Cottage Cheese

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

As lively as he felt these days, it felt right to give his beloved a lively greeting. A little light show from above to get his attention and a rapid descent to join his side. He wasn’t one to be completely outdone when it sounded as if Thor had something special in mind.

“Don’t keep me in suspense.” Before he could descend completely, he positioned himself to sit on the massive man’s shoulder.

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[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“In videos. In pictures.” Tony slowly slid from Thor’s embrace, itching to roam about the humble beginnings.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor allows Tony to break free. "I don't think any of them could do it justice," he says, watching Tony as he wanders. "It's one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen across the Nine Realms."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“In the universe?” Blinking where Thor couldn’t see his expression as he stared down the mounted painting, it was hard for even a genius like himself to imagine what spectacles waited in the final frontier.

[st_ormbreaker]

"One of them, yes," Thor says. He briefly watches as Tony eyes the painting, then glances out the window at the sunlight filtering in through the torn sheets that made their makeshift curtains. "Sovereign is beautiful, but so perfect that you find it eerie. When Nidavellir flares up, it is so tremendous that you feel small and insignificant. And then you have Earth and its aurora borealis."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Eerie. There was a word, but not the one he was looking for—surreal. Yes, that was a good word for dating Ziggy Stardust. Tony spun halfway around, torso twisting atop his hips to regard Thor’s profile.

[st_ormbreaker]

When Tony doesn't respond, Thor turns to look at him, only to discover Tony's focus is already right on him. "What?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

When Thor turned to look back, Tony let his torso pop back into place to face the painting, grinning widely where Thor, again, couldn’t see.

“Nothing.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor blinks. "You're being weird," he comments from where he stands. "What are you up to?" He is pretty sure Tony is up to something.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“Where’s the painting from?” Tony glibly inquired, gesturing right at it.

[st_ormbreaker]

Oh.

"Rogers made it for us," Thor answers. "Do you like it?" He can't exactly tell.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Oh.

What?

“Us?” Not bothering to hide his naked doubt as he pivoted to face the large man, Tony squinted. “Does he...know?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"About us?" Thor blinks. "I'm not sure. I suppose he might."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Suddenly sheepish, Tony pivoted back around to preoccupy himself with the painting. It occured to him that while Tony had certainly been rather friendly with their mutual teammate in Steve's presence, he'd somehow held back from ever speaking of it or making any obvious showing about the nature of their relationship.

Was he avoiding the judgement? 'Since when has that stopped me?' Was he somehow embarrassed? 'I ripped open his shirt to show off his abs. More than once.'

No, nothing like that. But he simply, on a visceral level...didn't want Steve to know. Or, that, he didn't feel as if he should.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor is entirely sure how to broach Tony's lack of a verbal reaction; he feels a little like he's searching for answers in the dark. He winds up stumbling into the most obvious conclusion.

"I didn't tell him anything," he says. "I just asked him if he could do a painting for me and he said yes." Hopefully, that provides Tony with some level of assurance, though Steve could have just as easily deduced their relationship from any number of clues that cropped up since his arrival. "If you don't want him to know, he doesn't need to know."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“It’s not that.” Tony insisted defensively. It was, however, precisely that.

[st_ormbreaker]

"I'm not upset about it," Thor reassures him, in case Tony is saying it for his benefit. "When Fandral and I were sleeping together, I had him promoted to my aide-de-camp so Odin had nothing to suspect when he visited my tent at night."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“Hey, I said that’s not it.” Tony raised his voice at the painting, breaking up the stiff knot of his arms to warm his hands in his pockets.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor shifts his weight from one foot to the other. "What is it, then?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“I like it.” Moving right on, Tony patted the upside down pieces of unfinished furnishings. “The place. I like it.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor folds his arms over his chest and watches as Tony wanders the room. "Does that mean you don't want to talk about it?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“More or less.” Occupying himself with the makeshift curtains, Tony fiddled with the fabric and draped it lightly over his head.

[st_ormbreaker]

"So should I say something to Rogers, or should I not?" Thor hadn't exactly been keeping it a secret, but he hadn't been hiding it, either. Now it's starting to sound like he needs to hide it without even knowing the reason why. "If it's because he harbors some feelings of affection for you, I think he can handle it."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Burning, Tony’s face was barely visible through the slightly opaque layers of cloth. “Highly doubt it, Point Break. Highly doubt it.” Sighing, the he released the cloth to let it fall away all at once.

“He was gonna find out with the ceremony anyway. Better sooner than later.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"We don't need to have a ceremony if it's going to bother you," Thor says. "We've already taken care of the important part."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“Beg to differ.” Tony pushed the curtains to the sides and lowered himself back to the windowsill. “It’s important to me.”