wynnesome (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stargraven) wrote2022-07-06 04:48 am
stargraven) wrote2022-07-06 04:48 am
Entry tags:
Ficlet: 2022 SteveTony Games Fill (Team Kill) -- The Date Not Taken
[FICLET] The Date Not Taken
Team Kill fill for the 2022 SteveTony Games (![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
stevetonygames )
Work Type: Fic (483 words)
Universe: 616
Bingo Square: First Date
Challenge: Time Runs Out
Work time: 12:34-1:31am
In Tony Stark: Iron Man #4 (2018), Tony causes a furor by posting a dating profile that's open to both men and women. He later reveals that this was purely for the purpose of bringing down the servers of rival tech firm Baintronics, the owner of the Make-A-Match app, by overloading them with as many responses as possible. As soon as that's accomplished, he takes down the profile and publicly announces that he is "off the market." In the comic, he then starts dating Janet van Dyne. In this ficlet, Steve sees the profile and thinks it's his chance with Tony. This is a pretty fluffy piece -- by Team Kill standards.
"You're the one who posted the profile."
"You're the one who answered it."
The whole world had been buzzing. Trending. Tony Stark's Make-A-Match profile had been open to both men and women.
"I... um... it was supposed to be that overload-of-service error thing, right? The more replies the better? So I was one more."
"You mean, DDOS?" Tony asks drily. Then softens."You didn't know," he says, and it's gentle with just a drop of pity. "You didn't know it wasn't real."
It had been do or die, Steve had thought. Some moments are turning points. You jump, or you lose your chance, like that poem with the two paths. Steve has always been one who prefers any regrets to come from his actions -- not from his failure to act.
He gives a curt shake of his head. His lips are pinched. Of course he's embarrassed. Tony's being kind about it, but that's just as much worse as better.
"Steve." Tony's hand is on his shoulder. He battles the urge to shake it off. He wants to want to. But he doesn't. "If I wanted to let you know I was interested in you..." Tony sighs, and then his hand, the warm grounding weight of it, is gone. "I'd be man enough to take the risk and tell you myself."
A flash of anger sizzles through Steve. "So you think it was cowardly of me to do it on the site, is that what you're saying?"
"Dammit, Steve." Tony shoves a hand through his hair. "I'm saying I'd have made a move. Like you did. You saw an opportunity and you took it. It's not your fault it was a--"
"A lie?"
"A pretense, a ploy... With purpose, but yes, a loud, very public lie. I lied to the world. I wouldn't lie to you."
"It's fine, Tony. I get it. I know you had good reason. I'm sorry I made a fool of myself."
"You didn't--" Tony sighs again. "Look, for what it's worth? I'm genuinely flattered. More than that -- honored. You're the best, Steve. None finer."
"Only as fine as you." Steve blinks an extra few times.
"So we're... okay, right?" Tony asks. "You don't hate me? Still friends?"
"Friends, partners. Avengers. Always."
Tony holds out his right hand, and Steve clasps it, but instead of shaking, Tony pulls him in. The hug is short but close, with a firm stroke down his back. It could be salt in the wound, a reminder of what he can't have, but it's not. It's just Tony. When they step back, they're both smiling, and it aches but doesn't cut.
"Thanks, Tony. See you 'round?"
"See you 'round." Tony grabs his suit jacket off the chair and turns, gets a few steps away, and looks back over his shoulder. "I'll tell you what though, Steve. It would have been a hell of a first date."
Team Kill fill for the 2022 SteveTony Games (
stevetonygames ) Work Type: Fic (483 words)
Universe: 616
Bingo Square: First Date
Challenge: Time Runs Out
Work time: 12:34-1:31am
In Tony Stark: Iron Man #4 (2018), Tony causes a furor by posting a dating profile that's open to both men and women. He later reveals that this was purely for the purpose of bringing down the servers of rival tech firm Baintronics, the owner of the Make-A-Match app, by overloading them with as many responses as possible. As soon as that's accomplished, he takes down the profile and publicly announces that he is "off the market." In the comic, he then starts dating Janet van Dyne. In this ficlet, Steve sees the profile and thinks it's his chance with Tony. This is a pretty fluffy piece -- by Team Kill standards.
"You're the one who posted the profile."
"You're the one who answered it."
The whole world had been buzzing. Trending. Tony Stark's Make-A-Match profile had been open to both men and women.
"I... um... it was supposed to be that overload-of-service error thing, right? The more replies the better? So I was one more."
"You mean, DDOS?" Tony asks drily. Then softens."You didn't know," he says, and it's gentle with just a drop of pity. "You didn't know it wasn't real."
It had been do or die, Steve had thought. Some moments are turning points. You jump, or you lose your chance, like that poem with the two paths. Steve has always been one who prefers any regrets to come from his actions -- not from his failure to act.
He gives a curt shake of his head. His lips are pinched. Of course he's embarrassed. Tony's being kind about it, but that's just as much worse as better.
"Steve." Tony's hand is on his shoulder. He battles the urge to shake it off. He wants to want to. But he doesn't. "If I wanted to let you know I was interested in you..." Tony sighs, and then his hand, the warm grounding weight of it, is gone. "I'd be man enough to take the risk and tell you myself."
A flash of anger sizzles through Steve. "So you think it was cowardly of me to do it on the site, is that what you're saying?"
"Dammit, Steve." Tony shoves a hand through his hair. "I'm saying I'd have made a move. Like you did. You saw an opportunity and you took it. It's not your fault it was a--"
"A lie?"
"A pretense, a ploy... With purpose, but yes, a loud, very public lie. I lied to the world. I wouldn't lie to you."
"It's fine, Tony. I get it. I know you had good reason. I'm sorry I made a fool of myself."
"You didn't--" Tony sighs again. "Look, for what it's worth? I'm genuinely flattered. More than that -- honored. You're the best, Steve. None finer."
"Only as fine as you." Steve blinks an extra few times.
"So we're... okay, right?" Tony asks. "You don't hate me? Still friends?"
"Friends, partners. Avengers. Always."
Tony holds out his right hand, and Steve clasps it, but instead of shaking, Tony pulls him in. The hug is short but close, with a firm stroke down his back. It could be salt in the wound, a reminder of what he can't have, but it's not. It's just Tony. When they step back, they're both smiling, and it aches but doesn't cut.
"Thanks, Tony. See you 'round?"
"See you 'round." Tony grabs his suit jacket off the chair and turns, gets a few steps away, and looks back over his shoulder. "I'll tell you what though, Steve. It would have been a hell of a first date."