Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 775
Pairing: TonyT'Challa
I'll Catch You (If You Fall)
"I'm so glad you came back," Tony murmured, leaning into T'Challa's embrace.
T'challa's arm's tightened around him slightly, and he pressed a kiss to Tony's temple. "You had nothing to worry about, Tony. I was always going to come back to you."
"Well, yeah, I mean, why wouldn't you? But also, I know how busy you are being King Kitty-Kat, so—"
"Tony," T'Challa interrupted with a fond smile. "I will always make time for you. I believe I've told you as much already."
Tony ducked his head, cursing the blush colouring his cheeks. He didn't really want to admit out loud just how many people had made that particular promise and broken it.
Instead, he pulled himself together and asked, "So, what do you have planned for us?"
"I thought we might take a turn on the ice rink," T'Challa said and Tony narrowed his eyes.
"Okay, who have you been speaking too?"
"A little birdy may have—"
"Clint! You're dead meat, birdbrain!" Tony called, hearing a cackle and then a clatter in the vents as Clint scuttled away, clearly very amused with himself.
"Don't worry, Tony. I'll hold you up."
Tony snorted but didn't say anything, grabbing his coat instead and tried not to pout. Ice-skating… as if there weren't a thousand—warmer—things they could be doing instead.
…
Okay, so maybe Tony had been a little hasty to judge the ice-skating. Not that he was enjoying the blades on his feet in the slightest, but having T'Challa behind him, his arms wrapped comfortably around Tony's waist, was probably a plus point to the whole thing.
...Definitely a plus point, in fact.
He was so distracted by T'Challa's arms, and the scent of cinnamon in his aftershave, that he was distracted from the very real possibility that his legs might collapse from under him at any moment.
Unfortunately, T'Challa decided that that was the moment Tony should try it himself.
He let go when Tony had a firm grip of the barrier and held his arms up in a protective gesture that made Tony smile despite himself. T'Challa was so fearless on the ice, maybe Tony was overreacting.
"Do not go far from me," T'Challa murmured.
"Oh, there's no danger of that, Kitty-Kat. Unless I fall on my ass of course."
"I'll catch you if you fall, sweetheart."
He was so patient as Tony stumbled and slipped around the ice in a circle, trying to keep up with the crowds and failing dismally. He was no match for any of the people there, not even the children, who would most definitely skate circles around him.
After two full circles around the rink, Tony had gained perhaps a little confidence, and he let go of the barrier.
Big mistake.
One foot slipped one way, and the other slipped the opposite way, and he was falling before he'd even realised what was happening. Strong arms circled him, and he found himself looking up into eyes as bright as the starlight above them.
Okay, maybe not such a big mistake then.
T'Challa smiled down at him before he pulled him back upright. "Time to get these skates off and get some hot chocolate?"
Tony wrinkled his nose. "Maybe one more turn… but you know, with you holding me up instead of watching me try and break my ankles?"
Chuckling, T'Challa nodded. "Whatever you want, Tony."
…
When the snow began to fall, Tony decided that was probably the time to give up the skates. He didn't need anymore help falling over after all. T'Challa led him off the ice and helped him take the skates off, rubbing Tony's calves as he did so.
"I believe you promised me hot chocolate?" Tony said, when they each had their own shoes back on.
"I believe you're correct," T'Challa agreed, catching one of Tony's hands in his own.
They walked towards the hole in the wall that sold the best hot chocolate in the city—in Tony's not so humble opinion anyway—and the snow fell above them, gathering on their shoulders.
"I look like I have dandruff," Tony mumbled, though he was smiling.
"Walking in the snow is romantic, no?" T'Challa asked, his tone a little uncertain. "And you certainly do not look like you have dandruff."
Tony chuckled. "Sure it's romantic, anything is when you're with the right person."
He squeezed T'Challa's hand, and the King squeezed back and then let go—though only so he could wrap his arm around Tony's shoulders, pulling him even closer.
"Thank you for this evening, Tony. It's been… as perfect as I could have imagined it would be."
Tony leant into T'Challa's side. "Thank you."
Written for:
Character Appreciation: 10. "I'm so glad you came back!"
Showtime: 11. A Kid at Christmas - (weather) Snowy
Amber's Attic: 6. Ice Skating
Elizabeth's Empire: 27. Cinnamon
Liza Loves: 15. Write about someone getting distracted
Sophie's Shelf: 12. Collapse
Lizzy's Loft: 9. "Do not go far from me."
Scamander's Case: 13. Protective
Film Festival: 7. (phrase) Dead meat
Marvel Appreciation: Black Widow: Fearless
Snow Globe Maker: 9. Nimbus 2000: (action) Falling
Christmas Party: 15. Believe - Josh Groban: (word) starlight
Pop Figures: Disney: 358. Pacha: (trait) Patient
Stickers: Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon - Word: Match
Insane: 979: Patient