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Word Count: 761

Lucky

He tried to pretend he was fine, he really did. Either Tony's masks weren't working anymore, or Steve just knew him really well, because he'd taken one look at Tony and asked what was wrong.

"Nothing, I'm fine," Tony replied, the words falling from his lips as easy as they ever had. It had always been a lie he told with ease; he had a lifetime of practice after all.

"Uh huh," Steve replied. "Come sit down."

"I'm just going to—"

"Tony. Come and sit down."

Looking longingly at the elevator that would take him to the sanctuary of his workshop, Tony sighed and did as he was told, joining Steve on the sofa. Steve reached out a hand and gently touched Tony's forehead for a moment.

"You're burning up."

"I'm—"

"You're not fine, and since I know you won't be convinced to see a doctor unless you're actively dying—and possibly not even then—I'll look after you here."

"I don't need to be looked after, Steve. I'm a big boy, I promise, I can take care of myself."

The look on Steve's face told Tony that he wasn't going to let this go, and honestly, Tony was too tired to care. He'd had the worst day imaginable and it was showing no signs of getting better.

Maybe if he stayed here with Steve, he'd actually get some sleep.

"How's Pepper?" Steve asked, as he pushed himself to his feet and wandered into the kitchen.

Tony shrugged despite knowing Steve could see him and closed his eyes as he melted back into the comfortable cushions on the sofa.

He hadn't told anyone about him and Pepper breaking up. He couldn't deal with the pity he knew he'd get from the team, and honestly, he preferred to lick his wounds in private.

Heartbreak wasn't a pretty look on anyone after all. And his heart was broken; he loved Pepper more than he'd loved anyone in his life. He just… didn't blame her for leaving him.

He understood that it wasn't because she didn't love him; she just didn't love Iron Man, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't not be Iron Man.

He was Iron Man as much as he was Tony Stark now, and he had finally accepted that; and all the consequences that came with it.

"You really don't have to do this," Tony said, when Steve came back with soup and tea and a blanket draped over his arm. "You don't normally do this. You didn't do it when I broke my arm a few months ago."

"Pepper was here then," Steve said, shrugging. "I'd have rather you stayed up here with us then too."

"But what about when—"

"Tony. I've always wanted you to spend more time up here, and still I've let you go to the workshop without arguing with you because I thought it was what you wanted. But… I think maybe it's not what you want. I think it's just what you think you want."

Tony frowned. "Okay, Dr Phil, settle down."

"Is it really such a hardship, to spend time with us?" Steve asked, fluffing a pillow and then tugging Tony forward a little so he could put it behind him. The blanket was draped over him, and then the tea was placed in his hand.

"It's not that it's a hardship," Tony replied softly. "I just… I guess I'm not used to having people around that I don't have to perform for. It's an adjustment, you know?"

Steve smiled gently and nodded. "Think you can handle some soup? I'll put a movie on and we'll relax for the evening, hmm?"

For a moment, Tony thought about refusing the offer. He thought that maybe Steve would let him get away with it too.

But then he thought about how bad his day had been and he thought about how ill he'd been feeling, and he decided to give in.

Just this once.

…

"Go back to sleep, Tones. I'm right here."

The room had darkened considerably, and Tony blinked blearily, realising he was still on the sofa with Steve. The rest of the team had joined them at some point, but they'd since disappeared.

Tony idly wondered how late it was, but then fingers were threading through his hair and a soft voice was singing in his ear and Tony drifted back to sleep.

His last thought was that despite no longer being able to call Pepper his, he was still lucky.

He had the Avengers; and perhaps more importantly, he had Steve.

Written for:

Record Collection: Back to Black, 6. Love Is A Losing Game: Write about heartbreak

Bingo: 11. Write about someone having a bad day.

Lyric Alley: 19. And still I've let you go.

EnTitled: 22. Write about someone being ill.

Treasure Hunting: Poison Antidote: Singing