“You're telling me.” Stark groaned, “I’ve been stuck in a room with your BROTHER! For a year now”. Tony sat at the lunch table in a huff, arms crossed and cheeks puffed out. “Cannot be that bad” A small whisper formed behind the duo, all directed at the new (and not so unknown) Steve Rogers. “New guy just came in, and it happened to be Captain America of all people,” Tony said, sticking his tongue out at the distant Cap. “You pleasure yourself in being a child, Tony Stark?” an annoying formal voice sprouted behind him, “ahh - what do you want Loki?”
“Nothing”
“Don’t lie”
“I am forreal this time Stark” Loki took a seat next to Tony, who scooted away in response. “I thought you two, Like, Wanted, to kill each other?” Tony looked from Thor to Loki, and back. “We’ve come to an agreement, that we will no longer indulge in not following orders, and have decided to stop such bitter acts,” Thor responded. Tony only gave them a lopsided smile and a crooked eyebrow. “We will no longer be killing each other, you idiot” Loki chimed in, “that makes a lot more sense then the ancient talk Thor just gave me” Tony laughed.
“Not funny”
“Kinda Was”
“Uhh... Mind if I join you three?” a voice piped in from behind Tony, again. “And who might be ask-”, Tony's mouth gaped. Steve Rogers, Captain America, wanted to sit with them. Tony cleared his throat and pointed to a seat next to Thor. “Sure buddy - go ahead”. Steve nodded and took a seat, giving Thor a bright smile. “Why hello there new guy, and my roommate” Thor greeted Cap. “Rewind, pause, just stop talking” Tony intervened, “He’s your roommate, Cap is your roommate!?” Tony replied in a flustered way. “Why yes, and it's been a delight rooming with Thor” Steve gave Thor another smile, this time it came off way different to Tony.
Something bubbled inside Tony. Anger, sadness, loneliness. Annoyance. He didn’t know, but they were quickly removed from his mind like a gross hairdo. “So, I’ve become acquainted with Loki and Thor.. What about you.. Mr. Stark” Cap looked back at Tony, giving that same free smile to Ironman like he did to Thor, Suddenly the worry washes away. “First off its Tony, secondly nice to meet you Cap” he gave Cap a huge smile. Cap was fixated on Tony's get up. The right arm is covered in a red and gold gauntlet, with a beaming light in the middle of the palm. “-Ah yes this contraption” Tony lifts his arm a bit. “Part of a suit I’m making..” he took a short glance at the clock, “Speaking of making.. I’m late to Chemistry.. Cya!!” He hurried.
“Hey Tony..”
“No time nitwit, maybe another time”
Quill looked back at Stark, who was frantically bumping into students while tryna get to where he was going. “What a mess am I right?” Quill laughed. “And who are you?” Steve tilted his head slightly, eyeing the new person. “My name is Star lord, but you can call me Peter”. Steve nodded, reducing the smile he usually gives. “Are you a friend of Tony’s?” Captain asked. Quill tilted his head and laughed, “God I wish, Tony’s only friends with certain people” Quill pointed to a few people. “These two for starters, who you’ve met (Thor and Loki), then that chick over there” Quill pointed to a tall brunette, wearing a black and yellow jacket and black jeans, Standing next to who appears to be a teacher. “Her name is Wasp, but I assume Janet is the appropriate name,” Quill introduced. Steve nodded, “Who else might Tony be friends with?”. Quill nodded and pointed at two redheads. “Pepper Potts and Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow, Been friends since Day 1 apparently” Quill turned back to the group.
“Is that all??..” Steve wondered. “For someone like you - you sure are interested in Tony Stark’s life, and Yeah prob..” he shrugged, “but i'm not sure”.
Tony rushed to his seat, noticing Hank hadn’t arrived yet. “Phew” Tony sighed and settled in. “Late again Mr. Stark” a voice shouted. Oh god no. “hi Mr. Pym” Tony downcasted. Hank grew back to normal size and crossed his arms. “Look-” - “Save it Mr. Stark, I expect top-notch work from you today” Hank demanded. Tony nodded and opened his notepad, beginning to write down information Hank was carelessly throwing onto the board.
Loki, Thor and Steve all had a spare period, so they decided to chill outside for the remainder of the school time. (It was the end of the day). Sun gazing and strikingly hot, Steve's white half unbuttoned blazer, was now drenched in sweat. “Okay, but is it like 90 degrees outside or something?” Steve asked. He sat up and removed his blue sweater blazer, discarding it far from where he was sitting. “For real.. Like how hot is it?” Loki groaned.
The bell rang and students rushed outside, and headed for their dorms or shopping places. “Hey guys! Enjoying the heat?” Tony shouted. Steve looked back at the man, he never noticed the red mechanical boots that fitted Stark perfectly. As he was walking towards the group Steve couldn’t help but notice Tony's brown hair shining in the sun's rays and his eyes were most definitely sparkling. Or at least to Steve they were?. “It’s burning out here” Tony finally noticed.
“Hey Tony!” a female voice shouted.
“Peggy!!” Tony’s voice sounded like a kid again, “Everyone meet Peggy Carter, Peggy meet Thor, Loki and St-”. Before Tony could continue Peggy ran up to Steve and showered him in hugs and kisses. “eve..” Tony sighed. “I’ll let you two catch up” Tony moped. “Oh my dear. Tony I’m so sorry” she let go of Steve and walked over to Tony, “I promised we would check out and study WW2 together.. It’s just ” she glanced back at Steve, who was blushing tremendously. And the feelings from before?.. Yeah they returned, harder than ever. “Peggy please go catch up with Steve” Tony scratched the back of his head, giving her a genuine smile. “You deserve it, after all.. I brought you back, you need a day off from seeing me” Tony laughed. It was hollow.
“Alright” she smiled. Steve held out his arm, and she graciously took it. Leaving the group behind they made their way over to the club.
“You're sick.” Loki spat. “The hell?” Tony turned to him, “You’re either sick or you’ve got a crush on Captain America” Loki ever so simply added. “Shut up dude” Tony sputtered. “That would explain the way you were acting,” Thor replied. Both of them looked at each other, nodded, then returned their gazes back to Tony who was looking down. “Idiots” He smiled and shook his head, “No. I don’t have a crush on Cap” Tony put his head back up. “I was simply upset because Fury is giving me a personal WW2 quiz tomorrow” Tony laughed. Still Hollow.
“Why’s it so important?” Loki questioned. “Because I’ve never failed a test before” Tony raised an eyebrow, “What about that Robotics test, or that Math test a few days ago, or-”. Tony swooped in smoothly, “Ok, ok, I get it” He raised his hands in defeat, shaking his head. Loki laughed, “Right as usual” he prided himself in being correct. Especially if it was against Tony.
“So Steve, how are you liking the Academy so far?” Peggy asked. Steve took a sip of his coffee and hummed, “Well I’ve been here for a week so far, and it's amazing. It’s really helping me be more of a hero” Steve gave her a small smile. Peggy nodded. She gave him a smirk, “So what’s up with you and Tony?, I saw the way you two stammered in the lunchroom” She noticed. Steve choked on his coffee, “Nothing, we just met!” Steve stammered. “Sure, sure” She rolled her eyes, “Seriously Peggy”. Steve sounded like a child. “Aww looks who’s flustered” a voice chimed in, Peggy cheered a bit, and Steve glanced back, a smile tugging on his lips at the sight.
“Tony!!”
“Woah, you’re excited”
“Well yeah” Steve said, he scooted over making room for Tony to sit next to him. “You two are getting along” Tony noticed, the feelings were starting to rise again, but were quickly let down when Peggy gave him a nod, Tony tilted his head slightly “What?” Steve shook his head at her and she replied with a laugh. “Just talking about how much Steve loves you” She replied.
“What did I just hear?” Jan squealed and ran over, taking a quick seat next to Peggy, who just gave Jan a lighthearted laugh. “Are you two?-” She stopped and suddenly her smile got a whole lot bigger. “OMG! Are you two dating?” Jan said a bit too loudly. Suddenly gazes peered upon Steve and Tony, then quickly returning their gazes to each other and the talking began again. A shiver went up Tony’s spin, a small tingle that he’s never felt.
“What - What, NO” Tony stammered, his bright red cheeks clearly visible to the group, “We’re just really good friends” Tony added, Steve nodded. Not replying or adding to the conversation. “Ok? Tony, are you gonna join us at Club A?” Jan turned her flattered eyes at Tony. “Yeah, Yeah.. Let me guess?, Enchantress wanted me to go on a date with her?” Tony’s eyelids hung low and his look seemed bland. “Yeah” She scratched the back of her neck, shifting her gaze downwards.
Tony groaned, tapping his metal boots against the ground. “Impatient are we?” Agent 13 jumped in, “Hi” Tony showed no interest in yet again another ex-lover Steve has had. “Just date her” 13 teased, “Nah, she’s not my type” Tony laughed. Steve sighed, it nearly sounded like relief. Tony looked over at Steve who was fiddling with his hands. Tony placed his hand on top of Steve's, “wanna go somewhere, get out of this. CLEARLY, girls only meet” Tony teased, and Steve nodded instantly.
“Loki and Thor invited me to their door” Steve muttered, “Huh?.. But I dorm with Loki?” Tony gave Steve a questioning look. The pair was heading for the dorm building. Taking their sweet time. “Apparently Fury moved me to dorm with you?” Steve shrugged. Tony looked at Steve, his head hung low, clearly nervous. “Hey if we’re gonna be friends, you need to stop being scared of me” Tony grabbed Steve's shoulder and turned Steve towards him. “I’m-I’m not scared, I just met you.. So I'm nervous” Steve replied quickly, sweat beaming from his forehead.
Tony gave a mental sigh, Clearly doesn’t remember me. Tony gave an audible sigh and shook his head, “Steve we are in nearly every class together, How could you not recognize me?” Tony laughed. “I-..” Steve paused. “I don’t focus on other people, I’ve only been here for a week now, I guess I never took note of the fact that you were in nearly all my classes” Steve confessed, and it hurt. Am I that unnoticeable?. Tony shrugged, “it happens. I mean I’m so self centered I barely know anyone in my class” Tony uttered a laugh.
* 6 Months after the interaction *
“Gotta say rooming with Steve has been a lot better, then it was when I was rooming with you” Tony smiled childishly. “Rooming with my brother hasn’t been that bad either” Loki shrugged. “I’m still a Top A student, and I’ve got a famous best friend,” Tony laughed.
“We are not best friends”
“Not you”
“Oh”
“Like you’ll ever be famous” Tony rolled his eyes and laughed, “I meant Steve” he added, “Steve’s been around some girls lately, how are you holding up?” Loki suddenly changed his tone to his ‘I’m your friend, now tell me’ tone. The feeling from months ago crept back up, this time stinging more than ever. Imagining Steve grabbing 13’s hand or kissing Peggy in the moonlight, Suddenly became the saddest image he’s ever seen. “I’m fine” Tony’s tone suggested otherwise. “No you’re not” Loki rolled his eyes.
“I hate being your friend”
“Likewise”
“Hey guys” Steve waved. Tony didn’t respond, but instead he was greeted with a hard pressing around his shoulder, and a face nuzzling his neck. Loki instantly got up and ran off, clearly wanting to get the action from a distance. “Uhh..” Tony stammered. “What's wrong?” Tony asked, “I’m tired and you’re warm” Steve muffled. “Are you drunk?” Tony asked, Steve shook his head. “I can’t get drunk.. Remember”. The serum allows Cap to drink as much as he wants, and not end up drunk.
“Bucky was giving me a hard time,” Steve uttered. Bucky… “I for sure thought he’d be giving Sam a hard time, when did it start with you?” Tony laughed. “I don’t know, maybe when I told him how I feel” Steve raised his head and rested his chin on Tony's stiff shoulder. That's Right.. Forget about girls, Steve's had the hots for some dude for a few months now. Tony cleared his throat. “I assume he said yes, and if so congrats” Tony added, “Thank yo- Wait what?” Steve shot up and suddenly Tony missed the warmth. “I assume he’s the dude you were rambling about to Jan a couple months ago?” Tony turned to Steve who stood in utter awe.
“No way. He’s into Sam, or at least I think he is.. Or 13, I forgot what he told me” Steve responded, “Then Who’s the guy?” Tony tilted his head, which earned a laugh and a head shaking from Steve.
“You need to up your detective skills Tony”
Oh Fuck. He meant me.