Three Years Ago
"Just what the fuck is your problem Stark? You act as if you didn't have a hand in what happened the last time the Hulk was unleashed on New York!" General Thaddeus Ross sat at a table of five men. All comprised of the military's top elite, including Captain Steven G. Rogers-Stark.
Tony looked at the General with a bored expression while silently seething on the inside. The last time he'd helped the military try and contain Bruce he had been a different person. Now, after the Chitauri Invasion, the hell with Loki, then the discovery of Bucky and the attack by Killian, Tony was unwilling to let go of one of his closest and best friends. He glanced up at his husband then back down at the papers in front of him. He'd promised Steve he would be on his best behavior but Ross was making it difficult. "Uh, General, if we can stay in the current time zone or space or whatever we call it now, I'm sure that would make this a little less tedious for everyone involved. I, for one, have some place I need to be before next week so if you're done being a pompus blowhard..." Tony gave him a wide grin and knew by the glower on Steve's face he was going to get it when he got home.
"You...you arrogant bastard, you self centered son of a bitch!" Ross roared in rage.
"Yeah, no sorry, it's been confirmed not only by a priest but also by society that my mom was in fact married to Howard before I was born. So calling me a bastard doesn't really phase me."
"You and...and that pack of monstrous misfits are a menace to America and its ideals! You and your mutant loving husband will be the death of us all! You don't seem to understand the danger of these creatures! How they can kill us all as we sleep! I lost my daughter to that...that giant, green rage monster!"
The room had gone silent when the general mentioned Steve. It was a well known fact that the only way to get to Tony was through his family, mainly his husband and their sons. Sable eyes suddenly went from dancing with laughter to shining with rage. "Let's get one thing clear, General Ross, there has never been anyone on this planet or the next that can or will deny that I am unworthy of my husband but selfish bastard that I am, I don't plan to let him go either. However, for you to attack Captain Rogers for the sake of your...vendetta...against those with powers...is your own damn problem." Tony shook his head. The silent murmur from the others going ignored. "If you want to blame Bruce or Hulk for what happened to Betty then ok, that's all on you, however..."
Tony stood up from where he was seated and glared at the four star general sitting next to his super soldier husband. "I will not sit here and allow you or anyone else to malign Captain Rogers reputation with your bigoted, one sided, self righteous bullshit and just in case you happen to think I'm out of line..." Tony kept his hard gaze on the other man. Taking in the way he glared back but had lost some of the heat to his expression. "I would like to remind you that Dr. Banner has saved this planet more times than you even know. So please, General Ross, remind me again just who do you have on your side from the military?" Tony's tone had taken on a hard edge, his hands were clenched into tight fists at his sides as he tried to control the rage roiling inside of him. "You talk about Hulk and other mutants as if they are a disease to this country yet you fail to tell everyone that you and your people are the cause. You think we don't know what you and Oscorp have been doing? The experimentation and illegal testing you two have been doing has not gone unnoticed. The use of foreign machinery and weapons is also a huge clue that you have your own agenda here. So for you to sit next to my mutant loving husband and make the statement you just made, would in fact implicate you and a number of other military personnel in a number of illegal activities. You can say what the fuck you want about me, General, but you will watch what you say about my husband because if it wasn't for him I'd repulsor your ass into the next millennium and fuck who has an issue with it!" Tony slammed his fist down on the table, causing the cups to rattle on the oak top. He glanced again over at Steve and was pleased to see the small smile playing around his lips.
"You think you're so smug Stark, just you wait. Wait until it's someone you love that's taken from you by one of these...these animals! Just wait until you feel the loss and pain of knowing that you had the chance to fix this, make things right and instead you chose to protect these...monsters! If it was your husband or sons in harms way you would not hesitate to kill the one responsible..."
"Been there done that and the only thing I learned is that no matter what, I'll still have to deal with the memory of that persons death. I am not a saint nor do I proclaim to be one but I am not a bigoted old man who can't let go of my fuck ups and admit my wrongs. What happened to your daughter is your fault General not Bruce's and I will not allow you to treat him as an object for your own personal vendetta!"
"You selfish son of a..." Ross started in again, he stood up from his chair attempting to stare Tony down.
"That is enough, General Ross. You will either sit down and remember that you represent the United States military or you will be removed from the room." A soft, accented voice rang out over the room. The only hint of authority was the thread of steel in every word spoken.
Ross turned to the female seated behind Tony, a look of rage contorting his features. "Don't you dare talk to me you filthy monster loving traitor." He hissed at Aveline. "Just who do you think you are to even speak to me..."
"I am a General in the United States Navy and you would do well, General Ross, to remember just who it is you're speaking to. I am one of the few people here who can either strip you of rank or have you arrested for treason." Gray green eyes flashed dangerously as she stood up from her chair and faced the panel in front of her. "You stand before a panel of your peers trying to convince us that Mr. Stark is responsible for relinquishing rights to the Hulk, yet you fail to acknowledge that you authorized the testing that Dr, Banner, Betty Ross, and the rest of their team had been working on. You knew first hand what was going on and yet, when you realized that Dr. Banner had discovered something, you kept it out of the official reports."
"You sit next to a four star General in the Air force whose second in command has saved his life with their ability to teleport when needed and Captain Rogers, of the Army who is himself unique on his own and has dealt with more than any of us here. You talk about the death of your daughter as if you did not have a hand in it. You allowed the tests that she and Dr. Banner conducted but it was just Dr. Banner who was affected by the gamma radiation. You, yourself General Ross, signed off on the paperwork for the project and anything else that happened after wards. You authorized the use of radiation to recreate the super soldier serum and now you blame Dr. Banner because he won't give you rights to the Hulk. You seem to forget that the Hulk is the alternate persona of Dr. Banner, a persona that you yourself had a hand in creating." Aveline glared at the man in front of her, could see the rage that crossed his face and never left his eyes.
Aveline knew that this man was dangerous and the people he was involved with were as well. "You seem to think that we take treason and espionage lightly General, however, we do not. You will account for the new funding, the new employees, and equipment. You will also inform us of the department or benefactor providing the funding, as well as an inventory of everything you and your people have. To make sure that these orders are carried out you will have someone with you at all times. You talk about monsters, General, yet you have helped create a few. Abomination, also known as Emil Blonsky, being the top on our list and when asked to relinquish him you refused a direct order. You took him over seas, thinking we would not find him or the new projects you have been working on."
"You can't have him, Emil Blonsky was only here because of his service record with the British Royal Marines. He has rights..." Ross tried to explain.
"The same rights that Dr. Banner has, yet you seem to think that there is a difference between the two. You would deny Dr. Banner, the same thing that you're trying to obtain for Abomination..."
"He hasn't killed anyone or attacked anyone..." Ross yelled.
"I'm sorry General but, uh, what were you lying?" Tony pointed to a flat screen TV showing the events of how Harlem was destroyed in the fight between Hulk and Abomination.
Ross glared at Tony then turned to Aveline. "Banner is a murderer and a menace. I will not rest until I have seen him destroyed or locked away in a very dark place."
"Until then General, it may be in your best interest to do as the panel has asked of you. There is no longer a reason for you to harass Dr. Banner and if we hear so much as a word that you have yet to follow orders, you will be put under military arrest. Do I make myself clear, General Ross?" Aveline stared at the man in front of her with a blank expression. The tone brooked no argument and her expression told him that he could rant and rave all he wanted, no matter what, she had the backing of the military behind her and he would have to obey.
"Fine, you will have everything you need but I still say you will regret letting Banner roam around free and unchecked." Ross' glare went from Tony to Aveline and back. "Just you wait and see, you will eventually understand what it is I'm talking about. " He stood up, glared at the others in the room then turned and walked out.
"Well, ok then, so I guess that means I can go and inform Bruce that he is not a threat to national security or is he still on the terror watch list?" Tony looked at everyone in the room. He was ready to leave the building. He knew Steve had to deal with the military personnel but he hated it. Hated the whole idea of the military, especially after they tried to nuke the entire island of Manhattan. He looked up at Steve and saw the strained expression, the tightness around his eyes and the compressed line of his mouth. He knew he hated coming to these hearings, knew that despite his reserve it hurt him to have to hear the arguments about those with abilities. Despite everything he's seen, Steve still held to the belief that there was still good in others. Tony loved him for that reason and more.
"You are no longer needed here Mr. Stark, we do appreciate what you had to say in defense of Dr. Banner. We will not demand that he remand himself to a research facility but we will not ignore the fact that he is a potential danger to us all." Admiral Gaines looked at Tony with knowing dark brown eyes. Of all the military personnel, Admiral Jefferson Gaines was one of the few who held a neutral position in the situation. "Dr. Banner has been an asset to us with his fearlessness and protection but we have also seen his capacity for danger and destruction. Dr. Banner may retain his freedom but we do reserve the right to revoke it if the need should ever arise."
Tony nodded his head, glanced over at Steve one last time then stood up and left the room. He gave his cousin a small smile as he headed to the door. He needed to get home, needed to see his friend and his children. Ross had hit a nerve when he had brought Steve into it and had compounded it when he tried to go after Avie and the boys. He knew that some of what the general had said was due to grief but there was also some truth to what the senile old man was saying. The pain of losing someone...Tony shook his head as he slid into the back of the limo. "Happy take me home, I need to see my bo..." Tony paused when the door was snatched open and someone leaned into the car, the sunlight blocking out their face. "Umm, you can either come in and close the door or I can make a phone call and..." He was cut off by a hard kiss that took his breath away, moaning, he pressed up against the man in front of him.
"Sometimes I swear you say the things you do on purpose." Steve gasped as he pulled back for air. "You just...why do you have to always antagonize him Tony? Why can't you just answer the question then move on?" He sighed against the mouth in front of him. Steve loved his husband. Worshiped the ground he walked on but sometimes Tony made things difficult for even Steve to handle.
Tony grinned as he looked up at the tall blond. "You're turned on aren't you? That's why you're here in the limo and not on your bike. You're hard and you thought you'd..." Tony was cut off by another hard kiss, groaning as Steve pressed him back into the seat.
"Take the long way home, Happy." Steve gasped into the intercom. He tried to bite back a whimper of pleasure when Tony sank his teeth into the side of his neck. "God...Tony..." Steve moved back far enough to look down at the brunette beneath him. "I love you." Steve whispered then leaned in for another kiss. He reached between them to undo Tony's slacks, popping the button and sliding the zipper down. Steve pulled them down and off Tony as fast as possible, pulling Tony towards him.
Tony wrapped his arms around him and gasped, "I love you too babe." He pulled him closer as he tried to deepen the kiss, growling in frustration when Steve resisted. "Honey, this isn't going to wor..." Tony let out a soft gurgle as Steve slid a finger inside of him. "Fuck, babe a-a little m-more warning next t-time." Tony arched against his husband, gasping as Steve added another finger.
"J-just once Tony, you're gonna do as I ask ya'." He felt the brunette arch against him as his accent came out. Steve couldn't help it, Tony always found a way to make his Brooklyn come out. Sliding his fingers out, he grasped Tony by the hips, turned him around, and pressed him against the seat. "I'm gonna need ya' to try to be as silent as possible darlin', don't wanna interrupt Happy's safe driving now do we?" He pressed small kisses up and down Tony's back, sliding two fingers back into the warm, tight hole in front of him. He could feel the heat spilling throughout his entire body, loving the way Tony struggled to stay silent.
"S-steve...please, for the love of..." Tony gasped out. He tried to keep as still and silent as possible. "F-fuck, babe...r-right there...please, god...yes, Steve!" Tony pushed back on the fingers thrusting in and out of him, gasping at the slap on the ass he received from Steve.
"I coulda' sworn I told ya' to keep ya' voice down Tony." Steve was slurring his words, dizzy from finally being able to touch Tony after two months of court appearances and deliberations. Sliding his fingers out of the hole in front of him, Steve pulled back far enough to undo his pants. "T-tony...the lube...h-hurry..."
Tony shivered at the loss, his head dropping down onto the leather seat in front of him. When Steve asked for the lube, his hand fumbled for the clasp on the middle console. Flipping the top open he pulled out a small bottle of lube and passed it to him. When the blond popped the top, Tony let out a soft groan. He wanted Steve to hurry up, they hadn't been able to touch each other for two months and he was impatient to get things moving again. "Steve..." Tony turned to look behind him and smiled. Steve was looking at Tony with a look filled with so much love and adoration, he couldn't help blushing. He felt the brush of Steve's erection and pushed back with a moan.
Steve moved behind Tony, one hand holding him still while he used the other to open Tony up better. He tried to go slow, knew that it had been awhile but also knew Tony wouldn't mind Steve moving a little faster. "Ready, love?" Steve gasped when he reached down to stroke his erection, he kept a hand on Tony's hip, making sure he stayed in place.
"Yes, babe, hurry the fuck up...please." Tony added when Steve pressed forward. He groaned out loud when he felt Steve stretch him open, spreading his legs as wide as he could for better leverage. "Steve..." He panted, he wasn't sure he could wait much longer but knew Steve wasn't fully inside him. Clutching the seat he was pressed against, Tony tried his best to remain as quiet as possible. He could feel Steve slowly moving in and out, his hands running up and down Tony's sides. "Babe, I-I need you to..." Tony gasped as Steve pressed forward with one final thrust, moaning Tony's name.
"Tony..." Steve held still inside the brunette, forcing him to remain still as well. He knew Tony hated it but would do what ever Steve wanted. Steve leaned forward and bit Tony gently on his neck, relishing the sound of the others groan of pained pleasure. "I'm going to fuck you Tony." Steve whispered darkly against his ear. He felt the shiver that shook Tony, heard his small whimper at the tone Steve used. "I'm going to fuck you until you come but..." Steve thrust slowly in and out of Tony. His eyes slowly closing as he tried to control his reaction to the high pitched whine that left Tony's throat. Sliding a hand around the tan waist beneath him, Steve pulled Tony back against him. "Y-you will come when I tell you." Steve felt the body jerk, could feel the excitement that ran through Tony. They both knew Steve had no refractory period and that Steve could come more than once while Tony was beyond exhausted after two or three. It never stopped the brunette from trying to wear Steve out though. "W-we don't have long...god Tony y-you feel..." Steve gasped. He knew this was supposed to be a torture tact for Tony but Steve was usually the one left breathless and begging.
Tony squirmed against Steve, he didn't want to wait, hated when Steve would do this but he loved it as well. Loved how Steve would take control. Tony worshiped the ground Steve walked on, would do anything he asked no matter how much of a fight he put up. This time was no different, moving his hips in rhythm to Steve's he gasped out. "M-maybe I like disobeying you babe." He held onto the arm wrapped around his waist, head dropping back onto the broad shoulder behind him.
"Y-you do it on purpose..." Steve panted. He was so close and he knew Tony was as well, could feel it in the way the tan body tightened against his. Helplessly, Steve moaned against Tony's neck. He thrust up harder, his hips picking up speed. "Tony..."
Tony twisted against him, trying to keep from cumming to soon. He knew he could wait if he really put his mind to it but he didn't want to. He wanted nothing more than to let go and let Steve catch him, to fall apart against the golden body and let him be the glue that bonded them back together. "T-two months babe...I-I'm not...god, Steve, please...please...let me...let me..." He moaned out load, when he felt a large, warm hand wrap around him and stroke in time with the hips thrusting against his. "Fucking hell...S-steve..." Tony gasped brokenly. He was right there, right on the edge, if only Steve would...
Steve let out a low growl as he felt Tony tighten around him. Thrusting up harder as he stroked him, "Let go, Tony..." Steve whispered. He felt the first tremor against his chest as Tony tried to catch his breath. He knew he was trying to hold back but after two months, Steve wasn't having it. His voice dropping an octave, Steve leaned closer and whispered in Tony's ear, "I said, let go baby..." He couldn't help the breathless sound of his voice. He thrust harder, eyes closing as he tried to hold back. He wanted Tony to come with him, wanted to feel Tony as he broke apart then let him put them both back together. "Tony..." Steve moaned softly, pleadingly. He stroked Tony faster, his hand tightening around his erection. A wave of lust shot through him at the gasping whimper that left the brunette. "T-that's it b-baby, g-give it t-to me...please, Tony..." Steve was at his breaking point, could feel the familiar tingling starting from the soles of his feet and spreading. He tried to hold back the groan of pleasure but failed, Tony was clenching around him to tightly for him to hold back. The start of Tony's orgasm setting Steve off, pushing him over the edge. "God...yes, Tony..." Steve panted harshly.
"Steve...Steve...fuck, I..." Tony jerked and writhed against him. Pressing his hips back sharply, Tony let out a loud moan as he felt the Earth shift. His vision went white and he gasped in relief as the tension coiling his body tight, snapped. Tony groaned, his body going taught as the orgasm ripped through him, making him shout Steve's name like a mantra. He begged and pleaded and promised as Steve fucked him through his orgasm.
Steve held Tony against him, silently thanked god for him and followed him over the edge, gasping weakly against the tan throat. He held onto Tony as tight as he could without hurting him. He thrust up once, twice. "T-tony..." Steve whispered. Pressing up into the warm body, he muffled his moans against Tony's neck, shivering as he felt Tony clenching around him still.
Tony went limp against Steve, sighing in pleasure as he felt the soft kisses pressed against his neck. "I swear, I love you more everyday." He whispered. Tony hated disappointing Steve and he was sure that despite the fantastic sex, Steve was still upset with him. He let out a soft groan when Steve pulled out of him, feeling the loss more than usual. "Steve?" He asked softly, looking up at his husband.
"I'm not upset Tony, well not with you anyway. I understand why you said what you did and he deserved it." Steve tightened his arm around the brunette, knew he was still thinking about what happened earlier. "What if we order in, put on a movie, and hang out with the boys?" Steve kissed him on top of his head, helping Tony clean up and straighten his clothes. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind some time with us." That usually seemed to bring Tony out of his dark moods. The thought of their boys was always a welcomed one.
Tony grinned, "Yeah, that would be...h-how bout, uh, pizza?" He looked up at Steve, moving closer to him. "You think Johnny can handle a veggie lovers without the mushrooms? The sauce is usually to much for him." Tony frowned as he thought about their youngest son. He hadn't thought it possible but Johnny seemed to have inherited Steve's food allergies while Peter received his skin sensitivity.
"He'll be fine Tony, as long as we have some milk and his medication, he'll be ok and we can always have them make it with light sauce." Steve smiled down at him. "Besides, you know how they both are when we over react as they say."
Tony chuckled, "Well, they'll just have to deal with it. Hey J, order Giovanni's, make sure they get a veggie no mushroom light sauce and a pepperoni extra cheese also with pineapples and tomatoes." He grinned at the sound Steve made. "Don't forget to add a meat lovers with extra pepperoni and cheese."
Steve tried to hold back the disgusted sound that rose in his throat but couldn't. "Tony that's just...why in god's name would you eat a pizza with pineapples? Especially a pepperoni pizza?!"
Tony laughed out loud. "Come on babe, you've never even tried it. Both the boys love it as well but you? You've never even tried it, well not unless you count the time you actually ate pizza off my..."
Steve flushed a bright red and kissed Tony to get him to stop the statement. He remembered that night and would always remember it for more than what happened but for who he had been with. "You enjoyed it as much as I did so hush. Anyway, we also need to get something for dessert, something chocolate with strawberries."
Tony grinned as Steve's face lit up at the thought of dessert. "Anything you want babe. J, make it so and tell the boys that we're on our way and they need to clean up what ever bombs or executions or whatever they have going on before we get there." Tony could remember the last time they had been gone for work and the boys had almost blown up Johnny's room.
Steve frowned, "Why would they be making a bomb, Tony? Have you been letting Peter read your notes again? Tony you promised..." Steve started to sit up but Tony pushed him back.
"I swear I haven't, I was just making sure they knew to clean everything up." He couldn't help laughing. "Plus we have your favorite dessert coming from CynCyr's sooo..." Tony's grin turned wicked and he leaned up for a kiss as Steve blushed a beautiful rose color. "I love you so damn much Steve." He whispered against his lips.
Steve smiled, "I love you too, Tony. More than you'll ever know."
Neither knew that despite the small win against the General, he was planning a counter attack. One that would take everything and leave nothing in return.
