"You just don't get it"

-Chapter 2-

Tony Stark:

His head spun and buzzed as he brought the bottle to his lips, glasses and tumblers long forgotten, and took a long large swig, the alcohol numbing the feeling of fire as it was sloshed back down his throat, but not numbing the feelings inside him.

The buzzing grew louder around him and voices spoke around him, taunting him in his weak state. The powerful Tony Stark, billionaire and liver of the high life, brought down into this state by a few mere words, words that before would have been easy to say, been and felt right to say. He had loved Pepper once, before Hogan and before his own turmoil that is, why would it be so hard to do it again.

Fair's fair, they had an arrangement, a contract, Pepper is a keen business woman, and she knows better than most that you keep to the rules. They had a connection, and it was okay to act on their impulses, but never must Hogan know or the press, and those three words were to be never mentioned, "I love you." Sickening.

Tony gave her what she wanted, as much as she loved Hogan, he was a weaker man who couldn't satisfy her like Tony could, but Hogan did and could love. Pepper just as much gave Tony what he wanted, a distraction. An almost live in screw who took his mind from what he really wanted inside, the dark secret of Tony Stark, buried in a shallow grave of sex driven testosterone, a thick layer of cold denial cementing it in its place out of the warm light of the sun. But his world inside had shunted, the cracks were appearing and the foundations were weak, no amount of denial could stop his feeling surfacing, it was inevitable.

It took a few moments for his mind to stop spinning and focus enough for him to hear the familiar voice ghosting and echoing in the room aloud. "Please Tony. Please Tony… I need your help." Steve's pleading words sunk into him, a longing for company filled Tony, and a want to help Steve pooled in his stomach.

"And what would the great 'Captain America' ever need from me." His own words shocked him, a reflection of his inner thoughts and confusion. He wanted Steve to comfort him, but he couldn't have what he wanted, the world would reject him. Plain and simple.

"I need to hide. Please Tony… if anyone can, it's you." Steve's longing words made Tony want to make everything better, to be the hero, the hero without the mask.

How could Tony deny Steve refuge when he himself know what it felt like to want to run and hide like he had done so many times before. How could he deny Steve when he himself was hiding at that very moment? He could not deny Steve.

"Join the club."

Steve Rogers:

"Your motor vehicle is now safely stowed in the private lower garage parking level, Captain Rogers, no one will know of your presence. May I be of any more assistance at this time?"

"No, thank you Jarvis, that will be all." Steve answered quickly, unsure of how to communicate properly with the confusing computer or covey his appreciation of its actions. His voice rebounded from the curved walls of the elevator and lights indicating each floor flashed by without much notice from the soldier deep in thought. How was he going to explain this to Tony? Would he understand and do for him what he wanted? Was this a terrible idea coming here?

Before Steve's train of thought continued he was interrupted by Jarvis and the sound not unlike a hiss, as the shiny metal doors of the elevator slid open with ease. "Very well Sir, Mr stark is located in the master suite, straight ahead fourth door on the left."

Steve took several steps into the long hallway lined with doors and turned to face the elevator, "Thank yo-…" He began to try and thank Jarvis once again for all his help, but was interrupted before he could finish as he looked around, not quite knowing at what part of the house to aim his gratitude toward.

"You are very welcome Captain Rogers, it was my pleasure." The politeness of the machine, where ever it was located, reminded him of his own time, where people were always polite and gracious. A knot twisted inside him thinking of the fact that he was no longer in his own time. No longer in a place where people were polite and up front with you most of the time, and you knew where you stood with them. But in this foreign time he was in, it was far from what he was used to, he was lucky to even get a courtesy nod of apology if someone walked into him in the street.

He pushed the thoughts to the back of his overcrowded mind, so much had been put there already, and he could almost feel the blockade in the back of his mind. So many things important to Steve and his life had been pushed there, in hope he would never have to face them, but he knew sooner or later he would have to decide on the one question in his mined tied to so many others, "Out or In?"

His footsteps reverberated around the hallway as he made his way to find Tony, the one person he thought could give him sanctuary till he had sorted his mind and was able to function properly in the world. Steve counted the doors as he went, one, two, three and four. When he reached the fourth door his eyes fell upon Tony as he looked on from the open doorway. Another knot pulled tight in Steve, and his stomach churned at the sight before him.

A blurry eyed Tony looked up at Steve as he wiped his mouth clean from the remains of Whisky and vomit and began to try and stand among the many glass bottles around him, trying not to trip over one or standing in the pool of sick.

Steve's reactions were on form as he lunged forward into the room, catching Tony as he fell and lowering him slowly to the floor again. Tony looked up at Steve, dark burning brown eyes locking with pools of pure baby blue orbs. The gratitude in Tony's eyes spoke without words as Steve repositioned him on his side.

"What on earth are you doing Stark? Do you know what damage you could have done to yourself?...Tony can you hear me?" Steve's words were burdened with worry and concern, a wave of both relief and anger at Tony followed as he finally answered.

"I'm hiding. You just don't get it." Tony answered quickly and bluntly, an echo of Fury's words lodged into his head once again as he began to rub small circles into his back, soothing Tony but also causing an ache and pain in both his head and heart. The touch that Tony felt was so pure and innocent, caring and thoughtful that it made him feel safe also made him twist in him, the touch had come from a man. Every part of him screamed at him that is was wrong for him to feel comfort from Steve's touch, a man's touch. Yet the part of him buried deep inside, under the many layers of denial began to stir, and awaken, how could something so wrong feel so right?

Authors notes:Hello again! Firstly I'm sorry for any typo's that slip through the net! So, this seemed a good place to break for the end of the chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it and this as you can see, may just be the start of a chain of events leading to 'Stony'! I thought because of all who put me on alert and onto their lists I would make the alert useful and post this one on the same day! I can't believe the response from you wonderful people just in the few short hours this has been up! You are all truly wonderful! As always I don't own the Avengers, but if I did, do you really think they would be allowed out of the love dungeon?

So please keep reading, keep alerting and remember to review! If you don't like something or love something in fact, let me know! And I do like to make sure I reply or thank each and every person who does personally! xoxo