AN: so this is my first Avengers fan fic. ; I love Tony and his quick wit, (which is so hard to write!) and obviously Steve is the cutest person ever. So here is my take. I totally jumped on the band wagon and decided to write a story with Tony and his drinking problem and Steve trying to fix it, but with the twist of (hopefully) lots of sex :P nervous but excited, so I hope you like it! :D

Chapter One

Steve spotted Tony at once. As usual, even without the shining suit he stood out. Steve didn't know whether exactly it was the demeanor, his sharp, ringing voice or just general charisma that made Tony impossible to ignore, but regardless there he was over at the bar, shoulders slumped, a girl on each side and an enraptured audience while he laughingly said something about owning New York.

With a grimace, Steve marched over to the crowd, interrupting the speech with a sharp tap to the brunettes shoulder. The faster this was over and done with, the better.

Tony spun in his seat his face breaking into a sloppy grin.

"Hey! Its the Cap!"

Steve tried to hide his surprise at the uncharacteristic reaction and politely nodded at both girls now giggling at him. It was a courtesy that none of them really deserved, considering that the whole world knew about Tony Stark's private affairs… namely Ms. Potts.

"It's time to go," he said sternly.

Stark blinked at him for a moment before slipping easily off of his stool. He swayed and Steve grudgingly steadied him with a hand on each shoulder.

Tony gave him a look, a droopy-eyed drunken look, but nonetheless a look that made him drop his hands at once. Well the ride home was going to be just lovely then if Tony had a full on aversion to touching him.

"Come on ladies," Tony said. "Party's moving to my place."

"I don't think so," he said firmly. "There's only room on my bike for two."

He was expecting a fight, a snappy comment and at least a little resistance but all Tony did was sweep around with a flourish that Tony probably thought was a lot more graceful than it really was and send a grin to his ladies.

"Sorry, girls, you heard the man."

Steve tried not to raise a brow as he led his teammate around tables and out the door of the dim bar, into the brightly lit street.

Tony was oddly quiet as they walked the short steps to Steve's bike and Steve had the sudden compulsion to apologize for dragging him away... even if he wasn't actually feeling apologetic at all.

This was the third time this week. The first time Bruce had practically carried Tony into bed, bending him over the trash can every time he started retching. The second time, Clint had babysitting duties. Tonight, when Tony had first slid out of the house Natasha fixed her unreadable gaze on Steve and said point blank that it was his turn because she wasn't going to do it. Thor wasn't around and Natasha was right. They were a team. They were supposed to watch out for one another and the others had done their part of picking up the pieces of Tony Stark.

Two hours of narrowing down all of Tony's favorite bars and here Steve was, handing Tony a helmet and watching him not putting it on. In fact Tony wasn't doing much of anything. He was just standing there staring blankly at nothing.

Steve's idea had been that finding Tony before he was too drunk to function would make it easier to bring him back. It would give Steve the chance to properly tell Tony that all of this was unacceptable, only now he wasn't so sure. It was like Tony was just at that stage where he was too drunk to bother hiding what he was feeling but not too far gone to blame that expression on the booze.

An intense unease settled over Steve like he was seeing something personal in Tony's distracted gaze but he didn't know what. Finally, he snatched the helmet out of Tony's hand and pulled it over his head for him, snapping it shut.

"Do you have any idea how inappropriate it is for you to expect us to take care of you while you're out every night painting the town red?" He snapped.

The remark had the desired effect of getting a reaction, but it wasn't the one Steve wanted.

Tiny snickered.

"'Painting the town red,'" he mimicked and his snicker turned into an all out giggle.

Steve glowered.

"Tony, this isn't funny. The Avengers are supposed to be able to trust each other-"

"No, you know what's really not funny is Captain America the cock blocker."

For a full beat Steve genuinely didn't get it and then just like that it hit home and lit his face on fire.

"Excuse me?" He spluttered. It suddenly didn't seem worth it to save Tony from passing out in a ditch somewhere unfortunately he was already climbing clumsily onto the back of the bike.

"Let's go grandpa," he said patting the seat in front of him.

Face still red, Steve slid onto his bike and pulled on his helmet.

It probably would be deserved for Tony to just drunkenly drop off the back but Steve turned in his seat to look at him anyway.

"Make sure you hold on tight," he said.

With a little hum Tony nodded and gripped the seat but then just as quickly slumped forward instead dropping his head against Steve's back.

"Uh, Tony?" He asked uncomfortably.

The brunette just grunted so with a grimace Steve started his bike.

The first movement had Tony slipping back and both arms coming to wrap tightly around Steve's middle.

Okay, this wasn't exactly what he meant when he said 'hold on tight'.

The ride to stark tower was short, especially at this time of night on a Tuesday, when there was no traffic, and almost no one around but it felt endless with Tony's body pressed tightly against him, his warmth seeping slowly through all their layers, soaking into his jacket.

Not to mention that this just wasn't like Tony. He wasn't affectionate. Well maybe he would slap peoples arm playfully, or poke them unexpectedly. On occasion he would bump against people in a playful way with his shoulder. Steve had seen it happen a hundred times so maybe he was wrong. Maybe Tony actually was affectionate and friendly at the right times and in the most roundabout of ways but the thing was... he wasn't usually like that with Steve.

In fact, Steve had a bit of a parameter around him. A bubble, he was pretty sure it was called. He didn't mind people getting close but he always wanted to respect their limits. He didn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or breach their space and as a result he always had a bit of a distance.

It wasn't the first time that Steve had noticed it. He thought about it pretty often actually, especially since he woke up since his time in the ice.

Now a days it wasn't a big deal for people to have lovers, multiple ones even, and they would speak about them openly and they shared how much they cared for one another. Even friends often greeted each other with hugs to replace handshakes. Everyone was just so open about their affections that Steve felt like he was something of a stiff board by comparison.

It helped being with the avengers though. Of all people they seemed the most like him, and aside from Thor, so openly emotional in happiness and sorrow, especially when it concerned his brother, they all had barriers up.

Except that now Tony was draped over his back, arm wrapped around him, squeezing him a little too tightly. He really hadn't seemed that drunk.

Except that maybe he actually was because as they drew close to Stark tower the hands gripping him loosened and began to drop from Steve's waist.

Alarmed, Steve reached around clasping Tony's hand and keeping it securely in place. After a moment Tony shifted seeming to realize he was still sitting on the bike, captain Rogers holding him up and he straightened, gripping Steve's hand in return.

Steve's stomach twisted but he didn't let go. It wasn't until they were sitting in the garage, the bike off and what sounded suspiciously like snoring against his shoulder that Steve chose to speak.

He cleared his throat gently.

"Uh, Tony? You awake back there?"

Tony grunted and nodded.

"Alright, I think it's time for bed."

Another nod and a chuckle broke the silence.

Steve looked up to find Clint, and Natasha standing by the door.

Clint had a grin on his face but Natasha was the one with the snide comment.

"Steve when I said to go 'pick him up' I didn't quite mean that."

Steve didn't get it but judging by the twinkle in her eyes and the look she was pointedly giving Steve's mid section he didn't like it.

Tony laughed behind him and tugged gently and Steve realized he was still clasping his hand tightly.

With a start, he released his hold practically jumping off his seat and leaving Tony to unsteadily pull his helmet off and climb off on his own.

"I've never really gone for older men before for obvious reasons," Tony was saying, "but he does seem pretty spry for his age."

Clint was all out laughing now and Steve glared, marching past them all.

They could handle Tony without him.

"Hey come back!" Tony called after him. "You don't need to be embarrassed; I've got some Viagra in my room with your name on it."

Steve didn't know what the heck Viagra was but he could still tell when he was being made fun of.

It wasn't anything new, but it would be a lie if he said that he didn't think it was going to stop once he wasn't that scrawny little kid anymore.

Bruce stepped out of his room as Steve came down the hall.

"Where's Tony?" He asked and then, bless him, seeing the look on Steve's face he shook his head. "I'll take care of it," he amended.

The bag, firm and heavy under Steve's fists did little to stop the spinning whirlpool of hurt, anxiety, anger and frustration.

Why was it that Tony had such a way of getting under his skin? Why did he do everything he could to poke people's buttons and upset them? Why did he want to expose every nerve?