The Iron Captain

Chapter fifteen

 Steve sighed as he lay back on the bed. "I don't know Pepper, I don't think it's a good idea, me and Tony haven't talked in at least two months, and I don't think Christine would really appreciate me seeing him, not after what he said to her." he justified, and Pepper scoffed over the phone. "That's why I planned this whole thing. You two need to start talking again, Tony hasn't been the same since you two had your fight." she said, and Steve ran a hand over his face. "Listen-"

 "No you listen. I went to a whole lot of trouble planning this damn thing out, and you two are going to sit down and talk this thing out like two civilized adults. Is that clear Captain?" Pepper said, voice demanding. Steve couldn't help but laugh. "I'll take that as a yes. Get dressed soldier, you have to be there in an hour." She hung up before the soldier could protest. He sat up, looking at the clock; it was only 12:30, way too early for him to be dealing with this. Nonetheless, he got up and got into the shower. Part of him, a part that he had been hiding for a very long time, was happy to be seeing Tony again. Maybe, this would be a chance to get them back together.

 No, he's with Pepper, and you're with Christine. Or at least you're pretending to be. He sighed, and changed into some nice dress pants, and one of his famous shirts. "I'll never get how you wear those, you look ridiculous you know." Steve chuckled a bit, remembering Tony's past comments on his shirts. The blond shook his head slowly, those days were over now, he wasn't going to get those back, even after Christine was done with him and finally got rid of the pictures forever. He and Tony saw what they would be like together, and sometimes, enough times, it wasn't pretty.

 Christine texted him, asking him if he wanted to get together and have lunch. He didn't answer, and left his phone at his apartment. He wasn't going to be answering to her today.

~*~

 Tony tried to stop his leg from shaking, he was nervous. Pepper had completely sprung this on him, not telling him until she had him sit down that she wouldn't be joining him, but instead Steve would. Every time I try to get away, he finds a way right back in. He checked his watch, biting his lip. It'd been a little more than an hour, maybe Steve wasn't coming, that would be easier. He could handle it, it would help to keep the feelings he still held buried. He looked down at his glass, pushing it away. He had been trying to give up on alcohol. It hasn't tasted as good lately.

 He heard the chair in front of him scrape against the floor, and he looked up to see Steve sitting down across from him. "Hello Captain." Tony muttered quietly. "Mr. Stark." Steve responded politely. "How are you today?" Tony rolled his eyes. "We're not really going to do this are we?" he asked, looking up at the blond and leaned on the table. "We both know we don't want to be here, so let's-" "Who said I didn't want to be here?" Steve asked, a small smile twitching at his lips. Tony lips upturned in a smile, which he quickly hid behind his hand.

 "I've um, I've missed talking with you Tony. I mean, yeah we talk back at S.H.I.E.L.D, but I mean," Steve dropped his gaze to the table. "I miss our real talks." "So have I Cap- Steve." The brunette corrected himself. "Even if we, you know, that doesn't mean we can't still be friends, right?" "Yeah, it's not like we still," the blond said, dancing around the word. "I'm sick of trying to pretend like I don't want us to be close again. I mean, friend close." he muttered, and Tony nodded in agreement.

 "We should get over this; I'm fine with being friends if you are." Tony said, smiling. "I am, so," Steve held out his hand, smiling. "Friends?" The brunette chuckled, and shook his hand. "Friends." They waited a moment longer, still holding each other’s hand. Steve loosened his grip, slightly. He was reluctant to let go, but he knew if he didn't he would be all over Tony within another heartbeat.

 Tony released the blond's hand, blushing slightly. A familiar beat played over the speakers of the restaurant, and the brunette looked over to see couples flocking to the dance floor, laughing and beginning to dance. Hinder's cover of "Take Me Home Tonight" blasted, and Tony shook his head, chuckling. "You want to dance?" Steve asked, a playful tone in his voice. "Sure." Tony said, and stood, taking the soldier to the dance floor and beginning to move his hips to the music.

 Steve blushed bright red, watching as Tony moved in front of him, and he found himself being pulled into the music. He moved with Tony, following his steps. "This isn't awkward or anything." Steve laughed, and Tony laughed with him. "Only awkward if you make it that way." he said, and playfully pushed himself against the blond. Steve turned a deeper red as Tony began to dance, pulling him close and lip syncing the lyrics. The blond rolled his eyes and began to do the same.

"I can feel you breathe; I can feel your heart beat faster! Take me home tonight; I don't want to let you go till you see the light! Take me home tonight! Listen honey, just like Ronnie said, be my little baby!" The crowd sang in unison, including the two men. "You've gotten better since we last danced." Tony noticed, eyeing the soldier up and down. The blond shrugged. "Practice makes perfect I guess." "I wouldn't call it perfect," Tony teased, and Steve scowled. He reached his hand out to give the man a light shove, but he dodged it and instead, took the hand in his own and intertwined their fingers before turning into Steve, pressing his back against his chest.

 Steve laughed, continuing to dance. He wrapped his arms around Tony's waist, forgetting everything and everyone around them. He was with the man he loved, and no one was going to ruin his good time. Tony listened to his sweet laugh, that laugh he never thought he would hear again. It's been way too long. I miss you Steve, I've tried to get over you, but I just can't.

 "I like this song, it's fun." Steve said into Tony's ear. "Yeah, it is." He smiled, closing his eyes and still dancing with the man. The song ended, and some couples began to leave the dance floor as a slower song came on. "Uh, would you, you want to," Steve stammered as he let go of Tony, allowing him to turn around. "Get some food? Sure." Tony finished the man's sentence, a bit saddened to leave Steve's arms, but he knew he had to.

 I have to let him go.

 "Well, actually I wanted to know if you would allow me to have this dance." Steve muttered, blushing. Tony was caught off guard. "W-What?" Does this mean what I think it does? He still loves me, he really does....God Steve, you don't understand, we can't be together. "I-uh-I-" he stuttered, not sure what to say. "What am I saying? God, sorry Tony, we can just go eat, ignore me." Steve said, waving his hand and ears turning red. "Besides, I'm starving, I didn't eat breakfast so," He smiled softly, and began walking towards the table.

 Stop acting like you're still together. You're going to put him in danger; you shouldn't have even come today. Steve yelled at himself as they sat down, and browsed over their menus. Why did I come today? I could have stood him up, left him here and let him hate me even more. He looked up, staring at Tony, dropping his gaze whenever he looked up at the blond. But he could have done the same. He could have left me here, could have left as soon as he saw me, I mean, he made it very clear the last time we spoke... "Hey Tony? Mind if I ask you something?" Steve asked quietly, setting down his menu and looking at the man opposite him.

 "Sure, fire away." Tony said, trying to ignore the twisted knot in his stomach. "Why did you come today?" The blond asked, locking eyes with Tony. "Because Pepper told me if I didn't go out to lunch with you I wouldn't be eating at all today." The brunette lied. "What about you? Why are you here?"

 Steve was caught off guard. Lie Steve, lie to him. You- 'Don't lie to your soldiers Captain, you should know better.' He sighed, and looked up at him, "I'm not going to lie to you Tony, Pepper told me to come, said she went to a lot of trouble, but that's not really why I'm here." Steve ran a hand through his hair. "I missed you Tony, and I hate not talking to you." he said, smiling at Tony. The other man smiled back. "Well, now we're friends again. So, here's to us." He raised his glass, and Steve raised his glass of water. "Cheers." They muttered, and took a drink.

"I'm sorry for insulting you the other day." Tony said quietly. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, I should be grateful, you saved my ass back there." Steve apologized awkwardly. "Well, it's in the past now," Tony said, a fake smile on his face. Just like us. "We can move past it." Steve smiled back, trying to disguise his heart break. But I can't move past you.

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So, I wrote a fluffy chapter. I want to take this moment to say, thank you. You guys are really the absolute best, I can’t thank you all enough, I mean, 6000 reads. I thought I would be lucky enough to get a few hundred reads, but you guys just made my dreams come true. I really, truly and absolutely appreciate this. I don't think I would still be writing this if it wasn't for all your wonderful comments and glorious input. Thank you guys again; I hope you're all enjoying the story!