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Tony was the most oblivious person in the world.
Stephen had done everything but throw himself at Tony; apparently none of that registered. Not the dates, not the increased time spent together, not Stephen’s—admittedly not great—attempts to flirt.
Tony enjoyed their time together, eyes bright and warm when he looked at Stephen—love, it was love—but Stephen could tell Tony wasn’t reading anything into their interactions. Tony ‘knew’ Stephen saw him as a friend and nothing more, so he saw nothing more.
For someone who’d loved Stephen for over five years, Tony was remarkably resistant to Stephen trying to change their dynamic.
“And they said I’m the oblivious one,” Stephen muttered as he left the compound after another date-that-wasn’t.
“He is remarkably obtuse,” came a voice from behind him. Stephen startled, turning around. Natasha leaned against the wall. “I admit, I thought it’d be easy once you realized you’re as in love with him as he is with you.”
Stephen stared. She knew? Worse, she’d known before he’d known. That first conversation he’d overheard… “You and Clint?”
Natasha rolled her eyes. “Clint is good at what he does, but subterfuge isn’t a skill of his.”
“You used him?”
Natasha smirked. “He’ll be delighted he was of use. He’s a romantic. Part of why he was so eager to get Tony with Lia. He thought you were a lost cause.”
“You didn’t think so.”
“No,” she agreed. “You loved him, that was obvious. Just as obvious was that neither of you realized.”
“What do I do, then?” Stephen asked. “To get him to realize I…” He swallowed. Natasha might already know, but he didn’t want to say it to her before he said it to Tony.
Natasha sighed. “You’re both idiots.” She shook her head. “Just tell him.”