[All the time, really. Which he's still a little unused to. It's not like his close circle are mean to him in a way that's detrimental. But his past relationships have been... very few and also usually fraught with drama and hurt and-
Hey isn't that why they're here? People taking advantage of Tony and causing problems and abusing his trust and-
See. It's nice to not have to worry about that with Steve. Now he only worries about him starting PR fires and breaking his hands over things like that. And possibly other people's faces. Who knows.
And as he starts on Steve's other hand, unwinding the wrapping, he ducks his head a little, one of those all too telltale smiles blossoming across his face. Steve's being cute. And sappy. And it makes him feel all types of ways.]
Yeah. Well.
[Shedding his hand of the wrap, he brings it up to his lips to press a kiss to the back and then aims that smile up Steve's way.]
I don't like it when my best guy tries to pick fights. I don't have a lot of honor to defend in public. There are things that are much better suited to how you should spend your time.
[ He carries it differently, sure- but Tony pours more of himself into making the world better, brighter, safer than anyone else Steve knows. The fact that a lot of his work that is painfully expensive rockets right back around to support charitable ventures for the little guy? Hooks in deep somewhere.
Christ, what a world they'd be in now if the fat cats in Steve's day gave even half as much as a damn as Tony does now. ]
There's a reason I went to the gym first. Last time I went on twitter half cocked I made all kindsa trouble for you. [ He tugs up their laced fingers and returns the kiss, Brooklyn thick on his tongue and soft adoration in his eyes. ] Figured I'd wear myself out a little so I could think straight, THEN talk to our PR person about- something. Anything.
[ Maybe something deeply specific and true that'll stir the news up enough that they leave Tony alone and argue about other pointless bullshit. ]
Pretty sure I could get Fox News to implode if I did an interview about doing pinups for queer bars back in the day.
[He gives Steve an easy shrug, turning his hand around to cup Steve's face in his palm.] At least your trouble is relatively easy to clean up. And still somehow on brand for you. For people paying attention, anyway.
[The old guard sure do love to bitch about how good ol boy Steve Rogers isn't being such a good ol boy after all. Tony enjoys it, anyway. Kinda likes when Steve mouths off to them. But. Not when it's about him. Because he doesn't see himself as worth all that fuss. Steve has better things to do with his time.]
Oh you know they'd froth at the mouth over it for a good week. Talk about how you're becoming the perfect picture of America's current corruption.
[Sliding his hand up, hooking at the back of Steve's neck, he pulls him closer down so he can kiss him again briefly.]
You don't have to, though. Even though I know telling you no makes you wanna do it more. Because that's my play.
[ Despite his determination to hold onto some of this righteous anger- it's hard when Tony's leaning in and taking care of him like this. Trying to be gentle and soft when it's not something that's easy for either of them to do, even if they both crave tenderness and softness with everything in their bruised hearts. Lips crooked in a half grin he lets Tony reel himself in, arms looping around Tony's waist to hold him close.
Tuck him in against his chest like if he pulls him in hard enough, huddles around him, the rest of the world and the media will fuck right off and let them be for a little while. ]
I want to. You don't have to fight all your battles alone anymore. If this was happening to me, wouldn't you be all over it?
[It's funny, probably, that that's not the first time he's been told this. And maybe at some point it should stick. It's true. He's definitely not alone anymore, by any stretch of the imagination. But it might have so much less to do with the actual company that he trusts and just the fact that they don't need to be put through anything on his behalf.
Definitely that.
But he finds himself grinning, anyway.]
Well that's because I'm the reckless one. Always charging in head first without a plan. You're the one that's always so even-keeled and always delivers a measured response.
[His tone is absolutely teasing. The picture that's been painted of and onto Steve not always the honest and correct one, for how much he knows Steve dislikes it when people have that perfect image of him.
He softens a little.]
Yes. You got me. [As if this is such a large concession to make.] I'd be on every news network making it all about me to take the heat off you. Standard play. But. You're worth that. I can take it anyway. From both sides.
[He'd say or do something ridiculous to shift the narrative right onto him. Definitely one of his old standards. Because yes, he can handle it. And it's what people expect of him. He doesn't really find worth in Steve getting into trouble because of him.]
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With Steve (noshavenomad)
So much better. You're the best sometimes.
[All the time, really. Which he's still a little unused to. It's not like his close circle are mean to him in a way that's detrimental. But his past relationships have been... very few and also usually fraught with drama and hurt and-
Hey isn't that why they're here? People taking advantage of Tony and causing problems and abusing his trust and-
See. It's nice to not have to worry about that with Steve. Now he only worries about him starting PR fires and breaking his hands over things like that. And possibly other people's faces. Who knows.
And as he starts on Steve's other hand, unwinding the wrapping, he ducks his head a little, one of those all too telltale smiles blossoming across his face. Steve's being cute. And sappy. And it makes him feel all types of ways.]
Yeah. Well.
[Shedding his hand of the wrap, he brings it up to his lips to press a kiss to the back and then aims that smile up Steve's way.]
I don't like it when my best guy tries to pick fights. I don't have a lot of honor to defend in public. There are things that are much better suited to how you should spend your time.
no subject
[ He carries it differently, sure- but Tony pours more of himself into making the world better, brighter, safer than anyone else Steve knows. The fact that a lot of his work that is painfully expensive rockets right back around to support charitable ventures for the little guy? Hooks in deep somewhere.
Christ, what a world they'd be in now if the fat cats in Steve's day gave even half as much as a damn as Tony does now. ]
There's a reason I went to the gym first. Last time I went on twitter half cocked I made all kindsa trouble for you. [ He tugs up their laced fingers and returns the kiss, Brooklyn thick on his tongue and soft adoration in his eyes. ] Figured I'd wear myself out a little so I could think straight, THEN talk to our PR person about- something. Anything.
[ Maybe something deeply specific and true that'll stir the news up enough that they leave Tony alone and argue about other pointless bullshit. ]
Pretty sure I could get Fox News to implode if I did an interview about doing pinups for queer bars back in the day.
no subject
[The old guard sure do love to bitch about how good ol boy Steve Rogers isn't being such a good ol boy after all. Tony enjoys it, anyway. Kinda likes when Steve mouths off to them. But. Not when it's about him. Because he doesn't see himself as worth all that fuss. Steve has better things to do with his time.]
Oh you know they'd froth at the mouth over it for a good week. Talk about how you're becoming the perfect picture of America's current corruption.
[Sliding his hand up, hooking at the back of Steve's neck, he pulls him closer down so he can kiss him again briefly.]
You don't have to, though. Even though I know telling you no makes you wanna do it more. Because that's my play.
no subject
Tuck him in against his chest like if he pulls him in hard enough, huddles around him, the rest of the world and the media will fuck right off and let them be for a little while. ]
I want to. You don't have to fight all your battles alone anymore. If this was happening to me, wouldn't you be all over it?
no subject
Definitely that.
But he finds himself grinning, anyway.]
Well that's because I'm the reckless one. Always charging in head first without a plan. You're the one that's always so even-keeled and always delivers a measured response.
[His tone is absolutely teasing. The picture that's been painted of and onto Steve not always the honest and correct one, for how much he knows Steve dislikes it when people have that perfect image of him.
He softens a little.]
Yes. You got me. [As if this is such a large concession to make.] I'd be on every news network making it all about me to take the heat off you. Standard play. But. You're worth that. I can take it anyway. From both sides.
[He'd say or do something ridiculous to shift the narrative right onto him. Definitely one of his old standards. Because yes, he can handle it. And it's what people expect of him. He doesn't really find worth in Steve getting into trouble because of him.]