Rating: T
Pairing: SteveTony
Summary: Tony had turned on the stupid ass soap, which Steve was watching intently. Tony himself was just comfortable to sit there, wrapped in Steve's warm embrace. There were no super villains, no calls from SHIELD, no PR events to attend or paparazzi. It was just them; curled up on the floor watching TV. It was then Tony realized this was all he wanted.
It was supposed to be your average vacation. Steve had managed to convince Fury that they should take a week off. Tony suggested that they should leave New York—just the two of them. Steve didn't want to go anywhere fancy. After all, they really didn't have the time (or luck, considering they're, you know, superheroes) to do much sightseeing. Which Tony was perfectly content with; any time alone with Steve was more than he could ask for.
That's why they were spending what could quite possibly be called the perfect week in Malibu. The sun was shining, the ocean breeze softened the harsh summer heat, but most importantly they were completely alone. Tony was pleasantly surprised at his boyfriend's complete acceptance to their frequent 'fondue's, in which, Tony had naturally utilized to his advantage. Thinking back on it, he really can't remember how much time they'd actually spent outside of the bed room. He can't help but smirking when he thinks of certain memories.
But that wasn't what made this the most memorable vacation yet.
One morning—he's not entirely sure if it's a Thursday or a Friday because, well, they haven't exactly been thinking about time—Tony woke up perfectly content in their large, luxurious bed. Though, he's positive the source of such a sensation isn't quite from the comfort of their bed. It was that contentment of a good night's sleep after complete exhaustion. Remembering it all, Tony could feel a familiar smirk grow on his face.
He rolled over, expecting to find a certain blue eyed super-solider next to him. Instead, the sheets slightly tousled but nevertheless empty. It was 10:30. Of course Steve was already up. That was just what Steves did. At times, Tony wondered if it was even possible for him to even stay in bed all morning.
Deciding that staying there was ultimately pointless, Tony crawled out of bed. He honestly wondered whether or not there is a point in putting on clothes, considering he was quite sure he'd be out of them again but decided what the hell not. Steve was probably already dressed, had worked out and eaten breakfast. So he slapped the closest thing he could find, before heading downstairs.
Naturally, Steve was in the living room, reading a newspaper. Who read a newspaper now a days anyways? More importantly, Tony didn't even know he got a newspaper. But seeing Steve sitting on the couch, reading it, seemed just completely natural.
"About time you got up," Steve greeted cheerfully. How could Steve wake up so fucking energetic? It seemed inhuman. Even now Tony's slightly disgruntled mood could only be cured with his morning coffee.
"Good morning to you too," he answered snidely, though a smile still on his face, as he made his way into the kitchen. Surprisingly there was already a pot of hot coffee already brewed. He knew there was a reason he loved that man. With only one sip, Tony could already feel the morning irritations melt away.
His coffee fix fulfilled, Tony joined Steve in the living room, flopping himself on the floor in between Steve's legs before quickly snatching the remote and turning on the TV. Steve knew that Tony was very touchy feely and loved to be held. But he didn't intend to stop Steve from whatever the hell it was he was doing, he'd settled for laying his head against Steve's knee.
"So what's all happened while I was re-enacting Sleeping Beauty," Tony asked, turning on the TV and flipping through the TV guide. Really, he was almost positive there was an easier way to check the channels. For some reason or another, the television companies wouldn't let Tony work with their technologies.
"Nothing much," he answered, folding the newspaper before falling into the floor to sit behind Tony, wrapping his arms around the smaller man as his legs sat on either side. Tony sighed as he fell into the embrace, Steve landing a gentle kiss on his exposed neck. "I actually didn't wake up until a little bit ago myself."
"The great Captain America sleeping past 6 in the morning! Blasphemous."
Steve chuckled lightly and Tony could feel the breath on his neck. "Really now? You're the one who's up before noon," he retorted. If only Steve could see the short, playful glare that landed on Tony's face. Although Steve must have already known as he placed his chin on the top of Tony's head, immediately dissolving the expression. "There anything good on?"
Tony shrugged. "Not really, unless you want to watch yesterday's episode of General Hospital," he joked. "I know you watch that like the silly housewife you are."
The sad thing was, Steve did watch it.
"In my defense, I watch it because of Bruce."
"Like that's any better. What would America say if they knew that two of their greatest heroes watched soap operas in their down time?"
Steve rolled his eyes. "We'd win the hearts of housewives everywhere."
"Trust me, you've already got them," he said. It was really a fact. "In fact, you have the entire female population swooning at your feet. After all, who couldn't fall head over heels over the hottest, nicest, downright perfect superhero in all of time?" He chuckled lightly, tilting his head back to look at said perfection. "If only they knew he was gay."
Steve was already blushing red with embarrassment. He was always surprised at how much the American population loved him. He even more surprised when he realized he was in love with a man.
Truth be told, Tony had just now accepted it. A year ago, the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist hadn't allowed himself to think that Steve really loved him; that he wasn't going to leave. He didn't know how to do the whole 'dating' thing. He'd never been in a real relationship, aside from Pepper. And even she left. He tried. It just wasn't enough. The truth was he didn't know how to love people.
He knew deep down that it was because he'd never really experienced love.
But then Steve came around. Steve didn't want him to change. He loved him simply because Tony was Tony. He didn't see the irresponsible, narcissistic Tony that everyone hated. He saw the Tony that patiently taught him how to use a computer despite how hard that had to have been. He even enjoyed the constant teasing; it meant Tony cared enough to pay attention. Steve loved him. He didn't understand why. There was no explanation, no reasoning. He just did.
Tony had turned on the stupid ass soap, which Steve was watching intently. Tony himself was just comfortable to sit there, wrapped in Steve's warm embrace. There were no super villains, no calls from SHIELD, no PR events to attend, no paparazzi. It was just them, curled up on the floor, watching TV. It was then Tony realized this was all he wanted.
He paused for a moment, though there was no hesitation. "Hey Steve?"
"Hmm?" he asked, obviously still watching Sam ask, once again, if Jason would be able to love a son that was not his, but the man who raped her—Jason's twin brother. Really, it was a ridiculous show.
"Do you want to get married?"
The room went silent, although the TV played behind them. It was that tangible kind of silence, where the words hung in the air. His voice had been calm, no hesitation. As if it was the most natural thing in the world. Steve had pretty much stopped. Stopped breathing, stopped moving. He just stared at Tony, shocked. Tony knew what he was thinking—'Did I hear that correctly?' Tony sat up and turned around to face Steve, the blond man freezing beneath his gaze.
Tony stared into those crisp, blue eyes. "I'm serious. Will you marry me?"
Steve stopped for a moment, looking back at Tony, their eyes locked. He was silent. A second… a minute… an hour; Tony didn't know. It might as well been a lifetime. Every second that passed between them, fear began to settle in, ripping him apart inside.
And then he saw it, that momentary look of doubt. Steve hadn't answered. He wasn't going to answer. At least, it wasn't the answer Tony was looking for. At the thought, his own fears began to form, a physical presence within their silence.
"Y-you know what? Forget about it. I-I was being stupid. Joking," he forced, backpedalling as far as his mouth could let him. He tried to laugh it off, but he couldn't stop his voice from shaking. His hands wouldn't stop shaking.
He pulled himself to his feet, pushing himself away against the couch. "I'm stupid. Really. You know what? I've got this project that I really need to start working on." He began to walk out the door, although his body was screaming at him to run. He was stupid. Why would he think Steve would want to marry him? Sure he says he loves him, but marriage? That was a dream that nobody could see being real.
Were those tears welling up in his eyes? He couldn't help it. Why was he sad about this? It's completely natural. No one would be stupid enough to marry him, the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist. His reputation surpassed him. Why would anyone think he'd be willing to settle down? It was a dream—a stupid dream. Tony knew he couldn't have this, that he wouldn't have this.
"Tony, wait," Steve called out, pulling Tony out of his internal monologue.
He didn't stop. He knew better than to stop, than to look at that expression again. Although when Steve grabbed his arm, he was forced to. Tony couldn't look at him. He closed his eyes, forcing the tears that threatened to fall to stay in. "Please, Steve, just—"
Tony shut up at the feel of lips against his own. An arm was wrapped around his waist, pulling him close, the other at the crook of his neck, holding Tony's mouth against his. It was forceful. Pleading. Tony couldn't help but lean into the kiss even more, hands crawling up Steve's shirt.
Steve pulled back, his hold on Tony unrelenting. Tony looked into those blue eyes and saw an ocean of undying love.
"Yes. Of course it's a yes," he answered as a smile grew. It was the kind of smile that couldn't even begin to describe the emotions that were coursing through him. He repeated his answer as he kissed Tony, each word more forceful than the last, before he finally stopped, his whole heart spilled out before him. "Just... yes."
Tony just nodded weakly before breathily responding. "Okay." Steve laughed, pulling him even closer.
They just stood there for a moment, the raging emotions settling before them, not trusting themselves to speak. Steve was the first to form a coherent sentence. "Of course I'd say yes. Why would you think I'd say anything different?"
"Well, I kinda have a bad track record…"
Tony could see the urge for Steve to roll his eyes. "You should know by now. I don't care about that."
"I know, I know," he insisted. "It's just, well. You had me scared."
"And I thought I was dreaming." Steve gently laid his forehead down against Tony's. "Tony, I just… I want this. I really want this. More than anything."
"Yeah, well, that's… good." The words just kind of stumbled out of his mouth. Tony didn't know what to say. He was the one that asked him and he didn't know what to say. In his defense, though, he really hadn't expected to ask him. He just… did. "So, umm, yeah."
"Heh, yeah," he mimicked, though the laughter in his voice wasn't the same as Tony's happy but completely shocked. Steve pulled back slightly, looking at Tony. "So, husbands? I like the ring of it."
"Well, I'm glad because I sure as hell wouldn't take to being called your 'wife'."
"Awww, but honey, it'd be true," he joked, laying on the hideous nickname with unprecedented humor.
Tony jokingly pushed him away, sneering at him. "You're the one that watches soap operas," he reminded him, which won Tony a blush. Making the great America's greatest hero blush was one of his favorite past times. "Besides, I proposed to you. You're the one walking down the aisle."
"What! Fine. But only if Natasha is my maid of honor," he demanded, walking back towards their spot next to the couch, dragging Tony with him.
"Oh god, I have to tell Natasha, don't I?" the genius realized painfully. "She's going to kill me."
Steve rolled his eyes, pulling Tony down from his hysteria to sit with him. "She's not going to kill you. She happens to like you."
"Bullshit. She's never forgiven me for dating you. She kinda has a soft spot for you. You're like her little brother. I tell you, she's got it out for me."
Steve just laughed, pulling closer Tony closer. "Well, if that's the case, I guess I'll just have to protect you from her."
"I like to think I can protect myself. I'm not some damsel in distress" Tony argued. He stopped at the idea of a furious Natasha. "But having Captain America shield me from her widow's bite might actually be a good idea."
"I'd have done it regardless," he answered, his voice layered with content as he leaned back. Tony took his lead, leaning back into Steve's chest.
"Oh god, Clint," Tony started with terror. "Clint is not allowed to make the toast. At all. Just, no."
"I thought I'm the 'bride'? The wedding's supposed to be all about what I want? Remember?"
Tony stopped his rant and looked up at Steve. "You know you can have whatever you want."
"I know. But all I really want is you," he confessed, pressing a light kiss on Tony's head.
Tony sat up turning around to face Steve. Steve didn't even get the chance to ask what it was before Tony had him lip locked in a kiss. It was soft, gentle as Steve slowly fell into the kiss. Tony was simply enjoying the feeling of Steve's arms, holding him close as they kissed; his fingers tangled in Steve's hair. When he pulled back, Tony couldn't help but match the small, simply happy smile on Steve's face.
"Hey Steve?" Tony asked. He received only a muffled sound that implied a question, Steve's eyes still closed, forehead nestled against his. He was enjoying the rare, peaceful scene, taking in every moment as it passed.
"I love you." Steve looked up, the ocean blue eyes meeting Tony's gaze.
"I love you too."
A/N: (internally flailing from fluff)
So I know there are probably hundreds of SteveTony proposal fics floating out there somewhere, I still had to write this. This all started out as an RP with /my/ Steve. It was only natural for me to write it out in fan fiction form. Although I wasn't intending for it to be this long… Really, I was shooting for a thousand words max. But I couldn't help but fall into the moment.
Important note
For those of you who do not know, I have opened an account on Archive of Our Own, which there will be more stuff posted there. However, since doesn't allow imports to AO3. So, I ask that you follow me on there but I will be managing two accounts for you guys. Just stuff will be posted there first. It may take a while for me to transfer it over to but it'll get here eventually.
