disclaimer: i do not own marvel
Chapter 2
Let me help you with that
"And he forgot to tell you?" said the laughter-filled voice of Bruce Banner.
"To make a long story short, yes." replied Steve calmly, answering Clint's question. "Although he never forgot me, if that is what you mean. It merely slipped his mind." added the good Captain in Tony's defence, for his friend was not here to defend himself. It was a simple human mistake, one any person could make no matter how high their intelligence was. Or perhaps it was because of the engineer's intelligence, that always working brilliant mind.
"You don't have to defend him you know."
"Captain America is defending me? Damn." The calloused hand of a worker opened the glass door, revealing a familiar mop of brown hair carefully tousled to look as if the man in question came right out of bed.
"Wait, you're not defending my virtue right? Because that's long gone and out of the window." A grin spread on his face just imagining it.
"I wasn't defending your non-existent virtue. I just.." Tony had moved closer and placed a hand on him, on his right shoulder to be exact. The genius gave him a comforting pat.
"It's all right spangles. Now what do you need?" asked Tony, not removing his hand from it's spot on those broad muscular shoulders. And not for the first time he noted a slow nervousness forming inside him, which he diligently ignored.
Steve had gotten used to these slight touches and gestures. He never had a choice really. It was not as if Tony was ever going to stop. At first it had been awkward, meeting a complete stranger who did not back down from contact. In fact the man seemed to slip them in everywhere; a poke, a handshake, or like now, a hand on the shoulder. He remembered slapping that hand away from him in the beginning, a thought that would never cross his mind again.
"I was wondering if you have an old laptop or pc I could use?" The tall, blue-eyed blonde felt like he was asking too much of his friend.
"How dare you!" said Tony in a theatrical way. "You are asking me for an old laptop or pc, I should consider this a crime."
The hand left his shoulder, leaving behind a warm ghost where it had touched. Immediately Tony headed for one of the desks in the far
corner. Drawers were pulled open with haste, eyes roaming their contents before slamming them shut. The fifth drawer held what his friend was looking for. Nonchalantly Tony walked back towards him holding a laptop carelessly with one hand.
"There you go!"
Silently Steve thanked the lord for having a nearly impossible reaction time, because Tony just tossed a shiny, lean, new, and rather expensive-looking piece of technology at him. Safely he caught it, wondering how the engineer could treat it with such disregard.
"Nice catch Steve." Two hands met each other in a clap. "Now, tell me what where you planning to do." said a much more sincere Tony,honestly wondering what the man out of time would need a laptop for.
"I want to learn." stated Steve simply. He imagined learning technology was much like trying to ride a bicycle for the first of falling bruises all over but if you had the will you'd get the hang of it eventually.
"You know what; I don't have anything to do right now so I'll help you on your way." Tony felt Bruce raising an eyebrow at that question. He did not see it; the dark haired scientist was too engrossed in his work again. But he knew it was definitely there. "What! I don't."
Bruce did not even peek away from his notes." Never said you did."
"Not out loud you didn't." Tony put in. A sigh escaped from the easily
angered scientist.
"Yes, you're on to me, now go."
"Come on Boy Scout, I don't have all day to teach you." The hand was back for a second, giving a gentle push at the small of Steve's back,
suddenly handing Tony that nervous feeling again.
In the end it seemed as if the engineer did have all day. Before both of them realized skies where turning, shifting to the dark grey of early evening. Time had flown by on a whim, or perhaps it was because they simple had enjoyed the company.
For Steve it did not matter, for today he had found another admirable trait in his team mate. Something unexpected, something he valued highly.
Patience.
Not once had the genius given up explaining the finer workings and details of the laptop's working. Before they even begun he had asked what Steve already knew, if he already knew something, all that without a condescending hint in his voice. The explanations he got were clear and well-aimed, dividing the different important aspects ina simple understandable way. Steve expected that what he had learned today was nothing to what kids knew nowadays. But still he was happy to have advanced so smoothly into this unknown area.
It certainly is a good thing to have a man like Tony Stark as your friend, thought Steve, considering himself lucky indeed, even if the man was filled to the brim with contradictions.
Unknown to Steve the engineer had similar feelings, he too felt himself to be a lucky man to have this strange friendship. The only thing he could not get around was that hint of nervousness whenever he touched the other man. It sent his mind reeling, thinking, imagining why. Yes, the man in question was undoubtedly a pristine example of perfect masculinity. Tony himself had even admitted to Pepper that the good Captain had a fine ass, especially in his renewed outfit. She wholesomely agreed with him on that subject.
But he was surrounded by good looking people practically all the time; even his bed partners could almost be called physical perfection. So that could not be the cause of this unwanted effect.
He'd ask Pepper but…
"Tony?"
The soft call of his name zapped him back into reality.
"Yeah?" He answered trade back Stark smile on his face within a mere
second.
"Nothing, you just had a solemn look on your face for a minute longer and I'd have to worry about it." the soldier noted, lookingat a smile he knew to be nothing but fake.
The genius shrugged it away.
"Nothing here to worry about Cap, don't let it bother your pretty little head."
Oh, but Steve was observant, he had always been. One did not survive the crowded streets of Brooklyn during the forties without being observant. Especially not if you were a small runt that was sick half the time. Bullies could smell you coming from miles away. Quick wits,good smarts, and observation; that's what got him out most of the time.
The serum had not just made him physically stronger and vital. It had done so much more than cure him of illness, stopping him from coughing out his lungs during the winter. No, besides all that it had enhanced his natural talents. Captain America was a very observant man with a good memory.
No matter how much his friend denied it, in that small moment. That tiny unguarded window between blinking, Steve Rogers was sure of what he saw. No matter how many people always crowded his friend, bombarded him with questions and requests. No matter how well adept, charismatic and of course "life of the party" Tony was.
The man felt lonely.
The man from beyond these already crazy modern times, surrounding himself with things that could only be described as futuristic, could be equally lost this day and age, just like him. To any other regular person it might have been sad, they might have felt pity this on the other hand just smiled brightly.
"What is it?" asked Tony with a raised eyebrow, noticing the slightly goofy expression on the Captain's face. The engineer got the distinct feeling he was missing out on something important.
A soft hearty laugh escaped his mouth.
"Nothing Tony." Steve retorted, secretly enjoying the look of annoyance and slim confusion on the face of his friend. The warm caring smile stayed on his face. And he did something odd; he placed a big, strong hand on Tony's shoulder giving the other man a comforting, knowing squeeze.
"Ok, we are definitely done for today Captain Spandex." Said the brown-haired engineer, taking note of the fact that Steve touching him made him feel equally nervous. "Now on to the next subject, I need your help."
"All right, fair is fair tin-can."
"Wait, did you just make a joke about my suit?" said Tony in a deadly serious voice, feigning hurt. "Did you just crack a joke at my expense? Dear god you did." Back came that familiar cocky grin. "Well,you did learn from the best. But on to the main question here, onethat I can't escape from unfortunately. I need you to drive me to this charity event, I also need you to bring me back. And according to Pepper
I need you to watch me so that I don't get drunk and make a total ass of myself."
"I can do that." Of course Steve had no clue why Tony needed him to personally drive him there. And the engineer should be responsible enough to watch his drinking, not that he ever held it in check.
And so it came to be that the great Captain America put on a simple but fitting black suit all for the sake of a friend's request. One that he was franticly looking for now, one that was last seen holding a third empty glass of whisky. To be honest he was feeling rather agitated now; this was not his idea of a good evening.
His current downward-heading mood wasn't completely Tony's fault;there were other influences involved. It mainly involved rude people without a decent lack of respect, pretending to care for things all to get a positive remark or a chance at shallow conversation with him.A rather indecent woman had caused his face to flush, plainly asking asexual favour from him.
To put things short, Steve was not having the time of his life.
Somewhere along being asked for a dance, advice, or people just stopping him for small talk he had lost sight of Tony in the far he had searched the main room, the hallway, and the area around the grand staircase. He had even asked a waiter if the engineer was seen in the kitchens, knowing Tony had irregular eating and sleeping habits. The genius could go without good food and sleep for hours, all to have a sudden craving for fast food before crashing down.
Steve was reminded of the day Tony had come for him at the airport, that big grin on his face, brown eyes smiling along with it,
enthusiastically starting to explain why Steve had to come back to the tower. They were the only two on that plane, and the flight was as long as the brown-haired engineer kept on talking it was hard to notice, but there were dark circles under those smiling eyes. Tony had crashed in as soon as they arrived at the tower.
What clung to Steve the most was his word choice back then. Not once did the genius use the word tower or penthouse. He merely stated that Steve should come home.
"Steve!" called a pleasantly drunken voice from in between the crowd.
Slowly, as if he was proving a point, he turned around, coming face to face with Tony Stark and his empty glass. Still agitated, he spoke.
"It's already two past midnight, you're going home." He spoke with a commanding soldier's tone, the one sergeant used sometimes when they trained rookies. Just not as loud.
"Damn Steve you're hot when you use that voice, has anybody ever told you that." Tony told him this while pointing and placing a finger on the soldier's chest. "I'll let you take me anywhere willingly."
Flirting, the one thing Steve wasn't fully comfortable with. Sometimes it went just too far. The others ignored it, perfectly brushing it off like dust. Well it clung to the man out of time like bubble gum, sticky and unwanted. He did not know how to handle a flirting Stark,never did. Howard had hit on anything that had the right curves,
combined with a pretty face.
Tony flirted with anything that moved, even him.
"Ok you've had enough." Steve remarked, grabbing the glass and placing it on the empty plate of a passing waiter. Before Tony found the will to protest the soldier guided him outside into the cool night's sleek black car came into sight soon enough, the valet handing over the keys with genuine respect, the first he saw that night, much to his enjoyment.
The ride back was short and swift, Tony starring outside, a frown onhis face, hinking about infinite possibilities or nothing at all. Itwas not until the elevator doors closed that Steve spoke up.
"Where did you go during the party?"
"First of all, that is not a party. Everybody was too stiff for it to be even thought of something resembling a party. Secondly, did you not notice the irresistible blonde at the beginning of the night? Because I did."
Steve could agree on the first; people were to enjoy themselves on aparty. And this experience had been anything but enjoyable.
"That still doesn't answer my question."
"Look" said Tony when the elevator door opened. "I appear at these events sometimes.." He continued, setting pace towards the bar in his own home. "..to see and be seen, generally to please others. It's not like I have any fun, unless I get to take a conquest home. Or conquests. No man can say no to twins."
The blond soldier knew that his friend was heading straight for the bar. Purposely he stepped up his pace, walking next to the engineer until he was between the man in question and the bar.
"You are not going to let me have a drink again are you?" Tony rubbed his forehead. "Why am I even asking. Can I at least get some fresh air?" He was already walking towards the balcony before the rhetorical question came out.
Steve sighed, holding still for a moment before he followed his friend outside. He found Tony leaning against the balcony railing.
"Sorry I…"
"Don't." Tony cut him off while turning to face the tall blond noted the blond's long fingers reaching out for his black tie,trying to loosen it. His alcohol induced mind found only one way of operation now, perhaps a way of apologizing without saying sorry as well. "Let me help you with that."
A hand smaller than his reached out for his neck, loosening the knot of his tie expertly. The black piece of fabric slid off, fingers brushed the bare skin of his neck on accident. Something made the hairs of his neck rise.
Tony watched these tiny insignificant reactions play out in front of him. His odd nervous feeling had vanished into the night's air, the few glasses of whiskey probably willing it away. And he was all right with that turn of events until his fingers brushed against surprisingly soft skin while removing the accursed tie. Until the good Captain shivered when Tony's fingers placed themselves in the back of his neck, making him feel the low tremble across his spine.
No. Suddenly Tony felt anything but all right. But he was not about to let it be noticed, so he covered it up in his normal fashion.
"Captain, so responsive tonight."
"Tony… Stop joking around. We're not at the charity event any longer."replied Steve, feeling those fingers lingering on his neck. An embarrassing blush started spreading on his face. No, he really was not used to this over flirtatious behaviour directed to him.
He let fingers trace the collar of a white blouse. Tony even dared to undo its first button. Those tanned worker hands slid back up, slowly moving under the black vest. Tony got a cocky grin when noting the tint of red crossing the soldier's cheeks. The engineer inched forward, leaning just a bit in.
"Steve." He said with a hint of seduction in his voice.
Automatically Steve leaned backwards, feeling as if the other man was crossing the line a fraction too much. Or just plain old crossing it,period.
"Tony please stop this nonsense." He felt those palms cross the unsaid line more, drifting over his shoulders. Suddenly his crisp black jacket was pulled down. It clung around his waist and wrists.
Tony still held that teasing smile.
"I just wanted to help Steve." With this said he further removed the black jacket and took a step back.
"There, much more comfortable now." And just like that he left, placing the garment back into the good Captain's hands.
Steve stood there slightly dumbfounded at Tony's previous actions. Tomorrow he really had to talk with the brown-haired engineer about comfort zones and how he tended to cross them, be it knowingly or not.
Back inside, Tony found that idiotic nervous feeling returning. Gone was his teasing, flirtatious courage. It was like a whole new world of self doubt opened up, welcoming the unwilling. He was a fool and an ass at the same time. Steve was going to give him one hell of a speech the next day.
He was acting like a complete idiot.
One that had wanted to kiss his friend.
Thanks to TragicGuardian for being my beta.
Thanks to every reader patient enough to sit through each chapter.
Feel free to leave some reviewing soulfood!
