Work Text:
“What do you mean you gotta work? We’ve barely seen you in the past two weeks, Tony!” Steve complained and Tony rolled his eyes at him.
“It might be a surprise to you, but some people do that, yes,” Tony said.
Steve sighed, “It’s not about working at all, and you know it. A lot of people work, but then they also take breaks and sleep and have a life in general. You neglect everything including yourself when you lock yourself in your workshop for an unhealthy amount of time.”
“I don’t see how that’s your business.”
Steve sighed again. Sometimes he wanted to strangle Tony until he had a sense of self-preservation. But it seemed unlikely that this method would work as intended.
“Look–“
“No, Steve. You might not have noticed it before, but you also spend a lot of time alone in the gym. Does anyone complain about that? No. You have your gym, I have my workshop. We can just do our own thing. End of story.”
Then Tony turned around to go to the elevator and ignored Steve’s, “That’s not the same, Tony!”
Steve stared at Tony until the elevator doors closed, then shook his head. Someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder and he whipped around to see Natasha smile at him.
“I wanna say he’ll come around, but I’m not sure if that’s true,” she said.
Suddenly he heard Clint from the doorway saying, “Are mom and dad fighting again?” and Nat laughed.
“I’m afraid they are.”
“You really think that’s funny?” Steve asked, but his lip twitched like he was suppressing a laugh, too.
He sometimes wondered if the others of the team really saw Tony and him as the parents among them. Weren’t they all equal? Or were he and Tony really more protective than the rest and gave them the impression? Or was it the fact that Steve sometimes reminded the group to eat or rest? He wasn’t sure.
“I’m gonna go to the gym,” Steve announced when Nat and Clint only chuckled. “Let me know if Bruce would like some help cooking dinner later, okay? I’m happy to help.”
“Aye aye, Cap,” Clint said with a salute.
Nat coughed, “Yes mom”, but she wasn’t even trying to be subtle about it.
Steve smiled on the way to the gym, thinking about the team. Yes, they argued and bickered and made fun of each other, but he trusted every single one of them with his life. It was who they were. They worked incredibly well together, it didn’t have to always be harmonic outside of missions. In no family it ever was.
While Steve pummeled the punching bag, he wondered how he could convince Tony to spend more time with them, to be more included. He could still work on his tablet while they had a movie night for example, as a compromise. But was it really too much to ask him to join them all for dinner? Steve refused to believe it was because Tony didn’t want to spend time with them.
If Tony didn’t want them around, he had never invited them all to live in the tower in the first place. If he wanted complete solitude, there wouldn’t be a common room and Tony’s bedroom wouldn’t be on the same floor as everyone else’s. But why was his work always more important than Steve and the others?
Steve spent quite a while in the gym, getting rid of his frustration about Tony to not let it out on someone else, because that wouldn’t be fair. In fact, he didn’t even want to let it out on Tony, sometimes it was just hard, because he was infuriating and knew exactly how to press Steve’s buttons.
He didn’t see Tony for the rest of the day.
And for some reason Tony seemed even more distant the next one, angry even, if the way he glared in Steve’s direction every time they were in the same room together was any indication.
Steve was just confused about all of this. What had happened? Was it still their argument from the day before? Or was he annoyed that Clint and Natasha had gone on a mission without him – again? Tony knew some missions required stealth and the Iron Man suit wasn’t exactly inconspicuous.
When Steve asked Bruce if he knew something more about Tony’s behavior, he simply shrugged and said he didn’t know either. Well, at least Steve was in good company about not understanding Tony and his moods.
The day after, Steve was having breakfast with Bruce when Nat and Clint suddenly cornered him, freshly returned from their mission and clearly amused about something, probably one of their inside jokes, as usual.
But then Clint draped an arm over him and said, “We leave for one day and you suddenly become a porn star?”
Steve almost choked on his bread.
He coughed, “What?” and Natasha laughed.
“You haven’t seen it yet, have you?” she asked and apparently Steve looked confused enough that she took pity on him and held her phone out to show Steve what was going on.
Steve stared at a picture of himself in the gym while boxing, only wearing shorts and a white t-shirt, hair disheveled, and very sweaty. Tony had posted the photo on Instagram with the caption, “Look at this hypocrite lecturing me about spending too much time alone while he’s always in the gym by himself!” It also had a dizzying amount of likes and comments.
“People don’t really care about what Tony said about you, by the way. They only thirst, because you’re hot and they have eyes,” Nat laughed. “Do you wanna read some of the comments? Again, most of them just say how attractive you are, some of them are asking for gym tips, none are talking about you being a hypocrite.”
Steve blinked a few times, still staring at himself.
“Why would Tony take a picture of me in the gym?” he asked. “And then, what, get mad at me, because people don’t agree with him? I didn’t ask him to involve the public!”
“No, you didn’t,” Clint agreed. “But they are involved now. And just because the comments don’t really talk about the caption, Reddit does! People looove gossip and drama. Welcome to the internet, Steve!”
Steve groaned. Why did Tony hate him so much to put him through this? What was he even supposed to do? Everyone had already seen it even if he could convince Tony to delete the picture. What even was the point?
“Can I just… not do anything?” Steve asked and waved at Natasha’s phone.
“It’s probably for the best, even. Unless you want to add more drama by making a statement and calling Tony out. The people would love that, that’s for sure. Neither you nor Tony would have an advantage from it though,” Nat said and pocketed her phone again.
“Anyway, I’m gonna take a long shower and then go to sleep. It’s been a tiring mission and while this thing between you and Tony is fun, I’m actually wiped. You’ll figure out what to do,” Natasha said and clapped Steve on the shoulder.
“I’ll join you,” Clint said. “Not in the shower, obviously, but sleep sounds actually really good.”
Nat rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling when she grabbed Clint’s arm and dragged him with her to the elevator.
Steve looked at Bruce who was sipping his tea, hoping he would have a solution.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Bruce said. “That’s clearly between you and Tony. Go talk to him in the workshop if you’re looking for answers.”
“If he lets me,” Steve groaned.
“I’m positive he will.”
“Oh yeah?” Steve asked, not convinced at all.
“He cares about you, Steve. I’m sure there was a perfect Tony-reason for taking and posting that picture of you.”
Steve hummed non-committedly and then went back to eating his breakfast, thinking about Tony the whole time, as usual.
Later, Steve stood in front of Tony’s workshop door which was firmly closed.
“Is Tony in there, J.A.R.V.I.S.?” he asked and looked up to the ceiling.
“He is, but I’m afraid he doesn’t want to get disturbed, Captain Rogers.”
“I don’t care about what he wants right now,” Steve muttered. “There is a protocol for emergencies, right? To reach him if the Tower is on fire or aliens invade, or something?”
“That is correct.”
“Then tell him it’s an emergency and open the door for me, please.”
Steve was sure if J.A.R.V.I.S. could actually sigh, he would’ve. But he dutifully opened the door for Steve and when he entered he heard J.A.R.V.I.S. apologize for the interruption.
Tony turned around to Steve and squinted at him.
“There is no emergency, is there? You’re not even in your suit,” Tony asked, his tone accusing.
“True, it’s not one of those emergencies, but we still need to talk and I don’t wanna wait for a week or so until you decide you’re in the mood for talking as well.”
Tony crossed his arms in front of his chest, “And what do you wanna talk about?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the fact that you took a private picture of me in the gym and posted it on the internet without my permission?”
Steve’s words were dripping with sarcasm. He didn’t believe for a second that Tony didn’t know exactly why he was in his workshop right now.
“Ah, that. I was just stating facts,” Tony said with a shrug.
“Tony.”
“What?”
Steve pinched his nose and took a deep breath, trying to sound calmer than he felt, “Why did you take a picture in the first place? And then post it on Instagram? Help me understand, please.”
“If you saw the pic, I’m pretty sure you also saw my caption on the post. That’s why.”
“I don’t believe you,” Steve said. “Because you seem even more mad than before our argument and I don’t get it. Do you really care if the public shares your opinion about me? That’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah, got reminded that the public is stupid and just focuses on the looks and not the actual point.”
“And you’re mad because people focused on the wrong thing?”
Tony threw his arms up, “I’m mad, because I gave people fodder for their thirst to prove a point that was entirely ignored.” He paused. “And in hindsight, not even a good comparison,” he muttered.
That made Steve smile a little. “Yeah, I usually don’t lock myself up in the gym for days or even weeks. I simply exercise every day and then return to not being a hermit.”
“Easy for you,” Tony said with a sigh.
“I don’t see how that’s not possible for you, too?”
“I need to…” Tony started, but then trailed off.
“Need to what?”
Tony hesitated and Steve waited patiently. He had the feeling they were close to a breakthrough and he didn’t want to say or do anything to ruin it.
“I need to protect the team. And I can do it best from here,” Tony finally admitted.
Steve was stunned for a moment. It was a lot more raw and honest than he’d thought to ever hear from Tony.
“Tony, not everything about the team is your responsibility. We all appreciate you wanting to help, and you do, but it doesn’t need to be your 24/7 task. Take a break and relax once in a while. Actually being around the team sometimes helps more than physically protecting them with suits and armors.”
“I’m a lot better with my hands than with my feelings,” Tony said, laughing self-deprecatingly.
“You don’t need to wear your heart on your tongue,” Steve said. “Just being there with us would already go a long way.”
Tony swallowed, “Maybe I could try.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Steve said with a smile. Then, “Can I give you a hug?”
Steve watched Tony’s confused face for a moment, but then he saw him nodding and took Tony into his arms. Tony returned the gesture after a short hesitation and Steve could hear him breathe deeply.
“Careful, Steve, you could make me wanna kiss you.”
“What if that was my plan all along?” Steve responded and drew back so Tony could see his face.
He was dead serious about it.
“I care about you, Tony. A lot. I won’t deny that I have feelings for you that are stronger than for the rest of the team. It’s just hard to figure you out when you’re never around. Or when I don’t even have the chance to talk about my feelings due to your absence.”
The next thing Steve felt was Tony’s hand in his neck and Tony’s lips on his, warm and soft and insistent. He could tell Tony put in all his unspoken feelings and Steve let it slide. For now, it was answer enough.
“I’m sorry,” Tony said after they separated. “Not for the kiss, definitely not for the kiss. But for taking that picture and posting it on Instagram.”
Steve nodded, unsure if he should ask about it again.
“At first I really wanted to get back to you,” Tony continued. “But then I read the comments and knew the people wouldn’t agree with me saying you’re a hypocrite. You’re their poster child, you could do nothing wrong in their eyes even if you tried. And I got… jealous? Jealous that this was their reaction, knowing that if you had posted about me being in my workshop all the time instead of with the team, they all would’ve agreed with you what a loner I am. Besides, they were right about one thing: You do look really hot in that picture. It’s distracting.”
“Thanks,” Steve laughed, but then he sobered and put a hand on Tony’s cheek, rubbing his thumb along his perfectly-trimmed beard. “Thank you for telling me that. I truly believe you don’t have to listen to the public about their opinions. They don’t know me the way you and the team do, because we live together and we work together and that’s so much more important than media presence.”
He kissed Tony again, just to prove his point, and because he was allowed to.
“I can’t promise you not to spend time in my workshop,” Tony said, sounding apologetic.
“I’m not asking you to. But how about a compromise?”
“Like spending time neither in the workshop nor in the gym, but in the common room with the rest of the team?” Tony asked.
“Exactly. Or even without the team, just us. In your room or mine, I don’t care. Just not as isolated as much. That’s all I’m asking for,” Steve said.
Tony smiled at him, “I really like how that sounds.”
And the next kiss they shared felt a lot like a promise.