It's Loki who decides it would be fun to wipe Tony's memory. Steve thinks this must be some form of payback for his staff not working the first time they fought.

At first Tony is merely unconscious.

And what has Steve's life become that unconsciousness is a mere thing?

As soon as they've once again bored Loki enough that he retreats back to wherever the hell it is that he is when he isn't bothering them, they turn to check on Tony. JARVIS has, of course, already told them that physically Tony seems fine.

When Tony wakes, still in the armour because JARVIS is protective like that, he stares at them all with wide eyes.

'Tony?' Steve tries cautiously. 'Are you ok?'

'Captain America?' Tony stares at him. 'How the fuck much did I have to drink?'

'What?' Steve asks.

'Who the hell are you people?' Tony adds then spots Natasha. 'Oh, you I know. You're still fired.'

'Still not your call,' she replies instantly then scowls. 'What's the last thing you remember?'

Oh, thinks Steve, is that what's happening?

The faceplate of the suit slams down and there's silence for a few minutes as they all stare, the it slides back up and Tony's scowling,

'Ok, I'm missing some time.'

'How long?' Natasha asks again.

'I remember signing the paperwork to become CEO again.'

Is it terrible that Steve's hoping that he can manage this new first meeting with Tony without pissing him off?

'Doctor Banner?' Tony suddenly seems to recognise him and sticks out a hand. 'I know we've already met but hello.'

'Bruce,' the scientist smiles and they shake. 'No comment about my rage monster this time?'

'I am jealous of that. How many board meeting would go my way if I…?'

'This is Clint Barton,' Bruce interrupts easily, 'Thor, and I'm sure you know Captain Rogers.'

Tony nods to Clint and Thor, and eyes Steve suspiciously.

'Hi,' Steve smiles hopefully.

Tony blinks,

'So the Avenger thing actually worked then?'

'Come on, let's get you seen by medical,' Steve moves to usher him towards their approaching transport.

'Yeah, right,' Tony takes a sudden step back. 'My brain is far too valuable a resource for me to let any random SHIELD minions anywhere near it.'

'Tony,' Steve tries to reason.

'No way,' the faceplate drops again and Tony takes another step back.

'Steve,' Bruce interrupts, 'I know you're worried, but I really don't think there's anything SHIELD can do to help in this situation. It was Loki's magic, after all.'

'Alright, no medical,' Steve agrees reluctantly with the closest thing to a medic they have on the team; he's mostly just glad Tony hasn't taken off.

The fingers of the suit relax and the repulsors power down.

'We'll go home then,' Steve suggests, deciding this is another good time to skip debriefing.

'You live with me,' Tony's voice is deadened though the suit so Steve can't tell his reaction to this.

'In StarkTower,' Steve agrees.

'We'll debrief,' Natasha looks between the two of them. 'You two go.'

Steve nods and takes a careful step towards Tony. He gestures down the street,

'Shall we?'

'I'm not walking,' the suit declares. 'If you're coming with me you're going to have to hold tight.'

'Alright,' Steve agrees nervously. They've never planned their flying together; normally Steve is busy falling or needing a lift somewhere in battle. This seems more intimate.

'Stand on my feet,' Tony instructs then they're airborne the split second Steve is gripping the armour's shoulders. Steve yelps and clutches an arm around the suit's neck to press himself closer to his ride.

Tony's laughing,

'Sorry, that was mean,' Tony tells him and the suit barrel rolls.

'It's fine,' Steve chokes out against his neck, not lifting his head.

They come to a hovering stop and Tony makes a thoughtful sound. When Steve lifts his head to look around he finds them midair across from StarkTower and level with the penthouse landing platform.

The wind is buffering them a little but Tony compensates easily and keeps them steady.

'You have the top floors,' Steve tells him. 'Then it's your labs and workrooms and then the floors for the rest of us.'

'JARVIS has brought up the blueprints,' Tony informs him, then turns slightly to look at him. 'You're not scared of heights are you?'

'No, why?'

'Well, you have basically plastered yourself to me.'

'Sorry,' Steve apologises and, rather stupidly, immediately leans back throwing them to Tony's right.

Tony catches him with his left arm and pulls him back against the suit as the right gauntlet steadies them.

'Don't do that,' Tony instructs calmly while Steve resumes clinging to the armour.

Thankfully Tony then brings them in to land. Steve follows as Tony is stripped from his armour as he walks. Once back in his t-shirt and jeans Tony rakes his fingers though his hair and steps inside.

'Fuck this is weird,' Tony shakes his head and moves straight to the bar. 'Drink?'

'I'm…? Umm, yes please?'

He gets handed a large measure of scotch and waved to the sofa. Tony lounges across from him and gazes over the rim of his glass at Steve.

Tony just stares at him silently.

'No memories back then?' Steve asks lamely.

'You knew my father,' Tony ignores Steve's question completely.

Steve feels there must be alarm bells going off somewhere. Loud ones that have spinning flashing lights and signal some form of apocalypse because Tony Stark does not ever mention Howard in private.

'Yeah, I did,' he fights for something to add.

Tony scowls and all Steve can think to do is blurt the same thing that seemed to help before,

'I like you better!'

Tony's eyebrows definitely rise at that and he takes a gulp of his drink as he watches Steve.

'I didn't argue with him, like I do with you,' Steve decides this is as good a time as any to clear this all from his conscience, 'but he always saw me as something to be outfitted… Something to be sent on a job and you've always treated me as… as a man. We, Howard and I, weren't close and I… You're amazing, Tony, I know people tell you that all the time but I don't mean for the… genius thing, though that really is something… You're doing all this because… because you should. Because it's right, but it's not something that really affects you. If you wanted you could stay right at the top of society and just run your company and no one would think anything of it but you…'

'Ok!' Tony interrupts his rambling. 'This is great, really; Captain America is giving me a pep talk over some really expensive scotch…'

'I really like you, Tony,' Steve interrupts.

The expression that crosses Tony's face then isn't one he recognises but looks a little calculating.

'Another?' Tony asks as he downs his scotch and stand again.

'No, thank you,' Steve takes a tentative sip and reminds himself never to ask how much this stuff cost that Tony drinks like water.

Tony fiddles with his glass as he tops it up then paces the room,

'JARVIS, call Pepper.'

'Of course, sir.'

Right, Steve should have thought of that.

'Tony? Tony, what's wrong?'

'Can I not call you unless something's wrong?'

'Theoretically you could.'

'I've lost my memory, Pep,' Tony tells her then steps into the lift, without even glancing back at Steve, and he's gone.

Steve retreats down to the communal area to wait for the others to return and frets over what Pepper has told Tony. He knows they aren't together anymore, and haven't been for a while now, and he knows Tony didn't seem to be upset about it at the time, but this Tony…

He should go and check on Tony.

'JARVIS, where's Tony?'

'Sir is in his workshop,' JARVIS tells him, sounding a little too knowing.

'Thanks, JARVIS.'

He finds Tony, his tumbler beside him on the floor, lounging in his desk chair in the middle of the room with Dummy's 'head' in his lap, Butterfingers is just behind him and You is fetching him a decanter from across the room.

'Tony?'

'Hey, Captain,' Tony's fingers still over Dummy but resume a petting motion when the bot whines.

Butterfingers whirs then settles against Tony's shoulder as You presents the decanter and crouches down to press against Tony's shin.

'Did they miss you?' Steve smiles.

Tony seems to realise that Steve has actually walked in on him basically snuggling with three large robot arms. He rolls with it though,

'What can I say? I needed a hug,' he smirks; his expression daring Steve to comment that that is exactly what he wanted.

'What should we do?' Steve leans against a nearby worktable.

'It's my brain,' Tony actually leans his head against Butterfingers. 'There's nothing I'm willing to try.'

'And if you never remember?'

Tony just shrugs,

'I can find out quickly enough what I've created in that time and what I'm working on. I don't think there's anything else I really need to know.'

'You… you know you broke up with Ms Potts?' Steve struggles.

'Yeah,' Tony just gazes at him honestly unflinching.

'I… there must be…' Steve clenches his fist to prevent himself from reaching for Tony to give him a shake.

'What, Captain?'

'There have been more important things happen to you since you became CEO again that just what you've made!' Steve objects. 'That can't be all you think your life is.'

Tony just looks confused,

'The important things haven't changed. Butterfingers is the youngest and even he's… actually, honest to god, I have no idea how old he is. Dummy must be pushing twenty though,' Tony scowls thoughtfully. 'I don't know. Anyway,' he swaps the hand he's using to pet Dummy so he can wave the other then pour himself several fingers from the decanter, 'constants.'

'Yes,' Steve isn't going to pretend to himself that Tony's bots haven't been the only true constants in his life and probably the most reliable as well. 'But you have other friends now too, Tony.'

Tony just shrugs at him,

'I don't remember.'

'I do,' Steve crosses his arms and maintains eye contact stubbornly.

They fall into silence as Tony drinks and the bots make small happy noises.

'I thought JARVIS was the youngest,' Steve says, because if there is one sure way of getting Tony to talk to him it's to ask him about his tech.

Tony scowls slightly then shrugs,

'Because he talks?'

'I, well, yeah. And because the other three look similar.'

'You and Butterfingers are both younger than JARVIS,' Tony downs the remainder of his drink and pushes Dummy aside so he can stand. 'JARVIS was a massive error on my part; fundamental miscalculation of how AIs should be created.'

'Can he not hear you?' Steve glances at the ceiling.

'I can,' JARVIS' voice floats over them. 'Sir's summary of my creation is not inaccurate and I take no offence.'

'As you shouldn't,' Tony starts picking his way though the workstations and fiddling with things. 'I thought, after Dummy, that I'd try an AI that knew more from the beginning. With JARVIS I basically installed my database into his head. As it turns out a shiny new consciousness that's just becoming self-aware will freak out quite spectacularly if it knows that much but has no memory or, well, anything to hang on to.'

'Sir stayed with me until I was stable enough to be able to branch out of the house.'

'Oh, Captain, don't ever tell anyone that I have a sentient AI that lives in the internet, ok?'

'Of course not,' Steve agrees readily.

'What did we tell the board at the time?'

'I believe the public were informed that you were on a two month 'bender', sir,' JARVIS replies.

'Sounds believable,' Tony shrugs. 'I certainly looked a little worse for wear when I re-emerged.'

Steve really doesn't know what to do with this information.

'I guess you've had JARVIS scan your head?'

'I have, Captain,' JARVIS informs him as Tony makes pleased sounding noises over a blueprint. 'There is no physical damage to sir's brain. However there is a signal comparable to readings I have previously detected around magic users.'

'Magic has messed with my brain, Cap,' Steve's heart does not do summersaults at the sound of the nickname. 'I'm unimpressed.'

'The strength of the signal is decreasing,' JARVIS adds after Tony's interruption. 'I calculate it should cease altogether in six days and hypothesize sir's memory should return at that time.'

'Six days,' Steve repeats, relieved. 'Ok.'

Tony's behaviour is erratic at best without his memory. He works the same as usual but when he emerges it is blindingly obvious that all his interactions with them are under the guise of his public persona.

He's suspicious of all of them.

The only person Tony doesn't react any differently around is Pepper. Which, as to Tony they've only just broken up, is a little devastating.

It is a relief to see Tony relax though.

At the end of the second day since the 'incident' Tony is fiddling with a tablet by the window. Steve and Clint talk about future strategies that will use Clint's abilities to better effect.

'You can still make the shot from that far?' Steve asks and receives only a dirty look as a response. 'Alright! Ok, that's great. Then we can…'

'JARVIS, get them to prep my jet,' Tony announces.

'Certainly, sir,' JARVIS agrees as Tony strides to the lift.

'Tony?' Steve stares after him.

'Notify Pepper, and have Happy meet me in the garage.'

'Of course, sir,' JARVIS agrees. 'What destination should be logged on your flight plan?'

'Monaco,' if Tony says anything else Steve doesn't hear it as the lift doors close behind him.

'What just happened?' Steve stares.

'Stark's a billionaire,' Clint just shrugs. 'I'm surprised he hasn't swanned off more often to be honest.'

'One of us should go with him?'

'He's in lone wolf mode, Cap,' Clint disagrees. 'He doesn't know us.'

'If JARVIS is wrong and his memory doesn't come back he won't learn trust us again if we just let him go.'

'This is Stark we're talking about,' Clint smirks but it's a frayed expression, 'you think he trusted us before?'

Steve's mind screeches to a halt. No, he thinks, Tony doesn't trust us. Tony trusts JARVIS, his bots and Ms Potts. But not us.

Steve beats Tony down to the garage and paces beside the cars as the waits. Happy arrives first, carrying a suitcase and the suitcase suit which he puts in the back of a Bentley.

'You coming too, Steve?' Happy asks as he leans against the car.

'I don't think I'd be welcome,' Steve tells him and stands straighter as Tony appears in a suit and wearing sunglasses even though they're in an underground garage.

'Captain,' Tony looks at him over the glasses. 'You going to tell me I can't leave?'

There's an edge to his voice that Steve hates.

'No,' he shakes his head. 'I can't expect you to stay. I was just going to say I'll miss you.' Steve hates that that is the best he could come up with.

Tony blinks at him then walks passed the Bentley to one of his sports cars,

'Try to keep up, Hap.'

'Sure thing, boss,' Happy just grins as they peel away.

It's a week later when Steve walks into the kitchen to find Tony sitting on the island fixing the microwave and muttering about 'god-damned demigods'. He can't help but stride across the room and scoop Tony into a hug; Tony yelps in surprise but relaxes again then laughs,

'Hey, Capsicle, miss me?' he asks as Steve briefly presses his face between Tony's shoulder blades and hugs him tightly.

'Yes,' Steve beams at him as he steps back.

Tony swivels on the island to face him; he looks tired, but happy,

'Well, it's good to be back. Even if you failed to protect my stuff from our housemates.'

'A lot of your stuff is very complicated,' Steve argues just to see the disgusted look on Tony's face as he argues that his UIs are the most user-friendly around 'thank you very fucking much'.

Tony waves one of his hands around as he argues his point and Steve catches hold of it to keep it still without thinking. Tony stops talking and stares at him in surprise as Steve rubs a small circle over Tony's fingers with his thumb.

'Sorry!' Steve blushes and lets go. 'I don't know why I did that. It's great to have you back, Tony. I'll… see you later.'

'Oh…!' is all Tony has time to say before Steve vanishes.

AN~ Next chapter may contain spoilers for Iron Man 3.

I say 'may' because I haven't written it completely yet but I have a good idea how this -verse can fit the movie.

I'll add a tag if necessary.

Hope you enjoy :-)

~Teri