Looky here! I didn't die this time!
Well... I mean I had about 60% of this chapter already written because I wrote these chapters out of order and as they came to me... so... that helped.

Anyway, here's the next chapter! A bit more angst in this one. 

Enjoy!

~TH~

Tony rubbed his face. He had officially run out of coffee about three hours ago. But he couldn't go upstairs. Not since Steve starting leaving his room. He could chance meeting up with one of the other Avengers, but Steve? He couldn't. He just couldn't do it.

He was tired. So incredibly tired. He turned back to the algorithm he was working on. Someone had broken into his computer. They had used it to hurt the team. He couldn't let that happen again. He couldn't let someone else get their hands on information that would neutralize one of the Avengers. 

What if one day he was doing research and found out Thor was allergic to some alien space rock and then someone hacked his computer and stole it? What if someone found out how to take out Natasha or Clint because of him? What if Bruce finally figured out how to stop the Hulk, but the bad guys figured it out too and used it when they needed the Hulk? What if he ruined everything again?

The door slid open behind him, causing Tony to freeze.

"Tony." It was a single word. But it terrified him all the same. He spun around only to be faced with the one person he had been avoiding. 

The billionaire didn't know what to do. He nodded then turned back around. "Jarvis, I thought I told you to lock the door.

"You did, sir, but Captain Rogers has the override code."

 Well, that was just fantastic. Tony was angry. Maybe he shouldn't have been, but he had been doing such a good job of avoiding him this past week and now he had the audacity to waltz into his private workshop. 

"Come on Tony," Steve sighed behind him, voice slightly slurred. "we need to talk about this."

The inventor spun, fury in his eyes, "How are we supposed to talk when you can't hear a word I'm saying?" It was a low blow, but he really just wanted to be left alone.

"I can understand you well enough if you look at me."

"You know what! This is ridiculous! You shouldn't have to!"

The Captain rubbed his face, "I've accepted it, why can't you?"

Tony turned and began to pace. He couldn't handle this. He needed out.

He needed answers more. "Did you believe them?" He stopped, staring the super soldier in the eyes.

"Yes, I did." It was said with no hesitation.

Tony's worst fear had been realized. He sunk into the recently vacated chair.

"Can you blame me?" He wasn't sure if Steve was angry or ashamed. Maybe a bit of both. "They played it, Tony. They played audio of things you actually said." Tony hadn't realised that.

"You want to know the last thing I heard? The last whisper of sound before this never-ending silence?" It was anger, definitely anger.

"The last thing I heard was you saying, 'Sometimes I wonder why my dad looked for so long. I would have thought it would have been a blessing to finally be rid of him!' And I heard it over and over again. They had a never-ending arsenal of insults you said. So yes, Tony. I did believe it."

The billionaire could feel the lack of colour in his face. He'd been right to avoid Steve. He shouldn't have agreed to this conversation.

The captain was breathing heavy and shaking. Tony wanted to do something to help, but couldn't. He had no right.

Steve removed his hands from his face, taking a deep breath. "I did believe it. But I don't now. I was wrong to believe those things. I know you would never betray me. I know that. No matter how much we argue, underneath all of the insults, you would never betray me, or any of the others. I was wrong. I'm sorry."

That hadn't been what Tony expected. The apology was so off the walls that he didn't know how to respond.

"Y-you were so doped up on drugs," he finally managed, "that, uh, you probably would have believed anything they told you. And I-" he paused taking a deep breath, "I never should have said those things. That was wrong of me."

Steve smiled, actually smiled. "All's forgiven."

"So, we good now?" Tony found himself nearly laughing at the sudden lightness he felt.

Cap stuck out his hand. Tony grasped it, accepting the handshake.

"All good." Steve smiled.

The moment was short-lived as Jarvis interrupted, "Sir, there seeeems to be a maaaalf'nction in the syestem."

Tony turned in alarm. Jarvis never malfunctioned. Something was wrong.

Steve saw the concerned look. "Tony, what's wrong?"

The inventor didn't take time to answer. "Hey, J, what's wrong buddy?" he turned his chair, quickly pulling up security on his computer. There were error signals everywhere. That was impossible.

"Unnknown, siiir. Howwwwever, I belieeeve an exppooosion is e-e-eminent."

"Jarvis?" The silence frightened him. "Jarvis?"

A loud explosion rocked the lab, Steve's eyes widened, "Tony?"

There wasn't time to respond before another explosion sent him flying into the wall.

Everything went black.

~A~

His ears were ringing.

"Steve? Steve!" He yelled. Idiot, he can't hear you.

Then he saw him. Unconscious. Tony was really sick of seeing him that way.   And there was blood coming from his ears.

No.

He'd done it now. He'd done it. He'd officially killed Captain America. 

"...ny! Tony! Where.... Hear... Cap?"

Someone touched his shoulder. The billionaire spun around, ready to attack. It was Bruce.

"Tony, what happened?" Even though it was clear Bruce was yelling, he could still barely hear him.

His head hurt. He wanted to sleep. But Steve...

"He's hurt." It came out slurred.

Bruce followed his gaze to where Thor was picking up the fallen Captain. His eyes trailed back to Tony. "You don't look so great yourself. "

"You've got to... Got... Got to..." He felt himself begin to sway. He was so dizzy. The ringing was getting louder. 

"Tony!"

His legs began to shake and he tightly gripped his friend's shoulders. Then his grip loosened and he passed out.

~TH~

Ruh Roh Shaggy!

So... explosions are cool. But, I'm glad Tony and Steve finally had a talk.

This is your friendly reminder that just because someone is deaf, does not mean they are mute. Especially if they lost their hearing later on in life. I fell like that is a misconception a lot of times and it bothers me. 

Anyway... let me know what you think!

Two more chapters and then we're done.

God bless,