Chapter Text
Day 19: In Formal Wear
The ceremony had ended, and the happy couple turned to mingle and talk to the many guests they’d invited to the wedding. Steve walked off the small stage and pulled lightly on his tie, not exactly loosening it, but adding a bit of breathing space. He knew the military uniform would be the most appropriate, and even Tony had conceded that they fit the occasion perfectly. He looked around, shook hands with some of the superheroes that attended, and headed for the bar. He had never expected to be asked to conduct a ceremony before, but the looks the two had given him back at his office left him unable to deny them. He just hoped Tony wouldn’t give him too hard a time over it. Jealousy had its downsides.
He found Tony uncharacteristically alone and approached him. Tony was clad in an expensive looking dark purple suit, a white shirt under the jacket and a nice flower in his pocket for added effect. He was trimmed to impress and looked sharp in his bow-tie, despite the fact that he was standing with a glass of one beverage or another in his hand. As soon as Steve was close enough he was greeted by a surprising compliment.
“Great ceremony.” Tony said, raising the glass to his lips and taking a sip. “Very inspirational speech there.” he said with that smug grin on his face, and Steve wondered how many drinks Tony’d had that night already. He smiled at Tony nonetheless and glanced at his own glass of plain orange-juice.
“To hear that, coming from you-”
“I’d have done it better.” Tony cut him off, still bearing that unreadable expression Steve was starting to learn to hate. He’d only ever wear that expression when he was drinking. Tony was looking away from him, so he shrugged.
“Better luck next time, Tony.” he said, going for a nonchalant tone.
“When’s the next couple getting married, anyway?” Tony asked, and Steve thought he recognized a strange strain in the man’s tone. He inspected Tony’s face as best as he could from where he stood, not wanting to get too close to him in such a public event. He couldn’t quite tell what was off about Tony’s expression, or his tone, and Steve suspected it had plenty to do with the whiskey he was drinking.
“Depends on who catches the bouquet, doesn’t it?” Steve answered solemnly, not wanting to pry at that moment and marking to himself to return to this later.
Tony chose that moment to take a step closer to Steve, making the taller man gulp shortly as he reached up to pull the tie around Steve’s neck back to the center, and smooth away a crease in the otherwise immaculate uniform.
“Looking sharp, Cap.” he said in a low tone, then pulled back and strode off to mingle. Steve looked after him, taking a moment to regain his composure before going to do the same.