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

[starkingenuity]

Oh Tony didn't mind the wooing inwardly though he did have to bust on the Captain every time he brought him flowers or left him a card when he was busy beating out the dents in his suit (or some other piece of metal that had gotten crunched during the attack on New York) and was too busy for lunch. He had never expected to meet a Sentinel he was so compatible with while saving the world, while he was seriously dating someone he loved, or just before they both almost died but science and biology didn't really have rules for that.

He still remembered, almost fondly, how they had been yelling at one another on the bridge of the helicarrier, male posturing and chest thumping one moment, and the next, eyes locked, they both just knew.

In Steve's day, there would be courting, marriage and then bonding. In the twenty-first century there was usually less circumstance. You can't fight biology and compatibility like that and most Guides and Sentinels got to it pretty quickly wherever they could make a nest and the details were hashed out later.

At least this dating thing allowed Tony to break it off cleanly with Pepper. She understood how it was, or said she did, but normals didn't really get it. How could they when there was no feral, biological imperative to find your other half?

So things had been going slow. Tony was pretty much all blue balls all the time but he liked Steve and kept liking him each and every dinner or movie they went to. It was probably strange for Guides these days to like the Sentinels they bond with first but hey, why not be old fashioned for once?

He was in the middle of welding when Steve decided that tonight, on their six month anniversary (JARVIS reminded him that morning) that it was the night. He almost welded his leg in surprise and turned to look fully at the blond.

"Is bond old man speak for bumper bowling or mini golf? Or do you mean actual bonding?"

[starspangledspandex]

He laughed lightly and shook his head, "Actual bonding." Steve shrugged, knowing he didn't need to explain himself, but figured it wouldn't hurt anyway. "I waited seventy years for this. I don't want to keep waiting."

They were both superheroes. Either of them could die at any moment and maybe that was a morbid thought but it was also realistic. He didn't want to go without experiencing the completion of a bond. He didn't think Tony did either, at least not now that he knew someone so compatible existed.

Plus, there was only so much he could fight his instincts.

"If you're not ready, I understand," he backtracked slightly because he didn't want to be pushy. They talked about this but that was another thing entirely to actually committing to it. He was pretty sure the Guide wouldn't have an issue with it. "But it will be easier to keep me even and clear headed that way."

[starkingenuity]

"Wait." Tony removed his thick leather gloves and pinched his eyebrows together. "This isn't a business meeting, okay? We aren't going to discuss statistic or probabilities and I would blow you out of the water anyway and have to keep doubling back to explain everything." He teased because he cared. He also teased when he didn't care but that wasn't the case right now.

He put his gloves down. He removed his apron and his protective eye wear.

He turned.

"For the record, JARVIS, put this on the record, I wanted to do this after Thor went home and Banner headed back to private practice in Mumbai and you started commuting to DC for the work week." He had been willing to bare his neck before the glass had been picked out of his back from Loki's tantrum in the tower. "So don't keep waiting on account of me. And don't make this a competition. I've been waiting a lot longer than you, Sleeping Beauty!"

[starspangledspandex]

His eyes were warm as he watched Tony and he huffed out a short laugh. Steve didn't mean that to be as cold as it sounded and he was sure Tony knew it. They were both ready, well past it actually and Steve said brightly, "Well then, for the record, I want to bond tonight."

He tilted his head, questioningly, "Is that enough time for a nest?"

[starkingenuity]

"Yep. Maybe. Probably. Are we ordering in?"

Tony didn't need to watch Youtube how-tos on nest construction. He could feel how he wanted it and he'd been planning it in the back of his mind for months now. He already had the blankets he would be shredding and the pillows that would be good on his back and knees-- Blue balls, Captain. Steve had no idea how difficult it had been for Tony to be celibate. He hadn't even touched himself--

--err. Too often at least. He was still human after all.

"Or are we doing this fancy with dinner first out?"

[starspangledspandex]

Considering this was spur of the moment decision making, Steve didn't really have a plan. He shrugged, oh so helpful, and said,"I don't know. Do you want to go somewhere?"

[starkingenuity]

Tony very slowly cocked his head to the left, both eyebrows furrowing. "Go and get that pizza we like from Brooklyn. Should keep you occupied long enough for me to get started."

He was right in the middle of a project but the way he suddenly felt the need to rush upstairs and get to work probably indicated how much he really did not want to prolong this. He was excited.

A hand to Steve's chest and Tony leaned in to press his mouth to the blond's. "Oh! Get tacos too. For the fridge. I have a feeling tonight might take a few days."

And off he went, those annoyingly amazing hips swaying as he did.

[starspangledspandex]

He nodded, agreeing with that idea completely and it would definitely keep him occupied. He leaned into the man and returned the kiss, blue eyes bright.

"Pizza and tacos, got it," Steve said, watching Tony's hips sway as he left. If the man needed anything else, he was sure he would text him. He wanted to leave and get back quickly as well. He took a car because he wasn't carrying a pizza on his bike and called ahead to order it so it would be waiting on him.

He dutifully stopped to get tacos as well before he headed back to the house. "Jarvis, tell him dinner is here," Steve told the AI as he moved into the kitchen.

[starkingenuity]

"Mister Stark has requested that you bring one pepperoni into the bedroom and put the rest in the refrigerator," JARVIS piped up on response to Steve's statement. There was little in the AI's voice to give away what Tony had been planning but there didn't have to be either.

A trail of rose petals would guide the way. See, Tony could be romantic too. There were two glasses of champagne as well on the hall table by the bedroom.

Tony had spent the last two hours that it took for Steve to fight New York traffic weaving together their nest in the center of the room, the blankets and pillows coiled expertly, soft leaves and more flowers woven in together. It was less romantic and more a natural inclination for a Guide to nest with organic materials.

Tony stood, wearing a silk robe, and looked over the blue jeans and white tshirted man carrying the pizza in.

He'd seen a porno start like this once.

[starspangledspandex]

"Thank you JARVIS," Steve said with a small smile and he did just that. He raised an eyebrow at the petals, surprised and endeared that the Guide--his Guide--would go to these lengths to make this actually romantic. He picked up the glasses with champagne carefully in his free hand and stepped into the room with the pizza.

His eyes scanned the nest, then shifted to Tony, approving of both. "Now I feel overdressed," he teased, setting the pizza and champagne down. "This looks wonderful," he added, because it seemed right to compliment the man, not that he needed a bigger ego than he already had.

[starkingenuity]

"That's because you are overdressed," Tony said, stepping out of the nest and standing just at the high lip. He wanted his Sentinel to be the one to put him back there... But pizza first. Okay, it wasn't that romantic but it just smelled so good... Tony pressed in close, champagne in one hand and a grin on his face. "Maybe it's good that we waited so I didn't have to make a nest out of a pile of coats."

He was extremely proud of what he'd done. He might have even had JARVIS take some pictures. He might have instagrammed them too. Pride was one of his weaknesses!

[starspangledspandex]

Pizza could be romantic. It just depended on the context. He was pretty sure being in a hurry to get to the fun parts didn't quite count. He smiled and nodded, "This is better. I know it was hard to wait. I wanted... I wanted to do this right."

He flipped open the lid to reveal the pizza. Steve didn't exactly keep up with instagram so he hadn't seen the pictures. Broadcasting it all over social media would not be his first choice for announcing their bonding but he wasn't going to be upset about it either.

"Eat up," he told him, offering the man a piece of pizza. Steve would fix his being overdressed problem as soon as they were finished.

[starkingenuity]

You didn't have to tell Tony Stark twice. Champagne in one hand, pizza in the other, he had a really very delightful dinner standing up and giving eyes to the Sentinel. He could feel his pupils dilating and it had nothing to do with how delicious the meal was. Every bite was getting them closer to being naked and...

Tony actually paused for a moment and, chin lowered, lifted his eyes up towards the blond.

"I can't believe that I'm going to say this, but just in case the heat of the moment turns you into the top... I err... I've never done it that way."

Imagine that. Tony was actually unfamiliar with something!

[starspangledspandex]

Steve was more than happy to give Tony eyes back and he was pretty sure he was the one on the good end of this considering the older man wasn't dressed under his robe.

He quirked an eyebrow at the Guide and frowned slightly, "I haven't either." Of course, his experiences were likely few and far between compared to Tony's, but honesty was always the best bet right? "I think we'll be alright though, I don't think my instincts would let me hurt you."

[starkingenuity]

"I know." Tony grinned and tossed the rest of his crust back into the box. He took a long drink from the glass and tossed the rest. DUM-E would clean it up later.

He wrapped his arms around Steve's neck and leaned back so that their hips collided.

"So with all of that out of the way, kiss me. Quickly."

[starspangledspandex]

Eating this quickly wasn't terribly romantic. He was glad that they didn't go out. Knowing what was happening later would have just made them rush anyway.

He ate his fair share of pizza quickly and drank the champagne, though it didn't do anything for him. It was!more about the spectacle and tradition of it anyway. He put his glass down and moved his hands to Tony's hips, smiling at the man pressed up against him.

Some pairs could have gotten away with sex without a bond but Steve knew that neither of them would have been able to wait. They would have done it accidentally. Both of them were prepared this way.

He smiled and did as the older man asked, fingers sliding along the silk of the robe. Steve kissed him deeply, pulling back only so they both could breathe.

[starkingenuity]

Lips wet, Tony only dared to open his eyes after a moment of cool air against his face. He'd never once been afraid of falling, not with Steve to catch him. And he'd never been afraid of heights either. This was a rush, plain and simple. This was a rush and it was amazing.

Now they'd kissed before. There had been times when Tony crawled into Steve's lap or encouraged the larger man to straddle his own. They had done some heavy petting, but Steve was ever the gentleman. He still kept his own apartment in Brooklyn. He never spent the night though sometimes they napped in the afternoon. It was always good. Always sweet.

This was still the best kiss Tony had ever had. It promised more than jerking off in the shower alone.

And yet it was still so sweet and still so tender. Steve Rogers was still courting him even now.

He didn't make any wise cracks after that, just waited to be carried into their nest so that Steve could undress them both and figure out who went inside of whom so that he could present his neck.

[starspangledspandex]

This was wonderful. He never thought he would find his Guide this far from his own time. It really amazed him that fate and destiny tied things all together like this. Everything was perfect.

Steve nudged him far enough back that he could strip his shirt off over his head. He was still a little modest but it wore off quickly. Steve knew he looked good but it still took a few seconds to remember it.

His pants were discarded on the way too. He also stripped the older man of his robe. They were both almost naked when he scooped him up and deposited Tony properly in the nest. His instincts were surging now and he was again thankful they waited.

He never would have been able to hold back. He growled slightly and crawled over top of Tony. Steve looked a little apologetic but he couldn't help it. Instinct was instinct, right?

"Everything in reach?" He asked, because once this got properly started, it was going to be hard to hit pause.

[starkingenuity]

It felt so very right so Steve didn't have to apologize. "Everything's in reach," Tony whispered, proving it by pulling lube out from under one of the many pillows. He had a lot of it stashed around. Just in case.

Tony took charge and did the honors, not that Steve needed any fluffing. The Sentinel was so hard that if Tony wasn't on the verge of bonding heat, he might have actually been nervous about it. A furtive kiss followed as he prepared his lover, his soon to be bondmate.

They were ready, the steady blue beam of light in the center of his chest seemed to throb in anticipation and Tony threw his arms over his head with his eyes locked on Steve.

His body was set and spread open. And slowly, slowly he lifted his chin.

[starspangledspandex]

"Good," he murmured, taking the bottle from the man's hand and he kissed him while he stretched him open. He groaned against Tony's lips when the man strokes him, happy and content and so very ready for this to finally happen.

The Sentinel's blue eyes watched his Guide and he smiled as he slid into him, a small groan escaping his lips. He didn't waste any time leaning down to bite and claim his Guide. How could he? Tony was perfect for him. Absolutely.

[starkingenuity]

Neither thing hurt, though both were uncomfortable. Tony whined, thighs flexing and fingertips pressing into the backs of shoulders he shifted his hips to get comfortable and tilted his head further back to accommodate the Captain's head.

He could feel the surge of hormones, the sudden heat and the tug of it, but he could feel Steve. Tony closed his eyes, the pleasure never coming. He could feel Steve's heart because of the muscle pressed to the hilt inside of him but he could not feel it in his veins.

It took another moment before the Guide knew something was wrong.

The heat kept building. He was roasting. There was no relief. No bond. No connection. Why?

They were so obviously compatible!

The heat became pain as Tony had no way to ease up on that flash of hormones. It wouldn't kill him but it did hurt enough for him to cry out. "Stop! It's not working!"

[starspangledspandex]

Steve was confused first because he knew the bite should have done more for him. His hips moved once or twice but the movement was less instinct and more just an attempt to kickstart it.

The Sentinel's response was less hormones and more a reaction to the bond that was supposed to already be forming. He knew something was wrong before Tony even said it. He could feel the heat of the other man and it was uncomfortable, even for him.

He didn't understand. Why? They even ran the numbers, just for form and they couldn't possibly be better. It was the pain in Tony's voice that made him move, pulling back with his forehead creased and horribly upset.

Not only did the bond not work, he had hurt his Guide and he gave Tony an almost panicked look, this wasn't supposed to be happening, "I... I don't know what to do."

[starkingenuity]

Slow, deep breaths served to reduce the pain until it was a whimper and the hormones that had been racing through his system flushed themselves out as he managed to slowly sit up.

"First time jitters..?" But he knew it wasn't. He couldn't forge the bond inside of his Sentinel and he was terribly afraid that it was his fault. His hand pressed against the blue glow of the arc reactor and he tried not to weep.

It wasn't taking. He had entirely too many emotions right now and all of them said that he was a failure. The tears were just as hot as his skin.

It never occurred to him that the issue might be Steve. That the serum to make him resistant to needing a Guide and to zoning might stop him from accepting a bond.

[starspangledspandex]

The Sentinel wasn't taking this any better than Tony. He didn't understand. They were compatible. They were definitely getting along. They did everything right. He clung to Tony a little as the man sat up, shaking his head and reaching up with shaking hands to brush his thumbs along the older man's cheekbones.

"I don't... I don't know," Steve murmured. "I don't think so. I want this." He would go so far as to say he needed it whether he was supposed to be resistant to the idea or not. He tried to rack his brain, tried to reason out what might be wrong and really couldn't come up with anything.

However, he was the one that was modified here. He was a super Sentinel. Surely they would have mentioned... but no, even Erskine wasn't completely sure what the side effects would be or if it would even take. He was fairly certain that Tony reacted properly.

"I... should get some tests done," he said finally, quiet as he eyed the Guide. "They never really understood the serum or what it would do."

[starkingenuity]

The serum.

Then it wasn't his damaged heart. Or the palladium poisoning. Then again, he was still recovering from that. "It could be a combination-- I've been sort of terrible to my body. It's constantly surprised that my liver hasn't shut down," he joked without really feeling like he was joking at all. His whole body was still trembling.

He was still in heat. His body was crying out for that joining. He was fairly sure that every Sentinel in a hundred miles would know but he couldn't keep himself calm.

"I think.. I think I should get Banner."