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Tony could feel the sun and hear the crashing of the waves as he slowly woke. He could smell the ocean water and the sounds of seagulls cawing in the distance. And when he opened his eyes, he saw one of the most beautiful sites he could imagine waking up to. In front of him was Steve, carefree and looking so innocent, his blond hair being ruffed by the wind while he sat in the sand, building an elaborate sandcastle on the beach.
He loved watching Steve when Steve was unaware he was being watched - especially when Steve was immersed in a creative project. The concentration on his face, the way he chewed on his lower lip absentmindedly, and the slow, deliberate movements of his hands - to Tony, Steve was the true masterpiece, not whatever work Steve was in the middle of making.
"Beautiful," Tony called out.
Steve looked up, and a smile crossed his face, "You like it?"
"I love it," Tony called back as he started to get up from the beach chair he had fallen asleep on. "And the sandcastle is nice too."
Steve's smile broadened as Tony approached him, "Did you have a good nap, sweetheart?"
Tony plopped down on the sand beside Steve and rubbed his hand on Steve's knees. He curled up his lip, "Ugh. Dreamt I was working in the lab all day."
"That doesn't sound very relaxing," Steve leaned over and gave Tony a kiss on the cheek, "Come on, help me with my castle. You can help me finish the moat."
Tony laughed at Steve remembering the last time he attempted to help Steve in such an endeavor.
"Oh no you don't." Tony wagged his finger playfully at Steve. "We've been down this road before if you recall, and you do not like to relinquish control of your artistic vision."
Steve lowered his head as he begin to chuckle, "I'm sorry I was going for more of a gothic feel and you were -"
Tony patted Steve's hand, "Nope, not reliving that, babe. I am more than happy to just sit here and watch my gorgeous hunk of a husband create his masterpiece. Besides," Tony nodded toward the water, "it doesn't look like you have very much time before the tide comes in and tests the strength of that moat. And I'm sorry to say, I see at least five - no six -" Tony quickly corrected, "design flaws that are going to cause an almost immediate destruction of said castle."
"Only six?" Steve gave Tony a playful grin.
"Actually there are thirteen but -," Tony started laughing as Steve tackled him and threw his leg over Tony and straddled him.
"You're a menace," Steve bent down and gave Tony a teasing kiss.
Tony looked up at Steve and got lost in his eyes. It always amazed Tony how blue they were. He could get lost in them all day.
"But I'm your menace." Tony purred.
"Always mine," Steve agreed. Tony could practically feel the love radiating from Steve's gaze.
Tony ran his hands down Steve's chest, letting them rest on his abdomen, "How about we take a walk down the beach before we head back to the city?" Tony asked.
Steve stood and reached his hand down to help Tony up, "Love to."
Tony kept his hand in Steve's as they walked the beach, enjoying each other's company. Tony wrapped himself in the comfort of his husband's voice as he spoke about everything and anything. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to share this with Steve.
As they made their return, Tony couldn't help but laugh at the now partially ruined castle, "I hope you had insurance."
Steve let out a sigh and started nodding at his decimated structure, "We can rebuild."
"We can, huh?"
"Yup," Steve pulled Tony into his arms, "Next time we'll build it together and you can help me fix those design flaws."
Tony savored the rush of heat that consumed him as Steve nuzzled his neck, "I'll do whatever you want me to, as long as it allows me to see you in this bathing suit again."
"Well I was thinking," Steve started giving Tony quick kisses, "That maybe we should get out of here, grab a little dinner, and see what we can do when neither one of us is wearing a bathing suit."
Tony looked up at Steve and the impish grin plastered on his face. "Now that's a plan I can definitely get behind."
Steve raised an eyebrow, "Anything you want baby."
Tony lifted his head a placed his lips on Steve's. At first it was just a simple touch of their lips, but Tony quickly gave in to the feel of Steve's lips on his and deepened it. Tony revelled in Steve's tongue playing with his own and how Steve pulled him in until the full length of his body was pressed up against Steve's.
Steve hands caressed Tony's back, one hand sliding down to the small of his back, lingering momentarily until his fingers were resting on Tony's ass. Tony linked his hands behind Steve's head as he snaked his arms around Steve's shoulders. Tony felt like they were one.
Steve pulled back and cupped Tony's chin, "Are you ready?"
"Definitely."
They stopped at a small diner on their way back home and enjoyed a quaint candlelight dinner. After they shared a decadent tiramisu for dessert they hopped in the car to continue their journey home. The lingering touches and the soft kisses kept the fire burning between them.
By the time they had reached their bedroom, their kisses had become more frantic and wrought with desire. Their clothes were shed quickly and the heat between them was palpable. Tony focused on the tingle of his skin each time Steve leaned in and put his mouth on his body, the sensation that enveloped him when Steve took his cock in his hand and the satisfaction of being filled with Steve's length until both of them lie in a sweaty mess wrapped in each other's arms.
"I love you Steve. Thank you for the wonderful day." Tony said as he started drifting off to sleep.
The last thing he heard was Steve whisper in his ear, "I love you too, sweetheart."
When Tony woke in the morning, his brain started going in a dozen different directions. He headed straight to the lab to start the laundry list of projects he wanted to finish today. He wanted to make sure he got everything done so he could have plenty of time to spend with Steve this evening.
“Hey Tony," Bucky said as he entered the lab.
"Hey Robocop, what brings you here today?"
Bucky looked down at the floor, looking uneasy, "I, uh, talked to Bruce."
Tony returned his attention back to the job at hand, tightening the bolt on his latest invention.
"And?" Was all Tony could muster. He knew what this was about. Why couldn't they just leave it alone?
"Tony, he's worried about you. He says you've been telling him about spending time with Steve."
"So."
"Tony." Bucky's eyes fraught with worry.
Tony took a deep breath and closed his eyes as his hands stilled. "You choose your reality and I'll choose mine Bucky."
Bucky took a couple steps forward towards Tony and stood quietly by Tony for a moment.
"Tony - Steve died six months ago. That's reality."
"No, Buck. No it's not." Tony's face, no longer maintaining a playful smile, stared straight at Bucky, "It's simple, it's two sides of one coin, the conscious and the subconscious. On this side, I can feel things with my hands. I can work in the lab, I can create, I can build. But in the other, I can feel here," Tony placed his hand on his heart. "I can feel Steve. I can feel his love and our happiness. It's him and me. And that's the reality I choose."
"It's just a dream Tony. I have dreams of him too but in reality he's gone."
The smile returned to Tony's face, "Did it ever cross your mind that this - all of this," Tony gestured randomly, "is the dream? And my time with Steve is the reality? When I sleep here, I'm with him, yes - what you might consider dreaming. But when I sleep there, I'm here."
"That makes this the dream to me." Tony turned back to his work, "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get this done. Steve and I have a sandcastle to build later and I don't want to be late."
"Tony -"
Tony looked up quickly and shook his head, "We're done here Buck. I'll tell him you said hello."
Tony put his head back down and heard Bucky eventually leave the room. He worked as fast as he for the next few hours, never giving Bucky another thought.
Tony ate a small dinner and took a quick shower before he laid in his empty bed. He glanced over at the vacant spot next to him and his heart clenched. This could not be his reality.
Tony drifted off to sleep only to awaken once again with Steve by his side.
"Good morning sweetheart," Steve whispered to Tony as he stroked Tony's cheek.
Tony took a deep breath, opened his eyes and gave Steve a huge smile.
"Good morning baby." Tony leaned in and gave Steve a kiss. "By the way, Bucky says hello."