Complexity

Another Chapter for all of you! Thank sherlockPTV for reviewing the last chapter, who's 'request' for an update put my writing into gear!

You know the drill: Starts with Steve mid-mission, then flashes back to where the last chapter left off.

Chapter 4

x

Ducking in the shadow, easing his way along the side of the wall with Tony's faceplate in hand, Steve thinks about how he got here in the first place.

They had a plan! A good plan. Fury helped outline the plan, and then him and Bruce spent hours finalizing it before he and Tony headed out to the warehouse.

Plans are made for a reason; so things like this don't happen. So they won't be caught off guard, so they know what to do if they are.

And so they don't lose each other.

This should not have happened. Him and Tony should still be together, out of this place and back home; or at the very least, figuring this mess out as a team, revising their old plan and making a new, better one.

Except they had been blindsided.

They had been completely unprepared. And now he has no idea where his teammate is, how he is doing, if he is hiding, or hurt, or waiting for Steve to find him.

Where are you, Tony? He promised himself he would protect the other man and keep him safe from harm.

Glancing down at the Iron Man mask, Steve lets out a shaky breath, as he continues his search in the shadows.

He can't help but feel he has let Tony down.

x

Suited up and ready to go, Iron Man and Captain America stand side by side.

Two superheroes. Two role models. Two icons. Ready to fight the good fight, and protect the world from evil.

Tony snorts. How did he end up like this?

When he came up with the new and improved suit after his escape from Afghanistan, he was planning on using it mostly for fun. It was a cool-ass invention! He'd use it for a fly here, a ride there, would scare some bullies along the way, maybe make them piss in their pants; if there was a bigger threat he felt the need to deal with, he'd take the guy out because it would be pretty fucking cool and awesome to blow off some steam that way.

He didn't plan to be in some superhero club. He didn't plan to work side by side with America's 90-some year old hero.

And he sure as hell didn't plan to actually enjoy it. To want to be that kind of good guy.

But here he is, fighting the good fight with Captain-Fucking-America, and loving every minute of it. Of course, being in the presence of the other man on a regular basis made being one of the 'good guys' that much more tolerable.

And it certainly didn't hurt that the Captain was sexy as hell, and (almost) his.

Glancing to his side, he eyes Steve up and down. Was his costume (excuse me, uniform, Tony thinks) always that tight? And accentuating? Why doesn't he wear that all the time?

Tony gives a low whistle as he says, "Hey Cap, can you give me a little spin? I need to make sure that suit is fitting you properly everywhere. And I volunteer to help you out of it when we get home. You know, as part of my duty to America. You're welcome."

And the deep blush covering Steve's cheeks counteracts the glare he sends Tony.

"Tony, pay attention to the mission, not the Captain's…assets," Bruce says with a grin. "And remember, while you both are out there, you aren't truly alone with each other. I am keeping communication with you the whole time. So keep it PG, Stark. I don't need to hear you flirt."

Tony gives a trademark smirk, "Plug your ears."

That said, he lowers his faceplate, and Iron Man and Captain America leave Stark Tower.

x

They arrive at the warehouse precisely on time. Just minutes after the sun has completely set.

Covered from the moonlight in the shadow of some trees scattered near the gate, Steve monitors their surrounding while he finishes relaying the plan to Tony for the forth time.

"So we will enter that side door. The Shield agents that had been keeping surveillance on this team say there are no more than seven terrorists. They should be easy to disengage and capture," Steve repeats for what feels like the 627th time to Tony.

"Try not to harm them," Bruce says over the line, "more than necessary, at least. Fury wants them arrested and brought in for questioning. There are Shield agents stationed nearby who are ready to come in and take them back to headquarters once the situation is brought under control by the two of you."

"Awesome," Tony says, "We'll neutralize them, grab them, hand them over, and go home in time for a late night movie and dinner. Maybe our date can be saved, after all!"

"Don't get your hopes up, Tony," Bruce says, who was told about the almost-but-not-quite date earlier in the evening. And, to Tony, looked supportive yet kind of disappointed. Bruce must have lost some money in the bet. "After you're done at the warehouse, we all need to head back to Shield. Fury's orders, remember?"

Tony huffs, "Screw Fury."

"Tony!" Steve exclaims, quickly giving a reprimanding look in Tony's direction, before turning back to the warehouse, "Don't be rude. He is just doing his job, and we need to do ours."

Tony pouts, raising his faceplate, "Sure, take his side over me."

Steve's tone softens as he glances around, "I will always take your side, Tony."

And as sweet as that reply is, Tony still can't help himself; looking at Steve with a tilt to his head and a glint in his eye, he says "You want to take me on my side, huh?"

An exaggerated cough can be heard over their com-line, "PG, Tony. Remember that conversation?"

"No."

"You forgetting may cause the Other Guy to get mad at you."

"I just remembered."

Tony is still gazing at Steve, who appears to be fighting off another blush while continuing to check out the warehouse, their surroundings, the sky, his shield; looking anywhere but at Tony.

"Hey, Bruce?"

"Yes, Tony?"

"I'm muting my microphone for a minute," Steve finally turns toward him, "so is Steve." A questioning look now.

Bruce hesitates slightly, before cautiously asking, "Why?"

Tony rolls his eyes, "I promise I won't taint, corrupt, or otherwise permanently damage the Captain's good name in the next 3 minutes with my sexual prowess."

"Good enough for me. You have 3 minutes."

Tony hears the 'click' as his microphone mutes, Steve's doing the same.

Steve gives Tony a concerned look, "Are you okay?"

"Peachy. But you're not. What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Tony," Steve says, as he turns back toward the warehouse.

"Really? Because we're been here for five minutes and you refuse to look at me. Even while I'm being irresistible with my dashing smile and charm."

Steve snorts, and in response turns his attention completely to Tony. "You're just upset that I have a mission to focus on, and can't give all of my attention to you," he teases.

"Well, yeah," Tony grins, before becoming serious once more, "But it's more than that. Come on, Cap, don't feed me that line. I know you well enough to know when something's on your mind."

"It's nothing."

Tony just waits.

Steve sighs.

Tony waits some more.

After another moment of silence, and because Tony really is not a patient man, Tony softly says, "We're getting closer, Steve. And after today, it's no secret that I want to be more than just friends with you. Please know that you can open up to me. I want you to open up to me."

Steve contemplates Tony's words a moment, before speaking.

"I don't want you to come in with me."

Tony is taken aback, and slightly insulted, and it shows on his face.

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to ask you to stay back. I know you will be coming in with me, I know you need to come in with me. Captain America needs Iron Man on this mission. But there is also a part of me doesn't want you to come with me for the same reasons you just said; we're getting closer, we're becoming more than just friends, we are planning dates together, we have feelings for each other. Which means Steve doesn't want Tony to take part in this mission. I hate to think that something could happen to you. I don't want you walking into a dangerous situation. Because I just want to protect you; keep you safe."

Well damn, why did his Captain have to be so adorable?

Reacting on an instinct he can not resist, Tony leans forward and gently closes the small distance between the two of them with a tender kiss.

Slowly pulling back, Tony softly smiles at the pleasantly surprised look on Steve's face. In a quiet voice, "Believe me when I say, Tony is thinking the same thing about Steve."

They remain looking at each other with small and adoring smiles until their 3 minutes of privacy is up, and Bruce comes back on the line. Their mission is resumed.

x

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