Chapter Text
Bucky and Steve had moved out of the Tower and into an apartment in Brooklyn. Bucky, when he tried to explain it to Tony, had said that Steve and him needed a little bit of space to work on their own relationship – which was falling apart. Tony wasn’t even surprised, he knew the both of them were struggling in the aftermath of the wedding and consequent fight. After several failed attempts at wooing him, Tony had told Bucky to just gracefully bow out, it wasn’t working.
Tony decided that he was done with actively pursuing relationships. They were a lot of work and they always ended poorly.
“Tony, remember that you’re having dinner with T’Challa in a half hour,” called Rhodey, who had been instructed by Pepper to make sure Tony made it to all of his meetings while she was on vacation.
“Yeah, yeah,” said Tony, rolling his eyes.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to have dinner with T’Challa – the young ruler had actually become one of his closest friends over the years of business trips – but he did not appreciate being treated like a child. He could get to appointments and meetings on his own, thank you very much. Still, he couldn’t say he disliked having Rhodey around so often. The entire ordeal with Bucky and Steve had driven the colonel to become even more protective of his best friend which meant seeing the genius more often to check and make sure he was eating and sleeping properly.
To prove it, Tony changed into a nice pair of jeans and a button up shirt, even going so far as to comb his hair, before sauntering down to the lobby to wait on his friend. T’Challa, the bastard, was already there, looking as put together as ever.
“Hey there handsome,” said Tony shamelessly.
“Good evening,” said T’Challa with a grin.
“So where are we going for dinner?” asked Tony as they walked out of the Tower. “Rhodey wouldn’t say.”
“That’s because I told him not to tell you,” said T’Challa. “It wouldn’t be a very good surprise if you knew about it.”
“Then why does Rhodey get to know?”
“Because I wanted to check with him to be sure you wouldn’t be allergic to anything you may be served.”
Tony paused for a beat, taken aback by the casually delivered comment. The genius wasn’t used to anyone going out of their way for something so little. In fact, Tony had been to many dinners – business and dates alike – that had ended with him ordering a salad or just drinks and having to get food on the way home because he was allergic to what was being served. He was allergic to seafood but it wasn’t common knowledge.
“You didn’t have to do that,” said Tony, resuming his pace.
“I don’t want to take you somewhere you won’t enjoy,” replied T’Challa. “And speaking of allergies, now that I know you’re allergic to seafood, what else are you allergic to?”
“Some laundry detergent,” admitted Tony. “I was in college, I had swiped a shirt from a guy to walk back to my apartment and found out the hard way that I was allergic to whatever he used to wash it. The press snapped some pictures that ended up plastered all over the place claiming that my red eyes and flushed expression meant I was high out of my mind on drugs. I never did drugs – I don’t think killing brain cells is a good time – but whatever. Still never found out what that soap was, though.”
T’Challa hummed in acknowledgement, making a mental note to ask Pepper or Rhodey what brands of soap Tony had used without negative repercussions; it wouldn’t do for him to set Tony off because he washed his clothes in something bad for the genius.
The restaurant was a small Italian place that made their own cheese in the back. T’Challa had spoken to the owner when making reservations and had paid the woman handsomely to assure that they would be left alone while dining.
“This place is fantastic,” declared Tony as he looked at his menu. “How did you even know about it? I’ve never heard of it before.”
T’Challa smiled at the billionaire. Tony ordered some dish T’Challa had never heard of, speaking fluent Italian to the owner. It seemed like the restaurant had been the correct choice; T’Challa would have to thank Rhodey later for the suggestion of going with Italian.
The conversation flowed easily between the two friends, both laughing and joking as the night wore on. Tony was so at ease that T’Challa hated to disturb that but he knew he must. He had been putting off the conversation for far too long.
“Tony, there is something I wish to discuss with you,” said T’Challa as they were finishing up desert and both nursing a cup of coffee.
“Sounds serious,” said Tony before taking another sip of his coffee.
“It is, but not in the way you are thinking.”
T’Challa allowed Tony another sip of coffee, knowing how the genius relied on the substance.
“I would like to date you,” said T’Challa, not one for beating around the bush.
Tony froze.
“Dating,” said Tony, spinning his coffee cup in his hand. “That’s a thing. A thing people do.”
“We have been doing it for a time,” said T’Challa with a soft smile, hoping to put Tony at ease. “I would just like to make it official so we can attend events together and I can properly take care of you.”
“I don’t need to be taken care of,” said Tony automatically, his mind still reeling from the fact that T’Challa wanted to ask him out.
“I didn’t say you did, I said I would like to do it, there is a difference. Trust me, I know how very capable you are.”
“Why do you want to date me?”
“You are a unique human being,” said T’Challa. “You don’t think the same way most do, you see things differently. You are kind and try to give back with what you have. I would like to continue getting to know you and I think I could make you happy as well.”
“I’m not good at relationships,” said Tony, looking guarded and T’Challa was thankful that he had known it was going to be difficult earning Tony’s trust with this. Not for the first time did T’Challa wish he could ring the necks of those idiotic enough to hurt Tony.
“It takes two people to have a relationship.”
“Yes, and if one of those people are me then the relationship is doomed to fail from the start. It’s personal, I’d love to date you, but I really don’t want to have another friendship lost because of it.”
“Then how about we take this slowly,” suggested T’Challa with a warm smile. “For now, we limit it to dinner and casual dates, things we could do as friends.”
“Then how does that make it any different than just staying friends?”
“I get to pay and, if you’re comfortable with it, maybe hold your hand at times.”
Tony thought it over, because he truly did want to date T’Challa, he just didn’t think he had enough left in him to invest emotionally in a relationship. Even before Steve and Bucky, Tony had very little to offer anyone. What he did have, he gave to Bucky and Steve and they took it with them when they left. He explained as much to T’Challa on months back.
“I’m not sure,” said Tony.
“Take your time,” said T’Challa. “I won’t mention it again until you desire. Now, shall we take a stroll?”
“Just like that? You’re not going to push the issue?”
T’Challa looked sad at the comment because he knew where it came from. Steve and Bucky had committed many hurts to Tony Stark but perhaps the most damaging was not the act of getting married but of refusing to let him go peacefully. Bucky tried for a while to win Tony back, Steve as well in his own way, but it all came to nothing, leaving Tony yet again on his own. Stringing him along with some semblance of hope had been cruel, no matter how guarded Tony had been from the start. The evidence of that hurt was clear when Tony believed his desire for time to think without being pestered was not something to be respected.
“This isn’t something I want you to answer without thought,” said T’Challa calmly. “You have every reason to think it through, it’s a big step and I don’t want you to agree unless you’re certain it’s something you not only desire but are ready for.”
“And if I’m not ready?”
“If you are not ready then I will wait. If you are not interested then we shall continue as friends and nothing more.”
Tony eyed the young ruler skeptically but said nothing. The small smile he had tugging at his lips as he rose from his seat, however, said more than enough.