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Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 334


Happy Birthday


Tony had been cheerful the whole day, Steve noticed with a small smile. They hadn't even done anything specifically special for his birthday, but he'd seemed happy regardless, just to have time with Steve and the team.

Pepper and Rhodey had dropped in earlier in the day with presents and smiles and promises for the three of them to get dinner over the weekend.

Tony had spent time in his lab—his current fixation on nanotech had happily filled half of the day—and then joined the team for dinner and movies.

It was odd, that something so simple could make a billionaire so happy, but Steve had long since noticed that Tony didn't need much to actually make him happy, and it was never by something that someone could buy him.

Tony was always happier when given the gift of time.

In some ways, that made Steve sad, because of how little it had happened in the past, but it was also perhaps a little bit of a relief that there was something he could do for the man who could buy himself anything he wanted.

When Tony turned his gaze on Steve, his eyes practically luminous in the light of the tv, Steve's breath was taken away by the smile on his face.

He reached out a hand without thinking, feeling the familiar spark when their skin touched, the soulmate bond flowing between them. It was still a new bond, and as feelings rose in them, Nat snorted.

New bonds were always a little… stronger, at least until it settled. Steve wasn't ever sure if he wanted it to settle. He loved the look in Tony's eyes when their skin touched, the pure love and devotion aimed at him was a heady feeling.

Steve stood without consciously deciding too, swinging Tony up into his arms, smiling at the giggle Tony let loose.

As he stepped into the elevator with Tony wrapped securely around him, he nuzzled his face against Tony's neck. "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart."


Written for:

Advent: Occasion: A Birthday

Holiday Crackers: Paper Crowns: Soulmates

Stocking: 3. Silly Putty: (word) fixation

Big Dinner Bash: Gravy: Cheerful

Insane: 62. Luminous