Prompt Fill: Blame the Golden Vapor (4/6)

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Originally posted by darklumiat Prompt Fill: Blame the Golden Vapor (4/6)

Title: Blame the Golden Vapor
Author: darklumi
Characters/Pairings: Steve/Tony, Coulson/Clint, Natasha/Pepper, hints of Thor/Jane
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All Marvels
Warnings: Alternate 616 universe with tiny movie bits, Tony's trust/dad issues, hurt/comfort, and all around insanity of Avengers on a truth serum. 
Author's notes: no beta! comments are love!!!!!! :D also the Boogie Tales wont be updated until this story is finished :O i hope my dear OP is satisfied with my story -_-'

Summary: The Avengers get doused with a golden vapor that makes them tell the truth. cue angst, humor, and some love people!

A tense silence hung over the impressive figure of Steve Rogers well into the evening. The summer breeze was a soft touch upon Steve's sweaty forehead. For half the day he had managed to avoid the rest of the Avengers, taking refuge on top of the Avengers' building. He had only managed to snatch a pencil and his art folder, without be sighted by any of the others, before making his way to rest on the west side of the structure. The sound of New York traffic was comforting and but did little of distracting Steve from his thoughts of Tony and what had happened earlier. He would have preferred to have gone and hit the old punching bag in the gym, but seeing as it was otherwise occupied by Thor, Clint, and Bruce/Hulk there would be no other way around the questions and worries that would arise as the sight of him tearing into the weathered leather and sand. He knew he was pulling a Tony, not talking about what was bothering him, but frankly Steve wasn't up for answering what inquiries the others might have. Steve just needed to collect his thoughts and then he would seek the others out, they could help strategize, and execute the plan that would get Tony back into his arms so he could kiss the smaller man silly. So he took what little contentment he could, boiling from the sun's rays which were beating upon his back as he sketched in his art binder, his only comfort for the moment, his hand making sure strokes and shading messily at his latest bit of work.

What had happened had not gone quite as well as Steve might have hoped, but Tony had a way of making Steve lose reason and just react in ways he didn't think he would. Tony made Steve feel. All rational thought could be out the window when ever the other smiled Steve's way or whenever the Tony was upset, Steve's heart broke. The raw pain that Tony had revealed, the anguish, stabbed razor sharp into Steve's chest. The thought that Tony believed no one cared, the thought Tony felt he didn't have anyone to rely on, was enough to make Steve sick. The desperate look in Tony eyes forever engraved in Steve's mind, the power in his body when he had pushed Steve away. It hurt beyond comprehension and the only thing Steve could think was that this is how Tony must have felt whenever someone hurt him. Completely helpless and alone.

"That's a very nice picture of him. You capture him wonderfully." Steve jerked away, turning his body one fist raised to attack, before his eyes rested on the voluptuous form of Natasha, who rested near his shoulder.

"Geez, give a man a heart attack why don't you?" Steve turned away, trying to calm his racing heart. Something that resembled a giggle could have possibly escaped Natasha's lips, but Steve didn't dare make a mention of it. "When did you get here?"

"Just a few minutes ago. I couldn't help but admire your work." Natasha said.

Steve's big blue eyes zipped to the paper held on his lap, the picture was a very detailed capture of Tony's smile, something to be treasured for it's rarity and openness. "Thank you. I hadn't realized I had drawn him, my hand just started moving on it's own."

Natasha hmmed, leaning back on the side railing, her legs began to kick back and forth, her feet barely touched the ground as they swung, the task was insanely feminine and quite odd to see a trained killer do, especially one such as the Black Widow.

"So why are you hiding up here and not have dirty raunchy sex in Tony's shop?"

Steve blushed heavily, he could feel the heat trail down his neck and spread across his chest. "Excuse me?!" He squeaked.

"You heard me. I want to know why you guys aren't making love on top of Tony's welding table." Natasha stopped what she was doing to stare intently into his eyes. It was a bit unnerving, seeing as the woman was very skilled at reading people, Steve wouldn't be surprised if she in fact already knew what had happened downstairs.

"Well...long story short we aren't going to be having dirty raun-raunchy s-sex anytime soon." Steve looked at the woman who stared back calmly, waiting for the rest. "I told him he was a coward for not talking about how he feels. I antagonized him, pushed until he pushed back, and when I almost had him I just said the wrong thing I guess."

"What you need to understand, Rogers, is that Tony has severe trust issues." Steve mumbled a "No duh," but Natasha carried on like she hadn't heard him. "It's one of the reasons I didn't think Tony was suitable for the Avengers initiative. I can't risk the team when I'm not confident in a man who's too busy wondering if his teammates are going to watch his back, that he can't even watch ours." Natasha said. "I'll be the first to admit I was wrong. He's a very resilient and trustworthy man." Listening intently to the woman by his side, the smooth alto-like voice was like honey escaping beautifully shaped bow lips, Steve was entirely captured by her words. "I thought he was only capable of good things while he was Iron Man but I was too blind to see what he was capable of as Tony Stark. They are one and the same. It just took me a while to get past the unstable, eccentric, playboy side of him. I'm sure you already see the possibilities of Tony, way before anyone else has, the others are starting to notice too, slowly but they will get there. Then one day Tony will realize that we do in fact care about him."

"I don't understand how he thinks we wouldn't care about him now." Steve brow furrowed, clenching his hands into fists and pressing them into the meat of his thighs. "We are under the influence of the vapor, he should trust me when I say I want to be with him. I'm telling the truth!"

"Tony has constantly had the disappointment of his father, the neglect of his mother, and hatred of many people on his shoulders for a very long time. Someone, who Tony thought of as a father figure, has even tried to kill him by pulling out the arc reactor." She paused to let Steve take that bit of information in. Natasha could see the chords in his neck bulge and eyes narrow. "There's no doubt the press have also helped feed the public and fueled his self-hate. Tony has been treated like a joke or a burden most of his life, the sparkly dust isnt going to change his point of view so easily. He's probably in shock, hearing something and knowing it's the truth. He just doesn't know how to handle it except by pushing you away."

"Well what am I suppose to do then? I can't just sit here and do nothing." Steve gazed at the exceptionally detailed illustration of Tony. His fingers grazed across the penciled cheeks, gently smearing the fine graphite.
 
"Just be by his side till he realizes what an idiot he has been." Natasha suggested. "Sometimes you just have to wait for the best opportunities to come around before you can do anything."

"How do you know so much Natasha?" Steve inquiried.

"I had to work undercover as an assistant for Tony, you tend to notice things when you keep your mouth shut and your eyes open. I also happen to be in a relationship with Pepper, who do you think she comes to when she needs to rant about that guy." Natasha smirked. "Plus I have high level clearance in SHIELD. It would make your head spin if you knew half the stuff I do."

"I have no doubt." Steve chuckled. "Where is your better half anyway? Tony said she was suppose to come over."

"Pepper's downstairs, no doubt slapping some sense into Tony. I came up here as soon as noticed the lack of grunts and groans coming from the shop." Natasha smiled, a small upturn of the corner of her lips but Steve couldn't help but return it. "Time is your friend Steve. Just be patient."

<><><><><>

Tony was too busy looking at the newest design of an Iron Man suit to notice the shop door had opened, revealing a beautiful woman by the name of Pepper Potts. Pepper was a dedicated and intelligent woman, she had a nice collection of shoes like most women, had a weakness for cherry pie, and also had a surprising strong right hook. She was normally patient, meticulous, and kept her composure under the most hetic circumstances because after years of working for Tony Stark, who wouldn't? However, after several years of practice under belt, it wasn't safe to say Tony didn't know how to push her buttons, because he did and quite often.

So when Pepper entered the room she did so with purpose and dignity, striding across the room to stand beside her boss, her heels clicking against the ground and making her hips sway. Pepper had a billon dollar company to run, however, there was only so much she could do before there was the need for the actual CEO to approve anything. The papers she needed Tony to sign were important and knowing Tony, who disliked paperwork, she might be there a while.

Pepper didn't waste anytime trying to get his attention, she mearly poked the back of his neck, a surprisingly sensitive spot she had discovered once upon a time. The man, who had been slouching in his computer chair, entirely encaptured by the 3D image of the latest project, flinched and jerked. Tony gasped and his shoulders flew up on either side of his head as if to protect the pale column, he turned the chair around so fast he nearly flew off, only calming when he spotted Pepper waiting patiently.

"Hey Pep' where were you earlier? I needed some assistance and since that's your job-"

"I was busy running your company and can't be at two places at once-"

"Richards can."

"Well I'm not Dr. Richards. Now, I got some papers for you to sign." Pepper ignored his groan, instead she pulled out several papers, all in need of a signature, and laid them on top of a nearby desk, setting a pen ontop. "Come on, chop, chop. The faster we get this over with the faster you can go back to your little toys." She glanced over, brushing her hair from her face, when the other made no move to stand, that last suggestion usually worked whenever she needed him to sign contracts.

"Pep' can I ask you something?" Pepper rotated her body to face her boss directly, he was still slouched in his chair, fiddling nervously with his fingers, smearing the oil stains further along his skin, soon his hands were just a black mess.

"Of course you can."

"You know me better than anyone, maybe even myself, and I think I might have hurt Cap's feelings earlier and-"

"Whoa, whoa start from the beginning." Pepper raised her hands to halt any further mumbling from the man, guilt and shame was already eating away at his face. This couldn't be good.

"I don't know where to start! He came down here, started lecturing me, and you know how I hate when people lecture me, reminds me of my dad and how he was always found reasons to be disappointed with me. Then, we started making out and it was pretty hot, like super hot, we could have had sex on that table right there, but I got scared and told him to leave. Now, I don't know what to do because I love him but I think he hates me now. Pep' help--"

"Stop. You do realize what you just said right?"

"Which part?"

"You love him part."

"I do?"

"Why are you asking me? I'm just repeating what you said."

"Oh." Pepper couldn't help but feel sorry for Tony. He looked utterly lost and unsure of everything, which he most likely was. His heart and mind must be battling for reason, at war with one another, unable to make sense of anything he was feeling or thinking. It was sad to see a grown man incapable of handling simple feelings such as love and possible happiness, feelings that were universal and should be shared by everyone.

"But let's get one thing straight right now, you love Steve and Steve certainly doesn't hate you. He's completely in love with you."

"Well, he never exactly said--"

"Quiet. Don't you dare interrupt me. Understood?" Tony nodded wide eyed. She took a deep breath, her voice taking a soothing tone as she continued. "Tony, look at me." She crouched down in front him, grasping his hands ignoring the black stains smudging her porcelain skin, and holding eye contact hoping for him to see the truth swimming in them. "I know you don't think we are friends, even though that's all I considered us, but you need to realize you can't push people away because you're afraid of being hurt. Everyone gets hurt, that's the fact of life, and I know you were hurt so deeply by so many people but understand that not all people are like that. Not everyone is trying to hurt you and they certainly don't like to be pushed away."

"I can't help it...it just happens." Tony voiced lowly, his big brown eyes were wide and his brows were furrowed in between, and Pepper had an indescribably feeling deep in her gut, it made her want to cuddle him close.

"I know but how do you think Steve is feeling right now, thinking that his feelings don't matter?"

"They do though! I just...i don't know."

"It's a big leap throwing out how you feel about someone but's it also a more considerable jump to return those feelings and trust that person with your heart. Now am I right or am I right?"

He chuckled humorlessly. "You're right."

Pepper smiled at the man fondly. "The greatest treasure you can give anyone, Tony, is your love and frienship, that's all we ask for. I know this is hard to take in and you might not believe half the stuff I just told you but shouldn't you trust me? I've worked for you for several years and I haven't once made you question my integrity have I?"

"No."

"Then trust me and trust Steve and Rhodey and the rest of the Avengers. We'll be your new family and we will protect you, just like we know you will have our backs."

"I'll try." Tony whispered. "I'll try harder."

"That's the spirit." She patted him on the cheek lightly before standing straight. "Now come over here and sign these papers." She smiled lightly at his exasperated moan.

"Yes mumsy." Tony grumbled. "Wait, does that mean that Natty is my new daddy?"

.