Chapter 5
Despite the sun beginning to set and it being so late in the evening, the sand was still warm between Tony's toes as he sat besides Steve who was currently working on one of his commissions. He had tried to say he'd just paint it later but Tony just found watching Steve do his art comforting and encouraged him, if he wanted, to do it while on their date.
He glanced over at his boyfriend, deep in concentration as he painted a wedding photo onto the canvas. It took Tony's breath away at how Steve could just look at an old photo and bring it to life when the photo itself was torn and dog eared from age. He remembered Steve telling him about this job, he was so honoured when he was asked to recreate the image for the clients sixtieth wedding anniversary and Tony could almost feel the love he was painting with each brush stroke.
He was proud of Steve, really proud. Despite dating a billionaire he still worked hard to get his own job; graphic designer in advertising with Stark Industries and alongside that he also started selling his art work and it was taking off, getting more and more commissions and even some put into galleries. Sometimes it overwhelmed Tony with just how amazing Steve was, he was so incredibly talented and Tony was so incredibly in love with him.
His life with Steve has been incredible so far, once Maria found out about their relationship she began to insist of having Steve over more and more until he eventually left his flat and moved into the mansion after they finished college. Jarvis doted on Steve and still does now, treating him like he always treated Tony; like a son.
Having Steve move in also meant his father hit him less because Steve was almost always with him and helped his mom with accepting him and he just wished she was still here so she could see him grow with Steve, be there at his wedding and...
"Hey babe, you okay?" Tony blinked a few times and released he'd just been staring at Steve who now looked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just thinking."
"About?"
"Mom," Tony looked away from Steve and at the ocean that seem to carry on forever, "She would have loved to be here."
"I'm so sorry Tones, I know you miss her," Steve put down his paint brush and moved closer to Tony, holding his hand, "I miss her too, she was a good woman."
"I spent so long being angry at her for not accepting me, I never seemed to think that it would be hard for her to adjust too and then when I finally realised, well, she's gone now."
"She knew you loved her, I know she did because she used to tell me how lucky she was to have you," Steve stroked the back of his hand with his thumb, "She loved you and she'll always will, I know she's not coming back physically but she'll always be with you."
"Would you... Would you paint her?" Tony looked up at Steve, glancing at his painting before meeting his eyes, "I have this photo on my desk in the workshop and I love it and I'd love it even more if you would paint it for me."
"Tones..."
"I'm not expecting it to be for free, I want to commission this peice so I'll pay and I'll pay for the supplies on top."
"You're my boyfriend, you don't need to pay."
"Steve, this is your career and I can't expect freebies, I want to support you so please just let me pay you for it."
"If that's what you want then of course, but if you're buying the supplies on top I hope you realise that I'm going to charge you less than I would anyone else," Steve kissed his forehead, "That's not up for discussion, I want to paint this piece for you and I want to charge you less because you've supported me so much already; without you, I'd never had any of the opportunities I've been given."
"Babe, you're so talented that you really don't need my name to make it anywhere."
"You've helped, a lot," Steve said, "If I didn't have you I'd still be working dead-end jobs to try and pay my rent after college an I doubt I'd never have got to job in SI without dating the heir of the company."
"It was dad who got you that job, not me," Tony leaned into his boyfriend, "All I did was show you're work and plant the suggestion, he was the one to get you hired."
"Which would have never happened without you, I'm just so glad I met you and it really has nothing to do with the materialistic bonuses that comes with dating a billionaire like the holidays and the treats and the jobs and even the fact you had a /home/ built just for us two that comes with a studio and a workshop," Steve laughed softly, "I'm just so happy to be with you, I don't need your money I just want you."
"Steve..."
"You mean the absolute world to me."
"You mean everything to me too, there's nobody else I'd rather be with," Tony let go of Steve's hand and moved to sit in the gap between his legs, Steve's arms wrapping around his waist and pulling him against his chest almost immediately, "When I joked about running off with Clint I hope you know I'd never do that to you."
"I know, my love."
"I'll never find anyone as loving and as accepting as you... You spent six months with me being your girlfriend and as soon as I let the word trans into our relationship you never batted an eyelid, you just made the change so easily and you weren't scared or ashamed to tell your mom and I don't think anyone has ever loved me as much as you do; I don't think I've ever had to question your love for me."
"And I really hope you never have to either." Tony smiled and tilted his head up to look at Steve to find he was already staring at him, he kissed his nose.
"Honestly, I could see myself spending the rest of my life with you." Steve smiled widely.
"Me too." Tony turned in Steve's arms so he was on his knees and pressed a kiss against his lips before pulling back and smirking.
"Anyway, it's getting a little late to be painting, plus," Tony lifted his shirt over his head and threw it to the side, "You promised me some skinny dipping."
"I did, didn't I?" Steve said, fingers slipping under Tony's waist band of his shorts, head tilting up to catch his lips. Tony wrapped his arms around Steve's neck and rocked into him as he kissed back. It took Tony so long to take his clothes off in front of Steve; he almost couldn't believe he was so comfortable in front of his boyfriend to get naked outside.
They were both breathless when they pulled away from each other, Steve looked at Tony in a daze as the younger stood up and kicked off his shorts. Tony just smirked as he walked away from Steve; removing his underwear as he went. He turned to shout of Steve to hurry up when his, very naked, boyfriend picked him up and walked them both into the still warm water.
"What did I say earlier? When I broke it off with Clint to go back to you?" Tony asked, fingers curling in Steve's hair at the nape of his neck, his legs tightening around his waist.
"Something about going back to the guy who will actually bang you?" Tony laughed before moving to whisper in Steve's ear.
"So... How about it? Fancy a bit of late night sex right here?" he bit Steve's ear lobe causing the other to whine softly.
"You drive me mad." Steve muttered as he began mouthing at Tony's neck, Tony titled his head back and shut his eyes.
"Only in the best ways I do hope." Tony let go of Steve's neck to grabbed one of his hands and move it down to his ass, Steve bit down harder.
"Most definitely."
Tony was about to say something else but it died on his tongue when Steve's fingers slipped lower.