Countdown to 2025: Jan 1
Arranged Marriage AU / Marvel - Winteriron / Fireworks
There were fireworks at midnight to celebrate the marriage. To celebrate the end of the war.
The end of the war was, Tony could agree, worth celebrating. Too many lives had been lost. Too many resources drained. Too many families broken. The end of the war was a good thing, no question.
The marriage... Well, that remained to be seen, didnât it? Tony glanced sidelong as his new husband.Â
James was watching the fireworks, his expression impassive, betraying neither wonder nor disdain. It was much the same expression heâd worn when they had first met in person, a week ago, and when theyâd sworn their vows to one another earlier that day. Not a man for displays of emotion, it seemed.
Tony suppressed a sigh and looked back up at the display. âDo you not like the fireworks?â he asked quietly.
From the corner of his eye, he saw James turn to look at him. âThey are pretty enough,â he said, âbut the noise is unpleasant.â
It was hard to argue with that. âI suppose,â Tony said, not looking away from the fireworks, âthat to have something beautiful, one must sometimes endure a little unpleasantness.â
After a pause, James said, âIs this -- me -- the unpleasantness you endure for the beauty of peace?â
âAre you so certain that it must be unpleasant?â Tony wondered.Â
âI am maimed,â James said, with the most emotion heâd displayed so far. He rubbed at his shoulder, just above the empty sleeve.
âA lot of people were hurt in the war,â Tony said. He tapped absently at his own chest, the scar left by the wound that had nearly killed him. âThatâs not so bad.â
James grunted. âOnce, I was pleasant. I knew how to be charming and dance and talk and say flattering things. That man, he is gone, and will never return.â
Tony shrugged one shoulder. âFlattery and dancing and charm are for courting,â he said, âand we are well past that. I need to know only one thing of you: will you treat me with respect?â
âI-- That is my intention, yes.â
âThen everything else can be managed.â Tony faced his husband directly. âLet me decide whether I find our marriage unpleasant, rather than trying to make up my mind for me. Unless you think youâll be the one in an unpleasant situation?â
James stared at him, and he stared back. The lights of the fireworks lit up Jamesâ face with strange shadows, but Tony was almost certain that, as the crowds gasped and cheered at the finale, he saw his husbandâs mouth curve into a smile, just for an instant before James looked back up at the display above them.
âSomething beautiful,â he murmured, almost too quiet for Tony to hear, and some sort of tension eased in him. Louder, he said, âWe must have fireworks every year, for our anniversary.â
âWhat a splendid idea,â Tony said, and thought that, just perhaps, there might be something to celebrate here, after all.
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Happy New Year!