A/N- Maria can be a bit cold and distant at times. It is just the way she is. We get to dive into Tony here and all the issues he has with his father. More to come in the next chapter, along with Clint.
Peter looked back over to them. He had a frown on his face. "It was one time," Peter said, but a look from them had him rethinking that. "Ok, it was several times, but I hardly knew you then."
They smiled at him. Neither of them was mad at him. "It's ok," they said.
Bucky and Steve returned the smile. The kid felt alright around them now. Peter pulled out a book for his English class then started to read it. After a moment, Bucky couldn't help himself. He looked over to Peter. "What are you reading?" asked Bucky.
He looked up from the book that he was reading to answer Bucky. "It's a classic book."
The two of them stared at each other for a few good moments before Bucky spoke again. "I am going to need more than that, Peter. It doesn't tell me anything about the book except that it's old."
Everyone laughed at that. Peter smiled at Bucky. "It's the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis," Peter replied. He then looked at Bucky. "Have you ever read it since you are old?"
It took Bucky a moment to stop and think about it. He knew they came out sometime after he fell off the train, but Bucky wasn't sure he had read them yet. "I don't think I have, and one day kid, you will be old," Bucky told Peter.
What a shame that Bucky hadn't read them. Peter was enjoying the book. "It's a good book so far, Bucky, and I think you would like it. I am reading it for school, and I like it so far," Peter stated.
Tony shook his head. It was plain to see Peter was enjoying. He had never seen the boy this into books before, even though he was a nerd. It had to do more with movies than anything. Standing up, Tony started to clean up, which prompted Steve to get up and help. "Thanks, Peter, maybe I will," Bucky said, stretching out.
Looking over to Bucky, Steve said, "Hey, now."
He looked away from Bucky and went into the kitchen with some plates. "You got up, Steve. So it's only fair that I stretch out," was the reply he got.
Shaking his head, Tony put his plates in the sink. "You two are something else," Tony stated.
Bucky flipped him the bird. "Of course we are, Stark. You also know you wouldn't have it any other way," said Bucky reaching around to get his drink.
Taking a sip of his milk left a milk mustache on his face. Sam let out a laugh as he stood up. "Bucky, you know, you have a milk mustache, which looks good on you," Sam said, walking from the room.
With a laugh from Steve, Bucky said, "Fuck you, Sam."
Steve frowned. "Language, Bucky," Steve said.
Looking over the couch to Steve, Bucky replied, "Says the man who swears like a sailor. You cuss all the time, or you use to."
Everyone turned to look at Bucky. Steve never really swore in front of them, and if he did, he said sorry. "I did not know that," Sam stated from the other room.
Sam went to get some chairs since it was about time that Maria would arrive. "You haven't been around him long enough," Bucky yelled.
A moment later, Sam came back into the room. "That may be true, but at least I can run with Steve," Sam stated.
Bucky shrugged his shoulders as Tony and Steve came back into the room. Steve sank onto the couch, which had Bucky move his legs real quick. "Well, every one it's about time, so get into your places," said Tony as Laura walked in.
He quickly looked over to Clint, who hadn't put his hearing aids back in yet. Clin was reading lips, though. "Hey, Clint," Natasha signed.
Clint smiled at her. "Yea," he spelled out.
She smiled back at him before they shared a kiss. "Tony wants to talk to you," signed Natasha as Clint let out a sigh.
Placing his hearing aids back in and turning them on, Clint said, "What do you want, Tony?"
Tony looked from Clint to Laura and back again. He wasn't happy at all. "I am just wondering what she is doing here?" asked Tony.
Clint started to speak as he sighed. "I thought she could be here with us. But, unfortunately, Bucky is, and he isn't an Avenger. But, on the other hand, Laura should know what's going on to help better heal us."
It was Tony's turn to sigh as he rubbed his forehead. His head started to hurt, and he felt like a headache was coming on. "There is a difference, though. Bucky lives here, and while he isn't an Avenger, he needs to be here."
Giving the nod, Steve said, "Plus, there are issues that people need to work out with Bucky."
Tony nodded at that even if he wasn't going to go there, or at least not yet. However, he did feel grateful that Steve pointed it out. It was an excellent point. "Steve's right," said Tony taking a seat on the couch.
As an older woman walked into the room, Bruce nodded. Her heels hit the floor with a cluck. She had long flowy brown hair. "Hello, everyone," Maria said in a brisk voice as she took a seat in her regular chair.
In dull voices, everyone replied, "Hi."
While it didn't faze Maria at all, she was a little fazed by it, but it was something that she had gotten used to. "Well, where did we leave off last time?" she asked the group at large.
Everyone looked around the room before Bucky spoke up. "You were talking about how we needed to talk more and let each other know how we feel."
She gave the nod to Bucky, along with a small smile. Maria was surprised that he remembered that. During the meeting, it hadn't seemed like Bucky was paying attention. "You are correct. I felt like that was something that needed to be worked on," she said.
Clint mumbled under his breath. "It didn't help."
Leaving Clint to mumble, Maria started to speak again. "This week, I want to focus a little bit on each of you. I want to go around the room for you all to tell me something about yourselves that no one knows."
Not being sure about it, Clint asked, "Can we pass on this?"
His voice was hopeful. Maria shook her head. "I am sorry, Clint, but if you are all going to get along, then this needs to happen. It may not be what you want to do, but you have to do it," she replied.
She took a sip of the water she brought with her and cleared her throat. Tony gave the nod. "It's a good start, and I think we can do this. Who would like to go first?" asked Tony.
No one said a word, not being the one who wanted to go first. Maria looked over at Tony. "Why don't you start us off, and no one is to speak before he is done," Maria said in a kind voice.
Tony couldn't look at her, but he did speak to the room at large. "I am not sure where to start. There is a lot I would like to say," Tony stated as Rhodey put a hand on his shoulder.
Rhodey smiled at him. "You got this. I think you should start with your father," Rhodey said, hoping that would help.
With a nod, Tony cleared his throat before speaking. "My father and I never got along."
He paused for a moment because Tony wasn't sure where he was supposed to go from there. It was hard to talk about his father. Add in the fact that Tony wanted to cry. Rhodey rubbed his shoulder before whispering so Maria wouldn't hear. "It's ok, Tony. If you need a break, it's fine."
Maria looked at the two of them with a cold stare. She hadn't heard what Rhodey said, but it didn't matter. "Tony, as hard as this is, you need to do this. If you are all going to heal, then you need to open up to each other," Maria told him in a cold voice.
He nodded at that. "Well, as I said, we didn't get along. Ok, so at first, we did bonding over Captain America, but that didn't last. He was someone that I looked up took, but once I realized how much my father cared more about Captain America than me, it was gone," said Tony.
While she wanted to feel sorry for Tony, she didn't feel sorry for any of them. Because for weeks, they had been working at this talking it out but hardly gotten anywhere. Maria took a moment to think about what to say. Steve, on the other hand, looked over to Tony. "I am sorry, Tony," Steve said to him. "I had no idea that it was that bad."
Tony waved it off. "You couldn't have known. My father wanted to find you at all cost, and it hurt like hell," Tony replied.
Looking at Tony, Maria felt some pain, but just enough that she still didn't care. "So, Howard, put finding Captain America above your happiness?" Maria asked in a curious voice.
Tony nodded before speaking. "Howard did for the longest time. He died before he even got the chance to change and care about me. Not that it matters, I don't think I could forget the bastard."
Rhodey hugged Tony as the man looked at him. "I think I want to be done," Tony said.
He was starting to shake from this. Howard was never a good man. It showed that even if people didn't want to believe it. "Tony, it's ok," Rhodey said, handing Tony some water.
Taking a drink, Tony nodded again. "You are right, Rhodey, but it still hurts," Tony told him.
Rhodey smiled at him. "I know it does, Tones," replied Rhodey.