Amor Vincit Omnia || Tony & Bruce
Bruce gave Tony a sideways glance, eyebrows arching as he gazed at him silently for a moment. ”Um…that didn’t go so well the first time I did it, so I don’t think I’ll be faking illness again any time soon.” He knew Tony was only joking, but that whole fiasco was still a sore subject, no matter how many times Steve told him the team understood that Bruce only had good intentions.
Looking back at the doors, he gave Tony’s hand a squeeze. ”How about if she starts demanding speeches, I do it in your place. I have a few things I could say, and me volunteering to speak might make everyone pass out from shock. Then we can leave early.”
The lift stopped and the doors parted to reveal a hall between them and the entrance to the ballroom. He could already hear the music playing. Stepping out, he gave Tony another look, this one warm and encouraging. ”I love you, Tony.”
Tony noticed the change in Bruce and stroked his thumb over the back of his lover’s hand. Eventually, he hoped, Bruce would be able to move past that whole thing. But for now, Tony made a mental note not to make any references.
He returned Bruce’s warm smile as they stood in the hall. “I love you, too, Charming,” he said, lifting their joined hands to press a kiss to Bruce’s knuckles. “Come on. Let’s get this party started.” He led Bruce to the door, pulling it open and letting his lover enter first.
When they both stood inside the ballroom, decked out with buffet tables and all of their friends dressed to the nines, Tony couldn’t help but grin. Applause went up around the room and he raised his free hand to wave them off.
The applause was thunderous, and not just because Thor was there. The entire team was in attendance, of course, along with their friends and families and many SHIELD agents. Even Fury and Coulson had accepted their invitations. Bruce couldn’t help but smile, looking down and holding back behind Tony just a bit as he soaked it all up with his usual Tony Stark charm.
It made his heart skip a beat to see Tony so strong and vibrant, in his element. Just a few short weeks ago he could barely muster the strength to get off the couch or eat, treatments leaving him wiped out and nauseated. Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a breath and tried to focus on the present. On how handsome he looked, hair grown back in, weight put back on, decked out in Armani. He’d put on a suit and tie every day for the rest of his life to have more moments like this.
Of course, if everything went according to plan, he’d be wearing a suit and tie again in the not-so-distant future.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden stream of well-wishers starting to hover around them, waiting their turn to congratulate Tony and tell them how happy they were to see him doing so well. Bruce hovered near for a bit until Tony was distracted enough and quietly slipped away to get a drink of water and away from the swarm.
Tony accepted the handshakes and the well-wishes, the hugs and the occasional kiss to the cheek from a close female friend with as much grace as ever. When the crowd had dissipated a little, he realized the empty place at his side where Bruce should be and took off in search of his lover.
He scooped up a glass of champagne, joining Bruce with a smile. "Escaping the stampede?" he teased, sliding his arm around the man's waist. "I didn't expect there to be this many people here," Tony said honestly. "I think Pepper might have paid some of them off."
