Thank you very much for reading, don't fo-ür-jey to review!

(Bee the way, I tend to change POV's very often, but this is in third person so don't worry 'bout it:))


Fury must be joking. Steve thought as he watched the Director with something akin to shock. Fury noticed and wondered if he'd suddenly grown a second head.

"Yes, Rogers?" Fury asked as Steve's face underwent a horrible case of WTF metamorphosis.

"Um, Fury sir, with all due respect, you must be joking right? I mean w-we can't stay under the same room without one of us throwing a tantrum with the other-

"And by one of us you mean you and Stark, am I wrong?" Fury said before Tony could. That statement left Steve speechless; he blushed furiously and slumped into his arms like a little kid, not before noticing Tony's confused expression.

That damn man was so infuriating! What gave him the right to look so adorable?

Okay, so Steve may or may not have had one or two indecent thoughts about the other man when he allowed his brain the small pleasure to think about him.

Ever since he found out he liked him he had gone out of his way to be extremely rude to the other male, something he was not accustomed to doing but turned out to be extremely easy because the other man could be so… well… infuriating.

Half of the reason he did this was because he was afraid of his feelings and them getting hurt via rejection. Another reason, the one he stuck to like Velcro, were his antiquated morals. Apparently, his so-called indecent thoughts were now normal and though it had been about eight months since his release from his frozen incarceration, it still took him a while to get used to the modern world.

Like this morning for example, he'd been chopping some onions for breakfast when one of the younger members strolled into the community kitchen looking at him strangely.

"Why are you doing that by hand?" The young recruit had asked pulling out a small circular device with sickle looking blades attached to the bottom of the thing.

"Doesn't everyone?" Steve had asked innocently, eying the device in the other man's hands.

"Oh heavens no, here let me show you." And then he proceeded in blowing Steve's mind by chopping the onions in the device.

Things were so much easier (or lazier) in the future. But he wondered if that was a good thing.

Well back to the matter at hand.

As he was previously saying, he still felt guilty for thinking those things about Tony, like how it would be like to hold hands underneath the moonlight, or go for long walks in some long-forgotten meadow. It filled his mind every waking and not waking second of his life and frankly he was close to cracking, close to confessing everything, spilling his bloody guts out on the other individual and not giving a darn.

But he never could and never would. The other was not for him, so instead of saying what he meant he gave him the cold shoulder and when he was forced to talk he made sure he analyzed each word carefully before orating it, God only knows what he would say if he let his mouth have free reign over his speech.

So when Fury announced that all the Avengers would be staying under one roof, Tony's roof to be exact, his first feeling had been one of utter joy, and then, devastating dismay.

It was hard enough acting like a total jerk in front of the man in their off hours, now he'd have to try extra hard not to let his true emotions spill out on his expensive wood floor.

So yeah, Steve was in a state of depression right now (but a very large (purposefully ignored) part of him was awfully happy with the arrangement).


Tony should have expected Captain to react that way, it still hurt however, no matter how many times he reassured himself that he was being a fucking idiot.

On an odd whim, in his drunken stupor nights, a couple months back he'd ordered Jarvis to plan and execute an Avengers Tower makeover.

When he woke up the next morning, half sober, he was surprised to see that his not-so dream had come true. Every floor was rearranged specifically for each Avenger; even Coulson had a room if he decided to visit.

And yes, Coulson was alive. It was a shock to everyone, especially the Captain who had rushed towards the other male super elated to see him.

Tony would bet all the money he had that when Coulson's room door had closed and locked that same night he fanboy'd so hard he came.

But then again, that's Tony (we also don't need to mention how inexplicably jealous Tony was).

Anyways, he agreed fully with Fury, he'd already been getting frequent visits from Bruce, and Barton had stopped by a couple of times as well surgically attached to Bruce's hip (again gotta ask him about that).

So all he had to do was wait for his comrades, as Thor put it, to stroll in and take their rightful place under his (now their) roof.

But of course Capsicle had to open his pretty mouth and ruin it.

So he really shouldn't have been surprised when he passed Fury's office and saw Steve arguing vehemently with the Director.

"-It's not just a tantrum, sir, I dislike Tony Stark, he is selfish and irresponsible. I will not be able to sleep a wink knowing that any second he could off us and-

"Steven Grant Rogers!" Fury triple-named Steve, successfully shutting him up. Fury had caught a glimpse of the brown haired individual of their conversation and made an attempt to wipe the shit stains off the walls.

"I know you don't like Stark, but he's just as important to the team as you are, if he goes then all of you go, do not consider yourself special because you were the First Avenger. So learn how to play nice or I will be forced to sew both your lips together, understand?" Fury said dead serious.

Steve blinked in shock for a second, actually…

He shook his head furiously clearing any thoughts he'd previously been thinking.

"That's disgusting." Steve lied, saying the words with such venom that he could have burnt a hole in the ground.

The next second they heard quick, retreating footsteps and Fury knew Tony had heard Steve. Well shit, that must've stung.

Steve ignored the slight pang in his stomach; it was probably another employee running an errand… it couldn't have possibly been Tony.

"I asked if you understood, not your personal opinion." Fury said coolly.

"Yes sir." Steve sighed leaving the room when he was dismissed. "I'll go pack my things." Steve said offhandedly.

"You do realize this is for the best, as long as all of you are under the same roof it is easier for you all to congregate when needed." And spy on. Steve finished for the Director, as he simply nodded and walked away.

Tony stopped running to catch his breath at the edge of the Helicarrier, some of the employees were looking at him worriedly, one bad spin and he could tumble out. They seemed to forget however that he'd almost died in one of the engines; a little height couldn't scare him.

Besides, he wasn't really thinking about his precarious position. He was thinking about what Steve had said.

He'd called it disgusting, I mean I understand what decade he was raised in, but it was only because it was me wasn't it?

Tony thought, refusing to let his emotions make their way to his eyes. He instantly hardened then, vowing to never let Steve, or anyone, enter his heart. Pepper had seemed like a snug fit, but like a shoe that was a size too small, it wasn't until after you noticed the ache in your feet that you realized maybe you should have bought the right size, even if it was out of stock, but seriously they should always have the right size, hell buy extra if that's what it took and he's rambling again.

But he was serious; he'd take hold of any fleeting thought and lock it away in vault labeled DO NOT OPEN. And only he would know why that damn vault door should remain shut.


Later on that night, Jarvis alerted him of the Avengers arrival. Tony dropped his torch and rushed out of his shop door to greet his team.

"Hey guys!" Tony said enjoying the shocked look on their faces as they admired the room that would eventually become their living room and their home.

"Stark, your place is amazing." Barton praised looking at all the perfect nooks and crannies he would eventually hide in.

"I know." Tony said a little smug, brushing off the compliment but taking it to heart. He really did love his team. More than he'd admit and more than he'd ever tell anyone.

He did notice someone missing and his smile faltered as his mental fingers typed in the combination to the vault. NO!

"Where's Steve?" Tony asked hoping it sounded like the question it was and not like the hurt, kicked puppy feeling he was experiencing.

"Oh, he had some loose ends to tie up; he'll be here in a couple of minutes." Barton replied not waiting to dig into his new living quarters, whistling and gasping and gaping (oh my!) at the multitude of entertainment and just cool stuff everywhere.

"Okay Stark, you being a gazillionare is definitely my favorite thing in the entire world." Barton said as he walked around the space.

"Thanks, and again, I know." Tony said, not as happily as before.

Steve walked in a couple of moments later an unreadable expression on his face. Of course he was impressed by the amount of stuff everywhere, but of course he was trying to distance himself as much as he could from the other man who was wearing nothing more than a dirty wife beater and red boxers.

"Does a human being really need this much room?" Steve complained. The others were taken back by his rude introduction.

"In Asgard, a man's living space is considered a place where he can place his dreams, the bigger the space, the more dreams to fulfill." Thor said, breaking the ice without realizing it.

Steve felt the stony glare Tony shot his way and felt horrible for opening his mouth.


Tony showed everyone their rooms, explaining with enough detail so everyone would understand that the Lab, his workshop, and his bedroom were completely off-limits but that every other room was perfectly acceptable, and if Barton could find it, then they could have the stash of money he kept hidden in various places in the tower. To this Barton pumped his fist and shouted: "Challenge accepted!"

As the other team members stayed in their quarters only Steve and Tony remained. In the back of his mind Tony hadn't quite seen the harm in putting Steve's quarters directly beside him rather than underneath him.

He was only thinking how great it would be to have him closer each morning.

But now those thoughts seemed stupid and he regretted not looking over the plans again.

"And this is your room, I hope you like the theme, I had Jarvis color code the whole thing… I-I know we started off on the wrong side of the bridge, but I wanted to let you know that I'm sorry for what I said on the Helicarrier. We were both being influenced by Loki and I was being inconsiderate, and also, I don't apologize often so I hope you accept this one." Tony said not able to meet Steve's gaze.

"I guess I'm sorry too… I don't mean to be such a jerk it's just that… it's really difficult for me. I'm still getting used to this New Age thing, and I think I may be taking out all my stress on you." Steve said, extending his hand.

"Truce?"

Tony looked at the hand suspiciously, he could already feel the vault strain to open, could see the fingers typing in the code furiously but he wouldn't let those thoughts escape.

"Truce."


Review for others the way you'd want to be reviewed!

-FF's golden rule

[EDIT: 02/19/2015]