Steve had a routine.

After the Avengers saved the world and went their separate ways he had to start a new life. Move on. And that's just what he did, well, somewhat.

Every day he would wake up, clean his room at S.H.I.E.L.D - since his previous apartment was destroyed- work out for two hours at their gym, shower, then go out and help with cleanup of New York until he was so exhausted that thinking wasn't even possible. Then he would drag himself back to HQ, pass out, and repeat.

It was a good life. Or at least that's what he told himself.

After three months of his routine he opened the door to his room and barely stopped the surprise yelp from escaping his lips.

Lying on his bed like he owned the place -with his dirty street shoes, and sunglasses still on no less- was Tony Stark.

Steve opened his mouth to talk but was stopped when Stark gracefully held up his index finger and continued typing on his tiny screen.

Steve ground his teeth and closed the door behind him, after a minute Stark stood up wearing a cocky grin. Steve took a minute to appreciate the fact that someone could be so confident in a place that they have never been, and then promptly resumed being angry.

"This is the part where you say 'Hi Tony. How are you?'" Stark supplied, grin widening.

Steve fought a sigh. "What can I do for you Mr. Stark?" he asked trying to keep the venom out of his voice. Since the invasion they had shook hand and Steve recognized that he was wrong about Stark… well mostly wrong.

But he was tried and he could see the dirt from Stark's shoes on the bed he just wanted to crawl into and pass out.

"Well since you asked so politely, you can help me kidnap you," Stark stated matter-of-factly.

Taking a deep breath Steve repeated a mantra of calm in his mind. "What are you talking about?"

"I am going to kidnap you. Take you to my house. Then I'm going to fix you," he explained without a hint that he was kidding.

"Fix me?" Steve asked, quickly losing patience with is conversation.

"Yup," Stark announced proudly obnoxiously popping the p, "you're sad, and I am going to fix that, and to do that I created a plan that involves you coming with me. So we can do this the hard way or the easy way."

That was it, Steve was done, who the hell did this guy think he was? He broke into his room just to insult him, and he didn't even take off his stupid sunglasses, for God's sake its night and they're inside!

"I. Am. Fine," Steve bit out through clenched teeth. "I'm not going with you and you couldn't make me if you tried, now get out!" The second the words left his moth he felt bad, especially when he saw Stark deflate, but he just wanted to sleep! A saint would lose their patience with this man, and Steve definitely wasn't a saint.

Stark gave a theatrical sigh. "Fine. It was nice to see you again anyway Mr. Rogers," he said extending his right hand.

If shaking his hand would make Stark leave then he could do it. He gripped the extended hand and instantly retracted his hand when he felt a sharp sting like a bug bite or a needle being inserted. "What the hell was that!" he exclaimed.

Stark's smirk was back but this one was more devious and made Steve's heart race. "Oh that? That was a tranquilizer. I suggest you sit down before you hit the ground"

His vision started to blur, and in anger he pounced on one of the fuzzy Stark-shape outlines. He hissed and landed on the bed with a thud.

As he lost consciousness he heard Stark's voice over him, "This should be fun"

The second he woke up he swore he was going to rip….

Waking up with a gasp, Steve struggled off the blankets that covered him and sprang to his feet.

"Oh goodie, you're up," a voice said from behind him.

Turning around he saw Stark lounging comfortably with his legs crossed under him barely sparing him a glance before returning his attention to the screen in front of him.

"Stark!" he growled, unable recognize his own voice so filled with anger.

That only made Stark's smile grow. "Not a morning person?" he quipped.

Clenching his fists Steve took a step towards Stark. "Start talking," he demanded.

"Tisk tisk Captain," Stark tutted making his way out of the room. Without looking back he motioned for Steve to follow.

Taking a few calming breaths Steve tried to remember the prayer for patience he learned from his mother, then made his way out of the room.

The apartment was a large open plan space that was probably bigger than the entire floor he stayed on at S.H.I.E.L.D. The large windows that dominated most of the walls showed him that they were still in New York, and really high up, so most likely Stark Tower. Good, he can easily find his way back to HQ from here, of course that's after he strangles Stark.

He heard a whistle. "Over here Captain Crunch, make it quick we have a schedule to stick to." Stark was standing in front of a huge… T.V? He assumed it was a TV but it was just images on what looked like a very thin wall.

Steve stomped over to Stark's side. "We don't have anything, you are going to show me out and I am going to go back to S.H.I.E.L.D. And you can be sure that Director Fury will hear about this," Steve shouted, using his best Captain America Voice.

Stark didn't seem fazed, he just touched things on his screen and Steve turned to see the images on the wall change to the words 'Three Step Plan To Fix Steve Rogers by Tony Stark (all rights reserved)'

"Really you're threatening to call your daddy on me? Weak Steven, very weak." Flopping himself onto the couch Stark continued. "Here is how it is. I put the tower in lock down, which means no one in or out. We are going to be in here for as long as it takes for me to go through all three stages."

Dramatic pause.

"And what are the three stages?" Stark asked himself. "They are anger" the image on the screen changed to the word 'anger' in big green letters, "sadness," the image changed again to show the new word in blue surrounded in crying yellow faces, "and last but not least acceptance," this time the word was in bright pink with butterflies. "Brilliant right?"

"I'm leaving," Steve said walking towards the elevator and pressing the down button.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that Captain Rogers," A crisp English accented voice announced.

Steve looked questioningly back at Stark, "oh that's JARVIS he's my AI, he has the tower on lock down as I said: he will release it when you complete the program." He announced with an amused smile, clearly loving this.

"What if I strangle you will it open the doors?" Steve asked (only 48% seriously) with the glare he reserved for Nazi soldiers, but apparent now only serves the purpose of further entertaining Stark, judging from the amused chuckle.

"Feisty Cap, I like it. And to answer your question: no. Trying to kill me will just make JARVIS employ the security measures that will make you piss you pants. Not that it matters your pants are really ugly anyway."

Steve spared a quick self-conscious looked down at his khakis that were covered in dirt from the rebuilding project he worked on yesterday- or what he assumed was yesterday, he had no idea how long he was knocked out-. When he looked up he saw Stark motioning with one finger from him to come over.

Searching around the room for another window to freedom Steve realized just how fortified the apartment really was, there was no way he could get out, at least not without his shield.

Fuck!

He walked back into the living room and sat in the chair furthest away from Stark and crossed his arms over his chest, it was childish but being kidnapped will do that to a person. "What do I have to do to get out of here?"

Stark rolled his eyes and changed the images on the screen as he spoke, "Finally a good question. There are three stages involved in each step."

"First Anger there is: yelling, fighting and breaking shit.

"Sadness: crying, sad movies, and eating copious amounts of junk food.

"Acceptance (and this is where it get good) we have: reading up on all the people you left behind, visiting their graves, and then you get your prize which can be anything you want, I'm a billionaire so it really could be anything you want. So what do you think?"

Steve sat frozen, he couldn't imagine visiting the graves of his friends. He had completely avoided facing their ghosts and now Stark wanted to bring all of that back up? No way.

"Whoa! Christ Steve breathe, this wouldn't be very effective if you die before we get to the first stage," Stark pleaded, as he rushed over and placed is hands on Steve's shoulders, with what sounded like genuine worry in his voice.

"I am not doing that," He whispered feeling cracks appearing in his carefully constructed wall. Hating how weak his voice sounded he cleared his throat "I'm not doing any of those. You're going to open the doors and let me out!" He said pushing Stark away and standing.

"I really can't do that Steve, tell him Jar."

"I'm afraid Sir is correct. I will not be able to stop the lock down procedure until your program is completed. But for the record I strongly advised Sir against this method of therapy," JARVIS said, apparently AIs could sound apologetic.

"Shut up, no one asked you. You will both thank me when this is over." Stark said to the room, then he turned to Steve. "Now for the first step we have to go the basement follow me," he declared striding away from Steve into another room.

Steve didn't follow, he sank to the couch with his head in his hands contemplating his options for what seemed liked hours. Finally he decided that if it got him out of here he would play Stark's stupid game then when he got out he would get Fury to kick him off the team, or kill him himself… probably just kick him off the team. He had heard great things about War Machine, he was sure James Rhodes would gladly take Stark's place on the team. With that in mind he looked at the ceiling "JARVIS?" he tried.

"Yes Captain Rogers?"

"Can you show me where Mr. Stark went?"

"With pleasure. And may I say, good luck."