(A/N: I don't own the Avengers, and I'm going to say that now because I don't want to piss anyone off. This one is a purely Steve/Tony fic and yes that means that it is slash, that's gay stuff, in case you didn't know. I wanted to write a pointless fluff piece, and so I am.)

Quietly and Softly

Tony Stark rarely found a moment to relax, because his brain would not let him have one. He couldn't stop, sometimes; sometimes he didn't finish one project before he started on the next. He was a whirlwind of activity and thought. Occasionally he paused long enough to pass out for a few hours, and sometimes his dreams were blissfully free of new ideas. On an increasing number of occasions his dreams centered on a certain Super Soldier and he didn't have the good conscience to feel guilty about the things that he did in his subconscious. Even though it was starting to mess with his normal method of thought, distracting him with thoughts that he shouldn't have at moments when he shouldn't have them; he didn't do anything to change it.

"Tony, hey Tony!" Steve was running into the lab like and excited kid, the shield that Tony had just finished constructing was strapped to his arm. Tony sat up from the bike that he had been working on and wiped grease stained hands on a white towel before running his fingers through his hair. He turned dark coffee colored eyes on the energetic blonde and smiled a bit, not thinking about concealing his feelings.

"Can I help you Steve? Shield isn't off balance is it?" Tony asked, one knee drawn up, arm draped over it as Steve stood above him. There was a smile on Steve's face that did awful things to Tony's heart and the Arc Reactor brightened in response. It was a good thing that Steve hadn't quite worked out how the chest piece worked in relation to Tony's pulse rate or they would be in trouble already.

"No, it's perfect actually. I didn't even know that it could be this manageable. No, what I wanted to ask was if you were up for a bit of a break," Steve said softly, that innocent smile tugging at Tony's heart. He couldn't say no, and the bike wasn't a pressing matter. So when Steve held out his hand that smile brilliant on his face, Tony took it and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"I think I could use a break," Tony found himself agreeing and walked beside Steve on the way out of the lab. He hadn't even thought to ask what sort of break they would be taking; he just wanted to be with Steve. Damn his subconscious and the dreams that he had and the way it kept him from saying no to that handsome face and those beautiful blue eyes.

"Good, because everyone else is out and I just found out. You were the last person that I wanted to disturb, but I figured that I was willing to risk you being upset since I was lonely…" Steve was rambling and Tony was okay with that. It gave his mind some time to appreciate the fact that he and Steve were alone in the mansion. He didn't know how long it would last, but that didn't stop his thoughts from going places that they really shouldn't have.

"Tony, are you okay? You seem out of it," Steve said in quiet confusion, his blue eyes suddenly not very far away from Tony's brown ones. Tony swallowed thickly and shook his head, it was no good. Perhaps his next actions would be forgiven as exhaustion, because he couldn't stop himself. He leaned up; hands sliding to cradle either side of Steve's face and pressed his lips against the blonde man's.

The kiss was so much more than what Tony could have ever dreamed, and when he felt those soft lips kissing him back, his heart nearly stopped. They tripped backward, falling against a wall; Tony's back absorbing the impact and the kiss continuing uninterrupted. Steve's arms slinked around Tony's waist and pressed them closer. Soon the kiss deepened and Tony could taste Steve in his mouth, all smooth mint and a hint of lemon. They were forced to break apart for air, but Steve made sure that they didn't go far, leaning his head against Tony's and breathing deeply.

"I'm okay now, I think. By God I needed that," Tony breathed and smiled into the kiss when Steve crushed their mouths together in another heated exchange. It didn't matter anymore that he should have been guilty, because it seemed that the object of his fantasy was also interested.

"How long have you been waiting to do that?" Steve asked, and Tony figured that if the Super Soldier could be breathless, he would be. But as it was, Tony was the one gasping for breath and Steve looked ready to kiss him until the world ended, which honestly could happen any second with Thor out showing Loki the sights.

"Honest answer? Or the one that makes me look less pathetic?" Tony replied by way of a joke and Steve's hand was there, cradling his cheek, forcing their eyes to meet.

"That long then?" Steve said and seemed impressed; Tony just nodded and allowed himself to be kissed once again.

Eventually they broke away from one another long enough for Tony to get them to the roof. The sun was still shining brightly and Tony convinced Steve to go for a swim with him. Not that they got any swimming done, more just treading water as they kissed one another senseless. They stayed there for hours, wound around one another in the deep end or relaxing with Tony draped over Steve's chest on the steps into the pool. Topics of discussion ranged from meaningless to critical analysis of a past battle and on to Tony's ideas for improving the equipment of his team.

"You do know that this isn't just…" Tony gestured vaguely off to the side, "I mean it, I really did fall in love with you, am in love with you," he said with all sincerity and Steve gave a smile.

"I know Tony. I do. And I love you too, have for a long time now," Steve whispered and pressed a kiss to Tony's forehead.

At the end of the day they laid together on a beach chair on the roof, watching the sun set and waiting for someone to come home. They figured that it would be for the best if everyone knew about them and all of the weirdness was gotten out of the way sooner rather than later. So when Thor and Loki arrived home, Steve did not remove his arms from around Tony's waist and Tony did not see the point in removing himself from between Steve's legs. The pair of Gods considered their comrades for a moment and Thor laughed heartily.

"You could have waited a week," Loki's voice was filled with amusement and twitched an eyebrow at Thor.

"What Loki means is that we are happy to see you two together. But that we would have won the bet if you had lasted a bit longer," Thor said and Tony's response was to giggle, Thor's brother was good for his articulation.

"Who won then?" Steve asked mildly amused, kissing the top of Tony's head.

"I did," Bruce said, popping out of the helicopter that he had shared with Clint and Natasha. Tony was quite glad of the modifications that he had made to the chopper, it had landed nearly silently. He realized quickly that the chopper had probably been the method their three allies had used to keep an eye on Loki. That would certainly explain why they had gotten home so quickly.

"Well good for you. Where did the Asgardian brothers get the money to be a part of a betting pool?" Tony questioned and Bruce laughed.

"The bet wasn't made in dollar amounts. We were betting on who had to deal with Fury the next time there's a minor call out. I just won an exemption," Bruce beamed and strolled off into the house.

"Not that I'll ever have to deal with Fury, of course," Loki said and sauntered off, Thor rolling his eyes and following after. Clint just shook his head and cursed his luck; Natasha was the only one that didn't seem to care. She gave Steve and Tony a cheeky smile and a wink and then they were alone again, watching the stars come out.

(A/N: So there's my first bit of actual Steve/Tony that I have written. Let me know what you think of it.)