Lost - For legacyofiron

[oldschoolpatriot]

It was strange waking up to the smells of the city and a radio. No, it wasn't the city, not the city Steve remembered. He growled in his throat and sat up quickly. The room was wrong too. He kept the growl up as a woman entered the room. She didn't smell right.

"Where am I?" he asked, his voice dangerously tense. The woman had enough sense to swallow nervously.

"New York in an SSR hospital."

"You're lying to me." Steve slowly rose to his feet, the wolf taking over. "The city smells wrong, you smell wrong. Tell me where I am and where is my mate."

The last thing Steve remembered clearly was clinging to Tony as they crashed into the ice. He went down with his mate and now he couldn't smell him. The bond was still strong. He knew Tony was alive, but he couldn't smell him.

"Sir..."

Steve tossed his head back and howled, trying to tell Tony where he was. He launched himself past the woman and through the wall. He howled against for his mate, racing through the halls trying to find some hint of his scent.

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[legacyofiron]

All he remembered was crashing through the glass and getting to Steve. It wasn't fast enough. Even with all his abilities, he'd not gotten there fast enough. The only thought he had as Steve pulled him close was that at least they were together. That's the only consolation he had.

But then everything went dark and cold. And time ceased to matter. For a creature like himself, he knew time passed. He could still feel the joys and pains of the world that moved own without him. But he didn't know what or how to process it.

Then he'd felt that shocking tremor as the earth groaned in protest. Then the sun. The heat and fire of his inner being slowly started to burn. That's when he woke up here. In a sterile empty room with only a bed. There were charred marks on the walls and he had a feeling the fire had been less containable at one point.

He would have worried about burning Steve except he could feel his mate strong and clear. Sitting up slowly, he rubbed at his head and felt heavy even as he turned to set his feet on the floor. So exhausted... "Mr. Stark?"

Glancing up at the disembodied voice, he could tell it was some young agent that didn't know any better. "Let me out." He said the words low and calm even if it was edged in danger. "Where is Captain Rogers?"

And when the banter hadn't stopped... he told the man to 'screw it' and blew the door out. If they wanted a threat, he'd give it to them. And when the door was gone, he felt Steve's presence like a wave wash over him. Running toward him, he didn't care how tired he was... and when he finally came to a stop in the long hall and saw Steve, he smiled slightly. "You're alive..."

[oldschoolpatriot]

The explosion had to be Tony. His mate would bring the sun down on these people for holding him. Steve turned towards the sound and went running as fast as he could. Agents who tried to stop him were thrown aside with long sweeps of his arm.

When he scented the cinnamon and heat scent of his mate Steve stopped and looked up. There, that was his mate whole and safe. "Tony!"

Steve raced towards him and scooped him up in his arms, holding him tightly. "We have to get out of here. I don't know where we are. We should run."

[legacyofiron]

Wrapping his arms about Steve's neck, he pressed close and tried to catch his breath. "Steve..." Clutching at him tighter, he refused to let go. "I don't ever want to see ice again. Not for a long time."

He muttered the words into Steve's chest before he tipped his head up and nodded. "I just used up most of my energy breaking out of my cell... I don't think I can pull much more than that off till I get more time in the sun..."

Not that he wouldn't run with all he had left. He just hoped it didn't trigger the dying cycle for him. It was never good for him to drain himself dry. "Where can we go?"

[oldschoolpatriot]

He growled at the agents closing in on them. None of them had weapons drawn, but he could smell the gunpowder. They weren't safe here. More importantly his mate wasn't safe here. "I won't let anything happen to you."

A man stepped forward from the crowd. He had dark skin and an eyepatch over one eye. "Gentlemen. This is touching, but there are a few things you should know before you try escaping."

"You locked us up. You had no right," Steve tucked Tony closer to him, trying to put himself between his mate and danger.

"Captain, you and your... friend there have just woken up seventy years in the future. We were only trying to break it to you gently."

[legacyofiron]

"I know." His words were quiet as his body tensed. He felt the people all around them. Felt their life force and the nervous tension as they obviously wanted to pull a gun.

Clutching at Steve's shirt, he looked back at the man even as Steve pulled him closer. He literally snorted in annoyance. "Your idea of gently? Sucks." Muttering that softly, he focused on breathing.

Tipping his head up a little, he tried to move to look at Steve but he knew better when the blonde was in full on protect mode. Seventy years... that... wasn't hard to believe. Not for Tony. "I don't trust him." The words came softer as he furrowed his brow. "I could be wrong... but he feels... too closed off to be entirely honest."

Taking a deeper breath, he closed his eyes. "It's definitely been that long though." Even if he'd not felt the numbing pass of time, he knew how to gauge the age of the earth.

[oldschoolpatriot]

He trusted his mate much more than this stranger. If his mate didn't trust the man, Steve wouldn't either. He did trust Tony's estimation on time. The phoenix was really good with time. Steve only noticed the different smells and how the city around them didn't feel right.

"We have territory in New York. Let us go or we will tear you and your men apart," Steve growled, his eyes flashing blue as he let his fangs grow. He showed them the wolf and expected them to respect that.

"I'm sorry Captain Rogers, but your territory was taken over a long time ago."

"What?" Steve blinked, the fight going out of him with the shock. His pack had held that territory for years. He couldn't imagine it not being his territory.

[legacyofiron]

Tony just listened. He took the words into careful consideration. That much time passing... Bucky dying... Steve being gone. It made logical sense. A pack losing two strong leaders could lead to dissolving if only because of grief.

Gently pressing a hand over Steve's heart, he sent a warm sensation through his mate to tell him it would be okay. At least they were together. "Regardless... deception isn't much of a welcome mat. We need space and time to think this over."

Cutting a look over his shoulder at the man, his eyes darkened dangerously. "We're going to walk out of here... and depending on how you let that happen decides whether or not you are the ones we come back to when we're ready. Fair?"

[oldschoolpatriot]

Logically it might make sense, but it didn't. Losing his territory, his home and everything he promised his made didn't make sense to Steve. It felt wrong to him, he hadn't even been there to fight and keep it.

The warmth from Tony focused him away from the loss. He focused on his mate instead, breathing in his scent. He had kept the one thing that mattered the most. He would be truly lost without his mate.

"You might want some money and a place to go first. We can give you that."

Steve shook his head. "We'll find our own way."

[legacyofiron]

Tipping his head up, he briefly brushed his nose to his chin in a subtle soft reminder that he was there. Tony wouldn't go anywhere. He planned to stand steadfastly by Steve for the rest of forever. Dark eyes, however, stayed on the agents warily.

Being as old as he was, he understood the fazing in and out of power. Steve, sadly, remained too young... and he was now being forced to experience it the hard way. "We're much more capable than you think."

Tugging on Steve, he moved to catch his eyes. Tony had lived for thousands of years. He had places to go. Sending the one-eyed man a stern look, he slipped his hand into Steve's and pulled his mate away from them. He would burn the place down if they refused. Even if it drained him to having to cycle through death.

Luckily no one seemed too keen on testing them.

[oldschoolpatriot]

Steve let Tony pull him away from this. They were in a strange new world, a new time and he needed his one constant, his mate.

The city shocked him when they got outside. The noises and the smells were all new. He recognized New York, but this wasn't the New York he remembered.

"Where are we going?" He trusted his mate to have a plan. Tony was smart like that.

[legacyofiron]

Staying close, he didn't care if social norms persecuted them for holding hands in public. All he cared about was taking care of Steve. "Focus on me for right now..." Squeezing his hand gently, he didn't want the wolf to go into overload.

Pulling him along, he tipped his head a little. "I have a place deep in the woods of western New York. A safe house that is set aside for moments when I have to be somewhere else for years at a time. Until I get a hold of my assets that I keep in various locations under watch by other guardians, we can stay there and figure out what's going on."

Catch up. Procuring transportation will be the hard part. "I normally fly... so I can't do that this once... I need to contact either the tiger or the dragon... I don't think the turtle will be as helpful." The guardians felt attached to each other, but they'd stated their dislike for his choice in mates. But they owed him for past help he'd given. "We'll be fine..."

[oldschoolpatriot]

The woods were what Steve needed. The wolf hated the city and all the chaos. He nodded at Tony's words, seeing the sense in them. It wasn't his territory but it was a good start.

"I don't have any money or I would suggest a cab," Steve sighed softly. He knew how Tony could get there on his own. He was holding his mate down.

"You can go get what you need. I can run." He would be fine as a wolf.

[legacyofiron]

That was the reason he picked that particular safehouse. It wasn't because it was close... it was because he knew Steve needed the seclusion and less.... big city.

Shaking his head, he looked up at Steve. "We're traveling together, love." Looking around at the city, he stayed close to the taller blonde. "Even if I have to fly low." They would figure it out and he would be super careful not to get seen.

Drawing Steve closer, he pressed his forehead to the blonde's chin. "I'm not leaving you."

[oldschoolpatriot]

"If you have to, you know you can. I know you'll come back." Even if they only had a brief time before the ice, he trusted Tony as his mate. His mate wouldn't leave him.

"You go fly to the house. I can follow your scent there and catch up." He kissed Tony gently. "I will catch you."

They wouldn't be apart long so Steve wasn't terribly worried. He wouldn't like being apart but it would be the fastest way.

[legacyofiron]

"I'll pace you. I'm not leaving you..." Not after this. Because regardless of how calm he was, Tony was upset. He was tired and he felt like he could give out any moment. But hopefully flying under the sun would help.

"Together... I need us to do this together, okay?" Tipping his head into the kiss, he hummed a happy sound. "We'll work it, love."

Moving closer, he kissed him again sweetly. "Shall we get moving then?"

[oldschoolpatriot]

He nodded and kissed his mate softly. "Together. That's how we get things done."

Steve nodded once again before he put a little distance between them so he could shift just enough to be ready to run. "Lead the way, mate."

He trusted Tony to lead them right to where they needed to be. His mate would never lead him wrong.

[legacyofiron]

Keeping the kiss lingering, he sighed softly. "Love your kisses." Smiling gently, he nodded once. "Exactly. We do it all together."


Watching Steve change, he took a deep breath. If they went fast enough, people could catch it too easily. Transforming into his true form, he shot off in the western direction. Using the innate sense of life, he avoided crowds and people as easily as could be done in New York City.

It took a while, but they managed to get out of New York City and across a bridge using less traveled paths. Once he hit the open areas, he urged the pace on feeling the heat of the sun seep into him.

The sun neared on setting as they approached the wooded areas where his home resided. He kept going until they were at the door and landed gracefully while transforming back to his human form. "That was good... very good..." And well timed because flying at night would be hard when he was so weak. "Steve?"

[oldschoolpatriot]

Running was the best thing for the wolf. Steve settled more as he raced after Tony, ducking through crowds though Tony was good at avoiding them. After so long in the ice a chance to stretch his muscles and move was a relief.

Leaving the city was an even bigger one. The wolf settled as much as it could without a territory but the woods were nice. He let the full wolf come out in the woods, eating up the miles until he stopped in front of Tony. He butted his head against his hip before he shifted back to his human form.

"Are you tired?" he asked, panting slightly from running. "Let's go inside. Let's rest."

[legacyofiron]

Smiling faintly at the butt of the head, he reached down and rubbed the soft ears before Steve transformed. Waiting until his mate was once again taller than him, he nodded his head once.

Turning to the door, he dug out the key needed from one of the wood panels. Opening it up, he stepped inside and looked around. The cabin was spacious and well put together. It was also clean meaning the offer to allow one of the other guardians use it had been accepted. But their scent was faint now... so they had moved on.

Pulling Steve inside, he closed the door behind them and sighed. "Extremely tired... Strange as I've been 'sleeping' for seventy years. I feel restless and worn down all at once." Waving a hand to the stairs he smiled. "It's an open loft... the entire upper story is the bedroom." Tony liked high places that were open. After being frozen in ice, he needed that open space even more.

[oldschoolpatriot]

Steve sniffed at the air, scenting something earthy and strong, something like Tony. It was one of those guardians Tony talked about before they went down. That was strange, he had expected the place to be empty.

But concern for his mate was his more important worry now. He slid an arm around Tony and steered him towards the stairs. "Let's get clean. Let's be together."

It had been seventy years and Tony smelled like Tony, but he didn't smell like Steve's. They must have washed them or perhaps the ice did something but Steve wanted to get Tony back to smelling like his mate.

[legacyofiron]

"Good idea." He couldn't help but beam at the werewolf at the suggestion. No matter how tired he was, he always loved it when Steve claimed him and marked him with his scent. It always felt like coming home and being whole.

Moving away from Steve, he walked up the open stair case to the loft. Checking for how clean the bed was, he only moved on when he approved. Stepping into the master bath, his brows rose a little. It was a little... different. Obviously in 70 years, his counterparts decided to update the place as well.

It didn't take him long to figure out the shower and get it running. Stripping his clothes off, he turned to look for his mate. "Join me?"

[oldschoolpatriot]

The strange smell bothered Steve's wolf. He hovered close to Tony because he expected a stranger to appear, but the scent was faint. Steve knew better. He still wanted to be close to Tony.

Of course, he stood back to watch Tony strip. His mate was perfect, beautifully built. Each inch of skin made him want even more. He waited until his mate invited him in. Then he stripped off the clothes those strangers had given him and joined his mate under the shower.

He sighed when he wrapped his arms around Tony, holding him close with nothing between them. "I feel like I haven't touched you in years."

[legacyofiron]

He could tell that Steve was being cautious. He also knew the linger faint smell must smell stronger to Steve. "The tiger. He was here last. But it's been over a month since by the scent..."

It was just a simple statement. He didn't intend to go into details. Details felt unnecessary as he was more focused on the two of them.

The moment he felt Steve wrap him up in strong arms, he melted into him. Eyes closed, he sank into the blonde's chest and smiled dreamily. "You haven't... Not really. And I need this... I need you all over me."

Because each touch, kiss, and moment he had with Steve was like waking up and returning to life.

[oldschoolpatriot]

"No wonder I'm on edge. Cats and dogs don't mix." But that was the last Steve would say of it. He had his mate, the woods and a safe place to stay. That was all he needed.

When Tony melted, Steve ran his hands over him starting from the back of his shoulders down to his sides and his legs. He kept touching, anxious to get his hands all over his mate and make sure he was whole and safe.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you." He nuzzled Tony's neck then licked at his pulse. His mate's skin tasted the same as that day by the lake, their first time. He had discovered so much that day.

[legacyofiron]

"He won't come back for a long time." Once one of them moved on... it was tradition to keep moving. They didn't stay in one place. Not until Tony fell in love with Steve Rogers.

Shivering and trembling against Steve, he slipped his arms about Steve's neck. Nuzzling into the skin, he made sure to slot himself into Steve's body wanting friction of skin on skin.

"I know you will." Purring sharply, he at the lick, he tipped his head to give the best access. "I trust you with all I am... heart, body and soul."