Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges list at the bottom.
Word Count: 5467
AN: This lives in an AU where Thanos attacked but the Avengers fixed it within a few months. This also lives in an AU where Tony and Steve were married before Civil War.
A Step In The Right Direction
Tony flew through the air, the familiar thrill of it missing. He'd thought that it might be enough to break through the fog of nothing that seemed to have overtaken him, but it wasn't.
He was still numb.
He'd thought he'd been about to die. He'd accepted death, welcomed it even, because he was just so fucking tired.
And instead… instead he was here, still alive, still breathing, still pretending to live when really he hadn't been living for years.
He wanted to rage at Rhodey for giving the go ahead to save Tony with Extremis, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. At least, with it being Rhodey, Tony knew that it had come from a good place.
It had just been his best friend wanting him to live, wanting him to have a chance to find his happiness again.
Tony wasn't looking for a new happiness. He didn't want a new anything. The problem was that he couldn't have his old happiness, and even if he could… he wasn't sure if he wanted that either.
"I have to get out of here, J," he murmured to his greatest creation. J.A.R.V.I.S had never abandoned him. He'd never left Tony alone, or slammed a vibranium shield into his chest. He'd never betrayed Tony. "How are we feeling about Europe? Do you fancy a trip across the ocean?"
"If I may, Sir, I think a holiday would do you the world of good. Perhaps it would be best to take the jet though. It's always better to travel in comfort when travelling for pleasure, isn't that what you told me?"
Tony chuckled and nodded his head. "That I did. Okay, why don't you have them prepare the jet for me for, ah, let's say in four hours."
"Of course, Sir. Will you be travelling alone, Sir?"
"Of course not. You're always with me, aren't you?"
There was a slight hesitation, and then in the fondest voice Tony had ever heard from his AI, a reply of, "For you, Sir? Always."
Tony smiled to himself and turned the armour around, heading back towards New York. He supposed he should give Pepper and Rhodey a chance to tell him off before he left.
…
"Where are you going?" Clint asked, frowning as Tony crossed through the main entrance for the compound.
Tony had nearly made it. He'd been so close to getting out of the doors without anyone on the team seeing him.
"Away for a while," he replied flatly, hoping to stem any thoughts of a conversation.
"You're leaving?" Steve asked, rounding the corner before he stopped dead. He looked pale, Tony couldn't help but notice.
He couldn't help but notice a lot of things about Steve, though. That was par for the course.
"It's not like I'm moving out," Tony snapped. "I promised Nick I'd stick around for the team and I will. I just… I need a break, okay? There, I admitted it. Can I go now, the Jet's waiting for me."
"Where are you going?" Steve pushed. He reached out before realising he didn't have that right anymore, and his arm dropped to his side.
"Europe. Jay will still have full access to me, if you have need, and I can be back here within a couple of hours in the suit if anything goes seriously wrong. I just… I can't be here right now. I can't."
Steve nodded, though he didn't look happy about it, and Tony refused to go there. He stalked out of the Compound and into the car Happy had waiting for him.
"To the airport, Hap," he said, when his driver climbed into his seat.
"Yes, Boss."
Tony stared out of the window on his way to the airport, trying to push thoughts that he didn't want from his mind. Every time he saw Steve, even when it was just in passing, it turned his brain to mush.
Part of him—small but definitely present—couldn't help but wish to go back to the time before Thanos, when Steve had been away from New York, away from America, because at least then, Tony hadn't been reminded of just how badly they had failed every two minutes.
He reached up and gripped at the necklace still hanging around his neck, the gold ring held on it a bitter comfort and a reminder that even with Steve, Tony hadn't managed to make love stick.
Shaking his head, Tony let his hand fall away from the ring. He knew he should take the necklace off, discard it somewhere and forget about the short time that he'd been happily, gloriously, married and in love.
Maybe Europe would help him start to let go of a broken dream and maybe it would even help Tony start to put the shattered pieces of his heart back together.
In fairness, it wasn't like it could break him any further.
…
Tony walked off the plane onto the tarmac, smiling to himself as he took in the warm air. It was a different heat to America, less oppressive. It helped that it was spring and so not too hot yet, he supposed.
Happy walked down the steps behind him, Tony's luggage in hand. Tony had offered to let him stay in New York with Pepper, but he'd given Tony a look and that had been the end of that.
Tony was relatively sure that Happy was conspiring with Pepper and Rhodey to make sure that he had at least one responsible adult around at all times.
He didn't mind really. It was nice to know that, despite everything, he still had people who cared about him. Who loved him unconditionally, no matter the stupid shit he pulled sometimes.
"C'mon then, Hap. Jay got us a hotel all sorted."
"You're not staying at the villa, Boss?" Happy asked, frowning slightly.
Tony swallowed hard and shook his head. He'd taken Steve to his favourite Italian villa for their honeymoon and he couldn't bring himself to return there without him. He should probably just sell the place, but he didn't really want to do that either.
It wasn't like he needed the money, was it?
"Not this time, Hap. I don't know how long we're going to be staying for, there's no point having it stocked if I decide to move on in a couple of days, right?"
"As you say, Boss," Happy replied, and there was entirely too much understanding in his gaze.
Tony looked away and felt relief flood him when the car arrived. Happy had a quick discussion with the driver and took the keys happily, climbing into the driver's seat. Tony climbed into the back of the car, grateful for the reprieve.
…
Rome was as stunning as ever. They'd taken the first afternoon to settle into the hotel, and had only left for a quiet dinner at one of the restaurants recommended by the receptionists.
Tony decided it was nice that Happy was there. His friend was good company, and didn't push him to talk when he didn't want to like Pepper and Rhodey did. He seemed content to just go along with whatever Tony was doing, an unobtrusive support.
"Shall we go and see the colosseum?" Tony asked, stretching his back. They'd spent their morning wandering around, with a stop for gelato by the trevi fountain. It was one of Tony's favourite tourist attractions, though he couldn't help but think of how happy Steve had been to throw his coin into the water, his eyes closed and a small smile on his lips.
Happy nodded, a smile on his face. The few times the driver had been to Europe with Tony, he hadn't spent any time at the more touristy spots, and he seemed to be enjoying the chance to visit them.
They arrived at the colosseum and Happy had a quick word with the stewards, who seemed happy enough to allow them in without prior arranged tickets. It was as majestic as it had always been, and Tony let the experience sink in.
Places like this always reminded him how small and unimportant he was in the best possible way.
"This is amazing," Happy said softly, his eyes wide as he looked around the interior of the colosseum. He had a hand on his camera already, ready to take pictures to show Pepper when they got home. "Thanks for letting me come with you, Boss."
Tony smiled, squeezing his shoulder. He perched himself on a protruding rock and let Happy look his fill. In his pocket, he could feel his phone vibrating against his leg, but he didn't look at it.
Whoever it was couldn't be more important than this one, uninterrupted moment that he got so few of.
"Uh. Boss?"
Tony looked up to see Happy staring across the colosseum, a frown on his face.
"What is it, Hap—" Tony cut himself off as he followed Happy's gaze and froze, his eyes on the man who stood facing them, his eyes on Tony. "What the fuck is he doing here?"
Happy shook his head silently, and Tony pulled his phone from his pocket to see he had seven miss-calls from Pepper. He dialed his back and lifted the phone to his ear, looking back at Steve.
"Tony? You need to know that—"
"Steve followed me?" Tony interrupted.
"Ah," Pepper said, and he could imagine her rubbing a hand over the back of her neck, a soft flush on her cheeks that she always got when something or someone surprised her. "You already know."
"Hmm. Any idea how he tracked me?" Tony asked, as Steve began walking around the edge of the colosseum towards Tony.
"Want me to get rid of him, Boss?" Happy offered, and if nothing else, it warmed Tony's heart that Happy would want to even try when they both knew that he'd have no chance against the super soldier.
He really was one of the most loyal people Tony had ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Tony shook his head.
"I have no idea how he found you so fast," Pepper admitted. "Though Rome was a fairly easy guess, I imagine. Even if you didn't choose to go back there consciously, it's not a surprise."
"Pepper—"
"I know, I know, no psychoanalyzing you. Do you need me to prep the jet to get you out of there?"
Tony sighed. "Not yet. I planned to stay here for a few days before I take Hap to Paris. He's never been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and that's just a goddamn tragedy, Pep."
She laughed lightly. "Okay, Tony. Just have JARVIS let me know if you need anything, okay?"
"Sure thing, Pep. And uh… thanks. For trying to let me know."
"Maybe if you answered your phone occasionally—"
"Sorry Pep, signal's terrible, I gotta go," Tony quipped, smiling slightly when he heard her laugh again. "Will that be all, Miss Potts?"
"That'll be all, Mr Stark."
Tony ended the call and slid his phone back into his pocket, just as Steve reached them. A glance at Happy almost made Tony snort, because his friend was glaring at Captain America, and that would never not be funny.
"What are you doing here, Steve?" he asked, turning his head to look at the man.
"I needed to see you."
"You saw me two days ago."
"Did I?" Steve asked, head tilting slightly to the side. "Because I don't think that was my husband that I saw. I think that was the mask that he wears to cover when he's tired or hurt or in pain."
"You don't get to call me that anymore," Tony said, looking away. His hand itched to reach up and grip the ring around his neck but he ignored it, clenching his fists together.
Steve arched his eyebrow. "I don't remember signing any divorce papers."
"I can have them forwarded to you if you want them," Tony snapped.
He could. He'd had them ready for months, he just… hadn't been able to bring himself to actually look at them. He could admit, if only in his own head, that he hadn't sent them to Steve because he wasn't sure if he could actually face seeing his signature on the dotted line.
"I don't want divorce papers," Steve replied, shaking his head. "I want… I want my husband back."
Tony shrugged and slid his sunglasses over his eyes, a protective measure that he knew Steve knew but couldn't bring himself to care.
"Then you're shit out of luck, I'm afraid. If you'll excuse us, Steve, Happy and I have reservations."
He turned away, unable to look at Steve any longer for fear of losing the anger he'd been holding onto and begging the man to just love him.
"Tony. Tony, wait, please," Steve begged, keeping pace behind them. "Tony, please."
Tony spun around. "Please what, Steve?"
"Just give me a chance. Just dinner, Tony, and if you still want me to, I'll go back to New York and leave you alone until you come home."
Tony closed his eyes, and then startled when Happy touched his shoulder. "I can entertain myself for the evening, Boss, it's no problem."
Tony shook his head but then sighed. "You're sure you don't mind?"
"Of course not. I'm kinda tired still, I'll probably get an early night."
Nodding, Tony looked back at Steve. "Just dinner, and then you'll go?"
"If that's what you want," Steve promised.
Tony twisted his lips, but eventually, he nodded. "Fine."
…
The restaurant was small and intimate, and there was an actual rose in the middle of the table. Tony shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the waiter fussed over their water jug.
They'd been offered wine, which Tony had sharply rejected, knowing that if he started drinking, he wouldn't stop until he didn't even know his own name. There was a reason, after all, that he'd been avoiding alcohol.
Even he knew when a coping mechanism was unhealthy.
"This is nice," Steve said, peering around the restaurant with interest. "It seems proper… Italian."
"Well, we are in Italy," Tony replied, his lips quirking up.
Steve chuckled, and Tony stiffened, because he wasn't supposed to be making him laugh. He was supposed to be convincing him to go home and leave Tony alone.
Steve's disappointment was almost palpable as he seemed to read the change in Tony. He fiddled with the stem of the rose, and Tony tried really hard to not find the familiar nervous habit endearing the way he used too.
"I'm sorry," Steve said softly. "I know you told me that it was all over, that we had bigger things to deal with and it didn't matter, but… you deserve to know that I never wanted to hurt you, and it kills me that I did. I'm sorry for not telling you about your parents, and I'm sorry for not talking to you about the accords properly, and I'm… I'm so sorry for that fight, Tony. So sorry. I never wanted to be the one to cause you pain."
Tony swallowed hard. He remembered the conversation Steve was talking about, when they'd got word of Thanos and the 'rogue Avengers' had first returned to the Compound.
Steve had tried to apologise then, and Tony had waved him off without giving him a chance.
"Like it or not," he'd said, "we have to do this together."
He'd been right of course, and even with their combined force and the power and strength of many others, they'd barely made it out of that fight with their lives.
When it was over, when they'd won by the slimmest of margins they ever had before, Tony had been too tired to talk to Steve and the longer he'd left it, the harder it became until a simple conversation seemed impossible.
The resulting purgatory hadn't been much better, but it had been better than screaming and yelling and fighting and… it had been better than the only ending Tony could see coming from them talking.
As angry as he was, Tony didn't think he could handle their marriage—for all that it was in name only these days—being over.
"I don't know what you want me to say," he admitted eventually, when Steve watched him expectantly, his expression only seconds away from crumpling. Tony tried to ignore the way Steve's eyes were suspiciously bright in the candlelight, and he doubly ignored the way he imagined his own were the same. "I don't know what the answer is."
"There isn't just one," Steve whispered. "There are… there are lots of answers, Tony."
"I normally know the right answer," Tony said quietly. "I normally know what to do, and this time, I don't because… I don't know. I just don't know. I don't like it."
"You know, that's how most of us live all the time."
"Well, it's terrible and I'm really glad my brain isn't normal."
Steve snorted on a quiet chuckle, and Tony grinned for a moment, because just for a single moment, it was good. It was the way it used to be.
"How's Barnes?" he asked, and he could have hit himself because why the hell had he even asked that? He didn't want to know, didn't care about Barnes, except he did because Barnes was important to Steve.
"He's okay. He's enjoying Wakanda, and Shuri seems to have adopted him. He, uh, he was asking a few weeks ago if he could visit but I wasn't sure what to tell him."
Tony swallowed hard. "I won't stop him being at the Compound," he said eventually. "If he wants to visit you, then he can."
"You're sure?"
"I know it wasn't his fault," Tony said, leaning back in his chair. "I realised—later, then I'd had time to process—that he didn't have a choice. It's not… I don't care about Barnes. None of this was ever about him, not really. It was about us. It was about you, because you knew Steve. You knew and you lay in bed with me and you told me you loved and you didn't tell me that my parents were murdered by Hydra."
Steve's hands were shaking on the table, the rose forgotten between his finger tips.
Before either of them could speak again, their waiter returned with their plates, though any hunger Tony had felt had long since disappeared. The food looked and smelled fantastic, and yet Tony wasn't sure if he'd ever seen anything so unappetising.
Steve seemed to be thinking the same as he picked his fork up with a grimace. He stared down at the food for a moment before he lowered the fork and looked back at Tony.
"Is what I did, the lying and the fight… is it worth our marriage? I can't… I can't keep living in limbo, Tony. I love you. I love you so much that it hurts when I can't reach out and hold your hand, when I wake up to you not being there beside me, when I can't kiss you goodnight and… it hurts, Tony, every single time. And I need to know if there's still a chance that one day… one day we'll have that back. If there's a chance, then I swear to you, I'll wait as long as it takes, I'll spend every moment trying to make it up to you but if there's not… if there's no chance for us, then I need to know."
Tony closed his eyes because he didn't know how to answer that. He was so angry, and he was so hurt, but the thought of never being in Steve's arms again was unfathomable and he couldn't bring himself to say that they were done.
Pushing his chair back, Tony stood up, messily dropping notes onto the table as he all but ran from the restaurant. He was too hot, and his chest was too tight and he couldn't breathe properly and he just needed to get out.
The night air was incredible on his skin, and Tony stumbled until he got his back to a wall, grounding himself.
He gripped his ring tightly, tight enough that he knew when he finally released his grip there would be an indent in his flesh.
"Are you okay?"
Steve was beside him, shifting uncomfortable. Tony could feel the way Steve wanted to reach out, the way he was physically holding himself back from offering comfort to Tony.
"Fine. I'm fine."
"You're not."
Tony laughed, a little hysterically, and shook his head. "I'm really, really, not."
"Can I hug you?"
Tony shook his head, but then paused and reached out because he wanted that. He wanted Steve's arms around him because he'd never felt more safe then when he was in Steve's arms.
Steve gripped him tightly, pulling him against his chest, one hand pressed gently against Tony's neck, the other on his back, stroking slowly up and down.
Tony sank into the embrace, let himself feel as he tried to turn his brain off. He could feel Steve's warmth around him, and yet it didn't feel quite as suffocating as the heat in the restaurant.
He gripped at Steve's side, his fingers sinking into the soft material of his butterscotch coloured shirt, the hard muscles that he knew every inch of just below. God he'd missed this, the feeling of being surrounded by Steve.
Eventually, when his breathing had steadied, and he felt like his legs weren't about to let him fall, Tony pulled back. Steve let him go, though Tony could feel his reluctance.
"I, uh. Sorry."
Steve just shook his head.
"I don't know how to move on from this," Tony admitted. "I want to let the anger go, I really do, but I don't know how. But… I don't know how to walk away from you either. I don't think I can."
"Then don't," Steve begged. "Don't walk away. Tell me there's hope, Tony, and I'll fight. I'll fight for you, and I'll try my best to make this right."
Tony swallowed hard and then looked up to meet Steve's eyes. "I love you."
…
Happy didn't seem surprised to wake up and find Steve lying on the couch of the two bedroom suite JARVIS had booked for them. He wasn't asleep, but he appeared as though he'd only recently woken up.
Happy put the coffee on, knowing Tony would want it as soon as he woke up.
It was a little awkward in the room, neither of them knowing what to say to ease the tension between them. Happy had been there with Pepper and Rhodey to put Tony back together as best they could following the Civil War, and of course that had left him with some residual anger towards Captain America.
While Pepper and Rhodey had been very vocal with their anger, Happy hadn't. It hadn't been what Tony had needed, not from him, and he'd continue with that now, he decided, because whatever Tony chose to do in regards to Steve had to be his own choice.
Only he knew what would truly make him happy.
Speaking of, the genius stumbled from the bedroom he'd claimed as his own, wearing jogging bottoms and one of Rhodey's old jumpers. They were comfort clothes, and Happy's heart clenched in his chest, even as he poured and held out a steaming mug of coffee.
"You're an actual saint," Tony muttered, taking the coffee and leaning against the breakfast bar. "I think we're going to head to Paris early, Hap. I… don't want to be here."
Happy nodded. He'd been somewhat expecting as much. What he wasn't sure about was whether they'd be joined by the apologetic super soldier, who'd sat up on the sofa now and was watching Tony with wounded eyes.
"Do you want a coffee, Cap?" he offered eventually, because what else was he supposed to do?
"Please," he replied, looking relieved to have something to do or say. He stood up and approached the bar, hesitantly sitting beside Tony.
"How did you sleep?" he asked softly.
Happy narrowed his eyes, because he hadn't gotten to wondering what had happened between the two of them the previous night, and now he was.
"Okay," Tony replied, and it was a soft voice, one Happy hadn't really heard from him in a while. "Got a few hours at least."
Rogers nodded, and Happy handed over a coffee, sliding it across the breakfast bar. He ruffled Tony's hair with the same hand as he pulled it back.
"Do you want to eat before we leave?"
Tony nodded. "Probably should. I don't do well flying on an empty stomach."
Happy nodded. "I'll order room service then. Cap? You hungry?"
The rumbling in his stomach was answer enough, and the tiny huff of laughter from Tony made Happy smile.
Maybe Rogers turning up wasn't a complete disaster after all.
…
Tony watched Happy wander away towards the phone and turned his attention to Steve. It was strange, having him sitting beside Tony, like nothing had changed. This was almost a perfect return to their old morning routine, except back then, it had been Steve making the coffee while Tony laid against his back, trying and failing to just fall back asleep standing up while he waited.
"You're leaving?" Steve asked, and he was biting his bottom lip, damn him.
Tony nodded. "Rome is, uh. Hard now. To be here when we're… it's just hard. Harder than I thought it would be, honestly."
Steve nodded. "You're going to Paris?"
"Happy's never been up the Eiffel Tower, Steve," Tony whined. "It's a travesty that needs fixing immediately. Besides," he hesitated. "The Louvre is in Paris. You'll like that, won't you?"
Steve's eyes widened, and Tony didn't miss the relief in them as he let out a sigh. "You're letting me come with you?"
"Well, I'm not about to make you fly economy class back to New York, am I? I'm angry, Steve, not cruel."
"You know, people fly economy class every single day."
Tony snorted. "Well, like I told you last night, I'm glad I'm not normal. Normal is terrible."
Laughing, Steve shook his head, the affection for Tony clear in his face. "You're something else. Isn't there anything in Paris you want to see?"
Tony swallowed hard and looked down at his coffee cup. "Well. You'll be there, won't you. So."
He felt his face burn, but when he glanced up at Steve, he decided the smile he found playing on his face was worth it.
…
Tony woke up with a gasp, feeling like he couldn't get enough air into his lungs.
"You're okay, sweetheart," Steve murmured beside him, stroking his hair gently. "Just a nightmare, Tones, you're okay, come on, breathe."
Tony let Steve talk him down from the nightmare, his heart slowing in his chest as his mind cleared enough for him to realise that it had only been a nightmare.
"Jesus Christ," he muttered, wiping a hand over his face, grimacing at the sweat he found there. He glanced up at Steve. "Thanks for waking me up."
Steve nodded. "I, uh, I could hear you shifting from the living room. Does this… is it happening often?"
Tony swallowed and half shrugged his shoulders because he didn't really want to answer that. Instead, he leant into Steve, because when Steve was with him, the nightmares had never seemed so bad.
Steve wrapped his arm around Tony's back and held him into his side, his cheek resting against the top of Tony's head.
"Can we just go and watch TV for a while?" he asked eventually, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep for a while. He knew he could pull his tablet out and do some work, but he didn't really want to.
Steve helped him up from the bed, and within moments they were seated in the living room, sides pressed together. Tony wanted to burrow himself beneath Steve's arm, but he wasn't sure if he was allowed anymore.
It was this he hated. The uncertainty of what was allowed anymore when once, he'd known that he could drop into Steve's lap whenever he wanted and he'd never be pushed away.
(Although, there was that one time in debrief, and Fury really hadn't been amused.)
Tony and Steve had been affectionate, perhaps overly so if the comments from those who saw them together were anything to go by, and now, Tony didn't know if he was allowed to do any of it anymore.
He knew he was still angry. That wasn't going to go away anytime soon, and there would be days when he didn't want to be around his husband. Steve was probably still angry about some things too.
Tony hadn't been on his best behaviour, had he? He'd been the one to hide the accords because he thought he was clever enough to make them go away.
He startled when the TV came on and the sound of people cheering filled his ears. He turned to look at what he was seeing and blinked because there was his face, and there was Steve's face, and Nat's and Rhodey's and Stephen's and—
"What is this?" he asked, brow furrowing.
"I…" Steve floundered. "It looks like the, uh. The aftermath. Of Thanos, I mean. It's… I think this is Italy, when the news broadcast the victory."
It was, Tony realised, when writing appeared on the bottom of the screen. It was a look back at the last three months, and the way Italy had bounced back from the disaster.
"Huh. I uh. I think I sometimes forget that Thanos affected more than just New York."
Steve nodded. "I'm guilty of the same thing. You fixed it, though, Tony. You did that."
He pointed to the screen where people were crying and hugging those who'd been turned to dust in Thanos' original snap.
"We all did it," Tony replied softly. "I never would have been strong enough if I hadn't known you were right there with me, Steve. Say what you want about the mess we made of our personal life, but we've always been better together out there."
"I think we're better together everywhere," Steve replied softly and he lifted his arm and Tony fell against his side, hand coming up to grip at the white t-shirt Steve was wearing as a pyjama top. Steve's arm came down around him, his fingers rubbing softly at the skin on Tony's hip where his own tan coloured t-shirt had rode up.
"Maybe," Tony conceded. "I… I don't want you to think I'm not trying, Steve. I am. I just…"
"Hey, stop it, I know you are," Steve said softly. "A lot happened, and I know we've got a lot to work through, but I want it, and you want it, so… we can do this, sweetheart. It's probably going to be hard, and some days you're gonna ask yourself if it's worth it, but… I believe we can do it. I believe that we're worth fighting for. One day, I'll see you wear my ring again, Tony."
Tony pressed his forehead against Steve's chest and then pulled back a little, pulling his necklace from beneath his t-shirt, the ring hanging from it. "I never took it off. Not really."
…
Tony watched Happy with a small smile on his face. They were as high up the tower as they were allowed to go, and Happy was in his element, staring out over Paris. Steve stood beside Tony, his hand wrapped around Tony's own.
It was nice, to just have a moment where everything was good. Tony thought that if they could just steal more of these moments, then eventually, things would be better.
He had hope now, which was more than could be said only a few days ago. Their future, together, was certainly looking brighter than it had.
And Tony… Tony just wanted to be happy again. He wanted his husband and his team and he wanted to wake up in the mornings with a smile on his face and have Steve waiting for him in the kitchen with coffee and a comfortable shoulder to fall back asleep on.
It didn't really matter what it had taken for them to get here. Not really. It happened and it sucked, but if he let himself live in the past, well, it wasn't really living, was it?
And Tony wanted to live.
"I love you," he murmured, leaning into Steve's side.
"I love you too," Steve replied, pressing a gently, too careful kiss to Tony's temple.
It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
It was a step in the right direction.
Written for:
Record Collection: Be Here Now, 11. It's getting better, Man! - Write about someone looking to a brighter future
Showtime: 24. What'd I Miss: Traveling
Bex's Basement: 14. "Like it or not, we have to do this together."
Marvel Appreciation: 20. Character: Tony Stark
Archery: 21. Past tense.
Dodgeball: 19. Tan
Hole In One: Hole 5: 7 Wonders of the World: Write about visiting any of the wonders.
Play It Out 14. Marriage Story, First Word: Write about a married couple.
We're going on a nature hunt: Easy Natural Objects: 3. A Feather: Write one of your favourite characters.
We're going on a bear hunt: 14. Duck Prints: Write about someone affectionate
Cooking: 13. Carrots - (item) Camera
Baking: 3. Oatmeal Raisin: Disappointment
Shelter Building: 11. Dry Shrubbery: Character A wakes Character B from a nightmare
Dino DNA: 4. Dimorphodon: Write about someone flying
Quilt Making: Damask: 4. Camera
Scrapbooking: Theme: Travel/Adventure Journal
Puppet Theatre: Superhero: 5. Sidekick: Loyal
Getting Artsy: 10. Butterscotch / 6. Cheering
Romance Awareness: TonySteve