"Steve..."
Steve blinked himself awake, shivering at the temperature in the room. Pulling the covers tighter around him, he looked for Tony. Reaching over to the other side of the bed, he stiffened to find it ice cold. Sitting up, he looked around the room. "Tony?"
"Sir is in the living room on the couch asleep, is there anything I can assist you with, Captain?"
Steve looked up at the sound of JARVIS' voice. "No, ummm, is uh, is he ok, it sounded like..."
"No...not, not Steve, please!"
Jumping out of bed, Steve pulled the sheet as tight around him as possible, his wobbly legs taking him to the living room as quickly as they could. "Tony?" He searched the dark room, eyes taking longer than usual to adjust. "JARVIS, can you bring the lights up about thirty percent?" He sighed in relief when the room was lit in a soft glow. Moving forward cautiously, he kept his gaze on the couch. "Tony, a-are you in here?" JARVIS had told him that Tony was on the couch but that didn't mean he hadn't moved since then.
"D-don't leave, I'll make it better...please, just don't go."
Frowning, Steve moved around the side of the couch. He jerked in surprise to see Tony curled up on the cushions, holding a pillow and...crying?" "Tony, honey, wake up, you're having a bad dream." Steve didn't reach for him, didn't try to shake him awake either., aware that to wake a sleeping Avenger could quite possibly get you killed. "Tony, wake up, please." He wanted to wipe the tears from his eyes, hold him until what ever he was dreaming about left him. When the brunette didn't move, Steve stepped closer to the couch. "Tony, c-can you hear me?" He jerked back when sable eyes snapped open, staring at him with blazing intensity.
"Who the fuck are you and how did you get in here?"
Steve jerked back from the look on Tony's face. The blazing pain and anger were clear in his sable depths as Steve scrambled back from the man scowling at him. "T-tony?" He asked hesitantly, fear making his stomach churn as he watched Tony slowly sit up on the couch.
"How the fuck did you get in here, the only people with access other than me and my son are dead. So who the fuck are you and why are you here?! Have you came in the form of Steve to torture me?! To, to torment me with my pain?! Have you come to tell me that it was all my fault again?!" Tony looked at the figure in front of him, rage making him shake as he stared at the pale, ethereal figure standing there. "Damn you, have you not taken enough from me, now the Fates wish to drive me insane as well?! Fuck you! Fuck you and your grand design! Fuck you a-and your lack of helping me get my family back! Fuck you..." Tony gasped as he collapsed back on the couch, his eyes closed, body going slack against the cushions.
Steve stared at Tony in shock, not understanding what he meant. What was Tony talking about, The Fates want to drive him insane? Why, why would they wish to harm Tony, what had he promised them in order to get them back? "What did you do Tony?" Moving closer to his husband, Steve brushed back a few strands of dark hair, fingers brushing across Tony's forehead. When the other muttered something, Steve stopped, waiting to see if he would move or not.
"Love you, Steve." Tony sighed sleepily.
He smiled, a small curve of his lips as he watched Tony's lids flutter open. Hand stilling in his hair, Steve slowly pulled back. "I-I'm sorry if I woke you but it sounded..." He broke off, watching as Tony slowly eased up and away from Steve. "Tony?"
"I'm dreaming, I drank to much and you're a figment of my imagination." Tony stared at Steve, the dream had been so real and he could have sworn... "Steve?"
"Yeah, hey, are you ok?" Steve gave him a shaky smile, watching as Tony seemed to finally focus on him. "You, ummm, you were calling out to me in your sleep." He scanned Tony's face, gaze intent on not missing any little detail. "Feel like talking about it or, uh, or we can watch a movie or something?" Not wanting to appear to pushy but worried nonetheless, Steve stood up, pulling the sheet tighter around him as he moved to the small love seat across from Tony.
"You know, that's the safest place for you right about now." Tony gave him a small grin, tired from having been up seventy-two hours straight. He wasn't able to sleep, hadn't been able to since Steve and boys came home. Watching Steve, Tony sighed, running a shaky hand through his hair. He jerked when Steve spoke in a soft voice.
"Did you make a deal with The Fates, Tony? Is that why you're having nightmares?" Steve looked down at the sheet wrapped around him, couldn't help pulling it closer as a chill raced down his spine. He watched as Tony turned away from him, a frown working its way across his lips. "Tony..."
"I asked them to give you and Peter back, if they wanted someone they could have me instead. I mean, I'm as good as anyone and I'd give everything I had if it meant you two would just come back." Tony picked at the cushion in front of him, hands shaking as the dream came back to him. "They told me..." He swallowed back the lump in his throat, the pain of their words still echoing around him. "They told me I was not deserving of such a gift. That I was to cocky and selfish to understand the sacrifice required to bring you two back. That the payment I offered was not worthy enough for their help." His hands clenched as he tried not to remember the fight they'd had, the begging he'd done for any information they had concerning Steve and Peter. "They told me that I already knew the answer I just refused to listen to the one telling me."
Steve watched him, surprised at the soft, defeated tone. "They didn't help but gave you a hint?"
"They showed me you were alive, I-I thought they were playing mind games with me then Johnny went missing." Tony laid his head down on his knees, curling into himself as tightly as possible. "Their words haunted me, I knew I wasn't worthy of you three but selfishly I couldn't let you go. I-I needed you and would have given my life to get you guys back."
Steve moved over to Tony, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. "Thank you, Tony. They may not think you're worthy but we damn sure do and love you for everything you've done for us." He held Tony, pulling him back against his chest. "I thought about what you must have gone through, tried to keep from going crazy with what you might do to find us once you realized..."
"I should have known sooner, should have realized that it was nothing but a ploy to get to you but I just...i-it was just so hard and then the nightmares started. I would see you and you would be so angry with me, accusing me of forgetting you two and leaving you to die. I had the caskets exhumed after that, everyone thought I was losing it until we found out it wasn't you or Peter in them."
Steve ran a shaky hand through Tony's hair, sighing as he thought about everything they've gone through. "Moran, when he came to see us was always muttering about someone else. A man, I think that killed his lover? I don't...h-he was always agitated. I think it may have been Aveline's friend, when ever I asked about him, Moran would get pissed off." Steve's arm tightened around Tony, shivering as the memory. "He always looked at Peter like he was special, almost like..." Steve broke off as he remembered the one time Moran had tried to force himself on Peter.
"Honey, what is it?" Tony sat up and turned around, frowning at how pale Steve was. "We need to get you back in bed, I bet your blood pressure is up because of me." Sitting up, Tony turned to face his husband, heart racing at the smile he was given. "You should hate me, you all should. If I had been paying attention or at the very least wasn't so focused on..."
"Stop, Tony, ok? We knew what was involved when we became Avengers. The only thing we can do now is work to fix things, make it better." Steve stared at Tony, eyes wide with concern. "You're working to much and not sleeping or eating enough. Come back to bed with me, you need some rest too." He could feel his face heating as he watched Tony. He struggled to keep his gaze from moving lower than his face, aware that Tony was in nothing but a pair of sweats and a beater. "We, uh, w-we could watch movies or..."
"No, I'll help you back to bed, I'm, uh, I-I'm not really tired." Tony knew he couldn't lay in bed next to Steve and not want more. More than cuddling, more than chaste kisses...just more and Steve was not ready for that. "How 'bout I go grab some snacks and we can catch up on what you missed?" He may want more but he also realized that having Steve with him now was more than enough. "Juice and chips?"
"Ummm, I'd really like a beer though. A-and some pizza, I'm hungry for some reason." Steve frowned, in the two months of him being back home his appetite had been sparse. Only eating if Aveline had cooked or if it was delivered. At the look of surprise on Tony's face, Steve looked away. "Or maybe that's to much right now?"
"NO!" Tony jumped up to get their food. "It's not to much, just surprised about your request. Of course you can have what ever you want, no matter what it is." Tony looked back over his shoulder, giving Steve a wink and grin. "Think if I bring it in you can carry it while I carry you?"
Steve flushed, thoughts going over ever possible scenario. When he'd reached one, he looked up at Tony and returned his grin. "Well as long as you add some chocolate cake then sure."
Tony grinned, grateful that Steve hadn't redeveloped any of his food allergies. "Hey, do you think we should finish off both these pizzas or leave half for the boys?" He shouted towards the living room. Frowning, Tony pulled both boxes out of the fridge and examined them. "I have no idea who ordered this one but it looks way to healthy." He muttered. Looking at the other box, he opened the lid and grinned. "Bingo, Steve will like this one." Heating up the pizza, Tony looked around the door frame and into the living room. He watched Steve as he stood in front of the windows. "Hey handsome, you ok?"
Steve looked over his shoulder, a wistful smile curving his lips. He nodded as he turned back to the view outside, raising a hand and pressing it against the glass. "I used to look up at the sky and imagine you were looking up at the stars with me. Pete and I would kind of make a game of it. Helped him forget..." Steve drifted off as he stepped back from the glass. "I guess I need to tell you what happened. I think I'm avoiding it because I don't want you to leave me or...or hate me for anything that went on."
Tony walked over and hugged Steve close. "That's not possible, ever. You've seen me at my worst and never left me. There is no way after three years I'd ever leave you. Not for trying to survive the best you could for you and Peter, never." Pressing a kiss against Steve's hair, he sighed. "You don't have..."
"I do, if I don't I'll never be able to fully heal and part of that means I'll never be able to be close to you again and that's something I don't like." Steve closed his eyes with the admission, fighting back the tears. "It wasn't bad but it wasn't...if they had only left Peter alone." Steve sighed as he relaxed against Tony. "You know of what happened, it wasn't all just experiments though a-and the sexual aspects..."
"Steve..." Tony started softly.
"No, listen ok?" Steve smiled sadly as he looked up at Tony. "We need to have this talk. You need to know what happened because it may help with understanding Peter as well."
Tony sighed, holding Steve tighter. "Yeah, ok, well let's go finish heating up the pizza, then we can grab the food and drinks." Turning towards the kitchen, Tony grinned at Steve. "We're going to need lots of chocolate cake because it's going to be a long night."
Steve chuckled softly as he walked beside Tony. "And lots of napkins." He moved towards the table, pulling the sheet tighter around him. "You know, Moran talked like he knew you. Always mentioned someone named Jim or, uh, Jimmy, I think. Said you enticed him away with all your tech and sweet talk."
Tony stiffened, grateful that Steve's back was to him. "Did he, uh, by chance say what Jim's last name was?" He hoped it wasn't who he was thinking of, there was no way he would come back...
"Ummm, I think they told Peter it was Moriarty?" Steve sighed in frustration, looking up at Tony with a frown. "Kept saying it was always the brunette's Jim could never leave alone, while Andy preferred blonds."
Tony almost dropped the glass in his hand, the name making a chill race down his back. "Jim Moriarty." He was supposed to be dead, by all accounts, or that was the information he'd been given. Turning to look at Steve, he paled at the stern look on his face. "Ok, it was a long time ago and I was young and dumb and full of power and money. Jim and Andy were fun, they knew how to have a good time and with the death of my parents..."
"Tony, stop, you don't have to explain it to me, ok?I'm not going to pretend I know everything about your past, but when it comes back like this it hurts...a lot." Steve turned back towards the table, shoulders dropping as he thought about what he wanted to say. "Moran was just...I-I think he was occupied with Sherlock."
"Why do you say that?" Tony set a box of pizza on the table, handing Steve a napkin and plate.
"He kept saying he had to deal with one of you and since he had the skinny one already..." Steve looked up at the sound Tony made. His frown deepening at the way Tony's shoulder's tensed. "So he wasn't lying." He said softly. "Moran always talked about Jim though, said Peter..."
"Reminded him of Jim." Tony said softly as he sat down across from Steve. Looking up, he couldn't hide the shiver of fear that raced down his spine. "They didn't rape him..."
"No, he, uh, th-they invited him to slumber parties." Steve said softly. "Peter wouldn't tell me what went on but..." He broke off as he looked at Tony. "What they did to us wasn't all physical it was mental and emotional too. They told us you had forgotten about us, that...that you had..." Steve looked away as he tried to control the trembling in his voice.
Tony watched as Steve's hand clenched the sheet, the slim fingers turning white with his grip. "They told you what Steve, that I remarried and we'd moved on without you two?" When he remained silent, Tony frowned. "Jim always did have a sick sense of humor, Andy too. They were known for playing mind games and loved anyone who was willing to play as well."
"Well, Ross was playing along with them. Because of him they came after me and got me and Peter both." Steve said in a strained voice. Picking up a slice of pizza, he bit into it and sighed. Glancing up at Tony thoughtfully, he tried to figure out how Ross got involved with people like Moriarty and Moran. "What did you and Jim have in common, Tony? Sebastian was a blond, tall, broad shouldered..."
"Yes, we used to compete for anyone tall, blond, and beautiful but we were kids, Steve! Kids, not adults! We were rich, spoiled brats whose parents didn't have the time for us or what we were interested in." Tony slumped down in his chair as he stared at the table. "Jim was always competitive but it wasn't always malicious. Andy though, the oversensitive bastard, could hold a grudge until he'd had his revenge. Usually until someone had been hurt or..." Tony broke off as he remembered why he'd stopped dealing with the Moriarty brothers. "If Ross is involved with these people that means he owes them something."
"Whatever it is, he tried to use us to pay off his debt." Steve said softly. "These, umm, slumber parties they invited Peter to. He said they never touched him that way but..." Steve sighed as he looked up at Tony. "He said they would call him by your name, petting him and...and..."
Tony jumped up from his chair, face pale as he turned away from Steve. "A-and they never...are you sure?"
"They just wanted me to pretend to be you, dad."
Tony turned at the sound of Peter's voice, heart pounding against his ribs as he watched the tall, lean figure walk into the room. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had to go through that."
Peter walked into the small kitchen, sighing at the look on both Steve and Tony's faces. "You two worry to much."
"If this asshole was having slumber parties with my son I have a right to worry." Tony frowned as he motioned Peter over to the table. "Grab a slice, not sure who ordered the veggie but this was more what your dad wanted." He grinned at the flush that bloomed on Steve's cheeks. "Still so beautiful."
Peter grinned as he grabbed a slice of pizza. "This Andy guy was weird. I mean, he kept calling me by dad's name but then he would say it wasn't fair that he never got him. Whatever the hell that means." Peter muttered, jerking at Tony's sharp laugh and Steve's shocked Peter. "Sorry, sorry it's just...it wasn't what was weird though."
Tony frowned as he listened to his son, watching his face closely. "What was weird about Andy? The fact that he enjoyed slumber parties or..."
"The fact that he seemed to enjoy pretending I was you." Peter said softly. "He kept whispering that he'd only wanted a chance." Peter flushed as he looked away from Steve and Tony. "He, uh, h-he didn't seem to be after sex. He, ummm, h-he actually stopped Sebastian the one time he tried to..."
"Andy was always scared of sex, something from their past, I think but Jim was up for anything. Which made him appealing but then he'd met someone who seemed to keep him on a leash, at least up until his death." Tony frowned as he thought about his past associates. "I'll have to go back..."
"No, you have to figure out how to fix this...us...our family. I don't care about these other people right now. I mean I want them caught but we need to worry about us for a while." Steve looked from Tony to Peter and back. "At least give me a chance to get back on my feet and train."
"Aww honey, think we're going to leave Captain America out?" Tony smiled as Steve blushed. "I'd never let that happen. I have a surprise for you three later." He grinned as he received matching looks of surprised pleasure. "Well, I've not been sleepless for nothing, I've been busy."
Steve watched Tony, reaching for another slice of pizza. "If this is another helper bot, I don't need it Tony. U and Dum-E are enough around here."
Tony grinned, watching as Steve ate his third slice of pizza. "I, uh, no it's not another bot." He laughed at the relieved look that appeared in Steve's eyes. Sighing he stood up from the table and walked around to Steve's side. "Come on handsome, let's go see what the mad engineer has cooked up now." He leaned over and picked Steve up, sheet and all, carrying him towards the elevator. "Peter, come on, this is for you as well and wake up Johnny he..."
"No, Tony the boys have school tomorrow, let Johnny sleep." Steve murmured as he wrapped his arms around Tony's shoulder's. He was surprised that Tony had picked him up and was now carrying him to the elevator. Despite his surprise, he was going to enjoy it, the feel of Tony's arms around him was something he'd been missing.
"You think so? But I wanted him to see what I had for all of you?" Tony frowned as he thought about Johnny missing out on his surprise.
"He's up, said he'd meet us in dad's lab. He was studying for a physics test." Peter looked between his dad's, grinning at their looks of surprise. "We've been up the past few nights trying to get caught up on school work and friends." He looked down as his phone sounded with an alert. "He's bringing his project down, something about he needs Dum-E's, help?" Peter frowned, baby blue eyes filling with concern. "His physics project shouldn't require help."
Tony's expression turned thoughtful as he held Steve close. "I think it's something he was supposed to have done before his kidnapping. He had been working on something with Dum-E but wouldn't say what." Shifting Steve in his arms, he grinned as the other tightened his hold. "Promise you I won't drop you. Thought about doing this on more than one occasion."
Steve tried to control his blush, aware of how long it's been since they had been this close. Looking up into sable eyes, Steve smiled, a soft tilt of his lips. "Did you now? Well, now that you've done it how does it feel?"
Tony grinned, hugging Steve closer. "Better than I imagined." He held the sky blue gaze watching him, his smile turning soft. "You know, maybe we should take a vacation? I mean you guys said you could go for a trip?"
Steve's gaze turned suspicious as the elevator stopped at the lab. "Tony, if you think going to London to help Aveline is a good idea for a family vacation..."
"London?! Really when, wait, I don't know anyone in London except uh, well, no one but we're going to London?!"
Steve and Tony looked up to find a pair of wide, ocean blue eyes staring back at them. Looking up at Tony, Steve frowned. "That's what you had in mind isn't it? To go to London..."
"And find the bastard who took my fucking family from me. Yes I want to go to London because that's where he is!" Tony's tone was tight, angry as he struggled to control his temper. "They hurt you, ok, they hurt you and I have every right to want to make them pay for that." He looked at Steve, begging him to understand without him saying how he fully felt. "Aveline needs our help on this as well, once Wilson shows up we can get this ready."
"I'm not going with Wade, Tony. There's just no way he's going to take any of this seriously." Steve frowned up at Tony, tone hard as he tried to keep his temper in check. "If I have to hear another joke about my ass..."
"He will behave or I'll kill him myself, ok? Besides, you can meet John Watson. He's ex military so I'm sure you two will get along and uh, Sherlock Holmes as well..." Tony drifted off as he glanced up at Peter, frowning at the look on his face. "Hey, Pete, what's wrong?"
"M-moran would always call me Johnny Boy when he would...I-I don't..." Peter looked from Tony to Steve, nerves tingling with a warning of danger. Turning to his left, he barely ducked the pillow thrown at his head. "Fuck you Wade, I knew that was coming!"
"Good, maybe next time one of you will lock the door? I'm just saying because strays tend to walk into random buildings." Wade looked at the four men in front of him. "She wanted me to ask if you were bringing Captain Rogers, said he's better at keeping the situation calm."
Tony's gaze narrowed on Wade as he set Steve down at one of the tables. "Of course, he's the best tactician in the world, why would I leave him here?"
Steve looked between Tony and Wade, noticed the combative stance Tony had taken and frowned. "Wait, Aveline asked me to come?" He looked at Wade, gaze narrowing as he seemed to think about his answer. "Wade?"
"The General wanted you specifically for a team to go after Moran and since he has a military background..." Wade shrugged, letting the sentence drift in the air.
"Well, if it's going to let us see London, I want to go."
Tony and Steve turned to see Peter standing behind them. "Well, that's if your pop wants to go but..." He turned to Steve and grinned. "How about your surprise first?"
Steve blinked, he'd forgotten about their original reason for coming down to the workshop. "I, uh, damnit Tony that's not fair!"
"I will not apologize, now sit there and watch." Tony raised his hands as the room darkened and the floor opened up in three individual circles. "Now, they're not finished but I've done most of the basic work. I need to add some of the visual upgrades as well as touch ups to your weapons systems but everything else should be good to go." He turned to see three matching looks of surprise, three different shades of blue staring at the stands in front of them then turned to Tony. "I figured if we're going to do this then one way I can protect you is like this." He waved his hand in front of the three suits in front of them.
Steve looked from the suit to Tony and back, eyes wide as he stood up and walked over to the blue suit. "It looks like my suit." Reaching out, Steve brushed his fingers over the cool metal, a smile playing across his lips. "And it'll fit me?"
"Like a glove." Tony grinned at the blush rising up the back of Steve's neck. "Wanna try it on, handsome?" He chuckled as he watched Steve run his hands over the shining metal. "There's also a place on the back to put your shield. I've patterned it after mine and since you pretty much know how it works..."
"And I'll get bracelets, too?" Steve looked up at the dark faceplate, anticipation running along his nerves. "You made it a star." He whispered, running a hand over the bright star in the chest plate. "The reactor is a star."
"Tried to keep it as close to your original idea as possible. You like?" Tony watched as Steve grinned up at the suit, eyes lighting up in a way he'd missed the past three years.
"Yeah, this is...jeez Tony this is just the greatest." Steve turned to Peter and Johnny, a frown beginning to curve his lips down. "Johnny's is a flame retardant suit?"
"Well, it's heat resistant if that's what you mean. It'll help him regulate his body temperature. If or when Johnny decides to go nova, it'll protect him and anyone else close to him." Tony walked over to Johnny and Peter's suits. "Pete's will help him with his wall crawling." He turned to his oldest son, a grin curving his lips. "Think you can handle the gloves? Pretty sure they won't get in the way of your webs."
Steve looked between both boys, watching as they nodded in answer to Tony's question's. "Wait what are you talking about? The suit's for the boys..." Steve broke off as he studied Johnny's then Peter's. "Oh..." He grinned as he turned back to Tony, eyes lighting up with excitement. "Well, if this is what you do when you don't come to bed..."
"I'll come to bed more often now." Tony gave Steve a soft smile. "I have to make sure nothing else happens to you guys. This time, I have to try and start off small then work my way up."
Steve grinned as he listened to Peter and Johnny talk about their suits. "Well, the boys seem to be happy about them and they would give us a chance to train together." He said thoughtfully. "We can always set up a schedule to work for everyone."
Tony chuckled as Steve walked over to talk to Peter and Johnny, glancing back at Tony with a smile. He gave him a small wave, grinning as Steve flushed and looked away. "I'll never get tired of seeing that."
"You don't really want to know what happened, do you?"
"Not as long as it will keep them from having nightmares, I will do whatever it takes to keep a smile on their faces." Tony grinned as Peter and Johnny both tried on their suits. "Make sure you listen to J, he knows them better than you do!" He watched as Steve stepped back and watched, a small smile on his lips. "Avie said I have to have you here for them but understand, you fuck up and I'll kill you myself."
Wade chuckled, a dark sound as he glanced from Tony over to Peter and Johnny. "You can try but to do so would be killing her as well. Anyway, I'll call her and let her know we'll be in London tomorrow. She needs some help, seems like the situation is more complicated than we originally thought?"
Tony glanced over at Wade, a frown curving his lips down. "Explain, what's changed other than she's helping Emilie with another one of her messes."
"This isn't another mess this is a situation involving the man who kidnapped her family as well as yours. I'm sure you read the file, Holmes isn't just any ordinary person and Emilie took exception to her son's father being kidnapped. As I'm sure you can understand why." Wade's tone was hard as he kept his gaze on the smiling faces in front of him. "I'll protect them like they were my last Subway sandwich but I need you to make sure that you're up to speed...Director." Glancing over at Tony, he gave him a short nod then walked off.
"Now where the hell are you going?" Tony glared at the hoodie clad figure. "You always say shit then disappear."
"Awww, you know me, Stark. I'll always be found...SOME WHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, WHERE STARS SHINE BRIGHT!" Wade grinned as the elevator doors closed in front of him, cutting him off from the other four men in the lab.
"He is the biggest pain in the ass I have ever had the displeasure to meet." Tony glared at the closed elevator, seething at Wade's use of his title. "Bastard knows I'm not active and Av would never..."
"Tony?"
Tony jerked around to find Steve, Peter, and Johnny looking him. Three different shades of blue watched him and all for different reasons. "Ok, so there's obviously questions about the suits?" He tried to give them a wide smile but from Steve's stern look and Peter and Johnny's laughing ones, he knew he was in trouble. "Ok, honey before you start..."
"Why the hell is he calling you Director!" Steve stood with his hands on his hips, face red as he tried to control his anger. "I thought you weren't on active duty! We agreed..."
"Three years ago, Steve! We agreed three years ago that I would remain inactive while you were active! That wasn't the case when you died! I had to do something to find you and I was given the chance when I was reinstated!" Tony shouted in response, immediately going defensive. He tried to catch his breath as he watch the blond in front of him struggling with his temper. "I thought I'd lost you all, ok? I had nothing else to live for so why not go back on active duty?" He sank down on the nearest chair, shoulders falling forward as he curled in on himself. "What good was I to the world if I was nothing but a shell? If I couldn't save you then I'd do what I could to save everyone else."
"How..." Steve looked at Tony, nerves twisting his stomach. "How long are you active?"
"I became inactive once you three were found, Aveline filed the paperwork herself. She does, however have the right to call me in if needed, not for full duty but as a consultant if needs be." Tony watched the play of emotions cross Steve's face. "See, with me inactive I had time to make you a new toy." He grinned as Steve flushed, his pleasure shining in his eyes.
"You're not off the hook on this one Tony, you should have told me sooner." Steve tried to hold his frown but couldn't. Letting out a sigh, he chuckled as Tony hugged him. "And we still have a talk to finish." He pulled back, staring into sable eyes. "We can try out the suits and you can tell us what all we have at our disposal. Especially since we're supposed to be heading to London."
Tony nodded, following Steve back to where his suit stood. He stopped as he looked up at the dark faceplate and grinned. "It's going to be good to see you back in action."
Steve nodded, his gaze on the suit in front of him. He could feel the thrill of anticipation running through him as he reached out and touched the shining metal. "My shield..."
"Is in its usual place in the bedroom. Beside the bed in its own case." Tony grinned at the look of relief. "I'll always make sure you have it honey, no matter what." He leaned over to give Steve a kiss, only to be interrupted by the sounds of both Peter and Johnny making retching noises. Turning, he grinned at his sons. "Can't say I missed that at all."
"And we can't say we missed watching you and Pop make out. Like seriously dad, you two get a room." Johnny grinned as Peter gave him a light slap on the back, laughing at Tony's expression.
"Yeah, we love you two but uh, maybe we should just leave you two alone?" Peter grinned as Steve flushed and Tony smiled. Shaking his head, he turned to Johnny. "Let's go we can finish your project in Uncle Bruce's lab."
"Make sure you clean up any mess you make. You know how your Uncle is about his lab!" Tony shouted after them, shaking his head when neither acknowledged him. Turning to Steve, he gave him a smile. "So, feel like a test run or do you want to wait and read the manual?"
Steve grinned at Tony, looking from his suit to the red and gold one behind it. "Let's take it for a test run. When I first got the serum, the first thing I did was run down a Hydra agent."
Tony chuckled at the look in Steve's eyes. "Well, this may be a little different but a rush all the same." Moving towards the back wall, Tony punched in the code on the case holding his suit. "J, make sure that Bruce knows we're headed out and the boys are in his lab. Tell Wilson that I'll call Av while we're out, and mind the store while we're gone, ok?" He grinned at the answer he was given, chuckling as Steve stood in front of his suit. "Hey J, light Steve up, please."
Steve stood in front of the blue and red suit, eyes wide as the face plate lit up. Stomach twisting, he glanced over at Tony, grinning widely. "I don't know what to say but I'm ready to take this baby out for a spin!"
Tony laughed out loud, watching as Steve stepped into the suit and it wrapped around him. "Looks good on you, Captain."
"And it feels food on me too, Director." Steve grinned at Tony, feeling happier than he had in a while. He could hear JARVIS telling him what functions did what and where his weapons were located. The HUD showed him the same information as the Iron Man suite with an added benefit. "I can do tactical while in the suit." Voice filled with awe, Steve turned towards Tony. "So, what uh, what do we do first?" He moved his head from side to side, adjusting to the feel of the helmet.
"Well, you already know how to fly the suit, how about we work on making it work with you. It's kind of like when you throw the shield, how you and it become one. That's how it is with the suit and J will help ever step of the way." Tony grinned at Steve. Now that they were in their suits they were almost eye to eye. "It's good to have you back, Captain."
Steve grinned up at Tony, anticipation running along his nerves. "It's good to be back, Director."
