heroic_jawline | Avengers Mini-Tower, Sunday afternoon

Avengers Mini-Tower, Sunday afternoon

Steve knew that this day was tough for Tony and that was why he'd left him to his own devices for a few hours to bang around in the lab and get some of those emotions out. He'd also sent a card up to the Tony of his universe up in New York: with Rhodey temporarily out of commission, he didn't want Tony to feel alone or forgotten about on Father's Day. (It turned out that no one made a "sorry the guy I know in the war turned out to be a huge disappointment as a father but I think you're swell" card. Steve hoped a "Thinking of You" and a bottle of the midend (for Tony) Scotch that he like conveyed the same sort of thing.)

Steve was up in the gym trying to get the hang of riding on the jetpowered rollerskates Tony had made for him. He turned too sharply as he ran out of ballroom floor, hit the ground hard and winced as his shoulder did something it shouldn't have. "JARVIS?" he called from the floor. "Can you ask Tony to bring up the first aid kit? But first be sure to tell him I'm not that hurt."

[OOC: For the husband.]

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You couldn't relay a message about a first aid kit and not get a very worried Tony, Steve. You just couldn't.

Which was why a moderately disheveled Tony was rushing into the ballroom, having taken the stairs for a change. "Steve?"

"Hey, sweetheart," Steve said with a slightly pained smile from his comfy spot mashed onto the carpet. "I can't turn worth a darn in these shoes."

Tony's expression went a little pained before he rushing over to help him sit up. "I should have put more safety measures in them."

"This isn't for you to blame yourself over," Steve said, sitting up carefully. "I just need you to pop my shoulder back in."

Totally normal thing to ask for, when you're an Avenger.

"It really seems like it is something to blame myself over," Tony muttered, testing Steve's shoulder with the practice of someone who had done this at least once before. Possibly on himself!

"I'll be completely fine in a half hour," Steve promised.

"So, no need to call Don then," Tony replied. Which was probably good because he was already hiding from judgement today, no need to add to it!

"I fell over like an idiot, I didn't impale myself," Steve said with a laugh. "And I don't want to see Don's judgmental face if he caught me on roller skates."

"Nothing wrong with roller skates. They're fun." And on every single set of Iron Man armor. You know. Just in case he needed to move without the jets.

"They work very well on the ballroom floor," Steve said, pointing. "Maybe a little too well."

"Maybe we supply pads and put up bumper boards?" Tony suggested, finding the right angle for Steve's shoulder to be, you know, put back into place. "Ready?"

Steve blew out a slow breath, then nodded, concentrating on not tensing up. "Go."

"Three, two--" He did it on two. "--one."

"Gaaaaaaah--that sure doesn't tickle," Steve gasped, squeezing his eyes closed. "Thank you."

"Let's get your arm stabilized so it heals properly." Wanna know how often Tony didn't do that? No, no you don't.

"Thank you," Steve said with a smile. "You've done this a few times?"

"A time or two." Pepper hadn't been willing to help out, weirdly enough!

So weird! "And by a time or two you really mean--"

"It's fine," Tony promised, tucking Steve's arm against his chest to wrap up.

"That is not answering the question," Steve pointed out.

"You know how long it takes to heal with your super soldier metabolism," Tony pointed out.

"I throw a shield a lot," Steve said.

"...does it mess up your shoulder?" Tony asked, now looking concerned. Had he not noticed?

Steve shook his head. "Not at all. Some people just tend to yank pretty hard trying to get me to stop."

Tony frowned and considered new body armor for Steve to help with that. "Let's avoid that in the future."

Steve leaned in for a soft, quick kiss. "I'm fine, sweetheart. Good as new in no time."

"If you're sure." He was still making plans.

Well, it was a day that sent his brain into those directions. Steve should've planned better.

"I'm sure," Steve said. "It's fun to roller skate. I just need to not fire both rockets yet."

"Maybe just the normal skates for now?" Tony suggested. "And work your way up to more."

"That's a good idea," Steve said. "I'll get better! I just need another few hours."

"Well, let's just sit here for a little bit." So Tony could stop being worried about it. "While you recover."

Steve wrapped his good arm around Tony and slid closer. "How's the lab?"

"Oh, fine, fine." It was a mess of half started projects today.

"That's good," Steve said. "Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?"

Tony made a face at going out with so many people celebrating Father's Day. "We can."

"Or do you want to order in from a place that normally never delivers?" Steve offered, smiling.

"Maybe that," Tony said, leaning into Steve's good side. "Too busy out tonight, you know?"

Steve nodded. "Not like the brunches on Mother's Day," he agreed.

"All steak houses and grilling things, right?" Tony honestly didn't know about the latter.

"That's what the commercials show," Steve said, nodding.

He grew up in a single parent home. He had no idea.

Edited 2024-06-17 23:26 (UTC)

"And those are never wrong," Tony replied, pressing a kiss to Steve's shoulder.

"I've had only excellent experiences when I buy things based on them," Steve said.

Tony hummed in agreement. "Maybe we pick up something opposite the holiday."

"No steaks," Steve said with an apologetic grin. "What's the opposite of dad food?"

"Tapas?" Girl Dinner. Just say it, Tony.

"Tapas sounds perfect," Steve said with a smile. "Can we get a lot of those potatoes?"

"And olives too," Tony agreed, waving vaguely up at where JARVIS was. Or a camera was. Same difference.

"And a ridiculous amount of sangria," Steve said.

Tony's grin was much more genuine at that. "Deal."

"Get you a little squiffy," Steve said.

"Just a little." They kind of both needed it today.

"JARVIS, have you found a good place to order from?" Steve asked.

"I have placed an order for a healthy selection of the menu, Captain."

Tony perked up, struggling up onto his feet before holding out a hand to help Steve too. Someone was sore form being in the lab all weekend.

"Thank you, JARVIS," Steve said with a grin at the ceiling. "We'll find a place to sit down and rest."

"At least the AC is working well in here," Tony remarked.

"I don't mind when it's warm but the humidity is ridiculous," Steve said, taking Tony's hand with his uninjured arm and tugging him towards the elevator.

"It's the time if year where we should look into getting a pool."

No, Tony.

"We're on an island surrounded by water," Steve pointed out.

"...but East Coast beaches."

Oh, someone was bougie.

"What's wrong with East Coast beaches?" Steve asked.

"There are nicer beaches!" Not on the East Coast.

"These are perfectly fine beaches," Steve countered.

"And what about Greece?" Superior beaches.

"Those are nice too, but there's nothing wrong with Sag Harbor," Steve countered.

"Did you want to go to Sag Harbor?" Tony asked.

"Not especially," Steve admitted, laughing. "But I don't want you flying us to Greece for the rest of the day either."

"Find, fine. We'll stay here. Pool-less."

And without fancy beaches.

"We have a hot tub and a cheese fridge," Steve countered.

"Much too humid for a hot tub right now," Tony replied, wrapping his arms around Steve once they were in the elevator.

"But it's never too hot to appreciate the cheese fridge," Steve said with a laugh.

"Easy for you to say," Tony replied. "You can eat half the fridge."

Steve laughed. "I'm sorry your stomach turned middle aged."

"You are cruel," Tony whined. "I'm not that old, right?"

He very, very much was.

Steve grinned and kissed him. "Of course not."

"Good." Let him live in delusion.

Steve kissed him again. "Love you."

"Love you too," Tony replied, clutching at Steve's shirt a little tightly.

Steve kissed him again. "I'm right here."

"I know, I know." He just needed a little clinging. Because today.

"It's not a complaint," Steve murmured, holding Tony as well as he could with one arm.

Tony let out a little sigh and nodded. "At least we'll have food... soonish."

Since it was coming from off island.

"Want to find a science movie to make fun of?" he asked.

"That would be delightful," Tony replied, not letting go even as the elevator dinged to let them know they were on their floor.

"I thought you'd like that," Steve said, steering them towards the living room. "You can go into detail about how badly they're mangling everything."

"You can too," Tony pointed out. "You're pretty good at it now."

Tony for sure rubbed off on him there.

Steve beamed at him. "But I like to listen to you get snippy."

"Do you?"

"I do," Steve admitted. "It's funny. You're passionate and right--one of my favorite combinations."

Tony beamed, leaning in for a kiss over that. "Deal."

"Good," Steve said. "Pick your favorite terrible movie. Maybe with sharks."

"That one with the guy who looks like Nick it is," Tony replied cheerfully.

"Please," Steve said, laughing. "Sangria will only make it better."

"Need any help with getting into comfortable clothes for this?" Since Steve was the injured one this time.

Steve smiled. "I definitely need help."

Well, not really, but yes to having Tony helping.

Tony kissed him again. "Sweats kind of day."

Steve smiled against his mouth. "You know where I keep my Stark sweats."

"Now I know you're being sweet with me," Tony replied, tugging him along.

"You deserve sweet," Steve said with a grin.

"And you deserve to be pampered." And to make Tony feel useful. Same thing!

Steve laughed. "I really will be fine as soon as the food comes."

"Yes, but... I want to." Look at that communication!

Steve leaned in for another kiss. "I'd love for you to."

Tony gave a playful little "Yaaay" at that before tugging Steve along to the bedroom.

Steve laughed. "I love when you get excited like that."

"I like taking care of people." Usually by buying them things. "It's nice."

"You're very good at it," Steve said, heading for the sweatpants drawer, "but I'm not going to tell anyone about it. It'll be our secret."

"Oh, is that it?" Tony said, looking for a nice, loose t-shirt. Which was harder than you'd think.

Well, Steve loved himself a smedium! He smiled at Tony. "Unless you want more people to know you're a secret softie?"

"They wouldn't believe you," Tony replied, struggling here. Damn it, smediumSteve!

"I'm very convincing," Steve said, trying to help with the unhelpful shirt. "Maybe I should just not wear one?"

He was trying to be helpful! Kinda!

"Well, if you don't want to..."

Tony? Not complaining.

"Just don't let me spill paella on myself," Steve teased.

"Not exactly the sort of thing I'd want to eat off of you," Tony agreed, making a face.

Steve laughed. "Eating a shrimp off my bare chest not really your thing?" he teased.

"Oddly enough, no!" Tony replied. "Maybe it's just not the right protein--no, even I can't make that joke."

Steve looked politely confused by that comment. "Joke?"

"Sausages?" Anthony Edward. "But I'm not making the joke!"

Steve burst out laughing. "That's terrible."

"Which is why I stopped myself." Until he explained it.

"That was a good instinct," Steve teased, leaning in for a kiss.

"Sweats," Tony murmured into that kiss.

"Right," Steve said, "because food's coming and we have a movie to watch."

They never watched the movie. It was optimistic of him to think this time would be different.

They might get through some of it!

"And I'll get changed too." Gross lab clothes weren't great for lounging on the couch.

"And I'll watch," Steve said. "I'm so helpful."

Tony snorted and gave him a little shove. "Since you're being so nice, I'll even pick the Captain America gear."

Steve grinned. "I like those pants."

He'd made that clear on a few occasions.

"Do you? I've never noticed."

Uh huh.

"I'll have to make myself more clear," Steve said with a grin. "I like those pants."

Tony grinned as he shimmied on into those particular pants. "Why, thank you so much, Captain."

Steve made sure Tony saw him tilting his head to watch. "Very nice fit."

Tony laughed and shook his head. "To the couch, sir. No getting fresh while you're injured."

Getting fresh. Look at him using Steve's lingo.

"I won't be injured after dinner," Steve wheedled.

"You say that now, but we'll see. Won't we?"

Steve laughed. "I'm feeling confident about it," he said, swatting Tony's ass.

Tony gave a fake gasp of shock at that, clutching his hands to his chest in a little swoon. "Why, Captain!"

"Too fresh?" Steve asked with a grin.

"I'll allow it," Tony said, moving in for a kiss. "For now."

It was a very nice distraction.

Steve kissed him back. "Let me know if that changes, okay?"

"Of course, darling," Tony murmured.

"I love you," Steve said. "Let's settle in and wait for the food."

"Deal," Tony replied with a nod, tugging on Steve's pants to pull him along.

Steve laughed. "Now who's being fresh?" he asked.

"I am guiding my injured husband!" Totally different.

"By the pants," Steve said, still laughing. "That's a novel approach."

"Is this a formal complaint?" Tony asked. "Because management is out for the day."

"Oh, not a complaint," Steve said, reaching for Tony's free hand, "just an observation."

Tony hummed, leaning into Steve's space to press him up against the hallway wall for another kiss.

"God, you feel good," Steve murmured, rocking up into Tony.

"Food will be here soon," Tony said, not moving away.

"How soon?" Steve asked.

"Sooner than I can help you out," he teased.

Steve made an unhappy little noise. "That's irritating."

"After. When your shoulder is better," Tony murmured, giving him another kiss.

"It's almost better now," Steve promised.

Tony pulled back to give him A Look. "Is it?"

Steve gave him a smile. "Sweetheart, we're married. You'll know if I'm lying."

"Yeah, but..." He could still worry today. After everything.

Steve leaned in and kissed him. "I'm going to be okay. Promise."

"Okay, okay," Tony sighed, kissing him back.

"And I'll want to use the skates again," he added.

"...can I make more safety gear?" Sure, he does this for Steve but not himself.

"Sure," Steve said. He knew to pick his battles, and nothing was going to stop Tony from making the safety gear after he got hurt.

"Deal," Tony said, nodding once before kissing him intently again.

"Your dinner has arrived," JARVIS, managing to sound long-suffering, announced.

"Thank you," Steve replied, kissing Tony back.

"Go sit. I'll bring it up."

On the elevator. He'd need it.

"I'll clear off to the coffee table," Steve promised.

And maybe bring in a few other tables. He knew how he ate.

Maybe they just needed to buy a larger table...

Tony blew him a kiss before disappearing downstairs to collect their order. Which ended up being two, large, armfuls of bags. "Well. J ordered correctly."

"It smells promising," Steve agreed with a grin.

"You open the bags, I'm pouring sangria." Executive decision.

"That's a deal," Steve said, unloading cartons of things that all smelled fantastic. He nudged the one that smelled like patatas bravas closer to his side of the table.

Tony just hummed at that as he poured a very healthy glass for each of them. "Any mussels?"

"Let me see," Steve murmured, rifling a bit, "yeah. Here you go!"

"Well, this is a repeat place." He hadn't even tried it!

"Try it first," Steve said with a laugh. "You don't want to end up eating bad seafood."

"But they deliver!" Totally the important factor here.

"I think if you're the one asking, just about anyone would deliver," Steve said with a small smile.

"That's true," Tony said, with a grin that was decidedly smug.

Steve leaned in and kissed Tony. "You look smug."

And it kind of worked for Steve, honestly.

"Would I do that?"

"Sometimes you like to remember you can throw your weight around," Steve said with a smile. "It's fun for me."

Tony beamed and kissed him yet again. "Love you too."

"I love you too," Steve said with the quick smile of something he said and heard often. That knowledge was bone deep now. "Let's eat and poke fun at a movie."

"Yes," Tony replied with emphasis, settling in with his sangria.

"Bring on the snakes in the airplane," Steve said, loading up his plate and settling in next to Tony.

"It's so terrible," Tony told him, smiling like this was the best idea ever. Because it was. "It doesn't make any sense at all."

"Do snakes even like it when it gets cold?" Steve asked.

"I think they go to sleep in the cold," Tony said. He wasn't a biologist, okay? No squishy sciences here. "And how bad is the inspection to miss all those snakes?"

"Pretty bad," Steve agreed with a chuckle, swiping a mussel from Tony's plate.

Tony clicked his tongue at him. "I'm taking some potatoes for that."

Steve pressed his lips together and nodded. "That's a fair trade."

"I am a businessman, you know," Tony replied with a wry grin.

"I have heard that about you," Steve said, grinning back. "Is that why your name's on the building?"

"That and it's just more snazzy than Rogers. No offense." Clearly why he never changed it for marriage!

"Hey," Steve said with a light frown. "It's not that much snazzier."

It was.

Edited 2024-06-24 17:39 (UTC)

"Darling." You knew which was the more snazzy name!

"Hmph," Steve retorted, stealing another mussel.

Tony kissed him on the cheek. "You can have some of the marinated olives too."

"Thank you," Steve said. "You may watch me eat my potatoes."

"Nope," Tony said, lunging for a handful. A whole handful.

"Ack!" Steve yelped manfully. "Mine!"

"We're married! Shared assets!" Oh, was that how it worked?

"I don't remember that including patatas bravas," Steve said.

"It was in the fine print!"

"And I didn't read the fine print," Steve said with a grin. "Teach me to marry a businessman."

"Well, you won't make that mistake again," he teased.

Steve leaned in to steal a kiss. "I'll remember when I marry my next billionaire," he teased.

"Black Widower that you are," Tony replied, kissing him back.

"Don't tell Natasha," Steve said, laughing.

"Stealing her bit? I'd never share." She might murder them both for it!

"Good," Steve said, sharing his potatoes. "I like going through life not being stabbed."

"Why, thank you," Tony said, no longer trying to steal any secretly. And also maybe leaning into Steve's good side.

Steve pressed a kiss to the top of Tony's head. "Hello."

"Hi," Tony sighed, closing his eyes.

"This is nice," Steve murmured. "Even if the movie's not."

"How dare you, this is a cinematic classic," he teased.

"It's cinematic something," Steve said, opening a box and making a happy noise. "Fancy ham?" he offered.

"Ooo, you read my mind, darling," Tony replied, grinning over at him. "Was I right this is a repeat place?"

"Cautious yes, but let me try the sangria first," Steve said, grinning back.

"Alright, alright," Tony said, only pulling away long enough to grab Steve's glass.

"And if I drink this fast enough, maybe the movie will get better," Steve teased.

"They're joining the mile high club while snakes rain down on them, what's not to enjoy here?" Tony asked, offering him the drink.

Steve laughed and took a sip. "Oh, that's good. And I've never seen an airplane bathroom that spacious, including the Quinjet."

"Well, I can't have people doing that on a mission," Tony replied solemnly.

"It would be very unprofessional," Steve agreed, eyes sparkling.

"Which isn't us at all," Tony agreed.

"Well, it's very rarely us," Steve decided.

"Never in public at least." Just on their private beach in Greece.

Steve kissed the top of Tony's head again. "That's for us. I don't want accidentally visitors."

"Yes, dear," Tony sighed, closing his eyes and just enjoying the affection for once.

Steve smiled down at him. He liked seeing Tony happy, especially today.

"That plane probably shouldn't still be in the air with all those snakes in the control panel," Tony informed him. "At least one cable should have been pulled by now."

"Maybe one of the snakes is tech savvy," Steve said.

"A Stark Snake?" That was fucking terrible, Tony.

Steve poked him in the stomach. "That's terrible."

"It was delightful!" It really wasn't.

Steve laughed. "Really wasn't. I'm taking my meat back."

Steven.

"Darling, I'm hurt," Tony said, batting his eyes.

Steve stole a kiss. "Absolutely ridiculous."

"You taste like red wine and salt," Tony murmured, kissing him back.

"So do you," Steve said. "I like this restaurant."

"I'll add it to our regular order list."

"Thank you," Steve said, kissing him again. "It's really good."

"We needed something like this." Today. This week. Something like that.

"We did," Steve agreed. "Small plates," well, for him, "and terrible movies."

And snuggling.

Three things that made up for a lot!

"Good wine too."

"Delicious wine," Steve said happily. "Wine with snacks in it!"

"It's healthy," Tony agreed.

"Fruit is very good for you," Steve agreed with a grin before dropping into his fake-hearty PSA voice. "Lots of fiber."

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Avengers Mini-Tower, Sunday afternoon

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