*Screams*

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that is all.

Oh no its not. You guys have keyboards for a reason! To comment! Y'all also have little mice and or scrolly pad things for a reason! To kudos and give me love 3 3 (im lonely. Help)

Thanks for all of the amazing support!

Disclaimer: Don't own em'. Never will.

Tony jerked back at Steve's words. Steve's hand fell away uselessly as he looked down at Tony with wide eyes. "Steve- don't." He gasped out. "I don't- I can't have you saying these things to me just 'cause you- you pity me- or something."

Steve gaped at the smaller man. "Tony I'm not-"

But Tony had already slammed the door in his face.

The next day, the entire team ambushed Tony when he thought they had all gone to bed. He was on his way to the elevator, no doubt trying to make a mad dash to the workshop.

"Tony?" Natasha called softly. Tony's shoulders tensed and he shakily turned around. Instead of being met with the reserved and teary 18 year old they had become used to, they were surprised to see angry eyes and shaking fists.

Tony's nostrils flared angrily. "When are you going to understand that I don't want to talk to you?"

A pang went through Steve's heart. "Tony please just listen to us!"

"Listen to you what? Apologize for the fortieth time? Feel bad for me some more? I'm over it. It's done. There's absolutely nothing any of you can do about it now so do what I did and get the fuck over it." He growled.

The team all drew back like they were slapped. Did Tony Stark just say,"fuck"?

The fire in Tony's eyes died quickly, releasing his fists. "Sorry." He whispered before turning and quickly going into his workshop.

Each of the Avengers went to bed almost immediately after.

Tony wasn't sleeping. It was hard enough being stuck in your bedroom all day when you're tired, let alone when you're too terrified to sleep. Every time he was about to fall asleep he would jerk awake to maniacal laughter; either Loki's or Howards.

He sighed tearfully, banging his head against his door. Finally it seemed his tiredness, fear, and the past betrayal was getting to him.

"Tony?" Steve called quietly through the door of Tony's bedroom. Not awaiting the response he knew wouldn't come, he quickly said, "The team has some, ah- business in Chicago. So, we don't know when we'll be back, but um…" Steve sighed, leaning his entire body against the doorframe. "I'll miss you- we all will." He moved his ear to the door and he could swear that he could hear Tony's shallow breaths on the other side. "Coulson will be along shortly to bab- just to be here, make sure you're alright, okay?"

There was no response.

Steve nearly whimpered, "Bye Tony."

Once Tony had made absolute certain that each of the Avengers were gone he headed out of his room.

Coulson hadn't arrived as far as Tony knew, so he sent him a quick text, "I've got a new babysitter, Phil, no need to come over."

Predictably, Coulson texted back within the minute, "I'm glad you're with a friend, but I'll still be checking in on you later."

Tony knew that that was going to be the answer, but it didn't hurt to try. On that note, he dialed a new number onto the keypad. It rung about three times before the familiar southern voice filled the speaker, "Well if it isn't little Ant. I knew you'd call sooner or later." Peter said teasingly.

"You know me best, Petey." Tony teased right back. "So I'm home alone for the next few days an-"

"Wait. You're telling me that those over protective fools are actually leaving you- an eighteen year old kid- alone in a giant tower for a few days?"

Tony replied hesitantly. "Yeah? I guess?"

"Hell man! I'm coming over!" Peter said excitedly. "I'll bring the alcohol, you provide the people?"

Tony reared back. "You know I'm not old enough for alcohol. And why do we need other people?"

Peter was silent for a moment. "Are you meaning to tell me that you've never been to a party?"

"I mean… no?"

Peter groaned. "Well, then I'll do the beer AND the people. Be ready by eight o'clock sharp!"

Tony did not like parties.

Tony weaved through the sea of people infiltrating his house. He was only slightly tipsy, but he was afraid of what would happen when Coulson came by to check on him. He was searching desperately for Peter, or any familiar face for that matter. Sure, Tony was fine with the mindless conversations he was used to having at expos and business dinners, but he certainly was not okay with the amount of people in his tower. His breath was shortening, and Tony knew he was on the brink of a full out panic attack. He was calling out hopelessly for Peter, only to be pulled back by a hand on an arm.

An overwhelming sense of terrifying déjà vu overcomes Tony and he spins around quickly with his fist raised.

Peter stands behind him with a worried, slightly scared look on his face. "Tony, buddy, you okay?" He asks, hesitantly putting his hand on Tony's shoulder. Tony immediately buries himself in Peter's arms, earning a small, "Oof!" from the other man.

"Peter." Tony moans sadly. "I want them out. Too many! Too many!" He says hyperventilating.

"What, why? It's only, what? Two in the morning? The night has just begun, little man!"

"Pe-Please, Peter!" Tony gasps.

Peter tightens his grip on Tony, recognizing the short breaths. "Alright Tony, that's fine. Lemme just-" Peter brings his head up and searches for the source of the music. "Do you know where the music thingy is?" Peter asks.

"Jarvis." Tony whispers almost to himself, grabbing Peter's hand and bolting to the panel on the side of a near wall. He rapidly pushed a few buttons and the entire building went dark, save for a pathway of warning lights. When the shouts of complaints and panic started up a few seconds after, Tony nudged Peter expectantly.

"Alright everyone, Party's over!" Peter yells, ignoring the yells of protest. "I suggest you follow those pretty blue lights over to the exit before they turn off and the police show up!"

That had people on their feet in mere milliseconds. There were muffled whispers of, "shit, where's my left shoe?" and "well at least we got to meet Tony Stark, talk about jailbait!" and other giggles and groans from drunks passing by on their way out.

"…The police are coming?" Tony asked, his eyes narrowing in panic and confusion.

Peter laughed and leaned towards Tony and quietly saying, "Na, Ant, but it got people to haul ass, huh?"

Tony didn't laugh, but he gave Peter a smile for his efforts.

"So… the mess is probably going to be an issue." Peter said nervously, sitting next to Tony after cleaning off one sofa. Tony looked around his tower and noticed the abundance of red solo cups, lone socks, and the occasional pizza crust.

Tony shrugged nonchalantly, "I'll have someone come by in the morning."

Peter laughed, "Man, it must be nice being a billionaire. I'd have parties like that every night."

Tony gives him a horrified look, "I couldn't survive through one of those things, I can't imagine having to ever do one ever again."

"Correction, Ant, you couldn't survive through half of one of 'these things.'" Peter laughed. The room is silent for a moment before the bar tender hesitantly asks, "So… why exactly did you 'not survive'? I mean, was it claustrophobia or something?"

The billionaire just shakes his head softly, "I'm just sort of broken, Peter. Something in my wiring just didn't come out right."

Peter paused, "Broken, huh?"

"More like shattered." Tony replied grimly, kicking a cup over so he could rest his feet on the coffee table. "Everyone can see it, and believe me, no one likes it."

"You're wrong, Tony." Peter scoffed. When Tony tried to intervene Peter shot him a dirty look. "I haven't heard one person talk about you badly. Even these strangers! I mean, yeah, pretty much every single one wanted to get in your pants or your bank account, but still."

Tony gave Peter a small smile, "Whatever." He said lightly. "Wanna play Xbox?"

Peter grinned, "Is that even a question?"

When the Avengers arrive home the next day they're a little bit less than furious. They get a call at two in the morning in their hotel in Chicago, claiming that the trustworthy, innocent little eighteen year old they had left at home was currently throwing the biggest party New York has seen since the end of WWII. And sure enough, it's on just about every news channel, the tower's penthouse illuminated in alternating colors and spewing music that was literally pounding throughout the street below. They were about ten minutes from departure when the entire tower went black and within the next five minutes hundreds upon hundreds of people filled the streets below, all trying to either catch a taxi or walk to a nearby bar.

They ended up going back to a restless an angry sleep, only to wake up a few hours later to have a chat with their fundamental advisor.

The avengers were angry when they got that call at 2 AM.

They were even angrier at the pigsty condition of the tower.

It's pretty hard to explain the anger that coursed through them at the sight of Tony knocked out on top of another boy in nothing but his boxer briefs.

Steve heard Logan's (and Bruce's) low growl, but he ignored them, taking another angry (jealous) breath and striding to the couch. He roughly pulled the fully clothed boy out from under Tony, making half of Tony's body fall off the couch, jarring him awake, "Wha- Oh my god!"

Steve recognized the man almost immediately. "I thought I told you to stay away from him." He snarled viciously.

Disoriented, Peter tried to push Steve off, "Fuck off man, you're not his dad or his older brother! You're not anything to him!"

"Oh, and you are…what? The guy who provides him with booze when he's lonely?" Steve retorts cruelly.

"Guys, stop!" Tony says, finally scrambling off of the floor and couch. Still in just his underwear he blushes lightly when all eyes return to him. "Peter's my friend. He's been kind of my only friend ever since—well-"

Peter interrupted, scowling. "Ever since y'all were a bunch of douche bags and-"

"Peter stop." Tony mumbled. "Can you just-" Tony stopped his question. He then demanded, "Let him go." He said, still not meeting anyone's eyes.

Steve dropped peter. His eyes were on Tony, as always. Just this time they were… roaming.

God damn it. Steve silently admonishes himself for falling for an eighteen year old with just about the hottest everything that Steve's ever wanted.

Peter has already brushed himself off and picked himself up by the time Steve comes back to reality.

Tony patters over to Peter and says quietly, "You should go. For now." He adds.

Peter nods solemnly, "Yeah." He says shortly.

Tony bites his lip for a second before asking shakily, "Do you not want to be friends anymore?"

Steve immediately feels guilty. If he costs Tony one of his only friends, he'll never forgive him.

Peter laughs for a second before pulling Tony into a hug, "Of course I still want to be your friend, you twink."

Tony hugs him back for a second before Logan escorts peter out, only a little too roughly.

Tony sits on the couch dutifully as each of the Avengers chew him out for succumbing to peer pressure. None of them are harsh though, and each of their words are laced wit silent apologies and pleas for forgiveness.

Tony doesn't say much. Just a couple of "I'm sorry"'s and "I know"'s when appropriate.

When they tell him he can go, he lets them all hug him.

(It's progress, Steve thinks)

The next time Steve sees Tony, it's a little after midnight and they're in the kitchen. "We're going to talk, Tony." Steve says, pouncing on Tony, trapping him against the counter with his two hands on wither side of Tony.

Tony's eyes shifted, trying to find a way out. After pushing against Steve's arms, as if to test their strength. "About what?" He asked quietly. "The party?"

Steve resisted the urge to hug him. "No, about the other day."

"My…. Howar-"

"No." Steve cut him off curtly. He placed his hand behind Tony's neck and gripping it just as he had a few days before, "YOU know exactly what I'm talking about." Steve says, emphasizing the "you".

Tony's jaw clenched. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"That's bullshit and we both know it." Steve retorted.

Tony sighed and pushed on Steve's chest, allowing himself to hop onto the counter. Satisfied, Steve just stepped closer, into the space between Tony's legs. Now that they were just about eye-to-eye, Steve once again put his forehead against Tony's, judging his reaction closely. Tony indulged himself for a moment, closing his eyes and reveling in the comfort of Steve's warmth.

"If this is some sort of plan to make me forgive you then- then- just don't, okay?" Tony said, opening his eyes and pulling away from him.

"No, Tony, that's not at all why I'm doing what I'm doing." Steve said, trying to close the distance between Tony and himself once more.

"Then just what are you doing, Steve?" Tony asked, his voice just above a whisper.

Steve bit his lip for a second, contemplating his next move. "I'm… just-" AndSteve just leans in that little bit more and finally collides his mouth with Tony's.

Honestly, it's a little painful at first and Steve has to pull back a little, opening his eyes just enough to see Tony's wide eyes and raised hands. For a terrifying moment Steve thinks that Tony's surprised hands mean that he's going to push Steve away and Steve doesn't think he could even begin to handle that without absolutely dying. But then Steve practically feels Tony melt and his hands land onto Steve's shoulders and Steve hums happily, pulling back for a quick breath, resting his head against Tony's again.

Tony huffs, "This doesn't mean I forgive you."