Tony was considered as a genius. He knows a lot of things about a lot of subjects ; mechanic, engineering, physic/astrophysic, informatic, quantic.. but there was a subject where he always has been a complete dork and it was art. Not every types of arts though, he would known the classics in cinema and music but in art and especially painting, he was the worst. Pepper has always been into art but he never really paid attention to it to be honest. But ever since he started dating Steve, Tony knew that it was his biggest passion, so he would use his relations to get them into some galleries which were extremely private with some pieces of arts that can’t be found anywhere else. It was rare, but in those kind of moments, Steve was thanking the privilege of dating one of the wealthiest man.
Gallery after gallery, Tony still didn’t really got the point about certains paintings but seeing Steve talking about them with this much passion in his voice and in his eyes was something that Tony simply adore.
It was like when Tony started talking about mechanic and everything, his suits and the news programs to improve them, Steve would understand one word among a whole sentence but the image of Tony talking about his true passion was something he’s never tired of.
One day, they were at some gallery thanks to Tony who could have them entered once again. Steve was analyzing paintings whereas Tony was trying to figure out whether the painting was made by a child eating bolognese whether by one of those « misunderstood artist ». Suddenly Steve stopped in front of one of them, Tony holding his hand stopped too and stared at it. He was really trying to understand what was so captivating, it was.. actually he doesn’t really know what was it. The human brain tries to make sense with everything he sees, and Tony’s didn’t skip the rule on contrary, for him everything has to have a certain sens. Even with concentration, he was looking at something meaningless. This red, this yellow, this blue and green were disposed at randoms places. There was big spots like he overthrows by accident, and some lines thick and thin.
“What are exactly looking at ?” finally managed to ask Tony after looking at it in every angles.
Steve stopped starring at it and shifts his look into Tony’s eyes. Steve was trying to find his words like he was trying to describe colors to a blind man, which might not be so far from reality because Tony was seeing absolutely no-thing.
“This painting darling, is a painting by one of my favorites artist. This painting Tony represents everything but yet nothing. This painting represents the abstract but also the concrete. This painting represents chaos but in a certain way it’s an ordained chaos.”
Tony was amazed by what Steve just said, it couldn’t explained what he felt in his chest seeing and hearing Steve talking like this but dammnit it was powerful. Then, he looked again at the painting but meh.. still nothing makes sense to him.
“Does... does it normal that I don’t see anything?“ Tony risks himself to ask.
“Everybody sees what he sees, if you don’t see anything, it’s not a big deal. It does not have necessarily to evoke something.” Steve just answered with a soft voice and starts looking at it again.
“Mmh. Right...Sweetie, I know you like this painting probably more than you like me but I’m hungry.” Tony informing him in this way that he was a little tired and kind of bored.
“Okay, lets go eat.“ Steve simply retort.
Tony heading to the exit pushing Steve by the hand, he followed him with a last look at this painting.
Few days later, Steve was at the Avengers Tower, he just arrived from an awful meeting. He was tired and a little irritate, he just wanted to lay on his bed cuddling Tony.
Speaking of the devil, here is Tony.
“Hi sweetheart. I’m glad you’re home.“ Steve said getting closer to Tony after each words he pronounced. “I’m so done with everything, you can’t imagine.” He was now close to him, his hands already on his waist, his nose in his hair and his lips against his temple.
Tony enrolled his arms against his body and pressed his cheek against his chest. It felt so right, it was really like home. Tony lifts his head and kiss him softly, it was delicate and smooth.
“I’m really glad you’re finally home too.” Tony said moving one hand from the back of Steve’s to his face. “Because I kind of have a gift for you.” He continue with the biggest grin on his face.
“Really ? In what honour ? Do we celebrate something and I forget..?” Steve asks a little confused.
“There’s nothing to celebrate Steve. It’s just that I love you, you’re my boyfriend and sometimes it’s good to remind the other that they count.” Tony simply respond, kissing his cheek.
“Did you do something bad and tried to recover it by buying me something ? Geez, you set your lab on fire again ?” Steve was careful, he knew Tony after all his time.
Tony puts a hand on his chest and failed to be shot in the heart.
“Your lack of confidence in him hurts me Roger. It I didn’t loved you very much, I would have delete the gift.“ Tony was so dramatic, Steve found it so funny.
“What a lucky man I am.” Steve said with a amused ton.
“You couldn’t said it better. Now close your eyes honey, I really want to do the surprise.”
Steve closed his eyes, hearing some noises, he was already perplexed but it was reinforced.
“I swear to god Tony, if you’re naked when I open my eyes...”
“You can talk, it already worked. But no. You can open it.”
Steve opened his eyes, and in face of him, right in front on his eyes was the painting he and Tony saw a few days ago a the exposition. Steve was looking at the painting speechless, then at Tony who had the biggest smile on his face, then again at the painting.
“Please tell me you didn’t stole it. » was the first thing Steve managed to say and Tony laughed at it.
“You forget my dear that I own money. A lot of money actually. It’s just that I saw that you kind of fell in love with it at first sight, the way you talks about it and even me who understand absolutely nothing I found it passionating. So I returned two days after, asking if it was for sale, I offered a rather big amount of money and he accepted to sale it. I make sure to inform him that I planned to offer it to my boyfriend who was admirative and a big fan. And even if I’m not really comfortable to the idea of sharing your love with a painting I will do—”
He couldn’t even finished his sentence that Steve lips was on his.
“I love you so so much. Oh my god Tony, I— Thank you, I don’t even know that say. It’s the most amazing gift that I’ve ever received. I’m so lucky. God I love you.”
“It’s me who is lucky to have you.” Tony kissed him again.
“So where are we framing it ? I suggest our bedroom.” Steve asked even if it doesn’t really sound like a question.
“Whatever you want honey, whatever you want.”
