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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[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."

[starspangledspandex]

He didn't find it especially funny either so it was a good thing that it wasn't really much of a joke. Steve could feel Tony calling but for sitting right next to him? It was faint, too quiet, and that worried him. However, he knew other Sentinels might come looking and he would defend what was his. He wasn't letting anyone have his Guide.

"I think that's a good idea," he agreed, forehead still creased and eyes heartbroken. If they couldn't bond... Steve didn't even want to think about it. He heard the stories of Sentinels without Guides. They were horrible. Most of them either got really sick or went insane or both. Some fell so deep into fugues they never came back out.

Steve was fairly certain the serum might drag it out longer but eventually he would succumb. He didn't want that to happen. He didn't want his Guide to watch it happen either.

[starkingenuity]

"JARVIS?"

"On it, sir. I will send a jet for Doctor Banner. May I suggest transporting yourself to a hospital?" The AI's suggestion was a sound one. He could ready Tony's biometrics with hardly a scan and if he was mentioning the need for immediate care, immediate care was what he would get.

He got up slowly. His closet seemed so far away.

"Steve, I'm going to need some help here. Don't let the heroics to to your head."

[starspangledspandex]

The mere suggestion that Tony should go to a hospital was alarming. JARVIS would have never suggested it unless it was necessary and Steve pressed his lips together, standing to step out of the nest.

"No problem," he told the other man, offering his hand to him and he added quietly, "I'm sorry."

[starkingenuity]

None of this was Steve's fault and Tony told him so, sweat dripping down his neck. He needed the help dressing, which would have been utterly humiliating if it was any other person by Steve doing it.

The hospital was close by at least and after a heavy dosing of neutralizers in the air and to his system, Tony felt like he was able to breathe again.

[starspangledspandex]

He helped Tony get dressed carefully and dressed himself quickly, hovering around the man as he gets him down to the car. He drives a little too fast on the way and they're ushered into a private room without hesitation. Steve sits, staying out of the way, while the nurses fuss over the Guide.

Steve doesn't miss the looks that are sent his direction. They're judging him. Questioning him. Wondering what kind of Sentinel he must be and the worst part is they know his face, probably as well as Tony's. He can already hear what the magazines are going to say about this.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, once they were left alone.

[starkingenuity]

"Less like I'm going to explode," Tony said, still shirtless from the exam. He pushed his palm against the reactor and exhaled very slowly. "We have a few hours before our specialist arrives." Not the Bruce was even a fully licensed medical doctor. Tony still trusted him more than most. "We'll get you some Sentinel Viagra, an electromagnetic converter, and try this whole thing again."

Tony was not giving up on this. He could still feel Steve, a full blast of him. He wasn't sure why nothing was working.