Chapter 2
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."