Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 1167


Night Out


"One way or another, this needs to be dealt with today," Pepper said, glaring at them. "We can't have you two fighting on stage when you're doing press; have you even seen the headlines this week?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "It's not like I haven't been in the papers for worse, Pep. It'll blow over, it always does."

"It's happening, and if you don't come back to the tower tomorrow with smiles and a civility that you don't have right now, I'll make the pair of you wish you'd never been born."

Tony was gratified that Steve flinched just as Tony did. God but Pepper was scary sometimes.

Steve cleared his throat. "Miss Potts, with all due respect, I really don't think Tony and I need to spend a night away from the Tower. We can talk just as well here as we can elsewhere."

"And yet, you don't. At least if you're in a public space, you're more likely to behave yourselves."

"It's like you don't know me at all," Tony muttered, but he nodded his head and sighed his defeat. "Fine, Pep. If this is what you think we need… fine."

Steve left the room, but Pepper pulled Tony back. "Promise me you'll try and sort this out. It's really not good for the company Tones, and… I don't think it's good for you."

Tony pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll try," he promised.

"You know, we're here to actually talk," Steve pointed out, when they'd been sitting at the table in awkward silence for ten minutes.

Tony was shredding royal blue napkins with nimble fingers and he just smiled tightly. "So speak."

"A conversation is a two way street."

"Anytime I open my mouth I offend you, Steve," Tony pointed out. "Even when I'm not trying too. I thought it might be better to just… not."

"You don't offend me every time you talk," Steve rebutted. "Half the time I haven't got a clue what you're saying. I just… wish you wouldn't be so, uh, confusing?"

Tony snorted.

"Tony… I'm trying, okay? Maybe you can meet me halfway?"

"I, uh. Don't know what to say—which is a novel experience, but I'm not enjoying it very much, I'll admit. I don't know what you want from me, Steve. I try to be myself, which is what you say you want, and you get upset with me. I try to be more like my father, because you liked him just fine, but then you don't want that either and I am at a loss of what you want from me."

Steve blinked. "Why on earth would you think I want you to be more like Howard?"

"People say that he was less than a god, but more than a man. You know, like Hercules," Tony replied with a shrug. "Who wouldn't want to be like that?"

Steve stared at him for a long moment. "See, you say things like that and I have no idea what you're talking about and it frustrates me. It's not even you I have a problem with, Tony. It's this whole goddamn century sometimes."

Tony softened slightly. "I… yeah okay, I use a lot of pop culture references, you're right. I can try and stop."

Steve bit his lip. "I'll try to stop getting so frustrated over stupid things, okay? It's not really your fault, Tony. It's really not."

Tony let out a groan when he saw the kingsize bed. The only bed.

"What kind of chick-flick bullshit is this?" Tony asked, rolling his eyes even as he dialled Pepper. "Why is there only one bed?"

She chuckled. "I thought it would help the two of you understand each other. Plus, you're totally hot for him, and Natasha and I think you should fuck it out."

Tony blinked. "You. Wow. Pep, really?"

"Really, really. See you tomorrow, Tones."

She ended the call, leaving Tony to stare at his phone in utter disbelief. When he glanced at Steve, it was to find the blond flushed bright red.

Even his ears were red.

"You heard that didn't you?"

"Every word of it."

"Brilliant."

"Are you really eating cookies in the bed I have to sleep in?" Tony asked, when he came out of the bathroom, freshly showered and changed into lounge pants and one of Rhodey's old college tees. "You heathen, Steve."

Steve held up a napkin filled with crumbs to show he'd been catching them, and Tony chuckled, shaking his head as he sat down on the right side of the bed. Steve made his way into the bathroom with his own bag, leaving Tony to flick through the shows on the ancient tv.

It was almost a novelty, using a remote instead of just telling Jarvis to change the channel.

When Steve stepped out of the bathroom, bare chested with only a pair of basketball shorts on, Tony swallowed hard. Jesus. That was enough to make any man insecure, but Tony was reminded painfully of his ruined, scarred chest.

Steve joined him on the bed, and they lay side by side, unnaturally stiff and awkward.

"Should we, uh, try and sleep?" Steve asked, biting his bottom lip.

Tony nodded and slipped under the covers, turning the tv off and plunging them into darkness.

He couldn't repress the shiver that ran through him, and he cursed the lack of fine control over the temperature in the room.

"You okay?" Steve murmured.

"Fine. I, uh. I'm used to the temperature settings in the tower. I run a little colder than usual because of the reactor."

"Oh. I didn't know that."

"Why would you?" Tony asked softly. "I don't exactly advertise anything about it. It's fine, I'm used to it."

Steve shuffled closer. "I run hotter than most, if you uh, want to come a little closer?"

Tony hesitated for a moment, before he shuffled back so his back was against Steve's stomach, and after a split second, Steve draped a heavy, warm arm over Tony's waist.

He was asleep before he could really notice just how well he fit there.

"Hey Tony," Steve grinned. They'd been home from their 'forced' night out for a week and a half, and things seemed to be better.

They weren't arguing, at least, and when Tony couldn't help but make a pop culture reference, he explained it to Steve, or directed him to the movie or show so he could discover it for himself.

"Hey Steve," he replied, dropping onto the sofa beside Steve. "You okay?"

"I'm good," Steve replied. "Wanted to ask you something."

"Oh?"

"I, uh. I wondered if maybe you wanted to, uh, repeat our night out?"

Tony blinked. "Are you asking me on a date?"

Steve nodded sheepishly. "I haven't felt more at home since I woke up than I did when I fell asleep with you in my arms. I… I think we deserve a chance to explore that, right?"

Tony smiled. "I'd really like that, Steve."


Written for:

Showtime: 7. Cookies

Empire: 17. Insecure

Shelf: 19. Groan

Scamander: 8. Nimble

Film Festival: 29. (dialogue) "People say that he was less than a god, but more than a man. You know, like Hercules."

Christmas Eve Boxes: Festive Mug: Snowy Scene Mug: Making a promise

Ugly Sweaters: Additional Feature: Pockets - (word) Shiver

Advent Calendar: Trope: Sharing a bed

Stocking: 11. Small Bottles of Hot Sauce: (color) red

Big Dinner Bash: Vegetables: Sprouts: "One way or another, this needs to be dealt with today."

Insane: 550. Royal Blue