Chapter 9
The next time the Avengers saw Tony was a complete accident.
They were infiltrating a Hydra base, their leader surrendering nearly immediately when confronted with the Hulk, falling to his knees as he begged one of the Avengers to save him in exchange for Hydra's surrender.
Currently, Steve was with Natasha, searching through the rooms for any other Hydra agents that may be hiding when Steve opened one of the doors and froze when he saw who was inside.
"Tony?!"
Tony looked around from where he was looking through the drawers, golden brown eyes wide. "You're not meant to be here."
"You—" Steve shook his head, taken aback. "I'm not meant to be here?! You're not meant to be here!"
His chest felt colder by the second. Tony couldn't possibly working be with Hydra, could he? Even Tony wouldn't sink that low, right? Steve had to believe that there was a reasonable explanation.
At least, he hoped there was. He didn't know what he'd do if there wasn't.
"You don't think I know that?" Tony hissed out. "Now be quiet before you draw Hydra's attention."
"Hydra has been apprehended," Steve stated with slight confusion.
"Oh," Tony said in surprise. "Jarvis didn't tell me. Unreliable AI he is. Well, that makes everything much easier."
"Why are you here?" Steve demanded. Tony being a criminal who caused minor problems for the Avengers was one thing. But if he was working for Hydra...Steve wasn't sure if he could get past that.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Getting my tech back. Hydra stole my tech designs and are attempting to recreate my arc reactor."
"Your what?" Steve asked even as relief filled him, knowing that Tony wasn't working for Hydra.
Tony must have seen the relief and knew what it meant as he scoffed. "You really think I'd be working with a bunch of idiots like Hydra? Seriously? Even my standards aren't that low."
"I just thought...well, you know how this looks," Steve muttered a little defensively.
"Doesn't mean I'm not offended," Tony muttered under his breath. "And my arc reactor is this."
He tapped the circle of blue light on his chest before going back to searching through the drawers before making a triumphant noise, pulling out a blueprint and a metal contraption.
"There you are. Have no idea how they manage to get their hands on this but I'll be damned if I let it happen again. Jarvis, remind me to update security when we get home," Tony stated, gathering up his things.
"Of course, Sir," came a British sounding voice from Tony's pocket.
Steve stared at the pocket before shaking his head, reminding himself that technology had evolved from his time and no, Tony did not have a miniature British man hiding in his pocket. Bruce had mentioned something about an AI, right? That must be it.
"Perfect. Now, if you'll excuse me," Tony said, pushing past Steve but the super soldier caught his wrist before he could leave, stopping Tony in his tracks.
"Tony, can we talk, please?" Steve begged, his grip not tight enough that if Tony wanted then he could break away but he didn't.
"There's nothing to talk about," Tony said, though he didn't look at him. His whole body was too stiff, tone sharp.
"No? What about how you protected us against Dr Doom?" Steve suggested.
Tony licked his dry lips, looking at the far wall. "What about it?"
"Why?" Steve asked, tone pleading for Tony to explain. "Why are you acting like our enemy even though you protect us?"
"We are enemies, Captain. There's no acting about it," Tony said though it sounded like a weak protest even to Steve who was usually the one making the weak protest for one of the others not to do something stupid.
"Not from where I'm standing," Steve murmured, rubbing his thumb soothingly over Tony's wrist. "You helped us. Let us help you. Tell us what's going on."
Tony glanced at him, brown eyes pained. "I can't."
"Why?" Steve whispered. "Are you in danger?"
Tony shook his head, expression guarded. Nothing like how he was before when he was open and joking. "I'm not. You are. All the Avengers are."
Steve's stomach churned with worry. "What do you mean? Who are we in danger from?"
"I can't tell you," Tony said quietly, tugging his wrist from Steve's hand as he looked away. "I shouldn't have even told you that. I don't want to put any of you in more danger."
Steve didn't know what to say to that. If Tony didn't want to tell him, he couldn't force him to. But he wished Tony would trust him.
"I never did get a thank you for helping you and the Avengers out," Tony mumbled, giving Steve a teasing smile. "You gonna pay me back for that little favor, Stevie?"
Steve paused for a few seconds before smiling himself. "You know what? Yeah, I am."
Tony blinked, thrown off guard for a moment before yelping when Steve pulled him close by the waist and dipped his head to kiss Tony's lips.
Tony was frozen to the spot, brain short circuiting as he tried to figure out what the hell was happening. No way did Steve fucking Rogers of the Avengers, the Captain America just kiss Tony Stark, a worldwide known criminal and technology villain.
And yet...
Steve was relieved when Tony slowly kissed back, worried for a minute if that had been the wrong move but the longer the kiss, the more Tony relaxed, melting into it.
Finally, Tony pulled away, gasping for breath, brown eyes wide. "Did you really just...did you kiss...am I hallucinating?"
Steve chuckled, a light pink flush on his cheeks. "No, you aren't."
Tony swallowed hard, hands shaking as he called them into fists. "I shouldn't have...this was a mistake. I have to go."
"Tony?" Steve asked confusedly as Tony backed away towards the door. "Wait—"
"This never happened," Tony told him, voice shaking as he tried to keep it together. Steve stared with shock at the tears in Tony's eyes that he hadn't noticed before. "I'm sorry, Steve."
His voice cracked at Steve's name as he turned and ran from the room. Steve was frozen for the count of ten before his brain caught up and he ran after the genius.
But by the time he raced out into the corridor, Tony was gone.