Natasha comes storming down the stairs to Tony's lab, and knocks hard on the glass. JARVIS lets her in.

"Did I just see Rogers run out of here like a bat out of hell, or do I need to get my eyes checked? Because you know Fury would be pissed if you made the golden boy of America quit the Initiative," She growls.

Tony's eyes are nearly watering as he snaps his head up to see the look on Natasha's face as she scolds him. He consciously keeps emotion from the rest of his features and replies, "Well, if you would have been there, which you weren't, you'd say I should be the one storming out of the place.

"What are talking about?" she half-sighs, annoyed.

"None of your business. Anyway, it is of little importance."

"I wonder what he would of done if it were of greater importance, Tony, I really do. Because you know what, if it gets worse than that I'd expect the city of New York to burn down. Tell me what you did."

"I don't think I am going to do that. In fact, I would like to forget the entire thing. Go back upstairs, watch the movie, go home with the others, and then not think about it some more."

"Stark, I really don't have time for this. I guess I will have to go find him myself."

"I doubt he'd tell you any more than I have. In fact, I know he won't. I am a hundred percent positive he would like to forget it as well."

"Then I fail to see the reason why you can't tell me, if everyone would forget about it."

"Fine, ask Steve."

Natasha quirks an eyebrow at Tony; his voice faltered on Steve's name. "So you really are the victim, here? What did he do, insult you? And you… maybe said something about your father to make him feel guilty. But why would he insult you? What did you do?"

"Why does it have to be something I did?"

"Okay, what did you say?"

"Again, that is none of your concern. If you really want to know, ask Steve. I'm sure you'll get a real kick out of it."

"So, it's something embarrassing. Something really really bad, considering the way you said his name earlier and just now…"

"Yes, why don't you go ponder that for a bit and leave me alone?"

"You know I can't do that. Not when you're giving me the answer so willingly," Natasha smiles.

"Please leave."

A booming voice rolls down the stairs to the both of them, "The Captain has come back to see you, Stark. He is most eager to speak with you!" Thor roars.

Tony turns one shade away from being a tomato and freezes, his hand are sweaty. "Natasha, please leave. I don't want you to hear this. I need to talk to him alone."

"Sure thing, I hope he keeps you alive enough so I can kill you for making him quit the Initiative because you told him you love him. How can you be so selfish?"

"Please, please go."

"Or maybe I can just congratulate you two on your newfound love, if that's what this is going to be about." She winks and passes Steve on her way to the stairs.

Tony does his best to compose himself.

"Tony, I-"

"Rogers, if you're going to punch me, please just aim away from my face."

"I'm not going to-"

"Wait, you're not mad. Why aren't you mad?" Tony's pace sky rockets.

"Do you want me to be mad?"

Tony doesn't answer.

"…I left my keys here, Tony."

"Oh, they're…uh… not here. Try upstairs." Tony thinks to himself, "Oh God, please let him be joking. Maybe being punched would be better than this, than him pretending nothing ever happened."

Steve stood still, staring at Tony.

"Am I supposed to say something?"

"No. It's just… Bruce gave me my keys when I walked in the door, and…"

"Then what are you-"

"I love you." Steve blurted.

Tony's face turns an alarming shade of red. "I swear if you are joking, I will kill you."

Steve looks hurt. "Why would I lie about something like that? Tony…. You weren't joking, were you?"

"No. Natasha is going to flip when she hears about this."

"Was I interrupting something before?"

"Nothing that I didn't want interrupted."

"Good." Steve coughs and an awkward silence spreads itself into twelve seconds.

Tony bites his lip, "Steve I really love you."

"Sorry for running away. I was confused and angry and so happy, but I felt terrible and I couldn't think straight. I sincerely apologize. I understand if you are mad at me."

"Any anger of mine towards you was wiped away as soon as I heard Thor say you wanted to talk to me."

Steve gives him the most innocent and glad look; his eyes light up.

"You're adorable. And, by the way, I get to say that out-loud now. So, JARVIS please take that off of the list of things that should be bleeped when I say them."

"I wondered what that noise was when we were eating breakfast this morning."

"God, the look on your face that early in the morning, when you cannot figure out the coffee machine…"

Steve blushes. He sucks in his lower lip, "So, what do we do now?"

"Well, normally people would go on a date-"

"And this is everything but normal."

"I still get a date, though!"

"Fair enough," Steve replies, "but I think everyone upstairs is dying with anticipation to know what we have been talking about this whole time."

"Oh no, I am sure they can hear every word we are saying."

From above, "This conversation is most amusing!" Thor exclaims.

Tony replies with a smile, "Thanks, always good on my ego when I can entertain an audience."

Steve laughs.