Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 2883
Because You're Mine
"Did you make this from scratch?" Rhodey asked, looking up from his plate.
Tony rolled his eyes. "No, I ordered it in, what do you take me for?"
Rhodey nodded, because that made sense. Omega or no, Tony didn't have a domestic bone in his body.
"So, are you looking forward to tonight?"
Wrinkling his nose, Tony sighed. "What's to look forward to? I've already found my soulmate, Honeybear; he just didn't want me. I always knew I was a defective Omega."
"Hey," Rhodey snapped, pointing his fork at Tony. "What did I tell you about putting my best friend down, hmm? I'll not have it, Tones. Rogers doesn't know what he's missing, and he's an asshole."
Tony shrugged. "At least he was polite about it, I guess."
Snorting, Rhodey shook his head. When Tony had told him that Steve had basically said thanks, but no thanks, he'd been a ball of Alpha rage. If Rogers dared to show his face around New York for the next, oh fifty years, Rhodey was going to break it.
As though he could read the thoughts straight from his mind, Tony laughed.
"You can't punch Captain America, Sourpatch. It's just not patriotic."
"I can punch Steve Rogers," Rhodey replied sullenly. "He's an asshole."
"You'll break your hand."
Rhodey nodded. "I know. Worth it, though."
There was a moment's silence, and then Tony smiled. "You're the best, you know that?"
"Of course I do." Rhodey grinned. "So, tonight. Am I playing wingman or bodyguard or decoy?"
"Ugh, bodyguard. Or decoy?" Tony said, shuddering theatrically. "I can't imagine ever wanting to be touched by any of the creeps that frequent these functions looking for a piece of ass to plow. It's gross."
"It's not exactly a night at the bar, Tones. These things are prestigious."
"I'd rather take my chances at a bar. Upper class Alpha's are the worst. They're so entitled, Honeybear, they make me cringe. Like I'm just going to fall at their feet because biology tells me they're superior. Not a chance."
Pushing his plate away, Rhodey checked his watch. "Alright you little drama queen, I've gotta shoot off for a couple of hours. I'll pick you up at eight, alright?"
"Uh huh."
"And you're going to be ready aren't you?"
Tony wavered for a moment and then admitted, "Probably not."
"Pest."
"Love you too, Honeybear."
…
Steve leant against the back wall, his eyes moving over every addition to the ballroom. He knew he was taking a chance, approaching Tony in public like this, but he'd tried to enter the Tower twice and been unceremoniously told to go away both times.
Tony was angry.
Steve didn't blame him, he'd been a complete idiot. When they'd realised they were mates, Tony had seemed open to a relationship; eager even. Steve had been too, until he realised that Tony would most likely not enjoy Steve going missing for weeks on end while he searched for Bucky.
He couldn't just leave his best friend out there alone, but he hadn't really known how to say that to Tony without making it seem like he was putting Tony second in his priorities. It wasn't a case of that, but Omega's could be… sensitive about things like that.
Of course, outright denying Tony hadn't been his best plan either.
He hadn't wanted to, of course he hadn't. Even if they weren't soulmates, Tony was certainly a desirable Omega. He was beautiful, and so, so intelligent, and he was kind and caring and generous.
And insecure as all get out.
Steve felt like a heel.
A kerfuffle at the entrance caught his attention, and Steve knew before he saw him that Tony had arrived.
Sure enough, a few moments later, he saw his mate walk into the ballroom, Colonel Rhodes at his side. The Colonel looked fierce, and Steve felt a frisson of jealousy. As much as he knew that the two of them were only friends, he couldn't help but be a little jealous of how close Tony allowed Rhodes.
Steve wanted to approach immediately, but Tony was being crowded by people wanting a piece of his attention, and Steve knew he had to pick his time carefully. Not now, when everyone was clamoring for Tony, but not too late, when he knew the Omega would be irritable.
Tony hated these things, extravagant or no. Steve—hell the whole team—knew that much.
Keeping his eyes on his mate, Steve stayed where he was. Perhaps, if Tony spotted him, he'd come over under his own volition.
Somehow, Steve didn't think it would be that easy.
…
Tony had scented Steve almost as soon as he'd gotten out of the car.
"He's here," he hissed, looking up at Rhodey. "Steve's here."
Rhodey frowned. "How do you know?"
"I can smell him.."
"I'm gonna dead him," Rhodey replied, sounding entirely too cheerful at the prospect.
"Rhodey, no. We don't dead patriotic figures. It's practically treason."
"I don't think that's how that works, to be honest with you, Tones."
"I say it does. Come on, let's go and enlighten the masses to my presence. And… you know, probably don't break your hand on Steve's face."
"No promises."
Rhodey stuck to Tony's side as they made their way into the ballroom. It was decked out in extravagant tones of gold and white. Tony wrinkled his nose. It was a little… gauche.
Then again, he was never going to like the decor; he never liked anything about these balls. As he and Rhodey were surrounded by fans, Tony caught sight of Steve, leaning against the wall as though he was part of the furniture.
Although, he could never be just part of the furniture.
Pushing away the stirring feelings—Steve had rejected him, after all, not the other way around—Tony tried to pay attention to the people closer to him, but it was hard work.
Even standing still, Steve had a certain grace to him that drew Tony's eyes. He was temptation incarnate. Tony hated him just a little for being so damn irresistible.
"You okay?" Rhodey murmured in his ear.
Tony nodded. "Fine. We should get drinks though. The fact that I haven't already got a glass of alcoholic goodness in my hand already is a travesty, Sourpatch."
Rhodey rolled his eyes but nodded, steering Tony and their attached crowd towards the bar. There were waiters walking around with trays of champagne, but the bubbles tended to make Tony's nose itch.
A tumbler of whisky was much more his speed.
…
"Stars pale in comparison to you," Steve heard and he snorted. God, what a line. Whichever schmuck was trying that on Tony clearly didn't know him.
He stepped out onto the balcony in time to see the look of utter disgust on his soulmate's face, and he warmed internally that he'd been right.
"Go and annoy someone else, Hammer," Tony said, clearly bored of the Alpha trying his luck. "If you check the dumpsters out back, you might find someone a little more in your lane."
Hammer's enraged face forced Steve a few steps closer. He wouldn't have an Alpha—any Alpha—look at his Tony like that.
"I suggest you move away from him," Steve said quietly, when Hammer opened his mouth to retort.
Both Hammer and Tony turned to look at him, Hammer with an unmistakable sliver of fear, and Tony with seemingly resigned exhaustion.
Hammer seemed to pause for a moment, before he looked between Tony and Steve and then sneered at Tony. "You're not worth it."
If Steve shoved him with his shoulder when he passed, well, nobody would blame him. When Hammer was gone, muttering to himself as he left the balcony, Steve stepped closer to Tony.
He scented the air, unable to help himself, and shuddered when he could practically taste Tony on his tongue it was so strong.
"Hey," he murmured softly.
"What do you want, Steve?" Tony asked, looking up at him. His face shone in the light of the full moon overhead, and the wind ruffled his hair slightly.
"I'm sorry."
"I don't care," Tony muttered. The look on his face and the distressed scent told Steve it was a lie, but it didn't stop him from hurting at the comment.
"We lie best when we lie to ourselves," Steve replied after a moment. "I tried to tell myself that I could manage without you, but it was a lie. I tried to tell myself that Bucky had to be my number one priority, but that was a lie too."
"Is there a point to this, Steve?"
"Of course there is," Steve replied. "I miss you. I didn't… I don't know how to put this without it sounding like the most braindead plan—"
"That should tell you something, you know?"
Steve snorted. "You're right, it should. When I realised Bucky was out there alone after escaping Hydra, I knew I had to try and save him, bring him home. He deserves a home, after everything he's been through, you know? And I wanted you too, but I didn't think you'd be happy with me chasing after my best friend instead of staying home with you so—"
"So you rejected me," Tony finished for him.
Steve nodded. "It was stupid and I'm sorry."
"And now… what? You've found your pal so you want to come back to the Tower?"
Steve winced. "I've found him, yes. And I'd love to come back to the Tower, Tony, but only if you want me there."
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll… I guess I'll just keep trying until you do."
…
Tony couldn't believe what he was hearing. He wanted nothing more than to believe Steve's words, but—he'd never admit this outloud—he was scared to believe him. Scared to believe that he might actually mean what he was saying. Scared that he didn't.
Sighing, Tony ran a hand through his hair. "You can come back to the Tower. Fetch your pal, too, I'll make sure there's a room made up for him."
Steve looked at him like he was a puzzle he couldn't quite solve for a moment, before he reached out and touched his fingers to Tony's jaw. "You look exhausted. Are you not sleeping again?"
Tony snorted. "It's just regularly scheduled insomnia. It happens. My Sour Patch will force me to bed soon I'm sure; bloody worry-wart."
"Man can not live on coffee and whiskey alone," Steve commented quietly, a small smile on his face.
"That's loser talk," Tony replied, pushing up off the balcony railing. "Speaking of my Honeybear, please don't let him break his hand on your face. Just… dodge him or catch his fist. You know, gently. Please."
Steve chuckled. "Sure thing."
…
"Blurgh."
"Was that supposed to be English?" Clint asked from his seat on the kitchen counter, as Tony flopped down on the breakfast bar. He and Natasha were back from a super-secret-spy-mission god knows where.
Tony hadn't even realised they were due back.
Rhodey rolled his eyes and handed Tony a large mug of coffee—only relenting because the genius had slept six hours by his side the night before.
"I suspect he was displaying his disgust with mornings," he said to Clint, smiling when Clint laughed.
"Morning," Steve said cheerfully, entering the kitchen. His permanently attached shadow, Bucky, shuffled in behind him, decidedly less cheerful in the face of the early morning sun.
Steve reached over to ruffle Tony's hair, almost automatically. It had been so easy to fall back into their usual routines in the days since Steve had moved back into the Tower.
Tony was only barely waking up when an alarm sounded from the ceiling. "Sir?"
"What is it, J?" Tony asked, suddenly more alert. "What wicked beasts are we fighting today?"
"Butterflies, Sir."
"Run that by me again?"
"There are… vastly enlarged butterflies attacking the buildings in Manhattan."
"Of course there are. Well," Tony looked at the team. "Better suit up and go fight some butterflies."
Steve watched him walk out of the kitchen and grinned when he heard him mutter, "Giant butterflies. What even is my life?"
…
"STEVE!"
…
Steve woke up slowly, a weight on his chest. Only the familiar scent stopped him from panicking, and he opened his eyes to find himself looking down at a familiar messy head of hair.
Tony stirred against him, sitting up when he realised that Steve was awake. His eyes were red rimmed, and there was a nasty looking gash on his cheek.
Steve immediately wanted to demand why it hadn't been stitched, but the way Tony was shaking slightly stopped him.
"You're not allowed to die for me," Tony said, voice wobbly. "You're not allowed to die at all, but definitely not for me."
"I would die a thousand deaths for you," Steve murmured, pressing the words into Tony's hair.
Tony trembled slightly under his hands. "Maybe you live a thousand lives for me instead, hmm? No death, Steve. I don't like it."
Steve chuckled. "I'm sorry, baby."
"As you should be. I can't keep doing this, Steve."
"Tony—"
"And Rhodey was being mean. He said that I was being a proper Omega because I was worried about you. He said I was being—"
"Like a drama queen?" Steve suggested softly, cupping Tony's cheek. "You know he only calls you that when he's teasing, he was probably trying to cheer you up a little. None of us like it when you're sad, Tones. Puts us on edge."
"But you could have died!"
"It'll take more than a giant butterfly to take me out, I promise you that much."
"Just… don't die, okay?"
…
"What are you doing?"
Steve glanced up from the canvas he was working on, his paintbrush held aloft. "Bit obvious, no?"
"Alright, what are you painting?"
"Come and see it," Steve invited, patting the sofa beside him.
Since Steve had been injured by the giant butterflies, Tony had been edging closer. Not quite so shy with his affection as he had been before, and slowly, Steve thought they were making progress.
"Oh." Steve glanced at his soulmate as he looked at the canvas. "Is that… is that really how you see me?"
"I can't do you real justice," Steve admitted. "You'll always be more beautiful than anything I can produce, but yeah." He glanced at the light sketch he'd drawn to paint over. "This is how I see you."
"It's… pretty."
"You're pretty."
Tony snorted as Steve carefully mixed together teal and three shades of blue to try and mimic the colour of the reactor.
Tony stayed beside him as he worked, and when Steve glanced at him, he realised the genius had fallen asleep, his head tilted to the side, face buried against the jumper Steve had discarded when he started painting.
It took Steve's breath away a little. Something about it just seemed so… intimate.
"You should tell him you love him."
Steve startled, turning his head to see Bucky standing in the doorway. He'd been in the gym with Sam, progress in Steve's opinion, and Steve hadn't been sure when to expect him.
"It's not that simple."
"Why?"
"Buck—"
"Don't tell me I don't understand, Stevie."
"But… there are things about Tony and I that you don't understand, so… I don't know what else to tell you."
"You hurt him," Bucky said softly as he padded towards them silently. "But he still let you here, let me here. He loves you, Stevie. He hadn't rejected the soulbond, has he?"
Steve shook his head. Steve never had formally either, and he'd always been surprised that Tony hadn't back when Steve had first told him that they couldn't be together.
"And he didn't let Colonel Rhodes hit you."
"I think that was more for Rhodes' sake than mine," Steve replied with a soft laugh. "He was worried the Colonel would break his hand on my face."
Bucky snorted. "The point still stands, don't be a punk. Tell him."
…
Steve wanted to tell Tony in a romantic way, but every time he attempted it, they were called for a mission, or interrupted by one of the team. Still, Steve had learned long ago to adapt to his situation, and in the end, he kept it simple.
They were called to the unveiling of a statue of Iron Man, a ceremony Tony was actually happy to go to because it was for his good deeds, instead of what he considered his bad. Steve stood beside him, and got enough courage to take Tony's hand in his own.
After the ceremony, the guests milled around talking, but Steve stayed where he was, looking up at the statue of the man he loved. There was so much devotion in Tony to be Iron Man, to do good things to make up for the weapons he'd made and sold in his youth, and the statue seemed to embody that.
It was a beautful piece of art.
Tony stepped up beside him, leaning into him. "You okay, Spangles?"
"I'm good," Steve replied with a smile, looking down at Tony. "I love you, you know?"
Tony nodded. "Yeah, I know. I love you too. Wanna know why?"
Steve grinned wider. "Thrill me."
Tony reached up to cup Steve's cheek. "Because you're mine."
Written For:
Character Appreciation: 4. Grace
Record Collection: 25. 3. "I miss you."
Era's: 2. Wicked
Time Machine: 12. "Did you make this from scratch?"
Book Club: Parker: (Emotion) Devotion / (Word) Jealous / (Dialogue) "I would die a thousand deaths for you."
Showtime: 13. Barbara 2.0 - (word) Adapt
Elizabeth's Empire: 16. Coffee
Liza Loves: 2. Intelligent
Lizzy's Loft: 7. Suspect
Angel's Archive: 10. An extravagant ball/gala
Scamander's Case: 16. Insomnia
Film Festival: 14. Puzzle
Marvel Appreciation: 16. Jealousy
Lyric Alley: 9. That you don't understand
TV Spree: 19. "Like a drama queen?"
Forecast: 21. Painting
EnTitled: 7. Trying to resist feelings for someone
Monster Petting Zoo: Keith The Kraken: Pet him: Teal
Halloween Sing-Along: 7. Because you're mine
Halloween Drive In Movies: 12. It - "We lie best when we lie to ourselves."
Pumpkin Carving: Design: 17. Moon - (dialogue) "I can't keep doing this."
Murder Mystery: Weapon: 7. Statue
Hot Air Balloons: 3. Temptation
Bingo: 2. Setting: A Full Moon
Wine Tasting: White Wine 3. Torres Vina Esmeralda 2014 - (trope) Soulmates
Horror Hunt: 10. Exhaustion
Fortune Telling: Head Line: 5. "I'm sorry."/"I don't care."
Trick Or Treating: House 1, The Potters: 4 Lollipop: (word) intimate
Apple Bobbing: Apple 4. 1. Decoy
Costume Party: He Man: 22. She Ra: Wind
Haunted House: 16. Laughing
Leaf Picking: Orange: 5. Jealousy
Spooky Playlist: 13. Watch
Pop Figures: Marvel: 398: Angry
Stickers: Antipodean Opaleye: 2. Beautiful
Hogwarts Talent Show: Comedian: Soulmate!AU / "Stars pale in comparison to you." / Omegaverse / paintbrush / drawn
