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

[imafuturist]

Geeze, Steve.

Tony hummed in a way that could be an agreement or a disagreement depending on what Steve wanted to hear. "I wouldn't have been Iron man without it."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve stepped closer. "More reason not to be ashamed of the scars when they existed."

[imafuturist]

Tony sighed quietly. Because he had plenty of other reasons to feel ashamed. Like, a book of reasons.

He glanced back at Steve for a moment like was checking the sincerity of that.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve was, if anything, painfully earnest. He reached out and squeezed Tony's shoulder. "Really."

[imafuturist]

"You are really something else," Tony muttered. Just ignoring the urge to move closer to him. Just gonna ignore that. "You know that?"

[heroic_jawline]

Steve blushed. "I'm just being honest."

[imafuturist]

"So am I," Tony replied, putting his hand over Steve's and giving it a squeeze.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve met Tony's eyes for maaaaaybe two beats to long to be just a normal thing and completely forgot what he was about to say.

[imafuturist]

What? It wasn't normal to have intense, soulful looks with your friends?

Pfft. Sounds fake.

Tony didn't really realize he wasn't pulling away like he ought to here, instead leaning into Steve's stabilizing presence. Which was also normal.

[heroic_jawline]

What was a little hugging between bros, right? They both could use it.

[imafuturist]

That was so normal! Like, what bros don't do that?

Just ask Rumlow sometime.

But for a change, Tony was the one doing just a tiny bit of clinging. Miniscule. Barely noticeable if you will. Shut your damn mouth, narrative that attempts to refute that.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve smiled softly and let Tony definitely not cling. "I've got you," he murmured.

[imafuturist]

Look, Steve was just an optimal hugger. It was the whole super broad shoulder thing.

"Wow, I'm ridiculous," Tony muttered because he could in no way address his own problems without turning to that. In no possible way.

[heroic_jawline]

"Not about this," Steve said stoutly.

[imafuturist]

Well, shit, Steve. That wasn't part of his script.

"How exactly are you real?" Tony complained with no heat behind it.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve smiled, blushing slightly. "Sorry?"

[imafuturist]

Tony pulled back to give him a fond look. Which was also normal, okay? Normal.

"Never change, got it?" he replied, patting both hands against Steve's chest for emphasis.

[heroic_jawline]

"I can only be who I am," Steve said, smiling. "Being someone else is too much work."

[imafuturist]

Which just made Tony smile in response. "Tell me about it," he replied dryly, giving Steve a little shove.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve shoved him back, then slung his arm around Tony's shoulder. "Feeling better?"

[imafuturist]

"Yes, mom," Tony teased, leaning just a little into him.

[heroic_jawline]

"I'd mess up your hair right now but there's not much worse I can do to it," Steve teased back.

[imafuturist]

Oh sure, just point that out again.

"You are such a little shit," Tony grumbled, moving a hand up to take advantage of Steve's vulnerability to mess hishair up.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve just laughed. "Most people never catch onto that."

[imafuturist]

"Most people are idiots," Tony replied with ease.