2014

HAIL HYDRA

Even after that whole incident...the attempted assassination of Fury, the reveal of the real Natasha Romanoff, the fall of SHIELD as they knew it, and the return and hopeful defeat of an old enemy...

Steve did not know what to do with himself.

Tony was by his side every step of the way. The soldier could not have defeated those Nazis without Tony's brilliant mind. This year was almost too much for Steve.

He was woken up one night to a cry that sounded muffled, like it was far away outside of the dream. Steve's eyes cautiously peaked open, the lights blinding at first.

"Steve?"

Steve slowly sat up, backing up a little from the sight before him.

Tony had his hands up in surrender, as if approaching a wounded predator, his eyes so wide with tears and worry. His eyes...eye...

"Oh God..." Steve started to cry. "Tony...what? Did I do this to you?" He went to caress his boyfriend's cheek, but when Tony jerked ever so slightly away, Steve wanted to jump out the window.

"It's fine. Steve, I'm fine." Tony tried to talk his way out of this one. "You were just having another nightmare." Seeing tears run down his beautiful face broke Tony's heart. "Come here." He reached for Steve, who refused at first. "Please?"

Steve could never resist Tony asking so sweetly and innocently.

Tony brought him close to his reactor, knowing how that slight hum always calmed him down. Steve sighed with relief, knowing he was safe. Everyone was safe. This current nightmare was over. Everything they have been through this year alone was over.

"I'm so sorry, Tony." Steve swallowed hard. "You know I never want to hurt you..."

"I know, babe. I know." Tony's thumb made circles in Steve's hand, the simple move relaxing him even more. "I know you would never do anything like that knowingly."

Steve was silent for a while, and Tony did not push him. He eventually asked what they had all been thinking.

"Will it ever stop?"

Tony looked up, thinking hard. "I can't say for sure. This job...it's taken a bigger toll on us than anticipated. And luckily, we've won every time. I wish..." Tony shifted Steve out into direct eye contact. "I wish I could protect you from all of this." He massaged Steve's head.

"I'm so pathetic..." Steve turned away, but Tony turned his face back.

"No, you're human...who happens to be a little stronger than most." Tony laughed. "And this is coming from me, a perfectionist, who can't say no..." He thought back to their conversation last year, about him trying to be more present and mindful about his health and rest. Tony was proud to say he had gotten better, only because of Steve.

Because Steve...his nightmares seemed far more cumbersome than even his own...and that is saying something.

"You're right...but I am so happy to be back home..." Steve was a homebody, Tony found out in the short while they had known each other. Being on the run from HYDRA was not on the bucket list, having to look over your shoulder every time Tony wanted a cheeseburger. Neither man could sleep.

Now that they had been home for a while, things were still not as comfortable as they would have liked it to be.

"Me too..." Tony kissed his sweaty forehead. "I promise you, this is the safest place we can be. Right, JARVIS?"

"Sir, I have to agree that you are correct in this statement. However, Captain Rogers' war with HYDRA did jeopardize the Tower ever so slightly."

"Yes, but that was then, and this is now, and now..." Tony wiggled his eyebrows mischievously. "It's Date Night."

"Oh, Tony...I couldn't after..." Steve looked ashamed of himself. "Your eye..."

"We have already discussed that, I can have Nat throw some makeup on this bad boy..." Tony got up on his knees, placing his hands on Steve's broad shoulders. "I want to have fun with you. As much as I love pizza and Chinese takeout, I have got to show us off to the public every now and then...and I love seeing the restaurant fluster as they try to find a table for us when they're packed on a Sunday night."

Steve laughed. "You're so spoiled."

"I blame you and JARVIS."

"It is my pleasure, Sir."

Dinner was fantastic. Steve really enjoyed his steak, while Tony had the lobster.

"Tony, I could not possibly have dessert. I'm fine, we can have ice cream later tonight."

"Nonsense." Tony motioned for their server, who looked to Steve nervously then back to Tony, who gave him a wink.

Steve could not help but get suspicious. He knew his boyfriend was extremely popular, beings he was the Tony Stark and all, but the tinge of jealousy always spiked up around anyone who looked or talked for too long past pleasantries.

By the time Tony finished his wine, the server came back with a small order of creme brule, Steve's favorite.

"Thanks, honey." Steve stuck his utensil into the beautifully made dessert, and frowned when he hit something hard. He looked up to see Tony beaming, trying his best to stay calm.

Inside was a ring!

Every thought was caught in his throat, begging to come out. Tony took the ring, his hands shaking, he was so nervous. [The Tony Stark, nervous?]

"Tony?" Steve finally choked out, tears welling up in his eyes.

Tony got down on one knee. "Steven Grant Rogers, you are the reason I get out of bed, most mornings. You have made me so happy, I wish I could give to you what you have given to me..." He looked down at the ring for a second, then back up to Steve. "I love you so much. I want to always be there to take care of you. I want you to know that I will always keep you safe. I will love you until the day I run out of batteries." They both laughed.

Steve looked so eager. The pause was too much for him.

Tony took his hand. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Steve pulled Tony up and kissed him. "Yes...Tony...I love you so much..."

Tony tried to put the ring on without being such a wimp, crying like a little girl at prom. "I love you too!"

The entire restaurant cheered.

And that night, there were nothing but sweet dreams of a blissful and happy future.