- It’s just so frustrating that after everything, we can still work together. He acts like nothing’s happened!

- I still don’t know what exactly has happened – Craft was reading again. Ban tired to swallow the bit of banana too fast, so she just gesticulated and choked instead of saying anything. Craft waited patiently while reading.

- Told you. He’s a jerk-ass-bitch-douche and he tried to pick me up with ridiculous clichés and lies. I don’t want to think about it anymore, but it keeps coming back to me.

- You shouldn’t be this concerned – Craft frowned. – You hate him, or what.

- His mere existence irritates me – she said in a manner that indicated that Stark is some kind of inferior being.

- Not like your fine-ass soldier – she changed subject, causing Craft blush. – He’s just perfect.

- Why don’t you go and get him then?

Ban waved.

- He’s yours. Tell me, why exactly do you not meet more often?

- Ban, he’s not mine, he’s our friend – Ban snorted. – And we meet every day, why would I want to meet him more, it’s not like I’m glued to Steve!

- You could be dating. You said you liked him! You did say!

- Yes I said, but I like you too, and I said that too, we’re still not dating.

- You wanna date? – Ban leaned in. – We can totally date. Fancy me?

Craft laughed and booped Ban’s nose with her book.

- Sure, anytime.

Ban laughed too, and she let the subject drop.

- By the way, did you have any problems with bullies lately? Since you got out of the hospital.

- No – Craft seemed confused – but it has never been a problem, not really. Well, I didn’t count the ones mentioning my clothing style, but I guess you didn’t mean those.

- Okay then – Ban smiled and leaned back on the lawn, but Craft stayed causous.

- Are you hiding something from me? What do you know?

- I was just worried, okay? Whoever they were, they got you pretty bad last week.

- I got you babysitting me. You really took seriously what they said?

- It seemed serious. You might have not noticed, but you had to stay in hospital for two days.

Ban started to get angry. She has no idea.

- And if you didn’t know, you’re weak. You may act like it was nothing, but the wind blows and you fly, so don’t try to be brave, cause I really can’t be with you in every minute.

- Well, that’d be awkward. I mean we’re almost together as it is now, even though we don’t share any classes. You really want me to glue myself to someone? – Craft smiled, then her expression changed. – That’s why you want me to date with Steve. To have someone who protects me.

She laughed.

- Ban, that’s very sweet coming from you, but seriously...

Ban shook her head.

- No, I want you to get together because you two are the sweetest thing I’ve seen in my life, and it’s a crime for you not being together.

- You’re hopeless.

- I may be, but here comes our friend, as you pointed out, and you’re already blushing...

- And he’s with Tony – added Craft, trying to ignore her pink face, - in case you were wondering why are you blushing too.

As the boys came closer Ban really wanted to ask Steve why is he spending time with Stark, but it would’ve meant that he was acknowledging him, so she stayed quiet while Craft did the talking.

- Hey – she greeted. – You two together. How come?

Steve crouched to not to be so much higher than Craft. Tony eyed Ban, who was lieing on the lawn, and exemining the sky with care. She did look at Craft and Steve from time to time, just for fun; they were blushing equally, but talking casually. Cute.

- Tony offered to upgrade our whatever-stuff that needs upgrading in the sports-area, so I’m showing him around.

- That’s very nice of you – she looked up to Tony. He snatched his eyes from Ban.

- Yeah. I’m very nice.

Craft caught Steve’s eyes, trying to figure out how he thinks Tony is, and Steve didn’t mind at all. Ban threw a glimpse at them with half-opened eyes, avoiding Tony’s sight.

They’re basically eye-cuddling – she thought, though she wasn’t sure if the word existed. She knew about eye-sex, and she saw it a few times, but it was nothing like that, and she wanted to kick Craft for having a guy like this and not taking him immediately.

- I have class in ten minutes – said Tony, causing Craft and Steve breaking the eye-contact, - In the other building.

Meaning Ban has class too.

Now.

With Tony.

She looked up, and saw him grinning there.

He’s waiting for her.

If he wants to fight, let there be fight. Still...

- Fuck you Stark.

Steve looked around in the gym. All the others have left, but he always walked through the sport-facilities as he was promoted to captain of all; it was his duty to note any disturbances and problems, and he did it with pleasure.

- Hello – someone greeted him, he spin around in surprise. Tony stood there grinning, and lifted his sunglasses up from his eyes.

- Clint told me you had some problems with the score-table – he gestured towards the buzzing object on the wall while walking up to Steve. – Or, in fact Bruce told me, but he got the info from Clint, so it basically makes Clint the one responsible, although I don’t think he had any intentions in telling me, and definetely didn’t hoped that I’d actually come and take a look, but, hey since I’m here, why wouldn’t I, right?

- I’ve already called the repairers, they should be coming out this week.

- No need for simple men, here’s the genious – he patted his own chest, - all out of sheer philanthropy.

- We never actually met before – said Steve holding out his hand. Tony looked at him in disbelief, but shook the hand anyway. – Steven Rogers.

- I’m Tony Stark, but I bet you know me, I’m pretty famous around here. And by here I mean the world.

- Oh I’m sure – Steve said sarcastically, but Tony didn’t seem to mind.

- And I’m pretty too.

He grinned and went to the tablet, so he couldn’t see Steve’s stunned look.

They told him, that he’s a douche, he couldn’t help to agree, and couldn’t believe that Ban dated him – or so he thought from the conversations he overheared betwen the girls. If not going out, then something else must have been going on betwen Ban and Tony. He wouldn’t dare to ask though, not from Ban.

- Can we get it down? – Tony asked him, after he was streching in vain to reach the board. Tony wasn’t particularly short, but Steve couldn’t help but smile at the scene. He thought about lifting Tony up to the board, but didn’t want to pick a fight.

- I’ll go get a ladder – he said chuckling.

- Hey, no fun laughing on the smaller one, I’m here to help.

- Because you’re a philanthropist, I get it.

Tony Stark might be a douche, but at least he’s funny.

- So what are you gonna do? – Steve asked as they were kneeling beside the board. He learned that Tony always had a – as he called it – first aid kit with him, containing small screwdrivers, screws, portable welding torch and some stuff Steve didn’t know the names of.

- Just some easy stuff – he mumbled. – Though I doubt you’d understand, so I wouldn’t waste my breath. You could go back to the dormitory, I need noone around here.

- Nah, I’m fine. And I don’t want to leave you alone in sports-areas, they’re my responsibility.

- I won’t blow it up, if it makes you feel better.

- Much better, thanks. I’m still staying.

Tony didn’t react. He said that it was an easy job to do, still he was focused, and after a few minutes it became obvious that he enjoyed working on the board. Steve could relate to this feeling; it was like running for him. He loved running long before he started training seriously, doing harder exercises, but whenever he felt like moving, he still just ran.

Clint appeared in the door, swinging keys.

- I’m going out with Bruce – he told Tony, but got no response, so he continued. – In case you started to wonder where he went.

Still nothing. Seemed as though Tony didn’t notice Clint. Steve could hardly restrain himself from laughing and the athlete seemed to find the situation funny too.

- On your car – he added, and Tony tossed up his head immediately.

- What’s with my car? – he shouted, but Clint was running away. – Don’t take the blue cabrio!

- Don’t wait up for us, honey!

Steve finally burst out in laughter, rolling on the floor.

- I’m not sure if you’re really a total douche.

- I still kinda think that you’re an incompetent hero-complexed muscleman.

Steve frowned.

- Who said that?

- Who said I was a douche? – asked Tony back grinning, and started to pack his things up.

- Everyone?

- The baby’s finished, you can put it back up. People are cruel, y’know, they say lots of things, but I’m actually a very nice guy of modesty.

He lit up his winning smile.

- Coffee?

- Tony, it’s almost nighttime – Steve was doubtful, not sure if Tony was making fun of him, or what, but the other guy seemed serious.

- It’s always time for good coffee, and my coffee is good, rest assured, though I’m not pushing anything, you’re free to decide, I just though that now you realised that I’m actually ’not a total douche’ as you said, you might as well want to spend more time with my charming existence, and coffee is perfect for a non-special occasion like...

- Beer? – Steve cut him off, eyebrows risen. Tony blinked in suprise, but didn’t change his expression.

- Sounds good. Let’s get out of here.

- And where are we going, since Clint took your car...? – Steve asked as he stepped outside.

- He took one of my cars, so...

- Steve! – Ban came running across the sports-field. – I’ve been searching for you, cause I thought that we could- Oh.

She halted as soon as she saw Tony, just as surprised as she was. For a moment it looked like she was gonna greet him, but then her face darkened, offered a smile to Steve, and shrugged her shoulder.

- Never mind, we’ll find another time. Bye Steve!

- Wow. That was cruel – Steve said as he watched the girl hurrying away, but Tony just made a face.

- She’s been like this the whole week. Actually, now was she the closest to acknowledging my existence.

- Sounds hard.

- Could be worse – Tony didn’t seem to care. – I mean, at least we can avoid each other. Not so awkward.

- Okay, ladies and gentelmen, please form pairs. I know that some of you already have experience with machines like these, so if you could, please consider your experience-status in choosing your partner.

A minute later it was only Ban and a boy from the class; Ban stood next to her machine, eyeing her ought-to-be pair, but got no sign of future contact.

- Please, don’t be so childish, you’re grown man, or what – the prof started to get frustrated, and pushed the guy. – Your partner is Banner, and Stark, don’t just stay there as a statue, get to Scarlett.

Ban’s jaw dropped and he glared from the prof to Stark.

- You can’t be serious!

- I am very serious Ms Scarlett, now everyone start working, you’ve got until ten o’clock.

Tony sttled down next to her with a cold smile.

- No one wants to work with you, sorry babe.

Ban pouted her lips, but didn’t say a word, just started to manipulate the switches, while Tony played with the wire.

- In case you didn’t get it, no one includes me too – Tony added.

- It was very clear.

- Are you offended?

- I don’t care.

- Neutral, then.

- Pretty much. You’re not doing the task.

- You neither, but never mind, I’m used to it. Could you pass the...

- There.

It was more than frustrating how well they could work together.

- This might blow up – Ban said without worrying.

- Yeah, if you insist on connecting those wires. I thought you’d go for the other three...

- Nah, let it blow, maybe it’ll wipe that smug smile off your face.

- I’m surprised you didn’t go or the goatie.

- Fuck your goatie, Stark.

- It’s just so frustrating that after everything, we can still work together. He acts like nothing’s happened!

She was running in the hospital too, on the corridors. After she got out of the dormitory, she called Steve again to get the precise place where he was, and she sprinted. She could hardly stop before Steve, who was sittingon one of the chairs next to the wall. the corridor was empty, but they heared the nurses and doctors from near. Ban didn’t realise she was trembling until Steve told – ordered – her to sit down. He was pale and tired, not like today’s Steve she saw before. Ban fell down on the chair, gasping for air. She sprinted for almost twenty minutes.

- What happened? – she asked, though she didn’t want to hear the answer. Steve eyed her, then took of his jacket and – against Ban’s will – and put it on her shoulders before saing anything.

- It’s cold, and you’re too hot. Warm. From the running.

Ban would laugh at him, if she wasn’t so freaking worried.

- Craft.

- She’s in – Steve glanced at the closed door. – They’re exemining her since I don’t know when. Might have internal bleeding, something with her head, I don’t even know…

He covered his face with his hands and sighed, Ban just kept on blinking, and couldn’t believe a word.

- But… what happened?

- I don’t know – said Steve angrily, but backed immidiately. – Sorry, but I don’t know anything either. When my shift was over I headed to the dorm from the teahouse, you know, and I found Craft lying in an alley. She was already unconsious, and cold, it was night, I don’t know, I don’t want to imagine how long has she been there, or what has happened, so I just panicked and picked her up, she’s so very small and light, and ran here… I just realised that I should have called an ambulance, I may have worsened her state by moving…

- Hey, it’s okay – Ban papped his shoulder, and she felt it was awkward, so awkward, comforting a big man like Steve like this over her best friend, but like this she could trí not to think about what happened to her on the road a few hours ago, and what will happen when the doctors come out of the room.

oOo

Tony was genuenly pissed. Of the World. Or the people, Rachael, and first of all, himself, for being an idiot, and telling her everything – wanting to tell her everything.

Now she just ignored him. There was that problem, physical and a bit mental too, meaning psychological – that they were arguing about all of last year, and never finished it; the prof just asked a related question.
Their hands were up, of course, but the prof got another student to answer… and nothing happened. Tony tried to jam the performance, but Ban remained silent. It wasn’t fun.

After their „talk”, Tony drove to the next town to find something so he wouldn’t have to think, and only got back to the college at noon, that’s when he learned that Craft was in the hospital.
She accepted the flowers, and thanked him, but she was eyeing him so suspiciously, that he automatically felt guilty.

- I thought you wouldn’t hurt her.

- I didn’t – he said, and thought it was honest; maybe he was sudden and un-understandable, but the one who was hurt, was him. At least it seemed like Craft believed him, though she never arranged sort-of-dates, or helped him meeting Ban. But she didn’t ignore him.

- I fucked up so hard I can’t even tell you. And I don’t want to, either. I mean… I’d just like to forget it all and never try again. Do you think there’s anything that makes you forget things that happened? With some stuff, could I make Scarlett forget this whole thing? Not like I really care, it was just a hunch, an idea, you know, something to try out, I didn’t really need it, I just wanted it so bad, that I thought, I believed I could just reach it by… I don’t know, being myself.

Bruce shrugged. Tony wasn’t drunk, but he was honest, and it was strange, and he smelled trouble.

- But… I don’t know, how I thought that being myself would be enough, it never was. Not to… anyone.

So Bruce just sat next to Tony on his bed and hugged him, and he wished Pepper was there, cause she could handle him easier when he was drunk, but it was worse, a lot worse and Bruce didn’t know what the fuck to do, so he just stayed there until Tony has finally fallen asleep.

And it was a week ago, Craft got out of the hospital, and they couldn’t find out who did this to her. He was pissed at that too. He liked the little girl.
When they met back in summer, he just asked her to luch on a whim, and was surprised, when she said yes, but she turned out to be god company. Witty, and good listener. They visited each places; Tony tried out gardening and Craft has been to the factory, and she was there when he got hit too, she gave him first aid. Craft denied it, but she might have brought him back to life too.

- It’s just not fair – he murmured under his moustache, cause he started growing a moustache too.

They were there again, Steve noted while practicing with the team. They got a nice place for themselves, in the shadow of a big tree, next to the field from where they could see, and could be seen.
He spotted Bruce too, sitting on a bench next to Tony, who was doing some typing on his notebook, not paying attention to anything else. The cheerleaders were practicing too, int the corner of the field. Steve sighed, and turned back to Thor to explain the rules again, but the nors guy was only interested in the parts that included knocing down. He treated the rules like they were some kind of stories and he loved to bend them to match his taste.

Clint walked in; he promised to help in the training, but until now he was talking to Bruce.

- Please try to make some sense of Thor – Steve whispered, Clint nodded, and went to the smiling deliquent.

- Welcome to our fields, my athletic friend!

Steve giggled, shouted some orders related to the training and left the team to join Ban and Craft under the tree. They most likely had some food with them.

- Hey there soldier! – Ban exclaimed, and saluted; Steve had no idea where that came from, but he didn’t mind. Craft smiled and blushed, and he felt himself blushing too. He couldn’t stop, it was like a reflex.

- Still nothing on… - he asked while sitting down, but Craft cut in.

- No and won’t be – she sounded harsh, but there was no anger in her voice. Steve felt like she was hiding something, but wouldn’t want to push his luck with asking further questions. Craft was coming to their matches and trainings with a closed book, and uninjured, so it was fine.

He thought she would never look the same, when they could finally go to her in the hospital.

- They patched me up – she said with a smile, and she was like a zombie with her bandages and paleness. They sat down, Ban on th ebed, next to Craft, Steve on the chair, and she looked so happy, that they thought she went mental. She was smiling only because she didn’t want to start crying like when the doctor told her that her friends were waiting for her all night. Smiling was nicer.

- The head – Steve pointed to her head unsurely – was my fault, I guess. Sorry again.

- Nah, I don’t think so – Craft laughed, but grimaced when her head started to hurt. – I don’t quite remeber you shoving my head into a container.

Ban and Steve froze, but Craft didn’t seem to notice it. Steve thought that Craft was incredibly weak, fragile, buti t seemed as though she was stronger than an average person. Ban moved closer to her.

- Now tell me what the hell happened.

Craft trembled, and the smile melt down from her face.

- I don’t really know… After I left you with Tony – she looked up to Ban, but her face was all ’not now’ – I went straight to the dormitory; the shortest way, loads of small routes. And they were waiting in one of them, I guess. It looked like they were waiting. Men and at least one women – she did the talking, though she didn’t tell much. I couldn’t see thir faces, sorry.

- What did she say? – Ban seemed concentrated and calm, and Steve couldn’t feel anything but admiration. He felt broken, concerning himself.

- Not much – Craft pout her lower lip. – Like that I’m a little bitch… or witch, I’m not quite sure, I prefer witch, but they did say whore, I got that one.

Ban and Steve shared a concerning look, but Craft continued.

- She did say that you won’t be always by my side… I assumed to protect me, but I don’t quite get it. If you protected me before, then thanks, Ban.

The girl said something like nevermind.

- Oh, and she said, that if I told this to anyone, they’d kill me.

They couldn’t help, but laugh.

- Craft, you’re something else.

After Steve left, Ban stayed for a while, telling Craft what happened with Tony; that’s when Craft told her the other thing.

- Apparently I shouldn’t meet Steve – her voice trembled, and she finally looked scared. Ban hugged her tightly.

- Sorry for being a pushover. I won’t do it anymore.

Craft giggled.

- You don’t have to. I like him, so those bitches can suck my dick. I just didn’t wanted Steve to hear it.

- You really are something else, Craft. Couldn’t you decidet o like him before getting beaten?