Chapter 4
When Tony woke up the next morning he noticed the bed was empty beside him, he listened for the shower but heard nothing meaning Steve was already up and ready. Tony tried not to feel too disappointed as he got out of bed, he had hoped to spend the first day of their holiday together fooling around and chilling in bed before they even thought about getting up.
He stretched and pulled on Steve's shirt that laid on their bedroom floor before walking to their bathroom and going about his business. He looked in the mirror as he brushed his teeth and smiled at his reflection for the first time in a while.
There he was; in his boyfriends shirt, hiding everything womanly about him and making him feel safe, and then his hair, his wonderfully short hair making him feel even better. He spat into the sink and ran his fingers through his curls, trying to make them sit a little flatter and shaking his head when he gave up, they had a mind of their own when left natural.
He left the bathroom with a spring in his step and changed into some shorts and a vest top. The weather was too warm for binders so it was either the sports bras or bikini tops that Steve bought him for this occasion; they all matched his skin tone so he could wear vest tops and not worry about sports bras being seen so he could breathe, and the bikini meant he could be more comfortable at the beach or in the pool so he didn't have to wear shirts all the time. Tony couldn't thank him enough.
He went in favour of the sports bra, pulling on his vest top as he left his room. The closer he got to the patio the louder he heard the laughter of his friends. He bumped into Steve as he went to join them.
"Oh babe, hey, I was just about to come get you," Steve said, kissing Tony's forehead.
"Woke up and you were missing," Tony wrapped his arms around Steve's waist, "Hope you haven't been up too long."
"Not really, I thought I'd make us all breakfast but you looked so adorable sleeping that I thought I'd let you lie in, Nat has just gone to get Clint," Steve wrapped his arms around Tony as well, "Apparently he spent half the night trying to discuss sandcastles." Tony laughed.
"Of course, I expect nothing less," Tony said, "I did promise the beach didn't I?"
"You did, maybe we could go for lunch and we could take food with us, the maybe... Tonight, we could go back, just you and me?"
"Are you asking me on a date?" Steve flushed slightly and smiled.
"Yeah, I'm asking you on a date, we could go for a walk, do some painting..."
"Bit of skinny dipping?" Tony suggested, Steve's smile widened.
"Oh, most definitely, yes that's on the list."
"Then yes, I accept your offer of a date." Tony stood on his tiptoes to press a kiss to Steve's lips. He yelped into his mouth when Clint walked past and smacked his ass.
"Break it up love birds, its breakfast time." Clint said, sending a wink Tony's way.
"Oh you play a dangerous game, Barton." Tony said, untangling himself from Steve.
"Oh yeah?"
"Most definitely, smacking my ass when I have a boyfriend."
"Come on Tones, you have to admit we'd look like a beautiful couple." Tony laughed, untangled himself from Steve was walked to Clint, draping himself over his shoulders; Clint's arm wrapped around his waist.
"Oh man, you're right, don't we just look a picture?" Tony couldn't help but laugh when Clint picked him up bridal style and walked away from Nat and Steve to join the rest of their friends outside.
"What's going on here?" Bucky asked, barely raising an eyebrow at Tony and Clint.
"Tony and I have finally realised what a brilliant couple we make," Clint explained, "Thinking of running off with each other."
"Oh really?" Nat asked, leaning against the table with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face, "Coming out are we?"
"Loud and proud babe," Clint winked at her and Steve laughed, "What's so funny? I'm stealing your boyfriend."
"Good luck with him, he's high maintenance." Tony gasped.
"Excuse me, I am not," Steve just shot him a playful lopsided smile which made his insides turn to mush, "Okay, I'm needy as fuck," Tony gave his best sympathetic look to Clint, "I'm sorry, as much as we should totally elope I have to confess I like my blonds to be tall."
"Hey! I'm tall." Clint shot back.
"Not compared to everyone else, you're like the second shortest person here, like a little bird." Sam said through laughter.
"Shut up, that's so not true."
"I also have a date," Tony said, diffusing the argument that was about to form between Sam and Clint, he had to think of his own safety here, "It involves skinny dipping so unless you want to get naked and..." Clint pulled a face and put Tony on the floor.
"I don't think I'm able to move that quickly in our relationship," he kissed Tony's cheek and held his hand, "If you love something let it go, so go Tony... Be free, but remember we will always look like a banging couple." Tony tried so hard not to burst out laughing at Clint's dramatic display, holding his hand tightly.
"I'll always remember, but I'm going back to the guy who will actually bang me." Clint broke, he spluttered before bursting into laughter and giving Tony a shove towards Steve.
"Too far Tones."
"It's not like it's a big secret, you did walk in and..."
"Hey, those are memories I want to keep repressed," Bucky said, throwing some fruit at Tony's head, "Don't put me off food before we even start eating."
"Are we eating?" Thor asked, coming up the stairs to the patio, towel drying his hair from his swim.
"Yeah, finally, you missed all the drama big guy," Bucky said, "Tony and Clint were going to elope but decided against it and are going back to their respective partners."
"Who said I'll take him back?" Steve said, sitting opposite Bucky, "He was going to leave me." Tony watched as his friends took a seat at the table, a space being left next to Steve for him. They were all talking and laughing amongst themselves and Tony felt a little panicked, he knew Steve was joking, (he hoped he was joking) but yet he still felt uneasy, "You okay Tones?" Steve asked, turning to look at him; hand reaching out for him, smiling softly.
"I love you," Tony took his hand and sat down next to him, "I love you so much."
"Awh babe, I'm messing, I love you too," Steve brushed Tony's hair off his face, "You know that, right?" Tony nodded and Steve pressed his lips against Tony's despite all their friends protesting and ignoring the shouts of PDA from Bucky and Sam but Tony didn't care; there was no where he'd rather be than right here with his boyfriend kissing him like nobody else in the world mattered.