No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)

by starkyoukai

For Steve to take his mind off his newly complex "relationship" with Tony Stark, he accepts a mission that takes him directly to the root of their problem. Old foes have teamed up to eliminate the Stark family long before Tony would ever become Iron Man. Warnings: This fic is very explicit. (It has underage rape/non-Consensual/abuse elements in this story.)

21. The Seven Seas Of Rhye

Chapter 21: The Seven Seas of Rhye

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Steve Rogers was sent to the year 1989 on the evening of October 19th. He remained in Tony's past and Steve returned from the mission on October 22nd.

It had been a week since the adult Tony was returned to the present time. Steve was fully distracted. He had a guest bedroom on his floor. He moved Bucky onto his floor and they operated almost like roommates.

He showed Bucky his way around the tower. He got to know the kitchen very well and liked that living space the most. Bucky never got around to that talk he wanted to have with Steve. The Winter Soldier was never in the right mindset for it.

Steve watched his friend open up to everyone more and more. Bucky really seemed to like Thor and he always asked him about what was outside Earth.
They talked about planets and he let Bucky try to lift Mjolnir.

In the week since he arrived Bucky hadn't seen much of Bruce Banner, but when he did see him he was always polite and asked Bruce what kind of tea he drank.
He even asked him what the point of drinking tea was. He had no idea what that was all about.

It was a pointless drink to Bucky.

It took two days for Clint to warm up to Bucky because he hated him even being around. Their first conversation was mainly about weapons. Eventually, Clint latched onto Bucky like the others and they even started to have sparring sessions with him.

Natasha wasn't hesitant at all to join in.
Bucky was sweet on Natasha but she acted blindly to it. Now, she had two men that wanted her affection.
Steve found it hilarious and he wanted to bug her about it because of how she CONSTANTLY tried to get him to go out with people.

Slowly Bucky Barnes got to know each Avenger. Well, he got to know all of them except ONE.

Steve watched Bucky spar with Natasha and he thought about Tony. He had locked himself in his lab since he returned and he had barely ventured out since.
He avoided everyone. Steve felt avoided. At that point, the soldier was sick of it.

Everyone in the tower decided to declare that day a NO WORK day. They wanted to bring Tony out of his lab.
Steve had to make sure that Tony was going to make an appearance. Steve patiently waited for Tony to leave his hole in the ground for the majority of the day so he could speak to him. When it neared a later hour in the evening Steve decided enough was enough.

"Guys, I'll be back." Steve left the gymnasium and Bucky watched him leave.
He wondered where he was headed but then he had a very swift punch to dodge. He really had to be

quick on his feet to avoid the redhead.
Clint watched the fight and he snacked on some corn-nuts.

Steve made a quick stop at the kitchen. He picked up something he made earlier that afternoon and then he headed down to Tony's lab. He stopped at the glass door and he could see Tony as he worked on something inside.

"Jarvis? Please tell Tony I would like to enter." He said as he sighed softly.

A moment later Jarvis responded.
"Sir, he does not want to be disturbed."
Steve started to pound loudly on the door. He was not going to take no for an answer. Steve was going to break it down if he had to.

"Does he know that he has been down here for a week?" Steve continued to knock loudly.

"Sir, you are to be informed that the glass is soundproof so any knocking cannot be heard."

"JARVIS PLEASE TELL HIM TO LET ME IN."

There was silence. He watched as Tony looked up from what he worked on. Tony decided to take more time on his current project. It needed to do very specific things.
He turned around and looked at Steve. Tony tossed something down and he walked over to the door.

"Jarv, cue the outside speaker." Tony decided to just talk to him through the door.

Steve heard the speaker buzz on and he stared at Tony as he stepped closer. He crossed his arms and stared at the brunette through the door.

"Visiting hours are by appointment only. Sorry big guy."
"TONY you have been down here since you got back. What the hell are you doing?" Steve did not think that it was funny at all.

Tony just tossed up his hands and tensed up his shoulders like he didn't know anything. I dunnnooo...

"You're avoiding everyone. You barely leave and.." Steve got pissed off. He wondered, why did Tony have to shut everyone out. IT ANNOYED HIM.

"I told you, I'm working on something." Tony rubbed at his eye socket and Steve just sighed.

"Have you eaten anything?"
"I think so? I think about eating a lot so, does that count?" Tony couldn't remember.

Steve held up a bag of food. Most likely Steve's made with love sandwiches. Tony loved those but, he wasn't going to give in. His stomach started to indicate just how hungry he was.
Tony scratched at his neck and then he looked back over at his workspace.

Nooooooo no distractions! AHHHH he was on a roll with his work.

"Today is October 29th." Steve held a frown as Tony looked back at him with a confused look on his face.

UHHH was that date supposed to mean something?
"Is that like, our anniversary? or whut?" Tony started to laugh and Steve glared.

"An anniversary would only apply if we were actually in a relationship. SO THAT WOULD BE A NO. Today is officially not a workday. Everyone upstairs has plans and we want to see you."

"Everyone upstairs wants to see me? orrrrr YOU want to see me?" Tony pointed at Steve and spit out a response. Steve stared at the bag of food in his hands. He felt defeated but he refused to let it show. It would have been nice to see Tony but, Steve stopped his attempts to talk to him.

The first few days he made up excuses to head down to his lab, but he was rejected each time. Steve gave up after the fourth attempt. He was only down there for the team.

At least, that was what he told himself.

"Tony, we all want to see you. Bucky and Clint are pretty good friends now and they want to have a poker tournament. I want you to be there." Steve didn't respond to Tony's insinuation that HE specifically wanted to see Tony.

It made Steve feel mocked and he refused to go there.

UUHM EW? POKER Tournament of LAME. Tony cringed and he started to rub at his ear. Ugh, he thought about what Steve said. He sighed and just opened the door for him.
He let Steve into his shop.

The whole talking through the door thing bothered him. Tony started to walk back over to his work area.

"Can't do it. I'm too busy. Today is a good day to declare war on Fury." Tony smiled as he hopped his way down to his latest work of art.
Before he could finish his step a very strong hand latched onto his arm.

Steve held him in place and he barely used a muscle to do it.

"NO. You are not going after Fury TODAY."
Tony turned his head and he looked at Steve.

"But I'm finally done." Steve let him go and Tony turned to face him.
"What are you working on?" Steve wanted to know if he was serious. A declaration of war didn't really sit well in his head. His eyes started to scan Tony's work.

"I can't tell you because you will try to stop me." Tony's smile was huge. He tried to act CUTE. Well, Steve didn't find it cute.
He stepped closer to Tony.

"The only thing I want to do is kiss you." He handed Tony the bag of food and he continued to look over whatever it was he had accomplished.
Tony accepted the food and smirked. Steve wanted to kiss him, well that's just too bad.

They stood too close.
"Tony, can I kiss you?" He asked as Tony jerked away from him.

"NO." Why the hell would he let him do that? Hahah.

Steve sighed and stood with his hands on his hips. Since kissing wasn't an option he tried to make sense of what Tony had done with a week of his life.
He saw parts of the time-machine that Tony constructed formed into a suit.

"Another suit?" Steve looked at him and Tony's eyes jumped open.

"Not just another suit! It's the suit I will be using to rid the globe of all time altering devices. So that way nobody will be tempted to go back in time and rescue poor little love-deprived seventeen-year-olds."

Tony's face got a bit pink after he said that. He kinda admitted something that he didn't want Steve to know. Yeahhhhhhh he avoided that glance from Steve. He set the bag of food down.

"Is that what you think I want to do?" He turned to Tony and watched his body language. Tony started to look through the bag of goodies. WHOO look at that Steve brought him some burr– AH!

Steve turned Tony in his direction and he pulled him over WAY too closssseee. The two stood face to face.
Tony wanted to get out of there GAHHH Steve was very resilient it seemed. Steve stared at Tony's face. Tony continued to look away.

"You think I want to be with the younger you? Is that what I am translating from all this?"

"Well, it would be a lot easier for you to get the kiss that you want," Tony admitted as he kept his focus elsewhere.

"He is standing right in front of me. Stubborn as ever and making my day as difficult as possible." Steve quickly kissed Tony on the cheek and then he let him go.

GAHH Tony wiped off his cheek just to make him mad. NO KISS FOR YOU.

"I want you to be there tonight. Please? All of this Fury stuff can wait."
"Revenge waits for nothing!" Tony didn't like it when Steve had the upper hand with things.

His body felt all, jumpy and nervous.
Tony tried to hide the smile that snuck over his face. UGH DAMN HIM. He rubbed at his ear again. Then he rubbed at his cheek because he could still feel that stupid kiss as if it was attached to his face.
Steve just watched him with a smile.

"SO what time is this disgusting poker party?" He was disinterested but he asked anyway. They better have some alcohol there. And Tony wasn't going to dress up.
"8 pm."

Tony checked the time. It was just after 6:30.
"Little short of notice don't you think?" Tony didn't like it because he HAD PLANS. Tony gnawed on his lip and he wiped his cheek off again.

"Deal with it." Steve simply responded as he stared back at Tony's "revenge" suit.

Tony was absolutely crazy. Steve laughed quietly and he looked back at him.
He could tell that Tony was still in thought about that small kiss on his cheek. He watched him rub at it as tho Steve beat him in a competition.

He wondered, why was he always fighting with something? Steve admired that fighting spirit but as he looked at him he could tell that Tony only tried to fight with his own feelings.

He left Steve puzzled with his behavior.

"Alright. I'll stop bugging you. But please don't forget." Steve headed to the door. Tony stayed silent and he chewed on his lip a bit. Gahh wait! Tony rushed because he didn't want him to leave.

"Hey uh, Steve."
"Yeah?" Steve turned around and Tony stumbled his way a bit. Steve looked sad and Tony hated it.

Tony brought up something that he meant to say to him DAYS ago but, ehh now is a good time right? Tony was too distracted. And for some reason, Steve no longer showed up. Tony didn't see him for a while and he never got around to it.

"Don't get too attached to Bucky Wonder being around. I mean it's great whoo poker and picnics and all that but, when Bruce and I were monitoring his brain waves we noticed extremely different patterns. Random hyperactivity and then suddenly his brain would flat line. I dunno you might wake up one day and POOF. Bucky is gone."

Steve blinked a few times because of the change of subject. But he listened to Tony carefully.

"You really don't know what Hydra put inside his head so he might be ok for now but, later on, he might have a bad spell of memories or who knows really. This is random I know it's just."

Tony really didn't want to see Steve get hurt. Would he mention that part? YEAH NO.

"Thank you Tony." Steve touched his face and gave him a very soft kiss on the lips. Tony closed his eyes and gently kissed him back. Tony even stepped into the kiss and he gripped Steve's shirt a bit. Uhh where did THAT come from?

ACK! He covered his cheek with his hand and stared at something. He glared at that damn shirt. Steve won that battle because he got his damn kiss.

Steve smiled at him and headed to the door again.
He didn't want Steve to leave but he chose not to say anything at that time.

"8 PM. Don't forget. And DON'T forget to eat. I can't have you passed out down here since no one is allowed in."

"JARVIS WOULD LET YOU IN IF I PASSED OUT!" Tony yelled for no reason as Steve left his lab. Tch he sighed and dug through the bag of food.

"Jarv, set me an alarm for 7:30 pm so I can be ready for this stupid poker party." "Right. Sir, you have an alarm set for 7:30 pm."

Kinda being redundant there Jarvis. Meh, Tony went back and finished up his work. Steve was long gone so that meant the coast was clear. Yeah, he'd go to the stupid poker extravaganza.

Actually, since it was set for 8 pm Tony had let's say 50 minutes to DECLARE HIS WAR. HAAAaa Tony decided to suit up.

His new suit had the ability to detect any similar tech. Anything that emitted a dimensional pull was going to be detected. There was no way to escape his wrath.
Tony was going to destroy them all.

"SHIT. I better eat first." Tony shook his head and he started to eat the mini steak burritos that Steve made for him.
He always made him something that he could eat easily.

He thought about how Steve was such a cute person. Hahaha Tony thought about all the adorable stuff that Steve...
AHEM. He coughed and eliminated that thought from his head.

Tony pulled out the little juice box from the bag and he pried the straw out of the plastic with his teeth.

He took another bite of the burrito and then he stuck the straw in and sipped at the juicy-juice. Ok, he'd eat ONE MORE friggen burrito and then it was revenge time. It was really kinda good Steve grilled the outside of it and everything.

Tony ate two more.

Once he was done stuffing his face he let his suit assemble around him.
"Sir, shall I alert Director Fury about your declaration of war?" Jarvis spoke nonsense.

"Uh no. He'll get the memo after I wreck his shit." Tony flew up into the sky and then darted off towards the closest S.H.E.I.L.D. facility.

Inside the tower, Thor and Clint moved furniture around so everyone would have room for the upcoming poker festivities.
They saw Iron Man trail off through the sky and they both wondered what Tony was up to.

"I totally forgot that he was here." Clint probably saw Tony scurry out of his lab one time for coffee. He was up in one of his nests and Tony didn't even know that Clint saw him "emerge" from his cave.

"Anthony has been very distant since his return." "Yeah. Steve's probably going nuts."

"We should make sure they sit beside each other this evening," Thor said as Clint's devil horns started to show.

"Ooh good plan buddy. Ok. So, these chairs will be theirs and we'll put them on the small side of the table. So they have just enough room to sit on top of each other. Hahaa" Clint started to laugh and he set up the other chairs.

Bucky walked up to the table and he wore normal clothes.
Clint always thought he looked odd in them but he never commented on it.

Until he began to occupy Steve's spare bedroom, The Winter Soldier had one outfit. It was tactical armor, basically fatigues. They weren't comfortable to wear all the time.
He didn't say anything about it. Steve was the one that noticed his discomfort and offered him clothes.

But of course, Steve's clothes were too big for him. So Natasha was designated to take Bucky to shop for clothes.

"I still can't get over the walls talking to you when you ask it a question." Bucky couldn't find the tiny man that talked to everyone.

"Where's Steve?" Bucky asked the wall but he didn't get a response. Clint smiled and helped him out.

"Remember, you gotta activate Jarvis first. By saying his name he will answer your question. Yo Jarv where's Steve?"
"Sir, Captain Rogers is on Bruce Banner's personal floor. Would you like me to alert him for you?"

"No thanks, Jarv. See? We talk all day around here but Jarvis will only respond if he's addressed."

"That makes sense." He still couldn't find the little person tho.

Bucky felt a bit out of place when Steve wasn't around. He felt awkward in new clothes and it felt strange to interact with all the people.

Hydra field agents didn't communicate much.

Bucky felt the Avengers were too close to each other and too emotionally attached. If a bomb dropped and half of them were killed then the others would probably die themselves. Steve seemed content with it tho. He found a home it seemed.

Clint noticed that Bucky was lost in thought and he didn't bother him.

At that moment, Steve spoke about Bucky with Bruce and Natasha. Bruce handed Steve the readings he had on Bucky when he was unconscious inside the cryotube.

"Yeah, Tony's right. There's no telling what his brain might do. If you want we can run a few more tests to check the activity? I can do it but just know that I'm not really that kind of doctor."

"I know Bruce, it's fine. I'll ask Bucky what he wants to do probably tomorrow." Everything was still surreal to him. Bucky being around felt like a dream.
What Tony said about Bucky made him feel a bit nervous.

What if he woke up and Bucky was gone again?

Steve didn't even want to think about it. He would deal with it if the time came. But today was not a day to think. A poker game was meant to be for fun so he didn't want to fill his head with negativity.

"Is Tony going to show up? Natasha asked him as he looked at her.

He turned his attention back down to the papers in his hand and focused on what Bruce handed him. It was in chart form and very easy for Steve to follow.
The science bros made it easy for him. Steve was glad. Basically, after he looked at the chart it was safe to determine that Bucky's brain was A MESS.

Right. Was Tony going to show up?
"I didn't give him much of a choice."
Tony better show up. Well, Steve knew he would. He probably didn't want to and he was going to be a total brat about it, but Steve wanted him there.

Now, he also wasn't sure if he was comfortable for Bucky to know that Tony was, that they were uhh, what exactly?
That was a whole different ball game. Steve didn't want to focus on that either. He sighed.

"He's currently on a revenge binge against all those that have harmed him. I didn't pay much attention to whatever it is he's got going on right now but if he doesn't show up then the honeymoon is officially over."

Bruce's eyebrows shot up because Steve never really spoke that way. Natasha was a bit shocked as well. Steve could see it in her face.
He was kidding, of course, he wouldn't actually be mad at Tony.

He'd be PISSED of course if he didn't show up. But he'd move on at some point.
"Thank you for these Bruce. We'll get back to it tomorrow." Steve started to head out of the room.

He got into the elevator and he almost pressed the button for the common room.

Before he pressed it he received an alert from Jarvis.

"Captain Rogers, Bucky Barns has requested your presence on your floor." Steve's hand remained in place for a moment.
oh? Bucky was on his floor so Steve pressed the other button and he headed down.

"Thanks, Jarvis. Let him know I'm on my way." Steve waited for the elevator to stop and he walked out.
Bucky was in the kitchen part of Steve's floor. Steve smiled as he entered the room and he approached Bucky.

"What's up?" Steve relaxed against the counter and Bucky dug around for food that he felt was poker appropriate.

Bucky stopped immediately and he looked at Steve.

"Remember when I wanted to talk to you?"
"Yes. I've been wondering when you'd want to do that. We can talk now if you want?" He wasn't sure if Bucky was comfortable.

Steve had two brunettes in his life that were somewhat similar. He tried not to think of it in that context, but that was the truth of the situation. Bucky and Steve had a history. Steve knew that it would be brought up at some point.

"When I woke up over and over I thought about you, Steve. I thought about things that happened before you had your serum and when you became this other person. And, I thought about you when we were at war."

Steve tensed up a little. He knew the conversation would appear and he wasn't sure how to approach it.

"Did you have specific memories in mind or just general thoughts?" Steve needed to know and he sighed quietly.

"Specific memories." Bucky glanced at Steve and Steve stared at the fridge. His gut told him what specific memories Bucky had.

"You mean when I.."

"Yup."

Steve just rest his head on the fridge. He had no idea what to say and he couldn't give a response. Bucky tried to clear the air.

"I just want you to know that I think about those things. You seem really different now that you're here and I don't want what happened before to mess you up in any way."

"Bucky, it's fine. It's fine to think about our old lives. It's fine to reflect. You couldn't possibly mess me up. But, I do want you to know something."

Bucky straightened his stance and he focused on Steve. He didn't want to hurt his friend again as he did in the past.
They had danced around the subject that Bucky brought up. The two did not directly discuss what happened, Bucky just alluded to the subject in the only way he could.

"I'm actually in love with someone. I haven't been comfortable enough to tell you who it is yet because of our situation. I'm not sure how you'll react." Steve covered his face a little and then he tried to focus.

Tony's similarities to Bucky was the reason why Steve found it difficult. The soldier knew how it would look to his friend once he found out who it was. Steve's body felt really warm. His mind was lost on his past and was also propelled toward the present. He really felt like he was split in two.

Bucky smiled. He was happy to hear that Steve was in love with someone.

"Can we just leave it at that and go play poker? I might be able to tell you soon."

"Yeah. let's go."

Bucky and Steve gathered up the food they wanted to provide and they headed up to the common floor. In a way, the nerves were released from both of them.

The time was 7:29 pm exactly when Pepper and Happy arrived at the tower. She was mainly there to see if Tony was the real Tony again.
Happy didn't know why he was there.

It was still a bit odd for him to know that Tony was with a guy. Not that he was homophobic or anything, it was just a BIZARRE change.

Happy was immediately uncomfortable and scanned the area for food. Pepper said hello to everyone. The time ticked to 7:30 pm and Tony got an alert from Jarvis.

"Sir, it is 7:30 PM you have an alert so you can be ready for a stupid poker party." Tony gasped and blew up one of the last machines that had the capability to alter time.

IT SEEMED FURY MASS-PRODUCED THE SHIT.
Well ok, Tony found five machines total. S.H.E.I.L.D. built one from what he saw and they only had two that were operational.

Two others were being made by someone else. Maybe Fury stashed some? Did Fury try to get all his easter eggs out of one basket? Either way, Tony destroyed all of them.

His suit picked up signs of one more.
Enemy companies already had the tech. ROXXON pulled it off and started this whole mess so Tony figured he better scope it out.

"Sir it is 7:40 PM."

Tony glared as he flew off in the direction the last signal came from. He could make it there in two minutes and then take a quick shower gahhhhh then he'd be ok for the damn poker party of LAME.

Tony cut through the sky and quickly came to a stop at the last location. There was nothing but dry land and rubble.
Which meant that the building was underground.

"Shit." He didn't have enough time to carve his way to the machine. Tony had a debate going on his head.

Should I stay or should I go? That question lingered in his mind and he tensed up. "What time is it Jarv?"

"7:49 pm sir."

SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. ! Tony clenched his fists and he took off back to the friggen tower.

"Make a mental note that I have to go destroy that later Jarv." "Mental note has been taken sir."

Tony raced his suit down into his lab and it detached from his body immediately. Tony leaped out of the machine when he was free enough and he started to run to get to his room.
SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. The friggen elevator took a year of course.

Tony stumbled into his room and he shed out of his clothes. It was 8:10 pm but Steve didn't pay attention to the time.

Bucky wanted to play poker. It was one of his favorite things to do besides kill things. Everyone else could eat snacks and chat and do all that. But, Bucky was ready to play. He found the cards and started to shuffle.

"Who's in?" he decided he was dealer because he made it that way.

"I do not know the rules so I shall observe." Thor didn't want to have the others take the time to teach him so he decided just to watch. He sat down at the opposite end of the table from where Clint and Thor planned to have Steve and Tony sit.

"I'm in!" Clint raised his hand and he brought Steve over to the "special" chair.
"Steve's in!" He sat the soldier down and then he sat in the seat beside the chair that was meant for Tony.

Clint rest his feet on the chair to make sure it was secure. Steve thought that Clint acted bizarre but he ignored it.

Happy Hogan, Clint, Natasha, Steve, and Bucky all began to play.

They had the poker chips all set out and Bucky shuffled the cards. Now he just shuffled them to pass the time before they could start the game.
Someone was missing. There was an empty chair beside Steve.

Steve stared a bit blankly and he finally checked the time.
Before the time reached his eyes Tony sprawled into the room. He looked like he just rushed out of the shower and threw on clothes but he was there.

"Relax everyone I made it. Where's the poker booze?" Tony waved at Pepper and then he headed for the alcohol.
He hadn't seen any of those freaks in a week so he was a bit nervous for some reason.
Tony decided to call it unresolved tension issues.

Tony confiscated the bottle of liquor from the kitchen. He poured one drink for himself and another one for, himself. He walked over to the card table and looked around. Tony scanned all the faces. He smiled at everyone and he avoided eye contact with Steve. Captain Distraction managed to get him to the party.

Tony smiled at Bucky. Bucky wanted to play poker.

Bucky seriously glared at him. Tony wondered if his face was just naturally like that? Ahem, awkward. Tony looked for a place to sit.
Clint grinned and he moved his feet off the chair that was meant just for Tony.

"Here you go Tony!" Tony forgot his seat hunt because he had Pepper to deal with.
She hugged him and was being all ex-girlfriendy like because he didn't remember who she was in an alternate universe.

"Technically, that was an altered future. And Pep calm down I would have gotten to know you at some point. Then I would have stolen you back from Happy and visa versa it would just go on and on like that for years."

Tony held his drinks and the bottle awkwardly in both hands. He leaned her way and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Ok crisis averted. He looked over at Clint because he heard his voice. Clint pointed at the chair that was directly beside Steve.

OH STEVE! Tony kinda waved at him. Uhh, they were going to cram onto the small side of the table like that? Tony was confused with the set-up but he made his way over and sat down beside him. Tony sipped his drink and he tried not to seem awkward.
Steve just had his arms crossed but he eventually relaxed and addressed the very late Tony.

"Hi." He said as Tony set both drinks down on the table. The snacks were where? Tony glanced at Steve.
"Why hello.."

Steve took a moment and stared at Tony's messy hair and he tried not to comment on it.

"How are you?" he asked as Tony awkwardly looked away. STEVE ALWAYS FRIGGEN ASKED HIM THAT.

Clint covered his mouth because they were awkward already. It had been like ten seconds HAH and Bucky just started to deal out the cards. He failed to notice the awkward tension between Tony and Steve and he really didn't care to notice.

It was poker time.

"We'll just do a standard five-card draw, wild cards are at play," Bucky said stuff about the game but Tony didn't pay attention.
Tony grabbed his cards and he tried NOT to smile. Steve's arm was all close to his. What the HELL did they not have a bigger table?

He noticed bets already being placed and shit! Happy and Bucky were very into the game. So were Natasha and Clint. Well, Tony had a hard time concentrating already because Steve was RIGHT BESIDE HIM.

Tony needed cards because his were SHIT.
"UH hit me two anddd I'm good! Really good." he finally answered Steve. Tony checked his cards

and he turned them away from Steve's view. He cupped them in his hands to hide them. BET WAS PLACED.

"Well, you look good." Steve said with confidence as he set down his bet. Bucky heard what Steve said and he finally looked up at the two.
He immediately noticed the faint blush that slapped across Stark's face.

And Steve's behavior was odd. He acted totally different around Stark than he acted around the others. Bucky never noticed it before.
He was pretty shocked as he watched the two.

"Thanks, Cap." Tony awkwardly looked down at his cards.
Tony started to think the room was on fire. It felt too hot in the room and he couldn't relax. All the bodies within it. He decided that had to be the reason.

Wait? Did Steve really just fucking say that? Tony wondered as he drank some poker party booze.

Steve moved to pick up his cards and his arm brushed against Tony's. Gahhh Tony gnawed on his lip and he waited for his turn. He brushed his shoulder against Steve's on purpose!
It became a power play between the two. They subtly challenged each other with awkward arm brushing.

Why were they stuck sitting so damn close? Steve was HUGE in comparison to him. OK, Bucky went, then Happy, then Natasha, THEN Clint, then it was his turn, and then it was Mr. I have random compliments and my body continues to brush up on yours.

Tony was in no way focused on the game. He had a bad bad blush on his face and it got worse when he caught Steve as he looked at his cards.

"AY! Don't look at my cards."

"It's kinda hard when you're practically sitting on my lap." WHUUT CAP WAS ON FIRE. Tony looked over at him.

Clint and Thor started to laugh loudly.

"I AM NOT." Tony didn't want to challenge him and escalate the situation because he was heated up enough already. Soooo he pretended like he took the game seriously. He studied his cards.

"And you keep rubbing your body against mine. It's distracting." Steve continued his crazy talk. Tony gasped and looked at him.
Steve had a huge smug SMART ASS smile on his face. Tony thought it wasss..

Well he thought it was adorable. He continued to stare at it. The two of them stared at each other. "STEVE IT'S YOUR TURN." Various people barked at Steve because he was distracted by Tony.

"Right. Sorry."
Steve felt horrible. He rubbed the side of his neck and he looked down at his cards.

"I fold." Happy was out. He was out and tried not to stare at Steve and Tony as they obviously flirted with each other.
Did they even notice how obvious they were?

Happy was baffled. Thor was amused and Natasha placed her second bet. Clint got one more card and placed his bet then it was Tony's turn.

Tony looked down at his cards. He stared with a blank expression for a longggg lonnggg time. Steve started to wonder if he needed help.

"Tony let me see." He offered out his hand so he could help him. Tony wanted to BITE HIS HAND OFF.

"NOOoo haha back off." Steve grabbed for the cards and Tony refused to let him. It was hard not to laugh because Steve was being so friggen cute.

"I've already seen them so let me help you." Steve tried to be nice because Tony obviously sucked at the game.

Bucky couldn't believe his eyes. He stared in disbelief. "No thanks YANKEE. Back up."

Steve's mouth fell open and his face became red when he Tony called him a certain nickname. The YANKEE blushed and Tony noticed it right away.
It was awkward as helllll... Tony cleared his throat.

Bucky continued to watch the two finally interact and it hit him. No, the Yankee comment hit him. Anthony Edward Stark's younger self time-traveled to find his Yankee? So Yankee meant Steve? Bucky tried to put it all together and he got overwhelmed.

HIM? OF ALL THE PEOPLE ON EARTH? REALLY STEVE?! Bucky laughed a little.

"I'm going to get a drink." Pepper broke the tension up with her delicate voice. Tony and Pepper locked eyes and Tony was so happy.

"Me too. Thanks Pep."

It was awkward city up in there. Tony stood up and he rushed over to Pepper. She was safe, fuck that game.

"I'll help you Pep," Tony said as he shot Steve another glare and he followed her to the kitchen. Steve sat up straight and he cleared his throat.
Ok, now he could actually focus on the game with Tony gone.

Steve glanced towards the kitchen because he suddenly had an impulse to ask Tony a question. He wanted to...talk...to...him...

"STEVE IT'S YOUR TURN!"

"Come on man, what are you doing?!"
"Wake up are you gunna make us wait all night?"
"Steven end this distraction I'm trying to learn!" everyone at the table started to yell at him all at once. Each one told him to basically finish his turn.

He couldn't concentrate and he didn't notice his behavior. He had a crazy idea in his head and it was all he could think about.

"Uh..I fold?" Steve's stare was blank and everyone started to either growl or sigh. Hhaha he felt bad because he ruined the first game. They continued on without him.

Steve's attention turned back over to the kitchen. Saaaaaa he wanted to be really impulsive and go in there. He frowned and watched the game instead. Steve thought he'd have a chance to ask Tony what he wanted to ask him later on.