Cheating?

“You’re cheating on her.” Steve chided in his ‘Captain America’ voice.

“What?” Tony looked confused, what on earth was Steve talking about?

“You’re cheating on her, Pepper.” Steve clarified.

“...But I’m not?” 

“Then what do you call that display with Colonel Rhodes?” His PSA face was on and Tony felt like he was about to get a scolding, but instead of confessing like Steve thought he would, he just broke down into laughter.

“Funny.” He managed to laugh out, before turning serious. “Stay out of what you don’t understand, or I’ll make you very sorry.”

He didn’t need his suit to look threatening, making the taller man shrink slightly back on himself and take a half step back, Steve had obviously never seen him in business mode.

“I’m going to tell Pepper.”

“Pepper already knows.” Tony laughed back, with an air of confidence usually saved for when someone knew they were going to win. 

“Great, so she knows she’s with a player and what? Do you guilt trip her into staying, because I knew you were low, but that low?” He asked incredulously, like he was the hero in the situation.

“Once again, I warn you to stay out of things you do not understand. Good day.” He stalked off, his brain cells having died during that conversation. 

The news about Rhodey and Tony spread very quickly amongst the Avengers, some popping up at the most inconvenient times to insult him and leave. Clint, the hetero family man with issues with Tony loved it, he finally had something over the man’s head and Wanda, the broken family girl with even bigger issues with Tony, loved it even more, if only the man would react.

“You’re a man whore.”

“Heard that one before, try better.”

“You don’t deserve her.”

“Also heard that one, next please.”

Every conceivable insult was thrown at him, but the only ones that made him react were when they insulted Pepper or Rhodey, or did it while they were around. But he made sure pretty quickly that those would stop and if Steve gave him another talking to about team bonding, he’s pretty sure it was worth it, no matter what his loves might say.

It was almost a month into the whole ‘man slut’ thing, when Natasha and Sam walked into a date.

“You owe me a hundred, Wilson.” Said the assassin, as Sam grumbled, fishing some notes out of his pocket. 

“You bet on us? Seriously?” Tony’s voice rang out, secretly relieved that it was just Sam and Tash, not anyone else.

She just raised an eyebrow, as Sam raised his hands in surrender. “To be fair, the others would have too, if they didn’t think my claims were so outrageous.”

“And they were?” Tony pressed, motioning with his hands for her to get a move on. 

“That the reason Pepper knew, was because you guys were in a poly relationship.”

“And what did you think, Sam?” Rhodey asked.

“Oh, I thought y’all were in a vee shape, Tasha thought y’all were in a triad, just without the,” he made vague actions with his hands, “between Pepper and Rhodey.”

They all laughed at Sam. “Tony did the same thing when we were figuring out our relationship.” 

Sam and Tony laughed, leaning over to high five. “Awesome!” Sam exclaimed. 

“So what are y’all watching?” Sam asked, glancing at the screen.

“Mean girls.” Tony said, completely deadpanned and if Sam hadn’t known him for longer, he might have thought it was a joke, then again maybe it was, Sam didn’t know him that well. 

“Hmm, good?”

“Love it.” Tony looked like a kid in a candy store.

“Seen the musical?” Natahsa piped up.

Tony looked shocked for a moment, before responding. “There’s a musical?”

“Oh yeah,iIt’s supposed to be opening here next year. Wanna go with me?”

“Sure, I didn’t know you liked Mean Girls.”

“Well, I liked Heathers first, but I guess this knock off will do.”

Tony froze at the mention of Heathers, Rhodey pulling him closer to his side, although no one mentioned it.

“Anyway, Sam and I were just going out, so if you don’t mind us.” She shot him a look that clearly said, ‘don’t argue’, before they retreated out of the room.

“You don’t think they’re gonna tell anyone, do you?” Tony asked, looking around at his partners.

“Probably not, we’ll set Pepper on them if they do.” Rhodey whispered, conspiratorially to the other man.

“Do you not want them knowing?” Pepper asked gently.

“No, I’m cool with it.”

“Alright then it’s settled,” announced Rhodey. “We’ll tell them.”

“How’re we gonna do that?” 

“In the most Tony Stark way possible.” Rhodey had a mischievous glint in his eye, and Pepper sighed, knowing she’d have to clean up the mess. “Dramatically.”

“That pause was sure dramatic.” Tony pointed out, Pepper laughing at her boys’ antics. Her boys, she liked that.

“So Tony, would you do me a favour and marry me?” Pepper and Tony both gasped at this.

“Hey Honey Bear, I thought it was my turn to propose.” He pouted. 

“I’m sorry baby.” He kissed the pout off Tony’s lips. “Couldn’t help myself.”

Pepper was sitting there with a massive grin. “Say yes, you idiot.” She elbowed him, almost shoving him off the couch. 

“Um, yeah! Hell yeah!” 

“That was easy.” He slid the red gemstone onto Tony’s finger, Tony beaming at it and slipped the dogtags over his neck. 

“You know what those mean?” He pulled at the dogtags. “They mean you’re mine.”

Tony whimpered at the implication, before Rhodey kissed him hard and set him back on the couch.

“Now Pepper.” He pulled another box out of his pocket. “Will you-?”

“Yes, wait- finish first.” Rhodey just grinned, slipping the simple diamond ring on her finger. 

Pepper and Tony stared gobsmacked at each other, before Pepper kneeled down in front of Tony. “You’ve already got the ring babe, but what do you say about marrying me as well?”

“Hell yes!” He pulled her in for a massive kiss, tucking himself in between Pepper and Rhodey. 

“So what’s the plan, Rhodey?”

“We announce our engagement to them.” 

Pepper smiled viciously. “And if they rat to the press, their NDAs will put them in prison for a very long time.”

“That’s my girl.” Tony smiled proudly at her.

Rhodey smiled fondly at the two of them, pulling them closer and unpausing the movie.

On Wednesdays we wear pink.

They had an early night, turning in at 9 and just enjoying being with each other. While lying in they discussed the details of how it was going to happen tomorrow, almost unable to sleep with the excitement and nerves running through their veins.

The next morning has a lazy feel to it, no rush for any of them to get up Pepper and Tony curled up against Rhodey’s chest. It was a nice morning, not too hot, light breeze and Tony swore he heard some birds. Showers were taken, clothes arranged, pillow fights had and it was the most comfortable morning they’d had in a while, not to mention neither could keep their eyes off their engagement rings. 

Tony had slipped off earlier that morning, citing lab business before returning 5 minutes later with a huge grin on his face. He would have slipped onto one knee if not for his joint problems and held out a ring in his hand.

“Crafted from the first Iron Man suit and our dorm room key.” 

“I wondered where that had gone.” He smiled fondly at his boyf- no fiance’s antics. “Thank you.”

He slipped the ring on, feeling complete. 

“Ready to go?” He asked, grabbing both their hands.

“Ready.”

They stepped into the elevator.