Tony came out of his lab an hour later, completely composed and looking like regular old tony. He headed for the coffee pot, turning it on and calling a greeting to everyone in the common area. Steve hurried over. "Are you okay?"

Tony let his eyes rise slowly to look at Steve before raising an eyebrow "I'm fine?"

"You were really pale"

"I told you I needed time alone. And I got it. I'm fine" he responded with a shrug. Steve smiled, relaxing a bit. "And I'm drinking this coffee then going to bed, mother hen," He said, rolling his eyes and patting Steve's head on the way by.

Steve laughed. "Sleep well, chick" Tony half ass saluted as he reached the elevator and headed for his floor. Steve let out a slow breath Relaxing.

It was the next night when Tony decided he was going to walk back from his late meeting, and that was just a bad idea altogether. Once tony got back to the tower he went straight up to Steve's floor and stood at the door to his room, deciding what exactly he was going to do. He finally sighed and knocked lightly.

Steve looked up from his sketch, heading to open the door, his chin dropping. "Tony? Oh, my Lord above, what happened?" He tugged Tony carefully inside, looking him over.

Tony huffed, crossing his arms over his chest defensively "You can save the 'I told you so's'" he grunted, rolling his eyes and almost pouting. "They wanted money. They got money and apparently had to give me a black eye and some bruises on the process" he complained.

"Why on earth would I say that? Are you ok?" He gently guided him to the kitchen, taking out the small bag of frozen peas he had, pressing it to Tony's eye.

"Because you're right." He sighed like it hurt to say that. "I need to learn to fight".

Steve gave him a tiny smile. "You had your reasons for saying no. I don't know what they are, and I don't want to pry because you paling that day freaked me out. But you know I wouldn't hurt you"

Tony swallowed hard "I didn't think you would." He lied easily with a shrug. "Could you just teach me a few basics?" He asked hopefully, trying to veer the conversation away from the way he'd reacted.

Steve smiled nodding. "I'll teach you as much as I can. Do you want to now? Or after you're healed? "

Tony gave him a tony smile "Now is fine"

"C'mon" Steve nodded, smiling. "Let's head to the training rooms," he said, leading the way. Tony let out a shaky breath and nodded, following Steve to the training room

Steve hummed, setting up a clear space on the mats. He grabbed some padded gloves, setting them down before turning to Tony. "Ready?"

Tony rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly "I have no idea what I'm doing" he admitted, taking off his business jacket and unbuttoning his dress shirt and shucking it so he was standing in his white tank and dress pants.

Steve smiled, stepping closer and gently taking Tony's hand, forming it into a fist. "Just like this. Wrist straight, thumb tucked but not in your fingers. You want to hit with this part," he stroked the flat surface made with Tony's fingers. "If you hit with your knuckles first you will break your hand. Or your wrist simply because then your wrist isn't straight." Tony's breath hitched slightly at Steve's gentle touch. He found himself nodding his understanding of what the blonde was saying.

Steve moved, guiding Tony's arm to stretch out. "Keep your stance solid, one foot behind the other just a bit. Arm level with your shoulder, just like this, turn your shoulders into the punch for extra force." He carefully and slowly guided Tony into what would be a hard, firm punch, a smile on his face. "Keep your other fist decently close to your head so you can block anything they throw"

Tony listened carefully, once he calmed down and realized that Steve wasn't going to "teach" him as Howard had. He followed Steve's instruction to the letter. "Good!" Steve smiled widely. "Okay, let me get the practice pads on my hands, then I want you to practice by punching them. Okay? "

Tony took another deep breath "Bring it on" He said, shooting him a crooked grin.

Steve about melted at that grin, his own lips curling into a smile. He slid on the gloves, crouching a bit to plant himself. "Okay, punch the center of the pad." Tony nodded and did as he was told, punching the middle of the pad as hard as he could. "Good!" Steve grinned. "Again, use your other hand this time"

Tony did, punching again as hard as he could. "Tuck your thumb by your fingers, not in them" Steve reminded him gently. "Again." Tony nodded, fixing his thumb before he started swinging at Steve. "Good! Perfect. You learn very quickly" Steve beamed, praising with each correct punch.

Tony blushed, stopping a moment to catch his breath, already breaking a sweat. Steve licked his lips, mentally saving the image of Tony panting and sweaty, cheeks flushed and hair sticking to his forehead. "C'mon, let's practice throwing off attackers" he murmured, moving to the mat. "I'll be careful, and I won't hurt you"

Tony chewed on his lip a moment before running a hand through his damp hair "Okay." He finally said, following Steve

Steve smiled, "Okay, now, try to grab me from behind, I'll go slow so you can hopefully see how I do it, bit you'll be going over my shoulder, ok?"

Tony's eyes widened slightly, mind racing at the thought that Steve COULD throw him over his shoulder. It took him a moment to get his body under control enough to speak. "O-okay" He agreed, running at Steve to try to grab him Steve moved slowly once he felt Tony's arms around him, flipping Tony up and over his shoulder, absently cradling Tony's head so he didn't smack it when he landed on his back, using the momentum to swing a leg over Tony, straddling his waist with his forearm over Tony's throat, not even his forearm touching skin.

Tony squeaked when he was lifted, trying his hardest to pay attention and breath at the same time. "Shit." He breathed, panting slightly when he was pinned by Steve.

Steve smiled; his voice soft. "Just like that. You don't have to worry about the head, I just didn't want you hurt."

Tony licked his lips and nodded. "I don't think I can throw you around like a rag doll," he said with a laugh

"Never know until you try" Steve laughed, leaning down just a bit. "This move uses the other's weight against them"

"Okay." He breathed, not really wanting Steve to move quite yet

Steve swallowed, licking his lips again. "Any questions? "

"Uhh.." his brain wasn't functioning correctly with Steve so close "I don't think so." He finally said, tracking Steve's tongue with his eyes before letting them flicker back up to the man's eyes

Steve blinked slowly, taking a deep breath before standing. "C'mon. You try. I'll try and grab you." Tony blinked, getting up. He planted his feet the best he could and waited on Steve to come at him. Steve waited a moment before moving slowly to grab at him. Tony tried his best to copy Steve's moves, but he just ended up bent over, trying to yank the super soldier over his shoulder to no avail.

Steve smiled, hugging him for a second before straightening up. "Okay, plant your feet. After you grab my arm you bend your knees to get your shoulder at least mid-chest, ok? Then yank as you stand up to guide me over your shoulder. Ready to try again?"

Tony let himself dramatically fall to the mat with a huff "Us tiny humans are exhausted" he complained.

Steve laughed. "One more time, then we can stop for today, ok?"

"Steeeeveee" He whined out, blushing when he realized how that sounded.

Steve's eyes darkened, his grin turning just a bit darker. "C'mon, Tones, one more. You can take it"

Tony's stomach flipped "O-okay" He managed, scrambling to his feet and planting them firmly, waiting on Steve. Steve waited until Tony was planted before going after him. Tony took a deep breath and tried again, failing miserably and ending up stumbling back against Steve's chest with a grunt.

Steve hugged him a moment. "I've got you" and Tony just sagged back against him, he was too tired to care. Steve rubbed his chest. "You okay?" He whispered into Tony's ear.

Tony tried to suppress a shiver "I'm great." He mumbled with a sigh and attempted to push off Steve but stumbled slightly.

"Careful. You're going to be sore, especially after being jumped. C'mon I'll help you to your room. I recommend a hot bath with Epsom salts and some anti-inflammatory meds."

"Can't I just go lay down?" He whined slightly, stretching

"If you do that you will feel like warm stiff shit in the morning"

Tony laughed "Alright Alright." He gave up, popping his back with a groan and slumping towards the elevator. Steve followed, keeping Tony steady when he stumbled.