Ride On

Steve had been barely clinging to consciousness when they got back to him, and Tony took the coordinates from Bucky to get himself and Steve back to the safe house quickly. Once they were safe, Tony removed the top of Steve’s uniform. Hesitantly, and with guidance and information from Friday, Tony carefully removed the bullet. Bullets, as it actually turned out. He had done plenty of in-field medical work before, even though it was never his area of expertise, but rarely anything to the caliber of removing bullets from a rapidly healing super soldier.

Nonetheless, Tony managed. He put in a couple stitches before getting a bandage on the area. Steve, who had been stirring since Tony was stitching him up, finally opened his eyes and let out a groan.

“We’ll get your arm set as soon as Bucky and Sam get back.” Tony glanced at Steve's arm, which he had gently laid flat next to his body. The skin was bruised in multiple spots. “We got the shield back.”

Really, Tony should have known Steve’s first thought would not be about the shield. It was a symbol, an expensive symbol sure, but not priority. He’d left it in the middle of a street during too many fights to count.

Though Tony thought for sure he would ask about Bucky or Sam first.

“Are you hurt?” Steve asked, his eyes half open as he fought against the pain.

“No, I’m-“

“Don’t lie to me.” Steve cut him off, not wanting to hear any of it.

Tony hesitated for a moment, then dropped his gaze. “I pushed too far. The suit needs a lot more upgrades before it can help with the right side weakness. And being hit by a super soldier - I mean, it didn’t equal to a hit from Thanos, that’s for certain, but the dude’s still a fucking bastard with a neat right hook.”

“Calls himself Super-Patriot. Wants to replace me.” Steve sighed, “He’s trying to go after the super soldiers we’re after so he can make a point. But the more he interferes, the worse this gets.”

“Yeah, well… Bucky and Sam are going to have to deal with it all for now. You need to rest for a few days.” Tony shook his head, “And Walker or Super-Patriot or whatever he decides to be called other than asshole - did some real damage to the arc reactor I brought. I’m going to have to do some quick repairs so I don’t lose power in the suit.”

“Your suit wasn’t ready. Just like you’re not.” Steve responded, his voice a bit more stern but edged in pain.

“You know, I’m really sick of people telling me when I’m ready for something. I wasn’t the only one that fought a Titan. Everyone else did too, so why am I the only one getting the white glove treatment? There was blood on the shield, Steve. Your shield was in someone else’s hands.” Something inside of Tony boiled to the surface, worse than ever before. Fear? “You and Bucky were here and you were disarmed and I was across the world having a pow-wow with Loki when the breaking news came up- when I- when I had to fear the worst. Loki told me it was entirely possible for Walker to kill Bucky or Sam in other times. And…”

“Tony.” Steve lifted his good arm, touching Tony’s arm gently. “How do you think we felt when you snagged the infinity stones? When you snapped? When Friday announced your status? Do you realize how agonizing it was watching you in the hospital, knowing you could die any minute, knowing we weren’t even the ones who were supposed to be there with you? No, you didn’t fight alone. None of us fought alone and you’re not the only one being watched over. Why do you think the three of us came out together to begin with? Or why Clint and Nat are inseparable, or why anyone capable of fighting is sent on half the missions with others? Because we’re terrified, Tony. Scared for you, scared for us, scared that the next time there’s a slip up it will be the last time.”

For a moment, they both grew quiet. For once Tony actually understood that he was not alone. And was not ready to admit that he missed the team acting like this all around - no solo missions, all the ‘Funtertainment’ nights, and living together again? Oh yeah, Tony had been oblivious and a bit of an ass.

“Aw Cap, you were scared for me.” Tony joked, though he tried to hide the tear that slid down his cheek. There were very rare moments that Tony actually felt loved by anyone.

He wanted to ask more, wanted to ask for more, but then the door slammed open and Tony found himself whipping around while tapping on his arc reactor and bringing his arms up in a flash to protect Steve from whoever had just practically knocked the door off its hinges.

Instead of a psycho or some random super soldier, he was met with the very angry but familiar super soldier - Bucky. Who gave him the perfect example of a what the fuck look and started in the door, about ready to rip the suit off of Tony permanently.

“What the hell were you thinking!” Bucky raised his voice as he crossed the room towards Tony, his face wrinkling slightly in anger. “You could’ve died out there, Tony! You had to rely on the power from the suit to deliver any of those hits, and you were going against someone like us! You already know we can lay your ass out on a good day. Hell, he laid out all of us because he’s trained like no other. You don’t have the strength back yet to be in a fight like that! Where’s your head... at… Tones?”

Almost all at once, the anger faded from Bucky’s voice and his eyes rested on the silver stripe with the blue star that stood out pretty starkly amongst the hot rod red and gold on his arm. Then the arc reactor seemed to flicker, and the shattered front plate revealed that the core inside that gave it power was also in the shape of a star this time.

“Dammit.” Bucky muttered as he watched the nano tech recede back into the core, leaving Tony standing there without the armor on. A glance at Tony’s face betrayed how much emotion he was holding back.

“I needed to help.” Tony said, his heart hurting. “I had to.”

“God fucking dammit it, Tony.” Bucky clenched his jaw, the muscle working for a moment before he reached out and pulled Tony into a hug, squeezing him just slightly tighter than he probably should have. “Let others actually worry about you for once in your life… I’m sorry for raising my voice at you.”

“Hey, Bucky?” Steve grunted out from where he was laying on the table, “I appreciate the sentiment of scolding Tony, but my arm is…”

“Oh yeah, that’s real bad.” Sam poked Steve’s arm, eliciting a whine of pain. “Let’s get this set properly before his bones heal wrong… Again.”

“Again?” Tony asked as he turned on his heel.

“Listen, lots happened after that airport brawl, Stark.” Sam shrugged as they got to work.

Again sat in Tony’s mind like a weight.

~~~

Later that night Tony found himself sitting between Steve and Bucky on the couch, looking around at the ornate room curiously. Steve was resting his head on Tony’s shoulder, content after he’d eaten probably four times the amount either Tony or Sam did.

“You need to take him home with you, Tony.” Bucky suddenly spoke up, setting his mug of tea aside. “I know he hates being in a sling and I know he hates feeling useless, you both do, but it can’t be helped. This was - something else entirely. Walker took the serum and… I might sound biased, but there’s never been another Steve Rogers. That shit doesn’t change who you are, it just amplifies it. John Walker was already an asshole, then he got struck with grief and it made him ultimately worse…”

“It changed who you were.” Tony turned his head to the brunette, his eyes dropping to the vibranium hand resting in Bucky’s lap.

“Not really… Hydra changed me.” Bucky’s shoulders slumped as a pained look Tony had only seen a handful of times took over Bucky’s expression. His nose crinkled in a way that suggested anger but anyone who knew Bucky for half a day could say it was actually sadness. “Hydra made me a monster. The serum just brought out the worst of that.”

The stories Tony had heard of the smooth talking, kind and selfless young man of the 30s felt like far off memories, a ghost. The stories of the resilient, loyal and ever present drafted soldier of the 40s felt nearer to reality. But the real truth was this man was still sorting out who he was now: the kind young man, the resilient soldier, and the memories of the ruthless killer puppet all in one.

“Well, that's not you. It never was.” Tony said simply, keeping his voice low. Sure, he had been mad at one point, but he understood now better than ever. “The Winter Soldier may have shared a mind and body with you, but that wasn’t and never will be who you are. As far as I’m concerned, I’m looking at Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes, the only other super soldier who befits the serum. A man who bakes a mean pie, gives the best hugs, and even gets along amazingly with children. I can count on one hand how many people I would willingly leave my daughter alone with and you, Buck, you’re probably top of the list. She idolizes you and Steve, and you live up to it… So tell me again that the serum in your veins brought out the worst. Because it never did - Hydra just made you think that. If it had brought out the worst I wouldn’t be looking at you now, admiring what a great man you are and realizing how Steve’s love for you transcended lifetimes… Oh, and I have a hundred more compliments where those came from, whenever you feel like this.”

Bucky looked like he was holding back a lot of emotion, the turn of his lips the smallest indication that he was trying to hold himself together. “If I ever need affirmation, I’ll come to you, Tones. And you too. You can come to me any time.”

“I might take you up on that… I don’t really know what’s going on here.” Tony made a vague motion between the three of them.

As much as Bucky wanted to jump into it at that moment, Steve was asleep and he was better at talking through that kind of stuff. Instead, Bucky shrugged, “Oh, hey Tones, Sam has a rendezvous tomorrow with his other team. His wings are broken, you think you can…?”

“Cap’s got a shield, you’ve got an arm… I think Sam needs some vibranium in the mix. I’ll call the Wakandans.” Tony shifted and leaned his head on Bucky’s shoulder. “What are your plans?”

“I’ll call them for you… I have a loose end to tie up, that’s my next plan.” Bucky motioned around the room. “Zemo.”

“Zemo - what do you… Did you spring Zemo?” Tony asked, though he wasn’t shocked enough to lift his head from Bucky’s shoulder.

“We needed him.” Bucky defended, “But he escaped. I have a feeling of where to find him… Then I’m going to remind Sam what it means to be an Avenger. There’s a boat he needs to fix.”

“That sounds like a really long story that I’m not conscious enough for.” Tony yawned, the events of the day finally taking their toll. “Take Steve’s shield with you.”

“What? Why?” Bucky asked, looking down at Tony with concern. “Steve won’t like that.”

“No, probably not, not at first. But we need another person who can use it in battle and, well… Sam’s an okay guy. If I had to replace Steve I’d choose Sam.” Tony neglected to tell Bucky that in another timeline, Steve had chosen Sam himself. In a timeline that, grief stricken, Steve went to the past and stayed there. “And I’ve seen that shield block a direct hit from Thor’s hammer. Blasts from infinity stones. Hits from everything you can imagine. It’ll be useful stopping a bunch of super soldiers.”

“You’re not wrong.” Bucky leaned his head back on the couch and shut his eyes. “You know… it would be nice for all of us to sleep in a bed instead of always cuddled up on a couch.”

“This isn’t cuddling.” Tony remarked.

“Yes it is. Your hands on my thigh.”

Tony rolled his eyes. “This isn’t the 40s anymore, Barnes… What’s your game, anyway? Both of you? I don’t get it, you flirt sometimes and don’t others and, well, what’s going on? You didn’t sneakily dodge my question earlier like you may think.”

“You put a silver stripe and a blue star on your suit, the Iron Man suit, that’s never had symbolism on it. You put a star in your arc reactor. Why don’t you tell me where we sit?” Bucky teased, moving his hand between them to meet Tony’s hand at his thigh, gently taking Tony’s hand in his own. “You trusted Loki enough to jump through one of his doorways to come find us. I know I was mad but - not honestly sure how far we’d have gotten without you today… Let’s talk about all this after this super soldier bullshit is over. But right now you need to know you’re wanted here, Tones. With us. It’s been a long time coming.”

“Don’t say that just because I saved your life today.” Tony hummed, though he let Bucky entwine their fingers without argument. “Mhh… Hopefully this dream doesn’t end.”

Bucky chuckled, “You think you’re dreaming right now?”

“Of course I am. I’m Tony Stark. I’m not allowed to be this happy.” Tony yawned again, and Bucky felt his head get a bit heavier on his shoulder.

He just sighed as Tony drifted to sleep, muttering against the top of his head, “If only you realized what was in front of you, kotyonok.”

~~~

There were a lot of things Tony had noticed about the super soldiers that they didn’t write about Steve in history books. They consumed more calories than any other human possibly could but never gained weight. They were always warm to the touch, but not an uncomfortable heat, just a comforting warmth. They often forgot their own strength, and also forgot that their bodies were denser and thus heavier, especially when they leaned on or slept on others.

And they really liked tossing people around like rag dolls. Which was, of course, left out of history books because Captain America carried a shield and fought with noble intent. He couldn’t possibly be out on the battlefields just hurling people across the yard in a spectacle that probably warranted a comedic Hollywood-style scream sound effect.

Or, as Peter had muttered under his breath multiple times around Tony, they enjoyed ‘yeeting people.’ Whatever that meant to the youth.

So the next morning, as Tony watched playback of the fights they’d had so far with the Flag Smashers he shook his head and tried to keep from laughing at the way Steve or Bucky could just casually grab someone and ragdoll them away. Though it was partly hard to laugh given the fact Tony knew exactly what it felt like to be stopped in his tracks and tossed around by the men. Even in his half a ton suit, with thrusters equal to small jets, he’d been grabbed and slammed against the ground, lifted, and slammed again. Not to mention how the rest of that fight went.

“Find any useful info, Tones?” Sam asked as he plopped down in the chair across from Tony.

“Just something she said when you two were talking. The Karli chick. She said she wants to kill the patriot because he’s a symbol…” Tony glanced towards the kitchen where Bucky and Steve were making them all an easy breakfast. “I don’t think she meant Steve. Captain America was a symbol in the 40s, yeah, but now? The US Government has been plastering this Walker guy’s face everywhere… And I know why. Walkers a puppet. They say jump and he asks how high. Steve never was. He took matters into his own hands to do what was right even when he was told he was wrong. Against everyone- his commanders, the government, Fury, even myself. Karli… Wants to cut the puppet strings to make the US squirm. To show the government that even now, after an apocalypse, people will still take matters into their own hands.”

“Boss, incoming call.” Friday spoke into Tony’s earpiece.

“Please - please tell me it’s not Pepper.” Tony said as he touched the earpiece, drawing a curious glance from Bucky in the kitchen.

“I would be lying if I did.” Friday responded before patching the call through.

“We’re in trouble.” Steve muttered.

“Put me on speaker.” Pepper hissed into Tony’s ear.

“Yes ma’am.” Tony drew his phone from his pocket and set it on the table, sighing. “Okay, you’re on speaker.”

“Who are you with?” Pepper asked, every ounce of agitation clear in her voice.

“Sam, Bucky and Steve.” Tony responded a little absently, nearly unphased by her anger.

After all, he’d grown up in a house of nothing but anger.

“I can’t be mad at Sam or Bucky, they were sent on this mission. But Anthony Edward Stark and Steven Grant Rogers, what are you two thinking!? Steve you tagged along to make sure Bucky’s okay, but you made a promise to all of us! And now your shield is on international news being used as a murder weapon! There's a video of this guy breaking your arm! And Tony! Putting on a suit and jetting across the world right now!? The first word in your self-proclaimed title is genius, but I guess you must have forgotten!” 

Steve frowned and glanced towards Tony before he sulked over and leaned over the table, keeping his voice cool. “We all appreciate your concern, Pepper. Tony and I will be returning to the Tower from here. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you as the front runner for Stark Industries. How can we make this up to you?”

There was a long pause as Pepper considered his level headed words, “Just get home, Steve. Did you forget we have a big meeting coming up? And please bring Tony home in one piece.”

She always did have a soft spot for Steve. Then again, with his charisma, almost everyone did.

“I’m not the one with the broken arm, just putting that out there. Or the gunshot wound.” Tony shrugged, though his face spoke volumes to how he was feeling. Yelling never got anywhere with Tony, he tended to shut down or fall into his feelings. Thanks, Howard. “Hey Pepps, what’s the government say about Walker’s little performance?”

“Tony.” Pepper was probably sneering on the other end of the phone. “You know, I divorced you so I wouldn’t have to worry about you? But I’m still worried. There’s no part of you that any of us will ever stop worrying about, I hope you realize that.”

“There’s no need to worry ‘bout him right now, ma’am.” Bucky piped in as he set plates of food at the table. “Steve and I will always protect him. Until the end of the line.”

“Until the end of the line.” Steve echoed, casting a glance to his shield that was on the table near Sam, now clean and polished. Even in another time, another universe, they had pursued Tony, evidenced by the engraving on the back of that particular shield.

“Okay, okay, sappy sayings aside- Pepps?” Tony poked at his toast, his heart heavy. He did actually feel bad that everyone worried about him. It felt unnecessary. He wasn’t incapable.

“Tony you’re lucky you mean so much to me.” Pepper sighed, “The government is stripping Walker of all of his honors and accolades, discharging him as less than honorable and he’s going to receive no benefits. He can no longer go by the moniker ‘Super-Patriot’ and he’s lucky he’s not branded a war criminal… And we’ve already received several calls at the tower about them wanting Steve at the hearing. He’ll have to give a formal apology for what he did with the shield and for attacking Steve directly.”

“And if I don’t go?” Steve asked, rolling his eyes. “This guy took an experimental super soldier serum willingly, then proceeded to be everything a hero isn’t.”

“We’ll be there, both of us.” Tony added, then he looked at Steve. “I want him.”

“For the Avengers? Are you nuts? Did those stones fry your brain?” Sam asked in awe.

“It’s the Avengers or the bad guys. A super soldier will be on everyone’s radar.” Bucky looked around and sighed, “He’s definitely been on ours, and now he’s alone without his partner. He needs a team… And training. Stability. That’s what every soldier wants. Tony’s right, we should try to get him on the right side. You saved me, Steve. The serum might not be amplifying anything but his patriotism and hero complex… But he was becoming unhinged before that being a normal human trying to live up to impossible standards. I know the feeling, so does Sam.”

“Tony, Steve, I know you’ve taken in some misfits to join the Avengers, but this?” Pepper asked in her ‘I can’t believe you two have saved the world multiple times’ voice.

“I agree with Bucky.” Tony said, “Us or the bad guys. Do we really want another Winter Soldier on the wrong end of a gun? No offense, Buck.”

“Yeah, none taken. Super soldiers should only be two things: Good or dead.” Bucky hesitated, looking down slightly. “Yeah, I include myself in that.”

“That’s going to be brought up to your therapist, Bucky. Just saying.” Tony cycled his hand through the fight footage, “Pepper, I’m sending over some footage. Can you have Agent Coulson cycle it through the recognition program?”

“Say please.” Pepper responded stubbornly.

“Oh, wow, yeah, you’re mad at me.” Tony huffed, “Please Pepper? And thank you.”

“You’re going to the next gala alone.” They didn’t need to see Pepper to know she rolled her eyes, “There’s a jet on its way to you. I’ll send you the coordinates.”

Then she hung up, leaving the room in more silence than it had been before.

Tony never ate his breakfast.

~~~

“Yeah, we argued a lot.” Tony said offhandedly, looking out the window of the jet.

Only Steve had come with him, since Sam had to meet up with his other team and Bucky had loose ends to tie up. At first they had talked about baseball and the ‘Funtertainment’ night they had missed. Then the conversation came up about Clint getting a divorce after the Battle against Ultron, how he was doing, how close he still was with his ex and children. How he was one of the unlucky few to lose everything - twice. His family, his ex-wife - then Nat on Vormir. 

Clint’s divorce had been littered with words like ‘I worry about you too much’ and ‘you work too much’. But the silent words of ‘I know you love someone else’ spoke louder than anything else. Everyone knew, but it was okay because everyone knew. Clint and Laura stayed best friends, closer than they had been during their marriage, and in turn Clint and Nat got their chance. Then Nat died for the cause. Her replacement showing up nearly broke Clint, because he knew immediately that wasn’t his Natasha - but she had most of the memories of the one she was replacing - and they started over from square one.

Tony had heard the words ‘I worry about you too much’ and ‘I can’t do this anymore’ from Pepper during their divorce, too. But everyone else heard what Tony hadn’t. Everyone knew Pepper saw the same thing as Laura - ‘you love someone else, and they love you too.’ Maybe now, which Tony had started to realize, that was why they made better friends than spouses.

“When did you start arguing?” Steve asked curiously.

Tony thought for a moment, unsure at first. “Hard to tell. We argued a bit after New York, then it settled… Argued a lot after Ultron, then… Well, after our fight… When I lost you guys. It felt never ending.”

“And since the divorce?” Steve looked over Tony, seeing how shut down he was.

“We haven’t. I haven’t heard Pepper raise her voice since before the battle… Until this morning.” Tony’s gaze fell to his hands in his lap. “I should have warned her before jetting, but there wasn’t time. And she would’ve tried to convince me not to come to you both… I should’ve-”

Steve sighed, watching Tony’s body language for long enough before cutting him off, “No. Stop thinking you should have done anything different. People fight, they argue. That’s part of life… But you were taught you were never good enough and that’s absolute bullshit.”

“Language?” Tony smiled, teasing Steve a bit.

Steve actually chuckled, “Language went out the window when I started spending time with you years ago… Anyway, don’t distract me, I’m old. Howard Stark was an absolute piece of work. He may have helped us during the war, but that didn’t change who he was. Who he became later in his life. He should have never been a father, but I’m grateful he was - because at least he gave the world you. And you’re the greatest thing he ever made.”

“I would argue you were his greatest accomplishment, actually.” Tony looked up at Steve, watching as the other man stood from his seat.

“Howard didn’t make me, he just helped and gave me the shield. And tried to steal Peggy. Because he was a bit of a pig.” Steve poured them both cups of coffee before grabbing both handles with one hand and walking back over to Tony, setting Tony’s on the little ledge next to him. He knew Tony didn’t like to be handed things, even now.

“Circling back to that-” Tony picked up his mug and sipped from it, then continued, “I thought you and Bucky were an item during the war?”

“We were…” Steve sat in the chair next to Tony now, looking up at the ceiling. “Bucky and I were steady before the drafts. Before the serum. We were… Well, it was a different time. No one knew. We had to keep up appearances. Bucky would dance with girls and flirt. I had the awkward card to play… After the serum, when I heard about the 107th getting imprisoned, I had to tell Peggy why it was important to me. Because the idea that Bucky was still alive behind enemy lines struck me hard… She understood. She helped us, without a second thought. And after Bucky recovered from his injuries she even bought us some time together off base, alone and away from the world. Bucky actually suggested it first, knowing how I’d fallen for Peggy while we were separated. I agreed, if he did… And she agreed too. We were all together in secret. When Bucky fell from the train, we both mourned… When I put the plane in the water - she told me to say hi to Bucky, and save a dance for her.”

“Then you woke up to a world without either of them.” Tony noted, turning to look at Steve. “No wonder you would’ve torn the world apart for Bucky when you found him.”

“There’s two people in this world now I would tear the world apart for, Tony.” Steve set his mug on the ledge next to Tony’s, making eye contact with him. “And one of them decided to wear our colors on his sleeve… Something you wanted to say, Tones?”

Tony swallowed the lump in his throat. Steve was so close he could feel the warmth coming off of him. “Pepper and I… Had broken up at one point. You were still in the tower. Before I could tell you - Bucky happened. The Winter Soldier… My world went to hell without you, Capsicle. I begged Pepper for another chance - because I was alone… I needed distraction.”

There was a pause, like they were both considering what was going to happen next. Tony wanted to close the distance, but he felt like there was still something hanging in the air between them. He cleared his throat and looked at Steve’s chest, carefully placing his hand in the center of it, where his star would sit on his uniform. He knew the gunshot wound was mostly healed, but wanted to be careful of the arm in the splint.

“Everytime life got dark, there was a quote that the human Jarvis would use. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.’” Tony looked up, making eye contact with Steve. 

They were the stars he saw every time life got hard. Back during the first battle, Tony looked to Steve like he never had for anyone else. He put a nuke through a wormhole because Captain America had questioned his sacrifice. In the tower, whenever Tony started to spiral, Steve would show up and pull him out of the pit. Steve’s sketches littered the workshop at one point, and trailed into Tony’s living space too. Tony took one look at Bucky and knew he could never hate the man - could never be mad at him. He was broken and looked like a puppy kicked and left to die in the cold. He got mad at Steve and they all fought, but in the end Tony was just angry.

No, not angry - jealous?

Jealous that Bucky’s symbol was suddenly a star and they fit together too well for Tony to even be part of the same puzzle. They had secrets amongst each other that for some reason Steve didn’t trust Tony with. As quick as Tony’s world had lit up, it was darkened once again.

Then, after everything and all the time apart, after the Battle on Earth and the snaps and the hospital time - they all settled into the tower again. Tony found comfort in being around the Super Soldiers and never once questioned what was going on. He cuddled with Bucky and Steve, made coffee and breakfasts in the mornings, spent time in the workshop together. Tony became one of the main subjects of Steve’s sketches and Bucky became nearly a second father to Morgan.

And Pepper was smiling at Tony again.

Because she had always known.

“I’m a narcissist.” Tony announced like it was a brand, then continued before Steve could argue. “I don’t fight for the world. I fight for my world. Morgan, Pepps, Peter, Bucky, you, and, well, most of the Avengers in a way but not the same way... Point is, you’re all my world, Steve. I saw how much you were hurting. I was mad at you, hurt, but I still… Bucky was the first one dusted. You watched him die before your eyes twice in your life… And I’m a fucking narcissist. I wanted to be the one to bring him back to you… But I also wanted to be selfish and have you to myself. When I snapped… Part of me hoped it would kill me. Die a martyr and not have to make a choice.”

“But I didn’t let you die, not this time.” Steve said, bringing his hand up to meet Tony’s at his chest, lifting it and bringing Tony’s knuckles to his lips. “And Pepper made the choice for you after Bucky and I spent those first four nights in a row in your hospital room.”

“After five years apart?” Tony asked, because he hadn’t asked before. “You stayed in my hospital room instead of together?”

Not in the over six months since he snapped his fingers had he ever asked once why he woke up to Steve and Bucky in his room.

“We were going to be there when you woke up, Tones. We didn’t care how long it took or how uncomfortable the couches were… Nothing else mattered. Not the outside world, not the past, not the anger - just then, you, and the future.” Steve squeezed Tony’s hand. “We may have been a bit selfish, but we wanted you. Even if you were someone else’s.”

“Well…” Tony leaned a bit closer. “I’m not someone else’s now.”

“Yes you are.” Steve almost said it in a growl, “You’re ours.”

Finally, Steve closed the distance between them, practically crushing Tony’s lips against his own. Tony felt the heat on his back and in his core, giving him the boost to return the kiss. He would have hesitated if Steve had said mine instead of ours, but he already gave affirmation - Bucky wanted him too. Somehow, just the feeling of being wanted by both of them made Tony’s head spin.

The fact that Steve was the best kisser in the whole world certainly didn’t help the world stop spinning.