Chapter 57-Painting
By: MysticFantasy
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"These tales of our adventures are very calming and humorous." Thor mused.
"Very opposite of when Tony asked Steve to teach him to paint." Clint stated.
"Let's not remember that one." Tony insisted.
"No, let's." Natasha replied.
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"So why don't you just go and pretend you're interested in the paintings?" Bruce suggested.
"Pepper knows my disinterested face too well. Used it too many times." Tony replied. "I just can't get into paintings and drawings like everyone else."
"Maybe if you tried painting something, you would appreciate art better." Bruce noted.
"That may work. But who here could help me learn art in time to appreciate a building full of it?" Tony asked as the two passed in front of the open door to the new greenhouse built in the tower.
They both paused when they spotted a familiar figure in the greenhouse and smiled.
There, standing in a paint stained blue button up shirt with art tools in hand, stood Steve Rogers as he painted the plants before him.
The two quietly walked over to their friend, making sure not to disturb him even though they were sure that his enhanced hearing allowed him to know they were around.
They walked up behind him and looked at the masterpiece he had done. The painting looked better than the real thing.
"Something I can help you with?" Steve asked as he used a fan brush to mix a few colors.
"Possibly." Tony answered. "Although it's something I'm almost certain even Captain America can't handle."
"And what might that be?" Steve asked.
"I need to learn to paint by tomorrow night." Tony answered.
Steve snapped his attention to his friend, his paint loaded brush nearly hitting his great artwork.
"Excuse me?"
"Pepper wants me to go with her to an art show tomorrow night but I just don't find it interesting." Tony explained. "So Bruce thought that if I tried to paint something, I might appreciate it better."
"Although I would enjoy the thought of you being more artsy, I don't think you would have the patience for it." Steve admitted.
Tony lightly scoffed in fake offence.
"I can be patient." he declared.
"Not long enough to learn to paint and then appreciate other people's work."
"I bet I could."
"Want to make that official?"
"YES!"
Bruce lightly chuckled. He should have seen something like this coming out of this situation. Tony was always willing to make a bet with someone and the one person he has been waiting to win against was Steve.
So far, the good captain had beaten Tony at his own games more times than Tony is willing to admit.
"Bruce, you're a witness." Tony declared. "By tomorrow morning, I will paint an acceptable piece that the people at the gathering will judge. If they find it acceptable, I win and you, Rogers, will have to go to that little party with me and admit, in public, that I am awesome."
Steve looked like he was going to be sick at that thought. True the friendship between the two men had greatly improved sine the battle in New York but there were still some ego problems to work.
"And if I win?" the soldier asked.
"I will admit your great artistic genius, have a painting put in the gallery and I'll even add an extra surprise. One of which I will keep secret until tomorrow night." Tony answered.
"Tempting." Steve said. "Ok. Deal."
"Good." Tony agreed and the two shook hands.
"First, you need to change. Get into something you don't mind getting paint all over." Steve said.
Tony looked down at his suit. For once, he had attended a business meeting which was where he had gotten the invitation to the art show. He instantly knew that he didn't want to be crafty in his expensive suit.
"Right. Be back." the inventor said and quickly left the greenhouse.
"You think he might be able to pull it off?" Bruce asked as Steve went back to finishing his painting.
"Maybe." Steve answered as he used the fan brush to quickly paint a pine tree. "If you wake up in the morning and we're both covered in paint, you may or may not have your answer."
"Well, then I wish you both the best of luck. More to you though. I have a feeling you're going to need it." Bruce said.
"Thanks. See you in the morning." Steve said.
Bruce left and Steve continued his painting. He figured he'd have a while since Tony needed to be fashionable even if he was about to get dirty.
Just as he finished his painting, Tony arrived wearing black jogging pants and a black button up shirt.
"The artist is ready to go to work." he announced.
"Good." Steve said as he put his finished piece to the side and put a blank canvas in its place. "Think of something to paint while I get your tools ready."
Tony walked over to the white canvas and just stared at it while he heard Steve moving around.
Naturally, wanting to paint his Iron Man suit came to mind but he knew that would be too hard for him. Especially since he's never painted before.
"Alright. Here you go." Steve annoucned as he handed a fresh palette holding different colors. He showed Tony how to properly hold it and then went over the different brushes and what they could do.
"Try a landscape." Steve suggested as he set up a second easal and canvas. He then grabbed a second palette and loaded it with different paints.
"Alright. I can do this." Tony said as he grabbed a bigger brush and dabbed it into the blue paint. He right away began to sweep the brush across the top of the canvas until it was solid blue.
"Think realistically." Steve advised as he got the same brush as Tony and covered it with a blue and white paint mix. He painted the top of his canvas and Tony was amazed to see how much it looked like the sky right on the other side of the windows.
Tony lightly sighed as he turned back to his canvas and then the paints he had to work with. A variety to create any shade he wanted.
"Sometimes it works if you don't tihnk about what you want to paint." Steve said. "Just let it happen."
"Easy for you to say." Tony said. "The only artsy I've ever been was when I was figuring out the colors for my armor."
The inventor grabbed a round brush and began to mix a few colors together. With a nervous sigh, he began to paint.
Come morning, Bruce made his way back to the greenhouse to see how everything went. Sure to Steve's word, both of them somehow got completely covered in paint. It looked like they had both slapped each other a few times with paint covered brushes and smeared handfuls onto each other.
"I'm not going to ask." he said when the two spotted him.
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"My painting may not have been up there with Picasso but it got a...few...compliments." Tony said.
"And it sold." Bruce added.
"To a Stark superfan." Clint said.
"Jealous." Tony muttered. "Either way, Spangles and I both won. At least I didn't lose to him again."
"You may have for the price that 1942 Harley Davidson cost." Natasha said.
"Actually, Pepper thinks Capsicle got me educated in art enough to now be present at many more gallery showings." Tony replied with a slight pout.