Our Perfect Never •||• stony

Part XXI - Backup

-=Tony=-
"Hey, Cap," I greet when I reach him. His expression softens when he sees me, so does his stance.

"Tony." The corner of his slim lip pulls up slightly but then disappears as quick as the action was made.

"So, how have you been going?" I try to make small talk because he doesn't seem too excited about continuing the conversation.

He must be a bit thrown off about my reaction with Chayse. I need to explain to him why though.

He was the guard. The one who tortured me for what seemed hours. The one who took a knife when I was escaping and slit my leg.

The voice matched Chayse's unmistakably, no doubt about it. And Steve is wary of me now.

"I'm relaxed. Haven't been on a mission for ages. How are you?" He rolls his neck and asks.

Okay, okay this is good. Conversing. Natasha won't like it if I don't make-up with him. I think it's a good idea to make it up to him as well.

"Could be better," I admit, sitting on a seat not too far from Steve, so I can still talk to him.

"Why? What's wrong?" He sits next to me, a look of slight interest in his complexion. His hair is somewhat ruffled from him trying his helmet on before.

"Nothing." I pull a holo-screen from my belt and bring up a map. He hesitates to speak but then decides to stay quiet.

"Is this the plan?" He analyzes it. I nod.

"You good with coming with me? Pietro, Clint and Nat are staying around the border for backup if we need it." I state.

"Two-person stealth job, huh?"

"Yeah. You see the two dots? They represent us. Now watch." I tap the screen and the dots start to move, shuffling around the base.

"Now the terrain is all over the joint at this place, hills and dips. Gives plenty of cover to get in and out. Now we won't know if people are there until we are there, and Bruce will release a mini-drone to search the building for heat signatures." I explain, making hand gestures towards the screen.

"I mean, I doubt they will still be there. If they were smart they would have left by now." Steve adds, grinning. I purse my lips and look away from his face.

He doesn't realise how powerful they are. They could have killed me if they wanted to. So easily. Like snapping a stick.

"Anyway, continue." He pulls one leg up and holds it in place with his arm, getting more comfortable on the hard chairs.

"Well, if by any chance they are there, maybe to gather their information to transport it or what-not, they will have perimeter scouts. Snipers. Guards for entrances."

"And this is where I come in, I'm guessing." He runs a finger over the rim of his improved shield and sighs.

"I'm not using you for protection or anything. You are just my backup, just in case." I try to make him not feel like I'm using him as a safeguard. And I'm not.

"Really?" He plays, unconvinced. "I thought I was a human shield or something."

"Steve."

"Wow, I have a backup, but I'm also someone else's backup, so Nat is backup if I fail at being your backup." He leans back and smiles at me, knowing that his mocking is annoying me.

I stop giving him attention and continue elaborating to him, even if he isn't listening.

"Once we get to the building, we find an entrance with the least protection, remove the guards and take their earpieces. From there, we can make our way to the main room and gather their info." He hums in approval and I go on.

"In and out, and if we can avoid combat, that would be nice." I end and he nods.

"Good plan." He stands, looking out the slim window along the side of the quinjet.

Before I can say anything else to the super soldier, a yawn breaks from my mouth and I realise how tired I am.

"God, Tony, when was the last time you got to sleep?" He puts a hand on my shoulder as I rub my eyes tiredly.

"Um... Tuesday?" I answer although it sounds like I'm asking myself that question.

"Tony! It's Friday. You haven't slept for three days! Come on. If you are getting off this plane, you need to get some sleep." He pushes, pointing at the seats.

"I don't need sleep when I've got coffee." I protest and he frowns.

"Tony." He states firmly.

"I'm fine," I reply, not listening to him even though my eyes are drooping and my mind is slipping.

"Sleep. I'll wake you up when we get there." His voice has hushed and is softer, and honestly, I would have fallen asleep just listening.

So I do. Leaning back and letting my eyelids give way, I lose consciousness.

The last thing I remember is the feeling of his weight resting itself on the chair beside me.

**

868

OoOoOoOo Stevie's first mission since forever!

Who's excited for some betrayal!?

I know I am.

>°•°<