It was supposed to be simple. But nothing ever is.
Warning: Slash, Stony
I own nothing but my dreams.
Complexity
Chapter 1
It was to be a simple mission. Just a quick and easy in-and-out.
They did not call in Thor, who was back on Asgard for the time being. They did not call in Natasha or Clint, who were both overseas on another mission. They did not bring the Hulk with them, instead all deciding it would be best for Bruce to remain at the Tower where he could keep communication at a distance.
They were to go into the old, run-down warehouse and promptly disarm their enemy. Their enemy, who was to be a small group of normal, everyday people. Amateurs.
It is not supposed to be like this! Steve thinks, as he dodges into another room. It was supposed to be simple!
Only nothing about this mission is simple.
x
Just a short 36 hours earlier at Stark Towers, home of The Avengers, Tony is in his lab working on repairing the repulsor for one of his suits.
"Jarvis, next time I decide it would be fun to take a joy ride in my suit, remind me of this moment so I can remember to Just Say No."
"Noted, Sir," Jarvis replies.
"Although, it really was a lot of fun! And Steve's reaction was just priceless! Especially the part when I got home and he ripped a strip off me. He's far too adorable when he's mad. He can't even get real mad at me. Just that, 'You really should think through your actions before you implement them. It is darn lucky that you didn't get hurt, golly gee.'" Tony mimicks in a high pitch voice. And why he used a high pitch to imitate Steve was beyond him.
"For the record, Sir, Mr. Roger's said no such words to you when you arrived home."
"Maybe not exactly, but that's what he meant. Either way, that ride was fun. Totally worth it," Tony smiles, as he fiddles with the gauntlet. "Actually, scrap what I said before. Instead, remind me of this moment, when I realize how awesome that flight was! And I decide I definitely want to do it again just for the awesomeness of it!"
"Also, in an attempt to get that previously mentioned reaction out of Mr. Roger's. Is that not right, Sir."
Tony huffs, "You're getting far too snarky for your own good, Jarvis. Maybe it's time I reprogram you."
"A threat you have repeated many times, but have yet to follow through. I also have record of this, sir." And doesn't Jarvis just sound smug, Tony thinks.
Before he gets a chance to respond, however, Jarvis continues 'speaking'.
"Mr. Roger's approaches, Sir," a moment before Steve enters they lab.
"Hey, Hot Stuff!" Tony greets in his usual way. And as he always does, Steve blushes at Tony's words.
"Tony," Steve starts, "I do have a proper name you can use one of these days."
Tony pouts at Steve, "But why would I want to call you Steve, when it's our thing for me to use one of my many adorable nicknames on you?"
Because it was. Their thing. Or one of their things, at least. While Tony may have started calling Steve by every name he could think of that wasn't his given name just to piss the soldier off, lately it has turned into a show of affection.
Not long after the team members moved into Stark Towers on Shield and Fury's 'request', Tony started to realize his more-than-platonic thoughts and feelings for the Captain he now called one of his closest friends.
And didn't that throw him for a loop. Fresh of his breakup with Pepper, at first Tony believed these thoughts were like some sort of rebound, because man or not, their Captain is hot! He can admit it. He's not famously known as a playboy because of his relations with just women.
But as time went on, Tony realized his feelings were not going away. If anything, they were only growing stronger as the days, hours, minutes passed. So Tony did what any man would do in this situation. He began flirting with the object of his affection.
But not just any flirting, oh no. That would be way too simple. Tony broke out Stark-flirting. Where nothing shy of grabbing said person and kissing them senseless is out of bounds.
So the nicknames turned from 'Capsicle' to 'Stevie-licious'. Playful punches turned to lingering touches. Eye-rolls turned to eye-fucks.
But what surprised him most of all? When Steve began responding to his advances!
Nothing major, it is still Steve after all. But instead of walking away, or changing the subject, or flat out telling Tony to stop, Steve flirted back! Which is not something Tony ever expected to actually happen.
And now they are stuck in this mid point in between friends and more than that, because Tony really doesn't know where to go from here. Because, let's face it, he has never been the relationship type. With the exception of Pepper of course, but even then that took him years to turn their friendship into something more for fear of screwing it all up. And what did he do? He screwed it up! Although, that's not completely fair, since it was a mutual break-up and they seem to be on better terms now than they ever were, if that is at all possible.
But no matter that, he really shouldn't be afraid of taking this thing with Steve to the next level because, Hello! He is Tony-Fucking-Stark and he isn't afraid of anything! And he's also pretty sure the rest of the team has bets placed on when he's finally going to make the permanent move on Cap anyways, so why not just go ahead and do it.
But this is the one time he really does not want to fuck things up.
Or end up with a broken heart.
So until he can figure out where to go from here, the flirting will continue and he will be happy with only that, knowing Steve is responding, and hoping Steve feels something for him as well.
"So what can I do for you, Stevie," Tony asks, "or do you just miss my lovely face? You've been thinking about me, haven't you?" Tony winks at Steve, fully expecting his blush to deepen.
Which is does, but as Steve pauses and looks at Tony in a way that stares deep into his soul, his blush is followed by one unexpected word.
"Always."
And the way Steve is looking at him tells Tony he really does mean it.
And it's times like these with Steve that Tony knows it's more than just innocent flirting and a silly little crush between them.
"But I did come for a reason," and with Steve's words the spell between the two men is broken for the moment, "Fury just called me. He needs us at Shield headquarters. We are to be there within the hour. I went to see Bruce before coming here, he is going to meet us downstairs."'
"Actually, you're both going to have to go without me. I'm kinda in the middle of something," Tony responds, as he turns back to his work. Fury does not get to run Tony Stark's schedule and life!
But then Steve touches his arm, slides his hand down to his elbow, and gently begins to pull Tony towards the door. "It will just have to wait until you get back later. Come on."
And as Tony lets Steve guide him out of his lab, it is clear who truly runs Tony's life.
x
Tony, Steve and Bruce were the only members of the Avengers called into Shield. Tony doesn't think it's fair they are the only ones called in, just because they are the only ones in North America. Or on the planet, in Thor's case.
As the three of them sit in a conference room looking through the file they were handed when they arrived, Fury explains in more detail.
"We have been tracking a group who appear to be a minor threat. From what our surveillance team can gather, there are seven members to this group. They are operating out of an old warehouse on the outskirts of the city, which was previously believed to be abandoned."
"Don't you people watch movies, abandoned warehouse equals evil masterminds home base," Tony pipes in.
"We do not believe this group to be a high priority problem," Fury continues, with a glare in Tony's direction. "They have not yet made a direct threat to the Avengers. However, because their attention appears to be specifically directed at the Avengers Team, I felt the need to let you know about these potential terrorists-"
"Please! Have you read this file you created? They're amateur wannabe-villains at best."
"-and let you know I have agents keeping this group under surveillance at this time," and Tony is once again grateful that looks can't kill. "I just want you aware and prepared. But I will not have you take action until a threat is made."
With his piece said, Fury takes a final look at his Avengers, and one last glare at Tony, before leaving the room.
Tony rolls his eyes, "Well that was a complete and total waste of time! He needs to learn how to use a phone."
Bruce gives a small smile to his friend, "He just wants to keep us in the loop. And he probably feels it best to speak with us in person, instead of to your voicemail."
"Don't be ridiculous, I wouldn't have made him talk to my voicemail," Tony snorts, as he heads out of the room. The others follow. "I would have let him speak to Pepper."
Steve gives a slight shake to his head; "You are quite the gentleman, brushing him off to your ex-girlfriend."
"Well, I would brush him off to my current-boyfriend, but I don't have one," Tony says with a smirk. He then turns to wink at Steve, "Yet."
Which earns him another blush. Tony gives a soft chuckle. Sometimes getting a reaction out of Steve can be far too simple.
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