Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 469

With Both Hands

He wasn't crying.

Okay, so maybe he was crying a little, but he was alone so it was fine and he could deny it.

He'd known that he and Steve wouldn't work out, hadn't he?

He really shouldn't be so surprised by it.

Of course, he hadn't expected Steve to believe the press that Tony was having an affair, but the means didn't really matter.

He'd known that he and Steve wouldn't work out.

He hadn't known that it would hurt so much. The sadness, that he expected, because even as he'd known that they wouldn't work, he'd hoped he'd be able to prove himself wrong.

Grabbing a yellow rag from the workbench, Tony dried his face—and probably streaked it with oil in the process—and then took a deep breath.

"Okay, J, show me what I'm supposed to be working on."

…

"Sir, Captain Rogers is attempting to enter the workshop."

Tony blinked, looking around himself. He'd buried himself in his work to try and avoid the pain, and he realised he had no idea how long he'd been there.

"Uh. Why?"

"He wishes to speak to you. He says there's been a misunderstanding."

Tony frowned, but nodded. "Let him in, J."

The doors slid open, and Steve stepped inside. Seeing him hurt even more, so Tony looked away, his eyes trained on the floor.

"Tony?"

"What's up, Cap?"

"Look at me, Sweetheart."

The pet-name was unexpected, and Tony looked up to see Steve looking at him with sad eyes.

"I didn't believe that article this morning," Steve said firmly, stepping closer. "When I left, it was to go to the editor and demand a retraction, only… I guess I didn't communicate that to you, did I?"

Tony shook his head silently.

"Nat told me that you left shortly after me, and then she whacked me over the back of the head for being a dumbass."

"So you don't… hate me?"

"Oh, Tony, no," Steve murmured, reaching out to grip Tony's hand in his own. He gently pulled Tony to his feet and into a firm hug. "I love you, idiot. I'd never believe some dumb article written by some asshole that doesn't know you."

Tony buried his face against Steve's chest. "I love you too."

"C'mon, let's go and get some food," Steve said after a long moment. "And then we'll binge watch some really terrible tv, and heckle Clint for getting into it? How's that sound?"

"Sounds perfect," Tony replied quietly. "I'm sorry I thought—"

"Hey, no. This was my fault, you did nothing wrong."

Tony nodded and let Steve lead him from the workshop.

He still wasn't convinced that they could make it work, but after the pain of thinking Steve had left him, Tony knew that he was going to hold on with both hands.

Written for:

North - Snowman, Step 4. 9. Crying

East - Yuletide, S2. 7. Yellow

South - Menorah, 17. Sadness

365. 323. Affair