Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter TextTony made several calls that afternoon in the barn. By the time he came out his shoulders felt lighter, his hobbling steps had an extra skip to it, and the tightness around his eyes had eased. He felt something that was approximately close to happy, and he could hardly believe it. For a moment he imagined a life here, as part of the Avengers pack, and what that would entail. What that would feel like. Tony had only ever been a part of a very small pack, and his life under his father's rule had been nothing short of terrible. Here… here with the avengers he felt almost a part of the team. They had certainly warmed up to him over the past couple of weeks. They even seemed to care about him, which was as surprising as it was refreshing.
He had spent a couple of hours in the barn making his calls. When he walked outside into the fresh air and the bright light of the late summer afternoon, his eyes immediately lighted upon the strong and unmistakable form of Steve Rogers. Had Steve been out here waiting the whole time? The Alpha was leaning against the house, strong arms crossed over his broad chest, his chin tucked downward as he stared at the grass that swayed gently by his feet. He seemed to be lost deep in thought. Tony felt the tight bands in his chest loosen at the sight of the strong Alpha, a begrudging smile tweaking the corners of his lips as he made his way over to Steve.
Tony was learning to relax in the other man's presence. He was learning that Steve was not his father, and although not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, he wasn't a terrible Alpha. And maybe, just maybe, he would become someone that Tony could lean on.
"Absolutely not," Tony crossed his arms in a textbook defensive gesture over his chest as he tilted up a stubborn chin to meet Steve's startlingly blue eyes stare for stare. Any warm, soft, feelings that had been percolating in his chest only a scant few hours ago had disappeared after the super soldier's latest suggestion.
Steve blew out a hard breath, strong hands coming down to frame his hips. The Alpha was wearing a pair of well worn blue jeans paired with a black polo shirt that cling to his broad shoulders. He had gone inside to clean up a couple of hours ago and to catch up on some paperwork. Tony couldnt help but notice, with a tiny curl of satisfaction, that there were still some glittering red speckles streaked through the captain's hair.
"Please help me understand,"Steve said with a measured patience in his voice that made Tony feel a little smaller. "Bruce is a doctor too, all I am saying is he could take a look-"
"No. No. A thousand times no," Tony's lips firmed, the defiance in his eyes wavering for a moment as he belated added "Alpha."
Steve shook his head slightly.
"Look, I like Brucey bear. And he is a doctor, sure," Tony said with a tense shrug "but he is not a specialist in the Omega reproductive field. And although I'm sure he could figure it out because he's a smart guy, I'd rather stick with my own doctor who already knows everything there is" he waved a hand up and down his torso "there is to know about my body."
Steve paused for a moment before he inclined his head. "Alright, fair point. Your body, your choice. Did you call and make an appointment? What time do we need to be there for?"
Tony opened his mouth ready to argue some more before Steve's words caught up with him. He stood there for a moment, confusion puckering his brow and his mouth ajar as if he were trying to catch flies. He was physically startled at how easy that had been. He had fully expected to be dragged over to Bruce's house kicking and screaming. His father certainly wouldn't have cared if Tony preferred one doctor over another. When it came to anything to do with his body, Tony had rarely had a say in the matter, even as the drugs they were pumping into him made him physically sick and nauseous. One particular drug had even made his hair fall out in clumps. Fun times.
"I, uh, I'll call now." Tony had mumbled, backing away with his new phone in hand.
"Okay, just let me know when we need to head up." Steve called after him before walking out of the cabin, on his way over to Nat's place to go over a couple of "logistical" things.
Tony took a deep breath to calm his racing heart as he heard the front door swing shut. He closed his eyes and breathed, hardly daring to think about the complete turnaround in his situation. And yet? A part of him refused to believe it. It was too soon, after all. Sooner or later Tony would piss Steve off and the Alpha would take him in hand. Revoke his privileges, push him around the way that Howard used to. Tony was used to being given things and having them ripped out of his hands...that was pretty much the summation of his childhood.
It didn't matter that Steve had never once raised a hand to him, not since that incident in high school where he had been walloped until he was bloody and bruised. That had been a young and untrained Steve Rogers taking him to task for an imagined slight. It was ironic, Tony thought with a bitter chuff, of all the truly terrible things he had done to Rogers as a kid… he got his ass kicked over something that…
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, his thumb stroked over the glossy surface of the flip phone clenched in his hand. Taking a deep, cleansing, breath to scatter his derailed train of thought Tony thumbed the phone open and dialed the number he knew by heart.
"Dr. Rothstein's Office, how may I help you?"
Tony had managed to procure an appointment for the end of the next week. Considering that Dr. Rothstein usually was booked out months in advance and Tony had missed his last appointment; it was indeed a stroke of luck. That or being rich had its benefits. Take your pick. Tony certainly wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth...well, at least not when it came to this.
The next few days were a blur of activity. Tony found himself, once again, submerged in pack life. There was training, dinners, and movies with the pack. Picnics with the Barton clan where Tony and the kids built rockets and sent them hurtling up into the sky. More than once the rockets got trapped in the high branches of a tree, but luckily there were a few Alphas eager to help fish it down for them.
As a matter of fact, getting the rockets out of the tree branches became a game in itself to the alphas as they all took turns trying to out-do each other while the others jeered or called taunts from the sidelines. Nat had won for quickness as she all but ran up the tree, flitting from branch to branch before she grabbed the rocket and somersaulted to the ground, landing in an almost feline crouch. Clint had lost points when he tried to shoot the rocket out of the tree and instead ripped an almost irreparable hole through the parachute. His teammates had teased him for being lazy. When it was the winter soldiers turn the kids and Tony had watched with awe as he flipped from branch to branch, dangling upside down to free the trapped rocket before dropping down branch to branch before swinging to the ground. There had been stars in little Lila's eyes as Bucky had placed the rocket in her outstretched hands. Bruce had hulked out, ripped the tree from the soil, and smashed both the tree and the rocket into pieces. At the end he had gingerly picked up what was left of the toy and placed it into Tony's shocked hands. Tony had cocked his head to the side to stare up at the panting green Alpha.
"...but why?"
Hulk shrugged his giant shoulders. "Hulk smash," his voice conversational and bland, before turning around and strutting back toward the cheering Alphas.
Steve had been the most normal of all. Peering up into the branches overhead, with a good natured sigh he had simply climbed the tree to get the rocket back going hand over hand. The good Captain had no flair for the dramatic it seemed, Tony mused with a secret smile. Tony had still been impressed none-the-less, watching the play of muscles as Steve hauled himself up that tree. The way Steve's shirt clung to those broad shoulders, the flex of the muscles in his biceps, the-
Tony had jerked his head away to stare at the ground instead, a soft blush suffusing his cheeks. What was wrong with him? He took a deep breath to calm his stupid heart as Natasha sidled up to him and nudged him gently with her elbow, her gaze still on the steady progress Steve was making on his return trip down.
"Good. I was worried about your vision. Maybe you were legally blind or something. Who am I to judge?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Natasha pursed her lips and gave him a long look out of the corner of her eye.
"Mmmhmm. Sure you don't."
The blush he had been fighting back resurfaced moments later when a broadly grinning Steve had thrust the dilapidated rocket toward Tony, his blue eyes twinkling with good humor. Tony swallowed hard, despite himself, and gingerly took the rocket from Steve.
"Thanks, Alpha." As soon as the words escaped him Tony mentally groaned. He had just called Steve Alpha. Which, of course, Steve technically was but to actually say it out loud...
Steve's smile grew broader, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he reached out a hand and mussed Tony's hair affectionately.
"My pleasure... Omega ."
Tony made a small, strangled noise in his throat, his shrewd gaze taking in the curious looks from the rest of the pack. Quickly becoming mortified, he ducked his head out from under Steve's arm and scurried, yes scurried, away with the kids toward the launch site - ignoring the soft laughter behind him.
"Alright guys, I think it's time we launch the Gold rocket. What do you think?" Tony stage whispered to his little cohorts in crime clustered around him while their parents and the rest of the pack watched from a distance.
Lila giggled, her hands clapped to her mouth as she bounced from foot to foot in excitement. Cooper gave him a grin and a nod. "We'll have to work fast. But it will be so worth it."
Now here was a kid after his own heart. "Alright kids, let's stick to the plan. You remember the plan?" Lila nodded her head, chocolate colored curls swinging around her little cherub face as she gave him a grin that was missing two of her front teeth. "Sir, yes, sir!" Cooper saluted before spinning on his heel and digging said rocket out of the bag near the launch site.
They worked together quietly setting up the rocket, trying hard to stifle the grins that were spreading across their face. Within record timing they had the rocket set up and backed off a safe distance.
"Five...four… three.. Two...one!" Cooper and Lila pushed the launch button and the three watched as the rocket rose into the sky until it was just a speck amongst the white cotton ball clouds overhead.
"Did it happen?" Cooper whispered, eyes straining as he stared up at the sky.
"Patience, young padawans." Tony whispered, hands going to the remote control he had secreted away for just this occasion. With deft fingers, eyes never leaving the sky, he turned the controller on a devious smirk twisting his lips. The rockets they had been sending up for the better part of an hour had been simple home kit things. They went up and fell where they fell. The Gold rocket had been a fun project with two of his favorite minions. This particular rocket was remote controlled… and had a fun surprise in store for the Alphas waiting in the distance. As the rocket hurdled back into view Tony began maneuvering it toward the group of Alpha's laughing and chatting in the distance.
"Get ready to jet, kiddos." Tony whispered as the rocket passed over the group of Alphas. "Now!" He shouted, pushing the button. The rocket exploded over the rest of the pack, gold and red glitter raining down in an explosive cloud that covered all of them from head to toe.
Tony and kids were already running, laughing tears streaming down their cheeks at the look of shock that had been plastered across every one of the groups face. That is, except for Natasha and Bruce. For some reason Nat had this sixth sense for when a prank was headed her way and Bruce was no fool. If Nat was walking away he was dodging her heels. Mock roars filled the air behind them as the rest of the pack gave chase. For a few blissful moments it was Tony and the little agents sprinting across the open field heading toward the pack house. The sun was warm and bright overhead, the day beautiful, and the sound of breathless laughter filled his ears - some of it his own - as they tried to outrun the rest of the pack. A squeal from behind him told him that little Lila had been captured. A glance over his shoulder showed a red and gold bedecked Bucky tossing the little hellion up into the air and catching her in sure hands.
"Ah! Dad! No!" Cooper's shouts to his left made Tony falter for a second, almost ready to turn around and intervene. But he should have known better. Clint was no Howard. When Tony turned his head to look Clint had Cooper on the ground, smearing glitter across his son's face as his other hand mercilessly tickled the boys ribs until they were both laughing.
Tony didn't even have the chance to smile before a strong arm wrapped around his waist, a much larger body tackling him to the ground. They turned at the last second so that Tony landed on a broad chest instead of the hard packed earth. Having the upper hand lasted only for a moment. A heartbeat later found him rolled flat on his back, pinned to the ground under a much larger and stronger Steve Rogers. Breathless and laughing, Tony stared up into a mock solemn Steve Rogers red glittery face.
"Caught you," Steve whispered, one strong hand pinning both of Tony's wrists above his head. Tony's heart stuttered at the slow smile that formed on Steve's face. He could feel the warm press of the larger man's body against his own. From thigh to chest they were pressed against each other, Steve's larger form caging Tony beneath him. A heated flush stole up his neck and spread across his cheeks. He felt small and helpless beneath Steve, certain the Alpha could have pinned him in place with only those thickly lashed piercing eyes. The surprising thing? He didn't seem to mind. What was with these hormones? Tony swallowed thickly.
"I've got a question for you. Why all the red glitter. Why not blue?"
"Why, Captain America, are you being vain? You want glitter to match your beautiful blue eyes?"
Steve chuckled softly, his head dipping down so that their faces were mere inches from each other. "You think my eyes are beautiful, huh?"
Tony froze as Steve leaned closer, their breaths mingling as one weighted moment bled into the next.
"Get a room Romeo!" Clint's holler snapped them both back to reality. Tony squirmed beneath Steve's body as he tried in vain to free himself from the strong hands pining him to the ground.. Steve chuckled, those same strong hands coming down to frame Tony's cheeks.
"Can't let you go unscathed," Steve murmured with a wink, dragging his bedazzled hands across Tony's cheeks and through his slightly too long hair. Tony sputtered beneath him, laughing, his own hands pressing against Steve's chest and pushing the laughing Alpha off of him.
When they clambered to their feet it was to see Clint getting a sharp elbow into the ribs by Natasha, who was glowering down at him.
"Oof! What was that for?"
"This is why we can't have nice things, you idiot." Nat muttered, turning on a trim heel and heading toward home.
There were days of laughter and warmth, sticky fingers and watermelon rind smiles. The bands around Tony's heart continued to loosen, the tension that he hadn't even realized he was carrying melted away from his shoulders. Everyone here was a casual toucher. There were pats on the shoulder, a heavy hand mussing hair,' quick hugs and friendly jostling.
Tony was finding his place within this pack, within this eclectic group of people, and for once he wasn't filled with dread at the prospect.
It was about a week later, while he was alone and sequestered in the barn, that the watch on his wrist came alive.
"Sir?" Jarvis' voice filled the quiet of the barn, startling Tony so badly he sent his head careening upwards into the hood of the tractor.
"What's up J?" Tony muttered after a pained sigh, rubbing his throbbing skull.
"Colonel Rhodes has sent out a distress signal. Permission to send him your location?"
"What kind of distress signal?" Alarm wormed its way into Tony's chest.
"It appears that Colonel Rhodes is trapped inside his armor. There was a... malfunction."
"A malfunction? On my baby?" Tony was not talking about Rhodey bear. He was, of course, talking about his brain child. "I don't want to say impossible but-"
"It uh, appears that the US military has taken out a new contract with Hammer Tech Industries."
Tony sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose, and muttered "I should just let him cook in that damn suit. I really should. Serve him right."
"I have sent him the coordinates, sir."
"I didn't tell you to do that." Tony groused.
"You have a forgiving nature sir. Besides, it appears you are quite fond of Colonel Rhodes and if you do not assist him there is a very real danger of him being cooked alive."
"How long do I have, J?"
"From my calculations it appears you have about 14 minutes before Colonel Rhodes arrives, sir."
"Great. Just in time for dinner." Tony groaned. "Tell him to come straight to the barn. Do not fly over the homesteads. The last thing I need is a bunch of Alphas breathing down the back of my neck."
"Thanks buddy, you're a lifesaver. Literally." Rhodey stumbled out of War machine, his dark umber skin flushed and covered with sweat.
"Anytime, Sourpatch." Tony patted his friend's sweaty arm and immediately regretted it. It had taken him about twenty minutes to get Rhodey out of War Machine without damaging it too badly in the process. Tony was working with rudimentary and pilfered tools, not his full workshop or lab back home, otherwise he would have had his buddy out of that suit in mere minutes. It was probably better for Rhodey that Tony wasn't at home- because he certainly wouldn't have given the state-of-the-art tech back after finding out that his pal had let Hammer put his grubby, untalented, little mitts all over his baby.
"That suit was about to cook my bacon. I could kiss you right now."
"I'd rather you didn't." Tony shook the sweat from his hand, wiping it on his pants. "What did I tell you about letting Hammer anywhere near that suit?"
"Well with you out of the weapons game the US government had to defer to the next leading expert on weapons technology." Rhodes said with a shrug, wiping his forearm across his forehead. His gaze turned toward the cabin in the distance and the growing crowd of onlookers making their way, somewhat aggressively, out of it.
Tony rocked back on to his heels. One arm slung casually across his chest while the other reached up to rub at his goatee. "Let the record show that I am wondering if and when you are going to mention any actual expert here. Because Justin Hammer? Certainly does not qualify." He waved his hand in a sweeping, dramatic, gesture toward the still smoking War Machine, a frown pulling at the corners of his lips.
"Yeah, you can give me a hard time about that after I get my hands on some water. Maybe meet this new Alpha of yours that Pepper refused to tell me anything about."
Good ol' Pepper. Keeper of secrets.
"So here's the thing." Tony glanced over his shoulder as they stepped out of the barn and into the fading light of day, seeing that none other than Steve Rogers himself had stepped out onto the porch now and was in what seemed to be a quiet, heated, discussion with Clint and Bucky. "Nows really not a good time to, uh, meet the family if you know what I mean."
Rhodey cocked his head to the side, gaze trailing from the group in the distance slowly back to Tony, "No, I don't think I do. Maybe you should use that big genius brain of yours and explain it to me."
"Ex-nay on the enius-jay." Tony hissed, as the group of Avengers, all dressed in their civies, began to fan out and walk toward the barn. Tony threw a smile and a friendly wave in their direction - in a nothing to see here folks, move along - sort of fashion.
"You're kidding me. How are you hiding that from them? Why are you hiding that from them? It's one of your greatest assets, Tony. Also one of the most infuriating things about you. Okay, you know what, I can see it now."
"So you remember that kid that I was a dick to in high school?"
"You mean the fake high school after you had already graduated MIT?"
"Yeah yeah, you were off joining the Marines and blowing shit up without me - rude -" Tony rolled his eyes. "Well anyway, I mated to that kid. Er, guy. Alpha. Man. Whatever."
Rhodey pursed his lips and blew out a hard breath. His gaze narrowing on the group stalking up the road behind them. "You need me to get you out of here, Tones?" His voice was pitched soft, calm, but deadly serious. Tony loved him for it.
"Nah, I got this covered, appreciate the concern though Sourpatch. Oh and uh, that kid I bullied, no big deal, not like it means anything or any-"
"Tony…" Rhodey warned, voice starting to become strangled as he saw the face of the man stalking toward him.
"Yeah well, it's uh, Captain America."
Rhodey's eyes fluttered shut for a moment. He took a deep breath as if searching for his zen, which he frequently did whenever they hung out together for some reason, before opening his eyes.
"You married Captain America."
Tony shrugged. "More or less?"
"You bullied Captain America?"
"More or less? Okay definitely more than less on the one."
"Okay. This is crazy, you know that right? This is -" Rhodey turned and gave Steve a wide smile, his transition smooth.
"Captain Steve Rogers, Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir."
Steve's gaze raked Tony over from head to toe, assessing. "Everything okay here, Tony?"
"Right as rain, Rogers." Tony slapped Rhodey on the shoulder, his face twisting slightly with disgust as he seemed to forget - again - that his buddy was covered in sweat. "Rhodey was just dropping in to say hello and wish us, uh, felicitations on our mating. But he's a busy guy. Terribly busy. Saving the country and all that, you know how that goes, so he has to -"
"Are you sure you can't stay for dinner, Colonel?" Natasha asked with a saccharine smile that did not, for one second, fool Tony. That she-witch was up to something.
"He couldn't possibly, he's so busy -"
"Are you sure Colonel? It would be nice to meet a friend of Tony's."
"Again, busy guy-"
"I'm literally standing right here."
"Has to fly back over to Iran? Iraq? Take care of some-"
Rhodes stepped forward. "I'd love to join you for dinner. Is Tony cooking?"
Steve smiled in welcome. "Fresh out of the oven, as a matter of fact."
"Wonderful. It's been a long time since I"be had one of Tony's home cooked meals."
"Not long enough, I'll wager." Clint muttered softly to Bucky.
While Steve and the gang chatted with Rhodey, offering him a fresh Change of clothes when they got back to the house, Tony couldn't help but drag his feet.
He rubbed at the ache in his temples. Sure. This was fine. Great even. What wasn't there to like about his best friend meeting his Alpha?
"You know what? I bet pizza would be good. Or Korean? We could order some shawarma, I have no idea what that is but I need to try it."
Rhodey gave him the side eye. "Don't be ridiculous, Tony. You've already cooked dinner. I'll just get cleaned up and then we can eat. I'm looking forward to it."
Steve choked, actually choked, and his smile looked strained around the edges. Bruce was staring at Rhodey in an almost horrified fascination. Natasha just looked pensive. Which was an absolutely frightening look on her, if he did say so himself. Clint and Bucky were merely shaking their heads at the poor sad sap that was Rhodey.
"Those army rations are pretty terrible, huh Colonel?" Clint commiserated.
It was a long walk back to the cabin.
Rhodes dropped his fork onto the dining room table with an echoing clatter.
"...the actual fuck Tony." He sputtered, spitting the chicken casserole from hell into his napkin. Down the table Steve arched an eyebrow, shoulders swiveling towards Rhodes as he gamely tried to chew through the hardened piece of chicken in his mouth. Tony had to hand it to him, the man tried every terrible dish he made. Never complained and always thanked him for the meal. Tony wasn't sure how that should make him feel. Happy? Bad?
"By golly, watch your Language!" Tony chided sardonically, gaze so fixated on Rhodey's horrified face that he didn't notice the attention of the rest of the avengers swinging their way.
"You let me put that In. My. Mouth." Rhodey growled. Tony pushed off from the wall he had been leaning against.
"I tried to get you out of dinner, multiple times, if you'll recall. You're the one who can't take a hint."
"That was actually terrible. Like legitimately the worst thing- it should be considered an actual war crime. Did you try to poison me?"
"Hey now," Steve's voice cut in before Tony could respond. "Tony is still learning. He's come a long way. I think it's a little rude to insult a friend's cooking in their own home, don't you?"
Rhodey looked at Steve, his gaze sliding back to Tony who gave a half shrug of permission, before he met Steve's eyes again.
"Friends don't try to poison friends." Rhodey dead panned.
"Colonel!" Steve's voice was starting to get the dangerous growly undertone to it. "You're out of line."
Tony was starting to feel bad. Just a bit. Like the smallest of bits.
Rhodey shook his head, tossed his napkin on his plate, and pushed his chair back.
"My apologies Captain. Tony is an excellent cook… but one of you folks must have really pissed him off for him to make a dish like that."
"Cooking for Dummies, Sourpatch. He just assumed I couldn't cook. You know how I hate to disappoint."
Rhodey snorted.
"When you say excellent cook.." Bruce trailed off, head cocked to the side and eyes all squinty.
"Some of the best meals I've ever had, to be honest. Your Dad had you trained by Michelin Star chefs, right?"
"Wait… so, this entire time - for over a month - we've been eating terrible meals… because Steve insulted you? And we got punished too?"
"Sometimes there's collateral damage ." Tony said with a one shouldered shrug.
"So, pizza?" Rhodes deadpanned. There was a collective sigh of relief from the rest of the table.
"Bunch of ingrates." Tony muttered. A moment later he was pelted with overcooked chicken from various pack members. Laughing, he ducked around the corner and back into the kitchen.
Rhodey was strong armed into staying the night with the avengers. To say there were shenanigans was the understatement of the year. Clint and Rhodes found the moonshine that Tony had been brewing in the barn, Natasha ferreted out the vodka from her house, and the night turned into drunken debauchery and board games. They stuck to games like clue and uno because as it turned out, Monopoly brought out the worst in everyone. The game had ended abruptly when Bruce had hulked out and "Hulk Smash!"ed the shit out of the board. That was, of course, after a steely eyed Nat had sent a couple of widow bites flying, pining Clint's hand to the table and the other lodged into the chair between his parted legs after he had bought up park place out from under her.
Tony had been content to sit the game out, knowing from the beginning and real world experience how it was going to play out.
At the end of the night Hulk was passed out on the couch, Nat tucked beneath his arm. Steve had left to help a stumbling drunk Clint make it back home, and Bucky had disappeared into his room to sleep.
Rhodey came over and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, giving him one of his infamous bro hugs. Tony grunted and staggered beneath the weight of his oldest friend. "You know," Rhodes slurred "I like what you've got here. These are good people for you, Tones. A little nosey but…" Rhodey shrugged. "Can't really blame them. I think you should start thinking about opening up to them. Not all the-"
Tony elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Just because it looked like Nat was passed out didn't actually mean that was the case.
"Well you know. Maybe just let them start to get to know the real you is all I'm saying." Rhodey tapped Tony on the head, probably a little harder than he intended to. "Secrets don't make friends, Tones."
"Cuz you're a pretty great guy." He hiccuped "And ya know… like only a handful of people know it. You're special, Tony. You-"
"Come on platypus, it's time to get you up to bed, you're starting to get sappy and you know how I feel about that."
"Yeah, you love it nerd."
"Mm yeah, super huge fan." Tony rolled his eyes "Okay here we go," Tony grunted as he staggered up the stairs with Rhodey, trying his best to keep them both from breaking their necks. There were a couple of close calls but after a good five minutes they finally made it up okay.
"I think the Omega doth protest too mush. Mush. Muh-ch."
Chuckling, Tony led his super tipsy friend upstairs to his room. He pushed James onto the bed, the colonel flopping backwards and spread eagle, groaning slightly before falling promptly asleep. James didn't drink much and he absolutely did not stand a chance against Romanoff and Barton. Not to mention the two super soldiers that processed alcohol at an accelerated rate. He doubted either of them were tipsy let alone drunk despite the amount of moonshine that had been consumed.
A soft knock on the doorframe caught Tony's attention. Steve was leaning there, amusement glittering in his eyes. "You got everything under control here?"
Tony's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Just how long have you been watching us, Captain?"
Steve's shrug was noncommittal, despite the small smirk working at the corner of his lips, and the dimple winking in his cheek.
"Not too long," he demurred, his gaze sweeping over the passed out Rhodes before lighting on Tony. "maybe about half way up the staircase."
Tony shook his head. "Thanks for the help, boy wonder." he muttered, "coulda used that super strength at any point to help me lug my pal up here. But no. Wouldn't want you to strain yourself." Rhodey was going to have a massive hangover tomorrow. Hiding his smile Tony got to work on his friends boots and was startled when Steve joined him. Unlacing the boots and shucking them to the ground they studied Rhodes sleeping form.
"I considered it briefly, but watching you two stumble up the stairs was far more entertaining." Steve chuckled, "I even got it on video. We can watch it later and laugh and laugh and -oof!" Steve chortled as Tony sent his elbow careening into the Alpha's hard stomach - probably hurting himself more than Steve.
"Not much room there for you, is there?" Steve nodded toward Rhodey.
"Nope!" Tony popped his 'p' with a sigh as he stepped away from the bed and out toward the hallway surreptitiously rubbing his elbow. "Looks like I'm sleeping in the cupboard under the stairs for tonight."
Steve cocked his head to the side, his brow puckering in confusion.
"Oh, my old room. It's, uh, a Harry Potter reference."
By the slight dimming of Steve's smile, it looked like it was actually a reference he understood.
"Hey Tony…" Steve rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze sweeping down and away. "If you wanted, I mean, my bed is plenty big and we've shared it before so…"
Tony's eyes rounded in shock. "Thanks for the offer, it's no problem to sleep in the old room - really I don't mind."
Steve shrugged. "If you change you're mind just crawl on in."
Tony smirked, shaking his head as he made his way to his old room.
That night he lay away, staring up unseeingly at the wooden beams of the ceiling and kicking himself for turning Steve down.
Notes:
And now you guys are all caught up! What fun! I didnt realize this site was missing the last two chapters (oops). I'm getting ready to post the next one soon - so stay tuned and bear with me. As always, any reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Smooches!