Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 873

Fic Details - TonySteve /a few small sexual reference

Take Me Home

"Do you have to stand so close?" Tony asked, glaring at the press liaison. "You're making me claustrophobic."

"I need to put your mic on you," the woman snapped, stepping even closer when Tony tried to move away.

Before Tony could reply with whatever scathing thing came out of his mouth, Steve intervened smoothly, stepping between them as he gently pushed the woman back and took the mic from her.

"I'll do it," he said, his voice firm but kind, the same way it always was. Steve was always nice to people, even the ones that were particularly trying. He didn't think it cost anything to be nice to people, and his mother had drilled into him that he should treat others how he wanted to be treated.

He often thought that was why he had such a problem with bullies. He always wanted to do the right thing, and at least most of the time, the right thing was to show kindness to people.

"This is going to be hell on earth," Tony muttered, as Steve fixed his microphone, the woman stomping off to do something else. "They're going to crucify me today, fair warning."

"It wasn't your fault," Steve soothed. He wanted to hug Tony, but they'd been keeping their new relationship on the downlow, and he knew it wouldn't be a good idea with so many reporters and cameras hanging around waiting for the press conference. "We'll make them see that."

Tony sighed. "Just… try and ignore them, okay? I can handle whatever bullshit they throw at me."

Steve raised his eyebrow but nodded. "If you say so."

Really, how bad could it be?

…

"Out of that entire story, that's your takeaway?" Steve demanded, frowning at the reporter. "Never mind the people that Tony saved, you're worried about the statue that got damaged? Really?"

"That statue—"

"Can be rebuilt," Steve snapped. "People's lives are infinitely more important! What is wrong with you people?"

"Steve," Tony murmured, putting a calming hand on Steve's arm, but it did little to calm Steve's temper.

"Tony Stark is a hero," Steve said, glaring out at the reporters. "He puts his life on the line constantly to save other people, the same way that we all do. Nobody mentions the damage that I do. Nobody talks about the technology that Tony creates to keep us all safe. Nobody bothers with the fact that he helps out with the relief efforts, both with money and by actually going and doing the heavy lifting in the suit whenever he has time.

"All of you are happy to walk around with a blindfold on when he does anything amazing, but he does something that you conceive as wrong, or bad, or he does some damage, and you're all ready to burn him at the stake! It's ridiculous!"

"Cap, seriously, it's fine. I'm used to it—"

"It's not fine," Steve said shaking his head. "And the fact that you're used to it just makes it worse!"

"Well, moving on," one of the reporters said, clearing their throat. "What about the rumours that you were too busy in bed to help out in Brooklyn last week, Mr Stark?"

Steve saw red. "He was too busy in bed," he agreed, nodding at the reporter. "Although the only company he had there was a bucket that he was vomiting into because he was too weak to even make it to the bathroom! Tony hasn't been sleeping with anyone but me for three months, so if you come across any other rumours, know that they're not true!"

Steve pulled his mic off and threw it on the ground, stalking off the stage. He could hear Tony wrapping the conference up but he didn't care. He was breathing hard, so angry that he just wanted to escape to the gym, where he could take it out on the safety of a punching bag.

He hated the way people spoke to and about Tony. Of course, the only thing that would be on the front page of the papers the following day would be his and Tony's relationship.

…

Tony approached slowly, broadcasting his presence before he placed a hand on Steve's back. "You okay, sweetheart"?

"I should be asking you that," Steve murmured, raising his head to look at Tony. He tugged the smaller man around so he was in his arms, and buried his face against Tony's neck. "I'm sorry I 'outed' us."

"I'm not," Tony replied. "It was hot."

Laughing, Steve pulled back enough to kiss Tony. He meant it to be chaste, affectionate and tender, but his blood was still pumping hard and he just… needed. It didn't take much for it to turn hot and heavy, and when he pulled back, panting, he realised he'd lifted Tony up and was massaging his ass with his hands.

"There goes the last lingering thread of my heterosexuality," Tony said, dazed. His eyes were slightly glazed, and his lips were plump, red and glistening with their shared saliva.

"You mean it was still hanging on?" Steve asked, raising his eyebrows. "I haven't been doing my job well enough if that's the case."

Tony chuckled, nuzzing at Steve's cheek. "Take me home, Steve."

Written for:

Disney - C3. Someone 'nice' losing their temper

Angel - 27. "So you have to stand so close? You're making me claustrophobic."

Scamander's Case - 10. Approaching someone slowly.

Film Festival - 2. Kind

Basement - 13. "There goes the last lingering thread of my heterosexuality."

Marvel - 4. Someone who wants to do the right thing

365. 246. Blindfold

1000. 245. "Out of that entire story, that's your take-away?"