It might be throwing Tony off that he’s not ignoring it or sassing back as he usually would. But Steve has been wondering what if for a while now, and tonight is the first real indication that it might not all be for show.
He nods at Tony’s assurance as he follows, the mention of a hotel making him a little sad. It’s skirting carefully around the fact that Tony hasn’t been with Ms. Potts for a while now. They don’t talk about that, though, the same way they don’t talk about how Steve stopped leaving for weeks at a time to chase a trail gone cold. There is, after all, no sense in being where you’re no longer welcome.
It’s a surprise to realize that yeah, he kind of does know Tony a little now. The look from over the top of the car is a reminder that he’d like to know a whole lot more. It’s still a dangerous game, not knowing how far he can push before Tony either backs off or steps up to the plate, but he’s willing to follow this hunch. The worst it could be is awkward, and he’s had plenty of experience with that.
“Sounds good,” Steve says before opening the passenger side door and folding himself into the seat. He’s aware that there are still photographers around, shutters still audible somewhere on the edge of his hearing. It’s a hell of a feeling to finally put a barrier between that as he closes the door behind him.
His phone buzzes for the first time since Tony arrived. It’s set to do that only for certain contacts, so it’s not surprising when he checks to find a new message from Natasha.
Hope you know what you’re doing.
It must be everywhere if it’s already reached her. Steve sighs, reaching up to loosen his bow tie, and tips his head back against the head rest. He hopes so too.
no subject
He nods at Tony’s assurance as he follows, the mention of a hotel making him a little sad. It’s skirting carefully around the fact that Tony hasn’t been with Ms. Potts for a while now. They don’t talk about that, though, the same way they don’t talk about how Steve stopped leaving for weeks at a time to chase a trail gone cold. There is, after all, no sense in being where you’re no longer welcome.
It’s a surprise to realize that yeah, he kind of does know Tony a little now. The look from over the top of the car is a reminder that he’d like to know a whole lot more. It’s still a dangerous game, not knowing how far he can push before Tony either backs off or steps up to the plate, but he’s willing to follow this hunch. The worst it could be is awkward, and he’s had plenty of experience with that.
“Sounds good,” Steve says before opening the passenger side door and folding himself into the seat. He’s aware that there are still photographers around, shutters still audible somewhere on the edge of his hearing. It’s a hell of a feeling to finally put a barrier between that as he closes the door behind him.
His phone buzzes for the first time since Tony arrived. It’s set to do that only for certain contacts, so it’s not surprising when he checks to find a new message from Natasha.
Hope you know what you’re doing.
It must be everywhere if it’s already reached her. Steve sighs, reaching up to loosen his bow tie, and tips his head back against the head rest. He hopes so too.