Oh my god. I don't know where this is going, guys.
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I had to see him again. Besides, he owed me a Black Label cupcake and I was going to make sure that he followed through. It was an official agreement. We shook hands. I think I'll start making people do pinky swears. They're more stable and everyone knows that if you break a pinky swear, Candle Jack will get you.

"Hey Banner."

Bruce eyeballed me from behind his copy of Popular Science. "What's up."

I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck, "Did you like those cupcakes I gave you a while back?"

His eyes lit up, "Yeah, you got more?"

"Not yet. I'm headed out and wanted to see if you wanted some." This is stupid.

"Cool. I'd love some. Can I-" He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "Can I have a dozen this time? I ate all four in like an hour." Bruce admitted sheepishly.

I laughed. "No problem."

"That right there, Stark, is why we are friends." Banner was basking in the glow of anticipation. I'm sure him and the big green guy share a love for the cupcakes. There's a theory I can put to test the next time he Hulks out. Sooth the beast with baked goods.


From the moment I entered the shop, my senses were violated once more by the baked hell of all things cake.

"Hey, welcome t-" Steve was occupied up until he stopped working to greet me. I could practically hear him scream on the inside. "Tony!" He smiled and my stomach flipped.

I couldn't help but return a smile as we met at the register. And there he was, in that stupid apron with that mile wide grin. There's flour on his nose and something in me pushes to wipe it off. "You've got flour on your..yeah." I showed him the thick layer of flour that transferred to my thumb and he ducked his head, blushing as usual.

"So." He's avoiding eye contact, trying to return his complexion to a shade that doesn't include pink. "What brings you here?"

"Well, Steve." I folded my arms over my chest. "My friend enjoyed those cupcakes you picked out. So, I need a dozen of those." He was quick to grab a box. "You can just mix it up again and you know what... Get one of those green cupcakes right there." I pointed a finger to the tray of cupcakes that were the same color as the big guy. Surely he'd get a kick out of a mini hulk colored cupcake.

Like some bakery ninja, Steve had the dozen packed up and ready to go before I knew it. I frowned a little. He should move a little slower so I could stay just a little bit longer. I paid him, leaving a rather large tip. "You're fun to drink with."

Steve shoved his hands into the pocket of his apron. "Thanks, Bucky doesn't really like it when I drink. I tend to get a little friendly." His blue eyes looked up, locking with mine. "I'm sure you know that now."

He sure was rather friendly at the fundraiser. I'm not complaining though. However, if he were like all those stupid girls who normally are all over me, he would've gotten a palm to his face. I don't deal with clingy people very well and yet for some reason, I found him perfectly tolerable and was rather disappointed when Bucky ruined our little party.

I wanted to stay longer but what else was there to say? I don't like cupcakes and I don't know him all too well. Besides, he has a boyfriend and despite my rather lengthy track record, I'm not a home wrecker and from the looks of it, it's only a matter of time until him and Bucky split. I'm patient.

"Oh, Steve."

"Yeah."

"You owe me a certain kind of cupcake that contains trace amounts of alcohol."

He laughed, wiping his hands on his apron. "You're right!" And there it was, that smile. God damn it. "Why do you drop by tomorrow night after closing and we can work on those Black Label cupcakes."

If there's liquor involved, I can be anywhere in a matter of minutes. Scratch that, seconds if I use the suit. "Sounds like a plan."


For the first time in forever, I'm actually looking forward to leaving the tower. Oh but of course, when I am looking forward to something, the fabled sucker of fun materializes out of nowhere.

"Tony, where do you think you're going?"

I blinked, "Out."

She grabbed onto my wrist, "Don't think so."

So rude. "Excuse me." I fell onto the floor so I could break out of her grasp. Thor and the others are laughing. I'm not moving until she goes back to her bat cave. "Banner!" My shout muffled by the carpet. "Attack!" He apologizes, stating that he was not getting involved with mine and Pepper's childish antics. These are not antics. Bruce just lost a dozen cupcakes and several points on the bro scale.

Pepper managed to pull enough so that I was now sitting up.

"Anthony Edward Stark! So help me if you do no-"

"I. Have. Things. To. Do." She needs to take a few xanies. Actually, she may need a whole bottle. Pep dropped my arm with enough force that it shot a small amount of pain into my shoulder. "Why can't I go out?"

"You have a dinner appointment with the head of Smith Logistics." She pressed her hands firmly on the curve of her hips in what is an obvious failed attempt at being stern.

I held up a finger, "Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you head of Stark Industries now?" She blinked, her mouth open.

"What's that? You seem like the cat's got your tongue."

She rolled her eyes, "Well yeah but they wan-"

"No. You didn't tell me about this dinner and I have plans." I stood up, pressing the palm of my hand into her face. "Bring me back a steak." She slapped my arm, cursing at me as I left the room. Tony Stark – 1. Pepper Potts – -500


"Oh. Cupcakes after dark." I smirked, following Steve into the kitchen.

There they were. My babies in all their scotchy glory. I liked my lips, reaching for an already opened bottle. "Is it fine if I pour myself a glass?"

Steve nodded as he scrambled all over the kitchen, gathering what I take to be the necessary ingredients to make my cupcakes from heaven. I feel like the Professor from Power Puff Girls, about to create my beautiful children. Except in my case, I can eat them. If the professor ate his children, that would be cannibalism and that show would be over before it could start.

"Alright, here's your apron." Steve handed me this table cloth cut to fit a human. I just stared at him, holding the stupid thing in my hand.

"Do I have to? I mean.. I'd rather get covered in eggs than wear this."

He laughed. I'm serious.

"No, I just wasn't sure if you wanted to get your clothes messy."

I pointed at his apron, "Is that why you wear one?"

He shrugged, "Well, yeah. Why else would I?" Well gee, I dunno. Maybe because you feel pretty in it. I shrug, already starting on my second glass.

I propped myself up onto the cold, stainless steel island. A piece of paper with scribbles and fractions was sitting next to the eggs and I quickly snatched it up. Oh, it's the ingredients and stuff. Cool.

"You wanna read them to me?" He looked up at me, hugging a large bowl.

I nod, squinting as I read off the ingredients. I exaggerate the amount of alcohol needed. An extra kick can't hurt. Besides, it's not good unless you can feel the sweet, sweet burn in your chest.

He's just mixing things together and he's better than I ever could be at this. I flick at egg shell at him. Of course, I miss and it breaks even more upon impact with the floor. The corner of Steve's mouth curled into a toothless smile, his attention still on the bowl in front of him. "If you make a mess, you're cleaning it up."

No I'm not. I grin, shoving more things onto the floor and he can't help but laugh. "Tony!"

"Steve!"

He playfully pushes my leg and I push back. "Quit it." I can't help it. If there's an opportunity to make a mess, I will take full advantage of it.

Steve lets me finish mixing while he preps the pans for the batter, "So..you and Bucky." I can't help but ask.

"Yeah." I can see him smile even with his back turned to me. "We've been together for well.." he exhales, "forever."

He brings the pans back, taking the bowl of batter from me. "You did a decent job mixing, Mr. Stark." He's so formal when drunk. I envy him. He's obviously happy. Happiness for me is a bottle of liquor and one night stands. I can't help but feel pathetic.

With a proud look on his face, Steve places the pan into the oven. "Gorgeous." What. I looked at him, hope shot into my chest only to quickly be shot down as soon as I realized he was talking about the stupid batter. I don't know why I was expecting something out of this. I just I was just hopefully and read a little too deep into him.

He rest his back against the wall opposite of me, arms folded over his chest. "So, are you and that red headed woman..y'know."

I can't help but laugh. "No, oh my god. No." My face automatically cringes when the idea of seeing Pepper in a romantic way is brought up. Clint and Natasha constantly tease me. According them, she's madly in love with me. They've got love completely confused with "If I had the chance, I would slit Tony's wrist and watch him bleed out while I cackle and then fly away on my broom." There is no love there. She's cold, calculating and hell.. That's why I bought her a snake for Christmas so that she could finally have a friend. I kid. She's not that bad.

"Oh, my bad." Yes, Steve. Your bad. Never again. "Well.." He chewed at his lower lip, "Have you ever been with a guy? I mean, I've seen you with women but I've never really heard about you being with a guy. I've always wondered." I blink with a smirk on my face.

Have I ever been with a guy? I wish. "Nope. I've thought about it but the opportunity never really presented itself."

He nodded his head, those blue eyes looking me over as if I were a steak. "I see."

We spent half an hour with mindless chatter to kill the time and in those thirty minutes, I fell for him just a little bit more and I couldn't help but curse his relationship with Bucky.

Steve swirled a bit of the scotch infused icing onto the tip of his index finger, "Here. Try it." He smiled, holding his finger up to my mouth. I sucked his finger into my mouth, welcoming the taste of scotch once more and damn it, he was making it just that much harder to not like him. "It's great, yeah?" He stuck the finger into his mouth, sucking off what was left of the icing.

"It's heaven." Honestly, I never even considered the possibility of cupcakes that could actually appeal to me in such a way.

Suddenly, it hit me. Steve was the first that wasn't associated with S.H.I.E.L.D. Or any other affiliation. He just an extraordinarily ordinary man. It was nice to be treated like an actual human and not as "Iron Man." A lot people seem to have forgotten that we're the same person.

He unwraps a cupcake, slicing a piece that had both enough icing and cake. "Here."

People seem to enjoy feeding me things. I must have a sign that says, "limited motor functions: please assist during all dining situations."

I took in the mouthful and well..It's Black Label in cupcake form. Steve was a cupcake god. And maybe, just maybe cupcakes weren't so bad after all. He nudges me, waiting for my approval. I swallow and grin at him. "I like cupcakes now."

If his feet were make of rockets, the kid would have blasted through the roof. He had an even bigger smile on his face and I'm wondering just how far his face can stretch. Did he.. Yeah, he just squealed. I playfully rolled my eyes as he did this little jig over to me and pulled me into a tight hug. He's such a physical guy and god, his hugs are wonderful. They're as potent as four glasses of the strongest liquor.

I don't want the hug to end and as quick as it happened, it was over and he was looking down at me with pure and utter joy written all over his face. I hummed, eying the half eaten cupcake, "Y'know what this cupcake needs?" I teased. He shook his head, obviously trying to calculate in his head just exactly what it needed despite me declaring it to be perfect only minutes ago. I grinned, holding the almost empty bottle of scotch. "More alcohol." I poured what was left of the warm liquid over the cupcake and he laughs.

"You're a mess, Tony." Oh, if only he knew how true that statement was. He managed to find his arms wrapped around my waist in the same fashion as the day we first met. "I'll pack these up so we can get out of here."

And there it was, the kiss on the cheek that's been haunting me. It was just as surprising as the first time and yet, without anyone else around, I was able to fully take it in. My face was flushed and my chest, warm. I wasn't quite sure if it was the rather large amount of alcohol I had consumed or if it was from the sheer touch of his lips on my skin.

Steve handed me the box of cupcakes once we were outside of the shop. "Well, I had a lot of fun, Tony."

"Me too." I can't help but smile and he kisses me again. This time on my lips and jesus, I almost dropped the box. Somehow he finds it just terribly hilarious kisses once more. "Steve, you-" I felt breathless.

He only nods, his forehead pressed against mine. He knows. I don't have to say anything and he already knows. We can't do this and yet he continued to kiss me, his breathe hot against my lips. It's taking everything within me to not take him him and take advantage of him.

He's drunk and if he remembers this tomorrow, he's going to regret it. I can easily tell that Steve is the kind of guy that wouldn't do anything to hurt someone intentionally. Unlike him, I'm a fully functional alcoholic. I'm capable of rational decisions, he's not.

"You taste good." Steve snuggled into the crook of my neck, his fingers playing in my hair.

After hoping for this moment for weeks, it's finally happened and I feel bad. I feel bad for allowing him to do this and I feel even worse for Bucky. "Steve, I gotta go. It's late." I lie. There's nothing more that I want than to continue stealing kisses and just bask in his warmth. He frowns and just nods, kissing me once more before we parted ways. He's going to be the death of me.