Whew, finally finished this...hope you guys will enjoy it :)


Steve growled as a wolf approximately the size of a grizzly bear slammed into him with full force. The beast bit and clawed at him in mindless rage, foam flying from its jaws. He pushed against his shield, trying his best to keep the snapping fangs as far as possible.

"Thor, what's your status?" he grunted as the creature pushed him flatter and flatter onto the concrete, its pack mates slowly ganging up on him.

"Loki is playing tricks on me, I am still tracking him." boomed the thunder god through the comm-link.

"When you find him...tell him...that jokes like this...ain't funny." panted the Captain as he wrestled with the wolf.

"Indeed." said Thor grimly.

So far the city was plagued by a pack of oversized wolves, a rampaging dragon and a monstrous sea serpent. There were loud roars echoing from the harbor where Hulk fought the serpent and lights flashing across the sky from the dragon's fire and Iron Man's repulsor beams. With Thor looking for his brother and Hawkeye trying his best to help Iron Man, it was up to him and Black Widow to handle the wolf pack. A task he would normally have no trouble executing, but today something was off. As it has been for some time now.

Since that one evening with Tony, he couldn't get his head in the game. He thought that he was ready for anything when he decided to befriend him, but apparently, he was just fooling himself. The whole thing happened two weeks ago and for two weeks straight, Steve avoided the other man as much as he could. It has reached a point in which he hardly said a word to him, all because of that look… The way he stared at him back in that sauna… He still couldn't believe it. Out of all the people the billionaire could possibly have, he wanted him.

But why? He hated me before, what could have changed his opinion that much?

A bit of foam flew into his eye and for a moment, it seemed like he was back in battle. He brushed it off and tried to free himself by punching the beast in the jaw, but the only thing it earned him was even more snarling and gnashing of teeth.

I'm thinking in circles again. Need to focus.

There was a loud yelp as one of Natasha's bullets met its mark. The beast staggered backwards, giving Steve enough room to get up.

"Thanks." he said as he slammed his shield into the wolf's cheek.

With blood pouring from its chest and a blow to the head like that, he was expecting it to collapse but instead, it retaliated even more savagely than before. Steve jumped back hurriedly and raised his shield as its pack mates followed suit. He dodged and blocked the best he could, but the wolves just kept coming.

Get him out of your head. Just this once. You're gonna get someone killed.

Natasha ducked behind a car to reload: "What the hell are these things? It's like fighting a bunch of bears on steroids!"

"I don't know, whatever they-argh!"

Steve fell backwards as one of the wolves managed to bite down on his shin. He slammed it in the face with his shield, but the beast held on, growling loudly.

You're gonna get yourself killed. Even better.

Natasha darted towards him, firing into its head at point blank range. As the first two bullets lodged into its skull, its eyes went blank, but it took three more to make it let go. Steve grabbed her by her arm and pulled her down, protecting them both with his shield. His arm shook as the wolves bore down on them, pounding away at the metal. The smell of blood seemed to be driving them over the edge as their attacks grew more and more relentless.

Steve gritted his teeth with pain: "There's too many of them. We need…backup."

"Let me out."

"What?"

"We need a distraction, let me out."

"I'm gonna be the distraction. You just…" he trailed off as intense pain pulsed through his shin.

Losing a lot of blood there. Nice going, soldier…

He inhaled sharply and continued: "Run and hide somewhere. Now that we know...how to take them out…all it takes is a few well-placed bullets."

"But your leg-"

Is what I get for not thinking straight.

"Is exactly…what they're after right now. I'll let you go...you start firing. Reload…if you have to. Ready?"

Natasha checked her guns: "Yeah."

Steve pulled the shield over himself, leaving her exposed: "Go!"

She sprung up and jumped on the nearest car, spraying the area with bullets. Four of the wolves collapsed right away, the remaining two moved after her snarling. Steve sat up as fast as the injured leg let him.

Get your moves right this time.

"Hey! Over here!" he yelled.

The wolves turned to him and Natasha was just about to jump into cover when the weather started to change. Within seconds, black clouds overshadowed the sun. The sky turned dark grey as the wind picked up. Just unpleasant and chilling at first, but it started getting stronger and within the next few seconds the blizzard hit with full force. Gale hurled snow and ice everywhere, making it almost impossible to see. Steve heard the sound of creaking metal and a muffled scream as the car Widow was standing on toppled over.

"Natasha!" he called out, the wind tearing the words out of his mouth.

Is Loki doing this? What the hell is going on?

The wolves crouched down and bristled against the howling wind. Steve slammed his shield into the forming layer of ice, hoping that it would prevent him from getting blown into them. Much to his dismay, the eyes of the beasts remained ravenous. They started moving towards him, the only apparent change being their posture. It was as if they've hardly noticed the storm. Steve gripped his shield tighter and bowed his head against the flying shards of ice.

Come on, Rogers, you'd better think fast if you want to get out of this one.

He could hear their heavy breathing and bellowing growls just inches away from him.

Get out of here. There's nothing you can do if they catch you now.

He forced himself to move, ignoring a growing urge to look back.

Crawl if you have to, whatever you do, just keep moving.

There was a loud crash as something landed on the ground not far in front of him.

Probably another car. Keep going.

He cried out in pain as fangs dug deep into his injured leg. It was to be expected. He was dealing with predators and predators always went for the weak spot. He kicked the beast with his free leg to no avail. The sound of wrinkling metal and snapping bones resonated in his ears as something heavy landed right on top of him. There was a wave of sharp pain and a blinding flash of light, then everything went black.


Tony paced around the room nervously, his steps echoing heavily. Even though it has been three hours since their fight ended, he still didn't bother to remove his suit. That could wait, what really mattered right now was the bed in front of him and the man lying in it.

He should've been up by now. They've stopped the bleeding and it's not like a few broken bones stopped him before.

A thought that has been repeatedly crossing his mind ever since he brought him in. By now it was nearing the point in which it drove him crazy. To make matters even worse, his hands were shaking almost uncontrollably. Had to be the lack of sleep and caffeine overdose kicking in. He already went into the fight without sleeping for two days and now this had to happen.

"Come on, Rogers, stop doing this to me!" he growled at the unconscious soldier. "You're mad at me for what I did last time, I get it. Point taken. Would you wake the fuck up now?!"

As expected, the other man remained motionless, the only sign of life being his shallow breathing. The billionaire ran a hand across his scalp and ruffled his already shaggy hair.

Great, now I'm talking to myself.

"Perhaps it would be wise to rest, sir."

"Shut up, JARVIS..." He pushed his fingers into his eyes. "I can't. Not when he's like this."

"You truly are fond of him, sir."

Tony looked back at the bed: "That's a huge understatement and you know it."

"I'm pretty sure he will be alright, sir. Captain Rogers is very resilient."

As if to prove him right, Steve groaned quietly and shifted under the covers.

Tony leaned over the bed hurriedly: "Cap, can you hear me?"

The other man furrowed his brow, his jaw clenching as he grunted with pain: "Yeah."

He opened his eyes and looked back at him, his gaze slightly unfocused. It was apparent that he was struggling not to cry out.

"How...bad?" he managed to push out of himself.

"Well, aside from the bruising, a huge bite on your leg, three broken ribs, a broken arm, a broken collar bone and a concussion as far as I know."

Much to his surprise, the other man chuckled. "Ah!" he growled as the broken ribs moved. "Should be...fine...tomorrow...or day...after that..." He closed his eyes against the pain and inhaled sharply. "You know...what sucks about it...the most?"

"Aside from you having me worry my ass off? I'm not sure." remarked Tony sarcastically.

Steve almost chuckled again, but stopped himself just in time: "I get...no slack... Painkillers...don't work..." He looked back at him, his gaze focused this time. "I'm not mad...You just...confused me...I was...afraid..."

At this point it was getting difficult to understand him and Tony had to listen closely to make out what he said. When he did, he almost wished he hadn't.

He heard me...oh shit, he heard me...

He decided to do what he did best in those kinds of situations and play dumb: "What are you talking about?"

Steve sighed with both exasperation and pain. It was hard enough for him to talk as it was and he wasn't in the mood for explaining himself twice.

"You know, Tony." he grunted. "What will it take...to make you stop?"

Tony shifted on his feet nervously and looked away: "Stop thinking about you?"

"Stop...messing with me. Talk to me...openly."

The billionaire glared at him: "You're the one who started pretending not to know me. What was I supposed to do? I was hoping you'd at least tell me to go fuck myself, but instead you just refused to do anything about it!"

Steve shook his head. "You're the one...with a crush..."

Tony's face started flushing red: "I..."

"Is it so hard...to just...ask me?"

The billionaire's eyes almost widened with surprise. Out of all the things the other man could possibly say to him, this seemed like the one least likely.
Is he suggesting...?

"Trust me." Steve contiuned. "I know...what it's like. To love someone...you can't have. Or in your case...think...you can't have."

Now Tony's eyes went wide for real: "Are you saying-"

The blonde shook his head. "I don't know. But I want to...find out. For both our sakes." He tilted his head back into the pillow and closed his eyes: "Ask me... While you can."

Tony rubbed the back of his head gingerly: "So uh, it's a date? I mean, after you get through this."

Oh you mumbling idiot...

His opinion was confirmed by the other man's eye roll: "If only...I could use my arm...to give this...the reaction it deserves..." He continued with a half-smile: "But yeah...it's a date. Be ready...in two days. I will be...for sure."

"So...dinner at my place at 8?" asked Tony, still hardly able to comprehend what they were talking about.

"Sounds good. Now get out...you're shaking like a...chihuahua. Get some sleep...and don't worry about me."

"Do you ever stop giving orders?" asked the billionaire in an attempt to return the joke.

Steve looked back at him: "You know me. Now scram."


There you go, Tony's dreams are finally coming true! The next chapter will be the last one, but I want to make it worth it, so it might take a while...still, if you've made it this far, please bear with me :P