…I Love You 3000…

/Warning/: This chapter contains, cursing, sadness, confusion, a little bit of violence, Steven being an overprotective AF, and Tony is a little shit! And who knows what! All reviews are appreciated.

"Character talking"

"Character thinking"

…Flashbacks…

Chapter 8

Steven's eyes never left the library's door that Tony went through, the only time his eyes turned away from them was so that he could gaze at Peggy who was cursing and screaming, trying to let out her frustration, and Steven can say that he was feeling the same thing, after all, he knows Tony, and he knows that if Tony got something in his mind he will go through with it no matter what the consequences were, which was as much as it made Steven want to rip his hair out he admired Tony for standing in what he believes in, though in this case, Steven can't say the same thing, especially when he was told that Tony was nothing but twenty, still a child by even Steven's standard.

Steven sighed as he looked at the room ceiling then turned his eyes to Peggy who was able to calm herself down, which made the man turn to her and stop her when she was about to leave the library to search for Tony, he already knows that Tony wouldn't appreciate this at all, and it could get really out of hand. "Whatever you are thinking, it will only make it worse if you search for him now." Steven said which made Peggy glared at him and Steven won't lie, Peggy has mastered her glare of doom in this universe, and it was a little bit scary, but it wasn't like his late husband when he was forced to get up before nine on Saturday… that was the scariest sight he ever saw, especially if his husband was putting on his green beauty mask… Steven was scared for life.

"And what? Let Tony destroy his life by shackling himself to Rogers? Bucky is alive Steven and as soon as Rogers knows that he will not only break Tony's heart he will destroy him! Who was the fucker who gave Tony the idea of courting that… that…. Ah!" Peggy let out a frustrated scream, which made Steven sigh at that and tilts his head at the woman, with a frown.

"I know Peg, but if you went to him now, he will do something stupid, take it from me, I have been married to his counterpart for more than two decades and I have known him for a decade and a half before that, when something gets in Tony's mind he won't leave it, no matter how much he knew it was stupid and pointless." Steven said which made Peggy growl at that a little and start spacing in the library tugging her hair a little.

"You don't understand Steven, you don't, an Alpha who lost a mate is not a mentally stable one, never is and will never be, and if someone tells you otherwise they are lying, do you know what will happen to Tony when we find Barnes?" Peggy asked in a small voice, and God, how Steven hated himself for being the reason the woman talked in such a small voice like that.

"Isn't there a way? I am sure you have a therapy for this kind of things, I am not saying that we should let Tony start a relationship with Rogers, God knows what Tony will do if he saw us trying to actively separate them, but we can post pointed it as much as we can if we have an excuse until we find Bucky, then Tony can't say a thing." Steven said hating himself for conspiring with Peggy to separate Tony from someone he loves, but what can he do? Tony himself told him that when he was twenty he gained nothing but heartbreak and pain because he believed that people actually cared and because of that his decisions were always rushed, and Steven wanted to spare Tony that pain if he can, even if it meant doing a despicable thing like that. Steven pulled the woman with him to sit on one of the sofas in the library, hoping that she will be able to think straight with the change of scenery

Peggy let out a hollow laugh as she leaned back on the sofa to gaze at the ceiling. "Therapy won't work Steven, it never does, and if it ever did then it will be a temporary fix, and Steve already refuses to go to it no matter how much I arranged a session for him, so this will be all for nothing." Peggy whispered as she let out a tired sigh and leaned on Steven, making the man put his arm around her and pull her in for a loose hug. "Losing someone's mate, even if it was temporary is a hell, taking another mate will never work out, if it did then the happiness will only last a decade, maybe two? Most Alphas became either abusive after that or possessive beyond imagination, always hurting their new mates and whatever pup they had, for Omegas they become depressed and suicidal not caring about their lives… I don't want that kind of life for Tony, God, his parents are rolling in their graves now for how I failed taking care of their son… they would have never let him stand in the same room as Rogers if they were here right now. God Steven why didn't you ask Tony for his permission to curt him in Asgard, then we wouldn't be in this situation at all…" Peggy said which made Steven bite his lower lip and breath harshly through his nose.

"Peggy… I lost my husband not three months ago… how can I even entertain the idea of going out with someone while still grieving for the man I was married to for decades… I can't right now, I am sorry but I can't… Tony may be my husband's counterpart, but he is not him… he is never going to be him just as he is never going to be a rebound for me… I can't be in a relationship with Tony right now, it's just like how you refuse for Rogers to be in a relationship with Tony… it's a little bit hypocrite of you to say that Peg, when me and Rogers may be sharing the same pain." Steven chided the woman gently, hoping that she will realize what she was meaning by her words, Steven can't even think about starting a relationship when his husband's death was still fresh on his mind.

Peggy sniffed when she heard Steven's words muttering her apologies to the man making him give a tired smile at that. "It's OK Peggy, just never think about it like that again…" Steven whispered which made the woman nod her head and pull herself out of Steven's hug to wipe away her tears. "Hey, Peggy, you said that Tony was twenty, how is that even possible? Wasn't he born in 1970? And what about his parents?" Steven asks which made the woman take a deep breath trying to calm herself lest she did something she regrets, Steven's words made the woman blink as she shook her head trying to regain her thoughts.

"No, he was born in 1990." She murmured which made Steven hum while pressing his lips together in deep thoughts. "As for Tony's parents they died seven years ago, car accident, or at least that's what the official records say." Peggy said which made Steven close his eyes tightly taking deep breaths already knowing what that meant.

"And in the unofficial records they were assassinated, right?" Steven asked which made Peggy pause and nod her head which made Steven press his lips tightly. "Does Tony know about that?" Steven asked already fearing the answer, and when Peggy shook her head no, it made Steven take a harsh breath. "How… how was Tony's relationship with his parents?" Steven finally dared to ask, already wondering how he will stop the next disaster; he didn't want another Civil War with Tony's heartbreaking about the truth of his parents' death.

"They were close…" Peggy said, a sad smile taking over his face as she lost herself in memories. "Howard, he was over the moon when Maria told him she was a pregnant, God, the man always treated his son like he was a prince, was so overprotective of him, even after Tony presented as an Omega… everyone thought that the man will be angry and humiliated when his son turned out to be an Omega, that's what people in power felt like, like their Omegas children were nothing but a burden, but Howard surprised us all, his love for his son may as well have increased ten volts if that was even possible, and his protectiveness of Tony was legendary… he taught Tony everything the Omega wanted to learn, from engineering to business to everything else the Omega wanted to learn about, Maria, she was always by Howard's side, teaching Tony about music and how to have a healthy relationship with an Alpha, and how to handle life… they were so happy… they died when they were on their way to MIT, they wanted to surprise Tony, the Omega has won a prize not a week ago for creating Dum-E his first Ai… deep down I know that Tony still blames himself for what happened… how were they in your world?" Peggy asked with a smile, already expecting Steve to tell her some happy news like the one she told him, but the man could do nothing but close his eyes and swallow.

"I am happy to learn that Tony was loved here…" Steven said as his voice cracked making Peggy look at Steven with wide eyes, not believing what she heard. "I wish to tell you that Howard treated Tony like how yours did, but I have to regrettably say that he was the farthest of an ideal father, my husband always told me that neglect and verbal abuse were Howard's favorite, that he wanted to please his father so much when he was young, that he drank his first alcoholic drink when he was nine after his father served him… Maria, Tony didn't talk about her much, and when he does, it was always in passing, mainly her depression, and how Tony never saw much of her when he turned ten, Jarvis and Anna were the ones who raised him…" Steven said which made Peggy hide her face behind her hands shaking, which made Steven take a deep breath.

"Oh, God…" Peggy breathed out as she tried to hold in her sobs which made Steven turn his gaze away, hating that he was the one who caused Peggy to cry, God, how many time was he the reason that his loved one always ended up crying and heartbroken? Tony, Peggy, Bucky, his friends… when will the list stop?

"I will try and talk with Tony… I won't promise you that he will not go and sneak out with Rogers in the middle of the night like his threat implied, but I will try to talk with him, and advise him to slow their courting until we find Bucky, which may as well be the end of their relationship." Steven said which made Peggy take a shuddered breath at that.

"He will be heartbroken when he learns about Bucky." Peggy breathed out which made Steven close his eyes, opening them later and look away from the woman.

"His heart will break either way, at least like this, we will find Bucky fast, and he will have a lot of time to recover." Steven said which made Peggy not her head at that and let out a sigh.

Steven just hopes he didn't break Tony's heart beyond repair…

When Steven found Tony, he found the Omega packing his bags in a rush, which made the older man, let out a tired sigh at that and knock on the door, which made the Omega jump and whirl around to look at Steven like he was a dear caught in a headlight, and it pained Steven that Tony has an expression like this. "Oh, hey, what are you doing here?" Tony asked nervously which made Steven smile despite his heart hurting.

"I just wanted to talk." Steven said his smile slipping a little when Tony's face fell and became darker at the word 'talk' like he already expected Steven to try and sway him into Peggy's side, and maybe that's what Steven was after, but he was far more subtle then what Peggy or anyone thinks he was capable of. "Do you want to escort me for a walk?" Steven asks phrasing his words in a way that gave Tony no choice to decide, which the Omega seemed to catch on, as he bites his lower lip and nodded his head after a while following Steven when the man nodded to.

It wasn't until they were sitting on a bench in the gardens that Tony finally dared to talk. "I love him…" Tony said in a small voice which made Steven sigh at that looking at the sky.

"Does he love you?" Steven asked gently which the Omega nodded his head at that and fast as if he was trying to convince Steven that Rogers was really in love with him, sadly Steven doubt that. "I talked with Peggy…" Steven ended up saying which made Tony swallow and clench his fists. "And I have to tell you, she wasn't happy, me too, Tony, not after I learned you were twenty." That made Tony bites his lower lip.

"I am an adult…" Tony said these words through gritted teeth, and Steven saw the flash of hurt and pain in the Omega's eyes.

"That's when you are wrong Tony, you are still a child." That made Tony hold his breath and his eyes became glassy at that, and Steven wondered if his words hurt more than Peggy's because he was Rogers' counterpart. "I talked with Peggy… she was angry but she accepted for you to court Rogers in the end… but Tony only courting, which meant no sexual contact of any kind…" Tony's eyes widen at that and a huge smile broke on his face, and Steven was sure that the Omega would have rushed to find Rogers if it wasn't for the older man holding Tony's shoulder. "Tony no sexual contact of any kind, only hand-holding and hugging, if something like today ever happened again then whatever between you and Rogers will be over." Steven warned which made the Omega frown at that.

"But… but how can our relationship be healthy if there isn't any sexual… things." Tony said nervously which made Steven sigh at that and start massaging his forehead.

"That's why I said you were a child Tony." These words made the Omega pout and held in any reply he wanted to give Steven last the man change his mind about him going out with Steve. "Did Rogers tell you that?" Steven asked already planning on pummeling Rogers to the ground.

"No he didn't, I swear!" Tony hurriedly said when he saw the doubt taking over Steven's face which made fear sneak into the Omega's heart.

"Tony, if Rogers is really in love with you, then he wouldn't ask any sexual favor from you, he will love for who you are, not what you can give him…" The man stressed his words which made Tony look at him doubtfully, causing Steven to close his eyes at that. "Do you know that the number of times I had sex with my husband can be counted on both of my hands and I will still have a lot of fingers to spare?" Steven said which made Tony look at him with wide eyes.

"But you were married for decades! How is that even possible?" Tony asked with wide eyes not believing the man, wondering how a relationship can be healthy if there wasn't even a sexual contact in it.

Steven laughed at that his gaze softened a little when they fell on Tony before he turned his gaze to the sky. "When I met my husband, he was already forty, at that time I thought there was something wrong with me because I never felt any sexual attraction toward anyone… if only I knew it the reason for that was because I haven't found the right partner." Steven said which made Tony hum at that.

"So you were a Demi, right?" Tony asked which made the man nodded his head. "But you met him when he was forty, right? He was still young and I am sure he wouldn't have minded having sex." Tony pointed out which made Steven laugh at that, count on Tony to say it as he sees it.

"Yes, it was true, but at that time, he had an off and on relationship, I did confess though, but something happened, something big, that made us separate… we married when he was fifty-seven, by that time, I didn't care that much about having sex, and I know that my husband couldn't keep up with me even when he wanted to and because of that he always got frustrated by not being able to do so, but I never cared for that, I loved my husband enough that I forsake any sexual pleasure for his comfort and happiness… if Rogers really loves you as you say, then he will understand, and he won't touch you until you think that you are ready for it, and not doing it just because he wanted it." Steven said while looking at Tony in the eyes wanting the Omega to understand how important it was.

Tony nodded his head after a few minutes of him thinking hard. "Thank you… for understanding…" Hearing that made Steven smile a little then he turned his head to Tony.

"So only courting, no sex of any kind, are we clear?" Steven asked which made Tony nod his head with a smile. "Good, because if you lie to me Tony, I swear I will let Peggy pull your ear off and not let you leave the house for the rest of your life, as for Rogers… he will get his dick ripped off and shoved down his throat after being violated with it." Steven said darkly which made Tony sweat nervously fear painting his face.

"W-who is the owner of the threat? Your or Aunt Peggy?" Tony asked nervously as he twisted his hands together making Steven give a terrifying smile.

"Does it really matter?" Steven asked his smile widen when Tony's face paled at that, the blond man already knows that Tony won't do anything stupid after he knew that it was Steven who delivered that threat…

He just hoped that he will find Bucky fast before the disaster struck…

Steven as much as he hated to admit it… he has forgotten about Ms. Potts, he just though that in this universe she nor Rhodey were in Tony's life, but as always life just love to proven Steven wrong, and that happened in the form of Steven gazing at the woman's face after not seeing her for more than three decades… he didn't regret nearly stabbing her in the eye…

It was like a normal day… or as much as normal it was considering that the first thing Steven after waking up was glaring at his counterpart with Peggy, daring the man to do something, to try something, which the man was smart enough not to dare them, Peggy made sure to pass on Steven's threat of ripping the man's knot perfectly.

It started like any normal day, Steven going on his morning run around the mansion after calling goodbye to Peggy who was still glaring at Rogers, enjoying the nature he saw and thanking Tony for the mansion being far away from the bustling city, it wasn't the Avengers compound, but it was better, homer in a way. It all started when Steven returned from his morning run, intending to go and cook some breakfast, wondering who was awaken at this time other than Rogers and Peggy, humming to himself as he went to the kitchen.

Entering the kitchen it was then that Steven saw her… the woman who destroyed his husband's life, she was humming in the kitchen as she took something out of the fridge wearing casual clothes instead of the fancy skirt suits she always wears in his world, when she turned toward him, the smile on her face widened as she took him in. "Oh, you must be Steven! My name is Pepper Potts-" The woman said with a radiating smile as she came toward him and she couldn't even continue because Steven cut her.

Because something inside Steven snapped, something ugly reared its head, and then Steven was screaming at the woman with so much hate and pain he bottled down for decades. "What the fuck are you doing here? Didn't you do enough?!" And then followed by so many curses and threats, that the woman was left shaking in the corner, by then everyone rushed to see what Steven was doing and it took Peggy and Natasha to pull him away from the woman before he stabbed her in the eye.

It was after Peggy was able to calm Steven down that everyone took a seat in the living room, with Pepper and Steven sitting on different sides of the room, but everyone knows that if Steven really wanted he could stab the woman without anyone being able to stop him. "I am sure it was all a misunderstanding, right Steven?" Peggy asked, pinching Steven on his right side when the man didn't answer them but kept his mouth shut.

"Steven you acted like Pepper was a villain, she isn't, she is my friend, so don't worry!" Tony laugh it off as if trying to lighten the mood, though his smile fell from his face when Steven's face didn't change, it was the same emotionless face with rage burning under the surface, which made Tony look at Pepper and then Rhodey with worry that was clear on his face.

"Steven… she is not the same person from your universe…" Peggy said in a quiet voice that was only meant for Steven's ears, and the blond man blinked then hummed at that, still not taking his eyes off of the woman, taking her in with narrow eyes, raising his eyebrow when he saw a wedding ring on her finger.

"Your full name?" Steven asked not taking his eyes off of the woman making her jump in her place and gaze at Steven like a dear that was caught in headlights.

"P-Pepper Potts…" The woman answered shakily which made Steven narrow her eyes at her, he already knows that the woman was not the type to change her last name after marriage; she didn't even change her name when she married Tony, so he didn't take that as a fact.

"Age?"

"28…" She said after looking at Peggy with fear and confusion, which made Steven glare at her harshly, making her swallow and not moving her eyes from him again without his permission.

"Are you married?" Steven asked which made the woman glance at Rhodey who was looking at Steven with narrow eyes like he was about to attack him.

"Yes, I am married to Rhodey…" The woman said as she twisted her hands nervously which made Steven turn his eyes to the man for a brave second before returning his gaze to the woman.

"Very well…" Steven said as he stood up, planning on leaving, not wanting to see Pepper's face, hating to see the woman that destroyed his husband's life more than Steven imagine she would.

"I am not whoever you think I am Commander Rogers, I am not the villain you painted me as!" Pepper called out when Steven was about to leave the room which made the man pause in his place and turned around to take the woman in, taking in her fierce glare as she gazed at the man with fear hidden in her eyes.

The woman's words made Steven pause as he took the woman in. "I wish I could believe you, Mrs. Rhodes, I wish I could." Steven said which made the woman open her mouth and close it not knowing what to say which meant that it was Steven's cue to leave and he did, he rushed toward his room, slamming the door to his room shut and taking off his clothes, going to the shower hoping that a long cold shower will calm him down.

.

…

.

It was raining when he was walking back toward his apartment after checking on Bucky and Sam when they return from the mission, but Steve didn't care about the rain that much, after all, he always loved the rain. Walking toward his apartment complex he frozen in his place when he saw a shivering form sitting on the small flight of stairs leading to the entrance, which made Steve walk toward the person that was shivering. "Excuse me, can I help you?" Steve asked the person putting his umbrella over the man and when the man raised his head Steve had to hold in his gasps. "Tony…" Steve breathed as he took in the man's shaking form and soaked clothes, the puffy eyes, and tired, so tired face, like suddenly he has aged one hundred years old without his consent, and God, how much Steve wanted to ask the man what happened, but the pleading look in the man's eyes made him hold his tongue. "Let's get you inside, you are freezing!" Steve said as he lowered himself and pulled Tony toward his body, supporting the man when his legs didn't seem to be able to hold him up.

They reached the apartment in silence, not daring to break the silence not because they couldn't but because they didn't know how, Steve made Tony take a hot bath, going to his room to bring clean and dry clothes, pressing his lips tightly together when he entered the bathroom and saw that Tony was still standing in the same spot that Steve left him, in the same wet clothes. "Come on Tony, help me a little pal." Steve said gently as he starts stripped the unresponsive man, and then lowering him gently into the hot bath, sighing when the man didn't react, which made concern painted Steve's eyes, wondering why didn't Tony call him if he decided to come to Brooklyn from Georgia.

As much as Steve wanted to question Tony about what happened, he didn't, he just rambled a little as he washed Tony's hair, telling him about what the Avengers are up to, telling him about his plans for tomorrow, anything and everything that will keep the man's mind of off whatever that turned him into a statue. After the bath, Steve made sure to help Tony change and take him to the living room, leaving him for a few minutes to make tea and give it to the man, it was after Steve sat on the sofa beside Tony that the man broke.

One sob was followed by another, and then another, and another, and Steve could do nothing but pull the man in his arms, his heart breaking a little when Tony curls around himself, making himself as small as he can and hide in Steve's arms, who held him and rocked him gently back and forth, whispering reassuring words in the brunet ear.

"S… s-she lied!" Tony choked as he clutch's Steve's shirt tightly in his hands as he starts wailing, and it was the first time that Steve saw Tony like this, the first time that he saw the man shed a tear, and it was making Steve a little hysterical but he could do nothing but rock the man gently and shushing him, running his hand through the dark brown hair. "M-Morgan… not … she is… not my daughter…" Tony said through his sobs which made Steve hum as he shushed Tony, his heart hurting for his friend. "She took everything, Steve! She locked me out of the company and took everything! She lied from the start! She wanted nothing but revenge!" Tony choked as he screamed into Steve's chest, cursing and crying, his voice becoming louder and louder with every word he said, and then he starts screaming and punching Steve in the chest…

And Steve, Steve didn't move, he continued holding Tony to his chest without moving, even when his neighbors came and banged on his door complaining about the noise, Steve didn't move even when they threatened to call the police, but then were forced to leave by the old landlady who knew Steve's identity, Steve didn't move even when the strength left Tony's body and he slumped toward Steve's chest, letting out a pained moan and taking in shaky gasps, he didn't move even when Tony begged him in a sleepy voice not to leave him too, falling asleep shortly after that, he didn't move even when he realized a deep truth that has been hidden deep inside of him for years and years in the darkest corner in his heart…

He hated that woman from the start…

So what do you think?

Sorry for the late update!

Oh! And we got to know a little about Steven's past! Poor Tony!

But don't worry everything is going to be better… I think…

Read and Review

And tell me what you think…

Nazaki-Sama