Apologies for the wait and the shortness of the chapter - Remember to leave a note ;)


Sherlock looked at himself in the mirror. His purple shirt was strewn over the back of the chair and his hair wild with anesthetic sleep. A little blue diamond shaped light blinked from his chest. His mind was still reeling from the conversation with John.

He wished he could tell him how he really felt. He remembered John's face as he looked down at him, his eyes drooping his mind going. His face engraved in Sherlock's mind. He wanted to reveal his feelings, he wanted to curl up in John's strong arms. But he couldn't and he would have to mend things until he could untangle the angry web that had been created.

Tony sloppily tried to wipe down the desk for a third time, hoping that there were zero traces of human blood on it. That wouldn't look good in the newspaper. Tony Stark: Illegal surgery in his basement. He poured himself a glass of scotch and chugged it like it was water. His third glass. He heard the workshop door open and heavy footsteps walk in.

Steve stood in the doorway looking at Tony. The inventor took in the strong man's appearance. For some reason he couldn't stop thinking about the man who now was only three feet in front of him. He watched the curve of his shoulders as he bent over the drawings of Tony's plan to get Loki.

"Interesting, but not going to work in a million years. First and foremost, Hulk is an uncontrolable giant monster. We can't maneuver him into strangling the alien. And even if we could, it would just backfire. Loki has mind control."

As Steve spoke, Tony inched closer to him. Tony had always been interested in women. Not that it mattered too much. He would sleep with anything if he was drunk enough. This time, it was different. He was certain it was different. His vision blurry. He felt strong feelings towards the man standing not three inches away from him, he thought. Tony had never been with another man before, but he knew, in that moment, that he sure as hell wanted to. It could have been the scotch.

He leaned in, placing his head in the crook between the taller man's shoulder blades. He wrapped his arms around Steve's torso, pulling him close, his belt buckle pushing against the soldier's back pocket. Steve tensed.

"Mr. Stark, I don't -"

"Shhh." Tony reassured him turning Steve around and placing a finger to the other man's lips. "Don't think about it." Tony leaned in placing his lips tentatively against the other man's .

Steve didn't relax. "You've been drinking."

"Pffft. Yeah. Not a lot though. Just a few teeny weeny glasses that's all. Can we try that again?" Tony took Steve's face in both his hands and pulled it towards his, roughly forcing their lips together. He pushed his tongue through Steve's clenched jaw and violently explored every inch of the other man's mouth.

Steve gasped for breath and shoving him away. "Stop this" He said, his eyes wild in fear.

Tony grabbed Steve's ass in protest, pulling his hips into his own and grinding them together. He put his head on Steve's shoulder placing little kisses down his neck. He slid his tongue down the large tendon that stood out. "You know you don't want me to stop."

Steve's breathing hitched as Tony began nibbling at the spot between his ear and neck. "I'm begging you. Stop now."

He waited as Tony began to feel down his large arms. Tony put a hand on Steve's crotch.

Steve panicked. He punched Tony straight across the face, hearing him hit the floor with a sickening thud.

Tony groaned, trying to get up, blood running down his nose.

Steve's eyes widened in shock. He was confused and alone. He had been in the 21st century for no less than a week and he had already discovered more about himself than he ever. More feelings. He looked Tony up and down wishing that he could just have him. But he knew he couldn't. "Let's get you to bed."

Tony let Steve pick him up off the ground and help him limp to his room. Tony yawned in his drunken state, watching Steve close the door behind him, wishing that things had just gone his way.

Sherlock went into the kitchen, deciding to sleep shirtless, admiring the little square light coming from his chest. He knew he had three more days to return Tony's favour, Devising a plan to stop Loki and his army of Frost Giants form invading Earth. He knew it would have to be subtle. There was a rustle and John entered, rubbing his eyes but stopping dead in his tracks when he saw the Consulting Detective sitting on the counter.

"Oh, sorry. I'll come back LATER. Just needed a glass of water" he said

"No!... I mean, I want you… to stay." Sherlock grumbled

"Alright."

The two sat in awkward silence.

"We'll be going home in four days."

"That's good, Mrs. Hudson will be worried."

"I hope I didn't upset you. Earlier. When you-"

"Nope. I'm alright."

"I am married to my work, John. And it is my only love." He lied.

"I know. I should've known better" John's eyes were transfixed at the blue light in Sherlock's bare chest. The wound was still a little red, but Tony made sure that it didn't bleed much at all, the healing process was unimaginably fast. John touched his fingers to it.

Sherlock hissed as John's cold palm laid flat across his chest. The short man rested his head against Sherlock's body. Sherlock looked at him, his one love. John's eyes drifted up to Sherlock's he leaned in, slowly, slowly, until his lips were a breath away from his flatmates. Sherlock could feel John's breath, warm against his upper lip.

"No" he breathed

Sherlock watched as John wilted in front of him. He cursed himself for making this all so incredibly difficult. He didn't think he could wait. He wanted to hold John close to him and run his fingers through John's coarse blond hair, he wanted to kiss him and love him and consume him. He wanted his John.

"John, I…"

John turned around, his eyes sullen with sleepless nights and saddened thoughts.

"I'm sorry"

John sighed turning away again and closing the door to his bedroom.

Sherlock dropped his head in his hands, wishing and waiting for the day that he could close that gap.