Anthony Edward Stark

Steve Rogers, unfortunately, is inextricably linked to him and has been since before he was born. His father, genius and idiot that he had been, sort of made that inevitable, and not just because of the patent on his genetic makeup thanks to the serum, but because he’d spent his life comparing his son to the blond he dedicated the majority of his time and energy to finding and resurrecting. Their relationship is and will always be one-sidedly complicated.

As for Pepper-- Okay yeah. It’d be fair to say that Bruce is a too-soon rebound there. Tony doesn’t want to be alone. He knows what happens when he’s alone. It’s usually bad.

When he’s with someone, it’s also pretty bad, but the margin for error decreases just a little. He’s compared notes. Being a bachelor doesn’t suit him.

Tony’s fingers curl more dramatically inside the other man’s shirt. Possessive, yes, but maybe a little worried too. “Yeah so my thoughts about you and me have been happening for way too long. But if yours had been entirely hot tub induced, you don’t have to humor me.” He sort of gets that twinge from time to time that Pepper had been doing just that.