Steve and Tony had been going solid for about a month. Which isn't impressive at all, but still. Tony has little experience with all of this stuff, so each day he isn't dumped he can count as a win. Pepper still can't get over the fact that Tony has a boyfriend and finds every excuse to talk to him about it. Today, they happened to walk into lunch at the same time, so as Tony starts to head to Steve's table, his best friend latches onto his arm. He turns to look at her, sees her hopeful expression, and immediately knows what is going to happen.
"Can I sit with you guys at lunch?" She practically begs him.
He rolls her eyes at her. "Can you not be so embarrassing?"
"I'm just so happy for you! You finally are dating someone, which hasn't happened since-"
"Since Christine Everheart in sixth grade, I know. I was there. But still, you don't have to make this so weird."
"Fine! I'll tone it down."
"We've been dating for a month and you keep saying that, so at this point I don't believe you." He scowls.
She just sticks her tongue out at him.
Steve greets them, as they approach the table. "Hi Tony. Hi Pepper."
Tony sits next to Steve and Pepper slides in next to him saying, "Hi Steve. How has your day been?"
"Good, how has yours been?
"Good."
Clint walks past them and audibly sighs. "Again? And you've stolen Pepper too?"
Tony spins around and looks at him straight in the eyes. "If you care so much come join us!"
"Uh… I'm good, thanks." He rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably, before returning to his usual seat.
"Why would you do that?" Steve asks, giving him an incredulous look.
Tony almost laughs out loud at the image of Clint sitting at an empty table in the cafeteria. "There's no way he would say yes."
Pepper cuts in, "So, I'm having a party Friday night because end of the cheer season and all that. You two should come."
"Sure." Tony shrugs.
"I guess?" Steve responds, though it comes out more like a question.
"Great." She smiles, taking a sip of her smoothie.
That Friday, Tony arrived at the Potts' residence early to help Pepper prepare. This isn't Pepper's first party and it definitely isn't the first one Tony has attended. He has been doing this since her Jetson's themed birthday party when she turned four. They have a whole routine down – Tony lays out cups, snacks, and drinks while Pepper locks the breakable or expensive stuff in her basement.
She is dressed up for this, while Tony is most definitely not. He is wearing black jeans, Vans, and a green Henley shirt. Pepper, on the other hand, is wearing heels, jeans, and a tied crop top with her hair loose and wavy around her shoulders.
"Are we ready?" She asks, flopping next to him on the couch where he waits, drinking a beer.
"Yep."
"Okay, good. We have an hour before the party starts."
His eyes widen. "Pepper! You told me to get here at five thirty!"
"Yeah! The party starts at seven, I wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to get ready!"
"Pepper, it's six!"
"I'm sorry!" She apologizes, sounding not sorry at all.
"You do this every time!"
"And yet you keep coming over when I ask!" She challenges him.
"Okay, shut up." He sighs and takes another swig of his beer. "Now what do we do?"
"I have to go do my makeup, come upstairs with me."
"Fine." He gets up off the couch and follows her up to her room, where he sits on her bed and watches as she finishes getting ready.
"So where are your parents now? Do they know this is happening?"
"Yeah. My mom is in Paris for a show and my dad will be home pretty soon, but he's leaving again to travel to Berkley and teach a class there on business."
"Oh, that's cool."
As if on cue, the door opens to reveal Pepper's dad, Eric Potts. He looks at the situation before him with his daughter doing her makeup and a teenage boy on her bed, failing to hide the alcohol in his hands. His expression scrunches up and he sighs loudly.
"What's going on here?" He asks, eyeing Tony warily.
"Nothing?" Pepper tells him, rolling her eyes.
"Pepper, you know how I feel about you and Tony hanging out with the doors closed."
"What do you think is happening here?" She asks him with raised eyebrows.
"I don't even want to know."
"Well, the rest of my friends will be here soon, so you don't have to worry about it."
"Okay. I'll see you in on Monday. Have fun!" He walks over and gives her a kiss on the head.
She waves him off. "Thanks, bye."
"Bye Mr. Potts!" Tony dramatically waves with a cheeky grin on his face.
"Tony." He gives the younger boy a curt nod before leaving.
"Sorry about him," she sighs. "You'd think after fourteen years he'd realize we aren't dating."
"My dad does the same thing, don't worry."
Pepper makes eye contact with him through the mirror. "Is your dad concerned with you getting a girlfriend?"
"A little, yeah."
"Are you going to tell him about Steve?"
His eyebrows shoot up and he gives Pepper an incredulous look. "Are you kidding?"
She spins around to look at him. "Are you okay? This must be wearing on you."
"Well it's either this or I break up with Steve and actually get a girlfriend." He stands up and looks at all of the Polaroid photos lining her walls.
"Well he's a piece of shit, so ignore what he says. Besides, it doesn't matter what random people think about you."
"Except that's kind of the motto of the Stark family: 'It doesn't matter who you are, only what people think of you.'"
Pepper stands up and wraps him in a tight hug. "Well I think that you're my best friend and the most important person in my life. That matters more than your relationship status."
Tony is taken aback for a moment. He opens his mouth to respond, but before he can come up with something to say, the doorbell rings and Pepper leaves to go answer it. Tony grabs his drink and follows her down the stairs.
It takes about an hour for Steve to finally show up. By this point, he is on his third beer.
"Hey! You came!" He calls out and heads to where Steve is standing by the door.
"Yeah. This looks fun…" He says hesitantly, looking around at all the people around him.
"Yeah, it's been cool so far. Do you want something to drink?" He asks, heading over to the kitchen.
"Sure, but do you have anything not spiked?" Steve responds, following him.
"We have water and soda."
"I'll take a soda, thanks."
"So, what has happened so far here?"
Tony grins, amused. "Is this your first party?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"Only a little." He laughs and looks around at the chaos. "It's basically been like this the whole time."
"Fun." After a particularly loud scream, Steve winces. "It's really loud."
"Do you want to go outside?" Tony offers.
They wander out and take a seat by Pepper's pool. It is still loud outside, but without the speakers only a couple feet away and the massive amounts of people, it's significantly better. He looks at Steve, who is wearing his signature jean jacket with a white t-shirt and jeans.
"You look really cute tonight." He tells him without thinking.
A light blush spreads across Steve's face. "Thank you."
He leans in and kisses him. Steve seems a little surprised at first but kisses him back. He pulls away after a few seconds, though, looking mildly alarmed.
"Anyone could see us, aren't you worried?" Steve asks, looking around worriedly.
"You're the best things to have happened to me in a while." Tony blurts out.
"Oh really?" Steve's eyebrows raise
"Yeah. I mean, there's Pepper. Other than her though, there isn't much good in my life. You're a bright little sunspot."
"How much beer have you had?"
"Enough to make me not nervous, but I also feel confident in my decision-making abilities." Tony says, though he isn't sure how true that is because he definitely is regretting talking. Plus, his head is getting a little swimmy.
"So how much of this do you mean?" Steve asks him.
"Every single word." And that is true.
"How much of that did you plan to tell me an hour ago?"
"Nothing." He laughs nervously.
"Alright then, maybe you should have some water." Steve tells him, standing up.
Before he can think, he finds himself admitting to Steve, "I think I could fall in love with you."
Tony's eyes immediately widen, and he starts mumbling apologies, as he pulls away. Steve's face goes pale and his expression conveys clear apprehension. Tony waits anxiously for what he is about to say. "Tony, I-"
Steve is interrupted by Pepper coming outside and Tony is both frustrated that he doesn't know what Steve thinks and relived because a part of him doesn't want to know. "Hey there you are! I was looking for you guys inside. What's going on?"
"I think Tony's a little drunk." Steve stutters.
"Yeah, that's nothing new." She rolls her eyes.
"What time is it?"
"Ten thirty."
Steve is already inching back towards the house. "I should go. I don't want my mom to get worried."
"Okay. Bye, Steve!" Pepper chirps.
"Bye." He scrambles back into the house.
She comes and sits next to Tony, who puts his head in his hands.
"I'm an idiot."
"I'm sure it isn't as bad as you thought." She tells him comfortingly.
"He practically ran away." He counters. "You know I get too honest when I drink."
"What did you say?"
"I said I think I could fall in love with him."
She chokes. "Oh God."
"Yeah." He takes the beer from her hands and downs it in less than a minute.
He follows her back into the party and lets the alcohol and loud music drown out the embarrassment of the last hour and how he will never be able to face Steve again. For God's sake, they've only been dating for a month. This has got to be way too soon. But, to be fair, Tony never really knows how to do what's right. So, he drinks a little more and dances with Pepper and stays up late and barely makes it home without throwing up in the bushes.
The next morning, Tony is only a little hungover. By that, he means he feels terrible. He has a pounding headache and could vomit any second. He stumbles downstairs desperate for a bowl of cereal and he sees his dad sitting at the table in their kitchen drinking coffee.
"On November 15th, I have a business meeting with a client that I would like you to attend." He tells Tony without turning his head to look at him.
"Why would I do that?"
"You need to start learning aspects of the company."
Tony wants to fight him on that, but the pounding in his skull convinces him to relent. "Fine."
"Good."