Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges Listed at the Bottom

Word Count: 1694

Warning: Character Injury, Temporary Amnesia, Break up.

Grey Hair

They thought it was Tony when they heard the clunk of the armour landing, but by the time they'd made it to the landing pad, Rhodey had already stepped out of the suit and was walking towards them.

"Show me what you've got, JARVIS," he ordered, ignoring the Avengers as he strode past them.

It wasn't a surprising attitude, really, but it still stung. Especially when JARVIS flipped up screen after screen of information that he hadn't given Steve when he'd asked for it.

"We're his team," Natasha said, laying a gentle hand on Rhodey's arm. "I know there's a lot going on right now, but let us help."

Rhodey blinked at her, like he hadn't even realised they were there at all. "I just want to get to the bottom of this so I know whose throat to slit," he said. "If you want to help me find out, be my guest."

The team set to work.

…

"I warned you, didn't I?" Rhodey growled, and Steve, despite the serum running through his veins, felt a little fearful of the man. "I told you not to hurt him, and you do this?"

"I—"

Rhodey shook his head. "I'm not interested in your reasons. Stay the hell away from him. If I catch you near him, and it's not Avengers business, you'll find out exactly how much a repulsor to the face hurts."

…

The dungeon was bleak and damp, but the hole Rhodey had blasted through the wall let in enough light that they could see Tony slumped over, held to the chair by silver cuffs on his arms and legs, and a rope around his chest, holding him up.

Steve set to work immediately, breaking the cuffs with his hands, careful to not let them cut into Tony's skin, while Natasha used nimble fingers to untie the rope.

Clint was in front of Tony, ready to catch him when he fell forward, no longer held by his restraints.

Steve could hear the blasts of the War Machine suit, and the cries of its victims as Rhodey took his anger out on the ones that had kidnapped his best friend. Steve didn't doubt that there would be nobody left alive in the building when he was done.

While he didn't usually condone violence, this time, he thought maybe it was fine.

He lifted Tony with ease, noticing how much lighter he was than he had been the last time Steve had carried him—don't think about that, not yet—and walked him out to the waiting jet.

Rhodey could catch up with them at the Tower, where the only medical staff Tony trusted were already waiting for them.

…

"You love him," Natasha said softly, sitting beside Steve on the roof of the tower. "I don't understand why you'd break up with him."

Steve sighed. "He… there was a threat. Fury told me about it, and Fury wanted to use Tony as bait. Tactically, it was the best move, but I refused because it was Tony. It's… The Avengers have got to come first, we agreed to that when we started dating, and I can't be objective with him anymore."

Natasha's eyebrows rose. "You think it will be easier now that he's not your boyfriend? Now that he'll be locking you out completely and not even telling you when he's injured? Not sure about that logic, Cap, not gonna lie."

…

"Did you miss me?" Tony asked, grinning. "I guess not, huh? I bet it was peaceful without me talking your ear off."

Steve blinked stupidly and then looked to Rhodey, who was already in the room, for an explanation.

"He has amnesia," Rhodey told him, glancing at Tony with fond eyes. "About a year, they think. He should get his memory back eventually, but at the moment, we're dealing with this fool grinning like an idiot."

Tony snorted. "You love my grin. Besides, what's there to not grin about? Nobody died in the year I don't remember, did they?"

"I already told you nobody died, Tones," Rhodey said softly. "I wouldn't lie to you about that."

…

"Steve… What did I do wrong?" Tony asked softly. "I'll try and… fix it."

Steve just shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Tony. We're over. I can't be with you anymore. I'm sorry."

Tony nodded slowly and then nodded to the door of the workshop. "You know the way out."

"Tony—"

"Bye Steve."

…

"When I thought I wouldn't make it through, I knew you'd come and get me," Tony said, leaning into Steve's side. "You and Rhodey. I knew that you'd be looking for me. It's the only reason I managed to hold on."

Steve wrapped his arm around Tony, holding him close as he buried his face in Tony's hair, trying to hide the guilt he was feeling. He didn't have the right to hold Tony like this anymore.

"I'll always come for you," he said softly. "No matter what happens, I'll always come and find you."

…

"Steve… he's going to be so mad if he sees this," Clint said, looking at the painting Steve had been working on for days. It was of Tony—wasn't it always—and he looked happy.

Nothing like he'd looked for the last month, or the few times Steve had seen him out of the suit in the last month, anyway.

"I can't help it," Steve admitted. "I just want him to be happy."

Clint sighed. "Maybe you shouldn't have broken his heart then, Cap. Go and see him. Explain. Tell him you got scared. He'll understand."

Steve just sighed. He couldn't. He'd done enough damage.

…

Tony wasn't the only one who felt like he'd gone back a year in time. Steve felt like he was living in the past as well, back when he was happy, only he had the knowledge to know that he'd ruined everything.

Steve lay on his side on the bed, Tony tucked into his chest, fast asleep. He was still healing, physically and mentally, and Steve hadn't had the heart to tell him that they didn't do this anymore.

He felt guilty for enjoying it so much, and he knew he'd be in for hell when Tony got his memories back. The team were already watching him with censure in their eyes—deserved, definitely—and he didn't blame them.

It was going to be a disaster.

…

"Tony's been kidnapped," Natasha said into the phone. Steve froze, holding it to his ear so tight, it was a surprise it didn't break. "You need to come back to the tower. "Rhodey's on his way, but we can lay the groundwork until he gets here."

"I'm on my way," Steve replied, forcing the words out through the lump in his chest.

He'd never run so fast in his entire life.

…

"Who gave you cotton candy?" Steve teased gently, when he found Tony sitting on the balcony, the pink fluff in his hands. There was a little stuck to his bottom lip, and Steve wanted to lick it off. "You're going to be bouncing off the walls all night."

"Why didn't you tell me you broke up with me?" Tony asked, and Steve's heart sank into his stomach.

"You got your—"

"I remember everything," Tony replied flatly. "You didn't tell me. Why did you let me make a fool of myself like that?"

"Because… because you were happy again," Steve said softly, joining Tony on the chaise. "And because I hoped that maybe you'd let me take it back, even when you remembered what I'd done."

Tony stared at him.

"I got scared," Steve admitted. "Fury wanted to use you as bait for a mission and I wouldn't let him because… because I can't stand the idea of you being hurt."

"I'm Iron Man," Tony pointed out. "It's kind of in the job description."

Steve nodded. "I know. I do know that, Tony. I just… lost all objectivity, but it's since come to my attention that it doesn't matter if we're dating or not. I love you either way. The feelings didn't go away just because I broke up with you. If anything it got worse."

"You're an idiot, Steve."

"I know."

…

JARVIS wouldn't give them any information, and when asked, he told them primly that Master Rhodes was on his way and JARVIS would share the details pertaining to Sir only with him.

Steve sighed. It had been like this since he'd broken up with Tony, and it hurt, even though he understood why Tony wouldn't want him having access to information about him.

"We have the map," Natasha said. "Let's start with that."

Steve nodded, but as he heard repulsors approaching, he couldn't help but hope it was Tony, even when he knew it probably wasn't.

…

"Hurt him again, and I'm going to repulsor you in the face without the warning," Rhodey told him, his tone far too conversational to be comfortable.

Steve nodded silently.

Rhodey sighed. "Look, I know what worrying about that little twerp can do to a person. I've done it since he was fourteen and already a pain in the arse. But you can't leave every time you get scared, Steve. Trust me, it happens quite a lot, he's a goddamn liability with his own safety. You've just gotta be there to pick up the pieces at the end, and make sure he stays alive."

"I've learnt my lesson," Steve said quietly. "Worrying about him and being able to look after him is much preferable than worrying about him and being kept at a distance."

Rhodey stared at him for a long moment and then nodded. "Alright."

"Sour Patch, you can't give Steve another shovel talk," Tony said, walking into the room. "You already gave him one."

"Actually, I was inducting him into the "Tony Stark Gives Me All The Grey Hairs" club."

Tony snorted and nodded, grinning at Steve. "He's right, you know. I do have that effect. Sure you want to go grey prematurely?"

"I'm over a hundred," Steve said, pulling Tony into his arms. "I think it's about time I got some grey hairs, don't you?"

Written for:

Bromance to Romance: 11. Painting

This or That: 9. A Dungeon

Film Festival: 25. "Did you miss me? I guess not."

Lizzy's Loft: 15. You will come back to me

Elizabeth's Empire: 18. Write about a group of people working together to accomplish a goal.

They Said What?: 11. "I just want to get to the bottom of this so I know whose throat to slit."

Entitled: 10. A Break Up

Lyric Alley: 6. I thought I'd never make it through

Hobby Hole: 11. Amnesia

Artist Appreciation: 6. Write about someone living in the past.

Auction: Day 4, Auction 4: Cotton Candy

365: 253. Silver