Sorry for the wait. Hope you enjoy!
"Tony?"
"I'm fine."
"Right..." Steve mumbled and then glanced away.
Bruce looked between the two and stood up from the chair. "I'm going to go take a shower and eat. See you guys later,"
Steve nodded a thanks to Bruce again and then looked back at Tony, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. He narrowed his eyes at him. "You're an idiot."
Tony groaned and leaned his head back. "Is everyone going to tell me that?"
"Yes. You are in some hot water now. What the hell were you thinking? You nearly gave me a heart attack! Drinking alcohol, whiskey no less, while on pain medications?! Do you honestly think that was going to help with your life problems?" Steve didn't mean to raise his voice, but all pent up worry was coming out of him like a torrent.
What made it worse was that Tony didn't seem to be listening.
"That's not all. I know you're remembering things, Tony, so don't deny-"
"The hell do you know I'm remembering-"
Steve didn't let him interrupt. "Just talk to me! Tell me what you're thinking. I can help!"
"I'm not remembering anything, Steve!" Tony shouted angrily.
"You are! I'm not stupid, Tony!"
"Well it's not like I want your help anyways!" Tony shouted, his eyes narrowing.
"And why not? I'm your husband, and I-"
"No you're not!
Steve stopped, his brow furrowing. "Yes, I am. What are you talking about? We are-"
"Well not to me!" Tony snapped in his anger. "I don't even know you, Steve. I don't. You aren't really my husband in my eyes."
Well that hurt. Steve stopped, just staring for a moment, until his shoulders slumped. When he spoke again, his voice was soft. "I just want to help you."
"Well, don't bother!"
Steve felt like his heart was being clawed open. Whatever mutual relationship Tony had played before the mission had left and been replaced by the bitter truth: Tony didn't know Steve at all. He was a stranger trying to make the "past" real again in Tony's eyes.
And Steve was stuck praying that the past was the present. Had it really only been just 2 weeks when they were discussing adoption and getting ready for their (Tony's demanding) 2nd anniversary of being romantically involved with each other? He decided that if he couldn't be Tony's husband for the time being, he could at least try to be a friend.
"Can you just let me help as a friend?"
"What's there to help with? I'm suffering a hangover, not dying of cancer." Tony told him, crossing his arms.
"That's not what I mean." He replied, ornery.
Tony sighed, a bit dramatically, "How many times do I have to emphasize to you that I'm about as blank as when I woke up?"
"You are a horrible liar."
"Am not."
"I KNOW you, Tony, whether you like it or not and nothing that you say will cease my assumptions. Bruce knows that you are, Clint knows it, and I bet Natasha does too. Even Thor is suspicious."
"How could he know? I've seen him twice-"
"Not the point. What are we going to do about this, Tony?"
"You could back off."
"Sorry, but I'm not going to back off. The doctor said working together and showing you things you were accustomed to can help get your memories back," Steve said firmly. "And I think we should try. Have you looked at any more pictures? Because-"
"I don't want to, Steve," Tony said, exasperated. Why couldn't the man get it through his thick skull?
"Too bad!" Steve snapped as his anger returned. "You told me yourself in the hospital that you weren't going to give up on trying to remember. /You/ said that. And I'm not letting you give up."
"You aren't the boss-"
"STOP!" Steve stomped his foot, not caring that the action was childish. "Can't you just stop for a moment and see where I'm coming from?"
Tony didn't reply. He just looked away.
"I have been working my ass off to make sure that we get through this okay. I'm scared. I'm scared shitless. What do you think I'll do if..."
"If I don't love you again?" Tony scoffed. "Ever occur to you that even if I did get my memory back, which I haven't, I won't be your Tony again?"
"I don't know! But if you don't talk to me, that's not going to help either."
"I don't want to talk! Get that through your head okay?" Tony reached up to rub his forehead, wishing the pounding would stop. "Just... Just fuck off, Captain," he spat.
Steve stood there for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "No," he folded his arms over his chest. "You can't make me."
Tony's head was throbbing now from the yelling. He rolled over and squeezed his eyes shut, wishing Steve would just go. "Leave me alone."
Steve's voice was softer, more concerning. "Tony, please. Promise me you won't give up. At least that."
Tony refused to answer, glaring hotly at Steve with daggers. Then he released his gaze and closed his eyes again. "You can't make me." he mocked.
Steve clenched his jaw in an effort to keep himself from screaming. This was impossible, trying to reason with Tony. It always was. Angrily, he stomped off to the adjoining bathroom, both to get cleaned up and to get away from the infuriating billionaire.
Tony sighed. "Good riddance." He muttered under his breath, not caring that Steve's serum-enhanced hearing could probably pick that up.
Gritting his teeth, he went to the bathroom and stripped out of his uniform. Hopefully a nice, long shower would do the trick of calming his nerves. As he climbed into the shower and felt the hot water stream into his face, it did. He closed his eyes and let it wash away the dirt and grime.
Amidst the pain, Tony felt awful for his behavior. He wasn't being fair, or reasonable. He knew that. But he couldn't be around Steve without feeling weird. Like, "tingly feeling in the stomach" weird. No, he didn't have feelings for Steve. No way he could. He just met the man. Either way, he just wanted to be alone.
Or not. Maybe he just wanted everything to be the way it was. He guessed the latter.
Steve's shower had done its work. He exited, humming contentedly as he dried off his body with a towel and then his hair, casually strolling down into his and Tony's bedroom. Completely oblivious that he was wet and very naked.
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment before he opened his eyes, hearing Steve enter the room. He was hoping the man wouldn't try to bring up anything else. He was considering making a comment about it and he looked towards him to- well, hello there. He blinked, his eyes trailing over Steve's chiseled body. "Well." He found himself saying, for some reason unable to tear his eyes away. An unusual blush spread across his cheeks.
Steve looked up when he heard Tony say something. "Hm?" he blinked, his thoughts not even going to the fact that he still hadn't put clothes on.
"Erm. Steve?" he raised his eyebrows and motioned down. Steve followed his gaze and flushed furiously.
"Shit!" He hissed, covering his front with his hands and scrambling to wrap the towel around his waist. In his stumbling, his ankle twisted slightly and he slipped, falling to the floor. With Tony staring at him in bewilderment and a /stupid/ smile on his face, he snapped, "What?! Its not like you haven't seen it before."
With that, Tony seemed to lose control and he burst of laughing, nearly in hysterics.
Rolling his eyes and trying to ignore the heat in his cheeks, he held the towel to himself and began looking through the closet for clothes as Tony continued to laugh behind him.
Tony held his sides as he laughed, ignoring the annoying pang of protest his ribs gave at the action. It was nice to finally just let go after the last few days of frustration. "Cute, Cap, that was real cute." He paused to applaud Steve in a mocking manner, a smirk settling over his lips.
Steve emerged from the closed fully clothed, though a blush was still tinting his cheeks. "Oh… hush," he mumbled.
Tony put his hands up in mock innocence. "That was all on you Cap. All I did was play the audience. What, did you leave your head in the shower?"
"Force of habit" Steve muttered, scratching his scalp through his damp hair.
Tony smirked and went back to his tablet. He was thankful for the less tension, but that didn't take away the lingering anger that seemed to have aired itself through the room. "Hey, Cap?"
"Yeah?"
"Sorry."
Steve looked at Tony for a moment, watching him, until he sighed. "Yeah. Me, too." He started to head towards the bed like he was going to flop down, but stopped himself when he realized that it might make the situation awkward. That was the last thing he wanted. "So, uhm," he looked towards Tony. "Are you hungry?"
"No."
"Alright. Well."
Steve shifted on his feet uncomfortably. "I'm gonna make something anyway."
Tony nodded absently and Steve sighed as he went to main kitchen up a floor, where Bruce was sipping a coffee and on the phone.
"Yeah, he just walked in..." Bruce said, giving him a look that said 'you're screwed'. "Tasha, you might wanna..."
Steve groaned slightly when he heard Natasha's name being mentioned and his blunder on the mission came flying back to him.
"Okay, I'll tell him. Bye."
"Am I in trouble?" He asked Bruce.
"Yup. Heard about the nuclear missile mistake. You know it wasn't your fault." he told the captain.
Steve snorted. "Yeah, sure," he looked around, "what should I make for lunch?"
Bruce arched an eyebrow at him. "You're horrible at cooking, Steve, remember?"
Steve sighed as he opened the refrigerator and peered inside. "I know, but.." he sighed again before he decided that he could manage heating up leftovers. There was some spaghetti in there, and he knew Tony liked that.
"Gonna make Tony eat?"
"Yeah, he needs to," Steve glanced to the doctor as he opened up the microwave.
Bruce nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he does." There was a pause, and then he spoke again. "But he doesn't need you yelling at him, you know."
Steve looked at Bruce in confusion as he picked out the spaghetti and put it in the microwave. "I wasn't yelling."
"I could hear you from here, Steve. Both of you."
"Tony was being stubborn."
"Yeah, I get that, but the more you push him closer, the more withdrawn he might get." Bruce reasoned.
"I was afraid he'd given up."
"You say he's remembering things, and he doesn't want to admit it. He's scared, too, because all these different things are coming at him in all different speeds and directions. How do you think he's taking it?"
"But he doesn't understand that I'm here to help. I just want to help him and he does not get that," Steve said as he turned back to stare at the microwave as it heated the food.
"And that is because he's scared. Steve, you know how Tony deals with things. You know he doesn't like to accept help from other people," Bruce said, watching the super soldier. He sighed. "You have to give him time.
"I'm trying, Bruce, but you-"
"No, Steve-"
"No one gets how I'm feeling!" Steve snapped as he whirled around, his eyes narrowed. He just glared at Bruce for a long moment before his shoulders slumped. "Sorry," he mumbled. "But I just… I know all of this is about Tony getting better, but I can't… it's hard for me to deal with it, too. It's like everyone expects me to just accept it, but I can't."
"Nobody expects you to accept it, Steve. What gave you that idea?" Bruce asked, frowning. "Not to mention that we're just as shaken by Tony's accident. We're his friends, too, you know. And all of us agree that giving Tony some space but still making sure he's not doing anything too stupid is a good idea."
Steve sighed shakily and plopped down in the chair. "I just want him back."
"I know."
Tony had managed to stumble from the bed and into an elevator with that of a hundredth of his usual strength. His ribs burned still but he managed, walking down the hallway to the main kitchen to see what Steve was making. In all honesty he actually was hungry, just too stubborn to outright admit it.
"..And all of us agree that giving Tony some space but still making sure that he's not doing anything too stupid is a good idea..."
Tony froze outside of the room. Who was talking about him? That sounded like Bruce. He peeked his head in slightly and saw Steve and Bruce standing toe to toe, both tense. Then Steve deflated and collapsed into a chair.
"I just want him back."
"Tony… he… he is everything to me," Steve continued after a moment, his voice quiet. "I mean, yes, I have the team, but Tony… he just completes it, you know?" He rubbed at his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. "I love him."
Hesitantly, Bruce placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We know you do."
"This just isn't fair. Not just for me, or us, but for Tony. He doesn't deserve to deal with this… this crap."
Tony stayed where he was, a small frown creasing his features as he listened. Well shit. What was he supposed to do about this now? Just bust in the room and act like he didn't hear anything?
He was Tony Stark. Damn right he was going to bust in and act like nothing happened. He took a step into the room, one arm automatically holding his side carefully. "Hey, what are you making, Steve? I changed my mind. I'm hungry."
Steve dragged his eyes away from Bruce and looked surprised and a little suspiciously at Tony. "How long were you standing there?"
"What do you mean? I just walked in. Now really, what's for lunch?"
"Leftover spaghetti. My specialty." Steve said dryly, taking the plastic container out of the microwave.
"That's a serious downgrade from the royal feast we had a few days ago," Tony wrinkled his nose, looking accusingly at Bruce, who just shrugged and smiled innocently.
"Well, you'll just have to deal with it. I doubt you'd be able to make anything better," Steve stated. He dished out some of the spaghetti onto a plate, and then slid it down the counter towards Tony.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Never know. I've got many talents." He snatched a fork from the counter and then stuck it into the pasta, quickly twirling his first bite around the utensil. He then looked between Bruce and Steve, his eyebrows raised. "Any reason you're both staring at me? I know you're probably drawn in by my perfect, handsome qualities, but come on."
Bruce looked uncomfortable at that, but Steve was unfazed. "You okay?"
"Yeah...mph...meds kicked in," he said, through another forkful of spaghetti. "Where is everyone?"
"Um, Natasha is on her way back from Japan with Thor now, and Clint's sleeping in his room, I think." Bruce explained.
"Why did Natasha and Thor have to stay longer?" Tony asked.
"Mission briefing." Steve mumbled.
Tony took in Steve's reaction carefully before he shrugged and continued to eat. Something felt a little off with Steve, more than usual. "Huh."
Bruce noticed too. "Don't worry. I'm sure Fury's in a good mood since nothing blew up." He assured the man.
"Thought you were just getting codes back."
"We had to improvise a little," Steve admitted, a guilty expression on his face.
Tony's eyebrows rose as he looked to Steve. "Really now? What happened?" he shoveled another bite of spaghetti into his mouth, waiting on a response of some sort.
Bruce coughed and looked away. This wasn't his business, so he wasn't going to get into it. Steve just shrugged. "Nothing major," he mumbled.
Now Tony was intrigued. He paused in his meal and leaned forward, spectulating Bruce and Steve. "Don't leave me in the dark. C'mon, Capsicle, fess up."
Steve grimaced and looked down at his feet, shuffling. "I didn't read all of the information of the mission, that's all."
"Okay? And?"
"And I may have made the mistake of assuming there was no nuclear missiles in the base...
Tony's eyes bugged out. "Captain America almost caused a nuclear explosion?"
Steve closed his eyes. "Something like that..." When he opened them again, Tony was just giving him this incredulous look, and he sighed. "But it got taken care of. No nuclear disasters."
Tony eyed him a moment longer before glancing back down to his spaghetti. "Sounds like a close call, if you ask me. How the hell did you miss something like that?"
"Honestly, even being the captain and all, its usually you who gathers all the info and stores it onto Jarvis's hard drive or you'd just scan the building with your suit. And...I was distracted, I guess."
"So it's my fault." Tony scoffed.
"No! No, it's not. Definitely not." Steve said quickly. "Just...a stupid mistake on my end."
"Hm. That must be new for you."
Steve felt familiar irritation bubble up. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tony feigned an innocent expression. "Oh, nothing," he said simply and slowly chewed the bite in his mouth. He could clearly see the look of irritation on Steve's face and he had to control his urge to smirk at it.
Steve let out an annoyed huff. "Don't 'oh nothing' me. You meant something by it. Tell me what it was," he demanded.
"Well, you're Captain America."
"So?" he bristled.
Tony rolled his eyes and splayed his arms. "Oh, Captain, my captain...you're a legendary public figure that everyone looks up to. What could possibly be done if you made a mistake?"
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