Hi lovelies! I'm so sorry for the long delay! I had a few weeks of school craziness and then another period of no access to the interwebs or a computer, but I'm back now! I'll be updating both my stories more regularly. As for this story? Time for some good plot-thickening material, methinks.

Tony was hankering away in his lab. He had been working for the last few days, between his sessions with Steve, on a light-weight version of the iron man suit he could wear on specific occasions. The new suit could also function as a transition piece before he was ready to use his full armor again.

He let his body work at what it was used to, while his mind wandered. He found himself thinking (not unexpectedly) of Steve, noticing the physiological sensations that came alongside thoughts of the other man. He could feel his arc reactor whirring a little faster than it should in order to compensate for his rising heart rate, and his palms began to sweat underneath his protective gloves. Tony couldn't stop the grin from covering his face. He was completely besotted with Steve and he knew it. The man made him feel vulnerable and safe at the same time. Steve had a way of getting Tony to open up that he just couldn't feel comfortable doing with anyone else. Steve was atrociously kind to Tony as well, even when Tony felt like he didn't deserve it. Steve made him feel happy and accepted in a way that no one else ever had done. He had only known the man for nine days, but Tony couldn't help but to trust him.

Tomorrow, the two of them would have a meeting with Fury to ensure that Steve was willing to continue his work as Tony's bodyguard. Steve had given him every indication that he was here for the long haul, and Tony's grin could only widen at the thought.

With his eyes on the work at hand while his mind drifted, he didn't notice the presence of another person in his lab until they were standing right behind him. Tony turned wildly on the spot, brandishing his welding tool like a sword at the intruder.

"Rhodey!" He jumped forward to give the man a bear-like hug, failing to notice his friend's discomfort at have a still-hot welding torch so close to his head.

Tony stood back, chucked off his goggles and gloves and wiped his sweaty hands on his horrendously greasy pants, "I thought you weren't gonna be back until the end of the month!"

Rhodes beckoned Tony towards his makeshift seating area that overlooked his car collection.

"We lucked out and got off eighteen days early. Ours was the only weapons crew left in Iraq after the soldiers were officially sent home last Christmas, and the General finally took some pity on us." Tony just grinned back at him, so happy to see his friend after a long year of separation during which they had had little communication. Rhodes continued, "Pepper had me worried about you. Last I talked to her, you apparently looked like a lost, starving puppy."

"You mean you weren't worried about me before you talked to Pepper? That's way harsh, man. Way harsh. Now you don't get your present."

"Oh shut up you shit-head," said Rhodes, throwing his beret at Tony. "This is the thanks I get for coming directly here after landing back on American soil? I knew I should have gone for that cheeseburger."

"Fuck you, you military snob."

"Oh wait, I forgot to give you your present," Rhodes reach into his back pocket and withdrew nothing but an obscene hand gesture, his middle finger waggling under Tony's nose.

If Pepper were in the room, she'd have already thrown her hands up in resignation at their behaviour, which hadn't changed a spec since they first became friends in high school.

Tony took said finger and attempted to shove it up Rhodey's nose. The power play ended with a finger to the eye and a playful scowl on Rhodey's face while Tony squeezed his watering eyes shut, and waved an invisible surrender flag.

The pair caught up over two of Dummy's monstrous vegetable-fruit smoothies.

"You know, you look really good, Tony. I mean, you're too pale and thin, but you seem happy."

"Uh...thanks?" Tony grinned at his friend, "And might I add that you also look well, minus the bags under your eyes, and is that a bit of grey in your hair?"

"Oh come off it, you know what I mean. I was expecting you to look a bit peaky, but I'm relieved you're happy. What's got you in such high spirits?"

Tony's eyes glazed over as he thought of the wet, mostly naked Steve he'd got to see for the last four days in a row, but he hesitated to tell Rhodey about him. Rhodes would have to be blind to think that Tony only went after women, but truth be told, even Tony never thought he would have such strong feelings towards another man. He never questioned his sexual appetite, but he also never once thought his occasional attraction to men would result in anything other than a sublime blow job or a rare fuck.

"I met someone."

"Does Pepper know?"

Tony was momentarily blindsided by Rhodey's question, but then he realized it was a fair thing to ask. "Oh, well she knows I'm attracted to him, but she probably doesn't think it goes beyond that. Besides, it's not like the feelings are mutual."

"Well you better tell Pepper anyways...and it's a he?"

"Hey, I'm just as surprised as you are. I just...I didn't think people like him could exist. He's kind of...well, perfect."

"How long has it been going on?"

Tony suddenly felt self-conscious, "Er...about...say...nine days. Approximately."

Rhodey's face twitched as he tried to contain himself and then he barked out a harsh laugh.

Tony was immediately on the defense, "Hey! Hey now, I knew Obidiah for my entire life, and as it turned out, he wanted me dead for most of it. You don't throw around your trust easily after something like that."

Rhodey immediately sobered up, "Cool off, Tony, I know." He looked idly over Tony's car collection and shook his head, "I just want to look out for you when I can."

Tony's glare softened, "We're not in high school anymore, buddy. Besides, I kind of have that covered now."

Rhodey raised an eyebrow in question.

Tony sat back on the loveseat, "This guy I met? Technically, he's my bodyguard."

Rhodey immediately closed his eyes and sighed disparagingly, "Tony..."

"Hear me out. SHIELD assigned him to me after...well you know what happened," Tony waved his hands in the air and moved on, "But this guy, Rhodey. I mean..." Tony wavered off, not being able to put his feelings into words.

Rhodes responded dryly, "he sounds like a real catch."

Tony sat up in his seat, "You know, you might have even met him while you were searching for me in Afghanistan. Apparently he led the second search mission."

Rhodey frowned, recalling the day, "Wait, he's in the army?"

"Did I not mention that already? He's actually officially 'retired' from duty, and he's been working with SHIELD on their home turf instead."

Rhodes nodded slowly, "That's right, SHEILD was briefly involved in your search, but..." he frowned again, "from what I recall, they were more of a hindrance to your search than anything. We just wanted to get you back, but they were more concerned about the terrorist group that captured you."

Tony could feel a sinking sensation in his stomach, "What do you mean?"

Rhodes rubbed his hands into his tired face, "I had a lower rank in the military then, so my security clearance wasn't what it is now. All I remember is a bunch of guys coming in calling themselves "SHIELD" and taking over your search. There was talk that they were looking for a connection to a terrorist group they were following at the time, and they didn't want us to interfere in case their suspicions were right. Basically, they told us that if you were still alive, we had to be sure who the terrorists were or else we were only putting your life in further danger. What I remember, is feeling pissed off that they essentially called off your search for twenty-four hours."

Tony shook his head, feeling numb, "No. no, see, that can't be right."

Rhodey shrugged, "Hey man, it's what I remember. But like I said, I had less authority then so I probably didn't know all the facts."

It was 6am, and Steve stood in Director Fury's office, facing the other man.

Fury spoke slowly, carefully, "We're getting close to Hydra quicker than we thought. It's only a matter of weeks, perhaps even days, if we're efficient. It won't be long before we initiate the plan. Are we understood?"

"Yes, Sir."