Summary: There’s three (or four) kinds of kisses that get Tony Stark through his days. Some of them he expects, some of them he doesn't but he needs every single one of them.
Pairings: Tony/Pepper, Tony/Steve, Tony/Bruce
Warnings: Kissing, kissing, more kissing, het, slash, multiple pairings, NSFW, my first attempt at writing something for live action characters/comic book heroes so… please accept me into your fandom?
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Tony Stark is no stranger to kissing or any of the beautifully nefarious acts that are hidden between the lines. However, despite his well-crafted playboy image, there’s only three types of kisses – plus one – that he lets linger on his lips.
1. Hers are the kisses that everyone knows he cherishes – even his most hated enemies, unfortunately, but it doesn‘t sway Ms. Pepper Potts in any way. Hers are the kisses that he relies on, expects to receive when he wakes up in the early mornings and in the whee hours of the night when Ironman can be put to bed. They have a schedule for these things, you see. Pepper’s able to read through notes regarding business and kiss Tony Stark at the same time, never missing a beat, and somehow mastering the fine line between business and pleasure.
Her kisses, like her, are freckled specs of sweetness. They taste of school boy crushes and sunny afternoons. Kissing her in the morning makes him feel like that kid in class that nervously writes a note to the girl he likes, check boxes drawn out with life or death instructions of “Do you like me? Check Yes or No.” This mess of feelings is a bit annoying, Tony thinks, completely ruining the painstaking image of being an uncaring party man who has more money than God – he ignores the urge to make the obvious Loki reference.
At night, however, this all shifts into something much more devious.
In the evenings Pepper’s kisses taste of unhooked, lace bras and soft bed sheets. Her kisses whisper of full breasts and a wetness in between long, beautiful legs. They taste of the seductive close up shot of his pants falling to the ground, shirt being pulled over his head, leaving him naked except for the center of his chest that Pepper always, always brushes her fingers against. This is the pace that Tony Stark is known for, his bed humming with the cries of too many women to count. Though he may have taken everyone woman in the city behind his closed doors none have made him moan as much as one Pepper Pots. She’s beautiful and balanced, always knowing his every move before he makes it. Normally, that would drive him crazy, and in all honesty it does. But he craves that feeling she gives him, needs someone who can actually outsmart him and take him completely off guard.
And that turns her on. He knows it does. He even mentions it this turns you on and she simply chuckles, making him question who exactly is the one in charge of this relationship.
He’s given up on arguing with her about her worth and how she can do better. He may desire the stability she represents but he damn sure doesn't deserve it. Hell, he doesn't even know what to do with it, unless if you count screwing things up as an achievement worthy of applause. But Pepper is convincing – more convincing that he’ll ever be – so he selfishly accepts her kisses, lets his charred, tainted lips burn into hers.
Sometimes, he has nightmarish images of leaving her lips blistered and bloodied, swollen from his inner demons and terrible ways. Sometimes he sees her being yanked away from him, large explosions and terrible screams that echo in his mind and hurt his ears. He hates to open his eyes when he feels these things, isn’t ashamed to admit that he’s absolutely terrified that, someday, he’s going to be Pepper’s undoing.
But somehow, at the end of each kiss, he’s left panting softly as he looks into her smiling eyes.
And he always ends up smiling back and kissing her again, letting the nightmares fade into the background.
2. Tony Stark knows that they will clash from the start. The Super Soldier, the perfectly crafted American Hero.
But when they meet he doesn’t expect him to be so easy on the eyes – such an old fashioned compliment, but it’s fitting for the old fashioned hero.
Baby blue eyes and a dashing smile, Captain America is the knight in shining armor that mothers read about to their children. He’s too perfect to exist, to be honest, and sometimes it hurts Tony’s eyes to even look at him.
But he looks. And, at some point, the Captain looks back.
It’s the taste of a bitter clash that draws them in. Tony is the bad, Steve is the good. Kissing him, Tony thinks, is inevitable – though it takes good ol’ Steve Rogers a bit longer to give in. It’s to be expected, Tony thinks with a sly smirk, and he smugly whispers against the hero’s lips told ya so before they finally kiss for the first time.
Tony never thought that justice could have a flavor, but on Steve Roger’s lips it tastes of all-American apple pie. Fresh made by some wrinkled grandmother, it’s the type of pie that is cooled by an open window, the smell attracting everyone in the neighborhood. When Tony kisses Steve he feels like a boy from that time period, innocent and happy, riding a bike and wearing a pair of dirty overalls. The boy in Tony – something he had thought was long, long gone – rides pass Grandma So and So’s house and is drawn in by freshly cooked apples and warm pastry.
It’s here, much to Tony Stark’s surprise, that he realizes that there’s a spice underneath the perfect soldier. There’s a zing to that apple pie, hints of cinnamon and a taste of caramel. There’s more to the man dressed in red, white, and blue, some hidden demons that may rival Tony’s own. He feels it assault him, perfect image ruined by the warm tongue that slips past his lips. There’s a fire inside the man, no not just fire, but a war. Steve’s hands are tight on Tony’s hips, mouth hot and ready, and this is the side that Tony’s been wanting to see since he first saw that perfect smile. To Captain America, Tony Stark is chaos, he does everything absolutely wrong and takes pride in his toxic ways. He uses that chaos to release his own, lets go of the perfectly crafted guise of purity, and soon all sweet pretenses are knocked out of the window.
And Tony loves every tantalizing second of it.
There’s no mention of it afterwards. Tony wakes up on the other side of the one night stand scenario, for once, laying in bed watching as someone gets dressed and prepares to leave. Tony makes a snarky comment, something about the all-American being spooked by his attraction to a man. That leads to another dizzying onslaught, Tony Stark being pinned to the mattress by everyone’s favorite hero. Do not assume that you know me Steve whispers hotly against his ear, pressing his lips against Tony’s. They’re as cold as ice, hard with a grief that Tony hadn’t been expecting at all. He realizes that he’s obviously said something that struck a nerve – he’s got a knack for that. He doesn’t push on it, doesn’t really need to, as he’s taken by Captain fucking America again.
At least the second time around, the Super Soldier doesn’t try to leave. So much for it being for one night.
3. Now this is the man he’s been wanting to meet.
Even if no one else has.
To everyone else Bruce Banner is a walking time bomb, ready to go off at any second. They’re all scared of him, thinking that the smallest thing will turn him into a giant green source of rage.
But Tony knows better.
While everyone else sees the goodness in someone like Captain America, Tony can see it in the truly incredible Hulk. He’s the only person he’s ever met who he thinks is as good as Pepper. People like him are kind, and wonderful, no matter how negative they are when talking about themselves. See, Bruce thinks he’s terrible, and Tony knows that this isn’t true. When Tony kisses him over and over again, he makes sure to whisper to him you’re not bad, Bruce.
Bruce doesn’t believe him. Probably never will. Tony sometimes wonders if he’s not speaking the words correctly, if he’s not compassionate enough to be able to say that thing good people say to make others feel better. Pepper could, he thinks, or even the captain, but certainly not Tony Stark.
But maybe that’s not what Bruce wants – or needs. Tony is the closest to mirroring him, he thinks, and maybe that’s good enough.
Bruce Banner, like the analytical man he is, tells Tony up front that his kisses will be sour. They will taste of sorrow, and regret, and pure white fear that will tear at Tony’s soul. Tony disagrees, always does, and tells him that his kisses will taste like the lips of the bravest hero out of all of them. Unlike the rest of them, Bruce’s fears and all that’s in-between are out in the open. Unlike the rest of the cowards – Tony Stark included – Bruce can’t hide away his emotions, no matter how hard he tries. Everyone focuses on the anger, but Tony focuses on what’s beneath the green. Bruce Banner is a genius, a kind-hearted man who’s scared of himself when he absolutely shouldn't be.
And thus, Tony kisses him.
Tony likes kissing him, because it always proves him right.
Bruce Banner has the softest lips that Tony has ever felt. Always unsure, always hesitant, it’s like kissing for the first time even if it’s been several. Bruce focuses too much on not losing control, on not letting go, and Tony always has to remind him that it’s all right I’m not made of glass. Strangely, it is a touch bit flattering, being with someone who is so openly concerned for him. He expects it with Pepper, but not really with another comrade in this superhero lifestyle.
And if Tony Stark is lucky he gets a completely different kind of kiss, something that does and does not fit with the quiet Bruce Banner.
It doesn’t happen often – which is a good thing, otherwise, Tony knows that he would be addicted. On these rare occasions Bruce’s grip on the pillow behind him is a bit too tight. On these rare occasions Bruce actually cries out when Tony is moving inside of him. He doesn’t stifle anything, glasses set on the table next to the bed, breaths hard and sweat building between the two of them. When Tony kisses him now it’s passionate, hot like the liquor that he’s been trying to cut back on but a little bit of Bruce never hurt anybody. There’s nothing hesitant about it. Bruce Banner kisses him hard enough to take his breath away.
It always makes Tony lose control, too.
He likes to think that he’s perfected his image of the perfect playboy, the most desirable lover to take into your bedroom. But when Bruce is like this he’s young and inexperienced again, frantically chasing after that orgasm, being spurred on by the loud – yes, Bruce is actually loud! – moans of the brilliant man below him.
It can take up to weeks before Bruce lets himself anywhere near Tony after that. But it’s well worth the wait, and each time they see each other again Bruce smiles a bit brighter, making Tony feel like he’s good enough after all.