Me Too

“Well, I wouldn’t want you to have to make an arc reactor for your knee,” Steve quipped. “And that is a knight’s job, isn’t it? To rescue the prince?” He laughed with his old friend, and reached up to straighten the crown on Tony’s head. “Wanted to keep an eye on things. Crowds this size usually end in some kind of chaos, at least in this city. Unless that’s changed,” he said, shrugging, smiling gently. “Besides, if I wasn’t here, you might’ve spent the whole night on that floor, waiting for someone to come rescue you.”

Tony chuckled, looking down at his slacks and dusting them off. “Yeah, well. I’m just getting old. It happens.” he looked up at the other, a genuine smile on his face, because if anyone could really make him smile like that it’s Steve. “Guess you’re my SHIELD agent knight tonight, hm? Cause that’s what you look like in that suit.” he winked, before stepping a couple of steps over, grabbing some punch for them both. “I’m very grateful, as always.” he held a glass of punch out, taking the opportunity to look over Steve’s features...He had changed so much, yet he looked the same in some ways. He was trying not to dwell on what happened between them, because it felt so natural to go back into their old habits, but sometimes the memories still showed themselves.

Tony took a massive bite out of his cotton candy as they entered the haunted house. “I want the shit literally scared out of me. If that doesn’t happen, it’s a waste of money.” he chuckled, rolling eyes at one of the first jump scares…if you could even call it that.

Pepper looked around as the object struck her foot, smiling at the sight of her boss and shaking her head. She wasn’t surprised to see what he was wearing. Tony was the closest thing she knew to a prince. “Oh, do you?” she said, folding her arms across her chest and glancing over at him, though a smile still touched her lips. “I thought the commoners were supposed to kneel to a prince, not the other way around.”

Tony chuckled at Pepper’s smart quips, standing back up before flipping the crown in his hand. “I’m not that kind of prince.” he replied, placing the headpiece on his head. “Glad to see you here, Pep. Wasn’t expecting to actually enjoy this party.” he winked, before shoving his hands in his pockets, not caring of acting the part of his costume.

Steve had spotted Tony the second he walked into the party – like he’d just been waiting for the other man to arrive and hadn’t known it yet. He was moving before he could really think it through. But as he drew close enough to really get a look at Tony, at the prince costume, the crown fell to the ground. It tumbled near his feet, and then Tony was staring up at him, smirking. “Very funny,” he said, shaking his head. Maybe the forgiveness between them wasn’t as fragile as he feared. “You need help getting back up, prince?” he asked, extending a hand down. 

Tony smiled a bit when he saw Steve’s familiar face. He didn’t expect to see Steve at a place like this, knowing he was a man of simple pleasures rather than extravagant parties. Still, perhaps he thought it’d be good for him to make himself go. He put the crown back on his head before reaching up, gently taking the other’s hand and standing, the closeness not feeling strange at all to him. “Thank you, my knight.” he teased, “You have pleased your prince by coming to his rescue. For you see, his knee was killing him.” he teased back, a chuckle leaving his lips. “Heya, Cap. What’s dragged you out of your apartment?”

Sputtering slightly when he said her name, Gwen scratched the back of her head, “Just Gwen. No wait, that’s just another hole — like Hagrid in Harry Potter. Okay, just Harry Potter.” Taking in a deep breath, Gwen put her hands behind her back and rose her brows, was he offering to buy her a snack? “Have a snack with Tony Stark?” Gwen started talking again before thinking, but she took in a big breath, calming her strange nerves. “Yes, a snack would be awesome, and I promise to be normal. Super, super normal.”

Tony chuckled, noticing that the girl was nervous. “Harry Potter’s pretty cool. According to online forums and stuff I’m a ‘Gryffinclaw.’” he glanced at his watch, then at the girl. “Normal doesn’t get things done. Just be yourself, okay?” He looked around, “I think I’m done with froyo. How about some soft pretzels, Gwen?”