Cassie~
Between the dunking, the kissing, the trying to win toys for Raven (which were cheap junk anyway and he could just buy her something much nicer if she wanted a gift and she really didn't need to show him it could be done and saddle him with a great stuffed lizard to carry around until he could force it on Happy), the sticky children and the enthusiastic fans (and the even more enthusiastic critics), the rides, the problems, on top of the usual phone calls ("I'm sorry, I know you are celebrating in your country, Mr. Stark..."), and the very fact of being there was making his head ache, Tony had completely missed the birthday boy. The ground was beginning to cool finally as the sun sank in the sky, but the lights of the carnival were just flickering on so the festivities didn't have to end. At least Tony felt almost entirely guilt-free about drinking anymore this late in the day, which was making the head ache ebb.
He idled for a moment near the empty kissing booth, then drifted toward the truck that had at one point contained cake and now just contained a few enterprising teenagers who found it a refreshing change from the scorching sun. They let out a cheer and waved when they finally noticed Tony already turning to continue his search, and offered to share their beer (if he didn't tell anyone), but he just raised his glass of scotch and promised he didn't see a thing.
Maybe he wasn't really looking as hard as he could be. After all, a birthday was just another day he didn't want to see Steve give him that look when there was a drink in his hand, and he really didn't want to put down this drink; he was still committed to being at the carnival, the least he could be allowed was a little pain eased. Steve probably wouldn't have heard his phone, anyway. He was probably by the stage, where it was loud and far too crowded for Tony to bother to approach. He dropped onto a bench next to an elderly woman smoking a cigar, who took in his flirty smile warily. It must have appealed him to her in some way because soon she was offering one of her cigars, and Tony was asking if this counted as a date.