The heroes Captain America and Iron Man have always had a very compelling and complex relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this is also the case in many of the comic book universes. These two are sometimes friends, sometimes teammates, and sometimes rivals, and they often are at odds in how they approach leading the Avengers.
However, despite their differences, there are times when they have great chemistry with one another. It’s no surprise then that Steve and Tony are a popular ship in the fandom, and there’s definitely an element of rivalry between them that can veer towards flirtatiousness. On the other hand, there were times where they seemed to almost downright hate each other
10 Hate: Tony’s jealousy about Steve
While fans don’t see a lot of details about Tony’s upbringing, they know he had a troubled relationship with his father, Howard Stark. He never felt like he lived up to his dad’s expectations, and he tells Steve, “god, I hated you,” in Captain America: Civil War.
This is because Howard would always talk about knowing Steve during the war, and it just reminded Tony of how he never seemed to measure up.
9 Flirtation: Tony teasing Steve about swearing
While Steve and Tony might have gotten off on the wrong photo when they met in the first Avengers movie, they were on fairly good terms at the start of Age of Ultron. They were co-leading the Avengers and all working together as a team.
So, when Steve said the line about “language,” Tony couldn’t help but give him a hard time. The way he loved to tease Steve at any opportunity could sometimes seem like flirting.
8 Hate: The fight on the tarmac in Civil War
In Civil War, Steve and Tony both have moments of frustration and anger toward one another because they disagree on some really big issues. However, Tony is often one who is more frustrated.
He seems genuinely hurt by the fact that Steve won’t work with him and “keep the family together,” so to speak. During the fight at the airport, Tony is really mad and tired of trying to get Steve to listen.
7 Flirtation: Their conversation at the end of Age of Ultron
Steve and Tony don’t get along for most of this film because Steve is not pleased with Tony’s decisions that lead to creating Ultron. However, despite being somewhat at odds, they do work together with the rest of the team to take down Ultron.
By the end of the movie they have made up once again, they have a rather friendly and almost flirtatious conversation at the end of the movie when Tony shows him the new Avengers compound in upstate New York. And, to make it even better, Thor is there to tease and flirt a little, too.
6 Hate: When Tony created Ultron
While there are times when Tony is really angry at Steve, there are also times when Steve is just as mad. They both can be stubborn, and they both get emotional and worked up at times.
When Tony creates Ultron, Steve is shocked once again at his arrogance and how he makes decisions without consulting others. He also is similarly upset, and even a little hurt, when Tony knows about the Accords and doesn’t talk to Steve about them ahead of time in Civil War.
5 Flirtation: When Steve sent Tony a phone to contact him if he needed him
After the rather depressing and traumatic events at the end of Civil War, the Avengers are torn apart and Steve and Tony have finally “broken up,” seemingly for good. Tony feels quite betrayed and hurt, and Steve feels guilty but like he did what he had to do. However, despite their rift, he sends Tony a mobile phone to use if he ever needs Steve. So, their relationship isn’t truly over.
It might not exactly be flirting, but it is opening up that line of communication to Tony in a way that feels significant.
4 Hate: Tony’s anger at Steve at the start of Endgame
At the start of Avengers: Endgame, Tony returns from space, and he’s dealing with a lot of anger and pain. Just like everyone else, he’s reeling about the Thanos snap, and he takes some of this anger out on Steve.
He blames him for breaking up the team and for not being there for Tony when he needed him. While he does seem to somewhat hate Steve at this moment, it’s clear the kind of hate that occurs when you care about someone.
3 Flirtation: “Put on the suit. Let’s go a few rounds.”
This might be a bit of a controversial pick because this is a scene where these two don’t like each other much at all. After arguing already upon meeting for the first time, they’ve already pre-judged one another.
Things come to a breaking point and Steve challenges Tony to a fight. However, there is some amount of tension in this scene that many fans read as a rivalry with flirtatious undertones. And, there’s the fact that Tony kept touching Steve in the scene, too.
2 Hate: The entire sequence at the end of Civil War
While Civil War might have a lot of themes going on regarding the Accords and the Avengers, it’s also at its core a story about Steve and Tony’s relationship as well as Steve and Bucky's.
Tony feels betrayed that Steve lied to him about what happened to his parents, and Steve feels like he must protect Bucky. This results in a nasty fight that leaves all of them traumatized. Tony is left alone and bleeding, and Bucky would likely have been killed without Steve protecting him.
1 Flirtation: The wood chopping scene in Age of Ultron
There are definitely times where Tony feels a bit threatened by Steve’s personality and also his strength, but he also seems to rather admire it. So, when these two are low-key competing to see who can chop the wood at Clint Barton’s farm the fastest, things are rather tension-filled.
They might be annoyed at each other, but they also look like they might want to make out. It's one of the best Steve and Tony moments of them all. Perhaps Tony took the opportunity to admire Steve's assets, which he's been known to consider.
