Author's Note: So here it is, the conclusion to my reverse roll story! Thanks to all those who gave this story and chance, and read it. It's always sad to see one of my stories come to an end, but I've got two more on the go a one shot and a request fic so look for those hopefully soon. So for now enjoy the conclusion of this one, and so much fluff!
Huge thank you to my beta ravingbeauty thank you for all your hard work on this one.
That Has Such People
Part XV: Oh brave new world that has such people in it
Clint watched as the Cap hummed his way happily across the kitchen, utensils and pots flying as he went about the business of making breakfast.
"Nice move last night, Cap," he teased as he walked in and made a beeline for the coffee maker. Tony looked at him blankly for a moment before his neck heated.
"Wha-what?" he stuttered, wide-eyed.
"Last night." Clint repeated, turning to regard him, coffee in hand. "At the Gala when the media caught your little kiss."
"Oh, that," he exhaled, relieved.
The archer picked up on it instantly, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. "What did you think I meant?"
"Nothing," Tony said quickly as he turned back to the stove, blush deepening.
Clint was intrigued and continued to stare at the man intently; the Cap was all but glowing. Puzzled, he kept an eye on him as Bruce entered, placing a kiss his lover's cheek before heading for the cupboard and his tea. Tony automatically hit the button on the kettle, setting the water to boil.
Clint idly rubbed his chin; something was different about him, not physically… but something was definitely different. He just couldn't quite put his finger on it…
Steve staggered in next, looking bleary-eyed and half asleep, heading immediately for coffee. Clint got out of the way, knowing full well the blond man could very well bowl him over on the way.
Cup now in hand, Steve was on the move again, and Clint tracked his progress as he made for Tony. The smaller figure yawned as he leaned into the taller man's back. Tony peaked over his shoulder and offered the man a shy smile, which Steve returned brightly. Suddenly the pieces fell into place and the archer burst into laughter.
All eyes turned to him curiously. "Could you two be any more obvious?" he laughed heartily.
Bruce, mug clutched in both hands, looked quizzically at his lover.
Steve narrowed his eyes. "Don't-" he began, but Thor chose that moment to make his own entrance into the kitchen.
"Congratulations, brothers in arms, on the consummation of your love," he said very seriously, clapping a horrified looking Tony on the back. Steve flinched; that sort of appreciative pat would have broken his spine. As it was, though, Tony didn't even twitch.
Clint was still laughing as Bruce tried to hide his own smile and Thor rummaged for pop tarts. Ignoring them for the time being, Steve looked to Tony worriedly.
"Tony?" he asked softly, reaching out hand as the man from the past clutched the spatula he was holding to his chest.
At that moment Natasha sauntered in, hair still damp. As she calmly walked past Tony, she paused a moment to swat his backside with a wink, "Well done, Cap."
Steve gave her a narrow-eyed glare before turning back to Tony; the poor guy looked utterly nonplussed. The blond reached up, laying a gentle hand on his cheek, turning dark eyes to meet his own.
"You ok?" he asked softly, worriedly.
"I think we broke the Cap," Clint joked and Steve turned, ready to let into him, when he felt an arm wrap around his waist and Tony burrow his face in his neck, frame shaking.
Terrified he was crying, Steve was about to turn when he realized the man was actually laughing. Grinning, Steve reached behind himself to wrap his arms around his lover? Boyfriend? Steve wanted to say yes to all that.
"You two are sickeningly sweet. Brucey, we need to step up our game," Clint called out and Steve flipped him off. Tony pressed a kiss to his neck, still chuckling.
"Ok?" Steve asked quietly as at the table Thor engaged in a mini tug of war over food with Clint.
"More than ok," Tony replied, arms tightening around the other man. "Can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be."
Steve felt warmth flood his chest, heart fit to burst, arc reactor whirring just a little harder than usual. Suddenly he wanted tell Tony he loved him, loved him more then anything. It didn't matter they were in the kitchen with the others – what was important was the moment, and he didn't think it could possibly get more perfect.
Turning to look at Tony, Steve was about to speak, the words trembling on his lips as his heart thundered in his ear. The soldier was looking at him curiously when the Avengers alarm sounded.
Rolling dark eyes, Tony groaned and pressed a quick kiss to Steve's lips before he grinned. "Time to save the world."
-#-#-#-
Captain America grunted as he caught his shield in mid air with a careless flip. The machine hovered a second before exploding in a shower of fire and sparks, sliced cleanly down the middle – only to have a dozen others take its place. The air above him thick with the hum and whir of machines as the Avengers fought gamely on against the innumerable beasties.
Tony really had no idea what the hell was going on; all he knew was some madman had unleashed a mechanical army against the city and the only thing standing between them and destruction was the Avengers.
What the man from the past did know, however, was his team was at his back, the love of his life was rapidly muttering in his ear, explaining rapid fire what he was trying to do, and he himself was saving the city.
For the first time in a long time a calm settled on him. Finally, all the scattered pieces of himself fell into place. This was what he was meant for, the place he was meant to be, with the people he had come to love. It was a revelation that made his heart thump and his blood surge. He had found his place in this world.
Invigorated, he rushed to Thor's side as they threw their respective weapons towards the oncoming hoard.
"Well aimed, brother," Thor called as they fought.
Cursing, Tony caught his shield as it ricocheted back. "Back at you," he grunted as the machines pressed relentlessly on.
"Iron Man, any progress on your end?" he asked over the comm, ducking out of the way of the Hulk.
"Almost there. JARVIS nearly has it hacked. Give me five," his lover answered back.
Tony nodded before remembering he needed to speak. "You got it," he said, renewing his efforts. More of the machines fell under his shield as he grunted and cursed, focused on buying his lover the time he needed.
"Got it!" Steve yelled triumphantly in his ear, and suddenly the robots froze mid-attack. Tony waited, crouched, as the small machines began to tremble violently, popping and fizzing, before falling out of the sky. Blinking in surprise, Tony glanced around and slowly stood. They were all dead… if machines could die.
"Everyone ok?" he called.
"Fine, Anthony," Thor said nearby.
"Here, babe," Steve said absently, no doubt still trying to reverse engineer the machines.
"Yeah, babe. All good," Clint teased from somewhere high above them.
Natasha sighed audibly, and the roar of triumphant for the Hulk was confirmation enough.
His team's safety confirmed, Tony tugged off his cowl and glanced around at the machines piled around him. Surrounded by the lifeless junk, he was alone now in the street, Thor having already wandered off to congratulate the Hulk.
Satisfied, he kicked one of the things absently and fished out a cigarette. Flicking his lighter, he was about to light his cigarette when he heard it – a soft, almost inaudible click.
Frowning, he cocked his head – what was that? Must be som- his thoughts cut off as suddenly the world exploded in a flash of brilliant and blinding light.
-#-#-#-
Steve was still shaken.
Unable to close his eyes for fear of seeing that horrible explosion again. The burned, tattered body of the man he loved lying on the asphalt, motionless and pale.
Reflexively Steve clutched the bandaged hand in his, blue eyes red-rimmed and swollen from crying. He felt like crying again, but he didn't really think he had any tears left. The last three days had been hell.
Bowing his head, the blond man held tight to Tony. The solider was silent and unmoving on the hospital bed, though, the heart machine a steady monotonous beep in the background. Steve didn't want to be here anymore. He wanted Tony to wake up and tell him it was all going to be all right. Steve would tell him he loved him and they were going to be ok.
Looking up again, he glanced around the room to find the others scattered about nearby, dozing or reading. They'd all refused to leave the Cap's side as long as he lay unconscious. Steve had been humbled and amazed by it – how Tony had managed to touch them all so deeply. They were worried about him and wouldn't leave until they were sure he'd be ok.
The world loved Captain America, and they… they loved Tony Stark.
Kissing their clasped hands, Steve rubbed the callused fingers tenderly, "Wake up soon, yeah? We're worried about you."
-#-#-#-
He woke slowly, feeling sluggish and disoriented, much like he did when he'd first awoken after the ice. Worry crept across his consciousness and he blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. Eyes darting around the dim room, the man from the past quickly ascertained it was a hospital room.
The knowledge did nothing to assuage his worry, though. He moved his arm, only to be stopped by something holding tight to his hand. Frowning, he glanced down seeing the pale head near his hip, his hand clasped tightly in Steve's.
The relief that coursed though him was almost overwhelming. He hadn't slept for years again; he was still here. Steve was still here. Almost lightheaded, he squeezed the hand in his gently, before using bandaged fingers to tenderly card through blond hair.
Steve shifted, sleepily blinking blue eyes. Tony watched him, smiling softly as he waited for those hazy eyes to turn to him.
It took Steve a moment to realize he was looking into dark eyes and that Tony was very much awake. "Tony!" he breathed seconds before he was in his arms.
The soldier automatically pulled him close, burying his face in his neck as he breathed deeply. "Hey now," Tony said, feeling the small tremble in Steve's slight frame. "It's ok."
Steve shook his head, speaking softly into his warm skin, "No, it's not. You've been out a week."
Tony winced; he must have had a bad accident. He wracked his muzzy mind trying to remember. He recalled robots falling from the sky, a click, and after that…
"You were in the middle of it all when the machines exploded. We thought… I thought…" Steve tried to continue, but his shuddering was growing worse.
Tony just tightened his embrace. "I'm sorry," he said, unsure why he was apologizing but thinking he should.
Steve gave a watery, affectionate chuckle. "You don't have to apologize," he said as he pulled back. Scrubbing at his red eyes, he offered a shaky smile.
"I'm just glad you're ok," he breathed. "Although I think the serum is to thank for that."
Tony grinned, feeling something pull tight on his face. Absently he reached up to scratch the side of his face, only to find a thick pad of gauze. Humming, he pulled it off, wincing as it tore out some of his facial hair.
"Wait, maybe-" Steve started, but the bandage was already off and Tony was hesitantly touching the still faintly pink skin.
Blue eyes rolled. "You're still gorgeous, don't worry."
Tony smiled, "You think I'm gorgeous?"
Steve shook his head, finally managing to find a real smile as Tony pulled off more bandages. Steve watched silently for long moments as Tony checked his arms and hands, flexing and stretching.
The feelings of helplessness and frustration from the week previous boiled up inside him once more. Without conscious thought he reached out, long slender fingers gripping the muscled arm. Tony paused in his inspection to turn to him curiously, blue eyes holding his steadily. Solemn, and serious, Steve tightened his grip, the words spilling from his lips unbidden, "I love you."
Dark eyes went wide in surprise, and Steve found himself flooded with a sudden sense of relief. It felt like a terrible weight had been lifted from him; if nothing else, Tony knew. For better or worse, he knew.
Then big hands were cupping his face and Tony was tugging him close. Steve had only a moment to see the emotion shining in his eyes, before Tony was speaking softly, "That's good, because I love you, too."
Their lips met then – careful, tender, and incredibly sweet. They parted seconds later, resting their foreheads together, and Tony kissed him on the nose.
"I could really use a cigarette," he mumbled.
Steve rolled his eyes, "We'll work on getting rid of that habit."
Tony just grinned. "We'll see," he hedged.
Steve was about to let into him when the door opened and the others spilled in, talking quietly until they saw the man in the bed awake and sitting up.
"You're up," Bruce grinned as the others crowded around Tony, all talking a mile a minute.
"Wait till you see the news," Clint was saying.
"A well-fought battle, your injuries were most grievous," Thor was explaining gravely.
"Fury is fit to be tied. He blames Rogers for the whole thing," Natasha said, waving a dismissive hand.
Steve watched, amused, as Tony tried to listen to all of them at once, nodding as his eyes darted between them. His smile softened as he glanced down at their still joined hands, a feeling of contentment creeping across him.
Somehow, without really trying, the Cap had become the heart of their little team. Just by being himself he had touched them all.
"Steve, tell him how you got the robots to go down," Bruce coaxed Steve him into the conversation, and the brilliant man was happy to oblige – never once letting go of the man he loved.
On the hospital bed, some seventy years in the future, Tony Stark sat surrounded by a group of people he could have only imagined in one of his comic books – two master assassins, a Norse legend, a man with an alter ego that could destroy cities, and another in a suit of iron that he'd come to love.
It was impossible – and yet somehow, someway it had become his life… one he had every intention of making the most of.
"O brave new world, that has such people in it…" he found himself muttering.
Steve looked at him curiously. "Sorry?" he asked.
Tony was shook his head, "Nothing important."
Blue eyes gave him a strange affectionate look before he once more launched into his explanation of how the robots were defeated. The others settled near the bed as they interjected playfully, bantering back and forth. Grinning, Tony settled back to listen as Steve gestured widely and Clint poked fun at him.
He thought idly that if Howard could see him now, his brother would be proud of him. James and Pepper, too. He didn't know what future would bring, but he did know that, whatever it was, he had his friends and he had Steve.
Smile stretching even wider, he once more snagged Steve's hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. This was his life… and he wouldn't have it any other way.
End.