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Word Count: 540
The Journey
"That was, uh, informative," Steve said, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. "You guys do know that sex wasn't invented in like, the sixties or something though, right? I do understand where babies come from."
Clint cackled, almost rolling off the back of the sofa that he was perched precariously on.
There was a moment of near silence, before Tony walked into the room, his suit jacket undone and his bronze tie loose around his neck. "They're trolling you, Cap," he said, a charming smile on his face. "You should totally assign them all fifty laps."
Steve snorted, and shook his head, getting up from the sofa to follow Tony into the kitchen. "How was your day?"
Tony shrugged, wrinkling his nose. "Pepper made me go to three meetings, so…. I'm sure you can guess. I think my brain actually melted out of my ear during the second one. I could literally feel my IQ dropping with every word."
Laughing, Steve pulled the fridge door open and then grimaced. "Take-away for dinner, or do you wanna go out?"
Tony seemed to think about it for a moment and then said, "Let me shower and change and we can go out. And we're not taking the rest of the rabble, so tell them to sort their own dinner out."
"But Mom!" Clint called from the living room, proving that he at least—and probably the others—had been earwigging.
"Maybe if you weren't such trolls, I'd let you come," Tony retorted. He glanced back at Steve. "Half an hour?"
"Sure, Tones."
…
After dinner, Tony made his way down to his workshop and wasn't surprised when Steve followed him down just a few minutes later, sketchbook and pencil in hand.
Tony left him to it, smiling when he just settled himself onto the sofa without bothering Tony.
"Hey, Tony, have you got a ruler?"
Tony blinked and then looked around his desk, eventually finding one. He carefully threw it over to Steve and then looked back at what he was working on.
And then leant back in his chair to rub his eyes. It had been a long day, and he hadn't slept much the night before.
He was getting old.
He had JARVIS save and close his work and ambled over to Steve, peering over his shoulder at his sketch.
"He's going to be unbearable if you keep drawing him," he muttered, glancing at DUM-E.
Steve snorted, but put the sketch down when Tony slumped down beside him.
"Don't get comfortable, Genius. You know this couch isn't good for your back if you try and sleep on it."
"Who said I'm sleeping? I'm not sleeping," Tony muttered, even as his eyes drifted shut.
Chuckling, Steve shook his head, and helped Tony to his feet and into the elevator.
"Bedtime, Tones."
"But cuddles," Tony lamented. Steve huffed and wrapped his arm around Tony's shoulder, tugging him into his side.
"Sleepover?" he offered, and Tony nodded eagerly against Steve's chest.
Steve smiled and pressed his face against Tony's hair. He didn't know what was going on between them, but they were heading somewhere nice, he knew that much.
And he was enjoying the journey as much as he would the destination.
Written for:
Build A Snowman: Step 3: Informative
Talent Show: Robot Impressions: Bronze / Ruler / Silence
Insane: 28. Charming
