𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩

Chapter 3

Feeling a little intense after his very long shower and honestly needing someone to talk to Tony texted up the one person who knew him as well as he knew himself. Pepper.

'Need 2 talk to you about something. You free?'

-Tony

Putting on his clothes and wringing his tie around his neck a little beep later and Pepper texted back.

'Is it about who I think it is ?'

-Pepper

Tony smirked and picked up his phone.

'You know me so well Pep, in another life we were probably married'

-Tony

A beat later and then...

'Don't even joke about that, I'm free now so get your ass up here'

-Pepper

Tony smiled at their banter and thanked the gods he could talk this shit out with somebody. He didn't think he could keep all by himself. He'll probably explode.

'Yes ma'am'

-Tony

Walking down the narrow hallway towards Pepper corner office, her very huge corner office curtesy of him, because she was there before anyone even before Cap, even before his obsession with fixing and saving; She was there through all the drugs that would litter his nose and office, his glazed expression when she would shake her head and let him cry in her arms, she was there when he told her about his need to control and fix and mend.

And through it all she didn't walk away, she didn't block him, she didn't distance herself. She stayed true and solid like steel.

Knocking once then twice he let himself in smiling when she looked up from whatever she was reading, hair in a messy bun and cute reading glasses perched on her nose.

"Hey Tony..." Pepper greeted with a warm smile.

"Hey Pep..." he returned her easy smile and sat in front of her, twiddling his thumbs. Normally, he more composed than this, But Pepper had always had the way of making him feel just a little bit small. A little bit vulnerable.

Seeing Tony's composure, Pepper sat straight and folded her hands on lap, she smiled.

"Alright spill..."

A few hours later they were still talking, Tony rambling on about how much he needed Cap to be in his life. How much he was over the moon about the blonde, how much he wants to make him his. He explained how he wanted to take him out, spoil him, put him in expensive silks and furs, lavish him in attention, show him all the joys about the twenty first century.

Tony wanted Steve to want for nothing. To be that beating force that he would come to again and again and again. He wanted Steve to open himself up more, he wanted to see that pretty smile, with those beautiful teeth, he wanted to see his face flushed red from nights of laughter and alcohol, wanted Steve to open up about his desires, his wants, his passions. God thinking about it made him hard. He wanted Steve. He craved him.

Clearing her throat Pepper spoke up. "Just don't overwhelm him Tony..." Pepper chided, sipping on a fresh cup of tea that Tony brought to her because she was one of his most loyal friends and she just so happens to understand his crazy. Next to Rhodey of course; but that was another issue.

Where Pepper understood Tony's desire his passion, his love to mold and mend and put back together, his love to see his friends flourish, she understood there had to be boundaries, he had a tendency to come off as invasive. When it came down to it Pepper encouraged the crazy but told him to let it simmer while Rhodey, his honey bear, told him to keep it on a leash and lock it all away. And that wasn't fun.

"I know Pepper..." Tony groaned palming his face with his hand like a stubborn child.

"Do you?..." She quipped, raising a delicate brow "because you have a tendency to do the opposite of what I say, hun..."

"I just want him Pepper..." he breathed, looking at her with brown eyes full of trust and vulnerability "I want him so much it hurts. I want him underneath me, I want him to be mine..."

Pepper's lips quirked into a smile and she padded her way over to her dramatic friend. She held out her hand and he took it without hesitation, stroking her knuckles with his thumb, eyelashes fluttering as he looked up at her with softness in his eyes.

"You're gonna have him..." She began "but you have to keep the craziness to a minimum or you'll end driving him away. He's young. He's been heart broken and abused by a system that doesn't care about him. Ease him into it, yes, you can flirt with him because gods know you're not gonna stop... but just let him breathe when the time comes for you to lay it out on him, okay?..." she said softly looking at him with warmth.

He could cry. Who needs a therapist when your second best friend was Pepper.

Without much to say and his vulnerability meter going full he smiled and kissed her hand softly muttering a thank you before crossing her room to leave.

"Of course!..." she beamed "what would you do without me..." she teased.

"Probably blow something up..." he chuckled.

"Probably blow something up..." she agreed, shaking her head in amusement.

"Later Tony..."

"Later Pep.."

Later he found himself in his lab, tinkering away his thoughts and letting his mind roam over calculations and math. It's when he put his ranch down and whiped the sweat from his brow is when he received a text.

Steve.

Tony's heart rate tripled seeing Steve's name pop up on his phone; looking at the text quickly because he had no self control he read the text.

'Can I drop by later and talk to you about something?'

-Steve

Frowning Tony mulled in his mind about why something felt off. Not wanting to beat around the bush he asked.

'You can't text me something so cryptic like that cap. Cmon give details.

-Tony

A beep later then...

'It's just something a little personal.'

-Steve

And then he received beep after beep making his frown deepen.

'It's okay if you're busy.

Don't want to be a bother.

-Steve

Oh no. Oh, no, no, no, was Tony passing this up. The love of his life needing him to the point where he texts him for something that he needs from him, not Clint, not Bruce or Nat, or that fucking loser Bucky. But him. The feeling was euphoric and he wanted to zip around his lab and dance but instead he texted him and made sure he explicitly stated how much it was okay. More than okay for him to come to him for anything.

'How about we meet up in your room in a few hours sweetheart.

And I'll never be too busy for you Cap

whatever you need I'm here

-Tony

Forcing himself to stop before he said too much he put his phone down and breathed in a deep breath and sighed, opening his eyes he smiled. Steve needed him. Steve wanted him.

One last glance to his phone and he smiled when he read the message.

'Okay. See you soon.'

-Steve

Good boy. All you have to do is listen to me and I'll do the rest.