To say that Tony was already riled up before the famous Steve Rogers had even stepped through the door was an understatement. His hands slapped unnecessarily hard against his equipment as he searched through data whilst trying to ignore Bruce's concerned gaze darting over at him. Everything had been going perfectly well for the Avengers when they suddenly decide to bring in Captain Coldballs from the freezer. He'd got the sense, just from the way he'd heard the crew talking of Captain America, that their personalities wouldn't quite click. Besides, someone had said that Steve thought he was nothing without his armor. He'd been ready to come face to face with the national icon for hours and his hands twitched in preparation to start throwing punches.
The doors hummed as they pulled a part revealing Fury leading the others from the team. Tony puffed his chest and faced them immediately. Bruce stepped further back, less enthusiastic for the genius to release his frustration.
"Mr Rogers," Stark spat as he braced himself against the table, "We were fine without you. Don't you think it's time you retire?"
There was a beat of silence where everyone glanced awkwardly at each other. Tony's brows twitched but he'd committed this far so roared on,
"Hey, look here, Mr high and mighty. I'm talkin' to you." The words were more growled than said, "You're a laboratory experiment, Rogers. Everything special about you came out of a bottle." Silence reigned and after a moment that felt like an hour, Tony began to pick up on the grimaces on the other's faces, "Why do I suddenly feel so out of the loop?"
Fury stepped forward, "Mr Stark, Steve Rogers is deaf."
Not much ever manages to silence Tony Stark but his mouth hanged open and he blinked rapidly as his brain raced to catch up.
Fury continued, "Everyone will be getting a course of ASL sign language to aid communications but maybe for now you try to keep the one sided arguments to a minimum, Stark."
The director left the room with the others following quickly. Steve, the last to leave, turned and gave an unsure wave to the scientists remaining in the room. He signed, Thank you. His right hand touching his chin and moving down. He smiled.
Tony frowned and looked across at Bruce, "Nobody thought to tell me?!"
-1 week later
Tiredness pulled down on Tony's eye lids but he fought to keep them open and blinked rapidly as the floor numbers in the elevator came in and out of focus. They'd only just returned from their mission and everyone was feeling worst for wear. The doors hissed open and a soft 'Ding' echoed throughout the dark living space of the tower.
Stark beelined for the shared kitchen as he knew that Bruce had some herbal tea stashed away somewhere and with all the bruises he had he wasn't about to fuss over whether there were scientific benefits to herbal tea.
He was rummaging around the dimly lit cupboards when he heard a soft groan that made him freeze. If someone had broken in again he'd absolutely flip. Hand holding a packet of tea, he didn't move and a further groan permeated the room. He darted up as quickly as his bruised and aching body would allow and followed the noise.
He had to consider the possibility of this being a hallucination when he spotted Steve Rogers sat on the couch in a vest and gray sweats. The blond head was resting against the back of the couch and his eyes were closed. Tony's eyes noticed that the super solider's arms were clasped around his midsection and would shake when the man groaned. The oversized popsicle was clearly trying to ride out some pain. He was about to turn and leave when he remembered his own remanence of the mission was paining him too and he hadn't noticed Steve in the medical bay with the rest of them always ensured that Stark got seen to by medical professionals despite his attempt every time to run back to the lab.
A thought popped into Tony's head, He hasn't opened his eyes so he clearly doesn't want to talk to me.
However, his brain caught up quickly and he scolded himself for being so slow. Steve wouldn't even know he'd there because he's deaf.
If anyone were to ask him how long he was stood there watching his teammate he would have lied since it was embarrassingly long. Eventually, with a roll of the eyes, he dragged himself into the kitchen again and poured two mugs of herbal tea and fetched a cold press for the other man. Tony hoped that nobody was watching one of his soppier moments.
He was stood in front of the other man was now another dilemma, how to wake a dozing, deaf super solider? Would a tap leave him with a broken arm? He was yet to learn how reactive Steve was when waking up. However, out of desperation, he gently tapped his foot against Steve's. It worked a charm; the soldier leapt up from the chair, nearly hurtling straight into the smaller man. Only his strong arms stopped Tony, and the items he held, from tumbling to the ground.
Tony? Steve mouthed, surprise radiating through his body. He hissed between his gritted teeth when his brain seemed to catch up with the pain in his side. The couch groaned as Steve dumped himself back down. He noticed the mug and cold press that Tony held in his direction. He signed, For me?
The genius just frowned in response but pressed the mug into the man's hands. Kneeling down on the floor beside Steve, Tony gently lifted the thin material of the vest to reveal the injuries. He hissed at the sight of the dark purple bruising that radiated across Steve's ribs and lower. Gentle fingers ghosted across the stain until he applied the cooling pad. He managed to restrain a smile at Steve's sigh of relief.
He coughed to clear his throat, "You didn't go to medical afterwards?" He didn't know how Steve managed to get out of it since he never did.
The soldier frowned, Slowly please. He mouthed as he signed it.
"You don't go doctor?" Tony used rudimentary signals to accompany his words but Steve seemed to understand.
The man gestured that he wanted to write so Stark padded off to find some paper and a pen. Successful from his trip, he returned brandishing his items. He dropped them on the couch between them and watched carefully as Steve scribbled out a sentence in surprisingly neat penmanship.
It said, No, I tend to heal faster than most people. Besides, it's always frustrating trying to describe pain and injuries when we can't understand each other.
Tony was about to pick the pen up and respond when Steve added,
And besides, they can't exactly shout for me to come back when I'm walking out.
Tony laughed and he was surprised when a slight noise of laughed came from Steve. Their eyes met and they smiled.
Tony wrote, his writing significantly worse than Steve's, Nobody on board can speak to you?
Steve answered, They offered to get a translator but it would take them a couple of days to get the person cleared or whatever they do so I said not to bother. Agent Coulson has learnt the basics but I'm asking questions about the mission and he's answering with the question "where is bus stop". I prefer writing it out anyways. Much more personal.
The soldier shrugged as he handed the notepad across. Tony read it and laughed at Coulson; of course he'd try to learn sign language to impress Captain America.
Tony speed wrote, I could probably help you to hear. I invent a lot.
Steve didn't hesitate, I don't know if I would want to hear anyway after being deaf my whole life. The unknown is much scarier than silence. Anyway, it's late.
Grasping his side, the soldier stood up and signed to Stark, Goodnight.
The inventor figured out the meaning and mirrored the sign. He signed, Goodnight.
Steves smile caused creases around his eyes and he couldn't stop smiling all the way to bed. Sometimes being deaf was incredibly isolating but every now and again someone will reach out and make a difference.
Tony was smiling as he watched the man go and as he did a plan began formulating in his head.
Steve's POV- 1 week later
The interpreter had called in and cancelled last minute which meant that Steve was currently sat in the board room watching people discuss details of their upcoming mission. Usually, he could lipread pretty well so wouldn't have too much of a problem keeping up with the conversation but the boardroom was always chaotic. He watched as Clint and Tony broke out into a particularly passionate dispute and everyone was talking over each other. Steve only pursed his lips and raised his eye brows.
He tried to imagine the sounds but whatever he could imagine would be miles off. He didn't even though what 'sound' sounded like as he'd been deaf since birth. Suddenly, he realized that Stark was talking to him. How could he understand? But it then clicked that the man was signing at him and he'd just unconsciously read the symbols.
Steve, don't you think Clint is being an ass for suggesting we nearly died last time. We had it under control.
The Captain sat there, mouth open as he was lost for words. He raised his hands and signed slowly, Well, we didn't really fair too well.
You were supposed to take my side.
Tony rolled his eyes and slouched back in his chair. The rest of the team looked just as surprised at Tony's sudden ASL skills. Steve could see that they were bombarding him with questions but instead he turned to face Steve.
Tony signed, whilst ignoring the others, They don't think that a genius like me could learn sign language in a week? Morons.
Steve laughed and he couldn't stop the smile from breaking out onto his lips. Never had anyone every tried to make even half the effort for him. Tony grinned back and winked across the table at him.
