Warm Up Exercises

[tsukinofaerii]

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Tony wrinkled his nose, staring down at the cheeseburger as though it had been created in order to personally offend him. "This," he nudged the top bun with a plastic knife, "is positively disgusting." Diner patrons passed by, ignoring them completely, which suited Tony down to a T. He had no interest in Steve's needs leading to his capture, thank you. "Are you certain this is food?"

"Not for you." Steve rolled his eyes and tugged the plate over to him. "It's your fault I need the protein." He'd already eaten a large salad and a bowl of soup, and Tony knew for a fact that a steak was on the way. It was inhuman. "Or iron."

"Both." Tony averted his eyes as Steve took a bite. Food was still a strange subject. Six months ago he would have been—not eager, since nothing could turn a cheeseburger into cordon bleu—but at least not horrified. Now, just smelling it turned his stomach. "Protein for you, iron for the other. Pay attention."

Luckily, Steve had been raised politely enough that he finished chewing before he attempted to speak. "I know how to treat bloodloss."

Sharp teeth glinted in the overhead light as Tony smiled.

***

Steve stared up at the ceiling, watching the fan as it turned gently. Splashing and the occasional curse echoed from the hotel bathroom as Tony cleaned up. Tony had a lot of reason to clean up.

They'd left blood on the sheets. Not much—Tony was good at what he did—but a few drops. They stood out, little red-brown points of evidence against the crisp white linens. Tony was never going to let him live down what had happened. He'd harp on it to his dying day, and that was a long way off now.

He'd enjoyed it.

Logically, Steve knew that it was Tony Stark. It would be almost impossible not to enjoy sex with him. But that didn't change that Steve had liked it. Wanted more. Damn near begged.

Steve wasn't gay. He knew he wasn't. Sometimes laying into Tony didn't make him gay. But letting Tony lay into him? He wasn't sure about that one.

"Steve?" Tony hovered in the door to the bathroom, the hotel towel wrapped around his hips.

The light in the room was so dim, Steve couldn't see the differences six months had made. "Yes?"

"Don't worry about it so much."