Tony's POV

I wake to see that I am cuddled up in Steve's arms. Though my first though should have been 'why the hell am I cuddling with Steve?', it wasn't. No, my first thought was, "God, I love this man." Needless to say I nearly fell of the couch. Honestly, I probably would have if Steve hadn't been holding onto me so tight like I was something important, precious.

I just look at him for a while and that's when it hits me. That wasn't just some crazy, wayward idea that popped up into my head, like a lot of things do. It was true and I had meant it. I loved Steve and holy shit, I had loved Steve for a while, at least since New York and that had been what? Six months, eight? How had I not realized this before? Is this why Pepper had broken up with me?

I gave up asking questions I didn't know the answer to, instead I think of what I should do now. Obviously, I didn't know how Steve felt toward me. Sure, Steve could feel the same way, but he could just as easily not feel the same way. It didn't really mean anything that he was holding me, did it? He could just be a cuddler and not realize he was doing it. It didn't necessarily mean that he liked him. Actually, now that I remembered, hadn't Steve told me that he liked someone? A guy, no less. Suddenly, I felt a burning jealousy inside for whoever had stolen Steve's heart, but I quickly shoved that feeling down. I didn't have much time to dwell on this particular detail because Steve began to stir.

Steve's eyes flickered open just a tad, but closed back quickly. He yawns loudly, making me smile. I had never seen Steve wake up before and now that I had, I had to admit, he was kind of adorable. Steve opened his eyes once again, this time they stayed open, and he smiled at Tony.

"Morning," I say, smiling, I never had been a morning person, but there was something about waking up in Steve's arms that made mornings worthwhile.

I feel Steve's arms tighten around me, whether it was a conscious movement or not, he wasn't sure. "Morning," Steve greets, returning his smile. "Looks like we fell asleep on the movie, I guess we'll have to watch it again some other time," Steve muses. I could tell that Steve was avoiding the eminent question as to why he was holding me. Not that I was complaining or anything, I just wanted to know why.

"Yeah, I didn't even make it halfway through the movie. Slept like a baby, too. I feel like that had something to do with you," I replied in mock innocence.

Steve snorted. "Oh yeah? Why's that?" He asks.

I smirked. "I've always slept better with someone cuddling me," I answer slyly.

Steve blushes. "Yeah, um, sorry about that. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

I hold back the urge to laugh. Me? Uncomfortable because Steve was cuddling me? Yeah, right, more like a dream come true. "Oh, don't worry. I didn't mind," I say quickly. I really, really didn't mind. I would love if he cuddled with me every night, but considering the chances of that happening were slim to none, I didn't get my hopes up.

Steve didn't say anything for a moment and then he released me, moving to get up. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving," I hear Steve say with a grin as he walks to the kitchen.

I silently wish that we could have stayed on the couch like that longer, but I know if I had asked if we could, it would seem suspicious, so I shied away from the idea quickly. Instead, I also get up from the couch and follow Steve into the kitchen. When I spot him in the kitchen, I see that he's already starting to fix something. "What are you making?" I ask curiously.

"Pancakes," Steve looks up at me. "Do you want some?"

I think about it for a second and realize I probably hadn't eaten in at least the last twelve hours Whoops. "Yeah, sure, I'd love some."

Steve nods his head and turns back to his pancake batter, stirring it once more. I take a seat at the kitchen table and I take the chance to stare at him openly, as he is distracted. Clint and Natasha come into the kitchen briefly, but say nothing about my staring and just carry on as if it was normal. Huh. Maybe I had unknowingly been staring at Steve. That made me worry for a moment what else I had been doing without realizing it. I shake my head as an attempt to get the idea out of my head. No way was I going around staring at Steve unknowingly. Not that it mattered, either Steve hadn't noticed or chose not to comment on it so I guess it was okay. I shrug my worry away. Whatever I had been doing couldn't be changed now, so I might as well not worry about it.

Now that I had gone through the unimportant business, it was time to get down to the important business. "Hey, Steve, who do you like?" I ask nosily.

Steve doesn't turn around, probably so he doesn't burn the pancakes, but I can tell that he's blushing anyway.

"Why do you ask?" Steve asks unsteadily. Was he really that worried to tell me? How bad could it be? Oh god, what if it was Nick Fury?

Just to be sure I ask. "It's not Nick Fury, is it?"

Steve laughs so hard that I worry that he'll burn himself. In fact he almost does, nearly hitting his hand on the hot stove. "Tony, I do not like Nick, but that was a good joke," Steve tells me grinning.

I blush, a little embarrassed, but I continue anyway. "Well, I wouldn't have to guess such ridiculous people if you would just tell me," I give him my best puppy dog face, but as usual, it fails.

"Not right now, I'm not ready, but I swear I'll tell you soon," Steve said apologetically. Not ready to tell me? Was it really so bad that he had to prepare himself to tell me? I try to think hard about who it possibly be, but nothing comes up. Steve didn't really routinely talk to many people beside me and the rest of team. And even then I couldn't see who Steve would like.

"Okay," I say finally, though a little disappointed.

We fall into a somewhat awkward silence as Steve finishes up the pancakes and sets them down on the table. Huh. Now that I think about Steve said the guy he was crushing on is smart and loves technology. I fell into that category, but then again, so did half of the S.H.I.E.L.D agents that he was friendly with. I'd probably be ultra pissed if he liked one if them because, come on, when it comes to technology, sure S.H.I.E.L.D was more advanced than most people, but I was the best. So he should like me if he was into the nerdy tech type. I'm going to pretend I didn't just call myself a nerd.

Not that I had much time to dwell on the fact because Steve finally decided to break the silence. "What are you thinking about over there?" Steve asks, looking up at me quizzically.

I don't bother explaining myself, I just get straight to the point. "They're not one of those nerdy tech guys from S.H.I.E.L.D, are they?" I say gruffly.

Steve smiles and laughs a little. "No, they aren't. Why, would that bother you, if it was?"

I scoff. "Well, of course it would. I mean, if you're gonna like a nerdy tech guy you mind as well like the best there is," I say, obviously meaning myself.

Steve gives me an amused look. "And who would that be?"

I give him a look that says 'I know that you have to be joking, because you couldn't possibly be that stupid'. "Me, obviously."

Steve is quiet for a second and then says, "And if I did?"

"Then I'd say that you had good taste," I reply smoothly, knowing full well that if he really did like me, I would say and do a hell of a lot more than that.

"Hmm. Interesting," is all I get in response before he whisks away both of our dishes, places them in the sink, and leaves the kitchen before I can even mutter a goodbye in return.

What the hell did he mean by interesting?