Chapter 43-Health
By: MysticFantasy
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"I think we can all agree that karaoke is forever out of the question." Clint said.
"Especially since Cap is the only one who knows where that video is." Tony added.
Steve smirked.
"The only thing scarier than Cap having a blackmail video of us, is that Tony actually made a health simulator." Bruce stated.
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"And this will allow you to feel how I felt before getting the serum?" Steve asked as he looked at the item he held that looked like a slimmer version of a bullet proof vest.
"Yep." Tony answered with a proud smile. "Jarvis, Bruce and I managed to input all of the symptoms you had that we located in your file from the army. We've read how you were and we've heard it. But we want to feel it."
"You won't like it." Steve said. "The asthma alone will make you want to quit after five minutes."
"Can't be that bad." Clint said as he grabbed the second vest.
"The two of you wouldn't last the whole day with the health problems that I had. I barely made it through a day." Steve said.
"Want to make that bet official?" Tony asked with a smirk.
"What's at stake?"
"If Robin Hood and I lose, we shall cater to your every whim, whatever it may be, for a month. If we managed to keep them on for a full twenty four hours, then you have to agree to wearing any wordrobe that we pick for you whenever we hang out in town."
"Alright. It's a deal." Steve agreed and shook hands with both men.
"This is going to be a piece of cake." Clint stated as he slipped on the vest and switched it on. His smirk right away faded when he felt a sudden pressure on his lungs and his heart start to pump a little faster and harder.
"Asthma and high blood pressure can really make you snap a cap, can't it?" Steve asked knowingly.
"What?" Tony questioned before turning his vest on.
"Get angry." Steve explained.
"You really need to update your lingo." Tony said and switched his vest on. He right away began to experience the same things that Clint was.
Was this really how Steve felt before becoming Captain America?! This was how he felt every day of his life for twenty three years until he was finally cured of it all?!
Tony really had to hand it to Steve, he was tough even before becoming a super soldier.
In the course of the next few hours, Clint and Tony both took their time going about their regular activities. They both found it tricky and exhausting when the regular sparring session arrived.
They were both slow in reactions, their breathing was very heavy and both were ready to pass out any minute.
"This is nothing compared to basic training." Steve commented.
"Rub it in why don't ya?" Clint said sarcastically and began a somewhat slow pace on the treadmill. Only a few minutes in, he found himself winded.
"Hey, you said it would be a piece of cake." the soldier reminded as he began walking a quick pace on the tread next to the archer.
"This why you're always working out? Because you feel so healthy?" Clint asked, slowing his pace a little.
"Pretty much." Steve answered. "After I got the serum and I started chasing after the German spy, I didn't notice until it ended that I had actually ran with no problems. I wasn't even breathing heavy, my sides didn't hurt, I didn't have an asthma attack or anything. I felt so...healthy. For the first time in my life, I felt healthy."
Clint listened to Steve words in wonder. He had no idea that Steve had felt so relieved when all of his health problems had gone away. Even something as simple as a run had felt so good.
He never again had to worry about going to a doctor to find out what his newest problem was or worry about getting even more medication that would only give him short time relief.
He could at last do things he wanted that he couldn't do before because of his poor health.
Now that he was experiencing it for himself, Clint could appreciate Steve just that much more.
The rest of the day seemed to drag on for Tony who found himself not as focused or energetic as he usually is when he's working on his newest project. The fatigue that came from the vest made him want to sleep for a week.
Deciding that he wasn't going to get anything done, the genius laid down on the couch in the lab and fell asleep.
Needless to say, it was quite a surprise for Bruce to see when he entered the lab. It actually made him call Steve to the lab.
Once the soldier arrived and saw what the doctor was staring at, he almost laughed.
"That's actually normal." he said. "I would often take small naps when I had the chance. Getting tired so easily made me do it almost every day."
"Well, I can't say that this is a problem then." Bruce said with a smirk. "Tony really does need to rest more."
Steve nodded in agreement and left Bruce to enjoy some quiet lab time.
Later at dinner, Steve noticed how worn down Clint and Tony looked. He was about to ask if they wanted to quit but Clint beat him to that by taking the vest off and tossing it onto the nearby couch.
"I can't take it!" he declared. "Man! How the heck did you make it to twenty three?!"
"I questioned that at times." Steve answered as he helped set the table.
The archer took in a deep breath and realized how good it felt to be able to take a breath without instant restriction.
"I feel so much better." he exclaimed. "Now I know how you felt when you got the serum."
"It was a good feeling." Steve agreed. "Tony? Want to give in?"
"Never." Tony replied. "I want to make you wear jeans and a muscle tee in public! You never will otherwise. I'm going to stick it out."
"Well, it's seven thirty right now. You have until one tomorrow afternoon. Think you can make it?" Natasha asked.
Tony looked a little doubtful at her words but then shook his head.
"No. I'm going to keep going." he stated and took his seat.
They ate quietly and a few hours later, everyone was getting ready for bed.
Pepper noticed the time and that Tony was already lying in bed. When Tony noticed his girlfriend's look, he became a little concerned.
"You alright Pepper?" he asked.
"I should be asking you that same question." she replied. "You're actually in bed before two in the morning."
"Oh, that." Tony said and lifted his shirt a little to reveal the vest. "This thing is letting me feel how our beloved Capsicle felt before he became a super stud."
"Is that why you're in bed so early?" Pepper asked as she moved to her side of the bed.
"Yes." he answered honestly. "I didn't realize how bad his health was. I always thought that it was just an exaggeration. Hearing that the famous Captain America was a walking sick bay back then just seemed like a made up story compared to seeing how healthy and perfect he is. Now I know that it was all true."
"Well, now you know what it's like to walk in someone elses shoes." Pepper said as she laid down. "How long do you have to keep that thing on?"
"One o'clock tomorrow afternoon." Tony answered. "Might as well be a hundred years."
"So why don't you just take it off?" Peppe suggested. "Did you try to make a bet with Steve again?"
"Tried and did. Just need to last until tomorrow."
"Well, just have Jarvis keep an eye on you tonight. I don't want to wake up and find out you stopped breathing in the middle of the night." Pepper said.
"Javis, you heard the pretty lady." Tony said lying back and closing his eyes.
"I shall monitor you through the night, sir." the AI stated.
"Thank you, Jarvis."
"Sir, I would have to agree with Ms. Potts. Are you sure that this is a wise idea?"
"Jarvis, just make sure I'm breathing throughout the night and still alive in the morning." Tony stated.
"As you wish, sir. Pleasant dreams."
Tony then tied to sleep but found that he had to position himself just right to where he could breath with ease. Even then, it was still a challenge to try to get to sleep despite how tired he felt.
Morning slowly arrived and Tony entered the kitchen with the most worn down and beaten look any of them had eve seen on him. And considering who he was, it was pretty bad.
"You look like a wreck." Clint exclaimed fom the food loaded table.
"I feel like it." Tony replied and tuned to the captain. "How the heck did you survive a night like tihs?"
"Toughed it out and did the best with what I had."
"I don't think I can do that." Tony said and removed the vest.
"You know you only had four hours left?" Natasha asked.
Tony lightly grumbled and tossed the vest onto the ground before making his way to his seat at the table.
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"It was one of my greatest and yet dumbest ideas ever." Tony declared. "I will never question your health habits again, Capsicle."
Steve lightly smirked.
None of the others knew that later after Tony had put away the vests, he had slipped one on so he himself could remember how unhealthy he had been.