?????? ??? ????? ??????

Tony fucking loved his new super spy friends.

Not only did Natasha and Clint make it their personal mission to put an immediate and quick end to Rogers' insensitive and judgmental attitude, not only did they force him to sit through a full-on lecture on the different sexualities and genders that made up the human race, not only did they cut him off at the legs and tell him in no uncertain terms that his opinion meant nothing in the face of someone's sexuality, gender identity and pronouns, but these glorious people that SHIELD somehow brought into his life were also full-on supporting, shipping and cheering on his crush while creating all the opportunities for them to spend time together.

Best super spies. Fury wasn't getting them back. They were Tony's now.

He watched the pair work flawlessly together. Natasha smoothly slipped into the seat beside Tony, forcing Rogers to sit further away from the scientist when he'd clearly been aiming for another talk about how sorry he was about what he said before and it was 'completely understandable wasn't it Tony'? Rogers refusing to actually take a look at the present instead of pining over the past was not a get-out-of-jail-free card for his crappy attitude and behaviour. Rogers needed to earn a second chance.

Like Natasha did. Like Clint thought he needed to. Like Tony did.

Clint effortlessly interrupted Rogers' attempt to still have his very important talk by cheerfully dumping food in front of Tony and skillfully directing an adorably sleepy Bruce who had just arrived into the chair Natasha had just conveniently vacated.

"I made you tea," Tony took the opportunity they'd handed him and pushed the mug towards Bruce.

Clint gave him a subtle thumbs up and Natasha nodded slightly in approval.

Bruce let out a happy hum as he sipped the drink.

"Thank you Tony. This is my favourite tea."

Tony grinned and returned to his own coffee. He'd ordered a fuck ton of that tea when he found out which was Bruce's favourite.

"Tony," Rogers started and Bruce glanced at him in annoyance. He was tired of listening to this same conversation. "Please Tony, we're supposed to be a team."

Tony sighed. "We are a team Rogers. What we aren't is a friendship group braiding each others' hair. We are coworkers. That's all we need to be. Now, that could change. Bruce is my science bro. Nat and Clint quickly made their way to friend status. The difference between you and them? They tried. They tried from the beginning. They apologised if they hurt me before. They made an effort. You only made an effort when you got in trouble with everyone else and called out."

Rogers didn't say anything else for the rest of breakfast.

____________________

It was a full month later before he psyched himself up to finally ask Bruce on a date. And when Tony Stark did something, he did it right.

"Um..." Rogers trailed off as he got a good look at the common room the Avengers shared.

Clint and Rhodey were working together to get a massive stuffed rabbit through the doorway. Tony himself barely glanced up at the intruder before returning to arranging the flowers with Pepper. Natasha was carefully setting up tasteful scented candles around the place.

"What's going on?" Rogers asked.

"What's it look like?" Clint huffed as he shoved at the rabbit again. "We're setting up for an epic 'asking out on a date' moment.

"Oh," he was quiet for a moment before focusing in on Pepper. "Are you asking Happy out?"

She glanced at him with a judgmental eyebrow raise.