Say it Back - [ironstrange]

10 - Bad days & Good days

May 6th

Loki flirted with Tony... why would they do that? And right in front of me! I just had to sit there and watch. Whatever, a lot of people flirt with Tony.

The pair were on their way to Tony's car to go eat something together before the game while Stephen thought of this. They decided that Tony took the cake home, Stephen didn't mind. On their way out they ran into Pepper and Christine, they of course stopped to say hi.

"Hey, Pep," said Tony and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hi," greeted Stephen with a slight wave. He wanted to share Christine a glance but felt uncomfortable with it since he didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but in reality it was weirder that he wouldn't look at her at all.

"You up to sit with us during the game?" Pepper asked, staying close by Tony's side.

"Always," Tony replied but looked for Stephen's approval. He simply nodded in response. "Stephen and I are just going to eat and we'll be there."

Damnit. Stephen wanted to just go with Tony. He was already socially drained and the only one he didn't tire of easily was Tony. Technically he didn't ask them to come but it might encouraged them to ask to come.

"Sure, sounds fun. We'll see you around then." With that the two girls left and Stephen breathed a sigh of relief. One that Tony heard and grimaced towards. What was that about? He looked stale as an uncooked pasta noddle, thought Tony and briefly kept his eyes on Stephen as they walked to Tony's car.

Tony called the car his 'spring' car. He had a car for every season, which made it feel even cooler that Stephen could borrow any of them to practice driving in the near future. It was a black Nissan Challenger. Tony loved those. Stephen didn't much care for cars, sure some looked cool but he wasn't exactly into modifying things on it like Tony was.

Stephen had only been there once, because Howard didn't like it when other people visited the lab further away from town, but Tony was often there to tinker with different things. He was already a great mechanic.

After the pair sat down in the car and had drove off the school grounds Tony remembered to ask, "why were you so nervous when we talked to Pepper and Christine? Thought you and Pepper got along."

"Uh... well... I don't," Stephen stammered, making Tony raise his eyebrows in disbelief and chuckle all the same.

"Is it Christine?" Tony asked while giggling happily. "Is he getting nervous? Is he experiencing his first crush?" Tony teased and poked his finger on Stephen's thigh repeatedly to tickle him. Stephen shoved his finger away and sat cross legged instead.

"No."

"Oop," said Tony, trying to contain louder laughter. "He says 'no' period. All right."

"You don't believe me?"

"Of course I don't? You weren't very convincing."

"How much clearer can a short and simple 'no' be?"

"That's up for interpretation." Tony purposefully turned up the music to make sure Stephen couldn't argue against him any further.

"Douchebag!" Stephen shouted over the music but Tony just sang to him.

"All the things I did, just so I could call you mine!" Tony jokingly ran his finger over Stephen's cheek before having to look back at the road, Stephen slapped Tony's hand away but couldn't help smiling widely.

As Tony sang to Olivia Rodrigo Stephen watched him. He sang as if he'd written the songs himself, like he'd been through the same things but with a wide smile as well, like he was thankful for it happening. Like it changed him as a person. Stephen didn't know how he could have such emotion, he'd never had his heart broken only broken others.