“I fainted during the dissection in biology class and you’re the one who caught me oh hello~”
college au where is the obligatory 10-chapter college au every ship has to have one
“I fell asleep on your shoulder because I was at work for 18 hours straight and you were too polite to move me”
WINGS AU where is our wings au?!
“I’m a big Disney fan and starting crying on the plane because Lion King was playing on the mini TV and it got to the part where Mufasa died and you’re in the seat beside me”
coffee shop au!!!
flower shop au!!!
concert au where Stephen takes Wong to a Beyoncé concert and Tony is there because Peter dragged him along
Hello! Tobias here. Hey, so, I decided to write a fic for @doobler . I am not taking credits for creating Levi or Eye, as they created the two beautiful characters. It’s a short lil soft one-shot w/ Levi, Eye, and IronStrange. You can also find it on my wattpad, which you can find here: x (the story here is under the read more (if it works)) there is no bad stuff in it, really (besides some smutty references) but if you want me to put warnings, please tell me! (p.s i can’t write but,,,,) here’s the link to doobler’s tumblr too, just in case the tag doesn’t work!: x
Levi sighed as he gently reached out and touched Eye's hair. His eye opened and he glared at Levi, but Levi didn't notice. Eye was laying down, head on a pillow that Levi had moved to be on his lap. He sighed again.
"Can you shut up? I'm trying to sleep here," Eye hissed, pulling his little mouth-mask up higher. Levi began to stroke Eye's hair again. "Stop touching me, Levi, or I will stab you."
"Can you believe it, though? Stephen and Tony? Goodness gracious, I might go into fake cardiac arrest, they're so cute together! I love them so hecking much. Don't you?" Levi pulled their hand back and smiled down at Eye. "Also, what do you have to stab me with?"
"I'm lying on a knife," Eye responded simply.
"What -" Levi begun, "What are you doing!? That's dangerous!"
"I could kill you right now," Eye threatened again, yawning, "now, please, go disrupt them and let me sleep." Sighing, Levi decided they'd best just let the Eye rest. They stood, carefully putting a stuffed animal under the pillow so it wouldn't be lower now that Levi left.
Stephen and Tony were both at the dining table, their chairs pulled closer together. Tony took a sip of his coffee and Stephen looked at him, tired eyes shining. Tony nearly jumped when Levi knocked on the wall - harder then they meant to, but to be fair, they hadn't been in their 'human form' for a while. "Hey, Levi," Tony greeted them, putting his cup of coffee down softly. Stephen licked his thumb and licked off the coffee that spilt on Tony's face when he'd jumped.
"Hello! How are you guys this morning?" Levi asked cheerfully, taking a chair and sitting on it backwards. He scooted closer, the chair scratching on the floor. They distantly heard Eye scoff again.
"We're doing well, Levi," Stephen said, smiling. Levi scooted even closer, head on the back of the chair, smiling.
When they got close enough, they ran a hand through Stephen's hair and touched his nose. They reached for Tony's nose too, making him have to lean in for a boop. And even though Tony and Stephen rolled their eyes, they loved Levi. Even if they always had to have some sort of physical contact.
Speaking of physical contact, Levi stood up from the chair and gently pushed it in before lying down on the couple's legs. They had to adjust a few times and was worried whenever someone groaned. "Are you bruised? Bleeding? Anything? I can sit in my chair." Levi said apologetically.
"No," they both said. "We're just... tired." Tony finished, looking at Stephen and winking. Stephen bit his lip.
"Levi, you're almost weightless. You can't hurt us," Stephen said, deliberately not elaborating on why they were tired. Tony stuck the tip of his tongue out and Stephen, trying to act like the adult of this insane family, ignored him.
"So you're only making a fuss because you... how do I put this without ruining the poor, innocent, edgy child in the living room?" Levi said, pausing. He was referring to Eye, even though he was... well, he was really, really old. But he did tend to act like a teenager. One with better morals, but still. "Because you were doing the whoo-hoo a little ferociously last night? By how loud you guys are, I'm surprised neither of you are deaf yet. I'd probably be if I were an actual human."
Stephen pinched his nose and Tony started obnoxiously laughing, face turning red. Stephen grabbed Tony's hand and sighed. "Am I incorrect?" Levi asked, laughing along.
"No, Levi," Stephen said, putting and hand on Levi's shoulder.
It was moments like these Levi loved. Moments where his boys were laughing. Where nothing was going wrong - there was no aliens, no blood, no mysteries, just love.
Hey! You can go find me at https://my.w.tt/aYXDtqIb4M ! My username is domestic_avenging and I take requests for one shots! I’m also writing a roommate au of some stony with some ironstrange! (I will also post some unrelated one shots (Ocs, ncis, Sherlock, etc).
Okay so uhhh @doobler I freaking love ur eye Stephen au thing and uhhhh Hi my name is I’m not good at art and I drew this on my phone in 3 hours and my dumbass thought it’d be a good idea to draw tired (not a good idea, i was and still am confused) and so!! Yay!! I got off my ass and actually drew it! If sucks but that’s okay!! (This art belongs to me. You may use it with credit and go ahead and reblog it, but no reposting. Character design belongs mostly to doobler. I did have to tweak the hair because I suck. Thank you.)
John wasn’t sure how it happened. Only that it happened.
When he woke up, someone was staring down at him. “Sherlock?” John asked softly, rubbing his head.
“Hello. I am Dr. Stephen Strange. Who is Sherlock?” The man said, perplexed.
“Sherlock, don’t play this game with me -” John started, sighing, on the path of getting angry. “I know it’s you, goddamnit.”
“John, it’s not me, for I am me. That really is ‘strange,’ or whatever his real name is” Sherlock said snappily, walking out from the shadows. “We’re in a different universe or something. Can you not feel the difference?”
“No, Sherlock, I can’t! What the hell is going on here?” John replied sourly, sitting up. Stephen eyed both of them.
Sherlock paused. “I don’t know yet, John, be patient, despite contrary belief, I’ve never travelled into another dimention!” Sherlock snapped. He always got angry when he didn’t have an answer. Especially when it was an answer John wanted. He hated letting John down.
“Oh, shut up,” Stephen said, eyeing John.
“Hey! He’s mine,” Sherlock hissed, pushing Sthephen slightly so he stepped away fro John.
“Can you walk?” Sherlock asked gently.
“Yeah, I think so, but Sherlock, why the hell are there two of you! Where the hell are we!? Oh, bloody hell,” John said, rubbing his head. Sherlock steadied him as he stood up, resting a hand on his shouder. John shifted away from it. "I want answers, damnit!"
"You're not... in London," Stephen said, his tone softer, more sympathetic now.
"Really? Is that all you got?" Sherlock snarled.
"Oh, yeah? What have you got then, smartass?" Stephen replied sharply.
"I know that you have some sort of magical power. I know that you were in a car accident that damaged your hands. I know that you're full of yourself, but not rich, as many of the snobby people are -" Sherlock started rambling.
"You're snobby and we sure as hell aren't rich -" John muttered.
"and I also know that you know what the hell is happening! So, please, your fucking majesty, withhold this information for longer!" Sherlock finished, throwing his hands down on the desk next to the bed John was lying on. It almost made Stephen flinch.
"I am the Sorcerer Supreme, and I will not allow you to be such an asshole!" Stephen said.
"Sorcerer Supreme? What are you, three?" Sherlock said ferociously.
"Alright, I'm sick of you. Out. Now." Stephen said, balling his fists.
"I don't think so, asshat," Sherlock responded. John really thought they should go.
John blinked and felt someone push him. He fell to the ground and when he opened his eyes, he saw that they were on a small island of some sort. "What the f -?"
"Bye!" Stephen said with sarcastic happiness, walking into a magical ring of fire or whatever it was.
sweetheart, do you have any idea what a loaded question this is?? there are….so many…….so many different things i love in fics……also some are like?? specific to the universe im reading about. i literally have things categorized in my head.
i will say that i love non powered aus with my absolute whole heckin gotdamn soul. they’re so good and soft (most of the time). give me that sweet, sweet coffee shop au. hand me that newly broke!tony au. shoot me that actors au. toss me all them mechanic!tony artist!steve aus. pay me in math/chemistry teacher!tony and art/history teacher!steve aus. slide over some childhood best friends aus. let me kick back with some dad!tony nanny!steve aus. gift me some rock star!tony songwriter!steve aus.
and above all else……the aus that bring me sheer unadulterated happiness…..high school aus. oh my god school aus are my literal lifeblood. high school aus are my favourites but i will also take college aus. gimme some
nerd!tony jock!steve
some badboy!tony artist!steve
some new kid!tony immediate best friend!steve
some robotics club!tony rebel!steve
some drama club stevetony for whatever reason
some childhood friends who are just now realizing crushes are thing and they have one on each other stevetony
some chemistry/english/whatever the fuck class partners for a project stevetony where they can’t fucking stand each other.
in fact bodyslam me with all them beautiful school aus where tony and steve hate each other’s guts but then become attached at the fucking hip
suplex me with those fics where one of them has been highkey crushing on the other from afar but either a) denies it with some dumb, transparent ass excuse or b) has only ever told bucky & sam/rhodey & pepper and then gets teased mercilessly bc that is what best friends are absolutely for
punch me in the face with those steve is failing math or science and tony tutors him fics
twist my body into a fucking pretzel with those fics where steve and tony have been roasting and pranking each other since freshman year bc they hate each other except not really, they actually have monumental crushes on each other and??? don’t know what else to do bc they’re DUMB
snap my neck with those fics where one of them is planning to ask the other to homecoming or prom bc of stupid crushes that are bigger than justin hammer’s ego
behead me with those college fics where steve and tony are dorming and live across the hall from each other
crack snapple pop my fucking spine with the fics where they’ve been hardcore crushing on each other since high school and now they’re at college and that literally has not changed at all, its only gotten worse
pour gasoline on my heart and toss a fucking match on it with all them damn high school/college aus, let’s light this homosensual bonfire, bitches.
[soft italian weeping] i just really fucking love aus ok
Hello all! Here’s chapter five of Recovery - A Stony fic!
Warnings: Angst
link to it on wattpad: x
more under the read more
Tony closed his eyes, expecting to hit the ground at any second.
And then someone yanked him upwards. The wind knocked out of him, Tony couldn't process anything. Fear pulsed through his veins and his head buzzed with pain and racing thoughts. He then was on the floor. It was cold. He curled up, groaning in pain. Gently rubbing his head, he attempted to open his eyes, only to see Clint with a knife pressing against Loki's throat, Steve watching Tony carefully, and Thor threatening his brother.
Tony groaned and turned over, away from Steve and the others.
The fall.
Memories from New York came flooding back. Tony wanted to scream and rip himself apart, but he was too weak and too shaky to do so, so he just started shaking on the floor, groaning quietly. Steve's soft arms wrapped around Tony as Steve pulled Tony's head carefully into his lap. "Shhhh," Steve whispered, "it's okay, Tony." Tony tried to snap himself out of this.
He forced himself upright, pushing away Steve's arms and ignoring the burning pains spreading throughout his entire body. His head pounded. "I'm fine," He hissed, but he was unbalanced on his feet.
"Brother, I told you not to kill any of my friends!" Thor yelled at Loki, who was stuck in a corner with Clint's knife against his neck. Loki shrugged and chuckled.
"Surely that one cannot be your friend?" Loki said, pointing at Tony, "He's weak, immature, and self-centred. And an idiot. Sure," Loki leaned forward, the knife pressing gently into his neck, "he may think he's so clever with all of these toys he made up, but that'll never account for how stupid and careless he is."
Tony took a step backwards. He's told himself the same thing, but now someone was openly stating it and his friends were hearing it. He took a shaky breath. Not here. Not now. He was fine. And if he wasn't, well, back to faking it. Steve took a step towards Tony, reaching his hand out. Straightening his back, Tony put on a sarcastic smile. "Ah, yes, I'm terribly offended by your opinion. I don't even take my friends' opinions into consideration - why would I take yours?" He said sharply. Ah, good. He sounded like Tony Stark again. Finally.
"Because you know I'm right," Loki hissed before Thor hit him hard.
"Loki, how dare you speak of my friends like that? They are all good people, Stark especially. He has the courage to stand up to fools like you!" Loki staggered and Clint pulled the knife away and held it tightly as if he might stab everyone at any second.
Tony felt shivers run down his spine. Right now, without his armour and a weakened body, anyone could take him out. Clint could stab Loki and Thor before anyone blinked and could take down Steve too.
Stabbing Tony would be so easy. But Clint wouldn't do that. Clint was a trained assassin and could give Nat a run for her money, sure, but he was also a dorky family man who cried at Disney movies and dogs. He tried to avoid murder as much as possible these days.
"Yes, Loki," Tony said sourly, "I may be narcissistic and foolish and impulsive, but I'm not the one attacked with a group of alien robots." Tony paused and raised his arms, "I own all of this. I do have a few little toys, though, which I'm sure you'd like to meet."
Loki raised his eyebrows. "You had nothing to save you from," the smirk on his face grew, "the fall."
Tony bit his tongue so hard he could taste metallic blood in his mouth. He raised his head some more, panic running through his body. He wanted to shut down. To sit down and give up and weep. But he couldn't.
He was Tony Stark.
"You're wrong," Tony said, pointing at Thor, "I have friends. What do you have? Nothing but spite and some weak bad guys who'll follow you around." Clint smiled at Tony. It was nice for everyone to see Tony being his sarcastic self.
Instead of a weak, poor, silent ass who could barely move.
Tony had to give credit to the doctor - who he had suspicions about who she could be - because if it weren't for her, his healing process would have been slowed up greatly - he may even be unconscious with broken bones in a hospital if she wasn't there to fix him up.
Tony didn't even know what had been broken or torn. Pepper wouldn't let him read it.
Pepper.
Tony's heart ached. Yes, sure, he might have been in love with both her and Steve while dating, but he did genuinely care for her and if they'd stayed together Tony would have stayed far away from Steve.
But it didn't matter. Pepper didn't want to be with Tony.
But Steve did.
Loki simply laughed. Thor picked him up by the neck. "I'll be punishing him," He said grimly, "I apologize. I thought he'd behave." Thor dragged Loki out and then with a crash of thunder, the two disappeared into the cloudy sky.
Tony rubbed his collarbone. "Well, wasn't that fun and predictable?" He said, walking over to the kitchen and sitting down on one of the bar stools. Sighing, he scanned Clint and Steve's faces.
"I'm sorry, Tony," Steve started, "he's wrong. You're so great, Tony."
Tony scoffed. "Hardly." He replied. "Steve, I'm famous. I get criticism often. It doesn't bother me. What I've learned is that you ignore the hate unless it's too bad. Then you sue that person. It's not very difficult." He explained easily. It did affect him. Every piece of hate. It made him re-think everything.
Now, he usually just had FRIDAY delete all of it. That was simpler.
"Tony, you are pretty good," Clint said, poking his finger on his arrow, "you keep us all together. And make us look cool. And pay for everything."
"I'm tired," Tony said, rubbing his eyes. Sleep did indeed sound good. Temporary death. And with that, Tony swept out of the room and into his bedroom, where he fell asleep before waking up and staring at the wall until morning.
---- next day ----
It was morning. Tony was awake. He'd been awake most of the night, sitting in his room, staring at the wall. Reviewing his regrets. Trying to figure out his feelings.
It was weird that he'd been in love with both Pepper and Steve. That was weird. It kind of made him feel like a cheating bastard. Seventeen years ago, Tony would have been fine with that. But not with Pepper. He took a deep breath. Why did he love Steve? Well, Steve was.... perfect. Kind. Strong. Just... Steve.
Why did Pepper leave him? Did she use her new job as an excuse? Tony didn't blame her. If he were her, he wouldn't want to date him either. Pepper could have just told him she didn't love him. Yes, he'd be heartbroken. But he's heartbroken now, too, right? He shook his head.
"Time, Friday?" Tony asked the room, sitting up straight and stretching.
"Seven o'clock, sir. It is also April Fools day. And Easter. I see we have no plans this year." Friday informed him. Tony sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Ah, yes. Easter. April Fools.
"Any pranks I should know about?" Tony asked.
Friday hesitated, goddamnit. "No, sir."
Sighing, Tony stood up. He was starting to feel more steady - but the lack of sleep caused a headache almost instantly. He winced and rubbed his head before walking out of the bedroom.
A sense of unease overcame him. Clint's face was on everything. "What in the fuck..." Tony whispered, picking up one that fell to the ground. It was badly photoshopped and was a weak picture of Clint sticking out his tongue and winking. He turned it over, wherein cursive purple sharpie, it read 'top or bottom?' "God, Clint, if you weren't my friend I would have stabbed you," he added, looking at it fondly. Clint's cursive sucked.
"Heya," Clint said, walking out. Only, taped to his face was a picture of Tony. Laughing, Tony sat down, shaking his head. Clint came over to him, dressed in very tight pants (which, naturally, were neon lilac) and a blazer - no shirt on underneath.
"Dear god, Clint," Tony said. Clint picked up a pair of Tony's tinted glasses from the coffee table and put it on over the picture. He put his hand up to the picture and pretended to blow kisses to Tony. "That's such a bad picture of me, too, god - wow."
Tony looked up at Steve, who was wearing another pair of Tony's glasses and a graphic T-shirt, complete with a black blazer and black dress pants. The top of Steve's hair was also dusted dark brown - from makeup or something, Tony guessed. He looked... stunning. Absolutely stunning.
Natasha came out next, wearing all black, half her face painted to look like the Iron Man helmet and repulsers drawn on her palms. Clint whistled at her as she posed, pointing her hands at Clint. She made a whistling noise, and when she ceased to whistle, Clint pretended to get hit and flew backwards. He quickly fixed the picture as it moved on his face.
Thor flew out, fabulous facial hair drawn in his own facial hair with a black sharpie. He was also wearing a cardboard sign taped to his chest that said 'Tony Stark.' Bruce followed him, wearing a 'Stark Industries' shirt and colourful glasses, along with his curly grey hair slicked back. Vision had tiny pictures of Tony's face taped along his whole body, and Wanda had 'Stark' written on her cheek. Rhodey came out, actually wearing Tony's suit. Sam followed, wearing an old iron man helmet.
Tony clapped. Clint unbuttoned the blazer and Tony put his hand over his eyes, "Clint, no one wants to see your pathetic abs, no offence." Clint made an offended noise and swatted Tony's hand away from his face. Turns out, in the time Tony had covered his eyes to when he uncovered them, Clint had managed to draw angry eyebrows on the picture. Tony laughed again, eyes wandering to Steve, who was leaning against the wall, smiling warmly.
Tony ripped the picture off of Clint's face which had sharpie all over it. He had 'Tony' on one cheek, 'Stark' on the other, Sharpie-made facial hair, and 'billionaire playboy' written on his forehead. "Clint-" Tony paused, raising his eyebrows, "-what even are you?"
"Billionaire playboy," Clint said. A few moments later, he added, "I wish."
"Question. Does this come off?" Thor interrupted, stroking his beard, mixing the blonde facial hair with the black sharpie. "I wish to show my friends back home. I believe they'll enjoy this. Plus, today is your... E-a-ster. I don't mean to intrude."
"No, no, don't worry. Easter isn't something people can ruin." Steve said quickly, putting a hand on Thor's arm, smiling. "Easter is fun. The Sharpie on your face should last a while, after all. You'll get candy today. Lots of it."
"Alright," Thor said, grinning, "I shall join you."
"Great. Friday, show me places we can go." Tony said, flicking his wrist. A screen popped up in front of them with lists of places charities were holding egg hunts. "That one," Tony said, pointing to one entitled 'The Northfolk Easter Egg Shenanigans'.
"Sir, this one is being held at a facility entitled 'Northfolk Charity for Cancer Research and Children's Hospitals'. It donates all money to research for cancer and other terminal illnesses and regularly donates to children's hospitals and schools around the world. I've sent a message asking them for permission to join them." Friday replied without missing a beat. "They replied that you and the Avengers were gladly welcomed as Easter is a day no one should miss out on, and the children there cannot wait to meet their favourite heroes and role models."
Steve smiled. "Tony Stark spends his Easters as charity events?" He said, eyebrows raised, cheeks a little pink as he adjusted the glasses. He walked so he was standing behind the couch where Tony was sitting.
"I secretly enjoy seeing children think I'm incredible because the adults either want my money, my body or want to kill me," Tony said simply, closing his eyes and motioning with his head to his body, "or are you guys, which is probably an unhealthy mix of all three."
He opened his eyes to hear his friends laughing and Steve's eyes sparkling. "I never knew you did this," Steve said, putting a hand on Tony's shoulder, "you always looked like the type of person who stayed home on Easter." He slipped off the glasses and slid them on Tony's face gently.
Tony adjusted them so they fit correctly on his face and looked up at Steve, touching his hand for a second before he realized the rest of the team was making 'awww' noises. He stood up and looked at them. "Okay, guys," Tony said, "I don't know if we should all go dressed like this," he motioned to the entirety of Clint. He looked down at himself. He'd thrown on a simple black t-shirt and some sweatpants for bed.
They all nodded and went off to separate rooms to grab clothes and make themselves look at least somewhat presentable. Tony walked into his room and took off the glasses, looking at them for a second. He kissed them gently before setting them down and taking out a suit to wear.
He quickly got changed. He adjusted the thing on his leg, sighing. He didn't want to wear it, but he was worried without it he'd be off balance and wouldn't be strong enough to walk. At least the brace-like mechanical thing wasn't that noticeable. He bit his lip and walked out, where Steve was standing. He didn't change his clothes - he didn't need to.
Natasha had washed her face but didn't change her outfit. Rhodey was wearing a simple suit. Sam was matching him. Thor and Vision were wearing their normal apparel, Wanda was wearing a not-so-fancy red dress with flowers on it, and Clint was wearing a fancy suit.
"Lovely. Now, all of you pile into the car, I'm going to prepare some candy to give out. Go." Tony said, shooing them out. When everyone was out, he turned and clicked a button and his DUM-E robots activated, coming up to him, making cute little robotic noises. "Protocol Easter. I want 53 eggs hidden in ridiculous places around the place. 109 little-stuffed chicks. 17 stuffed sheep. It better be done before I get home or I'll dismantle all of you. Friday, you're in charge, hon." He grabbed his keys, threw them into the air and caught them, and walked out the door.
"Happy! Lovely to see you. Is the kid here?" Tony said, greeting Happy, who was driving their extravagant limousine. Happy nodded, opening the door for Tony. Tony saw all of his friends sitting around awkwardly, along with Peter, whose eyes lit up when he saw Tony.
"Mr Stark!" Peter exclaimed. Tony sat down next to him, patting his knee.
"Hey, kid. Happy, Friday should be sending you the address. Northfolk. Quickly." Tony said, looking down at his watch. 10:00 am. They were five minutes late already.
Happy nodded and started to drive.
"Mr Stark, happy Easter! I'm so glad I get to spend it with you!" Peter said, bubbling with excitement.
"Yeah, kid," Tony said. I'm glad you're here too, his mind said. He smiled at Peter and pulled a few chocolate eggs from his pocket and gave them to Peter. White chocolate - Peter's favourite. Tony put his arm around Peter and hugged him.
Peter made a squealing noise and Tony let go, rubbing his ears. His head begun to spin. Breathe in, then out. Tony was fine. He pushed away the anxiety and smiled, looking at Steve, who stared back, a ghost of a smile on his face, blue eyes bright.
"Goddamnit!" Happy screamed as he slammed on the brakes, stopping short. Tony put his hand out, stopping Peter from flying forward.
"Peter! Put on your goddamned seat belt!" Tony yelled, pointing to his own seatbelt. Peter quickly scrambled to buckle up, eyes showing fear as he looked up at Tony, who was digging his fingernails into Peter's hand without realizing it. Peter winced in pain. Tony let go, shaking. He opened his hand and stretched his fingers. "Peter, I'm sorry-" Tony murmured, looking at Peter's shaking hand, where there were little red marks from Tony. Peter didn't say anything.
Tony took a deep breath as they arrived. He rubbed his arm vigorously, clenching his jaw. He prepared to put on a fake smile.
The children all stopped and stared in awe as their favourite heroes got out of the car. Happy popped the trunk and threw Steve his shield. "Captain America!" one girl exclaimed, jumping up and down. Tony was glad Steve was getting the attention. Steve sat down on the ground, and children came over, poking him and asking him questions. The rest of the team did the same.
A little girl came over to Tony. "Is Pepper going to come?" she asked sweetly. Tony looked up at her, smiled, and shook his head gently.
"No, she's busy this year." The little girl frowned and walked away towards Rhodey. Tony rubbed his head gently, still shaken. "Come on, Stark," Tony whispered to himself, "it's Easter. Don't ruin it." He remembered all the times his father had gotten mad on Easter and ruined the day. All the times his mother and father were gone on Easter.
All the times he used to be with Pepper on Easter, visiting hospitals, giving out candy and cash.
But now Pepper was gone.
He shook his head and punched his arm as discreetly as he could. Standing, he went to grab the buckets of candy Happy always had on Easter. He handed out the chocolate to every kiddo who wanted some. Only three kids said thank you, Tony noticed. He didn't say thank you ever, so he couldn't really talk, though.
"Alright, folks!" A tall man said. He was dressed in mom jeans and had flowers in his semi-long hair. "Oh, wow, hello Avengers! My name is Harlem, and I'm hosting tonight! Why don't we all go in for food?"
The children all cheered in response and ran into the building. Steve stood and walked over to Tony, extending his hand. Tony took it and Steve helped him up. Tony looked at Steve, brown eyes portraying sadness. Steve noticed. "What's wrong?"
"I-" Tony began, "-nothing. I'm hungry. Let's go." Tony said, patting Steve on the back before walking inside. He wasn't hungry. If he ate, he was afraid he'd get sick. His stomach ached. He followed Bruce around, muttering about electrons and how he missed his suits. Bruce said a few sympathetic comments now and then, but for the most part, he was focused on his food.
Clint was busy showing the kids how he could name any flower and Natasha was showing a group of eating children how to punch correctly - but also telling them that punching people was, in fact, not something you should do all the time.
"Mr Stark?" A little boy asked, walking up to Tony, "How did it feel like the be in space?"
Tony tried to repress the memories. The fall. The cold. The feel of death. "Alright," Tony answered, looking at the ceiling. The kid smiled.
"How did you survive the falling? You fell a lot."
"I was caught," Tony said quickly, out of breath. Bruce noticed this.
"Hey, kiddo. I caught him. Well, the Hulk did. How about we talk about something else, hmm?" Bruce suggested softly.
"Oh, okay. Are you gay?" The kid asked.
"Wh- I- uh-" Tony began, stuttering. There were no cameras. No fans. Just a child and Bruce. "Sure."
"Are you dating Dr Banner?" The kid asked.
"No," Tony answered simply.
"Who, then?"
"Uh-" Tony paused, "no one."
"Oh, okay. What happened to Pepper? Did she not like you?"
"I've got to go-" Tony said, standing, rubbing his arm. Bruce began talking to the child firmly, but Tony didn't listen. He stumbled away. Once he was outside, he collapsed near a tree, taking shelter in its comforting shade.
Steve followed him, sitting down next to him silently. "You okay?" He asked gently.
"Always," Tony replied sharply, running a hand through his hair and exhaling. "It was getting tight in there. I don't do too well with lots of kids asking me questions left and right." He lied. Steve grabbed Tony's hand.
"Ever since we- uh- confirmed we were dating - did we confirm it? Between ourselves? - our relationship has gotten even more confusing and awkward. Tony, I won't be hurt if you don't want to - uh - date." Steve said, staring at the sky.
"I do," Tony confirmed softly, squeezing Steve's hand.
"I do too. So, now we're dating. Officially. Indefinitely. Unless you change your mind, of course," Steve said.
"Or if you change yours," Tony added, "I'm a handful."
"But now you're my- uh- handful. Sorry. I'm not too good at this whole romance thing." Steve admitted, rubbing the back of his head.
Tony moved quickly, grabbing the collar of Steve's shirt and pulling him close, "I don't care. You'll always be my Captain Romance." He didn't lean in to kiss him, though. Steve was old style. Slow, serious relationship - that's what he was probably looking for. Instead, Tony kissed Steve on the forehead and sat so his legs were touching Steve's.
"Egg hunt time!" The host of the event - Harlem - called out. The children ran out and lined up. "Now, because we have a visitor from another planet who's never experienced Easter, there are two egg hunts. The kiddos here," he motioned to the children, "will have their hunt in the backyard. The heroes will be doing it in a park just down the street. Heroes, it was fantastic having you here. And a big thank you to Mr Stark for his generous donation! Ms Hansen will escort you and host you."
A small lady with red hair walked over to them, face red. The Avengers nodded, saluting the children and Harlem, who did the same back. They then followed the lady down the street and to a large park. Tony scanned the area, finding the hidden eggs with his eyes so he could get them as fast as possible. It may seem childish - but Tony hates losing at anything, and egg hunts were no exception.
"Okay. So, for those of you who are new to this, the goal is to find all the eggs. It doesn't really matter who finds the most or who is the quickest, but if you wish to race, fine. But, in the end, we do make sure everyone has an equal amount." Ms Hansen explained. Thor nodded. "Also, please do not break anything. Now, there are baskets for each of you." She motioned to a table with baskets on it.
They each grabbed one. "Okay. Three, two, one... start!" She said.
Tony raced into action, limping as fast as he could, snatching up eggs from the ground. He picked up two from the grass and then one from under a table. He found three buried under some rocks. He ignored it when Thor snatched one from under his nose.
Then he spotted it. It was big, golden, and hidden in the leaves. His eyes widened. This one would get him the win, for sure. He walked over to the tree and started climbing, ignoring the burning pains in his arms and legs as he manoeuvred himself onto the first branch. Looking down, he took a shaky breath. Could he climb higher?
Could he risk the fall?
He pushed onward, onto the next branch. He stood on it slowly, reaching for it, as it was just above him. However, he just couldn't get it. Goddamn him being short. He gritted his teeth and pulled himself onto the next branch.
Crrrack. It made an ugly, unsettling noise.
"Tony!" Steve cried, running over to the tree, dropping his basket full of one (1) egg.
Tony reached for the egg. As he grabbed it, catastrophe occurred - as it always does.
The branch creaked and collapsed under him. Tony tried to grab the other branches - but his hands simply slipped off of them, bleeding and raw. Just as he prepared himself to hit the ground - he hit something else instead. Something much gentler.
Or maybe he had passed out or was hallucinating.
Steve caught him with a soft 'oof,' gently holding Tony and scanning him, looking for any injuries besides his scraped up hands. "Well, that was extravagant," Tony said, chuckling. Steve put him down gently, and Tony stood unsteadily on his feet. He picked up the big egg and showed Steve it. "Look! I think I win. I got nine eggs - ten if you count this beauty - and I literally fell out of a tree. I think I win," Tony explained, hands shaking and bleeding all over his's own shirt.
"God, fine! You win, Tony, good god! Hey, Ms Hansen, do you, by any chance, have a first aid kit?" Steve said hurriedly. Ms Hansen ran over, first aid kit in hand, looking extra pale as she stared down at the blood. Steve took it from her and slowly wrapped Tony's hands in gauze. Tony waited impatiently. Clint came over and grabbed one of Tony's hands that wasn't covered in gauze yet.
"And y'all think I'm the careless one," Clint huffed. He looked jealously at Tony's basket. "I guess you do win. I stole all of Natasha's and my basket still doesn't look as pathetic as yours."
Tony smirked, "I always win, Clint, you better step up your game," he didn't bother to tell Clint how Natasha was sneaking up behind him, water bottle in hand, eyes sparkling, eager for revenge.
"For fu- I mean- for heck's sake, Nat!" Clint cried as the cold water splashed on him. Natasha laughed at him, smacking the back of his head playfully and gently. Clint spun around and tried to grab the half-empty water bottle from her, but she grabbed his hand and poured the rest on him, dousing him with the cold liquid.
Tony chuckled. "Yes, congrats, Mr Stark, you got the most eggs, plus you found the lucky golden egg, so you win. Now, if all of you could dump your eggs out in a pile." Ms Hansen said. Tony dumped his and the other Avengers followed suit. "You can keep the golden egg, Mr Stark, you've earned it."
Tony gave the others a significant look and opened it. Inside was a picture of all the Avengers drawn in crayon. "A young child with cancer drew that," the host informed them, "he died earlier this week. It was his wish for his drawing to get to the Avengers - his heroes."
Tony stared down at it. It was intricate and he guessed it must have been something the child was working on for a long time. He ran his fingers over it gently. In the corner, there was a small signature. "His name was Pete. Pete Nunez." Ms Hansen added.
"Thank you for giving it to me - us," Tony said softly. Children and fanart were a weakness of his. Now to know the child who made this picture was dead - it hurt. He tore his eyes away from it. He could cry about it later. Not now.
Ms Hansen gave them each seven eggs. They all opened it, pleased to find chocolates of all kinds. Tony gave half of his to Peter - who wouldn't talk to him. He said a small 'thank you' to Tony and went to sit by Thor. Tony's heart ached. First Pepper, now the kid.
"Thank you, Ms Hansen. Friday will be transferring 10K to your account tonight." Tony said, shaking her hand. She smiled and lit up, nodding eagerly.
"Thank you, Mr Stark, your donation and the Avengers visit means the world to us," she said, shaking everyone's hand.
"You're quite welcome. Anytime." Clint said, bowing and kissing her hand, making her chuckle.
"Well, I must be going... Harlem probably can't last long with sugar-high kids alone for long..." She said before running off. Tony waved at her.
"Alright, let's go back home," Tony said, adjusting his coat. He glanced at Peter. "Hey, kid, can you come with me for a second?" He asked, eyes burning into Peter's. Peter gave a hard look at Tony before following him off to a corner. "You guys go ahead - Happy will get ya' situated," Tony called to his friends, pulling Peter off to the side. He grasped Peter's hand and examined it. There were no marks anymore.
"Mr Stark, I'm fine, I'm sorry--" Peter began.
"Don't. You have no reason to be sorry. It was my fault. I'm sorry, kid. I... I didn't mean to." Tony apologized, not looking at Peter.
"It's been a tough few weeks. Forget about it, okay? I'm okay." Peter said quickly, looking Tony in the eyes. Tony stared down at him.
"Okay. Done - forgotten. Let's go." Tony said, shrugging. They walked over to the car and hopped in, Happy driving them home.
----- time skip -----
As Tony stepped into the house, he grinned, already seeing eggs peak out of random places. Clint gasped as he stepped on one as he took off his shoes. Inside was a picture of Tony. Clint's eyes lit up. "How many did you hide?" he asked, thrilled.
"Twenty," Tony lied. "Exactly twenty. No more, no less."
Clint grinned, eyes flashing at Natasha competitively. Peter, however, jumped right into the hunt and jumped around the house, picking up five in the living room.
---- time skip, again (whoops) ----
Tony sat down next to Steve without looking at him. Peter had Clint had collected twenty-three eggs, yelled at Tony playfully for lying, and found three of both the chicks and sheep. Peter went home - he needed to get back to May. Clint and Natasha were fighting over chocolate in their room - they had a bunk bed. Clint had declared that 'he was a top' and so naturally he should get the top bunk. Natasha had smacked him but allowed him to claim the top bunk. Bruce was colouring - a stress reliever, he'd say but was really just because he was a talented artist and loved to draw and colour. So, with him being so talented, he was using watercolours instead of coloured pencils, pens, or markers, as less-talented people would. Tony had tried once, but the watercolour didn't agree with him and he ended up failing. Steve could draw but didn't like to colour his work. In fact, Tony had only ever seen one drawing Steve had made. It was one of all the Avengers, sketched in pencil, but it was fantastic.
Rhodey was commenting with Sam about some nonsense about missions they've flown. Thor had flown back to his people to show them his new facial hair made by the sharpie. "So, Steve," Tony began, "today was... interesting."
"Yeah," Steve said, smiling a little, "I had fun."
"So, are still sure you want to date me?" Tony whispered, smirking.
"Positive, Tony."
"You won't do a Pepper on me, will you? Make me all attached to you and then have to do life? Because I will become your life, Steve, I swear. Y'know, they say life is hell. I guess I am hellish." Tony said in a threatening way.
Steve laughed, "No, I won't - I don't really have much of a life anyways."
"God, you sound like Peter. 'I don't have a life, so please give me a mission,'" Tony mocked Peter's voice, "well, I have news for you, you do have a life, Captain America. America's Loveliest Hero." He playfully punched Steve's arm. Steve's laugh turned into a chuckle.
"Aw, you really think I'm lovely?"
"America does."
"America has good taste."
"America has awful taste - just look at the politics! Gun control! Steve, hold my beer, I'm going to shoot the next fucker who says that we don't need gun control - wait, that's not how I should solve my problems, especially this one."
"So I'm not lovely?" Steve asked, pouting.
"No," Tony replied, "you're alluring. Exquisite." He paused, "Delicious."
"De - what?" Steve said, raising his eyebrows, face turning red.
"I memorized the synonyms for 'lovely.' Delicious was one of them." Tony shrugged but was glad that made Steve blush.
"You're a dork."
"I prefer the term 'genius.'"
"You are a genius."
"No, you are."
"Tony!" Steve objected, but Tony simply smiled and Steve wrapped his arm around him, pulling him close. Tony felt the warmth from Steve's hands and melted into his touch. He was so warm. Warm - Tony checked Steve's forehead, worried he might be sick. "What are you doing, Tony?" Steve said, laughing a little as Tony rested his hand on Steve's forehead.
Tony was glad to feel that Steve's body was warm but he wasn't ill. "I was worried you were sick - I've had enough hospital time, I don't want to get sick and end back in that hellhole."
"Oh, of course. You aren't just concerned for me?"
Tony grinned, "Well, that comes along with you being mine - yes, I am concerned for you, but right now, more so for me." That was a lie - Tony wasn't concerned for himself at all. Not anymore. But he couldn't look like a total fucking softie.
Steve scoffed, "of course. Well, I wouldn't want to get you sick anyway."
Tony leaned away from Steve. Can't look soft or gentle. No cuddling. Gotta act tough. Completely tough. Stone cold. Cold but not too cold to not love. Tony grabbed Steve's hand. "Ooh! Gosh, Tony - your hands are freezing!" Steve exclaimed. He clasped his other hand over Tony's other hand. Tony stared down at their hands.
Pepper and Tony never really held hands. They had some gentle moments like this, but for the most part, they were swamped with business and usually just kissed or hugged. But this - the electricity - the love - that swam through they connected hands - it was spectacular. Tony felt warm - loved - special. He smiled to himself. "My hands are always cold. Like the machines I work on - well, used to. I wish you'd let me get back to work. This is stupid."
"Tony - you can't work yet. You've been home for what - three, four days? I know you've been acting like your usual self, but I can see it every time you're in pain. Your nose crinkles and you look almost... angry. You rub your hands and try to ignore it." Steve said.
Tony looked at him. "You're like a stalker. No - I don't do that when I'm hurting. I'm fine." It was a lie, of course, all of it.
"Tony, you can't keep lying to me..." Steve said. He sounded almost... disappointed. Tony's heart skipped a beat. Did he upset Steve? Was Steve mad at him for not telling the truth? Oh, God, was he ruining the relationship already.
"I'm honestly fine, Steve. The first day was rough, yes, but -" he paused, "I'm feeling better. Way better." It wasn't a total lie - he did feel much better. Occasionally he'd feel sick or be hurting, but hey, he wasn't puking everywhere now.
Tony's face flushed. That night, Steve and Clint had helped him get undressed. And into a tub.
"You're blushing. Why?" Steve asked, sounded half-amused, half-concerned.
"I just thought of something," Tony said, trying to make up a story - god, they couldn't talk about that night - it was too awkward, "1998. May. There was this girl -"
"Tony! I don't need to know about that."
"She was very... flexible."
"Tony!" Steve cried, covering his ears, hands leaving Tony's.
Clint walked back into the room, clearly drunk. "Didja know that if... Steve was named... Stove... your guys' names would match... Stove and Tones - sold-mates."
"How much did you drink, Clint?" Tony said, surprised. "And, dear, my name is Tony, not Tones."
"Ohhh, shut up, Toby, your names is Tones - Secret Agent Tones," Clint said, his wors slurring.
"Clint! Back in the bathroom before you puke again!" Natasha called, looking exceptionally angry. Tony cringed under her glare. "Sorry, guys. Clint got into a batch of serious stuff."
"How?" Steve asked.
"I don't know. I'll smack him until he tells me." She hissed. Steve shifted and looked down.
Clint sauntered over to her, stumbling, looking like a dramatic actor almost, before stopping right in front of her and putting a hand to his mouth. Natasha shoved him into the bathroom quickly.
Steve looked at Tony, concerned.
"I'm sure he's fine," Tony told him, patting him gently on the shoulder, missing their hands intertwined. But he wouldn't ask for the attention.
\\authors note//
heya! well, this is late. but!! happy easter/april fools!!
i was working on this a lot but i just couldn't end it and i had an,,,, eventful week.
Tony woke with a start at five am, the faint streaks of light from the sunrise sneaking into his dark room. Tony tried to slow his breathing. He wasn't sure if he had a nightmare or something- but he did know that he actually slept alright for once.
He took a shaky breath and groaned as he got out of bed. He looked at his alarm clock and sighed, stretching before wincing in pain. He strapped on the stupid leg thing that would support him as he walked and exited his room, yawning.
Today, he was feeling much better. Tired, dizzy, and a tad bit nauseous, but alright. He was pretty sure he'd basically threw up his whole stomach last night. He limped out into the living room, where he was surprised to see Clint still awake, staring at the TV.
Tony silently snuck around him - which wasn't hard to do, once Clint gave his attention to something almost nothing could distract him. Ah, Disney, of course. Cinderella. One of Clint's favorites. Tony smiled at him and walked into the kitchen, wanting to make himself a cup of coffee. However, he was disappointed when he realized the coffee machine was still gone. He sighed hastily, which made Clint jump and pull his bow and an arrow off the ground.
Clint rolled his eyes and let out a heavy sigh when he saw Tony. Sitting down, he smiled at him. "Hey, Tony," He said quietly, "can't sleep anymore?" Tony nodded, expecting Clint to yell at him for being awake. Instead, he just nodded in understanding, "I'm glad you slept."
Tony sat down next to him, yawning. "Yeah, me too, bud. Seriously? Cinderella? Again? You're such a nerd. Is that what Disney fans are? Or are they dorks?" He asked, his voice sharp, sarcastic, but caring.
"Ner-orks. But also really cool people, if you must know, Tony. I would know," he put his hand under his chin, "because I am a Disney fan and extremely cool, obviously." He sounded full of himself. He fidgeted with the arrows and ruffled his hair. "Are we going to completely ignore last night? Because I'd both love to and hate too."
"God, Clint, you're a weirdo." Tony said, chuckling, "Make up your mind." Tony patted Clint's knee gently before standing up.
"Actually, I did. I've decided that we'll talk about it later. But for now, I have a prank. A little bit of fun. I figured you needed it," Clint touched his hearing aid gently, smirking a little.
Ah, leave it to Clint to figure out a way to piss off/amuse the team. Tony spread his arms and make a 'let's hear it' face. Clint licked his lips and started to use his hands to explain.
"Okay, so, the team thinks slash knows you and Steve are basically a team - by the way, you are a thing, right? Y'all kissed. Three times. I didn't tell anyone about the first time, y'know, I was being a good friend back then. But you kissed twice. In front of everyone, dude. It's obvious y'all love each other." Tony awkwardly shifted on the couch as Clint talked, "But no worries, Tony, no one will bring it up yet. Anyways, I have a plan. The Avengers need a laugh." The smirk on Clint's face was priceless. He'd come up with something clever.
"We should totally act like a couple to freak everyone out," Clint said, a smile playing on his lips. Tony laughed.
"Oh my God, Clint, they'd have a heart attack. Natasha would probably give me her sternest parent-talk about how if I broke your heart she'd stab me violently." Tony said, ignoring the pain in his ribs as he coughed. He was fine.
Clint raised his eyebrows. "I bet Steve would get jealous. You did kiss him yesterday."
"Hey!" Tony protested, "We're not actually dating or anything." He paused. "Kissing him was a mistake." His voice dropped. Clint put his hand on Tony's shoulder.
"Hey, it was not. Steve kissed you like five seconds later. Dude, you're fine. He loves you." Clint said supportively, gasping at a part in the movie. Tony looked at the screen then back at Clint. Clint smiled at the movie in such a Clint way that it made Tony laugh some more. He clutched his ribs and coughed slightly. Clint immediately turned to him, concerned.
"Tony, ground rules: you are to tell me if you feel sick or tired or nervous you are to tell me immediately. And, try not to puke all over my hot bod." Clint said, accidentally slipping and using sign language again. Clint did this whenever he was nervous.
"Alright," Tony said before raising his eyebrows, "honey."
"I see we are using my awesome, hilarious plan!" Clint said, whooping. "Alright, sweetheart. Should we just," he suddenly looked awkward, which was a weird look on Clint, as nothing ever seemed to faze him, "flirt with each other? God, they'll all fall for this."
As if on cue, Bruce walked into the room, clearly exhausted. "Oh, darling," Tony complained, "you simply must buy me a new coffee machine." He wrapped his arms around Clint, who was still sitting.
Clint rolled his eyes. "Love, you're not allowed to have coffee." Clint wrapped his arms around Tony's waist and put his forehead against Tony's. Bruce sighed and the rest of the team appeared. Tony jumped - a real flinch, they popped out of nowhere, the goddamned idiots - and Clint stood up. Tony rubbed his face and didn't look up. Clint was stuttering, pretending like he couldn't get words out. Unlike Tony, Clint could blush super easily. A single thought? The man's face could turn red. And so it did.
Steve paused, and Tony could see him fighting a war within himself. Thor was laughing. Bruce was shrugging it off, although he looked confused, Natasha was basically glaring at them but her eyes sparkled, and Rhodey was blinking in astonishment.
But Steve's sad look was killing Tony.
"Hey! Hey! Just a joke, y'all." Clint said, noticing Steve too, giving a sorry look to Tony. "We wanted to see if y'all would be happier or something. Tony and me? Seriously, guys? He'd gladly punch me and I've literally shot at him before."
Tony stood up and smiled, laughing. "Yes. You really thought I'd date someone like Clint? All of you are fools," he glanced at Steve, who was looking confused and a little hurt still. Natasha gave a sigh of relief and the rest of them laughed.
"Steve's an exception. He's an idiot, but he's a handsome idiot." Tony added, regretting it immediately. Steve blushed and looked like he was unable to say anything. He still looked iffy on the situation.
"Th-thanks...?" Steve finally responded, looking at his feet. Tony clenched his jaw. Great job, Mr. Stark, you've made the room awkward again.
"Alright. Let's go out. I don't want to stay here. Unless, of course, you let me go into my own basement." Tony said, throwing his hands into the air and picking up a cookie from a plate in the kitchen. He bit into it. It tasted lovely - Natasha and Bruce probably made them (don't tell anyone, but Tony knows how they love to cook together - and even though Wanda and Vision usually are the ones cooking, everyone agrees Nat and Bruce are the real talented chefs).
Clint shifted and smiled at Natasha. "We should go out," he said, "some sunshine would do us all good." Steve nodded and grabbed Tony's hand. Tony shivered at his touch. Steve's hands were cold but soft. Tony could feel the gentleness and the strength in them. Tony looked up at Steve's eyes.
"I agree. Who's up for a picnic?" Bruce said, toying with a pencil. Natasha was already searching for some sort of big basket. "I can get Thor over here. I talked to Rhodey; he's busy. Sam is too. I can see if Pepper can meet us." Bruce offered.
Natasha nodded. "Thor should come, but Pepper's working today. Vision and Wanda are probably making out somewhere in a romantic forest, so let's not worry about them." She grabbed a large woven basket and started planning what everyone would eat.
"We all like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, correct?" Tony asked. Everyone nodded. "Alright, Nat, you're on sandwich duty. Brucie, you can borrow one of my cars, please go get some snacks. Uh - let's see - Clint, we need some - goddamn, am I still not allowed to drink? - water, I suppose. Sparkling, please. And Steve, I need a kiss right here," he pointed at his cheek finally, ordering everyone around. Like he usually would.
Steve kissed Tony gently on the cheek and everyone scurried to do what they needed to. Tony smiled and helped Natasha with the sandwiches. "Tony, I'm proud of you." Nat whispered, "Look at what you've done."
Tony sighed. "It's not enough. I caused all of you grief. I made you guys worry." He responded quietly, dropping the knife. He bent over and picked it up, walking over to the sink to clean it, not trusting the floor to be perfectly clean.
"Tony, after you got - when you were in the hospital, we all thought the team would disband. We fought. Steve said that what we were doing was getting too dangerous. Bruce said that Steve was being stupid and that the world - and you, Tony - needed us more than ever. Steve threatened to quit. Physical fighting almost broke out. But Tony, you, you and your brilliant, charismatic, kind mind brought us back together." Natasha said, putting together two sandwiches for every one Tony made.
Tony sighed. "I'm glad some people feel that way," he mumbled, "but I should have listened to Clint. We could have captured them and rescued his daughter."
Natasha sighed, "You're wrong, Tony," she whispered, "they called us right after you left. They said that if the team - or more than one person - showed up, they'd kill her right away. We couldn't go after you, even."
Tony sighed and licked his lips, swallowing. Natasha suddenly took a sandwich without the top piece of bread and smacked it on Tony's face, making him stumble as it slipped off his face, leaving a trail of peanut butter and jelly on his cheek. He smiled and laughed, sticking his finger in the jelly and flicking a bit at Natasha, who gracefully avoided it, a smirk on her lips.
Clint walked into the kitchen and naturally joined in, grabbing the ketchup from the fridge and holding it dangerously. Tony put his hands up instantly. Natasha, unfortunately, was too late to surrender and Clint sprayed her with the red liquid, making her smooth ginger hair drip with the stuff. Tony chuckled before a spray of ketchup landed on his cheek. "Not fair, Barton! I had surrendered!" He exclaimed.
"What in the world are you doing?" Bruce whispered, horrified. He nearly avoided a squirt of ketchup. "Clint! Watch it! I'm not in this!" He said, slowly walking backward. Thor suddenly burst into the room, and when Clint tried to hit him with the vile tomato paste, his hammer got hit pretty hard.
Thor laughed. "You humans are hilarious! You throw food at each other simply to create conflict and make a mess!" He said, wiping his eyes. He licked some ketchup off his hammer before grimacing in disgust. "You drink weird liquids, too! What a vile kind of wine!" He said, obviously confused.
"Hey, bud, that's not wine, I'm banned, remember?" Tony said, and then Clint pointed the ketchup back at him.
"And you won't drink anything, right?" Clint threatened, eyes cold and face hard as he glared at Tony, squeezing the ketchup bottle slightly. Tony raised his hands a bit more.
"Nope! A good person, I am, would never disobey my best friends," he said quickly in response. He slowly grabbed the spraying thing by the sink and tapped it, spraying Clint with viciously cold water instantly, making him jump and drop the ketchup. Natasha swooped down and grabbed it, pouring loads of the tomato sauce on Clint's head, where it dripped down all across his body.
"Aaah! Nat!" He cried in dismay, jumping backward and grabbing a cookie that was sitting on the counter before throwing it so it just missed Natasha and crumbled against the wall. "You know I never miss, Nat!" He cried, picking up a pie. Natasha gasped.
"You wouldn't dare!" She said, mocking betrayal. Clint began to throw the pie, but instead of hitting Natasha, it landed right on Tony's face. Tony gasped and the room began to scream in uproar as he wiped his eyes. Clint fell on the floor he was laughing so hard.
Thor laughed and Bruce was doing the 'oooohhhh' thing that happens in public schools with Clint, and Natasha was whooping. Tony blinked it out of his eyes and grabbed the sink thing again, spraying Thor and Bruce with it. Bruce yelped and ducked behind a couch and Thor pretended to wash his long hair with the water.
Clint leaped from off the floor and turned the squirty-thing to face Tony, making him get himself all wet. Tony gasped as the water sloshed against his face. "Friday! Turn off the sink!" He cried and the sink turned off quickly. Tony wiped his face, laughing. "My house, Clint, I make the rules! No spraying me with water!" Tony said, smirking.
Just then, Steve walked in and came up to Tony, grabbing his hand. Flustered, Tony didn't realize Clint pouring a bottle of water over his head. Tony gasped as the cold water ran down his body. "Clint!" He cried. Steve chuckled and Tony looked ultra betrayed, with his mouth hanging open and everything. Tony could hear Bruce laughing on the couch and Thor was grinning.
"Hey! Hey! I surrender!" Tony cried, feeling his ribs starting to ache. He gulped and tried to force his body to stop hurting. He raised his hands, ripping his hand out of Steve's maybe a little too forcefully. Steve looked at Tony with a confused and hurt look.
Clint narrowed his eyes. "Alright, guys," Tony guessed Clint must have been able to tell Tony was hurting, "let's clean up and get going." Natasha nodded, examining Tony with her eyes. Tony shifted, uncomfortable. He needed to step up his 'I'm fine' game.
"Dum-e, hey, you two, clean this all up," Tony commanded, making the robots jump a little before scurrying over. "They'll probably be half-way done by the time we get back, but they'll do it. Or I'll sell them online," He added, glaring down the robots, which moved faster.
Clint was in charge of holding the basket for the whole walk, despite his efforts to avoid this duty. Originally, Steve was going to carry it, because of super-strength and everything, but after Clint's act with the ketchup, they all deemed it an appropriate punishment for poor Clint. He'd grumbled a little, but when the whole team's staring down at you stubbornly, you kind of have to obey.
They walked for a little while. It was a sunny day with a nice breeze, and the grass was green as spring had begun. Tiny flowers were sprouting up along the sidewalks. Tony led them to a small park. It looked like nothing at first; New York had much larger, nicer parks, but this one was small with one table and was surrounded by trees. It was also completely empty.
Except for two people.
"Bucky!" Steve cried, running towards his friend, who was supposed to be sitting at home, far away, in a cold forest cabin. Bucky opened his arms too late and Steve and him ended up on the ground.
"Peter!" Tony said, grimacing. He loved the kid, don't get him wrong. Peter walked over, smiling awkwardly, ruffling his own hair.
"Hey, Mr. Stark," He said. Tony rubbed his head but smiled and patted Peter on the back. Clint squinted at Peter before handing him the basket. Peter took it, almost falling with its weight, which he didn't expect. Natasha shook Peter's hand and grabbed the basket from him, giving Clint a mean look. Bucky was awkwardly trying to push Steve off of him while Steve pestered him with questions.
Tony looked away. Why couldn't Steve hug him like that? He tried to push away the spikes of jealousy. He gulped and gestured to the table, sitting down next to Peter. Natasha put the basket on the table - which rocked everytime someone moved or bumped into it - and took a sandwich out before jumping up into a tree next to the table. Clint tried to grab one too, but Peter grabbed it and pulled it towards him, smirking at Clint. Peter took two out, handing one to Tony, who accepted it with a quick 'thanks, kid.'
Everyone took a sandwich. Thor ended up sitting on the grass - Clint told him he'd crush the seat with his massive muscles - Steve sat next to Bucky, Clint had climbed into the tree - higher than Natasha - and Bruce sat down next to Tony. Tony, Bruce, and Peter began to talk about electrons and what Peter was doing in school, while Steve and Bucky talked about the 'old days.' Clint and Natasha were bickering fondly, as usual.
When everyone was done, Peter jumped up on the table and smiled at everyone. He clapped his hands together, making Clint, who was arguing about scientific things he didn't know anything about, jump and almost fall. Tony snickered. "I have a friend I'd like all of you to meet," he said, "well, you've technically met her before. She'll be here in five, four," he started counting down.
Interrupting him, a young, pretty girl walked up. "Shuri! That's my main meme! Everyone, officially meet Shuri. She's King T'Challa's sister." Peter said, extending his hand. She took it and jumped on the table with him.
Clint fell with a yelp suddenly. Everyone turned to see Black Panther in his place. T'Challa took off the mask and looked at everyone, smiling at his sister. "Ow..." Clint groaned from the ground, where he landed on his bum. Natasha laughed at him. Everyone stood. Tony, Bruce, and Steve bowed. Steve elbowed Bucky, who then bowed with them. Peter saluted the King. Thor smiled.
"Ah! So you're the other king!" Thor said, chuckling. "I am Thor." T'Challa raised his eyebrows.
"I know," T'Challa responded. Shuri touched Bucky's hair, making Bucky turn around, perplexed. "Shuri, please cease touching people's hair. It is not only strange, but it is also awkward." He commented. Shuri shrugged and touched Peter's.
"It's nice to see you again, Your Majesty," Tony said. Natasha nodded in agreement. Bucky and Steve shifted. Bucky hid his face and looked like he was going into cardiac arrest and was constipated at the same time. Steve grabbed his hand. Another wave of jealousy ran over Tony. Bucky was just Steve's friend. They were like brothers. No reason to get jealous.
Clint walked over to stand by Steve. "I apologize, Barton, for knocking you down. I hope that all of our rivalries have diminished. Same to you, Rogers and Barnes." T'Challa commented, jumping down and landing with perfect grace.
"We apologize too. We all forgive each other, then?" Steve said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Awesome. Now, what are we going to do?" Clint said.
"Vines!" Peter and Shuri yelled simultaneously.
"Shuri, your addiction to 'vines' and 'memes' is getting out of hand, please do not annoy everybody with them like you do me-" T'Challa started, facepalming, shaking his head.
"Peter, remember how I told you to not do anything that I wouldn't do? Would I indulge in vines?" Tony said.
Shuri and Peter laughed. "Hey, Jared, can you read number nineteen to the class?" Shuri asked.
"No I cannot," Peter responded, "hi I'm Jared, I'm nineteen and I never fucking learned how to read."
Tony gasped. "Watch your language!" He scolded. T'Challa looked like he was dying. Thor laughed.
"Peter, your name isn't even Jared!" Thor said, slapping his knee. Clint looked pleased and Natasha raised her eyebrows. However, Bucky and Steve looked confused and lost.
"Brother! Please, put your mask on. I wish to show them the technology." Shuri said. T'Challa did so, standing on the bench. Shuri pointed to the ears. "Such ears! Much wow! Very good! Such awesome! Much cat!" She exclaimed. Peter was laughing so hard he had to sit down. T'Challa put his hand up to where his mouth would be before jumping back on the tree.
"Shuri, I swear-" he started.
"Captain Rogers, may I see your shield? It's made of vibranium, right?" Shuri asked sweetly. Steve handed her the shield, nodding, confused. Shuri handed it to Peter. "This bitch empty!" Shuri yelled.
Peter looked at her with a desperate look before throwing Steve's shield, screaming "YEET" as loud as he could. Steve looked so confused he might cry. Bucky was chuckling. Tony and T'Challa glanced at each other.
Clint grabbed a stick. "This bitch empty, too!" He shouted before throwing the stick at Natasha, screaming 'yeet' too. Natasha caught it easily. Thor raised his hammer.
"Wait, no-" Tony said before Thor threw it gently, whispering 'yeet.'
"It didn't do anything special. What is the point of this spell?" Thor asked, looking genuinely disappointed.
"It's not a spell," T'Challa explained, "it is a stupid thing that children these days find interest in."
"Hey! I'm old and I like vines!" Clint objected. T'Challa sighed, obviously pondering his existence.
"You don't count. You're basically a big baby." Natasha chimed in, sharpening the stick with a pocket knife.
"What? Explain!" Clint demanded.
"Well, you like to throw fits, are dramatic, egotistical at your low skills - I mean, Tony's egotistical, but he at least has some skills - and you like to color in children's coloring books. Not to mention you cry at Disney movies." Natasha retaliated instantly. Clint stuck out his tongue at her.
"Okay, but how can you not cry at them? Y'all don't have hearts." Clint shot back.
"I cry at Disney movies!" Peter chimed in. Tony looked disappointed.
"If I may interrupt," Clint said, gently pushing Peter off the table, "can we talk about how Tony Stark and Steve Rogers are totally fucking in secret?"
"Clint!" Steve and Tony both cried. Steve covered his face with his hand and Tony put his head on Bruce's shoulder as Bruce laughed. Peter gasped. Shuri and T'Challa looked confused. Peter whispered to her why everyone was freaking out about this.
"Wait! Does this mean all that fighting was sexual tension?" Shuri asked. Steve looked at her with alarm. Tony shifted.
"No, it wasn't!" Tony said finally, "It was - we were - it was fighting! Disagreeing!" He said. Bruce pat him on the shoulder. Steve's face was red. Wait- did Steve feel that way back then? Oh god.
"Ah, so it was just a divorce." Shuri came to the conclusion.
"We weren't dating!" Tony said. "We- we aren't dating! Wait- are we dating?" Tony said, confused. His head was beginning to spin and he felt lightheaded. He took a deep breath. He was fine.
"Uh," Steve paused, "a-are we?" Tony didn't answer. How could he? They waited in silence. Steve walked over to Tony and put his hand on Tony's cheek. "Do you want to be?" Steve asked gently. Tony looked up at his blue eyes and his gentle face. Tony opened his mouth but no sound would come out. Tony nodded and gently leaned his head against Steve's chest. Steve ran his hands over Tony's hair before kissing his head gently.
"Oh, aren't I the perfect matchmaker?" Shuri bragged. Tony lifted his head and looked at her, mouthing 'thank you' to her. She winked at him. "Well, T'Challa and I better be going," she paused and smirked, "for now. My main meme, keep sending me memes you find." And with that, her and T'Challa walked away.
Steve leaned down, startling Tony before Steve picked him up bridal-style easily. Tony smiled fondly. "I weigh nothing to you, do I?" He asked.
"Tony, a car weighs nothing to me," Steve said, "but that worries me because I could so easily hurt you." His hands gently held Tony, but fear was prominent in his eyes. Tony reached up and touched Steve's face.
"You never hurt me," Tony whispered. It wasn't true, of course. Steve almost killed Tony. Tony swallowed hard. No, this Steve, the Steve he loved, wouldn't hurt him. Steve smiled at him and put Tony down gently.
"Okay, good job guys, but get a room? My poor eyes," Clint said, covering his eyes, acting disgusted despite grinning. Natasha nodded in agreement but gave them a thumbs up. Bruce was focusing on sketching something. Peter clapped. Thor smiled.
"Well, I must be going," Thor said before promptly leaving, shooting into the sky. They waved and watched him go.
"Anyone else leaving?" Tony asked, his gaze falling on Bucky. He didn't hate Bucky, don't get him wrong, but knowing that Bucky had such a deep relationship with Steve - and was single - worried him. What if Steve decided he loved Bucky more and left him? Tony couldn't talk much of the old days with Steve, while Bucky could recite their precious childhood memories.
Natasha nodded. "I've got a mission. Clint, you can stay here. Bucky, you're coming with me. We've got heavy things that need to be lifted." She said. Steve looked at Bucky, longing in his eyes. He missed his best friend. They'd lost so much time together. A pit of sorrow was dragging Tony down. Maybe Steve deserved Bucky. Maybe Steve shouldn't love Tony. Why should he? Tony was cocky, arrogant, and stupid. Someone like Steve deserved better. The whole team deserved better.
Bucky smiled at Steve. "Well, you've finally decided to get in a relationship," he said, eyes shining. He looked proud. A little sad, maybe, but mostly proud. As a friend should be. He and Natasha walked away, talking.
"Okay, guys, uh-" Peter began, "we should dance. Aunt May and I always dance when we go to empty parks. It's fun, c'mon." Tony was about to object when Peter said, "Please?" God, how can anyone not give into that? Tony sighed and chuckled.
"Sure, kid." Tony said. Steve jumped up on the table - which creaked and complained - while Bruce sat on the grass, running his fingers over the blades and drawing. "Friday, please play my kid-friendly playlist." Clint jumped to his feet.
"No way. Disney music?" He cried, excited as 'Be Our Guest' started playing. Clint jumped up and down, acting far too dramatic. Steve looked around.
"How are you supposed to dance to Disney?" Steve asked while Peter did a backflip, landing it perfectly. Clint climbed up the tree and did a backflip too, barely landing it with an 'oof.'
"You're right. Friday, please." One of Tony's favorites came on. Classic 'Back In Black.' Tony began dancing to it. It wasn't good dancing. If they were recording, it would probably end up on the 'cringier' side of YouTube.
Crash!
The table fell with a crash. Peter, luckily, landed on Steve instead of Steve landing on him. Clint began to laugh obnoxiously. Clint could laugh very loudly, and if you weren't in a good mood, you'd slap him, but usually, his laughter made everyone else laugh. And it did. Peter started laughing so hard he was crying while Steve looked concerned.
Tony chuckled and asked, "Is everyone alright?"
"Yeah," Peter said in between wheezes. Steve nodded and gently lifted Peter off of him an set him on the ground carefully. "Oh! Captain. I'll go get your shield. I'm sorry for throwing it." He added apologetically. Steve laughed and patted him on the back.
"It's no problem," Steve said kindly. "But I would appreciate it if you could retrieve it for me." Peter nodded and quickly ran in the direction he 'yeeted' it in. Steve turned to Tony, Clint, and Bruce, "So, this was fun. What now? What excitement awaits us?"
Just then, Thor landed back in front of them. With Loki next to him, smirking. Clint took a deep, shaky breath and Bruce let out a tiny 'oh no' while Steve and Tony simply looked at them. "Hello, friends! I brought my brother! Loki!"
Loki bowed, chuckling. Clint reached for the stick that Natasha had been sharpening and then held it threateningly towards Loki's heart. Loki raised his eyebrows. "Ah, lovely, you're all still feisty." He said, "What fun this'll be."
"Don't fucking try me," Clint hissed, "I'm a trained assassin. I'll kill you." Thor laughed at this. Loki stepped closer, looming over Clint. Clint held the stick tighter - so tight that his knuckles were turning white and the splinters were digging into his hand.
"Oh, I don't doubt it," Loki said, walking around Clint. "Ah, Captain Rogers. What a pleasure to see you and Mr. Stark again. And is that the Hulk? Wow. I'm so pleased." Loki reached for Tony's hand. Tony slowly shook hands with him, but when he tried to pull his hand back, Loki gripped it tighter. "Ah, so you are injured. What a pity." Tony took a deep breath and yanked his hand back.
"Hey, back off," Steve said, intervening. He grabbed Tony's hand gently, making sure Loki hadn't hurt Tony. Clint suddenly stabbed the piece of wood into Loki's shoulder violently. Loki sighed and lazily pushed Clint to the ground. Loki grabbed the piece of wood and yanked it out of his shoulder.
"You do realize, Clint Barton, that I am a god?" Loki said, looking disappointed. Clint clenched his jaw and stood up. Steve stepped closer to Loki, his fists clenched.
"Hey, Captain Crunch, calm down," Tony mumbled, "we're in a park near apartments. A fight here would not be good," Tony glanced at Bruce, who was looking at the ground. Steve unclenched his fists and stretched his fingers. Thor laughed.
"Anyways, I'm leaving you with my brother for now. He was being bothersome back at home, and I figured you would be the perfect," Thor paused, looking perplexed, "babysitters. Ah, that's the word."
"Thor, he tried to kill us!" Clint said, clearly outraged.
"You're allowed to smack him. He does require food occasionally. Get ahold of me if he starts killing people. See you soon! Love you guys." Thor said before flying away. Loki licked his lips and put on a smile.
"We can't - I - I'm - I did not sign up for this!" Clint yelled, kicking the tree. Loki laughed.
"Well, now you're stuck with me. Let's go somewhere. Ooh, how about Stark's home? Don't all of you basically live there anyway?" Loki slipped a gold ring off his finger and swung it around on the tip of his pinky. He was chewing something - Tony guessed some sort of space gum or whatever the hell they eat.
Steve grabbed Loki's arm suddenly, holding it so tight that Loki winced. "No games, alright? If you do anything fishy we'll beat you." He hissed. Loki nodded promptly and Steve let go. Holding his wrist, Loki looked at all of them.
"I'm not here to fight. I don't have any weapons and I know that I cannot beat you without something strong. Don't get me wrong - I'm strong. But it's so much effort to fight! Let's play a game. A fun game." Loki paused and smirked at Bruce, but there was fear deep in his eyes. "How about truth or dare? I hear mortals love that kind of game."
"Yeah, why should we 'play' with you?" Clint hissed.
"Because if you don't," he smirked and pointed a long finger at Bruce, "I might not behave." Bruce shifted and gulped, playing with his pencil. Tony stepped in front of him. What choice did they have? Maybe this could stop Loki from wreaking havoc for a little while. Plus, it's just truth or dare. Nothing too worrisome. They might even have fun.
"Fine," Tony said, jumping in. Clint started glaring at him. "What? Do you really want a fight, right here, right now, Clint?" Tony hissed back at him. Steve sighed. Bruce opened his mouth but didn't say anything. Clint forced a smile on his face and turned to Loki.
"Good. Let's play at the house. Where I have my bow." Clint said, looking darkly at Tony. Tony couldn't help but worry; had he made Clint seriously mad at him? The badass archer was usually pleasant but once you got on his bad side... well, things were never fun. Tony nodded in agreement.
They all started walking back. "This is a terrible idea," Bruce muttered, standing next to Tony. "I-I think it'd be best if I went home. Or somewhere." He whispered to Tony, "I'm not safe." Tony sighed and gritted his teeth.
"Yeah. If you want." Tony responded, rubbing his head, "Good plan." They continued walking for another minute before Bruce apologetically patted Tony on the shoulder and turned around, walking the opposite direction. Tony waved to him and sped up a little, keeping up with Steve and Clint, who were basically marching, glaring down Loki. Loki simply smiled up at them both.
"Bruce decided to walk away," Tony whispered to Clint, who simply ignored him. Tony swallowed hard and rubbed his ribs, which were starting to hurt even more. He walked behind them, carefully, watching the ground, nearly panicking. Everyone hated him. He shouldn't have made the decision. He should have left it to Steve.
Soon enough, they reached the house and went inside. Loki threw himself down on one of the couches and Clint sat down, fingers running over his bow as he grabbed it. Steve sat down next to Tony on a separate loveseat.
"Perfect. The game commences. Tony, darling, truth or dare?" Loki asked, playing with a pen he'd picked up off the coffee table, smirking, eyes glittering. Tony shifted uneasily.
"Truth." He finally answered. He could always lie. Plus, with his body starting to ache, whatever sick dares the manic came up with wouldn't be fun.
"What's your honest opinion on everyone in the room?" Loki asked smoothly after a brief silence. Huh. Tony had expected worse.
"I think you're a fucking idiot and are deeply annoying and I'd gladly kill you. I think that Clint is a pretty alright person and is a very skilled individual, although stubborn, like me. And Steve," Tony paused and looked at him, "well, he's Steve." He hadn't planned on saying anything else, but something unsettling came over him and forced him to keep speaking, "He's perfect. Gorgeous. Strong. Reliable. I don't deserve him, honestly. He's... well, perfect." Tony tried to shut up, but he couldn't. "And he has a nice ass." Tony's face flushed red. "What the fuck?" He said finally, able to control the words coming out of his mouth.
"Ah. Playing truth or dare means that you have to tell the truth and always do the dare. Did I not tell all of you this? And if you decide to quit, I will have to unfortunately light things aflame, and that's never pleasant, so please continue playing." Loki explained with his eyes closed, clicking the pen and shrugging.
Tony's heart rate quickened. Oh no. This could be bad. Clint looked even angrier now and Steve just looked simply confused, flustered, angry, and somewhat pleased all at once. It was odd and confusing. "Clint. Truth or dare." Tony said - he wanted to give Clint the option to pick on Loki.
"Truth," Clint responded, eyes not moving to look at Tony.
"What's your honest favorite color?" Tony asked.
"A soft lilac." He responded, eyes narrowing at Loki, "Okay, asshole, your turn. Truth or dare."
Loki paused and his eyebrows twitched, "Well, since everyone's chosen truth, I'll choose that as well, please."
"What is your most traumatizing experience?" Clint asked. Tony let out a shaky breath, glad he wasn't the one receiving this question. Steve reached out and touched Tony's hand, making him jump. Tony ran his fingers over Steve's hand gently, before giving it a little squeeze.
Loki looked at Clint spitefully, "When I was six I stabbed my brother for the first time. I thought he was going to die. I stabbed myself as well, just to experience what he was going through. After I learned that both him and I could recover from measly stab wounds easily, stabbing him became easier. But it had scared me as a child." Once he was done, he whispered a string of curses and clenched his fist. "Steven!" Loki said sharply, "Truth or dare?"
"I can't believe we're doing this," Steve mumbled, "dare."
"I dare you to throw Mr. Stark out the window," Loki said, a devilish smile growing on his face. Steve opened his mouth to protest and his breathing became increasingly fast as he stood up and grabbed Tony, again bridal-style.
Tony sat in Steve's arms, silently panicking.
You never hurt me.
Tony felt like he was going to throw up as they approached the window. "Stop!" Clint screamed, "Loki, you unprecedented asshole! Stop!" Tony tried to scramble out of Steve's arms as Steve basically hyperventilated, whispering 'no' and 'stop' and 'sorry' over and over and over again.
Steve suddenly threw Tony. The window broke with a crash and Tony began to fall. His armor was destroyed. There was no rescue. The wind whistled in his ears as he fell. Luckily, Tony had been looking up.
The blue sky would be an okay sight to see before you die.
Blue like Steve's eyes.
\\author's note//
ah, yes, the angst train has returned
this one was a doozy!!
struggled a lil bit, but here it is.
please!! leave kind things!! or funny comments!!
also wow how rude of me to leave y'all on a cliffhanger,,,, tell me if you want me to tag you when I update!!
{link to it on wattpad - https://www.wattpad.com/547365530-recovery-stony-home-chapter-2 }
link to part one: https://stony-feels1776.tumblr.com/post/171853506929/recovery-chapter-one-tragedy
Tony Stark was finally home.
Steve helped him into the tower and Friday had taken control of all the robots to try and make Tony's life easier. The elevators opened whenever there was movement. The floor was clean. There were things for Tony to hold onto if he ever lost his balance.
And even though Tony hated it immediately, Steve bought the fanciest, most expensive wheelchair he could for Tony. Looking up at Steve, he had cursed at the wheelchair and claimed he wouldn't ever touch it. Tony's leg was supported by a type of crutch thing that he and Bruce had built themselves (Steve was glad Tony could still build and create even with his weakened hands). Tony licked his lips and grimaced. "It's ultra-organized. God, I'll have to make a mess for it to feel comfortable in here." Tony said, considering the room.
"Hey, Tony?" Steve hummed.
"Yes?" Tony replied, maybe a little too quick.
"Take it easy. It's your first day home," Steve paused, "you're not allowed to go downstairs." Tony's eyes began to widen and he opened his mouth.
"What?" He exclaimed, "That's not fair nor nice. My house. You're not the boss of me." He stuck his tongue out, smirking. Steve opened his mouth, but Tony had a point.
"Sir, I've locked all ways into the workshop. You are not allowed to go downstairs. I protect your house, I run the house. So, with all due respect, sir, I'm the boss of you for now." FRIDAY said. Steve smiled. FRIDAY was a sassy little shit. Maybe a little bit too much intelligence. Steve gave the room a thumbs-up.
Tony rolled his eyes. "When I'm allowed down there, the first thing I'm doing is replacing you, Friday," He said, moving to sit down on the couch, sighing with relief as he sat down. He gasped. "This isn't my couch!" He exclaimed. "I hope you didn't get rid of my couch." He added, getting even comfier on the new couch. He grabbed a pillow, wincing as he picked it up, and cuddles with it, pouting and putting his head on the top of it. His face displayed that he was thinking.
"Steve," he said finally, "you don't have to stay here with me." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for the hospital." Looking down, Tony's eyes portrayed sadness and hurt.
"Tony, hey," Steve said kindly, "you don't have to apologize for anything." He put his hand on Tony's shoulder, gently, before walking into the kitchen. Tony watched him from the couch before standing up.
"Surprise!" The Avengers - Thor, Clint, Bruce, Natasha, Wanda, Vision, Sam, Rhodey, and Pepper - jumped out from behind the counters. Normally, Tony wouldn't have done more than flinch. But he jumped and landed back on the couch. It took him a second to catch his breath, but when he did, he chuckled weakly.
"Good fucking lord, guys," Tony said, "you're going to send me into cardiac arrest!" He laughed wholeheartedly before he started to cough. He rubbed his ribs and winced before smiling up at all of them again. Usually, he would have been iffy on this many destructive people in one room. Now, he wanted as much care and support as he could get.
Clint jumped over the counter and threw himself on the table, launching into the 'draw-me-like-one-of-your-french-girls' pose. Wanda threw shreds of rainbow paper into the air and Vision started making food. Bruce fidgeted with an advanced Rubix cube, waving to Tony. Thor laughed and spun his hammer before setting it down on the table and Sam and Rhodey were discussing suits. Pepper walked over to Tony and kissed his hair. "I'm glad you're okay, Tony. I'm sorry," she whispered.
Tony smiled and licked his lips, "It's quite all right, Pepper. Now, if it's a party we're having here, where's the drinks? Ms. Potts, if you would help me up, please?" Pepper grabbed Tony's hand and helped him up, where he blinked away the pain and stuck out his tongue.
"Tony, you're not allowed to drink anything but water," Steve started, holding out a water for Tony to take. Tony scoffed.
"First my workshop then my alcohol? What about coffee? Oh, if you take away my coffee you're not going to be a happy camper, Oldie." Tony hissed, eyeing where his coffee machine used to be. Steve shrugged and gave Tony a sorry smile.
Clint jumped into Tony's wheelchair and had begun to spin in it. He was laughing obnoxiously. "Nat! Nat! Push me! Extra points if we break something!" Natasha rushed over to him and began to push him, racing past Tony, almost making him fall again. "Wait! Nat! Wall!" Clint cried, cuddling his legs closer to his chest, clutching the handles as they approached the wall.
Natasha tried to turn the wheelchair but the speeding chair with wheels decided to fall, making Clint hit the ground hard. He raised his hand and gave a thumbs up to the room even though he was groaning in pain. Natasha helped him up but was laughing at him.
Tony rolled his eyes. "You alright there, Legolas?" He asked, glancing at the wheelchair. Damn it, they didn't break it. "Hmm... Thor, do you want to help lil' old injured me with a science experiment?" He inquired, raising his eyebrows at Thor, who smiled and picked up his hammer again.
"Of course, Stark!" He agreed. Steve looked concerned and Clint and Natasha were laughing at something else. Wanda was now helping Vision cook something that honestly smelled like it was burnt to a crisp.
Tony put the wheelchair upright and pretended to be in serious pain. He sat down, hating every second of it, before rolling out the door with Thor close behind. Once they were outside and away from where anyone could see them, Tony stood. "Alright, Point Break. Hit this thing with some lightning. Break it." Thor looked at him, confused. "Come on. It's for science."
Thor shrugged and spun his hammer, smirking as he hit the wheelchair with a blast of lightning. Tony smiled as it blew apart into nearly a thousand pieces.
He was less pleased when the power went out in the house. He groaned and walked back inside, limping as his leg was beginning to hurt pretty bad again. The house was very dark - it was almost seven thirty pm. "Friday, hey, sorry for yelling at you earlier - I'm not actually going to replace you - could you please turn on the emergency lights?"
Tony didn't like the dark. He sighed with relief as the lights came back on. He licked his lips nervously and sat down, grunting as he stretched out the leg being supported by whatever the hell he and Bruce built.
Steve was looking around. Bruce was already going downstairs to fix the electrical box. Thor sat down and looked around apologetically. Wanda and Vision had started over on what they were making. Clint and Natasha were laughing their asses off while watching cat videos.
"Friday, please play my new Spotify playlist," Tony huffed, rubbing his leg. Steve caught this - god damn his observant eyes - and walked over towards him. FRIDAY put on a new playlist - one that started with 'Back In Black,' one of Tony's favorites.
Tony wiggled his shoulders to the beat and realized Rhodey, Sam, and Pepper were gone. Steve somehow noticed this, like a creepy ass mind reader. "The government called. An emergency. They left immediately. They said to take care of you." He said softly, sitting down next to Tony. Tony wiggled his shoulders a bit more.
"C'mon, Capsicle, dance for us." Tony said, changing the subject. He didn't want to be reminded that they'd left - without saying goodbye.
Goodbye. What a rude word, really.
Tony thought about how he never got to say goodbye to his parents.
Oh, God, if he'd died down there or in the hospital - he never would have gotten to say goodbye to anyone. He swallowed hard and smirked up at Steve.
--You’re going to want this playing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x61CT0tDmAY --
Steve paused. "Uhm," he said awkwardly, "I don't know, Tony, I'm not very good at - uh - dancing..." He said, his face becoming red. Tony stood up, almost stumbling. He held his hands out to Steve, who took them gently. 'Mambo No. 5' came on. Clint was shimmying in the corner, stuffing donuts into his face while Natasha was eating some chips. Vision and Wanda were laughing, throwing ingredients into the pot. Bruce was smiling, watching all of them. Thor was thrusting his hips in a rather crude manner. It was complete chaos. But it was Tony's chaos and he wouldn't trade it for the world.
Steve stood up and Tony began slow-dancing to the quick song, which must have frustrated Steve, because Steve let go of him and began to wiggle his whole body, looking awfully confused.
Tony bit his lip as he copied Steve's moves, watching Steve's hips and feet. They got closer and closer until they were nearly touching. Tony was reminded that he was short, and that made him a little iffy on the situation, so he spun away, grabbing Steve's arm as he almost fell. Steve wiggled his shoulders and laughed, pulling Tony back up, putting his hand on Tony's back and stepping left, and then right. Tony matched the rhythm easily. Clint whistled.
FRIDAY interrupted the song and put on Love and Marriage by Frank Sinatra.
--Again, here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srKQvgI4RkQ --
"Oh my god, FRIDAY," Clint wheezed, laughing so hard he fell off the chair.
Tony changed his dancing immediately. Heck yeah, he knew how to swing dance. And so did Steve! They spun around the room, being totally engulfed by the music. Oh, it was so much easier when you both knew how to dance to the song.
As the song ended, Steve was half-holding Tony up as Tony laughed into Steve's shoulder. Steve held Tony close, laughing as well. Clint was choking on a donut and Natasha was on standby for first aid. Vision was smiling fondly at Wanda who swayed her hips for a brief minute before stopping and looking up at Vision, flustered. Bruce was shaking his head, smiling as he doodled on a piece of paper.
Tony threw himself on the couch, groaning in pain as his body told him 'calm the fuck down bitch,' but he was having too much fun to notice or care. He held Steve's hand as he rubbed his head, chuckling. "God, all of you are dorks," He said, smiling widely. He was so out of breath his face was red.
"But we're your dorks!" Steve chimed in. Tony didn't know why he did this next thing.
He pushed Steve's shoulders and climbed on top of him and kissed him. Bruce made a sot of strangled noise that sounded in-between throwing up and screeching. Clint gasped and pulled out his phone as quickly as he could, taking a video. Natasha was covering her mouth. Thor was laughing. Vision raised his eyebrows at them and kissed Wanda softly.
Tony? Kissing Steve gently? Hell no. This might be the last time he ever gets to kiss Steve.
However, because he didn't like Clint recording, he pulled away, smirking, licking his lips. Steve laid there, eyes wide, face red. Tony got off of him, standing, bowing. He then walked over to the kitchen and picked out a noodle from the pot of spaghetti they were making. He blew on it, almost dropping, surprised at how hot it was, before sticking it in his mouth. Wanda and Vision were staring into each other's eyes while everyone else was staring at Tony.
"What?" Tony said, breaking the silence. Steve covered his face with his hands and made a muffled noise that Tony couldn't describe. Clint burst into laughter and Natasha took Clint's phone to probably send the video to herself. Bruce shrugged and gave Tony a small thumbs-up. "Guys, have you ever known me to not make out with whomever I deem attractive?" Tony said confidently. Steve bit his lip and got up, walking over to Tony.
Standing up a little bit straighter, Tony prepared himself for whatever heartbreak would come next.
But he wasn't prepared when Steve kissed him again. It was softer, more heartfelt, more in-the-moment, more lets-enjoy-this. There wasn't any rush because now it wasn't just a yolo-lets-do-this-shit moment. Tony kissed back softly. Steve's lips tasted like sugar cookies. And if freedom had a taste, Tony was sure Steve would taste like it.
Tony was the first to pull back, arms around Steve's shoulders. He swallowed, looking into Steve's warm, soft blue eyes. "I'm sorry," Tony said suddenly. He wasn't even sure why. He looked confused. Steve must be doing this because he felt bad. Tony wouldn't be a pity-boyfriend. He staggered away, heading into his room.
"Friday, lock the doors. Quickly. Dim the lights. Wait- no. Leave the lights on." He said quickly, struggling to breathe. His ribs ached. His leg was searing with pain. His hands hurt. He could feel exhaustion and pain encase him. As he laid down, he was sure he'd fall asleep immediately.
But regret kept him up.
He shifted on the bed. He was freezing, but if he turned the heat up any higher he'd roast the Avengers. He tried to turn off the lights once, but then he had gotten panicky and turned them back on. Everyone had tried to knock on the door and speak to him. He heard from Clint talking to him from outside that Vision, Wanda, and Natasha had left for now. Apparently, Clint, Steve, and Bruce were staying. Probably to baby-proof the house.
How could he be so stupid? Kissing Steve?
He swallowed, but then he tasted acid in his mouth and couldn't react fast enough, so he ended up puking all over himself. He tried to move, but his whole body screamed. He winced and groaned loudly, shaking. He started crying. He wasn't sure if it was because of the physical pain or the emotional pain. He shook his head and chuckled.
He deserved this, didn't he?
He was simply a fool.
He didn't deserve Pepper. He didn't deserve Steve. He didn't deserve the Avengers.
He shouldn't be alive. He should have died when he was captured.
He started to convulse and puked again. "Friday," he whimpered, "unlock the door."
The door swung open with a bang. Goddamnit, FRIDAY. Hearing the noise, all three of them ran to the room to find Tony retching again. He coughed and rubbed his ribs, letting out a soft sobbing noise. "No-" he whispered, unable to say anything more.
Steve picked him up gently, but Tony tried to push him away. However, he was too weak to do so and he vomited again - all over Steve. Tony let out another shaky sob, whispering apologies as much as he could.
Bruce was already taking his temperature and getting Tony's medicine from the hospital. Clint was mumbling things worriedly, holding one of Tony's hands. Tony looked at Clint and tried to sob again, tried to pull away, tried to get everyone to leave, but he didn't have the strength. "Shhh, shhh, Tony, it'll be okay," Steve whispered over and over again, stroking Tony's hair and his face gently, holding him and supporting him with his other hand.
Bruce gently opened Tony's mouth and put a batch of pills in there. "You gotta swallow, Stark, you gotta. I'm going to pour some water in your mouth. You can do this," Bruce explained softly, pouring some water into Tony's mouth. Tony swallowed them down, but almost immediately threw up again. Luckily, the pills had gone down. Tony was shivering, cuddling against Steve, crying. He couldn't help it. He was too tired and too sick to worry about it.
Clint and Bruce looked at each other. They'd never even seen Tony look remotely sad. This was bizarre and new. And frightening. "We're going to get you cleaned up, Tony," Steve said quietly, even though he wasn't sure how they were going to do that. Tony nodded weakly, clutching Steve's shirt with his bruised fingers.
Steve gently stood up and awkwardly looked at the other two. "How're we going to do that?" Clint whispered in Steve's ear. Steve shrugged as they stepped into the huge bathroom.
"Tony, can you get undressed by yourself and get into the bathtub?" Steve asked weakly. Tony looked up at him with weak eyes before throwing up again. God, for someone who didn't eat much all day, he sure had a lot in his stomach. Steve looked over at Clint and Bruce. "Okay, Tony." Steve started awkwardly. This wasn't his favorite situation. "We're going to - ah - help you get - uhm - undressed and washed up, okay?" Tony nodded, although his face flushed. He looked so weak.
Steve gently lifted Tony's shirt off. The arc reactor's blue light filled the room. "Oh, God," Clint said, "move over, Steve. You two are basically dating. This is too weird for you to be doing." Steve moved over and Clint told Bruce to hold Tony up while he quickly took off Tony's pants and underwear. All three of them had their eyes closed tight. Bruce was mumbling about 'how they were all too flaming bisexual for this' and Clint was somehow maneuvering like a pro, even with his hand covering his eyes.
Tony helped them get him into the bathtub and started the water for them. Once there was no danger for their eyes, Tony let out a small noise and they all opened their eyes. Steve looked confused and horrified still. Clint laughed. "Have y'all seriously never unclothed someone while not being able to see?" He asked. Everyone looked shocked by this. "I mean - oh god..." Clint said, covering his mouth. "It wasn't a girlfriend or a boyfriend or anything like that, I swear!" He exclaimed, "I used to work with Natasha at a hospital! Neither of us wanted to see those things! We were younger!" Clint said, defending himself. Knowing him, it was probably true. No one even knew if Clint even ever had a love interest.
Tony let out a small chuckle that ended in him coughing. He brought his shaking hands to his face and wiped the dry tears off his face. He looked down, embarrassed. When he tried to talk, his voice was too hoarse for them to understand.
Clint sighed, "Good lord, today's been an eventful day." He mumbled, leaving the room, carrying Tony's clothes gently. Outside of the bathroom, they heard FRIDAY instruct him how to use the washer and dryer. When he came back, he threw a clean sweatshirt - with the words 'Hawkeye is the best' on it - at Steve and handed a donut to everyone but Tony. Steve took off his shirt - Tony was caught staring by Clint, and sunk a little deeper into the water - and threw on the sweatshirt, which was about 3 billion sizes too small. Clint burst into laughter, taking a picture. Steve tried to take it off, but he couldn't. He was stuck.
"Clint, you're fucking as short as Tony how did I get tricked into this-" Steve started, chuckling. Tony sank even deeper into the water, grinning.
"Hey! At least I'm taller than Bruce!" Clint exclaimed while Bruce groaned and began to protest about how that wasn't fair. Steve ended up accidentally ripping the sweatshirt and Clint, at that point, had frowned and crossed his arms, acting serious. However, that didn't work very well, and he ended up laughing. "That wasn't even mine," Clint said, smirking, "that was Nat's."
Steve's eyes widened and Bruce stifled a laugh. Tony looked at Steve sympathetically.
"Wow, I can't believe Steve Rodgers is fucking dead," Bruce laughed.
Tony didn't laugh. His mind went back to the vision he had in the dark space. The one where Steve had died. And it had been all his fault.
His brain replayed the memory over and over. Tony didn't realize he was crying until Steve and Bruce were talking to him.
Tony blinked and wiped his eyes. "Sorry," He mumbled, voice cracking. His throat was dry and it still tasted acidic. Clint looked confused and concerned and Bruce was clenching his jaw. Tony's eyes widened in fear. The Hulk couldn't come out here.
"Hey, Bruce," Clint said softly, "why don't you get some sleep? We can handle this. We'll wake you if things get worse."
Bruce nodded and patted Tony gently on the head - it would be weird if he patted his naked shoulder through the water - before walking away. Clint sighed and yawned. Tony sat up straighter, water running off of the arc reactor. Steve looked into Tony's eyes.
"I'm sorry-" They both said at the same time.
"Oh god, y'all are getting married soon if y'all start speaking the same thing at the same time." Clint said, groaning. "I hope y'all know I'm planning that shit. I don't care what Nat says." He stated, eyebrows raised.
"I hope you know you just said 'y'all' three times," Tony stated, his voice shaky but stronger than it was before. "I think I'm clean enough. I-I'll be stronger tomorrow. You can leave. If I fall, you'll probably hear me say 'oh no, I've fallen and I can't get up,' and then you can come help me." Tony said, clutching the sides of the tub with his fingers.
"Nah, fam, I'm the first aid kit and can move with my eyes closed. Steve, you're too gay, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Clint said, standing up, already closing his eyes. Steve looked like he was going to argue, but left. Clint stood there, relying on his hearing - not his strongest sense. He was wearing hearing aids.
Tony almost stumbled immediately. He cursed and huffed, his breathing become louder. Clint moved so that Tony could grab his hand. Tony did - even though he didn't want to - and walked over to where a towel was hanging. "Alright, you can open your eyes." Clint did and helped Tony walk over to where his clothes were hanging up.
"Walking with that stupid leg thing is so much easier," Tony huffed to himself, "God, look at me, the great Tony Stark, can't even walk." When Tony realized Clint was listening, he shut his mouth, mumbling an apology.
Tony took the clothes back into the bathroom, kicking Clint out, assuring them he could get dressed by himself.
Clint sat next to Steve, who had thrown on a new t-shirt that said 'TEAMCAP' in big, golden letters, with the iconic shield under it. "I'm sure he'll be fine," Clint said, patting Steve's shoulder. "He's Tony Stark. Tonight was just a little road bump."
"He was crying," Steve said quietly. "I don't know, Clint, I don't know."
Tony came out a few minutes later, wearing a soft, solid black hoodie and some shorts - which was unusual because Tony literally never wore shorts, so wow, them legs, bro.
Tony yawned and laid down on the bed with Clint and Steve still sitting on the end. He groaned and shifted. "Y'know, I never thought literally everything could hurt. Turns out I was wrong. Usually, I'm never wrong. I wish I was right." Tony said quickly.
"Good night, Tony," Clint said, leaving the room, clearly exhausted. It was four am, after all.
Steve went to stand up, but Tony spoke, "Hey, Steve, can you stay here for a bit?" He immediately regretted it, but it was too late now. Steve nodded. At least he could help for sure if Tony needed something.
Tony gulped and told FRIDAY to turn off the lights.
--
Tony woke up screaming after he watched Steve die in front of him again.
Steve had jumped, waking up immediately, hugging Tony, asking what was wrong, utterly confused.
"Nightmares - It- I'm - I - I'm fine. You'd better get to bed." Tony said, stuttering, eyes wide with obvious fear. Steve didn't want to stress Tony out more, but he also didn't want to leave Tony alone. "Please, Rodgers. I sleep better alone." He lied. "When people are next to me, they always die in my dreams." He lied again.
So Steve left.
Tony clutched his hair in his hands and pulled, wincing in pain as his head began throbbing.
He fell asleep eventually, too tired to have any more nightmares.
Link to it on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/546540151-recovery-stony-tragedy-chapter-one
"Steve Rodgers, you irritate me." Tony Stark said, running a hand through his silky brown hair, eyeing Captain America with conflicted brown eyes. They were sitting in a restaurant, in a red-themed booth. Steve was sitting across from Tony, looking out the window, a smile on his dashing face.
"Tony, you know you love me," Steve said, turning his attention to Tony again. His breath hitching, Tony looked into Steve's dazzling blue eyes. He started to fidget with his fingers, glancing away. No. He was not in love. He didn't love Steve Rodgers. Nope. Not a chance in hell.
"I actually hate you," Tony said, one eyebrow going up, real smooth, "I thought we had accomplished that." Nice, Tony. Cover up your feelings with sarcasm. "Friday, what's the weather like today?" Tony asked his watch, where FRIDAY, an AI designed to help Tony, was listening.
"Sunny, with 2 miles per hour of wind. Zero chance of rain. Fifty-seven degrees Fahrenheit." FRIDAY answered quickly. Tony smiled, missing JARVIS (his previous and - don't tell FRIDAY - his favorite AI). FRIDAY was brilliant, and Tony was proud of himself for her creation.
"Perfect. Thank you, Friday." Tony said, to which FRIDAY gave her usual 'anytime, sir.' "So, Cap, it's nice outside. Are we going to sit here for hours? What a boring first date. I expected better from you, Captain Romance." Tony joked, ignoring all of his feelings.
Steve laughed his warm, soft laugh. "Tony, you were the one who invited me here." He exclaimed, smiling, running a hand quickly through his gorgeous blonde hair.
"Only because you were so clearly dying to take me out on a date that I did it for you," Tony said instantly. He was a genius, so of course, he could make a clever comeback for anything.
"Oh, Tony Stark, I adore you," Steve said in a flirtatious tone, blinking, smiling sweetly, holding his head in one of his hands. Tony opened his mouth, but no words came out quickly, so he just chuckled. He didn't blush. Could Tony Stark blush? Add that to the list of mysteries. "But seriously, I acted like that because we need to have a serious conversation."
"Really? Cap, I hate conversing and being serious isn't n my nature." Tony put on his sunglasses and glanced out the window. "Make it quick, because I get bored faster than you can run,"
"Pepper's deciding that she..." Steve paused. Tony should have stood by now and walked out. Instead, his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes showed concern and curiosity. "She doesn't want to see you anymore."
"What?" Tony said, laughing a little. "Captain is-to-stupid-to-know-not-to-fuck-with-Tony-Stark, you better not-..." Tony cut himself off, looking out the window in confusion. His heart ached. Not Pepper. He couldn't lose Pepper. He bit his tongue and his nostrils flared. Great fucking job, Tony fucking Stark.
"I'm sorry, Tony, but it's true. She met with me two weeks ago." Steve explained, a sorry smile on his face. Tony bit his tongue harder. What an idiot he'd been.
Tony stood, planting his hands on the table. He swallowed hard, breathing in. "Thanks, Cap," he said effortlessly, faking a smile. Boy, was he ever good at that? "Hopefully I won't see you around." And then Tony left, walking out the door.
He clicked his watch and his suit formed around him. He took off as quickly as possible, soaring into the cloudless blue sky, his thoughts not being nice at all.
"How could I lose her, Friday?" Tony said, hovering in the air.
"Sir, we should go home," FRIDAY responded, ignoring Tony's cry for help. She was an AI, not a therapist. Tony felt a pang of sorrow. JARVIS would have tried to help him.
"Fuck you, Friday," Tony said, taking in a shaking breath and exhaling for as long as he could. He then leaned down and flew back towards Stark Tower, landing with a thud on the roof. He clicked the area of his suit above where his watch was and the suit deactivated, returning to its state in the watch. Looking at the sky, everything felt hopeless again.
Night came quickly, and Tony crawled into bed, wishing he could fall asleep and wake up in a different time. A time where Pepper loved him still. A time Steve Rodgers didn't gain any of Tony's attention. A time where he wasn't Iron Man, just a simple genius billionaire, living with Pepper, not having any involvement with the Avengers.
He fell asleep quickly.
Then he fell.
Tony's breathing was ragged as he fell out of the sky. He couldn't breathe. Once he hit the ground, the world went black, but then everything was a dark blue. Steve and Pepper were lying there, dead. "Your fault..." Pepper whispered, while Steve's eyes closed and tears traveled gently down his cheeks.
Tony shook them, begging for them to wake up, listening to their breathing stop, their blood covering him, encasing him. It dried on him and he couldn't move, he could just cry.
And then he fell again, watching as he fell from the hole as Steve and Pepper were murdered by another copy of Tony, who looked up and smirked.
And when Tony hit the ground this time, he woke up and screamed, clawing at his chest, closing his eyes tight, crying.
-----
Tony took a burning shower, ignoring how his body screamed for him to stop the burning. He didn't even bother to wash up. He simply stood there, staring at the pristine white tiles. He rubbed his chest, watching the arc reactor glow. He ran his fingers over it.
It would be awfully simple to pull it out right now.
"Sir?" FRIDAY said, her Irish voice filling the house, "Ms. Potts is here."
Tony gasped for air, not realizing he'd been holding his breath. He took his hand away from his chest and rubbed his eyes, feeling lightheaded. He turned off the water and almost lost his balance as he dried himself off and quickly threw on a simple grey shirt and some jeans. He ran a hand through his knotted, wet hair, and traveled quickly downstairs.
He opened the door. Pepper. "I'm sorry," Tony said instantly.
"Tony, I assume Captain America told you everything?" She asked, holding a suitcase and calmly staring back at Tony.
"No. I mean - he told me that... uh, we were over." Tony said, holding back tears as he stared at Pepper.
"I care about you, Tony," She began, "but I... got a job offer. For the NSA. I have to join. But they said... they said for security reasons, I had to terminate my relationship with you." She noticed the lost look in Tony's eyes. "Tony, we can still be friends." She added quickly.
"That'd be great. Now, I have lots of work. Be safe. The NSA can be dangerous." He said quickly, faking a pleased and proud smile. He closed the door. "Friday, keep her out. But keep records on her. Everything big, tell me. We gotta.... keep her safe. Always." Tony said to the air before sitting down on the couch. He picked up his phone.
Three missed messages from Captain Nice Ass.
"Tony, where are you? God, are you mad at me? I'm sorry." "Tony, I'm concerned about you." "Tony. New mission. Meet us ASAP. At Clint's farm. Please."
Tony stared at these messages. He broke into tears. Why did Steve even care? What mission? All Tony wanted to do was hide and sleep. He wiped his eyes pathetically, whimpering. He sighed and looked around. He was fine.
"Friday, I'm going to Clint's farm. Lock up the tower," he walked out the door and clicked his watch again before flying off into the sky, thinking only of work. He wondered what mission this could be. Some positive things came out of Pepper leaving him; now he didn't have to worry about endangering her, and he could have crushes without feeling immensely guilty.
He landed quietly on Clint's farm. "Alright, fuckers, what's up now?" Tony said loudly, the metal mask disappearing. His brown eyes scanned the farm. Sitting on benches and on the ground was: Clint, Steve, Natasha, Vision, Wanda, Thor, and Peter.
"You decided to bring the child?" Tony demanded, feeling rage fill up his chest, pointing at Peter and glaring at Steve, who must have been the one to assemble the team. Peter looked awkwardly down at the ground, scratching the back of his head. He looked like he wanted to speak up, but knew better.
"He's not a child. He's going to help us fight, Tony." Steve stood. God damn him for being taller than Tony. Peter shuffled his feet and nodded.
"Mr. Stark, I'm not a child." He said awkwardly, "And I want to help! You gave me this suit and all... and I just figured I could be of some use. I just want to be like you. Help people, y'know?" Peter chimed, looking worried.
Tony couldn't help but think dark thoughts. He wasn't helpful. "And I don't want you to be like me, kid," Tony said bitterly, sighing, "but I guess I can't stop you." He hated how pathetic and weak and how out of control his voice sounded. He cleared his throat quietly. He hated the sympathetic eyes Steve was giving him. "Alright, you ignorant fucks, what's on our agenda?"
"Stop cursing," Steve said, "okay. So-"
Clint cut him off, "My daughter's been taken. Lila." Clint looked as hard as a rock, his eyes hard and emotionless. However, the bags under his eyes and how red his eyes looked proved otherwise. Tony wasn't sure what to say. Peter looked down again. Steve pat Clint on the back gently and Natasha side-hugged him gently.
Part of Tony wanted to point out that some random, not-so-powerful, regular-but-bad human could have captured Clint's daughter. Instead, he went with, "Well, I guess we're going to have to kill that bitch." Clint almost smiled. Tony blinked and swallowed. Okay.
"I can find whoever did this on my own. I don't know why you'd need the whole team when all you need is me." Tony said, his thrusters turning on. He was now taller than Steve. He shot a triumphant smirk at Steve, even though he didn't seem to notice.
Clint paused and looked terrified. "No. What if something happens to you?" He paused again. "What if they kill her because of you or something? Oh, God, Tony, no, you can't go." Tony's eye twitched at this. What the hell could that mean? They were more likely to kill her if they were all there.
"I can do this, Clint. Go be with your wife. She'll need you." Tony said quickly in a slightly demanding voice. Clint was stubborn but God knows that Tony could outlast everyone. Besides, Clint's wife really did need him.
Clint hesitated but nodded. "Please, take someone with you, Tony. Please."
"Me, myself, and I are going. Kid, make sure they stay here. That's an order. You all have to protect Clint and his family while I'm gone. I'll find her. I'll tell you when I do." Tony took off immediately. He would find her. He could work alone. He wanted to be alone. He couldn't put any of them at risk.
Or take the risk of being alone with Steve Rodgers.
He couldn't be in love with that man.
No.
----
Tony entered the cave, breathing heavily in his suit. It was pouring rain outside. He was in a forest in Central America. FRIDAY said that security cameras had caught her and a masked man just north of the forest heading inside of it.
Tony took the mask off and breathed in the fresh air. It was humid as fuck down here, and Tony was dying of heat.
Then there was rustling. Then Tony was kicked down.
And three people stood around him. One was holding a gun to Tony's head, one was Clint's daughter, and the other one was holding a gun to the quivering girl's head.
"Let her go." Tony hissed immediately.
"No... I don't think so." Their voice was distorted, but it was easy to tell they were using a cheap voice changer. They pressed the gun harder on Tony's forehead, making him wince as it dug into his temples. The gun cocked.
Tony winced and looked at Clint's daughter, who looked remarkably brave. "Let her go, and you can do whatever you want to me. I don't care. Just... let her go." Tony said, his voice getting higher. He tried to move his hand sneakily, but his attacker stomped on it, and Tony heard the blasters shatter.
"We're in a forest," the other man said, quickly, whispering, "she'll never survive five minutes out there. Plus, then we don't have to deal with a defiant Stark and a crying girl."
The other man seemed to be considering it. While they were looking at each other, Tony grabbed his helmet and whispered to FRIDAY, "Please. Help her find her way home. I don't know where they'll take me. Keep her safe, Friday." He looked at the girl and pointed to the door, then to his helmet. She seemed to understand. He set it out as close to the entrance as he could as silently as possible.
"Fine. Go." The one holding the gun to Tony's head said. The girl scampered away, quickly grabbing the helmet and sprinting as far as she could.
Tony smirked up at his attackers. "Well, I'm all yours, love, what now?"
----
Tony woke up, dried blood all over his face. His vision was blurry and the dim room was too bright for him. He winced, his head pounding. He was chained to the wall, being held up by the chains. He leaned his head against the wall and tried to breathe. He could taste dirt and grime in his mouth. And something acidic. Maybe he threw up earlier. The whole place smelled rancid.
Tony blinked a few times, and then someone yanked his hair. Hard. His scalp burned as he closed his eyes and clenched his jaw against the pain. "Well, good morning! Thought you'd never wake up. It's not fun beating up someone who's not alive!"
The attacker's fist connected with his ribs. Tony gasped and groaned in pain. Another one, the exact same spot. Tony felt like crying, but there was too much dirt in his throat to allow anything but dry sobbing noises.
"Did you let her go?" Tony demanded. His attacker laughed and punched him another time. He could basically hear and feel his rib snapping.
----
"Hello, ma'am. My name is FRIDAY. I work for Mr. Stark." The computer's voice scared Lila so badly she dropped the helmet and leaped away from it. "There is no need to be afraid. I am going to help you get to your father. I have already updated the team of our coordinates. They will be here soon."
Lila stared at the helmet, picking it up. It was a little heavy, but she'd helped her father with firewood before, so she was good at carrying heavy things. "Can I talk to daddy?" She said quietly.
The phone didn't even get a chance to ring before Natasha picked up. The whirl of helicopter blades was very audible. "Lila?" Natasha said instantly, listening and talking like her life depended on it.
"Auntie Nat! I'm in the forest. Mr. Stark gave me his helmet and his Friday. Please," she started crying, "come get me. I'm scared." Nat made a choking noise.
"Honey, we're almost there. Keep talking to me. We're almost there." Natasha said. Clint started flying faster until they landed a few hundred feet away from Lila. Once the plane landed, Lila ran towards the helicopter. Natasha caught her, holding her tight. Clint walked over and hugged them both, tears going down his face silently. He couldn't lose his family.
"Where's Mr. Stark?" Peter asked.
"They... took him. He told them they could have him instead. He gave me this," she showed them the helmet, "and told me to run." Peter looked confused.
"FRIDAY, where is Tony?" Natasha asked.
"I do not know. Tony's suit was deactivated, and so was all tracking functions." FRIDAY answered. "However, I believe that they would have headed north. Satelite imagery suggests there's a small compound that way."
"Take her home. I'll find Tony," Steve volunteered. "Peter, Thor, Nat, protect them. We don't know if they still want to attack them." Steve was already in his suit and he grabbed his shield, hopping out of the helicopter. Clint nodded and saluted him.
Steve ran into the forest.
-----
The building couldn't be found. Even with FRIDAY's help, no one could re-locate the building that was seen by the satellites.
It's been a week. No sign of Tony Stark.
Steve was beginning to panic. He and Natasha kept looking for him. But then Steve told her to go back to protecting Clint because Thor and Peter both had to return home.
-----
Tony groaned in pain as the chains slipped off his arms and legs. He fell to the ground with a thud, dust flying into his mouth and eyes. The men stepped on his fingers and one kicked him in the ribs. Tony could barely breathe, and dark spots swam in his vision.
Stay awake. Stay awake. Don't give in, Tony thought, but I want to die. Death would be better than this. He groaned. No. Stay for the Avengers. Stay for Steve. Stay to rub all this in Clint's face.
Tony was helped to his feet before he was slammed against the wall. "Now, honey, we've got something new for you. You're going to run. Up and down the stairs. Or the punishment," the man balled his fist, "will be much worse."
Tony stood upright and almost passed out immediately. He tried to walk, even. But everything hurt too much. He took another step and collapsed, shaking, sobbing. He could barely breathe. He let himself drop into unconsciousness.
----
"Vision! Hey!" Steve yelled into his phone. Vision could find Tony.
Or, at least, Steve hoped so.
"I'm here, Steve Rodgers. I heard about Tony's disappearance. I assume you've called to see if I could help you find him? Well. You're in luck." Vision answered, sounding full of themselves but also worried.
Steve gasped. "Really? Where is he?" Steve almost shouted, smiling, because however worried he may be, he was now a billion steps closer to rescuing Tony.
"He's underneath you." Vision said. His voice didn't display any emotion. Steve's heart dropped.
"What do you mean?" Steve asked, his voice going quiet and solemn. No. Tony could not be dead. Steve looked at his feet. There was a flower. A red dahlia. Tony's favorite.
"Pull the flower out of the ground." Vision instructed.
"No!" Steve protested, his emotions piling up. He felt confused. No. Tony wasn't dead. He couldn't be. He was 'The Invincible Iron Man.' No.
"Do it. It'll open up the stairs, Steve Rodgers." Vision said.
Steve reached down and yanked on the flower. Sure enough, a secret door opened. Vision hung up. Steve walked down the stairs, keeping his shield close to his body. He walked carefully. To his surprise, there were no guards. No one to stop him.
Then he heard whimpering. Tony.
Steve turned the corner and watched through a broken area in the stone walls. There, he saw Tony curled up on the ground, weakly covering his head, being kicked and violently messed with.
"Get up!" One of the men - who were dressed completely in black - commanded. Tony weakly stood up, shaking. His eyes were blood red and his face and neck were covered in bruises. His nose, mouth, and chin were stained red. "Run around this room three times and then do four jumping jacks. You black out, I swear we'll beat you to the brink of death."
And so Tony tried to run. Steve watched him as he held his ribs and his face turned an ugly shade as he struggled to breathe. Tony collapsed, gasping for air. "P-p-please d-don't!" Tony cried as they picked him up by the arms again. The taller man raised his fist and Tony slumped to the ground just before the slim man tried to punch him.
"Stop!" Steve yelled, making them turn to him. He ran through the door and hit both of them with his shield. Hard enough to severely injure them. "Tony," Steve begged, kneeling on the ground, not daring to touch the injured man.
"Vision? Anyone! Come in, please! Tony's injured. Really badly. Please. He's barely breathing and I don't know if we can move him." Steve said, hoping someone heard him.
----
Wanda had lifted Tony out with her powers. No one touched him. Clint cried upon seeing him. He claimed it was his fault. It wasn't. Steve could barely recognize him. His nose was broken and his face was covered in blood. They'd taken off his shirt - luckily, the arc reactor had been left alone. They must have known to leave it be. They wanted Tony alive. His sides were completely black and purple. They said it was a miracle he had survived.
They said that there was a chance he could die now, on that operating table.
They had to fix his ribs. They were going to try to fix his nose. Clean him up. They had to relocate his knee and his shoulder. Three toes were broken. Almost all of his fingers were broken.
They asked Steve to leave the room.
So he did, hoping that he'd see Tony again.
----
Pepper Potts showed up quickly. Everyone Tony knew well was there. Pepper, Thor, Peter, Bruce, Clint, Natasha, Fury, Wanda, and Vision.
No one said anything.
Steve hated the silence. He wanted someone to say something. However, when Steve tried to speak, a miserable croaking noise came out and he bit back sobs.
"This was all my fault," Clint said, rubbing his forehead and his eyes. "I should have... been home. I should have watched her. I should have protected her." He paused. "I shouldn't have let Tony go alone." His voice cracked.
"It's not your fault-" Everyone (but Peter) chimed in instantly.
Two weeks passed. Every day, they'd meet up again and wait, unless one of them was busy.
----
They waited for hours.
Then the nurse invited Pepper in.
When she came out, she was crying.
Steve asked her why.
Because Tony told a joke when he first woke up.
"He said," Pepper said, wiping her eyes, "'I loved this. What a great nap. I could totally sleep for seventy years - just maybe not in ice.'"
"That insane fucker," Steve caught himself saying, smiling. Glad to know Tony was still in there. "How's he doing?"
"Stable. They say he'll 100% live," she frowned, "but he'll be in pain. For a long time." Everyone's happy faces dropped a little. "But good news. The doctor isn't a normal doctor. They fixed him up pretty damn good. He'll have some difficulty walking and stuff, but her technology was able to help a lot." She said.
"Can I see him?" Steve finally asked.
"Actually, he asked to see you, Steve. Then you, Clint." Pepper explained.
Steve walked through the door.
Tony was bandaged but looked better. He even smiled at Steve. "Ah, Stevie Starry Pants, welcome!" He said, awfully cheerful. "I'm on morphine, my dear friend! Basically high. Anyways, how's life?" Tony asked.
"How're you?" Steve asked in return, smiling. He sat down on a chair next to Tony. Tony's eyes were half-way closed as he reached over and grabbed Steve's hand. Tony's hands were bandaged and he assumed that however, the (quite remarkably pretty) doctor fixed the rest of his broken bones, she did that to his fingers as well. As Steve touched Tony's hand, his skin was broken and it felt... unnatural. Tony's skin was always so soft. Steve held Tony's hand as he looked at the ceiling.
"I'm fine. How long was I gone for?" Tony asked.
"Two and a half weeks. And then you were sleeping for another two weeks." Steve answered. Tony tried to shake his head but ended up wincing in pain. Tony's grip tightened on Steve's hand.
"Do you think Clint could handle an I-told-you-so?" He asked, forcing a smile.
"Yes. No. Uh- maybe." Steve answered, offering a weak smile. He put his other hand on top of Tony's. Sighing, he closed his eyes. "God, Tony, we were so worried-" he stopped, shaking his head. He fought back the tears that wanted to come.
Tony looked down. His bruised jaw shifted as Tony thought of something to say. "I didn't think you'd ever find me," his voice quivered weakly, "and I almost gave up." his voice broke on 'gave.'
Steve looked into Tony's desperate eyes. "Tony Stark, I want to help you," Steve said. He knew Tony would need help. Pepper would abandon her job in an instant to help Tony, but Steve wouldn't let her. He'd be the one to help Tony.
"Stevie Rodgers, if I had the strength, I'd use this vulnerable and heartfelt moment to kiss you, but since I can't, can you plant your lips right on mine? No making out yet, though, because my jaw's still tender." Tony looked nervous and confident; hurt and immortal, powerful and weak.
Steve hesitated. The words didn't make sense in his brain. Tony watched him, his eyes watering up as he pulled his hand back. "I was kidding, Rodgers. I couldn't care less about your affection. Really, I could-" Tony suddenly began sobbing. He was shaking, unable to move and hide. 'I'm sorry-" Tony began to apologize.
Steve gently grabbed Tony's chin and leaned down, kissing him gently. Tony stopped sobbing instantly and gently kissed back. They sat in this bliss for a few seconds, Tony's hand slowly reaching as far as he could to touch Steve's back.
Then the door opened. Tony pulled back, eyes wide, face flushed.
Steve did it. He solved one of the mysteries. Tony Stark could blush. Covering his eyes, Clint walked back out. Steve smiled down at Tony, grabbing his hand again. "Tony Stark, I love you," Steve said. He'd bitten back the feeling of 'love' ever since Peggy died.
But now it was bubbling over. He stared down at Tony, who was chuckling, wigging his toes, biting his lip. "God, I fucking love you too," Tony said, opening his mouth and laughing, almost like he couldn't believe this was happening.
Steve couldn't believe it either.
"You better go make sure Clint doesn't snitch on us," Tony said finally. His face twitched and Steve didn't want to go, but he smiled, nodded, and left.
Clint was sitting, his hands over his face. He looked like he was either going to cry or laugh. Steve patted him on the back. "Go on, Clint. Tony wants to talk to you." Clint cleared his throat and gave Steve a look that Steve couldn't describe. It was packed with all the emotions at once.
Clint walked through the doors and sat down next to Tony.
"I told you I'd get her to you safe," Tony said smugly, staring at the ceiling. Clint bit his cheek, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time.
"Thank you, Tony." Was all Clint could say.
They sat in silence for a while.
"Don't tell anyone about how I forced Steve to kiss me," Tony said quietly, his hands shaking. He held them up and watched them, curling his lip at them, angry at his unsteady hands.
"What?" Clint said, "Explain. Please,"
"Okay. I said 'what? No goodbye kiss? God, I nearly die and you still won't treat me like the gentleman I am, Captain Bad-at-romance.' So he kissed me. It was completely platonic. He felt the need to kiss me on the lips. I ask you for a kiss, too. That's how you can repay me, by the way. Or, that's the start of it, at least. Right on the cheek, please." Tony said, speaking too much too quickly. He hoped Clint wasn't bright enough to catch his lie.
Clint smiled and laughed. "God, Tony, you're such an attention-seeking, lovable, foolish but powerful, loser!" He exclaimed, leaning down to give Tony a soft kiss on the cheek. Tony smiled, quite proud of himself, and made a shooing motion with his hand.
"Send some more paparazzi in!" Tony cried, grinning.
----
It had been a week since Tony had woken up. he was still confined to the hospital. Steve stayed with him for hours. Today, Tony would be going home at three o'clock. It was noon right now, which gave them plenty of time in the hospital still.
"I miss the morphine high," Tony said, frowning. Steve remembered the first day they took him off of morphine. Tony was groaning all day, sometimes gasping for air, sometimes complaining. He'd ordered pizza that day and ended up puking all over himself. That was two days ago. Tony was feeling better now.
God bless the doctor. No one knew who she was besides that she didn't live in America and was truly brilliant.
Tony stood up. He almost fell over, clenching his jaw as tight as he could as his body seared with a burning sensation.
Steve quickly grabbed Tony's arm, steadying him.
This would be a long recovery.
But Steve would always be there for Tony.
And so the path to recovery starts.
//Authors note//
Hey all! My name is Aeron, and I love Stony.
I promised myself not to start another fanfiction.
If you are reading this, please don't get attached!! I love nice comments, but if you rush me then I'll want to work even less!! So, please, you can leave nice comments, joke around, react to stuff, and etc. but please don't just comment asking for a new update!! I'm going to update them in bulk!! If you want to be tagged when I update, please tell me!!
Sorry if this made very little sense, haha. I tried to plan a plot, but that didn't work too well.
Also, I am not very old, so obviously my writing isn't fantastic.
Hello all! My name is Aeron (I use he/they pronouns), and I run this blog. This is my first post!
I have several other blogs, haha.
I’m still a newbie to Tumblr, really.
Also. I’m young and haven’t been into Marvel for a long time!! So I apologize if the characters aren’t spot on!
But yes! I write Stony. Very slowly. Please don’t rush me! I can tag you if you want me to when I update!
I do accept one-shot requests! just no nsfw!
I love nice comments about my work!!
If you’d prefer to read on my wattpad, you can find me here: https://www.wattpad.com/user/ask_oblivion_squip (this is also where I write about my ocs). My main Stony story was just started (it’s called Recovery).
Warning: most of my stuff is angst!! If I forget to tag somethng, tell me!!
Here are some rules:
-no nsfw!! some jokes and references are okay!! but now actual nsfw please!!
-do not follow me or interact if you post nsfw or are a pedo inclusionist etc. etc.
-Send me memes!! please.
-Do not be rude!! I am a weak person okay. Don’t like my content? There’s the door. Block me if you want. I don’t care.
-I will not allow any racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination in genderal!!
Also; THIS BLOG IS TRANS, LGBTQ+, AND NONBINARY ACCEPTING. I WILL NOT HATE YOU UNLESS YOU ARE A BAD PERSON. END OF STORY.
