stardustly | au scenarios open post

"Not...handy." Definitely nothing that would actually fit Steve, he thought as he trailed unconsciously after him. He did at least pause in the doorway, leaning against the jamb as he watched Steve inspect the place. "We can grab you something, though. I can have it delivered here if you don't want to deal with going into a store." There were benefits to being disgustingly wealthy, after all.

"Hey," he found himself saying, not-quite-twitching against the overwhelming feeling of loss bubbling up behind his sternum. His hand came up to press against the glow of the reactor, a movement Tony clearly wasn't aware he was making. "It's going to be okay. We'll figure it out."

Attempting to steady himself, Steve gave a shrug of a shoulder. "I can just change back into these clothes. It's fine." He never wanted anyone to go out of their way for him anymore and he preferred to handle everything on his own. He could manage all of it; he didn't have any other choice but to. Walking over to the shower, he fiddled with the knobs as the full weight of loss hit him square in the chest and it took all he had to not start sobbing with it. He lost everyone and now they expected him to be some shining example of a figure head superhero.

"What?" Steve asked, startled by Tony's words as the shower started up. He forgot all about considering the soulmates thing. "Yeah, sure." Another shrug of a shoulder. "I'm going to shower, okay?"

"Yeah," Tony said, tone going somewhat absent. He'd probably have to get some stuff delivered anyway, however much Steve said he didn't need it. Maybe some other stuff too, he'd make a list.

It was a little hard to focus on, though, over the overwhelming pain in his chest. Maybe that was why Tony took a step forward, and before he could talk himself out of it he pressed himself up against Steve's back and wrapped his arms around him. "It'll be okay," he repeated nonsensically.

The sudden feel of arms around him hitched Steve's breath. The first real touch in more than seventy years given before the plane he still had the whole war effort going on. Some of the tension bled from his body as he sank slightly into Tony's body. The warmth and connection felt better than he wanted to admit to.

"I know," he rasped out, fighting to compose himself and not make things worse. He had to keep it together, they were all counting on him already. "I'm okay." Such a lie.

Such an obvious lie that it pulled a quiet huff of a laugh from Tony. "You really aren't." He voice was soft, though. For once, no hint of mockery. "And I say that as a mess of a human being. But you will be." It sounded maybe more certain than he was actually feeling, still so wrapped up in a mire of confusing emotions. But god, he wanted them to be okay. Both of them.

As it was, he dropped his forehead to rest against Steve's shoulder, just holding on to him as best as he could. If he couldn't fix anything else, he could at least do this.

How could anyone be okay in his shoes with ending up in the wrong time? But there were so many expectations resting for him and the upcoming Avengers group. They were going to change the world or so claimed the director but no one really asked what he wanted.

Leaning a little more into Tony's embrace, he tried to hold onto the words. "Together?" It sounded so hopeful to his ears, painfully even. "Are you going to stay?" In the bathroom - in his life.

He wished they didn't have to move because he really enjoyed Tony's arms around him but they were expecting him. "You'll have to tell me more of why you aren't okay."

And Tony shifted a little closer, ducking to just barely brush his mouth against Steve’s shoulder, the barest hint of a kiss. “I can stay,” he agreed softly. If nothing else in his stupid life, he could do that for his soulmate.

It took another second before he finally let go, stepping back. “That’s going to be a long discussion,” he said, trying for a laugh and not quite making it. “We can talk later, okay?”

The feel of Tony's lips, coupled with his words meant everything. It was an acceptance he never really experienced before. Shoulders loosening up, he ducked his head just a little. "I would like that." But it raised one question. "Are you just staying in the bathroom or are you going to-" Awkward but he didn't have any way around it. He would never be smooth.

"As long as you talk to me." Adjusting the water, he turned the shower on and started by removing his shirt.

That did get an actual laugh out of him, even if it was more just a huff of breath. He found himself letting go almost reluctantly, though it did immediately earn him the view of miles of bare skin, so there was only so much complaining he could do.

"I can leave you to shower," he said with a quirk of a smile, already backing towards the door. They'd bared plenty already, actual nudity might have to wait. Unfortunately. "Come find me when you're ready. JARVIS can help you out."

Really, he should have let Tony leave the bathroom in peace but there were too many emotions swirling inside of him and he felt nearly ready to crush under them all. Being with Tony somehow kept him together enough to deal with it or in the very least ignore it. He tended to do the latter but usually things were out of his control. Letting out a breath, he tried to keep his mout shut.

It didn't work.

"Can you just - stay in the bathroom and talk to me?" To prove to him despite the darkness in his mind he wasn't alone now. He had been rescued from the clutches of the in between and could breathe.

Tony cocked his head for a moment, studying him like he was weighing Steve's possible need for privacy against the request. And then, without a word, he just moved over to the edge of the counter and boosted himself up to perch on it like he hung out in bathrooms all the time.

"And here I was hoping to see what you'd sing in there," he said with an easy grin. Steve needed distraction? That was something Tony could do in spades.

[ More than anything else, he felt lost and could not seem to wrap his mind around being alive and in the future. His could he when he made peace with dying and having some rest? A tragic kind of viewpoint maybe but he had spent his whole life fighting something.

And now it seemed Shield wanted him to do not only more but lead it.

Smiling in a shy way, Steve turned his back to Tony to finish getting undressed and into the incredibly hot water. Okay, much better than in his time. ]

How do you ever leave the shower if it always feels like this?

[ The pulsing of the showerhead was making his skin tingle. ]

I could sing something if you want me to. Do you mind if I use anything in here?

[He tried not to watch, he really did. But Tony was only human, and well, his self-control was only so good.

He did at least manage to keep from leering, so that was something. And he could let the questions pull a laugh out of him enough to hopefully distract them both.]

If you think that's good, wait until I introduce you to the hot tub.

[Tony was a man of hedonism. He refused to feel guilty abut that.]

Feel free to try anything you like.

[ Being naked with Tony right outside the shower felt naughty somehow in a way he didn't know how to wrap his mind around. He sort of likes the idea of Tony being clothed and him not. Weird, probably. He grabbed for the body wash and when he finished there he reached for the shampoo. ]

Hot tub? [ It sounded really pleasant. ] Can we after the - meet and greet session. Is that okay?

[ His hand slid through his hair and he tried to fight back the tendrils of desire gathering in him because Tony would be able to feel them. ]

Sure. We can do anything you want.

[It was maybe a slightly loaded statement, but it was still true. Tony was fast discovering that he wanted to do pretty much whatever it took to get Steve looking less miserable. And he was reasonably sure that Steve wouldn't know enough to take advantage of it.]

Any other requests?

[ Lucky for Tony, Steve didn't really have it in him to gave advantage, his mind didn't even drift there. The soulmates bond just made him want to be closer to pull away the loneliness and pain settling over him. Would he ever grow accustomed to the current time period? Wrap his head around all the loss? ]

Can you kiss me?

[ He hadn't intended to ask that even if he kept thinking it, his hand pausing as the shampoo slid down his face. ]

I mean - uh - nevermind.

[Tony blinked once. And then found himself smiling slowly.]

I can. You want to come over here, or should I go over there?

[Honestly, he'd be fine with either option. But sharing a shower was perhaps more than Steve was asking for. If he even knew what he was asking for.]

[ He felt his heart pounding in his chest and knew some of it came from Tony. The realization made him a little dizzy, which again might not all be from him.

Looking down for a moment, the words rushed out of his mouth quickly without much second thought. ]

I want - you can come in here.

[ Something he had never done before but he'd blame the soulmate rush and need for being closer. ]

[He still hesitated for half a second, head cocked to the side, before Tony slowly slipped his way back of the counter and slowly made his way over. When it seemed like Steve genuinely wasn't going to change his mind, Tony stepped right into the shower, fully clothed and all. And smiled a little as he pushed his now-soaked hair back from his face.]

Better?

[ Even with the request, he never expected Tony to follow through with it. He believed Tony would tell him he had to go and to find him later. The rush of soulmate feelings and needs were confusing to contend with and he really wished things were easier to navigate.

Looking at Tony as he entered the shower, his heart squeezed in his chest.

Please. ]

Almost. [ With a shy smile, he started to lean in to kiss Tony softly and fleeting on the lips.]

[His smile widened before he could stop himself as Steve leaned in, and Tony just stepped closer to meet him. He held the contact but kept it light, almost gentle as one hand brushed against Steve's side and then settled there lightly.

It should have been weird, Steve naked and Tony still dressed, both of them utterly soaked. It was hard to pay attention to that, though. Not when he was finally kissing his soulmate.]

Lucky for you, [a soft, warm murmur] I have a very good water heater.

Finally kissing his soulmate unlocked something within Steve, emotions flooding full force throughout his system but not just from his end. The fondness and what seemed like awe had to be from Tony's end and it only heightened everything. Talk about a wow moment. He pressed a little closer but kept his lips pressing softly and gently. Even just the soft press caused dozens of sparks, though.

"Even if we might need some cold water?" Steve teased, leaning in for a second kiss, this one a little firmer. A soft groan escaped against their parted lips.

Tony huffed a laugh out into the kiss, smiling almost helplessly. That knot of unhappiness that had been sitting heavily behind his sternum was all but gone for the moment, and it was blowing Tony's mind slightly that it was because of him. He could do that, make things better for Steve just by being there. Who knew?

The grip on Steve's side tightened a little, then slid around to press against his back as Steve shifted closer. They were almost flush now, bodies tucked together, and even with the water still pouring down over them it was the most comfortable Tony could remember being.

"Need is a strong word," he teased back in between kisses. He did have to pull back to breathe every so often, unfortunately.

"You make me feel strong things," Steve teased right back, feeling the awe he knew must have come from Tony's end. It settled around him and he found he enjoyed the back and forth already. He wanted to experience everything right along with the other man. His soulmate. Actually having one really changed his entire outlook and while there were so many uncertain things being with Tony made sense. It would always be the one thing to hold onto.

"But we should probably get ready soon to meet the team. The Director will be mad if I'm late," Steve voiced with a deep sigh, resuming kissing Tony rather than make any move to get out. Slowly running hands over his back.

"Fury can wait," Tony murmured back with almost audible delight. It wasn't entirely true, and Tony was pretty sure they both knew it. But this was definitely worth playing hooky for, and the Director would just have to deal with it.

His soulmate. His soulmate, and here they were. Tony was never going to make fun of a romance novel again. Okay he was, but the intent was there.

He pressed one last lingering kiss against Steve's mouth, then made himself back up just a little. "Something for later," he promised with just a hint of heat in his eyes.

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