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Soft lips pressed even softer kisses along his bare shoulder. Gentle hands and rough fingers drifted along the dips and planes of his back. A voice, strong and smooth as honey, whispered with warm breath against the shell of his ear.
“Happy birthday Tony.”
Despite such a lovely wake-up call, Tony couldn’t help but grumble and pull the blanket tighter around his body. He pried his eyes open only to squint again, realising that the curtains had already been drawn back. He buried his head deeper into his pillow, trying to ignore the way the sun was shining directly onto the bed.
“Since it’s my birthday, you better not have woken me up before eight.”
A pause. Then, “It’s 7:55.”
An annoyed grunt escaped Tony before he turned around. With bleary eyes, he glared up at the handsome face of his husband who was already bright-eyed and bushy tailed at this early hour, a sheepish grin on his face.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” Steve pressed another kiss to Tony’s forehead, the former’s beard tickling the latter.
“G’morning.” Tony mumbled out his reply, still not fully awake yet.
A breathy chuckle left Steve. “You know I hate to disrupt your beauty sleep, but you really should get up. You’ve got a big day ahead.”
The draws of sleep were still trying to pull him back under. “Five more minutes.”
He sounded like a petulant child, sure, but it was his birthday; he was allowed to act a little immature.
Tony could practically hear Steve roll his eyes, albeit affectionately. “Fine, but only five.” The mattress shifted as Steve got off the bed, and Tony whined a little at the loss of warmth. “Don’t worry, I’m just going to get started on breakfast.”
There was the padding of footsteps, and then the soft click of their door. While Tony would have loved to be with his husband, at least for right now, sleep was more important.
Tony quickly dozed off, but he's sure that it was longer than five minutes, because the next thing he knew, the smell of freshly brewed coffee had wafted into the bedroom and pulled him out of his slumber.
Now that was too tempting to resist.
With a yawn and a groan, he pushed himself out of bed, his joints already complaining about the early start to the day. He shuffled to the bathroom on socked feet, and after a quick wash up, he took a good long look at his reflection.
Happy 58th birthday, you old bastard.
God, he was almost 60. And he certainly looked it, with his years of superheroing definitely not helping. His hair had only gotten whiter, his wrinkles more defined and more numerous.
Sure, he still had plenty of his natural dark hair, and his goatee still gave him a certain youthful charm, but that didn't take away from the years that were evident on his face.
His body too had been affected by the ravages of time. He still worked out occasionally, but there was no doubt that he had lost the muscle mass and definition he had when he was younger, several parts of him having softened and rounded out over the years.
Tony released a long and loud sigh. As much as he didn’t want to be such a downer, especially on his birthday of all, he knew that it was going to be one of those days. That didn’t mean he won’t try to snap out of this funk though, and it’s after one last splash of water to his face that he left the bedroom.
The fragrance of the coffee and the sizzle of a pan got stronger with each step. As Tony entered the kitchen, he watched for a few good seconds as Steve moved about the space making breakfast. His husband’s strong back was facing him, muscles flexing in that new blue henley Tony had bought for him last week, his ass looking amazing as always in a pair of fitting pants.
That was also when Tony realised that he should probably have gotten changed. He looked down at his pyjamas: a well-worn MIT shirt and loose sweatpants. Not exactly the most flattering outfit, especially compared to Steve’s.
Well, whatever. It’s his birthday.
Moving closer, Tony hugged Steve from behind, wrapping his arms around the blond’s waist. Steve barely flinched at the sudden contact, surely having already sensed him the second he was in the room. His hands still on the pan handle and spatula, Steve turned his head back and looked down at Tony, who had his face pressed against his back, clearly still sleepy.
“You’re finally up,” Steve said while trying to hold back a chuckle at this sight, before gesturing with the spatula. “I made your favourite.”
Tony craned his neck over Steve’s broad shoulders and saw several blueberry pancakes on the grill. Of course he would, I expected nothing less, Tony thought as a smile grew on his face.
Inhaling the sweet smell, he pressed a small kiss to Steve's neck, onto the skin right above the collar. "Thank you."
Steve hummed in response before reaching for the plates. “While I’m really enjoying this, why don’t you grab a seat? The food’s almost done.”
Partially unwilling but mostly hungry, Tony gave Steve’s waist one final squeeze before heading over to the dining table.
Within minutes, a plate with a stack of pancakes arrived in front of him, along with a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee and a bottle of maple syrup. “Eat up,” Steve said, taking his own seat across from him.
As Tony bit into his delicious breakfast, he couldn’t help but stare at the man across from him. With the morning sun streaming in through their windows, Steve was washed with the bright light, illuminating his horribly handsome face. It’s clear that Steve’s gotten older too, with his own fair share of grey wisps peppering both his hair and beard, wrinkles having grown more prominent around his eyes.
Yet, despite all that, he’s still so damn good-looking. Not only his face, but he’s still ridiculously buff, his Captain America physique still staying even after he’s been retired for several years now
And on top of all that, he was the best husband Tony could ever ask for.
Sometimes, Tony did wonder how he’s been this incredibly lucky. After all he’s done, after everything they’ve been through, sometimes the darker parts of Tony’s mind couldn’t help but think that maybe… he didn’t deserve such a good life.
Unfortunately, with everything that had already been floating around in his head, it seemed like today was going to be one of those times.
Thankfully, he was shaken out of such thoughts when he heard Steve speaking. “Sorry?”
“I said, you’ve been looking at me for quite a while now. What’s on your mind?”
Not wanting to ruin Steve’s mood like he already did his, Tony just replied, “Oh, just thinking about what present you might have gotten me.”
“Oh no, you’re not getting that out of me just yet.” Steve said as he pointed an accusatory fork at Tony. “It’s not going to work this year.”
“Really? Not even a hint?” Tony might be 58 this year, but that didn’t stop him from turning on his signature make-Steve-give-in face: sparkling eyes and a slight pout, coupled with a head tilt.
“Hey, I know that look! Don’t you dare!” Steve made an overly dramatic act of covering his eyes, using his other hand to block Tony from his vision.
Tony couldn’t help but laugh. He loved how silly his husband could be, an aspect of Steve that Tony hadn’t noticed until they had gotten together, this dorky side of him - which had been hidden under the tough facade of his superhero persona - having only gotten more obvious ever since he put down the shield.
Steve started laughing as well, before reaching out to hold Tony’s hand in his. “But seriously though, I really do want to keep it a surprise till later.”
Tony interlocked his fingers with Steve's, but still gave him a teasing squint. "I see how it is. Fine, keep your secrets."
Chuckling, Steve squeezed the hand in his before returning to his breakfast. "Alright, you'd better get a move on. You have an opening ceremony to get to."
Ah yes, of course. Under the wonderful guidance of Pepper (along with some input from Tony), Stark Industries had funded the construction of a school for the underprivileged of all ages. Originally, it had been planned as a STEM school, but after some discussion with Steve, Tony managed to convince the board to change it to STEAM, ensuring that there would be a well-rounded arts program as well.
The school had actually been built for a while now, but considering the amount of equipment needed, the engineering wing was only completed a couple of weeks ago. It was a unanimous decision to name the wing after Tony, and for today's opening ceremony, he was unsurprisingly invited to be the guest-of-honour.
"You know, while I am completely flattered," Tony said as he chewed on his last pieces of pancake. "Couldn't they have organised it on another day?"
"It is your wing, after all. Think of it as a gift," Steve replied, peering over the edge of his own cup.
"Sure, but normally they do these things like a few days before or after, not the actual day! I wanted to spend the day with you."
"You say that, but you really just wanted to sleep in, didn't you?"
"You know me so well."
"Of course I do,” Steve said with a sweet smile before pointing at Tony’s plate. “Alright, you better hurry up. Happy’s going to be here in 20 minutes and you’re not even dressed!”
“Fine. ” Tony groaned with fake annoyance. It had actually been a while since Tony had seen both Happy and Pepper, so part of him was actually looking forward to today.
After helping Steve with the dishes, Tony quickly went to his closet to pick out his outfit for the day. Pepper had told him that the attire was smart-casual, so he easily decided on a pair of nice-fitting jeans (his ass looked really good in them, which, if he was being honest, was more for Steve’s benefit), one of his favourite long-sleeved graphic tees, and throwing on a comfy but well-tailored blazer over it. With a quick styling of his hair, trimming of his beard and splashing on some cologne, he was ready.
Taking a look in the mirror, Tony had to admit, he looked pretty damn good, so at least that was a small boost to his mood for the day.
Just on time, he received a text from Happy saying that he was waiting for him downstairs. With a quick grab of his phone, wallet and keys, he headed out and pressed a soft kiss to Steve’s lips. “You know you don’t have to pick me up later, right? I can just ask Happy to drop me off.”
Steve responded with a soft squeeze to Tony’s hip. “But I want to. Let me indulge my husband on his birthday.”
“You’re going to spoil me at this rate.”
“Aren’t you spoiled already?” Steve asked, Tony jabbing him lightly in his side as a response. The blond winched in mock pain before laughing. “Alright, alright, go. Have fun!”
With one last goodbye, Tony went downstairs to see his friend waiting by the car. “Happy birthday, Boss!”
Happy had long stopped being Tony’s driver, but that didn’t prevent him from offering rides, especially during formal events like today. The man had gotten slimmer over the years, with grey streaks in both his mop of hair and his beard. Despite that, that jovial smile still remained, seemingly brighter even with the lines of his face.
Tony greeted him with a warm hug. “Thanks, buddy.”
Happy gave him a strong clap on the back before opening the door for him. Inside, Tony found a thick folder waiting for him on the seat. Before he could even ask, Happy - who was now back behind the wheel - turned to him and said, “Pepper wants you to look through the schedule for today. And to start memorising your speech.”
Ah, Pepper, always so on top of things, even on his birthday. Thankfully old age didn’t come with motion sickness because there was quite a bit to look through. As Happy started to drive, Tony flipped through the papers, reminding himself of the events. There were going to be a few performances by the students, a speech by the principal, then his own speech, followed by the ribbon cutting and a tour of the wing, all ending with a short luncheon.
Tony looked at his watch. The ceremony started at ten and ended at three. Five hours before Steve would get him and he could spend the rest of his birthday lazing around at home.
He didn’t stop the sigh that escaped him. One of the few things that had changed for him as he had gotten older was his lack of patience for big ceremonial displays. Sure, it came with being a big superhero celebrity, but he was retired now and that showboating Tony Stark was a thing of the past. And yes, it was to honour him, but in all honesty, Tony would rather just open the damn wing without all the pomp and circumstance and let the students use the facilities straight away.
But alas, that wasn’t going to happen. So as they made their way through the usual New York traffic, Tony settled in, focusing on the speech Pepper had prepared for him, written on notecards in her perfect handwriting.
Soon enough, they arrived at the school, and a swell of pride filled Tony at the sight of it. He had a hand in designing the building, and it turned out exactly how he envisioned it: a mix of modern and traditional, reflecting the forward-looking aspect of the school but not wanting it to stick out like a sore thumb in the midst of classic New York architecture. There was the classic red brick, integrated with big glass windows and seamless metal structures. And sure, some parts of it did look strikingly similar to the Avengers Headquarters further upstate, but could Tony really be blamed for having taste?
Once Happy dropped him off and went to park the car, Tony was greeted by a school administrator who directed him to a “waiting room”, which was really just an empty dressing room. Opening the door, Tony was pleasantly surprised to find, sitting in the middle of the room, typing away at her phone and looking like the definition of professionalism, none other than the CEO of Stark Industries, one Virginia Potts.
Once she heard the door open, Pepper looked up and her face immediately lit up. She put down the phone, and Tony was quickly pulled into yet another hug. With a soft kiss to his cheek, Pepper said, “Happy birthday, Tony.”
As they pulled apart, Tony took the time to observe her, much like he did with Happy before. Time had been kind to Pepper. Other than a few lines on her face, she looked pretty much the same, with her strawberry blond hair without a hint of grey and looking excellent as always in a well-tailored dress and high heels.
Tony wasn’t going to pretend that he didn’t feel a little jealous, but with all the shit that she’s had to put up with all these years - with most of it coming from him - she deserved the good luck in the ageing department.
“Thanks, Pep. Hope I wasn’t keeping you waiting.”
She glanced at her watch. “Surprisingly, you’re right on time.”
“You have Steve to thank for that. It’s almost like he couldn’t wait to get me out of the house.”
“I expected nothing else.” Putting a hand on his elbow, Pepper guided out of the room and towards the performance hall. “You looked through the schedule, memorised the speech?”
“Yes, mom.” Tony teased, which earned him a glare.
“I’m serious Tony. This is all for you, remember? Can’t have you going off script and ruining your own name, despite your best efforts.”
“Hey, it went perfectly well that one time.” Tony recalled the one press conference from what seemed like a lifetime ago. One line, four words that changed the trajectory of his life forever.
Pepper gave him a small pinch on the arm. “Well, you’re retired, so no trying to pull the same thing twice.”
As they got closer to the hall, Tony could hear the sounds of a crowd. Students, school faculty and even investors were invited. Pepper was sure to be under quite a lot of stress, even though none of it showed on her face, so Tony promised, “I’ll be on my best behaviour.”
“Good, or no birthday present for you,” said Pepper as they finally reached the doors. “Ready?”
Tony sighed as he straightened his blazer one more time. “Let’s get this over with.”
From that point on, everything went rather well. Mercifully, the principal’s speech was short, and Tony’s own speech went as expected (though he did throw in a few quick improvised jokes, which Pepper did laugh along to so he was good there). The performances by the students were outstanding, and Tony made sure to remind himself to once again thank Steve for his insistence.
The tour portion of the day was one that Tony was actually looking forward to, excited to see how the engineering wing turned out after so many months of planning. After a short and simple ribbon-cutting ceremony, he was finally brought around the space. Spacious and modern, the labs and classrooms were filled with all the latest tech, top of the line equipment that he himself had requested. To make sure that students didn’t feel cooped up all day, there were high ceilings and large windows too, allowing for a breath of fresh air from the view of the central green space in the middle of the campus.
Tony thought that the tour would end there, but he was suddenly guided to the entrance foyer, where across the doors was a large wall covered with a large sheet. He turned to Pepper with a confused look. This wasn't part of the schedule, so what gives? Pepper, however, just gently shushed him, guiding him into place.
Any protest was quickly shut down when the principal started speaking. "For the final stop of our campus tour, the students would like to present this mural as a birthday gift to our dear guest-of-honour. Mr Stark, thank you for everything."
The sheet was pulled away, and Tony was left absolutely speechless.
The entire wall was essentially a collage of various moments throughout Tony’s life: the different versions of the Iron Man suit painted alongside images of just him from many important events, and right smack in the middle was a close-up of him, looking straight on, serious but still with a glint in the eye.
It was all incredibly and beautifully painted, but that wasn’t what left Tony with his mouth fallen open in surprise.
No, it was the fact that he instantly recognised the art style. The incredibly realistic metallic sheen of his red and yellow armour, the detailed brown flecks of Tony’s eyes, the way Tony had been made to look a bit more handsome than he probably thought he was.
Sure, the mural might have been painted by the students, but the design was undeniably Steve’s.
That liar , was the first thought that went through Tony’s mind. Steve had volunteered to teach a few art classes at the school ever since it opened, but for the past several weeks, he stayed after hours on campus more often than not. He would come home with his shirt and hands covered in specks of paint, telling Tony that he was helping the students with their projects. Clearly, that was all a lie, he had been working on this the entire time!
Once he got over the initial shock, Tony turned to Pepper. “Did you know about this?”
She winked before grinning. “He wanted it to be a surprise.”
Tony couldn’t find it in him to be mad at their deceit. Instead, a faint blush started to rise to his cheeks. Steve had always loved drawing Tony, and Tony always loved being his muse, but to have that on a large wall in a wing named after him for all the world to see? It was horribly flattering, did nothing but boost his ego, and made Tony fall for Steve all over again.
There was no time to dwell on that however, as the students who were part of the painting process came up and Tony was quickly tasked with shaking their hands and being part of a group photo. After some cursory questions and praises, Tony was then ushered to another atrium where the luncheon was held.
Despite not being particularly hungry, Tony was grateful for the food, filling his plate full of the various dishes (and yes, at his age, he should be thinking about things like his cholesterol, but it’s his birthday, so who cares).
He’s just sat his plate down on his table when a familiar youthful figure appeared beside him. “Happy Birthday, Mr Stark!”
Such energy could only ever belong to one person, and Tony looked up to find Peter, bouncing on his heels with a wide grin on his face. This time, it’s Tony who initiated the hug, the young man still trying to control his enthusiasm, but once Tony had his arms around him, he hugged back as tightly as he always did.
“Thanks bud. Glad you could make it.”
“Of course! Wouldn’t miss this.” They pulled apart and took their seats. Both tucked into their food before Peter continued. “The place looks incredible by the way!”
Good old Peter; if he’s not causing Tony grief, he’s inflating the older man’s ego. “Excited to start teaching here next semester?”
The school had been looking for young instructors, and Peter was one of the first Tony had asked, the boy having followed in his footsteps by going to MIT and graduating with his own degree in engineering a few years back. Peter almost instantly accepted, though like Steve he could only teach part-time, what with his contracted photography job with a local newspaper and his spidey duties. He could only do so much, but he was more than willing, and Tony couldn’t ask for more.
“Excited is an understatement. I can’t wait, though not too sure about being addressed as Mr Parker though.” Peter said through a mouthful of dumplings. That’s youth for you, Tony thought, and as much as Peter already reminded him of his age, the young man’s company did often give him a much needed energy boost.
They continue chatting, with both Happy and Pepper eventually joining them with their own food. It was going perfectly normal, until…
“Oh, by the way, I’m so sorry Mr Stark. I was in such a rush to get here I completely forgot to bring your present! I’ll make sure to pass it to you later at the par-” Peter immediately shut himself up, but it was too late.
Tony stared at him, hearing Pepper sigh beside him and catching Happy shaking his head from the corner of his eye. “What was that, Peter?”
The young man’s body went all tense, his brown eyes wide open. “Nothing.”
“Did you just say ‘party’?” Tony asked, pinching that spot between his eyes. “Is Steve throwing me a surprise birthday party?”
Peter remained silent, but his eyes betrayed him as they darted to both Pepper and Happy, desperate for either one to save him.
Tony turned to Happy this time, not saying anything, only giving him a look. Knowing that there was no point in lying, Happy just nodded.
“I swear, that man…” Within the span of an hour, Tony had discovered that not only had Steve been keeping that mural a secret, but he had also been planning a surprise party even when Tony had told him numerous times that he wasn’t in the mood for one this year.
“If it’s any consolation, he told us it’s just going to be this small gathering at your place,” Happy said in an obvious attempt to calm Tony down. “Nothing fancy, just a night in with takeout and drinks. And cake, obviously.”
Pepper was the next to speak up, her hand resting comfortingly on Tony’s shoulder. “Let him spoil you. It is your birthday, after all.”
Tony sighed. Pepper was right; it was his special day, and even though by now the days had all kind of blended together, he still deserved a little something. And if Happy was to be believed, Tony wouldn’t actually mind a simple gathering with his friends.
“Fine, but don’t you dare try and jump out from behind the sofa and scare me. I don’t think my heart can take it.” Tony then turned to Peter, who was still completely mortified at having revealed Steve’s plans. “Alright, calm down kid. I’m not mad, and Steve’s not going to be either… Probably.”
Peter released a huge sigh of relief, but that quickly transformed into a sheepish look, a slight blush filling his cheeks. “Since it’s all out of the bag now, would it be okay if… if I brought Wade along tonight?”
Ah, of course. Peter met this Wade Wilson just a few months after Peter had graduated and moved back to New York, out on a photographer assignment to a reported assault. When he and the accompanying journalist got there, it was discovered that there was this guy who was stalking a girl, and Wade had basically attacked the creep just as he tried to make a move. According to Peter, he was very quickly enamoured by the heroics (“Aren’t you Spider-Man, Peter? Isn’t this something you do on a daily basis?” “I know, but still!”). Wade spotted Peter in the crowd and - in a move that was both bold and insane considering that a police officer was in the midst of telling him that he might be charged for beating the guy up - got up and walked over. Peter said pleasantries were exchanged, followed by casual flirting, followed by phone numbers. Wade was quickly pulled away by the officer, but not before giving Peter a cheeky wink.
And somehow, that worked!
The two have been seeing each other ever since, but Tony’s still not sure how he felt about Wade. The man was quite a few years older than Peter (“Yes Steve, I know I’m being a hypocrite, but this is Peter we’re talking about, not me, so shush!”), and after having done some digging, discovered that he had spent some time working as a mercenary. And sure, he no longer did that, working at a charity and - to Tony’s great shock - having a secret identity too. Peter had swore him and Steve to secrecy, but this Deadpool thing - Tony had seen the reports on the aftermath of Wade’s jobs, and they were exceptionally bloody - was yet another thing Tony had concerns about.
The man was also crass, loud-mouthed, and way too cocky for his own good. Steve once said that Wade reminded him of someone not too long ago, and Tony shuddered just thinking about how similar they might actually be.
But… Peter liked him. And that was good enough.
“Sure you can, but he needs to be on his best behaviour.” Tony said, remembering the last time Wade came over. “Make sure he’s cleaned up. The last thing I want is him trekking blood into the apartment.”
“Of course! Thank you, Mr Stark, I’ll let him know right now.” Peter whipped out his phone and immediately started texting, a bright grin plastered on his face.
As if Tony wasn’t aware of it enough, it’s interactions like these with Peter that reminded him of his age, watching as this young man grew up and matured in front of him. In fact, looking around the room now, Tony felt the same way about the students of the school. All ages were welcomed, but a majority of them were teenagers, many of whom had, until several years ago, lived in a world where they only knew him as Iron Man, not the horrible war profiteer of his past.
To most people, that would be a good thing, but yet again, Tony’s brain seemed to default back to his age. He was 58, five years older than his father was when Tony was born. God, he could barely remember what his father was like back then, but even at that young age Tony knew his father barely had time for him, always running around working on something more important; if it wasn’t Stark Industries, it had something to do with SHIELD or Captain America.
Tony had long stopped resenting his father, but from time to time, he liked to imagine Howard Stark rolling in his grave at the fact that his son married Steve Rogers. Maybe it was a good thing that he died before Steve came back; Tony telling him about their relationship would have probably given him an aneurysm.
As if on cue, Tony was shaken out of his thoughts when he heard a commotion from the side of the atrium. Students and media personnel were gathering around, circling around a tall, blond figure.
“Well well well, look who’s already here,” Happy said, and Tony watched as Steve made his way over to them. Steve largely ignored the media, courteously waving away questions and throwing them his charming smile to distract them. Tony chuckled as he saw a few journalists practically swoon at that. Tony had taught him well.
Yet, it was the way Steve interacted with the students, especially the young ones. He gave them high fives and fist bumps, ruffled their hair, even stopped to chat with a few of his own art students. It was an endearing sweet scene, but something twisted within Tony then, a painful flip of the heart.
He couldn’t think too much about that however, as Steve was already approaching the table. Their eyes met, and the smile on the blond’s face grew that much brighter. He waved to the others, before leaning down to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Tony closed his eyes, partially to enjoy the kiss, partially to protect himself from all the hundreds of flashes that were going off at the moment. Ever since they announced their relationship to the world, the media couldn’t get enough, what with them being the leaders of the Avengers after all. Even though they’ve long since retired from superhero duties, their relationship was still as popular as ever, and Tony still got to see his old self next to strong, handsome Steve plastered on social media every time they went out in public together.
Damn, he really was in a funk, huh? Why did his brain have to do this to him, of all the days?
Fortunately, the dark thoughts were pushed aside momentarily as Steve returned to his full height, offering his arm. “You ready to go?”
Tony quickly nodded and got up, hand resting in the crook of Steve’s arm as he exchanged goodbyes with the rest.
“See you lat-” Peter couldn’t even finish the last syllable before Happy threw a napkin at him, Pepper once again sighing. It was Tony’s turn to shake his head. That poor boy really couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
The security guards had finally managed to control the crowd, so Tony and Steve were able to walk out in relative peace. When the atrium doors closed behind them, Steve asked, “Peter told you about the party, didn’t he?”
“Yup, and I told him that he could bring Wade over.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Steve let out a resigned laugh, then turned to Tony in concern. “And I know you said you didn’t want one, but it just felt right. I promise you, it’s more of a potluck, really. There’ll be some drinks, I’ll play your favourite movies in the background, maybe some board games, then we’ll call it a night. How does that sound?”
While Tony would have wanted nothing more than to waste the day away at home, he had been warming up to the idea of this get-together with the rest of the team. But more importantly, Steve was doing all of this for him, so how could he be upset?
“I’d like that.” Tony replied with a squeeze to Steve’s arm. “And thank you.”
Steve said nothing, but Tony could feel the loving smile directed at him.
By the time they got to the car, Tony’s spirits had been lifted considerably, feeling significantly lighter as he settled into the passenger seat. “So, I would assume we’re not going straight home then?”
“Yeah. Natasha’s there with a few of the others setting stuff up. I was supposed to distract you while they finish up, but since you know everything, I can just tell you that I need to go and get the rest of the food and your cake.”
Instead of starting the car, however, Steve turned to the back seat and reached for something. “But before that, this is for you.”
Tony’s vision was suddenly filled with white and pink. Flowers? Of course old-fashioned Steve would give him a bouquet, but there was no smell? Looking closer, Tony realised that they were shiny and quite angular… They were made out of Lego!
“You always said that you didn’t like how flowers died so easily, so I finally figured out an alternative. Took me a while to find the perfect pieces, but I think they turned out pretty good.”
Tony stared at the tiny blossoms, his mind still whirling from this simple surprise. Something about Lego, of all things, being a balance between the two of them, technical yet artistic, made his heart full. “It’s beautiful.”
Steve beamed at him, cheeks pink. “Glad you like them.”
Steve started the car shortly after, and for the next couple of hours, Tony enjoyed the slow drive around New York. It was early spring, the city still waking up from winter, but the sky was a pleasant blue and the trees were already beginning to rejuvenate with their bright green leaves. People were no longer bundled in thick coats trying to brave the harsh weather, now strolling around enjoying the slightly warmer but still chilly breeze.
Since the secret was already out, at every stop they had to make, Tony tagged along with Steve, the latter more than happy to ask the former for his opinions on what he would like for the party. More than anything, it felt like a little date, with Steve bringing him to various spots that held certain significance to them: ordering sliders from a small diner that Steve had introduced to him on a visit to Brooklyn, buying several bottles of wine from a liquor store that the team loved to frequent for drinks for movie and game nights back when they were all still living together in the tower, and picking up several shawarmas from that fateful store they stumbled into all those years ago, with the owner insisting on giving a birthday discount on top of the usual Avengers discount.
Spending such quality time with his husband, along with the little birthday greetings from the various shop owners and passers-by, certainly lifted Tony spirits. It was a really sweet trip down memory lane, but because his brain wasn’t just going to let him have that much fun, it also served as a reminder of how much time has passed since the heyday of his earlier years.
Not wanting to let that ruin his current good mood, he pushed that negativity far into the back of his mind, so lost in that thought that he almost didn’t realise Steve arriving at their final location, the bakery. Tony was about to unbuckle his seatbelt when Steve stopped him. “I do want to keep at least one thing a surprise.”
Now very curious, Tony was still willing to concede. So, he settled back into the seat as Steve got out of the car and headed into the bakery. He didn’t want to spoil Steve’ surprise, but that didn’t stop him from trying to peer through the windowed storefront to try and sneak a peek at his own birthday cake. It had to be something special if Steve was making such a big deal out of it.
Sadly, he saw nothing but Steve exchanging words with the baker before leaving the store with a modestly sized box in his hands. As Steve placed it in the back, Tony tried again to see if there was any writing on or a small window in the box for him to figure out what was going on with the cake, but to no avail.
Steve got back into the driver’s seat, an amused look on his face at his husband’s blatant attempts. He didn’t mention it however, only smiled and asked, “Ready to go home? Everything should be ready by now.”
By this point, Tony had grown quite excited for the party, what with the food and cake and the chance to have a nice night with all his friends. More than that, he definitely needed something to get rid of the dark thoughts lurking around his head. So, it was with renewed enthusiasm that he said, “Can’t wait.”
The drive back took a little longer, what with the expected traffic, but by the time they got back and Steve had parked the car, Tony was almost embarrassed at how excited he had become, eagerly helping Steve with all the bags. As they reached their apartment door, he was practically buzzing.
Despite his best attempts to hide it, Steve clearly saw through him, the amusement having grown into a full grin. “Ready?”
Tony only replied with a nod, his hand already on the door handle. Turning it open, he was relieved to see that the lights were not off, and neither were there any colourful balloons or streamers or pops of confetti. No, all he saw was a large group of people gathered in his living room with big smiles on their faces as they cheered in unison, “Happy birthday!”
He didn’t bother trying to act surprised, sure that the news had spread by now, but he did allow a smile of his own to spread across his face. He quickly set the bags down on the kitchen counters before going over to his friends, who were going up to him one-by-one to greet him.
As this was going on, Steve was busy laying out the last of the food, and once he was done, he called out, “Alright you lot, stop crowding around the birthday boy. I’m sure you’re all hungry by now, so let’s eat!”
With that, the attention was diverted away from him and it started to feel like any other get-together. Picking up his own plate of food and a glass of wine, Tony started milling about the apartment and the different groups that had formed depending on the activity they were doing, an almost perfect organisation that no doubt came from Natasha.
Speaking of which, she was currently sitting with Clint, Thor, Bruce and Steve, the five of them gathered around the couch, watching the movie Steve had put on. It was some old murder mystery and despite all of them having watched it before, they were all commenting on it as if it was their first watch-through.
Tony found himself a comfy spot between Steve and Bruce, and it felt as if he was transported back in time, once again reminded of the early days of the Avengers. The six of them watching the movie chosen by whoever’s turn it was that week, sprawled out in various comfortable positions amidst snacks and drinks while all snug and warm in their pyjamas. It was a sight to behold, and part of Tony missed those times. He remembered thinking how silly it all felt in the beginning, but it was one of things that brought them closer together as a team, just them against the world.
Tucked comfortably into Steve’s side, Tony took a moment to look at the others.
Sitting crossed-legged on one of the armchairs was Nat. She had stepped back from the frontlines of active Avengers duty a few years ago, focusing more on the behind-the-scenes planning and organisation of missions, particularly covert ops. Aside from a few unavoidable lines that came with the years, she looked pretty much the same as she always did, her eyes still sharp and her hair still fiery red.
Beside her on the floor was Clint, talking as he chewed on some nachos. He had retired around the same time as Tony, wanting to make sure he would be there for his kids, though he occasionally helped Nat should she request it. Despite the years, he still looked as spry as ever, with his bow and arrows no doubt in frequent use back on his farm.
On the other end of the couch was Bruce who was only semi-retired, still going on crucial missions should the Hulk be called on. Outside of that, he worked full time at the school, a great professor that the students immediately took a shine to. Like Tony, his age was visible, but that never diminished the genius spark that laid in his eyes. Tony liked to think that his relationship with Thor helped with that, a coupling that surprised all of them when the two revealed in a few years back. They seemed so different, but so did him and Steve, so who was he to judge if they were happy?
Speaking of, said God of thunder had his large arm around Bruce’s shoulder holding him close. Thor was the only one of the six of them who was still an active Avenger, though he would make regular trips off-planet for intergalactic missions. Unsurprisingly, he hadn’t changed one bit, the benefits of almost-immortality Tony supposed. The god was still beefy all over, perhaps even more so than when they first met.
Thinking back to how they all were the first day they all fought back-to-back against the Chitauri, and how that was only the beginning, it all felt so bittersweet. It felt almost a lifetime ago now, but yet here they all were, still together, still a team even when life pulled them in separate directions.
And yet, with time marching on as it did, they were no longer as close as they were when they all lived together. They put in the effort, like now, but it would never be the same. Not really.
Wanting to avoid the sadness that such nostalgia brought, Tony excused himself from the group under the guise of getting more wine. Steve did give him a slightly worried glance, but Tony reassured him, not wanting to spoil the fun.
After topping up his glass, he made his way to the poker table, where some of the others had gathered for an intense game. With cards in their hands and their game faces on were Sam, Bucky, Wanda, Peter and Wade, with Vision acting as their dealer. Not wanting to disrupt their concentration, Tony watched from close by, leaning against the closest bookshelf. While he was interested in the game for a while, Tony’s focus eventually turned to the players, doing a quiet examination like he did earlier on.
The one with the biggest stack of chips in front of them was Sam, the leader of the Avengers ever since Steve passed on the shield to him several years ago. Beside him was Bucky, and despite their issues of the past, Tony and him had long since come to an understanding. Both them still looked good, and they made a fine couple as well. Again, it was another surprising one that Tony did not see coming at all, but Steve had secretly supported them ever since he introduced them. But times like this, watching them now, with Sam grinning smugly as he won another round while Bucky scowled at him but having no real annoyance behind it, Tony understood.
Sitting in the middle with her own sizable stack of chips was Wanda. The vengeful but terrified girl that he met all the way back in Sokovia was now a mature and powerful woman, possibly the strongest active member of the Avengers. Her gaze often fell onto Vision as he dealt the cards with characteristic precision and efficiency. He had always chosen a slightly more mature human appearance, and he had stuck with it over the years, looking the exact same as he did the first time he changed. Looking at this married couple now, Tony can’t help but remember how awkward they were around each other back in the Avengers compound when they were both developing feelings for one another. It’s also with another twinge of melancholy that Tony thought about how long ago that was, not even mentioning how a part of Tony would always miss JARVIS, only a part of whom continued to live on in Vision.
Then there was Peter and Wade, of course. They were the youngest ones here, and it certainly felt that way, with Wade failing miserably at keeping a poker face while giving colourful commentary about his luck as Peter snickered affectionately behind his own hand of cards. Their youth injected much needed energy, but it again reminded Tony of his own age, especially since he could still remember the baby-faced Peter of the day they first met who had now grown into his own.
This was the next generation of the Avengers, but even then, it had been years since they were inducted as such. Tony supposed it wouldn’t be long before this group retired too, and then there would be a whole new generation of superheroes, most likely a bunch of teens and young adults that Tony would have never even met before.
As the round ended, Tony slipped away and headed back to the kitchen, needing something new to distract him from his own thoughts. Luckily, his three oldest friends were there, eating as they had a lively discussion about the school.
Tony joined in, but part of him was focused on observing them, particularly Rhodey. The years did show on him, what with military work and the horrible accident, but he didn’t seem to care all that much. Rhodey, like Natasha, had stepped down from active duty but still stayed on to train young recruits, with no signs of stopping anytime soon. Tony expected nothing less from his best friend.
As proud as he was of them, Tony couldn’t help but feel a little useless. Other than Rhodey, Pepper was still running Stark Industries like the absolute powerhouse that she was, and even Happy was planning on starting up a small business. And him? What was he doing?
That was it. Tony had officially fallen into a serious funk.
For the next few hours, even with the smile he tried to keep on his face, nothing could help him escape the emptiness he felt inside.
Not the tasty food. Not when he won five straight rounds of poker in a row. Not even when everybody had gathered to watch some stupid comedy that had all of them laughing until their bellies hurt.
That was a short moment of reprieve, however, when it came time for the cake. Steve had a few of the others huddle around the cake to block it from Tony’s view as he got the candles ready, but soon enough the lights were dimmed and once it was brought in front of him, he immediately knew why Steve wanted it to be a surprise.
The cake was covered in a simple pastel red buttercream splattered with gold flecks, with the words “Happy Birthday” piped elegantly in icing. That itself was beautiful, but what really stood out was, sitting on top of the cake, an adorable little cartoon figurine of Tony made out of either fondant or modelling chocolate, a design that was once again unmistakably Steve’s. Tony recognised it immediately; Steve always preferred lifelike drawings, but occasionally, when he was feeling whimsical and there was a scrap of paper lying around, he would doodle cartoon versions of themselves and their friends, the little edible sculpture was clearly made to look like the ones he drew of Tony.
“So that’s why you’ve been bringing back pastries this past week,” Tony said, looking up at his husband who didn’t even try to pretend like that wasn’t the case.
Steve just smiled at him, asking again, “Do you like it?”
“Of course,” he said as he examined the extremely detailed figurine. “Don’t think I’ll have the heart to eat it though.”
That would be a problem for later however, because the others were already asking him to make a wish and blow out the candles. (They’ve all collectively agreed that perhaps most of them have gotten too old for birthday songs, so they’ve just skipped that part entirely. It was always super awkward for the birthday person anyway.)
Tony stared into the flickering flames of the candles. I wish…
It had been a struggle for the past few years. Not that he believed that birthday wishes would actually come true, but for the most part, he was fortunate enough to have everything he needed. He had a loving husband, a family of great friends, as well as a safe and stable life. He was content, so what more could he want?
But then, the dark tendrils of self-doubt crawled out of the cavern that had grown in him over the past couple of hours. They took over his thoughts, bringing up old ones to the surface. Look at everyone around you. They’ve done so well. What have you done?
As much as he didn’t believe, he hated what ran through his head as he blew out the candles. I wish- I wish that I can be of value.
His friends clapped around him, but he couldn’t hear it. At this point, the negativity was consuming him, to the point where not even the delicious cake could smother it.
He hated feeling this way, especially on his birthday of all days. The last thing he wanted was to be an ungrateful bastard and spoil the rest of the night for his friends. Forcing a smile the best he could, he did his damned best to act like he was still enjoying the party. Luckily, he didn’t have to do it for long, what with it being quite late already, and before he knew it, they were all packing up and getting ready to leave.
He hugged his friends goodbye, thanking them for the well wishes and the gifts, promising to meet up again soon. As much as he did love spending time with them, once the last of them were out the door, Tony heaved a sigh of relief. Now, he only needed to keep up the act for Steve.
Speaking of, his husband was putting the leftover food in the fridge when he asked, “Why don’t you open your presents?”
Tony glanced over at the designated table full of gift bags and wrapped boxes. While he was curious, he was also way too mentally drained for it. “It’s late, I’ll get to them tomorrow.”
“Well, if that’s the case, then there might be time for one more thing.” Steve said, walking to the living room.
Tony assumed that it would be another surprise present, so he didn’t think much of Steve’s actions, focusing instead on topping up his and Steve’s glasses with the last of the wine. He was just about to take a sip when suddenly, music started streaming towards his ears.
You could give me chills on a summer day, yeah
When we're layin' still but you make my heart race
Gonna keep me young when we're old and grey
I know that time moves on, but some things don't change
He looked up to find Steve by their bluetooth gramophone speaker (a gift from Tony to Steve a few birthdays ago. Modern but still old-fashioned enough for Steve’s tastes). He placed his phone down, then held out a hand.
“Would you care for a dance, my love?”
I won't stop getting butterflies,
I get 'em every time I look into your eyes
You won't stop runnin' through my mind
For the rest of both our lives
You give me butterflies
And I keep on getting butterflies
Steve might be old-fashioned, but he sure did know how to make a man swoon. Tony almost did, if only he didn’t also find it endearingly dorky. He was tired, but he couldn’t pass up spending even more quality time together.
So, he took Steve’s hand and was quickly pulled into his arms. Slowly, they danced to the music, the warm glow of the lights setting the mood perfectly. Steve’s hand was on his waist, the other gently around his own while Tony’s other hand held onto Steve’s broad shoulder. It was a beautiful moment. Almost enough to chase away the doubt.
Operative word being “almost”, unfortunately.
As if Steve could sense it, he asked, blue eyes filled with concern, “What’s been on your mind?”
“Nothing,” was his reply, still holding onto the hope that Steve wouldn’t pry.
Unsurprisingly, Steve didn’t fall for it. “Tony, I’m your husband. I know when you’re down. So, what’s wrong?”
His facade had to come down eventually. He couldn’t lie anymore, not to Steve. “It’s just that… I’m 58.”
“Well, that is your current age. So what’s the matter?”
“I’m old, Steve, don’t you see?”
Understanding finally flashed across Steve’s face. “If you’re worried about how you look…”
“It’s not about that,” Tony retorted, but then continued with, “Okay, it is a little about that, but that’s not the big problem.”
Steve stayed quiet, waiting for him to speak when he’s ready. And Tony was grateful, but he always hated being this vulnerable. Even after so many years, it still felt so strange to be this honest with someone, especially since it was always counterintuitive to the image of the great genius Tony Stark that he had cultivated for so long.
But this was Steve. His husband. One of the few people who would never judge him for it.
“It’s just…” Tony sighed, all the tension he had been hiding for the whole day finally being released. “I’ve been feeling a little… useless lately.”
Steve opened his mouth, but Tony immediately shut him down. “I know you’re going to say something really profound and sweet, but let me get all my thoughts out first.”
Steve listened, instantly shutting up with eyes fully focused on him. It almost felt worse, with all the attention on him, but it was necessary nonetheless. “Everyone else, everyone who was here earlier… they’re all still doing such incredible things. Pepper’s still running the company, Rhodey’s training the recruits harder than ever, the missions would probably fail if it weren’t for Nat; I could go on.
“Even you,” Tony said as he squeezed Steve’s hand. “I see the way your students look up to you. Not just as Captain America, but as a fantastic art teacher. Those kids absolutely adore you.”
Tony averted his gaze then, eyes falling down to their feet still shuffling along to the music, the song reaching its end. “Compared to all of that, what have I done since I’ve retired? I laze around at home most of the time, making silly little gadgets in my workshop. If I’m not doing that, I either bother you at the school, Pepper at the office, or the rest of the team at HQ.”
The song ended, and in the silence before the next one started, he said, “I’m just a nuisance.”
Steve didn’t react at first, and Tony continued looking down, too embarrassed to do anything else. Then, with so much intensity that it forced him to look back up, Steve said, “Tony, listen to me.”
Talk
Let's have conversations in the dark
World is sleeping, I'm awake with you
With you
Watch movies that we've both already seen
I ain't even looking at the screen, it's true
I got my eyes on you
“You might think that you’re not doing anything now, but that’s only because you’ve done more than a lifetime’s worth before.” Steve’s eyes were a brilliant blue, with an expression that Tony thought of as his speech-giving face. “You’ve saved the world so many times, Tony. You more than anyone deserves to rest.”
Because the self-deprecating part of him didn’t let up, Tony mumbled, “I had the rest of the team…”
“Sure, maybe you did have help, but so what? You’ve been through so much, done so much for all of us.” Steve continued, voice with nothing but conviction. “Everyone here earlier? Everyone, myself included, is alive and happy and able to do the things we do right now because of you.
“And that amazing school? I’m only a teacher there because you made it possible. You were the one that fought the school board to ensure that those kids would get the best education possible, money be damned. That’s why they named that wing after you, and that’s why there’s that huge mural of you. It’s so that nobody ever forgets how much you’ve done.”
And you say that you're not worth it
You get hung up on your flaws
Well, in my eyes you are perfect
As you are
Steve always had a way with words, and right now, those words were close to making Tony cry. He couldn’t have that, so he did what he usually did: deflect with humour. “Thank you for that by the way. Still kinda upset with how you’ve been lying to me about what you’ve been doing, but it was a gorgeous mural, so I forgive you.”
A small smile appeared on Steve’s face, but that didn’t distract him for long. “I mean it, Tony. You might think you’re a nuisance to us, but believe me when I say that sentiment is not reciprocated. If anything, we’re all still working as a way to pay you back for everything you’ve done for us.”
I will never try to change you, change you
I will always want the same you, same you
Swear on everything I pray to
That I won't break your heart
I'll be there when you get lonely, lonely
Keep the secrets that you told me, told me
And your love is all you owe me
And I won't break your heart
With the music, the dancing, and Steve’s words all combined, the dark thoughts in Tony’s mind were gradually being destroyed, but there still lingered a particularly stubborn one. Contemplating the best way to say it, Tony stayed quiet, letting the rest of the song play out for a while before finally speaking up, “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“You’re still young. Still handsome.” Tony looked at his husband. He really was attractive, especially so in the warm glow of their apartment, what with his beard, his kind blue eyes, and his form-fitting clothes. “You could have anyone else, I wouldn’t even blame you if you did. But you’re stuck with old me.”
“Tony…” There was that tone. Tony knew it well. Yes, those were horrible things to think about, and he would never ever doubt Steve’s faithfulness to him, but that was what his brain had been unhelpfully supplying, and it was the final thing he needed to placate. The silence as the next song started up certainly didn’t help, but Steve didn’t keep him waiting long.
“Tony,” Steve repeated, making sure that his husband was looking at him. “I love you. And like I said at our wedding, and how I’ve thought about you way before that: nothing will ever change how I feel about you.”
Baby, I'm yours
And I'll be yours until the stars fall from the sky,
Yours, until the rivers all run dry
In other words, until I die
Baby, I'm yours
And I'll be yours until the sun no longer shines,
Yours, until the poets run out of rhyme
In other words, until the end of time
“Maybe I could have anyone else, but I don't want them. I’ve only ever wanted you, for now and forever.” The words that came out of Steve’s mouth were extremely sappy, but Tony still held on to every single one of them. “And sure, you might think I’m just saying this for the sake of it, but I fall more in love with you with each day that passes. You might not think highly of yourself now, but you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You gave me a home, Tony, and I don’t plan on ever leaving. I’m staying right here, until you don’t want me anymore… Maybe even then.”
I'm gonna stay right here by your side,
Do my best to keep you satisfied
Nothin' in the world could drive me away
'Cause every day, you'll hear me say
Baby, I'm yours
And I'll be yours until two and two is three,
Yours, until the mountains crumble to the sea
In other words, until eternity
Tony was even closer to tears now, but damn his multitasking brain, because even as he listened to Steve pour his heart out, his ears were also focused on the lyrics playing in the background. And once again, because he often defaulted to humour and sarcasm, he asked with tear-rimmed eyes, “Not to spoil the moment, but are you controlling the music right now? The songs seem a little too on the nose right now.”
Thankfully, Steve wasn’t offended. Instead, the seriousness of the moment dissipated, the intense expression on the blond’s face slowly replaced by another dorky smile. “I made a playlist. It’s on shuffle, but I’m glad it’s working in my favour.”
Tony couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped him. The horrible thoughts were completely gone now, and he would never stop being grateful for having this amazing man in his life. Likewise, Steve was probably the best thing that ever happened to him, and he couldn’t imagine it any other way.
The grin that grew on Tony’s face never left, smiling as he and Steve continued dancing for a few more songs, his mood permanently lifted for the last few hours of his birthday. He didn’t think he could get any happier, but then Tony felt Steve’s hand slide from his waist down his back, the large palm eventually settling onto Tony’s ass, giving a light squeeze.
Tony looked at Steve with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Just…” A wicked glint flashed across blue irises. “Trying to show my husband that I do love every part of him."
“If that’s the case…” Tony pressed their bodies flush. “Then prove it . ”
"What?"
"Everything you just said?" Tony moved until his lips hovered right over Steve’s. "Prove it to me. "
"As you wish.” And with barely any effort at all, Steve lifted Tony up. Tony immediately wrapped his legs around Steve’s waist, hands coming up to card through the blond hair and pulling him for a deep kiss. The daily reminders of Steve’s strength never failed to start a fire deep in Tony’s belly, the flame now fuelling his lust as Steve kissed him back just as fiercely, tongue licking into his mouth as he walked them both to their bedroom.
Way too soon, Steve started lowering him down onto the soft mattress. Tony didn’t want to let go, but if things were to continue, he knew he must. So he did, body heating up with each passing second.
His jeans were already getting increasingly uncomfortable. It was impossible not to get hard, especially when Steve watched him from the foot of the bed, blue eyes now dark with hunger and want.
To get things moving along, Tony reached to pull his shirt off, but with a gentle hand, Steve stopped him. “Don’t”, he said, voice now dangerously rough. “You wanted me to prove my love to you, so let me.”
A shiver ran through Tony. He recognised that tone. It was the one Steve used when he was asking, seeking for permission. And Steve would stop, if Tony asked, but why would he? After all, it was Tony’s birthday. He’d already been a recipient all day, so why not take a little more?
Tony moved his hands away, resting them next to his head, a clear signal that he was ceding control. He could practically hear the wicked grin as Steve said, “Thank you, sweetheart.”
God, Steve was using pet names. Tony was going to be completely and utterly ravished, the mere thought of it only serving to make his cock strain even harder against the unforgiving denim.
However, the ravishing seemed like it was going to come later. Lowering himself down, Steve took his time to roll up Tony’s T-shirt, pressing soft kisses to each inch of skin that was slowly revealed. Each contact between lips and skin sent jolts of pleasure through Tony’s body, the man watching as Steve continued his journey upward, each kiss a reverence melting into his very being.
Eventually, the shirt was pushed up high enough that Tony helped pull it off, quickly chucking it to some far side of the room so that he wouldn’t be distracted from Steve’s ministrations. Hands now firmly against Tony’s sides, Steve kissed along his collarbones, reaching his jawline then moving back down again, breathing hot against the hollow of his neck. “Tony.” It was like a prayer coming out of Steve’s mouth, and it was electrifying.
They were only just getting started, and it was already overwhelming. Tony squirmed at the sensations, but there was a gentle squeeze of his waist, holding him down. Fuck, he really was completely at the mercy of the other man.
But Steve wasn’t one for long, drawn out teasing, so with one last kiss to Tony’s shoulder, he followed the same route back down Tony’s chest, eventually stopping at his sternum, where the arc reactor used to be. The scars had faded over the years, but they were still there, angry lines jutting out from a crude circle. During their first night together all those years ago, that had been what Tony was most self-conscious about, but Steve was quick to soothe his worries away, much like he was now, nosing along the lines, tracing one of the scars to Tony’s left pec, pressing his lips over where Tony’s heart was beating furiously against his chest.
And, like every time before, Steve breathed into his skin, “Beautiful.”
Tony thought he would have gotten used to it by now, but today, on a day where he had been constantly haunted by self-doubt, the single word hit harder than ever before. It struck him, actually leaving him gasping as he called out, “Steve-”
Steve looked up then, blue eyes filled with adoration. “I’m going to repeat myself here, but I don’t say that without reason. What used to be here -'' Steve pressed his lips to the centre of the circle “- kept you alive. It made you a hero. Without it, I would have never had the chance to have this. To have you. So whenever I see this, I will always be grateful. And for as long as you will let me, I’ll keep reminding you until you stop questioning it.”
Tony could only stare at him, speechless. How did he manage to find this amazing human being? His heart swelled as tears threatened to spill over. Not wanting to risk any of that and ruin the moment, Tony instead responded by moving a hand to cup the side of Steve’s face, looking into blue eyes that spoke of nothing but sincerity.
Steve nuzzled into his palm, cheek warm and beard rough, pressing a light kiss to the middle. Then, he turned back, their eyes meeting. “Let’s get back to it, shall we?”
Filled with anticipation once again, Tony nodded, and Steve resumed his journey back down, going over areas that he had missed the first time around. When he got to the top of Tony’s jeans, it was with a frankly arousing familiarity that he undid the buttons and lowered the zip before pulling them down, along with Tony’s briefs.
Slowly, almost agonisingly so, Steve repeated the identical process of removing the rest of Tony’s clothes, kissing any newly exposed part of him. When his briefs were lowered enough, Tony sighed at the release of pressure on his erection. He didn’t have to see to know that Steve was smirking, the proud bastard getting all smug about how he could get Tony this turned on without having actually done much yet.
All of this felt as if it was Steve’s birthday instead, the way the man was practically unwrapping him, but that thought was quickly ignored when Steve pulled his jeans past his thighs only to stop and start pressing open-mouthed kisses to the tender flesh. That, combined with the way his beard tickled and scraped along his skin, left Tony a whimpering mess.
God, if it was already this intense, Tony could only wonder how he was going to feel once they started things proper.
Steve wasn’t distracted however. In fact, he doubled down on his efforts, still focusing on Tony’s thighs as he pulled the jeans and briefs the rest of the way down. Only when those articles of clothing were gone did Steve stop, rising back up to his full height.
Blue eyes dark with desire raked over Tony’s naked form, and with a voice now husky with want, Steve said, “Oh Tony, you are just… What did I do to deserve you?”
One of Steve’s greatest powers - other than his actual physical strength of course - was his way with words, a skill that he unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you looked at things) wielded with great effect in their private time. Every word that left Steve’s lips dripped with want, with love, with so much that Tony knew this was only the beginning.
As if he knew, Steve continued, “Could you pass me a pillow, sweetheart? I want to make sure that you’re comfortable.”
There was that name again. So old-fashioned but sounding so good coming from Steve. Almost too quickly, Tony handed a pillow over, lifting his own hips automatically for Steve to put it underneath him. He did so, then headed over to their bedside drawer, pulling out the all too familiar transparent bottle.
Returning to his place between Tony’s legs, Steve kneeled down. Tony expected to hear the click of the bottle cap opening, but instead, Steve’s large hands wrapped around his thighs, fingers digging into them as he spread them apart. All Tony got as a warning was a breath of hot air against his hole before Steve licked and pressed into him.
“Fuck,” Tony cursed, fists clenching the sheets below him. Steve really was giving him the full treatment, and because Tony had asked for this, all he could was lie there and take it. He watched with rapt attention at Steve’s head moving between his legs which are currently held firmly open, there being absolutely no give to Steve’s grip despite the man’s complete focus on fucking his tongue deeper into Tony.
It was too damn good, and Tony could feel his cock leaking onto his stomach, but before he could get too lost in the feeling, Steve pulled away. Thankfully, three lubed fingers were then pushing into him, Steve’s mouth now back on Tony’s thighs, sucking and gently biting the wide expanse of skin.
“You taste so good, baby.” Steve mumbled against Tony’s soft inner thigh as his fingers rubbed at just the right spot. “Always so good. So sweet.”
Christ, was Steve trying to kill him? The fire instantly grew into a roaring flame, an inferno that threatened to combust at any minute. But it still wasn’t enough.
“Steve,” Tony called out, the name leaving as something between a moan and a whine.
“What is it, Tony? What do you want?” Steve asked, thrusting his fingers into Tony at a teasingly slow pace. “You’re usually so vocal, so let me hear you. Use your words. I’ll do anything you want me to, all you have to do is ask.”
“I want…” Tony was panting, face burning at how desperate he sounded, “I want something bigger.”
Steve didn’t say anything in response, but he retracted his fingers and sat back upright. Tony was grateful that Steve didn’t ask for further clarification, because while Tony might be the furthest thing from a prude, the intensity of everything that had happened so far made it impossible for him to say anything more detailed than that.
It’s also at that moment that Tony realised Steve was still fully clothed. Tony flushed ever redder at how exposed he was, but that was quickly overtaken by the delicious sight of Steve stripping down for him. The blond removed his henley in one swift move, revealing the exquisite body that always left Tony drooling. Things weren’t as defined as they were when Steve was younger, but he still looked like a damn marble sculpture come to life: that ridiculous shoulder to waist ratio, those large biceps, the abs that Tony loved to run his hands over. Tony often couldn’t believe that he got all this to himself.
Then, Steve bent down to get rid of the rest of his clothes, revealing another thing that made the coil in his belly tighten, his cock twitch, his hole clench in anticipation.
Tony was caught staring, and as if he was putting on a show, Steve poured a generous amount of lube onto his own hand before running it along the length of his thick and very erect cock. Stroking himself slowly, Steve’s eyes never left Tony’s as he said, “You see what you do to me, Tony? I didn’t even touch myself and I’m already this hard because of you.”
That certainly was a confidence boost. As far as Tony knew, Steve’s hand had been on him the whole time, gripping either his waist or thighs. Steve had gotten that turned out simply by pleasuring him, and that thought alone brought Tony closer to the edge.
So close yet so far. Tony no longer felt ashamed at the needy whine that left his lips. “Come on then. What are you waiting for?”
With a low chuckle, Steve got into position, resting on his knees between Tony’s legs, large hands returning to their usual place on the older man’s hips. Fingers dug gently into the flesh, thumbs rubbed circles into the skin. “I’ve got you, sweetheart. Whatever you need, I’ll give it to you.”
Tony let out a gasp as the head off Steve’s cock brushed against his hole. Ever so slowly, Steve pushed in, and Tony savoured the familiar and glorious feeling of Steve’s thick member stretching him, filling him oh so perfectly.
Fully seated, Steve groaned. “You’re so tight, baby. I need you to relax. I can’t fuck you how you want me to if you hold on to me like this.”
Fuck, what was with Steve today? Where was that blushing innocent man, the one who turned completely red in the face that they had sex, from all those years ago? Not that Tony would have wanted anything different; this Steve was perfect, but much like how the blond has spoiled him, he must have indulged his husband way too much in turn.
Tony took deep breaths as his heart pounded furiously. It might have been years, but Tony didn’t think he would ever get used to how big Steve was, how he felt like he was being stretched to his limits every time. But soon enough, Tony allowed himself to relax, and Steve started moving, pulling almost all the way out before pushing back in.
However, unlike how he usually did it, Steve didn’t speed up. Instead, each thrust is deliberately slow, Steve undulating his hips and pressing his hips right up against the back of Tony’s thighs each time, pushing in as deep as he can possibly go
It’s overwhelmingly good, with Tony left moaning with each move, but it just wasn’t enough. The pressure was building, and as much as he wanted to enjoy this for as long as he could, he needed to chase that high. He reached out, hand closing around Steve’s forearm. He whined, sounding terribly desperate, “Faster.”
And Steve, horrible but beautiful Steve, just said, “Not yet. Not until I’ve made sure you’ve felt all of my love for you.”
Another needy whine left Tony. He wanted to regret his request from earlier, but how could he, when despite the slow pace, Steve was fucking him so damn well. That didn’t stop from asking though, still craving more. “Come on, Steve.”
“I’ll tell you what, why don’t you show me,” Steve said with a breathy chuckle. “Move with me.”
In his lust-addled brain, it took a second for Tony to understand what Steve was asking him. Once it got through, Tony quickly scrambled to find purchase on the sheets. With enough leverage, Tony started throwing his hips down, moving completely out of time with Steve as he sought for what he needed
The fingers at his hips dug in deeper. “God, Tony. If you could see yourself right now. How gorgeous you look, taking me so well.”
The words poured over Tony like sweet honey, yet seemed to set every nerve alight. “Steve, please.”
That was what it took. Tightening his grip, Steve shifted slightly before finally speeding up to match Tony’s rhythm, their bodies meeting in the middle with a loud smack. The change in angle also caused Steve’s cock to brush over Tony’s prostate, and the sparks that sent through Tony’s entire system caused his brain-to-mouth filter to completely shut down.
“Fuck yes.” Tony gasped out between moans, barely able to form sentences. “So deep, so full. Yes, always so good to me, Steve. Don’t stop.”
Ironically, Steve had gotten quiet, focused as he was on giving Tony what he wanted. He never relented, fucking into Tony at a steady pace, an occasional grunt or moan leaving his lips.
Though he never let up, Steve’s thrusts eventually grew more erratic. “I’m going to…”
“Me too.” The fire at the pit of his belly was raging now. He was teetering right at the edge; all he needed was that final push.
This lasted for another several amazing minutes, then with one finally thrust and fingers holding hard enough to surely leave bruises, Steve came with a groan. Hot cum spilled inside Tony, and that filthy feeling was all he needed as he toppled over the precipice, coming untouched.
His orgasm hit him so hard that he swore his vision went white for a second, the flames sending wave after wave of pleasure through his very being. He’s not even sure how long it took, but eventually he blinked, feeling himself come back down from his electric high.
“God, Steve, that was-” Tony stopped as he realised that Steve was still inside him. That in itself wouldn’t have been surprising, except… “How are you getting hard again?”
Steve’s voice came out rough and husky. “It’s you, Tony. Look at you. I can’t get enough.”
Tony didn’t have to try hard to imagine how he must appear. Spread out on the bed, lying flushed in post-orgasmic bliss, his own cum drying on his faint trace of abs. It had to be a tantalising view for his husband.
The blond leaned in, he whispered, “I want… Can I?”
Tony knew what he was asking, what he was seeking permission for, and while his cock did give a twitch of excitement at the prospect of more, he was all fucked out. He wasn’t a young man anymore, he wasn’t sure he could handle much more.
But the way Steve looked at him, those blue eyes dark with barely held back hunger sending a flash of heat through his body, the warmth of arousal flooding his system once again. It was probably a bad decision, but he was always weak to temptations, especially when it came to Steve.
And not forgetting, it was his birthday after all.
So, he said, heart already beginning to speed back up, “Do it. ”
A sigh, heavy with both relief and lust, left Steve’s mouth. He regained his hold on Tony and started moving once more, returning to the same pace he had before, as if he hadn’t stopped in the first place.
Still oversensitive, Tony felt every inch of Steve’s cock with intense clarity. The cum still inside him made the slide in and out that much easier, with the obscene squelch reaching his ears. Tony couldn’t find it in him to be ashamed, could only feel ecstasy as Steve filled him over and over again.
“You feel so good, sweetheart.” Steve moaned, eyes closed as he was lost in own pleasure. “So warm inside you.”
The praise washed over Tony, and felt himself starting to grow hard again. But just like before, he needed something more. That’s when he realised: he hadn’t felt the touch of Steve’s lips against his for far too long now. He called out his husband’s name and when their eyes met, he said, “Kiss me.”
Steve stilled for a second, quickly assessing the best way to do that. Then, one of his large hands moved from Tony’s hip to the underside of his thigh. With a gentle push, he lifted that leg up until he could hook Tony’s ankle over his shoulder, spreading Tony’s legs apart much wider than they had been before.
Tony gasped at the almost painful stretch, but was quickly distracted when this new position afforded Steve the space to lean down and capture Tony’s lips in a passionate kiss, tongue pushing past to lick up into Tony’s mouth. This position also allowed Steve to reach impossibly deeper, and the man took full advantage of it, pounding deliciously hard into Tony with every single thrust.
When they broke apart for air, Tony hands flew up to Steve’s broad back, nails digging into the muscles, keeping him close but also holding on for dear life. “Babe, you have to slow down,” Tony said, each word punctuated by a moan. “If you keep this up, I don’t think I’ll be able to walk tomorrow.”
Steve didn’t. Instead, he continued his relentless pace, pressing kisses to Tony’s jawline as he mumbled against the skin, “I’ll take responsibility.”
And that was the end of that discussion. Tony didn’t even bother trying to negotiate. He just closed his eyes and savoured the way Steve overwhelmed his senses: the touches, the words, the heat radiating off the man’s body.
With his overstimulated body, it was almost an out-of-body experience, feeling almost faint with how good everything was. Yet, every time he felt like he’s about to pass out, Steve’s thrusts passed right over his prostate, bringing him right back to himself.
Then, as if it couldn’t get more intense, Steve’s other hand reached down and wrapped around Tony’s sensitive leaking cock, stroking it in time with his thrusts. With stimulation from both sides now, a shock ran through Tony’s system, this time shutting down any remaining speech functions he still had. Any words that left his lips came out as a moan or a gasp or a whine, and even then, all he could think of was Steve and yes and more.
The pressure began building up much quicker than before, and with how hard and fast Steve was going, Tony knew that he didn’t have long. Somehow, he managed to form parts of a sentence, “Steve, I’m going to- I need-”
This time, Steve thankfully knew exactly what he had to do. He sped up ever so slightly, hips and hand moving in tandem to bring even more pleasure. He brought Tony into another filthy kiss, then pulled back slightly, the hand that he had wrapped around Tony’s thigh now moving up to cup the side of the older man’s face, an act that was strangely tender amidst the debauchery.
Blue eyes locked with brown. Steve’s breath was hot against Tony’s lips. “Come for me.”
And that was all Tony needed.
This orgasm was just as earth-shattering as one before, maybe even more. Something in him snapped, a fire raging through his veins. As he came, Tony involuntarily clenched hard around Steve, and that must have been too much for him too because he reached his high almost immediately after, spilling into Tony once again.
With eyes hazed over with lust and satisfaction, Tony took in the sight before him. Not wanting to crush his husband, Steve was holding himself up, blond hair now dark with sweat stuck to his forehead and chest heaving as he took deep breaths. Yet, despite that, he was still as caring as always, thumb now rubbing gently over Tony’s cheek. “You okay?”
“What do you think?” Tony asked. “I can’t feel my legs.”
“Oh, right.” With a sheepish smile, Steve moved Tony’s leg back down. As Tony sighed from the strain being gone, Steve did a quick once-over of him. “Let’s get cleaned up, shall we?”
He sought to move away, but Tony held fast, his hands still gripping onto the blond’s strong back. The man looked at him confused, and Tony felt his face heat up as he said, “Could we move… like this?”
It took a second, but once Steve understood the request, a look that could only be described as a mix of smug pride and affection crossed his face. “Of course, whatever you want.”
It took some manoeuvring, but eventually Steve managed to pick up and carry Tony, walking them both to the bathroom all while he remained inside him, not letting a single drop out. Being even more sensitive than before, gravity and friction worked together to have Tony trembling with each step Steve took.
Steve stepped into the shower, and sadly had to set Tony down. The cool tile against his feet, coupled with the emptiness and filthiness as cum dripped down his thighs, sent Tony shivering.
Luckily, that was quickly remedied as Steve turned on the water. Spoiling his husband even further, Steve did all the work, running shampoo through Tony’s hair as he tenderly massaged the scalp, then sudsing Tony’s body with the soap before taking care of himself.
Tony, in turn, was captivated by Steve. And sure, it was one thing to see that muscular body all wet and soaped up. But it was the way Steve’s hands gently caressed every part of him, the way he soothed over and checked the places where he might have held a bit too hard, the way he had a constant expression that spoke of nothing but pure and unfiltered love towards the person in front of him.
And that person is me, Tony thought.
Tony’s not sure how it happened. Maybe it’s the steam and the hot water. Maybe it’s Steve’s stupidly attractive body. Maybe it’s that, even with water running and washing it almost immediately away, Tony could still feel the last of Steve’s cum dribble out his hole. Whatever it was, Tony was growing hard again, his age be damned.
On any other day, Tony might have thought of himself as needy. But, as he reminded himself once more, it was his birthday.
So, it was with a renewed sense of desire that Tony called out to his husband. Steve had just washed the soap off of himself when he turned the water off and turned to him, all sexy with his wet hair now pushed back. “Yeah?”
Steve had barely finished that single syllable when Tony reached a hand to Steve’s nape, pulling him down into a kiss while grinding his growing erection against the taller man’s hip.
Catching onto the plan immediately, Steve’s own hands return to their usual spot around Tony’s waist, pulling their slick bodies flush against each other. For a few good minutes, that was all they did, kissing languidly in the now humid warmth of the bathroom, Tony’s arms draped over Steve’s broad shoulders, Steve’s hands making unhurried exploration of Tony’s back and hips and ass.
When they eventually pulled apart for air, the smug grin from before had reappeared on Steve’s face. His darkened blue eyes grew ravenous. “Greedy little thing, aren’t you?”
Steve’s words only added fuel to the fire. The itch inside him was getting worse, and he was practically rubbing himself against Steve’s leg at this point. “Steve, please.”
The man responded by reaching around the back of one of Tony’s knees and lifted it up, letting the older man hook it around his thigh. He positioned them both until his cock, already hard and ready to go, was pressing right against his hole once again. “You really want me that bad, sweetheart?”
“Yes, I need more.” Desperation was seeping into his voice, but Tony didn’t care anymore. “I need you.”
Steve said nothing, only growled against the shell of Tony’s ear as he pressed into him in one smooth motion, not stopping until his hips hit Tony’s ass.
Tightening his grip around Steve’s shoulders, Tony only had a second of reprieve before Steve started fucking him in earnest. Much more sensitive now, Tony was left gasping and moaning into Steve’s shoulders, holding on as gravity helped Steve reach deeper inside him. He wasn’t as rough as he was earlier, but moving at a much more tender pace, but it was still enough to set Tony over the edge.
As he expected, he felt the flame build up much quicker than before. His back and legs were sore, he was tired from a long day, but he didn’t want this to end so soon. “Slow down- It’s… too much. I can’t-”
His sentence was cut off as the blond slammed particularly hard into him, the slap of skin against skin echoing loudly within the shower. “Weren’t you the one saying it wasn’t enough?” he teased.
Tony could barely retort, any brain power he still retained directed towards staving off his fast approaching third orgasm of the night. It was a nigh impossible task, as the angle at which Steve was fucking him meant that the leg that wasn’t lifted up was barely on the floor, with Tony basically standing on his tip toes. His thighs ached from trying to stay balanced, but even then, he knew he didn’t have to worry. Steve was keeping him steady, keeping him safe and secure between his large body and the cool tiled wall.
“Just a little more, baby. I promise.” Steve said, sounding breathless himself. “You’re taking me so well. Try and hold on for a little while longer.”
Try Tony did, and for many more pleasurable minutes, he succeeded. But eventually, it all became too much when he glanced through the glass wall of the shower and caught sight of their reflection in the mirror, watching himself get fucked into oblivion by his ravishingly handsome hunk of a man who was his husband, who had a look of absolute focus and adoration on his face.
The obscene beauty of it pushed him over the edge. He came with a cry as he threw his head back against the shower wall. As if that euphoria wasn’t enough, Steve continued fucking him through it, while simultaneously attacking the column of Tony’s neck that was now bared, kissing and lightly biting the unblemished skin. It wasn’t until Tony felt the last tremors of ecstasy wreck his body that Steve finally thrust into him one final time, coming inside him with a moan.
The activities of their night had clearly taken a lot out of them, because this time, they spent quite a while just trying to catch their breath and regain their senses. It was only when Tony started shivering again that Steve quickly pulled out and turned the hot water back on, giving them both another good rinse.
Tony, too blissed out, let himself be washed off and dried, with Steve then wrapping them both up in their matching fluffy bathrobes, a wedding gift someone had given them years ago. Steve proceeded to sit him down at their vanity table and use the hairdryer to dry off his damp hair. Tony, wrapped up all warm and cosy, closed his eyes to enjoy this intimate moment, the way his husband ran his finger softly through his hair. He smiled, and he didn’t need to look to know that Steve likely had a matching one of his face too, all adorable and affectionate.
They finished up in comfortable silence, and Steve carried Tony back to their bed, climbing in after him. The lights were switched off, their faces only barely illuminated by the never-asleep New York skyline outside.
Fully stated and feeling beyond comfortable, Tony nuzzled against Steve’s chest. Steve’s arms wrapped around Tony’s waist as he whispered, “Happy birthday.”
“It’s already past midnight, silly.”
“I know, but still.” Steve cupped Tony’s cheek again, tilting his head back so that their eyes met. “Did you have a good birthday, at least?”
Even in the darkness, Tony could see what those blue eyes were really searching for. Tony had spent several hours of the day feeling uncharacteristically bad about himself, the rare but not uncommon darkness of self-consciousness having reared its horrible head. But after the last few hours being surrounded by the people that he loved most in this world, then being completely showered with adoration by his precious husband, utter contentment had settled deep into his bones and made his heart full.
“I did,” he said, and because he couldn’t resist, he continued with, “I hope you know I have high expectations for next year now.”
Steve chuckled as he leaned forward to kiss him, sweet and simple. When they moved apart, Steve looked at him with so much devotion that he could have cried. “I love you.”
Again, Tony wondered how got this lucky. The man that was stuck in that cave with a battery running his heart all those years ago certainly would have never imagined that it would have led him down this path. But it did, and if anything, he would tell his younger self that everything that was going to happen after that would be completely worth it, because despite the pain and all the fighting he was going to go through, the universe would eventually give him this happiness.
Tony cuddled even closer to Steve. “I love you too.”
Sleep began to draw him under, but one last thought managed to cross his mind. If every birthday is going to be like this from now on, maybe growing old isn’t going to be so bad.