Light of my Life (STONY)

She's gone, Nat.

Steve's POV

I remember the first time I met Tony, all I could see was Howard. He was the spitting image of his father, and had a slightly similar personality. Then, as I got to know him, I got to know how different they really were. 

Howard was relatively open, wore his heart on his sleeve and always included people in ideas and plans for the future.

Tony, however, had built layers and layers of walls around himself to protect him. He refused to get rid of the arc reactor and if anyone mentioned anything about his parents he would get pissed off, kinda upset or he would just... leave.

But now, whenever I see Tony Stark, I see a small, sensitive almost child who doesn't know how to act and is scared of judgement. The once person he knew he could rely on him was ripped away from him in a flash and now he had nothing. No family. No past. And, according to him, no future.

After Tony passed out, Rhodey and I laid him down on the L-shaped couch and got him some water. Rhodey pressed a cold cloth to his forehead.

"Thank you for looking after him last night, Cap."

"I couldn't just leave him, you didn't see him. He was a mess, I just... I had to look after him because nobody else would."

"He has probably the worst mental health you've ever seen, I mean... he used to come to school with freshly bleeding arms, he'd sleep in class, never ate lunch... it's insane that he's lasted this long, and he needs someone to check in otherwise I don't know what's gonna happen to him."

"I can always check in. I'm never not around, so I can do that for him."

"Cap, you don't have to-"

"What's the point of the Avengers if we don't look out for each other, huh? No, this is something I have to do and that's fine, honestly. I don't mind." Rhodey nodded and Tony started stirring.

"Hey big guy," he said quietly. Tony pushed himself into a sitting position (assisted by Rhodey) and took a sip of water.

"J, I think that equates to the worst one yet." He was pale as a sheet and his under eyes looked worse than I'd ever seen them.

"Yes, sir. I think it does."

"Worst what?" I muttered. Whenever anyone passes out, I make an effort to talk quietly and only ask about what they're comfortable with.

"Anxiety attack thing... Cap, have you got nothing better to do than check up on me?"

"No, I don't. I worked out while you were in the lab, I'm done for the day." Tony smiled.

"Now that's something that I wanna see." I looked down and smiled.

"Had to make it weird, Tony," laughed Rhodey. Tony shrugged.

"You hungry? Any of you? I was gonna order pizza," I said, looking over at the window.

"I'm not that bad, actually, Cap. I think I'm just gonna go to bed."

"Tony, you're staying and you're eating."

"God, Rhodey. You're such a killjoy but fine. I'll have a little bit of pizza."

"Movie, anyone?" Offered Rhodey. "It's on me."

"I do NOT like where this is going," Tony burst out laughing and I just put my head in my hands.

"Tony, what do you wanna eat."

"Cheese pizza. Small, though."

"Rhodey?"