Quick thanks to Half Demon Lunia, your suggest was wonderful - but I believe I'm going in a different direction with it. Thank you so much, I love your reviews. As well as the reviews of everyone else :)
Steve slammed the door behind him, but didn't quite get enough satisfaction out of it. He drove his fist into the wall beside it, growling when his hand went through the plaster and cracked the board on the inside. He pulled it out, ignoring the cuts he'd earned. He shed his jacket, pausing when his hands touched the vest. He had the childish urge to rip it, to destroy each piece of clothing on his body in spite of the billionaire.
But he couldn't. He could still remember the way Tony had looked at him when he was in it. The raw stare, the heat turned up full blast in those dark eyes. The way he'd pressed up against him in the dressing room...the broad palm brushing across his hard length...
Steve slowly removed the suit, folding each piece and laying it on the dresser. He hung up the jacket, fingers lingering over the expensive material.
That was the last party he'd ever attend.
Naked as the day he was born, Steve collapsed on the bed. He crawled beneath the covers with a groan, taking one of the pillows and pressing it over his head. He took deep breaths, taking in the sweet scent of freshly washed sheets and the subtle smell of Tony's home. It was...comforting.
"Shut up."
Steve winced, biting down on his lip. That cold tone had sliced through his heart, and though he was trying to forget it – he couldn't.
"Get out."
Tony was his lifeline, his greatest friend. His whole existence focused on Tony right now. He gave him a home with everything he could ask for, food, and friendship. Tony was the window he saw the world through, bit by bit so as no to overwhelm him. The man was brilliant and witty...even kind, when he wanted to be.
"Scram, doll."
Steve pushed the pillow harder into his face, the material damp against his skin.
He fell into a fitful sleep, denying his tears until the last moment.
xXx
Steve could barely move, earning each breath he took with a mighty heave of his chest. Lips and teeth worked at his neck, hands splayed across his shoulders. They fanned down over his collarbone, nails scratching the sensitive skin. He couldn't see, but he could taste the ice in the air.
It seeping into him from the hands on him, spidering across his chest. The mouth on him was freezing, slowing his blood flow to a crawl. He was freezing to death, he already couldn't feel his fingers and toes. He tried to push away, but he was trapped.
It was so cold...
Ice crept up his legs, curling around his wrists, across his back...
"You're weak" Steve could smell the alcohol on his breath "Too weak to survive this...too weak for anyone to save..."
Not real, it's not real. Steve couldn't let himself fall for this, these tricks. The ice was growing faster, swallowing up his limbs. This wasn't Howard, this wasn't the sea, the plane crash was over...this couldn't be happening, not again.
"...stop..." that one word cut his throat, frost pouring past his tongue.
"You're the reason he's like this" there was that tone, the one filled with spite and hate "If you'd been smarter, stronger...better..."
The man gripped his neck, ice cutting through his flesh like knives.
Whiskey...everything stank like cheap whiskey...
xXx
"Wake up...it's okay, just open your eyes."
A hand landed on the blonde's chest, startling him awake with a cry of terror. He started clawing at his body, pushing at his neck, trying to dislodge the hand he could still feel there. Warm hands grabbed his shoulders, pushing him back down on the bed.
"Cap, stop! It's me!"
Steve forced himself to calm down, scrubbing a hand across his eyes as he tried to wipe the dream from his vision. He slowly realized there was no ice, no clawing hands, only two solid palm resting against his shoulders. A few deep breaths later he lowered his hand, blinking into the darkness. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the glowing blue light, but when he did he knew he was okay.
Tony was sitting beside his bed, the glow of the arc reactor casting light over his haggard face. He looked guilty and hungover all in one, it must have been hours since the party.
"There you are" Tony tried to smile, but it failed.
"What...?" the soldier looked around, but he couldn't tell what time it was "What are you doing?"
"I just wanted to come check up on you. Apparently not in time though" Tony's fingers brushed against the blonde's cheek, grief lining his face "You've been crying."
"What?" Steve snapped, pushing the man's hand away as he sat up against the headboard "No I haven't! I just...I had a bad dream..."
Steve rubbed at his cheeks now, hoping to erase the tear tracks there.
"I'm sorry" Tony scooted closer, touching the man's forearm "What was it about?"
"There was this monster" the blonde explained, a bit breathless "All I could smell was cheap whiskey, and there was so much ice..."
Steve cut himself off. He really didn't want to make himself any more vulnerable than he already felt. Tony had hurt him enough tonight, he didn't need to give him any more ammo.
"It's over now" Tony's hand moved up, curling along the blonde's bicep "Do you need anything? I can have one of the DUM-E's go get you some water or-?"
"No, no" Steve waved him off "Why are you in here? You made it very clear earlier that you wanted me to get lost."
Tony put his tongue in his cheek, lowering his eyes for a moment, "I wanted to talk about that."
Steve shifted further up against the headboard, the blanket falling past his hip. He saw the inventor look, he followed the gaze to find his groin nearly exposed. He quickly covered himself up, a flush slowly blooming from his cheeks and working it's way down his neck. Damn him! The man had hurt him and that heated stare still made his heart pound.
"I wanted to..." Tony tisked loudly, the words coming hard to him "I wanted to apologize. I never wanted you to see me like that. I was...really drunk. I didn't mean what I said. You don't deserve to be talked to like that."
The scientist dropped his hand from the soldier's shoulder, his breath shallow as he tried to keep his words from sounding insincere or rushed. It was hard for him to say these kinds of things, at least...to actually mean them. He was telling the truth and he wanted Steve to know that. Ninety percent of what he said was written off as insult or jest, but this was just too important to be misinterpreted.
"I really am sorry" Tony insisted, reaching out once more and letting his fingers skim the blonde's wrist. Steve turned his hand and grabbed the other man's wrist in return, holding it firmly. After a few moments, Tony dared to look him in the eyes. All he found was compassion and it broke his heart.
"You are above all this, Tony" Steve began, his words chosen just as carefully "You don't need to keep putting on this act. The women, the drink...you're better than all that. You're a genius, do you understand what that means?" the blonde's chuckle was weak, his other hand coming up to touch the inventor's cheek "It means you can do anything. You can make or break this world...and I don't want you to waste all your talent trying to prove to all those people that you're too cool to care."
"Steve-"
"You can't fool me, Tony Stark" the soldier's voice was like steel "I know you care."
"You have no idea what I'm worth" the bite was gone from Tony's voice, a note of self deprecation marring his usual confidence "If you knew what I've done over the years...how many people I've screwed, literally and figuratively. The weapons I've made, the people I've fired, the things I've just let happen. If you knew how many lives I've destroyed with my selfishness, you'd be shocked, Your wholesome apple pie would burn."
"None of that matters to me" Steve shoved the man hard in the shoulder, his glare as fierce as his skill with a shield "You are worth way more than a string of one night stands with a bunch of dumb Dora's who don't know the difference between a flight stabilizer and an egg cooker."
Tony pursed his lips, but couldn't stop the obnoxious laugh that escaped him. He leaned forward on the bed, laughing so hard his stomach cramped up. He smacked the bed with his fist, getting the blonde to smile. He looked up at the ceiling, swallowing down his own laugh.
"Tony, I'm serious" Steve touched the man's back, glad to find it shaking in laughter "Tony!"
"I'm sorry, it's just-" Tony sat up, breathless and grinning "You just...the things you say!"
The blonde started to glare, but Tony gestured wildly, "No! No, it's really...cute."
They shared a last chuckle, the silence soon creeping back up.
"I didn't mean what I said about you now knowing what to do with a woman" the man rubbed his fingers over his arc reactor, nervously tracing the edges "Every woman at that party would've had you, some of the men too. I'm sure you're awesome in bed."
Steve drew the cover up higher, "Tony, you know I've never...been with a woman like that."
"Really?" Tony ran his tongue over his teeth, mind filled with images of the good captain in the dressing room and just how he looked now "No one's ever tried to slip it to you?"
"No."
Tony leaned down, making sure their eyes met, "Have you ever kissed anyone?"
Steve's pause was uncomfortably long, "Yes."
Tony knew when he was beaten, "You hungry?"
Steve was relieved, "Yeah, I could eat."
"Good, come on" Tony clasped the blonde's hand, pulling him up out of bed "I'm starving and if I don't eat something I'm going to have a bitch of a hangover. I need a gallon of water and some fried chicken – right now. How about you?"
"Tony!" Steve pulled back sharply, sitting back on the bed and yanking the sheet around him. He forgot his strength, forcing the scientist forward and over the bed. Tony landed on him with a grunt, covering most of the soldier's body. They flailed, trying to get away, but they ended up just tangled together further.
"If you wanted me in bed, captain..." Tony trailed off, clearly teasing. He braced himself on the bed and sat up, practically in the blonde's lap. He cocked his head at the soldier, finding the man panting and look positively ravishing.
"What's up, Spangles?"
"Please get up" Steve begged, swallowing thickly when he felt his cock stir beneath the sheet and the inventor's firm ass "Just move."
"Why?"
"For goodness sake" Steve grabbed Tony's hips, trying to move him but failing from the man's strong thighs on his waist "Tony! I'm naked!"
Tony's eyes went wide, looking the captain over, "Really?"
"Yes, really" Steve sat up on his elbows, flushed from the curve of his cheekbones down to the plane of his chest "Can you move so I can get pants on?"
"I'm sorely tempted to decline" Tony wet his lower lip "But okay, just this once."
xXx
The two recovered quickly, laughing off the tension from the bedroom in favor of the warmth of a shared dinner. They stuffed their faces with this amazing fried chicken Pepper had delivered earlier in the day, they hadn't even bothered to warm it up. They turned on some terrible Scyfy movie in the rec room and set up camp, Steve with a huge mixing bowl full of chicken and the scientist with two heavy bottles of water and a bottle of aspirin. The rec room was made for nights like this, the long couch lining every edge of the room wide and plush. The screen was huge and took up most of one of the walls, the room large enough to give it a near-theater quality.
One of his better choices.
They ate like they'd never seen food before and laughed at the absurd graphics. Steve wouldn't admit to being scared of sandworms, so Tony flipped it to a show about artificial intelligence.
"It's got this hunky guy named Jude Law, you'll love it."
Steve had actually managed to crack a joke, "He's not really my type."
They stayed up with the moon, falling asleep somewhere around the witching hour.
xXx
Tony snored so hard he woke himself up, giving a little groan. No! No, he was too warm and comfortable to wake up. Eh, and there was sun and everything.
Wait, warm and comfortable?
Tony cracked his eyes open, wincing at the fresh sunlight that was bathing his face. There was a weight on his stomach, heavy and comforting. He looked down, a stupid smile breaking his face when he saw the soldier there. They'd fallen asleep side-by-side last night but they seemed to have moved around a bit during the night. He was flat on his back, one of the couch pillows pushed under his head, with a sleeping Captain America between his thighs.
Steve had his arms curled under Tony's torso, using his belly as his pillow. His blonde hair was really mussed, a rare occurrence. There was a hint of stubble of his chiseled jaw, the hero having been startled out of his normal shaving routine the other day because of the gala.
Tony sighed heavily, feeling the way the captain's arms tightened around his torso. Oh the things this man could do to him through sheer show of strength...all of them naughty and every one of them perfect. Tony raised his hand and threaded it through Steve's hair, humming at the texture. It was just as soft as it looked, he wondered if the good captain would considering styling it. Maybe some spikes...cut it a little shorter.
The locks twisted through his fingers like water, clinging to the digits.
Tony's smile grew. Nevermind, his hair was perfect.
"Did I tell you how good you looked in your suit last night?"
Tony gave a little start. He'd been so sure Steve was sound asleep, but the low murmur proved otherwise. He removed his hand, letting it fall to his side.
"Mmm" Steve shifted a little, never opening his eyes "Don't stop, felt nice."
"Sorry" Tony replaced his fingers, going back to his gentle massage "No, you didn't say anything."
"Purple looks nice on you" Steve opened his eyes for just a moment "I didn't think it was appropriate with Raj standing there...but it looked good. Very handsome. 'Course..." Steve yawned "You look good in everything."
"I try" Tony pushed his thumb under the blonde's chin, tilting it up for a moment to look him in the eyes "I didn't sleep with either of those girls last night."
Steve's smile was lazy, he buried his head back into the other's firm stomach, " 'M glad. You can bed whoever you want, not my business..."
Tony toyed with a particular hay colored lock, "Dumb bimbos aren't my type."
Steve made a happy noise, still half asleep.
Tony found he wanted to test the waters, "You said before that Jude Law wasn't your type...what is your type, Dimples?"
"Dark hair, dark eyes" Steve whispered, already drowsy "Respectful...above all else."
"Go back to sleep" Tony massaged down to the blonde's neck, digging his fingers into the firm muscle there "It's early."
But Steve was already there, his breaths shallow and even.
Tony laid his head back, letting his eyes fall close as well.
Dark hair and eyes, huh?
xXx
"I have no idea how those things work" Steve said past a mouthful of pancakes.
"It's easy" Tony went for one of the strawberries on the soldier's plate, getting stabbed with a fork for his trouble "Ow! At least, I think it is. I haven't done my own laundry in years."
"Let me guess" Steve put on a thoughtful voice, pursing his lips for a moment "You've got a DUM-E for that?"
The genius actually got the strawberry this time, "Laundry's just so tedious when you're trying to save the world. I'm Iron Man, I don't do laundry."
The two were sitting side by side at the counter, heads together and voices hushed. It was quite the intimate setting for two super heroes to be in. Tony kept stealing bites off the man's plate, getting reprimanded with sweet smiles and blunt stabs with a fork.
Pepper peaked around the corner, catching her boss practically burying his nose in the soldier's neck. Steve laughed and playfully pushed him away, but the man refused to be moved.
"Tony!" it was a sweet whine.
"That cologne is amazing, is that mine?" Tony was insistent, his teasing smile and soft tone putting the soldier at ease "It's nice. No really, it's nice. I'm sorry, let me smell again."
Steve bumped shoulders with him, "Okay, one more."
Tony inhaled deeply, getting into his personal space. Steve gave a few more "stop that"'s, but kept a pleased smile on his face between bites.
"Good morning, boys!" she called a moment before she stepped around the corner, giving them a moment to pull away (but not by much) "The gala last night was a big hit. Once the press got wind of Iron Man being there we couldn't get them to stop giving."
"It's all for show" the genius assured the other, sharing an eyeroll with him "Those people only care about themselves and being seen with me."
"The burden of being famous, I'm sure" Steve countered, raising his plate to the main DUM-E behind the counter "More pancakes, please!"
DUM-E whirred happily, taking the full plate of fresh pancakes off the stove and swinging it over to the counter. Steve gave it his empty plate, sliding the full one over to himself. He poured on the syrup with a grin as Pepper gave Tony a few papers to sign on her clipboard, scolding him lowly on his behavior last night.
"You had us worried" Pepper flipped the page, point to the next line "And here."
Tony swiped his finger through the pool of syrup, ignoring the question.
"I'm glad to see such a happy breakfast" Pepper looked over the papers, deeming them satisfactory "Did you know you made the gossip mags again?"
Steve chewed a bit slower, worry began to nibble at his heart.
Tony dropped his head to the counter, "Pepper..."
"No, I think you'll like it" Pepper snapped his fingers, the digital screen on the wall lighting up "JARVIS. The headline Stark Seen With Beautiful Blond, if you please."
"Yes, ma'am."
Steve swallowed loudly, fork clattering on the plate. He ignored the screen, scooting back his chair and nearly knocking it over. He walked over and kicked the trash can, it's lid flipping open. He dropped the plate, dish and fork and all, and slammed the lid close.
"Steve, please" Tony got up, going to the man "I'm sure it's just some trashy article, these reporters love to hate me."
"I told you, I don't care who you roll with" Steve washed his hands, lips tight.
Tony was ready to apologize again when he saw the screen, biting back a shocked laugh, "Steve, look."
"What?" Steve snapped harshly, turning around and bracing his hands on the sink. He looked to the screen, jaw dropping open rather suddenly.
"JARVIS" the soldier picked up the jaw "Can you...bring up just the pictures?"
"Of course. Pictures coming now."
The pictures splayed themselves across the screen, each one better than the last. The first was one of Tony and himself getting out of the limo, the clasp of their hands rather intimate. Not as bad as the next one, the one of them dancing. It was when Tony was teaching him, he remembered that moment well. It was a a side-by-side. One panel was Tony whispering in his ear, a tender look on his face. The other showed Steve smiling softly and leaning his cheek against Tony's, their bodies pressed close.
"Shall I read some exerts?"
Pepper was smiling behind her hand, "Yes, please. Pick out the best bits."
"The man identified as only 'Steve' is shyer than any former companion of Mr. Stark. Donators were quoted calling the young man charming and sweet. The blonde was at Mr. Stark's side all evening. The two were inseparable. It was a rare occurrence indeed to see Tony Stark's complete attention focused on anything but himself."
Steve managed to keep his blush away, but something warm bloomed in his chest. He bit the side of his lip, looking down at the tiled floor. He felt as if he had some sort of claim over Tony, those exerts giving him a power he didn't think he had before. The compliments were just icing on the cake.
Tony came over, slinging an arm around the captain's shoulders, "We make a handsome couple."
Steve nodded, "We kind of do, don't we?"
Tony squeezed him tightly, resting a hand on his shoulder and shooting a wink at Pepper, "Our children will be smart and beautiful."
Thank you all for your lovely suggestions. I will using some of them, one more so than the others. I was going to add on the next big step in the story onto this chapter, but I felt like we needed to savor the fluff at the end. The next chapter is the big angst-fest, where Tony finds out Steve's relationship with his dad wasn't completely platonic and where Steve tells Tony everything that happened between him and his dad.
I won't spoil everything, but it's the REAL next level to their relationship. It'll be long, and chapter 8 will be the start of the re-write – and I'm sure we're all excited for that. But I must warn you, summer classes start next week so I'll be updating either once every weekend or randomly throughout the week, it just depends how things go.
I can't promise the next chapter up tomorrow, but I will have it out as soon as it's done.
I love you all, and remember – I will skip homework or slack off at work if you review and stroke my ego (not begging for reviews, but it really just makes me happy and motivates me to write more.)