Chapter Text
Steve had been almost surly the first few days in custody. He barely spoke to the guards who brought him food and was no warmer to his fellow prisoners. After two solid days of doing barely more than make it through, Steve realized he was approaching things the wrong way. He was being treated like a piece of property, and his attitude wasn't helping anything. When the guard arrived to take him to the auction, Steve held his head high and replied politely to anyone who addressed him. He felt more like himself. It didn't fix things, but it helped.
He stood on the small stage serving as the auction block with his shoulders squared, staring evenly out into the audience. It was obviously a high end crowd. Steve's skin crawled at the thought that he was going to fetch a hefty sum. He managed to keep his cool until the auctioneer offered to show more skin. In a heartbeat Steve found himself being stripped to his boxers by a pair of guards who seemed to enjoy their job just a bit too much.
Tony Stark had already decided he was going to buy Rogers. After all, Tony's father had been instrumental in the creation of Captain America. He'd told the press it was because Steve was "essentially already Stark Industries property." In truth, the billionaire couldn't help but feel guilty about the whole debacle with Rogers being labeled as a mutant to start with. Well, perhaps guilty wasn't the word. Responsible. Still a somewhat foreign concept for Tony, but he managed to get his head wrapped around it on occasion.
All his noble intent, however, faded to the back of his mind when he actually laid eyes on the tall blonde, and it flat out evaporated when Steve was stripped to his boxers. // Dayum.// He almost didn't register when the bidding began. He shook himself and casually placed his first bid, "Ten million." There was a ripple of murmurs in the crowd. But the high bids were to be expected, anyway. It wasn't every day you got the chance to buy an iconic superhero. It came down to Tony, a politician, and a transportation tycoon, and Tony easily edged them out.
After dealing with the media circus, Tony managed to squeeze into the stables unmolested and meet up with the seller, a government liquidator, usually responsible for selling federally captured mutants. He got the keys from the man before moving to Steve's cell. "They tell me that the wristbands don't work on you. Don't suppose I could take a Scout's honor promise you won't turn me into a pretzel if I try to take you home in a normal car?" It was a little difficult to make eye contact with the man. Steve was a hero, deserved better than this. But Tony knew better than to let on to even the man he was trying to save what his real purpose was.
Steve did his best to look like he had himself together. Inside he was torn. He'd barely been able to see the audience over the lights onstage, but after the auction, he had been informed who purchased him. Tony Stark. Howard's son. The thought of being bought like cattle by the child of a man who'd been his friend made Steve feel as if he'd stepped through the rabbit hole all over again. "I won't make any trouble, Mr. Stark," he answered with a chilly politeness that was honestly the best he could manage.
The guard chimed in, "He was a real dick right at first, but he's quieted down. Doesn't give anybody any trouble, all 'yes, sir' and 'no, sir." He smirked like it was some kind of joke and leaned in a little closer to Tony. "Doesn't matter what you paid, man, you got a good deal. I know they don't do Full Monty on stage in public and all, but I watch over the freaks in the showers sometimes, y'know? Good damn deal."
"Nothing to watch at home?" Tony returned. "I almost feel like you owe me a little money for the free peep show. I'll send you a bill." It was the most he could get away with without making his outrage obvious. Hell, it was tempting to give the cocky little shit a bunch in the mouth, but Tony managed to control that impulse. Then again, it was tempting to remember how Steve had looked on stage and wonder how accurate the guard's assessment had been. // Focus...// Turning his attention to Steve as the guard shuffled sheepishly away, Tony opened the cell and gestured. "C'mon. Let's get you somewhere less depressing."
Tony had opted for his standard-issue rich guy limo. Much lower profile than the Tesla, Lamborghini, or any of his other rare and collectable cars. He settled into his seat across from Steve and hit a switch on his small remote control. The custom-made handcuffs that had given at last a show of control fell from Steve's wrists with a soft click. "Glass of wine? I mean, assuming you're not going to choke the life out of me and escape. They'd probably eventually recapture you, but, y'know, it'd be pretty embarrassing for me," he said, pouring himself some red wine.
Steve rubbed his wrists, easing the soreness from the awkward position, and gave a slight shake of his head. "No, thank you." When Tony looked askance at him, he felt compelled to add, "I'm not going to try anything. I promised, and that... it means something to me. I just don't drink alcohol. There's not really any point." The mutants who had been in the collection area with him had all been fitted with collars to suppress their abilities, whatever those might be. He was in a different situation entirely. Nothing the guards had tried did anything to overwhelm the serum. Steve took a perverse sort of pride in it even though it meant they constantly looked at him like he was a bomb waiting to go off. "It burns out of my system too fast."
"Right. I knew that." He'd read his father's file, but he had to admit that Steve's presence was making him a little stupid. // Not that he'd let you near him.// Tony wasn't into forcing himself on anyone, so he focused on his wine. "Anyway... I appreciate the whole not killing me thing. Though I didn't really doubt you after you made your promise." He leaned back, propping his ankle on his knee. "Father dear did say you were pretty big on the whole honor and honesty thing. You know, I thought your stories were pretty cool as a kid. I mean, you were on ice by the time I was born, but daddy Stark talked about you a lot."
The way Tony talked about Howard definitely rubbed Steve the wrong way. "He was a good friend," he answered in a tone of measured civility. "I didn't expect... you aren't what I expected." He would have hoped that a son of Howard's would be using his intelligence and influence to try and make things better, especially with the wealth he obviously possessed. Instead he was out buying people like they were toys. Steve felt ill all over again and looked out the window to try and distract himself. "What exactly did you want me to do for you, Mr. Stark?"
"Mm, good." Tony's gaze fixed on Steve. "Now that I've done the 'playboy douchebag' routine for any unwanted listeners... All I want you to do is be safe and fairly comfortable. On paper, you're my new head of security. I know this isn't exactly what you had in mind when you thought you were gonna die for your country, and I don't blame you. But I'm offering you the best I can. I'm sure you've heard of Schindler's list? Same kinda deal, but no factory." The other part, the part where Tony did his best to help the MLF or the part where he made deals under tables in very high political places... that was stuff Steve didn't need to know. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Tony could live with Steve thinking he was an over-funded, spineless jellyfish of a billionaire trying to soothe his own conscience as long as his long term goal wasn't compromised.
Though it wasn't what Steve wanted to hear, exactly, he was struck by the sudden shift in the man. Tony was looking him straight in the eye, speaking firmly and calmly. It was like talking to a different man. Steve found himself nodded after a moment of uncertain silence. "Okay. That's... I'll help you out however I can." Being someone's possession would never be a situation he felt was right. Being part of that system at all was terrible. But Steve knew that even if it wasn't really all he could do, Tony was trying. That went a long way toward improving his opinion of the man. "I never expected things to be like this."
"Me either," Tony admitted. "Kind of have to feel a little embarrassed. I mean, not in the sense that I helped all this along, but just... well, it's kinda like when a bunch of Americans trash a soccer stadium in Peru. Except, y'know, this time it's all of humanity." He downed the last of his glass of wine as the car slowed. "Put the cuffs back on. There's gonna be a herd of reporters I'll have to parade you through to get into the damned building."
Steve's jaw tightened, but he nodded and complied quickly. Humiliating as it was, Tony was right. The press was going to eat it all up. He did his best to look straight ahead as he exited the limo, not really looking at any of the reporters snapping pictures. Instead he followed Tony up the steps through the throng. The driver had parked as close as possible, but the men in question had no concept of personal space. "Locusts," he muttered under his breath as Tony led the way up to his house. Steve just prayed he wouldn't have to stand quietly by while the man made some kind of official statement.
Tony glanced over at Steve. "We'll get you some better clothes. Just let me or Jarvis know what you want. Money's not really an issue. You like suits?" he asked as they moved toward the kitchen. He paused and grabbed Steve's cuffs again, disengaging them and stuffing them in his pocket. "You can go pretty much anywhere in the tower. You're security, so secure things." He handed Steve a small keycard on a lanyard. "This'll get you almost anywhere. I have a few private offices in the basement you won't be able to access, but don't take it personally."
"Uh, right." It was a lot to process at once. Steve had seen the guards using keycards, so the object wasn't entirely foreign. He pulled it on over his head and ventured, "I can wear a suit if that's what security guards usually wear. I... usually, I just wear slacks and a shirt. Used to wear." There was no usual anymore and they both knew it. Usual was sixty years behind him. He might be a prisoner, but a look around the house - mansion, really - told Steve that he'd at least have a lot more room to roam. "Where will I be sleeping?"
"In a room next to mine. Y'know, in case I have a bad dream," Tony deadpanned. "Seriously, though. Could use a bodyguard. The government wouldn't let me have your shield back... even though it's technically mine... but I can still hook you up with some carbon nanotube armor. Might skip the spangly crap, though. Little over the top and I don't want the media attention." He paused and glanced up at Steve as they made their way to the kitchen to find a scaley mutant with amber eyes just putting plates down for their breakfast. "Sheila. Morning. Thank you." The mutant gave Tony a coy smile and then quietly disappeared. "Oh, and you can go with the slacks and shirt. Whatever you're comfortable in," Tony allowed as he settled in to eat and gestured for Steve to follow suit.
Steve sat down, but he couldn't help watching the mutant walking back into the kitchen humming to herself. She seemed happy, but Steve found it hard to reconcile the fact that she was property with the thought that she was satisfied with her place in life. "You own her too, then? How many?"
Before Tony could answer, a tall, curvy redhead walked into the room smiling. She wore a sundress more demure than what she would have normally selected, but Tony had warned her that their new guest might not appreciate her sometimes out of the box fashion sense. "Mmm, morning, Master," she fairly purred in Tony's ear before taking a seat of her own. Laura found herself enjoying the way the blond on the other side of the table blushed right to the tips of his ears. "I'm Laura," she said, holding her hand out to the man with a smile.
"Uh, Steve," he managed uncertainly. Even Laura's "conservative" choice of dress still gave a rather daring view of her cleavage, and he was doing his best not to look at it.
She looked at Tony, tone accusing as she pointed out, "You didn't tell me he'd be so pretty."
"Hey, even I get taken by surprise once in awhile," Tony said defensively, though he took a moment to enjoy a glance at Laura's nicely exposed chest before he looked at Steve. "And you can look and touch all you like," he offered, gesturing to Laura with a tilt of his head as he dug into his food. "I mean, assuming she's okay with it. Which I get the feeling she is." He took a bite, chewed for a moment, then creased his forehead in thought. "Mm! Eighty-six. By the way. Not counting you." When Steve gave him a blank look, Tony flicked his eyebrows as though he expected the man to follow. "Mutants I own. Though 'own' is a... loaded word. You won't see control bracelets on anyone who doesn't want one. And there are some who do. I mean, we've got one girl that can't maintain a solid state without it. And you should've seen the crap I had to go through to even get it on her to begin with. Took Jarvis and I forever to figure that one out..."
Steve was thankful that Tony had kept talking. He had no idea what to say to the offer of touching Laura, especially when the woman nodded her enthusiastic agreement with the idea. He was caught off guard all over again when Tony revealed how many mutants were in his keeping. His mouth fell open, and he barely absorbed the man's tale of trial and tribulation with his semi-solid mutant slave.
"I think you broke him," Laura teased before taking a bite of her salad and shaking her head. "He may never speak again. Not that he needs to speak. Looking like that, he can be a deaf mute for all I care."
Steve's cheeks burned, and he ducked his head. "Uh, thank you."
"Oh, thank God, you didn't actually make him catatonic. Don't worry, sweetie, I'm only usually like this." Laura paused and then smiled. "Okay, always. It's not my fault you're pretty. As for me being continually inappropriate... that's kind of part of my mutation." She lifted her head to show off what looked like a perfectly lovely locket necklace. "This is my collar. Nice, right? Anyway, without this, sex can get a little dangerous for my partners. That doesn't work for me since I'm not much for abstinence."
Absolutely and utterly uncertain of what to say, Steve's gaze shifted to Tony as though the man might rescue him.
"Thank god for being a genius, though. The whole collar thing..." He winked at Laura as he got up to drop his plate in the sink. "I mean, it's almost good enough to die for... just not quite." He knew Laura might take that as a challenge. And he was completely alright with that.
Tony moved his attention back to Steve. "But, you are going to have to get used to aggressive women. Might wanna stay seated 'til she's gone. You'll probably get your ass grabbed." Maybe not by her, Tony reflected. Granted, he hadn't been able to see a whole lot at the auction, but he'd seen enough. Steve's ass was very grab-able.
"I fully intend to behave myself," Laura countered only to smirk and arch an eyebrow at Steve, "unless you ask me to do otherwise. Please don't hesitate to ask." Noting that Steve was still too flustered to have started his meal, she nodded to the plate. "Eat. Honestly. I'm teasing. You'll get used to it eventually. You might even like it. Tony does." Normally she preferred to call him "master" because it sounded hot, but she'd seen the look on Steve's face when she casually used the term earlier. He definitely had some hang-ups. //Considering when he comes from, probably a lot of hang-ups,// she thought sadly.
Steve self-consciously started eating, but as Laura and Tony chatted casually over the meal, he found himself relaxing. The whole situation still rubbed him the wrong way, but maybe if Tony was willing to sit and eat with them and be so at ease, he wasn't so bad. At least he might not be the heartless ass Steve had thought he was at first glance. "Do you think one of you could show me my room after lunch?"
Tony glanced at Laura, but she seemed content to let him take the opening. "I could. Definitely." He shot Laura a wink. They chatted quietly for a few more moments until Steve was done with his meal. "This way," Tony said, standing. "Laura, dear... if you wouldn't mind getting the dishes." He gestured for Steve to follow him. It was up a few floors and a short walk. Tony made sure to point out his own door first, then showed Steve his own. "Here you go. I could help you get oriented if you want."
Steve's mouth dropped open, and he was utterly at a loss for words for a moment before recalling what Laura had said about teasing. "Uh, that's fine. Thank you. I think I can figure it out." He honestly wasn't completely sure, but Steve knew he'd feel better feeling his way around the new environment than having to have everything explained to him. It was awful feeling as if he'd missed everything. The world had moved on in a thousand new directions, and he was still trying to catch up. "I'll, uh, see you at dinner."
As soon as Steve disappeared into his room, Laura slunk around the corner and smiled wickedly at Tony. "The room next to yours, huh? Hmm... I think he needs to loosen up a little. Wanna give him something to listen to while he settles in?" she suggested as she slid her arms around her master's waist and nipped at his ear.
Tony quirked a grin. "Y'know, it's like you read my mind," he said, turning and pressing a quick kiss to Laura's neck and giving her ass a firm squeeze. He'd intended to avoid scaring Steve the second he got there. He really had. But self-control wasn't exactly part of Tony's resume. He ground his hips against hers and rumbled happily before pausing. "Oh. You meant in my room, right?" He gave her an impish grin and tugged her to his door, quickly unlocking it and pulling her inside. "Now. Where were we?" he asked, loosening his tie.
Laura laughed and dragged Tony toward the bed, leaving the door conspicuously open. She doubted that someone with Steve's apparent moral center would charge in on them, but that didn't mean he wouldn't peek if given the opportunity. "You were going to fuck me into the mattress and if me screaming isn't enough to get his attention, it'll be my turn to try and make you do it. Sound fair?" Laura asked in a husky whisper. She loved that Tony enjoyed life. He had a serious side, of course, but he knew how to have fun. He knew how to throw himself into enjoyment and squeeze every last drop out of life - and she fed off of that energy. Laura turned her back on the man and slipped the straps of her sundress from her shoulders. It slid cleanly to the floor leaving her in nothing but a lacy white thong.
Tony, seated on the bed, quirked an eyebrow as his eyes moved over the perfect curves of her toned ass. "I like that plan," he agreed, reaching out to trail his fingertips down her back. Her enthusiasm and insistence on calling him 'master' were more than enough to keep him fascinated with her, wrapped around her little finger... at least in bed. Standing, he tugged her back against him, sliding his hands up to cup her breasts and gently tweak her nipples. He pressed his lips to her neck, then let one of his hands slide down to stroke her through her panties.
Laura sighed and leaned back into Tony, glad to be as close to him as possible. Her eyes closed for a moment before she opened them again and slid her hand down to cover Tony's, increasing the pressure. "Do you think he's even gotten to listen to people fucking before?" she purred, head falling back against Tony's shoulder. "It's gonna be a hell of a show. Too bad he won't get to see because if I do say so myself, we're pretty damn amazing at this."
"Didn't we leave the door open?" Tony asked with a faint smirk. It amused him how much Laura seemed to enjoy the idea of giving Steve something to listen to. "Y'never know how nosy he might be. We should be extra loud," he decided, unfastening his belt with one hand while he continued to slowly stroke Laura's sex. Letting his trousers drop, he turned her towards him and pressed an intense kiss to her lips. He then drew away and settled on the edge of the bed. "Think we could start with a BJ?"
"As if I'd say no." Even if Tony hadn't owned her, Laura would have said yes in a heartbeat. She'd wondered at times how things might have been different if he'd picked her up in a bar or at a club, but every time she'd come to the conclusion that absolutely nothing would have been different. It didn't need to be different. It was perfect without any changes. She smiled wickedly up at the man before sliding seamlessly to her knees and licking slowly at the head of Tony's hardening cock before taking the whole of it into her mouth and hollowing her cheeks.
Tony's hands clenched in the bedsheets as he watched. "Oh... fuckyes," he sighed out quickly. One hand reached up to stroke Laura's hair, and Tony moaned without hesitation as pleasure coursed through him . Remind me again why I ever leave the bedroom ...? "This... is gonna be a good night..." he managed, shifting a bit against her lips but careful not to choke her. After a few moments--in which Tony was fairly sure he'd lose his mind--he tugged her away from his now-weeping shaft and stood. "I think you need to be more naked. And bent over the bed. Preferably in a way that leaves a good view from the doorway."
"I do like the way you think, master." Laura chuckled and rose, shedding what little was left of her clothes and giving Tony a long look at her naked flesh before bending over the bed. She braced herself on her arms and wriggled invitingly. "I'm ready any old time you are." The thought of the show they were putting on and Tony's enthusiasm had her wet and more than ready for the next step. Neither one of them would last long, but all they had to do was be loud enough to draw an audience before the big finale. "Remember, we're playing to the cheap seats."
"Doesn't mean they don't get a quality show. Hmm... I'll have to make sure I give you plenty of reasons to scream," Tony purred, closing the distance between them and running a hand down over one beautifully smooth, curved buttock. He gave Laura's ass a sharp smack, then stepped closer, letting his cock press insistently between her buttocks as he leaned forward to slide his hands around her waist, up her abdomen and cup her breasts. He could feel her heat and wetness teasing the tip of his shaft and he tweaked her nipples. He wanted her right then and there, but he wanted more to make sure he got her worked up enough to squeal in a way that was sure to bring Steve running to her unnecessary "rescue."
Laura shivered and bucked back against the man's body. Tony was deliciously close, his cock poised at her entrance, and she gasped as his fingers closed on her nipples. "Don't tease... master, please..." She knew the effect the word had on him and wanted Tony just as worked up as she was. Already Laura was panting, wanting more. Screaming loud enough to draw attention was definitely not going to be a problem.
Letting his hands drift back to her waist, Tony straightened. "Can't say no to you... especially not when you talk like that," he murmured, thrusting forward suddenly and gasping as his cock sank into her welcoming heat. He let out a loud moan, not bothering at all to hold back the expression of pleasure. He barely paused before he started thrusting, his hands tightening on Laura's waist.
Laura let out a cry of pure pleasure. It felt so good that she honestly forgot the end goal of their little game. Thankfully her natural reactions were on the money without any need for false theatrics. The redhead thrust herself back against Tony's body, panting. "More, Master, please," she moaned in a lower tone.