Hi, my bitches, I'm back.

Wait, no, wrong way to start.

Hey, my lovely readers. After months of being gone I have suddenly come to the conclusion that I suck and I should probably finish this piece of shit, because you have no idea, how guilty I feel. I don't think anyone will actually read this, since it's been so long and most of you probably think I'm dead by now.

So since I obviously have no idea what to write, I'm just gonna have Steve realizing stuff in the middle of the night, because that's #fcute.

Stay sexy.

Steve turned his head to look at the clock on the window. The light blue numbers seemed alien in the otherwise dark room. 1:21 AM it read. Steve sighed and laid down next to Tony, careful to keep at least some distance. "Come on, Tony, it's late. You should be sleeping by now," he said, looking at the dark form of Tony laying next to him.

"We both know full well neither of us can sleep," Tony snorted, sounding amused. "Nightmares are bitches, aren't they?" Tony got into a more comfortable position, laying on his side. He pulled the fluffy blanket closer to him and snuggled into it.

Steve chuckled in agreement. "You can say that again." There was a silence for a few seconds, until Steve bit his lip and looked at Tony in concern. "You don't have to answer that, but... What do you see? Like that time a few days ago. I don't think I've ever seen you so scared. You almost killed me."

Tony's heart dropped to his stomach. No matter how much he thought of it, he still couldn't believe he almost choked Steve to death. "I think you know. You've read my file. I see everything that's happened. Afghanistan, Stane, Vanko, Loki... That particular night was Afghanistan though."

Steve was silent for a second and Tony couldn't make out his features enough to know what he was thinking. "But you've gotten better, right? I won't find you again with a gun pointed at your head?"

"Of course I've gotten better," Tony responded with a fond smile. "Thanks to you, big guy. If you wouldn't be here for me, then... I guess I wouldn't be here either."

Tony saw, how Steve visibly flinched. "Yeah... Could we maybe change the topic? I really don't want to talk about that and I doubt you want either."

"Damn right I don't. I've got a hot super soldier in my bed, I'd rather not talk at all."

"Tony."

"Okay, right. Personal boundaries. Got it."

"But seriously though. Let's talk about something else. Are you working on any new projects?"

"Oh god, you have no idea. So I have this crazy slash brilliant idea..."

And just like that was Tony off, rambling in both mathematical and scientific languages, causing Steve to not understand anything he was saying. But he didn't really mind. He could feel, how excited Tony was about it and he sounded really happy at that moment. For a minute, all his problems caused by his PTSD were thrown out the window.

It has been quite a while since Tony's... suicide attempt. Steve had made it his job to look out for Tony and take care of him. That included staying up until 4 AM and laying in his bed, talking with him the whole time. Every free minute was spent together and Steve felt, like he really had a friend he could trust again.

Steve had absolutely no idea, why he was so smitten with the idiot. Maybe it was because Tony was as passionate about his inventions as Steve was about his art. He wasn't sure why, but he could see the similarities between them, when they were working on something. Though there was this one thing Tony had that Steve probably didn't. When Tony was really attached to his projects, he shut everything out. Absolutely nothing could take his attention, because it all was turned towards whatever Tony was working on. And Steve found it really, really, intimidating.

Another reason might've been Tony's charm. Right after they had gotten over the whole hate thing and at least talked with each other, Steve noticed, how interested Tony was in the team. Even though he covered it with lots of sarcasm and sass, Tony always made subtle compliments to others and listened really carefully to anything they had to say.

There was also Tony's generosity. Steve had lost the count of how many times Tony had stayed up all night to make something for the team. He also made sure that everything they might need was in the Tower ready.

So yeah, Tony might've not gotten enough of the credit needed for that.

And let's not even forget, what a genius he was. I mean, come on, J.A.R.V.I.S., Iron Man? Even his little bots Butterfingers, U and DUM-E were amazing.

Steve looked at Tony's face, as he gestured wildly with his hands. Once again he was taken aback because of Tony's appearance. Even at midnight, when Tony was tired, hair sticking in every direction and he had bags under his eyes, he looked really good. There's no denying it, Tony was attractive. With his feather-soft brown hair and piercing hazel eyes. With his long dark eyelashes, that brushed perfectly against his cheekbones. With his smoking hot body and perfect olive skin and-

Wait, what?

Laying there, listening to Tony rant about how a flying motorcycle would work, Steve had a thought that almost made him flee. 'Holy shit, I'm in love with Tony.'

Reason 52: He's my best friend and I know I can count on him to wake up in the middle of the night and cuddle with me.

If I ever wrote Steve realizing he loves Tony any differently, scratch that chapter, tear it in pieces, put the pieces in a box, lock the box, let a shark eat the box, burn the shark and eat the shark. This is how it should be and I'm willing to fight anyone, who starts arguing with me about it.

Stay sexy, babes.