Steve Rogers (do_this_all_day) wrote in chances_rpg, @ 2022-09-02 15:59:00 |
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Entry tags: | marvel animated: tony stark, mcu: steve rogers |
WHO: Tony Stark (animated) and Steve Rogers
WHERE: Tony’s apartment
WHEN: Friday, September 2
WHAT: Downtime after Darkness Plot
RATING: PG
STATUS: Completed via GDoc
It had been a rough week. Tony hated feeling helpless, but his suit couldn’t defeat a demon. He was just glad when Julia finally figured out how to get rid of it. And now? He could have some time with Steve sans worrying about a demon murdering them. He leaned into Steve as they sat on his sofa watching an old movie. “I was starting to think we couldn’t get back to this point,” he said softly.
Not even the snappy and effortlessly witty dialogue of The Philadelphia Story could keep Steve out of his own head for more than five seconds. Normally, he couldn't take his eyes off Ms. Hepburn and Mr. Grant and Stewart, but his heart wasn't really in it this go around. He gently squeezed Tony's shoulder where he'd put his arm around him and let out the sigh he felt he'd been holding in ever since that creature had been banished. "Every time I think we might have some kind of normal, I discover the line or the bar or whatever you want to call it keeps moving. It's wanting to ask what could this place possibly throw at ourselves next but being terrified of the answer."
Tony nodded in understanding. Of course Steve was on the same page as him. “Would it be too much to ask for cute puppies or something?” He leaned over and brushed his lips softly against Steve’s. “I’m just glad you, Rapunzel, and James stayed safe,” he admitted. “Feel a little selfish saying that given how many people got hurt, but…” He shrugged. He cared about his neighbors and friends, of course, but his family was a priority.
A now-familiar flutter went through Steve's chest. It happened every time Tony kissed him. Every time. He never wanted to see the day when it didn't. Everything about his life was a surprise, but what he had with Tony and James was the best kind. "I think it's okay to be a little selfish when it comes to the people we love."
“Me too,” Tony agreed. He traced his fingers through Steve’s hair. “You know I’m already wanting to build a suit to deal with magical demons.” He let out a dry laugh. “I can plan for most every contingency, but magic? Magic is a whole new ball game.” He built a literal dome to keep the people he loved safe and would do it in San Francisco in a heartbeat if he could. “What’s really keeping us here?” He asked. “I mean I have the money. I can build a whole new place for everyone.”
The movie was entirely forgotten as Steve leaned into that touch. If he hadn't been very aware of the seriousness of their current topic of conversation, he would have curled up with Tony right then and there. He allowed himself a moment to close his eyes before looking at—well, he'd just said it, hadn't he? The man he loved. It had slipped out. The easy revelation caught him by the throat and stole his words for a beat. He swallowed thickly before returning Tony's wry smile. "I bet if you asked Strange, he'd help. He'd also never let you hear the end of it, so I guess it's more the Devil you know."
Steve felt his face go thoughtful as he considered the why of their continued presence in The Station. "That's presupposing that the reason for all this happening to us is because of location and not just because, well, it's us—the displaced. But even if it is us, I wouldn't mind a place that's more fortified by our collective efforts, magical and technological."
Tony made a face at the implication that the weird events would follow them. “You are probably right,” he admitted. “Still I don’t trust the government. They left us here to die with that demon.” His expression hardened as he recalled being sitting ducks in the darkness.
The urge to turn and pull Tony into a proper kiss was so strong that Steve's fingers twitched where they were still lightly curled around his shoulder. Whether it was out of dry amusement for his continued (and justifiable) distrust of the current regime or pride at the fierceness of Tony's concern changed from moment to moment. His mouth pulled to one side as he considered the situation. "Don't hurt me, but do you think sending more people in here to get hurt or potentially killed would have made things any better? It's awful that they keep turning a blind eye, but there's nothing an armed force could have done other than blaring music 24/7."
“I could never hurt you,” Tony replied. His hand found Steve’s, wordlessly asking to entwine fingers. He sighed. “You are right. They probably couldn’t do much this time. But all those other opportunities…” He shrugged. “I guess we are stuck here, but I am still going to work on better enforcement. Strange and the other magical people can help me.”
I see a suit of armor around the world.
The words rose up out of his memories even as his fingers slid into place alongside Tony's. Steve knew down to his toenails that neither Tony would ever let it go that far. There was no way they'd ever have another Ultron on their hands. Ever.
But the sentiment jangled his nerves, made his breath hitch and then release in a shaky sigh. He hastily switched mental tracks, letting the familiar banter on the screen filter through until he was looking at Tony again with a tentative smile. If he couldn't say it now, he wasn't sure when he'd be brave enough. "I do, you know? Love you."
Tony was about to ask Steve what was wrong when the other man caught him off guard. He found himself breaking into a huge smile and pressed another kiss to Steve’s lips. “I love you too.” It had been a long time since Tony uttered those words to someone who wasn’t one of his kids, but he meant it with his whole heart.
For a long while, all Steve could do was smile while he kissed the man who had improbably entered his life and changed it for the better. If anyone had asked him if he'd ever have romantic feelings for Tony Stark, he probably would have laughed in their face. But this Tony—his Tony—was so different, his circumstances changed so much from the one Steve had fought beside (and with, unfortunately) for years that they really were separate people in his mind. "I know none of this is ideal and there's a lot I would change if I could, but whatever brought you here? Brought James and Rapunzel here? I'd thank it if I thought it gave a damn one way or the other."
“Look at you, making me think of the positive side,” Tony teased. “It really is the best part of being here,” he added. He missed his other kids, but he trusted he was still home with them somehow and they were safe. He loved the little life he created with Steve, Rapunzel, and James in San Francisco. “We are really going to need to rewind this film,” he joked.
Steve chuckled, low and close. "If I'm an optimist, it's only because I finally have something to look forward to that's not the next fight or world ending threat." He'd stopped paying attention to the screen, but even without looking, he knew exactly where it was in the story. Laughing, he shook his head. "If we do, it'll be for your benefit. This used to be one of my favorites. I musta seen it a dozen or more times—not that I paid for it every time. Oops. Bucky accused me of being a total sap, but I know for a fact that he took more than one gal there right along with me."
Tony snickered. “Sneaking into films, tsk tsk,” he said with a wink. “You are full of surprises, Captain.” He brought his hand to Steve’s cheek and caressed gently. “We could just forget the movie,” he hinted.
"I'm not sure what it's going to take for people to stop believing the boy scout propaganda the United States military kept spouting about me, but eventually I'll find that line." All of this was said while leaning into Tony's hand, and Steve was pretty sure there was an awful swath of the population that would be clutching their proverbial pearls if they could see him now. He bit his lip, but honestly he would have rather it been Tony's. That would have really sealed the deal and been a giant middle finger to the intolerant masses. But Steve wasn't thinking about them.
He looked around the empty apartment once before sliding his arms around his boyfriend's waist and pulling him into his lap. "God bless the person who invented streaming."