Steve's pov
Fury had given orders to bench Tony until his recovery and what is worse is that I agree with his decision. But the problem? I was yet to tell him. Tony needed to do things, he needed to keep busy or he would get edgy and antsy.
"Jarvis? Where is Tony?"
"welcome back captain, sir is down in the training center"
Well that's new. Tony hated training, or sparring. I sighed heading down the staircase to the training room. Walking through the glass doors to the where the bench presses. At first glance I didn't find him, only to discover he was currently lying on the bench his chest heaving and sweat shimmering across his forehead. While Tony had slept fitfully in my arms last night during the blood transfusion, Bruce had taken the time to explain what symptoms, clinical signs we should be looking out for in regards to his anemic state. He had explained that the most obvious signs would be the fatigue, difficulty in breathing which in Tony's case would be worse, since his lung capacity is already reduced from the arc reactor being lodged in his chest cavity. But the sickly Grey color he was turning now lying on the bench taking big gulps of air, showed just how low his blood counts had to be for the lack of oxygen transport to be so low. I quickly made my way across the room but made sure to do so noisily so as to not startle him. He turned his head towards, giving me a whiny grunt of frustration. He was sprawled on the narrow bench, his arms hanging off the sides hitting the floor, I lifted him up off the bench and sat down on the floor his head in my lap., sighing I ran my hands through his hair and just sat there talking nonsense until I felt his breathing even out, and his color returned to his face. Tilting his chin up, I kissed him on the lips, before repositioning him so that he was now sitting up against my chest and we were both leaning against the bench.
"I didn't even last twenty Minutes" he whined lifting his hand up to tug his sweat soaked shirt off.
"Bruce told you that it's going to be like this for a while, just until things get back on track" I told him calmly, as I pulled his shirt over his head. His breathing still a bit too fast, the reactor was moving up and down faster than normal, shifting my hand over the reactor I pulled the foot stool with my foot closer and raised tony's legs to put them on it, Trying to get his blood flowing back a little faster. Tony was very pliant to all my ministrations, unusually so. Come to think of it, he was being extra good listening to everyone all day today, which obviously only worries me more because this side of Tony is a rare thing to witness, and the last time he had been this good was when he had flown through the portal and given me heart attack, but later I realized that he was only trying to be compliant with all the poking and prodding so as to not worry me further.
Which does nothing to quell my rising suspicion that Tony was being complaint only because he knew I was really worried for his health.
"do you want to head upstairs and lie down for a bit?" he had actually been adament about staying awake all day, even though Bruce had said he will become tired often and needs rest. He shook his head no
"let's go out" what?
"go where?" I asked him giving a quizzical look. not sure where this was coming from, but he really needed to get some rest, and knowing tony he is not going to give in until he gets what he wants.
"I just need to get out, for a while. Let's go to that Italian place across town, I know you love that place." He said looking up with pleading eyes like he just knew I was going to suggest otherwise. I sighed closing my eyes, I felt his hands tugging my head down as he tried to kiss me, it was more of a quick peck before I pulled back, knowing he was straining his neck to reach up. I opened my eyes to his pursed lips and frown. Smiling, I snuggled him closer to me carefully minding the burns pulling his feet off the stool, I could feel the heat emanating from his skin, he still had a fever from the transfusion but he was too proud to admit it.
"tell you what, I would love to go" he beamed up like a little child his eyes twinkling "after we have a quick nap, because I am sore from yesterday's clean up" I winked at him as he sulked pouting. I pulled him up with me picking up his shirt in the process. He would need more antibiotic cream applied on his burns anyways, so no point putting his shirt back on.
Tony's pov
"here, why don't you put the cream on the burns and I'll go get changed okay?" Steve said handing the tube to me, I took it from him and sat down on the edge of the bed. Uncapping the cream I smeared some on the irritated skin, and picked out a 'going out' shirt and put it on in hopes of persuading Steve into getting out of the tower. I was not tired! It had been a good three days since I had got any work done. I was yet to figure out how to deal with the overloaded arc reactor that still sat in my lab. But I knew everyone was on babysitting duty today preventing me from going down to the lab. Which was I chose to go to the training center. But look what it did to me, my chest was still sore and achy.
Steve came out in his khakis and a plain shirt, looking pointedly at me he asked "did you really put the antibiotic cream on?" he raised an eyebrow in suspicion. I raised my hand up to my forehead saluted "scouts honor" he smirked as he collapsed onto the bed beside me pulling me down next to him, I whined at that "I am not tired! And I most definitely don't need a nap"
"of course not, but this old man here is tired and definitely requires a nap" he said gesturing at himself "and he most certainly would love it if his boyfriend helped him with this slumber party" I rolled my eyes but put my head down on his chest Anyway.
"so what did Fury want to talk to you about?" I felt him stiffen ever so slightly under me, his hand moving to the back of my neck playing with the ends of my hair. He was coddling me. Meaning, whatever fury had to say was something in regard to me which Steve had felt the need to not tell me about yet.
"Fury, and I" he emphasized "feel it would be better if you did not participate in any gruesome battles, just until you are feeling better" what?!
"you are benching me!? Steve, that is not fair! I am perfectly fine!" but I knew there was no point arguing about this because I knew they were right. I was a liability to them.
"Tony, be reasonable." How though? Everything was being taken away from me, the team made sure I was not allowed in the lab(including Jarvis) , now I am not allowed on the battle field, all because I needed the rest! but I don't want to rest! I am fine Goddammit!
"I can't just do nothing Steve!" I was getting fidgety, Steve pulled me over him, so I was now lying directly on top of him my head resting on his chest, I could feel his heart beating strong and steady like a rock.
"close your eyes" he said instead, I did. Because I didn't know what else to do, this was getting absurd.
"Steve, I don't know what's happening with me" I felt him take a deep breath and exhale
"Nothing is happening with you, you are fine. And we are all here to help you through this okay? I know you are not used to sitting idle, we will fix that, I promise. This is only going to be for a few weeks and then you can go back to being the man who gives me a minor heart attack on a daily basis." I snorted at that looking lifting my head up to look at him.
"I can't help it if the old man can't handle me" I stuck my tongue out
"close your eyes" I whined
"I am not tired!" I lifted myself up on his chest moving forward to capture his lips. Kissing me back, I felt him slowly shift underneath me his hands tugging on my shirt. I grinned against his lips as he flipped us both so my back was now flush against the bed and Steve was hovering just cms above me.
"close your eyes, tony" he said while tracing the exposed skin on my neck with his lips, this time I did.
Steve's pov
Contrary to all his claims that he was not tired, Tony was out like a light in less than ten minutes of the subtle love making session. He was most certainly a handful, I smiled to myself before snuggling in closer tucking his head under my chin before catching a quick nap.
Twenty minutes later, found Clint shaking me awake but being careful not to jostle Tony. I blinked a couple times clearing my vision
"Bruce wants us to meet him down in the lab stat"
"what's going on?" I asked, slowly and carefully untangling from Tony, just as I tried to get up off the bed, I felt Tony's hand tightly grasping the tail end of my shirt, I looked up to see if I had woken him, but he was still asleep. Clint snickered and I glared at him before he said something that would wake Tony up. I unbuttoned the shirt sliding it off and dropped it on the bed, Tony still holding it tight. Walking to the dresser I pulled out another shirt, put it on and motioned towards Clint to head out.
"so what's this about?" I asked him again, following him down the stairs to the lab.
"Jarvis said something about tony's arc reactor which is currently acting unstable" I swallowed, hoping it was not all bad news.