Inconsistencies, I have them!

I Manhattan Ironman 2 and realized that most of lab that I've based this story in is in Malibu. So let's pretend like everything I write is canon, because I want this all based in Manhattan. The living and bedroom area is based on what I saw in Ironman, and the lab is based on what I saw in both Ironman and Ironman 2.

This is pre-Ironman 2, so Tony is still in charge of the company. Tony already knows about S.H.I.E.L.D (obviously) and he and Coulson have already met.

Any other plot holes you see, just tell me in the reviews and I'll fix it

Tony grunted, waking himself up. He blinked rapidly, clearing the fog of sleep from his brain. He'd actually fallen asleep?

"How about that?" he sat up and wiped at his mouth, wrinkling his nose at the drool there "Ew."

He drew his legs up, surprised to find his shoes gone and a blanket tucked around him. He smiled, it must have been his pretty new nanny. His smile pulled at his cheek, something stuck to his skin. He gingerly touched the cut on his cheek, assessing the damage. There was no blood and the wound had been dressed with butterfly bandages.

Tony's heart melted in his chest. The thought of Steve kneeling here, being quiet and careful...cleaning the cut, trying so hard not to wake him up while putting the bandages on...

Tony practically jumped off the cot, "Lights, JARVIS, Daddy's awake."

"I hope you enjoyed your rest, sir."

"You know it" Tony spotted his soldier, the man hunched over his sketchbook "What's up, Cap?"

Steve sat back, smiling shyly, "Hi. Listen, I'm sorry about the shoes and the bandages, but I wanted you to be as comfortable as possible."

"You're so sweet" Tony cooed in a baby voice, coming over and pinching the blonde's cheek "Thank you, Nanny."

Steve crinkled up his nose, batting the man's hand away, "Stop!"

"Hn" Tony circled around him, snatching up his sketchbook "What's this?"

"Wait!" Steve grabbed at it, but it was too late. The inventor flipped between two of the pages, a look of genuine surprise taking over his face. The sketches were good, really good. There were a few sketches of his arc reactor, the most vague being a torso sketch of himself with the device proud and bright in the middle of his chest. There second page was a full-detail sketch of DUM-E, nearly perfect.

"Look at this" Tony whistled, walking over the bot "Hey, look, it's you."

The bot whirred in approval.

"Sweet, right?" Tony patted it "Back to work. Those gauntlets won't reattach themselves."

It gave a disappointed sound, then went back to fixing the portable suit arm Steve had snapped in half.

"Tony" Steve tried and failed to keep the whine from his voice "Just...give it back."

"I had no idea you could sketch like this" Tony stood on the other side of the desk, laying the pad out in the light "Can you draw anything?"

"Pretty much" the blonde wet his lips nervously "I'm still re-stretching the muscle. It's been a while since I've picked up a sketch pencil."

"Why not, this is cool?" Tony tapped the paper "You're even more useful than I thought. My sketching isn't half a good. I'm bringing you to every stupid meeting and fundraiser I go to, because from now on you're sketching all the ideas I get. You'll be on-the-go JARVIS."

"You're impossible" Steve took back his sketchbook, but it wasn't a 'no'.

"It's a deal, then!" Tony smacked the table, then went over to his computer desk "Okay, bring up the specs on #089. I want this thing running by the end of the day."

"Specs are up, sir."

Steve let the genius go on for a while, listening to him bark orders at his bots and demand measurement tests (accurate ones, this time!). He went back to his sketchbook, slowly drawing an eye. He'd always been good with eyes, they were one of his favorite features on a person and one of the first things he'd wanted to know how to draw.

The eye started looking more familiar, deeper...

Tony laughed. Steve winced as another laugh echoed in his ears, one he hadn't heard in so long.

"How did he die?"

"Sorry?" Tony cocked his head, but otherwise gave his attention to his suit. He took a pointer and dragged the specs out of the screen and onto the virtual board, giving it form.

Steve was momentarily stunned, "How did Howard die?"

Tony slammed his hand down, shattering the image. He turned around, jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached.

"Why?"

"He was my friend, I want to know" Steve insisted "I don't want to ask Fury."

"Well, you should" Tony turned back to the virtual board, but made no motion to restore the image "Rule One of Stark Tower: We don't talk about him."

"Do you hate him that much?" Steve got up, confused "Your father was brilliant, just like you. What did he do to make you-"

"I'm nothing like my father!" Tony barked, bracing himself on the table "He didn't do anything, I didn't do anything – so shut up. We're done talking about this."

Steve sat back down, beaten. He picked up his sketch pencil, dragging it across the paper until he reached his second sketch of the reactor. There, right in the middle, he drew a star.

Xxx -Flashback- xxX

"Psst, kid!"

Steve had been trailing behind the droning general, bored to tears, when he heard it. He turned, finding Howard peeking out of one of the side rooms. He gave him a wink and ticked his head, then disappeared inside.

"Permission to leave, sir?" Steve inquired, already inching toward the door.

"Granted" the general replied boredly, going through a thick file.

Steve went straight for the room, closing and locking the door behind him. He turned around, eyebrows raised at the sight of the rack of shields in front of him.

"You said you wanted a shield, right?" Howard threw his hands out "Ta-da! Take your pick."

"Geez louise" Steve exclaimed "There must be a dozen here. What do they all do?"

"What do they do?" Howard scoffed "What don't they do?"

Steve circled the rack, wrinkling his nose at the high-tech look of them. Howard went on-and-on about the features, a relentless string high-tech words that the soldier had just learned to tune out. If he'd learned anything about Howard in their time together, he'd learned that the man could talk over you and listen at the same time. That, and he never stopped just because you didn't understand.

"What about this one?" Steve pulled out a slim silver shield from the bottom.

"Ehhhh" Howard pulled a face "That one's just a prototype.

"It's really light" he chuckled, waving it around a little "What's it made of?"

"Vibranium" Howard explained, watching the other slide his arm into the shield and heft it "It's stronger than steel and a third the weight. It's completely vibration absorbent."

"How come it's not standard issue?" Steve gripped the inside handle tight, liking it more and more.

"It's the rarest metal on earth" the inventor shoved his hands into his pockets "That there? That's all we got."

"Huh" Steve held it in front of him, giving him a winning smile "How do I look?"

"Lookin' good, Dimples" Howard teased him, walking over and giving him a critical eye.

"Thanks."

Howard looked behind him at the locked door, then pulled his hands out of his pockets. Slowly, he fanned them palm-down across the shield.

"It's a good look on ya" Howard's eyes held some heat "The uniform and the shield. Very heroic."

Steve lowered his gaze, "I'm not a hero, Howard. I'm just a kid from Brooklyn who got lucky."

"Don't start that again" Howard pushed at the shield, knocking the blonde off balance "You're a bonafied hero! You went in there without any help, saved those men, and brought 'em all back in one piece. You make a fella proud."

"Oh, do I?" Steve teased, pushing back a little.

"Yeah" Howard pushed again, getting a laugh out of the blonde "Ya big knucklehead."

"Who are you calling knucklehead?" Steve feinted at him, getting the ravenette to jump "You scared? Huh? Bring it on, tough guy. What are you going to do? Bulid a robot to kick my ass?"

"You bet I will" Howard went to shove him again, but at the last second the captain moved his shield. Howard stumbled forward, hands landing against the man's broad chest. They both gave a little gasp, the contact like an electric shock through their limbs. Steve lost his breath at the proximity, trying to smile it off and make it a joke. He would've, but his voice was gone.

"We sure made you...thick" Howard's fingertips dug into the firm muscle without his permission.

"Yeah" Steve couldn't help but flex under the touch "Mostly because of you. They couldn't of done with out you."

"Oh, I know, trust me" Howard ran his hands down the soldier's chest, thumbs finding the swell of his abs and pressing down "We couldn't change the inside, though."

Steve was blushing now, "Would you have? Changed the inside, I mean?"

Howard gave a low chuckle, dropping his hands, "Nah. Not a thing."

Xxx -Flashback- xxX

Steve shook off the memory, dropping his pencil. An intricate sketch of his old shield now dominated the page, even the shading was spot on.

"Tony?"

The inventor yanked himself away from his computer, an electric pin tucked between his teeth, "Hm?"

"Do you think you can get my suit and shield for me?" Steve bit the inside of his cheek, trying to keep his voice as soft as possible.

"The suit's a no-go" Tony's smacked his fist with his open palm, his hands as busy as his mind "It's outdated and probably on display somewhere. Everyone was sure you were dead so they glorified you to an American icon."

Steve's heart ached, he hadn't meant for his dive into the ocean to mean anymore than that – an attempt to save some lives. He'd never wanted all that attention.

"But the shield..." Tony couldn't stand to see that look on the soldier's face "Yeah, it's doable. I can have it here in a few days."

Steve's smile was endearing, "Thank you. I appreciate it."

"While we're on the subject... JARVIS! Video files, Captain America #244" Tony brought up a screen with his fingers "And open."

An old video came up, grainy and in black and white. It was him, Captain America, but at that horrible USO show. Steve groaned and dropped his head into his arms.

Tony smirked, "Oh, this is priceless."

"Shut it off, please" Steve begged, voice muffled "I never want to remember that again."

"But you're all sweet!" Tony chuckled "It was back when you were a show poodle."

"I know."

"So this isn't a suit idea?"

Steve's head shot up, "No!"

"Okay, okay" Tony flicked the screen and it collapsed, disappearing "I want to make something one-of-a-kind. Any color preferences?"

Steve gave a hopeful smile, "Can you make it like my last one?"

"Steve, really?" Tony threw up his hands "What good is all this technology if I can't make you something that doesn't scream 'Pomp and Circumstance'?"

"It's old-fashioned, but..." he looked down at sketch, remembering Howard's reaction to his suit idea being quite similar to this "I like old-fashioned."

Tony bit the inside of his cheek, but nodded.

"Fine. But I'm going to shoot for American badass."

"Deal" the blonde hesitated "But no leather...or studs...or chains."

Tony gave an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes, "Well there goes that idea!"

xXxXx

Two days later, a crate arrived by helicopter. Steve and Tony went out to meet it, but the inventor stopped the other before they stepped outside.

"They've probably sent Coulson" Tony informed him, watching the copter land "He's a fan of yours."

"Really? That's nice."

Tony tisked, "No, not nice. He's going to ask you a thousand questions and fawn all over you. It's going to be disgusting. Brace yourself."

"There's nothing wrong with fans" Steve scolded lightly, going first and holding open the door "Now go be nice. For my sake."

"Fine" he put on a 10 cent smile "Happy?"

"Mm-hm" Steve nodded his head "Now go."

Tony broke down and went through, going straight to the helicopter as it powered down. Out stepped Agent Coulson, looking as eager as a kid on Christmas.

"Mr. Stark" he held out his hand.

"Agent Coulson" Tony nodded, but made no move to touch him "May I introduce my good friend, Steve Rogers."

Steve smiled to himself. A good friend...yes, that was wonderful.

"Captain America" Phil breathed, looking star-struck "It's...it's really you."

"Yes, pleased to meet you, Agent Coulson" Steve took the man's shaking hand in his, giving it a firm shake "I heard you're a fan of mine."

Phil shot the billionaire a filthy look, "I see Mr. Stark has already spoke about me."

"I'm just glad someone remembers me" Steve assured him "Any fan of mine is a friendly face. I hope to become friends."

Phil looked as amazed as Steve had a few minutes ago when Tony had referred to him as a 'good friend'. The soldier was glad he could still impress people, he was beginning to think he'd lost his touch.

"I brought the shield" Phil reached inside the helicopter, grabbing the crate with both arms and hefting it with a grunt "Usually we'd tell you to shove it, but since you've been kind enough to lodge Mr. Rogers I pushed to have your request accepted."

"That was very kind of you" Steve started, but was cut off by his friend.

"Thank all the stars for that because it would've taken me hours to hack into your system and had it shipped to me anyway" Tony smirked, waving away the crate "I don't like things handed to me. Steve."

Steve nodded and took the crate, his smile more apologetic now.

Phil glared at the billionaire. "You think you can have anything you want, don't you Stark?"

"Well, let's do a count" Tony held up fingers for each item "I have a tower, a fortune, a dozen robots to do my bidding, a shield, and a pretty soldier boy to cook me breakfast."

Tony punctuated his point by running his knuckles across Steve's cheek, never once looking away from the agent, "So yeah, I can have whatever I want."

Steve could feel the heat blooming through his cheeks and up to his ears, he hated and loved how the man could throw him off balance like this. He really needed to work on his ability to stop blushing, it was becoming rather embarrassing.

Coulson was obviously uncomfortable, ducking his head and clearing his throat.

"Thanks for the shield" Tony turned with a flourish "Come on, Spangles, let's go check out the merchandise."

"It was great to meet you, Agent Coulson" Steve easily balanced the heavy crate with one hand, holding out the other to shake "I hope to see you again soon."

"Yes, you too" Phil shook his hand, a smile on his face. He pulled a card out of his pocket, handing it over to the blonde. "Here's my card. If you need anything, just call."

"Thanks" Steve slipped the card into his jeans "I'll keep that in mind."

Coulson watched the soldier walk away, something bothering him. There was the first super hero, dressed in jeans and some kind of threadbare t-shirt, carrying a crate for an egotistical ass.

What had Stark done to him?

Phil sighed, getting back into the helicopter.

Whatever it was, Steve looked happy.

xXxXx

"Here, put it down" Tony kicked the low table in front of the couch "JARVIS, I need a mini-DUM-E with a crowbar."

Steve plopped the wooden crate down onto the table, wincing when he saw the "Property of H. Stark" stamped across the top. He trailed his fingers across the name with a pang in his heart.

"Ah" the low-to-the-ground bot whizzed by Tony's feet, he snatched the crowbar out of his hands "Alright, here you go."

Steve took it, easing it under the tip of the lid and cranking it open. He put a little too much into it, the lid popped off so hard it smacked into the hearth across the room. Tony didn't say a word, he was too focused on the soldier's reaction to care about the new chip in the stone.

And there was the shield. It caught the light beautifully, reflecting it back on the captain's face. The paint was a bit faded but it looked magnificent. Steve splayed his fingers across it, closing his eyes and remembering how Howard had done the same once upon a time. How Bucky had put it on his head as a joke, how Peggy had shot at it and declared that it worked perfectly.

Steve sat down on the couch, breath catching in his throat.

/It's real/ Steve couldn't take his hand off the shield, he could feel the tears trying to well up in his eyes /They're all...really gone. This is it./

"We're all that's left" Steve tried to smile, but it was weak "Me...and this shield."

Tony went behind the bar, looking over the bottles with a heavy mind, "He...he used to talk about you. All the time."

Steve sniffed, rubbing a hand over his eyes to push back the tears, "I'm sorry, what?"

"My dad" Tony's fingers trailed over the bottles, deciding on the scotch "He used to talk about you, but only when he got drunk. It was like...the memory of you was too painful to bear sober. When he sobered up, he refused to even say your name."

Steve stayed silent, unsure if he wanted to hear anymore for fear his heart would break.

"But, boy, when he had a few drinks" his chuckle was bitter "It was non-stop. 'Steve was a hero' and 'This country didn't deserve him'."

Tony turned, scooping a few cubes into the glass with a clink, "Oh, and my favorite. 'Steve died so you could live, you ungrateful son-of-bitch'."

Steve gaped, "Did he really-?"

"Yeah, he said it" Tony slowly poured the drink, wondering how much courage he'd actually need for this conversation "I really wish I was exaggerating."

The soldier took out the shield, pushing the box off the table to smack onto the floor. He caressed the metal, tracing the edge with his fingers. He needed an anchor, he couldn't stand to think of Howard like that. How could a man so brilliant sink so low?

...stale whiskey breath on his lips, fingers clawing into his shoulders...

"My dad drank for as far back as I can remember" Tony stopped the bottle, tucking it back into the shelf "And not just a 'at dinner' thing. As soon as he was done fixing or inventing whatever he was on, he would celebrate with a three day drinking binge. He didn't take it out on my mom, but he sure as hell voiced his opinion loud enough for us all to hear. When he couldn't find you-"

"He looked for me?"

Steve's voice was broken, soft. Tony looked up to see his childhood hero looking more vulnerable than he'd ever seen a man look. He decided to tone down the angst, his heart couldn't take it if the soldier started crying or something else equally as tender.

"They told me it was two years before they made him stop" Tony replied "He found the tesseract that way, but even then he kept going. That's when the drinking started."

/No, it started before that/ Steve thought bitterly, but didn't voice it.

"After that, his attention was divided three ways" the inventor took a drink, grimacing at the taste "The company, the bottle, and you."

Steve set the shield down on the table, reluctant to let go, "What about you?"

"What about me?" Tony snapped, downing the rest of the drink and slamming the glass down with a gasp "I asked myself that same question every night my dad drank himself to sleep."

There was a pregnant pause. Tony poured himself another glass, this time a sweet rum, but he didn't drink it. He stared down into the clear liquid, contemplating smashing the glasses and just chugging from the bottles. He grabbed bottom, lifting it up to his lips.

"I'm sorry."

Tony stopped, setting the drink down, "What?"

"I'm sorry for not sticking around" Steve wet his lips, hands steepled in front of him "I'm sorry for dying. I wish things could have been different...for both of us."

Tony walked over to the couch, sitting down beside the hero. He reached out, hand hovering in the air for a moment before it landed atop the captain's own. Steve looked up at him, tears making his eyes positively glisten.

The inventor spoke slowly, afraid to show the true nature of his heart, "If you hadn't taken that plane down into the ocean, I wouldn't have you now."

Steve glanced at the shield, then over at the bar where the glass still sat, "But is it worth it?"

Tony stroked his thumb over the soft skin of the man's hand, his smile more genuine, "Yeah, Spangles. It's totally worth it."

Steve gave a rough laugh, blinking back the tears, "Don't call me that"

Tony leaned forward, bumping their heads playfully, "Get over it."

xXxXx

"Captain Rogers approaches."

"Yeah, like I can't hear Captain Heavy Boots" Tony replied loud enough for the blonde to hear.

"Hey!"

"Yeah, yeah. Get down here already" Tony spun the digital pen between his fingers, his heart hammering in his chest at the excitement. He rapped his knuckles across his arc reactor, willing the glow to die down.

"Would you chill out?" Tony hissed at the device "I can practically guide boats to shore."

"Okay, I'm here" Steve walked past the computer desk, standing beside the inventor "What's going on?"

"What we say now is: What's up?" Tony corrected him "And what's up, dear captain, is your new suit."

Steve was shocked, "It's barely been a week and you already have something."

"Well" Tony flipped the digital pen again "Nothing solid. But! I do have this!"

Tony tapped out a number on the screen, the blueprints for a suit coming up. He pressed a hand to Steve's chest, urging him back as he clicked the pen and drug the specs to the virtual board. It sprang to life, a reflection of Steve's old suit.

"So this is what I'm thinking" Tony tossed the suspenders into the virtual trash can "See, easy, right?"

Steve was standing there with his mouth open. He'd seen Tony bring up something there only once before and that's when they were fighting, he didn't really have much a chance to absorb it. It was amazing, and with a flick of his fingers the helmet was gone to reveal virtual Steve's blank face.

"No helmet, no strap, no wings" Tony looked over the outfit "JARVIS. I want a hood, velcro. Add the slimmest, strongest pads on file and smooth it out. I want flexibility and form. Give him a utility belt."

"Yes, sir."

"What about this?" Tony brought the blonde closer, licking his thumb and dragging it across the virtual bodies torso to reveal stripes "What do you think?"

After watching the virtual suit morph itself to Tony's command, Steve was almost speechless. He reached out to touch the suit, but pulled back.

"No, go ahead" Tony insisted "Just tell him what to add."

"I want an A right here" he touched the flexible hood, it appeared "And a silver stripe here and here, along the shoulder. And a silver star...right here."

He touched the middle of his chest, smiling when the perfect sized star materialized.

"Wow, that's one jazzy outfit" Steve looked to the inventor "Is this what you use when you make an Iron Man suit?"

"And any other invention I come up with" Tony replied, glad he could make the blonde so happy "Give it a spin."

Steve moved his fingers across the suit, getting it to spin. He couldn't stop the sound that escaped him, covering his mouth after.

"Was that a giggle?" Tony teased, prodding the soldier with the blunt end of the pen "Did the great Captain America just giggle?"

"Can I do anything else with it?"

"You can make it bigger" the genius replied "Or smaller, if you want."

Steve nodded, standing up straight, "How?"

"Just put your hands above and below it" Tony instructed, miming the actions "Then raise or lower them. Easy."

Steve nodded, then put his hands in place. He moved them apart, marveling when the suit followed. Taking a risk, he threw his lower hand down. The suit extended to full height, giving him a good view of how it would look on him.

"This is just the ritz" Steve exclaimed, slamming his hands together and cupping the now-tiny suit in his palm.

Tony thought about that one a second, "Thank you?"

Steve put it carefully back on the virtual board, managing after a few tries to bring it up to full size.

"Save" Tony commanded, the image flicking red before returning to it's blue color "Wanna see something really cool?"

"No way" Steve watched the image disappear "There's nothing you can do to top that."

"Watch me" the inventor waggled his eyebrows "JARVIS, bring up the blueprints for the flight stabilizers."

In an instant, the specs came up in 3D. Tony tugged Steve in front of him, bringing his arm up under the soldier's.

Steve started to get flustered, "Tony-?"

"It's ok, just do this..." Tony threaded the man's arm through the simulation, curving it up to show the stabilizer cupped in his palm "Pretty sweet, right?"

Steve was enjoying the contact much more, but he tried to keep his cool, "That's amazing."

They were pressed chest to back, breathing in the warmth of the other. They kept their eyes on the stabilizer, but they both knew exactly what they were doing.

"Tony" Steve whispered, leaning back into the man.

"Yes, Steve?" Tony replied, lips just barely touching the blonde's ear.

"I..."

Someone cleared their throat rather loudly.

They jumped apart, the simulation dissolving. Pepper was the one standing there, a stack of papers in her arms and a smile on her face.

"Hey, Pep" Tony flashed a smile "I was just showing the good captain the virtual board."

"I know what you were doing" Pepper replied, holding out the stack "I'm sorry to interrupt but I need you to sign these."

Tony waited for her to lay them out on one of the empty counters. He grabbed a real pen and headed over, put his name on whatever she pointed to. He met her eyes, and in that moment he knew that she knew. She knew it all, she knew his heart.

When Tony turned around, Steve was gone. He was left alone with his secretary, the one staring holes into the back of his head. He gave a sigh, scratching a hand through his hair.

"Shut up, Pep."

Her smile grew, "I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking" he snarked, casting her a glare "It's annoying."

There's another chapter down. I sat down and planned out the next six, so we're good to go on that front. This is the longest yet, and I'm sorry I didn't get it out sooner. It's going to be about a chapter every two days, and here soon probably just on the weekends or once a week because of summer classes.

Again, reviews make me write faster! Love you guys.