Post AoU for starkingenuity

[starspangledspandex]

He's old. Old enough to have settled down. Old enough he's letting other people save the world and only stepping in from time to time. There's no 'Honey I'm home' when he steps through door. There's silence and quiet. He makes dinner for one. His bed is cold. He sits and reads the paper while he watches the world move on outside. There's laughter in the hallway. Footsteps. No one knocks on his door. He eats leaning against the counter in the kitchen. Alone. All alone. 'I got no plans tomorrow night' echos in his mind.

Suddenly, no one is on the streets. There are no numbers in his phone. Everything empty and gone and there's just Steve. Steve standing in nothingness. 'Man out of time' 'Nothing but a soldier' 'You can't live without a war' 'Go home, Steve'

He jolted awake, hand raising to rub at his face and it shouldn't have been a nightmare at all but it is anyway. How alone he felt in this century. His friends helped, they did, but they couldn't always be here. He lived and breathed his life as an Avenger. What else did he have? Nothing. He shook it off, like he always did and got dressed, laced up his boots. Most of his team was out of the picture right now. Off doing whatever they did on leave.

Steve paced his room at the New Avenger facility, paced the hallways and spoke to the Agents that were here. He took a walk outside and thought of Tony. The billionaire visited every once in awhile but it'd been awhile. He didn't even know what the man was up to now but Steve... Steve needed to connect with someone to shake off the dredges of his loneliness, someone that wasn't just working here, someone he had a connection to.

So he called Tony.

Comments

[starspangledspandex]

He frowned at the comment and he heard that it was muffled. It didn't surprise him that Bucky knocked out a few teeth. Steve was a mess after a few punches. He could only imagine how Tony felt even if Bucky was only using his hand on someone that wasn't as sturdy.

They were all lucky it was only a few teeth.

Steve was quiet for a moment. "He's a mess," he said finally. "Keeps drifting in and out. Wanda got in his head to sort things out but it's only a temporary fix."

[starkingenuity]

"Good, probably just as good as a shrink," Tony commented before he pushed away from his console and gingerly sat back down.

He was still dealing with some broken ribs and enough swelling to make him look terrible. His eye was still swollen shut as well, so his stereoscopic vision wasn't exactly all it was cracked up to be. It made any work he was doing all the more dangerous.

"Guess you're not holding up too well?" He sounded tired, Steve did. "Should get a little Sokovia Scramble for yourself."

[starspangledspandex]

"I don't think it works the same way," he responded with a small shake of his head. All it did was put it off. Eventually, he would have to deal with the memories.

He was tired and he couldn't deny it. Steve rubbed his hand over his face. "Honestly, I've had enough her being in my head."

Steve trusted her but he didn't need someone fiddling with his head. He was still trying to shake off the effects of the first time and she couldn't fix his problem. Steve also didn't need her picking up on anything else.

[starkingenuity]

Tony snorted a little, but he probably shouldn't have. Any push of his ribs felt like pure fire crawling up his sides.

"You didn't have to check in on me. Friday's being just great, waiting on me hand and foot," he said, not quite teasing but certainly not really feeling into this conversation simply because he wanted Steve to be here. With him.

He couldn't ask for that. He couldn't even mention it.

[starspangledspandex]

"She says you haven't been sleeping," Steve told him because it was only fair to tell him that his AI was a traitor. He didn't know where he was going with this. "You'll heal faster if you do."

He really wasn't sure he would sleep well but that wasn't the point.

[starkingenuity]

Great. His AI was telling on him again. He lifted a hand to rub at his eye but thought better of it. His sigh was telling. "I've had trouble sleeping for a long time. Usually I have more to do--" Tony smirked. "Should have had you be late for your leave," he said, but the chuckle was mostly disheartened and not at all amused. "Shit happens. Whoops, language, sorry." It wasn't even slightly amusing. There was no backing to those words at all.

[starspangledspandex]

He was silent as he listened to the other man talk about his sleeping problem and debated with himself. He didn't like to air his problems out but if Tony was going to be open with him maybe he should be too and he said, "Yeah? I've had trouble since Maximoff got in our heads."

Steve wasn't amused either. They were both too tired for it.

[starkingenuity]

Too tired and maybe they both wanted something more than they could have right now. Tony could likely go to the New Avengers HQ but that might be presumptuous. Perhaps if he said it was just for better medical care... But that might be a lie.

"It's been before that for me," Tony said. "But she didn't help. I never told you what she showed me. Remind me to sometime."

[starspangledspandex]

There was still the problem of Steve's bed not being nearly big enough for the both of them. On top of that, people would question what he needed a double bed for when he wasn't dating anyone and that brought up a dozen more questions.

"I'll be sure to do that," he murmured. There was no reason for them to still be on the phone but he couldn't bring himself to hang up yet. "Thanks for getting me out of here the past few days. I needed the break."

[starkingenuity]

"My turn to visit next then right?" They couldn't make a single bed work but Tony could bring over an inflatable. It wasn't even about the sex. He hurt too much for the sex right now.

Leaning back in the chair brought a flare up of pain that he swallowed back.

"Could bring some real pizza." It was just a social visit. Nothing else. It wasn't because he hated being alone right now.

[starspangledspandex]

"I think so," he agrees with a nod. He really didn't care if they have to shove onto a single bed if he managed to get some sleep. He understood now why it wasn't enough room for sex but Tony was a mess right now.

He tilted his head, trying to judge whether the man wanted to come or he was just offering because Steve sounded like he needed company. "You know I'll eat pizza if you bring it."

[starkingenuity]

"I'll see what I can do," Tony said and hung up, spinning around in his chair before he had Friday get the Legion together to pack up the quinjet, call ahead to let Fury know that he was done being prideful and could use a full work up on his broken ribs, and order the pizza.

He still insisted on flying the plane itself and he was announced into New Avenger airspace an hour or so later. Natasha came knocking on Steve's door to let him know that Tony arrived with pizza and was in the infirmary. She looked half amused.

[starspangledspandex]

He hangs up too and sighs, before standing up to change into something more comfortable. He assumes that Tony is actually going to show up so instead of crawling uselessly into bed, he meditates. It won't help much but it's something and it passes the time pretty quickly.

Steve answers the door, a little confused as to why Natasha is personally coming to tell him and tries hard to ignore the amused look. She knows something is going on and he isn't fond of it. He heads down there anyway because he is the Captain.

"He's on his last leg, isn't he?" Steve says, as he heads into the infirmary. "There's no way he'd come otherwise."

[starkingenuity]

For a moment, Natasha said nothing. Steve's discomfort was amusing and if he thought she couldn't see it, he was deceiving himself. When they fell into step together, one and a half strides for Natasha to every one of Steve's, her voice fell ever so slightly. "Sam should have stayed with him," she said. "He's worse off than the initial examination, yes. He didn't take care of himself. You'll see."

Tony had more or less stumbled out of the quinjet. They had all expected his face to swell, but the idiot had been bleeding internally. It was nothing to operate on, but he was forced to bed immediately and the doctors were fussing with him.

When Steve arrived, Tony was still arguing with the medical staff, especially when they threatened to tie him down. He did look pretty bad though. Bucky had done a number on him.

[starspangledspandex]

Oh, he assumed she could see it. He was just in denial. He didn't want to deal with the problems that might arise if the team thought he was sweet on Tony or rather, noticed he was sweet on him. Steve wasn't even sure exactly what it meant yet. He couldn't have this getting back to Bucky without knowing for sure.

Steve caught up pretty quickly on the argument and said, "I don't think he needs tied down unless he abuses his privileges." He added the last part with a little bit of a grin, "So long as he stays put, he can be free. Fair?"

[starkingenuity]

The doctors seemed charmed by Steve. Hell, Tony was charmed by Steve too but that didn't mean that he had to like it! "You're running a dictatorship are you now?" His words were slurred and he looked worse than he had when he pressed his forehead to Steve's chest looking for comfort. "A doc-tatorship? Do you people not know who I am?"

Bucky and Sam were both right. Tony didn't shut up. He ended up getting himself strapped down anyway as the regenerator was passed over him.

It would help with the swelling. And the bones. And improve that pretty face of his.

[starspangledspandex]

"Once an Avenger, always an Avenger," he told him frankly. "Which means you still get to follow my orders. So yeah, I guess so. If that's what it takes to get you healed up."

No, he didn't. Steve never once disagreed with either of the two. He stayed and watched as the man got himself fixed. He did like his pretty face.

"I think you promised me pizza," Steve said thoughtfully, leaned against the wall facing the bed. He was trying to be out of the way and trying to keep Tony distracted.

[starkingenuity]

"Speak to the lady that confiscated it," Tony complained, sighing as he felt the swelling start to go down. The man was impossibly stubborn. He really needed to just lay back and relax.

Natasha pointed to the ten stack of pies in the corner.

"Nice of you to bring us some, Stark," she said, that knowing smile back again when they let Tony sit up so that they could work on his ribs.

She was a minx. Tony couldn't say anything about it either without giving it away that he had brought it for Steve. "Just save me a box," he muttered. "I'm starving."

[starspangledspandex]

He glanced toward the pizza, then at Natasha, before looking back at Tony. "I'm sure the team will appreciate some real pizza," he agreed. He didn't mind sharing. "Natasha, why don't you take them some before it gets cold?"

The man was starting to look better and that was a relief. "Would have saved you some pain if you'd just come here to begin with," he observed.

[starkingenuity]

Yeah it would have. "Might have to excuse me from not wanting to ride back with the guy that King Konged me out of the Tower," he bit back, not really meaning the malice. It was just hard to hide. Bucky had assaulted him, put a gun to his head and nearly pulled the trigger. And that was all before dragging him out of his home and tying him up on the basement while he talked to himself and decided what to do with him. Tony was no stranger to kidnapping but it had been terrifying.

Natasha snorted, knowing she was being sent away. "You're no Fay Rae, Stark," she said, taking half of the boxes and all of the buzzing medical personnel with her. She'd seen how Tony and Steve had been at Tony's rescue. Whatever that was... Should be left in private.

[starspangledspandex]

Steve understood, partly, but they were all there at that point. Nothing was going to happen. Fear could be illogical however.

He frowned as everyone disappeared with her and sighed, great. Just great. This was not what he needed. She totally knew something was up between them.

Pizza. He needed pizza. He grabbed a box and carried it back to the bed. "Think you could eat something now? How are your teeth?"

[starkingenuity]

"Being made," Tony snorted. "But I have a few left."

Steve was a sight for sore eyes. Tony couldn't help but admire the Captain as he headed over and moved his legs so Steve could sit. He grabbed a slice when it was offered before he smirked. "Pretty sure your number two knows," he said somewhat nonchalantly. That didn't mean it had to happen again..

Even if Tony was just glad to be near Steve again.

[starspangledspandex]

"How long does something like that take?" Steve asked, because it wasn't like he even began to understand how you could possibly replace teeth of all things.

He opened the box and claimed his own piece, sitting easily at the foot of the bed. Steve paused in his chewing for a moment before resuming. "She knows something or thinks she does, she hasn't expressly said what yet."

Maybe because they hadn't either. "I don't know how much she knows but she saw us when I came down to free you."

[starkingenuity]

Tony couldn't quite picture what it had been like. The whole thing had been such a relief. He remembered crying, but he wasn't ashamed of that. And he remembered Steve's hands cupping his face, stroking the back of his neck. Was he hugged? Was there more to it? His brain had been so overloaded that he truly did not know.

Tony offered half of a still crooked smirk, lips pressed together.

"I might have hugged her that was too," he supplied. But she would not have touched him back the way that Steve had.

And oh, Steve had touched him so sweetly.

"Probably doesn't matter. I don't imagine that you have leave again for awhile..."

[starspangledspandex]

No, her behavior made it pretty clear that she thought something was up between him and Tony. As far as he knew, it was based entirely on those moments and the fact he was actually gone for leave. Anyone could look at the flight log and see where he was when he was gone.

Steve tried not to be disappointed at the comment. It was stupid. They fooled around, fucked, but that didn't mean much nowadays. He didn't even know if he wanted it to mean more but hearing Tony restrict things to leave just... didn't sit well with him.

He took another bite of his pizza and tried to brush it off, "No, probably not, not with Bucky to sort out. We're looking into that arms dealer in Wakanda. He had a network; we're going to find the rest of them. We can't have vibranium being weaponized."