Step Into Action

Silence wasn't actually silence.

Silence was music, the sound of machinery. The whistling and beeping of robotic parts. The breathing from the bodies on the couch besides him. The inner mechanics of the human body, their little beats making the smallest of noise.

Everything.

Tony was never in silence. And he liked it that way. He always had something going on. Others found it off, but it felt natural to him.

His fingers tapped against his work bench, filling his lab with a steady thrum of beats. He had just complained about the noise in the common room, but there he was, making noise to fill the void.

He was tired of dealing with them. He loved them, don't get him wrong, but there were times were Tony couldn't be around them. And when Steve started his self righteous bullshit, Tony always excused himself.

Though, it seemed as if the America's wet dream decided Tony needed him close. Tony knew it was Steve when the hands hit his workbench. The clattering noise of his tools scattering from the drive of him.

"Can I help you?"

"What's with the kid?"

"He's Spider-Man," Tony said blankly.

Steve huffed. "No, why do you care so much about him."

"He's a kid. I'd rather he didn't fight crime."

That's as the what Steve was looking for. "You know that's not what I meant."

Tony just shrugged. "I don't know what you want Rogers. He's a genius kid, I'm watching out for him. Why do you care?"

"I don't, I just-" Steve took a deep breath. "Are you sure you know what you're doing? If anything happens, his guardians will blame you."

"Isn't that how it always is?" He pressed. "I don't make the sacrifice plays. You said that."

"Tony-"

"No, no. You just don't trust my judgement. You said as much out there. That's why I'm in here." He was glad that Steve at least waited until the kid left. Peter was a strong kid, but hearing his heroes say bad things wouldn't feel good. "I'm just here to find all your problems."

"Tony, stop."

He glanced away from Steve, pushing up from his spot at the workbench. "Fine, fine. Have your doubts, but thats not stopping me from helping Peter. If you're going to continue your righteous fit about it, I'm going to bed."

Though, as Tony went to move, Steve caught his arm. A shock of pain seared in his wrist.

Bastard didn't know his own strength sometimes.

"I don't want you hurt."

"I've been hurt before. Trust me, nothing that kid can do will hurt me." That was a lie, but half true. The death of Richard and Mary still lingered with him. Even then, he brought it to mind.

Steve's grip tightened, burning bruising marks in his skin. "I'm here to talk. So please, don't do something stupid."

"What's stupid is you think I don't know how to take care of myself. Let go." Tony yanked his arm away, rubbing at the marks that formed. "Stop caring about my shit. If things get bad, you can say 'I told you so,' but until that happens, get your nose out of it."

"I'm trying to look after you!"

"Are you?" Tony sputtered. "Last I checked, you wanted to leave me for dead during a mission, all because your old pal decided to rear his head!" Tony still recalled it.

The avengers had known about Bucky, but they couldn't do much. Then, during a mission, Tony's suit got destroyed, and he was left defenseless on the field. Steve was supposed to cover him and help him out. Yet, when Bucky reared his head, he was left exposed, and Tony got hurt. 

And while the others had moved on and forgiven, Tony hadn't. Steve was reckless, and he never seemed to realize that his actions had consequences.

So while silence followed Tony's words, he didn't regret them. He meant it. "So don't pretend you care Rogers." Ever since the team was founded, it was obvious he and Steve would never see eye to eye, never try to defend the other. And after that... he couldn't help but be assured that Steve never cared enough to protect him. No one really ever tried to protect him.

Rhodey, Pepper and Happy were the only allies he had that could. And when Mary and Richard were around, the world didn't need an Ironman.

He didn't need Ironman.

The silence continued, and it was deafening. It bounced about his ears, the sound of own heart being the only noise otherwise.

And to think it was all because Steve was upset that Peter was there. The others took a liking to him pretty quickly. He had been there before, but only Bruce really remembered. So when he was properly introduced, there was a few mixed reactions, but overall, the Avenger's liked the kid. Peter was kind, and energetic, and the type of person to light up the room around him. The Avenger's needed someone like that in their lives.

So Steve was being an idiot.

When he started the spiel after Peter left, the other's looked just as uninterested in his preaching as Tony did. So why the hell was he so adamantly against Peter? It didn’t make sense.

And at the silence, Tony left his lab, rubbing at his wrist, purple bruises blossoming in the shape of Steve’s fingers. Ugh. He’d have to bandage it so the others didn’t worry. 

He had enough to worry about as is, and now Steve was being a nuisance. 

“Tony, you alright?” 

At the sound, he relaxed. “Hey Honeybear, didn’t expect to see you today.”

Rhodey stood in the hallway, having just got off the elevator. His eyes darted to Tony’s wrist, where he noticed the bruises. Worry bubbled in his voice as he rushed over. “What the hell happened?”

“I’m fine.” He assured. “Stick up his ass decided to lecture me and grabbed my wrist. He doesn’t know his own strength sometimes.”

“Steve did this?” Rhodey questioned, trying to make sure of it.

“Yeah. I’m fine. He’s all pissy for no reason.”

He didn’t like the answer, but knew Tony wouldn’t elaborate. “Let’s get this bandaged for now. Then you can tell me all about the genius you took in.”

“Training. I’m training him.”

Of course, Rhodey chuckled, as the two left to dress the bruises.

Though, Steve’s concern was exaggerated, their was concern not addressed.

Why Peter?

Why did Tony take a liking to this random kid? 

Sure, Peter was brilliant, but Tony never really put much thought into brilliant. Harley had saved his life, he rescued Wanda, helped create Vision. They were not there simply because they were geniuses. They had some connection to Tony. In a way. Then some random guy asks for help and Tony eagerly welcomes Peter in.

It made no sense.