[ It's the little things, he thinks. The massage, the gentle words. Tony had warned he'd be a nightmare but overall, he's not so bad. Definitely not worse than he normally is, at the moment.
And if he thinks that Steve would shy away from a little heaving and cleaning up after Tony hawks up whatever's left in his stomach, then, he's got another think coming. Steve had spent most of his childhood sick and in and out of the hospital. Those kinds of things don't even register to him.
Regardless, even if it were a chore, it's all right. He's just happy to spend time together. They've lost so much of it. ]
Well, he loves me too. In the best ways. Protects me, cares for me. Levels with me when I need it. Supports me.
He's building me a house, too. For us to grow old in.
[ He smiles down at Tony, and then says: ]
I love you.
[ He can't even pretend to say no to Tony while pretending he's different than his fiance. ]
[He wants to stay here. Curl up into a ball in Steve's lap and just let a few more hours pass by until he feels settled. Just enough to get up and reorient himself. So much time is being wasted right now. Steve's because he came running, his because he has work to do.]
I love you. And I wanna stay here. But you're so warm.
[Which is usually not a problem. He loves that about Steve, especially if it's cold and they're wrapped up in each other. But it feels like an overage. Damp from sweat still and achy with chills. Steve's usually warmth is good and it's bad. Even so, he still doesn't move. His eyes close for a moment.]
Better for you, anyway. Wouldn't want you to get stuck here while I doze off on you.
[ He asks FRIDAY for his temperature again, and upon hearing the answer, he gently extricates himself to move away and go wet a towel to cool his temperature again. ]
You know, Tony. It'll be just as hot of a date if we order in tomorrow, eat it up here.
[ Because he'll be thinking maybe it's best he take it easy for a few days, and Steve knows that Tony absolutely will not, he'll march his ass back into the lab. He wouldn't be surprised if he did that, snuck away while Steve's sleeping, doing it because he feels better only to make the fever worse. ]
What do you say? I wouldn't need to get out of my pajamas.
[There Tony is. Not five seconds ago saying he couldn't stay like that- but he would've, anyway. For a while. So when Steve just decides to get up, it's probably about the rudest thing Tony can imagine. Which prompts the noise that leaves him. Bratty and in a bad mood. He then hangs his arm over his eyes as he shuts them tight and breathes out a long, slow push of air.]
Hot takeout date, huh.
[He lets his arm down, looking up at Steve with that slightly foggy gaze.]
You deserve better than the best takeout the city has to offer. But. I don't think at this point I could get you to go. Too stubborn. [He says this, like he's not also the very same way. And also like it doesn't benefit him in this instance, that it's not nice, that Steve came rushing to help him out. Even if he thinks he would've been fine. He's used to operating on his own. Figuring his stuff out. Fixing himself.
But he also did ask Steve to marry him. Which means he needs to expand that view a bit and continue to let Steve in. He reaches out, hand smoothing up the length of Steve's leg.] I wouldn't hold it against you, though. If you duck out. Promise it's not something I'll bring up every fight for the rest of our lives.
[ Rude, even though it was definitely implied for him to get up. But Steve's a good sport and Tony did issue many caveats that he's going to be such a bratty baby over this whole thing.
He comes back with damp, slightly cold towels, and immediately presses them gently against Tony's forehead, brushing away any protests if they should come. ]
I am too stubborn, and Tony, don't kid yourself if you don't think your penthouse has the best views in the city.
[ So this takeout date is bougier and more private than pretty much any other situation that anyone could hope for, even if all they end up doing is getting Chinese takeout and eating it directly out of the carton.
But while he's considering it, here Tony goes again, making himself so self-deprecating. ]
Not gonna duck out. Not even gonna hand off the baton to someone else to do all this. Tony, it's not a chore to take care of you. It's a privilege, for me.
[He lets his arms fall and hang limp while Steve's caring for him. That cold cloth against his overly warm forehead draws a little exhale of relief from him. And sure Steve has a point. They have the best view and best security and neither of them like going to overly fancy places with teeny tiny portions anyway. A "date" here is better than almost anywhere else.
But he still likes to think he should honor promises to take Steve out instead of making him stay in and tend to him.
He's Steve, though. So very Steve, Tony thinks as he looks at him.]
You're such a... you. [It's the same thought. And absolutely makes sense. There's no one else like Steve. So Steve is very Steve.] Don't know what I did to make you love me this way, but I hope I never stop. [As far as he's concerned he's done what anyone else would do and is still trying to find ways to do more. Anyone would covet, protect, obsess over, and love Steve deeply. He's Steve. And he's lucky he gets to have him. So even if Tony's grousing over everything and thinks Steve should go do something better with his time...
He's also glad he doesn't. Selfish though that is.] Can't even return the favor, though. We're uneven. Don't think you'll be catching a stomach bug or the flu any time soon.
[ Steve feels his relief and keeps trying to cool down the rest of him, though he'll probably have to get up at some point to fill a vessel with some cold water in order to continue. ]
I'm such a me?
[ He knows it's the fever, but he repeats it like he's not entirely sure what Tony's saying until he elaborates, and then, he can't help but smile brightly, and look down as he turns a shade of pink. But soon he's meeting Tony's eyes again, and pressing a brief kiss to his temple. ]
All you had to do was love me the way you love me, Tony. 'Cause that's worth more to me than anything else. Don't worry about all the rest, those are details.
[ He thinks about how they're going to walk down the aisle in a few months, and how he's going to probably write down all his vows but then get up there and just speak from the cuff. How he's going to cry when he hears what Tony has to say, how he'll have been holding back tears from ever since he sees Tony in his suit. ]
Once you're asleep, by the way, I'm working on the seating arrangement. Those details I want you to worry about. Do you want a sweetheart table?
[A little faraway sounding admission that both of them know all too well by now. He gets caught up in the big picture and the details that bring it to life. All of it. Sometimes it makes him crazy and he has no doubts that sometimes he must drive Steve crazy, too.
But he must still be doing something right.]
What's a sweetheart table? You gonna make me sit by myself?
[As his preferred pet name from Steve would suggest. Is he kidding about not understanding? Is he delirious? The grin he's wearing could go either way. He reaches back, patting the spot on the couch behind his head.]
Will you- can I put my head back in your lap- I promise I won't complain this time. And we can talk about seating.
[ He pads off to go do that, refill his bowl of water and come back to take a seat and place Tony's head back in his lap, taking up his notebook and pencil because he, for some reason, won't use a Starkpad. ]
A sweetheart table's one where just the newlyweds sit. Head table's if we wanted to put the wedding party or the family, but. I think maybe they'll be at regular tables.
Makes it easier for people to come up to us and give congratulations. And for us to thank them for coming.
[Once Steve's back and he's settled in, he turns on his side, snuggling his head down a little more into Steve's lap, one arm under his head. Steve is warm, like always, but it's comfortable now. He makes a very valiant effort to listen, too.]
Mmn. A showoff table. I can get behind that. Because that's all I'll wanna do.
[Steve's wearing his engagement ring now and that's good. For now. But soon Steve will be his husband. And Tony will very much brag about that as often as possible. While also delivering his honest feelings that he may as well be the luckiest man in the galaxy that Steve Rogers loves him. Out of everyone. It's pretty crazy.]
Also gives people a chance to be away from us. Since they complain on a regular day about the level of sap.
[On their wedding day? Forget it. Tony probably won't even register there's other people in the room unless they're literally a few inches away from him. He'll have those Steve's the love of my life eyes all night.]
It'll be our wedding day. I think it'll be weird if we aren't entirely enamored with each other.
[ He brushes Tony's hair back and gives his nose a little tap. The closer they draw to their wedding day, the more he can't wait. But then they're also one step closer to it being over, too. That brings him a little bit of sadness, but also, there's the honeymoon, and there's years of marriage ahead of them. ]
Can't believe we've almost got everything done. Well. Not almost, I think the seating chart's going to be the worst.
[ Unsurprisingly, there will be a lot of people present at the event, and a lot of high security to keep out people like Hammer. ]
It's not too late for you to go to Macy's and scan everything you want onto a register.
[ Tony is probably not expecting gifts, and they'll probably receive some lavishly wealthy but ultimately meaningless trinkets from his business partners. They might get sentimental gifts from the other Avengers, and maybe Happy and Pepper. But he's really not expecting to even need a gift table. ]
[Just the regulars, Tony thinks. And only to bust their chops. Only because it's funny. They'll definitely have all the rights to tell everyone else it's their day and they can be as schmoopy and cheesy as they please. He doesn't intend to hold back for anyone.]
Is seating that hard? [He has no concept. Nor any idea why.] Ask FRIDAY to randomize all the tables. That'll keep it fresh.
[He supposes they could also just let people sit wherever they wanted but that's not really how it's done, is it? He's never planned a wedding before and while he is so excited for the day and what it means, all the details of which escape him. A little. He's tried to be very active in participating, since it's the two of them getting married, not just Steve to him. But still... the concept of people being upset where they've been told to sit feels silly.
Maybe it's the fever. Couldn't they just get up and go wherever they wanted anyway? What's stopping them?
Thankfully his wandering thoughts are cut short first by his confusion- Macy's- gift registries. For the two people who need the least. He assumes gift shopping for them might actually be stressful. But he knows what he wants. And, in fact, aims a smile right up Steve's way.]
I already have exactly what I want. One-of-a-kind. Don't think Macy's carries it.
Don't know. We could be at the parade this year. Maybe as floats.
[ But he's joking. He knows what Tony means and it's true, Steve's never been one for material goods and he certainly isn't now that he's marrying a rich man. All his needs are met, and then some. ]
And we can't just randomize seating. We need to make sure people who sit together know at least one other person and like them, and aren't seated directly next to someone they don't like.
[ Basic wedding etiquette. Like, don't invite your best friend who killed the groom's parents while brainwashed. That sort of thing. ]
It won't matter once they get up to dance, but the dinner's a big part of it.
[He has no idea what the Thanksgiving parade will look like but Steve has a point. Iron Man and Captain America probably are in it. Maybe the other Avengers, too. He would hope. So no one feels left out. Though he thinks they maybe don't care about that all too much. Same as him.
The continued talk about seating has his thoughts drifting, though. He's trying. He's really trying. Never in his life did he imagine he'd be planning a wedding with anyone. With Steve everything has come so easy- despite the one thing- so this should be easy too, shouldn't it?
And yet...]
Okay. So if we invite Fury, if he's not still pretending to be dead, he gets a small table all the way to the back by his lonesome. Maybe Hill will join him. Other than that do we know people who don't get along with each other?
[He thinks, if this weren't his wedding, he wouldn't sit Wanda with him- not that they dislike each other but that the conversation wouldn't flow as easily as say if he was sitting with Rhodey and she was sitting with Vision. And then it makes a little more sense.]
I should know the answer to this- but I'm sick so you'll forgive me- how big are the tables? [See. He's trying. Really, he is.] Are we assuming most will bring plus-ones?
We've got the RSVP list with all the plus-ones but I'm thinking we'll get a few last minute drops or a few last-minute additions if people's babysitters cancel or they just get infatuated with the person they've only been dating since after we sent out invites.
Which - I knew you were the one for me right away, but I still wouldn't have amended a wedding invite last minute if I'd had one at the time.
[ Some people however, just can't help themselves. But in that case, he'd probably just give the list to FRIDAY to sort out in the most efficient way. Plus, there's always a chance with such a big crowd that a few of them will get into some sort of personal conflict right before the wedding.
But, yes. Seat Wanda next to Vision, Rhodey next to Tony. ]
We'll leave spaces for Bruce and Thor if they decide to come around. If not, Natasha's still seated next to Clint. And Jane is Selvig's plus-one so they'll be seated together.
[ See all these considerations Steve has to make? It's a good thing Tony's got a buttload of cash and they can just throw money around to rearrange tables last minute and order more food. ]
But each of the tables seat six. Unless we get a family table, or a sweetheart table.
Really? [He can't seem to help asking this with a little bit of a snort.] I'd have been offended if you were going to a wedding and you didn't bring me. [Not that Tony would have wanted to go to an event like that, really, unless it was for someone they both knew. But then he would've been invited too. But it's more that if they're dating, shouldn't they go? Weddings are also great venues for amorous evenings. So...
Plus-ones. Seems like he doesn't mind so much.
He quiets, though, expression of slight mirth drifting from his lips. Bruce and Thor. The pair they still don't have a good track on. Thor's off investigating, still, as far as Tony remembers. But Bruce? Gone. Just gone. He puts out feelers for him. It used to be every day. Then a few times a week. Then a couple weeks a month. And now... now he has nets and tracking that he checks in on. That still have no hits. Bruce can survive anything, because of the big guy. But why hasn't he come home?
Sure during the Accords it made sense to keep the hell away but... even now? There are a lot of things that bug Tony, that make him sad, but that has consistently been on the top of his very lengthy list.
He just nods, readjusting his arm over his eyes, and takes a big, deep breath, letting it out slow.]
I think I'm in for a sweetheart table. That way we can keep to ourselves and not bother any immediates in our area. Let people enjoy the evening. There's probably not gonna be a lot of sitting, anyway. Venue's too good to stay still. [Sure they'll all have to sit and eat but. Why rent out a museum if your guests can't wander?]
Well, Tony, obviously you'd be my plus-one now, but usually at weddings they're expensive for the couple and it's a little bit rude to bring a guest last-minute.
[ Even though he knows that ostensibly, Tony would just have come with him and probably offered to pay for more than his fair share of messing up the arrangements. But that wasn't the point. The point was that Steve is trying to determine which of the normal wedding things he has to worry about and which he doesn't because Tony can just throw more money at someone to handle it.
And how much he wants to deal with that as an option in the first place.
He misses Bruce and Thor too, but he doesn't notice that Tony's more distressed about it considering that he's generally just distressed from the fever. They should maybe talk about it later, but Steve truly thinks it's a good idea to just leave seats open for them in case they decide to drop by New York City on that one day.
And if not, well. They'll see each other again, and they'll celebrate it at that time. ]
Yes, seating's just for dinner, then afterwards we'll have everyone look around at the museum and clear out the tables for the dance floor.
[ He checks Tony's temperature again with the back of his hand. ]
Mmn. Can't wait to have our first dance. Put all those skills I taught you to good use.
[It's a nice, gentle thought. The two of them swaying with each other in a dimly lit, romantic room to soft music. The first of many things they'll do as husbands. He really never bought into any of this stuff before Steve. But now Steve makes everything worth dreaming on.
Even weddings and first dances. Imagine that.]
And then ditch everyone and get lost together.
[Because sure. It's a party celebrating them, but... Can't Tony want Steve all to himself on their wedding night? And not just the one where they retire to a hotel room to have sex?
FRIDAY takes a couple of seconds to answer him, but when she does:] It's dropped to 100.3, Captain. Going lower. I think he's on the mend. I'd say I wouldn't want to jinx it, if I knew he wouldn't complain.
[Tony breathes out a noise.] Unbelievable. Sick and still getting sassed. No sympathy.
[ But he smiles because he's happy that Tony seems to be doing better and that his fever seems to be subsiding. He's not happy that he knows this means Tony's going to be up way too early to make up for all the work he'd missed. ]
Thanks, FRIDAY.
And here, you said you'd be a nightmare.
[ He gently rakes a finger or two through Tony's beard. ]
And that you'd be wasting my time. But we're just doing what we'd be doing anyway, talking about the wedding. If we hadn't already picked a date and booked everything, I'd say we should just go to the courthouse tomorrow.
[Which explains everything about the way she is. Everyone in Tony's immediate sphere gives him sass. Tells him like it is. That's no accident.
He lets his arm slip back behind his head instead of covering his eyes, glancing up at Steve with a still slightly bleary gaze. A snort escapes him.]
We could. At this point I think people would be mad though. [Which isn't a pleasing thought, that any of this is performative for anyone else's enjoyment. Shared, sure. But not for individual entertainment.
Lifting a hand up he gently shifts it up along Steve's chest, holding firm above his heart.]
Everyone's expecting the wedding of a century and they'll get it, but I don't want them to forget the reason we're having it. [Which is not even just that Steve and Tony are getting married and are sharing that with their friends and family. But Tony wants Steve to have everything he's ever dreamed of. And certainly he wasn't dreaming of a giant, gorgeous wedding at the Met, but Tony's also good at building and filling in. Always wanting to give Steve everything he's ever wanted and more.
But... he'd be lying if he said he's not strangely excited to get married. In a way he just hadn't been before. He wants to be Steve's husband. It's definitely a marked shift in his entire worldview. But if anyone can do to that to someone, it's definitely Steve Rogers.]
They won't. How could they? I don't think anyone can just show up for the party and forget who we are.
[ And who they're celebrating. Tony takes up a whole room by himself, and Steve is no slouch in that department. Even when Tony's throwing a regular party, it's always very much a Tony party. ]
We'll try to make it as good as possible, Tony, but it's a wedding. Something always goes wrong.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter, as long as I get to marry you.
[ He does want to celebrate all that day, but he is also looking forward to the night when it'll be just them, and their joined hands with matching rings, doing all their firsts once more as a married couple this time. Making love, taking a shower, going to bed, making breakfast: it's the first day of the rest of their lives. It's monumental.
And, of course, there's another possibility that they're so tired from festivities they just go upstairs and go to sleep still in their tuxes. That'd be fine too. He's just looking forward to all of it. ]
Are you nervous at all?
[ He's so excited that he understands now why people might be getting cold feet so close to the wedding - they might misread this feeling, these butterflies, to themselves. But Steve knows he's never been more ready for anything. He's not a betting man, but he'd put all his money on this. ]
Preparing for the worst, huh? That's not like you.
[He continues his joking by lifting his hand further, resting the back of it against Steve's forehead.]
Did you catch something after all?
[Though he does turn his hand over, sliding down to cup Steve's cheek in his palm, even at the slightly awkward angle, head still in his lap. He smiles up at him and asks him a question he already knows the answer to.]
Are you nervous? Should I be worried about being left at the altar?
Tony, I wanna run, not walk, down that altar with you.
[ He gently runs his fingers into Tony's hair. ]
You're the one person I want to spend the rest of my life with. The only way I'd leave you at that altar is if we've both gotta suit up. And even then, I'm thinking we just invite them to the wedding and call for a ceasefire for a day.
And just delay the honeymoon.
[ Not his ideal way to spend their wedding night, but sometimes work just has to be done. And this is just an unlikely scenario he's thought out just in case. ]
You need to walk otherwise I won't be able to keep up. And the pictures will be blurry.
[As he peers up at Steve, his smile is softly sunny and maybe just a little foggy and dazed still. Doesn't matter if he's sick, though. Steve's always a gorgeous vision. Especially when he's going on about how excited he is for the wedding. How much he just seems to want to be married to Tony. Tony who is still, and probably will forever be, processing the fact that he gets to have this. Have Steve.
It's pretty incredible.]
We'll just put out a mass communication. All world issues are to be put on hold for the Stark-Rogers wedding. Please and thank you. I'm sure everyone will cooperate for one night.
[ He laughs a little at Tony's joke. Okay, okay, he'll walk. ]
I'm sure they will. But you'll bring FRIDAY, just in case. And I'll have the shield.
[ He's sure that Tony's hair has been brushed enough for one night, but he just can't seem to stop himself from continuing to do so, softly raking his fingers through, marveling at how beautiful he is, sick or not. And that's not even on the list of things that matter to Steve about him. ]
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And if he thinks that Steve would shy away from a little heaving and cleaning up after Tony hawks up whatever's left in his stomach, then, he's got another think coming. Steve had spent most of his childhood sick and in and out of the hospital. Those kinds of things don't even register to him.
Regardless, even if it were a chore, it's all right. He's just happy to spend time together. They've lost so much of it. ]
Well, he loves me too. In the best ways. Protects me, cares for me. Levels with me when I need it. Supports me.
He's building me a house, too. For us to grow old in.
[ He smiles down at Tony, and then says: ]
I love you.
[ He can't even pretend to say no to Tony while pretending he's different than his fiance. ]
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[He wants to stay here. Curl up into a ball in Steve's lap and just let a few more hours pass by until he feels settled. Just enough to get up and reorient himself. So much time is being wasted right now. Steve's because he came running, his because he has work to do.]
I love you. And I wanna stay here. But you're so warm.
[Which is usually not a problem. He loves that about Steve, especially if it's cold and they're wrapped up in each other. But it feels like an overage. Damp from sweat still and achy with chills. Steve's usually warmth is good and it's bad. Even so, he still doesn't move. His eyes close for a moment.]
Better for you, anyway. Wouldn't want you to get stuck here while I doze off on you.
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[ He asks FRIDAY for his temperature again, and upon hearing the answer, he gently extricates himself to move away and go wet a towel to cool his temperature again. ]
You know, Tony. It'll be just as hot of a date if we order in tomorrow, eat it up here.
[ Because he'll be thinking maybe it's best he take it easy for a few days, and Steve knows that Tony absolutely will not, he'll march his ass back into the lab. He wouldn't be surprised if he did that, snuck away while Steve's sleeping, doing it because he feels better only to make the fever worse. ]
What do you say? I wouldn't need to get out of my pajamas.
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Hot takeout date, huh.
[He lets his arm down, looking up at Steve with that slightly foggy gaze.]
You deserve better than the best takeout the city has to offer. But. I don't think at this point I could get you to go. Too stubborn. [He says this, like he's not also the very same way. And also like it doesn't benefit him in this instance, that it's not nice, that Steve came rushing to help him out. Even if he thinks he would've been fine. He's used to operating on his own. Figuring his stuff out. Fixing himself.
But he also did ask Steve to marry him. Which means he needs to expand that view a bit and continue to let Steve in. He reaches out, hand smoothing up the length of Steve's leg.] I wouldn't hold it against you, though. If you duck out. Promise it's not something I'll bring up every fight for the rest of our lives.
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He comes back with damp, slightly cold towels, and immediately presses them gently against Tony's forehead, brushing away any protests if they should come. ]
I am too stubborn, and Tony, don't kid yourself if you don't think your penthouse has the best views in the city.
[ So this takeout date is bougier and more private than pretty much any other situation that anyone could hope for, even if all they end up doing is getting Chinese takeout and eating it directly out of the carton.
But while he's considering it, here Tony goes again, making himself so self-deprecating. ]
Not gonna duck out. Not even gonna hand off the baton to someone else to do all this. Tony, it's not a chore to take care of you. It's a privilege, for me.
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But he still likes to think he should honor promises to take Steve out instead of making him stay in and tend to him.
He's Steve, though. So very Steve, Tony thinks as he looks at him.]
You're such a... you. [It's the same thought. And absolutely makes sense. There's no one else like Steve. So Steve is very Steve.] Don't know what I did to make you love me this way, but I hope I never stop. [As far as he's concerned he's done what anyone else would do and is still trying to find ways to do more. Anyone would covet, protect, obsess over, and love Steve deeply. He's Steve. And he's lucky he gets to have him. So even if Tony's grousing over everything and thinks Steve should go do something better with his time...
He's also glad he doesn't. Selfish though that is.] Can't even return the favor, though. We're uneven. Don't think you'll be catching a stomach bug or the flu any time soon.
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I'm such a me?
[ He knows it's the fever, but he repeats it like he's not entirely sure what Tony's saying until he elaborates, and then, he can't help but smile brightly, and look down as he turns a shade of pink. But soon he's meeting Tony's eyes again, and pressing a brief kiss to his temple. ]
All you had to do was love me the way you love me, Tony. 'Cause that's worth more to me than anything else. Don't worry about all the rest, those are details.
[ He thinks about how they're going to walk down the aisle in a few months, and how he's going to probably write down all his vows but then get up there and just speak from the cuff. How he's going to cry when he hears what Tony has to say, how he'll have been holding back tears from ever since he sees Tony in his suit. ]
Once you're asleep, by the way, I'm working on the seating arrangement. Those details I want you to worry about. Do you want a sweetheart table?
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[A little faraway sounding admission that both of them know all too well by now. He gets caught up in the big picture and the details that bring it to life. All of it. Sometimes it makes him crazy and he has no doubts that sometimes he must drive Steve crazy, too.
But he must still be doing something right.]
What's a sweetheart table? You gonna make me sit by myself?
[As his preferred pet name from Steve would suggest. Is he kidding about not understanding? Is he delirious? The grin he's wearing could go either way. He reaches back, patting the spot on the couch behind his head.]
Will you- can I put my head back in your lap- I promise I won't complain this time. And we can talk about seating.
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[ He pads off to go do that, refill his bowl of water and come back to take a seat and place Tony's head back in his lap, taking up his notebook and pencil because he, for some reason, won't use a Starkpad. ]
A sweetheart table's one where just the newlyweds sit. Head table's if we wanted to put the wedding party or the family, but. I think maybe they'll be at regular tables.
Makes it easier for people to come up to us and give congratulations. And for us to thank them for coming.
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Mmn. A showoff table. I can get behind that. Because that's all I'll wanna do.
[Steve's wearing his engagement ring now and that's good. For now. But soon Steve will be his husband. And Tony will very much brag about that as often as possible. While also delivering his honest feelings that he may as well be the luckiest man in the galaxy that Steve Rogers loves him. Out of everyone. It's pretty crazy.]
Also gives people a chance to be away from us. Since they complain on a regular day about the level of sap.
[On their wedding day? Forget it. Tony probably won't even register there's other people in the room unless they're literally a few inches away from him. He'll have those Steve's the love of my life eyes all night.]
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[ He brushes Tony's hair back and gives his nose a little tap. The closer they draw to their wedding day, the more he can't wait. But then they're also one step closer to it being over, too. That brings him a little bit of sadness, but also, there's the honeymoon, and there's years of marriage ahead of them. ]
Can't believe we've almost got everything done. Well. Not almost, I think the seating chart's going to be the worst.
[ Unsurprisingly, there will be a lot of people present at the event, and a lot of high security to keep out people like Hammer. ]
It's not too late for you to go to Macy's and scan everything you want onto a register.
[ Tony is probably not expecting gifts, and they'll probably receive some lavishly wealthy but ultimately meaningless trinkets from his business partners. They might get sentimental gifts from the other Avengers, and maybe Happy and Pepper. But he's really not expecting to even need a gift table. ]
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[Just the regulars, Tony thinks. And only to bust their chops. Only because it's funny. They'll definitely have all the rights to tell everyone else it's their day and they can be as schmoopy and cheesy as they please. He doesn't intend to hold back for anyone.]
Is seating that hard? [He has no concept. Nor any idea why.] Ask FRIDAY to randomize all the tables. That'll keep it fresh.
[He supposes they could also just let people sit wherever they wanted but that's not really how it's done, is it? He's never planned a wedding before and while he is so excited for the day and what it means, all the details of which escape him. A little. He's tried to be very active in participating, since it's the two of them getting married, not just Steve to him. But still... the concept of people being upset where they've been told to sit feels silly.
Maybe it's the fever. Couldn't they just get up and go wherever they wanted anyway? What's stopping them?
Thankfully his wandering thoughts are cut short first by his confusion- Macy's- gift registries. For the two people who need the least. He assumes gift shopping for them might actually be stressful. But he knows what he wants. And, in fact, aims a smile right up Steve's way.]
I already have exactly what I want. One-of-a-kind. Don't think Macy's carries it.
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[ But he's joking. He knows what Tony means and it's true, Steve's never been one for material goods and he certainly isn't now that he's marrying a rich man. All his needs are met, and then some. ]
And we can't just randomize seating. We need to make sure people who sit together know at least one other person and like them, and aren't seated directly next to someone they don't like.
[ Basic wedding etiquette. Like, don't invite your best friend who killed the groom's parents while brainwashed. That sort of thing. ]
It won't matter once they get up to dance, but the dinner's a big part of it.
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[He has no idea what the Thanksgiving parade will look like but Steve has a point. Iron Man and Captain America probably are in it. Maybe the other Avengers, too. He would hope. So no one feels left out. Though he thinks they maybe don't care about that all too much. Same as him.
The continued talk about seating has his thoughts drifting, though. He's trying. He's really trying. Never in his life did he imagine he'd be planning a wedding with anyone. With Steve everything has come so easy- despite the one thing- so this should be easy too, shouldn't it?
And yet...]
Okay. So if we invite Fury, if he's not still pretending to be dead, he gets a small table all the way to the back by his lonesome. Maybe Hill will join him. Other than that do we know people who don't get along with each other?
[He thinks, if this weren't his wedding, he wouldn't sit Wanda with him- not that they dislike each other but that the conversation wouldn't flow as easily as say if he was sitting with Rhodey and she was sitting with Vision. And then it makes a little more sense.]
I should know the answer to this- but I'm sick so you'll forgive me- how big are the tables? [See. He's trying. Really, he is.] Are we assuming most will bring plus-ones?
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Which - I knew you were the one for me right away, but I still wouldn't have amended a wedding invite last minute if I'd had one at the time.
[ Some people however, just can't help themselves. But in that case, he'd probably just give the list to FRIDAY to sort out in the most efficient way. Plus, there's always a chance with such a big crowd that a few of them will get into some sort of personal conflict right before the wedding.
But, yes. Seat Wanda next to Vision, Rhodey next to Tony. ]
We'll leave spaces for Bruce and Thor if they decide to come around. If not, Natasha's still seated next to Clint. And Jane is Selvig's plus-one so they'll be seated together.
[ See all these considerations Steve has to make? It's a good thing Tony's got a buttload of cash and they can just throw money around to rearrange tables last minute and order more food. ]
But each of the tables seat six. Unless we get a family table, or a sweetheart table.
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Plus-ones. Seems like he doesn't mind so much.
He quiets, though, expression of slight mirth drifting from his lips. Bruce and Thor. The pair they still don't have a good track on. Thor's off investigating, still, as far as Tony remembers. But Bruce? Gone. Just gone. He puts out feelers for him. It used to be every day. Then a few times a week. Then a couple weeks a month. And now... now he has nets and tracking that he checks in on. That still have no hits. Bruce can survive anything, because of the big guy. But why hasn't he come home?
Sure during the Accords it made sense to keep the hell away but... even now? There are a lot of things that bug Tony, that make him sad, but that has consistently been on the top of his very lengthy list.
He just nods, readjusting his arm over his eyes, and takes a big, deep breath, letting it out slow.]
I think I'm in for a sweetheart table. That way we can keep to ourselves and not bother any immediates in our area. Let people enjoy the evening. There's probably not gonna be a lot of sitting, anyway. Venue's too good to stay still. [Sure they'll all have to sit and eat but. Why rent out a museum if your guests can't wander?]
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[ Even though he knows that ostensibly, Tony would just have come with him and probably offered to pay for more than his fair share of messing up the arrangements. But that wasn't the point. The point was that Steve is trying to determine which of the normal wedding things he has to worry about and which he doesn't because Tony can just throw more money at someone to handle it.
And how much he wants to deal with that as an option in the first place.
He misses Bruce and Thor too, but he doesn't notice that Tony's more distressed about it considering that he's generally just distressed from the fever. They should maybe talk about it later, but Steve truly thinks it's a good idea to just leave seats open for them in case they decide to drop by New York City on that one day.
And if not, well. They'll see each other again, and they'll celebrate it at that time. ]
Yes, seating's just for dinner, then afterwards we'll have everyone look around at the museum and clear out the tables for the dance floor.
[ He checks Tony's temperature again with the back of his hand. ]
FRIDAY, how high is it now?
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[It's a nice, gentle thought. The two of them swaying with each other in a dimly lit, romantic room to soft music. The first of many things they'll do as husbands. He really never bought into any of this stuff before Steve. But now Steve makes everything worth dreaming on.
Even weddings and first dances. Imagine that.]
And then ditch everyone and get lost together.
[Because sure. It's a party celebrating them, but... Can't Tony want Steve all to himself on their wedding night? And not just the one where they retire to a hotel room to have sex?
FRIDAY takes a couple of seconds to answer him, but when she does:] It's dropped to 100.3, Captain. Going lower. I think he's on the mend. I'd say I wouldn't want to jinx it, if I knew he wouldn't complain.
[Tony breathes out a noise.] Unbelievable. Sick and still getting sassed. No sympathy.
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[ But he smiles because he's happy that Tony seems to be doing better and that his fever seems to be subsiding. He's not happy that he knows this means Tony's going to be up way too early to make up for all the work he'd missed. ]
Thanks, FRIDAY.
And here, you said you'd be a nightmare.
[ He gently rakes a finger or two through Tony's beard. ]
And that you'd be wasting my time. But we're just doing what we'd be doing anyway, talking about the wedding. If we hadn't already picked a date and booked everything, I'd say we should just go to the courthouse tomorrow.
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[Which explains everything about the way she is. Everyone in Tony's immediate sphere gives him sass. Tells him like it is. That's no accident.
He lets his arm slip back behind his head instead of covering his eyes, glancing up at Steve with a still slightly bleary gaze. A snort escapes him.]
We could. At this point I think people would be mad though. [Which isn't a pleasing thought, that any of this is performative for anyone else's enjoyment. Shared, sure. But not for individual entertainment.
Lifting a hand up he gently shifts it up along Steve's chest, holding firm above his heart.]
Everyone's expecting the wedding of a century and they'll get it, but I don't want them to forget the reason we're having it. [Which is not even just that Steve and Tony are getting married and are sharing that with their friends and family. But Tony wants Steve to have everything he's ever dreamed of. And certainly he wasn't dreaming of a giant, gorgeous wedding at the Met, but Tony's also good at building and filling in. Always wanting to give Steve everything he's ever wanted and more.
But... he'd be lying if he said he's not strangely excited to get married. In a way he just hadn't been before. He wants to be Steve's husband. It's definitely a marked shift in his entire worldview. But if anyone can do to that to someone, it's definitely Steve Rogers.]
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[ And who they're celebrating. Tony takes up a whole room by himself, and Steve is no slouch in that department. Even when Tony's throwing a regular party, it's always very much a Tony party. ]
We'll try to make it as good as possible, Tony, but it's a wedding. Something always goes wrong.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter, as long as I get to marry you.
[ He does want to celebrate all that day, but he is also looking forward to the night when it'll be just them, and their joined hands with matching rings, doing all their firsts once more as a married couple this time. Making love, taking a shower, going to bed, making breakfast: it's the first day of the rest of their lives. It's monumental.
And, of course, there's another possibility that they're so tired from festivities they just go upstairs and go to sleep still in their tuxes. That'd be fine too. He's just looking forward to all of it. ]
Are you nervous at all?
[ He's so excited that he understands now why people might be getting cold feet so close to the wedding - they might misread this feeling, these butterflies, to themselves. But Steve knows he's never been more ready for anything. He's not a betting man, but he'd put all his money on this. ]
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[He continues his joking by lifting his hand further, resting the back of it against Steve's forehead.]
Did you catch something after all?
[Though he does turn his hand over, sliding down to cup Steve's cheek in his palm, even at the slightly awkward angle, head still in his lap. He smiles up at him and asks him a question he already knows the answer to.]
Are you nervous? Should I be worried about being left at the altar?
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[ He gently runs his fingers into Tony's hair. ]
You're the one person I want to spend the rest of my life with. The only way I'd leave you at that altar is if we've both gotta suit up. And even then, I'm thinking we just invite them to the wedding and call for a ceasefire for a day.
And just delay the honeymoon.
[ Not his ideal way to spend their wedding night, but sometimes work just has to be done. And this is just an unlikely scenario he's thought out just in case. ]
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[As he peers up at Steve, his smile is softly sunny and maybe just a little foggy and dazed still. Doesn't matter if he's sick, though. Steve's always a gorgeous vision. Especially when he's going on about how excited he is for the wedding. How much he just seems to want to be married to Tony. Tony who is still, and probably will forever be, processing the fact that he gets to have this. Have Steve.
It's pretty incredible.]
We'll just put out a mass communication. All world issues are to be put on hold for the Stark-Rogers wedding. Please and thank you. I'm sure everyone will cooperate for one night.
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I'm sure they will. But you'll bring FRIDAY, just in case. And I'll have the shield.
[ He's sure that Tony's hair has been brushed enough for one night, but he just can't seem to stop himself from continuing to do so, softly raking his fingers through, marveling at how beautiful he is, sick or not. And that's not even on the list of things that matter to Steve about him. ]
Wanna help me pick flowers?
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