Tony had not intended for Steve to stay the night but after the sex they had both been so exhausted that they'd fallen asleep tangled in each other s arms. Pepper is on a business trip to Chicago and she isn't due back until the end of next week so there isn't a worry of being caught. Still, it doesn't help the feeling of guilt that washes over him. He loves Pepper but the man lying in his bed right now has had a hold on his heart for longer than he would care to remember. Tony leans against the frame of his bedroom door and watches Steve sleep, pajama pants loose on his hips and shirtless so that the arc reactor in his chest is completely visible. Tony hates the reactor that's keeping the shrapnel in his heart from killing him but the alternative is worse. He doesn't need to feel insecure about it with Steve. He knows that Steve thinks he's beautiful no matter what and it brings a smile to Tony's face. The coffee cup in his hands has grown cold and he sighs softly. He doesn't know where this is going and he isn't sure he s ready for the answer. When he was sure that Steve was going to say he loved him last night, Tony had wanted to shrink into himself. It was too much too soon.

There was also the fact that Steve had been the product of his father, Howard. The way that Howard Stark had raved about the legendary Captain America made Tony wonder. What exactly had been the relationship between his lover and his father?

Steve moves in the bed and Tony starts, not wanting to be caught being creepy. He moves to the desk on the opposite side of the penthouse and places the full coffee cup on a coaster. There are so many things to think about and what is he supposed to tell Pepper when she returns? She knows him better than anyone on the planet and he won't be able to lie to her for long. She'll know that something is wrong and Tony doesn't want to lie to her. Not after all that she's been through and done for him. It has occurred to Tony that all the time he had thought he hated Steve it was the exact opposite. He has loved him but unwilling to admit it. All those late nights in his room on the aircraft had always meant more to Tony but he was too stubborn to say something.

He's spacing out, thinking and he doesn't hear the footsteps that are approaching behind him and when hands touch his shoulders, he stiffens. He doesn't have time to react before lips are pressed against his neck and a shiver runs down his spine. Tony's head tilts to the side and smiles, closing his eyes and just enjoying the feel of those lips on his skin. He reaches up, tangling his hand in Steve s hair and turning his face so that their lips meet. It s a chaste kiss, sweet and short.

"Good morning," Steve murmurs against his mouth.

"Is it?" Tony asks, leaning back slightly.

Steve looks confused and he feels guilty about making his lover feel bad but he doesn't know that it's a good morning. How can it be when he's so fucking unsure that he can t see straight? Steve stands up straight and Tony can't help but drink in the sight of his body, the perfectly sculpted chest and abs, well defined arms and chiseled jaw. He s so goddamn beautiful that it can drive Tony crazy if he lets it.

"You regret last night," Steve says but his voice isn t accusatory.

Tony shakes his head. "It s not that, Steve. It s something I can t explain. The way my father used to talk about you makes me think that you had more than a business relationship with him." Steve looks stunned and Tony immediately regrets saying anything for a moment. When Steve doesn t say anything Tony can feel his heart thudding against his chest.

"Is it true?" He asks. "Was there something between the two of you?"

"It isn t what you think." Steve mutters.

"Well what is it then?"

Steve sighs, running his hands through his hair. It s a nervous habit that Tony has noticed about him and he isn t sure that he s ready for the answer he s about to get.

"Nothing happened the way you think it might have thought but you re right, our relationship wasn't just business." Steve pulls a chair next to Tony s and sits down, chewing at the inside of his cheek. "Your dad created me with the help of some other scientists and we got close. I was able to share things with him that I couldn't with anyone else. For a time I thought I loved him but I was wrong. Your dad he wasn t the person that I thought he was. His alcoholism was the downfall and the strained marriage with his wife the way he treated his son."

Tony closes his eyes, holding up his hand to stop Steve from speaking. "Please, we don t need to rehash the type of man my father was. I m aware."

Steve nods but he doesn't take his eyes off of Tony. "There s something else. Something you re not telling me."

Tony sucks in a breath because he doesn t want to tell Steve what he s been working on with Nick Fury. He knows that his lover isn't going to like it and that it might put even more of a strain on their already fragile relationship.

"It s nothing," Tony lies. "There s just a lot of shit going on and then you show up and turn my world upside down again."

"Do you want me to leave?" Steve quips, rising from his seat.

"No!" The forcefulness of his answer surprises even Tony. "No, please don t leave."

Steve sits back down in his seat slowly. He eyes Tony suspiciously for a moment but he has to let it go. There s no way Tony will tell him anything if Steve pressures him.

"When you re ready to talk, let me know." He says.

Tony frowns but nods. "Where are you going to stay?"

Steve shrugs. "I don t know yet. Maybe I'll see if I can stay at S.H.I.E.L.D for awhile"

Tony runs his tongue along the bottom of his lip and shifts in his seat uncomfortable. "You know, Pepper isn't due back until the end of next week. You could just stay here until then." Immediately, he knows that was the wrong thing to say and Steve looks furious

"Oh, I get it. I can stay here and act like you're fucking mistress until your girlfriend gets back. That's rich, Tony, really." Steve stands from his chair so quickly that he knocks it over and storms to the bedroom.

Tony hesitates for two seconds before he's flying after Steve. "Wait, Steve that wasn't what I meant. I mean I don't care if she does come back, you can still stay here."

Steve is pulling his clothes on and he turns to glare at Tony. You're kidding me right? So when she comes back what does that make me, some jerk crashing on your couch? I imagine that we'll stop sleeping together then too because you'll have her back. God, Tony it's amazing that you think you can treat people this way?"

Tony feels a surge of anger through him and he smirks faintly. "You really expect more from me? I'll be the first person to tell you that I'm unreliable and have commitment issues. Did you really think that this would actually work between us? That I would give up my lifestyle for you? What would make you think that?"

Steve doesn t answer at first and he tugs his socks and shoes onto his feet. Tony thinks he might not answer at all and it makes him angrier. There's so much more that he could say, that he wants to say but there's no point. The damage has been done and in the back of his mind, he knows that this is for the better. He doesn t deserve someone like Steve or Pepper. Pepper is just too invested in his life and company to walk away but there is nothing holding Steve to him.

Steve is at the door and he s halfway out when he turns to Tony with a blank expression. "You asked me what would make me think that I would give up your lifestyle for me, well, the answer is that I'd hoped you were a better man than your father."

With that, the door slams behind Steve and Tony is left staring after him slack jawed and feeling his heart break.