Drinking Contest

"Steve!" Tony called out, upon seeing Steve Rogers, who had just entered the club. He waved his arm over to the surprised Super Soldier. The thumping music was lowered as Steve made his way towards the table.

"Tony," Steve greeted him as he sat down on the opposite side of the table. The two were now sitting face-to-face. "Where is everybody?" he asked. The bar was empty, other than a few waiters and a lowly bartender.

"I rented the place out for the day," Tony gestured around. "That's why there are no customers here now."

"Why?" Steve asked confused.

Tony sighed, solemnly. "We need to talk."

"You invited me to a club called Poison just to talk?" Steve repeated, just a little surprised. Tony could've talked to him in the Tower or any place, why was this place so important?

Tony nodded. "I did."

"Why?" Steve asked again, concerned. Now he was really worried.

"We are having a drinking contest to see who the leader will be," Tony announced. "And I mean leader as in the 'Official' leader. Seriously, I'll even make a plaque and everything."

Steve slumped back in his seat, slightly taken aback and slightly disappointed. "This is really what you wanted me to come down and discuss with you?" Upon seeing Tony nod he scoffed before getting up, his chair scraping as he did. "This is ridiculous, I'm out of – "

"'He who holds his liquor holds all the cards, and he who holds all the cards is the winner'," Tony quoted. "My Dad would always say that whenever I asked him about his drinking. It's something I've always taken to heart, as you've seen throughout the years." He looked Steve in the eyes. "I want to be the person holding all the cards Steve."

Steve mentally sighed, hearing the unspoken words, before sitting back down. "And you really think a drinking contest is the best way to answer the question of who should lead the team?"

Tony nodded. "Want me to quote another one of Howard's excuses for ignoring me?"

Steve shook his head, before sighing having given in. "You do realize I can't get drunk right?"

Tony chuckled. "That's what he said but I have my doubts."

Steve nodded. "All right then, let's get this over with."

Tony grinned. "Two antidotes!" Tony called out to the bartender.

He walked over, placing two shot glasses on the table before taking out the bottle.

"It's only fair to say, once again, that I can't get drunk," Steve insisted, hoping to talk Tony out of this.

But Tony shook his head, his mind made up. "Sorry, not buying it blondie."

Both drinks were poured and the glasses pushed in-front of each participant.

Lifting his glass up to his mouth, he stopped. "Last chance Tony," Steve warned.

Tony's glass was already empty and turned facedown on the table. "I'm sorry Nancy, are we going to talk all day or drink?"

Steve gulped his shot down, hissing at the burning sensation as the liquid went down his throat. Slamming his glass on the table, he held up two fingers. "Two more!" he called out.

Tony grinned. "Now that's more like it."

15 drinks later, Tony's vision was starting to blur.

25 drinks later, he couldn't keep his left eye open. Steve tried to get to stop then, but Tony waved him off.

30 drinks later, Tony placed his glass on a table only he could see. It shattered upon crashing on the ground.

Steve put his glass rim down before glancing at Tony…who looked pretty bad. "Tony, are you okay?" He frowned concerned. "You don't look so good. How could your liver be possibly taking this?"

"Sfine, sfine," Tony slurred. "Fff not, ll just get a new one. Then you can call me 'Iron Liver'!" he proclaimed, before falling out of his chair, passed out, feeling very good. That would all change when he woke up however.

Steve got up, pushing his chair under the table. He picked up Tony, bride style, before making his way back towards the Tower, walking the entire 20 miles.

)()(

Avengers Tower - Midnight

Entering the Tower, he turned on the lights. Seeing how late it was, he surmised everybody else was already in bed. He was thankful for that, as he didn't feel like explaining why he was carrying home a passed out Tony, though nobody would really be that surprised. He silently made his way to Tony's room, carefully making sure to place him down gently on his bed.

Making his way to the sofa he sat down, his eyelids feeling heavy. Stretching out, his last thoughts were about what the deal he had made with Tony. Was he really the leader of The Avengers now? The permanent leader? That would put a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, but he was sure he was up to the task. He closed his eyes, his mind still very much active. Captain America: The First Avenger, Super Soldier, Leader…has my entire life been leading towards this moment?

)()(

The Next Morning

Steve awoke when he heard sounds coming from the kitchen. 7:30 he thought groggily, rubbing his eyes. A.M.? I slept on the couch all night?

Walking into the kitchen yawning, he saw it was Tony making the noise, making a cup of coffee.

"I guess Mr. Metabolism doesn't need an aspirin, right?" Tony turned around, taking a sip of his coffee, another one in his hand. "Since you can't get drunk and all."

"So you finally believe me now?" Steve asked, smirking.

"Let's just say my doubts are gone," Tony smirked back, his mind somewhere else. "So," Tony pulled up a seat next to Cap, handing him a cup. "You're the leader now. Officially." He slapped him on the shoulder. "How does it feel?"

Steve took the cup, staring into it. "Well…" He honestly thought about it. "It feels…"

"Words can't describe it right?" Tony nodded, getting up and putting the chair back. "Well you earned it fair and square."

He smiled, before heading towards the exit. Steve nodded, when he noticed something about Tony's smile. It looked sincere but also disappointed, like Tony wished he was the leader instead.

"Tony wait!" Steve called out.

Tony halfway out of the room turned back. "Yeah?"

"Who says I deserve to be leader?" Steve asked.

Tony walked back over to the table and sat down. "Are you serious?" He chuckled. "You won the drinking contest. And besides, think of the Battle of New York. If it wasn't for your positioning of The Avengers, we never would've defeated the Chitauri."

Steve nodded. "True, but if it wasn't for you handing the reigns to me, I probably wouldn't have taken over like that. So technically, it was because of you that we won."

Tony thought about that. "That does make the most sense," he winked. An idea suddenly came to his mind. "Co-leaders?" he asked.

Steve smiled. "Sounds good to me."

They clinked their cups together as the others entered the kitchen.

"I think we missed something important happen here," Clint mussed.

"So, either one of you want to tell us what you guys just celebrated?" Natasha asked.

"And why you came home at midnight?" Pepper inquired.

The two gave her a look.

"J.A.R.V.I.S. tells all," Pepper said with a small smile.

As Steve started to tell the group about their adventure out, Tony vowed to do something about J.A.R.V.I.S.'s tendency to tell the others about what he considered to be his own business.