Tony was unreasonably excited to have Steve in his penthouse, the blond decided. His friend was bouncing around the large open living room, fluffing pillows on the couch and patting the spot. A silent insistence that he sit. So Steve did. He settled on the couch (it was more comfortable then his bed at home) as Tony grabbed a blanket.

He wrapped Steve in it, despite the blond's frown. "There. Warm and comfortable. Are you hungry? I bet you haven't eaten. I'll get you something." Tony jumped up and rushed into the kitchen. He started looking through the shelves. "I don't actually know if I have any food. Usually I order something. JARVIS, do I have any food?" Tony asked.

"Nothing that would serve as a suitably nutritious meal for Mr. Rogers, sir." Came the disembodied reply. Tony huffed and closed the cupboard.

"Well, then, I guess we're ordering. What do you want, Steve?" Tony asked as he settled on the couch near Steve's feet.

"I'm honestly not very hungry, Tony. I think it's the medication." He began but fell quiet at the look on Tony's face. "Um, I'm not picky, Tony." He mumbled.

The brunette huffed again. "What about that sushi place? I know you don't like raw fish but they've got some great cooked meals too. Yeah, and some miso soup to start off. That's light and nutritious. If nothing else I'm betting you could stomach that. JARVIS, can you place my usual order plus miso soup and something for Steve?" Tony ordered.

"Mr. Rogers, do you have any preferences for a meal?" JARVIS asked.

"No, and you know all my allergies. I'm sure I'll like anything you get me." Steve promised.

"Very well sir. I have place an order and estimate a delivery time of seventeen minutes." JARVIS informed them before falling silent.

Tony settled onto the couch and studied Steve's face for a few minutes. "Jesus, you don't look good, Steve." Tony said. The blond just smiled and rolled his eyes.

"I was in a fist fight this morning." He reminded and Tony sighed.

"Why didn't you listen to me when I told you to come stay at my place for the weekend? Honestly, you should just stay here all the time. I've got no shortage of rooms, it's no trouble for me to buy food for two, and I like having you around. It's nicer than your apartment, closer to your office, and I don't even mind if you borrow a car to go to work. It's not like I can drive all eight at once." Tony said.

"I know, I know. I just, I like paying for my own place. It makes me feel like I've done something to get it, you know? All of this…" He gestured around to the expensive modern appliances and furniture, the opulence that surrounded them both. "I haven't earned it."

He paused at the indreculious look Tony was giving him. "Of course you deserve something like this Steve. You're a wonderful hardworking individual. Hell, you deserve it more than I do. I just inherited my fortune." Tony reminded and Steve frowned. He reached out and touched Tony's hand.

"You've earned your fortune, Tony. You're smart, you've worked hard, you've made a lot of wonderful tech, and you donate to a dozen different organizations to help people less fortunate. You deserve it." He promised and Tony smiled at him.

"Well, coming from the resident boyscout that is high praise indeed." Tony teased and Steve smiled. "Oh yeah, speaking of boyscouts, does your not-a-boyscout boyfriend know what's going on?"

Steve nodded. "I think so. I left him a message just after I called you but I haven't heard from him since." Steve explained. Tony looked annoyed and ready to rail against the man so Steve started speaking again. "He's out of town for his job and busy with work. I'm sure he just hasn't heard it yet." Steve promised.

"I still reserve the right to give him the talk about treating my best friend right." Tony muttered grumpily and Steve laughed.

"I have no doubt you'll give him that lecture anyway." He countered and Tony smirked.

"Damn right I will. Now, shall we watch something while we wait?" Tony offered and Steve nodded. He pulled out his phone, checking it. He briefly saw he had a text message from Bucky before his phone lite up with a call from him.

"One sec, Tony." He said softly, making the brunette pause in his attempt to turn on the television, as Steve answered the call. "Hello?"

"Oh, thank god. Steve, doll, are you okay?" Bucky sounded worried and Steve couldn't help smiling to himself.

"I'm alright, Buck. Tony picked me up from the hospital and I'm at his place for now. The doctor didn't want me to be left alone because he was afraid I may have a slight concussion." Steve explained.

He heard a noise, one that gave him the impression that Bucky wasn't entirely pleased to hear that. "Well, I'm glad you've got a friend who can look out for you until I get back. God, my heart stopped when I got that message. Are you really going to be okay?"

"It's just some bruises. It'll take a few days to heal and then I'll be fine." He promised.

"Okay. I'm still worried about you." Bucky warned and Steve chuckled.

"I know, but honestly I've had worse. Someone stepped in and helped me before I got any serious injuries." He added.

"Someone stepped in? What does that mean? And who?" Bucky asked.

"Oh, um, I got jumped by some gang members, but like I said. Someone stopped them." Steve added quickly.

"I thought nobody was willing to help in situations like that." Bucky questioned. Steve swallowed and glanced at Tony.

"I'll tell you about it in person on Sunday, okay?" He offered.

To his surprise Bucky didn't argue. "Alright." He didn't sound pleased, more like impatient, but he didn't demand anything. "On Sunday, then. I can't wait to see you, doll." He added.

Steve smiled to himself. "I can't wait to see you either. Please stay safe, okay?" He insisted and Bucky laughed.

"I can handle myself. You're the one always getting into trouble, punk. But I'll see you then. Bye for now." Bucky replied before he hung up.

Steve sighed as he lowered his phone and Tony gave him a questioning look. "Everything okay?" He asked.

Steve nodded. "Yeah, I think so. There is something I need to talk to you about." Steve added after a moment of hesitation. Tony's eyebrows jumped and he nodded.

"Okay, I'm listening." He promised.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, sir, but the delivery man is here with your dinner." JARVIS said.

"Right. Hold that thought, Steve. Stay right there. I'll run down and grab it." Tony promised as he jumped up from the couch to the elevator. "JARVIS, let me know the second anything happens!" He ordered just as the elevator doors closed.

Steve let out a breath as he settled back against the couch. He was trying to come up with a way to tell Tony about the Winter Soldier and how he suspected that Bucky had something to do with it, as much as he didn't want to think that. Because he had no other explanation for why the Winter Soldier would protect him, let alone know who he was.

Tony returned before he really had an answer and for a few minutes Steve didn't get a chance to even talk as Tony rambled. He was absentmindedly putting the food on plates and in bowls before bringing it all over to him. "There. One meal on demand. Eat up." He insisted, offering Steve a bowl and spoon.

"Thanks, Tony." Steve said softly as he accepted the bowl. He took a few careful sips, hoping not to burn his tongue. It was surprisingly good and his stomach didn't object to the food either. Tony was eating as well, actual sushi, and paused only long enough to grab the TV remote. Steve hesitated for a moment then reached out and set his hand on Tony's.

The brunette paused, watching him. "Everything okay?" Tony asked and Steve paused before he shook his head.

"No. Maybe. I don't know." Steve finally said. Tony set down the remote and shifted to face him properly, waiting for him to continue. "Um, so I told you that someone helped me out right?" He said and Tony nodded. "That's… it's true but there's more to it than that and I don't know what to do."

"Oh no, what happened? Don't tell me you're in debt to another gang or something." Tony sounded worried and Steve sighed.

"It's… It might be worse. I'm not sure." Steve offered slowly. "I didn't realize it at the time. My eye was pretty swollen and my vision was blurry. All I saw was a man in black. He single handed-ly took out three Chitauri effortlessly and then insisted I close my eyes. He… shot them. All three of them. Then took me to the hospital, but I fainted along the way. The nurse told me… she told me that the man who saved me… It was the Winter Soldier." Steve explained.

Tony froze then slowly set aside his sushi. "The Winter Soldier? The HYDRA assassin in charge of New York Winter Soldier?" He repeated cautiously and Steve nodded.

"There's more. The nurse said he knew my name." Steve added. Tony paled and rubbed his face. "I haven't mentioned, but Bucky has HYDRA connections. He isn't a member, but he grew up in Germany so he knows them. The only reason I can think of that the Soldier knew my name or why he was helping me in the first place is because of Bucky." Steve finally poured out. His heart was racing and he was terrified, more terrified then he had been willing to admit until now.

Tony stayed like that for a few moments just rubbing his beard, apparently trying to wrap his head around what Steve was telling him. "Okay. Okay. This could be worse. This could be a lot worse. It doesn't sound like the Soldier has anything against you and he's probably a pretty great bodyguard. Even if he is a member of HYDRA. But you aren't SHIELD, neither of us even have connections to them."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too. My biggest concern is… well, do I confront Bucky about it? Ask him if he had a part in it?" Steve wondered. Tony studied him for a few minutes before he nodded slowly.

"I think you should. It's better to be honest in a relationship, I know from experience, and if he doesn't know anything maybe he can find out. You said he's got connections." Tony offered and Steve let out a breath, finally able to relax properly.

"You're right. You're right. It's better to just ask him. Keep things honest between us." Steve agreed and Tony gently patted his shoulder.

"Now, you need to rest, so let's eat, put on some TV, and just veg out for the next few hours." Tony declared and Steve chuckled as he nodded.

"Okay." He picked up his soup and took another small sip. He wasn't sure if he was more nervous about Sunday or less now that he had talked to Tony, but one way or another he was going to have to talk to Bucky about this.