Chapter Text
Tony flopped onto the throne, crown askew and Imperial robes in a tangled mess. “Being King is so much work, I don’t know how you managed it for so long, father.”
The word ‘father’ still felt a little strange in his mouth but it was worth it to see the small quirk of a smile Howard gave him when he used it.
Howard had abdicated his throne as soon as Tony had recovered and spent his days tutoring Tony in the delicate art of statecraft, something Tony was picking up slowly but steadily. It helped that Steve came in to help with history from time to time. That was definitely always a lesson that Tony looked forward to.
Howard was officially recognised as the Duke of Stark, the title that the heir usually took until they ascended the throne but the title had remained empty since Tony had no Queen and no children.
“That sprawl is definitely not King-like,” he told Tony, reaching out a hand to remove the crown from Tony’s ruffled hair.
Howard was looking a lot better lately, the burden of Kingship having been passed on and now with abundant time to look after himself better. It also helped that Obadiah Stane had had all of his titles and lands stripped from him, and had been sentenced to exile after his nefarious plan to take control of the Kingdom had come to light.
“There’s no one here to see it anyway.” Tony slumped a little further down, cradling his chin in a hand.
“Captain Steven Rogers,” announced one of the heralds at the door and Tony was suddenly sitting as straight as a ruler. Howard covered his smile with a hand.
“Your Majesty, my Lord Duke,” Steve said as he walked into the room, dropping to one knee on the steps below the dais.
Tony jumped up and scrambled down the stairs, waving Steve up absently. “Steve! Are we going out? I need to get out. And what did I say about doing the kneeling thing and the respectful address thing again?”
“But you’re the King.” Steve told him, sounding a little scandalised. But he rose and let Tony basically plaster himself against his side.
“But you’re sleeping in my...” Steve clapped a hand over Tony’s mouth to stop him from continuing, horrified and flushed, glancing over to Howard.
Howard raised an eyebrow at them, bemused and fond.
Tony glanced from Steve to Howard and rolled his eyes, pulling Steve’s hand away. “Seriously? Are you worried about my father? He knows ok? He totally knows. He plays cards with Coulson sometimes and don’t forget, Coulson knows everything.”
Steve’s flush darkened and he looked almost like he was about to scuff his boots against the plush carpet like an errant boy caught doing something he shouldn’t have been.
Howard took pity on him and waved him off. “Go on, Captain. Tony needs a break. If I kept him here any longer, he’d have run off to find you anyway.”
“My Lord, I...” Steve began but thought better of it, acquiescing to the request with a polite bow. “As you wish, my Lord.”
Howard watched them go, discreetly holding hands, and smiled.
♚
“So, why did you bring me all the way here?” Tony asked as he and Steve made their way down to the Imperial Port.
Steve smiled, much more relaxed now that they were in private. “You’ll see.”
They passed Clint and Coulson, walking in the opposite direction. Neither pair stopped, just waved at each other from a distance, Coulson inclining his head at Tony respectfully.
Steve turned the final corner and stopped. He turned to look at Tony, who had been a couple of steps behind.
Tony’s eyes widened as he rounded the corner, almost comically, and his last few steps faltered before just stopping altogether.
“Steve, this is...” Tony breathed out, looking up at the looming ship before him. “I thought she sunk off the port of the monastery we found Loki in.”
Steve shook his head. “Almost. We went to pick her up after everything was settled in the Capitol and did a quick patch job before bringing her here.”
He paused. “I couldn’t forget how much you loved your ship, so I brought her home for you.” Steve told him, moving to join Tony, reaching out almost automatically to thread their fingers together. “I spoke to the Duke about it and he found the man who built the Ironheart originally and had him oversee her rebuilding.”
Tony couldn’t look away from the Ironheart, as beautiful and imposing as ever. He turned to Steve and his fingers were tight around Steve’s own. “Thank you. For this, for everything.”
Steve slid his free hand around Tony’s nape and pulled him in, kissing him gently. “There’s no need for that, Tony. I love you, you don’t know how much. I’d do anything to keep you happy.”
“I love you too.” Tony smiled, almost shy as he said those words for the first time, “And there’s nothing you really need to do, just, stay with me.”
Steve kissed him again, a little harder, a little more possessive and he could feel the way Tony’s lips curved up under his.
“Always,” Steve promised him when they drew back for air.
“Forever,” Tony agreed and pulled Steve back down to him again.
♚
Finis