'Pepper! I fucked up,' Tony barges into Pepper's suite, collapses beside her on the couch and pushes his head into her lap.
It's always nice to see Pepper curled up in comfortable clothes, even if she is still working.
'Please tell me you told him?' she puts down her tablet.
'I told him,' Tony confirms. 'He didn't take it very well.'
'What happened?' she sighs.
'I lost my babysitter, that's what happened,' Tony pouts up at her.
'Tony...'
She always sees through his ballshit.
'He left,' he shrugs and looks away.
'What happened?' she repeats as she runs her fingers through his hair.
'He asked if Pete was an interview before being able to be Jim's dad,' he admits. 'And he thinks I don't trust him.'
'You don't,' Pepper points out.
'That's not the point,' Tony objects.
'It's quite a lot the point.'
'Alright,' Tony concedes, 'but I don't see why that's on me.'
'I'm not telling you that you have to trust him,' Pepper tugs his hair and then soothes again, 'I'm telling you that's why he's upset.'
'I should trust him,' Tony disagrees. 'He's Steve.'
'He does adore you,' Pepper smiles down at him.
'Yeah?' Tony cracks a smile. 'So he'll forgive me, right?'
'Eventually. If you apologise.'
'Already did,' Tony shrugs. 'Jarvis, what says 'sorry I fucked up telling you about how I fucked up by not telling you about our son'?'
'Do you want a list of Captain Rogers' preferences, sir?'
'Truth, justice and the American way,' Tony rattles off.
'Beautifully put, sir,' Jarvis replies dryly.
'I know what to get him,' Tony sits up abruptly.
Needless to say he changes his mind three times on what to get Steve before Pete even wakes from his nap.
He gives up, for now, once his son is awake. Instead he takes Pete down to the workshop and shows him a car engine.
They wind up taking it to pieces.
'Tony?' they both look up to see Rhodey just inside the door of the workshop.
'Hi Rhodey!' Pete beams.
'Hey,' Tony smiles up at him.
'How are you both that covered in grease?'
Tony glances at his son.
Huh, that is a lot of grease.
'We're playing with the Lamborghini,' Pete tells him.
'You took apart the Lamborghini?' Rhodey looks aghast.
'It's not like I haven't before,' Tony smirks.
Rhodey just shakes his head before refocusing on the two of them.
'You know it's your job to clean him?' Rhodey is fighting a laugh.
Tony looks down at Pete as his son gazes up at him,
'I'm sure we'll figure it out?'
'You're a genius,' Pete tells him confidently.
'Exactly,' Tony agrees. 'Pete, wipe that down so Jarvis can get an accurate scan. I'm going to get Rhodey a drink.'
'How did it go?' Rhodey asks quietly as they move away.
'Not great,' he pours himself a smoothie. He offers one to Rhodey, just to see the face he pulls. Rhodey just pours himself some water. 'He left. Don't think he's talking to me right now.'
Rhodey nods,
'That's ok, Tony, he needs time to process.'
Tony shrugs a shoulder,
'I get that.'
'You just need to apologise,' Rhodey puts a hand on his shoulder. 'Explain why you didn't tell him and hope he understands.'
'And if he doesn't?' Tony swallows back the last of whatever it was Dummy had blended for him. 'If he never forgives me?'
'Then you communicate only through Jarvis, and Jim transfers between you on the lift,' Rhodey goes for the worst case scenario.
'Great,' Tony sighs.
'Just do what you do best, Tony.'
'You want me to sleep with him?' Tony times it so his friend has just taken a sip of water.
He chokes. Quite spectacularly actually.
Tony barely manages to crack a smile at his friend's misfortune.
'Dick!' Rhodey manages as he gasps in a lungful of air.
'Takes one to know one,' Tony pats his shoulder.
Rhodey just looks unimpressed.
'Fine,' Tony tips his head curiously, 'what is it that I do best?'
'You're generous and selfless,' he looks like complimenting Tony may be causing him pain. 'Show him that you want him involved in your sons' lives.'
'Alright,' Tony thinks that over. 'I can work with that.'
