Chapter Two: Late night/early morning apologies.

It was now five in the morning and Tony was still awake, lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling lightened by his reactor. The alcohol's effect was already gone but the thoughts were still here. He regretted what he said to Steve, especially since he didn't mean it. He did not dislike him— how could he?— but he did feel weird toward him recently. Ever since he started dating Anna actually. He had no idea what it meant, but he knew he had some sort of anger inside of him whenever their relationship was mentioned. But if this jealousy was not for Anna, then did that mean that it was for… Steve? But…

"Nope. No way." He whispered to himself. "Not that I find i— no way. Or maybe—"

But what if that was it? After a few minutes of hesitation, Tony got out of his bed and put on an old t-shirt. When he left his room, he saw Natasha and Clint chatting in the living room. They were too busy to notice Tony's presence, so he just kept on walking. Steve's room was just around the corner and Tony stopped right in front of the door. There was no sound to be heard and no light to be seen… Steve was sleeping and he would not hear Tony's apologies before at least noon, after his shift and right before Steve's.

"Fuck it." Tony mumbled as he turned around and walked away.

Natasha and Clint were still in the living room, but someone else he did not notice before was with them. Bruce, maybe? No, the guy was too big to be Bruce, and not big enough to be Thor.

"Then it must be Steve.", Tony thought. He froze in the middle of the corridor for a few seconds before starting to walk again. Right before he opened his room to go back to 'sleep', a hand fell on his shoulder.

"Still awake, eh? Don't you ever sleep?"

Tony did not turn around and just shrugged, still feeling his friend's – did he still get to call him that? – hand on him.

"Feeling better?" the Captain asked.

"You're asking me? That's just ridiculous."

Steve's hand left Tony and he could hear him running it through his blond hair.

"You were drunk." Steve mumbled. "It doesn't— it doesn't count."

"But it does. I didn't mean it but it counts!" Tony blurted out, finally facing Steve. "And I know it's not enough, but I've been thinking and I figured it all out and I'm really, really sorry!"

"Don't worry about it. You're always annoying when you're drunk, anyway!" Steve laughed.

Tony smiled and shrugged again – his friend had a point. Once he was done laughing, Steve patted his friend's shoulder again and turned around to go back to his room. After a few steps, he stopped and looked back at Tony.

"Wait, can I ask you something?" Steve hesitated.

"Sure, Cap'."

Tony now had the back of his head and his shoulders leaned against his door, waiting for the Captain to talk. Just when he thought things were better and not awkward anymore, Steve finally said:

"You said you 'figured it all out'."

"I— I did, yeah." Tony replied, apprehending the question that might follow.

"What did you mean by that? Like— what was the reason you disliked us? Or just her, I don't really know anym—"

"Just her." Tony interrupted as he looked down at his feet.

"Just her, then." Steve sighed, still fixing his questioning eyes on Stark.

What was he supposed to say? Even if he thought he figured it all out, Tony was not confident enough to say it out loud – and that was a first for him, to lack confidence. Locking himself in his room was really tempting right now, but he wouldn't do that to Steve; he'd think he's a dick. Again.

"I uh— I think it's because I may or may not have… Feelings? Yeah. For uh…" he stammered.

He felt like a stupid teenage boy. It had been a long time since he felt so embarrassed. Hell, he probably never felt this way in his entire life. It was unpleasant and uncomfortable and Tony prayed to whoever was reading his mind right now that he would never have to feel this way again.
Seeing that Stark had some troubles finishing his sentence, Steve smiled to encourage him. It didn't help. Tony just felt even more embarrassed.

"Can we talk about this later?" he asked, his eyes finally meeting the Captain's.

"Sure!" Steve nodded. "Your shift's in a few hours you probably need some rest. I shouldn't have asked, sorry."

"Stop apologizing, Steve." Tony sighed. "You're always apologizing when you don't have to."

"Sorry!" he shrugged.

Steve walked away again and said, laughing, as he was leaving:

"Feelings, Tony. I call that progress!"

"Shut up Cap'." Tony snapped back, discretely blushing.

"Good night, old friend."

"Yeah right."