. “Impatient impatient.”

Tony shouted out a loud “hey!’ when Rhodey nudged him with his elbow. “Fine. Okay. I made his friend an arm.”

Rhodey spoke slowly. “You made him an arm?”

“Yeah. He lost his arm, so I made him a new one. It’s actually pretty kick ass.”

Pepper snapped her fingers excitedly. “Oh! Was it that Barnes guy you used to have down in your workshop all the time?” She pointed her finger at Steve. “Which would make you the tall blonde hunk.”

Tony gaped. “You knew about that?”

Pepper psshed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Everyone knew. All the girls at the reception desk had a bet going. They thought you were having really hot orgies down there.”

Steve rubbed at his face with his hand, trying to futilely block the flush he felt heating up along his cheeks. It didn’t help when he heard Tony mutter ‘I wish” under his breath.

He tried to get things back on track with a rush that wasn’t fooling anyone. “We should probably discuss what role the two of you can play without putting you in any direct lines of fire.” He focused his attention on Pepper. “Anything you can get on Obadiah would help. Location, business meetings, accounts that we haven’t already found. We want to corner him so he has nowhere to run when we come knocking at his front door.” Steve shifted to Rhodey once Pepper gave him a determined nod. “The Red Skull. I need you to pull any strings you have in getting this guy contained. Draw him out any way possible. We can give you any information you need when regarding HYDRA, things that I doubt even the military has access to.” Rhodey was all hard lines and heavily trained military attitude when he responded with a curt nod. “Both of you, stay safe. Try not to engage directly. If you find trouble then give us a call. We can work below the system; it’s what we’re here for.”

Tony whistled low and impressed, elbowed Rhodey in the side. “He’s like every action movie star you’ve ever seen, right? Got our very own Captain America walking about.”

Rhodey smirked and leaned over to whisper quietly in Tony’s ear to which Tony’s entire face blossomed cherry red. Pepper laughed at the sight.

Steve let a smile tug the corner of his lips up as he glanced down at his watch. He frowned when he caught sight of the time and shot a regretful look across the table. “We need to go, our time out is limited.” Steve dug in his pocket and pulled out two cards, one for Rhodey and one for Pepper. “Just…” he trailed off, unsure what to say, “be watchful. Tony will be in touch from now on.”

Pepper gripped Tony’s hand as Rhodey’s hand squeezed Tony’s shoulder. “We expect him back in one piece, Captain. Don’t make us regret leaving him in your care for the time being.”

“Or else,” Pepper added on, voice steely, and Steve didn’t doubt for a minute that they meant every word.

“Understood”, Steve stood up. “I’ll give you three some privacy.” He directed his attention to Tony. “I’ll meet you at the door,” before turning and walking away.

When at the door, Steve couldn’t make out any words, just low murmuring followed by an extended period of silence. Tony made his way to the door about five minutes later, eyes red but steady. He walked passed Steve and out the door, making his way determinedly to the car.

Steve followed after him, not a word uttered between them until Steve was buckled in and preparing to back out of the driveway.

“They’ll be safe, right, Steve?”

Steve looked at Tony then back to the house where Pepper and Rhodey still waited. “Happy should be here to get them soon. I had Clint tail them here and he’ll tail them back to make sure nobody picked up on this little meet up. They’ll be fine.”

Tony nodded, eyes on the house  until it was completely out of sight. “Clint was in on this too?”

“Everyone knew.”

“Oh.”

They were silent for minutes on end, Steve’s mind racing with a million and one questions.

Tony sighed. “I can feel you thinking, Cap. What is it?”

Steve took his eyes off the road to shoot a brief look at Tony. “Are you mad?”

Tony scoffed, tone confused. “No, what would I be mad about?”

“Leaving your friends…only seeing them for a brief moment. No knowing. You pick one.”

“It was nice, Steve. I’m not mad about any of that…it just…I guess it just hit me how much they’re willing to lay on the line for me is all.”

Steve nodded, had felt the same way on several occasions. “You’d be surprised how many people would. I find it’s best not to question it too much.”

Tony sunk into his seat. “Look. I know you went out on a limb for me today by doing this, and,” he scratched at the back of his head, “I know you didn’t have to do it, but you did anyway and that makes all the difference, so….thank you.”

Something warm filled Steve, rolling pleasantly somewhere around his abdomen. “You’re welcome, Tony.”

The pleasant feeling only double, triple, quadrupled when Tony placed his hand over top of Steve’s where it rested on the gear shift. “Really, Steve. Thank you.” Steve’s mouth went dry, any words he’d hoped to say falling away faster than he could keep up with.

Tony squeezed Steve’s hand for one more ridiculous, wordless second and then let go, putting his hand back on his side of the car.

Steve wanted to thump his head back against the headrest when he realized that he missed the touch already.

*****

In retrospect, Steve probably should have kept a closer eye on Tony after their outing together. Instead of calming the genius like Steve had intended, the trip did nothing but make him more restless than ever. Tony threw himself into working with gusto, up at all hours of the night and day, living on loud music and caffeine alone.

It took a week before Tony shuffled his way into Steve’s office, disheveled and jittery, looking both nervous and determined. Steve should have taken it for the warning it was.

Steve looked up from behind his desk, wariness turning to disbelief as Tony told him he needed to go out on his own for awhile, that he had a few things he wanted to get from his workshop in the mansion and that only he could sneak in and out undetected.

When Steve said no, Tony had began shouting, arguing himself hoarse as he hurtled accusations off at Steve until Steve had found himself out of his seat, shouting right back at Tony until the other man had thrown his hands up in the air and stormed out of the room with a slam that rattled the bookshelves.

Steve settled back into his seat, closed his eyes and tried to count to ten lest he get up to shout at Tony some more.

He shoved all thoughts of Tony away for the moment, if only so that he could actually focus on his work like he’d been attempting to do before the genius had burst into his space; and it worked. For several hours Steve managed to keep all thoughts of the brunet  to a minimum, managed not to feel even the slightest bit guilty for keeping Tony locked away. It was for his own safety, that’s all they were trying to do was keep the man safe, even if it meant he ignored Steve for awhile.

Steve groaned tiredly into his palm, only looking up once he heard a knocking at his still closed office door.

Steve stood up to answer it faster than he would like to admit, told himself that it wasn’t because it could possibly be Tony coming back for whatever reason.

When Steve opened the door he saw nothing, confused until he felt a tiny claw nipping at his ankles.

Nuts-N-Bolts kept nipping at Steve even as he backed up, tiny claws clacking together when he missed. “Steve is a jerk,” he chanted in his high little voice.

Steve narrowed his eyes at the bot. “Hey! Ow! Stop that!”

“Cannot compute. I do not understand the language of jerk.”

“How do I turn you off?” Steve muttered, scowling down at the bot. “You’re being obnoxious.”

Nuts-N-Bolts paused his movements, eyes peering up at Steve. “You will not turn me off, Captain. You love me. You are still a jerk,” and gave a particularly hard nip at Steve’s left ankle.

Steve glared and lightly tapped the bot with his foot out of annoyance. He regretted it almost instantly as Nuts-N-Bolts let out a loud pitched siren noise, loud enough that Steve had to hold his ears with his hands to block out even just a little bit of the screeching.

The rest of the team came running at an almost alarming speed at the noise, and Steve watched as the bots screen turned from the pleasant green it always had been to an angry shade of red that blinked in and out.

“Steve!” Bucky yelled as he shot around the corner. “What the hell did you do?”

“Nothing!” Steve bellowed. “I barely tapped him! He’s fine!”

“You kicked him? Why the hell would you kick him?” Clint hollered, looking more scandalized than Steve thought the admission warranted

“He was being a jerk!”

The team looked varying degrees of shocked and thoroughly unimpressed.

“What’s his monitor saying?” Natasha asked, much calmer than everyone else seemed to be.

Steve crouched down when he caught the words flashing against the red screen. “Alert. Danger,” Steve looked up at the rest of his team, eyes wide.

Bucky furrowed his brows. “What exactly does that mean? What’s in danger?”

Steve shook his head. “How the hell should I know? Someone get Tony—where is he?”

“Haven’t seen him since he came looking for you,” Clint said.

Steve felt his stomach drop like lead. “Anyone else? Bruce?”

Bruce face took on a distinctly putrid green color as he shook his head no.

“Right,” Steve muttered, then louder, “make a sweep of the house, if he’s not here then get ready to move out. We’ll convene in the debriefing room.”

“Whoa, wait, hold up. What’s going on? Trouble in paradise?”

Steve glared, already moving toward the door. “It’s not the time, Barton,” he snapped. “Move it or be prepared to do drills from now until kingdom come.”

Clint swallowed visibly and made a dash for the door, quickly followed out by the others as they split off into every direction looking for their resident kid genius.

Steve looked in every place he could think of, in every crawl space his home had and in every nook and cranny that he thought Tony might even possibly be able to squeeze into. When each spot turned up empty, Steve rushed his way to the debrief room where the others were already waiting, anxious and ready to go.

Steve checked and loaded his gun. “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to find him and then I’m going to kill him,” he said lowly.

Sam clipped the protective body armor Tony had made them all into place. “The robot. We found coordinates on his screen. Thor says they’re the warehouse’s coordinates. Either Tony went back there on his own or he was taken again. Either way, he’s in danger.”

Steve nodded sharply and turned to head out. “Make sure you have your coms ready and you’re suited up properly. We leave now.”

The drive to the warehouse seemed to take longer than Steve expected it to, even though Steve was breaking every speeding law that had ever existed in his rush to get there. As he drove, he gave out orders for when they arrived. “Barton, Romanoff, you’re on perimeter. Shoot to kill only; we’re not wasting bullets on wounding them, we’re going to need you to clear the entrance when we arrive. Odinson and Wilson, hang back and take out any cowards running away, watch all exits and keep them clear. Bruce, hang back and prepare medical, only act if first engaged. Bucky and I will search the insides; join us if everything is all clear.” Steve took the next corner sharply. “If you see Tony, make sure not to shoot him.”

Bucky gave him a side eye. “I thought that was a given.”

“That reminder was for me,” Steve said darkly. “One last thing. If you see Red Skull, take him out, no questions, no warnings.”

Everyone nodded and Steve’s foot fell on the pedal just that much harder.

Once they were half a mile away they ditched the vehicle and Bruce behind, making their way from there on out by foot, quickly but quietly.

Steve spoke softly into his com when they neared the warehouses fences. “Time to split off. Let’s give ‘em hell.”

Natasha and Clint made their way silently into the shadows, leaving the others to wait for the all clear.

Bucky whispered, eyes where Natasha and Clint had disappeared. “We going to blow this place sky high this time?”

Steve patted his pocket. “That’s the plan.”

“’s a good plan.”

Steve watched as guards began dropping, the faint sound of arrows in the air and grunts drifting back to them in the stillness of the night.

It didn’t take long for Natasha’s voice to filter through the com. “Clear. It’s now or never, boys.”

Steve and Bucky broke off next, jogging until they reached the warehouse’s entrance. They paused at the threshold. “I’ll take the right you take the left, we’ll meet up in the middle. Keep your guns ready and—“

“I know the drill, Steve. You always forgot who taught you it in the first place.”

Steve ran a hand through his hair, eyes scanning restlessly. “Yeah. Yeah, I know.”

Bucky clapped Steve’s shoulder. “We’ll find him,” and then took off, sprinting down the hall. “Don’t do anything stupid!”

Steve snorted and started running as well. “How could I when you’re taking all the stupid with you?”

The first HYDRA goon Steve ran into only had a moment’s warning before Steve slammed the butt of his gun into the man’s temple, causing him drop like a sack of flour to the ground. Steve ignored the instinct to wince at the sound of his head slamming into the hard cement floors and kept moving.

Guard after guard went down as Steve checked each open space he came across. He ran until his legs ached, ran so that he could block out the squeezing in his chest that happened each time a room came up Tony-less. Tony was alive, Steve knew he was alive, because he had to be alive.

Steve kicked the next guard he saw square in the jaw and kept moving until he reached a large open space full of HYDRA goons standing about as if they had nothing better to do with their time.

Steve slammed his body back around the corner and pressed the com to his ear. “Bucky. I need you to meet me. Coordinates coming your way. The rest of you move in as soon as possible. Stark is still in the wind, find him.”

When he received an affirmative from everyone he began checking and double checking his guns, listening to both his team fight their way toward the warehouse and the sound of the men on the other side of the wall he hid behind, unaware of anything happening around them. Steve shook his head in disgust; nobody in his organization would be as careless as everyone here seemed to be.

Steve tensed when he heard footsteps making their way toward him and readied his gun, the noise of the shot would blow his cover but it wasn’t to be helped. Any hand to hand this close to the others would be just as telling.

As the footsteps got louder, Steve’s finger got closer to the trigger, prepared to pull it until he made out a familiar glint of metal. He sighed quietly; it was just Bucky. He lowered his weapon and spoke lowly once Bucky was in range. “What have you got?”

Bucky shook his head. “No Stark.” Steve shut his eyes for a moment and breathed deeply. “I took out a few on my way here. It doesn’t seem like they’ve opened up to testing again just yet. Cells are empty as far as I can tell. One looks like it could have been inhabited recently but there’s nobody there now.”

Steve took another breath to calm himself, it was no time to let emotions cloud his judgment. “Right.” He looked around the corner briefly. “Four in the corner, two in the middle and six scattered. Twelve all together, all equipped. Quick in and out, Stark is either being held somewhere else or he’s already made his escape attempt. Either way, we need to clear out these guards to make the odds tip in our favor.”

Bucky smirked. “Ready to be heroes?”

Steve rolled his eyes. “Sure. You?”

The brunet shrugged. “Why not? Just don’t get us killed like one. I promise you neither of us will make a miraculous return from death. We aren’t that lucky.”

Steve spoke into his coms again. “Covers about to be blown, prepare yourselves.”

“I’m surprised it hasn’t been already,” Sam said lowly, grunting a moment later. “These guys are either very incompetent or this is some sort of trap.”

“Seconded,” Thor called out, laughing right before Steve heard a loud smash make its way through the com, like a hammer on stone.

“Thirded—is that a word? Stark owes us big once we rescue that idiot. More arrows, better arrows.”

Steve heard the low buzz of Natasha’s stingers going off and the loud cry of a guard. “Definitely incompetent. This one was just playing angry birds on his phone.”

Bucky snorted from Steve’s side. “Please tell me his score was higher than Clint’s.”

“Chatter,” Steve called, holding up his hand to count down from three.

Steve never got used to it, not completely at least, being caught in the fray of a fight, bullets flying, the sounds of alarms reaching him through the sound of his own blood rushing in his ears. Steve ducked and weaved to avoid each shot flying his way, kept Bucky in his peripheral whenever possible and kept moving, always kept moving lest he pause for a moment too long.

“There’s more of them coming, Steve!” Bucky shouted, his own gun firing off from behind a pillar, the metal plates of his arm shifting and glinting in the dull lighting that the warehouse provided.

Steve ducked behind a downed table and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The blond patted at the pockets in his vest until he found and object about the size and weight of a pen and a pair of noise cancelling earplugs. “Buck! Bottom left pocket! Put them in now!”

Bucky didn’t question the order, just fumbled for his pocket, grabbed the plugs and shoved them into his ears. When Steve was sure Bucky was secure he got to work flipping the cover open with his thumb and roughly jabbing down on the button there. The effect was instantaneous; all the guards around them going rigid for a few seconds, faces pale, veins bright blue against their skin, right before their legs gave out and they dropped to the ground unconscious. Steve just made out a trickle of blood from a couple of guards noses and ears before averting his eyes.

Bucky whistled low and impressed as he walked to Steve, eyes still scanning the room. “What the fuck was that?”

Steve fiddled with the device, twisting it between his fingers. “This is a sonic taser. Hence the ear plugs.”

Bucky looked between the device and the men still laid out on the floor. “O..kay?”

“It emits a specific high-frequency sound wave that paralyzes anyone within a designated distance.”

Bucky smirked and nudged Steve with his elbow. “That was a very nerdy fact. Be honest, how many times did Tony have to explain that to you?”

Steve pocketed the taser with a huff. “Just the once.” He surveyed the room one last time before gesturing for Bucky to follow him down another hallway. “We should do another sweep of the place, Tony has to b—“

He was cut off when his com made a buzzing in his hand; an incoming call. Steve placed the device back in his ear. “Rogers. Any news?”

Natasha breathed roughly, as if she were running, “We have Stark, he’s injured. Transporting him to Bruce as we speak.”

Steve nearly stumbled as he began moving faster through the halls. He heard Bucky behind him, trying to keep pace. “How bad is it?”

When Natasha didn’t answer right away Steve started to sprint, taking turns blindly as he searched for an exit. “Nat, how bad is it?”

“It’s not good. We’re almost to Bruce now, Steve. Just get here as soon as possible.”

Steve kicked in the next door he came too. “On our wa—“ Steve paused, the room was not empty.

“Steve? What’s going on?”

“It’s handled. Take care of Tony. If he looks bad, leave without us. We’ll find our way back.”

Natasha made an affirmative noise before the noise of her com quieted again. Steve positioned himself next to Bucky, and eyed the short, portly man in sitting behind the desk in front of them. He had his hands folded, almost politely, with an indulgent twisted smile spread over his lips. “Ah, Captain. It is so good to see you. I see you and yours have made great work to plow your way here.”

Steve sneered, but didn’t reply.

“You won’t find anything here, you know,” the man said lightly, pushing his round wire framed glasses further up his nose. “Once I heard all the commotion, I set all databases to self destruct mode. Though, judging from that conversation you were having, it wasn’t information you came looking for.”

Bucky took a subtle step forward, only stopping when Steve held up his hand. “You got a name?”

The man smiled slowly, smarmily, “Arnim Zola. No need to introduce yourselves, I’ve heard quite a bit about you, Captain. And you, Winter Soldier, what fun we had before you escaped.”

Steve didn’t stop Bucky this time as he surged forward and punched Zola hard enough that Steve could hear something crack—probably a tooth, Steve guessed. Bucky held tight to Zola’s shirt, fist still ready to strike.

Steve folded his arms across his chest. “Why did you kidnap Stark?”

Zola spit blood onto the tile. “When a dog runs away it’s your job to find it.”

Bucky gripped the other man by the throat and lifted him a good two inches from his seat. Steve waited until the other man turned distinctly purple and started scrabbling uselessly at Bucky’s metal arm before telling Bucky to let go.

Zola plopped back down and took long heaving breaths.

“Wanna try that again?”

Zola smiled again, the curve of it cold and cruel. “Access is the name of the game, dear Captain. We couldn’t get Stark to make the weapon himself, but those designs of his are still locked away in Stark Industries.” He spit another mouthful of blood to the floor. “Schmidt is not a patient man, the time it would have taken to get into those files was not fast enough for him; enter Anthony Stark. We may not have been successful last time around, but we’ve gotten a bit more creative, as I’m sure you’ll see.” Zola shook his head in pity. “Everyone has a breaking point, Captain, and you seem to surround yourself with men who are right on the cusp of theirs,” he began to chuckle, an ugly little thing. “Do you want to know the things he screamed? He called for you, Captain, more than once—“

Steve shot him between the eyes, breath heaving as his heart roared away in his chest.

Bucky stared at between Steve and Zola with wide eyes, gaze lingering for a moment longer on the blood oozing from the hole in the other man’s head, dripping down his face and onto the floor.

Steve turned around, voice low. “There’s nothing here. Let’s go.”

The trip through the rest of the warehouse was fast this time around, filled with a silence so weighted that Steve felt almost tethered to the ground. He forced his legs to keep pumping, to keep propelling him forward until they were far enough away that the heat from the buildings explosion only warmed the back of Steve’s neck like a hot breath.

Steve, as furious as he was, found himself unable to leave the genius’ side all the way back to the house. Tony’s head rested in his lap, his body limp and his breathing so slow that Steve couldn’t help keeping his fingers on Tony’s pulse just to ease his worries. They all drove in relative silence, only a few words exchanged, though even that died down when it became clear that Steve wasn’t in any mood to respond, too busy noting every new nick and cut that adorned the brunet in his lap.

HYDRA hadn’t even had Tony for a day this time around, but they were unmerciful. His head was once again bleeding sluggishly, bruises lining his features, painted on almost every inch of skin showing—Steve didn’t even want to think about the bruising that must be under his clothing. A couple of his fingers were bloody and bending at odd angles and Steve squeezed his eyes shut before tucking that hand against Tony’s chest and covering it lightly with his own.  

Steve closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the seat, lost in thought as he tried to figure out HYRDA’s angle this time around.

Zola had said they wanted access to Stark Industries, and Steve believed that much at least, but the rest—it didn’t add up. Beating Tony unconscious surely wasn’t the best way to get information. And Zola—he spoke as if he wasn’t surprised by Steve’s presence in the slightest, like he expected him, yet security hadn’t appeared to be doubled at all.

They were playing some kind of game and after today, Steve was determined more than ever to be the team coming out on top.

All the way home and all the way through Bruce patching Tony up, Steve hovered close by, watching closely, fists clenching at his sides each time Tony’s smooth face would wrinkle in discomfort.

When Bruce was done with the last bandage he turned around and faced Steve, a worried frown evident even under the angry furrow of his brow. “He’s concussed. I had to stitch up his forehead—again. I’ve done the best I can to disinfect all the open wounds and splint his fingers. No identifiable internal bleeding, but his lower ribs appear to be bruised though surprisingly not broken. Uh—“ Bruce rubbed a hand roughly down his face and waved his other hand. “He’s probably in shock, his body just shut down to cope with the injuries. He should be monitored while he rests. I gave him a shot of morphine so he’ll be out for awhile.” Bruce looked down at Tony’s slack face and smiled small and tinged with pity. “He’s not overly fond of being medicated, but—well, he’ll live.”

For someone who felt the need to remind them all constantly that he ‘wasn’t that kind of doctor’, the man never seemed to fall short on fulfilling their medical needs.

Steve pulled up a seat next to Tony’s bed after saying his thanks to Bruce and telling the other man to go get some rest. He watched Tony’s chest rise up and down, up and down over and over until all his thoughts drowned into radio static and the steady beat of his own heart in his head.

Steve got used to sleeping in that chair, hunched uncomfortably over with his head resting lightly on the edge of Tony’s bed. While he waited, Steve would fill his time with sketching, reading, or doing what little work he could accomplish from the room, though mostly he just watched Tony.

It was the sort of mind numbing task Steve needed to calm himself as much as possible, punctuated at brief intervals by Tony waking up, taking meds and then falling back asleep and Bruce coming in and forcing him to go take care of himself while he checked on Tony.

Days passed before Steve heard a coherent sentence.

“Have you been waiting around so you can kill me yourself?” Tony asked, voice rough with disuse.

Steve looked up his sketch of the Brooklyn Bridge and stared at the other man.

Tony rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and sighed. “At least Nuts-N-Bolts was able to warn you. He’s gonna need a promotion for that one.”

Steve hummed. “Go back to sleep, Tony.”

Tony flopped his hands on the bed and whined a little bit. “I’m tired of laying in this stupid bed with these stupid drugs. Me and Bruce are going to have words about this, just so you know.”

“It’s your own fault,” Steve replied evenly.

Tony laughed, quiet but laced with pain. He clutched at his ribs and winced. “I didn’t ask to be taken.”

Steve went back to his drawing without another word.

“You don’t actually have to wait here with me you know, especially if you’re just going to judge me.”

Steve snapped his sketchbook closed and stood up, turning to walk out the door before he started an argument he suspected neither of them were ready for. “I’ll be back later. Sleep.”

When Steve did return a few hours and one demolished punching bag later, Tony was asleep again, face scrunched up a bit. Steve sat down in what had become his chair, reached over and smoothed out the creases on Tony’s face until they were smooth and his face slack. Steve sighed contentedly, thumb brushing Tony’s cheekbone gently until he felt his own eyes drifting closed.

The next morning, when Steve woke up, neck bent at an awkward angle, he felt around with his hand, expecting to find the warmth of Tony’s body but feeling nothing but cool sheets and a discarded blanket.

Steve shot up in his seat, wide awake, with wide eyes. The bed was empty. Steve stood up and started frantically looking around the room, in the bathroom, in the closet, with no luck and a sense of rising panic that got caught in his throat until every breath he took seemed to be too much and too fast.

The blond had his hands already reaching for his phone to send out an alert when he heard the bedroom door open followed by a whirring noise that he’d recognize almost anywhere.

Steve watched as Tony waltzed into the room, a tablet in his hands and a pep in his step as if he didn’t have a care in the world and something broke. One strand of hay too many on the camel’s back and Steve was across the room and on Tony before he really knew what was happening.

Tony grunted when his body hit the wall, free hand shooting up to grip at the arm Steve had pressing lightly to his throat. “Well hello to you too, Captain.”

Steve pressed in just a little bit harder and growled. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Tony dug his hands into Steve’s arm. “Trying to walk into my room without being attacked was my original goal but now I’d settle for just making it to my bed sometime soon, join me if you have to but I’m not really into breath play—“

Shut up,” Steve demanded, voice low. “Do you think everything is a joke, Stark? Do you think we’re playing a game all for your fucking amusement?” Steve didn’t give Tony a chance to answer. “What the hell do you think you were even doing? I told you not to go out because it wasn’t safe and you didn’t listen, you never fucking listen—“

Tony tugged with more urgency. “I need to breathe, Steve.”

Steve dropped his arm to his side but didn’t step back, crowding Tony so that he couldn’t just walk away from this conversation. “What about your cover? You probably ruined it, they know you’re alive, Obie—“

Tony thumped his head back against the wall and shut his eyes with an annoyed grunt. “I didn’t blow anything. Schmidt wants access to Stark Industries, access he’s not getting from Obie which means they aren’t seeing eye to eye. It’s the good thing about dealing with men too greedy and power hungry, they always look after themselves first. Obie won’t know I’m alive.”

“And you’re sure of this? Like you were sure of going out alone.”

Tony narrowed his eyes at Steve. “Schmidt has no further use for Obie and Obie is too much of a megalomaniac to exhaust one bridge to wealth. Their partnership, however long, is on the outs if HYDRA needs my help getting into SI. Or maybe Schmidt is just tired of paying for designs—either way information is not being traded willingly.”

Steve squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose, bone deep exhaustion hitting him head on. “Even so, we had a plan and all you did was risk it and risk the safety of everyone else when you got caught. Do you even care?”

Tony jerked a little, as if stung. “Of course I—look. I knew what I was doing, I had safety precautions in place I just didn’t expect—Nuts-N-Bolts told you where I was! Everyone—everything is fine.

Steve met Tony’s eyes and shook his head slowly, he reached out a tentative hand to brush at the stitching along Tony’s forehead. “Not everything.”

The brunet’s breath hitched audibly. “I’m fine, Steve.”

Steve’s hand trailed along the stitching, across the purplish yellow bruising along his cheek and down to the bruising at his neck. “I’m still angry,” he cupped Tony’s face gently in his hand. “So angry.” He watched as Tony’s eyelashes fluttered, and when did he get this close? Close enough to make out every color swirling away in Tony’s eyes.

“Don’t do it again,” Steve said softly. He could feel Tony’s breath against his face now, warm and even.

“Steve…” Tony trailed off, voice just as soft, hand reaching out to brush along the fabric at Steve’s waist when---

Steve’s phone started blaring out it’s alarm and all hell broke loose.

Steve jerked back, away from Tony, who slumped against the wall dejectedly, and pulled out his phone to read the alert.

He got as far as swiping the screen before he heard heavy feet racing down the hall. “Steve!” Steve turned in time to see Clint barreling through the door, face red with exertion. “We’re moving out, come on!”

Steve’s posture straightened all hard lines and professionalism. “What’s going on?”

“We’re not sure; reports are saying there’s something serious going down at Stark Industries. HYDRA’s involved, it’s all over the news.”

Tony was instantly at Steve’s side. “Wait. What?”

“Get everyone ready to head out, I’ll be down in five and then we leave.” He looked at Tony briefly. “You. Stay here.”

The genius opened his mouth in what was sure to be a protest.

Steve didn’t have time to deal with another argument. “That’s and order.”

Tony scowled unattractively. “You’re not actually a captain, Captain.”

Steve ignored Tony and started making his way to his room where he kept his gear. Ignored Tony even when the other man trailed relentlessly behind him. When he was all suited up and had his gear strapped to him he gave Tony one last acknowledgement. “You’re still injured, Stark. You’re not going.”

“Like hell! This is my company. They’re literally knocking on my front door!”

Steve clenched his jaw. “And we’ll be the ones to answer it. Stay. Here.”

“What the fuck am I supposed to do here, huh? Twiddle my thumbs?”

Steve turned away and started making his way toward the door. “That’s a good start. Leave the rest to my team. We’ll keep you updated.”

Tony’s voice was quiet, steely. “Funny. I thought you’d been trying to sell me on how I was a part of your team. Is that not the case anymore?”

Steve paused at the doors threshold, back to Tony. “You know how you could be part of my team? By following my damn orders like everyone else does.”

He heard Tony shouting at his back as he made quick strides to the garage. “You’re still not a Captain!”

“Stay here!” Steve shouted back, jogging down the halls and out the door to meet up with his team.

Leaving Tony behind was easier said than done when part of him wanted nothing more than to stay close and keep an eye on the other man both to make sure he was resting and to make sure he didn’t get into more trouble with no supervision. He already knew Tony was no stranger to sneaking through the guards he had in place, guards that were due for a rigorous training if they’d already been breached not once, but twice by the genius.

Clint weaved in and out of traffic, met with a blaring of horns and curses yelled out the windows coming from every direction as they tried to get to Manhattan as soon as possible, a feat almost impossible with the amount of traffic that seemed to be clogging the roads.

Steve turned his attention away from the road, trusting Clint to do whatever it took to get there, and instead began laying out a game plan for when they arrived.

What they arrived to was all out chaos. Smoke billowed from the top floors of Stark Industries, gunfire being exchanged between a line of police and from within the crowd of people scurrying about trying to get out of the way. There were firemen running in and out of the building carrying stretchers and covered in soot and news crews scavenging like vultures at the barricades along with bystanders who seemed to have no regard for their own safety.

The noise level alone was enough to drive a man mad, shouts of ‘Hail HYDRA’ making their way through the mix at random intervals.

Steve gave his team orders to split up into the crowd and help where they could and to take out anyone they suspected of being HYDRA. Steve himself made his way toward the entrance of SI, weaving through the line of police with not much effort expended when they were mostly distracted with firing back at those firing at them. Steve ducked and weaved until he was at the door, slipped quickly passed a fireman carrying an unconscious man over his shoulder and made his way into the lobby. His eye caught on strawberry blonde hair flashing around the corner followed closely by a balding man in a suit.

Pepper. He’d recognize that hair anywhere. And the man, that had to be Obadiah Stane.

“I’ve got eyes on Stane,” he whispered breathlessly into his comm, pulling out his gun and ducking behind the desk when a SWAT team went barreling past him. “He’s got a woman with him, strawberry blonde hair, fair skin. She’s Tony’s PA. I’m going after them, Barton, Wilson, get up high and make sure no one is exiting the building that shouldn’t be. The rest of you, continue to help keep everything contained.”

“Roger that, already on it” Sam replied. “Bucky, you see anything from down there?”

“Yeah,” Bucky replied dryly. “Lots of people shooting at each other. They’re using bystanders as human shields.”

“Uh, Cap?” Clint called out, slightly out of breath.

Steve stood up from behind the desk. “Barton?”

“Rhodey is here, wants to help.” Clint’s voice came through a bit tinier as he spoke to Rhodey. “How did you find me anyway?”

Steve couldn’t hear Rhodey’s reply. It wasn’t important. “Stick with him, I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”

“Aye aye, Captain.”

Steve shook his head. He started after around the corner Pepper and Obie had disappeared behind, made it about ten steps before footsteps came thudding after him.

He spun around, gun cocked and safety off only to see—Steve groaned. “What the hell are you doing here, Stark?”

Steve grabbed Tony and pulled him down to the ground when a series of shots broke through the glass at the lobbies entry way.  Bullets showered over their heads before letting up. Steve rolled to his feet, pulled Tony up a second later.

Tony was out of breath. “This is my company. My employees. You weren’t going to sideline me.”

“How did you even get here?”

“I took your bike. Don’t worry, I’ll fix it.”

Steve gaped. “It wasn’t broken.”

Tony shrugged. “Wasn’t is the key word.” He started looking around, and Steve noticed just how jittery and panicked he actually looked once he paid attention. “I heard on the comm. Where’s Pepper?”

Steve grabbed Tony’s arm. “I’ll go. You…just get somewhere safe, Tony. We’ll handle the rest. You’re not—“

Tony yanked away from Steve with more strength than he usually displayed. “I won’t! Pepper’s in here, and I’m going to find her. I’m already trusting you with one of my best friends out there in that shit storm, I’ll handle the other one, whether you like it or not.”

Before Steve could speak Tony sprinted off around the corner and out of sight.

Steve started after him, cursing Tony with everything he had as he ran through the labyrinth that made up Stark Industries.

“Update!” Steve barked into his comm. If he couldn’t find Tony, he’d at least check in on the rest of his men. The one’s that listened to him for the most part.

“Still alive,” several voices called out all at once. Steve nodded even though nobody was around to see it.

He pushed open a door that lead to nothing but another dead end. “Stark’s gone after Stane, I’m in pursuit now. You guys handling things alright on the front lines?”

“We will vanquish any foe of ours, Captain!” Thor all but roared through the comm.

Steve turned on his heel and started looking around, planning another route. Tony couldn’t have gotten too far. “Fantastic, “ he muttered, running a hand down his face.

Natasha cursed a string of words that would make a pimp blush.

Steve paused his movements and pressed his comm closer to his ear. “What’s wrong?”

“Natasha’s been hit,” Clint responded, hard edged and worried.

“It’s just a flesh wound,” Natasha retorted, a wince audible in her voice. “I’ve had worse.”

“Get to Bruce, Nat.”

“It’s just a bullet graze, I’m fine.”

He heard Clint scoff.

“I’m fine, Barton,” Natasha bit out. “Nothing to get weepy over.”

Sam cut in before Steve had a chance to respond. “I’ve got eyes on Rumlow.” He sounded almost excited, pent up on the chance to get revenge after their last confrontation left both men injured. “Now this is what I’m talking about. Time to show our buddy ol’ Crossbones what the Falcon is made of.”

“Pierce is here,” Bucky said quietly. Steve clenched his fist at his side; he was well aware of Alexander Pierce’s involvement in what happened to Bucky after the war, of the cruelness held by that man. He’d been like a ghost since Bucky’s escape, no trace left of him anywhere except for now, here today. Steve should be out there, Steve needed to be in here. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and took a steadying breath. Bucky’s breathing became heavy, “Should I—shit!” Gunshots echoed over the comm.

“Bucky!” Steve shouted, turning toward the direction he’d come, not moving just yet. “Report!”

More gunshots came through followed by the sound of shattering glass.

“Bucky, goddammit.” Steve started running. “Report. What’s happening out there?”

“I’m fine!” Bucky gasped. “A few of Pierce’s guards. Got’em down, took Pierce out.” He groaned. “I think my fucking leg is broken though. No, wait. Yeah, definitely broken. Goddamit.”

Steve stopped running, braced his hand on the wall. “Get somewhere safe, Buck. Bruce will come for you soon.”

“Already in route,” Bruce said, voice a forced calm.

“I’m staying in. Bruce can stabilize it when he gets here, but you’re not taking me out of the game.”

“This isn’t a game,” Steve barked. “You got Pierce, that’s enough. I’ve already got one injured teammate running about recklessly, I don’t need another.”

“Till the end of the line, Stevie. Like hell I’m hiding away with these sonuvabitches shooting at your back. I’ll get up high and take ‘em out from there.”

Steve wanted to argue further but he already knew it was pointless. Bucky was stubborn and protective to a fault, getting him to leave would be like pulling teeth. “Don’t die,” was all he said, turning back and staring down the hallway Tony had disappeared down long ago.

*****

Tony, being the genius he was, had compromised. He already made himself a vest when fashioning one for the others, because, well, who knew who was trying to shoot at him these days? His other gadgets though, those had mostly been projects he’d taken on as a hobby in between the more serious work. He felt very James Bond-ish in some ways, but with better toys and better looks.

Now all he had to do was defeat the villain, Obie, and save the girl, Pepper, who would turn around and save Tony when Steve tried to kill him for running off.

Steve had, as he figured would happen, been less than happy to see him. He hadn’t actually meant for Steve to see him just yet, had almost contemplated wherein a mask just so he wouldn’t be recognizable but ultimately scrapped that idea when the fabric irritated his stitches. He wanted to prove just how useful he could be, but from a distance. And then he heard that Pepper was with Obie and Rhodey was fighting alongside Clint and he’d made up his mind and made his way into SI and unfortunately into Steve.

Tony turned the last corner and made his way quickly to the door he knew Obie had Pepper behind, in his own goddamn office, “Jarvis, honey, go help the good Captain in clearing up that disturbance on sublevel C you reported.”

“Right away, sir.” Jarvis said, English voice carrying the a small hint of fondness that Tony was sure he hadn’t actually programmed into him. He and Jarvis were due for some quality time when this was all over.

When Tony entered the door he was greeted to the sight of Obadiah holding a gun to Pepper’s back with one hand while the other worked furiously away at the computer.

“Hi, honey. I’m home,” Tony parroted at Obadiah, the same way he’d said it to Steve when he’d showed up at his doorstep, though with less coughing and almost keeling over.

Obies eyes were wide, his mouth held open, speechless. “Tony!” he finally settled on, backing away from Pepper. “You’re alive.”

Fake. Everything Obie was was fake, no matter how well he played his role.

“I’m surprised your buddy Schmidt didn’t tell you,” the genius said flatly. “I guess you should be used to it though, the art of keeping secrets and backstabbing. Remember what you told me? This really is a cut throat business we’ve found ourselves in.”

“Schmidt?” the older man asked, his voice presenting as falsely confused.

“Let Pepper out of here.” Tony bit out. “This doesn’t involve her.”

“Tony, I don’t—“

Tony lifted his gun and pointed it at Obadiah’s head, “Don’t fucking lie to me!” Tony yelled. “I’ve lived through enough of your bullshit to last a lifetime.”

“What? Boy, this isn’t my fault,” Obie tried again, stepping closer with his hands up. “Pepper was stealing secrets from us and trying to sell them. She has them on a thumb drive—“

“I told her to,” Tony cut in, “and she wasn’t selling them. Unlike you.”

Obie stopped, his face going carefully blank.

“I have more than enough proof to put you away for a long time. Emails, transactions, payments, photographs, video feeds—you name it, I’ve got it.”

“You’re bluffing,” Obie said, a smarmy sneer wrinkling his face.

“You have your friends and I have mine. It just so happens that mine are better and yours hate your guts. HYDRA, Stane? Really? Did you ever think that would end well for you?”

Obadiah let his eyes roll to the top of head and sighed, Tony’s gun lowered just a smidge. “Well now that you mention it,” the older man started, narrowing his eyes and then raising his gun till his was pointed at Tony.

Tony didn’t hesitate to shoot Obie in the side, the blast hard enough to knock the other man to the ground, howling in pain.

Tony hurried to help Pepper to the door and handing her a thumb drive, “You have two now. Find a computer, it doesn’t matter where, and upload everything.”

“Tony…”

“Just go!” Tony pleaded.

“But—“

Tony gripped both Pepper’s shoulders. “I’ve got this. You’re brilliant, Miss Potts, truly magnificent, and one of the only people I would trust with a job like this. I need you to do this for me.”

Pepper’s eyes were determined, if not a little hesitant. “Please be safe,” she said, pulling him into a tight hug before running out, leaving Tony alone with a down Obadiah. The man was struggling toward his gun, Tony walked over calmly and kicked it to the corner.

“Stay down,” he said.

Obie laughed, gurgling on a buildup of spit and just a little bit of blood, “Congratulations, boy! Finally acting like a capable man. Tell me, what are you going to do next?”

Tony raised his gun again, pointed it right between Obie’s eyes. “We’re going to talk.”

*****

Steve was still staring when a very British voice came as if from everywhere all at once. “The man you know as Johann Schmidt appears to be causing a disturbance on sublevel C in the main server room.”

Steve looked up, then around. “What? Who—never mind. I’m on it.”

“Very well, sir. If you would just follow the lights I will lead the way,” the voice said, followed by the ding of an elevator opening down the hall. Steve made his way toward it, only with the slightest bit of trepidation at following a disembodied voice to god only knew where. There wasn’t time to waste though if Red Skull really was in the building.

The elevator began its descent. “So, uh, who’s talking to me?”

The voice returned, a little louder in the confined space. “My apologies, Captain. My name is JARVIS, Mister Stark’s personal AI.”

“Well now I can put a face---voice to the name. How’s Tony?” Steve asked. “He’s not—“

“Mister Stark is well while Miss Potts is making her way out of the building as we speak.”

Steve’s brows furrowed. “Why isn’t Tony with her?”

JARVIS sounded slightly put upon. “Mister Stark has requested a moment alone with Obadiah Stane.”

Steve rolled his eyes upwards. “Of course he has. Keep me updated. If anything goes wrong—“

“You will be the first to know,” Jarvis intoned.

The elevator stopped, the doors opening. Steve stepped out, checking in every direction for a sign of anyone else. He held his gun firmly at his side and listened for any sound that might lead him in the right direction.

“Can you tap into my comm, JARVIS?” Steve asked quietly.

“How may I be of assistance to you, Captain?” JARVIS asked, voice tiny inside his comm.

“Lead me to Schmidt,” Steve responded.

JARVIS paused for a moment. “I do believe he wants to make his whereabouts known, Captain. I believe this may be a trap.”

Steve nodded, “I would imagine so. Let’s get this show on the road.”

“Around the bend, first doorway on your left. You’ll find him there.”

“Thank you, JARVIS,” the blonde breathed out, quickly, yet quietly, making his way in that direction.

Steve paused outside the door. “Is there anyone else in the room or lurking about that I should worry about?”

JARVIS’s voice was sure. “I have detected no other bodies on this floor, sir.”

“Right, well there’s that. Just Red Skull. This was not one of my better plans, you know. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck, Captain.” JARVIS said just as Steve pushed open the door with maybe just a bit too much strength as it went sailing open, slamming against the wall with a BANG.

Schmidt was indeed there, in the center of the room surrounded by servers humming and buzzing and lighting up in every direction. He spread his hands wide, a sharp toothed smile spreading over his face, a face badly scarred by grievous burns, the skin a deep pink, almost red hue. “Ah, welcome. I was a bit concerned you would not make it in time for our little date, Captain,” the German man said, voice heavily accented, “Just in time though, to watch as my virus has begun taking over the internal servers all around the building. The secrets these companies hide….wunderbar. And now they are mine.”

Steve sent a shot flying at something that looked important and very much electrical behind Schmidt’s head. The other man didn’t flinch, just smiled wider and laughed. “The virus is everywhere. Do you believe that shooting one server will hinder me?” He started pacing around the room. “Men like Stark. Obadiah. They are just as corrupt as we are, the only difference is they are praised for their death toll while we are shunned for ours, feared for the change we propose. They spin that fear into a guise of protection for the American people when they could harness that fear! Take it and grow! They hold the world in the palm of their hands and do nothing with it.” He sneered, “but not me.”

“In my experience, those who want everyone to fear them tend to be the biggest cowards of them all,” Steve said evenly.

Schmidt placed his hands behind his back and strolled forward, unconcerned by Steve’s presence or the gun he still held firmly at his side. “Dear Captain, you yourself are feared by many. Does that not make you a coward as well?”

Steve shook his head. “I don’t revel in fear nor do I desire it as you do. I want peace, even if that means getting my hands dirty with scum like you. Cowards hiding behind words,’ Steve stood tall. “Now quit stalling.”

Schmidt spread his arms wide again and smiled. “Then, Captain, as they say, hit me with your best shot.” When Steve didn’t move, Schmidt chuckled. “As I thought, you refrain from making the first move, morals can only get you so far, Captain.”

Steve let his eyes trail to the servers, still working, still infected. He raised his gun at Schmidt, just as the other man came charging at him, gun thrown aside and a hand around Steve’s throat before he could pull the trigger. Schmidt growled in his face. “I will savor this moment.”

Steve grabbed Skulls fingers at his throat and yanked them back until he heard an audible crack and the grip on his throat loosened enough for Steve to barrel into his arm and break the grip. He used the momentum from his spin to turn and kick Schmidt in the head, sending him crashing to the ground.

Steve scrambled toward the servers while patting his vest for the handheld EMP it carried. If he couldn’t clean the virus out he could at least shut the system down until someone else had the chance to do it. Steve yanked at the paneling, trying to find the right spot so send out the pulse when he felt a firm grip on his back, yanking him down to the ground and away from his work.

Steve rolled to his feet just in time to block a punch sailing towards his face but not so lucky to stop the next one that landed right on his ribs. Steve doubled over involuntarily only to be kneed in the face.

Steve grabbed at Red Skulls leg before it had the chance to touch the ground and yanked until he was flat on his back. He tried for the open paneling again but got caught around the ankle, tumbling once again the ground where they grappled, exchanging blows that left Steve winded and more than a little banged up.

Steve licked at the blood on his lip and thrust his head up until it cracked against Schmidt’s, the other man startled just enough the Steve got the advantage back, rolling out of reach and jumping to his feet. He spun to face the other man who was on his feet as well, devilish smirk adorning his face even as he bled.

Steve charged  at the other man, gripped him at the back of the neck and began punching at his abdomen until he was doubled over. Skull staggered back, gave Steve the chance to land a kick square in his chest, sending him crashing back into another set of servers.

While Schmidt groaned and struggled to his feet, Steve used the opportunity to regain his breath. He turned his back to look for his dropped gun, a mistake, and underestimation for Schmidt. Steve knew better.

Schmidt crashed into Steve from behind just as he made eyes with his gun, slamming him forward until his face met metal, slamming into the machines over and over until he managed to smash his elbow back and into the other man’s side, hard enough to crack a rib if the crunch he felt was any indication.

The fighting felt endless, drawn out until Steve felt almost numb to any pain, until he was bruised and bloody and his breath came in gasps. It was almost a physical relief when Skull’s next hit threw him close enough to his gun that he was able to grab it and fire, two shots, one in the leg and the other one landing somewhere between his shoulder and his chest.

Skull dropped to the ground like a brick, body limp, laying in a pool of blood that didn’t seem to be slowing down in growth.

Steve staggered closer using the wall of servers to hold himself up. Red Skull’s eyes fell on him, his smile covered in red. He began to laugh, gurgling on blood, choking on it. “You think you’ve won, Captain….” He trailed off, voice lost in a hacking cough. He picked back up as if he was never interrupted, voice quieter but no less smug. “Cut off the head and two more shall grow in its place.”

His last words, drowning between choking and gasping for air, were a fierce declaration of. “Hail Hydra.”

Steve shut his eyes and sagged heavily into himself for just a moment before regaining any strength he had left to finish what he started.

The sooner this was over, the sooner he could find Tony.

*****

Tony grabbed a chair and pulled it alongside Obie before plopping down. He stared down at the older man who was very obviously not trying to show how much pain he was in. It was testament to Obie’s extreme pride that he acted as though he hadn’t just been shot, as if he himself had chosen to lay on the floor at Tony’s feet. The metallic smell of his blood pouring out, staining his shirt, was enough to make Tony’s stomach turn, but now wasn’t the time to show weakness; it would only give Obie more strength.

Tony leaned back in his chair and waited as Obie tried to control his labored breaths. He figured he could sit there all day if he had to, some twisted part of him swelling with a mixture of pride and guilt that he’d brought Obadiah this low. That he’d given him a just a small taste of what Tony went through when he was taken because of Obadiah.

He wanted it to feel good, knowing that he’d essentially won, but all it did was made him feel sick, an unpleasant bubbling in his stomach and a lump lodged in his throat. Half of him wanted to gloat while the other half roared to be down on the ground helping to stop the bleeding somehow.

This was his mentor. This was his pseudo father. This was his friend.

This was a liar. A monster. A cheat.

Tony rolled his eyes to the ceiling, away from the site at his feet, at the injured but alive man who had meant so much to him growing up. He sighed; here he was, decked out in an assortment of homemade gadgets and he couldn’t even bring himself to use them, even when he knew the other man wouldn’t hesitate to use them on him.

Tony’s heart clenched painfully in his chest.

“You can’t do it, can you, Tony.” Obie breathed out, a pained wince finally marring his creased face. “You can’t pull the trigger.” He tsked, “Howard always said you were soft, my boy. Carried your heart on your sleeve for the whole world to see.”

Tony looked back down at him, his jaw twitching. He stayed quiet.

“You’ve got yourself…” He paused, trying to breath, “in a bit of a dilemma.”

“I know exactly what I’m doing, Obie,” Tony lied. So what if he was still trying to figure it all out, trying to cycle through every option he had. Growing up he’d wanted to be like Obie, had modeled himself off of the man, but now, now he wanted to be nothing like him. He didn’t want to become the man who would kick someone when they were already down, who would take advantage of a weak point when they were already in the lead.

“I can hear you thinking,” Obie said, followed by a breathy chuckle.

Tony clenched his jaw. “How long have you been working with HYDRA?”

Obadiah just rolled his head to look at Tony, a bored expression on his face. “I’m sure you already know the answer to that, Tony. Neither of us have time to waste.”

Tony took a steadying breath. “You had my parents killed--- my father. Did he know?”

Obadiah rolled his eyes, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “Why do you think he’s dead, boy?”

Tony stood up with enough force to knock the chair backwards. His lips were pressed into a thin line. “And my mother, did she know too? How about Edwin Jarvis?”

“Collateral damage. Accidents happen and sometimes they just so happen to take out everyone in a certain radius. Maria and Edwin were---disposable.”

Tony winced, eyes filling with tears he refused to shed. He focused his eyes on the wall across from him. “And I wasn’t?”

Obie sounded almost caring when he spoke. “You were young, Tony. Still impressionable. I had hope for you.”

Tony glared down at the other man. “You wanted to mold me into someone like you then? Someone corrupt and power hungry?”

Obie shook his head sadly. “You were a failure, boy. Always were. Too much of Maria’s softness and too much of Howard’s determination to change the world, to thrust us into a period of peace.” He coughed loudly, wincing as he did. “Howard wanted to shut down weapons too, you know. Thought it was time to end it all, take SI in another direction. I can sell peace, but only with the right technology.”

“Is that your answer to everything?” Tony asked, disgusted. “Eliminate anything that gets in the way of things going your way like a kid throwing a tantrum?” Tony squeezed his eyes shut, got quiet. “If you wanted me dead, why did you have me tortured first?”

Obie laughed cruelly and clutched his wound, his words coming out slower than they had been, weighed, “You did something your father didn’t do. You locked away all of your designs, designs we would need when you were gone.” His eyes fluttered closed. “Just because the company is in your name doesn’t mean you get to make all the decisions, especially when you don’t know what’s best.”

Tony shook his head in disbelief. “What’s the endgame here, huh? What were you hoping to achieve?”

Obadiah simply hmmed.

Tony nudged Obadiah a bit roughly with his foot until the other man opened his eyes and narrowed them at him. “You had my family killed. You used me to further your cause until you decided I wasn’t playing well with others, had me tortured in an attempt to gain information all because you were….desperate? Money hungry?”

“You make it sound so simple, boy,” Obadiah wheezed at him.

Tony just shook his head and muttered under his breath. “Pathetic.”

He heard footsteps coming down the hall. “JARVIS?”

“The Captain, sir. Shall I let him in?”

Tony waved his hand in a go ahead motion and turned back to Obie. “The world is going to know about you soon. I’m not a fan of airing my dirty laundry for everyone to see, but I figure this will clear up a few things about what’s been going on right under everyone’s noses.”

Obie sneered. “You’ll destroy Stark Industries. You’ll put thousands of people out of work—“

Tony shrugged. “It’s time for something new, something bigger and better. Stark Resilient has been in my head for awhile now, and any employees loyal to the Stark brand are welcome to follow. I’m going to change the world Obie, and I’m going to do it my way.”

Steve spoke from behind him, quiet but determined. “Tony, we need to go. The building…” and Tony hadn’t noticed before but the structure did seem to shaking just the slightest bit, smoke still visible out of the windows. The fire was moving down from the top floors.

“Just a moment, Cap.”

“Tony,” Steve said, a bit louder this time.

“What?” Tony asked, not looking at Steve, instead staring down at Obie who wasn’t even attempting to hide the pain he was in any longer, gasping with each breath.

“What are you waiting for?”

Tony shook his head, kept his eyes firmly on Obie’s face. Tried to remember a smile that wasn’t twisted and cruel but loving and patient.

It didn’t help when Obie started to laugh, mocking Tony with a sneer. “You still can’t do it. You want to believe that you’re big and tough, but you still can’t kill me. Even when you could have you wasted your time talking.”

Tony blinked, expression smoothing out. “I don’t need to do it.” He crouched down next to Obie, the barrel of his gun pressed against his head as he spoke close to his ear. “You’re going to get what’s coming to you.” Tony stood up, started walking toward Steve, leaving Obadiah still on the floor.

Steve caught Tony’s eye as he walked passed him, out the door and down the hall. “Tony, what are you doing? He’s still—“

Tony kept walking, a bit faster. Steve sped up to keep pace, “Calm down, Captain. It’s being taken care of. Now, we might need to move just a little bit faster—“ He glanced down at his watch and picked up his speed a significant amount, “or a lot faster.” He burst through the stairwell and started racing down them, “Stairs! Faster! Come on, Steve! JARVIS! Anyone else still up there?”

JARVIS’s voice was as calm as could be, “Evacuation is complete, I have instructed rescue crews to retreat. Starting upload to mansion servers.”

Tony laughed, a crazy thing, and took the stairs three at a time, “You rock, JARVIS!” He pushed open the stairwell exit, leading back into the lobby. “Come ON, Steve. Move it!”

Steve raced through the door, adrenaline numbing the pain from his injuries. “Tony, what—“

Steve’s words were cut off by a loud groaning sound of metal twisting and glass shattering all around them. He pushed himself faster and yanked Tony forward, far enough away that the building imploding only covered them in a fine layer of ash.

Steve looked with wide eyes between the building, still standing in most places but destroyed completely in others, and Tony who was smiling, a small thing but still there, up at the building. Steve settled on just staring, astonished, at Tony after a moment of useless gaping.

He still really wanted to tear Tony a new one for coming out in the first place, but he also sort of wanted to hold onto the other man for dear life because, good lord, how were they both okay? Tony was alive and mostly unharmed and if he wasn’t sure that his own shoulder was out of place, he’d shake the genius until he Tony agreed to just listen. For once. Tony was going to be the absolute death of him, Steve decided as he took the other man’s shoulders in his hands, breathing heavily, shakily, one way or the other, this man was going to kill him.

Tony stared with wide confused eyes as Steve just held him there for a few moments. “Steve, what are you—“ Steve crushed his lips to the brunet’s, quieting the words though Tony did manage a rather high pitched squeak that Steve was going to tease him about later.

Tony wrapped both his arms around Steve’s shoulders and held on tight, yanking Steve down until he was slightly bent over Tony, hands at the other man’s hips, gripping as tight as he could.

As far as first kisses go, it was a little more on the desperate side than the romantic side, but it was everything Steve wanted at that moment.

“Oh, thank fuck. It’s about damn time,” Clint snarked, drawing closer to them both. “About you being alive and about you kissing. Mostly about you kissing. We were just a few weeks from trying to parent trap you both, I hope you know.”

Steve pulled away from Tony, though he didn’t go far, hands still resting lightly on the other man’s hips. He spared a brief eye roll in Clint’s direction before turning his attention back to Tony, murmuring softly, “You are the most reckless, idiotic person I know.”

Tony started nodding in agreement, still a little heavy lidded and disoriented from the kiss. “Yeah, I—“ He glared up at Steve. “Hold on. What?”

More ash drifted over onto them. Tony pulled away completely and folded his arms. “Who even does that? Kiss me and then start an argument? What even—“ Steve smirked and kissed him again, just a firm press of his lips to Tony’s. “Also, you’re the one who went and got yourself all cut up this time—“ another kiss, longer this time. Tony sighed, spoke with his eyes closed. “I’m not inept, Steve. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Steve leaned his forehead down against Tony’s. “I don’t think you’re inept. I think you are brave and reckless and a genius who just so happens to also be an idiot. You’re one of mine, Tony. Of course I have to worry, of course you doing something as stupid as coming out here while still injured is something I’m going to have a problem with. I want to keep you safe. I have to.”

Tony reached up and touched the bruises forming along Steve’s neck. “I’m fine. We’re alive.”  He looked at Steve from under his lashes. “You’re one of mine too, you know. That bridge goes both ways.”

Steve sighed, pulled away. “I know.” He reached down and laced his fingers with Tony, pulling him toward the others. “You know, as angry as I am that you came, you did do a good job.”

Tony laughed, a slight bounce in his step as he trailed along next to Steve, hand squeezing firmly. “I want that recorded. First thing when we get home--- er, after I fix your bike.”

Steve narrowed his eyes. “Do I even want to know how bad?”

Tony shrugged. “Let’s just say your two wheeler became a four wheeler became a no wheeler.”

Steve groaned. “Tony, ho—“

Tony pecked him on the cheek and Steve floundered, lost his words. Tony smirked. “Cool, new trick.”

Steve nudged Tony with his shoulder, a smile on his face. Tony grinned back, open and wide and sort of beautiful. Steve rolled his eyes toward the sky, how had this become his life.

Epilogue

Two months. It had taken two months of meetings with lawyers, meetings with government officials, meetings with the press--- meetings with what felt like everyone on Earth.

He was finally able to walk into his mansion again though, this time without the flock of press out for blood littering about at his front gates. Not now that everything was finally settled, Stark Industries on its way out and Stark Resilient on its way in with Pepper running as active CEO and Happy as his head of security. It was great, perfect really, leaving him with all the time in the world to invent to his heart’s content. Invent things that would change the future for the better.

Tony tossed his suit jacket on the back of the sofa and was immediately distracted by the site of a very blond, very stunning man sitting in his recliner, tossing a ball back and forth to a robot.

“Security breach,” Tony quipped, “How’d you get in here?”

“JARVIS let me in,” Steve simply replied, wrestling the ball out of Nuts-N-Bolts clamps.

“Why would JARVIS, never mind. You know he’s not actually a dog, right? You still can’t get him a leash.”

Steve just smiled down at the bot, and muttered. “We’ll see about that.” He stood up, looking smaller and more nervous than Tony could ever recall seeing him. “Congratulations.”

Tony crouched down and began gesturing for the bot to come closer. “For what?”

“For…getting your business together. Getting your life back. Hopefully no one will underestimate you again.”

Tony’s eyes swiveled up to stare at Steve, brows furrowed. “It’s not…” he sighed, stood up and folded his arms across his chest. “Thank you.”

“I, uh…” Steve looked all around the room, everywhere but at Tony, seemingly struggling for words.

“Cap, whats up?” He moved his hand up and down as if to encompass all that Steve was. “I’ve never seen you look like this, so…uncomfortable since…well ever. Are you okay?”

Steve rubbed at the back of his neck and looked at a spot somewhere to the left of Tony’s head. “What I guess I…” He let out a hard breath, muttering to himself. “Come on, Rogers. Get it together.”

Tony laughed. “Did you just pep talk yourself?” When Steve didn’t so much as smile Tony felt himself really getting worried. “Steve,” he said quietly, taking a cautious step forward.

“Don’t leave us,” the blond bit out, then shook his head, a flush making its way up his neck. “No. That didn’t—we haven’t—I haven’t seen you in awhile and…It’s not about just what you can do for us, that’s not what I’m trying to say, I wanted to make that clear.”

“That’s the only thing you have made clear.” Tony took another step closer. “Steve I—“

Steve held up his hand in a halting motion, “Let me get this out first and then you can speak, I promise.” Tony nodded and Steve took a deep breath and then—promptly fell silent.

Tony groaned “Spit it out, Cap.”

“Hold on a second, kid, I’m workin’ on it,” Steve said, a little bit of that Brooklyn twang Tony sort of missed hearing working its way out.

Tony rolled his eyes. “You’re like, five years older than me. Stop calling me a kid already.”

Steve finally smiled. “I want to try. With you, that is. It’s probably a really bad idea but it’s all I’ve been thinking about since you left and I want to try.”

Tony tried to tame the wide grin that was threatening to split his face with no luck. “I have it on good authority that I am not known for my good ideas.” He walked closer until he stood right in front of Steve, not touching but close enough that Tony could hear Steve breathing. “I’ve missed you, I’ve wanted to—we can try. I want to. With you. Um…” Tony felt his face getting warm.

Steve grabbed Tony’s hand and pulled him closer until their chests were touching. “I missed you too, Tony. Even if you are an idiot.”

Tony laughed and poked at Steve’s ridiculously sculpted chest “And I’ll try with you even if you are the biggest jerk to walk the planet.”

“Oh, really? The biggest?”

“Well, maybe not—“

“Kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss.”

They both laughed and looked down at where General Nuts-N-Bolts was racing around their legs. “Now that’s and order I can follow. You better follow it too, seeing as he outranks you now.”

Steve shrugged, “I guess I have to listen to him,” he said, leaning in closer until he could brush his lips just the barest bit against Tony’s, much more relaxed than their first. There was no rush, no imminent danger, nothing but Tony’s arms wrapping around Steve’s waist and Steve’s hands on either side of Tony’s face as they fell into each other, all the time in the world in the palms of their hands.