𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 - STONY

13

The air was warm, everyone was lively, the place smelled of delicious foods. Tony was trying to engrave this all into his memory as he sat at the back of the Tavern as Stephen had told him to. He gave many parting gifts to the few servants, maidens, workers, and chefs he befriended.

"Psst" a whisper came from behind him. He turned around and found it was Stephen gesturing to follow him. Tony left his spot and met Stephen outside. "Hey. Are you ready to go?" Stephen asked.

"Hold on," Tony threw on his cloak and pulled the hood over his head to hide his face. "Now I am. Let's go"

Stephen nodded. Tony followed behind him as they snuck through the halls. The plan was to avoid getting caught by guards at the main gate, and to use some sort of a back door instead. So they were headed to the hall where the exit to the garden would be.

But in that hall was the library, which Steve was currently in. Tony didn't intend on saying bye to him after all the being locked into rooms and never being left alone. But just as they were passing the library doors, a feeling settled inside Tony. As if he'd regret it in the future if he doesn't say goodbye. Probably because the last time he parted ways with his Steve, there was no goodbye. There was just blood and broken hearts.

"Wait..." he stopped in his tracks. At least with this Steve nothing wrong has happened. He has been kind til the end.

Steve has a smile on his face as he looked at the tableau of Tony ahead of him. After Tony threw the original one out the window, literally, and caused it to be torn apart, Steve went to Mr. Hubble and asked him to make another one.

"Steve," Tony's soft voice came from behind him.

"Tony? What're you doing here? You're supposed to be in my room until tomorrow" Steve frowned.

"I just..." Tony walked up to him. He fiddled with his fingers not knowing what to say or what to do.  "I just wanted to thank you. For being generous and lenient and kind..." he smoothed a hand over Steve's hair and brought it down to rest on his neck.

"Tony...what's going on?" worry coloured Steve's voice.

Tony didn't want to say anything more. Because the better part of him was feeling very bad right now. Instead, he leaned up and kissed Steve. Steve immediately kissed back, giving it his all. He'd never turn Tony away, especially not when the genius was the one initiating it. Tony looked up, breaking away despite Steve's protests, and smiled softly, placing a kiss on Steve's nose, then his forehead, then his cheeks.

"Why don't you sit down with me? Look, I have that tea that you told me you liked" Steve suggested.

"Nah. I'm just gonna...um..."

"Go back to my room?"

"Sure" Tony nodded. He turned his back to go to the doors.

Every step Tony took getting to the doors, the gears in Steve's head were turning and adding everything up. And then he understood. "Tony, no!" He exclaimed.

Now Tony knew that Steve knew. So he immediately ran out the doors and shut them behind himself to gain a few more seconds. "Run!" He told Stephen. Stephen nodded and led the way.

"Tony!" Steve shouted running out of the library and into the hall. His eyes darted around the place for where Tony was and caught sight of his cloak going into the garden. He ran after them.

Stephen looked behind him as he and Tony were running, and found Steve was chasing them and quickly catching up. "Crap, he's onto us," Stephen cursed. He held Tony's hand and ran even faster.