Work Text:
“Oh wow, this grilled chicken is very good” Steve's eyes widen in awe, and took another bite.
“Right? This is my favorite restaurant” Tony took another bite of his taco.
“I can’t believe I never tried this before, and I only live 10 minutes from here” Steve looks around the restaurant admiring the rustic decoration. A SHIELD neon flashes from the wall. Weird name for a restaurant, but a great concept and awesome food.
“My company is a regular here so I got a corporate discount. I will let you know if I’m nearby”
“You got it!”
“You traveled to Japan before, right?”
“Only a few times, why?” Tony glances at the man.
“let’s go to Japan this year” Steve's eyes glints with excitement, his usual order of grilled chicken left forgotten.
“Excuse me?” Tony look at the man in confusion mid-drinking his iced coffee.
“Let’s go to Japan, you’ve been there, you can be my guide” Steve grins.
“I’m going to Japan next month, and I don’t have the budget for another trip”
“I’ll pay for the tickets” Steve rushed to sit next to Tony in their favorite restaurant, sliding next to him in their favorite booth.
“No!”
“It’s okay” Steve scrolled through his phone checking on the dates. “Come on, it would be fun!” Steve lets out his puppy eyes.
“Fine! Only if it's next year. And I will pay you back for my share” Tony sighed in defeat.
“It's a date” Steve grins and got the tickets for both of them.
Gosh, I’m a pushover. Tony tries not to facepalm himself.
“Wow…” Steve looks at Tony in awe.
“What? Do I have something on my face? I was in rush and I didn’t check myself before” Tony scrubs his face with his own hand.
“No, it just… you smell really great today. Come here” Steve slides from his seat to make room for Tony next to him.
“It’s just my perfume” Tony laughed and sit next to him, ordering a cup of latte.
“Come on, let's plan for our trip” Steve excitedly took out his notepad and sat closer to Tony.
**
Text: Steve Rogers
Steve: finally arrived. I can’t wait for them to fix the potholes on your block.
Tony: thanks again for the ride, you and me both. My uber the other day also grumbles when he saw the potholes.
Steve: btw, can I have a request?
Tony: what?
Steve: can you use that perfume when we travel to Japan next year?
Tony: you really love that one huh?
Steve: I do, I love the smell so much
Tony didn’t mention how Steve hugs him closer during their entire ride home, how Steve leaned closer to his neck, how Steve held his hand the whole ride, and how Steve nibbled and took a playful bite on Tony’s finger.
Tony: I will bring my perfume for our trip
Text: Tony Stark
Tony: I have bad news
Steve: somethings wrong?
Tony: they give me this new project and it starts next summer
Steve: that’s our Japan trip
Tony: I know, I’m sorry. But this is a huge opportunity for me
Steve: I understand, I will cancel our trip.
Tony: I’m sorry
Steve: I specifically told you we should have taken it on Christmas! 🤣🤣
Okay, not going to lie, it stinks. Tony thinks to himself.
Tony: and I told you I don’t have the money
Steve: relax Tony. I’m just joking. 🤣
Tony just looks at the text, “are you though?” he muttered to himself and only reply with a thumbs-up emoji.
**
Text: Tony Stark
Tony: hey, I finished my meeting early and now I’m on SHIELD, want to hang out?
Steve leaves the text on read and only replied a few hours later.
Their text and calls gradually become less frequent by each day, until one day they just stopped.
Tony is scrolling on his Instagram pages while waiting for his order on SHIELD, like all of his friends’ posts, and notices Steve post a picture of a girl doing her makeup. oh right, that’s the new makeup artist on his team. Tony thought to himself, he liked the picture and scrolled again to another Steve’s post with the same girl. Wait… Tony clicked on Steve’s page and the woman is everywhere on his page. He can feel his stomach drop and chills down his spine like someone just poured icy water on top of his head.
“Here’s your Taco, Tones” Natasha, the feisty red-haired waitress stood in front of him and served him his order. “You okay? you looked pale”
“Uh huh,” Tony squeaked. Clearing his throat, he forced a smile and looked at Natasha again. “I’m fine, Nat. Thank you”
Natasha took one single look and decided to sit in the booth facing Tony. “what’s wrong?”
“It just….” Tony sighed and put the phone down. “You remember the man I used to hang out with?”
“The tall blonde boyfriend? The one that always sits next to you in this booth?” Natasha asks.
“He’s not my boyfriend. Were close… closer than a best friend, at least I thought so” Tony sighs. “I thought he liked me. turns out I let my hope up for nothing” Tony shrugs.
“I’m sorry”
“I feel like shit” Tony groans.
Natasha just stared at him licking his wound in silence, taco completely forgotten. “Want me to give you something stronger than coffee?”
“Oh, what the heck” Tony laughs and nodded yes.
“First one on the house” Natasha smiles and went to the bartender.
Text: Steve Rogers
Steve: Hi Tony, how are you?
Tony just looks at the text, thinking whether he should reply or ignore the text.
Tony: peachy
Steve: Can we… can we talk? I feel like we haven’t talked for a long time
Yeah, for a good reason! Tony rolled his eyes and didn’t reply. He took a screenshot of the text and send it to Natasha.
Text: Natasha Romanoff
Tony: *image attached*
Tony: the nerve of this guy
Natasha: oh wow, want me to come over after my shift? I can bring some ice cream
Tony: maybe next time, I’m currently eating my feelings in $27 worth of cheese.
Natasha: that's just sad, even for you
Tony: desperate time calls for a desperate measure
Natasha: enjoy your sad cheese
DM: Steve Rogers
Steve: Hi Tony, I want to ask about your address. I want to send you my wedding invitation, is this your number? 555-xxxxxx
Tony just stares at the DM, I haven’t used that number for years and you know it! You called me every day and sent flirty texts before you ghosted me, you asshole! Tony didn’t reply and sent the screenshot to Natasha.
Text: Natasha Romanoff
Tony: *image attached*
Tony: I know what I had was a one-sided situationship, but God damn it. At least have the decency to be a better liar!
Natasha: that is the worst excuse I have ever seen
Natasha: I’m coming over with booze and would not take no for an answer!
**
“I did have a choice, Nat. I didn’t have to stay, but I did. because I loved him. I loved him so much to the point where I’d wait forever for him even if I knew he wasn’t coming back” Tony chugged the cheap wine. “I waited and waited and now I’m tired. I’ve been sad, and now it's time for anger!”
Natasha just nodded and sipped her vodka in silence.
“I need to leave, I know that. but I didn’t think I could” Tony mumbles.
“Take your time” Nat assures him.
“It’s not fair. He moved on, and I don’t. and I can’t escape him. I ruining my life for someone who didn’t deserve it. When did I get so pathetic?” Tony hiccup.
“You’re not. You just love the wrong person”
“And now I’m fixing myself from what he causes. This sucks” Tony groans and closed his eyes. Maybe if he shuts his eyes hard enough, the pain won’t stop hurting.
“I’m sorry” Nat murmured.
“Me too” Tony hummed.
Fuck my life!