Two Plus One
CHAPTER 20: TWO PLUS ONE
It took three days before Harry was discharged from the hospital. Even then, he wasn’t allowed to go to school for the rest of the week. None of his classmates got sick like him, but it was better to stay on the safe side for the sake of both Harry and the rest of the children.
Like Natasha expected, Steve never left the hospital for the duration of Harry’s stay. He and Tony often took turns watching the child while the other slept or showered. No one bothered telling either of them how domestic they appeared—having been used to the relationship Steve and Tony had.
Their friends visited too, much to Harry’s delight. He had to stay in bed most of the time so the entertainment brought by his aunts and uncles visiting was a welcome interruption.
Not that Harry was grumpy about being in a hospital. The little boy was nothing like his father when it comes to hospital stay. If it were Tony, he would have complained and complained about it, possibly even escaping the moment he wakes up. Harry, on the other hand, was the model patient. Apart from the appetite issue, the child never complained when a nurse or a doctor made him take his medicine or add another batch of IV fluid. It probably had to do with his general politeness, adorable looks, and charming personality, but all the staff he crossed paths with took a liking to him.
It's no wonder when they were discharged, the nurses and the orderlies on the floor each gave him a hug or a head pat goodbye. Starks were known for their charms, after all.
In the tower, Harry was naturally pampered and doted on by everyone. There wasn’t a single time that the little boy was left alone. Clint all but moved in to Harry's room with how much he spent time in there completing jigsaw puzzles with the child. Natasha, who rarely cooks, made those red beet soup as soon as Tony told them Harry's coming home. Bruce and Phil dusted every nook and corner of the penthouse as often as they think necessary. Sam brought over piles of books from Harry's playroom and read him a story every now and then. And Bucky probably scared away all the viruses with how much he glared whenever Harry hacks a painful cough.
His fever might have gone down to normal, but his body was still weak. Tony, Steve, and surprisingly, Bucky, had taken to carrying him almost everywhere. Harry was just along for the ride—basking in the affection he craved for the past week.
True to his godfather’s promise, when Harry felt marginally better, Rhodey demanded a sleepover with him. Unlike the Avengers, James Rhodes didn’t always stay in the tower. In fact, he’s got his own place in Queens which he rents out to AirBnB whenever he’s away on official duty. He thought Harry might like the change of scenery, and he was planning on taking his nephew out to the movies.
Tony wasn’t easy to convince; but one puppy-eyed look from Harry had him agree not even five minutes after his son asked. It might have earned him a bit of teasing from his friends—only stopping when Steve pointed out none of them could say no to the child themselves.
“You’ll be good to Uncle Rhodey, okay?” said Tony seriously as he knelt in front of his son and fixed him with another jacket over the hoodie Steve forced him into. “You just got over the flu. I don’t want you straining your body. Your uncle promised to keep the activities to a minimum, so I expect you to do the same.”
“Yes, daddy. I promise.”
“Good. Now give me a hug.” Tony opened his arms wide and welcomed the weight of his son as he barreled into him. Instead of letting go, Tony pulled Harry up with him and settled him on his front, before stepping towards Rhodey and Steve who were talking by the car.
“I want an update every three hours, got that?” Tony demanded from his best friend just as he passed Harry along to Steve, who then opened the car door and buckled Harry inside. The two started whispering to each other god knows about what.
The Colonel rolled his eyes and accepted the offered overnight bag. “As if you didn’t put JARVIS on the watch he’s wearing. He’ll be fine, Tones. If it makes you feel better, I’ll have him call you when we get there.”
“It would, yes.”
“—ared you have Ron, but it doesn’t matter how late it is you can call us anytime.” Tony heard Steve tell Harry.
“Alright, kiddo, we’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. I love you, baby.” He kissed him on the cheek and ruffled his already messy hair. Steve did the same to his other cheek.
Steve pulled Tony to his side as they watched the black crossover SUV slowly vanish from the sea of cars. The billionaire eventually sighed and rested his head on Steve’s shoulder. “Any thoughts on kinky dining table sex?”
If the Soldier’s answering growl was to be considered, the idea was very well received.
**
Tony rolled off the muscled body of his boyfriend with a stuttered gasp. Never it be left unsaid that a man in his early forties can’t ride someone multiple times anymore. Steve’s almost absent refractory period was like a challenge Tony could not help but test out. While they started in the dining room, it didn't take them long before migrating to the bedroom.
“You know, for a man who’s practically a virgin, you, my dear, are one hell of a ride,” muttered the brunette.
Steve chuckled and reached over to the bedside where Tony keeps the wet wipes. He pulled three out from the package and wiped the remnants on his chest first before reaching between his boyfriend’s leg, eliciting a gasp from the man, and wiped the excess cum on his thighs and between them.
“Sensitive, babe,” grimaced Tony.
Steve only smiled and kissed Tony on the shoulder. He threw the wipes on the bin with an aim not unlike their archer friend, and immediately pulled Tony to his chest.
“For a man who says he’s too old to date, you are one hell of a driver.”
Tony smacked Steve on the hip. “I never said I was too old to date. I said yes to you, didn’t I?”
“So you keep reminding me.”
“You sound like that’s a bad thing, Steve-o, when in fact I’m like the best thing that ever happened to, well, anyone, really.”
Steve snorted and kissed the man on top of his head. “We’ll have to work on your humility, sweetheart.”
“Too late. I think my first nanny gave up on that idea long before I started talking.”
The pair lounged naked for a while in the silence. They don't get many opportunities to have sex like normal couples do because of Harry, but it never bothered either of them. The few times they do get the chance, it always leaves them worn out.
For Steve, intimacy was never exclusive to intercourse. He loved every moment he has with Tony—so much that he sometimes wonders how he got so lucky. They started out on shaky grounds, but the moment Steve got to know the snarky engineer, it was hook, line, and sinker.
Steve felt like there was no chance of him ever not falling for the brunette. For months since Tony invited them to move into the tower, he did his best to avoid the billionaire in hopes that his pining won't show. It bothered Nat enough to smack him on the head one morning they were training, told him to get his head off his ass and ask Tony on a date. It took him weeks to prepare himself. If Tony hadn't had the breakdown in his lab, he would have asked him out that day.
But then, Tony left the tower without a word and hopped on the jet. Pepper wouldn't tell them anything.
When the news of Tony having a son circulated and Clint was able to confirm it, Steve thought he truly lost his chance. Tony would never consider him out on a date now that he has a kid to worry about. He fully prepared to go back to avoiding again.
Then, Harry happened. One look at the little boy, Steve knew he was a goner. Maybe it had something to do about the five-year-old being a carbon copy of his dad except for the eyes. Or maybe it was because of how innocent and small Harry looked when he first met him hiding his face on Tony's neck.
But one thing was for sure: Steve cannot go back to avoiding Tony.
The fact that he fell in love with the man more was no longer a surprise. If he thought Tony was already the most gorgeous man in the world when he comes zombie-walking for coffee in the morning, he was sorely mistaken because as soon as he saw Tony interact with Harry, Steve's heart felt like it was about to jump off his chest.
Every day, he watched Tony and Harry be adorable and mushy, and he could not help but wish to be a part of it. When he finally got the confidence to ask Tony out on a date and he said yes, it felt like the time Dr. Erskine offered him the chance to become something more.
The past four months alone were better than his 28 years combined. He got his dream partner, a wonderful child he considers a son, his previously dead best friend turning up alive, and a whole set of mismatched family. Tiny Steve Rogers could never imagine something so wonderful could happen to him.
"What's got you so distracted?" Tony asked eventually.
Steve's smile was gentle and warm. "Not distracted. I'm just thinking."
"About?"
"You. Me. Harry."
The silence that came after that was worrying. The only thing that kept Steve from panicking that he made a mistake was that Tony didn't move away from his chest.
"Move in with me." Tony suddenly said, startling the blond Super Soldier.
"...What?"
"I know we've only been together for four—almost five—months, but with everything that happened, from you being here more often than not, to basically being Harry's other parent, I was wondering if you'd be open to actually moving in? I mean, my room is hardly suited to your taste but we can always redec—"
Never in Tony's life had he been so happy with how he's interrupted. A pair of soft, plump lips smashed into his own, and Tony could hardly breathe at the intensity of the kiss.
"Yes. A million times, yes," whispered Steve without truly parting their lips. "I'll move in with you. I'd really like that."
A smile broke onto the engineer's face. "Really?" He asked with a hopeful expression.
"Of course, dipshit. I'd have gladly moved in with you that first month we're together. I was worried you were mad at me there for a second."
Tony furrowed his brows. "Mad? At what?"
"That I basically wormed my way into your family. Bucky talked to me once, right after he met Harry that first time. It made me realize how deep I was into the domesticity of life with you and Harry. I don't want to steal Harry from you, you know that, right? If sometimes I come off too parental or possessive, feel free to smack me or something."
"Steve," ground out Tony fiercely, moving to rest on his elbow to stare at the baby blues. "I know you're not gonna steal Harry or some shit like that. Please don't ever feel like you did or do. You're making it sound like you're not his family. And if you're parental or possessive, then why would I be mad? Steve, honey, I love that you adore my kid so much. Haven't you realized everyone already thinks you're his second dad? Just yesterday, Sam asked both of us if he and Clint could take Harry down to the gym. Both of us, Steve. Not just me."
The anecdote had Steve's eyes bugging out in surprise. Seriously? Why would his boyfriend be surprised about it? He's already Harry's second emergency contact. Harry's school doesn't even ask why Steve comes to every parent-teacher conference anymore. Hell, their friends already have a betting pool who gets to be the Favorite Uncle once Steve officially becomes Papa.
It scared Tony when he first heard about it from Clint. They only just celebrated their 4-month anniversary when Clint came barging into his lab and demanded he helps him become favorite uncle (Tony bet on Bucky. Sorry, Clint.). When his fears became obvious, Clint talked to him about them with seriousness not many knew the archer could possess.
"We're still new at the relationship, Clint. What if he suddenly decides me and Harry are not worth it? He's young, and he can still build his own family."
Clint tsked at him. "Steve can't do better than you, Tony. He loves you and that kid. He won't ever want that normal family you think he deserves because it's this family he wants."
"But what about Harry? We can't be sure of everything. Things are not written in stone. If we break up, and Harry already considers him his dad, what am I to do? I can't have Harry lose another parent."
"If you break up—and that's a big fucking if—Harry won't lose a parent. Even if you don't get married or Steve won't get to officially adopt Harry, he'll always be that kid's dad. Maybe it'll be like having divorced parents. It's a risk, I know that. You're afraid, and it's normal for a single parent to worry about their child's stability. But you have to talk to Steve about it. Talk about your plans and what his plans are. If he doesn't plan on staying in the long run, why are you even with him?"
"You think so?" Steve asked shakily, like Tony's answer would mean life or death.
Tony shrugged easily. "You can be— officially, I mean. I know this is way too early in the relationship to talk about, especially with you just agreeing to move in with us. But you have to know, Steve, you're the only one I would ever consider marrying. This is it for me. You have to tell me if you plan to stay because no matter how much I... I love you, if this isn't... if this isn't the life you want, we have to stop now before it hurts my son more." The words are difficult to say, but it needed to be said. If the declaration of love shocked Steve, Tony wasn't sure, because the look on his face could be for many reasons.
Steve's arms wrapped around Tony once more and pulled him to a sweeping kiss. Every emotion the man could not show was forced out on one single kiss.
"I love you, Tony. I love you and Harry so much. You're also it for me. God, you're so wonderful and amazing and Jesus, I can't... I'd marry you in a heartbeat, sweetheart. I'm in this for the long run."
"Okay. Wow, good talk."
Steve burst out half laughing, half sobbing. They just unofficially proposed to each other. In bed. While naked. After just deciding to move in together.
"We'll come back to the marriage thing, later. We'll have to learn to actually live together first, yeah?" Steve asked, smiling.
Tony smiled back. "Absolutely."
**
Moving Steve's things from the floor he shared with Bucky to the penthouse involved a lot of smirks from their friends and Bucky smugly putting his stuff all over his living room: a dirty shirt on the back of the sofa, a nudist statue on the coffee table, and a framed photo of skinny Steve he was able to dig up from god knows where.
Steve wasn't sure if he was supposed to feel honored his best friend thought he's so important to have his picture hung, or offended that his photo was placed next to the bathroom door.
Regardless, it didn't take too long for Tony's room to look less like a lab and more like an actual bedroom. True to the billionaire's offer, Steve redecorated a little—but not so much that it stopped being Tony. His clothes were hung and folded alongside the older man's, and his sketchbooks laid half-open on the nightstand.
By the time Harry came home the next day, the penthouse no longer only contained two brunettes and a handful of stuffed toys.
"Daddy! Uncle Steve!" cried the 6-year-old happily even before the elevator door fully opened. In a matter of seconds, Tony was attacked by a 40-pound child.
"Hey, kiddo. Missed you." Tony said with laughter in his voice as he picked up Harry and twirled him once.
Steve, who was still leaning on the wall with a pleased grin, piped up, "He missed you so much, he ended up grabbing some of your animal friends and sleeping with them last night."
—which was only partly true. Tony only took Greg the elephant because it was the one left in Harry's bed.
Harry's smile was warm and sunny. "He did? You did, daddy?"
Tony rolled his eyes at Steve and tapped Harry's chin. "Uncle Steve is a lying liar who lies. It was only Greg."
The Super Soldier chuckled, ignored Tony, and pulled Harry in for his own hug and a kiss on the head.
"Anyway, we have something to discuss with you, kiddo. Go change into something less... Uncle Rhodey," said Tony, eyeing the Godfather I shirt his son was wearing.
The child giggled and skipped to his room to do as he was told. The said Godfather was standing by the foyer with a smirk and the overnight bag slung over his back.
"I heard you moved in," said Rhodey. "About time, dorks."
Tony smiled even as he glared at his best friend. Steve simply laughed sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. "Think Harry will like the news?" asked the blond as he accepted the offered bag.
Rhodey rolled his eyes and sighed exasperatingly. "I don't think he even knows you don't live here, Cap."
Footsteps interrupted Steve before he can formulate a proper response to that. "Daddy! Daddy! I changed! Tell me now," demanded the tiny Stark as he appeared at the end of the hallway wearing the same pants but with a different shirt. "Please," added Harry as an afterthought.
Knowing the upcoming conversation the three will be having will be preferable done in private, Rhodey bid them all goodbye and hugged his godson. One for the road, he said.
Two minutes later, Steve, Tony, and Harry migrated to the kitchen where Tony fed the child his afternoon snack.
"Are you gonna tell me now?"
Tony let out a laugh. "Yes, fine, mister." He ruffled Harry's messy locks. "What do you think about Steve moving in with us?"
Harry furrowed his brows and tilted his head. "Moving in?"
"It means I'll be living with you and your dad, bubby," answered Steve with a tender smile and hopeful eyes.
"Don't you already do?" Harry clarified with every bit of sincerity a 6-year-old could gather.
Tony, who was previously suppressing his laughter, fully exploded in giggles beside the child.