Chapter Text
Google didn’t exist when Steve Rogers was growing up so he never had the opportunity to google whether he was normal or not. If he’d had someone there to guide him a little bit better in the sexuality department then maybe he would have felt a lot different about himself. Luckily, a certain Tony Stark might be exactly the person he’s looking for.
The credits were rolling on their film but Steve hadn’t paid attention to the last half as he’d gotten slightly distracted watching Tony’s face while butterflies assaulted his stomach. The end music finished and the room was plunged into darkness but neither man dared to move. Steve would know when the other moved as it would rustle the blanket that they currently shared. All he could hear was his steady breath.
However, Tony must have moved slowly as the sudden hand in his check made Steve startle. He wasn’t ready when the lips gently touched his but quickly, his brain caught up and he leant towards the other man to deepen their kiss. The short, dark hair felt so soft against Steve’s large hands. The taller man hummed in contentment as he’d wanted to kiss Tony since the first day they met and he’d been incredibly nervous leading up to their first date.
The popcorn bowl fell on the ground, tossing cornels and popcorn across the plush carpet, as Tony shifted to get his body closer to Steve’s. His hand rested on Steve’s hip and the soldier was more than happy for it to stay there.
Suddenly, Tony’s body pressed even closer and his hand dropped to Steve’s belt buckle.
The contact of Tony’s fingers with the warm metal of the belt was like a bullet as Steve was immediately on his feet and nearly knocked Tony completely off the couch in the process. The genius was half on half off the floor.
Steve’s heart was racing, he could feel it coursing through his ears. Saliva was like glue in his mouth as he couldn’t seem to swallow properly. Fingers tangled in his blond hair, he pulled at the strands in frustration.
From where he was on the floor, Stark muttered, “Um... Light up, J.” Light followed.
The genius was peering up at the soldier with a confused and slight ‘What-the-Fuck’ look plastered in his face, “What’s going on?”
Opening his mouth several times, he resembled a goldfish as he frantically searched for words, “I can’t.”
Righting himself, Stark shrugged, “You could have just told me that you wanted to take it slow.”
Steve appeared almost visibly pained as he gritted his teeth and pulled at his hair, “I can’t... There’s something wrong with me.” After the admission he dropped down on the edge of the couch and released a weary sigh.
“You’re sick?” Tony would lie in the future and pretend that his mind didn’t leap straight to sexually transmitted diseases. Creases folded between his eyebrows as he watched his date drop his head into his hands.
“No, Tony. I’m just... broken.” He refused to look anywhere that wasn’t the floor. Hatred flooded his heart.
“You mean that you can’t get it up? It’s a pretty common problem so we-“ He was mid-sentence when he got interrupted.
“Tony, I don’t feel anything about sex. I never have. The thought of it and the... the doing it just make me uncomfortable.” He groaned at himself, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even come here and done this to you. Why’d you ever want to be with a freak.” The word freak had been ingrained deeply into his mind as so many people he’d either told or been in relationships with had rejected him and called him a freak. He didn’t know how to fix himself but he wished he could.
“A freak?” Tony cried out, he leapt off the couch to instead kneel in front of Steve. He grabbed his his hands in his, “You’re completely normal! You’re asexual.”
“What?” He frowned, Tony better not be messing with him.
“Yeah, it just means you’re not interested in having sex. It’s totally normal and valid so you’re not broken and you’re not a freak.” The squeeze he gave Steve’s hands was so reassuring.
“Asexual...”
“And it doesn’t make any difference to me whether you like sex or not! I’ve been building up the courage to ask you on a date for months! I’m not going to suddenly change my mind because you don’t want to sleep with me. I like you for who you are!”
The tears didn’t stay on Steve’s cheeks long as his date wiped them away quickly.
“Is it okay if I kiss you or... where are your boundaries?” Tony asked hesitantly. He didn’t want to fuck this up.
Nodding quickly, Steve leant forward and initiated the kiss. He smiled, “I like kissing you.”
Grinning, Stark answered, “Yeah, and I like kissing you too. But seriously you’ll have to tell me what you’re okay with since I don’t want you to ever feel uncomfortable around me.”
Steve nodded which made Tony continue, “But, for now, how about another movie and we get snuggled under that blanket?”
Steve agreed and they cuddled up together under the blanket. Tony knew that the rest of the team would laugh if they could see Tony Stark, Playboy millionaire, being a complete softy but it was worth it for Steve.
———
Tony was heading out from their latest, seemingly never ending, briefing when Clint caught up with him. Not caring if Clint got offended, Tony frowned and peered across at him. If Clint was around him he was usually up to something.
“What do you want?” The genius huffed.
The mock look of offence was almost realistic but Clint couldn’t sustain it and laughed, “I hear wedding bells.”
“What?” He stopped walking and turned to face his teammate.
“Just come to make sure I’d get an invite?” The archer smirked. He cocked an eyebrow.
“Whoever is getting married would be smart to purposely ‘lose’ your invitation in the mail.” Stark crossed his arms as he huffed. Clint was practically dripping in mischief and Tony didn’t like it.
“It’s you.” He rolled his eyes at Tony’s obtuseness, “I heard through the grapevine, a.k.a Natasha’s snooping skills, that you and Steve are a thing now? Bet you had to beg to get that ass.”
Stark had been trying very hard to not think of Steve’s ass, especially when the man was anywhere near him. It had been years since he’d been in any sort of established relationship so he was fearful of fucking it up with Steve. Would Steve be uncomfortable if Tony thought about his ass? Would that be crossing one of his boundaries? He’d have to check.
“Um, sure. Whatever.”
“Whatever?” Clint squinted at him, “Ah, I see. You haven’t gotten a piece yet.”
Quickly, Tony’s eyes glanced up and down the corridor to check that they were alone. He stepped closer to his friend to ensure he could keep his voice low. The last thing he wanted was to be overheard by a stranger.
“Look, I’d appreciate it if you don’t talk about Steve like that... He’s not comfortable with sex. He’s asexual.”
Clint suddenly burst out laughing and Tony couldn’t have been more angry. The inventor continued, “Don’t you dare laugh at him!”
“Oh no,” Clint cackled out between laughs, “I’m not laughing at Steve. I’m laughing at you.” He suddenly went deadpan, “I think you need to think carefully about what you’re doing. You’re Tony Stark, playboy extraordinaire. If you hurt Steve in anyway you know we’ll be all over your ass.”
Tony blanched at the man’s sudden change in tone, “The last thing I want to do is hurt Steve.”
“But if it’s the last thing on your Want To Do list then it’s still on the list. The last thing on the list is still a thing to be done...” Clint’s words remained with Tony long after the spy had dashed off without even saying goodbye.
Tony’s eyes followed after him but he didn’t move for a while longer. Could he possibly be destined to hurt Steve?