Flowers….Christ, when was the last time anyone brought him actual flowers? Never, Tony assumed. But here stood Steve Rogers in his best suit and his Hollywood smile.

"I think we might need a break….you and me."

Those words came out of Tony's mouth and left Steve's face blank and cold. His eyes unfocused and lowered to the ground for a split second before coming back up. Tony could see it in his face, he understood. They both did. The past few weeks all they'd done was fight not just as Captain America and Iron Man but as Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. Bickering and arguing, little by little every day and it just grew. He wished Steve's heart of gold could fix him but it couldn't and Tony couldn't lose Steve, he just couldn't. The only way to make sure Steve didn't end up realizing what a mess he was and that he didn't need him was to get as far away as possible before it was too late and maybe someday when he wasn't so fucked up he could come back. He'd convinced himself a thousand times over that this was best but it still didn't make it easier.

"I'm so sorry."

Were the only pathetic words Tony could manage before leaving his boyfriend standing alone in their apartment with flowers in one hand and a freshly broken heart.

Lying on the bed of his newly acquired apartment, Tony stared at the air like he'd been doing for the past half a week. Most of The Avengers had been by asking how he was, if he needed anything and whatnot; he hadn't really been listening. He tried to occupy his mind with everything and anything to stop himself from thinking of the soldier he'd left behind. Clint said Steve was acting like the walking dead and spending most of his time in the gym or asleep in their his apartment except when he, to everyone's shock, suddenly punched through one of the Helicarrier walls. But that was the one admission about Steve he received. No one brought him up again and Tony never could bring himself to ask despite it being the only thing he wanted to know. Wanted to know if he was alright, if he'd moved on or if he was still wondering what he had done. If he felt alone, like everything in him was trickling out like Tony found himself feeling all too often now.

Things went on that way for a little over two months; nothing big came up with The Avengers that needed both Iron Man and Captain America at the same time. Tony had passed Steve once in a Helicarrier corridor in full armor, Steve stared straight ahead- militant and focused. Tony was thankful for Iron Man's poker face as he continued, not breaking stride for several more yards. He went through the days, building things, updating the suit, attending meetings and working in his office rather than home. But there were days where he was forced to be alone with himself, those were the longest days.

This was one such day. Tony rubbed his face and let out a long breath when a knock on the front door echoed through the rooms. He stayed put on the couch hoping whoever it was would give up and leave, they didn't. So he pulled himself up to open the door, when Tony saw who was standing in front of him the color must've drained from his face.

"Hello Tony."

"Ty."

There was Tiberius Stone standing in front of him like so many times before, in a perfectly tailored suit, light blonde locks, clear blue eyes and a well-trimmed goatee framing an apologetic smile. He stood broad shouldered and about six inches taller than Tony, the same here as in his memory.

"What are you doing here?"

"Relax Ton, I moved from LA about a month ago. My company wants me more in touch with my duty's here and I was getting sick of the conference calls anyways. My building isn't far from here and I saw you walking in on my way to work yesterday. May I come in?"

Tony watched him for a few seconds, he didn't know for what. It's not like Ty would pull anything right in the doorway, he wasn't stupid. He was very meticulous, even back in college when they were together. Tony would say the wrong thing or talk to the wrong person and he wouldn't even know he'd done anything until they were both alone- safely away from anyone that might see, anyone that might help. The worst that happened was a few bruises and a broken wrist as far as he could recall.

Eventually he nodded and stepped aside letting the blonde inside. Sitting back on the couch both men shifted awkwardly before Ty finally spoke up, he asked Tony how he was and such- mentioned that he was sorry about his and Steve's sudden break up as their relationship hadn't been exactly private to the one of the country's top media outlets, let alone its CEO. After the pleasantries Ty started going on about a new engineering design he wanted to start. The two of them talked for hours about designs, reminiscing about college and all the things they've missed since the last time they spoke. Somewhere in the back of his mind Tony was starting to believe that he had really changed, that he wasn't the man he'd left with the years behind them when he realized how close they were sitting to each other. Ty leaned in a little closer, his hand on Tony's thigh.

"I'm sorry Anthony. For everything."

"See, that's not really gonna work for me…you'll have to try a little harder." Tony smirked.

"How about a drink then?"

"You have such a way with words, Stone."

Tony's signature devils smile was cut short by Ty pressing his lips to Tony's, he kissed him several times muttering "I'm sorry" and "I still love you" in between touching his lips to Tony's mouth, jawline and neck. Tony wrapped his arms around Ty's shoulders and closed his eyes as the blonde began unfastening Tony's belt and jeans. It was good, very good. Better than it ever being with Ty before. It eventually ended as Ty kissed and sucked the side of Tony's neck as he thrusted while one hand stroked him making the brunette climax with a heavy breathless gasp.

When the gray light of November leaked into the bedroom Tony woke to find he was alone. Walking around the apartment he found Ty sitting at his desk with a cup of coffee. Ty smiled and softly walked up to Tony, cupping the smaller man's face in his hands before kissing him gently.

"Where did you learn how to do those things?"

Tony smirked and took it as a compliment until Ty's hands tightened around his jaw.

"Where did you learn those things, Tony."

His voice turned dark and his eyes hardened.

"Who fucked you like that?!"

"What the hell, Tiberius!"

"I didn't want to think that you'd still be sleeping with everyone and their dog, Tony!"

Before Tony could formulate a response, Ty's fingers locked in his dark hair as the ceramic coffee mug smashed against his face. Ty pushed Tony several feet backwards before grabbing his suit jacket along with Tony's keys that were lying on the counter and clicking the front door behind him. Leaving Tony Stark alone in the apartment, sliding down the wall with blood running down his face. His breath began to slow as the blood spilled from his nose and lip onto his shirt. The billionaire sat on the floor staring at the drops of dark red mixed with cold coffee and shattered ceramic at his feet trying to ignore the burning sting on the left side of his face, recalling the icy blue eyes that were nothing like Steve's.

"You deserve this Tony. You know you deserve this." His voice came out nothing louder than a whisper.