Athens International Airport, Greece - Friday Afternoon

[imafuturist]

Steve spent the holiday with his scattered team while Tony had spent it with his own. Which was much less upsetting than it seemed like it ought to have been to take time apart after... everything.

But it could have been because they were going to meet back up.

Which was why Tony was keeping a low profile by the Portalocity section of this airport, waiting for Steve to arrive. Not being impatient about it at all. Don't be ridiculous.

[for the guy!]

Comments

[imafuturist]

Hey, Tony just lived a sad, sad life, raising all his friend's kids alone. Normal stuff.

"That's the goal," Tony agreed.

[heroic_jawline]

Very normal, not at all heartbreaking!

"How about just a small part?" Steve asked, nipping the lobe of Tony's ear.

They were Avengers, after all.

[imafuturist]

Tony chuckled, tilting his head to allow Steve more room to work. Then swallowed as he tried to get the idea out there, "Maybe--maybe we should have a will written up. For each of us."

[heroic_jawline]

Well, that was probably less traumatizing than last words projecting out of an Iron Man mask, Anthony.

Steve stilled. "You think so?" he finally asked, tucking his head into Tony's shoulder for a second. He couldn't have said if he was seeking comfort or offering it. Probably both.

[imafuturist]

...okay, so the will wouldn't be holographic. Cut him some slack here!

"I want to make sure you have something in place in case I'm gone," Tony said. And maybe not completely burn the world down. Yes.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve shuddered ever so slightly as his mind scrabbled around the idea of a world without Tony in it. "Please don't leave me the company."

[imafuturist]

"No," Tony said immediately. "God no. I wouldn't inflict that on you."

Pepper, however...

"I mean emotionally."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve lifted his head from Tony's shoulder to look him straight in the eyes. "Tony, if you're gone, I'm going to freefall for a while," he murmured. "There's no one in any universe I love more."

[imafuturist]

"I don't want you to follow me there," Tony said, looking back at him earnestly. "Not like that."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve leaned in to rest his head against Tony's. "Yeah," he said, closing his eyes.

He didn't want to make a promise that he might break.

[imafuturist]

Tony sighed and leaned back against him. "I know, darling. I know."

[heroic_jawline]

"I hate thinking about it," Steve whispered, "a world without you in it. Every time we get a kid showing up from a version where you or I aren't around for them--" he took a deep breath. "It's a gut punch."

[imafuturist]

"And I don't want to be the cause of your pain," Tony replied. "It's the last thing I want."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve gave him a slightly watery smile. "Wanda told me that grief is love persevering," he said. "And I would miss you for all of my days. But that eventual pain--" he shook his head. "It's worth it a thousand times over for time with you now."

[imafuturist]

Tony kissed him for that. Then kissed him more as he let the words sink in. "I'll be the same."

[heroic_jawline]

"I love you so much," Steve whispered. "Sometimes it scares me."

[imafuturist]

Tony kissed him again. "We have time. You and me."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve rather desperately needed to believe that today.

"Good," Steve said. "I'm planning on being around until you're as old as I am right now."

[imafuturist]

"You won't mind me getting all grey and wrinkly?" Tony asked, kissing him.

[heroic_jawline]

"It beats the alternative," Steve said, kissing him back. "Especially in our line of work."

[imafuturist]

"That's the goal, then," Tony murmured.

[heroic_jawline]

"I want to be married to Old Man Stark," Steve said with a twinkle in his eyes.

[imafuturist]

"Oh, and I get blond arm candy here?" Tony asked, smiling back at him.

[heroic_jawline]

"I assume I'll age eventually," Steve said.

[imafuturist]

"That doesn't keep you from being arm candy," Tony insisted.