Chapter Text
There were a lot of things that Steve could go into space for, but very few things he would come back for.
Carol Danvers calling him would have been enough.
The words, "Tony's been injured. He needs you," were just further incentive.
Steve was back on Earth and making a beeline for the Avengers Tower in two days.
He didn't even bother identifying himself at the gate; he flipped neatly over the iron bars and made his way up to the door, wrenching it open and storming through the kitchen.
"Jarvis," he said, "Tony. Where."
Jarvis took a look at the Captain's shredded clothing and decided it was better not to ask where he had been, or what was so urgent. That could be settled over a more peaceful cup of tea later.
"The medical wing, sir. Colonel Danvers is there as well, if you need—"
"Great, thanks, love you too, good to be back, jacket's at the door—"
Steve was gone before Jarvis had processed the entirety of his sentence. The beleaguered butler just regarded the kitchen, the leather jacket dropped in the foyer, and threw his hands up before he went to hang it up and sit back down with his tea. It was his day off, damn it.
...
Steve stood at the door and schooled his expression, making himself the picture of placid calm. If he let his worry slip, he might let other things slip—other things he had done his best to keep hidden for far too long to let slip over what was most likely a minor injury.
Steve breathed in and out, slow and careful, re-calibrating himself and taking a long, quiet moment to think of a million things that were not Tony.
Then he opened the door.
Carol sat with her legs crossed on the chair beside Tony's bed, a magazine open as she combed her hair; she looked like a serene, mulleted Buddha. Steve nodded in quiet greeting before he asked, keeping his voice low for Tony's sake, "How is he?"
"Extremis got shut down," Carol said, her voice sharp and short, like she didn't trust herself to go further. "Some ass calling himself the Technovore. He's been like this for four days now."
Steve's entire sense of self got yanked out from beneath him at that; like a rug being pulled out from under his feet to reveal a massive abyss.
"...He...they...Tony, oh god..." Steve said, his eyes flickering up to the monitors. Not braindead. Just...sleeping. But the question still remained regarding whether or not he would wake.
"It's shut down, but his brain still functions," Carol said, confirming what he knew. "It's more like he put the computer in sleep mode than actually turned it off. I just don't know what to do to wake him up."
"So you called me," Steve said, baffled.
"Yeah," Carol said, raising an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I? You're in love with him. That's supposed to be foolproof for this sort of thing."
"I am not!" Steve defended himself fiercely, years of keeping his secret hidden coming to a forefront.
Carol just gave him a long look.
Steve slumped his shoulders and massaged his temples, trying to beat back a sudden headache.
"Look, don't bs me, Cap," Carol said, her voice softening. "I've known you long enough that I think we can talk with each other about this sort of thing. I'm no good at this, I'll be honest, but...hey. You're obvious enough even I can see it, and I've never gotten involved in this sort of romantic drama."
"Yes, you're right, it—I just..." Steve sighed. "I don't...want him to know. Don't tell him."
"'Course not. What kinda jerk do you take me for?" Carol said, huffing. "Bro code, Steve. I abide by that, boobs or not."
"Military 'bro code' is co-ed, Carol," Steve said, amused. Carol laughed.
"Man, a pun and usage of the word bro all in a single sentence? From Captain Rogers? Be still my heart," she said. "C'mon, Steve. See what you can do about him."
Steve nodded, coming closer to Tony's bedside. He was quiet as he did so, every inch the careful and concerned guardian. Carol just watched, curious, all her muscles tensed to spring into action should she be needed.
Steve put a cool hand against Tony's forehead. It was warm, but there was an undercurrent of waxy coolness to his skin that made Steve shudder. His whole face was smooth, at ease and surprisingly untroubled despite the current situation. Steve knew if he woke him up, that wouldn't last.
And yet, they couldn't make it any better until he woke Tony up.
"Tony," Steve said. "Hey, Tony. It's me. Steve."
For the first time in four days, Tony's fingers twitched. Encouraged, Steve spurred on.
"Hey, buddy," he said. "I came back. Carol said you needed me, so I came home for you. Tony? I'm right here. I've got you, Tony. Captain America came to save you."
It was like he'd sudden unlocked something within Tony, sending shockwaves through the rest of his body. A full-body shiver went through him, and Tony began to shake, quivering as his mouth opened and he began to gasp for air. It was like watching a computer of flesh and blood reboot itself—which, as Steve dwelled upon the idea, he realized that was an eerily accurate description.
After a few minutes more of twitching and shuddering, Tony opened his eyes.
"Steve," he rasped. "Hey, bud. Good...good to see you."
Steve hugged him before he could stop himself.
"Good to see you too," he said, his voice thick and heavy with emotion. "Came all the way down from Jupiter for you, Tony."
"I'm flattered," Tony said with a yawn as Steve pulled away to look at him. "Gimme a sec, I gotta re-file a few things, just—"
He stopped, his eye twitching as his fingers flexed. Steve and Carol both knew as they watched him that he was trying to access information that no longer existed.
"Steve," Tony said, his voice high-pitched with sudden panic, "Steve, please, someone turned the satellites off, turn them back on, turn me back on, please—I can't hear everyone else thinking, Steve—"
"Tony, someone shut Extremis down in your mind," Steve said, his voice soothing and low, trying to counter Tony's high, sharp panic, like the ocean wearing down broken glass. "It's still there, but Carol said it's in 'sleep mode,' and I don't know how to get you to access it. Calm down. It might take some time."
"But I need it back now," Tony rasped, gripping the sheets. "I need it back, that's my brain, Steve!"
"No, it isn't," Steve said, his voice firm. "It's a network of other thoughts and feelings that someone else put in you. You are not your computer, Tony. Calm down for me, okay? Just sit down and relax. Let your mind go, Tony. It's all yours now."
Carol gave Steve a querying look; he shook his head and gestured for her to wait as he sat next to Tony.
Tony's eyelids fluttered and his breaths were short and stuttering for awhile, but eventually, he calmed himself down enough to be able to mouth, quietly, "Captain America. That's the passcode. If someone...ever does that again."
"I'm honored," Steve said, his voice heavy with simple emotion.
"I'm relatively unsurprised," Carol remarked, a small smirk playing on her features. Steve rolled his eyes.
"I can't hear them," Tony murmured. "Not the stock reports. Not the suit. Not the 'bots. Not a single incoming call. I'm not sure if it's pleasant or terrifying. Either way, I want to puke."
Steve rubbed his back as Tony closed his eyes, breathing in slow, careful, and deep. He didn't say anything, nor did Tony.
"I'll make coffee," Carol said, cutting through the silence. "You two meet me down in the kitchen; I think we gotta talk."
"Okay," Steve agreed. "Tony? Can you hear me?"
"You're the only thing I can hear, bud," Tony said, his voice breaking as he spoke. Steve just nodded, a warm smile on his face despite the concern in his eyes.
Carol waited until she had left the room to throw up her hands, sigh heavily, and storm off. She just couldn't deal with either of them right now; any more syrupy-sweetness and she'd choke on it.
...
Carol came downstairs to find Jessica cooking Avengers-style; that is, heating cup noodles and stabbing at them disconsolately with a pair of chopsticks. Like grownups did, or so she assumed.
"Hey, babe," Carol said. "Steve's back."
"Good for him," Jessica said, "and good for Tony, he needs him. Cup noodle?"
"I'll pass, thanks," Carol replied, perching on the table. "So, what's up?"
"Nothing, Carol, you know I'm fine. Been a bit busy. You've been going stir-crazy taking care of Tony, huh?" Jessica said, all sympathy and smiles. Carol sighed.
"Yeah, but it's worth it, even if it's boring. Tony needed me. Hell, even with Steve back, he'll need me; they both will. They're idiots. Steve'll fuss until Tony snaps and does something dumb, gets himself hurt again, and allows Steve to fuss until he can say I told you so. It's the circle of stupid, so I've got to supervise," Carol said.
"Sounds like you know the routine," Jessica remarked. "Not surprised, though. They've been doing this for awhile now."
"Tale as old as time," Carol agreed. "I'll get through it with 'em. Tony's a bit more beat-up than normal, though. Might have to bust out the big guns."
"Like?" Jessica asked, tilting her head and sitting down with her noodles.
"Like a bit of a vacation. Somewhere that isn't New York—someplace a bit quieter. Depends on if the boys are up for it," Carol said. Jessica nodded.
"Yeah, yeah; not a bad idea. We'll miss you up here, though. Me especially," she said. "We'll be waiting for you all to come back, okay?"
"Okay, Jess. Thanks," Carol said. "I'm gonna make coffee and head up to run it by them. We'll be okay, no matter what happens."
"Okay," Jess said, soothed by Carol's promise, so relaxed that she didn't notice how hot her noodles were until she took a bite. "Ow! Ow, fuck! I hate these damn noodles!"
Carol was still laughing as she brought the coffee back up to her friends.
...
"You came back," Tony said once Carol had left. "You...you came back. From, like, Mars."
"You needed me," Steve said, like that was the end of the debate. "You needed me, Tony, so I came home."
"Oh," Tony mumbled, sinking into his pillows and looking away. "Okay. Thanks."
"You're welcome," Steve said, and both men were telling more than their words could convey, but it was better for the both of them that way, really.
"So," Tony yawned, "what now? Carol's probably gonna have us on couch detail for a week or whatever."
"Seems like a good time to catch up on Dog Cops," Steve said, a small smile on his face. "Any new episodes go up while I was in space?"
"Hold up, I'll check Hulu, just—"
Tony paused and winced as he realized his mistake.
"Okay, no I won't," he said. "Son of a bitch, I'm gonna need to go over the damage, and soon."
"Of course, but just...do me a favor, Tony? Give your body a break for a few days. How about that?" Steve said. "Just you and me on couch detail while Carol fusses. How's that sound?"
"Or, you two in Malibu while Carol keeps you both from doing something stupid?" Carol suggested, coming in with a tray full of coffee mugs. Tony's eyes lit up at the sight.
"Or...or that," Steve said. "That could be arranged too, I think."
Carol handed them both a mug of coffee, which they sipped dutifully. She sat on the bed and stretched out, flopping across the bed into Tony's lap.
"So what'dya both say?" She asked. "Tony needs to rest and re-boot Extremis, and Steve wants to fuss, and I can threaten to throw you through a wall if you do something dumb. Malibu?"
"Malibu," Tony agreed. "I'll call ahead and make sure the house is ready. Tomorrow, then, guys?"
"Tomorrow is good by me," Steve agreed. "As long as you'll be able to relax and put yourself back together slowly, Tony."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine," Tony replied. "I'm not gonna bluescreen on you, Cap."
"Bluescreen?" Steve asked, tilting his head. Tony grinned.
"Geek term, don't worry 'bout it," he said. "What say you, Carol?"
"Fine," she replied. "And you two come down for dinner, Jarvis'll make something since Steve's home and all."
"It's his day off," Tony said.
"Yeah, but Steve's home," Carol said. "If not, we'll have another takeaway smorgasbord. Just meet me downstairs in an hour—and Steve, make sure he showers and gets a new outfit on, he hasn't showered in four days."
"Went for a week, once," Tony said, pride in his voice. "Was making a new suit. I smelled exactly like the garage by the time I was done."
"Good for you, Tony," Steve said, unsure whether to laugh or chastise him. "How about we don't try to break that record and you get in the shower?"
"Sure, sure," Tony agreed, stifling a yawn as he tried to get out of bed. When he stumbled, both Steve and Carol went to grab him, but for whatever reason, Steve noticed Carol back off, and so Steve caught him in his arms.
"Okay, why don't you get me in the shower?" Tony grumbled. "Seeing as my legs fell asleep on me."
"Fine by me," Steve agreed, adjusting Tony in his arms and holding him tight. "C'mon, soldier. Let's get you scrubbed clean."
"Oh, boy, he'll wash behind my ears now," Tony teased. "Don't worry, Carol, I'll be shined better than a pair of your shoes on inspection day. I will be chrome."
"You'll be clean, Tony, not the suit, but okay," Carol said. "You deal with him, Cap, I'll go see what can be done about dinner."
Steve grinned and headed up for Tony's room as Carol sighed and went to do just that.
...
Jarvis must've read the frustration on her face when she came down; he smiled comfortingly and offered her a seat.
"I've already prepared dinner," he said. "What troubles you, Carol?"
"Nah, just the boys," she said. "Gonna take them to Malibu and see what I can do about this stupid dancey-dance around their tension. He is bathing him, for Christ's sake."
"Anthony is not willing to intiate much, this is true," Jarvis agreed. "I have known him since he was young, and I have watched him go through lovers; he does not want the Captain to turn into that. Not another one-night stand or failed relationship—not for the man he's always loved. Surely you understand, Carol."
"I do, I get it, I just...ugh. I need to make Steve push harder. He's being too freaking nice," Carol complained. "Too hesitant, too gentle. Tony needs a good hard kick up the ass. Romantically." She paused. "And metaphorically. Literally, sometimes, too."
"You are too kind, Carol," Jarvis said, amused. "They will be fine. You may simply have to pull a few strings. Perhaps if they are both alone, with Tony finally able to focus only on himself for just awhile...the seeds everyone else knows are there will finally bear fruit. Just give them plenty of sun."
"It's Malibu; they'll get all the sun they need," Carol said. "Thanks, Jarv. You're a huge help."
"You are not the only one who wants to see them happy, Carol," Jarvis replied. "Don't forget that."
Carol nodded, leaving him to his dinner-making and heading upstairs to pack her bags.