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Steve is the one who suggests going to the Stark Industries New Year’s party as a couple and Tony is the one who hesitates. What they have is new and he thinks delicate, and he doesn’t want Steve to wake up one morning, realise this was all a mistake and leave him to clean up their broken commitments in the public eye.
It’s not that Tony thinks Steve would change his mind on a whim, but he’d guessed that Steve Rogers would be the kind of person to wear his lover on his ring finger for everyone to see, and Tony tends to overthink these things. He isn’t afraid of the press, but he’s even more serious about Steve than he lets on, and he doesn’t want to feed any part of this wonderful thing they’ve got to the tabloids. A part of Tony is nervous that the papparazzi, the clickbait headlines and the morning show sneers will scare Steve off, make him realise maybe Tony isn’t worth all this effort after all.
If he and Steve don’t work out, Tony wants to keep this love affair to himself and the people close to him, the people he trusts. Tony tries to explain all of this to Steve, dreading the inevitable kicked puppy look that comes after. Steve seems to understand, but Tony doesn’t miss the flash of disappointment in his eyes.
“Just, you know, just for now,” Tony says, trying to make it better. “We’ll find the right time, the right way to do it.”
“Okay, Tony,” Steve says, reaching for his hand. “It’s a secret.”
-
It’s supposed to be a secret. Tony remembers what he said, but then everyone’s shouting along to the Times Square countdown on the bustling streets below, confetti falling endlessly from the ceiling and sparkling as they dance through the air, and he can’t stop looking at Steve through the glitter and his champagne blur.
Steve looks so happy, cheeks flushed from the excitement as he counts down to another year in this century. The shiny Happy New Year hat someone’d put on his head is crooked now, ruffling up what had been perfectly styled blond hair.
Tony knows he’s supposed to keep all this wanting to himself because he’s the one who wanted it to be a secret, but when the ball drops and everyone bursts into cheers and Steve’s gorgeous blue eyes land on him, a soft smile on his face, Tony can’t help himself anymore. He pulls Steve in by the waist, the champagne in his hand splashing onto his sleeve, and kisses the pink, plump lips he’s been thinking about all night. Steve isn’t expecting it, but he relaxes into Tony’s touch and smiles against his lips.
Steve is firm and strong, and Tony swears he’ll guard their relationship from the rumours, the scrutiny, the glitterati gossip come hell or high water.
“Didn’t think I was getting a New Year’s kiss right at midnight, Mr Stark,” Steve teases softly when they pull away from each other.
“Ah, well, I’m full of surprises, Mr Rogers,” Tony says back, no bite in his voice.
And suddenly, with the way Steve leans into his shoulder and absentmindedly fingers the champagne spill on Tony’s sleeve, Tony thinks what they have just might see them through the year.
(It sees them through much, much longer than that.)