For the seven hundred ninety-one million, eight hundred twenty-one thousand, six hundred thirty-seventh time in Tony Stark's life he was unable to sleep. Tony tossed and turned all around in his bed. He was slightly sleeping or possibly not. Who knows.
Well Bruce definitely was not sleeping because Tony was keeping him up.
Every time Bruce was almost asleep Tony would whip around and wake him.
"TONY! My gawwwwddd you're such a whirlwind." he finally yelled with a slight laugh behind it.
"Whut? Huh..I'm up." Tony was rubbing his eyes and Bruce just shook his head.

"I know you're up. That's the point." Bruce ruffled up Tony's hair and it stuck up straight like a hedgehog.
Tony was unresponsive he just sat there with a sleepy face. Huhhh he was so sleepy but couldn't sleep.
"I can't sleep. I think I'm going to head down to the lab."
Bruce didn't really respond he was falling back to sleep. Well he mumbled something but Tony couldn't hear him.
Hmnaa Tony's feet reached the floor and he got up slowly.

Ack he winced as soon as he put weight on his foot. He and his hedge hog hair hobbled down to his lab and clapped his hands a few times.
"Jarvis sleep time is over. Wakie wakie."
"Always a pleasure sir. Shall I power up the new pro to-type you've been failing to complete?"
"UUUNNNoooo I think I'm going to start on something else. Tinker time tinker time my brain needs new toys. Dum-E come here you little nugget are you awake?" he asked his robotic companion as it turned in his direction.

"It's gotta be a box. Jarvis start with a box. Grid me. Grid right here directly in front of me. Give me a grid WITH a box. I'm going to open my eyes I want to see it there when I open my eyes." Tony closed his eyes and then quickly opened them.
"There sir. A box." Jarvis said as Tony stared at the hologram.
"Yes it is a box." Tony was lost in his head and Jarvis did not compute or even attempt to.

He went to work on this "box" and he was at it for hours. He skipped the sunrise, breakfast, brunch, lunch, all that jazz. Tony was working on his box idea for so long he could confuse day for night ?
"Sir you have a phone call from Director Nick Fury. Shall I send it to voice mail?" Jarvis rang in and disrupted Tony's thought process. He was on a roll and actually welding some concoction together.

"Whut? Yeah umm..put him on forget the voice mail. Answer it." He took off his goggles and rubbed the sweat off his forehead.
"TONY STARK. Funny that you're the only one picking up when I call."
"Was I the last one you tried?"
"Of course." AHA Tony laughed at Fury. Haha he's the only one that answered.

Tony set his stuff down and he looked at the screen that had Fury's yoda face on it.
"What do ya want.." Tony asked with a shrug to his shoulders.
"Well I was expecting Rogers to give me the details on the next charity you guys decided on but he's not picking up."
"OH right right Steve told me to tell you "It's not you it's me." Ok buddy. Plus he and I have a date this-" Tony shut his mouth and fixed his shirt a little.
CRAP.
"You what? Did I hear you say date?" Fury had this hilarious look on his face.

"Look Papa Smurf I'm not going to bring your little soldier boy over to the dark side. Mmkay so don't freak."
"I find that hard to believe considering your rap sheet STARK."
? Rap sheet? Tony just rolled his eyes.
"What are you talking about.." why did he ask? Tony didn't know. But oh well Fury was all rampaging so Tony decided to entertain himself with it.
He didn't give a shit if Fury liked him or not. He was going on a date with Steve regardless.
"Out of your long list of relationships you've driven two women to commit suicide and you have another one in a mental institution. Bottom line here is you drive people crazy."
OUCH. Dude..talk about low blow.
"That was a long time ago. And totally out of my control. How do you know this by the way?"
Tony was annoyed with Fury now and very annoyed with this subject. What he said bugged him but he tried to play it cool.

"We have an extensive file on you Stark."
"Whatever. Your little ray of sunshine is pretty hard to corrupt."
"I will personally kick your ass if-"
"Don't worry Popeye …I like him." He wouldn't drive Steve too crazy if he could avoid it.
"Yikes I'm going to pretend like I didn't hear that. And keep in mind that SHIELD will be watching you. I will be watching you."
Fury ended the call and Tony scoffed.

"Yeah fuck you too pal.." he said to himself as his paranoia set in. He hated feeling spied on. It was beyond irritating.
How Fury knew that much of his history was really bugging him. But he let it go and put his welding goggles back on.
He worked for around another hour and he didn't hear Jarvis let Bruce into his shop.

Tony was so in the zone he didn't even see Bruce walk up.
"I brought you some tea." Tony kept constructing his item of wonder and he heard someone saying something off in the distance. He figured it was Jarvis advising him with some nonsense so he ignored it.
"TONY helloooo." Bruce spoke louder and Tony finally turned his direction.

"OH HEY!" Tony kinda waved and he stopped what he was doing. He really felt like an idiot but whatever. He wiped his hands off on his sweatpants as he walked up to Bruce.
"What's up?"
"Uhh you apparently. Did you get any sleep?"
"Nah I'm good. Is that coffee?" Bruce handed him the cup and Tony drank some of it. YUCK. Tea. Meh oh well he drank some more and set the cup on the desk. He's had worse things to drink.

Tony smiled at Bruce and he kept wiping off his forehead. His entire body felt gross and he probably looked like a train wreck. Bruce didn't seem to pay any attention to that of course. He simply smiled back.
"I wanted to say sorry for earlier this morning. After you left I felt bad. I don't want you to feel like I booted you out of your own room."
"OH! haaaa Bruce don't think like that. I don't care. I'm a pain in the ass to have in bed. Trust me I get that from everyone I sleep with." yeah as if that's not pathetic to admit.

Tony bit his lip. He gnawed on it because he felt a little odd. For some reason. Bruce was quiet.
A bit too quiet Tony cleared his throat awkwardly and he drank some more tea.
"So you've got your big date with Steve this evening right?" Bruce asked as Tony choked back on the tea a bit..
"Uhm..well yeah we didn't really set a time. Actually I've…I've been meaning to ask him when he wants to go but at the same time I've been avoiding him. I actually have no idea what time it even is right now."
"The current time is 4:37 pm eastern standard time sir." Jarvis pointed out as Tony looked up at the ceiling. As if a tiny Jarvis was stuck up there.

Thanks?
"Wow I have literally spent the entire day down here. Is that a record Jarvis?"
"Not even close sir. Your longest stretch was at 168 hours. Which is the equivalent for seven days."
Humph Tony was impressed with himself. Bruce was not.
"Well that's incredibly unhealthy." Bruce commented and Tony yawned.
"I must have been building my first suit or something. I don't remember staying awake that long." He was in a daze for a moment. Tony was trying to think but he quickly forgot what he was thinking about.

"Oh right Bruce. Apology totally accepted. I guess I should figure out what Steve wants to…you know." For some reason Tony felt really awkward talking about Steve in front of Bruce. Maybe he was drowning in a glass of water here?
He didn't know. It just felt…
"Yeah you better get ready for your big date."
"I've already alerted Captain Rogers about you wanting to see him sir. He told me to inform you that he is on his way."

OH GREAT.
"Who told you to do that?" He asked his AI and he got no response. What the hell man Jarvis had a mind of his own. He smiled at Bruce and felt like a dumbass. Bruce just drank some tea and Tony could tell that he was laughing at him or something. He had this smirk.
"What are you smiling at.."
"I'm realizing now that I'm going to miss sleeping next to you." the hulk monster said all quickly and Tony's jaw dropped open.
.HELL. Bruce? Tony looked away and he stared in shock when he saw that STEVE walked in. The man was dressed in cotton. Head to toe. He looked super neat and super tidy and super…

Yikes. Friggen …great.
Steve looked straight at Tony. Then he looked at Bruce. Bruce looked at Steve. Then Bruce looked at Tony. SO Tony just looked at the friggen FLOOR.
"Hey." Steve said to…both of them? Just him? Was he saying hey to Bruce too?
Tony just tensed his shoulders and tried to shake off this weird feeling.
"Hey Steve. I'm going to get ready ok?"
"Uh sure. There's no rush or anything." Steve seemed laid-back which was good. Tony nodded his head a few times and started heading out.

"You two behave ok? Don't touch my tools." He pointed at both of them.
Tony scratched at his hedge hog hair . He walked by Steve as he started leaving…
"Uhh well I'll be back I just have to wash the grease off ..I'll." Tony rubbed his hands together and then just walkedoutofthereasfastashumanlypossible!
SHIT. Shit. Shit he started pressing the buttons on his elevator hoping it would help him escape that awkward situation.

He left Bruce and Steve all alone together. Bahhhh Tony's stomach was in knots.
Was it even ok to do that? He had no ideaaa ugghhhhhhh…..

Steve gave Bruce a warm smile and Bruce smiled back. They didn't say anything to each other for a bit.
Neither of them really expect to be in this situation at that moment.
Bruce started the conversation of course.
"Did you guys decide on what you're doing later or…"
"I have absolutely no idea what he wants to do actually." Steve answered.
"Yeah that's…well that can be hard to decide." They both kinda nodded at each others responses.

A cricket might have chirped somewhere off in the distance.
Bruce wondered if he should leave. Steve wondered why he was standing there.
"Bruce I have to ask you something."
"Sure Steve what's up." He knew this was bound to happen at some point.
"Are you and Tony still-"
"No. No we are just friends. I guess you can chalk it up to me just being around for him when he needed me. As a friend. I'm not in love with Tony or anything like that."
Steve stared intently as Bruce talked. It was a bit unnerving for Bruce but he explained anyway.

"I find that hard to believe."
"Are you kidding me? The guy is a swift little hurricane. You'll have your hands full. I'd be hulking out left and right if we tried to have an actual relationship. So believe what you want." Bruce took his tea and he decided to make his exit.

Steve turned Bruce's way and just gave him this unexplainable look. As if he was puzzled by what he said.
"I just get this feeling you care about him more than you're letting on."
"Maybe I am? But I don't think you're up for sharing are you Steve." Bruce was being a bit more honest than he was wanting to be.

Steve's face got a bit flushed when Bruce asked if he'd share. The soldier actually acted shy about it and couldn't really respond. Bruce found it amusing but he decided to leave the lab.
They didn't say anything else to each other. They just left it at that.

Around twenty minutes or so later Tony was showered and dressed and ready to face the music.
He headed back down to his lab and he tried to forget what Bruce just told him. TCH really Bruce you're gunna go put on your douche hat now and say stuff like that?
Tony had on a t-shirt and jeans. Totally comfy and he smiled at Steve as he walked up to him.
He poked his arm and Steve smiled at him.

"Hey you."
"Hey you! Let's blow this joint." Tony said as he headed to his car. Well one of his many cars. Tony picked the Audi.
"Wait why do you get to drive? Should I even let you drive. I do want to survive this evening." Steve sassed him and Tony shook his head.
Ha ha haaaaa…shut your mouth golden boy.

"I'm definitely not riding bitch on your motorcycle so I'm driving. Get in stud muffin." hahaa stud muffin. It was so corny Tony actually cringed after he said it.
He unlocked the car and made himself at home in the driver's seat. Steve opened the door and got in beside him.
"You're crazy Tony."

"Only slightly. I'm kidding Cap is the Audi too classy for you? Too classy for an old guy?" he said with a grin. Steve smiled awkwardly and just shook his head.
Tony started the engine and opened the garage door.

"Don't drive too fast Tony."
"Ok grandpa." Hehehe revved up the engine, put it in gear, and it felt like he flew out of that garage. Steve held on for dear life. It was cute.

After driving off the property and merging onto the highway Tony slowed down. Steve's nerves seemed to settle.
The two of them hadn't said anything since they got in the car. So Tony had to break the ice.

"Should I even ask about your conver -" He was cut off when Steve's cell phone rang.
"Sorry Tony." he shut up instantly as Steve answered.
Oh wonderful. This was starting off perfectly.
"Yes Fury?" FURY you FUCKIN KIDDING ME? What a cockblockerrrrrrr…

"Yes I'm with Stark."
?Why was he telling him that? Tony bit his tongue but he didn't know how long he could hold it.
He was instantly annoyed. Tony just drove but he was raging.
"Oh. You know where we are? Well I'll let you know if I need to be picked up. But don't trouble yourself."
"How do they know where we are?" how the fuck does Fury know that information. The fucking fuck?

Tony's brain started deciphering all the possible options. Steve's phone. GPS. His car? His own phone? Tony felt for his pockets for his phone.
Steve's call with Papa Cockblocker ended.

"Sorry I was supposed to be on a mission with Clint and Natasha. But I ditched them."
Tony was silent as he drove.
What if Fury was listening to their conversations? The man was absolutely obsessed with this Avenger operation working smoothly.

Tony considered himself Fury's worst enemy. Of course he'd be keeping an eye on Steve. Making sure nothing happened to his precious golden boy. The leader on a date with the trouble maker.
"Tony?"

He snapped out of his thoughts/paranoia and his brain instantly figured something out.
"Steve?" he said sarcastically as he devised a plan to fix this situation.

He was irritated now and how did Tony handle situations like this?
Tony drove to the shadiest part of town. He picked the shittiest car lot on the block and slowly pulled in. Steve was totally confused.
"Hang on one minute ok?" He shut the door and he went straight into the office.

After a few minutes Tony went back to Steve. Who was very perplexed and bewildered.
"We're ditching the car. And our phones." Not the whiskey. Tony reached over and opened the glove box. He had a bottle of whiskey in there for safe keeping just incase this night turned to shit.
"Uh what for?"
"Because I can't have Fury knowing my business ! If you are going to hang out with me THAT would be one of my biggest pet peeves. Pappa Fury and his little satellites will need to take a hike. Before I snap."

Tony drove his Audi into some back gated area. He parked and got out of the car. Tony opened the trunk and tossed his phone in it.

"Steve. Your phone belongs in the trunk."
Steve got out of the car and he walked up to Tony. Steve looked at his phone.
"You are so weird." he said as he looked into Tony's trunk. It was extremely clean.
"Toss the phone in. No tracking devices or microphones that Popeye might have to spy on us."
Steve just sighed and tossed the phone in.

"Thank you."
"Your father was paranoid but not THIS paranoid." Steve said as Tony shrugged and locked his car.
"Look at my new car Steve!" he pointed at the…
"It's a.."

Tony checked the paperwork on the thing.
"A 1989 Yugo. Wow voted one of the top ten worst cars of all time. Well atleast I know there aren't any tracking devices in it."
Tony unlocked the heap and he climbed in. He made sure his bottle of whiskey was in a secure place.

Steve let out an exhausted sigh and he climbed in beside him.
"Now I know I'm all about style. But this baby is very -"
"Why did you buy this car? It's a piece of junk."
"So I'll fix it up in my shop. Look are you not catching the drift here Steve?"

Steve was obviously not getting that he couldn't stand Nick Fury.
"What drift Tony? Who cares if Fury knows where we are."
"Look there's a lot of space in the back just in case I want to make out with someone." Tony's grin grew very wide. He noticed Steve turn away and he stared out the window.

"Tony you frustrate me."
"UH how about you frustrate me!" They glared at each other..

Ugh Tony pulled away from the dealership and he just started driving.
This date was really going well.


CHAPTER 8: END

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