Of Godfathers and Godsons #3
Disclaimer: Not Mine
Spoiler: None
Summary: Steve's Birthday
Food. Shower. Bed.
That pretty much summed up the thoughts of Captain Steve Rogers as he shuffled up the stairs to the second floor of the house. His Apartment. More importantly his bed.
He'd landed back at base already at 7 pm, but now it was almost one in the morning. With all the debriefing and paper work and talking about future assignments, well, everything stretched out longer than he had wanted.
This mission in itself was an eas...oh let's face it, a ridicules one.
A mad man who wanted to breed an army of sheep to aid in the war…which was over for some years now.
Yeah, that mission was something else indeed. They'd come in, saw 'The Mighty Shepherd'…Talk? Hypnotising? Persuading? Begging?... Steve wasn't even sure what exactly he was doing with the poor animals.
They looked hardly impressed, but hey, one sheep actually nibbled on his shield. Otherwise they were just standing there, looking bored and fluffy.
Why this man was rated as a threat was beyond him. But since it was the fourth of July, Steve just took it as a birthday present.
Bucky, who was probably already at home in his bed, lucky bas…fellow, couldn't stop laughing the whole way home.
Anyway. As easy going as all of this had been, it took them some time and all he wanted now was the luxury of a shower and his own bed.
Turning left he already fished his keys out of his bag and finally opened his doo-
"SURPRISE!"
Jesus! Barely one food in his home and he stumbled startled right back out into the hallway, tiredness forgotten he automatically lifted his bag in front of him. Shield size.
"Ha ha! We got you!" came the familiar voice of his best friend and he couldn't help but groan. This would follow him till the day he died.
"I didn't expect to be ambushed at my front door in the middle of the night." he defended as he relaxed again and stepped back into the apartment, but he knew it was lame.
"Yeah well, my master plan worked out. We did it on purpose in your way to small hallway, really man, instead of the living room, so you wouldn't cheat with your super hearing and ruin it." Bucky grinned proudly.
"Ok first, I didn't make the hallway, and second I really wouldn't categorize it as cheating. I'm just better than you, deal with it."
Sure enough, there in his, admittedly, small corridor he could see 5 of his closest friends. Bucky of course right at the front, his fellow soldier and friends Betsy, Richard and Marvin and, he smiled stupidly like he always seemed to do when he saw her, Peggy.
"Enough, both of you. We are not gathered here to see you two boasting boringly." She stepped up to Steve to deliver a welcome kiss to his mouth, stroking his cheek lightly.
"You are late, Captain." She smiled.
Peggy and him had been dating for about a year and a half now. The two of them had been dancing around each other for years, but with both of them working a lot and Steve being practically incompetent with women, especially the one he fancied, well, let's say they wasted a lot of time. They still didn't see each other as much as they wanted, but things were going pretty swell.
"Late for what?" he asked grinning, still feeling the warmth of her lips against his. He could get used to a greeting like this.
"Your birthday of course! We've been waiting here for hours, Steve. You said you'd be right behind me when I left. That was around ten." Bucky couldn't stay quiet for long.
"Oh, yeah sorry, I got hold up." He admitted sheepishly.
"Well, the good thing, your loyal friends waited for you and your presents didn't vanish just because it's not your birthday anymore. The bad thing, it a bit late, and some of us do have to work tomorrow…today, so come on" Peggy took charge and leaned up to give him a longer kiss now, which he gladly returned, ignoring the whistle from his idiot best friend.
"Happy belated birthday." She whispered after they parted, her delicate hand still at the back of his neck. Steve hadn't even noticed it going there.
"Thanks." He gave her a last peck and she stepped back. The others took that as their cue to come up to give him best wishes as well. Bucky, not caring that he had already congratulated earlier, squeezed him as hard as he could, as if to make up for the many times he had to be careful before the serum.
All of them made their way to the living room, after Steve finally closed the door and put away his keys and bag, and the Captain, feeling warm and content that his friends would do something like this for him, noticed two additional figures on his couch.
"Mrs Miller," he greeted his elderly neighbour from down the hall, who was sitting in the corner with her usual, caring smile on her face.
Nora Miller had been living here since before he moved into this apartment and the two of them got along immediately. Her Husband died many years ago and they didn't have any children, so Steve helped her whenever he could, and she'd finally someone she could let out her motherly side with.
He went over to her while the others picked up earlier conversations, and she took his face in her hand to press a kiss to his cheek. "Stephen. Congratulations, my boy."
"Thank you, but you didn't have to wait that long."
"Oh, that is no problem, I will just sleep in, then." She reassured. " Besides, I didn't want to move him. He's sleeping so peacefully."
Indeed he was, Steve looked down indulgently at his little godson, breathing deeply in his sleep, lying stretched out on the couch with his head nestled in Nora's lap. The quilt Mrs Miller had made him once covered Tony to keep him warm.
Mrs Miller had been doting on the boy since the first time Steve brought him home with him, and Tony had welcomed the attention with open arms, taking the numerous hugs and the sweets Steve wasn't supposed to see with glee.
Back then he'd just started talking and while the name Nora was easy enough, it had always come out as Nona, and that way it stayed for Tony, since Mrs Miller didn't mind and actually found it quite endearing.
Lovingly he ran a hand trough the hair of the seven year old boy. He was growing so fast. "You could have moved him. Once he's out, he's usually out" which was true, proven by the fact that he hadn't woken up when Steve's guests had almost given him a heart attack as a greeting. Tony could run around actively for hours non stop. But once he asleep, nothing short of an earthquake could wake him until he is ready.
"Little Anthony had been so excited to see you again and to give you your present, but about half an hour ago he couldn't hold his eyes open anymore." She stroked her hand over the boys back.
"Yeah, I can imagine." He nodded. Tony was always glad to see Steve and had no problems showing him that. When he gets older, becoming a teenager, this may change. Not the happiness at seeing him, of that he was sure, but the open display of his emotions, so Steve enjoyed it while it lasts. It's always heart warming for him to know that he'll have someone home waiting for him.
And god knows he returns the love he was given from his godson. From the first moment he had taken him into his arms he had grown attached to the child, and that would never change.
Steve couldn't imagine a life without Tony anymore.
"I better take him to bed now, tough. No offence, but I think he'll be more comfortable there." He smiled at the elderly dame.
"Of course, by all means, tuck him in."
Carefully he gathered the sleeping kid into his arms, where Tony's arms automatically came to his shoulders and his face settled against his neck. Steve tightened his grip a little.
When he started to rise he felt something sliding over his back and heard it dropping to the ground.
Turning, the Captain found something wrapped in a cloth lying on his carpet. It must have slipped out of Tony's hand when he gripped the back of Steve's shirt lightly, but before he could examine it further he was halted by Mrs Miller.
"Don't unwrap it, Stephen, it's Tony's present. I'm sure he wants to be awake for that."
"Yeah, I'm sure he does." He agreed and finally rose to his feet, Mrs Miller did too.
"Don't be mad, my boy, but I'm leaving now too. The young and the old should really be in bed by now." She gave both of her boy's a last peck to the forehead, even if she had to motion Steve down.
"Thanks for waiting, and staying with Tony. And good night."
"No trouble at all. Good night."
She went to the door and said the others goodbye on her way and Steve made his way to the guest room, which was more known as Tony's room by now or occasionally Bu-
"Oh wait! You don't expect me to make my way all the way home tonight, do you? You take the brat, I'm taking over your spare." Yeah occasionally Bucky's, so he changed course to his bedroom, wouldn't be the first time he and Tony shared.
"Unless of course Peggy is staying too, then I take him, he is way too young for -ow!" Steve was glad he had his back turned to them so they couldn't see his red face, and even without looking he was sure Peggy has gotten physical to shut his friend up. Good!
In his room he switched on the light and turned down the cover with one hand. He was glad Tony was already in his Pyjamas, so he slipped him gently, with practiced ease, into bed, tucking the blanket around him.
As expected the kid didn't even seem close to waking, he just curled up with a small sigh.
He put Tony's present on the nightstand, in plain sight should Tony wake, kissed his godson's head, and finally went to join his other friends.
In the end, they spend two and a half hours just sitting around, talking, laughing, eating and drinking. It was great to just think about nothing serious and just enjoy the downtime with his friends. That was definitely the best present they could have given him. Of course, the art supplies and books wouldn't go to waste either, but still.
But sooner or later it all had to end and one after the other left his apartment to head to their own home. Minus Bucky of course, who stumbled tiredly, and a little tipsy, to the guest room. His last words before the door closed were a demand for pancakes when he woke up.
With a bemused shake of his head, Steve cleaned up a bit, but soon decided the rest could wait till he got some sleep himself.
He went for a quick shower and after all, was glad when he could finally lie down under his covers, hopefully he wouldn't have to move for the next few hours.
But his young bunkmate had other plans.
"Nona?" Tony sat up tiredly when something woke him from his slumber, rubbing at his eyes with his small hand.
"No buddy. She's already left for her bed. Go back to sleep, huh?" Steve coaxed in a soft voice. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to the boy, but at the moment sleep was very inviting. For both of them, judging from Tony's huge yawn.
"M-kay." Reassured, Tony sunk back into the mattress and scooted over to the familiar voice and form, plastering himself against Steve's warm side.
Steve held his breath for a moment and waited to see if the kid would go back to sleep.
But when he felt Tony freeze against him he knew it was not to be.
"Uncle Steve!" Tony shot up, suddenly wide awake, and stared at Steve with wide eyes. Then a pout quickly begun to form and his shoulders slumped. "I miiiiiissed everything." He whined.
"Hey now," Steve grinned and pushed Tony's lip back in a little with his finger, "It wasn't your fault, pal. I was late."
"Still." The boy didn't look any happier. "I wanted to call surprise!"
"If it's any consolation, it was a surprise you are here at all. Didn't Jarvis say he wouldn't trust Bucky with you anymore, after you fell into the pond the last time he went out with you alone."
"Yes, that was fun." Tony giggled away the sad face. "But Bucky cheated and sent in Peggy to get me. He hid in the car."
Jarvis can be pretty scary, Steve could totally picture Bucky waiting outside. He'd have to mention that later to his friend. A big scary Soldier shouldn't be scared of a Butler, right? He chuckled. No he understood.
"So, don't I get a hello?" he asked.
Tony didn't need any further invitation and launched himself at his godfather. "Uncle Steve! I've missed you!" he cried out, pretty much the same familiar words as always when Steve came back, no matter if he's gone for weeks or just a day.
"I've missed you, too, buddy." He enclosed the small form with his arms and squeezed lightly.
"Uncle Steve, Happy birthday! Or belated Birthday. I hope you had a good one. I've got a present. And you are old now, which is sad. I read the young have to help the old people stand up, carrying bags and offer them their seat. But you are not that old yet, which is good since I rather give you my bag to carry. Do you want to see your present? I made it myself, but do you know what? Daddy actually helped! Well, not helped so much but he gave me what I needed, and said I did good! Do you want it now?"
Middle of the night and still Tony could talk like no one else. Steve felt his head reeling a bit because Tony was still rambling about older people, and really, Steve wasn't that old yet. In the end he just latched on to the question if he wanted to have his present, ready to answer when Tony would stop to take a breath.
"Oh my god! Steve shut him up! Some of us want to sleep around here!" Came the desperate voice of Bucky came from the other room suddenly, but before Steve could even think about answering, Tony took his own defence.
"You took my bed you big old meanie! But it's ok. You are old, I give you my place to sleep graciously. You can hope your hearing goes next, then you can sleep without being interrupted. Good Night!" he turned back to Steve, ignoring the muttered 'Brat' from the other room, "Do you?"
The Captain blinked. Oh right. "Yes, please."
Tony didn't even wait till he scrambled from the bed…and stopped, with a frown.
"On the bedside table." Steve smiled.
The little head turned to the table and saw his present. Grinning he grabbed it and moved back to Steve, who'd already sat up against the headboard.
Tony fiddled a moment, looking a bit hesitant, and then just thrusted the cloth wrapped present in Steve's hands, who took it with care.
When he opened the cloth, he found…a chain? He lifted the short chain, made of small thicker metal plates, linked with little metal loops and, ah, a bracelet. You could connect the ends.
"It's not a lot, and I don't know if you like it. But it's…I read that friends sometimes have matching bracelets. And I thought, I mean we are friends right? And the ones I saw were boring so I made them. And then I thought, I mean you are a Soldier, and soldiers go missing, I read about that a lot! And you know children go missing too and, and…" Tony took a deep breath. "So I made bracelets with one of Dad's new tracking thing and when yo- we go missing we can always be found, Daddy knows how."
Tony watched Steve carefully and was relieved when he saw a smile forming.
"Do you like it? Or is it too…girly?"
He ran his fingers carefully over the well-formed metal, and felt honoured that Tony made something like this for him. With a…tracking device no less. He wasn't sure about that one yet, would have to talk with Howard about it, but he knew Tony was often afraid Steve wouldn't come back home, so it's fitting and also so great, if Tony really got something like this for himself.
He didn't want to come back one time and not know where he is. Once was enough for him.
"It's perfect, Tony. Thank you."
Tony grinned.
"And you got one for yourself?"
"uh-huh. But not completely finished. Almost."
"Well, then hurry, so we can go matching, alright?"
The child grinned and nodded. Proud that Steve liked it.
The soldier considered lying it on his bedside table, but at his godsons hopeful glance he quickly clasped it around his wrist.
"Think we can get some more shut eye now, kid?"
"I think I could be persuaded. With a story!"
Steve mock groaned, but lifted his arm when Tony dove in to cuddle again. "Aren't you too old yet?"
"Nope."
Thank god super Soldiers didn't need that much sleep.
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