Steve can take teasing from the team. Friendly harassment is a long way from bullying; it's just how comrades-in-arms show affection. He learned that thoroughly in the army, although he and Bucky were assholes to one another long before that. Anyway, Tony is one of the more enthusiastic people he knows at giving him shit, so surely it won't be so bad if they're both on the receiving end. ...Right?
The phrase go public with a relationship actually gives Steve a chill. Nothing good has ever come of him being in the actual limelight, and the idea that he owes any kind of explanation of his own doings and desires to anyone other than those closest to him goes right against his grain. The clench of his jaw and sudden stillness says more about his thoughts on the matter than any words he might dredge up could.
Except then he thinks about Tony and how he's dealt with all this bullshit for years somehow. He doesn't doubt it's one of the many things he needs a break from thinking about, and his gaze softens as he searches the other man's face. "There's no reason it should be a scandal."
"No, really. I know people will frame it that way if they want to, for whatever reason they can find." Bad boy Tony Stark seducing the innocent Captain America? It'd sell magazines, he imagines.
"But maybe it's time I took a stand, anyway." No one really asks his opinion on political or social issues, and that suits him fine, but if or when it comes out he's in a relationship with another man, people will be asking.
He shrugs, awkward and a little sheepish to find this is so much more complex than he expected. "I think waiting and seeing what happens is a good idea. There's no reason to make it anyone else's business before we've settled into it."
no subject
The phrase go public with a relationship actually gives Steve a chill. Nothing good has ever come of him being in the actual limelight, and the idea that he owes any kind of explanation of his own doings and desires to anyone other than those closest to him goes right against his grain. The clench of his jaw and sudden stillness says more about his thoughts on the matter than any words he might dredge up could.
Except then he thinks about Tony and how he's dealt with all this bullshit for years somehow. He doesn't doubt it's one of the many things he needs a break from thinking about, and his gaze softens as he searches the other man's face. "There's no reason it should be a scandal."
"No, really. I know people will frame it that way if they want to, for whatever reason they can find." Bad boy Tony Stark seducing the innocent Captain America? It'd sell magazines, he imagines.
"But maybe it's time I took a stand, anyway." No one really asks his opinion on political or social issues, and that suits him fine, but if or when it comes out he's in a relationship with another man, people will be asking.
He shrugs, awkward and a little sheepish to find this is so much more complex than he expected. "I think waiting and seeing what happens is a good idea. There's no reason to make it anyone else's business before we've settled into it."