You're On.
He’s clearly joking. That’s all this was. Steve liked to poke Tony just as much as Tony like to poke Steve. That could be the only explanation. He hadn’t ever really showed anything but contempt for him so… why in hell would he change his mind now? Tony laughs, like the idiot he is. Because he must still be drunk or he’s hallucinating. Rogers looks unimpressed, as if he’s waiting for Tony to actually do something about it.
They’re at an impasse.
Then they both move at once.
Tony stands (much too quickly for someone who’s as hungover as he is) and Rogers moves towards him, nearly stopping chest to chest with the inventor. And for a long moment they simply stare. Stark searching for… something, and Steve searching for any resistance. Of course, Tony is the first one to speak.
“As much as I am all for being spread out across the board room table,” Stark wets his lips and Steve’s eyes darken just a fraction, “it was just a question, Rogers.” Tony feigns aloofness. Sure, he’s admired the other man from afar, but he never actually thought Steve was interested in the goods and well… it caught him a little off kilter. He needed time to process this new information and right now, while he’s like two point five seconds away from possibly revisiting his dinner from last night, was definitely not the right time.
Cap scoffs; typical. Stark was mostly bark and no bite. He stares down his nose at the shorter man and damn it if Steve doesn’t enjoy the fact that Tony has to look up at him. He can’t even begin to imagine what those gorgeous brown eyes would like, wide and dark as they stare up at him from a much lower position. Steve leans in just a fraction before he’s pulling away with a smug smile. Guess neither Rhodes nor Stark will be getting their money today. “Oh, and next time Tony, I expect you to be here on time and functioning. If you want this team to work, you have to put in the effort too.” Steve lets his gaze wander the brunette’s body in very obvious observation one last time before leaving him. Tony’s just bewildered and he wants to pull at his hair because seriously? What the actual fuck? A bout of nausea reminds him that this problem is definitely not one to handle today. Today, he was just going to ignore all of that. Compartmentalization was Tony’s specialty after all.
It happens again. A little more than a month since the night before the meeting and the day of. Stark must be going for a record because it’s a lot earlier than last time. Steve’s comfortable on his couch, feet up on the coffee table and his sketching materials strewn about him when his phone goes off.
[Tony Stark, 11:13 Pm]
You know what you did last time was no fair. I mean, come on. You can’t just leave me like that. I still don’t have an answer and I lost money on it.
Very rude, Rogers.
Steve snorts and contemplates ignoring him but something about Tony thinking to reach out to him is enough to spur the blonde into action.
[Capsicle, 11:17 Pm]
I seem to remember you being the one who backed out, Stark. I already told you; come and find out for yourself.
It’s not my fault you chickened out.
There. That might be enough to get Tony to rise to the challenge. At this point, Steve can’t figure out if Tony is actually interested in him or if it’s simple curiosity. It isn’t like the billionaire isn’t aware of his proclivities. Maybe he should have listened to Buck on this one and just asked Tony out. This is so much more fun though.
[Tony Stark, 11:39 Pm]
I didn’t chicken out. You weren’t serious. Or if you were, you didn’t do anything about it either.
[Capsicle, 11:40 Pm]
I was.
And I still am now.
It was a stretch. Tony was probably at some expensive high-end club with Pepper or Rhodes. He wouldn’t just abandon them to quell his interest. Maybe. Rogers was counting on the fact Tony wouldn’t let Steve one up him. Steve didn’t receive any replies after that and after half an hour, he gave up on waiting. Oh well… so much for that. Maybe Tony had found someone else to keep him entertained for the night. Rogers wrinkles his nose at the mere idea of it but realistically, Tony didn’t belong to him in any way, shape or form. He couldn’t let himself get any ideas. The super-soldier begins tidying up his den and is just putting away his materials when suddenly there is a loud pounding on his front door. Steve is immediately on high alert… that is until he hears Stark’s voice waking up everyone on his floor.
“Hey asshole! I’m here. Open up!” Tony pounds on the door again. “You just gonna let- “He’s suddenly being cut off by Steve materializing in the open doorway, the blonde’s large hand clamping itself over Tony’s mouth. The brunette glares but let’s himself be guided inside. It wasn’t even that late and it’s Friday night. Sheesh. Steve is such an old man. Steve shuts the door with his foot and Tony licks his palm as if to say, ‘Hey, you can let go now’. The super soldier huffs and removes himself from Tony’s person, giving the brunette a quizzical look.
“Tony what—what are you doing here?”
“I’m ‘finding out’.” The mechanic gestures. “You said you were still serious so… here I am.”
Steve watches him for a moment. He could smell the alcohol on Tony’s breath even from where he was standing and the other seemed to sway just a fraction every so often. He knew if anyone could fake sobriety, it would be Tony.
“Tony—” Steve starts and rubs a hand over his face because, god, of course Tony would show up drunk. Steve’s not an asshole. “You’ve been drinking Tony. You know that’s a set up for a bad idea.”
Stark barks out a laugh. “Are you serious right now?” He invades Steve space again, “You have me ready and willing- “
“And possibly drunk,” Steve interjects.
“And you’re going to turn me down?” Tony looks like Steve had just insulted him.
Steve reaches for Tony’s shoulder but the older man swats it away. “Don’t. Just—this was a mistake.”
Steve grabs him anyway and pulls him in. “Tony stop.” Blue eyes roll when Tony refuses to look at him and Steve cups Tony’s jaw. “I didn’t say I didn’t want you. I just want you to be sober and sure that you want this. Why don’t you stay the night? Its not your penthouse by any means but… if you’re still up for it, we can definitely work up an appetite in the morning.”
Now Tony might be drunk, but he still gets the meaning. The defiant look melts into something else entirely.
“You’re on Rogers.”