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Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 2861

Fic Detail - TonySteve / Get together fic

Dog Tags

Steve sighed and packed his drawing pad up, stretching his back out as he stood up. Tony was still hunched over his desk with no signs of being done anytime soon, but the movie would be starting soon.

"Tony?"

"Hmm?"

"You remember it's movie night tonight, right?"

Tony turned around, blinking at Steve. "Yeah, I know. There's still… JARVIS, what time is it?"

"It's five minutes to seven sir," JARVIS replied.

Tony's eyes widened slightly. "Uh. I… guess I didn't realise it was so late."

Steve chuckled. "I figured as much. Do you think you can pause whatever you're doing for the evening?"

Tony glanced back at his desk and then nodded. "Sure. I need Bruce for the chemical aspects anyway, and I know I won't be able to tempt him down tonight."

Not that Tony would have tried. Movie Night was pretty sacrilegious amongst the Avengers, a team tradition that had been stuck with despite good or bad things happening within or around the team.

"You definitely won't, I gave him my movie choice. He's had a hard week."

Tony rolled his eyes good naturedly. "You're such a people pleasing pushover, Cap."

"And here I thought you loved me," Steve replied, laughing. "Now I guess I know how you really feel."

"You're the best thing since sliced bread, O' Captain, my Captain."

"Uh huh. So. Are you ready?"

"I'll be there in about twenty minutes, Steve. I need to shower first," Tony said, glancing down at his oil stained shirt. Without thought he pulled it off.

Steve felt his cheeks heat, but for a long moment, he couldn't help but stare at Tony's chest.

He'd tried to tell himself that the butterflies in his stomach were just a crush, but he'd long since been forced to acknowledge to himself that the feelings he had for Tony went a lot deeper than 'just a crush'.

Forcing his gaze up, he froze when he saw the necklace hanging around Tony's neck. He'd never seen it before, though that meant little. It wasn't like Tony was getting naked in front of him on a regular basis, mores the pity.

Dangling from the silver chain was a silver pendant that Steve recognised immediately.

It was a military dog tag. With his eyesight being what it was, Steve could easily read the name embossed in the metal.

Colonel James Rhodes.

Swallowing hard, Steve turned away. "I'll see you upstairs."

…

He hadn't held much hope for a relationship with Tony—honestly, the genius could have anyone, what would he want with Steve?—but to have it made so blatantly clear that he had no chance at all left Steve in an awful mood.

He knew the team knew, could feel the occasional glances burning into him, but he kept his eyes on the television. He'd thought about hiding away in his room but quickly disregarded the idea.

He might be hurting, but he couldn't skip movie night; if only because it would be a huge red flag that there was something wrong.

Tony had appeared half an hour behind Steve, dressed in faded red and gold Iron Man sleep pants and a Captain America t-shirt that Clint had bought him as a joke but that he loved. The genius had flopped down onto the sofa beside Steve, leaning in slightly the same way he always did, so that their sides were pressed together.

Only this time, Steve didn't enjoy it like he usually did, because Tony was taken.

Dog-Tags were serious business; you only gave them to a partner that you were absolutely sure about. While Steve was sure there were a few military folks that didn't see them as so important, Rhodes was as traditional as they come.

"You okay?" Tony muttered under his breath, glancing at Steve from the corner of his eye.

"Fine," he replied, trying to inject some confidence into his tone. If Tony's expression was anything to go by, he failed miserably, but thankfully, Tony didn't push him.

When the movie was over, Steve left almost immediately. Usually, they all hung around for a while and teased each other, but Steve didn't think he could take anymore of Tony's casual affection.

Not right at that moment. He made a vague excuse about being tired and left for his room, closing the door behind himself immediately.

He'd take a couple of days to lick his wounds, and then everything would be fine.

Even though he couldn't have Tony in all the ways he wanted him, he didn't want to lose him completely.

It wasn't even worth thinking about.

…

Steve knew he'd pulled away from the team, but an unforeseen consequence of that was that he didn't notice Tony doing the same until Natasha pulled him on it over a week later. They'd been spared a movie night due to a teenager with too much brain and not enough compassion requiring an Assemble.

"What's going on with you and Tony?"

Steve frowned at her. "Nothing, why?"

"You're avoiding him, and he doesn't seem to know why, but I haven't seen him this upset since he and Pepper broke up. Hell, even Bucky asked me what was going on, and he's the most clueless human being I've ever met."

Steve snorted. "He's not clueless, he's just—"

"Very much in love with Sam and happy as a pig in shit, I know," Natasha agreed. "But even he knows that there's something wrong. So… spill. What happened?"

Steve shook his head. "It's nothing. I was just… having a moment. It'll be fine now, you'll see."

A raised eyebrow was his only reply.

But… it turned out that Natasha was right. Steve didn't catch so much as a look at Tony over the following few days and when he went to the workshop to see him, it was to find it locked up with the windows blacked out.

When he'd asked JARVIS for entry, he'd been told in no uncertain terms that Tony wasn't entertaining guests.

When had Steve turned into a guest?

With the next movie night fast approaching, Steve couldn't help but be glad for it. Tony wouldn't miss it, surely. It didn't matter what was going on, they never missed it unless they physically couldn't make it to the common room.

Given that the only reason that usually happened was because of a field injury, the movie night would be put on hold while the team held a bedside vigil beside their fallen teammate anyway.

Whatever was going on with Tony, Steve would find out about it soon enough. He just had to wait him out.

…

Tony stepped into the room at the very last minute. He looked awful. Steve felt a surge of concern because he hadn't seen Tony look that tired for years.

Instead of taking his usual seat beside Steve, Tony flopped onto the floor and leant back against Natasha's legs, his eyes falling closed when she ran a hand through his greasy hair.

"Tony?" Steve asked softly. "Are you okay?"

Tony didn't even look at him. He just shrugged and opened his eyes to look at the TV, while Steve glanced up at Natasha.

She raised her eyebrows at him and then glanced down at Tony. Her intent was obvious enough; I told you so.

The movie started, but if asked, Steve wouldn't have been able to tell you anything about it. His focus was on Tony, the exhaustion emanating from him even as he drifted into an unsettled sleep, the slump of his shoulders, the weary look on his face.

The movie was drawing to an end when the door to the room opened and a newcomer slipped in. Steve felt an irrational flare of irritation when he realised it was Rhodey.

Without pause, Rhodey strode across the room and crouched down beside Tony, slipping his arms beneath him to lift him up. He didn't even look at the others as he left the room with Tony in his arms.

Steve couldn't help but notice the way that Tony immediately relaxed when he pressed his face into Rhodey's shirt, still fast asleep.

"Still going to tell me there's nothing going on?" Natasha asked him, as the door shut behind Rhodey with a soft click.

"I was obviously wrong," Steve said. "But… I don't know what's going on with Tony. He won't even look at me."

"Right, and it's got nothing to do with the way you pulled away from him first?" Clint said, shaking his head. "You're both as bad as each other, I swear."

Unsure what to say, Steve said nothing. Besides, Tony should be okay now that Rhodes was here, right?

…

While Rhodes was in situ, Steve still didn't see Tony until a call to assemble came in. Hearing his voice over the comms made Steve's heart pound in his chest, but it felt like it had turned to stone the next moment when War Machine joined them.

"Tony, if I don't make it back, remember that you're the one that made me come here," Rhodey called playfully, making Tony chuckle.

"Don't worry, Bumblebee, I'll mourn for you properly I promise. I'll even paint the armour black."

"Chatter," Steve murmured, turning his attention to the situation at hand. He could deal with his broken heart later.

For now, they had a battle to fight.

…

Steve hated the smell in hospitals. It reminded him of when he was smaller, sicklier himself, and the serum had really enhanced almost everything about him, so his sense of smell wasn't exactly an asset in this situation.

He sat in the waiting room with the rest of the team, waiting for news on their fallen comrade.

Tony would be fine, Steve tried to convince himself. There was no way would the genius let someone called Doctor Doom beat him.

Eventually, Rhodes appeared in the doorway, a small smile on his face that spoke of both tiredness and elation.

"The little brat is going to be fine," he confirmed, nodding when he saw the way the team relaxed into the chairs they were sitting in. "The doctors would prefer that we didn't all crowd the room, but you can see him for a few minutes each if you want."

Steve waited until last, waving the team off back to the tower without him with promises to see them there later. He watched Tony through the window of the private medical room.

The genius had fallen asleep, but the visible signs of his injuries were enough to make Steve feel sick.

"You love him, don't you?"

Steve jumped, turning to look at Pepper. He didn't understand what it was about the women attached to their team, but with heels like that, they really shouldn't be able to move around so silently.

Unable to speak around the lump in his throat, Steve nodded his confirmation and turned back to the window.

"He loves you too. He'll be mad at me for telling you, but this has gone on long enough," she said quietly.

Steve frowned. "But… him and Rhodes…?"

"Are best friends," Pepper finished for him, frowning right back.

Shaking his head, Steve gestured to the window. "Tony wears his dog-tags. You only do that, you only give someone your tags, if you're planning to love them forever."

"Rhodey does love Tony," Pepper confirmed. "The two of them have a bond that nobody could ever aspire to understand or compete with, and their loyalty to one another knows no bounds. But as strong as that bond is, it's entirely platonic and it always has been."

"Is that what this has all been about?" Rhodes asked as he joined them at the window. "There's a tracker on that tag, Rogers. So I can always find him. Afghanistan… it left its mark on all of us, you know?"

"You… you're not… together?"

"Oh Jesus, no," Rhodey said, laughing. "He causes me enough grief as my best friend. You have to understand that when I met Tony, he was still practically in diapers, and he had no idea how to socialise with people. He… I looked after him, and I guess I did that for so long that it just became a thing. Tony is mine, but he's mine in a way that he can also be someone else's."

Steve nodded. Didn't he feel exactly the same way as Bucky after all?

"Do you mind if I sit with him for a while?" he asked quietly, nodding to the empty chair by Tony's bed.

"Fill your boots," Rhodey said with a small smile. "And Steve?"

"Hmm?"

"If you hurt him, you'll wish that the serum wasn't enough to keep you alive, do you understand me?"

Swallowing hard, Steve nodded.

He was glad that Tony had people that cared enough to offer up such threats, but he'd never thought that the Colonel could be quite so intimidating. The look that Pepper aimed his way did nothing to help anything, but then, he'd always had a healthy respect for the woman who'd managed Tony's life for so long.

He had no doubt that she had a spine of steel.

He slipped into the room and into the chair, hesitating only slightly before he wrapped Tony's hand between both of his own.

…

Steve woke up with a sore neck. He'd fallen asleep in the chair by Tony's bed with his head resting on his and Tony's joined hands. Sitting up, it took him a moment to realise that Tony was awake and watching him.

There was something so soft in his eyes, Steve thought his heart was going to swell out of his chest.

"How are you feeling, Sweetheart?" he asked gently.

"Like I got knocked out of the sky by a flying robot," Tony replied with a small smile. "I, uh. Sweetheart?"

Steve felt his face flush.

"Sorry."

Tony stared at him for a long moment.

"Why did you avoid me, Steve?" Tony must have seen the surprise on Steve's face because he blushed. "Uh. Rhodey said that I had to be an adult and just talk to you? So. This is me doing that."

"I saw the tag," Steve admitted quietly. "Rhodey's dog-tag. I, uh, I got the wrong idea."

Tony frowned slightly. "You thought Rhodey and I were dating?"

"I thought you were in love," Steve corrected. "In my day, you only gave your tags to the person you wanted to spend forever with, and I didn't… I guess I thought that hadn't changed."

"It hasn't, for the most part," Tony agreed. "Though the definition of 'spending forever' with someone has certainly gained a few meanings. Rhodey is my best friend, Steve. I would do anything for him without question. He's the most important person in my life, and I do love him. I'm just not in love with him. He'll tell you the same thing about me."

"He already did," Steve said. "He explained last night. I'm sorry, Tony. I know I shouldn't have avoided you; even if you were in a relationship, what I did was selfish."

"I still don't understand why seeing that would make you avoid me. I mean, I thought maybe I made you uncomfortable with my scars or—"

"I'm so in love with you that I couldn't stand the idea of you being with someone else," Steve said, interrupting Tony because the thought of him thinking it had been caused by his scars was abhorrent.

Tony's eyes widened. "Oh. Really?"

"Really. It's fine if you don't—"

"I love you too."

Steve froze. "Yeah?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah. I. Yeah. I love you."

"Can I kiss you?"

Tony's smile morphed into something a little more Tony-like, and he nodded again. "You don't ever have to ask for that."

…

Epilogue

…

Steve found Tony curled up on the sofa with Rhodes and he smiled at the sight.

"Hey you," he murmured, smiling when Tony reached for him. He was the cutest when he was sleepy and comfortable.

Steve had been away on a mission for SHIELD, and the week away from the tower had been entirely too long.

He switched places with Rhodes seamlessly, grinning at the other man as he shook the feeling back into his arm. Steve pushed the edge of the teal blanket beneath his thigh and wrapped his own arm around the sleepy man.

"I have something for you," he said, when Tony gazed up at him.

"Hmm? You didn't have to get me anything."

Steve opened his palm to reveal his own dog-tags. Tony scrambled to sit up, his blanket forgotten, as he stared at the offering. Steve had wondered if Tony would remember what he'd said in the hospital about the meaning of giving the tags to someone in his day, and it was clear that he did.

"Really?"

"It'd be my honour," Steve promised.

Tony pulled the necklace from beneath his shirt and offered it to Steve, who carefully placed the link onto it. The two tags clicked together slightly as they fell back against Tony's chest.

"I love you," Steve said, pressing a kiss to Tony's lips.

"I love you too."

Written for:

Angel's Archive - 12. Carrot Cake - include a non weasley redhead.

Basement - 18. "If I don't make it back, remember that you're the one that made me come here."

Marvel - 10. Loyal

Funfair, North - Wreath Making - Extra - Glitter: Gold

Funfair, East - Snow Art - Red: "You're such a people pleasing pushover." / "And here I thought you loved me." / Blue: Clueless / Brown: Friends to Lovers

Funfair, South - Holiday Cards - 4. Rudolph: Teal

Galleon: "I was obviously wrong."

365: 304. Chemical