Thanks so much for the reviews! They really inspire me to keep writing… that and my complete and total obsession with this pairing.
Part 3
By the time Steve got through the crowd to find the exit, the hallway was empty. How could he trace Tony when he didn't even know the name of the man that Tony had walked out with? Maybe he was over-exaggerating and worrying over nothing. Tony had looked very self-assured when he'd left… No matter how hard he tried to convince himself, Steve could not quiet the black panic that smothered his reasoning.
While Tony could be considered a formidable ally or a deadly foe in his Iron Man guise, without it, physically, he was in no way superior to anyone in his size range. Add to that the unpredictability of the arc reactor that glowed ominously in the center of Tony's chest… Steve dreaded the possibility of Tony inconveniently having a heart attack before he could fend off that filthy bastard.
Having spent a great deal of time floating in and out of Tony's world, and analyzing the way the corrupted upper crust of society operated, Steve had become pretty good at judging people with a mere glance. He knew that it was shallow and superficial of him to do so but certain words, looks, and gestures did a number on his ability to unconditionally love his fellow man. So, when he'd seen the way that man had predatorily dropped his hand to Tony's waist, Steve had just about lost it then and there. He could sense it in the man's posture and in the dominant manner that he'd urged Tony away with. It meant nothing good. Not for Tony at least.
Caught between the party room and the elevators, Steve debated over going to the front desk to inquire about Tony's whereabouts or returning to question the people within. His inner conflict resolved itself when he heard a muffled cry come from the stairwell.
"Tony?"
Rushing for the door, he didn't make it in time to stop the cruel way that Tony was slammed back into the staircase wall. He had only a moment to register the anguished pain in Tony's tear filled eyes, and then he was barging into that small space with the intent to murder.
Tony's attacker had the fingers of one hand curled menacingly in Tony's dark hair, pulling his head back, and the other hand was forcing the younger man's thighs apart. Tony's pants were around his ankles but his black briefs thankfully still clung to his waist.
Philip looked up, stunned at the interruption, but hadn't even a second to consider his actions before his head was connecting with the steel banister.
Steve hauled Philip up by his throat, shaking the half-conscious man like an enraged bear, knocking him back into the door. "You're going to be so sorry for hurting him," Steve growled, punching Philip in the face and then ramming his knee into the man's exposed genitals that hung out of his pants like an obscene joke.
Choking in excruciating agony, Philip sank to his knees and then fell forward onto his face when Steve released him. He was out cold before he hit the ground. And that was where Steve left the dirty bastard lying.
Crouching down to Tony, Steve took hold of his friend's jacket and tore it down the back seams so that he could free Tony's arms. "It's alright," he said shakily, trying to reassure himself as well as Tony. He felt at a loss, not knowing how he should be acting. Would it be best to act all macho and move off to let Tony recover his dignity in peace? Should he call the police so that Philip would be held accountable for his actions? Would Tony object to being checked over for injuries?
"Hey," Tony said softly, struggling into a sitting position to rub at his sore arms. "I'm fine now. It was nothing," he insisted, holding one hand to his stinging face and smiling up at Steve. When Steve returned the look with one of disbelief, Tony faltered and dropped his gaze, his lips trembling. "I was stupid… I shouldn't have--."
"I don't know why you followed him out or what happened afterwards," Steve began, his voice as frigid as ice, "but this is not your fault." He began to unbutton Tony's dressed shirt, inspecting the white undershirt beneath that was unmarked. "Did he hit the arc reactor? Are you in pain?"
Tony gestured negatively and drew his legs up to try and get his pants back on. What had started out as unnoticeable tremors intensified until Steve couldn't help but notice that Tony was shaking all over. Steve reacted instantly by wrapping his arms around Tony and holding him close.
In response to Steve's tentative embrace, Tony swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to make a sound, even when his tears began to trickle down Steve's neck.
Steve held Tony tighter, rubbing his back soothingly, trying to calm the shaking. "What do you want me to do, Tony? Should I call the police?"
Tony laughed bitterly, choking on his tears, and buried his face into Steve's shoulder, his fingers tugging furiously at Steve's jacket. "I'd love for you to… but whose reputation do you think will suffer more from this?" Before Steve could reply, Tony went on, lamenting over every failure that he'd ever suffered in the public's eye. "They'll just blame this on me… Tony the alcoholic. Tony the irresponsible playboy. Former war profiteer turned desperate boy-toy to one of my company's lamest competitors."
"Stop that!" Steve placed his hand on the back of Tony's head and pressed the dark haired man firmly against him. "I don't want to hear you speak of yourself like that – ever! To hell with what others think of you. I'm not one of them." Coming from someone as wholesome as Steve Rogers, that was about as vehement a rant as he was capable of. "How about Pepper?" That idea seemed like a good one to start with. "I can call her. She'll know what to do."
"Forget Pepper! I want to leave – now!"
"I don't think…"
"That's fine because I'm thinking now. Look, he attacked me, and you attacked him. There. We're even." Tony pushed away from Steve and hurriedly zipped up his pants with shaking hands. "Even if the police were to take my side, what do you think they'll say after they see the way you flattened this asshole's face? Ever heard of overkill, Steve?"
For a moment, Steve was deathly silent, but when he spoke again his convictions were as firm as ever. "For the way he assaulted you, he got off easy. I would do it again… without hesitation."
Tony shot Steve a look of shock and confusion, unwilling to believe that his friend's loyalty ran that deep. His deep sapphire blue eyes widened for a moment before he ducked his head again with a poorly disguised look of shame. "Please… just help me get out of here. Unseen."
"Tony--," Steve pleaded.
"If you're my friend," Tony ground out evenly, "you'll drop this."
Left with little choice, and not wanting to upset Tony further, Steve helped lift Tony up, off of the floor, and steadied him when he swayed unsteadily on his feet. "Elevator or stairs?"
"Stairs."
"Then we do this my way." Stooping down, Steve pulled Tony off balance and then lifted the cursing billionaire up and into his arms in what could have passed off as a romantic overture.
"Fuck, Steve, put me down!"
"I'm not going to chance you tumbling down the stairs and injuring yourself further." Ignoring Tony's embarrassed grumblings, Steve carried Tony down the sixty-eight flights of stairs, only pausing occasionally to readjust the precious bundle in his arms. But, as he exited the building through one of the service entrances, he couldn't help but think that he'd allowed Tony to pressure him into making a very big mistake.
To be continued…
