Author's Note: For this story we are pretending Howard never explained what 'fondue' meant so that's what makes this sweetly adorable!

Thanks to ravingbeauty for once again her fantastic work.

You're No Hero

Chapter 9 - He'd completely messed this up

Steve stood before the mirror in his room, looking at his reflection rather dubiously.

It had taken much longer than he'd anticipated to dress, mostly because he was afraid to leave his room wearing something so out of character.

His dress shirt, a deep blue, was too small for his frame. It was tight, accenting every muscle in his upper body, the first couple of buttons undone to expose the strong, bronzed neck. His dark jeans were snug, bordering on indecent, and his black shoes were so well buffed you could see your reflection in them. Under all this, however, was what was really making him blush. Normally a boxers man, he was wearing very tight, snug, bikini briefs in a bright red. They were absolutely indecent.

"Captain Rogers, Mr. Stark would like to know if you are ready or if you require more time. There is no rush; the reservations can always be postponed."

Steve took a deep breath, "No, JARVIS, I'm coming now." He took a deep breath… It was now or never. He headed down to meet his boyfriend, spotting Tony standing at the bottom of the stairs. He was dressed impeccably, as always. His bright white shirt contrasted with his dark looks, his jeans were dark, and for once he was wearing nice leather dress shoes.

Steve was halfway down when Tony glanced up to greet him. The look on his face was worth all the worry he'd put into dressing.

Tony's brain shut down. The man was sex on legs – Bruce hadn't been kidding, Steve was definitely up to something… and Tony was more than willing to let Steve have his way with him.

The hunger in the dark eyes made the blond shiver in anticipation.

"You look amazing," Tony mumbled as he pulled the man close, sharing a chaste kiss – any more than that and there was no way they'd make it out of the Tower.

"Thank you," Steve said quietly. As a light flush crossed his cheeks, a slightly cool hand clasped his warm one. Tony always seemed to be a little cooler than was normal, but Steve was unsure if it was Tony himself or because Steve was always warm. Made chatty by nerves, he asked softly, "Tony, have you noticed you're always a little cooler than me?"

As they headed down in the elevator, a callused thumb idly rubbed Steve's knuckles. "Hmmm, side effect of this," Tony answered as he tapped the blue glow of his chest. "My circulation is slower, but you'll keep me warm, won't you, babe?" He grinned at Steve, lifting their linked hands to kiss Steve's fingers.

Outside Steve looked at his boyfriend in surprise when they were picked up by a limo.

Tony shrugged, "All for you."

Steve had never been in anything like it before. He tried not to gawp at everything as he settled beside Tony and smiled all the way to the restaurant.

As they exited the long black car, Tony spoke quietly, "JARVIS said this was the place for fondue." He smiled at Steve and took his boyfriend's hand once more, missing the look of perplexity that crossed the handsome face.

Entering the restaurant, Steve noticed the stares that usually followed the celebrity Tony Stark were in fact following him instead. "What is everyone staring at?" he asked, glancing around as they headed towards their table.

"Probably wondering the same thing I am," Tony paused, turning to wink at the surprised looking man. "If you're wearing underwear under those ridiculously tight jeans."

Steve gave a strangled noise as he fell into the booth, his face as red as a tomato.

Grinning widely, Tony chuckled, "So, are you?"

Steve buried his head in his arms, not deigning to reply.

Still laughing, Tony ordered them drinks and, as requested, fondue. By the time Steve had managed to collect himself, their drinks had come. "So, word on the street is the Tower is once more empty of anyone save us," Tony said slyly.

Steve nodded, "Yeah, they left this afternoon."

They chatted a bit more about nothing in particular until a large pot with a flame under it was delivered to the table, followed by a bowl full of bread.

"What's this?" Steve asked intrigued.

Tony arched a dark brow. "Fondue, babe," he said softly.

Steve's eyes widened. "You mean… I thought… it's not…" he trailed off, looking bewildered.

Worried now, the shorter man reached across the table to take one of Steve's hands in his. "You…?" he asked gently. Steve looked very confused, an expression Tony hadn't seen on the man's face since the first weeks after being thawed. Tony watched as Steve seemed to visibly slump, shrinking in defeat.

Something had gone wrong. In his naivety Steve had terribly misunderstood. He'd completely messed this up, he thought as he looked morosely across the table at Tony.

"Steve? You ok? Do you want to go home?" Tony asked gently.

"I messed up," he confessed quietly.

"No, you didn't. Tell me what's wrong and we'll fix it." Tony gave him a warm smile and Steve wanted to lunge across the table and hug him tightly. This wonderfully patient man, Steve thought as he squeezed the hand holding his tightly.

Steve decided he might as well come clean. "I got confused, I tho-" he was cut off by a sudden frantic beeping from Tony's pocket.

"Uh oh…" Tony mumbled as he tugged out his phone. He had it up to his ear in a heartbeat. "Stark," he answered briskly, listening for a minute. "Yes, he's here…" another pause. "Where?" before seconds later, "On our way." He hung up and they were already moving out of the restaurant. "Time to rock and roll, Cap," he said as they hurried to the limo.

"Where are we going?" Steve asked as Tony pulled out his bracelets.

"Outside of town again. I guess there's another rift close to the last one."

With no time to get anything save his shield, Steve grabbed onto Tony as Iron Man's faceplate slid down.

-#-#-#-

They were on their own this time.

The rift that had opened had closed by itself and there really weren't all that many creatures, but it was dark. There weren't many lights this far out, Steve noted as he tossed his shield with a grunt, watching as several of the creatures fell.

"Ok, Spangles?" Tony asked affectionately as he pulled the metal head off a strange-looking thing.

"Yeah, Tony," Steve answered as another oddly oblong beastie fell with a high-pitched whine. Now there were only three left that Steve could see. Wanting to get these things knocked out, he gave a hard throw, cutting through soft underbellies and dropping them like flies.

"Got you," he said smugly as he deftly caught his shield, hearing yet another rip. His too small, too tight shirt had not been made for this type of activity. Steve finally tugged it off with a disgusted sigh as he heard a wolf whistle in his ear.

"Nice," Tony commented.

Flushing, Steve shook his head and glanced around to make sure they were indeed alone out here. He looked up at the other, feeling bold. "Wait until later…" Steve said, smiling widely despite the flutter of his heart.

Tony fell out of the sky in shock, a shot of lust running though him. "Later…?" he mumbled. Touching down nearby he walked over to the half-naked man. Steve was looking all kinds of fantastic standing shirtless in the moonlight, holding the shield.

Tony grinned as his helmet pulled back and he headed over, "Well, I think I earn-"

Steve looked over and frowned as his boyfriend went silent, an odd expression on his face.

Tony trailed off, eyes wide. Behind the tall blond was a giant metal something in its death throws, rose off the ground aiming right at Captain America. Tony rushed forward firing as he went, but the thing managed to get a shot off before falling to the ground, a smoking hole through its head.

Tony had always thought those slow motion scenes in movies where time seems to stand still were complete shit. Now though, as he raced towards the man of his dreams, the world seemed to stop altogether. He watched helplessly as that frown turned to an "o" of surprise as suddenly a long metal pole impaled that broad chest.

"Tony!" Steve's lips formed the word, but whether he yelled it or not the other man was unsure. Blue eyes rolled back as he slumped to the ground.

The world spun back into motion and Tony was there, catching his boyfriend. "Steve, you stay with me," he whispered as he gathered him close; he was not going to let him die. Pushing aside his terror, he easily lifted Steve's weight with the suit, taking off at high speed for SHIELD.

-#-#-#-

Tony's arrival with the bleeding, unconscious Captain America caused a great deal of chaos.

He hadn't wanted to let go of Steve, causing the doctors and nurses to yell at him and each other as they hooked up machines. It was all pointless noise.

The man in his arms was unnaturally pale as his blood pattered on the too-white floor and that bar of metal jutted grotesquely from once solid skin. As if he was some outside spectator, Tony saw himself placing the limp form on the gurney, watching it disappear behind swinging doors.

The commotion gone, Tony stood motionless for long moments, completely lost in the deafening silence. He wanted to yell in rage, break every goddamn piece of furniture in front of him, blast this fucking place to bits. His mind rebelled at the thought of waiting idly by… but his heart was telling him it wouldn't help.

"Tony?" Fury was before him, looking very grim and drawn. "They took him into surgery, it's going to be a while… you may want to clean up," he said quietly.

Tony looked down at his armor, finding it now smeared with blood, darkening as it dried. He shook his head trying to clear it. "I'll go clean up," he said distantly; there were no sarcastic comebacks, just a thousand yard stare.

Numb, he washed his suit and packed it away before showering and pulling on borrowed SHIELD sweats and t-shirt. Returning to the uncomfortable waiting room chairs, settling in for the long haul. Fury settled down to wait with him, at some point handing him a cup of black coffee.

The pair waiting as the night faded into morning, Fury left again to work, giving the genius a pat on the shoulder.

Tony waited on.

"Mr. Stark?"

He jolted awake, blinking in confusion before the events of the previous night crashed back to him. The pain in his chest making his breath hitch, "Yes?" he asked, voice husky from sleep.

"He's out of surgery now. It all went well, no complications. He's a very lucky man, it missed all vital organs." The doctor was pretty, Tony noted absently, but he was barely hearing her; all he wanted was a simple little phrase. "He's going to be just fine, Mr. Stark," she smiled at him.

That was the one.

He leapt out of the chair, grinning like a mad man. "What room?" When she pointed to the second door on the left he was already gone.

Tony ran, slipping on the clean floor. Steve was there, lying still and pale on the narrow bed, that looked far too small for him. Tony's breath came sharp and painful as he walked into the sterile room. Like a moth drawn to the flame, he was by Steve's side, watching the big chest rise and fall.

With every movement the anxiety and fear began to lift. Steve was going to be ok. Legs suddenly shaky, Tony sat heavily in the nearby chair. After staring at the still profile for long moments, he reached out gently to take a large hand in his own, shaking his head ruefully.

"You scared me, Spangles," he whispered, kissing Steve's knuckles gently. As he leaned back in the chair he held the hand tightly, watching the machines beep steadily, telling himself again and again Steve was going to be just fine.