I'm Spongebob? (Stony AU)

Ch: 20

Tony opened his mouth. Then closed it. He glanced at Rhodey, he could tell he was internally facepalming. Bruce had hopeful eyes, nodding subtly, trying to urge Tony on—as if Tony were a kindergartener pausing, asking his parents permission with his eyes.

Tony opened his mouth again, all too aware of everyone's eyes on him. Thanks for making this too big of deal! He silently cursed out friends.

"We're here!" Happy hollered out, the party bus rolling to a stop.

"Well, we'll continue this talk later I guess!" Tony said, slapping Steve's arm, and regretting it instantly—was there a less romantic way to talk to someone?

They filed off the bus. Rhodey lingered till the end.

"We've got to work on your timing Hap." He told Happy, before taking his order for food.

"Rogers. Party of 7," Steve said when they walked to the receptionist.

"Ah. Yes." The receptionist clutched the menu in front of her as her eyes scanned the group. She could barely contain her squeal when she spotted Tony. "Stark." She said, whispered almost. "Yes." She faced Steve again. "Your table is right this way."

The buffet they choose was a good pick. It had food everyone liked and the ambiance was just like everyone said online. It felt... homey. The lighting was dimmer than most restaurants, relying mostly on the candles—battery powered—scattered all over. There were scattered sections that looked like living room catalogs out of an Ikea magazine. Everything looked high quality. But not uncomfortable high quality, the kind that made you feel awkward and fear touching anything for fear of staining or breaking it. This was the kind that made you feel invited to go ahead and take a nap, laugh a little too loud, chat for hours. There was soft jazz music playing in the background, the kind that reminded Steve and Bucky of the man with the saxophone that they would pass every day on their way home from school.

This was worth the 2 hour drive it took to get there.

Normally this buffet didn't take reservations. They weren't known to host party's or have private rooms. This is what they told Steve when he called ahead to set everything up. Tony had been with him. When he noticed Steve's face fall and the stammering begin, he simply tapped his shoulder and asked if he could speak with them.

"You didn't have to offer to buy out a whole section," Steve said once Tony hung up.

"Tsk, they caved easily. I would have offered to buy out the whole restaurant for a day. If that wouldn't have worked, I'da just bought the whole restaurant."

"Of course you would have," Steve said. However, contrary to how Tony normally heard the phrase—condescending and disappointed—this time it sounded endeared and grateful.

Now, as they were being walked to their table, Tony was trying to figure out how to salvage what had happened in the party bus. Hey, Steve, my Patrick, let's sit together! He couldn't make the words come out of his mouth.

"Tony." Steve said, coming up next to him, "sit with me?"