Tony Stark never really thought about who he was attracted to. He'd just find himself looking at someone and wanting them to shut up. Not for the usual reasons, mind you. He constantly wanted people to shut up because the garbage falling from their mouths annoyed him to no end, but this kind of shutting up wasn't about what they were saying at all. It was about letting Tony think, letting him really look at them, smell them, feel them, without the distraction. He knew it was a little hypocritical of him, because he hardly, if ever, stop talking. But he would if someone he wanted to shut up, not for that first reason but the second one, actually did shut up. When that happened, he knew he was hooked.

The first time he told Steve to shut up was after they'd be training together in the Stark Tower's gym. Steve just wanted to go over technique, something about Tony's hand-to-hand combat lacking foresight, but staring at the man in front of him, Tony just wanted him to be quiet for a moment.

"What?" Steve looked shocked, then hurt, then indignant. The emotions flowed over his face with such clarity that Tony forgot to consider their implications.

"Just be quiet a moment." Tony took a step back to better see Steve. His muscles defined the tight t-shirt that Steve always wore when working out. His chest was making it slightly damp with sweat, rising and falling with slightly increased rhythm. His blond hair was also slightly sweaty, one particular strand having broken away from its brethren and was sticking to his forehead. His face… His face was hurt again.

"Tony, if you don't want to listen you will never improve. If we are to be part of the same team it's essential that I can rely on you to work on these things."

"I know, it's just, later, okay?" Tony needed to get out of there, pronto. He headed downstairs to his workshop without bothering to shower. He needed to get his hands on something mechanical to let himself think.

He had reformatted an engine by the time Steve entered the workshop. "Tony, I know you're used to doing things one way, your way, and I respect that but I came here to tell you that just isn't acceptable anymore. Fury put me in charge and Pepper says I just need to be firm with you."

Tony knew he didn't mean it that way, but it irked him in spite of himself. "You went to Pepper behind my back? To talk about how to handle me?"

"She said you were probably going to get defensive, but—"

"Yeah, well, she would know, wouldn't she?"

"She only wants what's best for our team."

"Sounds to me like she only wants what's best for you."

"It's not like that, Tony. You're acting like a child."

"Shut up. Get out."

"What?"

"Do you need a road map? Leave my workshop, now."

"If you're going to be like this I can revoke your S.H.I.E.L.D. status, Fury put me in charge."

"So you keep reminding me. Jarvis, show the star-spangled wonder out, please."

"So this is what Fury meant when he said you were too immature to be on this team. I'm disappointed, Tony." Steve turned and left, leaving Tony fuming.

"Jarvis, take away Steve Rogers' access clearance for the workshop. I don't want to see him in here again."

"I'm afraid Steve Rogers has revoked your administrative security status, sir."

"Prick. Since when did he learn to work the system so quickly?"

"I believe Ms. Pepper Potts is assisting him in that manner."

"Great. Why lose the favor of one person when I can lose the favor of everyone?"

"Would you like me to order you new engine valves?"

Tony looked down and realized he'd welded two engine valves together. "Shut up, Jarvis."