On the morning of Tony's birthday, he woke up a little earlier than usual. One glance showed him that Tony was still fast asleep, burrowed deep into the covers. On any other day, Steve would be content to just curl up in bed for a little longer while Tony slept, but now he was a little tempted to sneak out while he had the chance and get started on his art. It wasn't the nicest thing to do on Tony's birthday, but those extra few minutes might make all the difference later.
The decision was made for him when Tony stirred and slowly blinked open his eyes, breaking into a sleepy smile when he looked up at Steve.
"Good morning," Steve said. "And happy birthday." He kissed Tony's upturned face.
Tony pulled him down closer and they stayed like that for a little while, kissing languidly. Steve would have happily stayed in bed with the omega all morning, just cuddling and kissing, but he had work to do, so he reluctantly pulled out of Tony's embrace.
"Give me one good reason why we can't keep cuddling," Tony said, pawing at Steve in an attempt to drag him back to bed.
"The baby," Steve said.
Tony huffed. "I suppose that's a good reason." He sighed as he rolled out of bed
"We'll cuddle tonight," Steve promised. "After the party."
"We'd better," Tony said. "We'd better cuddle so hardcore."
Steve snorted and padded for the door. Tony would catch up with him pretty soon, but he'd at least have a small headstart on breakfast.
Both Clint and Natasha were sitting in the kitchen when he got downstairs.
"Where's Tony?" Clint asked eagerly.
"Probably checking on the baby." He bit into a muffin and grabbed a handful of granola bars. It was going to be a long day and he needed all the sustenance he could get to keep going.
Tony wandered into the kitchen just as Steve was finishing his sixth muffin.
"Morning, guys," Tony said. He adjusted the baby on his hip and reached for a mug.
Clint's face split into a wide, scheming smile. "Ah, the birthday boy," he said. "Just the man we wanted to see."
Natasha gave him a thoroughly unimpressed look and Clint quickly schooled his face into something less malevolent.
Tony turned around, quirking an eyebrow. "Something going on back there?"
"Nope," Clint said. "Absolutely nothing."
"Okay then." Tony poured some hot water into his mug and reached for a box of tea bags. Instead of coffee, he had taken to drinking a special lactation tea every morning.
"That junk doesn't even work," Clint said.
"It doesn't work for you, obviously," Tony said with a roll of his eyes.
"But you're already breastfeeding. It's not doing anything for you."
Natasha jerked her head towards the elevator, mouthing "go".
Steve nodded and quietly slipped out while Clint and Tony were still arguing.
It was so quiet upstairs. And there was the little niggling sensation in the back of his mind that he really wasn't supposed to be up on Tony's floor. Tony wasn't going to catch him, the team would make sure of that. And he had Jarvis' word that he wasn't going to rat him out to his master. But still, it felt a little like sneaking into enemy territory.
He felt a lot more at ease after he successfully smuggled the paint cans and the tarps into the baby's room and closed and locked the door behind him.
Now there was nothing to do except losing himself in the creative process.
About two hours into it, his phone rang.
"You're going to need to get down here and let Tony pick something out for you to wear tonight," Natasha said. "We can only hold him off for so long."
"Seriously? You're having trouble already? I thought you guys had a plan for the whole day."
"Just come down and get this over with," she hissed. "You know how he gets when he's excited about something. So once you let him pick out an outfit for you, we'll all be fine and you can go back to work."
Steve sighed and surveyed his work. He wasn't done yet. Not even close. He had only the outline of the oak tree done and a few butterflies scattered around its trunk. But he supposed it couldn't hurt to take a break.
When he got downstairs, everyone was in the den, inspecting a selection of dress shirts,watches, belts, ties, and jewelry that had been laid out over the couches like some weird high-class swapmeet.
"There you are," Tony said sternly. "Where have you been?"
"Uhh," Steve said, his eyes flicking towards Natasha. She would probably come up with a much better excuse than he could.
"I know, I know," Tony said. "Fancy dress gives you hives or something. But after all the work I put into-"
Natasha cleared her throat.
Tony rolled his eyes."Okay, after all the work we put into getting some nice shit ready for tonight, you're damn well not going to my party in sweats, Steve." He ushered Steve over to the closest couch.
Steve was stunned. "So, you got all of this stuff ready this morning?"
"Well, mostly. The rest of the time, I spent threatening Clint with exile in space or eating the last of the bacon if he didn't get out of the air ducts and try some of this stuff on. Thankfully, you seem to have been much more reasonable. Either that, or Natasha's a better negotiator than I am."
Steve grinned. "You could say that."
"Anyway," Tony said. "This couch is stuff that should fit you. So, pick whichever suit and accessories you want. I've got to go check on the baby."
As soon as Tony was out of earshot, Clint muttered, "Doesn't Pepper usually do all the planning shit?"
"Only for things Tony's not personally invested in," Natasha said with a quirk of her lip. "Be thankful that he cares enough to harass you."
Tony waltzed back into the room, decked out in a very nice tuxedo. He spread his arms out. "So, guys, what do you think?"
Steve's phone chirped, alerting him to an incoming text message.
"Oh boy," Tony said. "Another ass-chewing from Fury. How thoughtful of the bastard to schedule it on my birthday, of all days." He nudged Steve's side. "It is Fury, isn't it? Or maybe it's another modeling contract. Because everyone knows you're hot stuff."
Steve stared at the screen. "Peggy?" he said in disbelief. He didn't remember giving her his number. He didn't even think she had a cell phone. But her name was on the screen, clear as day.
Tony's face fell. "Oh god, Steve. I'm sorry."
Natasha put a hand on his shoulder. "I think you should go to her," she said in a solemn tone. But her eyes were twinkling as she slipped her own phone back into her pocket.
Steve's hand clenched around the phone. "This isn't...I can't believe...really?" He glared at Natasha, too angry to speak.
"I'll drive him there," Natasha said serenely. She hooked her arm in Steve's and tugged him gently towards the elevator.
"I'll be back for the party," Steve called over his shoulder.
Tony nodded, but his expression was blank and distant, all the light gone from his eyes.
As soon as the doors closed, Steve rounded on her. "I can't believe you," he snapped. "This little stunt is so far over the line."
Natasha crossed her arms over her chest. "You were willing to lie to him about your whereabouts, but this crosses the line?"
"Yes," Steve hissed. "Because now he's going to feel guilty about wanting me at his birthday party when Peggy might be dying or whatever else he thinks is happening. Tony's spent enough time feeling worthless and unimportant. I don't want him to feel that way on his own birthday."
Natasha's expression softened. "We're not going to let that happen. We'll keep him so busy he won't have time to think about it."
"I sure hope so," Steve said. "And you better have plenty of fun activities for him. After that nice guilt trip, he doesn't need to be cleaning up people's messes and broken tech."
"It'll be fine," Natasha assured him. She patted his cheek. "We take full responsibility for this. Your conscience should be clear."
Still, Steve couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Guilty enough to make a quick call to the hospital to ask how Peggy was doing. The nurses reported no change in her condition, which was a relief.
So, it was time to go back to work.
It was a little before five when Steve finally finished. He stood back and surveyed the mural for a moment, looking for any spots he might have missed. Satisfied it was at least fully painted, he sent a quick text to Natasha to keep Tony distracted and hurried his way downstairs, arriving in the den from the south entrance to make it look like he had come up from the garage.
"Steve!" Tony said delightedly. He threw his arms around Steve's neck. "You made it back."
"Of course I did. I promised I'd be here."
Tony pulled back for a moment. "Is she okay?"
"Yeah," Steve said with a smile. "She was doing good today."
Tony brightened. "Another reason to celebrate today." He shooed Steve off to the bathroom. "We're going to be fashionably late at this point, but that's the way I like it. Just don't dawdle too long or I'll start hearing it from Pepper."
Steve dressed as quickly as he could and met the rest of the team in the garage. Natasha shot him a proud smirk as she slipped into the back of Happy's limo.
Okay, Steve admitted it. The plan had worked. And now he got to enjoy sitting beside Tony and holding his hand on the way to the party. He had really missed spending time with the omega during the afternoon, and now he was going to make it all up to him.
When they arrived, Pepper was standing onstage in a shimmering silver dress, announcing a few items that were going to be auctioned off for charity. She said nothing about their arrival, only smiled a little wider in their direction.
Tony grinned and tugged at Steve's arm. "Come on, babe. Let's get ourselves lost in the crowd."
Steve nodded to the rest of the team. "Catch up with you guys later."
Natasha smiled. "Have fun, you two."
Tony dragged him first over to the bar and got them each a glass of champagne. "A toast to my favorite Capsicle," he said grandly.
"I'm your only Capsicle."
Tony's eyes sparkled as he clinked their glasses together. "That's what I like about you."
Steve took a sip of his champagne and glanced around. The party looked like it was in full swing. Plenty of people dancing, drinking, eating canapes and gossiping together. "You're one of a kind too, you know. Look at everybody who's come here for you."
"Not for me," Tony said with a wry smile. "For what I represent. Money, fame, favor. They don't want me. They just want to be seen with me."
Steve squeezed his shoulder. "I want you."
Tony swallowed down the rest of his champagne. "I'm getting the drinking over with now so the alcohol will have plenty of time to get through my system before we go home," he confided in a low voice.
"Always thinking of the baby," Steve said fondly. He kissed Tony's forehead and eased the empty champagne flute out of his hand. "I'm proud of you."
Tony leaned in closer, looping his arms around Steve's neck. "Come find me on the dance floor, soldier." And then he was gone, skirting through the crowd.
Steve followed his departure with a heated gaze. Tony wasn't usually this playful, but a chase sounded like fun at the moment.
Tony put in a good effort disappearing into the crowd and looking like he really belonged among the dancers, but Steve would be able to find Tony anywhere. When he finally caught up with him, he pulled the omega tightly against his chest and kissed him as the music shifted into a slower tempo. Tony met his eyes, his expression warm and inviting as he stepped closer into Steve's space.
Sadly, they didn't have much time before Tony was called up to the stage to make a speech.
"Show must go on," Tony said with a smirk.
Tony kept his speech short and sweet. Just long enough for a few jokes and an acknowledgment of all the important people taking time out of their busy schedules to help charity. Tony smiled in all the right places, said all the right words, but Steve could see Tony was eager to escape and get back to dancing. He couldn't blame him for that.
As soon as Tony stepped off-stage, he was swarmed by reporters and prominent senators who wanted a photo-op. It looked like Tony was going to be awhile, so Steve headed over to one of the tables to pick up a few cheesecake bites. It would be rude to butt in while Tony was doing his job playing host, but if Tony still couldn't get away in another half hour, he'd make sure Tony at least got a few bites to eat.
At the table, a middle-aged woman cornered him to brag about her husband's successful plastics business. Steve really didn't care. He wasn't here to talk business or politics. He just wanted to spend the night with Tony. He put in just the barest amount of effort listening to the woman's story while he scanned the room to see where Tony had gone off to. He was probably making his round of the room, trying to find his way back to Steve's side.
At least most of the vultures had left him alone now. Steve couldn't see any large crowd of reporters anymore, just groups of people here and there talking with the rest of Tony's guests.
His heart stopped as he spotted Tony by the bar, backing away from a muscular alpha.
In this sea of perfume and cologne, it was hard to pick out Tony's scent, but there was no question that the omega was terrified. His stance was defensive, putting as much distance between him and the alpha as possible. And the alpha kept aggressively stepping closer, forcing Tony to keep backing up further and further.
His jaw clenched. "Excuse me, ma'am. I have business to attend to."
She clutched at the front of his shirt and batted her eyelashes. "Oh, Captain Rogers. Can't you stay a little longer?"
"No," Steve said brusquely.
All he could see was Tony getting backed against the bar, the alpha looming over him.
"Hey!" Steve shouted. "Don't touch him."
Even in this loud, crowded room, his voice carried some distance. The people nearby stopped talking and turned to see what was happening. He pushed past the woman and stormed across the room, not caring who was watching.
The alpha either hadn't heard Steve's shout, or was ignoring him because he was still all over Tony when Steve marched up to him. So he grabbed the man by the shoulder, yanking him away from Tony.
"Who the hell are you?" the man demanded.
"His boyfriend," Steve growled.
"Oh." The man gave him a dismissive once-over. "Being his boyfriend doesn't mean anything these days. An omega is free to sleep with as many people as he wants before bonding."
"And he doesn't want to sleep with you. So back off."
"You don't get to tell me how he feels. Tony and I were getting along so well before you butted in. Weren't we, Tony?"
Tony shuddered and averted his eyes.
"No, don't be afraid. Your boyfriend has no authority here." He smiled and raised his hand towards Tony's neck.
Steve swung, fist connecting with the side of the man's face. He went down hard, taking out a bar stool on the way down.
There were gasps all around him, but Steve ignored them. Tony was the only person who mattered. "You okay?" he asked, hands cupped around Tony's face. "He didn't drug you or anything, did he?" Tony's eyes looked perfectly focused, but that didn't mean the creep hadn't tried to slip him something.
"I'm fine," Tony said. "He didn't actually do anything yet."
"Thank god." He swept Tony into a tight hug.
Tony trembled against him."Is it too much to ask for one birthday without something bad happening?"
"No," Steve said. "It's not."
"I just want to go home," Tony said in a small voice. "Away from all these people. I don't want them to see me like this."
"Of course. I'll carry you to the car." He gathered Tony into his arms and shouldered his way through the crowd.
Tony just buried his face in his chest, hiding from all the camera flashes and open stares.
"We're leaving," Steve barked into the comm. "Out front in five."
Happy had already pulled the car up by the time Steve made it out the doors. Tony got in first and then Steve followed, shielding him from the rest of the camera flashes with his body.
The rest of the team piled in after them, Natasha bringing up the rear, pausing to yell at the cameramen who were thumping on the car windows to demand an interview.
"Assholes," Natasha spat as she slid into her seat. "All they care about is their story."
She looked as angry as Steve felt. Alpha instincts geared up for a fight. Clint had his arms folded across his chest, scowling and Thor's expression was dark. This was pack mentality. Their omega was hurt and they could all sense it, even if they didn't know what had happened.
Tony curled further into Steve's side, shaking with silent sobs.
"Drive, Happy," Steve ordered, his voice sounding rougher than he intended.
They had to get away so Steve could clear his head. Because right now Tony needed love and comfort, not a warrior. And once Steve could bring his own rage under control, the rest of the pack would follow. And then they could just be there for Tony.
He stroked Tony's hair and bent down to kiss the top of his head. "I've got you," he murmured. "You're safe now."
Tony looked up at him, his eyes large and liquid. "If you hadn't gotten there in time, he would have-"
Natasha swore in Russian and Clint stiffened beside her.
"Let's not think about that," Steve said. He cradled Tony against his chest and stroked his back. "You're safe with us. You're safe now."
Bruce was waiting for them at the door when they arrived home. He took one look at all of them and quietly went back inside to move the festive decor out of the den. Bruce really was a treasure. So calm and dependable when they needed him to be.
Steve led Tony over to the couch and sat beside him. The rest of the team took up spots around the room.
"You want something to drink?" Steve asked. "Maybe some water or a cup of tea?"
"Tea," Tony said, voice barely above a whisper.
"I'll take care of it," Bruce said.
On the end table, Tony's cell phone buzzed.
Natasha leaned down to look at the screen. "It's Pepper," she said. "You want to talk to her?"
Tony shook his head.
"Tell her he isn't hurt," Steve said. "Just a little shaken up."
Natasha nodded and stepped into the hallway, quietly talking into the phone.
Steve took Tony's hand in his and gently stroked his thumb over his knuckles. Tony had stopped crying and was just staring vacantly into the distance now. Steve wasn't sure whether it was a good or bad sign, but he vowed to stay with Tony, a quiet, supportive presence.
"I hate being an omega," Tony said finally. "So fucking weak and pathetic."
"You're not weak," Steve said. "You've been very strong."
Tony's mouth twisted into an ugly sneer. "Crying is a sign of strength now, is it?" He laughed bitterly. "I should have known better. This shit always happens to me. Maybe I should have had another drink. Get too drunk to know what was happening. Get it over with while I couldn't feel anything."
"Tony, no," Steve said. "You shouldn't have to feel that way."
Tony snorted and shook his head. "It's the truth. What is an omega good for other than fucking and baby-making? We can't fight, we can't command, and we can't even use our own pathetic weakness to appeal for mercy. We're hard-wired to be beaten down and taken advantage of, and maybe if all the other packs finally come to their senses and realize what a burden we all are, omegas as a whole can die out."
"I will not abide this sort of talk," Thor said in an outraged tone. "We shall continue to come to your aid as long as we draw breath. Never shall we leave a comrade to suffer."
"It's a stupid impulse," Tony said through clenched teeth. "I have nothing to offer this pack and still you all feel obligated to protect me."
"You offer us all a great deal. A home, companionship, friendship."
"Are you all really that desperate for a place to live that you'll shack up with anyone?"
Thor looked like he had another indignant response, but this really wasn't the time to argue with Tony. He was scared and hurt and just lashing out irrationally.
"Enough, Thor," Steve said. "Tony, come with me. I want to show you something."
Tony huffed, still looking angry and unsettled, but he followed Steve up to his floor without another argument.
Steve opened the door to the baby's room and motioned for Tony to step inside.
Tony lingered in the doorway, eyes wide as he scanned the entire room. "Did you really do all this today?"
Steve stuck his hands in his pockets. "It was supposed to be your birthday present. And now I really wish I had gotten something just for you instead. After all you've gone through tonight, I'm sure you could really use-"
Tony threw his arms around him and buried his face in his chest. "Oh, Steve," he said. "It's perfect. Now the baby really belongs here."
"So do you," Steve said softly. He squeezed Tony's shoulder. "We need you. On the team, in the pack. You're not a burden and you're not an obligation. You're a hero Tony. That means you're just as important as the rest of us."
Tony made a dismissive sound and Steve cupped his hands around Tony's hands, forcing him to look into his eyes. "I know what it's like to feel weak. If it wasn't for the serum, I'd have died getting my ass kicked in some alleyway because I couldn't keep my mouth shut. Bucky always had to step in and save me from myself and I hated that. Hated that I had to be rescued by an omega when alphas were supposed to be so much stronger. But it's inner strength that really matters."
"Of course you can say that now," Tony muttered. "Now that you're all muscles."
"The muscles help," Steve said. "But they didn't get me into that Hydra base. I did. Because I was bound and determined to do what everyone else said couldn't be done. In case you haven't realized, Tony, I'm a little stubborn." He paused to allow Tony's derisive snort. "Yeah, I'm a stubborn son of a bitch who doesn't know when to quit. It's what's kept me alive all these years when I should have died of disease. It's what got me into Project Rebirth. And it's what's gonna keep me fighting for you even when you can't fight for yourself. I don't give up on anyone, Tony. I'm going to be there for you, even if I die trying."
"Don't talk like that," Tony said sharply. "I'm just an omega. But you're our leader, our alpha. We can't afford to lose you."
"If you ask me," Steve said, "maybe alphas should be the ones dying off. Because all I've seen these days is fighting, rioting, brawling, assault. Alphas are supposed to protect the omegas, but it seems like if there were no alphas, there'd be nothing to protect them from."
"Don't be ridiculous," Tony murmured. "A world without Captain America is a world I don't want to live in."
"So is a world without Tony Stark."
Tony eyed him. "You really are stubborn, aren't you?"
"The stubbornest," Steve assured him with a grin. He leaned in to press a chaste kiss to Tony's lips. "I'm not going to let the bad guys win."
Tony's mouth curved into a half smile. "Now I understand how you convinced all those poor saps to go into battle with you. You make one hell of a speech, Steve."
It was so good to see Tony smile again, if it was just a hint of one. Steve was happy for any sign of recovery he could get.