Tony wakes up, bleary eyes wandering to the clock on the bedside table, and observes it's only just past three. He feels Steve's warmth against his back and relaxes for a moment, before quietly slipping out of bed. Now is as good a time as any to get started on his day.
As he steps softly to the bathroom he glances back, smiling, taking in Steve's sleeping form; cuddled against the pillow Tony had just relinquished.
Tony starts the shower, and slips out of his boxers as the water warms up. After looking himself over in the large bathroom mirror, he gets into the shower, already filled with steam, sliding under the soft stream of water. Without really even noticing it, he begins to hum to himself, and then starts softly singing what he can remember of an old song he had heard Steve listening to the day before.
Tony smiles at the thought. He loves the balance that Steve gives to his life; the man out of time was like an anchor for him, the man who quite literally invents the future. Tony knows Steve thinks he's just learning from Tony, but he doesn't realize how much he is Tony is learning from him.
When they first started their late-night talks, Tony would show Steve how things worked, or a viral video he might like. When their conversations grew deeper and more intimate, Tony would listen for hours as Steve told him about his life growing up, his favorite old musicians, and his time in the army.
Tony shakes his head, feeling the water's temperature start to drop, and finishes rinsing off. Still singing to the tune in his head, he climbs out of the shower, and wraps his towel around his waist. As he slips into the room, dripping water as he goes, he smiles again at the sleeping Steve, and remembers the first time he sleepily asked Steve to stay with him, his smile growing wider.
Tony quietly finds himself a grey tank and a pair of black track pants, and tosses his towel over a desk chair, as he shuffles over to the bedroom door. He figures he can get in some work downstairs before Steve wakes up.
"Stay," Tony hears Steve murmur from the bed, surprising him. At the request Tony moves back over to the bed, and lies down next to the soldier, who runs his hand through Tony's dripping wet hair. Relishing in the feeling, Tony slides down and rests his head on Steve's chest.
A/N: These first two chapters are just kind of introductions to the story, and the rest of the story will longer chapters. I'm still working out where I'm taking the story, but I have a good general idea.
Let me know what you think!