Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 1216

We Need To Talk

"Pete," Tony sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair. "It's only for a couple of hours. And it's Aunt Pep. You love Aunt Pep."

"No!" Peter screeched, clutching to Tony's trouser leg. "My daddy!"

"I am your daddy, darling, I always will be your daddy."

Peter pouted up at him, and Tony almost caved. Pep shook her head at him and then lifted Peter to her hip. "Go. We'll be fine."

"But—"

"Tones. You deserve a night out. You're doing so good with Peter, Tones, but being a single parent isn't easy and you don't have to do it alone. I promise, if we need you, I'll call you."

Tony sighed but nodded. "Kay. I… okay. Love you, Petey. Be good for Aunt Pep, okay?"

Peter's bottom lip trembled, and Pepper pointed at the door, knowing that if Peter cried actual tears, Tony would never leave.

"Go."

"Pep."

"Now!"

…

Tony sat at the table, tapping his fingers against it impatiently. He didn't want to be here; not specifically the restaurant, but on a blind date. He didn't need a blind date.

He knew who he wanted, he just… couldn't have him. And that was fine, Tony was fine, but…

He didn't have time for breaking in a new boyfriend, as terrible as it sounded. Tony needed someone who understood that Peter came first, someone who knew what Tony was like when he was in an inventing spree, someone… someone who already knew his quirks and loved him anyway.

But… there was only one person who was all of that, and like previously stated, Tony couldn't have him. So.

Blind date.

Dear god.

"You must be Tony."

So deep in his thoughts, Tony didn't realise the table had been approached. The man was handsome, he supposed, but in an arrogant way that said he knew it and used it often.

Ugh.

"I am," he offered his hand, and the guy kissed it.

Double ugh.

"I'm Tiberius. Tiberius Stone."

Tony almost wrinkled his nose; only his youthful training of performing for the masses stopped him.

The date didn't get better.

…

"Sorry, I have to take this," Tony said, when his phone rang and Pepper's name flashed up on the screen.

"But—"

Tony was already answering it, not caring for whatever Tiberius was about to say.

"Tones? There's, uh… someone here to see you. He's refusing to leave until you come home but—"

"Who is it, Pep?"

"Steve."

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Tony hung up and stood, only to find Tiberius in his way.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to go home," Tony said, reaching into his wallet to see if he'd brought any cash with him. When he didn't find any, he signalled the waitress that had seen him to his seat. "Hi, yeah, can I pay now? I need to leave."

She nodded and took his card, hustling off to the till. He was grateful she was moving quickly.

"You're just going to leave mid-date? Do you know how long I've been waiting for an opportunity with you?" Tiberius demanded, and Tony rolled his eyes.

"You've had an opportunity; it isn't going anywhere."

"Do you know who I am?"

Tony blinked. "Tiberius Stone. You told me that when you came in, I'm not that forgetful."

"But I mean—"

"Oh my god, get out of the way," Tony snapped, pushing past him. He accepted his card back from the waitress and left as fast as he could.

He had no idea why Steve would be at his place, but he knew he had to get there; and fast.

…

"Is he okay?" Tony demanded when he stepped into his living room eighteen minutes later.

He found Steve sitting on the sofa, looking morose but determined. Pepper was on the big armchair with Peter on her lap. He was playing quietly with his tablet, a smile on his face that brightened even more when Tony stepped into the room.

"Daddy!"

"Hey bud," Tony greeted, lifting him automatically when Peter made grabby hands at him, tablet forgotten. "Have you been having fun with your Aunt Pep?"

Peter nodded, garbling about lego and the Wiggles.

Tony listened for a moment, before he interrupted gently. "Do you think you can let Aunt Pep get you ready for bed while Daddy talks to his friend Steve?"

Peter's brow furrowed for a moment before he nodded. Pep took him and left the room with a gentle smile. Tony turned his attention back to Steve.

"Is he okay?" he repeated.

Steve nodded. "Physically he's fine. Mentally… not so much."

Tony ran a hand over his face. "You've gotta give me more than that, Steve."

Steve nodded again and seemed to steel himself. "Tony, you've gotta understand, I've wanted to do this for a while. I, uh. It's my fault Bucky left you."

Tony frowned. "How?"

"When… Okay so. The article about, uh, you and Wanda? I uh. I convinced Buck it was probably true. He didn;t believe it at first but, I guess I spoke to Wanda? She convinced me that it was true and… I passed that along."

"You… can't be serious?"

Steve nodded. "She was convincing, Tony!"

"She was out to ruin my life," Tony replied flatly. "Because her father was fired by SI—before I even took the company over. He turned to alcoholism and she blamed the company, and me by extension."

"I… didn't know any of that."

"Because you never ASKED," Tony replied, losing his temper. "Jesus, Steve! I loved Bucky more than anyone I've ever known—apart from Peter—and you just…"

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix fuck all, does it?"

"No. I guess it doesn't."

"Why are you here now? Nothing's changed, Steve, so why now?"

"Buck… he misses you. Nothing can make him smile anymore, and—"

"So why isn't he here? If he misses me so much, he should be here, Steve. Not sending you to be his errand boy."

"That's not—"

"You need to leave. I have a little boy to put to bed, and you… you need to leave. Nothing is different, so you don't need to be here."

"Tony—"

"Steve. Seriously. Get out."

There was a pause, and then Steve nodded his head sadly. "For what it's worth, I am sorry."

Tony watched him go and then dropped his head into his hands. God what a mess. He took a minute for himself, to pull himself back together, and then looked towards the stairs. He hadn't been lying; he had a son to look after.

…

"I'll be out of the door in a few minutes, Pep, promise," Tony said into the phone that was held between his ear and his shoulder. "I'll drop Pete off at daycare and then be at the office."

The doorbell rang and Tony cursed softly, spinning around towards it. He walked down the long hallway, still talking to Pep about their day's schedule when he opened the door and found himself face to face with Bucky.

"Uh."

"Tony?" Pepper said through the little speaker. "You okay?"

"Uh. Yeah. I… can I call you back."

"Tony?"

"Five minutes, Pep," Tony said, ending the call.

Bucky looked uncertain, but smiled anyway. "Hi?"

Tony nodded. "Hi."

"Can I come in? I think… I think we need to talk."

Written for:

Character Appreciation: 30. Single Parent!AU

Record Collection: Frank 5. I Heard Love Is Blind: Write about wanting a specific person but not being able to have them.

Bingo: 3. Write about someone doing something they've wanted to do for a while.

Elizabeth's Empire: 4. Blind Date!AU

Forecast: 27. "Oh my god, get out of the way!"

Treasure Hunting: Single Parent!AU