Chapter 7
TONY
He had hung out at home during the day, keeping an eye on his mopey daughter while his husband suddenly decided to work at the foundation.
Which was especially odd...since the previous day he had told Tony how excited he was to try out his new paints.
So he sat in the living room, glasses on the bridge of his nose and fiddling with his tablet while his daughter went to the kitchen to rummage for snacks.
Tony looked up as she walked back, eyeing her food choice with a raised brow.
“Whatcha got there pudding?”
“Chips and dip…” she answered apprehensively, sitting on the other side of the couch.
“Uh huh...what’s your chip?”
“...graham crackers…”
“And your dip?”
“Whip cream…” she admitted sheepishly, munching on her snacks while Tony squinted at her.
“Baby girl is that all you’ve eaten today?” he asked the adult currently shoving her face with gummy bears.
“I miss my wife,” she grumbled out, eyes fixed on the tv.
“I know you do sweetpea and I’m not your Pops. I’m glad you’re eating something, even if it’s diabetes chips and dip.”
“Glad we’re in agreement,” she muttered out. “So you’re the one babysitting me today, huh?” she asked in a passive-aggressive tone, eyes focus on the tv screen.
“You’re not a baby, you’re an adult. I’m adult-sitting you,” Tony teased in amendment, looking at her over his glasses and chuckling when she just rolled her eyes at him. “I’m kidding, Thumper. I’m going down to my lab in a bit anyway, you’re welcome to join me.”
“Really? You’re allowed to leave me? Even if I literally just want to sit here all day instead? Pops hasn’t made you swear to be in the same room as me at all times?”
“No of course not,” Tony said with a scoff before turning back to his tablet. “He’s just going to ask JARVIS what you did when he gets home.” She had a scoff that matched his own, putting a smile on his face even as she buried herself further into the couch.
“Where is old man Jenkins, anyway? Thought he wanted to try his new paints out.”
“You know, I was thinking the same thing. I think he’s avoiding your Aunt Tasha. She said she found some pics of him and Buckster when they were younger.”
“Oh. Is Pops...embarrassed by them?”
“Maybe. You know he used to be scrawny and sickly before the serum, right?”
“Yeah,” Emerson said as she stuffed her mouth with more crackers. “But that was like a million years ago, why does he care?”
“Don’t know...but I plan on finding out.”
Later that night, a few hours after Nat and Barnes had come and gone, Steve finally came home. Tony had ordered pizza for the gang, smiled as he sat around and looked at old pictures of his husband while his best friend told stories about their adventures to his kids.
The smile wasn’t sincere, which hurt to admit, but he couldn’t help worrying about Steve.
This is the same man who for the last forty years reassured the genius his scars were beautiful, his height was perfect and his flaws were insignificant.
It had always been a one sided thing, since Steve’s insecurities usually regarded missions - and more recently, the occasional doubt in his parenting - but never his looks.
Was there more to it than that?
Tony stayed up for him, sitting in the living room waiting for him to come home. Miles had gone to his room to do his homework while Emerson went to the theater room to watch some movies.
When the blonde stepped off the elevator, Tony couldn’t help but frown at the sad energy that wafted in after him.
“Hey, sorry I’m late. I ended up getting dinner after working out with Sam,” Steve said without actually looking at Tony, walking around behind the couch before kissing the genius’ head.
“You usually text when that happens. Something on your mind, apple pie?” Tony was trying, he really was, to be mature and let Steve bring it up in his own time.
But then again, Tony had never been a patient man.
“No, just long day at the office. But I got a lot of work done. Remind me later to tell you about this charity kid-run art gala idea I had,” Steve said as he then continued walking to their bedroom.
So, Tony naturally followed.
“You could tell me right now. Unless you’re avoiding me…” That had Steve stopping in his tracks before turning around with a smile on his handsome face.
“I’m not avoiding you, I just need to pee,” the blonde said before turning around and continuing his journey. So, Tony kept following.
All the way into the bathroom.
“Seriously?” Steve asked with a laugh, though it didn’t stop him from peeing. They’ve been married over thirty years for crying out loud. Tony just shrugged for a moment before hopping onto the counter top.
“So you had a good day at the foundation, huh?” Tony continued prying, though his eyes were glued to his husband’s dick. Which was unfortunately put back in his pants, watching as the blonde flushed before walking around Tony to wash his hands.
“Yup,” was Steve’s verbal response, which prompted the genius to grab him by his waistband to prevent him from walking away again.
“You missed Nat bringing your pictures over…” the brunette said gently, though thoroughly enjoying the immediate blush on his husband’s face. The blonde then closed his eyes and adorably pouted before shaking his head once or twice.
“Get outta my head,” Steve whispered, trying to hide his smile creeping through. Tony waited another second for his husband to open his eyes before grabbing his face and kissing him.
“Afraid I can’t do that sweetheart,” he returned with a smile, before immediately letting out a yelp when Steve promptly picked him up and carried him to their bed. When he dropped him, Tony was ready to chastise him before Steve crawled on top of him and kissed him quiet.
The bastard knew him too well, cause Tony was suddenly forgetting about what they were talking about.
It took another minute...or three...but Tony finally remembered and shoved the man back.
“Don’t try to distract me you sexy devil. Why have you been avoiding this?” Tony growled out, trying to sound serious. Which was admittedly difficult, when he felt just how excited they both were. “Come on baby cakes, were you embarrassed of being short and scrawny? Cause if it helps I would still totally have hit that.” Steve chuckled before groaning adorably, which did nothing for Tony’s situation.
“Sure you would,” Steve said in disbelief, which had Tony more conscious as he sat up and shoved the blonde on his back.
“You doubt me?” Tony asked in fake outrage, straddling the blonde and throwing a hand over his heart.
“You being a horndog? No of course not,” Steve deadpanned, because deep down he was a fucking troll. Tony took a moment to glare down at him, even with the blonde’s shit eating grin and firm hands running up and down his thighs.
“You know what I saw in those pictures? I saw your same piercing blue eyes and delicious bubble butt,” Tony said with a smile, absolutely loving how pink Steve’s cheeks are turning. “I saw your same unfairly long eyelashes, slender artist fingers...just in a smaller package. And do you have any idea how hot that idea was to me? That I could be the one who holds you up against a wall and fuck your brains out?” he asked in a lower octave, shivering a little when his husband began writhing below him. “I totally jacked off to that thought after. You can ask JARVIS.”
“And yet I wont,” Steve huffed out with a smirk. Tony decided to ignore him and continue.
“Oh fuck, Steve just think about if I was alive in your time...they had gay clubs back then right? I’d fuck you in the bathroom stall. We’d get handsy in the booths…” he continued, grinding his hips a little at the image.
“Fuck, Tony,” the blonde ground out, clearly very excited about the idea if his following moans were anything to go by. “That’s not…”
“Not what?” Tony asked coily, rolling his hips with the question. “Not fair? If you’re really behind the idea of me fucking you up against the wall we can always talk about bringing the suit into this…”
“No Tony!” Steve laughed out, rolling them over so the blonde was on top. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I have never and will never fuck that suit, so let’s just set that record straight once and for all.”
“Oh, sweetheart. Nothing about you is straight,” Tony couldn’t help but say, letting out a giggle when Steve poked his ribs. “Okay, okay! Tell me why you don’t like the pics.”
Tony watched with a smile as his husband’s face blushed again, the bigger man pouting above him.
“They remind me of a time I don’t want to remember,” Steve admitted in a somber tone, removing the smile from Tony’s face. “Yeah, it’s fun to imagine getting handsy with you in a club. But it’s not fun realizing the odds of us being murdered for doing so.”
Tony remained silent and still below him as Steve took another breath. Contrary to popular belief, Tony could be quiet when it mattered.
“I don’t want to think about the fact that I was practically living at the hospital with how sick I was. Or how poor we were. I don’t like thinking that even if we met in my past life, and even if you would look my way-”
“-which I totally would-” Tony interrupted, not able to help himself.
“-and we ended up together, it’s not like I could have had a long happy life with you. So no, I don’t like thinking about it.”
Tony stared at him for a second before conceding.
“Okay, fair enough. I’ll drop the pictures if you admit we would’ve made a fabulous couple.”
“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” Steve asked as he rolled off of him and stood up off the bed.
“That doesn’t sound like any admission to me…” Tony replied in a sing song voice, letting out a squeak when Steve grabbed him by his ankles and yanked him closer to the edge so the blonde was towering over him.
“We woulda been good together, happy?” he asked before kissing the brunette, Tony unable to suppress a shiver from the Brooklyn accent.
“Mhmm,” Tony hummed in response.
“We’d always be good together. Betcha there’s an alternate universe somewhere where we’re both chicks,” Steve pointed out as Tony got excited about the idea.
“That is so fucking hot,” he growled just as Steve pulled back to stand up again, leaving the genius pouting. “Hey!”
“It’s late. I’m going to take a shower and go to bed,” Steve said as he turned towards the bathroom while Tony sat up in disbelief. Was Steve really not going to give him any tonight?
“And you’re going to join me,” Steve added with his back turned, just as he began undressing his clothes.
“Much better,” Tony sighed in relief, quickly undoing his pants and following his wonderful husband.