Before Steve realises it he's spent all morning playing with Tony and Pete, and he only realises then because Jarvis makes an unsubtle hint to Tony about it being lunchtime.
Tony nods,
'Right. What food do we have up here?'
'I had the cupboards stocked during the night, sir.'
'Great!' Tony grins and claps his hands together. 'I'm going to put on clothes that aren't sleep pants, when I get back I'll make sandwiches, ok kiddo?'
'Ok,' Pete just smiles at his dada adoringly.
'Cap, would you put some more coffee on and find some fruit to go with lunch?' Tony starts backing out of the room. 'And milk for Pete. And yourself. Probably.'
'I'll have coffee,' Steve rolls his eyes.
Tony just winks and disappears into his bedroom.
'Jarvis,' Steve turns to root through the kitchen as Pete turns his attention to the entire zoo of plastic animals Tony bought, 'shouldn't there be people working on Pete's room?'
'No structural modifications were required to the second guest room,' Jarvis tells him. 'There are apples in the cupboard to your right. The room has been painted and work is progressing elsewhere on the manufacture of the bedroom furniture. New carpet will be installed tomorrow and the furniture will be installed on the day after that.'
'Wow,' Steve laughs. 'Being Tony Stark really is something, huh?'
It's quiet for a moment and then Jarvis speaks again,
'Sir is worried he will not be good at this; his own upbringing was far from stellar.'
Steve stops what he's doing.
'I will, of course, help him in any way I can,' the AI continues, 'but may I make a request of you, Captain?'
'Of course,' Steve squares his shoulders.
'Be patient with him,' Jarvis pauses. 'Sir simultaneously knows how important family is and doubts its necessity.'
'I'll help out as often as he'll let me,' Steve scowls. 'What do you mean he doubts...?'
'Sir knows, only too well, how being of the same blood does not equate to a loving family,' Jarvis replies quickly.
'I don't underst...'
'The cupboard above and the left of you for plates, Captain,' Jarvis interrupts.
'Is this as far as you've got?' Tony strides into the room. He's now dressed in jeans and a SI t-shirt and still manages to look like he should be on the front of a magazine. 'Cap?'
'You're advertising yourself,' Steve tells him.
Dear God. One day; please just let me have one day where I do not say something stupid to Tony Stark. Amen.
'That sounds... dirty,' Tony looks bemused.
'Umm.'
'It brings out the glow of the arc reactor,' Tony tells him pompously and then laughs as he turns to the fridge.
Get a grip, Rogers.
He puts three plates at Tony's side and pours their coffees. Pete has wiggled his way into one of bar stools by the time Steve turns around, which makes him feel terrible.
'You need a real table, Tony,' Steve tells him as he helps Pete move his chair closer to the bar.
'Yeah,' Tony glances over his shoulder to where his son is waiting for food.
At least he's on the side away from where all the alcohol is stored.
'Jarvis,' Tony turns back to his sandwiches, 'search for a table that matches the decor. Run it past Pepper and then get it delivered. By tonight if you can.'
'Of course, sir,' Jarvis replies.
'Hah!' Tony turns around looking triumphant. 'And you thought I couldn't cook.'
'You made a sandwich,' Steve points out as he pours a cup of milk.
'I made three sandwiches,' Tony pouts as he puts the plates on the bar and hops onto the seat beside Steve and opposite his son. 'With three ingredients.'
'I'm very impressed,' Steve grins.
'I'm very impressive,' Tony replies. 'You want me to cut up your apple, kiddo?'
Pete hands the apple over wordlessly.
Which is for the best as he's just crammed an enormous amount of sandwich into his mouth.
'Hungry, huh?' Tony just smiles at him as he cuts the apple into slices. 'There you go.'
Steve's heart may have melted.
The first slice of apple disappears before Pete has even swallows his entire mouthful of sandwich.
'Try not to choke, bud,' Tony advises.
'This is pretty good, Tony,' Steve adds.
'No need to sounds so fuuu...' Tony glances at his son, 'unky...'
'Funky,' Steve represses a smile.
'Yes,' Tony grins back, 'no need to sound so funky surprised.'
'That must be a modern saying,' Steve turns back to his lunch.
'Shut up,'
By the time he's finished eating Pete's eyelids are starting to droop.
'Nap time, buddy,' Tony says quietly and scoops his son off of his stool.
'Dada,' Pete slumps against Tony's chest.
'Yeah, baby boy, I'm here,' Tony murmurs quietly as he walks off towards his bedroom.
Steve watches him leave and then tidies up the remains of their lunch. After that he starts picking up Pete's toys which are pretty literally covering the entire penthouse floor.
'God you're so domestic,' Tony reappears and slumps onto the sofa. 'I'm totally keeping you.'
'You're an amazing father, Tony,' Steve smiles at him and abandons the tidy up job.
'Hey, I'm just aiming to be better than Howard,' Tony shrugs.
Steve has learnt not to comment to Tony about Howard.
'How long do kids even nap for?' Tony asks.
'I'm afraid I have no idea,' Steve smiles at him.
'I have found research suggesting forty five minutes should be adequate,' Jarvis tells him.
'Great,' Tony pulls out a tablet. 'Bring up the blueprints for the repulsors for the Quinjet.'
'Of course, sir,' Jarvis sounds strangely relieved.
Steve gazes at Tony through the slowly rotating hologram for a few moments,
'I'll leave you to it.'
Tony looks up in surprise,
'You're leaving?'
'You have work to do,' Steve shrugs, 'and I've already completely invaded your morning.'
'I don't mind,' Tony blinks at him. 'And Pete likes you.'
How messed up is it that he wishes this little domestic scene they've acted out were real?
'I had a lot of fun,' Steve smiles, 'but we both have things to do.' He makes himself walk to the lift, 'I'll see you around?'
'I'm getting food sent to the communal floor for dinner,' Tony tells him. 'I need to introduce Pete to the others. You'll be there?'
'Of course,' Steve can't fight the grin. 'Just tell me when.'
Tony nods and watches as he gets onto the lift,
'Thanks,' he calls just before the door would have closed. 'For this morning. Thanks, Cap.'
'You're welcome.'
