"Steve, a man of your age can't live on his own,"
That remark had been calculated to annoy him - it did - but didn't do much in the way of getting Steve on Tony's side.
Steve fixed on Stark as he downed his glass and signaled the bartender for another.
"No, Tony. I already told you." He repeated wearily.

He took a drink of the new glass placed before him, and noted the way the other man watched him with interest, likely trying to assess whether the rumor that Captain America couldn't get drunk was true or not.

"Com'n, Cap. For me."
"Don't call me that, Tony."
"Fine, Steve. Please. For me."
"Our friendship is hardly something to capitalize on considering how much time you spend calling me an old man."
Steve could almost see the gears shift as Tony switched to a different tack.

"What are you living in now, an apartment?" his voice was one of scorn, ready to try and win on that point alone.
"I happen to like my apartment."
"Stark Tower is a state of the art facility,"
"It's hideous."
"Thanks," Tony's voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"Any time." Steve refused to let Stark gain any ground.

Tony paused a little longer, before launching into the assault once more.

"You could have everything within walking distance," He paused before taking a draft of his own drink and added "Well, and possibly an elevator or two."
"There's a grocery store and a gym within a block from me now."
"You could have a punching bad set up in your suite, Steve," Tony leaned closer to him before finishing triumphantly "You wouldn't even have to leave your rooms!"
He couldn't resist one last parting jab as he drew back and tipped his glass up: "Not that you do now."

That rankled, but Steve kept it close in his mind that Tony just wanted to annoy him as always, and responded coolly.
"Met you here, didn't I?"

His lack of a reaction bothered Stark.
"Dammit, Steve!" the other man burst out, exasperated. "Will you at least come take a look?!"

Steve set his glass down and looked at Tony squarely.
"Not until you tell me why you're here, Stark."
Tony opened his mouth; really, he was worse than a salesman. Steve cut him off before he could begin.
"No, I want the real thing. None of this 'we can't have you alone' business. You couldn't care less."
Tony shrugged in concession - of that fact, at least.
"So why, are you here." Steve repeated, slow and deliberate.

Tony looked around them and leaned in conspiratorially.
"Thor is back, did you know?" he asked in an uncharacteristically low voice. This wasn't the real thing either, Tony didn't care who heard him say anything.
Steve blinked. "No."
"He brought Loki with him," Tony continued "Apparently he was able to score a deal to keep him alive. Though," He looked at the bar, brow furrowing "I cannot for the life of me figure out why."

Steve was nonplussed. "Well?"

"Well we need you to help us keep him under control!"

Steve laughed in disbelief "No," he said, shaking his head "You don't."
He finished off his drink.
"Tony, if you don't tell me why you want me there so badly, I will leave."

Tony's nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply.
He matched Steve's stare, but said nothing.

A minute passed.

"Fine," Steve tossed money on the bar "See you around, Stark." He began to get up.

"They wouldn't stop asking about you." Tony said with a defeated sigh.

Steve stopped, midway out of his seat.

"What? Who?"

Tony shrugged a shoulder "Pepper. Banner. Everyone."
Steve sat back down and waited.
Tony didn't meet his eye again, but glared at the bar and fiddled with his glass.
"Everyone's been...converging... at the Tower. So Pepper and I decide to make up some rooms, let people move in."
He snorted and rolled his eyes to the ceiling.
"First thing everyone asks is 'Where's Steve?' " Tony's voice lowered to a mutter. "Like some damn Where's Waldo book."

Steve looked at him blankly.

"Uh, Nevermind. The point is, everyone else wants you around. They miss you."

Steve thought a moment.
"And you?" After all, it was Tony's house. Of a sort.
"I could deal with it. As long as you don't break anything."

Steve assumed he hadn't been meant to hear that last part, but he responded drily anyways.
"I'll try."
"You'll move in?" Tony said, as though saying it would confirm its reality. He didn't sound too happy about the whole thing, but Steve knew it coming here had been a huge blow to his pride.

"I'll come see it," he corrected, and got up to leave.

"The thing about Thor was true, I will have you know!" he heard Stark call after him as he wove his way out of the bar.

A/N: This really wasn't meant to be a Stony since that's not a ship I sail, really, buuuuuuttt it sort of reads like one.

Whoops.

Anyways, this will probably be a two- or three-shot. Thoughts?

Also, was making a conscious effort to write mainly in dialogue, and I would be interested to hear how y'alls thought that worked out (or didn't)

Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed, and please tell me what you liked and what I could have done better!

- ACG