Chapter 7
Tony
Tony walked down the stairs to the first floor. He paused to feel the bruises left on his body. It seems Andrea missed him a lot while he was gone on his business trip; she left multiple bruises on him. Tony didn't mind, though, the act of getting the bruises was well beyond worth it. Tony continued down the stairs and went into the kitchen to get his morning coffee.
Tony stopped to see Steve in the kitchen preparing breakfast. "Morning," Tony said with slight confusion, "this is different." Tony continued to the counter to pour himself a cup of coffee. Tony took a sip of the coffee and then went to the sink to pour it out.
"Did I burn the coffee?" Steve asked.
"Burn would be putting it lightly. I will make a new pot," Tony said as he grabbed the coffee and poured it out.
"I don't know how Mark manages all this in the morning. I am trying not to burn anything. I guess the coffee suffered," Steve said frantically as he cooked.
Tony poured the water into the coffee maker and went to get coffee grounds. "Why are you cooking this morning? I thought we learned from Natasha that Mark should be the only one cooking in this house."
Steve laughed lightly at Tony's joke. "I thought I would surprise Mark in the morning by making him something. I wanted to do something for him after yesterday."
Tony put the coffee grounds in the coffee maker and turned it on. "Did you two have a fight and you need to make it up to him?" Tony asked.
Steve spilled some pancake batter when Tony asked the question. "Is it that obvious?" Steve asked as he looked at the batter on the floor. Tony grabbed a towel and handed it to Steve.
"Not really, but it was my first guess as to why you are doing this."
Steve cleaned the batter from the floor, and Tony saw the pancake in the pan unattended. Tony flipped it before it could burn. Steve saw Tony do this. "Thanks," Steve said. "We didn't have a fight. But I said something that reminded Mark of something, and it hurt him. He apologized for getting angry about the comment. I still feel bad. He told me he overreacted and we talked. I wanted to do this to show how special he is to me as well," Steve said as he put the towel on the side.
"What was the comment?" Tony asked.
"I said I wanted to be with him for years to come. It reminded Mark of how he won't grow old with any of us. He told me how he needs to prepare himself for the day we all will pass on and he will be left here alone. He said he will be like a ghost wandering the world without any of us here. I didn't think when I said the comment to him. I get why it hurts to think about that," Steve said as he put the not burned pancake on a plate.
Tony leaned back on the counter thinking of the comment. Tony knew Mark aged more slowly than everyone else, but he did not realize Mark would be alive for so long after they all were gone. Tony did the math in his head quickly and realized how long Mark would live on without any of them. He understood why Mark was mad about the comment.
"You think it was something dumb to say, don't you?" Steve asked as he poured more batter into the pan.
"Not dumb, I just realized how much longer he will live than all of us," Tony turned to lean sideways on the counter. "Do you feel that way about Mark?"
Steve fiddled with the pancake in the pan. He was staling before he had to answer the question. "Is it bad I do? I mean I never felt like this about anyone. I want to be with him for as long as I can. He means a lot to me, Tony. I can't explain it more than that."
"So…yes?" Tony asked sarcastically.
Steve laughed. "Yes, I feel that way about Mark."
"Nothing dumb about feeling that way. I feel strongly about Andrea. We can't explain how we feel, we just go with it," Tony said as he winced, realizing he hit a bruise.
Steve saw Tony wince, "Rough night with Andrea?"
Tony gave a smug smile. "It was one of the best nights of my life. I didn't know she could do some of the things we did. She is one incredible woman in many ways." Tony saw Steve turn red at the topic of sex. "Please, like you and Mark haven't had sex yet. We are all adults here, Steve. It is a topic we speak about often in this time period. Are you telling me sex with Mark is bad?"
Steve flipped the pancake realizing he burned it a little. Steve had turned red before he spoke, "Sex with Mark is something I didn't know could happen. When Bucky and I were together, I thought it was just something people did, and very little pleasure came from it. It seemed more like something to do to be close to the person. With Mark, I feel so much more. I don't know how he does some of the things he does. He knows my body better than I do."
"So… Sex with Mark is good," Tony said in the same sarcastic fashion as he did before.
"Yes, Tony. Sex with Mark is good…great even," Steve agreed.
"Well, I doubt we would know if he left any bruises on you. Your damn healing abilities would hide anything like that from us," Tony said.
Steve turned red at the comment. Steve tried to hide his face as he put the pancake on the plate.
"He has!" Tony shouted. Tony stood up and gave Steve a look of approval. "I am impressed. Steve Rogers has a wild side after all."
"I guess I do," Steve said as he poured more pancake batter.
Tony went to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup of coffee. He was happy to not have the taste of burnt coffee in his mouth anymore. Tony walked back to the counter to stand next to Steve.
"How did you get Mark out of the kitchen this morning? He always beats you when it comes to waking up in the morning," Tony said.
"I told him I had the kitchen this morning and he couldn't do anything about it. He is in the training room coming up with new techniques for everyone," Steve said.
Tony gave Steve a glare, "Today is my training day. If he comes up with something evil, I am blaming you."
"Blaming Steve for what?" Mark asked as he walked into the kitchen.
"I thought I said I had the kitchen this morning," Steve said. Mark looked over at the clock. "Steve it is ten o'clock. I think two hours is enough time to make breakfast." Mark went to the refrigerator to grab a soda.
Tony looked at Steve stunned, "You have been here cooking for two hours? And all you made is pancakes?"
Steve looked over to the trashcan. Tony walked over to it and opened it. "You have been cooking, and burning things it seems." Mark stood next to Tony to see into the trashcan. "I didn't know we had that much food here," Mark said as he took a sip of soda.
"You make it look so easy," Steve said. Tony watched as Mark walked over to Steve and gave him a hug. "You could have asked for help."
"Or for me to order out for breakfast and claim for you made it," Tony said.
Mark laughed. "That could have worked as well." Mark let Steve finish the pancakes. Mark looked at the already made pancakes, "Uh oh."
"What?" Steve asked. Tony looked over at the pancakes as well. "Uh oh, Steve, you forgot something."
"What did I forget, they look good," Steve said examining the pancakes. Mark went to the pantry and grabbed a bag. He handed Steve a bag of chocolate chips. Steve smiled.
"Andrea would not forgive you if you made pancakes without chocolate chips," Tony said.
"She will not," Mark added. Mark went to the pantry and got the syrup and then got the butter from the refrigerator. Mark put both on the table. Tony sat at the table waiting for the pancakes. Mark took a seat next to him.
"So did you set up something evil for training today?" Tony asked Mark. "I was worried since Steve sent you away from the kitchen you would take it out on me in training."
"I thought about it, but that's not fair to you. I was planning something for tomorrow anyway," Mark said.
"Good that's not my training day," Tony said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"But it is my training day," Steve said.
"Exactly," Mark smiled, "Why not take it out on the person who kicked me out of the kitchen? I am sure the team will appreciate it."
"You know I did this for you," Steve said with a smile. He walked over with a big plate of pancakes. Tony took the first one and examined it. He noticed it was burned. Mark grabbed the second one and scrapped off some of the burned bits. "You two don't have to be so mean," Steve said.
Mark and Tony laughed. "Sorry," Mark said. "I know you really worked hard at this."
"I'm not sorry. I feel bad for the pancakes to suffer so much in the pan," Tony said. Steve threw the towel covered in the batter at Tony.
"I think you earned that," Mark said.
"I don't believe that these pancakes did, though," Tony replied.
Steve looked a little down about his pancakes. He walked over to the stove to make more. Mark got up and followed Steve. Steve was about to put the batter in, "Wait," Mark said. Mark grabbed some butter and quickly greased the pan. "This will help." Steve poured the batter into the pan. Steve waited and flipped the pancake seeing it was perfectly browned. Steve smiled at Mark, "Thanks." Mark hugged Steve. "You know how to cook; I think you just put too much pressure on yourself for this morning. Don't worry. I will still eat the pancakes."
"I won't. If you are making better ones I will wait for those," Tony said. Mark rolled his eyes at Tony. "How Andrea puts up with you I will never know."
"I have you know she finds me very charming and handsome. She loves putting up with me," Tony said with a smug smile. Mark grabbed Tony's coffee mug. "I will get you more coffee for your bruises," Mark said.
Tony looked at Mark with confusion, "How did you know?"
"I didn't. You just told me," Mark said with a smile.
"Damn, I always fall for your Jedi mind tricks."
"Yup and these are not the droids you are looking for," Mark added as he poured Tony a cup of coffee.
"Should I know that reference?" Steve asked.
"You should. Maybe we will watch Star Wars soon," Mark said.
"It is just one movie?" Steve asked. Mark looked to Tony who gave a horrified look. "It is only three movies Steve, just three," Mark said.
"Good call," Tony said to Mark.
Andrea came walking into the kitchen yawning. She smelled the pancakes. She went to the table and rested her head on it. Tony fixed her bed head while she rested. "Thanks," Andrea said to Tony smiling. Tony returned the smile to her. Andrea then held her hand up, "Cola me," she said. Tony saw a cola fly by him, and Andrea caught it in her hand. She tapped it twice and opened it.
"Any news on Loki?" Mark asked.
"None, so far. I didn't see him on any local camera feeds. I have no idea where to look if he doesn't make any noise in the city. I am hoping Thor has better luck when he comes back," Andrea said taking a sip of her cola.
Mark grabbed the plate of perfectly cooked pancakes and put them on the table. "These look good," Andrea said, and she looked over to see Steve cooking. "Wait…" Andrea said as she looked at Mark and back to Steve. She did this three more times before speaking again. "First he enters your bubble, now Steve is cooking?" Andrea said looking to Tony. "Did they get married this morning while I slept?"
Tony and Mark let out a laugh. Steve just turned red at Andrea's question and smiled. "Steve kicked me out of the kitchen. He said he wanted to do something special," Mark said. Andrea looked at the pancakes. "Chocolate chip pancakes are special. I still think a wedding happened while I slept."
Tony grabbed a few pancakes and put them on a plate for Andrea. Tony slid the butter and syrup to Andrea. "No wedding, I would be sad if we missed cake. But Steve did tell me something interesting today."
Mark looked over to Steve who only hid his face. "What did Steve say, Tony?" Mark asked.
"Nothing big," Tony said. Andrea leaned in to whisper to Tony, "You will fill me in later right?" Tony nodded to let Andrea know he would.
"Oh good, so Andrea can fill me in later since no one will say it now," Mark said.
Tony looked to Andrea, "Is that how it works? I tell you, and you tell Mark?"
"Pretty much. Oh and it goes vice versa as well," Andrea said.
"You two are weird to think we hold secrets from one another," Mark said.
Tony looked to Mark then back to Andrea. "So he knows everything?"
"Pretty much," Andrea said. Then Steve asked Mark, "Does Andrea know… everything we do?"
"Pretty much," Mark answered.
Tony could feel the heat from his face. He figured his face was about as red as Steve's looked.
"Oh come on you two, we don't give details about that," Andrea said. Tony felt a relief flow through him, and he saw Steve's face turn to its normal color.
"Good save," Mark said. Andrea smiled at Mark. "So we have no clues on Loki, no news from Thor, and we need to wait until he makes his move. Add the fact I have less than a month to wait for the UN to make a decision and might need to deal with assassins in the meantime. I feel chocolate chip pancakes isn't enough for all that," Mark said.
"Chocolate chip pancakes is enough," Andrea began. "Assassins will be no big deal for you. The UN has a month, and it will fly quickly. And Loki we will need to wait. Pancakes now."
"Pancakes now," Mark said as he grabbed pancakes and put it on his plate. Steve brought over the rest of the pancakes he finished cooking. Steve looked over to see Mark eating his first batch. Tony watched as Steve hugged Mark. Tony thought Steve wasn't dumb for feeling the way he did. Mark cared for Steve and Steve was a different, happier person since Mark came into his life. It was how Tony felt about Andrea. He looked over at her and saw her joyfully putting butter on her pancakes. He smiled at her animated behavior.
Andrea looked over at Tony, "Don't judge me," she said.
Tony leaned in a kissed Andrea. "But the judgment is all good," he said.
"Acceptable," Andrea said as she grabbed the syrup. Andrea looked up at Tony, "Isn't today your training day? Will you be up for it?"
"You mean because you left bruises on him from last night?" Mark asked.
"Well duh, why else would I ask?" Andrea said.
"You two are so odd," Tony said cutting into his pancakes.
"I thought Andrea said no judging?" Mark asked.
"I said it was all good things," Tony said with a smirk.
"Acceptable," Mark said.
"And I will be fine. Mark said it will be the same training as last time. I have been getting better fighting without my suit," Tony said.
"He has," Mark added. "He will be fine, it will teach him how to not show his weak points now that he has more."
"Do harm to him, and I will hurt you," Andrea said to Mark.
"I hear only empty threats," Mark replied.
Steve began to laugh at Mark and Andrea. "You two are odd," Steve said.
"It works," Mark and Andrea said at the same time.
The four of them finished eating. Mark cleared his plate first. Steve grabbed another helping, and so did Andrea. Tony cleared his plate.
"I am going to go get the training room ready for the day," Mark said to everyone. "I will see you for the training session, Tony." Mark left the room and began to walk upstairs.
"So what did Steve say to you that is so hush-hush?" Andrea asked.
Steve looked up to Tony. "Do you want her to know?" Tony asked. Steve put down his fork and began to answer Andrea's question for Tony.
"I was telling Tony I wanted to do something special for Mark after yesterday."
"From the fight you guys had?" Andrea said.
"You know about it?" Steve asked.
"I heard it," Andrea said.
"Yeah, I said things without thinking. I don't know. I think I am dumb for feeling this strongly so soon. I don't know what else to call it. I really love him and want to be with him for as much time as I can," Steve said.
"That doesn't sound dumb," Andrea said.
"That's what I told him," Tony added.
"It isn't?" Steve asked.
"Steve, Mark has been alive for a while. I think he figured out his emotions some time ago. He gets angry, sad, happy, bored, and frustrated. All the same emotions we feel, he knows his pretty well. He doesn't need to figure it out as much as the rest of us do. And it sounds like you know your emotions and how you feel about Mark. So no, it's not dumb," Andrea said as she ate more pancakes.
"You're right," Steve said picking up his plate and clearing his area. "I shouldn't feel dumb for how I feel. I should just let it be and enjoy it."
"Exactly," Andrea said as she sat back. Andrea looked at Tony, "And what about you? How do you feel?"
"Happy," Tony said as he kissed Andrea. "And you taste like chocolate and syrup," Tony added.
Tony did feel happy. He wished Steve could feel more confident in his emotions like Tony felt in his. Tony felt strongly about Andrea and showed her how he felt in all of the ways he knew how. She still stuck around after learning the true Tony. The Tony, who worked in the lab, worked with his hands and didn't care much for the CEO meetings. Andrea still stuck around, and Tony liked having her with him. Tony got up from his seat and cleared his plate.
"I am going to do some work on my Iron Man suit before the training session. I need to figure out how to improve the repulse beam output," Tony said as he put his plate in the sink. He walked back over to the table and kissed Andrea again. "See you in the lab soon?" He asked her. Andrea nodded her head. Tony got up and walked over to the entrance to the lab. He was happy with how things were right now. He could only think of how he could make them better.