A/N: Hey! Sorry that it took me so long to update! I wanted to do it sooner before I went to the IronMan3 premiere, because I was worried it'd mess up my plot, but school caught up on me, I'm so sorry!

But! I'd like to dedicate this chapter to a very kind anonymus reviewer, who left her name, so I hope you don't mind, Rebecca, who got me finishing this piece. Don't worry, darling, one more chapter tops and they're going to meet up again ;) (and I'm Miss, btw. Don't make me feel old ;))

Sketches

~Chapter 6~

~*A man with few colours*~

Steve liked colours but Tony on the other hand barely wore any. He had a grey hoodie jumper, that's inside was green and a few grey and black T-shirts and maybe two pairs of worn jeans and an even worse sneaker. He had no idea how'd Tony survive a winter with those clothes. Maybe he had some warmer ones, just wanted to spare them for times more in need? It was hard to tell. This or Tony was just simply careless. Which also seemed quite likely.

Steve huffed out a sigh. Here he was worrying again.

But it was a nice day never the less, and he was sitting out on a park bench with the playground stretched out in front of him. There were children laughing and squealing in delight, parents chatting away or just watching their kids with all different amounts of concern and pride. Steve had his ever-present sketch-pad on his knees, a cup of dirty water balanced on his right and he desperately tried to find the best place for his watercolours so that he could easily reach them but they still wouldn't hinder him in his work.

He wasn't that great of a talent. He just enjoyed drawing, sketching, and like now – painting. They had a heaven gift of amazing weather, and the colours were all too beautiful to miss. He didn't have classes this morning because the teacher was sick and they didn't send anyone in, and since they were doing surprisingly fine with money he decided he could use the time for himself. His mother sent him off with a soft smile as she went to get a few hours of sleep, and Tony was also nowhere to be seen to give him one hell with his cutting remarks about "which bastard put 'good' and 'morning' together?"

So he tried his best to get the angle of the jungle gym and the dangling feet of a little boy on the top of it. He still quickly painted a blob of purple onto the sledge as a reminder to himself not to miss the little girl who was out there with her mother. And while the children on the picture were a bit out of human shape, Steve felt content with his work. He didn't even realize he had a small curl of a smile and that he started humming some random melody he had heard on the radio this morning.

"You know this song is from the rock of ages, right?"

Steve barely had time to snatch his water cup out of the way of Tony's feet as the teen stepped onto the bench and seated himself on the backrest.

"I was wondering, man, how you even know what a radio is. Because, seriously, I wouldn't be much surprised if I found a phonograph stuck under your bed somewhere"

"Good morning to you too, Tony. Isn't it nice to see you out here?"

"My God, did you just sass back at me?" Tony pressed the heel of his hand to his heart and rounded his eyes in shock. "Goodness, your mom's gonna kick me out soon if I have such effect on you"

"Well, you can't blame me for you make a very good vampire. Or zombie."

"It's not the same"

"For me it is"

"Yeah, with your horror movie education being definitely poor, so it's a great thing you at least know what they are"

"Everybody knows what they are"

They went on bantering a little longer, and it really was saying something about their relationship that around the end Tony started complaining again about the lack of Steve's blushes. On the other end Steve couldn't hide his smug expression – it took him long hours of meditation and training of his will to be able to control the heat creeping up his face Every. Single. Time. Tony made a sexual content joke or hinted about anything similar. Which was quite a lot – since we are talking about Tony.

Yet Steve's victorious (smug) grin resulted in a pout from Tony. The brunet huffed and crossed his arms in front of his chest (Tony didn't pout and absolutely didn't look like a 5-year-old who didn't get a candy in the shop) which gave Steve a few precious minutes to secure his water cup and paints and add a few more blots on his picture.

As time passed Tony absentmindedly started kicking at the duffel bag he carried with himself today. Steve didn't say a word, since it's no really disturbing movement and he can go on with his painting.

Only until at one time Tony managed to finally nudge the bag off the bench. It fell to the ground with a loud thud and the strange clanking noise registered in the periphery of Steve's mind after he got over his heart attack. Great, he got an ugly brownish-orangy-red spot in the middle of the sky.

Steve glared up at Tony who didn't even try to look a tiny bit apologetic. Actually he tried hard to cling to the backrest so that he wouldn't fall over the back and break his neck.

"Now is there any particular reason why you enjoy ruining my life so much?"

He didn't even bother to ask for the content of the bag.

"Because you're too happy with it?" Tony shrugged, but averted his gaze from Steve and the edges of his smile froze slightly. It meant a lie.

"Okay, never mind. What's up? Decided to get a tan finally?"

"Nope. Just glanced you all alone on this ugly morning and thought you might appreciate my fabulous company. Unless…"

The way Tony perked up and his eyes glimmered mischievously Steve felt his feet itching for a quick run.

"Do I even want to know…?"

"Come on, Steve!"

"What?"

"It's a pretty morning, no school and all, and you are all lonely on this bench in the park."

"I'm painting, and I'm also not alone anymore"

"Whatever, that's not my point. What is – that – aw, yiss! There's my blush!" And if possible, Steve blushed even darker. It was stupid how happy just such a small thing like a blush could make Tony happy. He wouldn't put it past Tony to start clapping his hands in a gleeful manner upon that. "So, my point is, that any normal high-school guy would take out their girl on a date in such awfully nice weather"

"And?"

Oh no! They can't start talking about girls, right? They can't! Steve had enough when his mother tried to give him The Talk – which would have been awkward enough, even if he hadn't covered the topic with Bucky already and his mother prodded him for what they had talked about, because they might have missed out something important.

And there came the awkward silence.

Steve felt his cheeks heating up even more, his ears going numb and the blush crawling down his neck as Tony stared at him with owlishly rounded eyes, mouth forming a small disbelieving oh. Steve was half-expecting Tony to laugh his ass off the bench, but instead the silence just stretched on until Tony finally covered his mild-shock with a polite cough.

"Seriously?" There went all politeness, because in that tone there was all the indignation of a forty-year-old who just found out his best friend had never had a sex so far. "I don't ask for a boyfriend, because we've already covered that you're not rolling that way – but to be honest, I was suspicious of that idiot jerk of friend of yours – Bucky, or what's his name – the way you're so grumpy when he goes around the world or being an ass to you, but then you obviously stated you're into girls, and I can read your blushes, yes, sweetheart" How did he breath was a mystery to Steve. " - then I really was suspecting that you actually have a very good talent at hiding things – people – people are not objects to be called things, yes mum, I did my homework, and back to the girlfriend subject, I thought you just didn't want to talk about her, or that I was some problem so that you wouldn't bring her up to introduce her to your mom, and so I tried to hint that I can disappear but you didn't really noticed – and it looks like you wouldn't even be able to hide anything, or keep anything so important as a secret and-"

"Tony, please, breathe!"

There was a huge breath like a suffocating engulfs life back in his aching lungs.

"How the fuck you don't have a girlfriend, Steve?"

"Well, I just – I just simply don't" Steve stuttered, because how are you supposed to answer that question? Yes, he was nearing twenty, he was the oldest in his class, in the school too probably, and lot of his classmates had had a girlfriend already, but what was so wrong with him being alone?

It sounded a bit strange if he put it that way and Tony's expression told the same.

"Okay, so I rephrase, why it's supposed to be strange – if you still don't get it" Tony leaned on his knees and his face was now disturbingly close to Steve's, his eyes gleaming mischievously. It took Steve most of his will-power not to lean away from his friend. (Yes, he settled to call Tony his friend finally)

"And rephrase again. How many girls have asked you out so far?"

Steve couldn't decide even if his life had depended on it why he blushed again – because of the guess behind it, or because of the fact that Tony seemed so neutral about this topic. As if he had been asked out several times – nope. Steve didn't want to go there, because seriously? He didn't want to know the details.

"Not many" he admitted and duck his head to try and hide his embarrassment.

"Baby, don't be so shy" Tony cooed and bumped him in the shoulder. "It's all the way nature goes. So tell me, how many exactly?"

"Tony, please"

"Just a number, Steve. I'm not gonna prob you for details" and with that Tony drew a cross on his heart. Though Steve suspected the fingers of his other hand were definitely crossed.

"You certainly will"

"You're hurting me, darling. You can trust me" that grin looked a bit empty, or was he only imagining things? Probably just his brain frizzling.

"Five, I guess" Steve admitted on a low voice and he hid his burning face in his hands.

"Wow, you're still not actually beating me there – but hey! Why haven't you gone out with any of them? There must be someone nice"

"I don't want to go out with someone I don't like."

"Then why don't you go out with someone you like?"

At that Steve sent him a stern and nasty look.

"Hey, I'm just asking. It can't be that – what hard?"

The glare was Steve's most effective one, and it obviously worked on Tony too, as he pulled back a little and waved it off all defensive.

"It is hard, just for you to know. You don't seem to be so much around girls either. You're rarely out even. Just saying" Steve snapped back, because he didn't like where they were going and he had his own defence mechanisms thanks. Which didn't include pouting. Guys didn't pout. Only Tony. But Tony was an exception in everything.

"They aren't my type anymore" Tony shrugged "But back to you, buttercup, who do you fancy? Because you surely do! And why don't you ask her out?"

"It's not your business, Tony!"

"So you really do! And surely is. I like gossips, and you're dying to tell someone, and I just happen to be here, so why don't share?"

"Wouldn't you make the meanest girl at school"

"I know I have the lashes, and the ass but I'm too handsome to be your girl, sorry cupcake" Tony fluttered his eyelashes at him, and cracked a toothy grin, that was sharp around the edges and drew wrinkles in the corner of his eyes.

"I hate you"

"It won't save you, Stevie" Tony nudged him with his knee, and wasn't it endearing that they could have so much fun even if Tony was still guarding the show of his emotions and Steve tried desperately to avoid getting aneurysm?

"So come on! Who is the scary lady, and what stops you from asking her out?"

Steve stayed silent for a minute weighing his chances. Tony wouldn't leave him be until he 1) tell him, and the reason why he hadn't asked her out yet, and Tony obviously didn't take the answer well of 'just because', because he might want to set them up – he really didn't put it past Tony; or 2) until Steve snapped at him and sent him away with something very nasty which both of them would regret. But probably mostly Steve. Because a hurt Tony is the worst Tony. Not that he had so much experience, but that would mean that Tony's smiles would turn all too guarded and sharp all the time. And his eyes would look hollow and cold. Painfully far away from this chocolate brown, back to a pale, dark greyish shade. And Steve just wanted to see them warm up to an actual colour.

It was definitely and without doubt only the artist speaking from him!

Damn, Steve was embarrassed. He knew, he actually recalled some memories of Tony with random girls on his arm. And hell, Tony probably didn't even remember him, because he was small and scrawny at that time and usually sported several bruises, and Tony was handsome and had charisma, and the girls never cared what might come out of the thing they had, because it definitely wasn't a relationship with the speed Tony changed them, and also because it was a different Tony. A Tony who didn't give a crap about anything as far as he could piss off others. And Steve remembered the smirk on Tony's face as he stole the girlfriend of the captain of the football team in a lunch-break.

But nobody should know that he was keeping record of these memories. And also about that he nearly died out of sheer embarrassment when he tumbled into the cocky handsome bastard when he was looking for the drama class.

Cool. Now his face was burning up again.

Steve sighed in defeat.

"It's Peggy Carter from my class" he admitted on a low rumble, and hoped Tony wasn't paying attention so that he can accuse him of not listening and they would be over the overly embarrassing topic of who Steve had or had not a crush on.

And for a bare second Steve was hopeful.

"…That scary British chick who's like from the military?"

Steve stared up at Tony. Because who thought Tony knew his classmates so well?

"I'm not really into brunettes, don't worry, soldier. Though I admit, she is at least special. She seems to have brains"

"She is smart" Steve stated firmly

"All right. So what? You're afraid of her dad?"

"You won't leave this, will you?" Steve sighed again and rubbed at his forehead to try and get the upper hand of the turmoil of his feelings. Because Tony wasn't helping at all being so neutral and nonchalant about this topic despite the eager interest he showed in making Steve uncomfortable. "She has a military background, yes, her father is a Vietnam veteran, and I surely wouldn't be his favourite, or of her brothers'…"

"But…"

"But I just don't know how to ask someone out, I don't know how to date, okay?" Steve blurted out finally.

And it didn't help anything. At the thoughtful look on Tony's face he nearly snapped 'Why do you want to set me up with someone so much, when I don't want it?' But he might have been more worried about the answer than eager to hear it.

"It's time to start everything"

"It's not like that! Because I wonder if you've noticed but girls expect you to know things, and I'd just make a moron of myself if I stumble. I haven't had as much attention as you, just saying!"

Tony levelled him with a strange look, and that chill cooled his nerves a little bit.

"If it's all about the kissing…"

"It's not just all about that, Tony"

"Yes, yes, such sappy thing like emotion, I know" Tony made a face – was he really like seventeen? "But still, you could practice. You know, practice makes perfect"

"And please tell how would I even practice if I can't talk to girls? I wouldn't want to kiss someone just like that" Steve was getting desperate and hoped that a little bit of exaggeration won't hurt. Much.

"Well, you have me"

Tony said it so matter of factly that Steve nearly choked on his own tongue. His face was beat red by now and his eyes huge as saucers and definitely desperate and pleading for this awkward conversation to end.

"Yes, I know you're not rolling that way, I remember what I said some minutes ago, but if you don't think of me as 'guys' – as in general, but just in 'Tony' like the crazy asshole who's making a nuke in the closet, that should be better, right?" Tony had no idea how wrong he was this time. "I promise I'll shave for you, not to make it very disturbing. All I aim to please"

"This is stupid"

"Hey, just think about it" and Tony grinned at him again, and finally the awkward edge of the conversation was wearing off. "I won't take back the offer, don't worry. I don't have anything against gorgeous blonds kissing me. If I can contribute to your happiness a little bit – because trust me, I was told to be an amazing kisser, and I honestly don't think you can be awkward at it with such lips and that little cute blush of yours, so just let me know if you change your mind"

On their way back home they had to cross the bridge, because Steve chose the furthest park in town. He still didn't know what Tony was doing around there. But now he watched worriedly as Tony was balancing on the rail of the bridge, the two wings of his hoodie hung at his sides and underneath he wore a painfully red T-shirt that was nearly glowing in bright sunlight.

Steve couldn't really wrap his mind around why, but he felt a cold fist clench his heart upon the sight.

And it wasn't gone until they had passed the bridge and the steel-blue river far behind.

TBC

A/N: Time to say I'm sorry again. This chapter didn't turn out the way I wanted and I feel awkward. I haven't felt so disappointed with this fic so far :( Thanks to everyone sticking along and reading and commenting!

And again, huge thanks and cookies for you, Rebecca!

I can't guarantee a regular update, because the semester is comin to an end inevitably, so I'll have school stuff, but I'll try!

Just one more thing (I know noone cares after such a long chapter, but bear with me) I already mentioned that I would like to illustrate this fic. But I just can't come up with actual settings so far, but it'd be cool to see a cover for this story. So, if you have any idea, I'm open to them ;)