Chapter 7: Bicycle Race

9:50 AM IN THE PAST

Tony hurried and gathered some things he thought he'd need for the trip. He made sure he had plenty of clothes and some "essentials" that would keep him going through it all.

He had a lot of cash packed up, he packed a toothbrush, toothpaste, some deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and at least three pairs of shoes.

Once that was packed Tony shoved his handy dandy battery operated WALKMAN/FM RADIO that his dad gave him for Christmas into his bag, a small box of cassette tapes, and a lighter.

Oh yeah, of course he packed a giant zip lock bag full of weed, cigarettes, ecstasy, ketamine, and cocaine that was probably worth the price of a small vehicle.

Tony made sure he concealed the immense stash of drugs that he intended to use off and on.

There was one thing he liked about his essentials, they made him feel invincible.
He decided that one more hit for the road would keep him going strong. He pulled out one of his many stashes (this one was in a shoe box hidden deep in his closet) then he quickly lined up a cocaine hit on top of his dresser.

Tony popped open a pen and used the tube. He plugged up one nostril and inhaled deeply with the other. He could feel the coke hit the back of his throat and it made him cough a bit. Whoaa the room spun for a minute or so. He took that minute to focus and he slowly put the stash back in his closet.

He looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes were watering so he rubbed them as if that would fix them.
Tony took a small inventory of his things before he left his room.
He wasn't able to shower and that annoyed him. The damn Yankee walked in on him naked and that also annoyed him.

Well sorta. Tony hid his grin as he closed the door behind him.
Steve, Clint, and Obadiah were in the garage and they waited for Tony. The lady who worked for Obadiah organized them a box full of food to take with them.

Steve and Clint were very thankful because it saved them a trip to a store. Being seen in public was a huge risk. Steve did not intend on having Tony anywhere he could be recognized.

"You guys can take my M3. It's a fast car just in case you guys run into trouble." Obadiah mentioned as he handed over the keys.

"Gee thanks." Clint refused to be nice to him. Steve refused to speak to him or acknowledge his existence.

Tony arrived in the garage. He wore a Black Sabbath shirt and some dingy jeans. Steve noticed immediately that it was the exact same shirt he'd seen him wear all the time when he was an adult.

There he was with a gigantic bag strapped to his side, wild hair that stuck out all over the place, and with no facial hair to be seen. One thing Steve noticed was that he held that exact same playful grin.

He was so fascinated in the way Tony had grown up. He stared at the younger version of Tony Stark in the garage. Steve couldn't get over how little Tony had actually changed.

Sure, he matured and all that. But the way he acted and behaved always interested Steve.

There was something about those Starks. He smiled and tried to shake the thought away. Steve stopped his trance. The soldier started to miss the Tony back home.

They needed to leave.

"We can take the M3?!" Tony said loudly as he hurried over to the three.

Steve had no idea what M3 was supposed to mean but Tony was very excited.

"Yes Tony YOU aren't driving it so don't get too excited."
"AW but these two will probably drive it hella slow." Tony turned to Steve and Clint.

Clint didn't like that remark. He loved to drive. Steve on the other hand preferred his bike.
And yes he drove it slow.

"Guys, this is the BMW E30 M3. Think of it as a legal rally car. Only 6,000 or so were made and Obi got one. Of course he made this model with a convertible top. I love this car hahah I steal it all the time." Tony rambled about the car but Steve didn't pay attention.

They needed to leave immediately.

Tony noticed that the Yankee kinda brushed off what he said about the car and he looked down at the garage floor.
It looked like he was mad. Tony frowned.

"It's time to go. Thank you for the use of this vehicle." Steve said to Obadiah but he didn't look at him. He was already handed the keys so he opened it and he put his bag in the trunk.
Clint followed Steve's lead and he put his stuff in the car as well.

Steve walked up to Tony and he reached his hand out for his bag. He said nothing to Tony and it made him frown even more.
Tony chewed on his bottom lip for a second and then handed it over.

"Thank you." That was all Steve said as he walked away. He put the bag in the vehicle and Tony watched with a sad expression. The food was packed in and the trunk was closed.

Tony sighed. Nobody seemed excited about the car but him. And the Yankee acted like a damn robot.
Obadiah watched Steve and Clint get into the car. Clint was the one in the driver's seat and Steve sat in the passenger seat.

The garage door was opened and Clint started the car.

Tony turned towards Obadiah and decided not to get into the car just yet. He put his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and he swayed about from side to side.

His nerves ran a million miles a minute. Obadiah could tell that Tony was a bit too energetic and jumpy. He knew Tony high off of something.

"See ya around Obi. Or not? It's too soon to tell."

"Just don't get yourself killed before I get the chance to kill you myself. Got that kid?" Tony laughed and didn't know how to take that. But he laughed at the comment anyway.
Obadiah laughed a bit too and he stepped closer to Tony. He needed to talk to him and he didn't want the two wonder twins hearing him.

CLINT WAS ABOUT TO HONK THE FUCKING HORN. He was not in the mood to watch those two chit-chat right in front of Steve.
He took in a deep breath and gripped the wheel.

"I will apologize to you about last night tho Tony. That wasn't how-"
"Whatever. Look just because we've slept together doesn't mean you get a free pass to do as you please."

Steve could hear everything theysaid. He tried to look elsewhere but it was hard. Obadiah stood too close to Tony and Steve was instantly bothered.

The two were sleeping together. BOTHERED. They spoke about it openly. BOTHERED. They stood too close. BOTHERED AGAIN.

"Just take the damn apology. And take care of yourself too I absolutely hate your guts. But, I would be a little upset if you managed to get killed."

"Aw only a little upset that's so sweet. Ahah really Obi only a little after all this fun?!" "Yeah, it's been a real treat. Tell those guys GOOD LUCK keeping you alive. You pain in the ass."

Steve felt sick as he heard. Clint noticed Steve's demeanor change and he frowned. Tony put on a pair of sunglasses and grinned up at the older man.

"HEY don't forget those people coming after me? They have to catch me first. Don't you worry asshole I won't go down without a fight." He held that grin and stared at the older man for a moment.

Obadiah said nothing in response. He just smiled at Tony and pulled the kid into a hug. Tony gasped a bit and then hugged him back. He might not see him ever again. Tony had no idea what was going to happen.

So a hug was just necessary? The guy could be such a jerk. Then turn around and be so nice.

Tony bit his lip and rest his face against Obadiah's chest. All he wanted was for shit to feel different when they hooked up. Was that too much to ask for?

CLINT HONKED THE HORN VERY LOUDLY. It startled the two and they turned in the car's direction. Tony stepped back from the hug and headed to the car.

Tony opened the door and got in.
He made himself at home in the back seat. He decided to be a good little boy and put his seat belt on and everything.

"Do you guys know where you are taking me?" Tony asked as Clint backed the M3 out of the garage. He drove away from the house and he felt a great deal of relief.
They no longer had a creep fuck named Obadiah to deal with. That guy beyond pissed Clint off. He absolutely hated the fucker.

"My family had property that was abandoned during this time. It's a long drive but it will be a safe place. The perfect spot for us to figure out what we're going to do." Clint spoke to Steve. Tony sat back and his eyebrows creased with confusion.

During this time? He recalled the words and was a bit baffled by what the smaller guy said. Why did he talking about "this time" like he was from another time or something.

Steve's voice broke Tony's concentration.
"If it is Bucky then we are going to have to go completely off the grid. No transactions whatsoever because Hydra will be screening for Tony's face on any camera source."

"True. But this is 1989. Is the technology really that advanced in this stupid decade how the hell are we supposed to know what type of tech we're fighting against."
Tony just stared at the two people that spoke oddly.

UHHHhh... ?
"Are you guys from space or something?" he asked as they both realized that TONY was not Tony.
Not a Tony they could talk to about things like Hydra and Bucky Barnes.

Well, Tony legitimately wanted to know if they were from space.

"Is this like Terminator? Did you guys get sent from outer space to save me? OH WOW Did my dad send me two robots." Tony processed and became excited about the possibilities.

"Holy crap I'm a real life John Conner." He couldn't believe it. Clint and Steve looked at each other and they both mentally kicked themselves for being stupid.

"We're not from space." Steve corrected the younger Tony.

"We're just from Brooklyn. Everything there is different you see!" Clint tried to fix this situation. Well Tony didn't buy the lie they tried to sell him.

In fact he unbuckled his seat belt and stuck his head in between the two.

"I was born in Manhattan." He rolled his eyes and started to mess with the radio. He turned the knob and tried to find a good station.

"I was actually born in Iowa." Clint thought it was necessary to plug that bit in. Steve suppressed a laugh as he watched Tony mess around with the radio.

Tony caught a glimpse of that grin. He turned the dial but he was really focused on Steve.

Eye contact between them was established.
Clint did not notice them as they looked at each other.

Steve felt a lot better now that they were out of Obadiah's house. Sure, it might alter some things in the future but Steve decided that the risk was appropriate.

If they never received that phone call he would have left the mission. Steve began to think about what he heard Obidiah say to Tony. The eye contact continued.

"You wanted to fuck around with that blonde Yankee didn't you? That's why you came in here." For some reason, Steve couldn't get the words out of his head. He still stared at Tony and remained lost in thought.

"Hi Yankee." Tony smiled at him and Steve snapped out of it. He looked away. Steve turned his head and studied the ditch that remained at the side of the vehicle.

Aw, he lost the Yankee and just focused on the music.
Tony found a station that played a clear song and he became excited. Even though he was in protective custody it was the closest thing to freedom he had felt in a long time.

"AHHH GOOD SONG. I've got the cure you're thinking of Dr. Loveeee ." Tony sang along with a song that Steve didn't recognize.

It was one of those rock and roll songs.

"And even though I'm full of sinnnn. In the end you'll let me in. You'll let me through, there's nothin' you can do. You need my lovin', don't you know it's true." Tony moved up further into the front end of the vehicle and he looked around for the button that operated the convertible top.

Steve watched him. Tony pressed the button and wiped at his nose.

"No leave the top closed." Steve's hand touched Tony's. His nerves tingled and Tony felt jumpy. He wanted to jump around and party haha

ROBOT YANKEE stopped the top from opening. Tony jerked his hand away and frowned. The song kept playing so Tony's mind instantly attached itself to the lyrics again and he started to sing.
"The first step of the cure is a kisssss. So call me Dr. Love. Blah blah blah Dr. love."

He continued to sing and he moved back into his seat.

When he sat back down he felt a sharp pain shoot up his spine. AHhhh his body started to feel the pain from the night before. The cocaine helped suppress all pain and made him feel flawless. He could have been really hurt. Obidiah forced himself on him. Tony had no idea if he was hurt or not.

GAHH that was all his mind would let him think about.
OBI fucking raped him and Tony let it slide. TCH he started to finally think about it. Now that his guardian was long gone Tony began to process.

Tony started to rub his legs and he began to sway slightly.
Shit. The cocaine he took might have been a bad cut. His body was felt hot. He felt like he was on fire. Tony started to wipe his nose more and more.

Steve turned around. He watched Tony's behavior. Clint took notice but he drove so he couldn't do anything.

"Tony? Are you alright?" Steve unbuckled his seatbelt and he turned more in his seat.
"I'm fine! Just peachy. Don't worry your attractive head." Tony's gaze was sharp and he looked angry. He began to wonder where his bag was located.

Did he just say attractive head? UGH Tony couldn't focus or think.

Tony started to look around frantically. He needed his bag immediately.
Holy crap. His legs started to feel like they were encased in stone. Tony continued to rub them and he whimpered a began to freak out a little.

Tony didn't want to be in pain. He was afraid that the pain would attack him and he'd just drop dead or something.
His thought process was shot.

"Clint pull over." Tony heard the Yankee say a different name. Tony quickly looked up at him.

What why? Tony was fine! He wiped his nose and felt the car stop.

"What's going on?" Tony had tunnel vision. He didn't notice the door beside him open. He felt the Yankee turn his face gently in his direction.

"What?" he said out loud as Steve's face came into view.

God, Tony thought the Yankee was attractive. He stared at him and they were really close. Tony felt like a freak again. He could smell that shirt.

Steve's warm hand held Tony's face. Tony was dizzy. He couldn't hear what was said around him and he just stared at that face.

"You're really good looking Yankee." Tony admitted his thought and Steve's eyes opened wide. He snapped back to his task and ignored what Tony said.

Tony couldn't believe that his confession was ignored. He wondered what the problem was. Steve put a tissue under Tony's nose and he told him to hold it.

"Can you hold it? Tony?"

Hold what? Tony's eyes rolled back slightly and he shook his head to stay awake. "TONY?!"

Tony woke up with a shock because the soft voice became so loud. He immediately began to think that he was going to be taken back to Obadiah.

Tony's eyes flooded with tears.
"I'm free finally PLEASE don't take me back I don't want to go back! KEEP DRIVING ok?! I won't. I won't do anything wrong. I'll do whatever you guys want. Just don't go back."

Tony started to wipe his face and he noticed an odd taste in his mouth. Steve said something to him but Tony was not understanding him.

"Your nose is bleeding. I need you to hold onto this." He felt Steve move his hand over his. Steve guided Tony's hand to his nose. Tony gripped it gently and tried to pay attention.

"Should we take him to a clinic? Or shit we might need to go to a hospital. He might be overdosing or having a bad reaction."

"I think we have to. But it's too big of a risk." Steve didn't know where any hospitals were. They were in the damn 1980s and he wasn't familiar with that part of Los Angeles.

"STEVE we have to take him somewhere! He won't make it the entire trip if he's hopped up on drugs. LOOK AT HIM."

Clint didn't know how to treat someone that was strung out on coke and blacking out. That wasn't a typical wound you can just stitch up.

It was also not in his area of medical expertise.

"Hydra just got the decoy at MIT right? That gives us some time because they haven't found him yet. Let's go to the nearest hospital and get him looked at. Then we will take him to my family's home."

Steve nodded and shut the door behind him. He remained in the back seat with Tony.

"Ok go." He sat beside Tony and he made Tony lean his head back.
Tony tried to pay attention but he couldn't hold onto the tissue like he was asked.

He was overwhelmed by the presence of the Yankee. Also, he thought about something James Romanov said.
Tony tried to bring the words to his mouth. He turned his head and looked at the Yankee.

"Did he say your name was Steve?" Tony asked and he watched the blonde's eyes fly open again. The man looked shocked.

"I knew you didn't look like a Bruce. Steve is much much better."

11AM-ISH IN THE PRESENT

Pepper Potts was hung-over for the first time since she was in college. Was it worth it? Yes. She crawled out of Tony's bed and she made her way to his kitchen.
"It's so bright. So very bright." The redhead covered her eyes and walked towards some table.

Tony worked on some screen. Pepper just walked towards the refrigerator.

"How do you function like that Tony? You drank more than me." She thought that Tony was superhuman and he didn't know it. Maybe he was really a mutant?

She often saw him drink himself into a coma. That all changed after he became Iron man but before that she saw him drink profusely. He always seemed to bounce right back and seemed unaffected.
He was either immune to the effect of alcohol or he had a really good poker face.

Pepper started to rummage through the fridge. She needed food, coffee, and a hot bath.

Tony stood up straight and stared at a bunch of words that streamed down the screen that floated in the middle of the room.

"Hm what? Morning Pep. I slept it off hours ago. How did you sleep?" Tony asked as if he had other things on his mind. She didn't answer and dug out some orange juice too. Coffee, orange juice, food, and then a hot bath.

"The sex was great last night by the way." Tony teased and Pepper almost dropped her orange juice. GAHH his words almost gave her a heart attack.

"WHAT? We did not have sex. Shut up."

"I'm kinda wishin we did." He teased.

"What are you working on." She needed to change that subject fast.

The last thing she needed was to jump back into bed with Tony. She missed him terribly of course and Pepper knew he'd always be a part of her life.

She just couldn't be with him anymore.

"Rhodey has officially betrayed me. He's been dancing around with S.H.I.E.L.D. behind my back."

"Oh stop it. Rhodey would never betray you. Can you come help me I'm having trouble." Pepper was a mess. She didn't know to do to get rid of the sick feeling she had.

She felt sick when she stumbled across all the empty alcohol bottles that Tony hadn't picked up yet.
Ewww and all that fruit.
She was about to pass out. Tony stopped what he was doing and he headed over to the damsel.

"Oh my sweet beautiful DAINTY Pepper." He left it at that and he got her a cup of coffee. Tony shoved all the bottles into the recycling dispenser and he took her over to the table.
Her hair was a total disaster and she looked like a train wreck.

Tony found it attractive. He was a total mess himself so he was good with it.

"This is what you get when you CON me into confessing things I don't want to confess. Serves you right."
Tony brought her breakfast and various other things and then he headed right back to work.

"JARV?!" Tony whipped around to the last screen he was at. He read the words again and he sipped on some coffee.

"Download complete sir. You now have access to Colonel James Rhodes's personnel and personal servers."

Tony forgot to thank Jarvis he just skimmed over and looked for red flags.

"Tony. How did you get access to Rhodey's files?"

He ignored her too. Pepper knew that Rhodey was going to be very pissed once he found out that Tony had snooped around his files.

But Rhodey's anger never stopped Tony before. He was on the hunt for anything he could get his hands on that was in regards to Steve and S.H.I.E.L.D.

"You have an incoming call from James Rhodes sir."
"Put him through." Tony said as a screen popped up with Rhodey's face in it.

"TONY WHAT THE HELL."

"Oh hey pal. Just here in Miami hanging out with Pepper. I invited you the other day but you said you were BUSY. What's ROXXON up to?" Tony crossed his arms and continued to hunt through Rhodey's files.

Maria Hill came up in one of his reports. Apparently she helped him with an investigation of the company ROXXON. Tony was very familiar with that company.
They only you know, MURDERED HIS PARENTS.

"Tony. It's classified information. I can't tell you. Why can't you understand that?"

"Because you know what this information might do to my "mental state" wahh I just can't handle knowing what's going on with the company that killed my dear sweet daddy. Oh nooo Tony's drinking again look wahh."

Tony's sarcasm went nowhere with Rhodey.

"Knock it off."

"Where is Steve? You guys have sent him off to do Fury's dirty work. Tell me where he is and I'll back down."

Rhodey clenched his hand into a fist and he sighed loudly.

"Look. I dunno where your boyfriend is. I've got a lot of things that I need to be doing."

"NOT MY BOYFRIEND. I just need you to tell me where he is. Then, I'll let it go."

"You'll let it go?"
"Yes. I'll let it go. Is that not what I said? I think I said that." Tony looked at Pepper. She ate her food and refused to pay attention in any way. Nope.

Tony turned back and gave him a sassy glare. He probably looked ridiculous as he wore his pajamas and acted all badass.

"Steve is on a mission for me. A mission that is CCCCCLLLLAAAASSSSIIIIFFFFIIEEEDDD. C-L-A-S-S-I-F-I-E-D. Meaning you keep your BIG NOSE out of it. Ok? Gotta go have fun looking around my files."

The call ended and Tony touched his nose. He had a tiny nose what a jerk. Pepper laughed at him over her orange juice.

Oh hell no. Tony decided to hunt. He was determined to HUNT and HUNT and then HUNT some more. First, he did it because he was annoyed, then he decided to do it because he missed Steve's adorable face. NOW? he's decided to do it just to piss everyone off.

"Jarv get my suit ready. Time to shower up and go knocking on Fury's door." He was officially done with the shit and he decided to deal with it in person.

Notes: Hello loves! I have returned with another chapter! Thanks so much for reading. PLEASEEEE provide feedback if you can. I need to know if you like the direction the story is headed. Thanks again for reading and plz comment and let me know what you think so far!