Steve ran, watching Tony get thrown back several feet and land on his chest across the hood of a jeep. He screamed out, "Tony!" and was soon joined by Howard at his side.
He felt tears on his face as they got to him and Howard put a hand on Tony's throat feeling for a pulse for what was entirely too long a wait. "He's alive. We have to turn him. Slow."
Steve wanted to yell out, call for the doctors and said, "We need to get a doctor! He's…"
Howard shook his head. "No one can see him, Steve. Not with that thing in his chest."
Steve paled. "The ARC. I completely…I…"
They turned Tony over slowly and when he saw the blood staining the front of Tony's chest Steve almost vomited. Howard cursed and said, "You gotta carry him, Steve. Hide the blood. Tell people he's just knocked out."
Steve shook his head. "I can't…I…"
Howard put his hands on Steve's shoulders. "LISTEN TO ME! Pick him up, goddammit or he's gonna die right here in the middle of the fucking road."
Steve began crying but did as he was told, carrying Tony quickly into Howard's lab and standing guard at the door as the other man tore open Tony's shirt.
The ARC was still lit, though faintly and it seemed to be broken down the middle.
Steve shook his head. "I didn't…I…oh god, he's gonna die and he came here to get me and it's all my fault!"
He wanted to run to Tony's side, tell him how much he loved him but when he moved Howard said, "Don't come over here! GUARD THAT DOOR!"
Steve nodded, never taking his eyes off of Tony's still form.
When he saw Howard come over with a large cylinder that seemed to glow he asked, "What is that?" but got no answer.
Howard put a hand on the front of Tony's ARC and began twisting it. Steve yelled out, "DON'T! HE'LL DIE IF YOU TAKE IT OUT HE NEEDS IT!"
Howard ignored him and Steve suddenly launched himself at the man, knocking him away from Tony.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Howard yelled, "I'm trying to save him. Do you think I want my only son to die, Rogers! I'm not an idiot, now stand aside."
Steve looked at the glowing cylinder that Howard had brought over and whispered, "How did you…?"
The other man ignored him, pushing Steve away and beginning a surgery he had no idea how to perform but did so without incident.
When Howard was done Tony had a fully working ARC reactor in his chest that needed to be plugged into a battery to charge which it did for the next several hours.
Steve sat at Tony's side the entire time, holding his hand and praying.
Howard slept in a chair not far from him, though his worries seem to be minimal and he expected Tony to wake up by morning.
Steve fell asleep not long after Howard but never let go of Tony's hand.
Tony woke up to pain. Immense, horrible pain in every joint and muscle in his body that made him scream quite loudly before he felt the pain go away just as fast and he fell asleep again.
He woke the second time to what sounded like a prayer.
"If you would just help him to wake up I'll be a better man. Please Lord, just let him wake up. I won't ever go near him I won't do anything ungodly with him, I'll…"
"God doesn't like it when you lie," he whispered.
Steve gasped and when Tony opened his eyes the room slowly came into view.
"Why does it feel like I got hit by a truck? And why do I taste batteries?" he asked, his voice hoarse though he didn't know why.
Steve laughed, though Tony saw he was crying. "You didn't get hit by a truck, you landed on one," he looked over to Tony's other side and said, "Howard saved you. Built you a new ARC."
Tony looked down at his chest in awe.
The makeshift ARC that his father had built was exactly the same size as his old one, though it seemed to have less power. He looked over at Howard, who was grinning.
"Hey, kid. Feel better after all that screaming?"
Tony nodded, tears on his face. "When did you do this?"
Howard shrugged. "In my spare time, I had some spare stuff lyin' around so I thought I'd make you a backup just in case."
Tony laughed. "Just in case. You made an ARC reactor out of piece of metal and some blue glowing thing. What's the blue glowing thing?"
Howard shrugged again. "Beats me. Your boyfriend here stole it from the Red Skull right before he disappeared and I used it. I'm sure you've seen stuff like it before, right?"
Tony frowned. "Uh…no?"
Howard squeezed his shoulder. "Well I'm gonna go crash then. Kudos on all that screaming, I'm pretty sure the Colonel thinks I threw an orgy in here last night since your boy here wouldn't let him in."
Tony looked over at Steve who looked at the floor.
"Goodnight kid," Howard said before exiting the room leaving them alone.
The room was silent for the next few seconds until Tony asked, "If I did die here, you think I'd never be born in the future?"
"Don't talk like that," Steve hissed and Tony smiled at him.
"Would you miss me if I died, Steve?"
Steve frowned and looked down at their joined hands. He'd almost forgotten he was still holding Tony's hand. Still he didn't let go. "I miss you now, I don't know what I'd feel if you died."
Tony sighed and let go of Steve's hand, turning his head away from him. "Yeah."
Steve watched him silently before asking, "I broke up with Peggy yesterday. Or was it the day before? I can't remember how long you've been out."
Tony turned and looked at him. "Why did you break up with her?"
Steve shook his head. "I can't seem to stop thinking about you, no matter how hard I try. I want to. Forget. It would be so much easier, Tony."
Tony felt tears in his eyes as he whispered, "I'm sorry. If I could reach Nick I'd leave, you know I would. I know I'm just bothering you here. Hurting you."
Steve was quiet and Tony said quietly, "I missed seeing you. When Howard told me you'd come after me and Brenda I was going to go to your tent and tease you about it before everything…exploded."
Steve took his hand again and squeezed it. "When you're better, we'll talk again. For now I just want to sit here and you can just sleep."
Almost as if he'd needed to be told, Tony's eyes became heavy and soon he fell asleep.
It took a week for him to recover enough to leave the lab, though the new ARC had seemed quite powerful at first it still needed to be charged before he could walk outside and Howard seemed worried when he said he was going to.
"Kid, you almost died. Your boyfriend can wait another day."
Tony pulled Howard into a hug, surprising the other man. "Thank you for saving my life, but I need to see Steve. I'm only gonna be here a few more days, and things are still not right with him. I need to do this, Howard."
When he pulled back Howard was blushing. "Well…come back soon, all right? That thing doesn't have enough power to last the whole day."
Tony smiled. "Okay, dad."
Howard hit him in the shoulder. "Shut it, kid. I ain't your dad yet."
When he walked out into the night Tony took a deep breath and exhaled, taking it all in. He'd been in the past for nearly three weeks now and soon it would all come to an end.
Hurriedly he made his way to Steve's tent and didn't bother knocking.
The other man was shirtless, sitting on the edge of his cot. "Tony."
Tony stared at him, taking in every muscle and remembering running his tongue over every inch. It took several seconds before he remembered why he'd come. "I'm better now, remember? You have been coming to see me every single day, refusing to talk seriously until I got better. I'm better now."
Steve sighed. "Tony, now's not a…"
Tony sat down next to him and began stroking Steve's shoulder, whispering, "Talk to me."
Steve shivered. "I can't…it's so hard to even…I keep remembering how…"
Tony gritted his teeth, tears filling his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Steve. I didn't know what I was doing, I was…I don't deserve your forgiveness and I have never deserved you. I know that. I just want you to forgive me, or just tell me you don't hate me completely. I'll leave right now, walk out and you won't see me again until April 14th. Please."
Steve took the hand he had put on Steve's shoulder and pressed his lips to it softly not looking up as he whispered, "If I'm going to forgive you, does that mean you still want me?"
Tony blinked at him. "What?"
Steve didn't look at him.
Tony put his hand under the blonde's chin and made him look up. "Steve, I'll always want you. I've never stopped. I told you that weeks ago. I love you, you know that."
Steve looked away again. "You said it was just a seduction, that…Tony you said that I was just," he looked up, "I know I'm good looking, I know you want to have sex with me. But do you want me? Just ME? Even if we never have sex again?"
Tony started to laugh and Steve moved to stand, his posture angry but Tony pulled him back down and said, "No, no. Look at me, baby. I'll always want you. I fell in love with YOU, Steve. Not your face, or your body. I love everything about you and I've never stopped," he said, his voice thick when he whispered, "I don't think I ever can stop even if I never got to kiss you again."
Steve's lower lip began to tremble and Tony reached out, running his finger across his mouth, swallowing. "You're shaking," he whispered.
"Tony," Steve whispered before he leaned in slowly and kissed Tony, feather light as if waiting for permission. Tony pulled him closer and they both groaned, their tongues dancing around each other relearning the taste that they'd been denied for far too long.
Tony didn't come up for air until Steve pushed him back. "Tony, breathe," he whispered, smiling.
Tony shook his head, trying to kiss him again. "I don't want to stop, this might be a dream and I don't want to waste a second of it."
The blonde laughed and Tony moaned, causing Steve to stare at him oddly. "Why did you just moan?"
"I haven't heard you laugh since I got here," he said softly, touching Steve's face and kissing him again.
They kissed playfully, though Tony kept his hands on Steve's shoulders not moving. After they came up for air a second time Steve touched his face and asked, "Why are you not touching me?"
Tony shook his head. "I…I didn't know if you wanted me to. I'm not gonna push my luck."
Steve kissed him quick and whispered, "I give you permission," before licking down Tony's throat.
Tony threw his head back, his whole body shivering until the touch and arching up to meet Steve's tongue. "God, you're so good at that," he whispered.
Steve moved to his ear and whispered, "We have to be quiet, it's still early and someone might hear us."
Tony nodded. "I'll try, I can't make any promis…es," his voice broke when Steve began sucking on his throat.
He realized the other man was marking him and nearly came in his pants.
"You've…Jesus, you don't like hickeys…you said," his voice broke when Steve bit down and sucked harder.
The blonde lifted his head, staring at Tony. "I didn't like them on me. Never said anything about you," he said softly, kissing Tony's jaw, "The harder I go the longer it will stay."
Tony grabbed his hand and said, "You don't need to mark me, Steve. I'm yours. All yours. I'll die before I hurt you again. I swear it," he whispered, a tear running down his cheek.
Steve caught it with his tongue and Tony gasped, pressing closer to him.
When he put his hand on Steve's chest the blonde shivered, arching up to meet his fingers. "Tony," Steve whispered.
Tony whispered, "Lie back," and Steve did, watching the man straddle his knees and run a hand over his belt asking a silent question.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The scene I wrote as was is against the site's guidelines so I've posted it to my LJ and the editor for the site will not allow me to post a link though there is one in my author profile. My LJ name is kinneytaylor. There will be MANY scenes in this story I will have to do the same to, but I don't want to try and CENSOR them INTO SOMETHING MORE tame so this will have to do. Sorry.
When it was over he didn't move, holding Tony close and kissing the back of his throat whispering, "Thank you."
Tony pushed up and Steve shivered, "For what?"
He kissed Tony's cheek and whispered, "For coming to bring me home."
Tony laughed and Steve moved to pull out but stopped when Tony put a hand on his leg.
"Don't," the other man said quietly.
Steve kissed his ear and whispered, "Why?"
"I want to fall asleep with you inside of me," Tony whispered.
"You need to be recharged soon, remember."
Tony sighed. "Damnitt."
Steve kissed his cheek. "I'll wake you."
Tony closed his eyes. "Okay. I love you Steve."
Steve nodded, tears in his eyes. "I know."
Hours later he woke to the sound of someone whispering his name and Tony groaned, hitting out at the noise.
"Hey, kid, wake up. You need a recharge," came the whisper.
Tony sighed, opening his eyes and starting to move though before he could Steve pulled him close again and he smiled feeling the other man had not moved since they'd made love.
"You gonna tell your boyfriend to get his dick out of your ass or should I?" Howard asked, not looking happy.
Tony lifted Steve's arm and pulled himself away, looking back wistfully at the sleeping blonde before grabbing his briefs off the floor and then looking at Howard with a raised eyebrow. "I'm not gonna get dressed with you here."
Howard sighed and turned to leave but said, "You'd better not stick around, I don't want to have to drag your body out of here later."
He dressed quickly, his shirt hanging open as he leaned down to whisper to Steve, "I have to go," and turned to leave.
"Hey," came the whisper, making him turn.
Steve was barely awake, his eyes tired but he held his hand out for Tony to take.
Tony leaned down and kissed him slowly, their tongues touching lightly before he pulled away. "Gotta go recharge," he whispered, smiling.
Steve smiled, "Goodnight."
Tony kissed his hand and said, "Goodnight," leaving Steve alone in the tent. He moved on to his back, sighing contentedly.
"Is that the someone else?" came a very quiet whisper, startling him.
He nearly fell off the cot but caught himself, his eyes wide as he looked at Peggy.
Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked so hurt he felt guilty. "Peggy, I'm sorry it's…"
Peggy looked him up and down. "A man, Steve? I didn't take you for a sexual deviant. How could you even…?"
Steve glared at her. "I know you're hurt right now, so I'm just going to ask you to go."
Tears fell down her cheeks as she shook her head, sighing. "I'm…I'm sorry. I didn't…I'm very angry, Steve. I waited months for you to return, I thought you were dead and now you're cavorting with some strange man over me, I," she put her hand over her face.
Steve leaned down and picked up his briefs, pulling them on under his sheet and then did the same with his pants not bothering to button them as he walked over to her. "Peggy, I did love you when I left," he whispered, touching her shoulders.
She looked up, sniffling. "I'm happy that you have someone who loves you properly, Steven. I am. I just…I hate that it's not me."
He kissed her cheek and sighed. "I'm sorry."
Peggy moved away from him and said, "I still don't understand it, I don't…approve. That is all I'll say. I need to go," she said quickly, leaving in a rush.
When she was gone Steve hung his head, feeling awful.
He was happy for the first time in weeks but suddenly things were ruined by Peggy's appearance. His thoughts kept drifting back to Tony and how happy he'd been minutes before.
Grabbing his shirt Steve pulled it over his head and headed right for the laboratory.
The door was open, though dark, and he found his way through to where he knew Tony's cot was opening the second door.
A sleepy voice asked, "Who?" before Steve slid in behind Tony's warm body and hugged him.
"I missed you," he whispered, kissing Tony's neck.
"Mmm," was all the other man said before they both fell asleep once more.
Tony woke with warm arms surrounding him and thought for a moment that he must be dreaming. He ran his hand up and down the arm in front of him, tears in his eyes. He turned and suddenly was completely enveloped by Steve Rogers who began kissing as well as holding him tightly.
He moaned, kissing back and growling into the blonde's mouth.
Just as he felt Steve's hand down the front of his pants he heard, "Good morning!" from the other side of the door.
Tony sighed breaking away and pressing his forehead into Steve's. "Damn."
Steve smiled. "Your father does seem to have great timing."
Tony glared at the closed door, "When I get my hands on him…"
The blonde laughed, kissing him and whispering, "You're awfully similar to each other. It's kind of uncanny."
Tony glared at him. "Don't even start."
Steve grinned. "You're supposed to be happy I'm here," he ran his hand over Tony's chest feeling the familiar metal casing surrounding his chest and then down to his nipple making Tony gasp.
"Oh baby, I am," he groaned.
Steve leaned in close, licking at Tony's throat. He bit at the skin and the other man gasped, his eyes widening. "Shit, Steve…"
Steve lifted his head, winking before kissing Tony's throat and down to his chest thankful that the other man still slept in the nude.
He stopped when he got to the metal in Tony's chest, running his fingers over the round cylinder and staring. Tony made his disapproval known with an annoyed noise. "Don't stop," he whispered, though Steve seemed frozen.
Tony sighed. "I'm fine, Steve."
Steve continued to stare unable to look anywhere else but at Tony's chest. "You could have not been. When I saw…"
Tony lifted his chin and Steve had to fight not to still look away. "I know how bad it must have looked but it was weeks ago and I'm all patched up, D—Howard says I'm at about 80% now, not gonna be perfect cuz of the technology but…," he took Steve's hand off his chest and kissed it softly, "I'm fine."
Steve sighed, touching Tony's face. "When I saw you lying there I…I couldn't be angry anymore…or hurt, or anything but scared shitless that I might never get to tell you how much I love you."
Tony shook his head, "You still should be angry and hurt, the things I did, said…"
Steve cut him off, kissing him again and whispering against his mouth "I was angry, I still…I still am…but when I saw you lying on that table I just sat here thinking that if I'd only tried to talk to you, maybe just didn't listen and stayed maybe none of it would have ever…"
Tony put a finger across his lips and sat up, Steve doing the same. He took Steve's hand and put it on his chest. "Nothing would have stopped me, not even you," he brought Steve's palm to his lips and kissed it, "I wanted you to be where you belonged."
Steve looked away, his voice thick, "I…," he looked back at Tony with tears in his eyes; "…the only place I belong is where you are Tony. Nowhere else."
They kissed like they hadn't touched in years, pulling closer and closer till it was hard to tell where one man stopped and the other began. Tony ignored the instinct to keep himself quiet as Steve ground against him, their bodies clashing so quickly that both men were overcome before they could catch their breaths.
Only heavy breathing and lazy kissing after, and when Tony woke again it was to his father cursing and pulling at the wires in his chest.
"Mornin'," he mumbled, blinking at the light coming through the open door.
"Try late afternoon, kid. Jesus, can the two of you stop screwing for five minutes?"
Tony laughed, feeling the blush on his cheeks and rolling over to find the spot that had been occupied by Steve was empty. He frowned.
"Your boyfriend had duties to attend to," Howard explained, still not looking up from his work, "Which he did after running out of here so red I thought he was on fire."
Howard sounded amused and angry at the same time, which was not a combination Tony associated with his father's voice.
"Steve's a little…" he started, looking for his clothes while covering himself with the sheet.
"Green?" Howard finished for him, finally looking up as Tony winced when his body got a shock.
Tony smiled as he pulled on his pants, standing. "He's…not used to public displays of…affection."
Howard raised an eyebrow, looking him up and down as Tony pulled on a SSR shirt.
"I'm sure some more time with you will burn that right out of him," Howard said, his expression dead serious.
Tony hit him on the arm, smiling as he passed and the two Stark men began working.