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Taking his coffee once his name is called by the barista with the lip piercing, a white chocolate mocha with a huge dollop of cream and chocolate shavings on top, Steve finds an empty table towards the back of the cafe and sits down, waiting for his inevitable doom.
From the get go, he hated the idea. He turned down all of Clint’s and Nat’s offers on setting him up with someone. He literally threw a fit when Clint suggested he should sign up for a dating website. Yet here he is nervously playing with the hem of his shirt and waiting on this supposedly perfect match for him.
He hates Clint and he hates Nat. He is so going to force Clint to spar with Thor for the entire week if he can help it. Oh and he’s going to steal Clint’s peanut butter or change the label so he’ll have the brand he hates without realizing. Well he won’t be planning his revenge on Nat, not because he is afraid of her, he is a grown man with supersoldier serum running through his veins, but just because he feels benevolent, he is afraid.
*****
He was peacefully reading on the loveseat in the communal living room, waiting on Tony’s arrival so they could continue making their way through a list Tony called “Classical Rom-Coms Steve Missed While Doing Time as Capsicle”.
Tony had texted him ten minutes earlier, saying he was out of his meeting and on his way, so Steve ordered from one of their favorite places and sat back waiting. Movie nights with Tony were one of his favorite activities to do, discovering new movies, catching up on what he missed, hearing Tony’s funny commentaries during the movie and discussing it once it was over, sharing food with Tony…
Yes, he was also very aware of the ever growing crush that was burning his insides and also making flowers bloom all at the same time. He loved this century through Tony, so the way he saw it, his ever growing feelings were inevitable. He loved everything about this new place because of Tony.
Every new food he tried was because Tony made him try, every new movie, every new music, it was all Tony. Even the things he loved before the ice, now they were all laced with Tony. New art supplies that were delivered whenever he needed them without him saying anything, old copies of books that he used to own, now looking at him from his bookcase, the antique alarm clock on his bedside table…
When Tony walked through the door, calling out his name and bringing him out of his reverie, his smile got so big, he literally felt his lips on his ears. Tony immediately plopped down next to him, pouting.
“I am quitting. I swear to God Steve, if I ever have to sit through another one of those board meetings, I’m quitting.” he said, his arm now draped over his eyes.
“No you’re not.” Steve’s smile was now more delicate, fonder, not as bright yet just as warm. “Besides, you're too afraid of Pepper to quit.”
“You’re right.” Tony huffed. “But they give me headaches.” his voice was coming out like a complaining, spoiled little kid. A few months ago it would annoy Steve to the point of leaving the room. Now it was warming him from the inside, knowing witnessing Tony like this was a privilege not a lot of people got to have.
Steve scooted down til his side was flush with the armrest, then pulled Tony by his shoulders, resting his head in his lap and started massaging his temples. Closing his eyes Tony was enjoying the relief and it was working wonders judging by the sounds he made.
A few minutes later Clint walked in, his hand shielding his eyes shouting “Do not scar me! I just forgot my tablet here.”
Without even getting up, Tony opened his eyes, chucked the nearest pillow to his approximate direction and closed his eyes again. “Oh Steve, please don’t stop.”
Steve has always prided himself in being a very virtuous man who would always do the right thing even if it meant doing the hard thing. But if Tony asked him to take over the world in that tone, he would have gladly said yes and serve his King from then to eternity.
Continuing his massage, Steve simply offered Clint to join them too. “We are just about to watch ‘13 Going On 30’ . You are more than welcome to watch with us.”
“Because someone cried at Bridget Jones’s Diary so much last night, they needed a movie to cheer them up today.” Although his words were mocking, there was a fondness to Tony’s tone.
“Hey!” Steve protested light heartedly. It has become a nice, fun daily occurrence to mess with each other. Annoy each other in a way that makes them both giggle, contrary to their earlier arguments that left them both angry and frustrated. Steve loved the change so much.
And while they were in their own world, Tony claiming he saw Steve shed actual tears and Steve arguing each and every one of those tears were justified. Clint grumbled something about having enough and making Nat intervene and left, tablet still on the coffee table.
By the next morning Steve had forgotten even seeing Clint last night. He was pouring batter into the ‘Death Star’ waffle iron and checking on bacon that was sizzling in the kitchen when Nat walked in.
Even by her steps Steve could feel like she had a purpose for being here and that wasn’t his fluffy, creamy scrambled eggs. Dragging it out Nat poured her a cup of coffee and spoke while holding the mug to her lips. “Clint mentioned your little escapade with Tony last night.”
“What?” Steve asked, trying to keep his voice as innocent as he could.
“Listen Steve.” This was Nat’s ‘I’m serious you better listen and not bullshit me’ tone, Steve was in for a ride. “I love you, and you know I tolerate you almost more than anyone. But enough is enough.”
Confused, Steve just looked at her face with a blank expression. Then Clint barged in and filled in the gaps. He picked up a waffle from the stack and announced he and Nat signed him up on a dating app, got a match, arranged a date for tomorrow night and yelled out that they would drop it if he’d just go to that one date as he rushed out before something was broken on his head.
*****
So Steve sits with his extravagant coffee he got to make himself feel at least a little better, nervously shakes his leg as he waits for this “perfect” person he already knows is not perfect for him.
Tony is perfect for him, of course he can never tell Tony that this blatantly. He wishes he could, sometimes even lets things slip. But he would never ruin the most precious thing in his life right now by being greedy, by asking Tony more than he’d want to give.
Sometimes it feels like he is always surrounded by Tony, everything reminding Steve of him which he loves right now. But he knows Tony will find a partner inescapably, unavoidably, and he deserves that too, he deserves the best. So a day will come and Steve will struggle seeing Tony everywhere, in everything, even hearing his name will pain him.
“Tony?” the barista calls. Steve is now laughing internally because how ironic life can get right.
“Tony? A triple espresso for Tony!” And a man reaches for the plastic cup as Steve watches. Everything starts to shake, life becomes slow-mo.
The man, who is clearly Tony, Steve’s Tony, reaches for the cup and starts to look around. His eyes finally land on Steve, then open wide in shock, his mouth hits the floor then he rubs his eyes with his hands and looks at Steve again.
At the second eye contact Steve stands up abruptly, hitting the table, then immediately leans down to steady it, knocking over the chair he was sitting with his butt this time. “Tony.” he says, eventually, running a hand through his hair, cheeks red as they can get.
A few emotions pass Tony’s face, then realization sets. Steve can visibly see as Tony rolls his eyes, his shoulder relaxes and he exhales a big huff of air. “Clint and Nat sent you on a blind date, right?”
“Yeah?” Steve tentatively assesses the situation. He wouldn't wanna lie to Tony but confesses reluctantly.
Tony lets out a big laugh, then holds Steve’s forearm, eyes looking at him tenderly, hopefully. “Yeah, me too.”
Puzzled, Steve's brows furrow. “Did they set us up in the same place? That is not nice.” he grumbles. Nat knows Steve’s feelings towards Tony. She would never torture Steve with witnessing Tony taking someone on a da- Oh. Oh. “They? Did they? Set us up?” and Steve sounds as breathless as he feels.
“I think so.” And Tony’s eyes are filled with hope, sounding just as breathless as Steve.
“Do you? I mean, want to go on a date with me?” Steve can not believe this is actually happening so his free hand holds Tony’s one that is still resting on his forearm.
“Yes, very much.” Tony lets out earnestly and Steve lets himself bask in the warmth of Tony’s touch. Maybe this is something he’ll get to keep.
“But this wouldn’t be the first date I’d take you out on.” he continues. “I would take you to a small but nice place with big portions and delicious food. I’d order a bottle of wine but it wouldn’t be necessary for me to get drunk because I’d be drunk on happiness. Then we would take a stroll around Central Park and you’d get us ice cream cones. And finally at the end of our date, I’d let you kiss me when we’re back in the tower.”
Steve’s eyes get glassy, throat gets choked up. His head spins with how lucky and special he feels because Tony had thought about this too, he even planned what he'd do with Steve. There are many languages Steve can speak, but none of them have the words to describe how he feels right now, so he leans in hoping to convey all of them in a kiss.
Tony’s lips are a breath away, he can already taste the sweetness of them without touching and for a second he lets himself enjoy this, memorizing his rugged breathing. Then a shattering sound breaks the moment, making both of them look to their left.
Behind a fake plant, Clint looks at the broken glass by his foot, Nat elbowing him ribs and muttering “Secret spy, my ass.” Nat then holds Clint by his collar and drags him away, leaving Tony and Steve laughing while holding their bellies.
Once their laughter dies down, Tony holds his hand out for Steve to take, which he gladly does. “How about I take you out on that date?”
Yeah, no. Steve doesn’t hate Clint and Nat. He is going to order them both huge gift baskets but not right now. Right now he has a date to go to.