Steve had to keep on Tony about not using his arm for the entire two weeks, checking over the arm one morning before smiling. "Looks like it may be all healed." He murmured, having already goaded Tony into taking medicine just in case the inspection made things worse. He did it before the meds could kick in and he saw no sign of the tension.
"I can work now, mother hen?" He asked in exasperation.
"Yes, chick, mother hen will let you work again" Steve snarked playfully, a grin on his face. Tony grinned happily, stretching his arm and shoulder properly. "Go slow for today, though, ok?"
Tony rolled his eyes "I've been taking it easy for two weeks."
"You don't have to keep from working, but don't dive immediately back in, especially the heavy lifting"
"Fine Fine." He said placatingly "You're welcome to watch me work," he said with a shrug, getting up and walking towards the elevator. He usually didn't want people in his lab. They usually worked in Bruce's lab when they collaborated, but he has a feeling Steve being there wouldn't bother him.
"Sure. I'll help you with the heavy stuff." Steve smiled, standing to stretch before quickly changing into a pair of almost ratty jeans and a tank. Clothes he wouldn't care if they got covered in grease and oil.
Tony groaned inwardly when Steve walked in those jeans and tank. This man was going to be the death of him. "Hey there Cap." He said, getting back to what he was doing
"Hey Tony" Steve smiled, heading over. "So, where you want me" Tony's brain went over a thousand places he'd like to have sex with Steve in his workshop. Most were not very safe places for those type of things. Tony just cleared his throat and pointed to the couch in the corner, fighting his blush down.
Steve grinned, looking Tony up and down the blush on the mechanics face just causing him to want to splay Tony out on that couch he pointed to. And see just how many licks it took to make him fall apart. Instead, Steve nodded, his grin having a hint of mischief to it as he turned to flop across the couch. Tony turned back around, immersing himself in his work like usual, forgetting that he had an audience.
Steve watched him, letting his eyes linger where a muscle shifted, his ass tightening in those jeans. He stood to help when he saw Tony go to lift something much too heavy, his muscles not even quivering at the strain. "I'm not going to break if I lift something" He huffed as Steve lifted something else for him. "Thank you." He added.
"You're welcome. And this is too heavy for that arm today" Tony mocked his words childishly, rolling his eyes fondly
Over the next weeks, Tony spent a lot of time with Steve. The blonde making sure he ate and slept somewhat normally and keeping him company in the lab. Right now, though, they were in a conference room that Steve had all but dragged him and Fury into. Tony had his elbows in his hands. Watching the two arguing like a ping pong match.
There was an attack, Clint was hit and now in medical, recovering and Thor was off-world, they were short two Avengers. Fury had told everyone that he wanted Tony to be in the field, not to fight but to set a parameter around this monster to trap it. Steve almost had an aneurysm. Now here they sat, Tony had a front row seat at watching Captain America argue with his superior.
"You can't expect him to just jump in!" Steve rested his palms on a table. "Are you stupid?! He will get killed!"
Fury kept his composure "You seem to be letting your... friendship...with stark get in the way of the mission, Rogers." He said 'friendship' slowly, emphasizing what he really meant to Steve and just confusing Tony. "I can do it," Tony said forcefully.
"Tony you don't even know how to fight! How can he when he doesn't know how to fight?" He almost snarled at Fury. "I won't have someone in the field that would be a sitting duck!" he demanded.
Tony frowned at Steve's words, they stung. It felt like Steve was saying he'd be useless in the field. He stood abruptly, almost knocking the chair over. "I'll do it." He said to Fury before storming out of the room and slamming the door.
Steve frowned, completely ignoring fury to stomp after Tony. "Tony what the fuck?!" Tony just ignored him and kept walking. "Tony!" He reached out, catching Tony's arm
Tony's heart stopped for a moment he froze before whirling around and snatching his arm out of Steve's grip, stumbling back a bit. "Don't do that!" He said with a frown.
"Whoa, you ok?" His brow furrowed in concern at seeing Tony pale.
"Yes. I'm fine. Now can I go?" He asked, annoyed.
"Why did you stomp off like that?" He frowned. "Why did you tell them you'd do it?"
Tony crossed his arms, absently shielding his body even though he probably just looked like a defiant child. "Because I am going to do it." He said simply.
"Tony you don't even know how to throw a punch! I just want you safe"
Tony forced himself not to flinch at the yelling, he hadn't been properly yelled at in years. "I'm not useless!" He finally yelled back before turning on his heels and storming off. He was headed to avenger tower to lock himself in his lab. He was going in blackout mode and threatening to disconnect Jarvis if he let anyone in.
"Tony!" Steve cursed, bolting after him. He barely managed to squeeze past the doors to the lab before they closed.
Tony whirled around "Get out." He ground out.
"No. Talk to me, Tony." He huffed. "Why did you say you would do it? Why go stomping off like that?" Steve asked, concerned
"Because I'm tired of listening to you two arguing. And I am doing it. You can't stop me." Tony said with determination.
"I don't want you hurt! You don't even know how to throw a proper punch, how to hell do you and Fury expect you to stay alive out there!?" His voice took an almost panicked edge.
Tony narrowed his eyes. "You need to leave. I'm done with this conversation." He said, turning around to begin working on anything he could find.
"No, I'm not leaving." He huffed.
Tony sighed. "If I Tell you I won't go then will you please leave," He said defeatedly
"...why do you want to go so badly?" Steve asked, confused.
"I'm not going. Just leave." Tony said firmly, moving around the lab as usual.
"What have I said that upset you?"
"Damnit. Just give me some time to cool off!" He said, tossing the wrench down and leaning against the work table.
"And let you refuse to ever talk about it again? Yeah no," he crossed his arms. "We will talk now."
"Goodbye, Steve." He said calmly, ignoring the super soldier
"No," Steve said firmly. Tony just shrugged and continued working, ignoring Steve completely. Steve sighed, flopping on 'his' couch. He watched Tony silently, taking him in for well over two hours before standing. He let out another sigh, going to rest a hand on Tony's shoulder. "C'mon." He murmured. "Come with me"
"No. I'm good." He said absently, concentrating on perfecting his trap, and shrugging Steve's hand off automatically.
"Please." He asked softly. "I need to make sure you're safe out there."
"Why can you get the concept of leave me alone?" He asked harshly.
"I can't. Not when I messed up. Let me fix it?" He asked, almost pleading.
"You didn't mess up." He said with an overdramatic sigh. "Now leave me alone." He huffed.
"I upset you. I don't know why, but I did" Steve said.
"I'm fine." He ground out.
"Bullshit" he snorted. "What can I do to help you here? I know if I leave, you're going to hide for days and I won't have you back to those self-destructive eating and sleeping habits
Tony rolled his eyes, putting his things down and turning to Steve, crossing his arms. "What do you want."
"I want to help you learn to fight. Help you protect yourself. I don't want you hurt at all." Steve explained.
Tony's heart stuttered a moment before he frowned "No." He said firmly
"But Tony, I need you safe out there" Steve tried to reason.
"The answer is no; Steve and I mean it," Tony responded firmly.
"But why?" Steve was perplexed, worry on his face at the paler Tony took on
"Because I said so," Tony said childishly.
"Tony..." he sighed softly. "How can I help in here, then?"
Tony sighed "I just want to be alone" he tried again.
"I want to help. Help you learn self-defense"
"It's not happening." He said coldly, returning to his work
Steve let his face show his shock. "Tony..."
"No.," he said shaking his head.
Steve sighed. "I'll leave you alone. But not leaving the lab"
Tony grumbled a "Fine"
Steve stayed on the couch for the rest of the day. It wasn't until dinner that he stood, going up to Tony "c'mon Tony, let's get some food in you"
"I'll order something in. You go" He said absently
"C'mon, Tony. Please."
"Goodbye, Steve."
Steve sighed softly, shoulders slumping as he walked out. He paused outside the labs, absently looking up. "Make sure he eats, please Jarvis?"
"I will do my best Captain Rogers" Jarvis replied before the door closed behind him. Tony ordered blackout again before going to flop down onto the couch before grabbing a pillow and hugging it to his chest before pulling his legs up and sighing as he let his eyes close.
Steve paced the commons, pausing every now and then to pinch the bridge of his nose to try and stave off the headache
"Sir, Mr stark has ordered food to be delivered" Jarvis informed Steve.
Steve let out a soft sound. "Thank you, Jarvis. Thank God he is at least eating"