Heroes in Love

Part two

That'll teach you not to ask questions, Captain Rogers...

Feeling contented, Tony closed his eyes to rest a bit.

He did more than rest a bit. When he opened his eyes again, the room had turned a shade darker, and he felt considerably less woozy. Things he'd accepted so easily seemed harder to reconcile now; he was holding hands with a man –Captain America's hands to boot. Not only that; Steve was looking down at him with concern; not anger or polite derision.

"Tony. How do you feel?"

Tony frowned. 'Tony', he'd said. Not 'Mr. Stark' or 'Iron Man.' And since when did Cap sound so… well, gentle? Was this real, or was he merely hallucinating?

Oh, shit.

Tony closed his eyes. "Please, tell me this is not one of The Mandarin's sick mind games."

"It's not a sick mind game," Steve said patiently.

"How would you know? You could be a part of it."

"You'll have to trust me."

Tony looked at Steve. Whoa. Steve looked terrible. He needed a shave, he had dark circles under his eyes, and he was still wearing the same rumpled clothes -

He was real, all right.

Tony looked around. "What time's it?"

"It's close to midnight."

"And you've been here all this time."

It wasn't a question. Even if he'd taken a break - even Captain America had to go to the bathroom after all, - he'd carefully resumed his place, even putting Tony's hand back in his own. Aw, Rogers… Tony felt a sudden surge of tenderness for the man.

It was a feeling he wasn't used to, though, and so his first impulse was to kill it.

"That's weird."

"What?"

"Having someone watch while I sleep."

"What about the nurses? Don't they watch you sleep?"

"Not even them. It's in their contracts. They're not supposed to stay in the room while I'm in recovery."

"What if you're in a critical condition?"

"That's what all these gadgets are for," Tony said, his eyes doing a little tour of the room. There were gadgets everywhere indeed.

Steve glanced around too, then back at Tony.

"I can see why you'd need to keep people away," he said. "You talk in your sleep."

Shit. "Oh, yeah?" Tony said nonchalantly; "Did I say anything important?"

"You said you love me."

Tony winced.

"Oh. Well, that was the drugs." he said lamely.

Steve nodded.

"I see," he said slowly. "And I suppose it was the drugs that made your hand hold on to mine all night long too?"

Tony looked at their clasped hands as if he'd only noticed them now. "What, that hand? That hand's a slut. It's got me in all kinds of trouble."

He was trying hard to dismiss his own feelings, and if Steve had pulled his hand away, Tony wouldn't have claimed it back. But Steve didn't move. He gave Tony a look –I'm tired of this bullshit, the look said. Not that Steve would use the word bullshit, but the effect was the same. He was exhausted.

He's been through a lot, Tony realized with something close to remorse. They both had, but Tony had made things worse for the two of them. He'd been cruel to Steve, and the funny part was that he couldn't remember why.

"Sorry," he said, but Steve spoke at the same time and didn't hear.

"I don't want you to do that again," Steve said solemnly.

"Do what?"

"Risk your life for me."

"I've got to. I'd rather die than see you hurt."

Steve's eyes widened.

"Jesus, Tony."

"Actually, it's Anthony Edward," Tony quipped.

"I don't want you to die for me!"

"Hey, it's not a big deal." He was doing it again –dismissing his own feelings. He couldn't help it. "I'm a superhero," he added smugly; "It's my job to save lives."

"I thought you did it because you loved me."

Tony blinked.

"You're not gonna let me forget, huh?" Steve didn't reply. He just gave him the look again.

Tony sighed. He was tired too.

Maybe it was time to own up to the truth…

…. But there were a few matters he needed to clear up first.

"Those things you were saying before..." he started; "About Fury and some guy he told you about..."

"I didn't know you were listening."

"I was." He looked up. "I don't remember everything you said, but... Was that about me?"

"Yes."

"Oh. So when you said you'd follow my lead..."

"It's true. Like Thor would say, I'd follow you to the gates of Hades."

"Aw, don't do that. I've been there a couple of times. You wouldn't like that place." He smiled. Steve smiled back.

Finally, Tony contentedly; we're in sync at last.

He couldn't understand why it took them so long.

"So. I'm everything you'd aspired to be," he said casually. He felt Steve's hand grow hot again. Well, well. Tony felt ridiculously proud. Not that he would admit it out loud. "Speaking of Fury," he said. "He's gonna be pissed about this." He tapped Steve's hand with a finger.

"If he finds out."

"He will," Tony said wearily. "I bet he already knows."

"Natasha does."

"Oh, does she?"

"Yes. She warned me; she said you were a slut."

"My hand, Steve. My hand's the slut." Tony paused. "Did she really say that?"

"Yes." Steve was silent for a moment. "Miss Potts warned me, too."

Tony frowned.

"Potts? What did she say?"

"She said you'd try to push me away," he said quietly; "And that you'd make it difficult for me to love you."

Tony was stunned. How could Pepper betray him like this?

"Wow," he said. "Can't imagine what she'd say if I didn't pay her a big salary."

"Are you gonna do that?" Steve said. "Try to push me away, I mean."

"Well, there'd be no point in doing that now, would it?" Tony said moodily; "The surprise is ruined." Everything was ruined now.

Or maybe not; Steve was still holding his hand after all.

"I never held hands with a guy before," Tony said.

"Me, neither."

"You never held his hand, then?"

"Whose hand?"

"You know whose."

TBC