✵ the conversation stopped and i looked down at the ring ✵

[letmetakeaselfie]

This has the makings of every Tony Stark party to date, plus a few. It's loud, dark; and so totally nineties. It's his era, he can't help himself. Big yellow sunglasses accompany his light-colored suit, hair slicked back and a smile glued on his face. He's ready to make this an affair no one will ever forget.

Before making his way out, he stops to see her, hanging in the doorway as she pulls on her dress. "Did I get you that?" he asks, slowly slipping into the room to help her zip. It's been a few days since he's seen her -- they've barely spoken. Sometimes he gets up long before her and is in the lab long after she gets home. Though they sleep in the same bed, it's as if they lead entirely separate lives at times. He owes her so much more, this week especially, and this is his grand occasion to make up all his misgivings.

He smiles softly, thinking of their night under the stars. Eating diner burgers and garlic fries and looking over their life together. It was impossible to look forward so they had looked back, enjoyed the past for what it was. Though he had never accepted there wouldn't be a future for them, he had had to entertain the possibility that his father would let him down one last time. Fortunately for everyone, Howard had come through, and just in the nick of time.

Tony's forty today and it feels ancient. He's known Pepper for well over half his life and here they are. Once her dress is secure, he pulls her into his arms from behind, hands winding possessively around her waist. "I can tell everyone to go home." Maybe he really should have listened -- made this an intimate affair. But the wedding would be small -- quaint and New England in every way. The engagement had to be big. West Coast big. He sighs against the side of her face, unable to keep from grinning.

--

He is very, very drunk when he gets up on stage, but no one here expects anything less. He has a glass of champagne and he calls Pepper out of the crowd. This is it; their moment. The one his family's been pushing him for since the moment they'd met. "Damn," he says into the mic as she stands, whistling lowly and shaking his head. "What took me so long?"

It gets laughter, of course, but then it's quiet like a library. The New Haven library where they first met, even. No music, no nothing. When Pepper joins him , a walk that seems to take forever, he doesn't hesitate to get down on one knee, his glass left on the podium as he pulls a box out of his pocket.

"I know you wanted to keep this small, so naturally I did the exact opposite." He drops the microphone so he can pry open the box, a giant but tasteful vintage stone shining up at her. Tony swallows back his nerves, playing up the cheese for the crowd, tipping his head with a lopsided smile. "Now that I'm not dying, what do you say?"

Comments

[valuedstrength]

Steve nods, snapping a photo a second later. "You caught me." The phone is going down. This is Pepper's big day. He's not going to stick his phone in her fact the whole time.

"How do you feel?" This is a little crazy. He wouldn't blame her for feeling just a little overwhelmed.

[valuedstrength]

Steve's not accepting it until he snaps that selfie of them since he knows Peg will love it. Then of course he has to be a jerk about the whole thing. He hesitates as if holding off on the bad news. "Well I did the best I could, but you see what I have to work with."

He sips the champagne innocently. What? Did he say something wrong? Honesty is important in a relationship!!

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Yeah, you're right. They both look good next to your ugly mug." It's the very most important thing. He taps Steve's cheek affectionately. "Enjoying the party? Or have you been filming the whole time."

[valuedstrength]

"I haven't been filming the whole time." He pockets his phone. Steve has also taken pictures. That doesn't count as filming. "I'd ask you, but Pepper didn't actually run away so I assume things are going great."

[efficacy]

"This was supposed to be your day, you know," Pepper chides wryly as Tony pulls her onto the dancefloor, easily settling into position and letting him take the lead. Her slight exasperation is tempered by fondness and happiness, though; it's hard to feel upset over his little surprise when he looks at her with such softness in his eyes and Etta James is crooning in the background -- Pepper's always loved this song. Ignoring everyone else, she rubs her cheek against his gently, closing her eyes as they continue to dance.

Steve is of course the first person they look up afterward, though it takes a while with so many people around eager to congratulate them. Pepper breathes a small laugh, a slight blush on her cheeks and a happy smile on her lips. "Wish you were here," she says sincerely before glancing at Tony, poking his side playfully, "But as you see, I had no say in this particular turn of events."

[efficacy]

Pepper shakes her head at the question, giving a wry grin. "Oh, I... definitely didn't expect this tonight of all nights, but I guess I should have known better. Go big or go home is pretty much the only setting Tony has, most of the time."

Something that Steve very well knows. Her smile softens into something more subdued and sincere. "But I'm happy. More than I expected to be."

She never needed to get married in order to be happy and content, but now that it's actually happening, she feels a profound sense of completion that's hard to ignore.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"It is my day, which means I can do whatever I want. That's how it works, right?" He brings her into a graceful spin, then back against his chest. Though he had complied with her no press urging, it hardly matters. Everyone in the crowd has their phone up, capturing the moment for Twitter Instagram and Facebook better than any news station would. "Hashtag Wedding of the Century if you please!" What? He wants to be able to sort through this all later and share the best ones on his own page.

Soon enough, the song is over and Steve approaches. His hold around her waist stutters at the poke, bringing his hand into his side and giving her a wounded look. Everyone is always poking him, it's so rude. "You had every say. You had the say." And for a minute he really thought she might say no. Not because she doesn't want to be with him but because he went all out, yet again; when things could have been quaint and simple. He'll make sure the actual wedding day is everything Pepper wants. But this is what he needed after all the drama leading up.

[letmetakeaselfie]

It's always maddening how perfectly they fit together. He actually lets out a sigh when she denies him, shaking his head so his nose brushes against her pulse-point. He knows this is partially a ploy to keep him sober enough to pick up where they left off, later, and another part because she doesn't want to mess up her hair. Always thinking ahead, that Pepper. But it still stings, and he still wants her -- desperately.

"They'll wait for us. I'm usually way later than this." Which really ought to be tacky at a certain point, to your own party. But he'd always made sure it was interesting enough for people to stick around. And if anyone leaves this shindig before the finale they're going to feel mighty foolish, that's for sure.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Tony barely suppresses the eyeroll, holding up his glass to clink against Steve's expectantly. He's switched to scotch since their dance. "Peachy. Though I'm pretty sure it was a near thing for a second there." Thank god Pepper has had 20 years of his shenanigans to get used to the way he does things. Which is as insanely as possible. Just look at the people who raised him...

[relicta]

Their big moments. She grins, dragging him onto the dance floor before he can protest. He might sound like an old guy, but it's damn adorable anyway. "It might even be the big moment. You think you can secure me an invite to the wedding?" It's a really lame joke -- she learned those from the best.

[efficacy]

The scent of his cologne and the warm, firm frame of him against her back are starting to erode her willpower. It would be easy to lift up her skirt and brace her hands on top of the vanity, warn Tony not to wrinkle her dress... biting her lip, Pepper pushes the mental image aside, no matter how delicious. She refuses to make an appearance with a post-sex flush on her face, and the wait will make the reward that much sweeter at the end of the night.

"Oh, I'm aware," she manages dryly with a small smirk, only a little belatedly. "But seeing as how it's a party in your honor and it's rude to keep the guests waiting, I think you should try to make an appearance on time tonight. Don't you?"

Her tone is sweet and airy, but the precise way she's delivering her argument means she won't be swayed no matter what.

[letmetakeaselfie]

If he were aware of what that pause contained, he'd be even more reluctant to detangle himself from her. As it is, it's already physically difficult, like pulling off a limb as he slowly pushes himself back and away.

"Do I need to powder my nose?" he asks only semi jokingly, lifting an eyebrow and glancing towards the hall. This is his moment; he lets out a long puffing breath.

[valuedstrength]

Steve couldn't smile any more warmly at Pepper if he tried. He knows that she is fully aware of what he's up to. Rather than chide him for being invested in his marriage, she just sends along the message. Of course Tony's antics have him shaking his head in fond exasperation.

Steve turns the camera towards himself. "The possibility of marriage is already weighing heavily on them. I give them a month, Peg." He winks at the camera before turning it off. Okay back to reality until the next round of photos.

"So you're really going with the story Pepper had all the say when you proposed on stage?" He raises an eyebrow in Tony's direction. Yes, he's helping Pepper pick on you.

[efficacy]

Pepper hums under her breath as she turns around, fond and amused all at once. She straightens his lapels and smooths out the shoulders, not even the tiniest sign of rumpled fabric escaping her critical eye. She nods decisively when she deems he passes her scrutiny.

"Front page perfect," she announces, quirking a warm smile.

[efficacy]

"Mm-hmm," Pepper hums in playful disbelief, not falling for the wounded puppy dog eyes Tony is giving her, though she has a slight weakness for them. This time though, he's deserved every and any bit of teasing thrown his way, from her and Steve. The fact that Steve is on her side only makes her smile triumphantly, raising a brow at Tony as she waits for his answer.

[letmetakeaselfie]

His own smile turns warm at her assessment, straightening his shoulders so his clothes say smooth. Thank god he has her. "Not bad for an old guy, huh?"

[letmetakeaselfie]

A slight weakness. He tips his head, but winds his arm back around her obligingly. "You guys have really honed the art of ganging up on a guy. It's my birthday." Sigh, sigh. He turns all his attention to Pepper. "You were surprised, weren't you?"

[efficacy]

"The handsomest old guy in town," Pepper agrees, pecking his lips lightly and briefly so he doesn't get the chance to coax a more involved kiss out of her. "Come on, then."

Threading her arm with his, she grins impishly as she tugs him on the move. "So do I get to call you my silver fox now?"

[valuedstrength]

"Practice makes perfect." Steve shrugs as if it can't be helped. Bullying Tony is a part of life. "But, fine. I guess I owe you a few words like happy birthday or congratulations on finally working up the nerve to ask your girl to marry you. That didn't take too long at all."

He gently punches Tony in the chest before turning his attention to Pepper. "Thanks for agreeing to take him off our hands for the rest of your life."

[valuedstrength]

Steve shrugs, but his eyes betray his understanding. It's not like he married Peggy right away either despite the impulse to do so from basically the moment he met her. "You don't think it matters what a piece of paper says until it does. Getting a little early ring probably isn't any different."

He is quiet a moment before adding seriously. "You've always been good for him. I know Tony's never going to stop trying to be his best for you. You're going to have an amazing marriage." He knows she doesn't need to hear him say that. She has to know after all these years and yet he reassures her anyways. She's always been family so it's natural for him to continue trying too hard at every opprtunity.

[valuedstrength]

Steve takes a sip out of obligation. He tilts his head to the side as he nods. He gets why she would be tempted. "You really should take it down a notch for the wedding. I'm not just saying that because I'm tired of girls half your age thinking it's okay to hit on me." Seriously that might be a factor. God why does everyone get weird on him at these things?

[valuedstrength]

Steve shakes his head in fond exasperation. Fine, he will be dragged around like the big pushover he is when not fighting for truth, justice, and the American way aka dad mode. "Like you need an invite to go anywhere."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Just in town," he clarifies, making a hand gesture then nodding as if filing that away for later. He works his jaw before letting himself be dragged into the main room.

"You know, I would say yes, but you know how Georgey gets." Tony takes her hand, sneaking in for one last nuzzle before their public eclipses them. "But mostly you can call me whatever... else you want."

[letmetakeaselfie]

That gets a full-out guffawing sort of laugh. He shakes his head and claps Steve on the shoulder. "Most guys who look like you wouldn't complain about it." ...The rest of Cap's statement is catching up with him have an offended scowl in no seconds flat. "And they are not half my age. Two-thirds. At least." Okay Tony good 2 kno you can still delude yourself in this AU.

[efficacy]

"Oh, I was definitely surprised," Pepper tells Tony, smirking wryly even a she leans against his side. Along with few other emotions, but never mind that now. Her smirk grows a little at Steve's admonishment, drawing no little amount of amusement from it.

"I guess someone had to make that sacrifice," she smiles in response to Steve's grateful words, but there's such warmth in her tone and in her eyes when she glances at Tony and kisses his cheek gently that nobody could ever doubt her devotion to him.