A Family
Chapter 5
IMPORTANT: Read first, please.
Information to know about MY version of events to help with the setup of this fic.
In MY version of Civil War, it was not about the Accords, it was about The Winter Soldier killing the elder Starks and Steve not telling Tony when he found out, also the creation of Ultron and Vision.
Tony and Bruce messing with things they shouldn’t of.
It led to the civil war events.
Now Steve is a wanted fugitive within Some Government organizations because he was harboring the Winter Soldier, who was always a fugitive due to the assassinations, but we all know it was due to brainwashing and so does Shield.
Shield is helping Steve and Bucky stay safe after they spent some time in Wakanda getting Bucky better. Steve personally organized James Rhodes being taken to Wakanda for treatment where he was healed quicker and that made Tony more forgiving towards Steve and Bucky, to the point they could co-exist and be as friendly towards each other as could be.
Now Steve went back to work with Shield, it was mostly small-time missions, but he still lived at the compound where Tony made sure he was safe from the government, Bucky stayed at the compound and continued with healing his mind, ultimately getting bored and wanting to get out more but also being confined to the Avengers base.
NOTE: I have mixed up the events of Iron Man 2 and purposely placed some in Iron Man 3 for this story. Harry was conceived in 2012 and born in 2013, and Iron Man 3 was set in 2013.
Tony dying of poisoning is the only real change.
This will not include the Infinity saga.
I hope this helps set up some back scenes for you to help with this story’s directions.
Chapter 5
A Family.
Steve had explained everything to Bucky during the 5 hours it took them to get to the compound, considering the speed of the jet, they had made quick time.
Bucky could understand why Steve had up and left, even without hard evidence to support the rumors, He had the kids’ best interest at heart, and that was what Bucky kept remembering. The stubborn boy from Brooklyn who never ran from a fight and always jumped headfirst into helping people.
It was easy to see that the kid had Steve wrapped around his little finger.
Bucky couldn’t blame the unfailingly noble man either, the kid was cute and so vulnerable, just one look at those beautiful big green eyes and Bucky’s heart had melted.
Watching Steve care for the boy was especially delightful, to see the man stop mid-word when Harry called out softly for him, when the child was hungry and Steve jumped up hastily to see what he could find, or if Harry needed assistance to the bathroom, Steve hovered by the door like a mother hen. It was just like his long-time friend to care so deeply for others.
Once Bucky had heard about Haywood, he began to plan a stealth trip back to France. The Shield agent's days were numbered, and Bucky was going to make sure Harry was safe from the French Agent.
If it turned out Harry was Stark’s kid, then he owed it to the man to make sure nothing bad ever happened to his child ever again.
If that meant assassinating Haywood and anyone else involved, then Bucky would do it in a heartbeat.
When the trio exited the aircraft, they made their way to the common lounge that the Avenges used to hang out in.
"I would have thought Stark would have been here to grill us about his precious jet," Bucky stated taking a seat and making himself comfortable.
Steve sat Harry down next to his faithful best friend before heading to the Kitchenette to get them all a drink.
It was a long flight and Tony’s jet wasn’t that well stocked to keep a child fed and entertained.
The constant change in time zones was going to be hell for the child.
They had left Lyon at 1.15 am and landed in New York just after midnight. Technically the same day, the poor child didn't look at all tired instead, he was clinging to Bucky's flesh arm and trying to take everything in that was around him. "F.R.L.D.A.Y, where is Tony right now?” Steve asked the Al.
"Why? Did you miss me?" The workaholic called as he came down the stairs behind Steve, Bucky snickered at his friend, who had been startled as the Man of Iron entered.
“Tony, can I talk to you, maybe elsewhere?” Steve asked hesitantly.
He wanted to explain everything, but he didn’t want to do it in front of Harry. The boy was smart, and Steve didn't want the slight boy to overhear the conversation and the mentioning of DNA testing and paternity, in case the five-year-old could understand and get his hopes up about Stark being his dad or simply full-on confusion over the whole situation, it was best to proceed with caution.
“We can talk right here Captain; I especially want to talk about that!” Tony said pointing in Harry's direction, Steve turned to see Harry peeking over the couch, using Bucky to hold himself up.
"Tony, this is Harry,” Steve introduced gesturing towards the nervous-looking child, Tony just hummed in acknowledgment before rounding the seating area and taking up position opposite the trio.
"Fury called,” Tony simply stated making Steve grimace at the info.
He should have called ahead himself or called the director right away, he was beginning to feel silly for acting so hastily, he was truly only thinking about Harry's safety at the time… ‘No’. Steve thought he would do it all over again without hesitation if it meant a child was safe from those who had wicked intentions.
"Looks like you have lost your shiny spot atop the pyramid.” Tony sassed from his seat across from Bucky and Harry.
Steve sighed, looks like they were having this conversation right here and now.
"As you are probably aware, as I’m sure you are a fan of mine, I’m Tony Stark,” Tony said introducing himself to the child.
Tony observed the child, taking him all in., he first noticed the casts on the tiny boy’s arm and leg as well as the boy's nervous body language, it wasn’t unusual for kids to be shy, but he was concerned about the casts, Patches hadn’t mentioned anything about injuries.
"Harry doesn't know who you are” Bucky replied wrapping his arm around the child as Harry nestled into the secure embrace, more hesitant of the new person.
“Um, everyone knows who I am” was Tony’s egotistical reply.
“Tony, Shield ran a DNA test and got a match," Steve informed the arrogant man gently.
He had no idea how the other man was going to take this news.
“So, you come to beg me for help in locating the family? Shield has all the reassures available for that” Tony intoned.
"No actually, members of the Team working on the case weren’t going to inform them of Harry," Steve stated quickly seeing the impatience on the genius's face.
"Bucky why don't you take Harry to my room and pick out a book to read with him," Steve asked his best friend. This was a conversation he needed to have with Stark alone.
Tony watched as the ex-assassin picked the child up gently and moved to do as Steve suggested.
"Hey, Barnes?” Tony called to the loyal man who had begun to ascend the stairs, Bucky turned, feeling annoyed with Stark already.
"Don't touch my stuff," Tony called; Bucky just gave a defiant smirk as a reply as he couldn’t respond with the hand gesture he so wanted to use.
Once Bucky had left with Harry, Steve felt a sense of relief. He moved into his leadership composure; it was time to get serious.
"Do you remember a Lilly Potter, Tony?” was Steve’s first question, jumping right in.
"No, should I? I can't remember everyone I come in contact with" Tony was curious about where this was going, why would he need to remember some woman? What did he have to do with any of this?
“You would have met her in 2012, probably had a fun night of adultery, before she and her husband, James Potter returned to the UK, where Lilly, sometime after their return would have found out she was pregnant," Steve explained, giving what information he got from Billus as well as what he could only guesstimate had happened. It was a pretty close guess of what had gone on back then.
Tony looked to be contemplating the info, compiling the data.
“Mine? you’re saying that kid, Harry is Mine?" Tony asked in astonishment.
“It is highly probable," Steve told him.
"Probable? Rogers, you need to explain from the beginning, and don't be coy with me” Tony was impassioned to the point he was almost shouting.
So, Steve told him everything he knew, everything Billus had told him, and all he had overheard. It was a good hour before he was done with his explanation.
Tony had gone through a whole array of emotions as Steve continued, he was shocked and disgusted at the treatment the child had gone through, and he was saddened to hear he had grown up unloved by his mother’s adopted family. He was angry to find out a Shield Agent had plans to use the boy to be a soldier not too unlike the Winter Soldier, to keep him from his father, from his family.
A Father, if Steve was right and Harry was his then he, Tony Stark was a father!
He didn’t know how to be a father, and he always assumed he would make a terrible one if he ever was to have a kid.
He didn't exactly have the best of relationships with his own old man, Tony knew he would be just as big of a fuckup as his dad was.
It’s why he was always careful, every woman who had claimed their kid was his, always turned out to be false.
However, Tony was beginning to remember the bright beautiful lady that Lilly Potter was, he also remembered her equally handsome husband who he had no problem taking both to bed after a night of heavy drinking. He probably wasn't as careful as he should have been that night.
Then again, he was sure he was dying at the time, and he was living his life to the fullest while he could.
He and Pepper were on a break after weeks of nothing but fights, he was out partying every night never really sobering up before going at it again. He didn't have any fucks to give.
Lilly and James were young and carefree, it made him feel the same, not that he would ever describe himself as old, but certainly not as carefree as he once was, before the battle of Manhattan, before Afghanistan.
Tony vaguely remembered sleeping with them, this Harry kid might have been his son.
"I need to make sure, but he is staying under the Avenger's watch," Tony stated still in a bit of shock at the overload of information the captain had given him.
“Of cause Tony, and we are all here to support you, ok? I care for Harry, and I know Bucky will always look out for the kid, Harry is a great, intelligent kid.” Steve pronounced.
He was happy to finally have it all out there and have Tony aware, regardless of the results of a paternity test that would be run there at the compound, Steve knew Tony would always be there to support Harry.
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Once Bucky had a relaxed Harry settled in the middle of Steve’s bed, he began to browse the almost full bookshelf.
Steve’s collection didn't have many titles suitable for a kid, so he went with something purely educational.
"Quantum Physics for Beginners?” Bucky read aloud "How about that? Sounds nice and informative." Bucky said to Harry as he sat down next to the small boy.
“what’s Quantum Physics?" Harry asked while looking at the book curiously.
“Why don't we find out together?" Bucky replied as he cracked the Book open and began to read to the child.
It wasn’t long before the boy had fallen asleep, Bucky wasn't too far behind him as the book's lack of excitement and adventure lulled them both to sleep.
When Steve and Tony went to check in on the two, it was to find the five-year-old curled in the middle of the bed and Bucky perched on the edge sitting up against the headboard fast asleep.
Steve first noticed how peaceful Bucky looked in slumber, his friend who was often plagued by nightmares, looked to be relaxed for once in so many years.
"I'll get started in the morning on a room for him in this corridor. That way he is close to all of us." Tony uttered quietly, A Stark pad in hand as he typed away.
"Don't go overboard Tony, he isn’t used to it yet and it would probably overwhelm him” Steve answered, Tony would quickly scare the kid off with his assertiveness and Steve was worried for any future relationship if that occurred.
“Noted captain, we are going to have to go over what he needs from a medical point, Helen is coming by soon and Banner is due to return from India, I’m sure together with their help we can all work toward making Harry healthy.” Tony declared quietly not looking away from his tablet.
“We should let them sleep, Tony, I can crash on the couch tonight," Steve replied quietly.
"Oh Please, like you and Barnes haven’t slept in the same bed before, I know he sneaks in here late at night," Tony remarked as he exited the room with America’s hero to talk in the hall.
"There is no sneaking going on Tony. Bucky has trouble sleeping so comes and talks to me at night, we just talk till we fall asleep, that’s all" Steve defended. It was sad that his friend was troubled by nightmares even after getting the help he needed thanks to T’Challa and Wakanda’s medical advances.
Bucky still had a long way to go, and Steve was planning on being with him every step being of the way.
“Maybe to you, but that Boyfriend of yours clings to you, so afraid of losing you again, and you don't even notice the way he looks at you, it’s just sad Rogers." Steve knew what Tony meant, he was just so afraid to start anything that might not last, he couldn't risk ruining his friendship with Bucky.
"He is not my boyfriend," Steve claimed.
Tony's attitude was beginning to annoy him.
"Whatever Capsical, sleep tight, and protect my kid with your life,” Tony demanded as he made his way to his room.
Steve stood still for a short while, contemplating sleeping on the couch, but gave in and entered his room.
Harry would feel better waking in a new place with Steve around, Bucky was great with Harry and the kid had taken to the man easily, but they were still new to each other.
Steve removed the book from Bucky's slack hand, and it jolted the sleeping man who shot up, awake in an instant.
“You’re ok Bucky, just it’s me,” Steve soothed.
"Get changed and back to bed. It's late." The Soldier ordered his sleepy friend calmly.
Without any protest, the ex-assassin got up and put on some of Steve’s clothes that were better for sleeping in.
He removed his prosthetic arm before allowing his compassionate friend to usher him back to bed, Steve then doused the lights before joining the two, who were already peacefully asleep, in the bed. Harry Sleeping soundly in between them. Steve got comfortable and soon began falling asleep quite quickly.