Warning: Some hints at PTSD, strong emotions etc...oh and some adult themes (nothing explicit)

He could feel the cold seeping into his bones, crawling through his veins and wrapping around his mind. There wasn't a single place that was warm and the pain screaming in his chest was pushing him over the edge. The lights were dim, the fire produced no warmth and his clothes still clung to his body from being shoved into the dirty water.

There was no doubt in his mind that he would die in this place; die alone and without anyone truly caring. No hope of escape because his life was a ticking time bomb. It was going to go off…he was going to die and it was unavoidable if he didn't do something. If he didn't fight for it, but everything hurt and this was his entire fault. Really. The whole fucking thing was his fault. Fear clawed at his mind, desperation chasing after it and then there was fire, gunshots, pain and death. Complete hopelessness and resolve. Prayers and hope. The fucking desert heat beat down on him in the rudimentary iron man suit. Then there was coldness and icy dirty water. He'd escaped…why was he back in that cave? Had he always been in that cave? Had everything else been a dream created by his pain filled and desperate mind? Was Steve simply a dream? The Avengers something he'd created to save himself?

Tony came awake violently. A scream tearing its way through his throat. He couldn't breathe…it was so cold and his chest hurt so badly. Out. He wanted out. Needed out. Where was he? Brown eyes darted around the room as he worked to force his breathing back to a normal rate. To drag himself back from that cave and to the movie room where he'd passed out on the floor. Cooper sat off to the side staring at him even as one of those rapid breaths sounded closer to a sob. The only light in the room came from the arc reactor and what Tony needed more than anything right now was bright light. Warmth. Safety.

"JARVIS?" his voice was broken, cracked and Tony tried to clear his throat. "Lights on high."

The room was flooded with light as Tony scrubbed a hand down his face. Months dammit. It had been months since one of those fucking nightmares. Memories. His mind supplied helpfully and he fought back a snarl because really responding to yourself was a sure sign of insanity. He really did not need to add that to his list of character defects. It would only cause Fury to gloat. He knew it.

Hands traveled up and moved through his hair mussing it up further as Cooper wandered closer to him. A cold nose pressed against his side where the shirt had moved up in his sleep. Tony allowed a hand to drop onto the puppy's head as he struggled to regain his composure. A quick glance to the right revealed the time at 4am on the dot. Why was he awake this fucking early? He'd not slept for a few days…working in the lab on his clean energy projects and with Peter on building a new engine because the teenager had indicated an interest. There were only certain times he could come down to the workshop because of school and Tony missed having that unscheduled time Peter had over the summer. He was working to balance it all and was apparently failing left, right and center. Now he was alone on the main floor of the Avenger Tower, lying on the floor, broke out in a cold sweat and trying to breathe again. To shove himself back into the present and far away from that dirty cave where he'd saved himself. Thanks to Yinsen. Another helpful thought thrown at him from his own mind and he tried to fight the wince. Hearing that name still filled him with guilt and a need to not waste his life. To not waste the gift he'd been given.

The movie room floor had seemed just as great a place to pass out as any…at least no one had heard him screaming. Hopefully. His body shivered slightly as his mind continued to fight against those horrible memories. Memories of blood, pain, tears, desperation, gun fire, death and being unmade so completely consumed his mind.

Tony slowly got to his feet as Cooper let out a slight whine drawing Tony's eyes downward. "Don't want to be alone?" he asked softly before bending down to scoop the puppy up. "I don't blame you." Slowly he made his way towards the elevator as JARVIS whisked him up a couple of floors face buried in the puppy's scruff. Padding down the hallway he hesitated at the door before glancing down at the puppy who had shifted slightly as he'd walked. "Nothing wrong with this…" he murmured as his free hand closed over the doorknob and he pushed the door open carefully before shutting it behind him.

He crossed the room placing Cooper down at the end of the bed before pulling off his shirt and then his pants. His night pants were tossed over a nearby chair; he reached for them and pulled them on. Tony padded barefoot back over to the bed before pulling back the covers and crawling into the warmth. It took only seconds before a pair of strong arms was pulling him into a warm chest, a pair of lips in his hair and a feeling of safety…of home swept through him and the feeling of relief nearly choked him.

His senses were filled with Steve and Tony's mind was rapidly pulled the rest of the way from those horrible memories. Back into the present where he was safe, where he'd taken that horrible privilege and made it his own. The rest of the tension in his body was leached away by Steve and Tony felt his eyes drooping closed once more. Firmly locked into the knowledge that he was safe because Steve was Captain America and he wouldn't let anything happen. No more shrapnel, no more horrible dirty water…no more feeling of being completely unmade and lost.

"Mmmm." Steve breathed against his hair as his arms wrapped around Tony just a little more. "Love you." It was what he needed and Tony was glad he'd gone to Steve's floor instead of his own.

"Love you too." He murmured back and dropped back into sleep. Into a far more comforting darkness than before. Steve's arms secure around him, a steady thump of the soldier's heart playing a comforting lullaby that drew him deeper into the sleep he so desperately needed.

Natasha felt her eyes roll back in her head. Wow. Lips were traveling up her neck and then were capturing her lips even as Bruce kept his steady pace. She'd been used to fast encounters, wild nights and violent sex. Bruce was so far from that…he took his time and drove her to the edge before dragging her back. Nothing was the same and there were times she couldn't even focus because he was torturing her in the most perfect ways. Then there were the times he'd push her against the wall, lips hot on her body, lifting her up and filling her so completely. Wall sex with Bruce was mind-blowingly perfect because he could just lose himself so completely in her and she'd see that passion he tried to curve. In those moments he didn't fear the Hulk because even though he was allowing himself to let go there was still that feeling of peace and rightness and love keeping him present. Keeping the Hulk from showing.

Then she felt the light bite on her neck that dragged her back from thoughts of wall sex and back into slow, sensual love-making. Into a pair of warm, amused eyes that stared back at her. A grin stretched across her face as she tightened her legs around him arching up into Bruce just a little bit more.

A gasp escape when he responded and Natasha could feel that tight little coil inside building. Knew the edge was getting that much closer and she wanted to throw herself into it. To get lost once more because sometimes giving over that tightly fought and guarded control she possessed was the most rewarding experience. Especially when Bruce would take the reins with a knowing smile and absolute care.

"Natasha." and his voice did such amazing things to her. Her name always sounded like a prayer on his lips and it was mind-blowingly perfect. That voice a shiver to go down her spine as she felt him pick up his pace. Felt the edge nearing and could see she wasn't the only one close. Natasha reached up, grabbed onto Bruce and dragged him down into a kiss that she pushed as much emotion into as possible.

"Bruce. Oh." Natasha was quite sure she loved the softly spoken man with the wicked sense of humor and absolute loyalty. The genius who got so lost in his experiments, so passionate about his interests that she felt so completely captivated by him. And then her world was a haze of pleasure, moans, gasps and Bruce. Everything about him filled her awareness and she relished it. Lips hot on her body. And then the stillness.

Soon he was dragging her into his arms, warmed skin pressed against warm skin under some of the softest sheets she'd ever slept on. Her ear rested against his heart as it thumped a relaxing rhythm even as it slowed to a normal pace. Everything was relaxed, calm and right. A soft grin pulled at her lips as she snuggled closer tightening her body around him. How could she have possibly feared him in the beginning? And how had Tony known exactly what to say; exactly how to react to Bruce Banner?

The city was full of them. Seriously full of them. There were dozens of them everywhere. It was a fucking nightmare. A true cotton tailed nightmare of epic proportions.

"I give up! I give up! Where the fuck are the real villains? Are they hiding under rocks? Watching this on the news laughing their fucking asses off?" Iron Man dove down at the robotic rabbit that was the size of a horse. Its eyes glowed a demonic red as a fucking laser shot out of its eyes.

An explosion rocked the ground as Hawkeye set about nocking another special made arrow courtesy of Tony Stark. It exploded another rabbit upon impact. "Don't like bunny rabbits, Stark?" the grin could be heard over the comm as Iron Man snarled in response.

"Not anymore." A beam shot at him narrowly missing him and hitting near the Hulk whose rage was quite audible. "Don't think my buddy does either!" Iron Man deployed several missiles that took out a cluster of them as Thor electrocuted about twenty of them blowing out more windows than Iron Man could count.

They'd been fighting these damn things for close to an hour. An hour. The worst part was they already had the guy. Coulson had found him. Iron Man took a right and watched as Captain America smashed his shield into the neck of one of the rabbits he'd managed to get onto. It crumpled to the ground. He took in Captain America's appearance, singed, sooty and cut but still going. Neither of them noticed the movement from the cluster of destroyed rabbits and when JARVIS noticed it was too late.

The lasers caught Captain America and dropped him. His hand was hiding his side where blood was starting to show. Tony hit the ground next to him after blasting the robot rabbit to pieces. "Fuck. Steve? Are you ok?" his gloved hands tried to move to see it and Steve was trying to move away only to cry out in pain. That's when Tony noticed the tears in those blue eyes. Steve was in real pain. He'd been hurt. Those fucking rabbits had made Steve cry.

Coulson's voice was going over the comm giving the status of the others and informing Tony that he was on his way to get Captain America. Tony stood there until Coulson had arrived because Agent would get Steve somewhere for that supersoldier healing to kick in. But it was too late. He'd already seen those tears, the naked pain and it took a lot to hurt Steve Rogers.

Rage climbed up his throat and choked him with the ferocity of it. The Iron Man suit was in the air once more and he destroyed every last one of those fucking robotic rabbits. The new weapon he'd tested out in Malibu systematically zapped every last one of them. Red eyes exploded, sparks danced in the air and then Iron Man reduced the remains to nothing. Only one robotic rabbit head remained and that fucker was going to be seriously analyzed.

He landed near the jet where Coulson was waiting for the others who were slowly making their way there as the Iron Man suit was removed, stored safely away as Tony sat next to Steve who was protesting the need for Medical. It would be funny if he still wasn't in an obvious amount of excruciating pain. Tony gave him a sharp glare that silenced further protests before grabbing onto his hand. The other messing with some Starktech that Steve didn't recognize before he looked up.

"You're going to Medical. You're going to get fixed up and wrapped up. If you need medicine you're going to take it. There will be no training, exercising, jogging or physical activity until you're healed. Period."

Coulson looked away from them as the others began to climb aboard. It looked like Steve was good for Tony in several different ways.

"Captain! How are your wounds?" Thor's voice boomed into the jet as Steve offered a small smile squeezing Tony's hand. Tension filled Tony's body as the jet lifted off towards SHIELD. Once he saw Steve safely into Medical to be checked out he left him with the Avengers as he began moving through SHIELD towards his destination.

"JARVIS." Tony spoke quickly and smoothly as he moved through the hallways.

"Down the corridor on your left. Fourth door."

"Security?"

"Already breeched, Sir."

"Thanks."

Tony's hand wrapped around the door handle before he was flinging the door open. The man inside sprang to his feet with a loud protest. "Hey!"

Murderous brown eyes locked onto the only other human in the room as he began moving forward, body coiling before springing forward to crash into the other. Tony's hands wrapped around the man's throat as he pinned him down with his body.

All he could think was that this man…this disgusting human being caused Steve to cry. Had made him bleed. Had caused him pain. Had hurt Steve. There was so much rage and it was back; choking him and clouding his mind because no one touched Steve. Someone like Steve Rogers should not cry. It wasn't right. Tony could feel the other man grabbing at his hands, struggling to get out from under him, but Tony had rage and adrenaline on his side. And the element of surprise.

He didn't hear the voices, but Tony felt the hands trying to pull him from his target. His hands came away from the man's throat long enough to knock the grabbing hands away, to shove them and hit them so they'd leave him alone. Then he was grabbing onto the other man and shaking him.

The words spilling from his lips were filled with anger and pain because he'd seen how severe the damage had been. What if Steve had died? This man could have taken Steve from him and Tony couldn't live with that. What would be the point? If the world didn't have someone like Steve Rogers in it then what would be the fucking point anymore?

Another set of arms closed around him and removed him from the gasping man with little trouble. Tony fought like a man possessed to get back to the other who had rolled over onto his side, choking and coughing as he struggled for breath.

"Let me go! I'm going to kill him." Tony's arms flailed and his whole body fought against the restraint. He could see Clint standing near the doorway with Natasha. Both had blank expressions on their faces, but had made no move to restrain Tony or remove him.

"Calm yourself Tony." Thor's usually booming voice was muted as he held onto his friend so as to restrain him, but not harm him. "The good Captain is fine."

"He could have killed him! You think I'm going to stand for that?" Tony was breathing heavily even as his body slowed down its violent movements; Thor pulled him from the room even as Tony still tried to get away. Tried to get back to that man who had almost taken one of the most important people in his life away from him. JARVIS continued to monitor his creator as the god of thunder carted him through SHIELD. The AI made the decision to block and distort the feed in SHIELD. JARVIS doubted Tony would want record of this or someone watching him.

Thor dragged him into another room and hugged the smaller man close. He could feel Tony's body shaking and knew the other was terrified deep down. That his friend would rather tap into anger than to allow that terror to surface. "It will be ok." He rumbled carefully as Tony completely sagged against him allowing Thor to keep him restrained.

"I can't live without him." He muttered as his arms hung limply. "A fucking rabbit bot almost got him because I wasn't paying attention." Tony could feel his breathing returning to normal even as a sob wanted to force its way to the surface, "I'm like the kiss of death…all these people die around me."

The god of thunder looked down at Tony as he felt the fight finally leave his friend completely. "You take too much on yourself. Steve will recover from our battle and our foe will be punished." Carefully he removed his arms from Tony who swayed slightly at the lack of support before regaining his feet.

Tony scowled looking off to the side, "Won't be punished enough." He shoved the emotions down into the darkest corner in his soul and put on his famous Stark mask that saved him from the public. Couldn't let them see how close he was to breaking…how close he'd come to completely snapping. Though that man in the other room might argue that Tony had crossed the line completely.

"Come. Let us collect the others before returning to our home." Thor's heavy hand settled onto Tony's shoulder as he guided the other man down the hallway. SHIELD agents stepped out of Tony Stark's path quite rapidly, hesitation and a slight nervousness in their movements. Had he been in a better state of mind Tony might have found humor from the whole situation especially since the agents were treating him as though he was Natasha. The agents were quite weary of her for good reason.

Then Maria Hill was stepping in front of them. Her blue eyes swept over both of them before settling back onto Tony. "There was a breach in security shortly before you entered one of our containment cells."

Tony looked into her eyes without even blinking, "I had not heard about that." His expression was blank, devoid of the emotion it had been so freely showing before.

"Ok." She blinked once before stepping out of his way, "The upgrades have been working quite nicely." She offered with a slight grin that quickly fell away from her face as she moved around them down the hallway.

"Yep. Favorite agent." Tony murmured to himself before they continued down the hallway. He walked into the Medical room he'd left Steve in to find the supersoldier bandaged and wrapped up. Steve was putting on a shirt; his movements were slower than normal. Rage simmered beneath the surface.

Tony stood there for a second in the doorway, not paying attention to any of his teammates, before moving into the room. He was two steps away from Steve when those blue eyes were suddenly looking at him.

"Tony." He could hear it in the supersoldier's voice. Steve knew and then he dropped it, "Can we go home?" it was far better than Tony thought as he had been quite sure Steve would say something about him attacking that asshole.

Natasha and Clint shared a look before looking back. "Honestly." She muttered shaking her head before heading towards the exit. "Come on boys." She called over her shoulder.

Tony stared at the fabric he'd designed to replace Steve's old suit. Clearly it needed to be made of something stronger and he could design anything. Absolutely anything. There was no way Steve was running around in that spangly tight as hell suit that protected him from nothing, obviously. The current fabric he was examining had taken several days of synthesizing and testing before he'd found it worthy. It helped that he had been able to test it against the same laser that had hit Steve.

So far he had shot it, burned it, blasted it, stabbed it, thrown acid on it and shot just about everything he could think of on that fucking suit. He'd added a backup layer under the outside on the off chance that Steve needed extra protection. If this worked out, could be fitted into a suit then he could use it for Natasha and Clint because he doubted their suits could withstand more attacks from robotic rabbits. Bruce already had pants that would move to fit the Hulk. That had taken Tony a little while, but for that project he had actually slept at times. This time he took a few coffee breaks and showers.

Peter stared at Tony, at the dark bags under his eyes and wild hair; took in the coffee cups everywhere, scorch marks and several different types of fabrics. "Dad?" his voice echoed slightly into the workshop as he held onto the plate of sandwiches. "You need to eat something." he muttered walking over to Tony who was mumbling to himself.

The hand on Tony's shoulder drew the genius back to his workshop and from the scene of Steve in pain. "What?" he blinked and looked up at Peter. His vision swam slightly and he put a hand to his head closing his eyes once more. "Ow." It was muttered.

"Maybe a shower and sleep would be a better idea." Peter sighed before placing the plate down and pulling Tony to an upright position. He began pulling Tony towards the stairs subtly using his new strength to help him move towards the next floor. "Alright. We're at the stairs."

They made it to the top before Tony grabbed onto Peter, "Be safe." He stared at the teenager. "I'm not going to lose you."

Peter felt the familiar warmth of knowing he was loved and the guilt at the knowledge that Tony didn't know about Spider-Man bubble up. But he had put the mask away until it was honestly needed again. The Avengers were doing a great job without him. And being a teenager wasn't too bad; he could still help when he saw the chance.

"I will." He grinned softly, "Come on." Peter maneuvered Tony towards the elevator, caught the concerned look on Steve's face as he moved past the kitchen. Once he got Tony to his room he watched as Tony fell onto the bed face first.

Soft snores filled the room along with the steady rise and fall as Tony breathed shortly after he'd made it to his bed. Peter pulled Tony's shoes off and threw a cover over him. Shaking his head he closed the door behind him and headed towards his own room.

Tony woke to warmth and safety and Steve. Closing his eyes he burrowed closer and released a sigh. The strain and the clouds in his mind had faded away. He could feel the stress and tension from working nonstop with little to no sleep vanish. That material would work because he made it, tested it and needed it to work.

He breathed in the smell of Steve Rogers and wrapped his arms around him tighter as he listened to the steady thump of Steve's heart. It was steady, strong and consistent. Then strong arms pulled him even closer so that his cheek was pressed even more into Steve.

"Morning." It was sleep fogged and rough. The tone sent a slight shiver down Tony's spine as he tangled their legs together by moving closer.

"Mmmm." Tony mumbled as his eyes stubbornly closed as he tried to drop back off into sleep because part of his body still wanted that blissful unawareness.

Lips were pressed to his hair, "Can you not lock yourself up in the workshop like that again? Do you have any idea how bad that is for your health?"

"Mmmhmm." Tony wasn't even going to try to verbalize anything because he had a pretty good idea how horrible he would sound. That would cause overprotective Steve to make an appearance even though it sounded like he might be knocking on the door at the moment.

"Please don't do that again." Tony knew if he were to look at Steve's face there would be a pair of big blue eyes staring at him with that look. That horrible look that you couldn't say no to. The look that he used to subtly guilt you into agreeing with him. If Steve ever became evil he could make an honest attempt at world domination. Tony knew he would be hard pressed to oppose someone with that face and voice. Why would you even want to? Plus he would have no problem being the partner of the man who had managed to take over the world.

Now Tony's mind was drifting off into a fantasy he didn't even know he had…yep…it was a very interesting place and Tony wanted to just stay there for a while.

"Tony?" there was that questioning note and Tony dragged himself back to reality quite reluctantly.

"Steve."

"Where were you?"

"Somewhere very fascinating." He grinned and finally looked at Steve. "Have you ever thought of world domination?"