Tony woke up in Steve's arms. To his surprise Steve wasn't only still in his bed, he was sleeping. That was a marvel of its own so Tony just stayed lying and watched Steve sleep.
As in anything else, there was some sense of order even in Steve's sleeping. His breath was even, his face calm and his body still. Did he always sleep like this?
After some time of watching Steve sleep, Tony became aware of his discomfort and hunger.
How long did he sleep?
He turned on his phone to be shocked by the number of hours he spent sleeping. How was it possible for Steve to be still sleeping too?
Then he noticed how Steve was clothed, more importantly in a fresh set of clothes. The one that Tony removed was nowhere in sight. That meant that Steve moved.
That was only natural. Hours went by.
Having that in mind, Tony decided that it was alright if he too makes himself look decent so he got up to go to the bathroom. To his delight, he discovered snacks by the bed so he took them with him to the bathroom.
When he returned all freshen up and partially fed, Steve was still sleeping.
Tony noted that there was one more new item in the room. That was Steve's book. The one he was currently reading. There were no urgent tasks waiting for Tony so he went back to bed, positioned himself on Steve's arm and opened his book to see what he was currently reading.
It turned out he was now interested in the politics of modern Africa. It was something that was wise to know and it aligned with their next summit that is held with African leaders. That reminded Tony of something. Was it Wakanda? What was the name of the guy?
"You're awake," Steve spoke up suddenly startling Tony.
"Is that how you wake up?" Tony turned to see Steve completely alert but still not moving. "From zero to hundred in a second. I move around before I'm ready to open my eyes let alone produce a sound."
"You do move around a lot," Steve stretched his arms and sat up like he was ready to go.
"No," Tony pulled him to lie back down. "I didn't ask you to stay just to run off again. We need to talk now. I'm done with all this mysterious vagueness."
"Talk about what?" Steve complied and lay down with a frown. "I already informed Natasha and others about the threat of parallel universes, I was in contact with Wanda, they seem alright and Pepper called to say you have a conference in the morning."
"You did all that?" Tony was distracted for a moment before getting back to his point. "No, not politics, wars and threats. I need to talk about us. This. What just happened between us. We need to set some ground rules and you need to tell me what this is."
"Tony," Steve smirked. "I think you know what this is better than I do."
"You pig," Tony hit his chest. "I know it's sex but is it just sex or is it something more? Do we do this again or was it just a one-off thing? I mean I am flattered even if it was but we should avoid having any kind of confusion about how to go about this when we exit the room."
"Do you want it to be a one-off thing?" Steve frowned.
"Me? Why would I want that?"
"You're the playboy here. I'm an old-fashioned grandpa. I thought it through before submitting. I'm not the kind who would do something like this lightly. For me…" he trailed off and his face got a bit red.
"Say it," Tony leaned in with a smug smile.
"What? What do you want me to say?"
"A huge love confession that lies on your heart. Be the grand hero and declare that nothing less than love would make you act like this…" Tony trailed off when Steve frowned all serious and looked away looking offended.
"You make a joke out of everything," he said dissatisfied. "That is one quality I'm not madly in love with."
"Steve," Tony placed a palm to his face and gently turned his head back to look into his eyes. "Don't you know everything I joke about is to hide truths in plain sight? Alright, I'll fold and be the first one to say it. I love you. I love everything about you. It's that simple. You make me feel safe and unguarded. I feel we can stand against anyone if we stand together."
Steve looked at him seriously for a few moments before leaning in to kiss him deeply. They kissed for a while before Tony withdrew still dissatisfied.
"Sorry, I will need you to say at least something. This way it seems I'm the only one placing my cards on the table. Don't leave me hanging here. I know you're the silent type but still."
"What more there's to say? I don't see anything but death making us stand apart. Till we both breathe we'll protect each other and this reality of ours," Steve said simply like he's saying one of his motivational speeches before the battle.
It took a beat or two for Tony to process what he just said.
"Did you just say 'till death tears us apart'? Was this a proposal or a vow? Are we married already? Did I miss the ceremony? I haven't been sleeping for so long."
That made Steve chuckle finally smiling and looking adorable as ever.
"I thought you knew," Steve hugged him tightly caressing his hair. "In my time, doing these kinds of activities meant marriage if you were a half-decent man. Of course, not between men but still. I updated possible combinations but I still see no reason to engage like this with someone if you don't think of them for the rest of your life. I thought you knew me well enough to know that is the risk of courting an old man like me."
"You courted me first, you entrapped me like this," Tony shouted.
"Me? When?"
"A future version of you. It wasn't a fair fight. You, he came and hugged me crying as I died. I just liked the hug I didn't agree to be wedded the minute you fold."
Steve just looked at him for a few seconds seriously waiting for him to make a joke out of it. When he didn't Steve smiled devilishly.
"Then we're even. At least an alternative version of me was decent enough not to try to lick you. If our entanglement depended upon meeting an alternative version of you it wouldn't end up this way. I guess the both of us must thank that I mature to be such a wise man. It must have been a hell of a hug."
"What's wrong with licking?" Tony jumped up and straddled Steve lifting his shirt up. "You say you will stand with me till the end of time? Then you'll have to stand to be licked from time to time. Will you be able to stand it?" Tony leaned and licked Steve's abs making him laugh. "I bet you want to annul that vow now. How fast can you run?"
Steve laughed pinning Tony down with ease.
"There's no need to run when all I have to do is to hold you a bit to calm down."
"I'm not the calm type," Tony objected. "I'm a hyperactive bastard everyone gets weary of quite quickly."
"Let's see can you make me break my vow. I'm a man known for keeping promises," Steve leaned in and kissed Tony.
Kissing was the thing Tony excelled at. It didn't take long to overturn Steve's firm posture. This time Steve was relaxed enough and trusting enough to let Tony finish on top. It was a thing that will always be evident. With Steve's strength, he was the one dictating the game but the ability to switch up roles calmed down Tony's anxious nerves.
"A shower would be nice but I don't feel like parting. Now I fear you might take me up on my offer and run off," Tony said when they were done.
"We can't make you worry like that on our honeymoon," Steve smiled and got up with Tony in his arms. "Princess Style, was it?"
Tony chuckled all the way to the shower.
"It's all fun and games but doesn't do that in front of others. My manhood is too fragile to be seen like this," Tony said as Steve turned on the shower letting the cold water pour over them. "Ouch, turn the heat on."
"It's better for your stamina," Steve said with a smirk but turned the heat up.
"But heat is more romantic," Tony leaned in for a kiss so they didn't talk for a while.
"Will you go back to sleep now?" Steve asked while he dried Tony's hair with a towel. "I don't want you to overexert yourself. Pepper was worried you might be cranky in the morning before the press. I don't want to be at fault for that."
"If anything, you're making me less cranky," Tony patted his chest and went to find some food, he was hungry like a beast. "I slept for too long. It already makes me nervous. At least you updated others, what were their reactions?"
They discussed possibilities over dinner. Then they went to his lab where Steve assisted him with the reparation of the broken suit. There were things that could be learned from the simulation of the fight. Steve showed him some of his moves and it gave Tony ideas on how to improve both his suit and Steve's.
"We do work better as a team than as opponents," Tony said absentmindedly while he watched the recreation of their fight. "If you had your shield and suit on you I fear there would be nothing left of my suit. Are you sure that we being a couple is a good idea? I mean, if we fall apart our whole team will split in two. I'm not an easy man to live with. Most people got so annoyed that they hate me when I ruin it all."
"Tony," Steve said gently. "Look at us right now, the position we're in."
Tony looked away from the screen to notice how Steve was standing holding the torso of Tony's suit in the middle of the projector so Friday can read the dents on it and make the simulation Tony was watching.
"Is it heavy? Put it down."
"No, it's not heavy for me. Nor was hard to stand still for half of an hour while you processed information. You're so absorbed in your thought process that you barely noticed me standing here for how many years now? We've been collaborating for years and it's been two years now since we started to live here together. We've been alone in this house for over two months now. In all of that time, we ate, exercised, fought, and co-existed. I spent hours standing here waiting for you to finish your sentence. There was not one moment I was bored, wanted to be somewhere else or felt useless. Sure, you irritate me sometimes so much that I want to argue against you until I win but that only makes me want to be near enough to be able to pour some sense into you."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that we work as an item. It wasn't a rash decision, at least not on my part. While you were preoccupied I observed how we function and most of the time we work like a well-oiled machine. With the romantic undertone added, I really see no point in searching any further than this. I'm all set, there's nothing more I need. You understand the urgency to defend Earth better than anyone. If I'm allowed to do that, I'm ready to take all the good moments between fights we can find."
"Well-oiled machine," Tony chuckled.
"You know what I meant," Steve got all red.
"I know very well," Tony smirked.
That made Steve put down the iron torso and start chasing Tony around the lab. He wasn't really into it because Tony was able to escape him easily. He even managed to make an evading manoeuvre and jump on Steve's back. Instead of shaking him off, Steve grabbed Tony by his thigs and ran around lab. Tony laughed by the sheer silliness of it.
"Tony," Pepper's voice interrupted them.
Steve stopped abruptly and Tony jumped off to the ground.
"Pepper, what brings you here at this hour? We were just simulating a fight… a fight where we would…"
"I know you always work but I told you to be there on time," she said all upset.
"What time? Where?"
"I even told Steve," she was exasperated with them. "The press conference. I knew you will forget. I told myself he will be there but my anxiety kept rising so I came to check on you anyway just to find you playing around without any care in the world."
"Is it morning already?" Tony went over to her to usher her out of his lab. "Of course I know, both Steve and Friday told me. Friday would remind us. We can still make it on time," he pushed her through the door and then looked over to Steve who still looked spooked. "Are you coming?"
"Me? Why would I be needed there?"
"Moral support? And I just feel like having you there. Suit up so you look legit. I'll suit up too. You can fly in with Pepper. He can come with?" he turned to Pepper who looked at him strangely.
"Of course, Captain America brings up value to any venue."
"See, we'll use you. Come with," Tony tried to sound neutral but feared he was failing miserably and sounding needy.
"Sure," Steve nodded still looking tense. "I'll be your background decoration. At least I know how to be a clown with style."
"No, the clown will be me," Tony winked and escorted Pepper to the upper parts of his house.
Should he have a talk with her? He should but was now the best time? Maybe before the conference when she's preoccupied with other worries.
"No, Pepper, stay here," he turned when she tried to follow him to his room.
"Why? You need to get dressed. I'll help you to be quicker."
"No, I don't think it's appropriate that you help me get dressed."
"But I always did that."
"Yes, before we were together it was a neutral part of your job. When we were together, it was a part of the relationship. I don't think we can get back where it's a neutral part of your job."
"Come on, we're on the clock here," she looked at her wristwatch that governed her day. "It's not the time to be shy suddenly. It's nothing I haven't seen before and it's not like I'll get turned on or something."
"But I think Steve would mind," Tony said quietly.
"Steve…" she trailed off focusing on his face. "Why would Steve…"
"Come on, you saw. You know me to understand what you saw."
"You two exercising?" she tilted her head and then laughed. "Come one, Tony. That's rich even for you," she hit him with papers in her hand. "There's no time to joke around. Alright, you make me laugh and relax. I'll give you your sudden need for privacy but hurry up. Don't make Captain America wait for you."
"Remember that I told you first," he yelled after her retreating back. "Later, don't say I didn't try to give you a heads up."
"Yes, Tony," she shook her head and her ponytail bounced. "I heard you, it was the best joke of the century now get dressed. I won't look. I have better things to do with my life."
"That surely is true," Tony murmured and went to put on a black suit that made him look like he was on top of the world.
Then Steve walked in fully suited up.
"That's what I call I suit no one can compete against," Tony smirked at his sculpted body enveloped in the Captain America suit like giant shield against the cold universe.
"You should be the one to talk," Steve smirked and approached him to fix his tie. "I would mind if she came in here," he added quietly. "I find myself unwilling to share you at all," there was a slightly menacing undertone to his words.
"I'll try to keep that in mind," Tony said with a slightly high-pitched tone since his tie was just slightly too tight. "I warned her off but she thought of it as a great joke. Do you want it to be a joke? I'm excellent at keeping on a jokester facade. Or are you willing to disclose to others the true nature of our status?"
"I'm not the one who knows how to lie," Steve said darkly.
"I thought as much," Tony nodded. "Shall we? Pepper will storm in if we make her wait for too long."
Steve nodded and rushed onwards. Tony had to pick up his pace to keep up. As he trailed after Steve's broad back, Tony wondered why he was so happy all of the sudden.
No, it wasn't all of the sudden.
He was happy for some time now but only now his inner joy elevate to such heights that he noticed it. An impulsive desire to run into Steve and hug him tightly from behind rose in him but then Pepper came in sight and he didn't indulge his desire. Still, when they needed to board the chopper he allowed himself to seem accidental bump into Steve's back.
That made Steve turn and notice him there.
"You're flying with us? I thought you'll fly in your suit."
"It wrinkles this perfection. I can summon the suit when I need it."
As he entered the chopper after Pepper, Tony noted how Steve placed his palm against Tony's back to help him up. Unnoticeably, Tony pulled Steve's sleeve to make him sit by his side opposite Pepper.
It was loud as they flew but a few things bugged Tony.
"Do you think we should tell the whole world? Is that any of their business?" Tony shouted before they landed.
"I think we should come clean. It influences everything," Steve said seriously and Tony nodded agreeing.
They landed and Pepper went out first to announce them.
"Do you still trust in our Government? Do you think they will do the right thing?"
"I used to trust in them without a shred of doubt. After seeing how Hydra infiltrated everything, I'm not sure that boards of directors are fit to decide anyone's fate."
"That's what I was thinking. This is our cue," Tony ran out on the stage waving and prancing like he's used to.
As he did, he noticed Steve walking slowly behind nodding with dignity and poise. Tony stood behind the podium faced with prewritten speech Pepper placed there for him to read.
"I was never good at following a script," Tony said and tore the speech throwing the pieces around. "You all know the drill. We're a big company, we did well, our figures skyrocket whenever we invent something new and good. That's not news, is it?"
Reported chuckled and Tony noticed a few cameras going live. This was as good of an opportunity as any.
"The dangers we faced so far are a child's play compared to those that are before us. There are some rough times ahead and I still can't tell you more than we're working on it. Sadly, as we saw recently, our government proved to be the dividing factor with hidden enemies trying to tear our defences down. In a world populated with hostile aliens, and we know that is the world we live in, we can't afford ourselves to be stabbed in the back over and over again. We need a solid united defence against outer threats without being bound by local jurisdictions. This matter supersedes the United States of America, it requires every capable person we can find. And we can't be tied down or controlled by rules and regulations of everyday constraints. We can't be bound by procedures and slowed down by papers. More so, we can't extend our victories to serve as slogans and create governments. Our work must be only for protection, neutral, void of politics and united, most importantly united."
There was a silence now and no one was laughing. All cameras were now live-streaming.
"Faced with a new threat I can't still fully explain to you. A threat that I fear our government would have a completely wrong approach too. I must now sever ties our initiative of Avengers had to our government. We will seek to act as an independent unit while we search for a solution that is both effective and just. When we find it, we will find aid from all governments of this Earth. In the meantime, we're open to applications. Vacancies in our understanding of magical arts are noticed so we ask any doctors that are Strange, to come forth and offer their expertise in dealing with multiple realities and casting spells. Also, just warriors with silver claws and panther-like abilities are also more than welcomed."
Reporters were now looking at one another not sure was it a joke or not. It was time for his final blow.
"I need to put a disclaimer here. This isn't an invitation of a romantic nature. Any offers of intimacy will be rejected and I encourage you all that from now on you restrain yourself from offering anything immoral to me personally since I think that I'm now married to Steve Rogers whom you know as Captain America. The last thing any of us want is for you to end up with a broken spine. I have no desire to become that spouse that has visitation rights. Although if that happens I do want those rights."
After a moment of silence, there was a burst of laughter, some claps, pointing, chatter and a cheerful atmosphere all around. Bull's eye.
"Tony," Steve said quietly dragging him away from the microphone. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I thought you said that you were bad at lying so we should tell others and that the world deserves to know."
"By others, I meant our team members and Pepper probably. I thought the world deserves to know about the threat we're facing."
"No, they don't. It would only ensue panic. We need to fix this with as few people knowing as possible. Besides, don't worry. Look at them. They think it's the greatest joke of all time. It will hide everything else I just said. Our message will circulate around as the joke everyone wants to be in on. The people who will understand will come to us without us having to search the world to find them."
"So, it's a joke to you that we could marry?"
"It's not a joke to me, to them. To me, we're already married."
"So you wouldn't mind them knowing it's not a joke?"
"Why would I mind for them to know I scored you? The unobtainable ideal of beauty and grace that has a moral compass which could drag the whole Earth through the universe to land exactly where it should be."
Steve observed him for a few seconds.
"Is that another joke? To lighten the mood?"
"No, that means I would trust your guts any time. For an old guy, you know how to judge situations and people."
"So, you trust me?"
"Always."
"Then don't flinch away. That way it will seem I pulled a prank on you," Steve said seriously before placing his arm around Tony's waist and pulling him near.
For a moment, they stood like that looking at each other as silence fell around them. Steve looked him in the eye and Tony realized what he was doing. Tony slightly nodded before Steve leaned in and placed a firm kiss on Tony's lips.
Tony responded and placed his palm against Steve's cheek. He could hear the camera clicking and feel flashes on his closed eyelids. He didn't care for them. He was aware that this was a good move. It will circle more than his joking statement ever could. People will rewind his speech just to catch the lie, to analyse his words. But more importantly, the two of them will be linked in the eye of everyone around them as an inseparable items.
Soon, Steve moved away looking serious and solemn. He nodded, stepped away and just marched out off the stage leaving Tony to stand there alone.
Cameras were still clicking.
After a moment, Tony regained his posture, smiled widely and turned toward the cameras.
"I told you so," he said coyly, put on his sunglasses pointed fingers at them, waved a few times and walked out off the stage with a relaxed gait.
As soon as he turned backstage, he was grabbed by Steve and pushed against the wall.
"What the hell Tony? You discuss moves like this. It's not alright to put me under the spotlight like that. Look what you just made me do."
"What? I wouldn't change a single word," Tony lifted his hand and caressed his hair. "You did perfectly. Better than I would ever imagine. I would leave it as a joke but you lifted it to another level of drama. This will be recorded for the ages."
"Oh, you…" Steve sighed resting his forehead against Tony's and closing his eyes.
"There, there," Tony patted his back. "Your manhood will survive this. Imagine how I'll be depicted. Anything but manly in comparison. It's not a comparison many men would stand. Think of it as a perk of having an ego as big as mine."
Steve moved away opening his mouth to say something more when Pepper came around the corner to scorn them.
"Tony," she hissed making Steve jump away separating them. "What the hell was that stunt…" she paused looking at Steve with uncertainty. "And don't start with that 'I gave you heads up' that wasn't a proper warning. News outlets are going wild. There's no way to contain this."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about it too much if I was you," he typed on his wrist summoning his suit to come to him. "It will increase our value as a company not decrease it. I'm sorry I can't get into details but we just used our connection to divert them from the real message hidden in the speech. It was sort of a cry for help. I am hoping for it to reach even distant villages in the middle of Africa so we can even give it a boost, don't try to fight it. Ride the wave."
"What is it this time? A giant green alien? I can't take much more of this but I will help if I can."
"No, I think it's best for you to stay out of this one. Your sense of control would cause you a too great deal of anxiety and you when you're anxious become a bit of a control freak. It's enough to control the company and give us funds. We'll take it from here. Don't worry too much about it," he couldn't help but think of that other Pepper that directed a distant universe towards them to crush them.
"Alright, but the two of you, that was a stunt, wasn't it? A good one but still, come on, you've always been…" Pepper offered them to make excuses.
Tony looked at Steve who lifted his eyebrows saying that this was his mess. In perfect timing that sometimes occurred, his suit came just in that moment starting to assemble around him.
"No, Tony, you can't just fly off in the middle of this," she was upset.
"Words aren't enough to convey certain things. Can you take Steve home?"
"No," Steve approached him determinant to avoid riding with Pepper which was easy to understand. "You won't leave me behind."
"Then hop on," Tony opened his arm.
"Princess Style," Steve grinned. "I feel tired all of the sudden. It's been a long couple of days."
Tony paused surprised but then lifted his armoured arms.
"Hop on," he said and Steve actually did jump into his arms. "Does this answer your question?" he asked Pepper. "Sorry for being this blunt but we have a crisis to resolve and start to relocate our resources. You'll finish up here?"
She nodded slowly frowning and he turned on his thrusters.
"But Tony," she stopped him for a moment. "You won't be able to disobey him," she said. "He's so much stronger than you. You'll have to explain yourself and compromise. How will you stand that?"
"That's what I'm counting on," he smiled behind his visor. "That's maybe the one thing that might make me survive this round of fights and for you not to grieve too severely. Think of this as our battle strategy. It will give us an advantage and you can finally move on not being on stand-by for me."
She thought about it for a moment then seriously nodded and stepped back.
"That I can understand. A good business strategy is always needed. I'll confirm your story. You go and fight."
Tony was flying through the city with Steve in his arms. From time to time they were pictured by drones in passing. He didn't mind that and Steve seemed relaxed as he can be. Maybe he was just tired.
They touched down on his balcony and Tony's suit returned to its post as he walked out of it. Steve removed his shield from the back resting it against the wall.
"See," Tony straightened his suit. "All wrinkled up."
Without a word, Steve crossed the distance between them crushing him with a firm embrace.
"Hey there big guy," Tony patted his back having difficulty breathing. "You'll wrinkle me, not just the suit."
"Sorry," Steve lessened his grip moving away to look him in the eye. "Are you alright? That thing with Pepper. You could have done it privately."
"I tried but she's a really stubborn woman who rarely believes anything I say. I don't blame her, she has more than enough reasons not to."
"I have every reason to trust you," Steve said firmly. "Your move with the message was a good one. I hope I didn't mess it up."
"No, what you did was perfection, it will amplify the message immensely," he placed his palm on Steve's chest feeling his heart beating fast.
There was a sense of rush to their grand reveal. Not only that he managed to score Steve, he just secured him as his own before the whole damn world. It felt too sudden, they needed to do something to relieve the tension and he knew just what. He smiled mischievously when someone cleared his throat.
"Khm, Tony," Banner said quietly making the two of them jump and separate only to see all of their teammates standing in the doorway. "We were waiting for you to discuss strategy."
"You fool," Natasha hit the back of his head. "You could hold it in for a second more, they were about to make out and I won that bet. It was real. You all owe me money."
"I'm still not convinced Earthling," Thor appeared in the background towering over everyone present. "There could be some level of deceit here. They are using a supposed connection to lure in allies."
"No wonder you were dumped," Clint shook his head. "This is what my wife would call dense."
"A wife?" Thor frowned at him. "When did this occur? I was away just for a few months. How many things happened while I was away? I know I had to fight my brother masquerading as my father but you Earthlings have a way of moving time quickly."
"You have no idea how quickly," Clint took out his wallet showing Thor a picture. "These are my children."
That made Thor laugh out loud.
"Jokes, I'll have to get better at your sense of pranks. We do them too but not as devious as your kind. That's why I'll hold my wager a bit longer until they convince me that they aren't just pulling an elaborate prank on us."
"That is true, Nat," Clint nodded. "I'll wait on it too."
"Don't mess with me," Natasha went inside after them leaving only Bruce standing there awkwardly.
"So, guys, I guess you came up with some unique strategies of your own," he clasped his hands looking awkward.
"I guess we did," Steve said with a smile and placed his arm over Tony's shoulders pulling him near to look at him.
That made Bruce smile and Tony finally relaxed leaning against Steve's firm side.
"Yes, solving problems that's what we science bros do, don't we?" they went inside to talk about tactics organize relocation and offer options.
"I'll ask for the last time," Bruce said quietly when they were briefly alone. "The shield around the world, Ultron. We were so close to creating it. Thor still has the staff. We could finish that so easily. Then we could counter them like antlers butting heads. We would have a greater chance of survival. Why aren't we even discussing that?"
"Because that is the very thing they used to destroy other universes. Even if we build it to defend ourselves, that is the outcome. They probably did that to protect themselves at first because I built it for that purpose. But it's the greater outcome we can't control. If we make our universe into a weapon too we too will be hijacked to be like them sooner or later. No, it is a weapon we have in our armoury but thinks of it like this. We want to lead with our hearts and not become mass murderers to stay alive. Not everything we can think of is worth doing."
"You really are a changed man, Tony," Bruce said in awe before raising his voice. "Nat, come over here. I'll pay you off. You won the bet. These two are really a couple. No way would Tony ever utter words like this if they weren't. You guys can wear matching shirts now, nothing will top this."
"What did he say? I thought our Cap here will be the cheesy one," Nat smirked as she took the money.
"I won't repeat that ever," Bruce poured himself a drink. "If I do, he might be revoked from his status of a scientist altogether."
"Engineer is what I prefer anyway," Tony murmured when Steve sat by his side.
They continued to talk, joke and drink. Tony found himself relaxing and leaning against Steve who held his arm on the armrest behind Tony. It felt natural like it should be this way always.
Tony thought of that other universe he avoided inhabiting. The one where he dies as a mourned hero where he did everything right.
Here, he hoped, he won't do everything right but he'll live long enough to enjoy his days and to help with defending their Earth more than once even if it is in a smaller capacity that doesn't bend time.
He looked at Steve's profile and smiled. This universe was alright with him. His heart felt at ease. He was a simple man in the end. Give him his gadgets to create new defences for them to dance and laugh another day. If on top of that, he has a good company that doesn't object to him his days of silence while he thinks, he'll consider himself a lucky guy, better yet, someone who knows how to be happy as well as sad.