Attraction ~ a STONY Story ~

Chapter 4

The noise of rocking electric guitar filled Tony's entire laboratory as he tested further experiments with artificial nerves on a prototype. This work was not just a step forward towards reconciliation, no, he enjoyed it immensely. It was fascinating to create something that could help a lot of people with nerve damage or prostheses. With a big grin, he welded small wires and revised the blueprints until a female voice with a slight Irish accent interrupted him. 

"Boss, Steve Rogers and James Barnes have just arrived in the entrance area." 

Startled, Tony stopped his planned work step and stared nervously at his locked door, made of bulletproof glass. 

"Should I show them to their quarters?" 

Tony took a deep breath, lay down and wiped the sweat from his forehead with an old cloth that was lying next to him. 

"Send them to the living area, I'll come upstairs," he instructed FRIDAY and carefully took one step at a time. 

He wasn't sure how to appear, which picture would be appropriate to deliver. He hated how nervous and insecure Steve could make him. Where was the confident Stark? Tony got into the elevator that was already waiting for him. He looked down at himself, straightened his dark AC / DC shirt, brushed off the work dirt and stroked his hair, hoping to be able to demonstrate his typical Stark performance. 

When the doors in the living area opened and Tony's eyes slowly rose from the floor, he saw two men. The one with dark shoulder brown hair, a dark blue jacket with a red shirt underneath, the other with dark blond hair that was hidden under a cap, and a dark brown leather jacket with a white shirt underneath that looked way too tight. All three stood motionless for a while, staring at each other. 

"Hey Tony," said a familiar female voice that emerged from the corner between the men. Her eyes were softer than Tony had known before. 

She took a step towards him and looked at him apologetically. She knew words weren't enough for what happened. She had turned her back on him, everyone present did that. The most important thing was to step forward, to get back together. They had been a family, Natasha's family, who tried to bring them back together, even if it took time and pain. Tony trusted Natasha, he knew her and he knew that this matter was just as important to her. He answered her with a warm smile. It was a very intimate moment between them because they were as close as true siblings did. Both had lost their families in the breakup of the Avengers.

"Hey Nat.", he replied with a slight grin. "Good to see you." 

"It's nice to be back here. With you and hopefully soon with everyone again. " 

Natasha's loving smile took Tony back to an old time. A time in which they all spent their time together with such an expression on their faces. And Tony also wished the time back. But the pain is still too deep. How could he ever trust this one person again? Then how could he trust the other. 

"We'll see." Tony sighed out when his gaze fell between the two men in front of him. 

Natasha stepped aside and waited for the men to greet each other. But in its place there was only another silence.Steve clenched his fist nervously and took a step closer to Tony, who took a step backwards. In a shaky voice, Tony finally showed his guests into the premises. The rooms weren't new to Natasha and Steve, but Tony showed them everything, looking happily at Natasha and carefully at Bucky. However, he avoided any eye contact with his former teammate Steve.Tony stepped with them to the hallway that divided the members' rooms and pointed to an empty room that had been used as a storage room. 

"I revamped the room a bit. You can of course design it however you want. "

He looked at Bucky, who stood speechless and amazed next to Steve.