Disclaimer: Nope, don't own. If I did, Civil war would have been fairly different.

A/N- I'm finally writing Tony/Steve! Yay! So happy! So, this may spawn itself into a longer fic, I just kinda have to decide. Tell me what you think! Spoilers for the confession, civil war etc. Oh and spoilers for Dark Reign I guess? But nothing big. Just Norman being himself.


It wasn't worth it.

It had never been worth it and as he looks back, he isn't sure how he had convinced himself that it would be.

He's supposed to beable to see the future but he couldn't have possibly seen this outcome.

He's a fugitive, hiding from Norman Osborne and the new laws; hiding from Osborne's new Avengers. And half the time he thinks it would just be easier to let them catch him.

The floor of the bunker is cold under his knees but he doesn't move, small box on the floor next to him and an even colder hand clutched in his own. It had taken a lot of planning, a lot of sacrifice, but if it works it will be worth it.

He's not who he once was. He hasn't felt that way in a long time. The civil war had pulled him apart, split him into two, and he hadn't been whole since.

It's not working. Tony feels a moment of panic churning inside of him. It has to work, they're so close.

"What's going on?" Luke's voice is harsh and loud in the silence. It has taken him weeks just to stop the man from slamming the door in his face.

It should be working. He fumbles for the box single-handedly, refusing to release the hand in his grip. It has to work, there are no other options.

"This is a bad idea." Peter quips from a dark corner somewhere. He's still convinced it's some sort of trap and refuses to be anywhere Tony may be able to see him. Tony understands and respects his decision, but wishes it never had to be that.

"We're fighting a losing war." Carol snaps at the others and then places a hand on Tony's shoulder. "It'll work."

He's not so sure it will now.

He's close to buckling, he can feel it. All of the misery and despair he'd tried so hard to keep beneath the surface is bubbling up now. He's reached his breaking point- he entered this plan prepared to give away everything, just to have the other half of him back.

"Tony." Carol breathes, surprised.

A soft glow lights up the room, chasing away Peter's hiding spot. It's a cold, harsh light, one bred of desperation and despair and the knowledge of what Tony is giving for this to happen.

He's giving away everything. It's only fair he supposes.

The light cuts out abruptly and Peter fumbles for the camping lantern they had brought along. The warm light doesn't reach the corners but it's enough.

For a long moment nothing happens. He holds his breath afraid that it was all for waste, that all they achieved was a miniature light show and that he's gotten everyone's hopes up just to let them down. They can't take that kind of loss again. He can't take it again.

The hand in his jerks suddenly. Peter yelps and they all crowd around, desperate for another movement, another sign.

Transparent skin changes colours, growing healthier. A shuddering breath escapes the still body and Tony releases his along with it.

He feels raw, emotions so close to the surface and doesn't care that he is this close to crying in front of them all- but there's hope now.

His hand shakes as he reaches out, gently brushing blond hair back from still cool skin and blue eyes finally flutter open.

He'd made a mistake, all those months ago. A mistake he could not live with, one that had broken him in two and had changed him. In trying to protect those he cared about he'd lost the most important person to him.

And all it had taken to get him back was something small.

"Steve?" Tony asks gently. Hazy eyes flit from his face to Luke, then Peter, then Carol. A confused frown makes its way across the man's face.

"Who're you?" His eyes resting on Tony once again.

"You don't know who we are?" There is a hysterical note to Peter's voice. Steve rolls his head to grin reassuringly at Peter.

"I know who you are Peter."

"Oh." Peter still looks confused. "Then who were you talking to?"

Tony sighs, and meets the questioning blue eyes squarely, his best smile pasted on and shattering around the edges.

"My name is Tony Stark." He says softly and keeps his voice steady. There is no point calling himself Iron Man without the armor on and it will be a long time before he returns to the armor. "I'm with the West Coast Avengers." The lie falls easily from his lips.

Steve nods, satisfied with the answer and turns his head back to Peter and Luke. Tony ignores the looks he is receiving. The world needs Captain America. He needs Steve. For the moment he pretends to be okay with the fact that Steve doesn't know who he is and that it isn't tearing him apart inside.

And someday he will be okay with trading Steve's memories of him for Steve's life.


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