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“Paradise Pink or Pink Flambé?”
“Hmm, Flambé. You know I prefer anything that’s doused in alcohol.”
“It isn’t actually—”
“Semantics, darling.”
Steve stopped in his tracks outside a meeting room on the Triskelion, but not the meeting room they were supposed to be in. But that was Natasha’s and Tony’s voices, and normally he would’ve kept walking, but they had a meeting. They were going to be late. It wasn’t any of his business whatever nonsense Tony was up to now, but there had been a flirtatious edge between Tony and Natasha recently. And he was… curious.
He just wanted to know what they were doing, that was all.
“Okay, I’ll do it. You’ll just make a mess.”
“I take offence, the only messes I make are very enjoyable ones.”
“I’m sure.”
“You can find out, darling. You know I’d make it worth your while.”
Steve frowned. That sounded… inappropriate. What they did in their own time was their business, but here they should behave with some decorum, shouldn’t they?
“Mmm, how do I look? Sexy right? Irresistible?”
That was it. Steve pushed the door open and walked into the room, freezing at what he found. It wasn’t what he was expecting. He didn’t know what he was expecting, finding Tony lacking in clothing, perhaps?
But not this.
Tony’s lips were painted a bold pink colour, much brighter than their usual hue. They made his lips look very… lush. Natasha’s hand was still aloft holding the lipstick in her hand that she’d clearly just applied.
It broke Steve’s brain. He just… didn’t understand. He didn’t like it.
“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded.
Both their heads whipped in his direction.
“I just felt that need for some extra flair today,” Tony said, surprise shifting into a smirk. “Natasha was kind enough to help me out. What do you think?” His eyes were challenging, daring Steve to react.
“We have a meeting.” Steve said flatly.
“So?”
“It’s a bit inappropriate, don’t you think?” Steve cursed himself for letting Tony bait him. He was going to make him regret it, he was sure.
“Inappropriate? Why?” Tony batted his eyelashes. “It’s just a bit of makeup. Natasha and Jan wear lipstick to meetings all the time.”
“Yes but they’re… women.” Steve spluttered.
“Which means what, exactly?” Tony asked, walking towards Steve. “I think you’ll find it’s a free country, Captain America. I may be a man, but I’m allowed to wear lipstick if I want to. If it makes me feel sexy, is there anything wrong with that?” He asked, leaning into Steve’s space. Close. He was too close.
Steve’s eyes dipped down to his pink lips. They were so vibrant. He quickly pulled them back up before Tony could think it meant anything. Because it didn’t. Obviously.
“Try to catch up to the 21st century, Captain.” Tony murmured, sauntering past Steve as he headed out the door. Leaving Steve standing there at a complete loss. Natasha smirked at him.
Steve shook his head, turning and walking out the room to head to the meeting. He just had to get through this meeting, and then he could get out of here and away from these confusing feelings.
———
The contents of the meeting Steve could not repeat under threat of bodily harm. Nick Fury talked a lot, of that he was sure. But Steve couldn’t focus on his words for the life of him.
His attention kept being drawn to Tony Fucking Stark. Arrogant, smug, provocative Tony Stark. The modern man to Steve’s traditional man. The thorn in his side. Always challenging him on everything. Shattering his safe comfortable beliefs, making him question everything he’d always known to be true. It was infuriating.
Steve couldn’t look away from Tony’s pink, pink lips. What’s worse? The man knew it, too. At first Steve thought he might’ve been imagining it, but after almost an hour he was certain. Tony was deliberately drawing attention to his lips, pretending they were unconscious gestures, but the not so subtle glances checking on Steve’s reaction gave him away.
First he rubbed his thumb back and forth just under his bottom lip, staring at Fury with more concentration than he ever gave the man. Then he started running his tongue along the inside of his lips, which only served to push them out.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, next his pen got involved. Tapping, tracing his lips, pushing it against his plush bottom lip.
Steve might’ve snapped the pen he was holding in two. He tried to cover it with an excuse about it being a flimsy brand.
He’d thought he might finally get a reprieve when Tony got up to make himself a coffee, spiked with booze no doubt. The man never went long without an alcoholic drink.
But of course then he had to endure Tony’s lips blowing on the drink— like Steve hadn’t seen him scald his mouth in his eagerness to get coffee down his throat, but now he needed to cool it down. Sure. Tony’s sly smile only confirmed his suspicions.
Then he watched Tony part his lips widely around the rim of the cup as he drank it, ostensibly to avoid his lipstick. Not that it worked. Once he set the cup back down there was a pink imprint of Tony’s lips left behind. Steve couldn’t tear his eyes away.
His first reaction to Tony wearing makeup had been that it was wrong. It wasn’t what men were supposed to do. It was effeminate, a boundary Tony seemed to push against with delight, but that Steve had grown up thinking was unacceptable for any self-respecting man.
But if there was one thing that had been hammered into his brain over and over it was the knowledge that it wasn’t any of the bizarre modern behaviours that were wrong, he was wrong for taking issue with them. It wasn’t an easy pill to swallow and it made him feel wary anytime he opened his mouth, lest he be berated for being behind the times. Again.
But maybe it wasn’t just others he was struggling to accept, but himself too. Because seeing Tony, he couldn’t deny a small part of himself that had felt intrigued. Like maybe the bold colour suited Tony. Enhanced lips that his eyes already drifted to from time to time. Much more than was acceptable for a self-respecting straight man.
Which had been the only acceptable kind of man there was, where he was from. But he wasn’t there anymore, was he? The same rules didn’t apply. And as he stared at the lipstick mark on Tony’s cup, he thought of all the places Tony could mark him.
Steve’s lips. His neck. His… body. A shiver raced down his spine.
“You planning on staying here all day?”
Steve startled, glancing around the almost empty room, meeting Tony’s gaze as the man strode around the table in his direction. He’d really been lost if he hadn’t even noticed the meeting ending. So much for escaping the meeting before he had to deal with Tony again. All he could do now was brace himself.
“Everything okay? You seemed pretty distracted during the meeting.” Tony’s even tone was belied by the wicked delight in his eyes. He was enjoying this game that he was playing, and he planned on getting his money’s worth.
“I’m… fine.” Steve gritted out, pushing himself to standing before Tony reached him, not wanting to be hovered over.
“Oh really? What’s your opinion on Fury’s plan?”
Steve didn’t have one. Of course he didn’t. He had no idea what Fury’s plan even was. Which Tony knew. Bastard. Steve’s temper flared. He didn’t enjoy being mocked. Because that’s all this was. Tony pushing his buttons.
He’d probably be flabbergasted if he knew that it wasn’t irritation consuming his thoughts, but desire. Now there was a thought. Steve quite liked the idea of throwing Tony off balance.
Steve’s eyes darted down to Tony’s lips. Still pink. Still tempting. He looked back at Tony, whose expression was one of victory. And Steve just— he just snapped. Arousal, frustration, confusion— it all collided. His hands reached out to fist Tony’s shirt, and he roughly pulled them together.
Hard chests connected, Tony stumbled slightly before he found his balance, but Steve held him firmly. He pressed his lips to Tony’s, tentatively at first then growing bolder. His lips parted over Tony’s, who hesitated but then responded just as eagerly. They kissed and kissed and kissed. Steve couldn’t get enough of Tony’s lips. He slicked them with his tongue and then he was slipping inside, brushing their tongues together.
A small voice questioned what the hell he was doing but Steve ignored it. This was too good, too wonderful to ruin with such concerns. Tony's mouth was warm and delicious and nothing could pry him away. Nothing except for the unfortunate need for air, that is.
Steve could’ve pushed his limits, but Tony wasn’t superhuman so eventually he pulled away to let them catch their breath. Tony stared at him in shock, but when he opened his mouth Steve grabbed his head and pressed it against his neck. If he had breath enough to talk he had enough breath to keep kissing him. And Steve wanted Tony’s lips to mark his neck before he was forced to answer any of Tony’s questions.
Tony chuckled against Steve’s skin but he obliged. Kissing, sucking and nipping his way down Steve’s neck. He couldn’t hold onto the groans of pleasure.
“Like that do you, sweetheart?” Tony pulled away to raise a brow at Steve, smirk in place. But his expression was different from before. Instead of smug, it was curious, assessing. Not to mention his eyes that were dark with an arousal that matched Steve’s own. That was definitely new. He liked that look on Tony.
“Yes,” Steve responded simply. He was past denying it at this point.
“Wanna clue me in on what’s going on here, darling? Cause I confess to being a bit—”
“Flabbergasted?” Steve suggested with a smirk.
“Mm, you’re goal I’m guessing?”
“More like a bonus. Kissing you was the main event.”
Tony laughed, looking a bit stunned. If he was wondering where on earth this confident Steve had come from, well, he was wondering the exact same thing.
“Is this all down to the lipstick?” Tony asked bemusedly. “If I’d known that’s all it took—”
“It’s you. Your lips. You.”
“Oh.” A happy smile stretched Tony’s lips, and it occurred to Steve that while Tony smiled often, it was never quite so uninhibited or genuine. “You do like it though, don’t you?” Tony flirted.
“I do.” Steve blushed.
“No need to be embarrassed, honey. I’m surprised but certainly not displeased.” Tony rubbed his thumb against his lip, and then glanced at it. “I believe I’m all out, I think it’s all on you.” He eyed Steve, and he imagined his lips and neck were very pink right now.
“Th-that’s okay,” he mumbled, embarrassed in spite of what Tony said. “You don’t have to-I just want to kiss you.” And it was true. He liked the lipstick but it was Tony that he wanted.
“Oh no. Delighted as I am to hear that, this is what you’ve been fantasising about all meeting long, right?” Tony motioned to Steve’s presumably lipstick covered self.
Steve paused. Nodded.
“Well then, I’m nothing if not dedicated to meeting my lovers’ every fantasy.”
“L-lovers?”
“If you want me I’m yours.”
“I want you.” Steve whispered. There was no one around, but it felt like such a huge admission. This thing that was forming between them felt fragile and in need of protection.
“Fabulous. So, here’s the plan. You. Me. My place. I’ll reapply the lipstick and then I’ll kiss you everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. What do you think?”
Steve couldn’t nod fast enough. Oh he wanted that. With every fibre of his being. He was a little nervous, this was well outside his comfort zone. But the way Tony’s eyes softened when he looked at him, Steve felt like he was in safe hands.