Story Title: The Right Partner

Rating: T... WILL BE M! Thus why it's already labeled.

Pairing(s): Tony/Steve, Thor/Loki (later)

Summary: A year after Loki's defeat, Tony wants to return to his home in Malibu to do some repairs. The Captain returns with him and they find themselves in a situation neither of them expected.

Disclaimer: I own nothing! Just manipulating the characters and bending them to my will!

WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS SEXUAL CONTENT BETWEEN TWO MEN! TURN BACK NOW BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU WHINE ABOUT GAYS! Thank you! ~ 3

Thank you for your favorite:

CherryBlossom1217

yusukekuramagirl

Lunatic's Lament

Perpetuallydazed

twizlerfish

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Carphanie

Lunatic's Lament

Fogs of Gray

DarkFlameTailz

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Carphanie

yusukekuramagirl

Loveless-is-4ever

xchanierulzx

DarkFlameTailz

Fogs of Gray

Lunatic's Lament

Fleeting Rebellion

twizlerfish

Time for a little bonding between characters. I'm going to assume Steve doesn't know about Tony's past, (Iron man 1). So I'm gonna leave it at that! Please read and enjoy!

Chapter 7

Back at SHIELD, Loki was put into the ICU while they tried to revive the dying God. Thor waited patiently along side Steve who was waiting for Tony as well. Though Tony knew what he had, Steve took him anyway in case something else had gone completely wrong in his brain. Steve looked at Thor who had his elbows on his knees and hands laced in front of his face. The Captain could tell Thor was worried. Even after what he had done a year ago, Thor was still in fear of losing his brother.

Steve placed a hand on Thor's shoulder, trying to give him some comfort. "You still trust him?" Steve asked the depressed Thor.

"Yes, I do," Thor replied, "Father had sent Loki here as punishment, removing him of his magic and made him mortal. Once he proves himself worthy, as I did, Loki's powers will return. But he must also prove he is good at heart. Father will not return Loki's power if he intends to use it for evil."

Steve trusted what he was told, not expecting Fury to believe a lick of it. He released the Demi-God's shoulder and ran his hand through his hair. He couldn't stop thinking of Tony calling out in pain. What could have happened to Tony to make him do that? He knew it had to have been a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He had seen some soldiers from the war with the same reaction to things he didn't understand. So his want to discover Tony's problem became top priority, while also comforting him in the process.

A nurse left the room Tony had been placed in and she came and greeted the casually dressed Steve. "Mr. Stark is doing much better and has requested to see you. He doesn't want to see anyone else at the moment though."

Steve nodded and stood. No one else was with him besides Thor who was to worried about Loki that Tony. Everyone else had gone to file a report on what had happened while investigating in New Mexico.

The nurse closed the door behind Steve as he noticed Tony sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed. He was wearing the usual gown since the admitted him. They'd only taken a few blood samples and a CATS Scan, but if Tony had another reaction, they'd have him ready to be sedated and back in bed. Tony looked up at Steve who had his hands in his jacket pockets.

"Hey, Tony," Steve said calmly, not moving from his place.

Tony motioned for the stool next to him, causing Steve to sit on it next to him. "I know you're wondering what happened back there."

"Yeah," Steve said with want in his eyes. "But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Tony shook his head. "No, I want to tell you. No one else knows about what really happened to me besides well...me."

Steve laid his hand on top of Tony's and said, "Don't tell me what you don't want to."

Tony nodded and looked down, taking in a deep breath. With a swallow he started, "A few years ago I was going on tour with some troops in Afghanistan, you know the war they talk about on TV." Steve nodded, still a little unsure. "At the time I was building weapons for the military and shipping them over seas to them. Well, some of my weapons got into the wrong hands and they attacked the caravan I was in, heading back to base. I realized they were using my weapons when they attacked. One in particular was a bomb. The bomb exploded and shards of metal entered my body. I blacked out and the next the I knew I was on a table with an older man slicing me open without and drugs or anything. By the time I was aware of what was going on, this," he motioned for his ARC reactor, "was in my chest. A different version and connected to a car battery. He said that it was an electromagnet to keep the metal from entering my heart and killing me."

Steve felt pain in his chest. "Tony," he started, "I didn't know. I always wondered what it was for."

"I didn't say I was finished," Tony smirked at the child like Captain, listening carefully. He blushed at his interruption and allowed Tony to continue. "The man who put this in my chest was the only one I could trust there. He was also my translator, since most of the people I was forced to deal with were Arabic. They demanded me to build a weapon called Jericho. It was a missile I had given to the military and they wanted multiple ones. I refused and they tortured me every time I said no. They nearly drown me and beat me. It was almost a daily thing at first until I had finally thought of how to escape."

Steve was amazed at Tony's story as he continued to explain how he built the reactor out of nothing, as well as his first Iron Man suit. "Let's just say I still have some nightmares about that place. The desert was just a little to much for me to handle I guess."

Steve's hand gripped Tony's. Tony looked at him and smiled. Steve smiled back and kissed Tony's forehead. He moved again, Tony expecting the next kiss to be on his lips, but instead it was somewhere else. Steve kissed Tony's chest, particularly the reactor. His hand slipped behind Tony's neck, pulling the string the held the gown to his body. The gown fell, revealing Tony's bare chest. Steve placed his hand on Tony's left pectoral and leaned back in, kissing the reactor again.

Tony watched Steve kiss his reactor. For some unknown reason, the sight was really turning him on. He raised a hand, lacing his fingers through Steve's blonde hair. He leaned back on the bed, resting on the headboard as Steve continued to kiss the light. Steve felt his cheeks get hot as he lost himself in kissing Tony's reactor. He let his tongue slip out and touch the reactor. He felt a little shock at the tip of his tongue and pulled away quickly.

Tony laughed as a little bit of Steve's tongue was tuck out. He put his finger to it, feel it a little bit numb. "Did it shock you?" Tony asked.

"I think it did," Steve replied, his finger still on his tongue at the weird sensation in his mouth.

Tony chuckled and pulled Steve to him by his hair. Steve looked at him as he got closer to Tony's face. Tony kissed Steve's tongue and Steve blushed again. "Feel better?" Tony asked smiling.

"I do now," Steve answered before kissing planting a kiss on Tony's lips.

Thor was allowed to see Loki just after Steve was allowed into Tony's room. He sat in horror as he saw his brother at his weakest. His body was very thin and pale. He looked like he hadn't eating in weeks and was having trouble breathing. This was not how he remembered his brother and this wasn't how he wanted to remember him. The nurse said Loki was very weak and that it would take a long time before he'd be completely recovered. The machines beeped next to him and Thor watched them closely. He had the nurse explain the machinery before she left so he knew while he was hooked up to so many machines and tubes. He had a mask over his face that fogged up with every breath as it fed him fresh oxygen.

Thor was happy Loki was alive but terrified he'd lose his brother. He held Loki's hand carefully, trying to keep from messing up the tubes going into his arm. He raised a hand and stroked the hair out of Loki's face, his palm resting on his cold cheek.

He examined his brother's face. Loki's hair had grown out longer than he remembered, and it wasn't combed back like it always was. He hated how pitiful Loki looked in this state. He wanted to scoop him up and restore all his energy.

"Brother," Thor said softly as he watch Loki breathe. "Please do not die. It will not be the same without you."

Thor couldn't hold back a tear as he laid his head on Loki's hand. He wanted to hear Loki say his name again and be filled with life. A voice made it's way into his head, scaring him at first. "Thor," the voice boomed in his head.

"Father?" Thor asked, looking around the room to see if his father was in the room with him.

"Yes, Son," Odin spoke again. "I'm speaking with you from inside your mind. I wish to speak of Loki."

Thor nodded and replied, "Yes, Loki. Please tell me what has happened to put my brother in such a horrible state."

"I know," Odin said, then explaining what happened. "After we put Loki into his prison cell, he received his punishment as it was needed. However, your brother stopped eating suddenly while my attention was away in other matters. I'm not sure what happened, but I approached him and he begged for his freedom. I am uncertain of what may have happened to Loki while in his cell, but I could see in his eyes that he would do anything to be free again. I banished him on Midgar with you until he could prove himself again and use his magic for the good of mankind. I trust you will take care of him, my Son."

"Yes, Father!" Thor spoke loudly, "I will tend to him until he is better. And I will guide him back onto the path of justice."

"I trust your words, Son," Odin replied as he vanished from his son's mind.

Thor held Loki's hand and said, "I will make you better, Loki. I promise."

A meek smile appeared on Loki's face as his eyes barely opened to see Thor above him. Thor saw his brother's smile and stroked his face. Loki's eyes closed again as he returned to his sleep. The smile remained on his face for a few moments longer and Thor said, "I will take your pain away."

I feel I did pretty good on this chapter, though I do feel I just repeated what everyone already knows. But anyway...moving the relationship on! It's gonna get juicy here soon! Could be a nice love scene...or maybe Tony has forgotten about someone? I'll leave that to you guys to figure out cuz.. I'M~NOT~ TELL~ING!

Please review! I hope you liked it! There will be more to come! As long as I keep getting reviews/favs/alerts/follows/WHATEVER! more will be coming! Flames welcome! But honestly, again, if your against homosexuality, why the fuck are you here?

Much loves! ~ Franky Toran