Pairing/s: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark (Pre-slash/Pining)
Characters/s: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers
Canon: MCU or AA
Au: Modern collage AU
Warnings: None

Prompt - Fireplace

Tony balances the robotic prototype in one hand precariously as he opens the door to the residence with his key. When he gets the door open he rushes in and puts the thing down on the nearest flat surface.

He takes a moment to let out a breath of relief. Getting the thing back here was more trouble than it was to get it to the university. The wet and drizzly weather of winter seemed to be out to get him recently. Puddles everywhere for him to step in accidental, ridiculously strong winds that seemed intended on trying to knock him or what he was carrying over and the winter cold he had caught not long ago.

Thankfully it was now officially winter break. A few weeks of holiday sounded great to him. He decided to leave his project on the table and see it the fireplace was lit, wanting to warm himself up after today's journey.

He stops short of the shared living room. Above the fireplace is an assortment of knitted socks hanging side by side. Tony groans and buries his face in his hands.

Who's lesser minded idea was that. Who thinks it is a good idea to dangle woolen socks over a fire. It was a major OH&S violation. He should put in a complaint. Really. Didn't people know how high fire can jump? The embers will easily catch the socks and burn the place down.

Tony walks over to take a closer look at the socks. They were all different colors and patterns. One seemed to have a hole in it, but he didn't know if it was from wear or this person's granny made a mistake in her knitting. He grimaced at the possibility that this is someone's collection of odd socks. Nope. Gross. If these socks had ever been worn… when the fire is turned on the place is going to smell like feet.

This is not going on. He is not going to stay in a house where people hang socks over the fire like cavemen.

He hears footsteps behind him and turns. Steve smiles at him from the doorway, and he nearly forgets to breath. The guy is another thing that should have warnings. There is no way one guy could legally be that beautiful. If he believed in magic, he would have thought that the blonde had simply walked out of one of his own paintings.

Realizing he had been staring he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Hey"

Steve didn't seem to acknowledge how awkward that was and instead walked up to him causally. Tony noticed that Steve has something in his hand. Kind of like a scarf. Wait… Oh.

Steve flushes lightly as he holds out the sock to Tony. He is very cute when he is embarrassed, he thinks, which is just really unfair. The sock is red and gold with light blue spots. "I… uh… made this for you"

"For me?" Tony repeats.

"Yeah. I knit sometimes…" Steve says "I wanted to make a Christmas stocking for everyone. I never had a fireplace before so Ma and I never bothered with stockings… and we didn't have much money either. But I thought it would be nice, ya know"

Tony takes the sock carefully from Steve, as if it would unravel in his hands. It was soft, not scratchy like he thought it would be. The colors were sharp and vibrant, but artfully chosen so they didn't clash. And this just might be the most precious he has ever own to date. Something made just for him, only him, in mind. Just because Steve cared.

He takes a deep breath to calm himself so he doesn't start crying in front of Steve. He smiles up at Steve brightly. "This is wonderful. Thank you" he says, trying to put as much weight into that as he can. Hopping Steve would understand just how thankful he was.

Tony moves over to the fireplace and puts it up next to the others. The stocking over the fireplace are not so bad, know that he thinks about it. He is totally all for it.

End