Stark Tower, NYC - Thursday

[imafuturist]

Steve finally let Tony go all out for his birthday. Sure, it was just the two of them in the penthouse suite of the tower, but he was still doing it! With way too much catering and fireworks all set up for the evening.

Which was honestly just what was expected from Stark Industries for the holiday anymore, but still.

Hopefully Steve would enjoy the massive, patriotic teddy bear waiting for him once they arrived.

[for the birthday guy and sp]

Comments

[imafuturist]

"And now?" Tony asked, glancing over at him.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve sighed and rested his forehead against Tony's chest. "Now I'm trying not to overthink everything."

[imafuturist]

And there it was. The biggest problem for them both.

"Talk to me."

[heroic_jawline]

"Bucky came back," Steve said softly, "and I don't know how to process it."

[imafuturist]

"Do you think he'll stay?" Tony had to ask. Because he hadn't in the past.

[heroic_jawline]

"I don't know," Steve murmured. "I want him to, but I've wanted a lot of things and they haven't gone my way. He hasn't gone to Wakanda, and his fight went different to ours."

He blew out a breath. "And I'm trying to learn my own lessons from our fight and not get tunnel vision."

[imafuturist]

Tony pulled him over to kiss his temple for that. "This might be something we need to play by ear. Plans don't always... go to plan."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve slid his fingers through Tony's, needing the grounding. "I'm not grat at sitting back."

This was probably not news to Tony, Steve.

[imafuturist]

"You don't say," he teased gently.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve's lips quirked up. "It's a closely held secret."

[imafuturist]

Tony kissed his temple again for that. "I'm here for you. Support however this goes."

[heroic_jawline]

"Thank you," Steve murmured. "I'm trying not to push, even though that's not exactly my instinct."

[imafuturist]

"What's your instinct telling you to do?" Tony asked.

[heroic_jawline]

"Fit him with a tracker," Steve admitted.

[imafuturist]

"Oh no, we only do that with permission." They both learned that lesson!

[heroic_jawline]

Steve nodded. "They always go," he whispered. "What am I doing wrong?"

[imafuturist]

Tony sighed and shifted a little to hug him for that. "The things they've all shred in common, like the things you have in common with any other Steve are the bad and the good."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve nodded, chewing his lower lip. "But he's still my best friend."

[imafuturist]

Tony nodded even as he wished it wasn't the case when it caused this much pain for Steve. "You have another chance here."

[heroic_jawline]

"But Bucky's been in Wakanda for years," Steve said softly. "So now I start thinking that he's avoiding me, too."

[imafuturist]

"He's recovering from something," Tony replied. "But... maybe you should spend some time there coming up."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve squeezed Tony's fingers. "You think so?"

[imafuturist]

"I think so," Tony replied, squeezing them back. "You need it."

[heroic_jawline]

"I don't want you to think I'm choosing him over you," Steve said.

[imafuturist]

Tony kissed him for that. "I'm telling you to go here, sweetheart."