~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Steve ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The room was filled with pants, labored groaning as metal screeched on metal. Metal arm against metal body, the two giants battled it out in the middle of the room. Steve lay on the crook of the concrete, cradled by the arm looming over the 100-foot drop. His weary eyes took in the scene before: the shiny metal of Bucky's arm flashing double speed in the shadow of Tony's gaudy armor. Steve knew he needed to join in, help his… his Bucky but he was so tired. The Avengers were supposed to being the world together, et here they were tearing each apart tooth and nail.

"Gahhh," a strangled cry split the air. Steve's eyes flitted towards the battle in time to see the sheen of the metal arm fly across the room, no body following the graceful arc. Horror weighed down Steve's limbs, rooting him to the spot as his brain scrambled to make sense of the situation. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed in on the unmoving shadow. He recognized that hair, the same familiar mop fanned out this morning, waves cascading down the… Steve halted himself, allowing his vision to coat in red as he pinpointed Tony's glaring suit in front of him. Finding a new surge of energy, he sprang forward, throwing himself at Tony, knocking them both off balance. Tony was the first to right himself, whipping around and focusing his blasters on Steve.

"Why?" He asked simply, lack of understanding clear in this voice.

"He is my friend," Steve answered as simply. Was the answer not clear enough?

"So was I!" Tony stated, his voice devoid of rage. Steve stared questioningly at Tony, how could he not comprehend the situation. Steve always considered himself an open book, was Tony too closed off by his own emotion? Questions plagued his mind but only one statement made its way to his lips.

"No Tony. He is. My. Friend." Steve stated slowly, pouring meaning into each word.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Tony ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tony quirked his head quizzically as Steve's words. What the hell? Are we not all friends? Are we not all to be protected and loved by eac…

Realization dawned on Tony, a ray of light as crisp and clear as that on a cold winter morning. The reason why Steve was so protective of Bucky, why he would go to lengths to protect him, why the mindless Bucky soldier would still save Steve from certain death, everything suddenly made perfect sense. Tony's jaw slackened in his helmet as he gazed at Steve. "You… and B…"