Tony stared at the Iron Man suit standing in the corner of his makeshift room, in the makeshift base he had built with his companions. He should put it on. He should at least hide it somewhere near the clearing. What if the meeting was a trap?
He despised himself for a moment for that thought, for the doubt creeping into his mind. It would be stupid to not prepare safety measures when you have a secret meeting with the leader of the opposite side, but... it was Steve. And when Steve requested something, he meant it. He wouldn't stoop to such lows. Not the Steve he had known before the war anyway.
Tony exited the base, his suit still in that corner. He had to hurry or he would be late.
*
The clearing was the only spot of light in the pitch-black woods. Despite the cloudy sky, some light illuminated his surroundings where no forest canopy blocked it out.
Steve, not in his Captain America uniform, emerged from the shadows on the opposite side of the clearing. Tony's fears of a trap became mute and got replaced by similar nervous feelings of completely different origins.
"Merry Christmas," Steve greeted, confusing Tony in the process.
Not the words he had expected for sure.
"What do you want?" His voice sounded harder than he wanted to, but Tony couldn't keep his irritation completely under control.
"I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas." They could have had a merry Christmas together if Steve hadn't been so stubborn, Tony thought bitterly. "And to give you this." Steve held up a wrapped gift.
Tony eyed it for a moment, took it and opened it. He had expected a truce offering to initiate peace negotiations or something like that. He hadn't expected to get a present.
Tony snorted amused when the wrapping came off. "A framed picture of myself?"
"I drew it. I hope you like it." Steve smiled, a hint of mischievous in it. "Thought something to admire yourself would be fitting."
"At least you have taste." His portrait was done with great care. Tony was not an art person, but even he could tell that much. And it definitely highlighted his most positive features. "Thank you. I hope you understand, that I didn't expect a gift exchange and came empty-handed."
"That's fine."
Tony mustered Steve.
"What is this, Steve? What do you hope to get from this?"
Steve hesitated to answer.
Annoyed and alerted Tony scanned his surroundings.
The first snow of the year was falling in big snowflakes, wrapping the woods into a white blanket. The first snow on Christmas Day. Under different circumstances, this could have been something to enjoy. But nothing else looked out of order. A few snowflakes had fallen on the glass frame of the picture and Tony wiped them away. Lost in this task, he hadn't caught Steve's answer.
"What?"
"It's a distraction." That was blunt and felt like a punch to Tony's guts. "To get you out of the camp."
Panic crept up his spine. He had to get back. No time getting angry about Steve's betrayal or his own stupidity. Without a word, Tony ran, ignoring Steve calling his name. He let them down. He let his people down! His stupid, sentimental ass would have cost them the war! Tony could hear Steve's steps behind him.
His base was only a stone's throw away when something else reached his ears. He heard voices, idle chatter, even laughter, not the expected explosions and screams. He could see members of both sides in the middle of a snowball fight in the distance. Tony stopped in his tracks. Steve's footsteps stopped behind him.
Tony felt shame washing over him. He was such an idiot for thinking this was a trap. He had underestimated how much of a toll this whole business had taken on him when he stooped so low himself.
"I-"
"I thought we all deserve a few peaceful days before we're going back to... normal." Steve came closer as he spoke. "I also feared that you would confuse this as an act of aggression and wanted to talk to you in private, while the others offer the truce."
Said others started to sing Christmas songs. Tony was very happy not to be too close. They sang with a lot of joy and not much talent.
He could feel Steve's arms wrapping around his waist until his broad, warm chest was pressed against Tony's back.
"I also have to confess that I did it to have you for myself, even if only for a few minutes. Not seeing you on the other side of a weapon, talking to you in peace, was my Christmas gift."
Tony was done fighting against his urges and leaned back with a low sigh, melting into the embrace. Damn this man. Even in his selfish moments, he was selfless.
"I doubt they will miss us for a while." Tony looked over his shoulder, grinning. A few snowflakes had fallen on Steve's light blonde hair, giving it the impression of a halo. "Care to unwrap your Christmas gift?"