bakerstreet | Honey, where are all the pillows?

[They may argue (and growl and posture) at each other when it came to defending the Academy from HYDRA and AIM but at the end of the day, Steve and Tony were friends. Or at least, Steve liked to think so. It was hard to tell sometimes with Tony. Today's argument was a little worse then usual. He had felt much better after letting off steam on the track and against a punching bag but now he thought he should check on Tony.

So here he was, in front of Tony's dorm room door, with two cups of homemade hot chocolate in hand as a peace offering.]

Tony? You in there?

[Despite what it might look like, Tony hated arguing with Steve. With any of his friends, really, but there was something about his fights with Steve that always left him feeling almost raw. Maybe it was because he actually respected him more than he'd ever admit, maybe it was because Steve's opinion of him actually mattered, maybe...

Maybe.

Taking advantage of the fact that Rhodey was out and about, Tony had gone into the room they shared and had settled in the nest of pillows and blankets he had set up in his corner of the room. And, okay, yeah it looked almost like he was in some sort of tent but that was only because Rhodey had threatened to kick him out a few nights ago after Tony's insomnia had kept him up. Sure, he could have gone to some part of the tower, he could have gone to the lab to work, but instead he had just wanted to work on designs for his suit in his room. The tent had been the compromise to shield Rhodey from the lamp Tony had been using, but he hadn't cleaned up the mess afterwards. If anything, Tony was finding it oddly comforting to be in there right now, as childish as it was, but he had never had a pillow-and-blankets fort before even as a child, so as far as he was concerned he was entitled to it.

The knock on the door startled him, though, enough to sit up and drop the screwdriver and gauntlet he had been working with. For a moment he almost considered not answering, because he really didn't feel like arguing anymore, but Steve's tone didn't sound like he was here for that.]

Yeah, I'm here. You can come in.

[Taking the command, JARVIS automatically opened the door for Steve, and...that was when Tony remembered where he was and that Steve wouldn't exactly see him upon walking in. With ease he more or less crawled over to the opening of his 'little' fort and peeked his head out. He'd look sheepish, but before he could do that he noticed the mugs that Steve was holding.] What's up?

Edited 2016-05-06 16:03 (UTC)

I...er...peace offering?

[He held the two mugs of hot chocolate in his hands, an unspoken invitation for Tony to pick one. And in the meantime, his eyes flickered discretely around the room.

It was very much different from his, even besides the fact that he had a single to himself. Old habits had him making his bed neatly to military precision every morning, and his books were placed alphabetical order against the wall on his desk. There aren't any photos or posters on the walls. What little photos he had were too precious and delicate to put up and he's not that fond of modern bands. The only spot that could be considered a mess was the corner he kept an art diesel, painting supplies and ongoing painting projects.

Fury had told him to make himself at home in the dorms but he had never felt quite like he could do more than put what little possessions he has into his room.

Edited 2016-05-07 09:03 (UTC)

...oh. Thanks.

[Despite all the pillows and blankets he had on the floor, he wasn't tangled in any of them so getting out of his tent without a problem. Even if his encampment on his half of the room wouldn't have been there, it would have been easy to see which side belonged to who; Rhodey's half was neat and orderly, while Tony's half was what he liked to call organized chaos. Rhodey disliked it, and often times tried to clean up the mess himself, but Tony was adamant that everything was exactly the way he wanted it to be so don't move anything. On those days Tony was sure that they both regretted the fact that they had decided to room together, but he also knew that he couldn't complain. There were nights when the phantom pain along his missing right arm was agonizing, and his best friend was the only one that knew how to calm him down since he had been there with him from the very beginning. Being in the same room allowed him at least some privacy on those occasions, because Tony didn't want the world to know when he was having a bad night if he ever rushed down to Rhodey's, or whenever Rhodey would rush to his room.

It wasn't so bad, though, and this was home so Tony liked it. Mess and all. He didn't have any pictures on the walls, just schematics and diagrams of projects that he was working on, along with a whiteboard full of formulas written in hurried scribbles. There were spare parts on his desk of what looked like was for his suits, but they were really for his prosthetic arm, along with books and a tablet. His computer was playing rock music, filling the room with some noise as he walked up to Steve, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out their conversation.

Taking the mug from Steve, Tony's eyes flickered up to meet his as he pursed his lips for a brief second.] Look, I'm sorry, too. I didn't... I got caught in the moment, I guess.

[Which always seemed to happen whenever they'd argue. Things had a tendency to snowball so quickly with their verbal jabs, and Tony really wished there was a way he could stop himself from doing so.]

Do you want to sit and drink these? We can... [His eyes scanned his own room, as if to try and find a spot where they could sit. But, since Tony had been using his tent-nest lately and hadn't really been sleeping in his bed, his bed was unmade and had books everywhere so that would probably not be very comfortable. And he would offer the desk chairs, but they were being used as pillars to hold up the tent, so... With a small smirk, he motioned to it.] You want to come in to my little place? I promise it's far more comfortable than it looks.

[It was all very messy, especially when compared to the spartan state of Steve's room or even Rhodes' part of the room but also very Tony. He hadn't been sure what to expect when he came in (maybe lots of robots, robot parts, everywhere the eye could see, considering Tony's interest in everything robots), so the tent-structure was a surprise. The music that was blasting from the computer speakers wasn't; it was well-known on-campus that Tony Stark was rock music, all the way. Steve personally something a lot less frantic.

Steve liked it though, for the underlying sense of 'home' he could feel.]

I did too. And it take two to argue so... [Steve shrugged as he met Tony's eyes. There was just something about Tony that drove him onward even as rational thought told him that he could let some things go for the sake of campus harmony.]

Yeah...sure...I don't mind. It looks cozy. [It was with a slight sense of bewilderment that Steeve accepted. He wouldn't have minded sitting on the bed, mess and all, or even on the floor. Because of the way it was set up, the tent looked private and he and Tony weren't exactly close. But perhaps they could work on that tonight.]

[Yeah, it took two to argue, but Tony knew he could escalate issues in a matter of seconds. It was almost like a skill that was more of a curse, and it was what caused a faint ghost of a smile cross his lips as if silently apologizing again for that. Although they both did have a tendency of being stubborn in their own way, so in that they both shouldered the responsibility.]

Thanks. For this. [He raised his mug slightly, as if to show what he was talking about, but he was referring more to the gesture. Technically Steve didn't have to do it, but Tony was glad that they weren't yelling at each other anymore.

Even if Tony had invited Steve to sit in his tent, he actually hadn't expected him to accept, so when he agreed he couldn't help but blink in surprise at first. Not a bad surprise, just...surprise. But it was quickly replaced with a bright and almost delighted smile.] Alright. C'mon.

[Without wasting any time, almost as if that way Steve wouldn't change his mind, Tony ducked back into the tent and made sure to scoot all the way in to give Steve some room. Between the faint glow of his arc reactor, and the lamp he had under the tent, it was well illuminated and Tony smiled playfully as Steve settled in.] Welcome to the most exclusive spot in the Academy.

You're welcome.

[Technically the hot chocolate was Jan's ideas but he was happy to following it and even happier that Tony was receptive to it. Obviously she had grown tired of the yelling and arguing day after day. He made a mental note to follow her suggestions more closely in the future.

He returned Tony's bright smile with one of his own, albeit slightly more tentative. It was a nice smile and he thought he would like to see it more often. Perhaps tonight would be a start. He ducked under the opening Tony made for him and wiggled the rest of the way in, being careful not to spill the mug in his hand. ]

I'm honoured. I'd invite you over to my room next time, but I don't have anything like this.

Well, if you end up liking it just let me know and I'm sure I can set one up for you.

[There was a tone playfulness in his voice, but with Tony it was almost guaranteed that, if Steve wanted a tent of his own, he'd get one. Easy.

Taking a sip of the hot chocolate, he stayed quiet for a moment as he savored it, before turning back to Steve. His right metal hand gripped the mug easily, the warmth from it not affecting him in the slightest since he didn't quite sense the temperature with it, and a smile tugged at his lips.]

You hungry? I can have one of my robots go get us some snacks. I mean, I have my cheese fridge, but cheese and hot chocolate doesn't sound like a great combination.

Nah, I'm fine with my bunk bed right now. I'll be sure to let you know if I change my mind.

[This time, Steve's smile was broader and more genuine. He wouldn't be surprised to find out a similar tent all set up in his room the the next day the moment he says anything that resembles a 'yes' comes out of his mouth.

He had both hands around the mug and his hot chocolate was a third empty already. It was good stuff, made from real cocoa powder and milk, not from the instant packages of mixes he's seen around. The instant stuff was good if you're in a hurry, but he preferred his handmade version any time.]

I could eat. I also admit I'm curious about your cheese fridge but you're right, cheese doesn't really go well with hot chocolate.

Alright, deal.

[Tony even contemplated doing it anyway, but even he wouldn't just break into Steve's space like that.

Pressing a button on the side of the metal arm, where his wrist would be, made JARVIS come to life as a green button lit up.] Hey, J, can you send some snacks over? Something that will be good with hot chocolate.

[JARVIS wasn't the one that answered; instead, the whirring sound of two of the small robots he kept under his bed made it clear that they were awake before they rolled out of the room and towards the kitchen. With a chuckle and a grin, he turned back to Steve.]

You're always welcome to the cheese fridge. Not to brag, but it's pretty spectacular.

[Steve wasn't all that fond of robots (he found the sameness quality and facelessness creepy) but he couldn't deny being fascinated by the other tech Tony Stark waved around. Like the Iron Man gauntlet Tony was wearing right now. And the robots could be useful in small ways like now, bringing them snacks when they're both too comfortable to move.]

So I've heard. I'll give it a try another day. Maybe tomorrow, after my afternoon track training. I'll bring some snacks too, to make it fair. What do you like?

[He's seen Tony drink a lot of coffee but that wasn't a snack. And not a healthy one in high doses.]

That works for me. I'll probably be in the lab, but just let me know when you're headed over and I can meet you here.

[The question of what he liked made him pause as he tried to think, but only briefly.] You know, I'm actually not very picky about snacks now. I've... I don't know. Learned not to be too picky, I guess.

[Because, being in the hospital for an extended period of time like he had been a few years ago, after the incidents that lead to the arc reactor and his new arm, had essentially made him open to eat anything.]

So how about you surprise me? What do you like to snack on? I mean, you probably burn calories like crazy with all the training you do, right?

Sure, no problem.

[Steve added a note in his mental calendar of things to do tomorrow; "Remember to call Tony for snacks after running marathon". Right after: "Go shopping for said snacks."]

I'll bring a variety then; if you don't like something I'll eat it.

[He's never been a picky eater either, but it was surprising that Tony wasn't. Tony had looked like the type to have very specific preferences.]

Granola bars are great. I also like dried fruit chips and different kinds of nuts. Peanut butter sandwiches. Eggs. But yes, I always get really hungry after training.

Sounds good.

[As Steve lists the snacks that he likes to eat, Tony can't help but grin.] Of course you like all the healthy stuff. I'd say I'm surprised, but...

[He's teasing, the glint in his eyes says as much, and as he takes a sip of his hot chocolate he makes his own mental note to add all those things to his refrigerator. Before he can say more, the little robots' whirring come inside the room before a packet of cookies, a bowl of popcorn, and a bowl of fruit. Tony helps to get it all set up in the middle of the tent so it's within easy access, and he smiles at Steve.]

You know, I've never actually been camping. But, if it's anything like this... I kinda like it.

[Steve just shrugs; his muscles don't maintain themselves and if he was always feeding himself junk food not even the serum will be able to keep his muscles from becoming flabby.]

I do enjoy the occasional hot chocolate with marshmallows [Here he holds up his cup as an example, then lowers his voice as if conferring a great secret,] Rocky Road Ice Cream.

[Steve helps himself to some popcorn, return Tony's smile with one of his own, one that turns into a look of surprise.]

Never? It's a lot of fun. We can go together sometime soon?

[Tony leans in to look at Steve's mug, as if pretending to check and see if there are really marshmallows in his hot chocolate, but it's all done playfully. He even grins when he shares his secret, and he raises an eyebrow.] You've got great taste. I'm a mint chocolate chip kind of guy, but Rocky Road? Definitely one of my favorites.

[This is nice, he thinks. Sitting here, just relaxing with Steve. Their argument is long forgotten now, and he's so eager to do this again that he doesn't even think about how much he'd probably hate sleeping outside. He's smiling too brightly for anyone to think he's faking excitement over camping.]

Nope, never. Crazy, right? Rhodey invited me a few times when we were younger, but it just never worked out. [Rather, Howard never let him.] But yeah, I'd really like that. And we'll need to make s'mores. I've had them after they're made over a stove, but around a fire sounds better.

[Steve allows the check with an raised eyebrow; there were definitely marshmallows in there, he counted, 5 each. He mentally add mint chocolate chip and rocky road ice creams to tomorrow's snack shopping list.]

We could invite the others as well? Sitting around a campfire with other people, s'mores cooking in the campfire, telling stories and singing songs...there's nothing quite like it in the word.

[He can't remember the last time he went camping for fun...must be before he joined up with the Academy. But it was a tradition he'd like to start up again with Tony.]

Yeah! Every team needs team building stuff, right? So, why not.

[Although, if he's completely honest with himself, some part of him is a little disappointed that it won't be just him and Steve hanging out over a weekend. But still, it'd be nice, and he had a feeling Rhodey would like it, too. Jan... Well, he wasn't so sure, but he hoped his other best friend would be cool with going, too.

After another sip of his hot chocolate, he leans back against one of the pillows. Technically his elbow of his metal arm wouldn't get tired if he were to just lean on it the whole time, but his shoulder would from the pressure and he really didn't want that.

He smiles at Steve.] What's your favorite part of camping?

If everyone enjoys themselves, I'd count it as a success.

[For once Steve wasn't actually thinking of team-building exercises, just friends enjoying each other's company away from the campus. It had been a spur-of-the-moment thought, thinking that since Tony had never been camping, then Tony should get he full experience at least once.

Having finished his hot chocolate, he put the cup aside and reached for the popcorn instead, throwing a small handful into his mouth. He thought as he chewed, then answered easily.]

Being able lie back and see the stars. With all the lights and the buildings in the city, it's hard to see any even on the clearest nights.

I'm sure they will.

[He was already looking forward to it and looking up later everything that they might need for the trip. If Rhodey was around he'd probably wonder if Tony was delirious and that's why he was looking forward to camping, since it wasn't a very Stark thing to do, but whatever. Tony didn't care, he was just legitimately excited.]

Mm, I can see why you'd like it. I'm so used to the city that I never really realized how much we miss out with all the lights, but the first time I went flying at night away from here... I love it.

[A small smile crossed his lips, and once he finished his own drink, he sets the mug down.] If you ever want to get away and just go see the stars, let me know. We can go flying, I'm sure the boots and my arm can handle our combined weight.

We can hope it doesn't rain on us.

[He doesn't mind being wet but Steve knows most people would, even with good waterproof camping gear. Being rained on during their first camping trip certainly wouldn't make it easy to persuade people to try it a second time. But it was nice to see Tony's visible enthusiasm for the idea, making Steve smile.]

I'll definitely have to take you up on that. It must be incredible, being able to fly.

[He's jumped off buildings and parachuted from planes but flying under his own power...that's a different thing altogether. And Tony had done it all by himself.]

Ideally, yeah hopefully it won't rain.

[He says it with a chuckle and grins. Not that it'd send Tony scurrying to some dry place, but it sure as hell would tempt him. And really, he would prefer his first camping experience to not be dampened by the rain.

At the prospect of flying, Tony's smile grows even more.]

It's incredible. I've never known anything like it before. I mean, I did sky diving once and that was cool but it ended too quickly. So seriously, whenever you'd like, I'll take you flying. There's a spot upstate away from the city that is incredible for star gazing.

Usually when I jump off of planes, it's not to enjoy the sights.

[And occasionally when he jumped off planes, it was without a parachute, but Steve's not going to mention that. Every time he mentioned it he seemed to get disbelieving and/or horrified looks and comments about survival instincts.

He was actually getting along with Tony now for once, so minor details like that he will keep to himself. Besides, Tony's enthusiasm over flying was cute.]

That sounds wonderful. How about after our camping trip? We can pack a snack, make an outing of it.

Have you ever thought of doing it? Just jumping out of a plane for the hell of it, not for a mission?

[Skydiving is what Tony has in mind. It's not that he doesn't admire Steve's dedication to jumping off of planes, but sometimes he does worry about the guy and the fact that he throws himself into his work all the time. Literally.

Sitting up, his smile stays on his face and he reaches over for some popcorn.]

Yeah, totally. That's fine. I go flying every night, so whenever you're ready is fine with me.

Not especially. That's...work and I try not to think too much about work when I'm relaxing.

[He fails a lot at the 'not thinking about work' part but the point was he's trying. Good intentions counts for something, right? Talking with Tony about extra-curricular activities had been a nice relaxing distraction.

Steve has been steadily working his way through the popcorn while they talked; Tony will find that it's almost empty now.]

Anything else you like to do, besides flying?

Honey, where are all the pillows?

avac!Steve it is~

Yay! Sorry for the novel, I have a lot of Steve/Tony emotions after watching CW :x

\o/ I came out of the movie wanting to lock them up in a closet together

Same here! it would have resolved everything lbr

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