Today was Tony’s birthday, and Stephen had planned everything.
He had decorated the tower, decorated a cake, and had presents situated. He was humming a song to himself as he worked as hard as he could while Pepper and Happy kept Tony out for the day. Stephen even learned how to make some good cheeseburgers for lunch. He tried so hard. And wanted it to be perfect.
Peter had gotten little plushies made of Tony’s favorite people: Rhodey, Peter, Stephen, and Pepper. And had them all packaged in a pretty box with spider wrapping paper and a blue bow.
Stephen had planned everything and honestly had zero idea what to get his husband, and he felt horrible about it.
It was getting time for them to bring Tony home. Lunch was ready and on the warmer, letting the cheese melt. Presents are arranged on a sturdy table. Decorations all up and brightly colored.
But of course, nothing ever went as planned.
DUM-E came rolling through, chasing the Cloak of Levitation playfully. Stephen tried to save table with the gifts, but DUM-E knocked them over, and he quickly tried to support it. But then Levi flew into the hanging decorations and tore them down.
Stephen shouted, but the cloak didn’t listen.
He tried again, but no one obeyed.
They went straight towards the cake.
He yelled, running forward and using magic to grab the cake and make it float before they hit it. Instead, they destroyed the table with the cupcakes just as Stephen tripped over a box that had fallen when the presents table was destroyed.
Cupcakes landed all over the floor and Stephen, and Stephen just lay there.
Neither DUM-E nor Levi seemed to notice and kept playing.
A second later, the elevator opened, and Pepper came out first.
“Oh my goodness! Stephen, are you alright!?”
She took a step forward but was gently pushed aside by Tony, who quickly walked over to Stephen and knelt beside him.
“Hey, you alright, babe?”
He asked in a soft voice as he helped Stephen up. Stephen wasn’t an emotional man. Not normally. But he really wanted today to be special. Especially after Tony had proposed on his birthday last year and made it so special and perfect. And he failed. He felt the hot sting of tears and fought hard to keep them back.
Tony looked up at the floating cake and started to laugh.
“Hey. That’s not fair! I can’t reach it!”
He reached up for his cake. Stephen lowered it for him, and Tony took it, setting it down on a not destroyed table, then sniffed the air.
He asked, just getting a small nod from Stephen, who was still controlling himself.
He looked at Stephen for a moment and just smiled, walked back up to him, and softly kissed his lips.
Stephen kissed Tony back softly.
“You’re welcome…happy bit- Tony!!”
He was cut off by Tony licking his cheek free of icing and making him blush.
“Oh, that’s good! Let’s hurry and eat so I can have that cake! And maybe some desert later tonight.”
Honestly, the rest of the day went much better.
Lots of pictures taken, including one where Tony showed off his plushies with DUM-E in the background, one of Stephen covered in icing, and some with them together.
And when it was all over, and they were cuddling in bed together, Tony looked at Stephen.
“Thank you. For everything love. It was perfectly chaotic. Just like us.”
Stephen just smiled and pulled Tony close.
“You’re welcome. Happy birthday again, darling.”
Artist Credit: @zn-chen-0729