Tony had gone up and taken a shower and gotten redressed, this Time in just pajamas and a tank top. He then came down for his coffee. "Morning Cap." He said with a friendly grin as he started the coffee pot. Steve grunted, still upset that he was apparently just another notch on Tony's belt. He did, however, still cook for the genius, sliding the plate in front of him. Tony said his thanks, nibbling a little at his food before heading back down to the lab. Once in the elevator, he let himself fall back against the wall of it with a sigh. Did Steve regret it? Is that why he seems so upset? Tony shook his head, exiting the elevator and beginning to work again.
Steve hadn't calmed down over the next few days, though he still made sure Tony ate and slept.
Tony drug himself into the common area, yawning and half awake, searching for coffee as usual." Morning Cap." He greeted sleepily.
"Morning" Steve murmured, soaking in the sight of a sleepy Tony. He wished he had been able to experience it. He doubts hed be able to talk to Tony. He put the plate of food in front of Tony.
" 'M not hungry this morning, will eat lunch." He said, fixing his cup of coffee. "Promise." He added, walking back towards the elevator.
Steve pursed his lips. "Tony." He called out, sucking up what little courage he had against the fear of rejection.
"I promise I'll eat at lunch" he pouted, turning to face Steve.
"Can we talk?" Steve asked.
Tony raised an eyebrow "sure?" He said slowly.
Steve stepped closer, taking a deep breath. "Why did...why are.." he stopped, rubbing his face.
Tony shot him a confused look "What?"
"I'm not a one night stand!" He finally just blurted out, the hurt of the last couple of weeks plastered all over his face.
Tony's eyes widened "W-what?" He asked again "I-I didn't...I-I mean...I thought y-you..." He floundered
"Thought I what?" Steve frowned
Tony sighed with a shrug "I thought that was what you wanted"
"Why would you think that?" Steve asked incredulously.
Tony sighed again That'ss Just usually what people want ya know?" he said, with a shrug.
"I dont. I was very hurt when I woke up to you gone. Especially when you acted like nothing had happened" Steve explained.
Tony frowned "I went to the lab. I-I didn't want to wake you." He said in a soft voice "And as far as the other part, I figured you didn't want your business out in the open."He said, another shrug "I'm sorry, steve" he finished in a tiny voice.
Steve rubbed at his face, sighing softly. "Tony...DO you want more than a one night stand? I thought we were on the same pace but apparently, we werent." Tony opened his mouth respond but didn't get a chance because fury busted through the doors.
"I need you to assemble." He said immediately "All of you." He said, looking between Steve and tony meaningfully. Steve's face showed hi sc fear for Tony, not thinking as he pulled the other close.
Tony blushed at the show of affection, detangling himself from Steve "Stop." He whispered, blushing more.
"Not going to" Steve whispered back.
Tony rolled his eyes. "What's going on Fury?" He asked, ignoring the blonde as much as he could.
"We aren't quite sure, Clint is still out in medical. This, thing hit him with some kind of ray and he promptly passed out." He said with a sigh "Physically he seems fine" he added, "We will just have to wait for him to wake up." Tony nodded.
"I think I have something to trap them. But, no offense, I don't trust anyone with this tech so I'm definitely going." He said sternly.
Steve groaned softly but stayed quiet. 'I'll help you get them" he offered.
Tony nodded "We will meet you at Shield." He said, turning to heat to his lab and Steve followed him down.
"Go on and yell. You probably want to." Tony said with a shrug and a chuckle, gathering everything they needed.
"I'm too tired to yell" he admitted. He hadn't been sleeping well. "I just...I don't want to be a one night stand "
Tony blushed, fumbling over his words before finally saying "We can talk when we get back "
Steve nodded, giving in to the impulse to kiss Tony's cheek. "Please be careful"
Tony blushed even more. He wasn't used to someone just being this out right affectionate with him. "Promise." He said with a small smile.
Tony was in the field Sure, but his job was to sneak around and place his devices around the thing they were fighting, in order to create a forcefield and trap the creature. He was doing a good job of being silent while the others fought to distract it. It had already knocked down Natasha and they were holding Bruce back until they had enough information. So that left Steve.
"Stark. We have figured out what the monster does." Came Fury's voice into his com as he was sneaking between two pieces of debris. "Barton just woke up. He said it made him re live his worst memories before he woke up." Tony swallowed thickly, nodding before realizing fury couldn't see him.
"Copy". He said quietly, placing the last one of his devices. The genius then looked up and his breath caught, Steve was turned, back to the alien, fighting off one of its minions. It was like it happened in slow motion "Steve!" He yelled the monster was already revving up to hit him with that damn ray. His outburst startled the monster along with Steve, causing the thing to turn quickly to find the voice, shooting and hitting tony with the ray. With a yell, he collapsed to the ground.
Steve managed to get the aliens in the traps before bolting for Tony. "Fuuuuck. Cmon Tones, wake up!" Steve reached to gently cup Tony's cheek, gasping softly as a static shock ran up his arm and causing him to fall unconscious.
Tony stood there, in the darkness, watching his memory like it was a play going on right in front of him. It was Howard yelling and telling him how useless he was before throwing a glass at him that he barely missed. Then it switched to him in his room, asking his captain America poster if he really was worthless like Howard said. Tony wanted to look away, close his eyes but it felt like he physically couldn't. Couldn't talk, couldn't yell, couldn't escape. Just had to stand and watch.
When Steve woke he could see Tony standing before what almost looked like a projector screen. A screen that had Howard yelling at a tiny Tony Stark. Oh, God.
The scene finally ended, thank god. The next one was Teenage Tony coming home with an obvious black eye and busted lip. Howard, obviously drunk already berating him. "You can't even throw a punch." He grumbled "Useless" he muttered, putting his glass down. "C'mon boy, I'll teach you to fight." It moved on to Howard's 'teaching' style that ended with tony having another black eye and a bruised rib.
Steve's eyes welled with tears, finally seeing why Tony had been terrified when Steve offered to help. He longed to reach out and hug Tony. Bit he couldnt, his muscles wouldn't move, his voice wouldnt work.
Tony took a deep, silent breath as the scene changed yet again, Tony's eyes widened more, he knew this one too. Tony, roughly 16, had just been caught kissing a boy. Howard, fuming, sent the other boy away before berating tony about how much of an embarrassment he was. Tony made the mistake of speaking up "But, dad, there were rumors that Captain America was gay." He tried to argue, his cheek stung where Howard had promptly slapped him with a hard smack. "Don't you DARE!" He spat, "Steve was not a filthy queer like you!" He continued. "He would be just as disgusted with you as I am!" Tony felt his tears start to fall.
Steve wanted to scream, struggling to move, needing to get to Tony.
Tony shot straight up, gasping for air, tears steaming down his face, calming a bit when he recognized where he was, Shield medical bay, looking over to see Steve coming to as well. Steve bolted up, gasping and looking around before he scrambled for Tony, pulling him into a tight hug. "I am not disgusted. " he whispered
"No. No. No." tony mumbled "It hit you too? Are you okay? I thought I'd saved you." He asked worriedly.
"You did. I'm okay. But when I had touched you I got sucked in too. I saw you watching your memories."
"O-oh" he choked out. "I'm sorry you had to see those", He said in a quite voice. "I just couldn't let it hit you, once fury told me what the ray does"
"Tony, what the hell, you lived through all that but you couldn't let it hit me?" Steve was bewildered, hugging Tony tightly.
Tony sighed, leaning into the touch. "I couldn't let you re-live going into the ice, or losing Bucky." He said quietly. "I could handle Howard one more time."
Steve's eyes watered, burying his face in Tony's neck. "I'm not disgusted and the rumors are partly true. I'm bi."
Tony snorted out a laugh "I kinda figured"
"What was your first clue" he laughed.
Tony snuggled closer to whisper in Steve's ear "Your dick up my ass?" He offered. Steve let out a sputter, laughing loudly. Tony grinned, laughing as well. "There we go, that's better than your 'someone killed my puppy' look." He teased. Steve gave him a shy smile, startling as the doctor walked up for their final checks
Tony blushed and hid his face in Steve's neck. "Can we go home now?" He mumbled against his neck
Steve nodded after the doctor cleared them. "Cmon"
Tony got up slowly, stretching and groaning when his back popped "I think I might need another massage" he said, as innocently as possible, walking from the room
Steve's eyes lit up. "Of course" he bolted after him. Tony laughed at Steve's eagerness.