Tony wasn't sure how to be a family man.

His father was distant, held high expectations, and was usually only good company with, well, company. Howard Stark had left his son with a lot more than just a business and billions of dollars. Howard left his son with baggage and a bad case of daddy issues.

When Tony was born it was as if his father expected him to be a smaller version of himself. Tony wasn't allowed to play sports, but had to keep in top form. He attended the most advanced private academic academy the world had to offer. So from birth he was molded by his father to be the next face of Stark Industries. (Except his father was never around, so he was molded by teachers, coaches, tutors, nannies, etc.)

By his early twenties he'd made the final decision that kids were out of the question. He did not want to be responsible for creating another human being like himself. For years as a wealthy Playboy, it was easy to avoid getting tied down. He honestly didn't have any worries at all until he and Pepper got together. Yet, even then he didn't find the idea of having a family very appealing. He still had that underline fear that he would royally fuck up a child if it was cursed with his genetics.

Pepper broke it off with Tony just a few months after the Stark tower became the Avengers tower. So Tony thought he was safe from ruining the human race.

That was until he was swept off his feet by a certain Captain in a night of frustrated drunkenness. Filled with hard kisses and ruthless touches. They were so angry at the world with no one left to cling to, so instead of clinging to each other; they tore each other apart instead. After a few weeks of brutal fucking, Steve called a cease fire and asked for a negotiation. Tony argued that he wasn't good at talking and all the mushy shit known as "Emotions".

"I'm telling you Steve, if we get into this and it becomes something more than venting. I will fuck it up. I always do. So just don't start. We have a good thing going here." Good is never enough for Steve, he knows there is always a way to make something better. Steve viewed people as Tony viewed machines. "It doesn't have to be like this Tony, you know it. We've gotten too used to each other to just keep hurting each other. Let's talk it out." Steve presses Tony in a way that makes him cross his arms and pout. He won't give in. Captain America does not control Iron Man.

Or at least that's what he had told himself at the time. Not two hours later was Steve Rogers at the door to his workshop on one knee claiming that if Tony couldn't deal with the bullshit of a proper relationship, they could skip that part and just get married. Tony stood there for a good three minutes trying to come up with a good enough reason to say no. But even with all the scenarios his genius mind had cooked up, he found himself whispering "Yes".

Now here they were, nearly two years later and considering adoption. As a gay couple Tony almost thought it was safe to have a family. Steve balanced out all of his imperfections, improved some of them! And with adoption, he doesn't have to worry about genetics! It's a win win! Even if he fails as a father, Steve will be right there and if anyone deserves to be America's greatest dad. It's fucking Captain America.

So no, Tony Stark did not consider himself a family man.

BUT! Tony Stark-Rogers, would do anything for Steve.

"I can't believe they actually mail you pamphlets with pictures of kids to adopt. That is so disgusting, I don't want to get a child from these people who use kids like models for money. But- I also want to save all these little smiling faces." Tony is angrily flipping through adoption catalogues. He and Steve have been on the hunt for weeks trying to find the best place to consider an adoption.

Steve nods his head from the other end of the couch. He has too large leaflets in his hands and a deep crease in his brow. "This isn't how it worked when I was younger."

Tony scoffed. "Hell Steve, this isn't how it was when I was younger. This is bullshit."

Steve sighs and tosses the papers onto the glass coffee table in front of him. Steve has on a pair of well fitted sweats (because even in casual lazy day wear, Steve can't have baggy clothing) and has left himself shirtless. Which is an unusual feat, Steve is modest and has always had a strong belief that outside of the bedroom, you wore proper clothes. The fact that Steve was laid out across the couch without a shirt and hadn't even mentioned the fact that Tony's iced coffee wasn't on a coaster; was unnerving. "Maybe this isn't a good idea."

"Steve we've talked this out before, it's going to be-"

"You can't say it's going to be fine Tony." Steve swings his legs off the couch and stands up, ruining a frustrated hand through his hair. "Come on, we can't keep kidding ourselves thinking that this is a good idea. We both know that it's not a good idea."

Tony groans. He knows this tone Steve is using on him. Now he's starting to see why Steve has been so off. "Steve, our child isn't going to be abandoned."

Steve rolls his eyes and turns away from his husband. "Yeah, Tony. Both my parents died at war. I'm sorry if I have a little trouble thinking that's not how it's going to be for us."

Tony rises from the couch and approaches Steve slowly. "Steve, you didn't have anybody. Our kid will. Even outside of the avengers, Pepper, Happy, Agent Hill, hell even Fury. There are so many people we can rely on, this kid is gonna be fucking rotten." He laughs a bit to try and ease the tension in Steve's shoulders. It seems to work and Steve faces him, eyes still downcast in doubt. "Now listen tough guy, you're the one that brought up all this family stuff. I was just fine with the two of us. But now you've got me all excited so we have to do this." Tony takes his hand. "We aren't at war. We deal with class A major assholes who have bigger egos than me. I promise Steve, we can have a kid."

"Sorry to break up this moment, but I might have a solution to your adoption issue." Fury's voice came over the com system in the living room.

Tony steps away from Steve and groans loudly. "Is nothing private anymore?"

"Not when you are a part of the Avengers."

"This line is supposed to be for emergencies only." Tony raises his eyebrows as he looks up at the celling.

"Consider this an emergency. Richard and Mary Parker's son, Peter Parker is in need of some super assistance."

Steve gives Tony one of his confused stares, where he isn't sure if he's supposed to know what they're talking about. "Richard Parker? I'm not sure I've ever heard of him."

"I recruited him after his time in the military to be one of our agents. His wife Mary was already working for the CIA. They passed away after a mission after the Red Skull, that was a few years ago. Their son, Peter Parker has been living with his Aunt and Uncle."

Tony shook his head. "Yeah okay, and what makes than an emergency."

"He was bitten by a radioactive spider. He's a little 9 year old boy with no parents and an elderly couple raising him. There's no way they can raise a kid with super powers."

Steve's lips twitch like he wants to grin but he's still trying to be professional. "So you want us to do… what exactly?"

"I figured that was the easy part. I want the two of you to take him in."

"Like a son?" Tony and Steve say at the same time. Their smile finally break through, gazes locked with excited eyes. Tony momentarily forgets how to breathe. A nine year old boy whose been bitten by a radioactive spider who has super powers. If this wasn't the perfect opportunity he and Steve were screwed.

"He's in the lobby of the tower if you're interested in meeting him."