Tony sat on a stool, leaning forward against the bar with his arms sitting atop of it. He stared down at the drink in his hand, swirling it. The ice clinked against the glass and it was the only thing Tony could focus on. The swirling of his drink, the ice making contact with the sides of the cup was all he heard, everything else was tuned out. The music that was playing, the loud chatter, the sounds of cups clinking against each other and the loud cheers that came with it, the cue sticks hitting against the billiard balls on pool table, Tony heard none of it. As if nothing was happening around him, as if it was just him and his drink alone in the bar.
He was underage, had no business to be in a bar, let alone actually buying an alcoholic drink. His fake I.D did not work, the bartender recognized him very quickly, and so did all the others from the many bars he tried going to. Although Joe was the only bartender that let himself get bribed by the 17 year old, Tony appreciated how venal he was because now he doesn't have to steal his father's alcohol.
Howard never payed attention to Tony, he only ever talked to his son when he needed him to attend a business meeting for him, usually because he would be too hungover to do it himself. Or, if he ever found out that Tony touched one of his experiments, or snagged a bottle from his alcohol collection. Its usually the small things like that, that would earn Tony a beating. The worst ones were when Howard was drunk, or when he messed up in a meeting, but Tony dealt with it because all he ever wanted was to make his father proud, but not once has Howard ever praised him, not once has he ever told Tony that he loved him or even liked him.
He just thought that if he kept trying, then maybe one day Howard would realize that Tony is good at whatever is asked of him. He would realize that Tony was a genius, that he cared about his fathers opinion and wanted him to love his son. Thats all Tony wanted, yet it happened to be the one thing he couldn't have. It was the one thing that he couldn't buy.
What he could buy was a hundred more drinks, which he probably would seeing as today was the last day of summer break. Tomorrow meant waking up early and going to a hell hole they call high school.
School was incredibly easy for Tony, not just the classes but he had everything. The popularity, the right friends, the intelligence, the money, and the looks. Having everything didn't change how much he despised school, but he went anyway because it gave him an excuse to be a kid.
Tony had too many responsibilities leaning on him because his dad was an abusive alcoholic, he's been pushed to work at Stark Industries since he was a kid, which never gave him a chance to have a childhood. It wasn't until his father sent him off to school that Tony started making his own choices in life. Its when he felt like he had some control over himself, when he started making his own friends, and doing his own experimental projects in his own lab. School is the only place that Tony isn't controlled by his father, and he likes that, its the only reason he goes.
The sounds around him started drowning back into his ears. He stopped swirling the drink a while ago but it took a while for him to process that.
Tony brought the cup up to his lips and downed it as fast he could, sifting the ice with his teeth so it wouldnt get into his mouth.
"Hey barkeep." Tonys voice came out more drowsy and a lot quieter then he expected, he hadn't noticed how many drinks he's had, even when he tried to remember, the number just wouldn't come to him.
"Joe?" He asked again when he got no answer, his voice was more controlled then before. Tony looked around trying to find the server, he eventually spotted Joe all the way on the other side of the bar. He walked his way to where he saw Joe cleaning a cup with a cloth, and sat in the stool right in front of him.
"Can you make me another old fashioned?" He asked right as he sat down. Tony was like a child asking for chocolate, he was whiny and annoying, still adorable nonetheless.
Joe put the cup in its rightful place on the shelf before letting his hands rest on the rim of the bar, the grey cloth still clutched in his right hand.
"Im cutting you off." Joe sternly turned away before Tony had the chance to argue, that didn't stop him though.
"Come on, just one more?" He pleaded as Joe grabbed more dishes to dry. Tony pulled out a hundred dollar bill from his wallet and slid it on the counter. "One more?" He asked again.
Joe turned back around just to slide the hundred dollar bill back to Tony, "I'll call you a cab." he told him while putting on a smile.
"I dont need a fucking cab, Joe. Just please?" Tony implored once again, sounding more desperate then before. The barkeep seemed to have mercy on the teen, he hesitated on his decision but eventually made a choice. "Last one." Joe made clear. Despite the amount of money Tony was paying him, Joe still cared about him as a person, he wasn't just using him as an ATM and prying big dollars out of the kid, but Joe used to be a teenager too, he understood the need for alcohol from time to time.
"Rough day?" Tony turned his head towards the sudden voice that he assumed was speaking to him. There was a man sitting right on the stool on Tonys left. He had dirty blonde hair and a short beard, he wasn't even facing Tony, the man was staring at the area in front of him, holding a drink to his lips. He was wearing a simple, navy blue long sleeved dress shirt but it was rolled up to his forearms, along with a pair of dark grey jeans with a black belt. His muscles were so vibrant that Tony could see them through the shirt.
"More like rough life." Tony answered with a slight chuckle, turning his head back to face the front. He was sure that if he were to look at the man again, he would faint, because goddamn was he absolutely gorgeous.
"Hm, sounds tough." The blonde replied before swigging the drink in his mouth. Tony turned his head in the perfect moment, watching him as he leaned his head back, making his addams apple more prominent, the way he closed his lips around the edge of the glass and gulped the drink down.
Tony snapped out of it as soon as Joe put the old fashioned in front of him, "Last one." He repeated in all seriousness before moving to the back shelves and grabbing a scotch. Even though Tony didn't like it, he appreciated the care Joe showed him, it was more care then his father ever showed him. He watched as Joe took the bottle of scotch and refilled the blondes glass with it, "hey, put that on my tab."
Joe and the man looked over at Tony at the same time, "no, it's fi-"
"Just let me buy you a goddamn drink." Tony interrupted, Joe walked away with his eyebrows raised, he gave Tony the quick stop going home with men twice your age look, he's been giving him that look a little too many times, but never once has Tony listened.
"Thank you." The blonde turned his body so he could face Tony without having to turn his head, the teen did the same.
"I come here a lot, well not a lot, a lot. Im not an alcoholic or anything-" Tony stopped talking when he noticed the confused look on his face, "point is, I've never seen you here before, and I would never forget a face like that." or a body like that, he thought to himself taking a small sip of his drink.
The man smiled and looked down at his lap, where his elbows were rested on his thighs, drink held with both hands.
"Well, I just moved here." He replied, slightly looking up.
"Where are you from?" Tony proceeded to ask questions, "Brooklyn, born and raised."
"Why'd you move here?"
"I got offered a job here, I start tomorrow."
"Bold of you to drink the night before your first day." He smirked at his very hypocritical response, "So your single?" Tony said more as a statement then he did a question. He figured he would be single, theres no wife or girlfriend telling him not to drink the night before his first day of work, and he's in a bar alone.
"I- uh."
"All that and a way with words. Damn. Truly the whole package." Tony gestured to the mans body with a sly look on his face. "Im Tony by the way."
"Uh- Steve." The blonde hesitated. He started off so confident, but the second Tony started flirting, Steve became all twisted in knots. "Steve," Tony tested the name, stretching it.
"Hello there, Steve. You gonna start coming here more often? If I play my cards right, let's say that's a definite yes." Tony leaned forward in his chair, he didn't lean much, Steve hadn't even noticed him leaning closer.
A small, inviting smile puckered his mouth. It was such a- such an outlandish, ridiculous look, like something he had seen in a movie and was trying to copy, Steve thought, biting his cheek to hold in a laugh.
"Listen I appreciate it but you seem a little young."
"Hm. Cant be too young if im here drinking an old fashioned, if anything im a classy old man in disguise."
Steve chuckled while nodding his head, he must be 21 or over at least. "So you just go around hitting on strangers?" He quipped, with a grin. "I could be anyone." He tilted his head to the side keeping eye contact with Tony.
"Thats kinda the point."
"You shouldn't just say those things to people." Steve lightly informed him. Tony currently had his right elbow on the bar, his hand looked limp as it dangled off the edge of the table, his left hand was holding his drink and his knees were spread open. The tips of his toes were sitting on the metal bars on the bottom of the stool, his hair was mostly messy, but not in a way that made him look bad. His eyes were hazel and his hair was a dark brown. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a dull red hoodie, it made him look more like a kid then he already did but Steve just figured he was in his very early twenties.
"Eh, my mouth does tend to have a mind of its own," Tony agreed, "sometimes you just gotta take your shot." He tossed his hands up in surrender, forgetting the drink he was holding. Half of his whiskey cocktail flew out of the glass behind him, he didn't seem to notice though.
Steve let out a small chuckle, the boy seemed pretty drunk, still cute nonetheless.
Really cute.
He thought about how he could run his hands through Tonys messy hair, how soft it would be, the way his fluffy strands would glide in between his fingers, the wide loose curls in his hair fitting with the curves of his hand, god it just looked so perfect. He looked so perfect.
Steve had only known him for a few minutes, but he was already becoming attached to the younger boy. He was thinking about how he would come here tomorrow and see Tony sitting in this exact spot, waiting for him. Steve hated this feature about himself, the second someone flirted with him, he fell so quickly. He hated it. Yet he couldn't help it.
It happened too many times, he would date a girl for a week and sworn that she would be the one he would spend the rest of his life with, but it would always end in heart break. The man just loves too easily.
Steve was definitely a ladies man, he's dated a lot, always thinking that he'd found the one. Until one day, he saw everything a little differently. It happened when a man started hitting on him. A man. He didn't even realize he was being hit on until he was invited to 'Netflix and chill'.
Which he awkwardly declined.
Since then Steve decided to explore that option, and god it was the best choice he ever made.
Whenever Tony smiled he would shine his pearly bright teeth at Steve. His skin was clear, not a single spot of facial hair was to be found, he looked so messy but so clean at the same time. It made Steve want to know him, want to discover everything about him.
When Tony lowered his hands, he looked at his glass and his smile shrunk after noticing half of his drink was missing.
"How many drinks have you had?" Steve thought it was getting late, he wanted to go home and get some sleep before he started his job. However, he just met Tony and didn't think it would be a good idea to leave him here alone, though Joe seemed to be taking care of him.
"Not enough."
Clearly it was enough for Joe to cut him off.
"Maybe you should go home?" Steve suggested.
"Only if you come with me." Tony offered with a smirk. Their stools were close enough that their knees were only a couple inches from touching. Tony made the offer more intimate by dragging his finger over Steves thigh down to his knee and letting it linger, never once evading eye contact.
"Well actually I'd rather go to your place instead of mine." He quickly added.
The way Tony slid his hands over his leg made Steves stomach churn, his touch was so light that he barely even felt it through the smooth material of his jeans.
Steve isn't a one night stand kinda guy, he likes relationships, he likes being committed to someone and giving them his all, but from what he has gathered from the boy sitting across from him, is that he is the complete opposite of that.
"I-I should go, big day tomorrow." Steve kindly rejected him and slowly stood up, Tonys gaze followed his eyes as he got up, he put his hand by his side and quickly downed his drink.
It took almost all of Steves willpower to dismiss his offer, he would of loved to stay and get to
know him—but it was almost 12, he really should go home and get some sleep.
"Which is exactly why you should take me with you," Tony followed him as he got up and kept a small amount of distance between where they both stood, "Celebratory night, I can make it worth your while." He finished with a wink.
"Im sor-" Steve tried to let him down again, but failed.
"How about a game of pool?" Tony interrupted pointing to the already occupied billiard table.
Steve just sighed, if he tried to talk, then he would get interrupted, if he tried to leave, he was sure that he would get followed. He didn't know how he could reject the guy in front of him so many times, he didn't want to, he really really didn't want to.
But he also didn't want to be fired first day on the job for a stupid reason like sleep deprivation.
Steve needed his sleep. He was a pretty athletic guy who went on runs every morning, he needed the rest.
"How about, I give you my number and you let me take you on a date some time?" He suggested, relieved when he didn't get interrupted. Instead he was rewarded with a dumbfounded face looking right at him.
"A date?"
"Yeah, so I could get to know you better." He smiled, hoping to receive a smile back—he didn't.
"Or you could just take me home with you tonight and we never have to talk again?"
"If your looking for a one nightstand, then your asking the wrong guy." Steve made clear, apparently all the tiny hints he laid out, remained unnoticed. "If you ever want something committed, then I would definitely love to take you out to a nice meal, and maybe have an actual conversation without any 'subtle' sexual references?"
The last time Tony was in a committed relationship, it almost ruined him. Him and Pepper have been together for over a year, but through out the entire time they have been dating, Pepper would always find some way to accuse him of cheating. Eventually she was so convinced of it that she left him. He never cheated. He never would. Thats just how people saw him and he lost someone he loved because of the reputation he built for himself.
Another 'relationship' he was in was non-exclusive. It wasn't really a relationship, more like 'we'll have sex when I want to have sex or im telling your dad your a fag' type of thing.
God, he hates Tiberius Stone.
He hates himself more for letting himself succumb to the blackmail.
At least he moved away, Tony hasn't seen Tiberius in a year or two. He'd like to keep it that way.
Tony honestly wouldnt mind a romantic date. He hasn't had one in a while, but before he got too attached to Steve, he wanted to make sure that he would stay. He wouldnt leave like Pepper suddenly did.
"Okay im gonna change the deal a bit here. If your at this bar, everyday, at this exact time, at that exact spot, for a week, then I will gladly give you the privilege of taking me out." He smirked.
Tony needed the reassurance, he needed to know that even if Steve didn't know him that well, that he would still be there every single day on just the thought of seeing each other. Even though Tony just wanted the sex. He still did. But hey, a very hot man was asking him out, he wasn't going to let that go without at least considering it.
Another thing was Tony was still underage, he was supposed to turn 18 next month, in May. He didn't know if he should be telling Steve that or not. Well, he definitely should, but he wasn't going to. He wasn't going to give him a reason to walk away, it was just a small little secret that he had to keep for a month, plus, Steve didn't look that old. Tony just figured he was around his mid-twenties, he probably would look younger without the beard too.
It took Steve a couple seconds to think about it, with a new job and everything, he probably shouldn't be sacrificing that many nights at a bar slightly sleep deprived.
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow?" He agreed anyway.
Tony finally returned the smile before taking a few steps closer to the older man. Steve stared down at him, he wasn't that much shorter, but he was short enough that he had to lower his gaze, just a little bit to make eye contact.
The brunette put his hand on the sleeve of Steves shirt, right where it was rolled up to his elbows. It was such a small affectionate touch that it could of gone unnoticed, but Steve almost immediately averted his line of sight right where Tony rested his fingers.
His eyes darted back to the brunettes eyes when he noticed him moving closer.
Tony wasted no time, he grabbed Steves collar as soon as they were eye to eye again, and pulled him into a deep, yet gentle kiss, moving his lips softly against Steves, until he realized that he wasn't kissing back. Tony was about to pull away, just as he was, he felt an arm wrap around his waist and pull him back in, closer then he was before. He felt Steves body briefly rub against his own, but as fast as the touch of their body's came, it went away.
The blonde was now reciprocating the kiss, their lips moving against each others gently but with lots of desperation. God Steve folded so easily, he rejected Tony's offer how many times? Now he was standing in the middle of a bar making out with him, and he loved it.
A rough beard scratched against Tony's top lip; his chin. It made the kiss sloppier, wetter. More fluid, as Tony found himself clinging frantically to the other man; needing this like he needed air to breathe. Letting the inescapable bolts of arousal surging through his body steer him until he tore an actual moan from Steve's throat. Thats when Tony pulled away, despite how much he felt the need to hear that noise come out of the other man again.
Steves eyelids fluttered open and he was met with Tonys deep brown eyes.
"Why'd you do that?" Steve asked, a little out of breath, but not regretting anything.
"Giving you have a reason to come back tomorrow." Tony slowly backed away causing Steve's hand to fall from his waist. He wanted so badly to just kiss him again; to feel Steve's beard against his skin; to feel his hands roaming all over his body, he wanted so badly to just spend the night with him and tear more enthusiastic noises from his throat. But as Steve told him, he wasn't a one night stand kinda guy—which sucked.
Tony didn't have much experience when it came to relationships, if him and Steve really pull through and go on a date, it might be Tonys first ever 'healthy' relationship. Well, other then the lying of his age and who he really is, he was surprised when Steve didn't recognize him though, usually it was so easy to pick someone up because everyone knew who he was, Tony Stark; billionaire.
"I already had one." Steve assured him, not taking his eyes off of Tonys.
The boy gave him a brief smile before turning his back on Steve, and heading towards the bar, sitting on his stool again. He knew once Steve got to know him he would run away, because who wouldnt? No one wants to deal with Tonys drama series of a life, let alone actually be part of it.
He got one good kiss out of Steve tonight, he assumed thats as much as he would get because one day, Steve is going to realize who he is, and want absolutely nothing to do with him.
Tony stayed at the bar until the cab came, he thanked Joe for it before leaving. Joe was more of a father to him then Howard ever was, and ever would be.
—
Steve lived very close to the bar, it was about a 10 minute walk to the apartment building; he lived with a friend, well really he just moved in to his friends place who was nice enough to let him stay there.
Him and Bucky have been childhood friends, brothers even. They've gone as far as living countries apart, yet they never once lost touch with each other. They both have the same career path, but once Bucky found out that Steve was coming to work with him, he was beyond excited. Now, they live together. However, Bucky went out on a date tonight, so Steve walked home to an empty apartment building filled with some boxes that he still has yet to unpack.
The whole walk to the apartment, Steve couldn't stop thinking about Tonys lips on his. It was so unexpected, he was just pulled into some sort of bliss. Despite Tony having chapped lips and horrible alcoholic breath, it couldn't of actually felt that good.
Though Steve had no hope that this would work out, none whatsoever. Tony seemed very drunk tonight, he picks up strangers to fulfill his needs, he probably started flirting with some other guy after Steve left. Not to mention, Joe has to take care of him, why on earth would the bartender have to take care of him? Is he like this everyday? Could he actually be an alcoholic? Steve was conflicted with himself, his gut was telling him how wrong this was but his heart and other parts of him, told him to try it out.
And he wanted to so bad. At least Tony gave him a week to actually consider this, but if he still wants the option of taking him out then he needs to go to Joes bar every night, which couldn't be good considering how early he has to be up for work. Not to mention, Tony actually got him to moan in the middle of a bar, just by kissing him. Steve remembered the surge of embarrassment that went through him in that moment.
Steve lay down on the couch, refusing to take the extra few steps to his room, aka; what used to be Buckys office. There was a mattress in there, on the floor. No bed frame, no nightstand, no desk. Just a mattress. Steve hadn't really unpacked since he got here, nor decorated. He's been here a week and he used most of his time to hang out with Bucky, until today. They were supposed to go to the bar together, their last free night until work, but he went on a date instead, so Steve went alone, and he ended up meeting Tony.
—
The brunette never went home, he went to Nat and Clints place instead. He usually stays there when he felt too anxious—too cowardly to face his father, especially when it was late, thats when Howard would be most drunk.
Clints parents didn't like it when Tony came over, he would always be drunk or beat up and they hated it. They thought that Tony was a horrible influence on their children, they were always worried when Clint and Nat went out with him, but when Harold and Edith Barton tried to talk to the two about Tony, they got pissed and didn't talk to their parents for a week.
Both Harold and Edith adopted Natasha when she was 4, her parents gave her up for adoption when she was born and left her with nothing but their last name, not a single piece of them to at least let her be known to their existence.
She thinks about them a lot, how different her life would be if she was never an orphan, if she never met Clint, or Tony, or everyone that she now considers family. Natasha didn't want to find her parents though, theres no doubt that she cant, because she absolutely can, but she wont.
—
Since it was late, Tony had to sneak in through Clints window. Last time, he snuck in through Nats and she lectured him, then slapped his arm, really hard. Since then, he kept that fact in mind; Nats room, off limits. Which absolutely sucked because her window had a trellis connected to it, which made climbing so much easier.
Right now he was sleeping on the floor, Clint had set up a place for him in his room, a little sleeping bag and plenty water bottles. Its always there for when Tony came in, that way he wouldnt have to wake Clint up.
Tony fell asleep the second his body made contact with the sleeping bag, he was drunk and tired and he hadn't slept since–well he doesn't know. Maybe a Tuesday?
—
"Hey, hey. Get up. Tony, get up. Your fine."
Tony could feel the heat taking over him, the sweat drooling down his skin, the hands on his shoulder trying to shake him awake.
His eyes opened in a panic just to see Clint looming over him.
"Fuck. What time is it?" Tony asked wanting to take his mind off his nightmare. It was pretty common to have either Nat or Clint wake him up from a bad dream, he was grateful each and every time that they did.
"Almost 6am." Clint grabbed him a bottle of water as he sat up. "School starts in a few hours." He opened the cap for Tony before handing him the bottle, which he gracefully took.
He had a hell of a hangover, but thanks to how many times he gets them, he learned how to deal with them. They dont bother him as much as they used to.
Tony almost chugged the whole bottle of water thanks to the dryness of his mouth, the amount of heat emitting from his body, and thirst in general.
The brunette didn't speak, he just stared at Clint in slight shock. His body was overheated and he could hardly process what Clint had said. The water helped, it was cold and refreshing, who knew water could taste so good?
"You good, Stark?" Clint asked when Tony remained silent. He was kneeling in front of the sleeping bag, while Tony sat on the edge of it, leaning against the wall. His chest heaving while he tried to take deep breaths.
"Peachy." Tony replied, forcing a smile on his lips.
"In that case," Clint stood up and started walking back to his bed, "wake me up early again, and im bleaching your hair while you sleep." He laid back down in his bed and pulled the blanket over himself.
Tony chuckled at his attempt of a threat, "as if I wouldn't look incredibly hot as a blonde."
The brunette calmed down a little, which usually happened after Clint started talking, there was just something about his dumb comments that were strangely soothing.
"Keep dreaming, asshole." Clint fell asleep shortly after, Tony on the other hand couldn't even bring himself to shut his eyes for more then a few seconds.
"Dad, I cant go out to the middle of the desert just to test your wea-"
"You cant? Or you dont want to? Your a Stark, Anthony. One day you'll own this business, its not a choice, its your legacy. You will do what your told and you wont argue." Howard made clear, his voice terrifyingly calm. He held a glass in his hand, taking small sips of his whiskey every now and then.
"I know, I understand but I have school and homework." And im only 14 years old, I dont want to test weapons, I shouldn't have to—Is what Tony actually wanted to say.
"Im not stupid, Anthony. You may attend school, but you dont do your work. Nonetheless this is more important, this is your future. Do you understand?" Howard said, voice still in its alarmingly calm state.
Tony knew when not to talk back, he knew when he was pushing the limit. Sometimes, he did it anyway, but today just wasn't one of those days where he felt like fighting back.
"Yes, sir." He simply agreed.
"You'll be testing the Jericho missile, this one was created to assist against the war hostile to Afghanistan. You'll be riding with a few soldiers in the Army, they'll be here tomorrow exactly at 7am. Dont mess this up, Anthony." Howard stated the last bit of his sentence more aggressively then Tony would of liked.
Now he needed to do research and study the weapon his father created, then he needed to make some sort of script talking about the Jericho missile.
—
After driving through the desert, they finally arrived at the testing spot. There were tech and cameras already set up, the missiles themselves were already aimed at the mountains behind him. How would people feel about a 14 year old selling off an extremely dangerous and deadly weapon? Or would people just let it pass because he's a Stark and its his 'legacy'?
Tony just wanted to get this over with, the cameras started rolling and Tony tried his best to sound professional. He looked the part, so he definitely needed to sound the part, or else his father would undoubtedly kill him for screwing it up.
"Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?" Tony started,
"With that in mind, I humbly present the crown jewel of Stark Industries' Freedom Line. It's the first missile system to incorporate our proprietary
repulsor technology." He held his own hand in front of his waist in a professional manner, after doing many videos like this, you learn what do with your other limbs.
"They say the best weapon is one you never have to fire. I respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once. That's how Howard Stark does it. That's how America should do it. For your consideration, the Jericho." With that, a single missile launched behind him, exploding, sending a strong wave of wind and dust knocking Tony slightly forward, concluding the video.
"Nice work kid," one of the soldiers complimented with a small smile, giving him a pat on the back.
Tony nodded, smiling back at him before heading back to the vehicle.
—
The last thing he remembered was being attacked by a whole bunch of terrorists.
He woke up in a cave, completely dazed and confused. He felt like he couldn't breathe.
There was a tube taped to his nose, bandages all over his chest. He felt a horrible amount of pressure on his upper body. He started panicking, pulling the tube out with a pained groan, then frantically peeling and ripping off the bandages from his chest. Only to immediately regret it. The sight of it all could've made him pass out.
There was a circular piece of metal inside his chest. It was inside his chest. Tony stared at it in disbelief, this couldn't be real. His breathing became more out of control, more rapid. He couldn't look away no matter how much he wanted to, until eventually his eyes followed the wires that were connected to the piece of metal. The wires led to a car battery, he was hooked up to a car battery.
Tony wanted to scream, to be woken up from this nightmare.
Somehow looking at his chest made it hurt more, he felt like he was dying, if this is what dying felt like.
—
A month passed by, the Ten Rings continued to torture him and force him to build Jericho, no matter how many times Tony told them his father was the one who built it. Instead Tony ended up building himself a substitute for the electro magnet in his chest, an arc reactor. Yinsen helped him.
—
Yinsen was shot and killed a week before Tony finally escaped, how he was able to outrun a bunch of armed men with only the small, weak weapons he built? He'll never know, but it's not like he was risking much anyway, if he got shot, who cared? Just that thought alone is what gave him the courage to sneak out, surprisingly it worked.
A day after he escaped, he was found in the middle of the desert by a bunch of military men, his best friends father being one of the people who rescued him. Colonel Terrence Rhodes.
Tony went straight to the hospital to get surgery on the shrapnel inside of him, he ended up with a huge scar in the middle of his chest. He also needed some stitches on his face, and a cast for his arm.
All of that and his father never visited him in the hospital. Not once, he got one measly phone call that barely even lasted a minute.
Tony had to stay there for a week after his surgery, the only people who visited him were his friends, he really couldn't express how much he loved them.
—
He seemed to have that reoccurring nightmare since the incident. Usually the nightmares focused more on Yinsen's death, or the kidnapping and torture, and with him waking up to a hole in his chest filled in with a magnet. This was considerably the worst thing thats happened to him when he was 14, what really sucked is that it was all over the news, not a single thing about Tonys life remained private, not even his mothers death. He hated it. He hated the publicity so fucking much.
—
Time passed as Tony got lost in his thoughts, but was quickly brought back to reality when Clints alarm started ringing. He heard the man wake up with an annoyed groan before aggressively shutting his alarm.
"Tones, you awake?" Clint asked, eyes still shut and arm drooped over his forehead.
"Define awake." Tony grumpily replied, his headache hitting him harder then he expected.
"Not sleeping?" Clint got up, a deep sigh coming out of him as he did.
"Then yes, I am very much awake." A hint of sarcasm outlined Tonys words like it was the most obvious answer.
"Ha. Ha." Clint fake laughed as he started rummaging through his closet. "I set the alarm 2 minutes before Nats, the bathroom is mine." He grabbed his clothes and ran out of the room, leaving Tony before he could say anything.
The brunette finally gained the effort to lift himself off the ground, he took his time getting up, but despite that, he still felt pretty dizzy. Only for a few seconds, his head just needed time to refocus itself.
"Jeez," he whispered to himself, leaning a hand on the wall to steady himself.
He heard Nats alarm go off in the next room, so it was 8:00 a.m right now. If he remembered correctly, classes started at 9:15.
Tony was in desperate need of a shower, and an Advil, maybe two. He would need to borrow some of Clints clothes because his hoodie reeked more then he did. Which was surprising.
"Clint I claimed the bathroom!" He heard Natasha bang on the door and smiled to himself.
"You cant claim a bathroom! Its a shared room!"
"Asshole!"
"Mom said you cant call me bad words!"
Tony slightly laughed under his breath, he always heard the oddest arguments between the two, yet they always made him smile and question why he hung out with them. In a good way of course.
Tony walked out of the room when his legs regained full function, he saw Natasha using a bobby pin to pick the bathroom lock. Of course. The shower was on so Clint was defenceless at the moment, she always did pick her moments perfectly.
"Morning Tony." Natasha said, not having to look up to know who it was lurking around the house, "you smell like shit by the way." Nat had her hair in a slicked back ponytail, she was wearing a black tanktop with a pair of grey sweatpants.
"Really? Didn't notice." Tony rolled his eyes and made his way downstairs to the kitchen. He went straight to the medicine cabinet, hoping to find an Advil, and to his luck, it was no where to be found. The brunette had to resort to Tylenol instead, which was fine, he was desperate for anything really.
The shower was still running when Tony went back upstairs, but the door to the bathroom was wide open. He quickly looked inside to make sure everyone was still alive. Everyone meaning Clint. Natasha could have drowned him in the shower, but to his surprise, she was just simply brushing her teeth in front of the sink.
Clint poked his head from behind the shower curtains, "Mind passing me my toothbrush? And put some toothpaste on it." He made grabbing gestures at Nat, who complied.
"Your brushing your teeth in the shower?" Tony joined them both in the bathroom,
"It's called multi-tasking, ever heard if it?"
"I didn't know you were capable enough to divide your attention on to two things, you already struggle enough trying to get yourself clean, now your trying to tackle your teeth at the same time?" Tony smirked as he checked himself out of the mirror. Natasha rolled her eyes at the two as she spit out her mouthwash.
"I struggle to keep myself clean? Have you smelt yourself recently, Stark?" Clint popped his head out from behind the shower curtain again, just to give Tony a look.
Okay so alcohol, sweat, and unwashed clothes dont mix well, it wasn't his fault per say. He loved this hoodie, he was going to wear it for however long he wanted to before choosing to wash it. Which was incredibly dumb considering how easily he gets himself messy, wether its grease from working in his lab, or alcohol stains, he didn't care.
"Speaking of which, im borrowing your purple hoodie. And I call dibs on the shower after your finished." Tony said before quickly making his way out of the bathroom and back into Clints room. He only left so quickly because he was scared of Natasha, she wanted the shower, and Tony had just called dibs on it right in front of her.
"I'll let you have this one, you gonna need a ride?" Natasha leaned on the door frame while Tony searched Clints closet for the hoodie, she was smiling at him. She didn't seem mad or annoyed, maybe she was scheming, whatever it was going through her head right now would remain unknown, everything was mysterious when it came to Natasha.
"Yeah, I left my car overnight at Joe's."
Natasha sighed, "Is everything okay at home?" Tony went to bars a lot, he usually ended up at Nat and Clints place afterwards, but most of the time he's here, its to avoid his father.
"Great actually, I've been working on this upgrade for Jarvis, Im going to connect him to my car, my phone, and even my room. Im so sick of just having him in the lab, maybe I'll even put him in the eleva-"
"Maybe I should of specified—Is everything okay with your dad." She crossed her arms and let her head rest against the frame of the door, Tony stayed silent for longer then he should of, he hated it when people asked him about his father.
"Everything's fine." He replied softly with a smile. Tony pulled out the hoodie from Clints closet and walked past Nat, briefly brushing shoulders with her on the way out.
Clint stepped out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, grabbed his clothes, and returned to his room. He would've gotten ready in the bathroom, but a certain cranky person wouldn't let him have the washroom to himself.
—
Tony took a fast shower in gratitude for Nat allowing him to shower before her. Everyone quickly dressed and sat downstairs while Tony searched for the coffee machine, which he soon discovered hidden in the pantry.
He brewed a large amount of coffee, putting the majority of it in a travel mug and the remainder laid happily in his stomach.
Clint and Nat's parents walked down the stairs, Harold dressed up and ready for work, and Edith was dressed in a white robe, her short hair down and framing her face. They both saw Tony, and while they weren't surprised, they weren't overjoyed to see him either.
"Ah, Tony. Shouldn't you be at your home on a school morning?" Edith insisted nicely, trying her best not to make him feel unwelcome.
"Mom." Natasha warned, she knew more about Tonys situation at home then he would of liked, which made her more defensive when someone mentioned it.
"My apologies Ms. Barton, I'll be more considerate on school days."
"Thats all I ask." She sighed, before starting to make breakfast.
Harold sat down on the round table, a newspaper in his hands and an empty mug on the table next to him. "Next time you use up the last bit of coffee, I hope you spare me some." Tony could tell he was annoyed, but was trying his best not to sound it.
The brunette grabbed the travel mug he borrowed and placed it in front of Clints father. "Well I did more then leave you some, I took the courtesy of putting it in a thermos for you." Tony smiled, obviously lying. Clint didn't help his cover when he stifled a laugh at Tonys attempt of being nice. Natasha was quick to shut him up with a backhand smack to his upper arm.
Harold sighed and forced a smile on his lips. "Thank you."
—
After an awkward breakfast and slight interrogation targeting Tony. They finally left around 9:00 and went to Tim Hortons, all because Tony complained of having his coffee robbed from him. They shortly arrived at the school around 9:08.
"Schedule?" Nat asked unpacking her things into her locker, Clint, Pietro, Rhodey, Wanda, and Tony all claimed the row of lockers next to hers. But they wandered off while Natasha and Tony stayed back at the lockers.
"Uh-" Tony searched himself before he realized he forgot his backpack at home. He mentally cursed at himself before taking out his phone and pulling up his digital time table.
"L.A, Mechanics, Lunch, Math, Spanish." Tony raised an eyebrow at his schedule before once again, mentally slapping himself.
"Wait- Thats next semester." He fiddled with his phone for a second before pulling up this semesters schedule. "History, Physics, Lunch, Mechanics, Science 30" He read with a half smile. The halls started getting crowded where they were standing, loud chatter starting to surround them, which was verily annoying.
"What room do you have history in?" Natasha asked.
"371, You?"
"Fuck, 382"
Tony scoffed, "Is that the only class we could've had together this semester?"
"Yup." Natasha replied popping the 'p'.
Tony hung his head back and let out a small laugh, that sucked. He had almost all of his classes with Natasha last year and it was his best year.
Natasha kissed his cheek before walking off to class, Tony let his head hang against the locker a little longer, just until the hallways weren't so crowded. He got to his class a couple minutes early, which was very rare. He was lucky to find that Clint and Wanda were sitting right there in the back.
After joining them, he placed his tim Hortons coffee cup on the desk in front of him, and waited for class to start.
Everything was fine, him, Clint and Wanda were chatting normally. Well, until the bell rung. It was only when the teacher had walked in that Tony completely stopped listening to what they were saying. Tony was very drunk last night, but nothing could make him forget what happened.
The brunette recognized the piercing blue eyes, even from a distance. The long dirty blonde hair, and the same neatly trimmed beard that had scratched itself against Tonys own chin last night as they made out in the middle of a bar.
Well Fuck. Tony gave himself yet another mental punch. I am so screwed. He thought to himself before sinking in his chair.
"Jesus, is he new here? I haven't seen him around, he's- wow." Wanda leaned forward in her desk, trying to get a better look at him.
Steve was looking down at the papers in his hand, standing over his desk. He hadn't so much as glanced at any of the students sitting in his class, despite how loudly they were talking about his appearance.
Tony figured he can escape while the blonde was ruffling through papers. It was probably his only opportunity, seeing as right after this distraction, he would be spotted.
Clint made a whistling noise, the same whistling noise that people would do to indicate someones attractiveness.
"I would hit that." He admitted, imitating Wandas action to get a better view of the man. "Suddenly, I regret sitting in the back." Clint added.
"Wait." Wanda looked at Tony, eyebrow raised and face curious. "Your not commenting on his ass." She said with some concern, "Stark, what did you do?"
His friends really did know him too well.
"Are you insinuating that I made poor decisions based on the lack of commentary I made regarding how hot that man is?" He replied accusingly, a hint of offence in his voice.
"Yes." Clint immediately retorted with a small snort.
"Well, good assumption. Great assumption, actually. Help me sneak out before hot stuff over there turns around?" Tony offered, sinking in his chair a little lower.
"What the fuck did you d-"
"Sorry for being a bit sluggish this morning, it is a Monday after all." Steve unknowingly interrupted. Despite nothing he said being remotely close to funny, girls started giggling and laughing at his words. Tony rolled his eyes at their behaviour, its the same way girls treated Tony, but its different when this attitude is directed at somebody else, its more annoying.
While Steve continued to talk, the brunette started repeatedly tapping Wanda until she finally gave him attention.
"What?!" She whisper yelled.
"Sunglasses." Tony blurted out in a whisper. "If you have sunglasses in your bag, give them." His short and desperate hope to find himself a disguise was shortly crushed when Wanda shook her head no.
"It really isn't your lucky day is it?"
"Luck is superstitious. Im just having a bad day, well bad month actually. If you really wanna get into it then more like ba-"
"Excuse me. Interruptions ar-" It was only then did Steve notice Tony sinking in his chair. He was trying to hide from him. The blonde became completely distracted and took a second to just stare. Well, stare and rethink his previous life decisions. It was the same brunette Steve saw himself falling head over heels for in the future. The same one he was supposed take out on a date a week from now, the one he was supposed to meet every night for a drink. He felt his heart physically break, another relationship, or soon to be relationship; ended before it could even start.
And oh my god he made out with a high schooler. No. He made out with a drunk high schooler in a bar. This could ruin his career. What the hell was a teenager doing in a bar anyway?!
Him and Tony continued to stare into each others eyes from a far, Steve was thinking about how he made the biggest mistake of his life, regretting every second of it. While Tony on the other hand gave him a playful wink to ease the awkward tension.
The blonde snapped back into reality, the class was staring at him oddly and murmuring. He just realized that the Tony Stark is in his class. He looked absolutely shocked. Do you think he's nervous because he noticed Tony Stark is here?
Tony heard the whispers too, probably because they weren't really whispers.
"Oh my god. You fucked him!" Clint quietly shouted. Wanda gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. The brunette threw his head back in annoyance, but he didn't say anything.
"Sorry, I just saw something very.." He took a deep breath, "insightful." Steve released his breath as the word came out of his mouth. Thats one word for it.
"Okay, moving on. There are a few things you should know about me. Im not a tech guy, so most of your work will be on paper." He picked up a stack of papers from his desk, and started walking through the desks to hand them out. "If someone starts talking about saving the trees, I will mentally shun you." This time, he got more then just the girls to laugh. Even though it wasn't funny.
"What im giving you right now is the course outline, along with the first thing we're going to be looking over today." When he got to the back of the room, he didn't even look at Tony, didn't even try to sneak a small glimpse at the boy. He just put the sheets of work on his table, steadied them with his hand so they wouldn't slip onto the ground then moved on to the next person.
The billionaire still thought that Steve was very attractive, and he still wanted things to work out. Tony has only been in one relationship in his life, which ended very badly. He wasn't open to trying again until Steve insisted on taking him out, and that made him somewhat look forward to whatever it was would happen between them. Tony didn't appreciate the offer as much as he should've because he was drunk. But after really thinking about it, he wanted to go out on a date with Steve. Now he wouldn't even get the chance.
At least, for now. Tony had his ways, if he wanted something, he would usually get it, and damn did he want Steve, even more so now that he knows he cant have him.
"I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?" He looked at the back chalkboard to find it empty of his name.
"You take 2 months off and forget how to do everything." The blonde mumbled to himself before writing Mr. Steve Rogers on the chalkboard.
Shortly after, a girl raised her hand. She had long black hair and a purple zip up sweater on, the colour matched the hoodie that Tony was wearing. Yet she was fucking gorgeous.
"Yes?" Steve placed the chalk down and leaned at the front of his desk.
"Can I go to the washroom?" She asked, with a polite tone.
"Sure, can I get a name for attendance?"
"Kate Bishop." She stood up with a smile and walked out the door, Tony followed her with his eyes, until Clint slapped his arm.
"We're at school less then 30 minutes, and you already slept with the teacher. Cool it."
"I didn't sle-"
"Think about what Natasha would say." Wanda added, this was the two of them trying to tease him, and get on his nerves. It was working.
"I didn't sleep with him." He finished his sentence, luckily everyone else was to busy chatting around them to overhear their 'inappropriate to talk about at school' conversation.
Before Tony could explain, Steve started taking attendance.
"I know some people hate taking attendance out loud, so this is just until I can match the names with the faces. But bare with me for the week."
He started saying names off his little clipboard and checking them off as he goes. Surprisingly, unlike most teachers, he wasn't pronouncing any names incorrectly, which in itself deserves some sort of award.
"Clinton Francis Barton?"
"Just Clints fine." He replied with a raise of his hand, just so Steve could see where he was sitting.
"Alright, nice to meet you Clint." He would always say these nice little things to people after saying their name. Tony didn't know if he wanted to hate it or love it.
"Katherine Elizabeth Bishop. Bathroom." He reminded himself before checking her off.
"Sasha Hammer?" Tony could've choked on his own saliva when he heard that name. Sasha Hammer was the cruel evil sister of one Justin Hammer. If it weren't for Tiberius Stone, he would've considered them both his arch-nemesis'.
"Here." She spoke dully.
"Hello Sasha." Steve flashed her a smile anyway before moving on.
"Justin Hammer."
"Yeah." He sat next to Sasha, had the same dull tone as she did when she spoke. It was depressing, and cold.
"Ah, twins?" Steve asked looking at the two, displaying a look of interest towards them.
"Do you really need to ask?" Sasha rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair.
"Okay then." The blonde moved on with the list.
"Wanda Django Maximoff."
"Hello." She raised her hand with a bright smile. Wanda always acted nicer then usual to others that weren't her friends. She could be an actress, God knows she would pull it off with the way she can change so quickly.
"Hello, Wanda. It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Rogers." Wanda was being perky. Shes always perky around new people. Tony always made fun of her for it, every chance he got because he found it absolutely hilarious.
The blonde let out a small chuckle at her reply, "thank you."
He had the most perfect little laugh, it was short, not too over dramatic like most are, and it suits him. Tony wished that he was the one that got him to do that perfect little soft laugh, but he wasn't.
"Anthony Edward Stark." He said his name like any other students. How else was he supposed say it? Its not like it really mattered, except it definitely did.
"Actually it's just Tony. You already knew that though." He shrugged.
Steve sighed, "that was unnecessary." If he were smart he wouldn't of talked back. It felt like they were already giving too much away.
"What? Everyone in this class knows I go by Tony. Everyone in this school even. Y'know, with me being on all the newspapers an' TV's all the t-" The brunette had this self satisfied, smug look on his face.
"Thank you. Tony." Steve was too polite to actually tell him to shut his mouth. Though it was very tempting right now. Cutting him off before he could get more into detail was pretty much all he had.
"Hey, what is it that you wanted to say about interrupting earlier? Whatever it was, I think thats very hypocritical of you." He complained, a small joking tone behind it all. He heard a few students laugh and kept the smirk on his face.
"Okay, point taken." Steve sounded like he just wanted to end the conversation and get on with it. So he continued the attendance.
"Really? Thats it?" Tony whispered mostly to himself.
The brunette had a reputation of riling up his teachers, the only person who could handle him was Bruce Banner, his science teacher of every year because no one else wanted him in their class. It was a compliment to his talents, really. Plus, Banner was the only science teacher he's ever liked, so it all worked out.