Chapter Text
“Oh for fucks sake!” Tony heard Stephen cry out as he furiously typed something onto his phone.
He raised an eyebrow watching his friend's expression darken with anger.
The two boys had joined MIT over a year ago now. At first the two had hated each other, their egos clashing as each tried to prove their superiority over the other.
But after around a month into rooming with each other, Tony walked into the dorm whilst Stephen was with another man.
Stephen was furious, and the two had quickly dissolved into a heated argument. It took Stephen screaming at Tony to “quit yelling at me,” and to just “hit me and get it over with" for Tony to realise why they were even arguing.
Because under all of that anger, under all of the venom in his words, Stephen was scared. He was scared of what Tony would say about him being with another man.
Tony immediately stopped yelling back, instead leaning forward and pulling Stephen into a kiss. He pulled back triumphantly once Stephen recovered from his initial shock and kissed him back.
“Stephen, I don’t care if you’re gay,” Tony had said, “it would be a bit fucking hypocritical if I did,” he winked before sticking his hand out.
“Truce?” He asked.
Stephen took his hand, “truce.”
After that day, the two became best friends. Inseparable really.
So of course when Stephen suddenly yelled out, glaring angrily at his phone, Tony could not give a shit. Stephen had done, by far, weirder things whilst they had lived with each other.
But as he watched the other man, he saw his anger growing. He knew that look. Stephen was about to combust.
He quickly got up, taking the phone and jumping away, smiling cheekily.
Stephen sighed, getting to his feet, “give me my phone Tony,” he demanded.
“Nope,” Tony sang, popping the P. “Not until I read what’s got you so worked up.”
Stephen rolled his eyes, “be my guest.”
Slightly, shocked at Stephen’s willingness, Tony began to read.
“Hey Stephen, when are you coming to see us over Christmas, kiss kiss kiss, love mom.” Tony read out in a ridiculously high-pitched voice. “Be sure to bring-” his accent began to fade as he kept reading, “a nice girl with you this time,” he finished.
He looked back up at Stephen, his brows furrowed in confusion as he passed the phone back.
“She knows you’re gay right?” Tony asked hesitantly, “‘cause to me, and like most of the world I assume, it’s fairly obvious.”
Stephen finally cracked a smile, “you’d think so wouldn’t you,” he drawled. “You’d think after your own mother walks in on you kissing the farm boy from down the road she’d know you’re gay, but alas not.” He frowned slightly.
Tony sat, speechless for once.
Stephen suddenly laughed, “so that’s what it took huh? I’ve been trying for a whole year, but all it took was my homophobic parents and you finally, finally shut up.”
Tony laughed back nervously, rubbing his neck sheepishly.
“I wish I could just like finally prove them wrong. They keep saying it’s a phase, I’ll meet the right girl and it will all be fine.” He rolled his eyes again, “I wish I was dating some guy just to rub it in their face.”
Tony raised an eyebrow, “and presumably because you want to be with ‘some guy’ not just to spite your parents.”
“Yeah sure, that too,” Stephen replied absentmindedly.
The two sat in silence for a while with Tony tapping his foot incessantly.
“Tony I can practically hear your thoughts, either spit it out or quit thinking so loudly,“ Stephen growled.
“Well- I mean it’s a stupid idea but- like- maybe you could take a boy home?” Tony suggested nervously.
“Mhm and who the hell is going to want to come home with me for Christmas to prove that ‘it’s not just a phase mom’” Stephen sighed dramatically, unconvinced.
Another moment of quiet passed.
“Well- I could?” Tony whispered, his usual confidence lacking.
Stephen’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked the man up and down, quirking an eyebrow. “That- could work.” He said, nodding slowly.
“Wait really?” Tony replied in his own surprise.
“Yeah, why not, it would definitely get them off my backs. As long as you can handle a week of not so subtle homophobia.” Stephen shrugged, suddenly feeling quite insecure.
Tony tilted his head in thought, before nodding. “Okay deal, let’s do it,” he winked at Stephen, “babe.”
“Fuck off Tony, if you’re not going to take it seriously then don’t bother-” Stephen began to rant angrily. Before Tony swiftly interrupted, “I’ll have you know I’m taking this super seriously, darling.”
Stephen blushed slightly, as the term of endearment rolled off the other man’s tongue. “Fine, but none of that before we’re even there.”
Tony shrugged, “whatever you want dear.” He grinned wickedly, “whatever you say love, you’re in charge, sugar, your family your rules honeypot.”
Stephen growled, jumping at the other man. Tony let out a delighted laugh, dodging around Stephen before making a dive for Stephen’s phone and jumping up onto the bed.
He began to type as Stephen chased him around the room.
“Tony what the fuck are you doing. Put the phone down Tony.” He made a swipe for the phone, “Tony I swear to God I’m going to kill you.”
“And done!” Tony called out, passing the phone back to him, smiling sweetly.
Stephen
‘We’ll be there, see you soon mom’
Tony watched smugly as Stephen’s eyes scanned the message before he turned to glare at Tony. “You little shit.” He dived at him again, this time managing to tackle him to the floor.
Tony blinked in surprise, his eyes meeting the piercing blue of the man above him. Suddenly he felt his face heating up at the position they were in. He coughed, roughly shoving Stephen off of him and getting to his feet.
“Right well, let me know when we’re going, right now I’ve got to go finish this paper for stats.” Tony muttered out, his tone now lacking the humour that had been there a moment before.
Stephen frowned in confusion at the sudden change in mood, “we’ll be going from the 23rd to the 3rd so Christmas and New Years. Is that okay with you?”
Tony shrugged again, “got nothing better to do around then.” He sat down at his desk, snapping open his laptop.
“Cool, pack for the cold.”
*****
A couple weeks later Tony found himself in the passenger seat of Stephen’s grotty pick-up truck, settling in for the thirty hour drive.
“You never said we’d be driving,” Tony grumbled, swinging his feet onto the dash.
Stephen shrugged, his expression one of disbelief. “How else did you think we’d get there? On fucking horse back? Can poor little Tony Stark not handle not taking his daddy’s private jet everywhere.”
“Fuck off,” Tony replied. Something in his tone must have gotten through to Stephen as he immediately apologised.
“Why aren’t you with them for Christmas anyways?” Stephen asked curiously.
Tony flipped him off, staring out the window. He sighed before realising if they were about to spend ten days fake dating he could at least tell Stephen where his parents were.
“They went to the Maldives for Christmas,” he paused, “I wasn’t invited.”
Stephen placed his hand onto Tony’s knee, squeezing it gently.
“That sucks, I’m sorry man.” Tony shrugged again, pushing Stephen’s hand off gently.
“Nah I don’t care, I’m used to it.” Tony said, in a tone that very much did not show his indifference.
“That doesn’t actually make it better you know?”
“Shut up and drive.” Tony snapped back.
Stephen glanced again at his friend before giving up and turning back to the road. Tony was in one of his moods. The one where you could not get anything out of him if he didn’t feel like chatting.
He turned the radio up, humming along as the silence stretched on.
“Maybe it’s the crazy that I’d miss,” he sang quietly, smiling as he heard Tony finally joining in.
“It won’t get better than this.”
Suddenly, they both started belting out, “I like the way your brain works,”
“I like the way you try, to run with the wolf pack when your legs are tired.”
The two sat, chanting out the lyrics until the song ended. And yes, maybe they were both horribly out of tune, but as Tony slouched back into his seat, a soft smile spread across his face.
Stephen grinned proudly to himself, as he took another glance at his friend.
They settled back into a silence, occasionally chiming in with the lyrics, laughing when they’d fuck them up.
Suddenly the drive didn’t seem so long anymore.
*****
They stopped a couple hours in, pulling into a gas station. Tony went inside, whilst Stephen filled up the car.
A couple minutes later, Tony emerged smiling victoriously, his arms loaded with a pile of snacks. He tossed Stephen a bag before using his teeth to rip into his own bag of cheetos.
Stephen grinned happily, as he tore open his own bag. “You ready to hit the road again?” He asked, as he started up the engine.
Tony pretended to think for a moment, chewing loudly on a chip before sticking a thumb up, “born ready, giddy up farm boy.”
Stephen rolled his eyes fondly, as they rolled back onto the highway, “you’re such a little shit Tony.”
“Yeah but you love me really,” Tony replied grinning cheekily as he tossed another chip into his mouth, crunching down. Stephen chose not to reply, grabbing the next chip Tony tossed up out of the air and biting into it himself.
“Oi!” Tony yelled, grabbing Stephen’s jaw and trying to pry his mouth back open.
“Tony- Tony stop!” Stephen gasped out, as Tony resorted to poking a finger into his side, immediately finding Stephen’s ticklish spot. “I’m driving, stop it.” He batted the other man’s hand away, his tone angry, but his eyes glimmered slightly.
“Honestly, the lack of appreciation I get, I buy you your favourite chips, I pay for your gas but no, you still feel the need to steal my own.” Tony ranted. Stephen laughed, reaching over and nicking another one of Tony’s cheetos. “These aren’t my favourite.”
Tony suddenly went very quiet, looking at Stephen in confusion, “yes they are,” he insisted stubbornly, “May 20th last year we went to Costco, and you grabbed a bag of Takis and said, I love this, this is my favourite.”
Stephen smiled, “I meant the day in general, doing boring shit like shopping but still somehow enjoying it because I was doing it with my best friend.”
Tony turned beetroot. He sat there stumped for a moment before coughing and shoving his arrogant exterior back on. “Whatever man, don’t go soft on me dickhead.”
Stephen sighed, shaking his head. “Shut up and eat your cheetos.”
So Tony did just that. Stephen watched him from the corner of his eyes. He watched the cogs spinning in Tony's mind, a small crease appearing on his forehead the longer he thought.
They drove in silence for a while, Tony lost in his head, whilst Stephen focused on the road, sneaking glances at his friend every now and then.
After a while, Stephen sighed again, getting slightly frustrated, “Tony shut up.” Tony sat up protesting loudly. “What the fuck, I literally didn’t say anything.”
“You’re thinking, it’s putting me off.” Stephen replied secretly relishing in Tony’s return to the present.
“You’re such a dick you know,” Tony grumbled, playfully shoving Stephen, causing him to suddenly veer sideways.
Tony laughed at the sudden exhilaration and Stephen scrambled to get back in control of the vehicle. “Tony!” He screamed, glaring at the other.
“Take a chill pill Stephen, there’s literally no one around, we’re in the middle of bumfuck nowhere.” Tony cackled. “Actually on second thoughts, no pills for you Mr. Driver.”
Stephen growled, “how the fuck am I supposed to pretend to be in love with you for a week and a half.”
“Fuck off, everyone loves me.” Tony replied defensively, and was that a touch of hurt Stephen could hear in his tone? No Tony wouldn’t be upset by a comment like that, it was just their usual banter.
“Trust me Stephen, by the end of this trip, your parents are going to be the biggest allies in the world.” Tony grinned smugly.
“Yeah sure, whatever you say,” Stephen rolled his eyes yet again. If he kept at this rate, he felt like his eyes might just fall out of his head. Then again, he wouldn’t have to keep rolling them if Tony would stop saying stupid shit.
They bickered for a while longer, as the night began to set around them.
Tony suddenly yawned, shutting his eyes and leaning back into his seat. Stephen watched with a soft smile, Tony always looked so much more peaceful when he rested, the constant thoughts plaguing his mind shutting off for a while.
Tony cracked open an eyelid, glaring at Stephen through a hooded lid, “what are you looking at.”
“Nothing, just wondering whether we should stop for a break and keep driving tomorrow.” Stephen replied, suddenly feeling very very conscious of himself.
“Yeah let’s do that,” Tony murmured, shutting his eye again.
So Stephen kept driving for a while, soon pulling in at a motel. He leaned over, shaking Tony’s shoulder waking the man who had fallen asleep a little while ago.
“Tony, we’re here, sorry for waking you, I promise you can go straight back to sleep once we’ve got a room.” Stephen whispered as the man began to stir.
Tony murmured something in his sleep that sounded awfully like, “piss of babe, I’m sleeping,” before suddenly bolting upright, his face bright red. Stephen laughed, wondering what dream he’d just woken Tony from before deciding that, actually knowing Tony, he’d prefer not to know.
He opened the car door, after he was sure Tony wouldn’t fall back asleep, grabbing their bags and slinging them over his shoulder.
He then slung his free arm over Tony’s shoulder, guiding the tired man into the motel reception.
“Can we get a twin room thanks,” he asked the woman behind reception. She eyed the two of them curiously, before very, very unsubtly checking Tony out. Stephen felt himself grow slightly protective as he stepped more in front of Tony.
“Just the room thanks,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
The woman blushed, at being caught so obviously, before grabbing a key from behind her and passing it to Stephen.
Stephen paid, leading Tony up the stairs. The other had been suspiciously quiet throughout the interaction, but seemed perfectly content to let Stephen steer him into the room.
As soon as they entered, Tony flopped down onto the bed. Bed singular. What the fuck.
Just as he was about to storm back downstairs, Tony called out to him, making him stop. “Stephen it’s fine, just go complain in the morning, I know you’re tired as well” he murmured sleepily.
Stephen sighed, seeing Tony already almost back to sleep. He released his grip on the door, grabbing his bag and heading into the bathroom to change and freshen up. When he returned Tony was fast asleep, curled in on his side, a generous amount of space left for Stephen.
Gingerly, Stephen crawled into the bed, turning onto his side as well, staring at the wall until sleep finally took over.
*****
Stephen awoke to breath tickling his neck. He blinked in the dim light, the only source coming from the sun pouring in through the thin curtains.
He tried to sit up slowly, before suddenly becoming very aware of the weight pinning his arm and chest down. He panicked, pulling his arm free, causing the other person in bed with him to go flying.
Tony groaned as he rubbed the back of his head, climbing to his feet from his position on the floor.
“What the fuck Stephen,” he grumbled.
Stephen sighed grumpily, “you were practically on top of me you lump,” he complained irritably.
He noted that Tony actually looked slightly sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck, laughing nervously. He was delighted in the fact that the man usually so sure of himself was suddenly overcome by a bashfulness very much unlike him. “Who knew the great Tony Stark, king of the one night stand, bedder of men and women, was such a big cuddler.”
And to Stephen’s delight, Tony’s cheeks dusted a slight pink matching the sunrise.
“Fuck off Stephen,” Tony grumbled before grabbing his wash bag and heading into the bathroom.
Wait, was Tony actually pissed at him? What the fuck?
He shrugged it off, instead pulling his phone up and checking how much they would have to drive today. He sighed dramatically, falling back against the pillows as google maps showed another 14 hours with the current traffic conditions, although it seemed to be getting worse.
Tony emerged a few minutes later, his hair freshly damp, his fringe sticking to his forehead, and a towel wrapped around his hip. Stephen didn’t even blink, used to seeing Tony in far less after the amount of times he’d forgotten to lock their door when he had company.
“So what’s our ETA?” Tony asked as he pulled a sweater over his head.
“Traffics shit, but at the moment it’s saying 14 hours,” Stephen sighed, rubbing his eyes. “I was hoping we’d get there today but I don’t know if I'll be able to stay awake and drive for that long.”
“Let me drive for a bit then,” Tony replied, rolling his eyes. Stephen eyed him with trepidation. That truck was his baby. That had been his gift for getting into such a good college on the other side of the country. No fucking way was Tony getting behind the wheel.
“Oh come on Stephen,” Tony pleaded, “let me drive the piece of crap please,” he batted his eyelashes at the other, causing Stephen to burst out laughing, “nope,” he replied through his laughter.
“Come on Stephen, I’ll be gentle I promise, I’ll treat your car so good,” and then Tony had the audacity to wink at him. Stephen felt his cheeks involuntarily grow warmer as he looked down.
“Fine,” he conceded, “you can drive for a bit if, and only if, I get tired.” And fine, that was his baby, but looking at the delight crossing Tony’s face. It was worth it for that.
“Hurry the fuck up then, let’s go see what this shithole has for breakfast, and you have some super fun complaining to do.” Tony urged, pushing Stephen towards the bathroom.
Oh yeah. He’d forgotten about the room problem. He smiled, excited at the chance to yell at that incompetent woman who had tried to make a move on his semi-conscious friend.
So he went and did just that. He changed quickly, shoving everything back into his bag before heading downstairs with Tony. They stopped off at the car, chucking their bags in before returning to the reception.
Stephen leaned forward onto the counter, looming over the woman before him. She looked up at him clearly exhausted but also intrigued.
“Can I help you sir?” She asked, catching Tony’s eyes over Stephen’s shoulder and then having the audacity to wink at him.
Stephen felt his blood practically boiling as he chucked the keys on the desk, “yes I think you can.” He replied in a tone so cold, the woman took a quick step back.
“I paid for a twin room last night, now imagine my dislike when I entered said room and did not see two beds but one.”
The woman looked at him in confusion before taking the key he had put down and checking the room number on it. “Oh, I’m sorry, someone must have put this key on the wrong peg, I had you down as being in room 15 not 19.”
Stephen shook his head, leaning even further forward and setting his jaw into a scowl. “That seems like a really stupid mistake to make. Who do you reckon could've done that?”
He vaguely heard Tony snorting in the back, stifling his laugh by clasping his hand over his mouth.
“I don’t know sir, again I apologise for the mistake.” The woman stuttered out, now very clearly intimidated.
“I expect a full refund,” Stephen insisted.
“Sir not to be rude but the room we accidentally put you in was far more expensive than the room you would’ve gotten.” The woman replied, standing up taller.
And this time Tony couldn’t help but burst out laughing, doubling over and grabbing onto Stephen’s shoulder for support.
“Come on babe, let’s leave the poor woman alone and go grab some breakfast,” he gasped out through his laughter, pulling on Stephen’s shoulder.
Stephen turned to glare at him, “I want my money back.” He insisted again.
“Oh but sweetheart, if this kind lady hadn’t accidentally stuck us in that room, we never would’ve crossed the step from friends to more,” he murmured, batting his eyelashes at Stephen. The woman gasped slightly before trying to school her features and failing miserably. Tony leaned forward in response, pretending to hug Stephen but actually just burying his giggles in Stephen’s shoulder.
“Fine,” Stephen grumbled, fully intent on making Tony pay for the crap room after that stunt. Tony hooked his arm into Stephen’s before pulling him back out of the motel and towards the diner across the street.
“You’re such a dick Tony,” Stephen growled, snatching his arm from Tony’s as soon as they were out of the reception.
“And you’re such a Karen,” Tony replied cheerily, completely unphased by Stephen’s attitude.
“For that you’re paying for that room and all the gas we use on this trip and you’re definitely not driving my truck.”
Tony’s eyes sparkled as he replied, “done, and done, my dad’s a billionaire, and yes I absolutely am driving because you can’t say no to me,” just as Stephen was about to protest Tony continued, “plus, you definitely don’t want to end up in another shitty motel sharing a bed with me again.”
Stephen scowled, flopping into a booth in the corner of the diner. It wasn’t that he minded sharing a bed with Tony, he didn’t care, really he didn’t. It was the principle of the matter. That woman was lazy and she had been far too distracted by ogling Tony to be of any use.
They ordered their food soon after, both of them ordering multiple coffees, and a stack of pancakes to get them through the drive ahead.
“So Stephen, what exactly should I be expecting from your parents?” Tony sipped his coffee before grimacing. Stephen wasn’t a snob like Tony, but even he had to admit that the stuff was vile, somehow it tasted like cigarettes.
“Well, they’re probably not going to upfront call you any slurs, but I expect they’ll question your masculinity quite a bit.” Stephen drawled, taking his own sip of the dark liquid. Could you even call the stuff coffee?
Tony hummed, thinking, “and how hardcore do you want me to sell it?”
Stephen raised an eyebrow, “how far are you willing to go.” Tony pulled a face grimacing, “I’m not fucking you infront of your parents you disgusting man.” He responded flatly.
“Although, I’m not against doing it in your room, and making you scream my name so they hear,” Tony grinned, winking.
Stephen scoffed, even as his face grew a shade darker, “you certainly think highly of yourself.”
Tony shrugged, still grinning cheekily, “that wasn’t a no.”
“No.”
Tony pouted, “you’re no fun.” To which Stephen reached across the table swatting Tony on the head.
“Don’t be a dick Tony.”
“You are what you eat.” Tony cackled as Stephen’s jaw dropped to the floor, letting out an indignant “Tony!”
“This is going to be a fun week, don’t you think sweetums?”
“No. Fuck off.” Stephen replied, though he couldn’t hide his grin. He had to admit, as annoying as Tony was, he most definitely was going to make this Christmas slightly more bearable.
“Donna’s chill though,” Stephen murmured after a moment’s silence.
“Donna’s your sister right?” Tony asked. Stephen raised an eyebrow at him, shocked that he actually remembered before nodding.
“Actually that’s a good point, I probably should tell you the names of who’s going to be there.”
“Mhm, that would be helpful, it would be weird if we were in a committed relationship but I didn’t know your mom’s name.” Tony replied thoughtfully, tapping his chin.
“I’m not exactly sure who’s going to be there, but my mom’s name is Beverly, and my dad is Eugine, but there’s no way he’ll let you call him that.” Stephen answered earnestly, “I reckon my gran will be there, and maybe my Aunt and her kids?” Stephen smiled suddenly, “they’re really sweet actually, Annie’s five and Victor’s eight.”
Tony looked at him smiling at the fondness in Stephen’s tone. “Okay I think I’ve got it all, Beverly and Eugene are your parents but Eugene won’t let me call him Eugene, Annie and Victor are your cousins,” he suddenly gasped, “you’re setting me up for failure, come on give me your gran and aunt’s names.”
Stephen rolled his eyes at Tony’s dramatic behaviour, “My gran’s Victoria and my Aunt’s Sarah. She’s pretty chill, not completely on board with the gay thing but she shouldn’t give us too much grief.”
Tony grinned again, “okay, okay I’ve definitely got it this time. Beverly and Eugene, Victoria, Sarah and her children Annie and Victor.” He smiled smugly as he checked each one off on his fingers.
Stephen rolled his eyes yet again. Seriously he needed to stop, his eyes were going to get stuck in the back of his head in a minute. “Hurrah for Tony, you got them all, ten points to Gryffindor” He replied sarcastically.
Tony, unphased by Stephen’s tone, continued to grin proudly to himself sipping on his coffee. He found he didn’t even mind the taste much anymore, what with the caffeine pumping into his veins with each sip.
Once they had finished up, Tony quickly paid the bill before they got back into the car, preparing for the journey ahead.