Okay so the problem wasn't 'solved' as easily as I thought it would be, mainly because Rogers was incapable of leaving it damn well alone.

Honestly, he was like a dog with a bone, he just wouldn't let it go. He was also impossible to reason with.

Rogers had showed up later that same day with food from burger king. Had it been anyone else, I would have let out tears of gratitude. Maybe written sonnets in their name and sung out songs to forever commemorate the day they saved my life. Greasy food and hangovers were just meant to be. However as it was Rogers, my need to rejoice was vastly diminished by my need to not be indebted to him.

I'm not sure why it was so important for me not to receive his help, I mean it's not like I had never accepted anyone's help before.

Natashas bandaged me up more times then I could count after damage from faulty equipment, she even stayed with me in hospital for a week after we miscalculated the blast range of our new grenade launcher. Clint was always happy to have my back when some guy got it in their head that we were much more serious then we actually were -and show them the door as needed. And Banner, well he was here every other weekend giving me assistance and not just with our work projects.

And I let them, because it didn't faze me what they thought of me. I don't know why it meant so much more with Rogers.

"What are you doing here?" I asked narrowing my eyes.

And more importantly, how had he gotten in. I was going to give Jarvis a real talking to once he was gone. All I wanted was a little loyalty from the machine I invented, was that too much to ask?

"I thought you'd need something to eat." He held up the bag and moved slowly forward like I was some savage animal about to bite him. In all fairness, with how awful I felt, I probably looked closer to animal then human too.

"And I thought I told you to leave." I continued to glare.

"I will." He nodded his head, his eyes earnest. "I just wanted to make sure you ate."

There was something about the way he said that, something about the look in his eyes and gentleness in his voice that warmed my insides. Insides he had no business warming.

I didn't say anything.

"Will you eat it?" He asked as he put it on my kitchen counter. He stared at me, waiting for a response.

I hesitated for a moment before I nodded. "Only if you leave."

"Deal." He he let out a grin. I narrowed my eyes thinking that was way to easy but he left the bag on the counter and surprisingly enough did as requested.

I was sure he was going to rehash what we discussed this morning, the fact that he didn't released the tension in my shoulders I didn't realise was there.

I should have known it was too easy.

"Bruce could you bring me the jump leads." I called as footsteps approached. I was under one of my suits, fiddling with the battery in an attempt to better conserve it's energy levels. "And you call that five minutes? Is the concept of time completely lost on you?"

He left for 'five' to grab us a bite, and I was still here, half an hour later, starving.

I wasn't a consistent eater and I usually worked through worse but my indignation was on principle.

"I'd say I have a pretty good understanding of it." Rogers voice spoke, I slid out from under the suit and he was standing there, holding the leads ready for me to grab.

"Rogers." The smile that played on my lips was so fake it felt more like a baring of teeth then anything else. "I see you managed to get in okay. Thanks Jarvis." I looked at the ceiling promising retribution at the betrayel. Jarvis didn't necessarily have a corporal form, but I liked to glare around the room as if he did.

"Took a bit of convincing, but Jarvis is a softie."

You've got that right.

"At the risk of sounding like a broken record, what are you doing here?" I finally sighed taking the cable and sliding back under my suit.

Third time in two days in my house, he must have been setting some kind of record for himself.

"Thought we could talk about yesterday." He replied and I managed to move my head just in time because I'd lost the grip on one of the leads which gravity now had flying at my face.

Great Toni, why don't you whack your head into the suit on the way out. I don't think he noticed how much of a klutz you were the first time round. Bringing my body back under control, I managed to attach the cable properly before sliding back out. I sat up wiping my hands on the grease rag.

"Rogers, we're not talking about it."

"I think we should."

"No."

"It's healthy to talk about it. Besides there was some stuff you said that wasn't-"

"Rogers!" I snapped and he finally stopped to look at me properly. He didn't look happy about the interruption but he stood quiet nonetheless. "I don't want to talk about it. I can't talk about it. And anything I did talk about that night, I don't want to hear it. I was drunk and it's not fair you took advantage of that and it's not fair that you're still taking advantage of that."

"I'm not trying to take advantage of anything."

"But that's what you're doing, and Rogers -just so you know- you are seriously about to go too far."

"I don't understand."

"All you need to understand is that there is a line, anything that was discussed when I was drunk is over it."

"But-"

"And if you want me in your life at all, don't think about crossing it."

"Toni-"

"Because I will walk away Rogers, and I won't look back."

I knew something registered with that statement because I saw concern flash in his eyes before he managed to school his features into something more passive. Finally he smiled, it didn't seem completely genuine but the effort was there.

"Okay, we won't discuss it. We'll pretend as if it never happened. Is that what you want?"

"That's what I want."

Whether it solved our problems, I wasn't sure but after that conversation the dynamics in our relationship had definitely changed.

Maybe the drunk talk was a good thing because even though I hated him knowing how vulnerable I was to the public, it was also a relief knowing I didn't have to constantly have my guard up when he was around. Something I always felt the need to do before, and something that, though it wasn't his fault, I always blamed him for.

Would I say we were best friends? Probably not. But we were becoming something because his attitude towards me changed, or maybe it was vice versa. Suddenly I didn't find him half as judgmental as I always did and because of that, my need to prove myself decreased.

Like when I used to get injured for example.

If he made any comment on the issue, I would consider it (and rightfully so) a personal slight against me, now I realised all he did was show concern.

He just showed it more then anyone else.

The revelation came when we were fighting a battle in Los Angeles.

Not a big one, and not one I would lose sleep over, but still disastardly enough to keep us on our feet.

"No, no don't mind me, I'm fine." Clint spoke as he collected fallen arrows from the ground. He'd been walking about having a little sulk since the battle ended.

"A little cover from my friends would've been nice but hey, no biggie." He continued. "I only saw my life flash before my eyes is all."

I looked at Natasha and we both shook our heads. He could be the biggest drama queen when he wanted to. A bullet had nearly clipped him when he was moving out from behind a car, I was meant to be watching his back but I'd been distracted by my own chaotic mess. Yes I felt bad but let me reiterate. A bullet nearly clipped him.

"And where was your cover when Toni was being thrown through the glass wall of the complex hmm?" Natasha defended.

Thor let out a bark of laughter at the reminder, "It was like watching a tiny insect get swatted out of the sky."

Tell me why we were happy to get him back again?

I glared at Thor before continuing with, "Yeah Clint in case you didn't notice, I'm bleeding here."

I'd taken off the iron suit briefly and used it to transport a kid from point A to B while I was busy messing around with the electronics in the building, however as it came back to reattach itself to me, I'd been blasted through a window, leaving a glass shard protruding from my side. I was just going to yank it out, cause it hurt like a bitch every time I breathed, but Banner (being the worry wart he is) had nearly thrown a fit when I made the suggestion.

So I ceded, the last thing I wanted was to get on Bruces green side.

And by the way, guess who was meant to be covering my back at the time?

Why Mr. Grumpy-pants Barton of course.

"Oh I get it." Clint nodded his head. "It was payback was it?"

I rolled my eyes.

Honestly. They said that I was the immature one of the group, I'm pretty sure Barton could give me a run for my money.

"I don't know why I bother being friends with you." Clint glared.

"I'm so sorry Clint that you nearly got shot." I gave in. "But you know I love you right?" I shot him a grin.

Clints face remained unmoved and I stayed grinning until I finally saw his eyes soften and he let out a laugh, "Yeah, yeah, okay I love you too. I 'm over it. I'm over it."

"Alright guys." Rogers broke in, clapping his hands together. "I just got the all clear from Fury, we're good to go."

Two vehicles were starting to pull up. The group was getting into one and heading back to headquarters to debrief while I was taking the other to SHILEDS medical centre.

"Save me some cake." I told Natasha as she was getting into the car, Clint and Thor were already inside and I started heading over to the other car.

"When have I never?" Natasha called back, her eyebrow raising.

I poked my tongue out before responding, "Never."

I was hopping into the car trying not to wince when Rogers approached.

"I'm coming with." He spoke getting in beside me.

"What?" I drew my head back "Why?" I managed to splutter out.

"Because you're injured. I want to make sure you get there okay."

"It's just a scratch (in the loosest definition of the word) I'll be fine."

"That might be so, but please Toni for my peace of mind, let me come. And before you say anything, no it's not because you're a girl. I've sat with Bruce, I've sat with Clint, hell I sat with Thor when he broke his pinky. You're all my team, I just like to know everyone is in safe hands."

"You've never come with me before. Why now?"

"I had a friend who had that injury seventy years earlier, medicine wasn't like it is today and I watched as he bled out. His life ended at twenty-two. I don't want the same happening to you. I knew you'd never let me before, so I never bothered asking, but this time I need to come."

"I'm sorry to hear that happened." My voice was soft but I continued with, "But like you said, medicines changed, people don't die from this."

"And you're probably right. But I have to see it with my own eyes."

He was waiting for my answer, his hand on the door handle, ready to open it as if he knew I was going to refuse. I didn't like that he thought he knew me well enough to make that assumption. I did have a heart, even if I liked to pretend I didn't.

"Fine you can come." I ground out. "But only because you look so utterly pathetic. I don't want anyone else catching you with that expression, could ruin your image." I added on.

I saw relief wash overs Rogers face. Clearly he didn't care about the insult/ my reasonings why, only the result and the thought of that made me feel a little happy inside.

That was when I realised that I misjudged him a little (maybe a lot) and that he actually did care about me and not because I was a girl that didn't belong, but more because I was a part of his team.