Summary: Tony being Tony calls in a meeting with the Avengers and the extended family to tell the amazing idea he had: create Steve a playlist of their favorite songs to help with his adaptation.
or
… the one time Tony let everyone see he had a heart.
Characters: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanov, Maria Hill, Nick Fury, Phil Coulson, Bruce Banner, Thor, Pepper Potts, Jane Foster, Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Darcy Lewis, James "Bucky" Barnes, Jarvis.
Relationships: Tony Stark/Pepper Potts, Jane Foster/Thor.
Tags of the chapter: Tony Stark has a heart, Steve needs a hug, team as family, awesome Maria Hill, Nick Fury knows all, Phil Coulson has the patience of a saint, adorable Bruce Banner, Thor is not stupid, BAMF Pepper Potts, Jane Foster loves science, Sam Wilson is a gift, Maximoff twin feels, Rhodey is a good bro, awesome Darcy Lewis, karaoke, Jarvis' organizational skills, the Author regrets nothing, I don't know where Vision is, domestic Avengers.
A/N: Playlist available on Spotify with the songs of the chapters posted. Check it out and tune each song with your reading! Link available on my profile.
Something to Hold Onto
Chapter Three, Still Loving You, 1984
"Tony, you do realize that Pepper is insanely mad at you, right?" Steve raised his eyes at his best friend, his expression was half amused and half concerned, as it was obvious that Tony had a plan to get Pepper back.
"Cap, I am not deaf, I heard her shouting that she didn't want to see me. Plus, I do have a memory; I was there when she said she wanted to break up." Tony huffed, impatient. "That is not the point. The point is that I need Pepper back and I need your help with my plan."
"Oh, Tones, what are you up to?" Rhodey stepped into the room, handing Tony a tall cup of coffee and having a seat next to Steve. When Tony had both men's undivided attention, he spoke.
"Today is karaoke night, as you well know." They had thematic nights at the tower, and today was one of them. "And Steve, I need you to convince Pepper to go."
"Why me?" Steve frowned, thinking of the wrath of the CEO.
"Are you scared, Cap?" Rhodey laughed as he recognized the fear inside Steve's eyes.
"Wouldn't you be?" Steve retorted, effectively shutting up the laughter. He directed his gaze to Tony. "Why don't you ask Bruce or Rhodey? They're closer to Pepper."
"Yeah, and then she'll know immediately that I am up to something." Stark looked at him as if he was dumb. "Look, Pep trusts you too much." He shrugged. "She would never think you are part of my plan."
"Well, thank you in advance for making me break her trust."
Tony smiled; he did not smirk and left behind both of his friends.
Steve moved on with his tasks until night fell and he got ready for the gathering. Stark being Stark had set up a whole room specifically for karaoke nights, and had it decorated like a nice karaoke lounge would be decorated.
He smiled when Pepper arrived and let out his breath when he realized Tony had not arrived yet. At least she would not kill him right away.
The party was in full mode when the billionaire arrived.
"Thank you for gracing us with your appearance, Stark." Clint mocked and bowed, barely pausing as he selected the next song.
Tony never one to fall behind, simply courted and answered that the archer was welcome. He looked around the room and saw that Steve, Bucky, Sam and Rhodey were by the bar, laughing at something Darcy and Natasha were saying while Thor, Jane, Bruce and Wanda were discussing something, science/magic probably. Maria Hill was up the stage with Pietro, singing a cheesy song. Pepper had her back to him while she talked to Coulson and Fury – the three seeming very relaxed and even laughing together, which was just weird because Fury did not have a good time, ever. His secrets had secrets after all.
Shaking his head, he focused and was at the stage as the song ended. Not giving anyone time to protest, Jarvis started the song he had previously picked.
"Traitor." Tony heard Clint mutter to Jarvis and could not help but smiling with affection at the archer.
Even though nobody had time to protest, they all noticed that Stark was completely sober – which was very weird, because he never sang during karaoke nights before draining a bunch of whiskey.
"Cap, this is for your playlist, but Pep, this performance is entirely for you." He spoke with such a serious tone of voice that Pepper could not take her eyes off him. He was up to something; she just had to figure out if it was something good or not.
The lights in the room diminished and Tony started singing Still Loving You by Scorpions.
"I'll fight, babe, I'll fight to win back your love again. I will be there, I will be there. Love, only love can break down the wall someday. I will be there, I will be there."
Everybody shuddered at the intensity that was Tony at that moment. They had all known that he had been suffering with the breakup, two months prior. However, what no one realized was the actual depth of the pain, and now they felt it in the way he spoke the words that were already so full of meaning.
"If we'd go again, all the way from the start, I would try to change the things that killed our love." He briefly winced at those words, not wanting the song to fit that much with their relationship. "Your pride has built a wall, so strong that I can't get through. Is there really no chance? To start once again? I'm loving you."
Rhodey had his mouth open as he stared at his best friend up in the stage, gripping the microphone as if afraid of what would happen if he let it go. He looked over to the side and saw that Steve was just as shocked as he was but Sam was only smiling softly and nodding his head approvingly.
"Go Tony!" Jane yelled in encouragement to her friend, because even though he was Tony Stark, he must have been feeling pretty scared at that moment. She smiled when Thor snuggled her closer to his body – clearly affected by the performance, as was everybody at the room.
Wanda had went to Pietro's side and he immediately gave her comfort, as if she had memories related to that song – which may not have been impossible as well.
"Try, baby try! To trust in my love again, I will be there, I will be there. Love, our love, just shouldn't be thrown away, I will be there, I will be there."
Tony Stark did not do emotions and yet, there he was, exposing how he felt inside to all of the team just to try to win back the love of his life.
"If we'd go again, all the way from the start, I would try to change the things that killed our love. Yes, I've hurt your pride, and I know what you've been through." His voice cracked with the emotion he could barely contain, but he kept going. "You should give me a chance… this can't be the end." He choked. "I'm still loving you!"
He did not break eye contact with Pepper until the last part. Darcy by that time was already singing along in true Darcy fashion and totally supporting him.
Pepper went up the stage and hugged Tony, feeling his tears soak through her blouse and letting her tears soak his shirt. She held him tightly, having missed the contact and the genius. The moment was cut when she felt his hands on her waist, gently separating himself from her.
She looked at him and gasped when he started to kneel. Actually, at that moment several people gasped. Fury would deny everything later, but he did gasp.
Tony took a little box from his pocket and presented it to her, an engagement ring inside. She pulled him up and kissed him.
"Aww!" Darcy threw herself at Thor and hugged him tightly. "Thor, you have to do that with Jane! We just need to modify some parts but I can totally help you!" The god let out an emotional laugh that could rival a thunder and affectionately hugged the woman he considered a little sister.
"What do you say? Let's get hitched?" Tony asked as soon as they stopped kissing. And then instead of getting an answer he got a slap to the face. But Pepper did take the ring and put it on her finger.
Steve, Rodhey and Bruce did very good impressions of a facepalm.
"Minus that part, big guy." Darcy said to the god while shaking her head. "Minus that part."
A/N: Song: Still Loving You, by Scorpions - 1984.
Tony is just s2.