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𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃.

@alloysavvy.bsky.social

30 followers 16 following 38 posts

Contrary to popular belief, I know exactly what I'm doing. You all right, @nomadlibertas.bsky.social?

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𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 25

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐍
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TONY STARK
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𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 31

+ who preaches 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺, it’s an entirely inefficient way to snag a look-see at his portrait. Still, restless energy has to go somewhere.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 31

“Well, I’m not arguing that,” Tony agrees. His face is already tinted red from exertion; it’s a good cover story. “Mind if I take a peek?”

Coming up on Steve, he spins the office chair he occupies around by the backboard, until Tony’s looking at his golden crown instead of his face. For a man +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 31

+ isn’t confessing.

“Then again, it’s not unlike you to complicate things.”

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 31

“Didn’t realize ogling me took so much thought,” Tony quips, sly and fond, as he approaches—and acknowledges—Steve for the first time since he’d busted out his tools.

It’s possible that tonight might’ve been more 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 than anything truly productive—all taut muscles and stagy poses—but Tony +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 31

+ he wheels on his heels to survey the room. His brows pull, knitting, and though the question that follows doesn’t place blame, his eyes do.

They find Steve.

“Who turned off my music?”

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 31

“You get into a flow state,” Tony elaborates. He drags his knuckles across sweaty curls, driving them back; it streaks his forehead with ash. “Everything blinks out. Every 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵, every 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨… until you’re left with zilch. If anything, it gets too 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭.”

Momentarily snapped out of some haze, +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 31

+ plastered to his sweaty forehead, his white tank top smeared with soot.

He doesn't flinch.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 31

Unfortunately for Steve, he’s in the 𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞.

Accustomed to working in seclusion, Tony issues no warning before tossing an oily wrench over his shoulder—a dirty pair of socks for DUM-E to sweep off the floor. He rises to full height as it topples a stack of cardboard boxes, damp curls +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 27

+ happened, he turns and flashes the attendant a full-faced smile.*

Let’s go track down those mixed nuts, yeah?

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 27

*Tony pulls back with his prize—overly-processed, messy donut holes. Jaw slack, his gaze dips down the ‘V’ of Steve’s body, eyes heavy-lidded and 𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴. It climbs back up and stops at his chest, a little above his ribcage, and travels no higher. He hums.*

*As if the moment never +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

+ avalanche.*

You’re more than welcome to take a bite.

*Rising on his tiptoes, he leans in, breath warm and gentle—*

*—…to reach for the bag of donut holes behind Steve’s head.*

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*This go-around, there’s nothing smug in the look on Tony’s face. It dissolves, filtered out, and he’s left smiling with no undertones.*

Is that right?

*Sidestepping Steve, he steers him backward into the rows of snack cakes, careful not to insist too hard and risk triggering a sugary +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

+ stop,* Lucky you. Saved by the bell.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*A smirk cracks his lips. Fortunately for Steve (and perhaps Tony’s own good), a hanging sign that displays a synopsis of the aisle ahead catches his attention—‘snack cakes’ among the list.*

*Lips pinching left harder,* Who says I’d be the indecent one? *And, a step later, bringing them to a +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*Steve’s hypervigilance is met with a chuckle. Tony’s tickled pink.*

𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘹, would’ya? This place is a ghost town. You’re withdrawing from the city.

*A newly isolated, domestic life has taught him as much.*

𝘐𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵, I estimate there’s a whole lot more I could get away with.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*Fluorescents buzz overhead. The place feels cold and sterile—a repurposed hospital. Only hospitals are never so deserted.*

*A dog on a leash, Tony allows himself to be led through the labyrinth.*

*Playful as they round the produce aisle,* Didn’t realize you loved my holes so much.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*Tony’s equally as quick to shed his helmet, hair a porcupine’s.*

Feeling feisty today, aren’t we, Rapunzel?

*His pinky finger seeks out Steve’s; when they meet, he clasps their hands together. Giving a gentle squeeze,*

Don’t lose me. I’m not getting stuck in produce again.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

+ little out of breath,* You’re in charge of navigation.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*Tony’s teeth trap his bottom lip as he stares ahead; a grin breaks the hold.*

First time for everything.

*He shakes his limbs like he’s casting off water, an attempt to rid himself of an almost-overwhelming high.* Oh, boy. 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝. God, I needed that. 𝙐𝙜𝙝.

*Keeling over, hands on his knees, a +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

+ me?

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*They fly past the store on the first go. Tony u-turns somewhere up ahead, unfazed by the cop car that watches the road from a bordering parking lot. Luckily, it seems just as uninterested.*

*When he finally brings them to a stop and ankles down the kickstand, he’s laughing.*

You passing out on +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*Whipping past what could’ve been their deathbed, Tony whoops a battle cry.*

*Screaming,* What was that? Sorry. I can’t hear you. You’re going to have to speak up!

*He twists his wrist. The engine growls as they speed up.*

I’m just warming it up!

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

+ Just a nice, smooth and easy, ride around the block.

*He turns, flashing Steve a charming smile.*

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

*Tony strokes his hand along the bike’s frame like he’s petting a cat. It’s the kind of thing he used to beg Mom and Dad for—the kind that’d have Mom signing the cross and saying, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵.*

Right. No shenanigans, no having fun, keep up with the local senior squad… +

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃. @alloysavvy.bsky.social · Aug 26

What’s the point of owning a hotel if you can’t use it as a landing pad?