soft boys

Ari | 20 | she/her | my AO3

[arabellamonkey]

all my fics below the cut! mainly stevetony so far, both Tony and Steve!Centric. some links are for ao3 and some for tumblr 🧡

asks open for everything and anything stevetony and prompts! <3

my ao3

MULTI-CHAPTERED

there's a place | kid fic, coffeeshop au (sort of)

If someone had told Steve just a few days before that he would end up adopting his neighbour's child, he would have dismissed that as a bad joke. Sure, he had been spending more and more time taking care of Peter since his aunt had fallen ill, but that didn't mean he was going to do something that drastic.

But then again, if someone had told him he would be forced to look for a new job and end up meeting Tony Stark in a broken elevator precisely because of that... Well, he would have laughed.

Yet, that's exactly what happened

date to dream about you | college au, a/b/o

“So, what are you going to do? You can’t hire someone to go with you to couple therapy. That’d be— wait,” Rhodey said, blinking quickly when he noticed the thoughtful expression Tony was displaying. “Tones, no, that’s fucking crazy.”

The bell rang at that moment, and Tony went to open the street door to the delivery guy as he said, “and what other options do I have, huh? I can’t exactly find an alpha to date and automatically ask him to start the relationship going to couple therapy. That would be even crazier than hiring someone!”

“I don’t know, man…” his friend said, following him with his gaze from the living room. “Do you really want to carry this lie that far?”

“Yes,” Tony said, pining Rhodey with his intense gaze as the elevator’s door opened behind him. “That’s exactly what I want to do.”

Rhodey sighed heavily as Tony turned around to smile at the delivery guy.

“Hi, guys,” Steve said.

ONE-SHOTS

bird set free | a/b/o, toxic relationship

It's been five months since omega Steve ran away from his alpha, five long months of being the talk of the town. At this point, no one —not even Steve— expects him to have a chance at finding a mate, so it's a big shock for everyone when Tony Stark shows up at his door and asks to court him.

the proposal challenge | idiots in love, lots of shenanigans

Tony decides on a Monday he wants to propose to Steve, only to find out that Steve has the same idea in mind. Somehow, without meaning to, their week turns into a competition to have the best proposal idea. Only, by the time their weekly Friday date arrives, none of them have made a move and both of them are very tired.

Will they manage to propose at all?

on one condition | getting together, kittens

Ever since Steve met Tony, he's known about the one rule in the Tower - no pets. And while he doesn't know the reason behind it, he obeys it like everyone else. Until Christmas Eve arrives and he and Bucky find a kitten in a box in an alley near the Tower. What will happen when Tony finds out? Will the tiny paws possibly path the way to something else for Steve and Tony?

in a good way | pregnant!Tony, gentle alpha!Steve

Steve prides himself on being pretty used to his omega's antics and thinks he no longer can be surprised by them. But when Tony starts taking his coffee with sugar and gathering lots of blankets all of a sudden, he can't help but wonder whether all that is Tony being Tony or whether he's missing something else.

the new old | steve and the 21st century, videogames

When Clint finds an old Mario Kart game and Steve doesn't get why Tony's so excited about it. Until he does.

memories that last forever | soft hour, Steve remebers his mum

Tony sighed, turning around all the way and asking with a tired, raspy voice, “Why am I hugging a pillow on Christmas Eve, Rogers?”

Or, Steve can't sleep and Tony asks him to tell him a story about his mom

what does a baby care for oaths and pledges? | baby peter and overwhelmed dad!steve

Steve and Tony have just returned home from the hospital after having their son Peter and Steve's feeling very emotional while watching him sleep.

right here (at my fingertips) | lovesick puppy steve

After decades used to a longing heart, Steve realizes he finally has everything he needs right there (at his fingertips).

your eyes look like coming home | lovesick puppy steve

Where steve wants to return home, only to finally realize he's already there.

it's nice to have a friend | protective steve, hurt tony

Steve has seen Tony injured many times, more than he could care to count. And of course, he doesn’t like to see Tony hurt, but when it happens in the context of a battle everything he can do is check out he’s alright in every other way and leave him be. He doesn’t like it, but he knows he doesn’t have a right to do anything else.

But when one night Tony stumbles into the kitchen just as Steve was about to leave, something dark and purple covering his left cheek, Steve sees red.

still heroes | retired superhusbands, fairies

Retired Steve and Tony realize they still have the ability to help others, even if it's on a much smaller scale.

it always leads to you | famous tony, bodyguard steve

After breaking up five years ago because of heavy miscommunication, Steve gets assigned to be Tony's personal bodyguard.

you have me now | hurt steve, gentle tony, mutual pining

Steve has a bad night and Tony is just a call away.

that's an order | love confessions, getting together

Tony suddenly starts obeying orders and Steve has lots of questions

about last night | mutual pining, love confessions

Tony attempts to apologize to Steve for all the things he said the night before, only to find out Steve isn't angry, but rather the opposite.

love sees loveliness (written with @meidui and @omg-just-peachy) | pining steve, fluff and humor

In which every attempt at getting rid of Steve's crush on Tony only makes it worse.

[ifmywishescametrue]

the secret of us - an original work

now on ao3!

i wrote this from 2023-2024, hoping to publish. i've since decided not to pursue that route (with this particular work, at least), but i refuse to let it die on my laptop. so here it is!

it's 33 chapters of everything i love - fake relationships, movies stars and athletes, and falling in love in slow motion. i hope you'll like these two boys as much as i do 💕

also, a special thank you to @soliloquent-stark for beta reading!!!

[firawren]

I love how former Star Wars director Rian Johnson showcased both the light and dark sides of a religion in Wake Up Dead Man. This is expressed both visually in how the cinematography plays with light and has it shift dramatically in a number of key scenes, but most importantly, it's expressed thematically in how the film condemns the corrupting and harmful aspects of Christianity at the same time that it celebrates the core tenet of grace that Christianity is built on.

The theme of grace is most glaring in the character Grace, of course, who was never shown grace in her life by her family or church, and then is finally given it at the end by her condemner Martha. But I like the smaller graces shown throughout the film too, like Jud taking time to console Louise on the phone, showing her that loving grace when he started out so impatient with her. That was one of the best parts of the whole film.

And I like how even the non-religious character Benoit Blanc gives grace. He's willing to humble himself and pretend he can't solve the case all so that Martha can give her confession in the way that's important to her as a woman of faith, even though he doesn't have any faith of his own. He sacrifices his pride for her, even though she's a murderer and doesn't deserve it. Because that's what grace is about, showing love even when it's not deserved. Choosing kindness over justice. It was beautiful.

So even though Jud, with his dark hair in his black priest garb, and Blanc, with his light hair in his light suit whose name literally means "white," are set up as opposing sides, even at the very end, still opposed in their beliefs, neither one swayed in their faith or loyalty to their side, they are shown as unified in their core values and who they are as kind people. They respect each other and complement each other and make each other stronger. Again, such a beautiful balance and beautiful message on how we can love and work together with people who may seem very different from us.

[crazysandwich]

MCU Fic Recs #8

Here’s the eighth part of my MCU fic rec series! These are some of my personal favorites from what I’ve read this past several weeks.

I know I haven’t posted in a while, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped reading fanfics (hahaha, like I ever would). I was traveling and couldn’t post here, but I’ve been keeping track of everything in my notes so I could eventually share it with you.

So, here it is. This one’s a big one, with more recs than usual. It includes my usual ship mix like John Walker/Bucky Barnes, Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark, and of course Stony(lots of it). But the main focus this time has definitely been on A/B/O dynamics and arranged marriage fics, which somehow ended up being my main comfort reads these past weeks.

Huge thanks to the amazing authors for their incredible work, you make the MCU fandom such a joy to be part of <3 <3 <3 @avengersasssemble @hashtagleh @arabellamonkey @27dragons @festiveferret @iam93percentstardust @ayapandagirl @claudia-flies

Hope you enjoy these recs. I definitely recommend checking them out!

Mine by instinct by This_Marvel_Bunch

Relationship: James "Bucky" Barnes/John Walker

Relevant tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Undercover Missions, Possessive Behavior, Alpha Bucky Barnes, Omega John Walker (Marvel), Enemies to Lovers, Protective Bucky Barnes, Non-Consensual Kissing, Dubious Consent

Summary: John has to go on an undercover mission where he has to pretend that he is married. Normally it wouldn't be a problem but with a body that has decided to stop cooperating with his mind and his supposed mate on the mission being the one and only James Buchanan Barnes, the only Alpha who is able to sooth him these days but has been avoiding him for a reason unknown to him ------ it all feels like a cruel joke.

thousand words (between the lines)

Relationship: James "Bucky" Barnes/John Walker

Relevant tags: Post-Canon, Anxiety, Whump, Hurt/Comfort, John Walker Needs A Hug (Marvel), Blood and Injury, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Getting Together, Sexual Content, Bottom John Walker (Marvel), Angst with a Happy Ending

Summary: ’It’s an article. One of those shitty, badly formatted click-baits and this time the headline screams at him: ’BURIED HATCHET? SUPRISING TENDERNESS ON THE BATTLE FIELD’

John chokes on his coffee.’

In which people take sneaky photos of Bucky and John post-fights. Meanwhile John’s half-way in love anyway and has a very low self-esteem, and Bucky just wants John to stop doing stupid shit. And maybe kiss him stupid.

A Prime, Divided by avengersasssemble

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Warlord steve, Prince Tony - Freeform, Baby Peter, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Steve, Omega Tony, Omega Peter, Superfamily (Marvel), Language Barrier, Forced Relationship, Falling In Love, Enemies to Lovers, Graphic Violence Away, Howard Stark's A+ Parenting, Bathing/Washing, Hand Feeding, Massages, Sick Tony, Scenting, Misunderstandings, Hurt/Comfort, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Sharing a Bed, Getting Together, Explicit Sexual Content, Knotting, Dirty Talk, Aftercare, Awkward Conversations, Feral Behavior, Nonsexual dubcon, Outdoor Sex, Drunk-like Behavior, Found Family, Bottom Steve, Bottom Tony, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Assassination, Family Dynamics

Summary: Facing his and his infant son's possible death sentence, young prince Tony runs away to the only place where his father would dare not follow: the Northern Territories, known to house the most savage and brutal Alphas--including their bloodthirsty leader, the Prime Alpha. Forced to navigate fatherhood and diplomacy while being unable to speak the Northern language, Tony has to make decisions to save his son, even at his own expense.

just like binary stars by ArabellaAM, Fluffypanda

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Warlord Steve Rogers, King Tony Stark, Alternate Universe - Medieval, Language Barrier, Slow Burn, Getting Together, Falling In Love, Post-Serum Steve Rogers, Prisoner of War

Summary: Tony's kingdom has been at war with the northern barbarians since before he was born. When his men finally capture one of them, Tony's ready for everything: he's ready to learn their language, to get all the information he can about them and to finally win this war.

But falling in love with one of them? That's the one thing he wasn't ready for.

Freedom in These Bonds by 27dragons

Relationship: James "Bucky" Barnes/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Arranged Marriage, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Omega Tony Stark, Alpha Bucky Barnes, Howard Stark's A+ Parenting, Virgin Tony Stark, Sex, Anal Sex, Knotting, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Fainting, Steve Rogers Is a Good Bro, Jealousy, James "Rhodey" Rhodes Is a Good Bro, Domestic Violence

Summary: Tony’s been accepted to M.I.T., which only admits a small percentage of omegas each year. He can’t wait to get there, to stretch his intellect and broaden his horizons. There’s only one small wrinkle: omega students have to be married.

The River by Claudia_flies

Relationship: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers

Relevant tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Historical, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Alpha!Steve, Omega!Bucky, Alpha!Becca, Protective Siblings, Angst, Body Horror, Dubious Consent, Violence, Arranged Marriage

Summary: The river had always been the boundary of their world. The boundary between their world and the world of others, of danger and kidnappings, of people who “are not like us” their mother had always said.

Or: A medieval fantasy a/o/b AU

Treasured by HashtagLEH

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Steve Rogers, Omega Tony Stark, Shibari, Rope Bondage, Tribute Tony, Power Imbalance, Warlord Steve Rogers, Hydra, Scenting, Dubious Consent, Language Barrier, Mutual Masturbation, Protective Steve Rogers, Possessive Steve Rogers, Happy Ending

Summary: No one in Manhattan spoke their language – or at least, no one fessed up to it – and so all of the negotiating was done with Natasha acting as translator. Steve didn’t think it mattered, because he had told the ones who would leave the ship earlier that day that he had no intention of accepting any treaty, that they would lay siege to this city before the week was out.

But then Natasha stilled beside him at something that Stane had said to them, and Steve focused in, more alert. Something was wrong, he could feel it, but he didn’t know what with everyone speaking what may as well be gibberish all around him.

“He offers an unmated, untouched Omega,” she told him, not taking her eyes from the bald man at the other end of the table.

An unmated – what? He wanted to trade an Omega? Did he not have any idea of an Omega’s value? Surely his resources would be better spent whisking the Omega away to safety before the city was set to waste.

Natasha was looking to him for direction, confirmation, he didn’t know. So he told her, his voice placid and even and giving nothing away. “Accept the negotiations. Don’t let on that I want that Omega the most."

My Boys by IronDadStan

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Protective Steve Rogers, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Bodyguard Steve Rogers, Alpha Steve Rogers, Omega Tony Stark, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Matchmaking, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Peter Parker is Tony Stark's Biological Child, Hurt/Comfort, slight sexy times, mentions of gun shot violence

Summary: Steve is assigned as the bodyguard to omega Tony Stark and his son. Through fluff and angst we watch as Peter subtly plays matchmaker and Steve does everything he can to keep his boys safe,

everything the heart desires by ArabellaAM

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Alternate Universe - Regency, Alternate Universe - Royalty, Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, Single Parent Tony Stark, Peter Parker is Tony Stark's Biological Child, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Steve Rogers, Omega Tony Stark, Musician Tony Stark, Protective Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers Feels, Alternate Universe - Historical, Historical Inaccuracy, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Parent Tony Stark, Tony Stark-centric

Summary: Bridgerton AU (kind of!)

Omega!Tony is a new pianist that's just started working on this season's London balls. It's not what he wants to do, but it pays well, and money is important as a single parent when he has a two-year-old at home. Alpha!Steve is the heir of the Rogers' title, but that's not the only thing he's known for: in all the years he's been the most coveted bachelor, he's never been seen dancing with anyone at the balls, and is rumored to have sworn off marriage.

He thought so too, at least until he crosses his gaze with that pianist for the first time.

Then, everything changes.

Looking for Heaven by foxxcub

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Regency Romance, Alternate Universe - Regency, Marriage of Convenience, Marvel characters talking like Jane Austen

Summary: When young Lord Anthony Stark learns Steven Rogers has enlisted in the army, he thinks he's seen the last of his tiny, headstrong, haughty stable boy. But four years later, Lord Stark gets an unexpected visit from Steve, whose mother has fallen gravely ill and into financial ruin. Even more unexpected, Steve agrees to a shocking proposal: they will marry, giving Steve the necessary funds to save his mother, and Tony the much-needed reprieve from harassing would-be suitors. It is a business arrangement, nothing more. But as time goes on and circumstances arise, Tony begins to learn that keeping his heart away from his husband is easier said than done.

Love Match by FestiveFerret

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Alternate Universe - Regency, Regency Romance, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, period language, courting, Pining, Misunderstandings, Love, Marriage, Romance, Pragmatic Tony, romantic steve, Alpha Steve Rogers, Omega Tony Stark

Summary: Tony had but one goal for the season: secure a marriage proposal from an alpha with the position and means enough to remove him from his father's house. Love was wholly irrelevant to the matter.

Brave new world by itsallAvengers

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Howard Stark Lives, And is Unsurprisingly Still A Gigantic Asshole, Steve Rogers Feels, Tony Stark Feels, Hurt Tony Stark, Steve Rogers Needs a Hug, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Howard Stark's A+ Parenting, Past Child Abuse, Tony Stark Has a Heart, Emotional Manipulation, Gaslighting, Sort Of, Howard's Just A Douche Basically

Summary: When Steve is defrosted early by Howard Stark, who dedicated his retirement to searching for Captain America, he's feeling rather lost in the world that has moved on without him. But Howard is happy to help, he gives him a place to stay and a friendly face, and for that Steve is grateful.

He also tells Steve that under no circumstances must he go near his son, Tony Stark. According to Howard, the man is a nasty piece of work. And really, it's not like Howard would lie to him, right?

Wrong.

Bewitched, Body and Soul by iam93percentstardust

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Relevant tags: Alternate Universe - Regency, Arranged Marriage, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Steve Rogers, Omega Tony Stark, Mutual Pining, Childhood Friends, Falling In Love, Explicit Sexual Content, Fluff and Angst, But mostly fluff, Dancing Lessons, Stargazing

Summary: Almost ten years after joining the British Army, Steve Rogers returns to his childhood home after his mother's death. The house seems quiet in a way that it's rarely been. But the peace is shattered when his oldest friend stumbles into his home and into his life, seeking an escape from an arranged marriage to a cruel lord. Steve provides that escape but finds himself engaged to be married instead. This wouldn't be a problem - except that Steve is, always has been, and always will be deeply in love with Tony Stark.

[sabrecmc]

Eat Your Feelings--A Valentine's Day Fic

For deehellcat on the Stony Discord: based on the idea of the zoo's Valentine's fundraiser where you can name a bug after your ex and watch it get eaten. This somehow leads to declarations of true love.

A worm

Seriously?

Ngl that stings

Steve stared down at the text, sighed, and scraped a hand through his hair. It had been a pipe dream to hope that Tony wouldn’t find out, but he hadn’t expected to happen in real time. He glanced over at the television where a reporter was live on scene at the Minnesota Zoo giving a play by play on the Valentine’s Day fundraiser, a report that had begun benignly enough, but when it was announced that someone had named one of the crawly little sacrifices ‘Stark’, it had kind of become, well, a thing. 

The live feed had now made its way to several Youtube channels and somehow gotten picked up by Fox News, where a blonde woman was currently speculating which of Tony’s many exes may have decided to serve his unfortunate stand-in up for a hedgehog’s lunch. 

It wasn’t me, Steve texted back, wincing a bit because it practically screamed guilty conscience. It was true enough, though he suspected that it wasn’t exactly as if he was entirely unrelated to the current situation, considering he had gotten an email from the Minnesota Zoo explaining how a donation had been made in his honor.  Not to mention Bucky and Sam giving him grief for turning down yet another attempt at a set-up. He just wasn’t interested in dating right now, that was all. He had to focus on finishing the pieces for the exhibition, not finding out more about Derrick the gym bro’s protein powder routine. It had nothing to do with breaking things off with Tony. 

Sorry, he added. 

Steve looked back at the screen on the gym wall, where the reporter was, entirely too gleefully in Steve’s opinion, pointing out the hedgehog currently chomping its way through what had been a Chad and an Aaron.  Meanwhile, Stark the worm was slowly inching its way along the glass side of the hedgehog’s enclosure. As Steve watched, the camera zoomed in, and the worm slithered down into a tiny groove along the glass where the faux grass bottom of the enclosure met the edge. It then pushed itself along the groove with what Steve was fairly sure was breakneck speed for a worm.

You’re escaping, Steve texted. Of course, he was, Steve thought with a soft smile. 

A moment later, Tony replied with an image of Mel Gibson in blue face paint from Braveheart, yelling, ‘Freedom!’

The hedgehog waddled over to where Stark was trundling along the edge of the glass and nosed at him. 

“I think our fuzzy friend here has finally caught Mr. Stark! Something no one else can say,” the reporter bleated with a nasal laugh. Steve’s smile drooped. “Oh, no, no, it looks like--Kenny, can you zoom in closer?--look at this, folks you are not going to believe it! Stark is going out that tiny hole there at the corner, do you see that? There he goes!” 

They’ll never catch me

I, for one, welcome our new worm overlord, Steve replied, then, after a moment’s hesitation, added, you’re a hard one to catch.

Three dots indicating Tony was replying lit up Steve’s phone screen for a long time, as if Tony was writing a novel or deleting his reply over and over. 

Dammit, Steve silently cursed at himself, grinding his fist against his forehead. He shouldn’t have said anything. Why hadn’t he just let it go? They were doing their usual casual text thing. This was what they did these days. Now, he’d made it weird. 

“Kenny, can you get this? Stark is using that wire that connects to the enclosure’s heating lamp to escape, and it looks like he just might make it! Unbelievable, folks. A true Valentine’s Miracle,” the reporter cooed on the television. Steve pushed the remote’s button to turn it off, and the screen went blessedly blank. 

Well, probably the worm thing made it weird first. 

The three dots danced on Steve’s phone screen, then, finally, words appeared in their stead.

You did

Steve frowned. What the hell was that supposed to mean? The break-up, if that’s what you called it, had been mutual. Amicable. Incredibly, life-alteringly painful for Steve, sure, but amicable. They weren’t right for each other, and when it became clear that the whole ‘just amazing sex’ thing was not going to be enough and he had somehow caught feelings for Tony Stark of all people--incredibly smart, suave, rich, and very confirmed bachelor--Steve had known it was time. 

They’d both agreed--well, Steve definitely remembered Tony saying yes, he understood, it was fine, he got it. World’s apart, moved in different circles, lots of those kinds of words had been--amicably--said. It had hurt, but they both agreed, it was the smart move. Steve even remembered Tony saying exactly that. Smart move. Good call. That’s what Tony had said at the time. 

Except, then, what the hell did Tony’s text mean? You did. Did what? Caught him? The idea of it seemed entirely inconceivable, if Steve was honest with himself. They’d been…he wasn’t even sure what they had been. Fuck buddies seemed way too flippant, but they hadn’t been dating or anything, just…hanging out. Hanging out at galleries and restaurants (and one time hanging out in Paris), sure, but…hanging out. It hadn’t been serious. Steve had known that going in.  

And then they stopped hanging out. But Steve had never had Tony. Not really, not--not the way that--not like that, the way someone is yours, when it’s something real, when it’s…when it’s the kind of relationship where you--where the people are in love. 

It hadn’t been like that, of course. Not even close. Sure, Steve had feelings, which is why it had to stop. That wasn’t what Tony was looking for from Steve, and it wasn’t fair to try to pull him into a relationship he didn’t want. Thus…amicable. 

Except…except…Steve’s mind stuttered, looking down at Tony’s text. What was that supposed to mean, then?

Did I? Steve asked finally, mainly because he couldn’t help himself. It could be read as a joke, he supposed. Just their usual banter. It was ambiguous enough, and it wasn’t like Tony could hear how loudly Steve’s heart was pounding as he typed those two words. 

The three dots appeared again. 

I so want to say you wormed your way in

Steve huffed out a surprised laugh, then waited, as the three blinking dots made his breath catch. 

You caught me. I couldn’t catch you, though. Tried. 

Steve blinked in confusion, his chest tightening. What? That--that wasn’t right, he frowned, shaking his head. He started to type, then stopped, and hit the video call button. 

Tony answered on the first ring, his face filling the phone screen, and Steve, nearly breathless, didn’t give him a chance to speak, too afraid that he wouldn’t be able to say what he suddenly, desperately needed to say to Tony. “Tony, you--you caught me. I was caught. So very, very caught. But, we weren’t--we weren’t in the same place. We broke up because I was falling in love with you, and you didn’t want that kind of relationship. That’s why we broke up.”

A long beat of silence echoed on the other end of the phone where Tony stared at him. “Well. That was an incredibly stupid reason to break up.” 

“It was?” Steve asked, pulling back in bewilderment. 

“Considering that I was absolutely head over heels in love with you, then yes,” Tony said, “Exceedingly stupid, I’d say.”

“You--what? You were--wait--when? How?” Steve stammered. 

“Since May second at three thirty-two AM,” Tony replied, his face softening. 

“Oddly specific, but okay,” Steve said. 

“I’d gotten up to work on something, and when I came back to bed, you were sleeping, and I thought, I want to come back to him forever. Admittedly, I immediately followed that thought with, oh shit, so not quite as romantic as it sounds,” Tony amended, wobbling his head back and forth with an apologetic wince. 

“So…just to be clear. You were in love with me. I was in love with you. And so we…broke up,” Steve recounted. 

“How have we not been asked to write a relationship book?” Tony asked, his eyes widening with a look of exaggerated confusion. 

“Boggles the mind,” Steve deadpanned, then sighed, aiming his eyes heavenward for a moment. “My best friend tried to get a worm version of you eaten on live TV for Valentine’s Day because I’m still in love with you and all mopey about it today. I think I could handle the chapter on Coping After a Break-Up.” 

Tony grinned widely. “Still, you say?”

“I did say that,” Steve acknowledged with a firm nod. “I don’t suppose you happen to have the rest of Valentine’s Day free, do you?” 

“Well,” Tony replied, drawing out the word, “I suppose there are really only two things on my agenda today. Spend it with the person I am ridiculously--seriously, it’s almost embarrassing--in love with,” he nodded deferentially towards Steve on the other side of the phone screen, “and make a very large donation to the Minnesota Zoo.” 

[arabellamonkey]

Hello my freind 👋

Please help my family and our children survive the genocide and find a new life away from death 🙏🥺

Please, donate, share, reblog to save our live 💔

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Stand-With-AlBalawi-Family

Sharing this in case any of my followers can donate. All my love to you and your family 💔

[meidui]

as you know, i am absolutely obsessed with 'seven years in heaven'. do you have any recommendations for similar fics where they teeter on the edge of a breakup or divorce, or where exes get back together? i'm looking for stories where the tension is all based on miscommunications and assumptions, and nobody is genuinely angry/there's no hate between them. i need that stupid yearning and longing when, in fact, they both still want each other. i've read a few but i can't get enough 😩✨

DO I EVER!! 🥰

In Too Deep by @fohatic

Steve knew that he was asking for trouble when he agreed to let the gallery auction off a date with him for charity, but he needed to get in the director's good books if he wanted to make it as an artist in this cutthroat town. He never imagined that his participation would ignite an outrageous bidding war, or that the infamous, billionaire ex that he hadn't seen since their sudden breakup two years prior would show up and stake his claim.

a *slightly* twisted, darker spin on meidui's "frequencies of sea and space"

frequencies of sea and space by meidui

“One mil,” a voice says, firmly, and Steve would recognise that voice anywhere. Like thick amber honey, like smoke from a fire, lighting him up and burning him down.

There are no higher bids.

Steve looks across the room and gazing back at him is the face he’s spent two years squeezing his eyes shut at night trying to block out, but those eyes meet his and it’s all over.

From the Ground Up by @omg-just-peachy

Tony and Steve broke up years ago and Tony never quite got over it. When they finally see each other again at Pepper's wedding, Rhodey convinces Tony this might just be his second chance.

Paint the Town Blue by @omg-just-peachy

Ten years since he’d seen or spoken to Tony Stark, ten years since they’d broken up to go away to school. And now this email. It could be his only chance to see Tony again.

I'll keep your brittle heart warm by @omg-just-peachy

They got married when they were young, just twenty-four years old, despite the arguments from their friends that they should wait, that neither of them were ready for a commitment like marriage so young. Steve distinctly remembered Sam pointing out that the male brain isn’t even fully developed until age twenty-five. But they were young and passionate, so sure they’d found their perfect person that they could overcome anything and everything life threw at them. 

And it was true.

For six months. 

it always leads to you by @arabellamonkey

Slowly at first, and then all of a sudden, everything made sense: the way Tony had looked at him that first time when Pepper had introduced them, the way his eyes were always searching for him everywhere they went, and how Tony had asked him about his suit, voice clearly flirty now that he thought about it again. And that smile, oh God, that smile… it had been the same he had given him all those years ago when they flirted in their kitchen. “Wait, you… you recognized me?” Steve asked, eyes wide and voice incredulous. Tony scoffed, expression still bemused, “don’t insult my intelligence, of course I did.” Steve stared at him, both eyebrows raised. “Okay, it might have taken me a few days to figure it out,” Tony ended up admitting.

*** Or, after breaking up five years ago because of heavy miscommunication, Steve gets assigned to be Tony's personal bodyguard.

dreamt of you all summer long by @ifmywishescametrue

Steve spends months after the breakup trying to forget Tony, but it never seems to work. That's alright, though, because Tony can't forget him either.

all I ever knew of love by @stovetuna

For six months, nobody knew that Tony Stark and Steve Rogers were dating.   Which means no one knows they broke up six weeks ago.

Catching Lightning in a Bottle by @sabrecmc

College student Tony meets janitor Steve at MIT and they fall blissfully in love, until Howard happens and things fall apart. One divorce paperwork snafu courtesy of the ever-helpful Jarvis, and ten years later, Tony has to get re-divorced from Steve.

This does not go as he imagines.

Or, the Sweet Home Alabama AU that no one--well, okay, a few of you--asked for.

Modern Love by @captainneverever

Tony drifts into a relationship with Steve after a one night stand. He thinks that Steve is modern and well adjusted to the 21st century but finds that Steve is old-fashioned in unexpected ways.

Captain Coffee by @captainneverever

Steve is content managing his own coffee shop and life is full with friends and neighbors. But an owner of big coffee chain pressures him to sell and someone from his past reappears. And now Steve needs to fight a bully, an ex, and himself to get his happy ending.

Never Worlds Apart by @kandisheek

It's been six years since he's seen Tony when he walks into his favorite diner and sees him sitting in their old booth, as if nothing ever happened. Steve can't believe the nerve of Tony to just show up out of the blue after the way he ended things.

Turns out Tony has a reason for wanting to make amends. And Steve doesn't appreciate only finding out about it after Tony has already almost died.

Plausible Deniability by nowalee

Tony and Steve broke up a month ago. Now, Tony is back because Fury wants him for an undercover mission. Only catch? Steve has to go with him, because the public doesn't know they broke up yet. It's a perfect cover.

And Tony can totally be alone on a mission with his ex who he isn't over yet. What could possibly go wrong?

You, Me and the Christmas Tree by @wikketkrikket

Steve thinks Tony is drinking. Tony thinks Steve is cheating. They both think their marriage is over. They are just going to give Peter one last family Christmas because he thinks everything is fine.

None of them are wrong, but none of them are right either. When Steve and Tony get snowed in together 3 days before Christmas, will the enforced proximity be the time they need to figure things out?

(Spoilers: yes, yes it will)

[not-close-to-straight]

Literally in love with bossy Steve

[arabellamonkey]

has anyone realized we're going to have Hayley Atwell (aka our dear Peggy) playing an actual aunt in Heartstopper????

sorrynotsorry every time she acts as an aunt to nick I'll be thinking of Tony I don't make the rules

[sabrecmc]

THE HOLDOVER--Steve Rogers/Tony Stark--Complete

When he was 17, Tony Stark had to spend the holiday break holding over at Phillips Academy in the company of Professor Rogers. Fifteen years later, Tony invites Steve for coffee.

[arabellamonkey]

i miss being here 🥺

[meidui]

steve takes home disabled dogs and tony makes prosthetics for them and one thing leads to another and they end up roping the whole team into running an adoption campaign

[meidui]

IF YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT THE AVENGERS FINDING FOREVER HOMES FOR ANIMALS: Head Over Paws In Love by the lovely @arabellamonkey

[deputy-buck]

                                                                     "That's top secret, by the way."

  "I'll take it to my grave."

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 1 – STONY FAVORITES

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Annie D (scaramouche)

Annie D is a fandom treasure, honestly. Not only is their writing style amazing, but the stories they come up with make me want to just roll around in their brain and soak up the creativity. In a completely chill way, of course.

Here's some of their work that I think you should check out:

The Love Spell

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: G Words: 16,054 Tags: Getting Together, Light-Hearted, Humor

Summary: Tony wakes up in love with Steve. This is an alarming turn of events, because he wasn’t in love with Steve when he fell asleep the night before. That said, it’s sort of nice? To be in love? He’s enjoying it, anyway.

Reasons why I love it: Tony just tears at my heart-strings in this one. Not because the fic is especially angsty or sad, but because he's so goddamn relatable. I love the way Steve is portrayed in this too, how supportive and caring he is. This fic encompasses a lot of the reasons why I love Stony so much. Definitely give this one a read!

Not a Breakup

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 33,531 Tags: Friends With Benefits, Feelings Realization, Miscommunication

Summary: Tony knew it was a bad idea to start sleeping with Steve. It could mess up team dynamics, make things even more awkward between them in the future, or just plain get in the way of their trying to save the world. Tony foresaw all of the above but not the advent of feelings, and at the most inopportune moment.

Reasons why I love it: I really, really love how Annie D manages to make the smut in this incredibly hot, hilarious and sweet, all at the same time. Sleep-deprived Tony is so much fun, and his exhaustion being the catalyst for this whole thing with Steve? Love it. Miscommunication is one of my favorite tropes, and the way it's done in this fic feels very natural. All in all an amazing fic that you don't want to miss!

A Late-Night Snack, and Other Good Ideas

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 12,117 Tags: A/B/O, Heat Cycles, Alpha Steve / Omega Tony

Summary: Steve's heightened senses means that he always knows when Tony's in heat. One night, he finally does something about it.

Reasons why I love it: Their banter in this is just fucking amazing. And I could cut the sexual tension with a knife, which makes it all the more satisfying when it finally implodes. Plus, I'm always a fan of Steve Rogers Is Not A Virgin, so yeah, this ticks a lot of boxes. Definitely give this one a read if you like A/B/O.

Overhaul

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 18,783 Tags: Getting Together, Unrequited to Requited, Character Study

Summary: Steve knows that Tony has feelings for him and, since he doesn’t return those feelings, has been mildly dreading the day that Tony decides to do something about it. When that day finally arrives, Steve discovers that Tony’s wooing strategy isn’t anything at all like he’d expected.

Reasons why I love it: This story gave me so many Tony feels, and then hit me out of nowhere with an equal amount of Steve feels. It's such a fantastic take on their characters, with truly amazing dialogue. If I could take a pen and underline all my favorite parts, every second sentence would be underlined. It's that good. Definitely a must-read!

There's an App for That

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 17,439 Tags: No Powers, Romantic Comedy, Mild Angst with a Happy Ending

Summary: Thanks to the modern gig economy, Steve is the successful owner of a break-up service, i.e. people pay him to break up with their partners for them. One day, he gets the first break-up request for Tony Stark.

Reasons why I love it: The concept for this is honestly so cool. I've never read another fic quite like it, and I don't think anyone could do it better than Annie D does it here. It's fun and light-hearted for the most part, but when it hits deep, it hits hard. I love all of it, the happy getting-to-know-each-other parts as well as the angsty-punch-in-the-gut parts. The way they end up together feels so natural, it's all really well written. Definitely check this one out!

Stuck in a...

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 13,005 Tags: A/B/O, Mating Cycles, Alpha Steve / Omega Tony

Summary: Steve gets into a serum-enhanced rut. Tony figures that there’d be a long list of people who’d volunteer to help Steve out, but there’s only one person Steve wants.

Reasons why I love it: Steve almost losing his mind because he wants Tony so much but holding himself back to protect him? Um, yes, please. This fic executes the hormone-riddled alpha trope flawlessly, and the conclusion is hot as hell. Plus, omega Tony is a complete delight. I'd recommend this fic to anyone who likes A/B/O.

[madeforstarker-deactivated20240]

Yes, unbutton the shit out of that suit jacket, Mr. Stark.

[arabellamonkey]

someone reminded me of this silver fox!steve/college student!tony stony fic i wrote last year and omg i loved rereading it as much as i remember how much i enjoyed writing it 🤭

in case anyone is curious, it's this fic

[sukugo]

literally all steve did in endgame was an attempt to get into tony's pants and u know what i respect that

[sukugo]

u are absolutely right op and u should say it