Second chapter of the night :-)

It's a few hours before Steve rides through the Mansion gates on his new bike. He has his duffle strapped down behind him and his shield on his back.

The gates to the driveway have been left open, so he doesn't have an excuse to pause and take in the sight in front of him. Instead he takes in the expanse of the building as it rises up to fill his vision.

He parks the bike right by the main double doors and gets off to untie his bag. The doors open as he starts up the steps and a man in a suit looks down at him.

'Good day, Captain Rogers,' the man greets him with an English accent.

'Uh, hello?'

'If you leave your belongings here they will be taken to your suite,' the man continues. 'This way to Master Stark, please.'

He hesitates as he looks around the entrance hall before he drops his duffle. He keeps his shield with him.

'This way, Captain,' the man gestures and leads the way.

They walk through a room containing only portraits and through another set of large double doors into what can only be a ballroom.

A ballroom with a ceiling that must be four storeys high, a giant sweeping double staircase that dominates the opposite wall and with a floor that, if waxed, could plainly be incredibly beautiful.

The floor isn't waxed. The floor isn't even clean.

The reason why is actually what has stopped him from appreciating any of the view before him.

Tony is wearing the boots from one of his suits and is hovering up by the ceiling. He watches as Tony adjusts his position, clearly checking something in his eyepiece, and then drills a hole into the ceiling and a cascade of plaster falls down to the floor.

'Master Stark,' the man, Steve is assuming he's a butler, calls up, 'your guest has arrived.'

Tony waivers in the air as he looks down at them,

'Cap!' he drops down. 'Alfred, you remember you don't work for me?'

Alfred mutters something about learning to answer your own damn door and leaves the way they came.

'Tony, what are you doing,' he smiles as his friend touches down. 'And where's Pete?'

'Making the holes for Jarvis' sensors,' Tony gestures vaguely with the tiny drill in his hand. 'Once I have them all made I can insert the sensor net and then I have to install the induction charging under the floors above. Pepper made me promise not to rip anything out of the way...'

Now he looks he can see the tiny, nearly imperceivable, holes covering nearly half the ceiling.

'Wow...' he murmurs.

'Pete's on his bike in the east wing,' Tony keeps talking, 'by the library I think.'

'You're tracking him,' he gesture to his own face to imply Tony's eyepiece.

'I put sensors on his bike and on his helmet,' Tony agrees.

'I didn't think he'd willingly leave your side,' he smiles as Tony's focus visibly flicks to his little display every few seconds.

Tony shrugs and moves away to a table scattered with several tablets, Tony's phone and several pieces of the Iron Man suit that presumably donated its feet to Tony's current venture. Tony pushes a couple of things around before turning and returning to him holding an ear bud,

'Here,' Tony holds it out to him, 'so you can hear Jarvis.'

'This is Avenger tech,' he scowls at it. 'We shouldn't be on these channels outside of missions.'

'This is Stark tech,' Tony just smirks, 'and Jarvis can keep them private; how do you think they work in the field?'

'I hadn't thought about it,' he admits and puts in the ear bud. 'Hey, Jarvis.'

'Hello, Captain,' Jarvis is nearly as clear as at home. 'Peter was convinced to explore the Mansion by Mister Pennyworth, who agreed to accompany him.'

'Alfred?' he asks.

'He's Bruce's butler,' Tony nods. 'Jarvis is jealous that his job has been stolen and that my kid's affections are being appropriated.'

'Mister Pennyworth has a distinct advantage over me at this time,' Jarvis retorts. 'Peter is speaking to us both, however.'

Tony grins,

'He'll be happy you're here, Cap; he was telling me you should stay in our room if we couldn't find one for you.'

'Well, it wouldn't be the first time you've offered me your bed,' he replies.

'And yet you shun me,' Tony gives an exaggerated sigh. 'What am I to think, Cap?'

'Maybe I need to be wooed first,' he lies with a smile.

Tony laughs,

'Sounds like you're high maintenance.'

'Yes,' he agrees dryly, 'my random whims would surely bankrupt you.'

Tony just grins,

'You don't know what you're missing, Cap; I'm quite the catch.'

It takes more willpower than it should for him not to say something that takes the joke too far.

'I'm not so lucky as to ever be able to have you.'

Like that.

Does his brain stop working whenever Tony smiles?

He opens his mouth and tries to think of something, anything, that will stop Tony looking at him as if he's insane.

'Cap!' Pete calls out from behind him. 'Dada! Look! Cap is here!'

'Yeah,' Tony doesn't look away from staring into his soul.

'Dada, are you angry?' Pete gets off his bike and goes to hold Tony's hand.

'No,' Tony shakes his head and looks down at his son with a smile. 'Have you scouted the perimeter? All secure?'

'Yeah!' Pete grins, 'and I only crashed five times!'

'Good work,' Tony lifts Pete onto his hip. 'Where's Alfred?'

'Making sandwiches,' Pete gazes up at the ceiling. 'Have you finished letting Jarvis move in?'

'Not yet,' Tony hovers into the air, 'do you want to drill some holes for me?'

Pete laughs in delight as they rise up to the ceiling.

He escapes while they're distracted.

'Why did I come here?' he groans.

'I believe you wished to keep Peter from being separated from you when it would have clearly caused him pain,' Jarvis replies promptly.

'Ahh... Can Tony...?'

'You and I are speaking privately, Captain.'

'Jarvis, why do I keep making an ass of myself?'

'I am afraid I cannot answer you.'