Masks

They walked up to the roof, Tony rambling on happily about Catrin's upcoming sixteenth birthday.

"Eighteen years. Wow. You still look as hot as you did that first year," he snagged his husband's fingers, giving them a gentle squeeze. Bruce had been quiet, but Tony (despite what some people thought) wasn't blind, or so dense he hadn't caught the anger and disdain in his mate's body language when Rogers cornered him. He'd been sorely tempted to let them come to blows; Rogers could do with some humility, but...that would have raised one too many questions.

Bruce smirked a little, and posed, lifting his arms over his head. Muscles rippled under his shirt.

Tony quashed an impulse to pin Bruce against the nearest wall and show him exactly how much he appreciated the view. He settled for a wolf whistle and a slow, deep kiss that only ended when they needed to breathe.

"We have to..."

"Yeah."

Well. Catrin knew their schedules were...unpredictable, at best. She'd understand if they were a few hours minutes late, right?

Bruce pulled away, looking mussed and regretful. "We should get away from here first. Before your...teammate shows up for another lecture."

"Uggh, darlin', talk about mood killers," Tony whined half-heartedly. He conceded, and led Bruce out to the helipad. The roof was deserted.

He'd considered taking a quinjet instead of the helicopter, but decided against it. Those were too visible and publicly associated with the Avengers.

"You want to fly, or want me to pilot this time?" he asked, looking at Bruce more closely. "I can take it if you want to grab a quick nap. " There was weariness in Bruce's gait, now that he took a second glance. "...rough night on patrol?"

"I'll take you up on that," Bruce answered. "No worse than usual. New York may be the city that never sleeps, but Gotham could probably give it some competition."

"You know you can call me too, if there's major trouble brewing. " Tony frowned. "Or even if you just want a pair of fresh eyes or extra hands."

"Sure, but then Iron Man has to explain why he's assisting the Batman, and why the rest of the Avengers didn't know they're allies."

"No, he doesn't. The Avengers...I'm about done with explaining myself to them. Not when they don't really listen." Tony shook his head. "And I'm talking shop which I promised I wouldn't once we left. Sorry. Look, no one matters more than you and Cay do to me. It's really that simple. I know I do a shit job of showing it sometimes, but all the same."

Bruce blinked at the edge in Tony's words; nodded silently after a moment. "I know, love. You've never made me doubt that."

"Good. Well, handsome, shall we? Your chariot awaits."

Bruce chuckled, and went around to the passenger side. Tony took the pilot's seat. A moment later they were in the air.
Bruce sat back, and closed his eyes.

Eighteen, almost nineteen years. There'd been a time when Bruce wouldn't have trusted any Alpha enough to fall asleep in their presence, and Tony hadn't been the exception at first. Even once they'd become lovers, trust hadn't come easy for either of them. Tony had understood the Omega's wariness only too well, even putting dynamics aside, he'd had his share of would-be and actual users latching on to him when he was younger.

But it had so been worth it.

Bruce, as an Omega, had been a wake-up call for Gotham's more conservative 'elite'(read "so rich it's sickening") families. He didn't hide his status or apologize for it. He said what he thought, as a CEO, a leader, a fighter. Tony had admired that about him. Bruce could be charming, but also ruthless when it came to something he decided was necessary. "Iron under silk", as Pepper had said of him once.

Catrin had inherited that toughness from both of her fathers, luckily. She was bright, and imaginative, though her interests lay more with science than business. Or super-heroing (was that even a verb? ) Well, Stark Industries was capably managed, she didn't have to follow in Tony's or Howard's footsteps, and he thought Bruce felt much the same way.
He was so proud of them both...that was what counted most, and today he wanted to make sure she knew it.