Chronic Back Pain
Steve knew Tony was in pain just from the stiffness of his flying.
The Avengers had completed their mission and were flying back to the tower. Tony hadn’t removed the helmet and the suit was stiffer than usual. Gone were Tony’s fluid swaying movements, the suit moved mechanically just like the robots in the movies did.
He had an idea what was wrong, but Tony refused to answer his concerning questions over the comms.
Tony was the first one out of the jet when it landed and Steve followed quickly after it. He called Tony’s name but the suit did not stop its movements. Finally as they reached the workshop, the red and gold suit got to the middle of the room before freezing in place. Steve was just in time to dive in front of it as the suit opened up and Tony came falling out.
“Tony!” Steve shouted, grabbing the man before he crashed to the ground.
Steve’s heart pounded when the man didn’t make a sound in his arms, simply trembling. He shifted them both so he could see Tony’s face, finally hearing a shout of pain come from the man at the movement.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Steve cooed.
“Back hurts,” Tony gasped.
Steve sighed, bringing Tony’s forehead to his own chest and letting the man rest against him.
Tony has had chronic back pain for years but ever since becoming Iron Man it has gotten worse and worse. There were many days he and Steve would lay in the bed for hours as Tony’s back surged in pain, preventing him from moving at all. He hadn’t had a flare-up in about two-weeks, so Steve should have known this mission might cause some problems.
Steve’s brow creased in concern as he felt his shirt dampen with tears. “It’s okay, baby,” he soothed, putting a hand in Tony’s hair. “Do you want to lay down?”
Tony shook his head and a few whimpers were released from his mouth.
Steve sighed in concern. “Jarvis, can you update Bruce?” He didn’t even listen to the AI’s response as he focused on his boyfriend. “Baby, let’s move to the couch, okay?”
It took a few seconds but Tony nodded into Steve’s chest. Steve shifted Tony closer to his body and wrapped his arms around the man’s waist. He tried to stand with one fluid movement, but was forced to lower Tony back to the ground as the man practically screamed in pain.
“Fuck, it hurts,” Tony cried, fisting Steve’s shirt.
“I know, I know,” Steve said softly while placing a soft hand on the back of Tony’s neck.
Bruce walked in as Tony’s crying started up again. He approached the pair who were sitting on the floor and placed his medical bag next to them. “Hey, Tones. I know your back hurts, but is it a numbing pain, a shooting pain, or is it cramping?”
Tony whimpered for several moments, keeping his head snuggled into his boyfriend. “Cramping, I think,” he whispered. “And shooting.”
Bruce nodded. “I’m going to have to touch your back, okay?”
“No!” Tony cried. Bruce’s massages, while helping the pain, always hurt a lot.
“Tones, it’s okay,” Steve said gently. “Let him help, it’ll make you feel better.”
Tony sat silently, letting tears leak down his face. Bruce took Tony’s silence as his queue and started massaging Tony’s back lightly.
Immediately Tony flinched and squirmed in pain. Steve held him tighter. “Stay still, baby.”
Bruce used his thumb to smooth out the tight muscles and tried to use a light touch. Despite his effort, Tony still whimpered at every knot.
Tony didn’t notice Natasha had entered the workshop until she was kneeling next to him and was wiping a cool towel across his skin. “It’s okay, Antoshka,” she said softly. Tony turned his head from where it was trying to merge with Steve’s chest and looked at her. She grabbed his hand and squeezed gently, prompting him to squeeze back tightly as Bruce massaged another knot.
Tony also didn’t notice Clint until he felt another pair of hands ice his back. The ice helped numb his back and Natasha and Steve’s soft touch helped draw his attention away from the pain.
Several minutes later, Tony finally felt Bruce’s hands move from his back. “Does it feel any better, Tones?” Bruce asked.
Tony nodded, eyes still shut. “No more cramping,” he muttered.
“But it still hurts?” Bruce asked.
Tony nodded, he hummed when he felt Steve’s hand return to his hair.
Bruce sighed. “Take this pill and then let's walk to your room.”
Tony almost screamed at the thought of moving but he just groaned in response and swallowed the pill Bruce held out.
Steve’s sturdy hands helped him up and he felt Bruce’s hands at his waist to steady him. Immediately his body folded as his back surged with pain but Bruce slowly encouraged him to stand straight. “I know it hurts, but it will help,” he said.
Steve guided him towards the elevator and the team followed. Through the elevator ride he laid his head onto Steve’s chest and let his boyfriend support his weight. Bruce rubbed his shoulders in support.
By the time they finally reached the bedroom, Tony was dizzy with pain. He could do no more than sit on the edge of the bed in Steve’s arms as the team fluttered around him. Clint removed his clothes while Natasha replaced them with pajamas, and Bruce ran to get heat packs.
They dressed him in Steve’s sweats since they were baggy and loose on him and his favorite fuzzy socks. Steve helped him lower to the bed and shifted him until he was laying on his stomach with his head in Steve’s lap. Bruce placed the heat packs on his upper, middle, and lower back.
Tony hummed as the heat seeped into his muscles, relaxing them gradually. He barely noticed the team grinning at his happy noises and leaving the room.
He felt the lights dim and heard the door start to close. “Thank you,” he hummed. He was so grateful for his team.