Day 10 (First Hour)
"Tony?"
Tony peeled his eyes open, a commendable feat given how tightly sealed they were with gunk. Absolutely disgusting, but that voice! When that voice summoned, he answered. Always did. So, he lifted his head from his pillow, as with the haze from his sight… and he found Steve seated next to him like old time. His blue eyes were alight in the dimness, and for a split second Tony's heart swelled with hope and joy and everything holy that this time, he would have his old friend back.
"Hey, you awake?"
"Steve, oh God, please –" Tony clutched Steve's forearm and squeezed. He had so many things to say, and one by one the word died in his throat as he looked at Steve, just looked, and searched for familiarity.
"Did they treat you well in my absence? I made sure they tend to your needs the best they could."
Tony's fingernails dug into Steve's flesh, and he quickly schooled his expression to neutral. "How was your week?"
"I was needed at the frontline. The weapon demonstration is on track, but… there's something else brewing on the East Coast. My fullest attention was required. I would've been here otherwise, Tony. You are, after all, still recovering."
He pulled away from Steve, like the very flesh burned. "Tomorrow, right?"
"What's special about tomorrow, Tony?"
"The weapon demonstration. It's tomorrow, isn't it?"
"… Actually, today. It's past midnight."
Shit. He'd just calibrated his internal clock to dinner. That was some four hours ago. Obviously not anymore. Kobik and her hocus pocus had to ruin it for him. "Why are you here, Steve?"
"… I missed you."
Sure he did. "Tell me a story." It wasn't an unusual request. "You used to have so much to say. The heroic tales of Captain America." The hardened gleam in Steve's eyes wasn't going to stop him from running his mouth. "Tell me how you assembled the Cosmic Cube. Must be quite an adventure."
"Seems like my worries are unfounded, you're almost back to your old self. Get some sleep, Tony."
"Tell me about Riri Williams. Iron Heart, is that what she's calling herself these days?"
"Goodnight, Tony."
"Or my mother? How is she holding up? Does she visit me often?"
"Tony –"
He latched onto Steve. Fucking please! "Do you even remember? Steve, I beg you –"
"That's enough." His back slammed into the mattress – "You're raving –"
"Don't bullshit me! What did you to our friends, huh?" He clawed at Steve, but the skin didn't break. Angry welts were left in the wake of his fingers, frantically grappling for purchase. "I wasn't in coma for a year!" A fucking opening – Steve left his face unguarded and Tony took a swing. "I was out there, caught in another War against HYDRA, against you!"
He expected Steve to rain him with punches and kicks, because that never happened. He foresaw many a broken bone and heart. Pain rendered worse by yet another bout of betrayal. Like they couldn't help it. How many times had they done this dance. Never learned to get better.
Still hurt. Every, single, time.
"Get off me –"
He'd trained his body to be strong again, but it had nothing against the might of a super-soldier. Steve pinned him down to the bed like he was made of foam, and from the tail of his eye, he glimpsed upon the silver shine of a collar.
"Get off –"
Steve's giant and stupidly warm hand clamped down on his throat. That how Steve would like to go? Empty the last pocket of air in his lungs, and watch the light go out in his eyes. Trapped in every manner conceivable, Tony pawed at Steve because his body's reflex dictated it. Ingrained sense of self-preservation was adamant to keep him alive, no matter how accepting he was to otherwise. Before the inevitable set in, a cool metal closed under his Adam's apple, and Steve's dead weight was off him.
He gasped like it was vacuum, and he curled to his side, only to be wrenched viciously back to the bed.
"Look at you, Tony. I didn't wish it to be this way. You, tethered to a post like an animal." There was a chain, alright. Whatever happened to "no frills" for fear of him building a murderous, sentient nunchaku from this? "Adamantium, Tony. So, don't bother. You don't have the tools."
He could twirl the chain around Steve's neck and pull. Dislocate the spine, if he was merciful.
"You are my guest here. Can't you see? I'm trying to keep you safe. You're under my direct protection. Woe befalls any who dare to lift a finger on you, I promise you. But, my patience is limited, do you understand?"
Steve shook his head in mocked despair, and left. Even as Tony watched that broad shoulders and back slip past the door, his memories patched. Became less spacey. As he reanalysed each and every figment, his fingers fiddled with the smooth surface of the chain. Him recalling this much of the past wasn't in Steve's calculation. He guaranteed it. He tugged at the chain, and it clinked lightly against the metal bedframe. Steve didn't restore him whole because Steve didn't know this part of his life. What he did underground, leading a crusade against HYDRA's perverse ideals.
Steve hadn't been part of his life in a year. Not in the way that mattered. Funnily enough, he didn't remember fighting Steve. Maybe, Steve was sorry that they did, too, and ignored the fact when he wished upon the Cube.
The chain clinked some more, and Tony figured it was long enough to loop around his own neck.