When the bifrost landed in the field behind the Avenger compound, it rattled every window that Tony paid for. This of course had the man running into the field, yelling about cost and who knows what else.
Steve and Thor, the reason behind the bifrost landing, walked toward Tony leisurely, used to his histrionics.
“Spangles, Pikachu, stop using my grass as a rainbow landing pad!” He had his arms crossed and was clearly trying to look intimidating, but it didn’t work on either of them. They’d known him too long. And nothing could alter their good moods, not after such a fruitful trip to Asgard.
“Stark, cease your pouting. We come with news.” Thor said when they got close. After years together, he had finally learned to stop shouting everything.
“Oh, news from Planet Gold? This I have to hear.” Tony moved to walk with them into the compound. Steve hadn't been there for over a week and he was surprised to realize he missed it.
“Glad tidings indeed. Steven and I have been handfasted. It was a moving ceremony.” Thor told their friend. Steve watched Tony for any expression other than happiness. He knew his friend would be angry they married in Asgard instead of on Earth, but Steve could not have told Frigga no, not after the visit from the Fates. That visit and the result of it, were a secret until time in which Loki could visit, because Steve had promised, and he wasn’t going to go back on his word against the God of Mischief.
“Seriously? You stole the chance to throw the wedding of the century from me? How rude.” Tony pouted.
“Well, his mom was real adamant that we have a ceremony up there, but we can still have a wedding here. I was thinking of asking Miss Potts to help. She’s the most efficient person I know.”
“Oh sure, ask my wife, but ignore me. I see how it is.” Tony pressed his hand to the biometric lock to open the doors and they all stepped into the cool atrium. Steve looked around, glad to see nothing had changed in the week he’d been gone. One could never tell with Tony.
“Hey Tony, it’s not about you. We could just let the handfasting be. No need to do an earth ceremony at all.” Steve reminded him.
“No, no, no. And deprive me of seeing you two be all lovey dovey in front of millions of fans? That would be very rude.”
“Millions of fans? No. Simple and small or not at all.” Steve made sure Tony was actually looking at him. “This is why I said I’d talk to your lovely wife. Because she understands subtlety.”
“You are no fun at all Cap.” Tony groused.
“I disagree. My Steven is quite fun. I am always happy to spend time with him.” Thor offered. Steve leaned over to kiss him quickly.
“That’s just cause you’re all loved up.” Tony dismissed with a wave. “Now, Pep is in Manhattan, but I’ll call her and let her know you need her brain.”
“Pepper is not in Manhattan.” They all turned to the new voice and found Nat lounging against one of the elevator doors that had opened without anyone noticing.
“Hey Nat.”
“Hey Steve. We missed you around here.” She walked over with grave Steve still couldn't emulate and hugged him tight before offering a fist bump to Thor. The two of them had never gotten as close as she and Steve had.
“Missed you too. Next time you should come with us. I bet Sif would like the challenge. The boys up there all bore her.”
“Oh, maybe I will.” She smirked at him as they all trooped into the elevator. “And Tony, Pepper arrived nearly three hours ago. How did you miss that?”
“I was busy.” Tony countered. “The next gen uniforms won’t design themselves.”
“Sure, sure, I can see how your wife might like knowing that the uniforms are more important than her.” Nat teased. Luckily for them all, Tony was not at all insecure in his marriage. Same with Steve, as short as it had been.
“Eh, she knows me. Has for a long time.” Tony winked at Steve and before he had a chance to stop him, the older man was running his mouth. “Did you know Steve and Tor got hitched whilst on Asgard? And didn’t invite none of us. The rudeness.”
“I wouldn’t invite you to my secret Asgardian handfasting either.” Nat replied deadpan.
“The insolence.” Tony threw his hands up right as the door opened to the common area. “Pep, Pep! They are so rude, save me.”
“Ah yes. The CEO saving the superhero from other superheroes. I feel as if that might go wrong.” She pressed a kiss to Tony’s cheek as soon as he was within distance. “Hello Steven, Thor. Welcome home.”
“Thanks Miss Potts.”
“We are glad to be here with you, Lady Pepper.” Thor took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles as he always did and Tony glared halfheartedly, like he always did. Steve loved these little bits of routine. It helped him when he was feeling unmoored in the present.
“Pep, Pep, Pep! They got married. Without us!”
“Oh, that’s so lovely. Can you tell me about it?”
“Pep.” Tony whined. Clearly unhappy with her enthusiasm about the wedding and not Tony feeling left out.
“Tony, really. If Steve and Thor, the crown prince, please remember, wanted to do an Asgardian ceremony, then that is perfectly understandable.”
“Thank you Pepper.” Steve said with feeling. “It was very important to Thor’s mom, and I did not want to disappoint a queen.” Steve gave Tony his best disappointed in you look.
“Well of course not, that is simply bad manners. Now, come. Tell me what you can. How different is it from what we do here? The few times I’ve imagined it, it was all very Viking-esque.” Pepper slipped her arm through Steve’s and led him further into the common area toward the back where there was a kitchen.
“It was eerily reminiscent of the Vikings.” Steve told her. “And they don’t do a wedding, it’s a handfasting. Very old ceremony from what I was told. It was sweet. Simple yet oh so complicated. Do you know what I mean?”
“I do.” She offered him a mug of steaming coffee from the seemingly endless pot.
“I wore a cape.” Steve told her, leaned down so only she could hear him.
“Oh my. I do hope there are some pictures of that. A painting? Do they take pictures?” He could see her trying to work it out in her head so he saved her the headache.
“From what I saw, they were advanced in numerous ways, but their photography apparatus looked an awful lot like something from the early 20th century. There are photos, black and white. My cape was deep blue.”
“Oh my, we’ll have to see if we can get a copy to have for our enjoyment.” She sipped on her coffee and looked over to where Tony and Thor were talking, both of them waving their hands around in excitement. “He’ll get over the supposed slight.”
“I told him I was okay with having a small ceremony here. I just don’t want a huge circus. So if we could plan something for friends and family, I am good with that.”
“Oh well that is fine. I think that would be lovely Steven.” She offered. He knew she was the right person to talk to about this.
“I had hoped to ask you for your help, but if you don’t have time, I totally understand. I know that being the CEO keeps you busy.”
“It does, but Steve, you’re family. Of course I can help. Especially if you want to keep it small. Our wedding was always going to be an event, but I know exactly how I would have done it if I had married anyone other than Tony Stark.” She sent Steve a soft smile that told him all he needed to know about how much she loved him, pomp included. “It would be my honor to help you two do something here.”
“Thanks Pepper. It means a lot. And really, small. And probably soonish, if we can swing it.”
“In a hurry? You’re already technically married, correct?” She nodded her head in the direction of the leather band he wore around his wrist. They didn’t do rings in Asgard, but Steve wanted something, and they settled on specially made leather bracelets.
“Yes, well, I guess it’s legal? In Asgard at least, but I would like concrete proof here as well. And, you know since I came out that we’ve done some great work with kids. It might help them see us make it legal, you know?”
“Oh, Steve…” She pressed one hand against her heart and the other over her mouth.
“Not the wedding itself, but after we could do press, I know how much Darcy loves it when we agree to do what she asks.”
“You really are too good for this world Steven Rogers. Of course I will help you. Just let me know when you want to do this and I’ll get it all planned.”
“Thank you Miss Potts.” He squeezed her hand gently before refilling his coffee, wanting to go back to his boy… his husband.
“Of course Captain Rogers.” She sends him a cheeky wink before going to stand with Tony.
“Handfasted, eh? So you really are with him for good?” Nat leaned against the counter. She looked almost completely relaxed, which meant she was anything but.
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“Good. You two are ridiculously hot together.” She offered him a rare smile and he shook his head before dropping an arm across her shoulder.
“You’ll be my best man, right? You and Bucky. I’d like for you two to be at my side.”
‘Of course, old man. I would have just shown up ready if you didn’t ask me.” She elbowed him and slipped out from under his arm. “Wilson’ll be mad though.”
“I think he’ll understand.” Steve really hoped he understood.
Sam did understand.
“Steve, of course. I’ll be glad to sit in the crowd and clap when you kiss the other big blond.” Sam had clapped his hand on Steve’s shoulder and he was once again so grateful for the people he’d found in this time.
“It’s just we’re keeping it small…”
“You don’t have to justify it Steve. I swear I'm not mad.” Sam assured him.
“Okay, okay. Good. Thanks Sam.” It was a weight off his shoulders, now all he had to do was find Bucky. His best friend tended to move around a lot, the paranoia never really left him even after he’d been helped.
At least Steve had been allowed to have multiple safe drops all over the city. He dropped three messages the day after he and Thor arrived, hoping that Buck would get back to him soon. He didn’t want to sic Nat on his elusive friend, but he would for this. He’d give Buck a few days but if he didn’t make contact, Nat would find him.
Meanwhile, Steve and Thor continued to work on figuring out exactly what being the god of courage meant for him. There hadn’t been much time for training on Asgard, once the Norns had bestowed his new title on him, the handfasting was put together at the behest of Frigga. They had figured that if Steve had to shield someone, he was able to produce a sort of force field and he wanted so badly to use it in training with the team, but his new godhood was still hush hush. He’d had to bribe Friday with some new plants on his balcony, he didn’t ask why the AI liked to see plants on their balconies, to keep what he and Thor were doing a secret.
He was lucky that he didn’t have to hide it for long. The third night after they arrived home, all the avengers at the compound had sat down to enjoy dinner. Wanda and Vision were talking about the pizza itself, while Peter was talking to Clint about some weird aerial moves he wanted to learn. Bruce and Tony were arguing about some science thing Steve would never understand. He couldn't help but reflect on how good he was to be home.
The peace was shattered by Friday sounding the alarm right as Steve heard footsteps land behind him. He was up, his new force field glowing golden between his team and the intruder before he noticed it was only Loki. The trickster was slow clapping, a mischievous grin across his face.
“What in the fuck is that?” Tony was, of course, the first to find his voice.
“That? Oh, that is my dear Steven’s new powers manifesting. It’s always interesting to see what a new god will be blessed with.” Loki said with pleasure.
“A NEW WHAT?” Tony shouted. Steve glanced behind him, finally letting the shimmery shield fall. Tony hadn’t fallen over with a heart attack, Loki was going to owe him money.
“Oh, you held your word, thank you Steven.” Steve dipped his head in deference to Loki as he was taught, and then with the threat gone, he went back to his pizza. Pulling the shield out took a lot of energy and would for a while, according to Odin.
“I’m sorry, can we go back to the whole Steve is a god thing because I’m sure I heard that wrong.” Tony said with impatience. Steve didn’t say anything, his mouth was full of pepperoni and cheese.
“Yes, it is true. My Steven was bestowed with a great gift by the Norns themselves.” Thor started.
“The God of Courage. Apt no?” Loki interrupted. “Oh, pizza. Delightful.” Loki stole a piece off Steve’s plate and took a huge bite.
“Steve, can you explain please?” Bruce asked, his voice less meek than normal. He was looking back and forth between Loki and Tony. Steve understood, the two of them together could be quite volatile.
“Yeah. Uh, I was, well, we were at the celebration where Thor was presenting me as his fiancé—"
“Intended.“ Thor interrupted.
“Yes, his intended. The crowd had cheered a bit and then these three glowing women arrived.”
“The Norns.” Loki added.
“Indeed. Their fates, in person. They said that since I had chosen to tie my life to Thor, accepting his lifespan on top of what would have been an unusually long life anyway, well, they thought it was courageous.”
“It was damn stupid is what it was, but you wouldn’t be Steven Grant Rogers if you didn’t do stupid shit.” The whole table turned to find Bucky leaning against the door frame. Tony pulled a tablet out of nowhere, mumbling about Friday letting people into the building.
“And how did you get in?” Tony sneered.
“Oh, me and Friday are really tight. Ain’t we doll?”
“Too right Sergeant.” Friday replied, easy as you please. Steve swore he could see steam coming out of Tony’s ears.
“Hey Punk. I saw you needed to talk to me.” Bucky made his way over to yank Steve into a hug. Steve sighed into it and hugged his best friend tightly.
“You jerk.” Steve grinned. “Missed you. And yeah, I did want to talk to you about standing up for me at the wedding.”
“Like you had to ask.” Bucky cuffed the back of Steve’s head and in a move that had Nat snorting, went “oh pizza,” and stole Steve’s last piece.
“Between you and Loki I never get to finish a meal.” He fake complained.
“Just get your god to get you more,” Bucky waved a hand as he shoved the rest of the pizza into his mouth.
“Aye, Steven, you can have mine.” Thor swiped the box out from under Pete’s reaching hand.
“No, no. It’s fine. Anyway, if Miss Potts is as good as I think she is, we should be all set in a few weeks. Can you stay findable until then?”
“Only for you, and only if Junior over there keeps his paws off my arm.”
“But, but, but..” Tony sputters.
“I’ll keep him occupied. Good to see you again Sergeant Barnes.” Bruce proceeded to drag Tony out of the kitchen and, spying the empty seat, Bucky plopped himself down and helped himself to the pizza Thor had tried to give Steve.
“I think I’ll order some more.” Clint said, resigned.
“Do not fret, Archer.'' Loki waved a hand and a stack of steaming boxes appeared.
“Can Steve do that too?” Peter asked. When every head turned to him, he squeaked and ran out of the room.
“Yeah Steven, can you do that?” Bucky joked. Steve just hung his head.
“Teleportation will not be one of his abilities I am afraid.” Loki told them, before taking the first piece of piping hot pizza.
“He was bestowed with the title God of Courage, all his power will manifest in concert with that. As with the shield you just saw.” Thor told them. Steve was glad at least one of them knew what was going on. As it was, he was just trying to move forward as best he could.
“That is so neat Mr. Rogers, sir.” Pete piped up.
“It is, yeah.” Steve replied. Glad to see everyone was taking it in stride, Well, except Tony. But he and Thor had known he would not accept it easily.
“Well punk, I’m guessing the end of the line got a whole lot longer for you, huh? Might not make it with you.” Bucky said. Steve saw a bit of sadness in his friend’s face. He had worried about that, how this new lifespan would affect their friendship.
“Nonsense. You will come to Asgard and father will give you a golden apple. I have lobbied for one for each of you.” Thor said with finality. Steve spun to stare at his husband.
“You did?” When?”
“Aye, when you and mother spoke. I told father that if the Norns believed you worthy, then the rest of our Avengers were worthy as well. The apple will not make them a god, but it will give them an equal lifespan.”
“If Thor had not asked, I would have taken what we needed from Idunn herself.” Loki said. Steve’s jaw almost hit the table. He’d been so worried. Sad about the idea of losing people again. If they accepted, this would mean he would not lose his team again.
Steve grinned at Bucky. “There ya go jerk. You ain’t getting rid of me yet.”
“I’m just glad Tony won't be getting god powers.” Clint shuddered.
“Bad enough he’ll be annoying us for a millennia.” Nat added. Steve grinned so hard he was sure his cheeks would crack.
“Avengers in space!” Peter yelled, jumping on the table.
“Oh my. What have we done?” Loki asked Thor. Steve leaned into his husband's side.
“Avengers in space. That's what you did.” Steve laughed at the sour look on Loki’s face. He knew his friend was only joking though. He’d already admitted to Steve to having grown fond of the team. Tony notwithstanding.
The others started to talk over themselves and Steve just closed his eyes and let their voices wash over him. He was looking forward to a millennia of them.