Tony was in his workshop when JARVIS called for him. "Sir, it appears that you have a call from Director Fury. Something regarding Miss. Potts, shall I put it through?" the AI said. Pepper was on a business trip in South America. Why would SHEILD need to call me about it, Tony thought. Pepper and Tony were no longer dating, but they were still best friends. Pepper had even put up with all of the Avengers living in the tower, and had actually gotten close to them. They were all very close, like a family. It was the first family Tony had ever had. He didn't count his parents, they never cared. Perhaps the only person from his childhood he would ever think of as family would be Jarvis, the human one. "Sure J, put Patchy through" Tony said with a smirk.
"Stark, I don't know the best way to say this so ill just come out with it" Fury said in a tone that sounded foreign coming from him. Normally tony would have some smart ass remark, but he stayed silent. Even he could tell that this was serious.
"Stark, the airplane that Miss. Potts was on, it was found on SHEILDS radar. It was underwater, some sort of engine malfunction. I sent a team in to recover the plane. Miss. Potts, the pilot, and body guards bodies were recovered. I'm very sorry for your loss" Fury said with a sigh, he truly did feel sorry for Tony. He knew they weren't dating, but he was the closest to her, their bond was unbreakable, until now. Tony was shaking, he knew he heard Furys voice right. But he just couldn't believe it, Pepper didn't die. It sounds crazy, but its true. After so many villains she's faced, an engine is what killed her. He started yelling and throwing tools all around the workshop. Angry tears were streaming down his face, he wanted to drink himself away, but he couldn't. He promised Pepper that he would quit, he had been sober for four months and he wasn't going to break the streak. He smashed a window of one of his cars and sliced his hands, but he didn't care. He finally stopped and collapsed. He laid on the floor with his knees to his chest and his arms wrapped around them, and he just cried.
Steve was in his room reading on his Starkpad. He was still adjuting to the new century, it seemed like everytime he thought he got the hang of something, a replacement came out. Even living in the tower was some what of a shock to his system. Tony was a great host though, Steve had talked briefly about his super hearing, about how in his old apartment he never slept well because he heard the cars and tvs and peoples voices all night. So when Tony showed him his room, he said it was right above his workshop, when Steve went inside and Tony shut the door, Steve was in awe. He couldn't hear a thing, he looked at Tony who just wore a smirk.
"Tony, what, how..." Steve stammered out.
"I made the room completely sound proof. I knew that you could hardly sleep, so I had the designers make the walls extra thick with reinforcements. That's why its right above the workshop, so the workers wouldn't bother the others. Plus because you were the last to move in it worked out great" Tony explained. Steve was amazed, he couldn't believe that Tony would put forth so much effort for him.
"Tony, I cant believe this, this is incredible! Thank you so much" Steve said to Tony.
"Don't mention it Spangles, see ya later" Tony replied, walking out of the room. That was months ago, Steve still wasn't used to silence while he slept. Steve knew he liked Tony, but he doubted that Tony would like him back. His stomach growling broke his thoughts, he chucked a little, shut off the Starkpad, and walked out into the hall. He was almost to the elevator when a noise caught his attention. That sounds like sobbing, he thought to himself. He wasn't just going to ignore it, he thought again.
"JARVIS, where is that crying coming from" Steve asked the AI. He hoped he was just hearing things because this cry sounded like it was coming from a broken, distressed person.
"The source would be Sirs workshop, Captain Rogers. I fear he has gotten grave news and is in need of assistance in which I cannot give" JARVIS answered back, somewhat sadly. Steves heart dropped, Tony never showed he was hurting and he certainly never cried. He skipped the elevator and ran to the stairs. When he got to the entrance of the lab the doors opened, JARVIS was probably responsible, and he ran in to see Tony laying on the floor, broken glass all around him and blood dripping from his hands and arms. Steve rushed over to Tony and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Tony, Tony you need to get up. You're bleeding" Steve said softly. His heart was breaking for Tony, he looked broken. Tony didn't make any move to get up, so Steve picked him up bridal style. Tony wrapped his arms around Steve's neck and kept whispering "she's gone, she's gone". Steve carried him to the elevator and went straight to his room. He was thankful that no ones rooms were down here, he assumed Tony wouldn't want anyone else to see him in this state.
Steve sat Tony on the toilet and went to work on the cuts. He gently removed Tony's blood stained shirt and put it in the bathtub. He got a washcloth wet with warm water and ran it up Tony's arms and hands, washing the blood away. Most of the cuts had stopped bleeding but a few needed bandages. Tony had stopped crying and just sat still, his breathing hiccuping. Steve got another washcloth and cleaned Tony's face, earasing the tear tracks. Steve went to his dresser and pulled out a plain t-shirt and a pair of sweats. He walked back into the bathroom and handed the clothing to Tony and shut the door. Steve threw on a tank top and sweats and sat on his bed, collecting his thoughts. He knew Tony wouldn't want to talk. He hoped Tony would take the clothes as an invitation to stay with Steve for the night. He knew Tony shouldn't be alone right now. Steve wondered what happened to make Tony this way. He figured he could just ask JARVIS, but he felt that was an invasion of Tony's privacy.
The bathroom door opened and Tony stepped out, he was wearing the clothes Steve gave him. Tony looked so scared, like a little boy. Steve got up and walked over to Tony.
"Tony, what's wrong? What happened" Steve asked him. Tony looked up to Steve's face, and when he saw the look of endearment he broke down again. He wrapped his arms around Steve's waist without thinking and just stayed there. Tony felt Steve's arms go around his shoulders, and he pressed the side of his head into Steve's chest. Steve led them to his bed, he laid down first then he pulled Tony down after him. Tony was still softly crying as pressed his face against Steve's chest.
"JARVIS, can you replay the message from Fury so Steve can hear it please" Tony said, his voice breaking. Steve's heart ached for him and he tightened his arms around Tony.
"Of course sir" JARVIS replied to Tony. Then over the speakers came the Directors message. As they listened Tony's cries became more severe, Steve was shocked. He didn't know what to say to Tony, he couldn't just say its alright, because it wasn't. Everyone knew how close the two were, Pepper was the only one who Tony would talk to about how he was feeling. She even helped him get sober, no one could compete with that, Steve thought. Steve had an idea and pressed a kiss to Tony's forehead.
"Don't let it twist you up inside, time never fails to make the heartache stop, you've got to let those feelings go, I'll give you everything I can if you say the word. Give me your pain, give me your anger, let me be your rock, I can be the pillar of strength that you need, I'll help you keep it all together, its better late than never, lay your world on me, I can take the weight" Steve quietly sang, Tony recognized the song immediately. He stopped crying and listened to Steve's voice. "We all laugh and we all cry, we all hurt the same inside. We all fall down and we lose faith in who we really are. But if we bend instead of break, the choice for us is to make it together. Lay your world on me" Steve looked down at Tony and their eyes met. "Thank you, Steve. I needed this from someone, I still feel shitty, but I don't feel like I need a drink so that's good, right" Tony said with and embarrassed laugh.
"Tony, you don't have to be embarrassed. Its not like I would have left you when I seen you, plus, I care about you Tony" Steve replied, blushing a little. Tony was in shock, he has liked Steve for a while, but was to scared to say anything. The only person who knew was Pepper. "Steve? I care about you too, a lot" Tony said, ducking his head back down. He trembled slightly when Steve grabbed his chin and lifted his face. Steve looked him in the eyes then looked at his lips and back to his eyes. Their lips met, and they both melted into the sweet kiss. Tony pulled back and looked up at Steve who laughed and smiled down at Tony. They fell into a deep sleep, wrapped in each others arms.
A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoyed it! The song Steve sings to Tony is "Lay Your World On Me" by Ozzy Osbourne. I DO NOT OWN THE AVENGERS OR OZZYS SONG!