Sentinel/Guide AU for starkingenuity

[starspangledspandex]

Things have been going remarkably well between them. Even if the beginning was somewhat rocky, their compatibility was obvious and not just to them. Steve was old-fashioned and though his instincts made it clear what they wanted, he did things the "right" way. There were dates and gifts and just general wooing. They talked about it and they were ready.

He smiled at Tony, watching him as he worked and couldn't stand it anymore. "Tonight," he said, then added, for clarity, "We should bond tonight."

Maybe not the most romantic proposal but he figured he shouldn't smother Tony in it anyway or the man would get sick of it. No the rarity made it special.

Comments

[starspangledspandex]

"Don't shut JARVIS off," he told him. "You made him to tell you these things for a reason. You need to let me make that judgement. This isn't the last time we're going to see that assassin. You being alive is more important to me."

It didn't sound needy to him not with what Natasha explained.

"It's the bond," he muttered. "I might not be able to feel it but you're still feeling the effects of it."

[starkingenuity]

This was news to Tony. He tried to sit up despite feeling dizzy. "What are you smoking and can I have some? Steve, we didn't--"

It all caught up with him a moment later and he groaned, pressing his fingertips against his eyelids.

"That explains the extended heat... Damn it." Well. At least Steve didn't have to worry. Tony wasn't on the market any more.

[starspangledspandex]

Steve stood, intending on keeping Tony from getting up if he tried. He wasn't thrilled with him even sitting up but he compromised and shifted to adjust the bed so it was sitting somewhat upright. This way Tony would have a little support.

Just because he wasn't on the market, didn't mean his Sentinel instincts would understand it. He hoped it helped but he was going to doubt it. If he couldn't feel the bond, it didn't technically exist for him right?

[starkingenuity]

Tony was thinking the same thing, honestly. If he was bonded to Steve but Steve was not bonded to him, there was a whole mess of disconnects. He took his Sentinel's hand after the fussing, eyelashes growing more and more wet as his lips pressed together to keep them from trembling. He felt on the verge of breakdown and ended up covering his face with the other hand.

Steve was still in danger. All of the worst issues with bonding were pressing on him without any of the benefit. And what if Steve managed to bond to someone else? It was theoretically possible once he learned how to bond.

Yes it was unrealistic, but that didn't stop him from getting emotional. There was no other outlet to dump it.

[starspangledspandex]

It was going to be a mess either way. Steve already knew that and it made him angry more than anything. This was supposed to be happy. They should be planning a ceremony or a honeymoon or whatever people did nowadays.

He gave the older man a sad sorry look when the tears started to form. Steve shifted to gingerly sit on the edge of the bed and raised a hand to Tony's face, gently drawing his hand away so he could wipe the tears away himself.

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere," Steve says earnestly and honestly. "It's you or no one; it always has been. As soon as we know how, it'll be a done deal."

[starkingenuity]

Though Tony knew that no one had the loyalty that Steve did, he couldn't keep himself from tearing up or leaning into the wider chest. Being an empath sucked and nothing could tell Tony otherwise. It was why he was generally so sarcastic. It helped him survive in his life.

"Don't go telling people I'm being that time of the month emotional," Tony tried to laugh it off. "It's the blood loss. It makes you loopy."

But he was glad Steve was with him for now.

If this didn't work out in their favor, he was going to have to drop an engagement ring at the bottom of a glass of champagne soon.

[starspangledspandex]

"I'm sure it does," Steve agreed amicably, willing to let his Guide write it off if that was what he needed to feel better about it. He added, "I won't say a word. I promise."

He also drew the man into a careful hug. He didn't want to hurt Tony's arm but he thought it was something they both needed right now.

[starkingenuity]

Tony was strong again in no time. A little rest and a little bit of poor cell regeneration therapy had given him boost enough to be able to get him out of the hospital and Steve back to base.

The wonder twins and Banner were no closer to figuring out how to fix Steve and so they took more blood and even did a spinal tap... There had to be secrets somewhere and they could test Gene therapy on the cells extracted.

And that freed Steve up for a visit from Natasha and her little thumb drive.

[starspangledspandex]

He was as patient as he could be. It was difficult but it was better now that Tony was awake and talking. Steve did finally change out of his uniform and came back to play guard dog for his Guide.

Spinal taps were not fun. This was what Steve learned from that experience. Of course, he didn't know that he expected any differently. It was a needle being put in his spine. He just hoped it wasn't pointless.

"What's on it?" He asked, when he saw the thumb drive.

"I don't know," she said. "It's SHIELD's but the encryption is strange."

[starkingenuity]

It was frustrating to watch Steve in pain. It was worse to listen to him cry out like that. Tony was somber during most of the test but he looked so expectedly at FitzSimmons for immediate answers that Banner told him to stay with the Captain for a little while just to get him out of the room.

He overheard the encryption part of what Widow was saying and immediately perked up, despite still recovering from trauma and blood loss. One arm was useless but that didn't mean he couldn't work on something!

"Give it here."

[starspangledspandex]

He was still sore but he knew it would fade. Steve just wasn't volunteering for another one unless it was absolutely critical. There weren't many things that made him actually cry out in pain.

Steve didn't protest as Natasha handed his Guide the drive. Why would he? It was always good to have the best and as far as technology was concerned, Tony was the best.

He did, however, hover because he could and he didn't have anything better to do.

[starkingenuity]

Tony was grateful for something to do. He might only have the use of one arm but he could hack without using any. JARVIS could be guided with his voice and once he was at work on the sequencing, all he had to do was sit back and rest his head on Steve's stomach and breathe him in--

And be immediately interrupted by JARVIS' findings.

Tony frowned. "Is this a joke?"

There was a location for somewhere in New Jersey.

"This is the armpit of America."

[starspangledspandex]

His hand raised briefly to brush his fingers through the Guide's hair but he too was distracted by the location that came up on the map.

Steve shifted so he could peer at it closer and he took a deep breath, pressing his lips together. "I know that place."

[starkingenuity]

Tony tilted his head back, as much to get the blond's touch as to look up at him. He should have known more about Steve's past but their childhoods only came up briefly in conversation. Tony pressed his lips together before he sat up fully.

It clicked a moment later.

"There was an Army camp there. Okay. Grab those boots and let's go!" He wasn't being left behind.

[starspangledspandex]

He glanced down at Tony as he sat up, surprised that the older man knew that detail and nodded, "I'll meet you at the jet."

Steve didn't expect his Guide to know every singled detail of his life, just like he didn't know every moment of Tony's. What was more important was the future and securing their lives together.

"Let me know what you find, boys," Natasha told them. "Unless you want company."

[starkingenuity]

"I don't think we'll need a spy to break into some super secret spy base," Tony grinned. He didn't need help. And he wanted to see this out with Steve. And he was pretty sure he was feeling threatened by Romanoff.

She was unbonded. She was a Guide. He didn't want Stefe around her. Yes. It was a pointless worry but one he couldn't help.

He was pretty impressed by what they uncovered, I pressed by Steve's memory and by the fancy SHIELD frame work they passed through down the hall. "Dad was always so dramatic," he grinned. "Oh look. Elevator. Seems legit."

[starspangledspandex]

Natasha shrugged and walked off to do some digging of her own. Spy stuff. She wasn't after Steve. She knew he was taken and besides, they weren't the best fit anyway.

Steve barely considered that she was a Guide. He was pretty well caught up with his own. He didn't catch the jealousy either. Tony didn't have any reason to be jealous.

This was a trip down memory lane for sure and Steve paused to take it in, unable to help himself. The pictures on the wall definitely didn't help his mood either. It didn't feel like it was as long ago as it was.

"If you're already in a secret bunker, why hide the elevator?" He asked, walking up to it.

[starkingenuity]

"Why not? Extra security. Redundancy is important," Tony said, feeling as if he knew absolutely everything. That was always the problem with him. He didn't think too much, he just assumed he was always right and that got him into trouble.

Like...oh...now.

"This...is too advanced," he muttered, and he ought to know. "What was my dad--" No. Not his dad. This had none of Stark's flashiness.

[starspangledspandex]

"So this was put here later," he summarized as he eyed the keypad. It made more sense than SHIELD having another underground area. "Can you get this opened?"

[starkingenuity]

Tony gave Steve a look. "I'm going to give you the mandatory option to revoke that question," Tony said, cracking his knuckles as he sat down. Stupid idea. His one arm was still much too injured. That made typing diffcult and, unfortunately, there wasn't a vocal interface so--

It took time. It took too much time. Tony was wearing out, but he did, eventually, manage it.

[starspangledspandex]

Steve shrugged helplessly--how was he supposed to know? He wasn't revoking it either. He was still learning about technology here. His Guide would have to deal with it.

He hovered more while Tony worked, concerned the man was pushing himself and relieved when he was done.

"Are you okay?" He asked as they stepped into the elevator.

[starkingenuity]

"I'm always okay. I'm the world's most handsome cockroach. I'll survive anything and look good while-- Woah."

He had to cut himself off because that was the most amazing thing he had ever seen. The technology was astounding...not because of how advanced it was, but because Tony had never gotten to play with a working relic like this.

He took out his phone to take a selfie with it.

[starspangledspandex]

His forehead creased as he eyed the room and the console, he frowned even as he walked up to it. He heard the snick and gave his Guide a look--really?

Steve twisted to look around them again. This had to be it. Whatever 'it' happened to be. There was a place on the counter for a drive. He did recognize that.

"Do you have that drive?" He asked, pointing to it.

[starkingenuity]

"What?" Sorry/ He'd been in the moment. "Oh, yeah, here..." He pulled the thumb drive from his pocket and plugged it into the spot on the console slowly because--

"This is too old to have a USB drive," he muttered, feeling incredibly uncomfortable as the whirr of the object sprung caused the whole room to spring to life.

He got away from the console immediately, not to flee but to find the main cut off.

[starspangledspandex]

Steve wouldn't know but he would take Tony's word for it. He twisted around again, scanning the room as the lights started to click on and a face appeared on the screen. The camera scanned them both.

"Rogers, Steven, born 1918," the computer said and he knew that voice but that was impossible. He eyed the room again. Wasn't it? Was this some kind of recording? How could that be?