Lessons In Love: Chapter Twenty-One: Viva La Vida (Part 2)

Stephen Strange was a road trip NAZI. Tony let him know it when they stopped the car for the fifth time. He was apparently on some secret bullshit mission of his own, because he was really really determined to get to the circled location on the map.

Stephen had been driving for OVER. EIGHT. FRIGGEN. HOURS. IN. ONE. DAY.

Tony was about to lose his mind. They practically blew by the state of Pennsylvania, and now they were off somewhere in the sticks of Ohio.

Steve and Bucky were just peachy, of course. The super-soldier serum left them both with barely any fatigue. They were actually quite restless, and hungry.

Steve Rogers wanted FOOD. That was his only comment. The best buddies didn't have a dime between them, and they were unsure what to do about that.

Steve felt like a freeloader. It was an uncomfortable situation for him, because he was very stubborn. Bucky was a different story. He saw the forest for the trees.

He actually mentioned that the entire trip was TONY'S idea. Bucky fully intended to have every single expense paid for. Tony heard Bucky mention the same damn comment three different times.

Bucky Wonder kept saying that they didn't have to leave the mansion. He comforted Steve, and said that he didn't need to feel bad about not paying for anything.

Tony rolled his eyes every single time, but he tried to hide the irritated expression on his face. The brunette was fatigued, annoyed, and mentally drained from Bucky's face.

Steve's best friend saw the look on Tony's face two times, but he let it slide.

Stephen was in his own world. He stopped five times for them. He even bought them water and snacks. Stephen filled up the gas tank again and again, and now he intended to let them sleep.

Stephen was paying for everything, and he was barely saying a word about it to anyone.

"There's a diner up ahead. 24 hours."

They all heard Stephen's voice, and they followed after the oldest member of the group. Tony's ASS hurt from sitting around for centuries. He tried to stretch it out as he walked.

Yeahhhh... that didn't go so well. He ungracefully walked behind Stephen, and he'd occasionally try to look back at...

Someone.

Every time he looked, guess who he happened to see? Bucky's smug grin was there each time, and Tony jerked his attention forward. The youngest member of the group gave a huff, and he pushed open the stupid door to the diner.

He started talking loudly to Stephen about getting a hotel. Bucky ignored him, and remained outside the diner with Steve for a moment.

A comment needed to be made, and Bucky stepped in front of the blonde before he started saying it.

"Your boyfriend is not happy that I'm here."

Bucky revealed his thought, and Steve took in a deep breath. He had a lot to think about on that day, and Bucky's comment was unexpected. Steve stared at his friend, and his big heart began to pump at a rapid pace.

"He's.. well, that."

Steve crossed his thought, because he wasn't sure how to respond. He was still getting to know Tony, and he mentioned that he wanted to take him out.

Steve really wanted to do that, but Tony was not his "boyfriend" at that point. The label made Steve feel very nervous, and the comment made Steve's head spin where he stood. Bucky just gave him a short smile. Steve stared at that smile until Bucky opened up the door to the diner.

Steve swallowed hard, and he tried to recover from what was said. He slowly walked into the diner and he started looking around.

Stephen and Tony had already picked out a table. Steve approached it as soon as Bucky sat down.

"Let's see.. I'll take the biggest meal that they've got."

In Bucky's mind, those two rich boys were gonna pay up. Stephen and Tony seemed like they were spoiled, and Bucky had a way with rich brats.

He didn't comment on their money, but since they just had to take Steve out of that school... it was time to PAY UP.

Bucky's smile was very wide. He looked over the menu and he drooled over the options for dessert. Steve was still fixated with the diner. For the poor kid from Brooklyn, it was very fancy.

Tony kept looking at him. Steve hadn't taken a seat at that point, and the brunette looked at the empty space beside Bucky. Tony made the mistake of grabbing a seat right away. He got distracted when he was talking to Stephen, and they ended up sitting beside each other.

Tony looked back at the menu when Steve sat down.

He wanted to sit beside him, but it didn't work out in his favor.

"SO, Tony is going to pay for all the lodging. It's best if we just eat, then sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a very long day."

Stephen spoke his piece to the group, and then he ignored everyone as he looked at the menu. Bucky almost gave the team leader a sarcastic salute, and Steve just focused on the different choices that were in front of him.

He started wondering how the "lodging" would go. He expected two rooms? Steve thought about asking. He glanced in Tony's direction just as a woman walked by to take their order.

Steve was very hungry, but he felt horrible about ordering a bunch of stuff. Luckily for him, Tony and Stephen knew about his increased metabolism. They already knew that Steve's food intake would need to increase.

They encouraged him to order more, and Bucky talked him into ordering a bunch of things.

The two broke boys from the 1930s ate like kings. While the two rich boys from the 1990s didn't have that much of an appetite. They both were very exhausted, and unable to keep up with the ones that were practically on steroids.

They all ate their meal, and they eventually headed out to get some sleep.

Tony paid for two rooms, and he tried not to look at Steve when they unpacked the car. Who stays where? Tony chewed on the right side of his lip, as Stephen entered one of the rooms.

The oldest one didn't give a shit who slept where. He picked a room and then he ditched the group. Tony wondered what Stephen's secret mission was, but then his mind wandered back to his room choice.

Steve took his duffle bag out of the trunk. Bucky got a key from Tony and he entered the second room. He figured that Steve planned on staying with him.

Bucky didn't know exactly what was going on, but he knew his friend like the back of his hand. Steve was still too shy to stay in the same room as Tony. So, Bucky helped himself and he headed into the second room.

That left Tony and Steve at the trunk of the car. Everyone had their stuff, so Tony closed it and he put Stephen's car keys in his front pocket.

He looked up at Steve with a very warm face, and then he fixed the bag over his shoulder.

"Thank you, for the dinner choice. It was good."

Steve said his adorable thank you, and Tony smiled at what he said. He was so polite, and Tony just nodded his head. He slowly swayed a step in place, then he looked up again at the summer boy.

"You're welcome."

He wanted to ask Steve something, but it didn't feel like it was the best time. Tony looked over at the two hotel rooms, and then his mind settled on one. Tony sighed softly, and he fixed his bag over his shoulder again.

"You two are still wide awake, so I'll just see you in the morning?"

He wanted to sleep beside Steve, but the rooms were already divided in the wrong way. AND, it didn't seem like Bucky wanted to separate himself from Steve, so.. it didn't work out in Tony's favor again.

Steve glanced over at the rooms, and that big heart started over-working itself again. He wanted to spend the night with Tony, but that strong apprehension still held its dominance.

"Yes. I'll see you in the morning."

Steve formed a gentle smile, and he stepped close to Tony. The brunette closed his eyes when he felt those warm lips touch his face. Steve gave him an innocent kiss on the cheek, and then he stepped back from the trunk.

Tony kept his eyes closed for a moment longer. He heard Steve tell him goodnight, and then the blonde went on his way.

Bucky got all the attention, and Tony started feeling jealous. He kept standing by the car as he thought it over, and then he headed into the first room.

Tony set down his bag, and he quietly climbed onto his bed. Stephen was out. He fell asleep right away, and Tony kicked off the shoes that were on his feet.

Steve and Bucky were in the next room. Tony could hear that smug laughter through the wall, and he roughly rolled over on the bed.

His jealousy was really starting to grow, and the brunette was losing the ability to hide it.

Chapter: END

Thanks for reading.