Back to routine
Steve returned from break feeling a little more encouraged with the start of classes. Although he liked returning to his house, since it was quieter than the apartment in the city, in a way he missed the flow of people in the city. The music on the corners and the strange characters that did not exist in his town.
As he walked down the hallway, the faint strains of music floated out from Tony's apartment, triggering memories of their last encounter before the break.
They had discovered a unique way to stay connected. It all began with Tony providing Steve detailed instructions for the commissioned painting, accompanied by a series of photos that captured the essence of his vision. Soon, their interactions evolved into unexpected glimpses into each other's lives, with Tony sending mini vlogs that offered a window into his world. In return, Steve reciprocated, sharing snapshots of his own experiences during the break.
While their verbal exchanges were sparse, it was a surprising turn of events, given that Steve had half-expected to be completely ghosted after the elevator incident.
The kiss, in retrospect, had felt like a fleeting moment, a product of the circumstance. He hadn't given much thought to it, and he assumed Tony hadn't either. The situation had lent itself to that, but a kiss would not be enough to stop a war.
And that reality found a way of reasserting itself, and as he reached for the key he'd hidden under his doormat, he found nothing. A moment of frustration washed over him, quickly replaced by surprise as Tony's voice pierced the air.
"Are you looking for this?" Tony asked, holding out the key to Steve.
Steve's eyes widened in astonishment. He hadn't anticipated seeing Tony so soon, let alone in such a playful mood. The brunet's hair was slightly longer, and his skin bore the gentle tan of someone who had spent their break by the beach.
"Thanks," Steve managed, taking the key. He couldn't help but notice the change in Tony's disposition.
Tony's tone turned mischievous. "I would be careful opening that door, Rogers."
Steve raised an eyebrow, wariness creeping back into his demeanor. He glanced at Tony, who wore a sly smile.
"What 's going on?"
Tony's grin widened. "Well, I took my time to give you a valuable lesson about living in the city. You don't leave your keys out like that, come on."
Steve's confusion deepened. He turned back to his door, hesitating for a moment before inserting the key. As the door swung open, his eyes widened in surprise. The entire floor was covered in paper cups, each one filled with water.
"You should hurry up," Tony chimed in, his tone a mixture of amusement and urgency. "Those are biodegradable, and I don't think they have much time left."
Steve let out a sigh, a small smile playing on his lips. He stepped into his apartment, glancing back at Tony, who was leaning against the door frame, as if the embodiment of mischievousness had been painted and framed.
"Thanks for the welcome back, Stark," Steve said.
Tony merely shrugged, a playful glint in his gaze. "Just doing my civic duty, Rogers. Enjoy the cleanup."
With that, Steve closed his door. The semester was back in full swing, but it seemed that Tony was determined to keep things interesting.
And so, for the rest of the afternoon, as he walked on his knees through the living room of his apartment, collecting cups, he began to contemplate his next attack.
☆☆☆
The hum of activity in the college cafeteria provided a backdrop as Tony and Natasha settled at their usual table for lunch. Trays of food in front of them, they dove into their meal, engaging in easy conversation.
Natasha leaned in, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "So, has Steve done anything to make up for the water cups?"
Tony chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Nah, not really, I think he's taking his time. We're just doing our usual routine"music and smoke."
Natasha raised an eyebrow, a knowing look in her eyes. "And how's that going?"
Tony smirked, a hint of mischief in his gaze. "Honestly, I think I'm getting used to the smell. And every now and then, I catch him humming to my music, I think I need to find new ways to annoy him."
Natasha couldn't help but chuckle. "I thought that after the kiss you two actually were on something."
"Nah, that wasn't anything. I mean, if you had been there, you would understand it."
Natasha grinned. "I actually understand kissing someone after a date"
Tony cocked his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "Has Steve been telling you we went on a date?"
Natasha shook her head. "No, he just mentioned how Stark ruined his solo-date at the art convention." She said the last part mocking Steve's tone.
Tony burst into laughter. "Yeah, that's accurate and you know I don't do dates."
With a sigh, Natasha leveled a look at Tony. "It was literally a date."
"Nuh uh, it was a coincidence that happened while I was shopping, like come on Nat, I'm a busy man, between the career, the war, and trying to live decently I don't have time for that."
"You're stupid."
Tony's laughter filled the air, the carefree sound echoing through the bustling cafeteria.
They kept sharing a moment, catching up on all the mildly interesting events happening at university. They were soon joined by more friends.
Bruce Banner settled in beside Natasha, launching into a lament about the lack of vegan options at the university. Tony had met him in a class during the first semester and had harassed him until he finally started sitting with them. Meanwhile, Thor and his brother Loki arrived, fresh from their anthropology class. The most recent acquisition of the group, who had arrived through Natasha's club for foreign students.
Natasha turned to the newcomers, a casual question on her lips. "Have either of you seen Steve?"
Thor pondered for a moment before answering, "He mentioned he'd be tied up with something today."
The exchange didn't go unnoticed by Tony, and he shared a knowing smile with Natasha.
It seemed like the time had finally come for the blonde to strike back.
☆☆☆
As Steve waited in his apartment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of eagerness bubbling within him. He was practically bursting with excitement.
When he finally heard the familiar creak of Tony's door opening down the hall, he wasted no time. Steve practically bounded towards his own door.
"Hey Stark!" The words tumbled out with genuine warmth.
"I thought today would be the perfect day, but you had to show up." Tony said, with his characteristic playful tone.
Tony found himself unexpectedly annoyed that Steve hadn't waited for him to return home together. He had assumed he wouldn't be seeing Steve for the rest of the day, and yet there he was, standing in front of him. It was a strange mixture of frustration and surprise, and for a moment, Tony couldn't quite put his finger on why he felt this way. It was as if a tiny fracture had formed in their routine, leaving him slightly unsettled. Despite his irritation, he couldn't deny that seeing Steve again, albeit under these circumstances, elicited a strange sense of anticipation within him.
Steve chuckled, his voice light. "I'm sorry. I couldn't possibly miss the chance to ruin your day."
Tony offered a tight, fake smile in return. They stood on opposite sides of the threshold, their apartment doors framing the space between them.
Locked eyes, their gazes intense and searching, "So, are you working on something big?"
Steve nodded, a sense of accomplishment in his tone. "Yeah, it's over now. I just have to wait."
Tony hesitated for a moment, taking a quick look around his apartment searching for anything out of order. Suddenly wary of what might await him inside. He turned to Steve, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in his eyes. However, before he could say anything further, his phone rang, displaying an unknown number.
Steve, already inside his apartment, offered advice. "Better answer that. You never know when an important call might come through."
Tony quickly answered the call, his voice guarded. "Hello?"
"Hi, is this Tony Stank?" A girl's voice greeted him from the other end. Tony looked at Steved while raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Tony Stark"
"Oh great, I found your keys here at the library, so I thought you might want them back."
Tony stood processing for a moment, his house keys just inside the palm of his hand at that moment.
"Yeah sure, you can leave them in the lost-things, I will pick them up later, thank you."
As he hung up, his irritation turned to realization. He glanced back at Steve, who wore a knowing smile. It became clear what Steve had been up to during lunch, and Tony let out a sigh of exasperation.
"Really Rogers? That 's your best?"
Steve's smile grew even more as he said, "I don't even know how many of those I left."
Tony managed to mutter a "What?" in utter disbelief, just as Steve closed the door to his apartment.
His phone rang again, with another unregistered number, and the brunette realized that there were some long days ahead.