Steve watched Wanda and Jarvis go mesmerised. There was something beautiful in the way they held each other. They just met. They knew nothing of each other yet it seemed like they belonged together and both of them know that somehow.

It was something Steve couldn't understand. He knew it happened to people but for him to like, accept and want someone needed a lot of time and evaluation of the other.

Tony spoke up startling Steve. He was hungry. That made Steve smile. You can count on Tony to make things ordinary and mundane.

With that thought in mind, he got up and offered help to Tony to get up but as he did so he ended up pulling Tony too strongly and he ended up crashing into Steve's chest. When he was there, Steve's arms naturally embraced him tightly. Tony returned the hug without complaint so they stood there like that for a while.

While they stood, Steve thought about how Tony is the person he can trust. No matter how foul he could be if he chooses, this Tony that he held in his arms always chose to be the good man he is.

Time moved and Steve realized he will have to be the one to break their stance because Tony didn't show any signs of moving.

"Weren't you hungry?" Steve said quietly.

"I guess I was hungrier than I realize," Tony murmured still not moving.

"I'm afraid we have no transportation. It's a long walk I can carry you if you're too exhausted."

That made Tony move away but he didn't let go so they ended up looking at each other in very close proximity.

"Princess Style or piggyback?" was the thing that interested Tony.

"That's what you're worried about?" Steve chuckled endeared, Tony knew how to light up the mood. "Whatever you prefer. I can do both, my arms don't get tired so easily."

"Of course, you can," Tony patted his biceps and finally let go.

There was a dose of regret in letting go but they had to move. It was dark and it was cold. Tony was all beaten up. They should hurry.

"Should I run to get there faster?" Steve frowned at the sky, it seemed the dawn was near.

"No, if you run I'll get all bruised. Just grab me by my waist and press in hard."

"What?" Steve stepped back confused.

"What? You don't know how to hug someone's back? Just try. I'm sure you'll manage," Tony typed on his wristband looking serious.

Was it a joke? If it was, Steve was sure he didn't want to spell it out to him so he just complied. It was better to be laughed at for doing the wrong thing than to be talked to like you're an idiot.

Carefully, Steve placed his palm on Tony's waist. Since he didn't flinch away Steve proceeded to step closer and envelop Tony in his embrace. As he did so, it felt somehow natural. Like he should do this more often. So what if Tony wanted an embrace, Steve was in need of a few himself.

"That's it," Tony said seriously. "Now don't get startled and let go when you feel the sting. You can hold on tightly, everything will be alright. She's a big girl."

Steve frowned wanting to ask what was it about but before he could voice out his concerns the first piece hit them. It was the right word. They were hit by a piece of metal. Steve grabbed Tony tighter trying to protect him as more metal pieces pressed in their flesh.

"I'm sorry for the roughness, she wasn't designed for two bodies but for armour so I made her less delicate than it could be."

"Who is she?" Steve grumbled as the pieces covered their heads.

"Veronica, the armour I made to fight Hulk. We still didn't have to use it so you didn't see her. It was designed to come on top of my regular armour to give me more momentum so I think both of us should fit. Breathe out a bit."

Steve breathed out and the suit closed around them. He was now enclosed in the suit with Tony. It was strange. As Tony's head moved so did Steve's.

"Are you comfortable enough?"

"I guess," Steve said noting how tightly they were pressed in together. "You could have let me hold on to the suit like I usually do. I can take the cold."

"I know but it's cosier this way, isn't it," Tony joked as he powered up the engines. "Besides, I wasn't sure would it be able to fit on me without the suit. I'll try to fly gently. Brace yourself."

Steve wanted to say that he was used to it and he can be thrown through the air even without a suit when they started to fly.

They went faster than when Steve would grab onto the suit and Steve realized just how slow Tony flew for him.

"It's fun," Tony made a few loops making Steve feel his stomach turn.

"Fun isn't the word for it," Steve murmured. "Hard ground is what I prefer."

"Just say the word, my Captain," Tony steadied their flight.

In absence of outer distractions, Steve got too aware of their posture. He was pressed in on Tony's back and there was no room to move away. Steve forced his mind to think of mundane things and count tasks. Still, the flight seemed to last forever. Weren't they faster when he flew with the fake Tony in the other direction?

Finally, they landed and were freed from the constraints of Veronica. Steve unglued himself from Tony with the intent to run and hide in his room for a while when Tony grabbed his lower arm and stopped his retreat.

"Cap, you're hurt," Tony turned his arm to see all the cuts that could be seen through his torn shirt. "I guess you're still human enough to ache. Let's mend that so it doesn't get infected."

There was no way out of it since Tony's grab on Steve didn't lessen as he led him inside.

"Sit here and don't dare to run away, I will not hesitate to break into your room. Don't be a child, you too need to be mended and there's no nurse here at the moment. Jarvis… oh yes, I have to activate a new interface, one that I won't get too personal about."

Tony went out in search of medical supplies and Steve quickly examined his wounds. There wasn't much to them. There were just scratches and flesh wounds. Nothing was bleeding, no artery was cut. He could heal just by sleeping it off but Tony was back with his medical cut with a serious face and it seemed impossible to dissuade him.

It was alright at first. Tony just rolled up his sleeves and applied ointment to his cuts but then he stopped and gestured for Steve to remove his shirt. He could feel the heat on his cheeks just by the thought of it.

"What? Do you want me to take it off for you?" Tony smirked and Steve quickly removed his shirt.

It wasn't like he wasn't stripped and treated all the time. In silence, Tony mended his cuts and Steve counted all pieces of weapons they had in their weaponry.

"Turn around. Let me see your back," Tony instructed him so Steve turned.

It was somehow harder to concentrate like this when he was out of control and was unable to see when he will be touched next. He flinched under the sudden contact of Tony's warm hands and his bruised back.

"Does it hurt much?" Tony was worried.

"No, those are just scraps, let them be. It will heal soon enough."

"Of course, they will," Tony continued his work. "You're our man made of iron."

"No, that's you," Steve frowned.

"Only on the outside."

"That reminds me," Steve swayed under the contact and turned. "You were beaten badly in that suit. Let me see are you injured anywhere. It could be the adrenaline that still prevents you from feeling the pain.

Tony just stared at him for a moment and then proceeded to remove his shirt quickly and step a step closer.

"Is like this good enough, or should I remove more?"

Steve looked at him stupefied for a moment before moving away a bit and leaning to inspect his bruises. None of them seemed severe. His suit was well made, it protected him.

"Really, what a man should do," Tony complained ironically. "I almost thought you might crack and do something less boring than an examination."

"Oh, shut up, Tony," Steve turned him around to see his back. "I'm trying to see where you're injured. I don't want to squeeze you too hard and cause you pain."

Steve caught up with his tongue and froze. He just said that out loud. Tony stood still for a moment before he turned to face Steve.

"I won't hold it against you if there is a bit of pain," Tony smirked.

Faced with him Steve finally lost it grabbing his head and leaning in for a kiss. When their lips touched, Steve lost his bearings. Before he knew it, he was pressing Tony against the wall.