The first thing Steve did when he woke up was run for his life.

Disoriented and scared out of his mind, he blasted through the 'recovery room' he was in to find an even larger room outside. He didn't dare take in the details, he didn't want to know any of that. All he wanted to know was the warmth of the sun and the breeze on his face. If he could get outside, he could escape. All he needed was to see his surroundings, to have the lies stop. There were so many people, so many people in black suits following him on foot...where was he?

Barefoot and frightened, he managed to find the doors to the outside.

And he regretted the moment he did.

Bright. Everything was so bright. Everything was so large! Buildings higher than he'd ever seen, all stacked with screens producing hundreds of different images. And...cars? Were these cars? Sleek and colored and quick, it was disorientating. He moved as fast as he could...but the black cars swarmed fast, more than a dozen starting to block the street.

Steve gave a sharp right, disappearing into an alley. It was too narrow for a car, he had a chance to get away. His ate the distance in great leaps, pushing aside trash cans and whatever else got in his way. His feet stung from bits of glass and rock but he refused to slow down.

That is, until a man made of iron dropped in front of him.

Steve startled out of his run, flying back and skimming across the brick ground. The thing was man-shaped, colored red and gold and gleaming in the sun. It flew like a rocket, blasts of...some sort of power coming from it's palms and feet. It looked magnificent, whatever it was.

"Captain Rogers."

The thing spoke to him, landing smack in the middle of the alley. In his hysteria, Steve couldn't help but notice just how nicely built the suit of armor was. If there was a man it was modeled after, it must have been one fine looking one.

"Woah, buddy" the suit held up it's hands, as if in surrender "It's okay. I'm not going to bop you or anything."

" 'Bop' me?" Steve's voice was still husky from sleep. And just how long had he slept? He sat up and started rubbing his arms, never taking his eyes off the machine. There was a soreness laid deep in his body, as if he'd been still for much too long.

"Wait, here" the suit raised it's arms above it's head, suddenly pulling off the helmet to reveal a familiar face. Deep brown eyes, a bit of facial hair, dark hair – not slicked back with product, but loose and mussed up. His grin was charismatic and arrogant. More handsome a man than he'd ever seen, and his heart was doing leaps and bounds in his chest at the sight.

"Howard?" the name slipped from his lips without his permission, brow wrinkled.

The man's smile faltered, but he bounced back, "And that was your one pass. You've been a Capsicle for a long time."

"Listen here, buddy" Steve got to his feet, shifting his shoulders "I don't know who you are-"

"The name's Tony. Tony Stark" the man held out his metal hand "And I'll be your guide for this century."

"I..." Steve looked down at his hand curiously "Is the rest of you in there?"

"Well I certainly didn't leave it in the kitchen" this 'Tony' tisked, waving his hand a bit "Come on, Dimples, don't be rude."

Steve stepped forward, grasping the warm metal and shaking it firmly. Slowly, the tension began to leave his body.

"Are you with those men chasing me?" Steve inquired.

Tony pulled a face, looking over the blonde's shoulder, "Considering they look angry to see me, not really."

"How did you know I was here?"

"JARVIS sent me an alert the moment you woke up" Tony replied easily, ignoring the suited men moving into formation around them "I've been waiting for this moment since you were fished out of the ocean."

Steve was thoroughly confused, "JARVIS? The ocean?"

"Yeah, Cap, we have a lot to talk about" Tony threw an arm around the man's shoulders, turning him around "But for right now, put on your game face, here comes the Cyclops. Smile."

Steve obeyed, but it was forced.

With Tony's touch, the captain found the strength to get some real answers.

xXxXx

Steve dropped his face into his hands, swallowing down his groan of frustration.

After that whole incident with Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D was over, Steve was ready to smash cars with his fists alone. It wasn't really their fault, but the fact that they'd tried to trick him had gotten under his skin. Tony had offered to let him cool off at his home. Hell, at his skyscraper. It had been hours since he'd busted through that wall and breathed his first breath of fresh air, and now his mind was so swamped all he wanted to do was crawl in bed and go back to sleep. He'd done enough sleeping, hadn't he? Nearly 70 years worth of it. It was so much to wrap his mind around. The de-thawing, the missed years, the war they'd won, the other wars they'd lost, the rise of technology...phones, televisions, morals, society...

All the people he'd lost. Bucky, Peggy...Howard...

"You're his son" Steve tried the words out, brow creasing briefly.

"Yeah, 'fraid so" Tony circled by the captain, offering him a glass "Here, take it."

The blonde picked up his head, "I can't get drunk with that, Mr. Stark."

"I hope not, it's ice water" the other teased, swirling the drink in front of his gaze "You need to eat and drink. They've been pumping you full of liquid vitamins for months, you need something real in your body. We'll work your way up to solids later."

"Thank you" Steve accepted it "I won't be here that long. Director Fury said he'd set me up with an apartment here in the city."

"Bull" Tony sat down on the chair across from him, legs crossing in front of him and arms thrown over the sides "I told you I'm going to be your guide, and that means you'll be staying here."

"I couldn't possibly impose."

Tony's smile showed amusement, "There's no 'imposing', have you seen the size of this place? I'm getting a room set up for you as we speak. You'll practically have a floor to yourself. I never really have guests."

"Never?" Steve took a sip of water, it was wonderful after so long without "With all this...entertainment?"

Tony was confused for a moment, "Oh! Gadgets like TV's and games are more commonplace than they used to be. They're not so special."

"So it's not a family thing anymore?"

"Afraid not" Tony shrugged "Dinner's more the family thing right now."

"Oh, okay" Steve kept sipping at his water, he'd been told to go easy on consuming for the next few days "I suppose if I had all these things, I wouldn't want people trampsing in and gawking at it either."

"There you go" Tony sipped at his own drink, one much stronger than the other's "I have the facilities where my employees work, and then there's the upper five floors. Those are all for my personal use. Right over there, down those stairs, is my super awesome science lab. Go up from here and there's my suite. Kinda cool, right?"

"It's one swanky palace you've made for yourself."

Steve knew he'd never live that down, because as soon as he said it the billionaire started chuckling behind his hand.

"I can't believe you just said 'swanky' in a sentence" Tony's eyes were clenched shut, he really was trying to restrain himself "I...I think the word you want is 'ritzy' or 'cool'."

The blonde's ears were burning, "Thanks. I guess I have to catch up on language too."

"It won't be hard" Tony finished off his drink "I talk enough for five people, you'll be on par before you know. And stop blushing, it's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Steve finally collapsed onto the couch, throwing his arms over the back of it and letting his head rest on the cushions completely. He couldn't keep up the 'stiff upper lip' for much longer, he was just too tired. Tony didn't seem to care, he was already back at the bar to pour himself another drink.

"Are you quite sure you wouldn't mind me staying?" Steve inquired softly, the thought of getting an apartment through S.H.I.E.L.D disgusted him "I can't exactly...work. I'm not qualified to do much outside the military. Besides that, no one will believe I'm 90 years old. The Director said I wouldn't be going on any missions for a while, between that and how new everything is-"

"I understand" Tony took a sip, then added more ice to his glass "You won't want to leave. The world is weird and new, people are different, and everyone you knew is gone. I completely understand, it's scary out there. You can hermit here, well – technically – down there."

Tony tapped on the floor with his foot, "Your floor is two down. It has a kitchen, two bathrooms, a big ass bedroom – everything a legend needs. Pepper will get you some groceries. JARVIS?"

"Yes, sir?"

Steve jumped up, looking around for the man he heard.

"Send a memo to Pep, tell her to pick Cap up some food. Healthy stuff, at least for now."

"Of course, already sent."

"Good, there's that" Tony raised the glass, but froze when he noticed the startled blonde "Hm? ...oh! Oh, right, that. Uh, Cap, this is JARVIS. JARVIS, Captain America."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Rogers."

"Who's that?" Steve whispered, slowly turning in a circle with his eyes on the ceiling.

"He's kind of like my...butler" Tony still didn't like calling the AI that "He's a little something I created. It's what they call AI, artificial intelligence. Imagine...imagine a digital person, a computer who can really think for itself. At least, most of the time. He can control everything in this house. He can be a phone, a music player, a computer, a memo book, a check book, anything!"

Steve was wide-eyed with wonderment, "And you...made him?"

"Yes" Tony flashed a smile "He's with me in my Iron Man suit. He's just a little less awesome than me, which is impossible."

"Hello, JARVIS" the captain's voice was slow, but he wasn't really sure what he was doing "It's...nice to meet you too."

"An honor, really. If there's anything you need, you must only speak up."

"I'll keep that in mind" Steve made a face "You won't be watching me all the time, will you?"

"Well, Cap, let's just say that if you fall in the shower and break an arm – I'll be there in under a minute" Tony shot the blonde a wink, which made him him flush "Do you know how easy it is to make you blush? Is that the whole '40's sensibility' thing?"

Steve rubbed his hand over his heated cheek, willing the blush away, "No, you just caught me off guard."

Tony let it go for the moment, "JARVIS knows all and sees all. He goes on quiet mode when I fall asleep, which is rare, and doesn't record any video or audio unless he's asked. He's here, all the time, but not really. Don't be embarrassed, he's not programmed to judge or criticize."

"No one but you, sir."

Tony shot a glare at the ceiling, "Cram it."

"Now who's being rude?" Steve teased back, eyes falling closed.

"Just drink your water, Dimples, and be happy."

"Don't call me that."

"What do you prefer?" Tony walked back around, sitting on the arm of the chair this time "Cap? Captain? Dimples? Blondie? Woobie? What?"

"How about 'Steve'? I'm partial to that" Steve cracked open an eye, flashing a smile at the older man.

"I guess that will have to do" another swig, another wince "But no more of that 'Mr. Stark' crap. It's just 'Tony' from now on."

"Deal" Steve sank deeper into the couch, he had never felt anything better "I don't know how I'm this tired after so much sleep."

"Passed out and asleep are two different things, trust me, I'm an expert" Tony stepped off the chair, coming closer and holding out his hand "Let's go."

Steve raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"I'm going to show you your floor, Cap" Tony waved his hand up and down "Come on, up."

Steve took his hand, surprised when he was pulled to his feet. There was strength in this man, his appearance did nothing to portray it.

"Wow."

It was Tony's turn to be confused, "What?"

"I just-" Steve bit off his reply, remembering how he used to fawn over Howard like a girl "You're strong, Tony."

"Well the suit doesn't fly itself" Tony snorted, but there was a second-long look on his face that betrayed his pride "To the elevator, let's go."

Steve let Tony lead him, neither noticing that their hands stayed clasped nearly the whole way.

xXxXx

"Remember" Tony called from the doorway, watching the blonde sit down on the bed with a heavy sigh "If you need anything, JARVIS will get a DUM-E or me up here. I'll just be in the lab."

"Doing what?" the blonde sounded tired, but curious.

"Oh, you know, the usual science experiments" Tony rattled off "Baking soda in a volcano, bottle rocket, effects of different toothpastes on stained eggs, teaching lab rats to juggle – nothing out of the ordinary."

Steve laughed through his yawn, pressing the back of his hand to his lips, "You really are something, Tony."

"I'll catch you up on all my cool gizmos once you get some real food and water in your stomach" the genius promised "Just take a Cap-nap, then I'll show you where the gym is."

"You have a gym?" Steve's brows raised in genuine surprise "Here in the building?"

"It's a rather...new addition..." Tony mumbled, looking down at his glass and swirling the ice there "Not really impressive, but it's something to help get your body going again."

"Thank you, Tony."

"No problem."

"No, really" Tony looked up to find the most brilliant smile beaming at him "Thank you for everything. This room – which is too much, by the way – and updating me...you didn't have to. I'm sure Fury has a thousand people at his command who could do it."

"But none of them would look half as good doing it" Tony smiled back, though he was sure it wasn't nearly as radiant "Sleepy time. JARVIS, lights and curtains."

The lights dimmed, the blinds suddenly drawing themselves across the windows to block out the light. Steve was half-cast in shadow, jaw trembling for just a second. His shoulders went tense, his fingertips digging into the bed.

Tony noticed, how could he not, "Uh, JARVIS, turn the blinds in a bit. I think the good captain would enjoy some natural sunlight."

And just like that, Steve relaxed. The blinds turned 45 degrees, cutting slants of light throughout the room. The captain was probably still twitchy about the whole 'been buried in ice for 70 years' thing, the dark a rather unwelcome guest at the moment. Who wouldn't be? It was a terrifying notion.

Steve opened his mouth, probably to thank him again, but he couldn't do it.

"Laterz!"

Tony shut the door behind him, darting off down the hall like the door handle had burned him. He took quick steps to the elevator, gulping down the rest of his drink with a pang of shame. It wasn't until he was in the elevator and the doors had shut before he dared release the breath he'd been holding.

"Stupid!" Tony tossed the glass away, letting it crack and spill in the corner "Stupid, stupid...of course, the first thing you do when you get him alone is drink and act like an ass."

"Sir, I think you're being too hard on yourself."

Tony massaged his thumb into his temple, "You think so?"

"Sir, if I may be so bold – you made him laugh. You made him feel very welcome. He seemed quite excited about the gym. It was a brilliant idea on your part."

"It's like the one thing I don't have here" Tony flicked his fingers in the air, the door whooshing open to reveal his floor "Did he really sound like he liked it?"

"Indeed, sir."

"Hn" Tony grinned to himself, striding across his living room "Set up an alert for his room. If he shows distress at all, I want you to notify me."

"Already done, sir."

There was a length of silence as Tony headed downstairs, going for the lab. He was typing in the password when the AI spoke back up.

"I believe you really kept your nerve back there, sir, considering you met your childhood hero."

"He's not-" Tony cut himself off, huffing loudly "Don't you ever say that with him around."

"Should I lock your memorabilia room?"

"It's not mine, it all belongs to my jackass dad" Tony grouched, shoving himself through the glass door "And yes, alert me on my headset if he gets within ten feet of it. And for the love of all that is shiny and electrical, do not tell him about it."

"Yes, sir. Are there any other restrictions I should follow with my responses to Captain Rogers?"

There was a pregnant pause, the genius scrubbed a hand over his face, "No...yeah. No, just tell him whatever he wants. Fuck...use your best judgment. If it's embarrassing or personal or – geez – involves feelings, just tell him to ask me."

"As you wish, sir."

"Ugh" Tony slammed his hands down onto his work station, casting his eyes around "I need to weld something."

AN: Just so everyone knows, this story takes place right before Ironman 2. Trust me, you'll know once we've hit the movie-verse