Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The cold, London air freezes Tony Stark’s lungs as he stands on the edge of a roof. The genius is being careful not to lose his balance, though, he has the Spider-kid to look after in New York. His hands shake from the cold, but he thinks it’s warmer than the Siberian bunker he was trapped in for who knows how long–he sure as hell doesn’t know, and he doesn’t want to figure it out either. 

The buzzing of his arc reactor lets him know that he’s still alive, despite the wish in the back of his head that says, “I don’t want to be here anymore”. Still, he carries because that’s all he can do right now. 

Tony stares out into the city, pondering whether or not signing those Accords were right. At first, he was sure it was the right thing to do, but doubts are starting to creep in like a wild animal hunting its prey. He wants to ensure the public’s safety without the restraints yet recent events have him thinking the team needs to be put in check. 

He has his own revision of the Accords in his drafts. He doesn’t like Ross having power over him nor the rest of the Avengers. 

Ultron is one of the biggest contributors to his decision to sign them. In a nutshell, all he wants to do is to save the world from something bigger and far more dangerous than what Earth is prepared for. 

Tony remains stuck in his mind debate until he hears the door behind him shut. He turns around and notices a familiar scent that lingers around him. Perfume, strawberry perfume; the scent that has been following him around since he returned from Siberia. 

He isn’t about to attempt to figure it out. Deep down, he has a feeling he already knows who it is. 

For a split second, he lets his foot dangle in the air. He can’t figure out why; it’s as if his brain had short-circuited in some way. A sharp gasp escapes his lips as he steps back slightly. 

Then he remembers the reason why he’s in London to begin with: to see his Aunt Peggy. Tony adores that woman like he adored his own mother. In retrospect, he tells himself that he had two mothers: his actual mother and his Godmother. 

The man finds himself wondering what would’ve happened if he never told the world he was Iron Man. And was Vision right when he said his announcement has caused an uprising of possible world-ending events. Deep in his soul, he believes that is the case. 

The man’s foot once again dangles in the air, but without the anxiety of slipping. He stares down to the city with its lights brightening the darkened streets. Tony doesn’t know how long he stays in that position until he’s suddenly on the floor of the roof being held down by a pair of strong hands. 

He smells that perfume again, along with a scent of motel coffee. 

Tony watches as the man gets off of him and freezes when he sees those blue eyes that left him in that bunker. He shoots up to his feet and notices Natasha Romanoff behind the other man, her face is stricken with something so…unusual for her. 

”What the hell?” Tony asks. 

“I know we’re the last people you’d want to see, but I couldn’t just stand there and let whatever was going to happen continue.” Natasha reasons. 

“You’ve been following me?”

“And thank goodness I was.”

Tony lets out a huff of frustration. “What did you think I was doing?”

“It looked like you were going to free fall.” Steve pipes in. 

“No, I wasn’t. Besides, this isn’t my style.” 

“That’s not comforting.” The red head adds. 

“Let’s get to the room,” Steve suggests. “It’s more private.” 

Good going, Stark. 

When he’s in their room, he’s sitting on the bed with a mug of warm tea in his hands. He glances over to Steve and raises an eyebrow when he realizes he has a beard. 

“So, uh, new hairdo?”

Steve chuckles to himself. “Yeah, what’re you doing here?”

Tony looks away from Steve’s gaze. “I came to visit Aunt Peggy at the nursing home.” 

Steve and Natasha share a look before Natasha stands. “I’m gonna go grab some food.” 

“Thanks, Nat.”

Steve waits until she leaves until he sits next to him, and Tony can’t hide the flinch. “You have an Aunt Peggy? What is she like?” 

“She’s strong. She’s my godmother.” Tony tells him. 

“What’s her last name?” 

“Carter.”

Steve bites his lip. “Tony.” 

“Hmm.” 

“Peggy, um, she died a while back ago in her sleep.” 

Tony glares at the man. “You’re lying.” 

Steve’s eyes are wet with tears. “I wish I was. I’m so sorry, Tony.” 

Tony let out a humorless laugh. “Funny. I’m gonna go see her.” He starts to stand but feels a grip tightly around his arm. 

“Tony. Sit, please. We’ll see her tomorrow, okay?” 

The billionaire nods. “Fine. I’m telling you she’s alive. She has to be.” 

Steve gently pulls him back on the bed and sighs. He figures it’s best to change the subject. “Natasha should be back with some food. It’d make me feel better if you eat. You seem…malnourished.” 

If Tony’s honest with himself, he can’t recall the last time he’d had a meal that wasn’t of a granola bar and coffee. “Okay.” 

A few minutes later, the door opens to Natasha holding a bag from a local fast-food joint. She glances at the two men. “You two are still alive. That’s surprising.” 

“I’m sneaking Tony in the room tonight.” Steve says. 

“What?” Tony asks. 

“I just want him close.” 

Natasha nods and sits in the recliner. “Steve, is that the best idea?” 

“In my opinion, yes.” 

“I’m literally right here.” Tony adds. 

“We know.” Natasha shrugs and hands Tony a bag with a drink. 

Tony feels a pair of eyes on him. “Rogers, stop that.” 

“I can’t.” 

“Steve has been sulking like a teenager going through a break-up over you.” She pipes. 

Steve’s jaw drops. “Nat, I just miss my friend.” 

“Friends don’t leave them to die in a frozen bunker.” Stark snipes before taking a bite of his burger. 

The room becomes silent other than the television broadcasting the news in the background.

Natasha is the one who breaks the silent streak. 

“I know if anyone were to kill Yelena and my friends knew about it, I would kill them,” she says. “I understand that it was your mom, and you have every right to be angry but hear us out. Please?” 

Tony always gives in when it comes to Natasha. It’s probably the fact they’ve known each other more than the rest of the core teammates. Despite the betrayal, he can’t help but to hear her standpoint. “Okay.”

Steve clears his throat. “Tony, I just wanted to keep you safe, Hydra was after you, and I wasn’t about to get you killed or let them kill you. Bucky was brainwashed; he didn’t have any other choice, so I had to protect him, but I wanted to protect you too.” 

“By lying to me and leaving me there to die?” Tony asks. His voice is filled with anger and some unrecognizable emotion. Is it the pain from losing a friend? 

“I should’ve done things differently, I know, but I was scared.” 

“Look, I get that he was brainwashed but all I could see was his face and his hands. He killed-–that face and those hands murdered my mother.” 

Natasha looks down with a guilty look on her face. “Tony...”

“Hmm?”

“Steve wasn’t the only one that knew.” 

Tony looks over to her with confused brows. “What’re you talking about?”

She sighs. “I knew it, too.” 

Tony feels something burn within his stomach with all of his rage and pain. He stands up and points at her. “You knew?” He stutters. “The whole time?”

Her eyes are glassy. “I’m so sorry, Tony.” 

Tony glances at the other two. “You two just decided to just keep this away from me?”

“Tony–” Steve tries to reason. 

“No, don’t. Just leave me alone.” Tony’s voice wavers as he storms out of the room. 

“Shit…” Natasha mutters to herself, hoping to fix what she has broken. 

Chapter Text

The graveyard is peaceful, as much as Tony hates to admit it. He finds himself sitting on the ground across from her stone. Her name is permanently engraved into it, just like it’s so in his heart.  He doesn’t try to wipe his face from the tears, no matter how much his mind screams for him to do so. He'll probably scold himself for the tears later. 

“Hey, Peggy,” he starts. “I didn’t want to believe you’re gone. Not even when the nursing home staff escorted me out the door. God, I wish you were here to help me deal with all this mess I created. I just wanted to do the right thing.” 

He buries his face to the stone. “I’m so tired, Aunt Peggy.” 

Silent sobs escape from his body. He doesn’t remember when he last cried, other than over the fear of losing Rhodey to the fall. Tony raises his head up and lays on the ground, hopelessly hoping to hear a heartbeat from the earth below. The ground is cold, perhaps, freezing, but he can’t bring himself to care since his entire world is breaking into billions of pieces. Over the past few months, he supposes the cold is a comfort. 

He can hear his father now. “Stark men don’t cry, Anthony” is the mantra that keeps replaying in his head like a rewind. 

Tony hears hurried footsteps approach him before being pushed into a strong embrace. He recognizes the cologne anywhere. 

Because Steve Rogers has to come to the rescue. 

“Tony, I’m here,” Steve tells him. “I’m here, I’m so sorry, Tony. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” 

The genius sinks his head against the soldier’s chest. “You followed me?”

“No, I just had a feeling. You’re freezing Tony, how long have you been here?” 

“Don’t know.” 

“We’ve been worried sick all night,” the captain continues. “Come on, let’s go home.” 

Tony looks up at the man. “Home?”

Steve smiles down at him. “Yes, home. Because of you.” 

Tony’s eyes squint before looking at Peggy’s grave. Steve’s hold tightens as Tony stands on his feet. “Let’s get out of here.” 

“Let’s get you something to eat. We’ll be heading home soon.” 

Tony lets Steve take the lead, despite this body wanting to rebel against it. His mind, at this point, is on autopilot. Still, there’s something about Steve that’s comforting for Tony. The anger is there, no doubt, but the recent revelation has him grief-stricken. 

And that’s how he winds up at a diner, sitting across from Steve Rogers. As much as he hates to admit it to himself, he likes the company. Being alone never does a Stark any favors. Tony already knows what the pardon entails and despite that burn in his stomach at the mention, he'd rather keep the peace now that it's found. 

“So, I assume you’d like Barnes to stay at the compound?” Tony asks. 

“You know I do.” 

“Yeah, I know.” 

Steve takes a deep breath. “I understand why you’d be against it, but it would–”

“Okay.” 

The blond stops his rambling. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I said okay.”

Steve gives him that damn smile. "Thanks, Tony." 

"Yeah, yeah, don't get all gushy. I'm allergic to emotions." 

Chapter Text

As they venture home from across the world, Tony doesn't look anyone in the eye. He can't bring himself to, as the pain of betrayal is quite fresh. The familiar perfume scent indicates Natasha is across from him. 

"Tony, I'm sorry," Natasha says. 

"I needed my mom, Nat." Tony replies. 

She lets out a soft sigh. "I know. Sometimes, the best of us gets taken first, because they're needed elsewhere.

The genius nods. "Yeah. Why didn't you tell me?" 

"Because I didn't want to see anything happen to you, and I don't want to see it now." 

That's what makes Tony look up at her. "I don't care about what happens to me. What I care about is what happens to the ones I consider or once considered family." 

"I know, and that's the scary part," she says. "You don't see yourself as an important person but as an asset." 

Tony raises an eyebrow. "Are you evaluating me again, Romanoff?"

"No, just making an observation." 

Tony glances over to Steve and sighs. "When is winter boy supposed to show up at the compound?"

"A day after we arrive," she replies. 

"So, tomorrow." Tony says as a matter of factuality. 

Natasha hums in agreement before moving next to him and places a hand on his shoulder. "You didn't deserve to be abandoned like you were." 

He lets out an empty laugh. "Lucky for you all, I'm used to it. It becomes merely routine after it happens so much." 

"I know Steve is guilty about how everything went," she says softly. "I know what happened in Siberia was bloody--"

"I don't wanna talk about it," he tells her. "I can't. Not right now." 

"Okay." 

He glances to her and smiles sadly. "Thanks." 

Natasha returns the smile. "Get some sleep. We'll get there soon." 

"Okay." 

Tony makes himself comfortable in the seat and feels his consciousness drift away before feeling a pair of soft lips press against his forehead.

Chapter Text

"A new beginning creates new opportunities." Nick Fury says, eyeing his team. "Now, we can start over and become one again. However, there are some issues that hasn't been resolved properly that we'll get to in time."

Tony squints his eyes. "I thought you were dead." 

"I'm a master of secret living, Stark. You should try it sometime." Fury retorts with a small grin. 

"Okay," Steve chimes in with his captain voice. "What's the plan?"

The director nods sharply at the captain. "Well, I require you all to play a game."

"A game?" Natasha asks. "Well, Nick, this is new coming from a man like you." 

"Romanoff, I am known to be eccentric at times." 

Tony looks around the table and quickly glances to his feet when he notices Wanda's glaring at him. "What kind of game?" He asks. 

"The object is to learn things about each other to truly understand one another. No winners or losers, just good old-fashioned game of catch-up." Fury replies, "Nice to see you're paying any attention, Stark. I must say, that's a rarity." 

"What about my home?" Wanda asks. Her eyes glare at the director. 

Nick sighs. "Ms. Maximoff, I apologize for your loss. I'm sure the citizens are safe." 

"My brother's not." She retorts with emotion, "He's dead...because of some pretend hero with his little toys." Her eyes dart to Tony in a murderous fashion. 

"Wanda, he isn't the only one behind Ultron. Dr. Banner had a hand in it." Vision adds. 

Tony darts his attention to the papers in front of him, revealing a photo of names of the victims of the referred attacks. He's just glad Bruce isn't here to see everything that's been going on. Keeping quiet seems to be ideal, so he won't be in tomorrow's obituary.

Nick looks over the team and nods. "Alright, well, I'm my way..."

The door opens and reveal a teenager, about fifteen years old, walking through the door. "Hey, Mr. Stark! The robot lady told me to come in here, so..." He looks around as his widen at the realization, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. H-hi, I'm Peter."

Natasha smiles at the boy. "Hello, Peter," she greets softly. "Don't worry about it, he was just leaving." 

Tony glances up and smiles at the teen. "Hey, bud! Come here, let me see that test."

Peter walks towards the billionaire and pulls a paper from his folder in his backpack. His nails find themselves to his mouth. 

"This is great, Pete!" Tony coos. "I told you that you'd do good. I might just put this on the fridge." The man ruffles the kid's hair. 

Fury only stares at the interaction until deciding to end the meeting right there. "Well, it looks like it's my time to go." He gives a curt nod to the team and makes his leave. 

"Oh, May said I can stay since it's a three-day weekend." Peter informs. 

"Well, isn't this turning out to be a good day," Tony said. "Hey, why don't you head to the common lounge and get some snacks. We'll be there in a minute, yeah?"

The teen lets out a smile as he nods. "Okay, see you there!" The kid leaves the room, leaving the team staring at Tony. 

"I have a question," Sam Wilson asks. "Since when did you have a kid?"

Tony sighs. "He's not biologically mine, but he's my kid." 

"I think it's cute." Natasha chimes in, "It looks good on you." '

"Does this mean we can have a club of dad-vengers, now?!" Clint asks, excitedly. 

"Sure, why not?"

The team all settle in the lounge conversing with each other. 

"Where's Bucky?" Sam asks. 

"He'll be in here any minute." Steve says. 

And one minute later, Bucky Barnes enters the room and sits directly next to Steve. "What did you want me in here for?"

"To play a game to help us to get to know each other." Steve replies. 

"I love games." Peter chimes before it actually begins. 

"Okay, everyone, let's start with...Rhodey." The captain suggests. 

Rhodey sips his tea before setting the mug on the table. "One truth, two lies. I'm retired, I joined a circus team, and I never been to Disney World." 

"Did you join a circus team?" Clint asks. 

"No, although, this team could be compared to one." 

"You never been to Disney World?" Peter asks. "It's okay, neither have I." 

"Ain't no way you're retired." Sam chimes. 

:Rhodey lets out a laugh. "I never been to Disney World." 

"What the hell, Rhodey?" Tony asks. "Why not just ask to go there." 

"Too easy. Anyway, Tones, it's your turn." 

Tony shifts his weight in his seat. "Okay, let's see. I'm a Gemini, I don't hate people, and I can't cook." 

"Mr. Stark, you can cook." Peter says. 

"Thanks, kid." 

"You're a Gemini, and I know damn well you hate people." Clint says. 

"True," Tony admits. "Pete, you're turn." 

"Okay, uh, I'm a senior in high school, I have a girlfriend, and I don't know how to put on a tie." 

"I think that's obvious." Bucky says, "Wait, you sound familiar." 

"Me? No, no." The teen stammers. 

"Wait, you're that Spider-freak?" Bucky asks. 

Tony suddenly shoots up from his seat. "Watch your mouth when it comes to my kid, you hear me?"

"Mr. Stark, it's fine." Peter says. 

"Tones, sit down. I'm sure it wasn't intentional." Rhodey says, attempting to ease the situation. 

Tony sits down next to Peter. "Kid, what's the truth?"

"I do have a girlfriend."

"What the--who?"

"MJ."

"I knew it." 

The rest of the game went smoothly, and Peter had gone to bed later on. 

"I'm sorry," Tony apologizes. "That kid is just too important to me." 

"It's okay," Bucky assures. "That's your kid."

"Yeah."

"Tony Stark loving a child?" Wanda scoffs. "Please, it's an act."

Tony takes a breath to compose himself and simply walks away, leaving the team in the lounge. 

"This is gonna be harder than I thought." Steve tells the team.