Chapter 16
Both the alphas had returned home to Brooklyn later that night. Taking time to relax after their days spent in the Stark mansion. As accommodating as they had been, sometimes they needed to getaway. Besides they wouldn't be able to take Peter home anytime soon. They were just going to have to adjust until then. Unfortunately, neither were very patient. In the meantime, they worked on how to address Howard.
"I think we should be honest with him. We're not giving up Peter, but maybe we could co-parent." Bucky suggested.
"Co-parent," Steve reiterated, his brows furrowing together in consideration. "That could work. But Pete's a bit too young to understand that. His body might think that we're trying to separate him from Tony."
"Too bad we can't just go back to how things used to be. Just us three."
"You know," Steve started, not paying attention to what Bucky said. "Tony thought we were going to take the baby from him."
"Geez, seriously? I mean it's a difficult situation, but we would never do that."
"See I tried to tell him that. But I got to be honest, Buck I don’t know how we’ll go from here."
"Peter can’t afford to get sick again. And I'm sure Tony can’t either. They’ve been through so much, I don’t want to make it any worse for either of them." The but was left unsaid.
"But…" Bucky continued on for him anyway, knowing his mate well.
"But he’s our baby. I want to bring him back home, you know?"
He nodded understandingly. "I get that, I do. The house is just too quiet without him."
"Maybe we could set Tony up in the guest room downstairs. He’d have his own space but be close enough to Peter."
"That could work, I don’t know if Howard will like it though."
Bucky didn't reply. He could already tell it wouldn't be an easy fight. Talking to Howard was exhausting. The man ran circles around them intellectually, practically forcing each conversation into a pissing contest. Who made more money? Who could care for the pup better? It was never enough for him. But they knew he'd slip up, he'd shown them his cards before. He'd do anything for Tony's approval, anything to get him back to the boy he used to be. Even if it meant giving in to a couple of knotheads like themselves.
They expected him to come around. He stuck to his routine like clockwork—breakfast, board meetings, then Tony's room until lunch. There they waited for him, excusing it as a way to spend more time with the baby. No one bothered to correct them, except Tony that is. He wasn't too fond of his space being occupied by the alphas. He thought they were too pushy.
"Why are you adjusting him so much?" Bucky asked while Tony fed the pup.
The young one huffed a bit annoyed. "I was backed up for a while, so now I have a clogged duct."
Steve cringed, "Does it hurt?"
"A bit, but it'll be better if he can suck it out."
"If? Does this happen often?"
"Only when I make more milk than I know what to do with. Natasha always had to remind me to pump, but sometimes I'd still forget." He replied watching as the men's faces turned sour. They refused to talk about her. He could figure why. There were many a person who would've done something worse. At least she had the decency to send him to a place in the city. Otherwise, he would have never had the chance to come back home. "Sorry, guess I shouldn't have brought her up."
The omega's started to scent embarrassed after he apologized. The couple's inner alpha couldn't stand to upset the boy in any way.
"There's no need to apologize, you were only explaining." Bucky tried through gritted teeth, holding back a snarl. "But it's hard to hear that beta's name without wanting to tear her to shreds.
"Tony, she hurt you and our son. I don't understand how you can bring her up so casually."
He frowned at their tone. "Sure sending me to a mental hospital was...awful, but it's water over the bridge. She could've done a lot worse."
"Seriously?" Steve asked starting to raise his voice. "What could have been worse than- "
"Rape, kidnapping, torture maybe," Howard listed entering the room. "I see you have an audience today, Anthony. Perhaps you should regale them of your childhood tales."
"Dad," Tony chastised, smirking to himself. He knew they were the only ones to find the humor in such dark events. "There's no need to traumatize them too."
"Yes, I suppose that would be in bad taste. How's my grandson doing today?"
"Good, I think. He's been smiling more, but it could've been gas."
The old man chuckled remembering the days Tony was that small. "And you, my boy?"
"I'm okay, these two have been keeping me company."
"I see," He smiled at him, unimpressed by the lengths the alphas were going to annoy him in his own house. "A word, you two?" He demanded more than asked, before motioning them out.
"Actually, Howard there's something we wanted to talk to you about. Both of you." Bucky interjected.
They waited till he took a seat beside his son to continue. "Bucky and I think it'd be best if Tony came to stay with us after they recover. That way he wouldn't have to be away from the baby."
"Oh," The man was hard to get a read on, his face was like stone. "You've given this a lot of thought, I presume?"
"Yes sir." They both replied dutifully.
"How do you suppose you'll take care of an omega? A young unbonded one, at that. Have you any idea of the kind of person Tony is? He may biologically be a caretaker, but he's in no way a typical omega. If either of you turn around for too long he'll have blown up your house or taught the little one to take apart all your electronics."
"I'm really not that bad." Tony said in defense. "I haven't blown up the lab since I came back from MIT."
"Anthony that's not the point. They can't take care of you and your pup. You're better off here."
"With all due respect sir. It's not your choice to make." Steve said with all the grace of a territorial alpha. He had become attached to the idea of Tony staying with them. It was a win for everybody.
"Well," Bucky added. "What do you say, kid? You wanna come stay with us?"