Steve heads to the gym after Natasha and Bruce finish their pancakes. Clint hadn't yet surfaced when he left, but that isn't overly unusual.
He changes into his workout gear and stretches as he walks over to where there's a heavy bag waiting for him. His first swing is a little wild and sets the bag trying to spin on its chain. He steadies it before resetting his stance and starting again.
Blanking his mind to think just of the next punch; just the next thump against the reinforced weave of the bag, works for a little while, but then other thoughts fight their way into his mind.
How could the man he knew back in the war have allowed his son to be so damaged?
How could anyone have a child like Tony, like Pete, and ever want to hurt them?
The bag crashes across the floor spilling its contents.
Steve rakes a hand through his sweaty hair and heaves a sigh as he catches his breath,
'Sorry, Jarvis.'
'For what, Captain?'
'Making a mess?' Steve shrugs as he gazes at the bag.
'Captain,' the AI sounds amused, 'I am able to have a little understood but active incubator, containing a live foetus, moved across the county and installed into sir's workshop without alerting SHIELD. I also avoided allowing any unauthorised access to the technology involved in the incubator or housed in said workshop. I assure you; arranging for some sand to be cleared away is not strenuous.'
'How would Tony cope without you?' Steve laughs but it's weak.
'I hope he need never find out,' Jarvis points out.
'Is he ok?' Steve heads back over to his gym bag as he starts unwrapping his hands.
'Sir is well,' Jarvis confirms. 'He is bickering with Colonel Rhodes in the workshop whilst Peter is drawing with You.'
'Good,' Steve feels himself smile. 'What's Dummy doing, then?'
'Dummy is stealing Colonel Rhodes' possessions from his abandoned coat.'
Steve cannot think of a single thing to say to that.
'Sir,' Jarvis interrupts Rhodey's nth version of you're an amazing person, Tony, don't sell yourself short.
As if that will convince him that Jim doesn't gain something over Pete by having Steve as a father.
'Yes, Jay?'
'Bifrost activity detected. Prince Thor is inbound.'
'Hey, great!' Tony grins. 'The gang's back together!'
'Arrival expected in three minutes,' Jarvis adds as Tony steps around Rhodey.
'Come on, Pete, time to meet an alien.'
'Ok,' his son waves goodbye to You and runs to join him in the lift.
'This is only postponing our discussion,' Rhodey points out.
'Anything you say,' Tony pats his shoulder. The lift rises to the penthouse. 'Right, Pete? I'm going to open the balcony door; you stay in here, ok?'
'Ok,' Pete agrees readily but follows him to the very threshold.
'He's yours,' Rhodey grumbles as he follows him out, 'what did you expect?'
Kind of have to accept that.
He steps further out onto his landing pad and looks across the skyline.
'On your two o'clock, sir,' Jarvis tells him.
Yep. There he is.
'My friend!' Thor strides over as soon as his feet are on the floor and grasps Tony into a bear hug. 'It is most wondrous to see you well!'
'Hey, Thor,' Tony can hardly not hug him back. 'Good to see you too. What brings you to our corner of the cosmos?'
'I came as soon as I heard your most joyous of news!' the clap to his shoulder is only enough to rock him rather than push him off the tower so Thor is trying. 'Truly! The arrival of a healthy heir must always be celebrated!'
'You get celebrity gossip on Asgard?' Tony laughs.
'Our Gatekeeper, Heimdall, keeps watch over all of the nine realms,' Thor smiles. 'I requested that he keep me apprised of the continued wellbeing of my Midgardian brothers in arms.'
'Intergalactic facebook stalking,' Tony nods and grins at Thor's confused smile. 'It's all good. Thor, this is an old friend of mine, James Rhodes. Rhodey, meet the god of thunder.'
'Hey,' Rhodey holds out a hand and Thor uses it to tug him into a hug.
'Well met, brother of my shield brother!'
Pete falls back from the doorway in awe as they approach.
'Ah, he has your likeness,' Thor beams and places his hammer just inside the door. 'Greetings, little one, I am Thor Odinson of Asgard.'
'Hello,' Pete glances to Tony, 'I'm Peter.' He pauses and tips his head as he thinks, 'I'm Peter Jarvis Stark of...' he looks at Tony beseechingly.
'Of Stark Industries?' Tony shrugs. 'Or Earth, I guess.'
'Of Stark Industries,' Pete repeats seriously.
'It is most pleasing to make your acquaintance, Peter Jarvis Stark of Stark Industries,' Thor nods solemnly. 'I have bought you a mighty gift from Asgard's vaults; one befitting the heir of so generous and noble a warrior!'
Pete smiles,
'I like you.'
'I am glad,' Thor goes to one knee and offers Pete a bundle wrapped in a shimmering cloth.
'Thank you,' Pete is clearly benefiting from being around Steve. 'It's heavy.'
'Now, perhaps,' Thor nods, 'but as your sword arm strengthens the weight shall merely feel welcome.'
Tony is beginning to get a bad feeling about this.
'Wow!' Pete sits on the floor as his gift opens up to be a long knife in an elegantly crafted scabbard.
Wonderful.
'Ok!' he steps over to his son. 'Let's be very careful with that, shall we?'
'It's a real sword!' Pete grins at him.
'Yes it is,' Tony agrees as Pete tries to pull it from its sheath.
'An enchantment is placed upon the blade,' Thor adds with a knowing smile. 'It cannot be drawn if the intention of the wielder is to play.'
'You baby proof your weapons?' Rhodey laughs.
'Do you not?' Thor gazes at him innocently.
Pete looks a little put out by this.
'Fear not,' Thor smiles at him, 'I shall give you lessons with your blade and during such sessions you shall be able to draw it.'
Ok, his three year old is apparently going to be receiving sword fighting lessons from a Norse god.
But his son is grinning again so sure, why not?
'Thor!' Steve's voice sounds out as he and the others step from the lift. 'Welcome back! There's nothing wrong, I hope?'
'My friends!' Thor stands and stretches his arms out, 'I am glad to see you all again!'
Natasha and Bruce duck out of his way leaving Steve and Clint to be caught in the hug.
'Gack!' Clint stumbles a little as he's let go but Steve immediately thumps Thor on the shoulder with a grin,
'It's good to see you too!'
Natasha and Bruce make similar, but less enthusiastic, motions towards greeting their fellow Avenger. Quickly the exchanges establish that there's nothing wrong and Thor is just visiting.
And baring his gift.
'He gave me a sword!' Pete has dodged to Steve's side and waves the knife up at him.
Thank Thor for the Asgardian baby proofing, Tony grins to himself.
'Wow!' Steve's look of disguised horror is precious.
'It's alright,' Tony cuts in, 'he can't unsheathe it.'
'Oh,' Steve visibly relaxes, 'it's beautiful, Pete.'
'Thor is going to teach me,' Pete beams.
'Well, if your Dada says that's ok,' Steve doesn't look convinced.
'I can, can't I, Dada?' Pete turns to him. 'Please?'
'Of course you can,' may as well go with it from the beginning. 'As long as you're very careful and do everything Thor tells you.'
Pete grins triumphantly.
'Sir, the large batch of coffee that I took the liberty of preparing is ready,' Jarvis is a lifesaver.
'Ah, coffee!' Thor beams, 'I am most fond of this beverage.'
'Thor is going to teach Pete sword fighting?' Steve asks quietly as the others all cluster around the coffee machine.
'Do you want to be the one that tells him no?' he quirks an eyebrow.
Steve laughs,
'I couldn't get him to wait ten minutes for you to finish your press conference...'
'I meant Thor,' Tony grins and collects his coffee as the others move away to the seating area.
Steve smiles as he follows him,
'Good point.'
