Author's Note: Here we are next installment, only a couple chapters left to get up and we can but this one to rest. Well until we get the beta version and replace with that. For now many thanks to everyone who's been so supportive, hope you enjoy the final chapter.

Chapter 14 – Return

"You came back," Steve whispered, eyes darting from Tony to Loki and back furtively. It was taking all his training not to reach out and pull him close, lose himself in those big arms.

"Course I did," he replied leaning against the bulkhead of the plane, bare inches from the handsome blond as they spoke in hushed tones.

"Did the military send you back?" Steve asked curious, concentration creasing his brow.

Tony shook his head slowly; "No…they didn't want me anywhere near SHIELD."

Steve frowned confused before a worried, panic expression settled on his features, "Tony are you AWOL?" he hissed furtively turning back to the captive recalling they weren't alone.

Amused the now ex-Colonel gave him a reassuring smile, "No Steve as of," he glanced at his watch, "Half hour ago I was honorably discharged from the service." At Steve's dubious look he held up a palm, "Hand to God."

The man in the colorful suit cracked a half smile, "How could you possibly get a discharge so fast?" Chucking Tony opened his mouth to reply when the plane dipped precariously, a flash of lightening lighting the windows. Across the plane Loki flinched. Steve noticed.

"Afraid of a little lightening?" he asked, once more all business.

Distracted the prisoner looked upwards, "I'm not fond of what comes after." A sudden thump from above had both Tony and Steve looking upward with identical expression of worry. Tony hurried to the back; opening the ramp when suddenly something…or rather someone came barreling inside.

Before either man could respond the new figure grabbed Loki by throat, leaping out of the plane in a swirl of red cloak. Stunned Steve froze, Tony was much more vocal in his displeasure.

"Fuck!" he cursed taking a moment to strap on his helmet and pull down his goggles.

"Wait Tony we need a plan!" the big blond finally managed, finding his voice.

"I have a plan; attack," Tony hollered before diving after the pair. Steve cursing hurried to follow suit. Struggling to tug on his own parachute he mentally cursed Tony, he'd been wearing his chute since he dropped from the helicopter.

"Stark didn't go after them did he?" Natasha hollered over the storm outside. Steve grunted in the affirmative. She cursed in Russian, "Leave it alone Cap, Tony should have left it alone. They're practically Gods."

Snorting Steve finally got strapped in cinching up, "Pretty sure there's only one God Tasha, and he doesn't dress like that."

Turning he ran off the plane chasing after the man he'd come to love, heart in his throat.

-#-#-#-

"Are you here to make sure I behave?" he muttered, grunting in pain as he finished his inspection of his rapidly blackening ribs.

"Actually, I'm amazed that you're still alive. I have a hard time believing that you fought Thor…and walked away." If Tony didn't know any better he would have sworn Agent Coulson was laughing at him.

"You're concern is touching," he remarked dryly. Dropping his shirt he re-tucked it moving slowly, painfully, across the room towards the SHIELD Agent.

"Shall we?" Tony asked gesturing towards the hallway, eager to get back to Steve. He had a feeling the blond was going to seriously chew his ass out for the little stunt. Not that Tony blamed him…Pepper was apparently right he did have the self-preservation of a snail. Who in their right mind took on a Norse God of legend? Apparently Tony did.

Still all things considered he thought he'd managed to hold his own rather well. It had been a battle of epic proportions though, and he couldn't help the stupid smug grin that crossed his rather bruised features. God or no God he'd given the blond myth something to remember him by. Of course he'd probably be the one feeling it for longer.

"I hear you're unemployed," Coulson remarked casually as the headed towards the others waiting in the conference room.

"Good news travels fast apparently," Tony muttered.

He said nothing more following the man onto the main bridge. He spotted Steve slumped in one of the chairs looking pensive, and Tony knew from experience rather annoyed. No doubt that was his fault. Stuffing big hands into his pockets he entered the room proper in time to hear an unfamiliar voice speaking.

"Iridium, what do they need Iridium for?"

"Stabilizing agent," he answered absently heading towards Steve, pausing to give Thor a conciliatory slap. "No hard feelings Point Break, you have a mean swing," he commented before moving to stand in Cap's space, leaning a bruised hip against the table.

Without pause he returned to the prior conversation, "It means the portal can opened wide, and stay open as long, as Loki wants."

Curiously Tony eyed the rather nervous looking dark haired man who was very obviously distancing himself from the others. A mental picture of a raging green monster rolled through his head this must be the infamous Doctor Bruce Banner.

"The rest of the raw materials, Agent Barton can get his hands on pretty easily. Only major component he still needs is a power source. A high energy density something to kick start the cube." As Tony spoke he felt a warm weight settle on him Steve leaning forward in his chair to slump tiredly against him. Smiling a little Tony shifted letting the man rest more comfortably against him as he continued to talk to Doctor Banner.

"When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics?" Agent Hill snarked from across the room.

Tony shrugged dismissively, "Last twenty-four hours did no one else do the readings?"

He felt Steve shake his head as he spoke, not moving from his position face mashed into his side, "Does he need any particular kind of power source?"

"He's got to heat the cube to a hundred and twenty million Kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier." Bruce answered not batting an eye at the pair.

"Unless, Selvig has figured out how to stabilize the quantum tunneling effect," the now ex-Colonel mused aloud.

"Well, if he could do that he could achieve heavy ion fusion at any reactor on the planet." Bruce said answering his thoughts aloud.

Gratified Tony offered him a wide genuine smile, "Finally someone who speaks English."

Steve snorted nuzzling affectionately against him, "Is that what happened?" he mumbled.

Amused Tony leaned down pressing a quick kiss to blond locks before gently sliding out from under him, moving across the room with his hand outstretched. "It's good to meet you, Dr. Banner, I'm Tony Stark. You're work on anti-electron collisions is unparalleled. And I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster."

Banner wasn't sure to laugh or roll his eyes at this man who seemed larger then life. He was big bulky, and if he'd been a man to stereotype he would have bet his last dollar this jarhead wouldn't be able to string a sentence together. Yet here he was arguing thermonuclear astrophysics with the man, "Thanks."

Nick Fury schooled his features into solemn calm, yet on the inside he was wanted to yell in triumph, things where finally coming together. "Dr. Banner is only here to track the cube. I was hoping you might join him."

Tony eyed him warily across the room, "You offering me a job Fury?"

"Let's call it consulting for now shall we? Not sure if I want to offer you a job."

Tony snorted turning back to Bruce, "Shall we play doctor?"

Steve watched the two men exit the room, eyes lingering wholly longer then necessary on Tony. He wanted to chase after him, grab the back of his uniform and hold on like some lovesick teenager. Make him promise to never leave him again. Instead he forced himself to turn back to Fury waiting as patiently as he could for the dismissal. It appeared however the director was already deep in conversation with the others.

Quickly he slipped out fumbling his way towards the lab.

Stepping inside he spotted Tony instantly standing with Doctor Banner. He looked handsome, if tired and bruised. He was still in his combats but stripped to his shirtsleeves, Steve could see the bottom of his tattoo as he moved his arms, gesturing as he spoke. Starry-eyed Steve watched him, not really listening to the conversation until he saw Tony give Bruce a sharp poke.

"Ow!" Banner said rubbing his side.

Tony stared intently at him, "Nothing?"

Steve felt his jaw drop, "Are you nuts Tony?" he demanded staring at his lover, wanting to throttle him in worried exasperation. First he fights some sort of demi-God and now he's literally poking a sleeping dragon…the man had no sense of self-preservation.

Tony tossed him a charming devil-may-care smile, "Jury's out." Steve tried to ignore his heart flipping over in his chest.

"It's fine I wouldn't have come if I couldn't handle the odd pointed object," Bruce interjected.

Tony was moving across the room then rooting for what Steve knew to be snacks. Tony was perpetually hungry, "You're tiptoeing big man, you need to strut."

Steve rolled his eyes, "Tony…" he sighed drawing out his name.

The dark headed man returned with a mocking "Steve…" too used to it by now to let him ruffle him.

The big blond crossed his arms deciding to change the subject, "What was that back there? Why was Fury offering you a job?"

Tony had managed to find something, happily munching away on blueberries as he moved around the room. Shrugging as he answered the question, "Probably because I'm unemployed."

Dark eyes met eager blue, "So you're not going back to combat?"

Slowly the other man shook his head, "Not unless your spangled ass is headed that way."

Steve gave him a wide sunny smile, "So you're going to work for SHIELD then?"

Tony Stark shook his head, "Nope don't think so…actually mercenary kind of had a nice ring to it." He winked at the frowning Steve.

"How come you won't work for him?"

Tony gave his lover a long suffering look, "I don't trust him, I don't trust any of this operation. He'd hiding something from us babe; I mean he'd a spy. The spy. His secrets have secrets." He turned to look at Banner once more pulling him back into the conversation, "You think so too don't you?"

Steve ignored the flush at the endearment, it flustered and warmed him how open and affectionate Tony was. Collecting himself he looked at the other occupant of the room, "Do you Doctor Banner?"

Bruce looked pensive and reluctant, "I just want to do my work…" at Captain America's look he sighed holding his hands up in surrender. "I mean honestly, do things not seem a little hinky to you Steve?"

His brow furrowed in confusion, as Tony moved into his line of vision speaking softly. "No worries I'll have the answers soon, I have JARVIS cracking the files." Steve still confused darted a look at Banner before leaning closer to the other man.

"Should you do that Tony?"

Grinning the big man shrugged, "Mercenary."

Dark eyes raked his form then, Tony leaning a little closer. "I want to rip that uniform off you, and lick ever inch of-" sputtering red faced, Steve slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Not now," he hissed worried glancing to see if Doctor Banner had heard. A rough tongue lapped at his hand.

"Later?' Tony asked with promises in his eyes.

"Just find the cube Tony," he hissed beating a hasty retreat before his body embarrassed him completely.

Tony grinned as the door hissed closed behind the perfectly handsome man, chuckling he turned back to the busy Bruce. The scientist smirking to himself as he pretended he hadn't heard the exchange.

"Try to button down that jealously Brucie, we have a job to do."