starspangledspandex | Post AoU for starkingenuity

He's old. Old enough to have settled down. Old enough he's letting other people save the world and only stepping in from time to time. There's no 'Honey I'm home' when he steps through door. There's silence and quiet. He makes dinner for one. His bed is cold. He sits and reads the paper while he watches the world move on outside. There's laughter in the hallway. Footsteps. No one knocks on his door. He eats leaning against the counter in the kitchen. Alone. All alone. 'I got no plans tomorrow night' echos in his mind.

Suddenly, no one is on the streets. There are no numbers in his phone. Everything empty and gone and there's just Steve. Steve standing in nothingness. 'Man out of time' 'Nothing but a soldier' 'You can't live without a war' 'Go home, Steve'

He jolted awake, hand raising to rub at his face and it shouldn't have been a nightmare at all but it is anyway. How alone he felt in this century. His friends helped, they did, but they couldn't always be here. He lived and breathed his life as an Avenger. What else did he have? Nothing. He shook it off, like he always did and got dressed, laced up his boots. Most of his team was out of the picture right now. Off doing whatever they did on leave.

Steve paced his room at the New Avenger facility, paced the hallways and spoke to the Agents that were here. He took a walk outside and thought of Tony. The billionaire visited every once in awhile but it'd been awhile. He didn't even know what the man was up to now but Steve... Steve needed to connect with someone to shake off the dredges of his loneliness, someone that wasn't just working here, someone he had a connection to.

So he called Tony.

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From:

starspangledspandex

"What? No," he paused, then realized how that sounded. "Wait. Thing is, I never really thought about it until I spent leave with you. Here and there before that, you know. I didn't think you were interested and I didn't really know for sure so I just never tried."

When he was actively and consciously wooing someone, he tried too hard. This was completely accidental.

"I've thought about it more now," he admitted, swallowing slightly. "I just couldn't tell what you wanted and I didn't want to push."

From:

starkingenuity

The secret smile was hidden against Steve's arm as Tony closed his eyes. What could he say except how oddly content he was right now. In pain, sure, but still content. He let Steve talk it all out before querying again.

He kind of like him so flustered. If only his body didn't hurt so much, he might make use of the bed!

"So. If you've thought a lot about it, what's your conclusion?"

From:

starspangledspandex

His forehead creased, was it wrong to say he still wasn't sure? He felt like it was but that was the truth. He was definitely interested in Tony. He wanted to move forward. He wanted to see if there was more to this. He didn't know what that qualified as exactly.

"I'd like to see where it goes," he told him. "Date you, properly. I think we're good together."

From:

starkingenuity

Huh. Tony had to sit up for that one, leveling his gaze on Steve with one upturned eyebrow. "You... Want to date... Me. Like. Date-date?"

Did people still do that? He opened his mouth to say something else and then closed it again, head tilting. There was so much to say, but Steve looked so earnest.

And he had to agree. They did make a good team.

From:

starspangledspandex

"Yes...?" he agreed, hesitating slightly with a questioning look. Was that not the right answer? Tony seemed surprised--did he not expect Steve to admit to actually liking him? Maybe he didn't return his feelings even as vague as they were at the moment. He added, "If you're interested, if not, that's okay too."

From:

starkingenuity

"Are you asking me out, Steve Rogers?" This was new. Tony did the chasing, the bagging and the release. He had been chased himself, sure, but mostly by crazy stalkers. That didn't count. He had to admit, though, that this was pretty damned nice.

The smile had reached his eyes, despite the pain that still lingered. How could he help himself? He was still a take charge kind of man, but being pampered, despite having anything in the world he wanted, was a nice change of pace.

From:

starspangledspandex

He was still unsure about what Tony was thinking. He was terrible to read. He wished he would give him some kind of signal one way or another.The man smiling, genuinely, was the final push he needed to nod and he said, "Yeah, I suppose I am."

Steve offered him a smile of his own. He supposed that Tony wasn't running for the hills and that should be good enough. "How about it?"

From:

starkingenuity

Sliding his hand along the back of the sofa to Steve's arm, Tony leaned in towards the blond before he shrugged, almost half heartedly. "Well," he said, "I don't have anything else to do." It was a tease and the eyeroll, exaggerated, was there to prove it. "So why not? Let's give it a try." He kissed Steve gently, his mouth wouldn't allow him to do anything else, and settled that arm around his shoulders.

From:

starspangledspandex

Thankfully, he knew Tony well enough that he knew it was a tease before he even signaled it. He appreciated the telegraph though just to take any question out of it. Steve greatly preferred it.

Steve returned the kiss just as gently and smiled in return. "Great, I guess I can actually be a doting boyfriend now, right?"

He chuckles and wetting his lips as he settles in, he adds, "Maybe, if you behave, I'll tell you what I think about when I give myself a hand."

From:

starkingenuity

Sex to dating to boyfriend?

That was a little fast. Tony wasn't sure how that felt. Calling Steve Rogers, Captain America, or anyone really his boyfriend seemed to out of place. But Steve was smiling and Tony liked the smiling.

"I can't say no to doting," he replied instead, fingers the whispy hair at the back of his neck.

From:

starspangledspandex

It was mostly an expression Tony. Steve wasn't about to go broadcasting it everywhere because he knew the older man and considering who they both were to the Avengers it was better to keep quiet.

They both needed to be sure.

"Good," he said, bright grin on his face. "Guess I should have brought you roses."

From:

starkingenuity

"Chocolates are more my speed if you're looking for gift ideas." He did not need people seeing Steve toting around roses. It was sweet but... No. "Or massage oils."

Those broad hands of Steve's would probably feel amazing while they rubbed him down.

"If I wasn't one big bruise right now I might even test those massage skills of yours. I've seen your wrist work with that shield and id like to test it up close and personal."

From:

starspangledspandex

"I already brought you ice cream," he pointed out, raising his eyebrow. It was going to be impossible to gift buy for Tony. The man already had everything.

No, massage oils were clearly better for him to cart around.

"I think the shield is a little different," he mused, though he liked the thought of rubbing his hands all over the older man. He considered for a moment. "How about a rain check? We can wait on the oil."

From:

starkingenuity

Oils were easier to hide! Tony ended up tilting his head against Steve's shoulder, feeling equal parts good and a little strange to be so comfortable this way. It was so... Easy. He didn't know this was suppose to be like that.

"Rain check I can deal with. And the ice cream cream is a good start. Before I pass out on you sitting up, care to try out the bed?"

From:

starspangledspandex

That depended completely on what pants he was wearing. Steve gently rubbed the man's shoulder as they sat there. His smile was fond and his eyes were warm as he regarded Tony. It was easy. Surprisingly easy. He didn't know what to think about that but it was nice.

"Sure," he agreed with a light chuckle. Then he added a tease-- "Do you need carried or can you walk alright?"

From:

starkingenuity

"Wait." Tony pulled back again, looking shocked. "So this thing comes with free rides to the bed? Absolutely, Cap. I require to be carried." He felt silly, he really did, but also wonderful. Maybe it was just puppy-love. Maybe he was just tripping on his pain medication. He didn't care. That was the beautiful thing. He truly did not care.

He knew Steve use to bench press motorcycles with women sitting astride it so it wasn't like the Captain would even break a sweat.

From:

starspangledspandex

He chuckled lightly, "As long as you promise not to be mad if I run you into something."

Steve wouldn't but he could tease anyway and he shifted to stand up, stretching slightly before turning to look down at Tony. He was judging the best way to carry him and decided that bridal style was as good as anything. Most of his major injuries were pretty healed up.

Gently, he shifted and slid his arms under the man, lifting him like a normal man might a pillow. It was easy and his gait was smooth as he turned for the bedroom. "It'd be more fun to carry you if you weren't injured." Because that probably meant Tony would be wrapped around him in all kinds of fun ways with more fun in the near future. He was nowhere near the innocent man people seemed to think he was.

From:

starkingenuity

He still vividly remembered the way it felt to have Steve pressing him against the wall. And he remembered the way it felt to be buried in the blond. The last time had only been days before but he missed it.

Tony felt ridiculous being carried to bed like this but with the way his head ached, his ribs, his back and the rest, it was a relief not to have to stand.

"Give it a day or two."

From:

starspangledspandex

"I'll give you as many as you need," he replied with a smile. Steve missed those things too but if this thing between them worked out, then they would have both those things again. He also remembered how wonderfully sexy it had been for Tony to give him orders. He would be thinking about that one again tonight.

Steve eyed the bed they put in the room, relieved they had actually listened to his request and carried Tony over to gently put him down. "Do you want company? Or are you too tired?"

From:

starkingenuity

"I expect company," Tony said. He'd been giving Steve orders all afternoon, he wasn't planning on stopping now. Whenever it came down to a question, he couldn't help himself. He wanted what he wanted. He'd let Steve walk away around and that just got him kidnapped. So, if there was a God other than the pain in the Ass-gardians, point taken.

He shifted a little and patted the bed beside him.

"I really shouldn't nap in jeans though."

From:

starspangledspandex

Yes, but that wasn't quite the same as in the bedroom. However, he was more than happy to follow the instructions that the man was giving him now too. He was enjoying himself.

He shifted to join him on the bed and then paused, "Do you need help getting them off?" He glanced toward where he unpacked the man's things. "Do you want pajamas?"

From:

starkingenuity

It could eventually be the same. It certainly sprung from the same place. Tony needed control and that included everything from directing where he was carried to how Steve should touch him next.

"Pajamas? Who sleeps in pajamas?" Tony turned but did not move his hands to get himself out of his jeans. Make yourself useful, Rogers. Maybe this wasn't suppose to be sexytimes but... Tony couldn't help it.

From:

starspangledspandex

It certainly could. Steve never considered giving control up in other aspects of his life. He was Captain America. It was his job to lead when he was with his team. It was the role most people saw him in.

He chuckled and offered, "People that might have to get up fast, without time to change." Oftentimes, that was him. He went from pajamas to uniform quite often.

Steve did step forward to help the man out of his jeans and he was careful. He knew how it felt to be sore all over. Not fun. "What's on your boxers today?" He grinned, asking even though he was about to find out.

From:

starkingenuity

"Jockeys today." They were red. Satin. They hugged every curve of the Nan's body and outlined parts of it that didn't really need accentuation at the moment. Tony did pull it off beautifully though. He winced just a little as he lifted his ass off of the mattress though, which took just a little bit away from the sexiness of it. "I think we both did okay without anything on last week."

From:

starspangledspandex

Very nice red satin. Steve imagined they were pretty soft and he might have accidentally rubbed his fingers against them as he pulled the man's pants down, just so he could confirm. He might as well be wearing nothing as tight as they were on him.

"Mmm, I guess those are still fun," he teased. Steve probably wouldn't let him live down the Captain America boxers. In private, at least.

He gave him an apologetic look at the wince and smiled fondly at the memory, "You're right. We did do okay." He folded the man's pants to drape over a nearby chair and hesitated, before he took the hint to start on his own pants.