Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 1168
A Terrible Idea
Toni lounged on her bed, one arm raised over her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at the way Rhodey was definitely judging her.
"I told you this wouldn't end well," he murmured, stroking his hand through her hair. "But since when do you listen to me?"
"Rhodey!" she whined, pushing her head against his hand. "Now isn't the time for 'I told you so'!"
Rhodey sighed. "Okay, okay. Just… relax, okay? It might not be as bad as you think it was."
"I told him I loved him and ran away. Not sure how much worse it could be, Sour Patch. God, what a mess."
…
Toni stared down at her phone in shock, shaking her head in denial, because there were two blue ticks and three grey dots and oh my god she hadn't actually meant to press send.
She held her breath as she waited for the reply to come and exhaled loudly in the silent room when it finally appeared on her screen.
"Sure, I'd like that."
Oh god. This was a terrible idea.
…
"Just because—"
"Honeybear."
"Hear me out. You run away, right? So that means that he could have been waiting to tell you the same thing, right?"
"That's the most unlikely thing I've ever heard of and you're full of shit," she muttered and then paused. "But thank you for trying to make me feel better."
…
"You're going to fall in love," Rhodey warned her, and she ignored him, waving her off, because she could handle this.
Even if Steve did make her feel better than anyone ever had before, she was doing fine.
She knew it was just hooking up, rolling around in bed for a few hours every four or five days, and then staying for cuddles, and sometimes overnight, and sometimes he made her breakfast.
It was just a thing, and Tony could handle it.
…
"When do I not make you feel better?" Rhodey asked, gathering her up in his arms. "Go to sleep, I've got you."
Toni pillowed her head against his soft t-shirt, and closed her eyes. It was a struggle, to try and relax when she couldn't help but replay the horrible scene in Steve's bedroom, but she was exhausted, and Rhodey was comfortable.
Eventually, Toni dropped off into sleep, a tiny pout on her lips and her brow furrowed.
Rhodey stroked her hair the whole time.
…
Steve ran a strong hand down her spine and she arched into, moaning as her orgasm ripped through her, taking her breath and her strength along with it.
A few minutes later, when she could open her eyes again, she found herself locked in Steve's arms, a warm smile on his face when she looked up at him.
She was in trouble, she knew.
She'd been in trouble since she accidentally sent the text that she never should have even typed.
"I love you," she murmured.
…
"Toni?"
Rhodey blinked his eyes open to see Steve Rogers standing in the door to Toni's bedroom, his eyes wide with shock and something that looked like heartbreak.
Sighing to himself, Rhodey put a finger to his lips and pointed to himself first and then the door. He slipped out from beneath Tony, hushing her when she whined a little, and then crept from the room, ushering Steve down the corridor where they wouldn't disturb the sleeping woman.
"What are you doing here?" Rhodey asked, arching his eyebrow.
Steve shook his head and looked away. "I wanted to talk to her. Didn't, uh, expect anyone else to be here."
Rhodey rolled his eyes.
"I'm James Rhodes." The way Steve immediately relaxed made Rhodey snort, and he shook his head. "I'll ask again, Mr Rogers, why are you here?"
"I, uh. Tony said something earlier and I just… I guess I wanted the chance to say it back."
"You love her?"
Steve nodded sheepishly. "Didn't really realise it until she'd already said it and run, but… yeah. I love her."
Rhodey nodded slowly. "Okay. You should go and tell her that—don't wake her up, she's always a grumpy shit if you wake her up. Be very direct with her, because she's emotionally constipated on a good day and the most stubborn person I've ever known when she thinks that she's right about something. And Steve?"
"What is it?"
"If you hurt her, I'll kill you. Don't test me."
…
Toni froze and then pushed herself back out of his grasp, scrambling off the bed. Steve was staring at her like she'd grown an extra head.
She grabbed her clothes up and ran from the bedroom, stumbling as she tried to dress herself while still moving towards the door.
She could hear him calling her name but she ignored it as she finally managed to get her shoes on and shoot out of the door.
God, what a mess.
She needed her Rhodey-bear.
…
Tony woke up slowly, alone in her bed. She scowled to herself, because Rhodey never usually left her until she woke up and he was rude. She didn't like waking up by herself.
Forcing her eyes open, she blinked, and then blinked again when she realised Steve was sitting in the armchair beside her bed, watching her with a soft smile on his face. He looked tired, but oddly happy.
"What… What are you doing here? Where's my Sour Patch?"
"Making you coffee," Steve replied softly. "Toni—"
"You didn't need to come here, Steve," Toni interrupted, looking away. "I don't need the soft letdown speech or—"
"I love you," Steve said, talking over her until she was shocked into silence. "I love you, and you're amazing, and I would really, really, like it if you'd not run away from me again."
"You… that's a terrible idea," Toni said, shaking her head. "Absolutely awful, zero stars."
Steve snorted. "I love you, and you love me and… I think we can make something of that, Sweetheart."
"I… really?"
"Really, really. Also, Rhodes already threatened to kill me if I hurt you and I very much believe him, so maybe you could just let me try and make you happy instead, huh?"
Toni stared at him for a moment and then snorted. "That doesn't surprise me at all. He's always been overprotective. You should definitely believe him."
Steve blinked. "I don't think I want to know why you're so certain about that. So… how about you let me take you on a date, hmm?"
Toni nodded and then a small smirk played on her lips. "But we don't have to wait until the third date until I invited you in again, right? I mean… I don't know about you, but if that's the rule you're going with, we're having three dates today."
Laughing, Steve reached over to grab her hand, tugging her over to him. "We don't have to wait. I love you."
Toni smiled into the kiss he pressed against her lips. "I love you, too."
Written for:
Character Appreciation: 14. Stubborn
Record Collection: Frank 8. In My Bed: Setting: Bed
Bingo: 23. If no-one else will write it, I will - Write a trope or theme that may be unpopular to others - genderbent, omegaverse, mpreg, creature inheritance, different boy who lived, etc (if you want to use something not listed here, check with me first).
Liza Loves: 13. I just accidentally sent you a booty text and you accepted and I am seriously considering it.
Elizabeth's Empire: 23. Genderswap
Scamander's Case: 14. (dialogue) "I told you this wouldn't end well. But since when do you listen to me?"
Film Festival: 19. Soft
Forecast: 21. Struggle