Clint stares at him, lookingpletely poleaxed. ※A version of you married Tony?§

※Two that I know of,§ Steve says, and reaches for the pizza again, taking a bite. He chews, swallows, shrugs helplessly. ※I don＊t know what to do. I just wanted to get back and make sure we were okay, that he knew I didn＊t blame him, but now we＊ve got all this goddamn baggage from stuff that hasn＊t even happened here, because I saw-§

He abruptly stops, not wanting to share exactly what he saw. Unbidden, the image of him leaning across the bed to kiss Tony once again rises into the forefront of his mind, and he shoves it away. This is not what this is about.

※Versions of you married Tony,§ Clint repeats, and then seems to shake himself out of his daze. He throws his hands in the air and rocks the chair back on two legs. ※Are you actually 每 you two. You fucking morons. You could only fall ass over teakettle for each other whilst you were in a goddamna.§

Steve＊s hand falters as he reaches for the juice. ※What? We＊re not -§ he begins, frowning. ※It doesn＊t mean the same in every universe; Tony and I don＊t feel that way-"

※He wouldn＊t leave,§ Clint interrupts bluntly. ※He was glued to your side, holding your goddamn hand and he would not leave. Bro-codepletely and utterly disregarded. He pretty much lost the plot. And he realised he was losing the plot because he was totally gone for you 每 which, by the way, are his words and not mine.§

There＊s an odd ringing in Steve＊s ears, he＊s sure of it. He knew Tony was different with him when he woke up 每 less abrasive, less flippant 每 but it was because of the fight, and the guilt, not because he has feelings for Steve, right?

Right?

※Ass over teakettle,§ Clint replies deliberately, each word emphasised to make his point. ※Whilst you weren＊t even awake, Jesus.§

Rallying his scattered thoughts, Steve tries to argue. ※It＊s because he felt it was his fault,§ he tries. ※He felt guilty-§

※Yeah, he felt guilty, and then he felt more than guilty,§ Clint says pointedly.

※What?§

※God, you 每 seeing as you just woke up from the second unnatural period of suspended animation in your life, I＊ll let the being stupid slide. Hang on - I know, here, watch this.§

Shoving a hand into his pocket, Clint pulls out his phone. He flips the screen sideways, taps rapidly with his thumbs and then hands it over. Steve takes it cautiously, and he sees a Youtube video with just over a million hits loaded and ready to go. The still image is a tad blurry but not too hard to make out; he can see Clint and Tony in the doorway of Avengers Tower, heads down and ready to walk outside towards a waiting car. Tony＊s car, the sleek black Audi with the blacked out windows. There are reporters everywhere, and he feels frustration roll through him because they＊re not allowed to be there, and he knows that they＊ll have broken the public order notices because they wanted news about him.

※Try and ignore my bad-assery and don＊t tell me off for punching a reporter until you＊ve watched it all,§ Clint says.

Steve lowers the phone and looks at Clint, despairing. ※You punched a reporter?§

※Shhh, no, of course not,§ Clint points at the phone. ※Watch."

Sighing, Steve lifts the phone and taps the grey play symbol with his thumb. It flares to life in a riot of noise and colour; reporters shouting and yelling, cameras flashing left right and centre. Clint and Tony are clearly trying to ignore them, doing well until they quite clearly and abruptly stop trying.

There＊s no doubt about what Clint wanted him to see when he hears it. Tony＊s voice, loud and raw and vicious, devastating in its honesty. Almost as heart-wrenching as the look on his face.

＆I am not going to do anything without Captain America, you got that? He is going to be fine, and you know why? Because there is no-one else who is going to be leading this team, and the universe knows it. There is no-one else I want leading this team, there is no-one else I want beside me, anywhere, at any fucking time. Now get the fuck out of my way so I can get back to him.＊

Steve lets out a shaky breath, his stomach churning in a way that has nothing to do with his hunger. God. It＊s not even just about what Tony said, it＊s the way he said it.

Steve passes the phone wordlessly back to Clint, not even caring about the latter half of the video and Clint socking the reporter. He feel like he＊s been hit by a goddamn train, because now he knows exactly how Tony feels about him, and that just goes to make the whole goddamn mess of a situation moreplicated.

The feeling that he and Tony are an inevitable thing is stronger, closer and more terrifying than ever before.

※Sorry,§ Clint says unexpectedly after a few minutes of silence, and he does sound sorry, but also unrepentant. ※I thought you should know.§

※What do I do,§ Steve says before he can stop himself, because he might be Captain America and a strategic genius, but relationships have never been his forte and hell, everyone knows it. He＊s lost here, and has no clue as to where to go next-

※Man it up and join the rest of the multiverse in loving Tony?§

※But I＊m not in love with Tony!§ Steve bursts out. ※I can＊t just 每§

※Can＊t just make yourself love him?§

Steve nods soberly, reach up to rub his face. The IV line snags on the edge of his blanket and he reaches for it, tearing the tape off in one vicious yank, before sliding the needle out of the back of his hand and tossing the line away. It doesn＊t make him feel any better.

※I feel like I have to,§ he says. ※God, if he-§

※You don＊t have to,§ Clint says firmly. ※Tony＊s a big boy; if you don＊t feel the same way about him he＊ll deal with it. He＊s Iron Man for god＊s sake, he＊s dealt with worse. Always has, always will.§

Nodding again, Steve unhappily acknowledges that Clint is right. As long as he treats this right 每 as long as he treats Tony right 每 there＊s no reason for this to be a disaster.

※But maybe you do feel the same way.§

Frowning, Steve turns to look Clint in the eye. He still looks deadly serious, but shrugs as Steve looks at him. ※You two are＃I don＊t know. Intense around each other at the best of times. Ande on, if the rest of the multiverse has gone for it＃§

He trails off, the implication unspoken but simple to infer.

Steve groans. ※Dammit, this is exactly what I didn＊t want to happen, I didn＊t want to get back and everything be weird.§

※Is it weird because other versions of you love other versions of Tony, or because Tony likes you, or because you quite blatantly can＊t work out if you like Tony＃?§

Steve rolls each question over in his mind. Swallows thickly, rubs at his temple.

※I don＊t know.§

Steve is sleeping again. He＊s lying on his side with his mouth lax and open, tabletputer held limply in his hand. He looks still and peaceful, still with that damn almost-frown on his face

Tony would be worried, but the doctors have told him that despite spending the last few weeksplete KO, Steve will need a lot of rest as his body adjusts to being awake and moving once more. After all, all he＊s had in the way of sustenance is whatever nutrients were pumped in via IV and the half a pizza that Tony has no intention of giving Clint a thousand bucks for. His energy levels arepletely shot, and it＊s visible in his slow movements, his pale skin, the shadows around his eyes.

He aches to go in to sit beside him, but he won＊t.

※Phil would be pissed that you＊ve usurped the title of Cap＊s Number One Fan.§

Tony breathes out through his mouth as Clint＊s voice calls out to him, not looking away from where he＊s watching Steve through the window in the hospital room door.

※You are the least helpful person I have ever met.§

Clint saunters up, hands in his pockets. He peers through the glass window in the door and then leans back against the wall, facing Tony. ※How＊re you doing?§

Tony＊s not touching that with protective gloves on. He doesn＊t reply, eyes tracing the curve of Steve＊s forearm, across his wrist and down to his hand, fingers curled slackly around the edge of the tablet.

※So,§ he says conversationally. ※Which nurse was it that came by to take his IV out?§

Clint shrugs. ※A blond one.§

※Yeah. Was the mystery blond named Steve or Clint?§ he asks, and Clint pulls a face at him, crossing his legs at the ankle and glancing towards the door.

※You know I couldn＊t have stopped him,§ he says as way of admission, and Tony could kill Steve some days, he really could. ※He wanted it out, so out it went.§

※He＊s still dehydrated,§ Tony says, annoyed. Trust Steve to always be on everyone＊s case about taking care of themselves and then blatantly ignoring medical advice directed at himself. Tony finally pulls his eyes away, turning his body and slumping back against the wall next to Clint. Shoves his hands in his pockets because he doesn＊t know what to do with them. ※I＊m going to tape a bottle of Gatorade into each of his hands.§

Clint breathes out, a huff of sound that＊s nearly a laugh. ※Tape not necessary, he＊ll do it if you ask.§

※What＊s your game plan, Barton?§ Tony says suddenly, hearing the implication in the words, the stress on the word you. ※I have an acute feeling of dread that you＊re up to something, and that never ends well for anyone.§

Innocent look on his face, Clint shakes his head. ※When am I ever up to anything?§

※Bullshit. I sense bullshit, and I＊m calling you on it, Hawkeye. You＊re not as dumb as you like people to think you are. Lacking in basicmon sense, but not dumb. It＊s all a terrible, terrible act.§

Clint smiles at that, and then uncrossed his legs, shifting his balance back onto both feet. ※I think you two are good for each other, is all. I＊m not the only one.§

Tony shakes his head, looking down at the floor. ※Still calling bullshit.§

※Shut up,§ Clint says. e on.§

※No, you need to stop this like yesterday,§ Tony says. ※Look, I know what I said, but it doesn＊t matter because it takes two to tango, right? Whatever I feel about this, it doesn＊t matter. I＊ll keep a lid on it-§

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