I'm back, my minions. Though only for this super short thing I decided to write, because I love you. You probably hate me, but oh well. I don't know, how many of you remember, why I left for all that time in the first place. It was because of my Christmas project. Which is, in fact, Stony. The prologue should be up in a few hours, I don't understand how this place works, but whatever, I guess. If you would be so sweet to check that out, you can find it soon on my profile and well, it's the only story there other than this one. It's called 12 Years of Christmas. If that tells you anything. The prologue is like super short, I know, but I didn't know how to start with the story, so that's what I came up with. And the first chapter should be up sometime tomorrow. It might be today for you, I don't know, tomorrow for me.

So bye, I'll see you soon, if you'll check 12YOC out. Otherwise, enjoy and you'll just have to wait for Christmas to pass (and maybe a bit more, sorry).

Tony patted Steve's head, when the latter fell asleep with his head on his dinner plate. He had been working a lot lately, saving the world and doing some side-missions for SHIELD. No one was sure, why he insisted on doing all this, but he was Steve and no one wanted to mess with him. There were days when he didn't come home at all and was away for at least 24 hours. And then there were days he came home at midnight, all worn out and fell asleep wherever he landed. Tony would always come out from the workshop or go to the kitchen or wherever he was at the moment and would see Steve laying on the floor or couch. He would smile sullenly and put a blanket on him, before kissing his boyfriend on the forehead. Tony might look, like he doesn't mind Steve being gone for so long, but secretly it is wearing him out too. He just wasn't used to sleeping alone.

"Is he alright?" Bruce asked from across Steve, looking at Tony with a worried look.

Tony smiled sadly and shook his head. "No, not really. He doesn't understand that he can't live with 4 hours of sleep every day for 2 months."

"But are you alright?" Natasha changed the question, putting down his fork and gazing at his teammate.

Tony shook his head again. "No, but I'm used to barely sleeping. I'll be fine."

"So will he," Clint pointed out with his mouth full of lasagne, shrugging. He swallowed the food before continuing. "Even if you are used to this, you are just a human. He is a superhuman, he can live with a little less sleep. After he's out of the workaholic phase, he'll get more sleep and he'll be as good as new. But you will probably pass out soon enough, if you're continuing this."

Even if Tony didn't want to admit it, Clint had a point. He was close to passing out and he really didn't want that to happen. Even more when he was working with something dangerous or while he was in the middle of a fight.

"Lucky you, we'll both get to rest well tonight, if we don't have to save the world," Tony said. That night, when Steve came home, everybody had been both shocked and relieved after he said he won't go anywhere that night. Tony shook Steve's shoulder in an attempt to wake him, causing him to start stirring. "If you don't mind me, we'll go do exactly that now. Rest." He directed the last word towards Steve, who had gotten his mind somewhat right.

"Yeah, okay, rest," Steve mumbled, still half asleep. He wiped his eyes, causing all the food he had on his face to spread all over his cheeks and eyes. "You mean in bed? Probably a good idea, haven't slept in a bed for... How long? Dunno-long."

Tony raised an eyebrow, while everyone else were trying to hold back laughs. "First, you've got to clean that mess off your face. I am not letting a Neanderthal in my bed." He kissed Steve's lips, which had somehow survived the attack of food, before skipping off, shouting over his shoulder: "Clean up and get in bed, I want to be able to sleep tonight. Thanks!"

Reason 51: He's a serious workaholic.