Title: The Livestream
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: Mature
Character/s: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Other Avengers
Pairing/s: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 628 words
Warnings: Torture, Blood,
Major Tags: Attempt at humour
Author notes: Also for my STB Bingo prompt "Make an example of them"
Summary: The Avengers sit and watch, stomachs in their throats, as Steve is tortured.

~ + ~

The whip lands on Steve's back with an almighty crack. But the man doesn't make a sound. He hasn't since the start, refusing to give his captors even the smallest whimper.

Tony doesn't look away from the screen, no matter how much he wants to. His eyes remain riveted, looking desperately for any clue as to where Steve and his captors were.

It was all one big joke. From their supposed purpose to the American flag they had wrapped around their faces as a disguise.

The men weren't even torturing Steve for information, but to prove some half-thought-out point. It was all meaningless. It was cruel. Sickening.

They had said they wanted to 'make an example out of him', to 'bring Captain America down to his knees'. To 'send a message to the world'.

Another crack of the whip.

The ring leader steps forward, angered by Steve's indifference to their assault, and strikes him across his bruised and bloody face. The man says something, ranting at the camera. But Tony doesn't hear a word he says. Instead focused on the blood trailing its way down Steve's face, down his neck. His stomach clenches at the sight.

He was going to find these men and make them pay. Every cut, every bruise they leave on Steve, Tony will return twice over.

The second in command pulls out a set of industrial-sized, heavy-duty clamps, passing half over to the leader. Tony suspects, that if their faces weren't covered, that he'd see them smirking at one another proudly.

The door opens. None of the Avengers turn to see who it was, not wanting to miss the clue that would help them bring Steve home.

The captures slide the clamps over Steve's arms and begin to tighten them.

"Well, it's... nice to know I was missed... I guess," Steve's voice comes from behind them.

They all turn around to see Steve standing there with his travel bag slung over his shoulder and his free hand on his hip. A little bruised and dirty, but absolutely fine.

"Normally, I... uh... would ask what you are all watching... But I think I'll pass this time," the man says with a concerned frown.

Tony moves first, jumping over the back of the couch and rushing over to Steve, pulling the man into his arms. "Fuck, Steve," he says, "We thought... well, we'd thought you were captured."

"What makes you think that?" Steve says, letting his bag drop to the floor so that he can wrap his arms around Tony.

"Uh, the Livestream of you being tortured...?" Clint says, gesturing to the TV.

"It was just a routine mission, a cakewalk, really," Steve says. "I'm fine,"

"It could've been a trap. And you had gone dark so we had no way of contacting you to find out if you were okay." Tony says.

Steve raises a brow at him. "Nothing has stopped you from hacking your way through their systems to find me," he said.

Natasha sighs, "We probably should have asked Fury," she says, sounding disappointed in herself.

"Why didn't you?" Steve asks.

"Didn't think we'd get anything from him," Clint says with a shrug.

"Though..." Tony says with a frown, "You are his favourite. So, he probably would have done something about it,"

"Well, I'm home now anyway," Steve says.

"Indeed you are," Tony says, taking Steve's hand in his and leading the man towards the elevators. "We're not leaving our room for a week, okay? No, a month. Maybe a year." As they reach the elevator Tony looks back at the other Avengers over his shoulder, "Do not disturb," he says with a wink.

He was going to tie Steve to their bed and never let him out of his sight ever again.