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“So it's getting pretty serious, huh?”
Steve kept his eyes on the line of merpeople in front of him, even as he felt his cheeks heat. “Knock it off, Buck.”
“I'll take that as a yes.” Bucky grinned, boxing him in the neck from his spot on Steve's shoulder. “Come on, this is what? The sixth date? And he's still not sick of your ugly mug? That's a good sign.”
“I'll give you an ugly mug,” Steve said, flashing his needle sharp teeth. Bucky shook his head with mock disappointment.
“Playing into stereotypes. Shame on you.”
The line moved forward, so Steve swam ahead, knocking Bucky off his shoulder. He stopped when the vault door in front of them closed with a hiss, taking another batch of travelers up to the surface. Bucky caught up to him a second later, nipping his wrist with his beak.
“Asshole,” he said, and Steve ignored him as Bucky wrapped four of his tentacles around Steve's forearm to hang on. “How the fuck did you of all people snag a billionaire?”
“I don't care about his money,” Steve said, and Bucky laughed.
“Oh, I know. Did you really ask for his Paypal?”
Steve's ears felt hot with embarrassment. “He told you about that?”
“You left me alone with him for five seconds, of course I asked.” Bucky's eyes sparkled with mirth. “You seriously tried to pay him back for a milkshake?”
“I didn't know he was rich,” Steve said uncomfortably. “And it was the right thing to do.”
“Only you, Stevie,” Bucky sighed, shaking his head. “Only you.”
The vault door opened, and Steve swam forward with Bucky on his arm, pausing when Bucky let go of him. “You're not coming?”
“To the surface?” Bucky shook his head. “Nah. I got my shopping done last week.”
Steve frowned. “Then why –“
“I just needed the intel on your love life.” Bucky saluted him with two tentacles. “Gotta report to the wife.”
Steve snapped his teeth, and Bucky laughed before he scurried away. For an octopus, he could really move.
Steve shook his head as he swam into the elevator vault, right before the door closed behind him. He reached for one of the travel pods on the wall and smiled to himself as he slung it around his waist. If anyone had told him that he would one day date the man who had made land-travel for mer a possibility in the first place, he would have laughed. Funny how life worked sometimes.
He slid the nylon fabric down the length of his tail, careful to tuck his fins in correctly before he straightened up and hit the button on the side of his belt. Tony had explained to him how it worked, but Steve was still fascinated as he watched the fabric turn stiff and unyielding with a single click, encasing Steve's tail in a fine mesh of nanobots. He pulled his surface-breather from his belt pouch, fitting the cup against his gills before he pressed the top, making it suction to his skin to trap the water inside. Filtration was a wonderful thing.
The elevator started moving, and Steve looked out through the glass walls as the ocean floor disappeared in the distance. He'd never say it to Tony, but he was secretly glad whenever he could take the mer-exclusive elevator. Having to wait for all the decompression stops on mixed transport was a pain in the ass.
They reached the surface within minutes, and Steve made sure he was clasping the handrail when the water started draining from the vault, leaving him standing upright on his tail. He waited for the supporting staff to outfit him with his roller before he let go, testing his balance.
“How's that?” the young man asked. Steve flashed a grin at him, careful not to show too many of his teeth.
“Perfect. Thanks.”
“No problem,” the guy said, already off to help the next mer. Steve combed his fingers through his hair to make it lay flat before he grabbed the control stick on the left side of his roller and started moving forward, making his way out of the elevator. He spotted Tony right away, his lips drawing up in a smile as he waved enthusiastically.
“Hey, Tony,” he shouted, and Tony looked up from his phone, a wide grin splitting his face.
“Steve!” Tony hurried over, stepping up on the bottom of the roller so he could crane his neck up to reach Steve's face for a kiss. They were both smiling when they pulled away. “I missed you.”
"Missed you more." Steve nodded at the ramp. "Shall we?"
"After you."
Steve grabbed Tony's hand and led the way, rolling down the ramp and into the busy streets of New York. They decided against taking the subway, instead strolling leisurely along the harbor.
"I finished that book you gave me," Steve said, and Tony beamed at him.
"Yeah? Did you like it?"
Steve rolled his eyes fondly. "Of course I did. You knew I would."
"It's about pirates, of course I knew." Tony winked at him. "Offer's still open if you want me to wear an eyepatch and a peg leg on our next date."
"Throw in a shoulder parrot and we'll talk," Steve said, grinning when Tony laughed.
"I can't. You have a shoulder octopus, that's way cooler. Can't let you show me up."
Steve snorted. "I'll tell Bucky you said that."
"Please do it when I'm there. I want to see his face."
Steve chuckled, squeezing Tony's hand gently. "Will do."
They stopped at a small kiosk to get fish sticks for Steve and ice cream for Tony. The water looked intensely blue from up here, waves lapping at the harbor. Tony helped Steve adjust the nanobots so he could sit down on a nearby bench as they ate and watched the ocean in comfortable silence. After a while, Tony leaned over to rest his head on Steve's arm, making Steve's heart leap into his throat. It was a little ridiculous, considering that they'd already seen each other naked multiple times, but even those tiny acts of intimacy still got Steve's heart racing.
"This is nice," Tony sighed, and Steve hummed, wrapping an arm around Tony's shoulders to pull him against his side. Sitting like this, Tony's head almost came up to Steve's shoulder, and Steve took advantage of the diminished height difference by leaning down and nuzzling Tony's hair. Tony responded by trailing a hand over Steve's covered tail, a soft pressure Steve could feel even through the mesh of nanobots.
"We should swim together some time. I bet you'd make a good partner," Tony said, and Steve's breath caught in his throat. Tony probably wasn't aware of the cultural meaning of that sentence, but – okay, no, Tony definitely knew, if the look on his face was anything to go by. "I know it's a bit fast. We haven't known each other that long, but I really like you, and I –"
"Yes," Steve blurted, tightening his grip on Tony. "I want to – how do you say it? Go steady? Exclusive, I mean. I don't want anyone else."
"Great." Tony was grinning, so happy that Steve just had to bend him backwards enough to reach his lips and kiss that smile right off his face. Steve's pulse was thundering in his ears by the time they pulled apart, breathing a little heavily.
"You did mean that literally too though, right?" Steve asked. "You'll go swimming with me?"
Tony bit his lip. "Okay, confession? I've wanted to do that ever since we met."
Steve smiled. "Really?"
"Of course. Have you seen yourself?" Tony gestured at him. "I love your mind and all, but that tail? Fucking gorgeous. I want to see you in your element."
Steve laughed, deliriously happy. "That can be arranged."
"Wonderful." Tony stood up so he could reach Steve's mouth for another peck. "I may or may not be a dick and play the Jaws theme on my phone when we do. Just a heads up."
Steve rolled his eyes. "You're always a dick." He leaned in to kiss Tony one more time. "But that's how I like you."
"Lucky me." Tony patted his tail. "We should get going. We have reservations."
"Do we?" Steve asked, letting Tony help him straighten out his tail before he pushed himself back into the roller. "You spoil me."
"Completely deserved," Tony said, wrapping an arm around his waist as they walked. "Anything for you."