A Day Off
Tony woke up in pain. He remembered the other week and grimaced. He was at hospital for one week after that punch he got from Steve. Yes, he was that strong. He deserved it though. He deserved everything bad he could think of. He just didn’t think Steve would hurt him like that; it never occurred to him that Steve had this rage inside him. One part of Tony always thought that maybe there was a chance Steve loved him as Tony did, but with last week, this idea was proven wrong. Even if it was true, Steve would have started hating him already.
He was home today, if he could call this place home anymore without Steve and the other Avengers. He was feeling really depressed so he decided he would take a day off, he was already off duty because of his injury but he worked inside the tower all day. He wasn’t going to do anything today, just eat cereal and watch some TV and lie all day. He missed it. He wished Avengers were with him, Hulk and Clint would fight over who gets to eat the hazelnut paste, Janet and Hank would fight over something about their old relationship and who was the reason they broke up, Natasha would complain that there is not enough space in her room for practice…
He sighed and turned on the TV, half lying on the couch and eating his cereal.
“Underground move-”
“Pro-registration forces started to-”
“Captain America and his Secret Avengers are out of sight since they-”
Tony let out a breath of boredom. All the same. Always talking about politics and superheroes like they got nothing better to do. He wondered where Cap is now. They were probably finding new places to hide since S.H.I.E.L.D. found the last one, thanks to Tony. He hoped Steve was okay. However he tried to blame him for sucker-punching Tony, Steve did what he had to do. Just because Tony didn't have the guts to do what was necessary in order to fight for his side and friends, just because he wasn't willing to hurt Steve for the sake of millions, he couldn't expect the same from Steve.
As he was processing this idea, he heard noises from the lower floor of his apartment. He sent S.H.I.E.L.D. agents away , who was that? Or did he imagine it? It was almost impossible to get pass the Stark Tower security. It had to be one of the Avengers; they were the only ones who could do it.
“Jarvis prepare mark 42.” He whispered in case something dangerous was there. “Hello?” he called out. There were no voices now; maybe he started hallucinating or something. Jarvis would have let him know if someone was there, right? Right. He went to his bedroom and lie on his bed, he just woke up but he felt sleepy again. And sleep was the only time when he couldn't think so he slept a lot last couple of months.
***
One Hour Ago
Steve was just standing in front of the Stark Tower, looking up. He was thinking his next step, would he go up see Tony, would he just walk away now and never come back to him again? He was going crazy for the last eight days and the fact that he hurt Tony was something he could never forgive about himself. Steve heard that he was in hospital whole week and after this news, he didn’t even leave his room, not even to eat. Others knew something was up, probably they knew it was about Tony but they didn’t ask and he was grateful for it.
He decided, he would just go up and check on Tony without him seeing. Jarvis didn’t tell Tony about what he said earlier so maybe he wouldn’t tell this time. He used his secret entrance to enter the tower then he took the elevator because there seem to be no agents here today.
“Welcome, sir. Should I inform Mr. Stark?” He heard Jarvis as he left the elevator.
“No.” Steve replied and there was no response back. “Why didn’t you tell him, Jarvis?” Steve asked.
“Tell him what exactly, sir?” Jarvis said, trying to be oblivious. Steve grinned and wondered when Jarvis became this thoughtful.
“Well, thank you anyway. What is Tony doing?” He asked.
“Mr. Stark woke up an hour and forty two minutes ago. He is upstairs eating cereal and watching TV, sir.” Steve nodded but he was really surprised because he wouldn’t think Tony would take a time off at a time like this. But of course, he was the one who punched him and put him to this position. He felt rage rising inside him as he remembered it again.
As he paced through the room with anger, he accidently hit the painting that was not yet hanged and knocked it down, it made a huge noise, obviously. He quickly got it up and leaned it against the wall but Tony must have heard the voice. He stood still and tried not to make a voice. He heard Tony’s footsteps upstairs as he called “Hello?” expecting a response he never received. Oh, how he missed his voice. How he missed it.
Then the voices stopped and a door closed.
“Where did he go?” Steve asked Jarvis impatiently.
“He went to sleep, sir. I think he didn’t sleep very much last night.”
Steve waited for twenty minutes and went upstairs. He was planning on seeing him while he was asleep; Tony was a heavy sleeper so Steve doubted he would wake up. Steve didn’t know why he was hiding and why he was here or why was Jarvis helping him but he knew one thing: he needed desperately to see Tony. He entered his bedroom, seeing him wrapped in his blanket. He looked cold but cozy. He sat on the edge of his bed and watched him for two hours. Literally, he realized he was there for two hours and it wasn’t helping him to get over his guilt nor love for Tony. Just as he was preparing to leave this beautiful sight, he heard his voice.
“Steve?”
***
Tony woke up to see Steve standing in his bedroom and was really shocked and he realized he missed him.
“Steve?” he called. Steve turned quickly and his eyes widened.
“Oh..um, Tony.. hi.” He muttered. Tony wanted to laugh at his confused face. “I-just wanted to-you know come here-and… actually I was just leaving.” He mumbled as he made his way to the door.
“Cap, it’s okay.” He tried to calm him. Tony wanted Steve to stay for a little bit. He knew they weren’t exactly friends now; in fact Steve beat the shit out of him, but he couldn’t help himself. Steve stopped but didn’t turn back.
“Stay.” Tony said in a sharper voice, it was more like an order than an invite. Tony had to remember that Captain America didn’t like to be ordered around but to his surprise, Steve nodded and sat on the edge of the bed.
“So…what brings you here?” Tony asked as he watched Steve’s beautifully shaped face as he tensed.
“Um, you know, to check up on you…and it’s odd since I’m the one who gave you these bruises.” Steve replied as he touched Tony’s arms, Tony shivered under his touch.
Steve looked in pain for a second. “Are you afraid of me?” He asked, misinterpreting Tony’s shivering. He looked like that thought scared him.
“Of course not. I’m the one with the armor, aren’t I?” Tony chuckled and tried to calm him. He couldn’t just say he shivered because Steve touched him.
Steve shifted in his place uncomfortably.
“You did what you had to do.” Tony stated with a serious voice.
“That’s what I tell myself.” Steve said looking down. “Tony, I will not back down from this and you know that.”
“Yes. I do know that.”
“Why aren’t you calling the authorities now? Why don’t you get me arrested?” He asked. Tony really didn’t know the answer himself. Of course, there was the fact that he was infatuated with Steve, but that was irrelevant to their conversation.
“Honestly, Cap… I don’t even know anymore.” Tony sighed. “I just…I just want all of this to end and go back to the old times.”
“You know that won’t happen unless you change your mind about joining us…joining me.”
“Steve…I have to finish what I’ve started. I just want my people safe like you do. If I join you, I fear there will be no one in pro-registration to stop S.H.I.E.L.D. from executing all of you. And I cannot let that happen. I am sorry.” Tony said with determination.
“Is that why you are working with them? To protect us? Not because you believe in it? Because if you join us, we could protect us better.” Steve looked at Tony but he looked like he was all out of hope.
“I understand.” Steve said before waiting for Tony’s reply. “Just don’t get hurt while doing it.”
Tony showed of his arms and face with his hand. “Seems I have someone else doing that for me.” He joked and grinned.
Steve left.