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Tony heard footsteps behind him approaching. He felt weak, but he couldn't stop. He needed to keep running. Couldn’t be caught. He had a place to go---
"This way!" a familiar voice shouted. Without thinking, he followed the direction of voice and entered an alley. His pursuers passed by and he remained there, breathing fast. There he saw his least expected person --- Steve was here in his old uniform. A lot of feeling rose to his heart and what he could only say was, "Steve?"
"Don't stay here. Another wave of enemies 's coming," Steve said to him. Even when it was dark, Steve proceeded without hesitation. Tony followed Steve through the maze formed of alleys, finally left the city and arrived at a forest.
"I should set up a shelter," Tony said.
"Do you still remember your wilderness survival course?" Steve asked.
"Of course! You drilled it into me."
"Then better get going, rich boy."
"I'll let you regret the word."
Under Steve's amused eyes, Tony set up a shelter for them to pass the night. The forest was too noisy for him to sleep though, so he started talking with Steve.
"I'm glad you're here."
"Me too," then Steve said,"You got thinner."
"You're almost as bad as Pepper and Rhodey in getting me to eat."
"Someone should look out for you."
"...I don't need one, now that ..."
"Tony."
"Let's get to sleep," Tony closed his eyes but he remained awake throughout the night.
From then on Tony rested in the days and continued his journey at night in order to avoid the enemies' notice.
Even then they still need to run from the enemies' scout. Luckily they avoided all the enemies' attention.
One time the enemy soldiers walked by just inches away from them without finding them. Then Tony and Steve quickly left the place.
When they were walking, Tony asked, "Do you remember the day we left for the army?"
"Of course. You father locked you up and you climbed out from the window to join me."
"We were so young then," Tony said,"Only wanted to serve the country."
"Yeah," Steve said.
Tony could still remembered the harsh training they went through, the toil they encountered in the battlefield. They were inseparable until that day...
Tony refused to think further. Now he had Steve. It should be enough.
Days passed. Finally Tony arrived at his destination. A grass field with flowers blossoming. No one would have imagined that a battle had thought there.
"Goodbye, Steve," Tony said, "I should have been with you then."
He turned, and surprised to see Steve still there. "Does it mean that I'm finally a basket case?" he asked.
"Tony, Haven't you realized that..." Steve gently held Tony's hand. Tony saw that their arms were both transparent under the sun.
Then memory rushed into him. Bleeding. Gunshot. Pain. Steve's face. Tony's last words.
"I'm dead," Tony said. "And you... Have you always been here?"
"To this very day."
"Are you leaving?" Tony asked, suddenly in fear.
"I won't leave without you. I promised."
"By the way, does it mean..."
"I heard what you said that day," Steve smiled. "Tell me again?"
"I love you."
They left hand in hand together.