Apartment Above Stark Industries, Saturday Morning

[heroic_jawline]

Steven woke up with a start, his inexplicable nightcap askew on his head, and then glanced over at the sleeping form of his husband.

"Husband," really, for Stark had only taken pity upon him, a Humble Hero Who Had Fallen On Hard Times and married him even though his ten-thousand a year had disappeared along with the family estate while he'd been off fighting for the King.

Steve sighed regretfully and climbed out of bed, pulling down his nightshirt so as to remain decorous.

Time to make the coffee. His husband would wake for naught else.

[OOC: Hell yeah, marriage of convenience with Sekrit Pining.]

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[imafuturist]

Tony woke alone, bed cold and empty because he just couldn't seem to find the right time to express his feelings in any meaningful way. Or at all. Because emotional honesty was for less wealthy people.

Instead he was forced to make due with this arrangement of theirs.

He sighed, hoping against hope that today would be the day that he might finally take his husband into his arms. But for now, he simply dressed in the usual suit? Suit. Yeah, one of those Victorian suits. Look, the research necessary for the right terms wasn't happening in one day.

Only then did he seek out his beloved. "Steven."

[heroic_jawline]

Steven kept his eyes from lighting up--or so he thought--as his husband came into the kitchen. "I feel terribly underdressed," he lamented, gesturing to his hilarious nightshirt, "but I know how particular you are about your first morning coffee and I don't trust it to the maid."

Because they had a maid now.

[imafuturist]

"You have my thanks," Tony said, breath catching in his throat at how disheveled Steve appeared before him. How he longed to pull him in for a kiss as true husbands and not this sham of a marriage.

Which meant his longing was coming across as cold indifference. Of course.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve's face fell. How had he managed to fail already? Tony was cold and distant!

"I can summon breakfast as well," he added, flustered and staring at his feet, tucked securely into slippers in case seeing toes would send some other Victorian--not Tony, of course--into a lust-filled frenzy.

[imafuturist]

Tony had conveniently looked away just as Steve's face fell so he couldn't tell how he was coming across and just continue to assume that Steve's heart would never be his.

"Would you be joining me?"

He tried his best not to sound too desperate for the company.

[heroic_jawline]

"If it would please you," Steve said nervously.

[imafuturist]

"It would please me," Tony said stiffly. So as not to fall to his knees and beg Steve to eat with him.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve gave him the tiniest possible smile because dancing a jig would be completely undignified.

"Let's go sit, then," he said, carefully pouring the coffee into the pot only he was allowed to touch.

In the dining room, so they could sit on opposite ends of a table that was at least 12 feet long.

[imafuturist]

How did they even have room for all this in an apartment? No, wait. Don't ask. Just go with it.

"Yes," Tony agreed, starting for a moment to assist him before stopping himself and letting his hand fall short of touching Steve. "You make excellent coffee."

Whoa there, Tony. Cool it with the affection.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve blushed. "Thank you. My mother taught me how."

When there was still money for coffee.

[imafuturist]

The days back when they were still landed gentry of the old country, right?

"You don't speak of her..." Tony said, showing off how bad at asking questions he was.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve hid his expression behind his coffee cup.

"Well, it's not pleasant morning conversation," he demurred.

[imafuturist]

"She was important to you." Which meant she was important to Tony. But God forbid he say that.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve smiled wistfully. All of his smiles were wistful. It was a Character Trait. "It was just the two of us, once Father died in the war."

The other war. There had been a lot of wars.

"And then she got consumption when I was away--" he shook his head. "It isn't pleasant to dwell on."

What with Evil Uncle Pierce stealing all of the money, etcetera, etcetera.

[imafuturist]

"I see," Tony said, berating himself for bringing up such a tender subject.

Whilst looking cold. Natch.

[heroic_jawline]

"I apologize for boring you," Steve said softly, ducking his head in shame.

[imafuturist]

"You're not--" He cut himself off before he could do something wildly inappropriate. "I do not mean to press you on matters of the heart."

HOW WAS THAT BETTER, TONY?

[heroic_jawline]

"You're my husband," Steve told his boiled egg. "You are allowed to...press."

[imafuturist]

"I am," Tony told his coffee.

Honestly, their breakfast was getting more of the conversation than they were. Oh god, no one mention the weird anthropomorphic fanfic of them as food. That could be a trope of some sort.

"I fear I am ill-prepared for such things."

[heroic_jawline]

"Pressing?" Steve murmured. "That is not what the gossips say."

STEVEN.

[imafuturist]

Tony didn't deign to react to that because he was a proper gentleman. One with A Lecherous Past.

"Gossips are prone to much talk. If you believe it all, then..."

[heroic_jawline]

The Lecherous Past had been part of his appeal. But it wasn't dignified to say soo, of course.

"I believe you before I believe any gossip," he said softly.

[imafuturist]

Yes, but the Power of True Love changed him!

"I--" Tony was caught off guard by how wonderful this man was. In spite of all the hardships of his life. "My thanks. Husband."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve blushed. "Always."

[imafuturist]

"How go the plans for the ball tonight?" It was called a ball, right? Ugh, research was hard.