Chapter 4: Did you know Steve was gay?
"KEEEEEEEEEEEEEP HOLDING OOOOOOOOOOOON! CUZ YOU KNOW WE MAKE IT THROUGH WE MAKE IT THROUGH! JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUST STAAAAAAY STROOOOOONG! CUZ YOU KNOW I'M THERE FOR YOU THERE FOR YOU!"
Steve sighed. He had been expecting something like that. Last night they had went to the kitchen and made herbal tea. They had talked for hours and really got into the heart of the case. Steve had told him about the homophobic 40's and they had hugged and he had also cried a bit. (Only because of the alcohol! And it had been manly tears!) And off course Tony was now singing about it... loudly.
"Soooo... Steve?" Clint asked.
"What is this one about?" Steve sighed. He should get it over with and just jump all the way out off the closet already. Tony had convinced him that it wasn't that big of a deal and the rest of the team deserved to know and that he by the way would feel much better not having to hide his true self. He looked around the morning table. Only Tony himself was missing and they all looked pending at him. It was a shame though. He could use some moral support.
"Last night Tony and I had a long talk about me accepting what I really am." Natasha took a long sip of her coffee.
"So you're finally out off the closet?" Steve nearly choked on his juice.
"How does everybody know that?!"
"I didn't. Natasha had to tell me," Clint added.
"But then again. Your frilly apron... And the way you look when women are hitting on you. And the way your head nearly explode every time Thor walks around naked," Bruce said and smiled fondly.
"But don't worry my brave friend!" Thor boomed.
"We would still follow you through the gates of Hell and back no matter whom thou share your bedsheets with!" Steve had to swallow down a sob. There were no way he was going all emotional in front of his team.
"Thank you guys!" he muttered.
"So you told them?" Tony asked without looking away from his tech.
"Apparently they all knew already," Steve answered softly. Tony groaned.
"So they didn't bother telling me and freaking Wolverine had to do it! Wow great friends I have." Steve chuckled.
"They didn't tell me either, remember?"
He was once again finding himself in the lab. This time he had brought his sketchbook and was laying on the floor drawing Tony without even realising it.
"So next time I will hook you up with a bunch of hot dudes!"
"Tony... I think it would be better if I just went out on a date as a start. I'm still new to this."
"No! Dates is for sissies! So what's your type?" Steve looked wondering up from his drawing. - Dark hair, doe eyes. Possibly genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist ... Stop thinking like that Steve! - Steve scolded himself in his mind - But seriously that man has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen! - some stupid, sappy part of his mind added.
"You have pretty eyes!" Steve covered his mouth. Terrified. Did he just say that out loud? Tony frowned like he wasn't sure what he just heard.
"Thanks I guess?"
"Oh gosh! I just didn't say that out loud?" Steve groaned and face planted on his sketch block. Tony just laughed.
"It's all right. It was just... unexpected. You too... Yours are pretty too..." There was a long, deafening awkward silence.
"...Tony... I..." Then the door slipped open and a strawberry blonde woman entered.
"Pepper... You're back?" Tony's voice was almost strained.
"Well I missed you too. Hey Steve! How nice to see you two not trying to kill each other for once!" Then she walked over to Tony and kissed him deeply. And Steve suddenly had the urge to throw the woman through a wall. Or maybe cry a few more of those manly tears he seemed to shed constantly at the time.
- Stupid Steve! You knew he was in a happy relationship with a woman for gods sake. Stop being sad! - This time it was the Captain America-voice that was yelling at him in his head but it still didn't make the clenching in his stomach go away. He sighed softly. It was so much easier that time they were constantly fighting. Or no that wasn't true. Even at that time Steve had been attracted to him. He had still thought Tony was a 'douche' as it was called in this new age, but a terribly handsome one. And it had frustrated him and he had been so mean. And then later he had found out that he wasn't a selfish bastard at all. Probably at that same time Tony disappeared with that nuke. At the same time he had also realised that he had these kinds of feelings that Tony would probably never return which sucked! But at that time when Tony laid lifeless on the ground in front of him, he had felt a little part of him die. He was lucky to even have him as a friend now. - And that should be enough too! - Steve thought furious at himself and his lack of control over his emotions. He felt a big hand on his shoulder.
"Something is saddening you, Stephen. I can feel it all the from the other parts of the house. Do you wish to speak. I will gladly listen." Steve turned around to face the slightly taller demigod and smiled a weak smile.
"It's nothing. It really is. It's just me being stupid. But thanks. It's very sweet of you."
"I believe a lot of great things have happened in your life lately. There's nothing wrong with feeling sad or scared."
"Really Thor. It's not a big deal. It is literally just me being... you know... stupid." Thor pattet his back.
"I will subdue the water hottening machine into making you a cup of tea then!" A moan that didn't belong to Natasha drowned the god s voice and Steve sighed again looking down at the floor.
"Would you like to go out and sit on the balcony with me instead?" he then asked with a small, almost see through voice (out there he wouldn't be able to hear the lovemaking). A sudden understanding flashed over the gods face but he didn't comment on it. He just nodded.
"Of course my friend. Of course."
Tony had been aching after a good fuck for days now, but for some reason it wasn't enough when he finally got to it. It was dull. As dull as he hadn't felt since mission-corrupting-Steve began. At least Pepper didn't seem to notice and to judge from the noises she made he was still amazing in bed.
"Wow Tony. That was amazing."
"Guess who's gay!" Pepper groaned.
"Way to ruin the mood. It better not be you." Tony took a sip whiskey directly from the bottle.
"No of course not! And I said guess!"
"Is it Steve?"
"How? How does everyone know that?"
"It is pretty obvious you know." Tony didn't even have time to answer before he was cut off by an alarm.
"Oh! We are getting assembled!" Tony stated. Not disappointed at all. Pepper sighed.
"Always ruining our 'alone time'. Hurry up and then come back to bed," she said with a sweet smile. Well not at all as sweet as Steves. - Stop thinking like that, Stark!... Oh crap! Steve's gayness better not be contagious! - Tony laughed with a slightly hollow voice.
"I can't promise anything." And then he ran out of the bedroom while trying to pull some pants on.
"Loki has apparently escaped... again! And he is apparently at the moment turning Central Park into a jungle of flesh eating flowers!" Nick Fury stated while glaring at Thor. Did the Asgardians even try? The whole team sighed synchronically. This was probably the fifth time Loki had escaped. Why did they even bother locking him away? Steve tugged his hood/mask over his face.
"Come on guys! The faster we smash him the faster we can go home." he muttered. He really wasn't in the mood for this.
The fight ended up being not that easy. The Hulk kinda ended up breaking everything, and Clint was at some point nearly raped by a scary tentacle plant, but eventually Loki was squirming (once again) under Mjölnir.
"I will break out and next time you will not be able to stop me you petty excuses for heroes!"
"Shut up Loki," Steve muttered while pinching the bridge of his nose. He had taken a good hit to the head and was now suffering from a major headache. Plus just the sight of Fury had only made his mood even worse.
"Yeah tell him cap!" Tony cheered.
"You too Tony..." Tony lifted his metalclad hands in surrender and returned his gaze to the demigod under the hammer.
"Next time you break out be sure to visit us before you... destroy everything. I still owe you that drink!"
"... Good job people. You are dismissed." Steve was just about to leave when Fury stopped him.
"Rogers. Can I have a word with you?" Steve sighed dramatically. A bit childish but that damn cyclops shouldn't think that he was forgiven.
"What now? Is there more terrorist to kill or is it communists this time?" Fury didn't answer right away. Instead he dropped a trashy magazine on the table. Steve frowned and picked it up but dropped it again when he recognized himself on the front page. With the three girls from the club. All looking like they were going to eat him. Fury didn't look that amused.
"You better be more careful when you are out in public. It would be a shame if your image got ruined," he said coldly.
"I save the world. That is what people should worry about. Not what I do in my freetime," Steve stated just as cold. - Ha! Who's a good, little boy scout now... bitch. -
"You are dismissed. Just be more careful next time. You are the face of the Avengers. You have to look sympathetic."
Tony was waiting just outside the door. He was about to open his mouth but Steve interrupted him by sticking the magazine in his hand. It took a moment for Tony to understand what he was reading but eventually he shook his head.
"Captain Pimpmarica? Wow that's pathetic. Couldn't they come up with something better?" Steve just laughed tiredly.
"I know. It is terrible."
"So how did he react?"
"He was not amused."
"Wow we can do better than that! He have to be nearly exploding! I am up for some serious mischief tonight... and you're coming!"
"Shouldn't you be with Pepper? I mean she has just returned home." Tony just laughed.
"Have you ever heard the phrase Bro's before Ho's?" Steve had actually learned something from this new age and had heard the phrase before but coming from Tony it was one of the nicest things he had heard all day.
"Okay! We are going to a gay bar! But I don't really know how the gay-scene work so we have to bring an old gay that can teach us!" Steve nodded looking just a little confused. Tony threw a plain black T-shirt at him. At least two sizes too small.
"Wear this! It will bring out your curves. They are all gonna die. Just die!" Steve shyly started unbuttoning his lumberjack-shirt. - Does he have to look at me while doing that? Wait. Is that a boner I'm feeling... Oh nice. Really penis? Really? This is why we can't have nice things! - Tony thought, swallowing a lump in his throat, but still eating Steve with his eyes. Luckily Steve didn't look like he noticed anything. He let the flannel fall to the ground exposing the amazing greek-god-chest. - So did that just happen in slow motion? No seriously... Little Tony what are you doing? Little Tony... Stahp! - The magic suddenly stopped as Steve pulled the t-shirt over his head again. He was blushing a little. He had in fact noticed Tony's starring.
"So who do we know that is gay?" Steve asked.
"I obviously don't have a gaydar, since I was the only one who didn't figure you out, so..." Tony stopped mid sentence and suddenly a devilish smirk spread over his face.
"Okay I know one. But this is gonna be... Well it would be completely insane... But then again I do owe him a drink and he would probably escape by himself sooner or later." Chok flashet over Steves face as he understood what Tony was saying.
"Oh no... no no no! You aren't seriously thinking Loki? Oh no!" Tonys face cracked in giant cat-smile.
"Oh YES! YES! It is perfect!"
"And if Fury finds out he will lock me in a lab. That is way over the line!"
"Then we won't get caught!"
"No Tony. I'm not doing it."
"Yes you will! And you will like it!"
"...Tony..."
"Come on now we go get him!"
Loki was laying on the floor in Thor's room with the hammer on his chest hating his life. They didn't even bother putting him in a cell anymore. Thor had yelled at him for hours and had now left the room in infuriating rage. He would probably be returned to Asgard soon enough. Suddenly the door slowly creaked open. Loki sighed. Maybe it was the birdman that finally had come to shoot an arrow in his eye as he once promised. But it wasn't Clint Barton that entered. It was a big man and a slightly smaller man that tiptoed inside.
"Tony... I really don't think that this is a good idea..." Captain America was whispering with a small voice. Loki lifted an eyebrow but didn't say anything. What were they up to?
"Don't question my GENIUS!"
"I'm not questioning it. I just think you're better at making robots than getting ideas."
"You say that I'm only good for making machines you little prick?!"
"No Tony... I..." Loki could see the man of irons teeth flashing in a toothy grin while he patted the soldier on the chest.
"Just shut your mouth Steve. You're so much prettier when you don't talk!"
"So... To what do I owe the pleasure boys?" Loki sighed dramatically.
"Oh Loki? You're awake!" the soldier squeaked with an all too cheerful voice.
"I haven't slept," Loki answered coldly.
"Good because we are taking you out drinking... and dancing... and being fabulous!"
"Tony!"
"Shut it! Mommy and Daddy are talking! Did you know Steve was gay?"
"Tony... I swear i will crush your face with my shield!" Loki sighed again but this time with a smile on his face.
"Of course I know! Just like I know you are. But you just don't know it yet, or are willing to accept the fact. It's quite a shame though. You two would make quite the couple..."
"Okay shut it Reindeer Games. I'm not!" Loki just laughed.
"So why do you want to free me?"
"You have to teach Steve how to be... fab?" Tony answered unsure.
"And it's not like we would free you... okay we would but you would totally break free yourself anyways!"
"That is... quite accurate," Loki purred. Tony send Steve a 'ha! I told you so!'-look. And Steve just pitched the bridge of his nose looking exhausted.
"Okay Tony. You win. Go get Thor," he muttered. Tony jumped up and down clapping his hands.
"Really! Gee Cap! This gonna be the best day ever!" He then ran out of the room calling out for the big thunder god. Steve just sighed again. Why couldn't he just say no?
Tony found the big viking raiding the fridge. Like REALLY raiding it. He only did it like that when he was furious.
"Thor! Me and Steve are taking the Reindeer to SHIELD so he can get a proper cell!" Thor groaned.
"Just take him! See if I care!"
"Yeah... Mind moving the hammer?"
When the three guys had disappeared down to the garage where Happy was waiting, Thor hurried to the lab and to Banner.
"My dear Bruce! I smell a dead rat! Anthony and Stephen have just left with my brother. To accommodate him in a SHIELD cell."
"But I thought we agreed on that it was safer to keep him under your hammer for now? Wow this is a little insidious."
"And I also believe Stephen is in love with the man of iron." Bruce sighed with a small smile.
"Oh the drama!"