"What do you mean you don't know how to tie a bowtie? You're from the forties."

Steve sighs. "I wasn't frequenting balls, Tony. Even after the serum formal occasions meant full dress uniform, not a tuxedo."

"Well where's your full dress uniform now then?"

Steve looks at him and then jerks his head towards the glass case that holds his suit and shield. Tony frowns. "Yes well, spangly isn't really the tone we're going for tonight, so how about I tie that thing for you?"

Steve stands still while Tony fiddles. "God, Cap, your neck is like a tree trunk. I'm surprised they had a tie big enough for you."

"Is there going to be dancing?" Steve says suddenly as Tony finishes the last adjustment and stands back to admire his work.

"Of course," Tony says. "Well, not like you used to have back in your day, but there'll be dancing. Later on there will probably be vomiting and shouting too, although I have bouncers to make sure that happens in the alleyways rather than right in the middle of the party…"

"Tony I don't know how to dance."

Tony laughs. "What?"

"I've never danced, Tony. I'll make a fool of myself."

"Captain Rogers," he looks up to see Natasha in the doorway, smiling at him. Tony spins around and grins.

"Agent Romanoff, you look good enough to eat."

"Mr Stark I suggest you shut your mouth before I cut out your tongue."

"Some things are worth mortal injury," Tony smirks.

Steve swallows. The dress is long and high necked, and that's about as far as Steve's brain can get before it shuts down. "Agent Romanoff, you look beautiful," he says, and Natasha smiles and comes forward.

"Tony you should take lessons on how to compliment a lady from the Captain," she says, and reaches out one hand to undo Steve's tie.

Tony holds up his hands. "I haven't had any complaints from Pepper," he says. Then shrugs. "Well, not today any way." There's a pause, then a slight huff. "I'll leave you two timelords to it then, shall I?"

Steve doesn't really see him leave. "Tony doesn't know how to tie other people's ties," Natasha says softly as her deft fingers redo the job.

"I wouldn't put it past him to do it wrong on purpose," Steve says.

Natasha smirks and finishes, stepping back. "There. You look perfect."

"I feel like a gorilla in a penguin suit."

The smirk turns into a grin. "Like I said. Perfect." She cocks her head on one side and considers him for a long moment. "What's wrong?" she says.

"Did you mean what you said, the other day?"

"About what?"

"Teaching me to dance."

She slips in beside him, her head barely reaching the middle of his chest, and takes his arm. It's a natural pose, one that he can do easily, even if the last time he took a woman's arm like this he was the shorter one.

"Just follow my lead, Captain," she says as they step out towards the Stark ballroom. She pats his hand. "I'll look after you.