#will not bore you with the ongoings of my life but I've barely written anything new

[tinytonysnark]

Hey! You said to send in what numbers on the prompt list I’d live to see next! Honestly love them all and couldn’t decided. Would love to see 27 and 48 though! Love your writing! These prompts have been so good to read and I love how cute they are!!

27. Leaving a plate of food in the microwave for when they have a late shift. 

Steve’s been avoiding Tony for the last 2 weeks. 

Well, either that or he’s got a gambling addiction he’s managed to hide for the last 3 years and is now in serious debt because these are the only options Tony can think to explain why Steve’s picked up double shifts at both his jobs.

It gives him only a few hours to come home and basically pass out on their bed before groaning himself awake, leaving Tony with a quick peck goodbye and a “Love you!” shouted to him from the door. 

It’s the “Love you’s” that are giving him pause though, keeping him from completely breaking down on the phone to Rhodey over the familiar patterns cropping up and ugly thoughts swimming through his head because this - this is like those last few weeks with Ty all over again.

The suddenly extremely busy schedule, the pulling away, the less than 10 words being exchanged in a day, a suspicious amount of phone calls -and who even calls anymore? -with Steve whispering his responses into the receiver and Tony is just about at his wits end because he doesn’t think Steve would ever cheat on him - but he’d thought that with Ty too, and we all know how that turned out.

So here he is, pacing around their tiny apartment with the clock on the mantle that is always ahead by 2 minutes ticking, ticking, ticking - when the door opens at 10.28pm and the argument that had been brewing on the tip of his tongue dies.

Steve’s hair and clothes are damp, the bags under his eyes have never been more pronounced and his shoulders are so slumped that Sarah would whack him with a rolled up newspaper if she saw him - Tony knows that for a fact, he’s seen it happen. 

Tony wraps his arms around himself, feet fidgeting where he’s come to a standstill. “Hey.”

Steve startles, dropping his keys onto the hardwood - and that is the true testament to how tired Steve is because he’s almost always alert. Tony’s managed to really catch him off guard maybe 6 times since they’ve known each other in the last 4 years.

“Hey, baby,” Steve says, picking up his keys. “Didn’t see you there.”

“That’s unsurprising, you can barely open your eyes,” Tony says, taking Steve’s bag from him. 

He gets a soft smile and affectionate kiss to his temple for it and feels the familiar sting of tears forming. “I, uh, I left some dinner in the microwave for you,” he says, walking to the kitchen, surreptitiously wiping at his eyes. 

“Ugh, you’re an angel,” Steve says, opening up the microwave. He pulls out the plate and frowns. “You cooked chicken tikka?”

“Yeah, I stopped by the bodega on the way home,” he shrugs. “Can’t afford to keep ordering out anyway.”

Steve frowns harder, putting the plate back in the microwave and setting it to 50 seconds before moving to stand in front of Tony. “What’s wrong?”

“What? Nothing - there’s nothing wrong,” Tony stutters. 

“Your mom’s tikka recipe is your ultimate comfort food, Tony. What’s got you upset?” he asks, cupping Tony’s cheek with a warm palm and Tony just - he can’t - 

He steps out of reach and Steve’s face seems permanently set in a frown now, hand still outstretched. “Tony?”

“I - If you’re going to end things with me, then I’d rather you just do it instead of whatever the hell this is. Just - Just rip the band-aid off! Stop with the love you’s and the touches and the knowing me so well down to the comfort food! Just - just say it.”

Tony’s chest is heaving, whether from the indignation or from the sobs building in his lungs, he isn’t sure.

“End things? I don’t want - Hey, Tony,” Steve says, walking forward and cupping both of Tony’s cheeks so he can look into his eyes. “Baby, I don’t know what’s been going on in that head of yours, but listen to me, I do not want to break up with you. Not now, not ever. It’s the opposite, in fact”

“Then - then what the hell has been going on these last few weeks Steve? Why are you running yourself into the ground? Did we miscalculate with our finances or - I thought we were doing okay so - what? What do you mean the opposite?”

Steve thumbs stop stroking Tony’s cheek, sighing, “This really isn’t how I wanted to do this, - I mean, there was a plan. Extravagant bouquet of flowers and expensive restaurant type plans - but the very idea of you thinking for a minute that I’m going to break up with you is nightmare inducing so,” Steve reaches into his back pocket while slowly lowering himself to one knee and oh - oh, oh holy deity - 

“Tony, I knew I loved you from the moment I met you. These last 3 years have been the happiest years of my life and the very idea of ever ending this - this wonderful, maddening, roller coaster of a journey with you frankly makes me want to break out in hives. You’re the most amazing, beautiful and brilliant person I know, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t thank the universe for thinking I’m worthy of you so-” there’s a box in Steve’s hand, and there’s a ring in that box -there’s a diamond ring in Steve’s hand - holy - 

“Tony, will you marry me?” 

Tony thinks his bones have turned to liquid because he’s suddenly on his knees, kissing Steve and tasting salt.  

“Is that a yes?” Steve asks, laughter in his voice with a smile so bright it warms Tony to the core.

Tony stamps kisses all over Steve’s face as an answer.