Enemies or friends?

8. Cap's secret

Tony's point of view

I went to kitchen to get some scotch. As I held up the bottle to take a sip, the kitchen door banged ans startled me. I dropped the bottle on the floor and my favourite drink splashed all over my shoes and pants. 

˝What the hell?!˝ I yelled, turning around. I saw Cap, looking white as snow, with his hand covering his mouth. He shoved past me to the sink, where he leaned over and started coughing. 

˝Cap?˝ I called, starting to worry. ˝Cap, what's ..˝ 

I was interupted by the sound of vomiting. I was shocked. What the actual fuck?? I walked over to the sick man.  ˝It's okay, Capsicle. You'll be fine. Just let it out.˝ I put my hand on his back, rubbing it in circles. ˝You'll be okay˝. 

I heard the - much quieter this time - sound of the doors. I turned around to see a worried Bucky. 

Thank god. I really didn't know how to deal with sick Cap myself. He joined me at his friend's side and put arm around his shoulders. 

˝It's okay, Stevie. I'm here˝. He turned to me. ˝What happened?˝

I shrugged. ˝I don't know. He just run in there, paler than this white wall over there,˝ I pointed to the wall to ilustrate my point. ˝Then he started coughing and throwing up. It's not my fault˝.

Bucky nodded, just as Steve stopped vomiting. He turned around, then slided to the floor with his back against the cupboard under the sink. He was shaking uncontrolably, while mumbling ˝No no no no no ... ˝ to himself over and over.

This remembered me of my panic attacks and I felt a pang of sympathy for poor man. I kneeled down on his right side, while Bucky sat at his left, hugging him with his non-metal arm. 

˝Stevie? Stevie, what's wrong?˝

Steve looked at him, then at me, his eyes were full of tears. I never cried during my panic attacks, so I didn't know if this should calm me down or freak me out more. I settled for freaking out, while he looked back down. 

˝I, I think s-serum is, is losing its ef-effects,˝ he explained, sobbing.

Bucky and I exchanged a glare. 

˝What would make you think that?˝ I asked. 

˝Because ... ˝ he gulped, wipping his tears with the sleeve of his shirt. ˝Because of this˝. He gestured to the sink behind him. 

˝How many times it happened, Steve?˝ Bucky asked concerned. Steve hesitated for some moments. 

˝At least once a day,˝ he said quietly. 

˝For how long?˝ Bucky went on. Steve avoided his gaze. ˝Steve. For how long has this been going on?˝ he repeated.

˝For almost, for almost three weeks˝. My jaw dropped in shock. He was going through this every day for the past three weeks and we haven't noticed? Bucky must have noticed my expression, because he spoke up. 

˝Don't blame yourself for not noticing. He is very good at covering his sicknesses. When I met him, sometimes neither me nor his parent found out he was ill for days˝. He side-eyed Steve. ˝But I told him to stop that˝.

˝I didn't want you to worry. Also, I'm sorry about the mess, Tony. I'll clean it up now.˝ 

Both Bucky and me moved to prevent him from moving. Bucky shook his head.

˝No, I'll clean the mess, you need rest. Tony, could you please help him upstairs and make sure he lies down for a bit?˝ 

I nodded and stood up. I held hand for Steve to help him up. ˝Come on, Capsicle. Let's get you in your room˝. He grabbed my hand and stood up, losing his balance for a second, before I caught him.  

˝Here, lean on me˝. We walked into the hall through the other door. I helped him into his room, where I waited for him to brush his teeth, before he lay down on his bed. ˝You have a very clean room,˝ I mentioned. He shrugged, just as Bucky came in. 

˝I told team that you aren't feeling well. They wish you to be better soon˝.

I left the room to change out of my scotch-stained clothes. Then I returned to Steve's room with some pills. 

When he saw me enter, he looked very suprised. I started my speech.

˝Listen, Steve. Every time you feel bad, you apologise to me. But I am not mad at you. I know this is not your fault. And to prove you that I am staying with you until you feel better. Tomorrow we are going to aks Bruce to check you. But for now, I brought you some pills that should help˝.

He thanked me and took pills with a glass of water that Bucky brought him. For some moments we were just quietly sitting on his bed. Steve put his head on Bucky's shoulder and Winter soldier was gently running his fingers through the sick men's hair. I was sitting on the other side of the bed.

˝So,˝ I said. ˝If Steve wants, we can watch a movie. I found the perfect one for you.˝

˝Is that so? Then let's watch it˝. Steve said.

I cheered. ˝Yey! You will love it. It's called Frozen. Just right for you two˝ . That earned me a awesome eyeroll from Super soldiers. I chuckled and turned the movie on.