#capimtrb2018

[capim-tinybang]

Inspiration Post: Home

What makes a home? Is it a place that you can come back to, somewhere that you know that you are safe?

The place where you first felt welcome?

The places to stay people offer you?

Is it where you can relax between battles?

Where you have someone you can strategize and plan with?

Isn't home the place were people wait for you, because they know you'll return there time and time again?

Or is home a person? The person who makes you feel right at home, you've never felt more comfortable than by that person's side.

Someone you'll miss when they're gone.

Someone who's on your mind a lot?

Home is, where people accept you for who you are. (Even if who you are is a maternal headcase...)

Time to go home!

If you have questions, send us an ask or email at cap.im.events@gmail.com. Art can be submitted to the @capim-tinybang tumblr or to our email.

Full information on the event can be found here. The art submission deadline is July 1st!

[dirigibleplumbing]

Combinatorics 

Three Steves, two Tonys. What are they going to get up to?

My art for the Cap Iron Man Tiny Reverse Bang 2018!

One of the themes for the TRB was “time” so I was thinking this scene could be the result of time travel shenanigans. It could well be multiverse-related as well. Or shapeshifting or magic or anything else. (One Tony does seem to be younger than the other though, as he’s a bit shorter in the second-to-last panel.) 

[onlymorelove]

fic: Topographies of Desire (1/1)

Code Name: Prime Title: Topographies of Desire Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: T for mild cursing Pairings:   Steve Rogers x Tony Stark [Pre-Slash] Summary: When Tony looks at Steve, he wants to stay. (Character study for the scene when Steve and Tony say goodbye at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron.)  Link to fic on AO3: here Written for the @capim-tinybang‘s 2018 Tiny Reverse Bang Amnesty Week || inspired by @skyeedom’s breathtaking  art

Author's Note: *waves hello* Since this takes place during the scene where Tony and Steve say goodbye at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, I have borrowed some lines of dialogue from the movie. This is a new fandom and a new ship for me. Also, because 2018 has thus far repeatedly kicked my ass on a personal level, it's been a while since I've written fic. Please feel free to comment; I'd love to hear your thoughts, whether you leave a smile, a frown, constructive criticism, or a poem. ;) All I ask is that you please remember that there is, in fact, a human being on the other side of the screen. Thank you for reading!

------

“I will miss you, Tony,” Steve says from beside him as they walk across the grass, and though there’s nothing particularly remarkable about his voice, Tony still can’t resist turning his head so he can peer at his face for just a moment—

(In a quicksilver flash of whimsy, he thinks of the Sirens luring ancient mariners to their deaths with their hypnotic voices. The thought flickers and vanishes.)

—to gauge Steve’s sincerity. That’s all. Not so Tony can admire the blue gleam of his eyes; the glitter of his lashes in the sunlight; the little ruts etched between the sandy, twin slashes of his eyebrows. Never that.

(He’d laugh at himself if he weren’t so pathetic.)

“Yeah?” There’s no hollow ache in his stomach and his chest when he thinks about leaving Steve there at the new Avengers facility. There isn’t, ok? “Well, it’s time for me tap out.” Relief that Steve hasn’t asked him to stay makes Tony a touch breathless.

If he— If he asks him to stay—if the words Don’t go slip out of that pretty, pink mouth, wrapped in a plea, not a command, Tony would maybe possibly definitely consider it; that would be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea.

Because if Steve is fire, Tony is gasoline, and Tony has just enough self-awareness to realize it would only take a single stray spark and he would gladly ignite.

They talk for a few minutes more about a simple life of family and stability.

When Tony looks at Steve, he wants to stay. When he looks at Steve, he wants to call his armor, suit up, and hit the sky, letting wind and distance create a buffer between him and the man wearing a uniform Tony designed for him. When he looks at Steve, Tony wonders just how strong the solid stretch of those broad shoulders is. He wants to test it—wants to curl up against Steve’s chest and make himself small, so small that neither the memory of his father’s alcohol-slick breath, the casual brutality of his father’s fists, nor Obi’s betrayal, can touch him.

Worst of all, he wants to tuck his head under Steve’s chin and breathe his secrets into the gentle cup of his collarbone.

I’m the man who killed the Avengers. I saw you all dead. I felt it. The whole world, too. Because of me. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t do all I could.

When Tony looks at Steve, it isn’t the legend or the super soldier he wants; it’s the man.

Tony tells Steve none of these things, though, glass-fragile inside, where no one can see it, shielding himself with a whitewater rush of words instead. Their conversation leaves Tony very happy he’s wearing shades. Hopefully, the tinted lenses hide enough of his eyes that Steve can’t sense the uncomfortable emotions roiling inside Tony.

In the end, Tony drives off, leaving nanofragments of himself back at the Avengers compound, whether Steve realizes it or not.

Back in his bedroom in Malibu, Tony unzips his bag and finds an unmarked manila envelope lying on top of his clothes. His fingers fumble with the metal clasp, and he rolls his eyes. “Fuck,” he mutters as he slides a single sheet of paper from the envelope and manages to catch its sharp edge with his finger. A red drop blooms blood-bright at the bottom right corner, just beneath the space where S. Rogers is inked in strong, neat script. Tony’s eyes track upward from that spot on the page, his pulse beating hard enough that he can taste it in the back of his throat.

Part of a forearm and all of a hand, long-fingered and short-nailed, graced with downy hair Tony can almost feel beneath his fingertips if he concentrates, are drawn in pencil, hyperrealistic, in the foreground. Steve’s hand. It reaches back toward the top of the page, fingers curved in an elegant arch Tony wants to travel with his lips, and gives the impression of stopping short of touching what’s sketched there: Tony himself lying on his side in a bed, legs bent and curled in like he’s hiding from something. 

A nubby, checkered blanket is pulled up over him, covering his entire body from his neck down. His hands, folded as if in prayer, lie caught beneath his cheek and a fat pillow. His mouth sits slightly open, lax and soft. But his eyes are closed, lashes and perhaps dark thoughts casting deep shadows on the thin skin below. His hair sticks up in jagged, haphazard spikes. All except for a thick chunk that’s somehow pulled low and comma-shaped over his forehead. Above the entire drawing hovers a dialogue bubble, and inside it reads, “I don't trust a guy without a dark side.” Words Tony remembers speaking to Steve when they were arguing about Ultron—and secrets.

It’s him. It’s him. It’s unmistakably him, lying in the bed he and Steve had shared at the Barton farm. Eyes closed, Tony permits himself a moment of weakness—allows his trembling fingers to trace over and across the paper, imagining Steve watching him sleep. Imagining Steve watching him and wanting to touch. But no, that can’t be right...

Tony bites his tongue until he tastes copper. Only then does he open his eyes. Ignoring his still full bag, he dashes out of his bedroom and to his workshop, where he locks himself in. The drawing he drops into a drawer that he locks. After five minutes, he unlocks and reopens the drawer, and with a heavy sigh and his mouth curled bitterly on one side, he removes the drawing and places it on one of his drafting tables.

Tony works. He calculates probabilities; draws schematics; welds and hammers; ignores JARVIS’ crisp Sir, Captain Rogers wishes to speak with you; drinks cup after cup of strong coffee; stays awake until his body decides for him. Then, and  only then, does he do what he’s been fighting so desperately not to do. He slumps over a table and sleeps, muscles twitching occasionally, head filled with images of Captain America’s broken shield and their friends’ broken bodies and finally, finally, finally Steve’s broken body and his even more fractured words: You could have saved us. Why didn't you do more?

---

Question for you, dear reader(s): How do you feel about the Avengers: Age of Ultron movie? 

[lillyrlove]

Ten times sorry (Stony fluff)

Code Name: @sirsapling​

Title: Ten times sorry Universe: MCU Rating/Genre: T, fluff Summary: On some days Steve would go into direct confrontation with Tony, but today he is in a more playful mood. Link to ficlet: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15954305

[panna-acida]

The Best Day

Code Name: REACTOR Title: The Best Day Universe: // Rating: Teen Summary: (optional) Link to ficlet: here

Written for the @capim-tinybang

---

“Steve put me down.” Tony cried out for the tenth time, pinching Steve arms and pulling his hair, without any result.

“Can’t do.” Steve answered laughing, at Tony meager attempt.

“Oh come on, at last tell me where are we going?” Tony tried again, changing tactic.

“You will see” Steve grinned, passing the living room doors, moving toward their room.

“Fine, you damn beefcake.” Tony said smiling softly, and letting his body fall completely on top of Steve shoulder. “I only hope is worth you taking me away from my work, because Pepper is going to kill me if I don’t finish the presentation fo…”

Steve stopped Tony rumbling, with a light kiss on his shoulder and light squeeze of Tony bottom.

“Don’t worry. Everything I’m doing is Pepper approved.” Steve said laughing, lowering a little Tony, and tucking his head under his chin. “Now close your eyes, and don’t open them till I say it’s ok.”

“But...”

“Tony please, just this time indulge me.” Steve said, looking down in Tony eyes with a soft smile playing on his lips. “Please?”

Tony sighed and shaked his head still smiling.

“Ok, you win… this time.” Tony said closing his eyes, not before leaving a tiny kiss on Steve neck and putting his ears right on his chest, letting the solid thud of his heart lull him a little.

“Thank you.” Steve answered, jostling a little Tony, just to open the door to their room.

Tony never opened his eyes, keeping his promise, but keeping track of all Steve movement. From the door closing behind him, his ass finding the soft mattress, Steve feet padding around the room and leaving him waiting alone, drawers opening and closing. Everything.

“Steve?” Tony asked after a while, tilting his head a little, trying to track back Steve.

“I’m here sweetheart” Steve said, reaching out to stroke tenderly Tony’s cheek. “Open your eyes.” Steve whispered, and Tony did.

“Are you…” Steve was kneeling in front of him, a little black velvety box in his left hand, light dimmed down, and shy smile playing on his lips. “I…”

“Will you marry me?” Steve blurted out before Tony could say anything and ruin the moment.

“Is this…” Tony started to look around him, confused. “I am…” Like he didn’t heard the proposal.

“Tony?” Steve called him again, stroking his thumb on Tony lips, making the man in front of him, focus on his hand again.

“Yes? YES!” Tony ended nearly screaming, and jumping right on top of Steve making the man fall flat on his ass, and start to laugh. Because that was going to be the best day of his life, after knowing Tony of course.

The best day of his life.

[lacrimula-falsa]

Ghost In the Armour - Cap/Iron Man Tiny Bang Submission

Inspired by: this fanart masterpiece by @rowantreewrites Code Name: Confession Title: Ghost In the Armour Universe: MCU-based AU Rating: T Warning: Major Character Death (but not really) Summary: "Strange showed me what would happen to you if I died." AO3 post: click here Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and/or any other Marvel franchise. I write for fun, not for profit.

[@capim-tinybang]

"Steve... I'm sorry."

Steve stares at the blue, half-transparent... thing where Tony's head should be.

It looks like Tony's face, but it isn't.

Steve stares at the Iron Man armour, cradling Tony's -- no, the LMD.

Life Model Decoy. Decoy indeed.

The robot Tony made to look like himself. The robot Steve talked to and held and kissed and...

He feels sick, bile risking sharp and bitter in his throat.

He never knew. Didn't even suspect, not even once.

"Is that why you stopped sleeping in our bed?"

He hears Wanda draw in a sharp breath behind him and that's right, she didn't know about the two of them.

Blue eyebrows draw together, that ghostly face shading into... anger, almost.

"No Steve, that was because I was angry at you."

Steve wants to laugh. Angry. Robots can't be angry.

"Where's the real Tony?"

It hurts to ask. It hurts to think that while he was out and about, being together with this, this facsimile, making doe-eyes at some cheap copy of the man he loves, Tony was lying unconscious somewhere, injured and with nobody to help him.

Confusion flits onto that blue face and settles there.

"Steve, I am me. I'm the real Tony. I'm right here."

Steve shakes his head, raising his shield. Blinks away tears and advances on the... thing standing in front of him.

"Where is he? Tell me where!"

Tony's copy still sounds calm when it replies.

"My body -- my original body -- was destroyed. It doesn't exist any more, Steve. It's just dust blowing along the streets of New York."

The armour's arms raise to hold out the LMD like an offering.

"This is my body now, Steve. I made it to look exactly like me. It's identical. It's better."

Under the shield, Steve's arm starts to shake along with the rest of him.

It can't be true. It can't be. Tony can't be gone.

"That thing is nothing like you."

Blue features morph into angry derision in a flash.

"Isn't it? You sure couldn't tell the difference the last time we fucked."

Steve rears back, dropping his shield-arm in shock.

The silence drags on for a few heartbeats. It's Vision who breaks it.

"It's true, Captain. Tony used Extremis to transfer his consciousness into the LMD moments before the death of his human body. I used the Mind Stone to help him."

Steve turns his head to look at Vision, keeping the Iron Man armour in his peripheral sight.

"Why?"

As always, Vision looks untroubled.

"There are still traces of JARVIS inside of me. Like him, I wished to preserve the life of our creator."

It's not the answer Steve wants. Not the answer he's looking for. He turns back to the Iron Man armour and the blue hologram of Tony's face.

"Why? Why would you do this to yourself?"

Why would you do this to me?

He swallows the question he really wants to ask.

The expression on the hologram's face is painfully familiar. Sadness. It's a damned good imitation.

"Strange showed me. He showed me a vision of what would happen to you if I died."

The hologram looks down, averting its gaze.

"You would have died, Steve. You would have let the bioweapon kill you instead of searching for a cure. Losing me would have been too much. And the world needed you to live and keep fighting."

The hologram looks up.

"I needed you to live. So it wasn't all for nothing. So I didn't die for nothing."

Looking at the pain in those wrong-coloured eyes is nearly unbearable. Trust Tony to program something capable of tricking you into feeling sympathy for a machine.

Steve's voice comes out harsh and broken when he speaks.

"You are not Tony. Tony would know I'd never want this. That thing you're holding isn't him, it's a cheap copy. There's a reason you had to trick me. I would never have replaced him with some robot. You're insane if you think that."

For almost a minute nothing happens. The hologram flickers like it's broken and for a moment Steve thinks that this is it, that it has just shut down and any moment the armour will darken and shut off.

Then suddenly the armour jerks and drops the LMD at his feet.

"Destroy it then. If you hate this version of me so much. This isn't like JARVIS programming, there's no uplink to the Tower and no backup. My consciousness can't exist outside of the LMD's framework. The only reason I can control the armour is that I used the armour's connection to the LMD to back up my mind in the first place. If you destroy the LMD, I'm gone. Just like you want."

With that the armour pushes him out of the way, walking towards the workshop's door.

Steve turns after it, helpless. He's too slow and his hand grabs air instead of metal.

It feels like he's back in the ice all of a sudden, the weight of a glacier crushing his chest and pushing his shoulders towards the floor.

The armour halts as if it can feel him reaching for it. It takes him three tries to force the words out.

"You'd let me destroy it. Just... just like that."

He's traced Tony's features a hundred times with his hands and with a pencil. He barely recognizes them now, made of blue light and twisted with... something. Something like hopelessness.

Tony's voice is just the same though, even coming from the suits empty chest.

"This was supposed to be a gift, Steve. I don't think I want to be alive if you don't want it."

With that the armour steps into the alcove near the door, it's lights going out. The hologram of Tony's face flickers out of existence.

Steve falls to the floor next to the LMD, buries his face in his arms and cries.

[rueckenfigur-art]

I originally created these two pieces for the “Captain America - Ironman - Reverse Bang,” but with one thing and another they ended up without fic and thus the CapIM RBB mods very kindly agreed to feature them in the “Captain America - Ironman - Tiny Reverse Bang 2018”

The Keyword they were assigned is OATH, and authors wrote FIVE AMAZING fics for them!!!

Oath by La-Toratempesta

Wanted by Frenchkey

Burns Like Ice by dreamkist

When the Helicarriers Rose by AngeNoir  

Permanence by Winterstar95

Thank you for writing!!!

YAY!!!

[athletiger]

I’d thought it be fun to drabble-fy all the Cap/IM TRB prompts…I present to you part two of Stony stories, as told in a hundred words:

Code Name: Golden Universe: MCU Rating: T Inspired by @araydre, for @capim-tinybang

The warmth behind him is a familiar presence as enemies surround them.

It took a long time to get to this level of camaraderie, he thinks, as he blasts away an encroaching man. Behind him, he hears the shield bashing heads in, and he grins.

They had been two opposing figures when they first began working together, like oil and water, but slowly and surely they evolved into something more. Something…

“What a way to end our wedding! ” Steve exclaims, not at all looking unhappy about it when they down the last enemy together. Tony rolls his eyes and laughs.

[navaanwrites]

Code Name: SHELLHEAD Title: To See You Smile With Happiness Universe: Marvel 616 Rating: G

Summary:

Peggy was the one to bring up Tony. And now she's glad to see him fall in love – even if it's with the man she lost once.

Link to ficlet: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15386139

Written for the @cap-ironman Tiny Reverse Bang 2018 Round 2 for the stunningly beautiful art by gil-estel, Prompt Shellhead. Give her some love for it, please! Thank you so much for sending it in! ♥

I also used my Cap-IronMan Bingo card free space.

[araydre]

My Cap IM Tiny Reverse Bang 2018  entry GOLDEN

and the amazing stories written for it!

Crash The Wedding by Frenchkey

Golden by Bill-Longbow

Golden by La-Toratempesta

The Disaster And Terror Ensued (The D.A.T.E.) by AngeNoir

[capim-tinybang]

Cap IM Tiny Reverse Bang 2018 Round 4: Heroic | Timely | Armour

The Cap-IM Tiny Reverse Bang Round 4 will run from 28 July - 3 August. Writers, you only need to write a minimum of 100 words to participate in this fun challenge. Put on your writing hats and make some amazing fics for the art under the read more!

Rules and information for writers who want to create fic for this round is here!

HEROIC:

Artist: mirthandstar Link to Tumblr: @mirthandstar Rating: Teen Warnings: (Possible) Major Character Injury/Death Link to art: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15030770

TIMELY:

Artist: Winterstar Link to AO3/Tumblr: @Winterstar(AO3) / @winterstar95 Rating: Mature Warnings: Angst, Bondage Link to art: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15039140

ARMOUR

Artist: catsolari Link to Tumblr: @cat-solari Rating: Teen Warnings: None Link to art: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15467802

Feel inspired? Write fic of at least 100 words for any or all of these art pieces until the round-up goes up on Sunday and earn a badge for every prompt you write for! Please read through our Tiny Reverse Bang Guidelines page for more information and submission guidelines.

Late fills are awesome! Post it during our Amnesty Weeks when all prompts become available again and you will still earn a badge and be included in the final event masterlist.

Take a look at the Captain America/Iron Man Tiny Reverse Bang 2018 - Schedule

[ao3feed-steverogers]

Coming Home

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2NedkSf

by SierraNovembr

Tony doesn't have to get more than two steps past his door to feel utterly at home.

Words: 657, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: The Avengers - Ambiguous Fandom

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers

Relationships: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Additional Tags: capimtrb2018, Cap_Ironman Tiny Reverse Bang, Inspired by Fanart, Established Relationship, Flowers, Tony Stark Gets a Hug, and a sweet kiss

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2NedkSf

[panna-acida]

Little Protector

Code Name: ARMOUR Title: Little Protector Universe: 616 Rating: Teen Summary: (optional)

Written for the @capim-tinybang also link to AO3

Tony really didn’t know what to do, because what was happening in that moment was beyond his imagination.

“J, please take all the photo, all of them.” Tony said, with a little smile playing on his lips. Clutching on his chest a little Steve, while a big one, HIS big one, was clutching on his shirt for dear life, like he was going to disappear and leave him there, alone. “Steve” Tony mouthed looking at his blond one, and shaking his head.

“Already doing Sir.” Jarvis voice came from his earpiece, like a fresh breeze.

“You are the best J.” Tony whispered, turning just in time to watch little Steve pushing his Steve away from him with so much passion and rage, all coming from a body so little and fragile.

“DON’T TOUCH HIM!” Little Steve voice echoed in the empty living room.

“Ok, guys, now stop” Tony said, looking between the big and the little Steve, raising a eyebrow.

“He is mean, and make you cry, i saw him.” Little Steve mumbled, going to hug Tony now with both hand, and putting all of his little to no strength in such tender gesture.

“Maybe,” Tony said answering the little one, going to balance the boy in his arm. “But you doing this” Continued pointing at the chaos on the floor, where crayon and paper where scattered around. “are not any better.”

“Sorry.” LIttle Steve mumbled, with his face pressed now on Tony’s neck.

“It’s ok Steve, i will find a way to take you back home, where you belong.” Tony ended, going to leave a light kiss on top of the boy head.

“I’m already home.” The little one whispered, before falling asleep in his arms exhausted, hands going lax, and breath slowing.

“Oh Steve.” Tony murmured, looking at his Steve. “Come here.” Tony said, trying to balance the little weight in his arms. “I love you too.” Ended going to kiss his Steve, before turning around and moving toward his room so to put the little one finally to sleep.

He had work to do.

[darthbloodorange]

But He's My Tony!

Rating: Gen Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe Pairings: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Characters: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers Warnings: None Major Tags: Established Relationship, cloned, kid clone, Kid Steve Rogers, Jealous Steve Rogers, Inspired by Fanart Word count: 379 Code Name: Armour

Summery: An accident in the lab creates a mini!Steve. Tony finds him adorable, the Steve(s) don't like the competition.

For the: ✦ @capim-tinybang - Round 4 - Inspired by Cat-Solari(Catsolari)’s art ‘Cap IM Tiny RB Round 4: ARMOUR’ here

Read below or on AO3 >HERE<

Tony smiles at the pout Steve has on his face. The big Steve, that was. There was now two Steves currently.

There was a slight accident in the lab. A rip in reality was quite the accident though. He and Richards were working on testing multiverse theory. Which they knew was true now thanks to Dr Stephen Strange and his magic, but it was better to have a science explanation to stuff like this.

And it was better knowing, he will stand by that. But getting there, the testing, that was the messy part.

The point being, he was now holding a mini Steve who is currently scowling at big Steve in his corner on the couch. And big Steve was giving back as good as he got.

Richards was in his lab trying to find a solution to this. And while Tony would much rather be down in his lab with Richards fixing this, mini Steve did not want to let him out of his sight. Which was very Steve of him.

However there seemed to be room for only one Steve in his life apparently. Mini Steve has seemed to have made claim to him. Whenever big Steve tried to get close to him, mini Steve would make a huge fuss about it. He would try to kick and push big Steve away.

In order to make this as painless as possible, he had to handle mini Steve and big Steve had to keep his distance.

Tony would have found this kind of frustrating, being kept from his boyfriend by a younger version of his boyfriend. But, he had not expected his Steve to get so territorial and jealous.

Big Steve sat in the corner scowling and huffing. Arms crossed and slouching, Steve looked absolutely miserable. He would look away from the cartoons put on for mini Steve to look at him longingly or to frown at mini.

Steve could leave at any point he wanted, but he chose to sit here with him and be miserable at mini Steve. It was kind of funny, if he was honest.

Though as cute as mini Steve was, he could not wait for this to be over. He misses his Steve, even if he was just across the room.

[lacrimula-falsa]

Red - Cap/Iron Man Tiny Bang Submission

Inspired by: this gorgeous picture by @winterstar95 Code Name: Confession Title: Red Universe: MCU-based AU Rating: T Warnings: mentions of alcohol abuse/alcoholism, (fully consensual) BDSM, safewording Summary: "My Tony used to taste like metal and coconut and smell like that cloyingly sweet aftershave he liked. But you're not him any more." Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and/or any other Marvel franchise. I don't own any of the TV series mentioned in this fic. I write for fun, not for profit. AO3 post: click here

[ @capim-tinybang ]

---

The scene had gone badly from the start.

Usually when Tony got out the cuffs and put them around Steve's wrists, Steve instantly felt calmer, more collected.

This time he'd just felt nervous and jittery and if he's honest with himself that should have been the moment he gracefully bowed out.

Tony would have understood. Sometimes you weren't in the mood. It happened. It happened for Tony too.

But he hadn't and now he feels like he was falling apart. And like an idiot. This isn't the first time they've done this and he should have known better.

Steve's back stings where Tony's hit him. That should have been his second clue that this scene wasn't working. The pain had just been pain, like on the battlefield. No pleasure in it whatsoever.

The belt comes down again, a sharp ripping pain down his back, and Steve finally rallies his wits and chokes out

"Red.".

Behind him Tony freezes.

There's a moment of absolute stillness before --

"Okay. Can it touch you? I'm gonna take the restraints off, alright?"

Steve nods. Twice. Scrambles for his voice.

"You can take them off."

Mere moments later the cuffs fall from his wrists.

When they unlock, it's like something in Steve's throat does too, and all the words he's been trying desperately not to say spill out onto crimson sheets.

"Why can't we ever talk about it? It's all I ever think about when I see you now and I don't know how to stop."

Tony's hands still where they've been taking off Steve's collar, like they're suddenly cradling something fragile and precious.

He hears Tony draw in a shaky breath. The hands holding the collar fall away from his neck.

Steve desperately wants to grab them, but he doesn't dare. He makes himself speak again instead.

"It's like you're so far away from me. When I see the colour your eyes are now it makes me want to scream."

There's a terrible choked sound from behind him, but Steve doesn't turn around. He can't look at Tony now. If he does he's never going to say this and then he'll just fall apart all over again.

"Steve --"

He's not done. He's not. He's kept his silence this long and he just can't do it any more.

"No. No, you listen to me. I've been trying to be respectful of your wishes. Not to talk about it. But no one ever asked me what I want. And I can't do this thing where we never talk. We don't talk about anything any more. Nothing. Not your work at Stark Industries. Not about what the team does on missions. We don't even talk about CSI any more."

Steve finally twists to look at Tony, his resolve broken. He has to see Tony's face when he says this. He has to know. He already knows its going to shred his heart. Better to be sure.

"That used to be my favourite part, you know? Watching CSI with you. How after the episode you'd dissect all the inaccurate science and you'd get so mad. But when I told you we could find another series to watch you always said that you watched it for the characters."

"And that the science on Scorpion is so much worse."

Tony's voice is barely more than a whisper. There are tears running down his face. They look like quicksilver in the low light, alien. They don't run down to Tony's chin, sinking into his cheeks instead like rain into dry soil. It's horrifying. Steve wants to look away but he can't.

"Your kisses taste like plastic now, did you know that? I though it was all in my head but Bruce says the serum makes me able to actually taste the synthetics. And you always smell like disinfectant now." Steve taps his nose with a finger. "Alcohol. And I know you say that it doesn't affect you any more but I'm so scared every time that you've started drinking again."

He wipes a hand over his eyes, annoyed that he's crying again. He's cried enough. Tony looks pale now. Ghost-white. It's the first time since That Day that he's looked in any way unhealthy and it makes Steve want to hurl his shield at something. (Someone. Doesn't matter.)

"My Tony used to taste like metal and coconut and smell like that cloyingly sweet aftershave he likes. And he had crow's feet and grey hair that he let a stylist die because he was vainer than a peacock and scars all over his chest and hands like a dock-worker. But you're not him any more."

He can't tell what the expression on Tony's face is. Sadness? Anger? He doesn't know. Ever since it started looking ten years younger, he hasn't been able to read Tony's face at all. Steve drops his gaze to the sheets, noticing only now that he's unconsciously been tearing the dark-red fabric into shreds.

"You're different, Tony, and I'm scared." He draws in a shuddery breath that feels like it gains him no air at all. "I'm so fucking scared all the time now. I don't even know who you are any more."

He raises his eyes to Tony's face again, blinking away the tears that stubbornly keep gathering at their corners.

"And I know I'm hurting you, but I can't keep lying about it. I don't want to lie to you. But not talking about it is a lie. Avoiding the subject is a lie. Pretending everything is fine. Is. A. Damned. Lie. Because I want to, Tony. I want to talk about it and scream about it and raise a damned racket and to ask so many questions. But you won't let me. You won't. Let. Anyone. Talk. About. It."

His words have gone sharp and bitter and angry by the end and Steve forces his mouth shut before they get loud as well and he says something he'll regret.

Tony looks stricken. But there's anger too, written in the harsh line of his mouth.

"Would you rather I'd just lain down and died? Because that was the alternative, Steven, I feel like you forget that."

It's such an unexpected question that Steve's brain doesn't quite catch up with his mouth, and the word falls out between his lips before he can think about what it will mean.

"Sometimes."

Steve only registers what he's just said when Tony actually physically recoils from him.

(Like he's been struck.)

Right in the heart, Steve thinks, feeling numb.

Steve scrambles to explain before Tony can get up to run away. The intention is written all over his face. But Steve can't let him. If Tony runs now, they're over.

"I don't want you dead!" He holds a hand out, imploring. "Never. I... never. But you know how I hate the future sometimes and now you're part of that. Because I don't... there are parts of the future I don't understand. That I think I'll never understand. And now you're one of these parts and I hate that."

Steve's hand falls uselessly to his side. He just wants to curl up under a blanket and shut out the world. He wishes Tony would stop looking at him like that, like Tony's hurt. Steve knows Tony is, but he's also selfish and he wants Tony to focus on his pain now, not his own.

"I hate that so much, do you understand that? You've always made sense to me, even with all your newfangled contraptions. But now you are one of these contraptions and I can't deal with it, alright? This is the thing I can't adapt to, where the serum fails me. I can't be married to some... to someone--"

That's where his voice breaks, because this is an ugly thing to say. But if he doesn't, it will freeze him from the inside out. He can already feel the cold settling in, numbing his fingers and crawling into his throat.

"I can't be married to someone who's... whatever you are, now."

The stricken look hasn't faded from Tony's face. He still looks poised to run, fight-or-flight at its finest. Brown eyes looking into Steve's own, the irises shot through with silver in a way Steve's never seen in any human. He wonders if Tony still qualifies as one.

"Are you breaking up with me?"

It's such a mundane question but it still shocks Steve to actually hear Tony say the words.

Break up. Like it's simple. Like there're not a marriage and a superhero team and years of love tied up in it.

Tony's waiting for an answer, Steve realises.

The problem is, Steve doesn't have one. He just feels sick, like someone hollowed out his stomach.

"I don't want to break up."

"Then what do you want, Steve? Because I'm getting a feeling it's not me."

You're right, Steve thinks, I want my Tony back.

"I want you. But not like this."

Not when it feels like we're strangers. Not when I don't know you any more.

It's the only answer he has.

Tony stands up in a sudden jerky motion. Whatever his expression was before, it's firmly settled onto anger now. He yanks a robe on and it takes Steve a long moment to process that Tony is leaving.

"Then I guess we're over. You have three days to move your stuff out of the penthouse."

"You're throwing me out?"

It's such an idiotic thing to worry about when his marriage is falling apart, but it's the only thing Steve can think to say.

"You broke up with me, Steve, you can sleep on the fucking couch."

Tony leaves without even slamming the door. Somehow that's even worse.

Steve feels like he's frozen, again. Ironic. He tried to keep the ice in his chest from spreading and now here he is. Frozen, with his hand outstretched as if he could hold onto someone who's already walked out the door.

The man out of time indeed.

His head feels like it's filled with static, one thought running on repeat.

But you broke up with me, what did I do wrong?

[athletiger]

I’d thought it be fun to drabble-fy all the Cap/IM TRB prompts...easier said than done when you only have 100 words to tell a story. But, here we go: I present to you part one of Stony stories, as told in a hundred words:

Code Name: Oath Universe: MCU Rating: T Inspired by @samy-arts, for @cap-im tinybang 

Every time he looks at the white star, he remembers the promise he's made to Lady America: when he picks up that shield that signifies freedom, he is there to defend her people.

But more recently, while he remembers this promise, he has also made another oath, one more personal and just as important, and it's the same promise he”s made to his best friend all those years ago, and Tony Stark is just as important as Bucky.

So when the government turns against Iron Man, Steve will follow him and defend him till the end of the line.