Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 1195
Fic Detail: Team fic / precursor to SteveTony
Family Night
The champagne felt strange in his mouth, almost like it was bubbling up in his nose, and Steve wrinkled his nose.
Tony chuckled at him. "Champagne not for you?"
Steve shrugged. "I don't know. It's… weird. Bubbly."
"Here," Natasha said, before Tony could reply, putting a plate in front of Steve. "Got you a double portion."
"Thanks," Steve replied gratefully. They never had enough food at these gala's, or at least, not for him. Then again, he supposed that most caterers didn't really take super-soldier needs into account.
The cheesecake was sublime though, and he took a moment to savour the flavour before he demolished the large slice.
The evening had been a success so far. Nobody on the team, not even Thor, had gotten into a brawl, and Tony had been on fine form, flattering the people who approached them and wrapping them around his finger long before they could make any unflattering or accusatory comments at any of the team.
He really was good at this, Steve mused, as he watched once again as Tony chattered away to someone who'd, just moments ago, been scowling in the direction of Bruce, who'd spent much of the night trying to fade into the background as he usually did at events such as this.
If they could continue the night like this before they made their escape, it would be one of their best events yet.
…
"I think Tony's going to need a hand out to the car," Natasha murmured, leaning into his shoulder. She looked tired, as did the others, but Tony looked exhausted. He had his chin resting on his hand, elbow shakily supporting it at the table, but he was very close to dropping off to sleep.
He nodded to Nat, and stood, gesturing for the other's to do the same.
"I'll make our excuses to Pepper," Nat promised him, as he moved towards Tony.
"Come on, genius," Steve said, resting a heavy hand on Tony's shoulder. "Let's go home, hmm?"
Tony blinked and then sat up, staring up at Steve with wide eyes. "Uh. Did I fall asleep?"
"Not quite," Steve replied with a small smile. "I think you were about thirty seconds away from it though."
Tony pouted at him for a moment but then had to raise his hand to cover a long yawn.
"Hometime," Steve repeated, helping Tony to his feet. "Nat's saying goodbye to Pepper, we can leave without fear of a later shoe stabbing."
Chuckling tiredly, Tony leant into Steve, and let him wrap a strong arm around his waist without so much as a complaint which, generally, was unheard of. He really must be tired.
Together, with the team at their back, they left the ballroom and climbed into the waiting limo just outside the doors. Thankfully, there wasn't half as much press outside as there had been upon their arrival, and the ones that remained seemed to be more respectful.
They weren't clamouring for attention at any rate.
There were a few flashes of the camera, but Steve took that in stride as he helped Tony into the car.
Natasha was the last to climb in a few moments later, and she ruffled a hand through Tony's hair.
"Pepper said thank you for turning up and being your charming self, and she'll call you tomorrow. She also told me to tell you to get some sleep, you idiot."
"I don't even need to ask if that was a direct quote," Tony said with a small, amused huff.
They'd only been on the road for a few minutes, when Steve was drawn from gazing out of the window by a soft chuckle. He turned to see Tony fast asleep, leant into Clint with his head on Clint's shoulder.
Clint, who once upon a time would have nudged Tony away, simply wrapped his arm around Tony's shoulders and held him tight to his side so that he wouldn't fall during any corners.
Steve smiled at the sight. Sleeping Tony was the cutest thing to witness, though in Steve's opinion, it didn't happen near often enough.
When the Avengers had first come together—or been forced together, as the case may be—he'd never expected them to become this.
A family born of blood and shared experience.
But they had.
…
"I've got him," Thor assured Steve, as they piled from the car. They were staying at the tower for the night, mostly for convenience sake, but also because they stayed there whenever they could.
While each of them had bedrooms at the Compound, the Tower had been the place that they'd first come to know each other, to turn from team into family.
And of course, Tony had never gotten rid of their bedrooms from the penthouse floor. His kindness really did know no bounds, Steve mused.
With Thor carrying Tony comfortably in his arms, they piled into the elevator, tired but Happy.
"I think tonight is a family night," Clint decided, as the elevator opened onto the spacious living room. Steve nodded, and between the two of them and Natasha, they quickly arranged their favoured blankets and pillows in the living room, in the space between the two sofas.
It was a tradition that had come about because of various injuries they'd suffered amongst them, the rest of the team unwilling to leave the injured party alone. It meant many nights spent in a trap of limbs and twisted together in a 'puppy pile' as Clint liked to call it.
Thor woke Tony gently, and then helped him to his room to change into something a little more comfortable than a full tuxedo.
When they reappeared, Tony looked a little more awake, and he grinned when he saw Steve already there and changed, propped up against a pile of butterscotch coloured cushions.
Tony made a beeline for him while Thor went to change his own clothes. Tony liked to be beside Steve, he said, because Steve threw off heat like a space heater. Steve was always happy to warm Tony up.
The two of them snuggled together as Tony instructed JARVIS to prepare the next movie on their Disney list, and the others soon joined them in the living room.
Natasha curled up with her head on Tony's thigh, and his hand automatically moved to play with her hair. On Tony's other side, Thor settled, and Bruce beside him, preferring to be on the outside to lessen the chance of him being kicked awake unexpectedly.
Clint sprawled across Steve and Tony's legs, entangled in a nonsensical way with Natasha that Steve quickly stopped trying to work out for fear of it hurting his brain.
When everyone was settled, the room darkened and the movie began, the familiar picture of the disney castle on the blue background relaxing them all further.
Steve tugged Tony a little closer and let his head rest against the top of Tony's. He thought that the two of them were moving towards something even closer than what they were now, but he wasn't in any rush.
What they had now was perfect even if it never changed. Anything else was just a bonus.
Written For:
Record Collection: Morning Glory, 9: Champagne Supernova - Drink: Champagne
Amber's Attic: Dale 1: Found Family
Film Festival: 14. Trap
Tug Of War: Rope 15. Relationship: Found Family
Baking: 6. Sugar Cookies: Fluff
Shelter Building: 4. Fallen, Sturdy Branches: (food) cheesecake
Dino DNA: 13. Triceratops: Write about something cute.
Getting Artsy: Butterscotch / Kind
National Anti Boredom Day: 2. Play a board game: Write about a 'family night'.