Apartment Above Stark Industries, Sunday Afternoon

[imafuturist]

Tony had started the day working on some coding with the television on in the background to provide a little noise. And to make it seem less weird that he was mostly just staring at a tablet and coding with his brain. But whatever.

But that somehow turned into watching the background noise. Which turned into 'I could do that' after a few episodes.

And that would be why Tony had a fine dusting of either flour or confectioner's sugar turning his hair a bit grey as he frowned down at the collection of ingredients.

"I have a masters in chemistry, this shouldn't be so difficult," he grumbled to himself.

Stupid Great British Bake Off.

[Mostly for the housemate! GBBO owns many souls.]

Comments

[heroic_jawline]

"That's all it took?" Steve teased. "And all the time I've wasted trying to impress you..."

[imafuturist]

Tony ducked his head like he needed to concentrate on the buttons to hide the tiny flush of embarrassment as he recalled the last time he'd called Steve that.

"Like you need to try."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve batted at his bangs in an effort to hide his own blush. "'Course I do."

[imafuturist]

"Trust me, Steve," Tony said with a sort of intense sincerity that he felt necessary when dealing with people he cared about. "You've never come up lacking."

Jesus, Tony. Chill.

[heroic_jawline]

And it was totally normal to stare at someone that earnestly in reply, right? Like Steve was?

"Neither have you."

[imafuturist]

Their friendship made so much sense when they did this to each other and thought it was just some normal shit.

Tony went a little more red before he had to clear his throat and start the microwave of doom. "Pie time."

[heroic_jawline]

"Oh, good," Steve said, then teased, "Should I get my shield?"

[imafuturist]

"No." Wait. "Maybe."

That was better.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve stood up, ruffling Tony's hair as he went past. "Be right back, then."

[imafuturist]

"Oh, I'm getting you back for that," Tony called after him as the little cloud of flour cleared.

But he said it fondly.

[heroic_jawline]

"Add it to my tab," Steve singsonged.

[imafuturist]

That earned him a startled laugh. He was just the worst possible influence here.

"Promises, promises!"

[heroic_jawline]

"Just bake the pie," Steve yelled back.

[imafuturist]

Excuse Tony while he snickered in a completely unbecoming way, starting the 'baking'.

Hey, no sparks! Yet.

"Smart-ass," he muttered with a grin.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve returned a moment later with the shield, but not another shirt to put on top of his white undershirt.

"Any problems?" he asked.

[imafuturist]

Which was only as distracting as Tony allowed it to be! Which was only a small side eye.

Look, physical attraction was infinitely easier to deal with.

"Nothing has blow up yet."

[heroic_jawline]

"The 'yet' doesn't make me that optimistic," Steve replied, resting his hip against the nearest counter to watch the microwave...do whatever it was that it was doing.

[imafuturist]

"Welcome to science," Tony replied earnestly. "You make it science by writing down when things blow up."

Just keep that in mind when your Ultron showed up, Steve. Make sure they wrote things down.

[heroic_jawline]

"I knew that!" Steve said, sounding pleased.

Howard blew up a lot of things making toys for the Commandos. "How about I fight the fire and you write things down?"

[imafuturist]

"JARVIS has anti-fire systems," Tony replied with way too much cheer as the 'pie' began to smoke a little. "Never tested them before..."

[heroic_jawline]

"You sound too happy about that," Steve observed.

[imafuturist]

"It's science, Cap," Tony replied, watching their 'delicious' creation catch fire with a whoosh.

[heroic_jawline]

"It's a fire, Stark," Steve said, sounding alarmed.

[imafuturist]

"You worry too much--" Tony started to say as the integrity of the microwave's sides started to give way and the metal and plastic bulged out.

"Now, J!"

See, now he was concerned. Mostly because it was going to explode in about three, two...

[heroic_jawline]

Steve yanked Tony behind the safety of the shield, just in case.