Enjoy?
"Ugh," Tony groans as he's reluctantly pulled from the cozy fog of sleep into the hazy coffee deprived world of the woken.
Immediately JARVIS begins monotonous morning greeting, "Good morning sir, it is now eight thirty am-"
Eight thirty? "J, why am I awake?" Tony interrupts, voice scratchy, as he rubs the sleep from his eyes and lazily stretches his limbs.
The latter proves to be a horrible mistake when he feels pain radiating from his lower back with every movement.
Tony is vaguely aware that JARVIS is still reciting his regular morning rundown of SI stock and various other things, but he's exponentially more concerned with breathing through the ache that comes with every twitch of his muscles than trying to decode the AI's words.
After minutes of motionlessness, deep breathing, and praying to every god he can think of (he's not sure how Thor could help, but he covers all his bases), the pain finally recedes and he's able to start trying to piece together the night before. The theory that a house fell on him seems like a logical option but his regular schedule doesn't provides many opportunities for such a scenario, so he rules that out.
The process of remembering takes much longer than it should for a genius, but the lack of coffee combined with tiredness proves to be his kryptonite. Eventually, even without the necessary brain juice, he begins to remember the events of the previous day, at least in part. He may have had a few drinks at lunch, and at breakfast. To be fair that was when he was still trying to get over Steve.
Wait...Steve!
Tony sits up with a rush to check around the room for the blonde,but immediately regrets it when he feels the sharp stab of pain reemerge.
"Holy mother of god!" He blasphemes, breathlessly doubling over in pain while the stream of curses mindlessly continues to flow.
Maybe he did get a bit too overexcited last night. Considering that it's been a long time since he's been on the receiving end, he probably could have done without yelling 'harder' those last few times.
He doesn't regret it.
Tony stays in the same bent over position for what seems like forever, only stopping to look up when he hears chuckling coming from the doorway.
Leaning against the frame is Steve. He's skillfully balancing a stocked tray with one hand, the other one clasped over his mouth in a failed attempt to stifle his laughter.
"Are you laughing at my pain Rogers? You ass!" Tony says, aiming for indignant, though he doesn't quite accomplish it because his mind is too preoccupied with thoughts along the line of: Steve actually stayed!
Steve shakes his head fondly then moves to place the items on the nightstand before helping Tony lean back on the mound of pillows he sets up. "I think the problem is actually your ass," he jokes as he adjust Tony's pillows and blankets, "and it serves you right too, because you're the one who didn't want to move even after I warned you this would happen."
Tony lightly slaps the fussing hands away. "Whatever," he grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest petulantly, "at least you stayed, 'cause if you left me in pain I would hate you and your giant cock so much more."
Steve sighs and takes a seat at the edge of the bed beside Tony with a serious expression. "I'm gonna ignore most of what you just said and just focus on the important part," he begins with a weak smile.
Tony braces himself because although he's never seen it Steve he still knows that smile. He's seen it on Pepper enough to know that it's the 'transitioning from a joking to serious talk' smile. Tony hates that smile.
"I told you I was staying, why didn't you believe me?"
He deflates at the sound of Steve's honest pleading, and despite the protest in his back, he uncrosses his arms and brings Steve down for a kiss.
Even though it buys him time to think of a reply, Tony still can't find a good answer to that question. Everything he can think to say sounds wrong or too mushy and abstract.
'I want to believe that you've changed and just hand over my heart, but for now I can't risk it because you might not want it, or worse, leave with it and never come back.'
Yuck.
Truth is he doesn't really want to forgive and forget. It's a heck of a lot easier to get over being stabbed in the back if you were expecting it. That way when Steve gets over this phase and decides he wants to be a spy again then Tony will be able to pick himself up, dust himself off, and go back to his life of drunken debauchery.
Of course he hopes that doesn't happen, but you know what they say about hope.
He doesn't say this though, instead he goes with the patented Stark method: deflection.
When he pulls back from the kiss he allows himself a moment breath in Steve's scent then slaps on a big fake grin. "So what'd ya' bring me?" he asks infusing his voice with fake cheerfulness as he turns to inspect the items on the tray.
Out of the corner of his eye he sees Steve looks at him, and for a moment Tony thinks that he might continue to push the conversation, but luckily the blonde only sighs and moves to place tray over Tony's lap before retaking his seat on the bed.
"Take these," Steve instructs handing over two pills.
The brunette scrounges up his nose, eyeing them warily. "What are they?"
Steve releases a frustrated groan that catches Tony off guard. "This is why we need to talk! I need you to trust me and you don't!"
"What? Steve no! It's not about trust. If someone gives you drugs you ask what it is! That's normal, no matter how hot he is." Tony insists gesturing wildly with his hands. Although it hasn't worked for him yet, he hopes that the complement will distract from actual talking.
No such luck.
Steve just shoot him a level look and continues on, "If it was Pepper giving you these would you take it?"
Tony open his mouth and then shuts it slowly. "That's totally different," he finally mumbles in defeat.
Steve throws his hands up and groans. "See this is why we need to talk! You don't trust me."
"I'm trying OK!" Tony snaps. "It's not easy. You kidnapped and stole my money! For gods sake can have some time?"
Tony releases a heavy breath through his nose and lean back further, far away from Steve's space.
That was unexpected...
He didn't really mean to have an outburst but he feels like Steve is asking him to do the impossible, and he has no right to ask.
For as much as he likes Steve- and lets face it, it stopped being just 'like' a long time ago- he can't just blindly trust him after what he did.
"I'm sorry," Steve whispers, looking down at his fidgeting fingers.
Tony exhales softly and closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose to calm down. "You already apologized, you don't have to-"
"Not for that," Steve interrupts, nervously curling and uncurling his the hem of his shirt around his finger. That catches Tony off guard and he looks up at the taller man with brows knitted in confusion.
"Uh, I mean I'm sorry about that too," the blonde amends hurriedly when he finally looks up and catches Tony's expression, "but just now I meant sorry for trying to pressure you to trust me. It must be hard, and you have every right to take your time. I just- I really like you Tony and I want this to work."
He hopes that Steve means those words with the same intensity that he does, but that's probably just wishful thinking.
"I know you probably don't like me very much now," Steve continues reaching out to take Tony's hand in his, "but I wanna know if there's anything I could do."
Tony laughs at the irony of Steve's words. "I like you Steve, I really like you." Ugh, he not good at this- putting words to feelings- so he decides not to use words. "Jus' come here," he says motioning for the other man to come closer since Tony's back wouldn't allow him to move.
Steve looks hesitant for a moment but complies anyway. When he's close enough Tony pulls him in for a deep passionate kiss, threading his fingers through blonde hair. When he feels Steve relax he tugs lightly at his hair to pull Steve even closer and slip his tongue into the other's accepting mouth.
When they finally pull apart he feels slightly dizzy, and judging by the big goofy grin Steve gives him, he's sharing in the euphoria.
"I really, really like that too," Steve murmurs, pressing another kiss to Tony's lips.
"I knew you were only in it for my amazing body," Tony jokes, happy for the return of the light air between them. Even happier when he receives a fond eye roll and another kiss from Steve.
"I hate to interrupt," JARVIS cuts in, "but it seems prudent to inform you that Miss. Potts is currently on her way up.
"What? Why?" Tony asks slightly panicked. He hasn't told pepper about Steve -which is fishy enough to tip off her Pepper senses- but more importantly he hasn't worked out a story for him and Steve's. He starts moving the tray to stand, but halts immediately when he feels the same stab of pain in his back. "Fuck!"
"Oh crap!" Steve empathizes, securing the tray before helping Tony back into bed. "Just lay back, and here, they're just Tylenol from your cabinet."
This time when Tony is handed the pills, he gulps them both down in one swallow of water and wipes his mouth with back of his hand.
"To answer your previous inquiry," JARVIS says, not sounding the least bit concerned for his creators health, "I was unable to send an alert when I was brought offline last night so, as per protocol, I sent one when I came back online this morning."
Tony shoots Steve a glare which the blonde returns with a sheepish grin.
"later we're gonna have a talk about how you managed to mess with the most advanced piece of technology in the world."
Steve shrugs and leans in with a teasing smile. "I'm a man of many skills. I'd be glad to show you some."
"Tony! What the hell is wrong with- oh uh, hello," Pepper says stuttering to a stop when she sees Steve.
Both of them turn around to see Pepper enter in her usual flurry of heels and a well fitted business suit, and an annoyed expression.
The blonde stands quickly, pinking slightly under Pepper's appraising gaze. "Hi uh, I'm Steve, you must be Pepper. I've heard a lot about you," he greets politely, taking her hand.
Tony almost face palms. This is why they needed to discuss a plan before talking to Pepper. She knows more than anyone that Tony doesn't keep people around long enough for him to tell them about her, and none of them are polite.
After Pepper releases the hold she narrows her eyes at Tony over Steve's shoulder, demanding an explanation.
Tony just shoots her a hesitant grin and ignores the annoyed curve her right brow takes on.
"Steve's a friend Pep so be nice," Tony warns wagging a finger in her direction. Steve's polite smile wavers a bit at the word 'friend' but still retains it toothpaste commercial quality.
God, That's going to be the topic of another 'talk'.
Pepper studies him intently then sighs and shakes her head, probably ignoring the situation to keep her own sanity.
Tony barely resists the urge to whoop with joy.
"JARVIS said something went wrong so I came to make sure you didn't blow up the house again."
"You blew up your house before?" Steve asks with alarm.
Tony waves off both of their concern and starts to poke at his slightly cold breakfast. "You made me breakfast pie?" Tony gasps when his eyes catch the triangle slice of heaven and wastes no time getting to work on the delicious pie.
It tastes the same as he remembers, and for a second he thinks that might be a sign that it's drugged, but he quickly pushes that thought away. Steve asked for trust and the least Tony could do is try to give him a little.
Steve chuckles. "Yeah I usually wake up at five thirty so I had time while you were asleep."
"I thought you hated pie ever since the ransom incident?" Pepper asks idly, more paying attention to her phone.
Her distraction is how she misses the reassuring wink Tony shoots at Steve when he sees the blonde's face shift back to his usual guilty puppy expression.
"Steve's pie is special," Tony says with a smirk.
Pepper rolls her eyes, probably assuming that it's just some dirty joke. "Whatever you say. Since I'm here I have to remind you that tomorrow night is the Senator's wife's birthday party and you will be going. It's a black tie affair, and I know you hate those but don't worry, you can bring a guest. Actually..." Pepper says with a smirk that raises the hair on the back of Tony's neck.
"You should bring your friend Steve," she finishes turning to Steve.
Tony curses himself for actually being stupid enough to believe that Pepper would actually let his indiscretion go.
"I'm sure Steve has more important things to do-"
"Nonsense," she drawls, "I'm sure he wouldn't mind since you're such good friends."
"I'd love to," Steve agrees, cutting off Tony's retort with a smile that Tony can't really disern it's sincerity.
"Steve you don't have to-"
"No it's fine. That's what friends are for."
Fuck, Steve can't use passiveness aggressive, that's Tony's thing.
"Wonderful!" Pepper says with a grin, "I'll confirm the plus one."
With that, Pepper leaves with just as much style as the entered.
"I'm gonna go." Steve says pointing over his shoulder.
"Steve you're not just a friend, ok? I just need to ease Pepper into the idea that I'm not going to m be whoring around anymore. Not that it matters the woman can read me like a book. I might as well have just-"
Steve's bends down and shuts Tony up with a kiss, but the silence only last until Steve pulls back.
"-told her everything it would have been the same."
Steve can't stop himself from smiling brightly. "You babble when you're nervous," he observes.
"I do not!" Tony insists.
Steve rolls his eyes in reply and walks around to lie on the bed mirroring Tony's position. "Just eat your breakfast."
"I better not get high off off this," Tony snarks, once side of his lip kicking up in a teasing smirk. He has to duck to avoid the pillow that Steve throw but it's worth it.
I'm giving up and trying to guess when this will end, so I'll probably keep going until you guys get bored.