"Tony!" Steve's frantic shout sent birds and small animals scurrying for shelter, and a few twittered back at him, annoyed.
"Hey, ASSHAT!" Hawkeye cried out.
"MAN OF IRON WHERE HAST THOU GONE?!" Thor bellowed, louder by himself than Steve and Clint put together. They were the only three left in the search party. Bruce, Natasha and Fury had already gone back to base to get some rest. Steve knew Hawkeye and Thor would follow soon. They had, after all, been searching for Tony for close to forty-eight hours now. But Steve would be fine. He had slept for seventy years, for heaven's sake! His body could take this. He would search until his friend was found. No exceptions..
"Steve." A hand clasped the super solider's shoulder. "We need to go back. We need some sleep. You need some sleep." Steve brushed Hawkeye's hand away.
"I slept for seventy years." He protested, pressing on into the woods.
"Captain, he is right. We all need to rest. Let us head back to base and start up the search again once we are rested." Thor agreed.
"No. You guys go. I'll stay." Steve insisted.
"Steve, it's almost dark." Hawkeye said.
"I have a flashlight."
"You at least need to eat, Captain." Thor tried.
"I'm not hungry right now."
"Good God, you're stubborn!" Clint exclaimed.
"I am." Steve agreed.
"You're going back to camp with us!" Hawkeye said.
"No, I'm not!" Steve whirled to face Hawkeye.
"We'll make you." Clint threatened. Steve's blue eyes narrowed and he shifted his body into a ready stance, sheild raised, fists balled.
"We will not." Thor stepped in.
"What?!" Hawkeye demanded.
"He has something he has to do. Such devotion is very admirable. I will not stand in his way, nor will you. Let us go back and join him again in the morning." Thor said, patting Hawkeye on the back and turning him to head back.
"But-" Clint started.
"No arguing." Thor interrupted.
"Thanks, Thor." Steve smiled.
"Good luck, Captain." Thor replied.
"Do you really think you can find him on your own?" Clint yelled over his shoulder, in one final attempt at convincing Steve to come back to camp with them.
"I can find him."
