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.

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[starspangledspandex]

His forehead creased, all the pain he caused this man and his former Guide. Why did anyone want him? He wasn't sure he was worth the mess that he left in his wake. He really didn't know where to go from here. He never wanted Tony to let him go. He knew that much.

It felt awkward, somehow, to ask after his former Guide but they were friends. He cared about him. He needed to know. "Is the--Bucky," he corrected. "Is he okay?"

[starkingenuity]

"You'll have to let me go if you want me to find out," Tony said, ruffling up the blond's hair before he kissed the underside of his chin. He didn't really want to get up because he felt that connection again, the potential for connection, at least. The compatibility that they had was enormous now, so much more than the first time they had locked eyes--

The therapy had helped, Tony hoped, because he could almost feel heat coming over him.

[starspangledspandex]

"I... alright," Steve murmured quietly. He wasn't completely centered but he would probably be okay if Tony left him for a little bit. He is glad, at least, that he doesn't have to worry about Bucky hurting if they kiss and touch now. Steve is as drawn to the older man as he's ever been and after another moment of hesitation, he lets him go so he can get up.

[starkingenuity]

The sweat left behind more of Tony's scent but the man himself managed to get to the door to press the intercom button. "How is James Barnes?" he asked and the reply came back at once that he was doing well.

"Agent Romanoff is in with him. He's behaving as we thought, like a Sentinel."

[starspangledspandex]

Steve rolled over on the bed, though he didn't make any move to sit up, and listened for the response. It was a relief to hear the answer. He wasn't responsible for killing the man that helped him through the last six months and considerably more before they even knew what their lives had in store for them. He expected that Bucky wouldn't want anything to do with him now but there was nothing he could do about it.

Luckily, he seemed to trust Romanoff as a Guide and that was good. He wondered, briefly, if part of his attraction to Tony was that he was properly a Guide. He might have a little Sentinel now, just for the bond, but he and Bucky were both Sentinels. Surely that wasn't a good thing? He didn't ask because it didn't matter. They were separated now.

"Good," Steve said, eyeing Tony. He could smell him and even better than normal. It smelled like heat. He licked his lips and asked, "Are you okay?"

[starkingenuity]

Was he okay? Tony paused and then slunk back to the bed so that he could rejoin Steve. "I'm better now," he said, which probably sounded harsh but... There was no other Guide bonded to his Sentinel. Steve would be his again one day.

He slipped his fingers into the bit of blond at his ears and gave a little tug.

His throat felt so very dry.

"I just want you to rest now. I'll tell you more stories about us after." If he could keep himself calm and steady. He did this for two years without calling into bonding heat. He could do it again.

[starspangledspandex]

He wasn't the best judge of what could be considered harsh. Steve could understand that Tony waited a long time to bond with him and then he was ripped away from him. He suffered because of it so yeah, it made sense.

When the man joined him, he curled around him again. He couldn't help himself. This was his Guide in all but act at this point.

Steve nodded, blue eyes closing, "I am tired. Stay here?"

[starkingenuity]

"I won't go anywhere," Tony whispered, pressing his face against the curve of Steve's neck. His fingers clutched and clung, his muscles were still tightened but he forced them to relax with a few deep breaths. It was going to be a better day tomorrow.

He could just feel it.

Even if he was twitchy and unable to relax. That would be the side effects Banner talked about. Well, he hadn't had any choice. And his body would regulate. Soon. Ish.

[starspangledspandex]

"Good," he mumbled, already half-asleep and it didn't take him long to fall asleep the rest of the way. He wouldn't stir even when Tony shifted restlessly. It had been too long since he's slept this comfortably even if with the dreams that were his mind trying to fix his memory.

Steve drifted awake slowly and to Tony in his arms. He made a contented, happy sound at the scent of his Guide so close and half-awake as he was, his mind was relatively clear. He was more Steve Rogers than the Captain and with his eyes still closed, he nuzzled the man's chin, then neck.

There was a reason they didn't spend the night in the same bed before this mess. Tony smelled too good for the Sentinel to keep his hands to himself.

[starkingenuity]

And Tony was a sexual being. He wasn't use to not having someone touch him... But it had been two years and seven months since he and Steve had met and committed to each other. There had been a single bonding heat to form a one sided bond and produce a hospital stay, but that wasn't right. It hadn't been what they needed or who they even were.

And so, Tony was greedy for this. He shifted willingly in his sleep towards Steve and pressed even more willingly against him when lips moved against his throat.

He did not take long after that to wake fully and by then...well, if the Captain thought it best to stop, he would have to do it because Tony simply could not bear to.

[starspangledspandex]

This was definitely something he knew. He knew how to renew a bond and how to form it. Those were the few things that Hydra let him keep. Instinct would always win in the Sentinel's case. It was winning now too.

Steve rolled Tony onto his back and straddled him, nipping and nosing at the parts of the man's skin that he could see. He was more awake now but that didn't change his mind.

He wanted his Guide before something else went wrong. However, he remembered the picture Tony showed him of the best they were supposed to use. It made him pause and look around.

"I have nothing to build a nest."