nasafic:

commission for @beautifulmonster  who wanted first kiss revelations and fake dating. (I changed it to fake married, hope that’s okay!)

(get together, fluff, angst with a happy ending, aliens)

Tony can’t decide if this is the best or worst mission he’s ever been on.

“Isn’t that gorgeous?” Steve asks, leaning in close to Tony to point out a sculpture on the horizon. It’s shaped like a giant neuron, twisted and gleaming, and normally Tony would appreciate it, but all he can think about is Steve’s arm wrapped securely around his shoulder, Steve’s breath ghosting over his cheek. “That must have taken someone a lot of time.”

Tony swallows hard, forcing himself to smile like a normal person. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Yeah, it’s really something.”

Steve turns just enough to smile at him, eyes gleaming. He’s close enough to kiss.

“Aww,” someone in the background says, yanking Tony back to reality. “You two really are so cute. How long have you been married, again?”

“Six years,” Tony hears himself say.

“That’s just lovely,” another one of their local guides says. “I hope one day I can have a partnership like that.”

“Thank you,” Steve says, finally tearing his gaze away from Tony. “It’s really been the best thing to ever happen to us.”

Yeah, Tony thinks, watching the way Steve’s eyes crinkle at whatever the guide says next, the hazy orange sky lighting his hair up like fire. It really would be.

Too bad it’s not real.

–

The fake marriage was a necessary evil. Or at least, that’s how Carol described it.

“Look,” she had said, sighing, when they had both expressed reluctance. “Their species moves in pair-bonds, either with a family member or a significant other. You guys don’t look similar enough to be family, so you’ll have to say you’re together.”

“Just dating, though, right?” Tony had prompted when Steve didn’t say anything. “Like, we’re not supposed to be that close. Right?”

Carol’s expression grew a little pinched. “Well, actually, pair-bonds are sort of lifelong things. So it’s more equivalent to being married.”

And so now they were here, on this weird little planet in this weird little system with its hatred of privacy and love of codependency, and they are – married. It makes Tony’s stomach flip every time he hears Steve introduce him as his husband, every time he catches sight of the ring gleaming on his own finger, it’s twin on Steve’s. It feels weird and awkward and Tony couldn’t decide why that is, until one evening, as part of the show, Steve kissed him.

His lips were sweet from the fruit he had been eating and soft. The kiss was brief, but Tony felt it like electricity through his body. Oh, Tony had thought, as Steve pulled back, still smiling like nothing is wrong. Oh, I love him.

It was a bit of a startling revelation.

And, horribly, there’s nothing he can do about it. Day after day, he and Steve are stuck together on this little planet, trying to wrangle out something of a peace treaty as they maintain the facade. They eat off each other’s plates, go on walks to see the surrounding city with their hands clasped together, kiss each other every time they part.

It’s maddening. Now that Tony knows what’s off, he can’t stop seeing it, what his life could be like with Steve. This kind, intelligent, good man who is one of Tony’s best friends, who could so easily become the center of Tony’s entire life. In some ways who already has become the center of Tony’s life. It’s the most bittersweet thing Tony can imagine: getting a taste of exactly what you want but having it stay just that little bit out of reach.

As the days eek by, Tony gets more and more withdrawn. He passes it off to their hosts as homesickness, but Steve knows him too well to be convinced. He grows concerned as the days pass, always asking Tony if he feels okay, if he feels ill, if something is upsetting him.

Finally, on the last day of their trip, Steve pulls Tony aside to the corner of their quarters.

“Hey,” Tony says, even as he follows obediently along. “I was in the middle of packing -“

“Tony,” Steve says lowly, voice all cut-the-bullshit, “What’s wrong? Is something – are you okay? I’m worried about you.”

And he looks so genuine and sincere, and the dark green of the velvet curtains make his eyes look so lovely that Tony can’t help but lean in to kiss him.

It’s chaste and quick, nothing more than a press of lips. Steve’s mouth is slack and unmoving under Tony, and Tony savors the taste of it for just a moment before he pulls away.

“Sorry,” Tony says, looking away so he doesn’t have to see Steve’s face. “I just -“

“This isn’t just for show, is it?” Steve interrupts, sounding hoarse.

Tony’s gaze jerks up. “Wha – no, of course it’s not, and I’m sorry -“

He doesn’t have a chance to finish the sentence before Steve is pressing him back against the wall and kissing him with all the fervor Tony could hope for. His hands are hot against Tony’s jaw, his waist, and Tony’s knees go to jelly as he sinks into Steve’s body.

Finally, Steve pulls back. “I love you,” he says, breathing heavily. “I love you.”

Something is growing in Tony’s chest. That’s the only explanation he can think of for why suddenly his heart feels about ready to burst out of his skin. “I love you,” he repeats, leaning in to kiss Steve once, twice, three times. “I – you’re serious about this?”

“I’m serious about this,” Steve promises, leaning his forehead against Tony’s. His eyelashes are long, casting spider-leg shadows across his face in the dim lighting. “Tony, I’ve wanted to be with you for – forever, it feels like.”

“Well,” Tony says lightly, chest ballooning outwards, “Now you’ve got me.”

Steve smiles.