Chapter 15
“I cannot believe you.”
“Oh, I think you can.”
Steve had come back from a tiring mission to the kitchen- and his boyfriend- covered in the bubbles that the dishwasher was currently pumping out, “The point is I shouldn’t. How did this even happen?”
Tony, at least, has the decency to look sheepish, “I may or may not have engaged Clint in a prank war.”
Noting the bags under Tony’s eyes, Steve sighs and moves to save his boyfriend from the flood of bubbles coating the kitchen floor. Squeaking indignantly, Tony clings to the good captain’s shoulders as he’s lifted into the air.
“Steve! Put me down!”
“No. If you’re going to behave like a child, then you’re going to be treated like a child.”
“Steve,” Tony whines, “I couldn’t say no! What was I supposed to do, let Clint call me a coward?”
“So you’re saying Clint started it?”
“Yes!”
Steve merely chuckles and shakes his head, positioning Tony over his shoulder, much like a sack of potatoes.
“Think about that for a second, and tell me you’re not being a child.”
Tony crosses his arms across Steve’s lower back and pouts, “I never said I wasn’t.” Then, “Where are we going?”
“Cranky kids need naps.”
“Steve!”
Once he reaches their room, Steve unceremoniously dumps Tony onto the bed. Aforementioned genius immediately scrambles to escape, scrabbling at the bedding to slip from the bed. Steve simply scoops him back up and flops onto the mattress, holding Tony close. Grumbling in protest, Tony pushes at Steve’s chest.
“Unhand me, old man. I have a war to get back to.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No-“
“And very important work for the company. And upgrades for your uniform. And-“
“Tony.”
“For Pepper to look over, that’s very important, and very late-“
“Tony.”
Tony looks up at Steve, who hugs him closer, eyes already shut.
“Yes, Captain O Captain?”
“Shut up and sleep.”
He briefly considers arguing. Briefly. Instead, Tony sighs and curls up, pressing against Steve, who smiles faintly and pulls him that much closer. Together, they drift into comfortable unconsciousness.
After they wake up, many, many hours later, Steve makes Tony clean up the kitchen. He grumbles the whole time, but he’s secretly just glad that Steve is home.