Chapter 5
When Steve got home from his visit with Tony’s family, he was feeling great. It went way better than expected, even if Howard had given him a bit of a shovel talk. But so had Harley, so Steve wasn’t all that intimidated by it.
His good mood was soured, however, when he walked in the front door and was immediately chastised by his brother.
“Holy fuck, Stevie...you’re bonded? You’re actually bonded to that guy?”
“He has a name, Buck,” Steve growled out, walking past his brother to grab a beer from the fridge. Bastard must’ve smelled it on him.
“Look, I’m not dismissing he’s a little hot piece of Omega-ass...but that doesn’t mean you need to bond with the first one you’ve stuck your dick in!”
“I’m sorry, what?!” Clint asked in anger, joining them with fury seeping from his scent.
“Stevie bonded the Omega he barely knows!”
“I dont give a flying fuck about that, what do you mean little hot piece of Omega-ass??” Steve couldn’t help but smirk at that, happy to have the attention taken from him.
“Doll…”
“Don’t you ‘doll’ me James Buchanan Barnes! You really think Tony is hot, don’t you?” Bucky looked at his brother for help, but Steve only offered him a smug smile as he took a sip of his beer.
There was a knock on the front door that momentarily interrupted the argument.
“That’s Nat and Sam. The four of us were going to go out but I think all knotheads should stay here and think about what they’ve done,” Clint said as he walked to answer the door.
“Seriously? Clint baby -”
“- why hello there friends!” the Omega greeted loudly, pointedly ignoring his Alpha as Sam and Nat entered their apartment and Clint closed the door behind them. Steve’s momentary reprieve ended, however, when Natasha suddenly inhaled deeply and scanned the room, eyes landing on Steve.
“Really Steve?”
“What’s happ- oh Steve you dog!” Sam exclaimed, throwing a wink Steve’s way that he ignored and drank more of his beer.
“Steve’s bonded, who cares? Did you know my Alpha wants to fuck another Omega?” The attention temporarily turned to Bucky who looked shocked and angry from the question.
“I said Tony was hot, not that I wanted to fuck him!” Nat and Sam both rolled their eyes and turned their attention back to Steve.
“Steve isn’t it a little soon to be bonding with that pretty Omega? It's only been what, two months?” Nat asked as she brushed past him to grab her own beer.
“That’s all I was saying!” Bucky shouted, mostly to his mate. Clint of course didn’t look convinced, just walking around to sit on the chair farthest from Bucky. Sam had plopped himself on the couch next to a grumpy Bucky.
“Steve isn’t stupid you guys, it probably felt really right to him,” Sam, ever the mediator, spoke up on the other Alpha’s behalf.
“Steve also has ears and is standing right next to you,” the blonde groaned out as he joined the others on the couch. “Why don’t we go back to Bucky cheating on Clint?” Steve knew, okay? He knew he shouldn’t have said it, cause he knew exactly who his brother was.
But he was really tired of his friends giving him shit about bonding.
As expected, Bucky shot up out of his seat and absolutely shook with rage.
“Take that back! I love Clint and I would never cheat on him! Unlike you, I’m actually with the love of my life!” The whole room tensed as Bucky roared his words, clenching and unclenching his fist as if deciding whether to attack Steve or not.
If they were fifteen again, he totally would have.
He noticed Clint flinch out of the corner of his eye while Sam shifted, ready to get in between the two if necessary. But it wasn’t necessary.
Steve took a deep breath and replied calmly.
“I know you’d never cheat on Clint and that he’s the love of your life. But Tony...he’s my soulmate,” he said, directly to his now calming brother. Everyone froze again at that, before the scents and air around them turned more relaxed.
“Like, you love him forever and ever...or...like, actual soulmate?” Clint asked, scent now just curious.
“We discovered we have a soulmate bond,” Steve clarified, loving not only the change in atmosphere from hard to soft, but the warmth of love he had for his mate. His soulmate.
“Wait...you’re serious?” Nat asked, coming over to lean over the couch near Sam while nursing her beer.
“Yes,” Steve said, a small smile on his face as he took a swig of his beer again.
“Holy fuck Stevie you’re serious?!” Bucky asked, eyes comically wide as his scent instantly changed to happy and proud. Steve’s smile grew as he nodded yes, pushing a little love into the bond and beaming when he felt it in return. “That’s so fucking rare! I can’t...haven’t there only been like a handful in existence?”
“See now this is cause for celebration!” Sam said, slapping Steve’s thighs and standing up before heading into the kitchen.
“Our plan was to go out anyway, Steve join us and celebrate,” Nat said as she walked around and stole Sam’s spot.
“Congratulations Steve,” Clint said, smiling with pain behind his eyes. Luckily Bucky quickly caught on as he approached his mate.
“Omega?” Bucky asked as he gently sat on the blonde’s lap, like there weren’t three other people in the room. They did that often, acted like there was no one else in the world but them.
Steve wondered if he and Tony were like that as Bucky kept talking.
“What’s really wrong, doll? You know I’d pick you over Tony every time right? He has scrawny little arms and you have bulging biceps!”
“Don’t insult Tony,” Steve countered, though it fell on deaf ears.
“Yeah well...we’re not soulmates,” Clint responded with a pout, even though he simply wrapped his arms around the larger man in his lap.
“Do you think it’s that time of the year?” Nat blatantly asked, getting a snort from Sam and Steve while the cuddle birds were still wrapped in their own world. It was fairly obvious the Omega would start his heat soon, since Clint was dramatic but not like this. Only Natasha had the balls to say it out loud.
“Of course we’re not, doll. Steve is a freak of nature! Soulmates are destined by the universe to find each other. We did that without destiny getting in the way, You know why? Cause the universe doesn’t decide our fate. We do. I love you with every part of my being, Clint.”
“Apparently we can heal each other through the bond,” Steve said absently, not really to anyone in particular. But that was apparently what could snap the couple out of their stupor. The two turned to him with shocked and impressed expressions.
“Seriously?” “That’s actually really cool.”
“Oh that they hear,” Sam muttered, just as the two turned back to each other. “Wait are we still going out?” he said a little louder, getting a chuckle from Steve as his brother and his mate started kissing each other.
“Well, on the bright side, you won’t have to hole up with us for a week,” Natasha said with a smug grin.
“That’s true,” Steve said as he stood up off the couch. “I’m going with you guys tonight, let me pack a bag and I’ll go to Tony’s after.”
“Wait we can still go out with you guys -”
“- no we can’t James,” the Omega growled, possessively wrapping his arms around Bucky who only smiled in response.
“That’s our cue,” Sam said with a heavy sigh, standing up off the couch and grabbing his mate’s hand.
Steve tried not to take it too personally when Harley threw a small tantrum when he learned he and Tony were going to meet Steve’s family. It didn’t last long, but there was a pointed glare at Steve’s direction that was a lot harder to ignore.
“Steve met Nonna and Grandpa, now it’s our turn to meet his family. And if I hear one more complaint out of you I’m going to donate your toys. You will be polite and on your best behavior, do you understand me?” Tony asked the pup, the Omega’s hands on his hips just outside of their waiting car.
“Yes Daddy,” Harley said with a sigh, which Steve counted as a win...at least for now.
It was a few hours of a drive to his parents house, and Steve spent it resting his hand on Tony’s thigh as the Omega drove the three. The Alpha wasn’t sure why he was nervous, his parents were going to welcome Tony and Harley with open arms.
Bucky and Clint were going too, which maybe their teasing was why something sat wrong in his stomach. His younger sister Becca was probably going to throw some snide remarks as well, but he was pretty used to the sixteen year old’s sass.
Maybe it was the hope of winning over Harley, who was mostly polite to Steve but continued keeping him at a distance. Regardless, it was a particularly long ride until they finally reached the Rogers’ house. During that time, he and Harley sat quietly while Tony hummed along to different songs on the radio.
“This is it,” Steve said when they pulled up to the familiar grey house, the first words he’d spoken in a while.
“Alright come on my boys!” the Omega chirped with a clap of his hands, gently pushing Harley up the driveway. Steve followed the pair, smiling when Tony paused to grab his hand. A quick kiss on the cheek warmed his heart and Steve could feel comfort from the Omega through the bond. The reassurance Steve needed to knock on the front door before opening it and bringing the group inside.
“Ma! Pop! We’re here!” he called, looking around before hearing the cheers from the living room. So Bucky and Clint beat them there, great…
His parents came into view and walked over to greet them, Steve hugging the two before turning to introduce everyone.
“Tony, this is my Pop, Sarah Rogers and my Ma, George Barnes. Ma, Pop, this is my...partner Tony and his son, Harley.”
“Nice to finally meet you both! When Stevie told us that not only had he found the perfect Omega, but that the cutie came with a pup and a soul bond we thought he was pulling our leg! I’m so happy you’re real,” the other Alpha said with a teasing wink, making Steve’s cheeks flush pink in embarrassment as his Pop pulled his Omega into a hug.
“Good to be met,” Tony said with a squeak.
“Pop,” Steve whined, turning to his Ma for help.
“Don’t look at me,” the older Omega said with a laugh and shrugged shoulders, taking his turn to hug Tony before the two turned to the pup.
“And you must be the famous Harley! If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were Steve’s secret love child.” Steve cringed at his Pop’s words, watching as the pup considered those words before pinching his face together. But before the boy could loudly say how wrong she was, Becca made her way over to the group..
“Heyyyy is that my favorite brother finally showing his face?” his sister called as she made herself visible while their brother Bucky yelled a ‘hey!’ in offense. Becca was sixteen and went back and forth on her favorite brother based on who she wanted a favor from.
“Becca, this is Tony and Harley. Tony, this is my little sister, Becca. And you know those two bums sitting on the couch,” Steve said with a smile as they all walked into the living room, nodding to Bucky and Clint who pouted back at him.
“Wow...can not believe Steve finally found a mate. And with a beautiful Omega, no less,” his sister, also an Omega, said as she threw a wink Tony’s way. Steve stamped on his inner Alpha from growling at his sister, who had recently come out as only being attracted to other Omegas. “And what a cute pup! Hey Harley, wanna come play some XBox?” she asked the boy who looked like he was trying to resist the offer. Ever since they arrived, he’s been glued to Tony’s hip.
“No thanks.”
“You sure baby? I could sit next to you while you play,” Tony said before turning to Bucky and Clint, who they’d met before. “Hey guys, good to see you too.”
“Hey Tony, hey Harley, good to see you guys again. Welcome to the nuthouse,” Bucky said with a grin, one arm wrapped around his mate.
“It’s only the nuthouse when you show your ugly mug around here,” Becca sneered at their brother, dodging the pillow Buck threw at her.
“Behave, kids. We have guests,” their Pop said with a pointed look as she went to the kitchen and brought a tray of lemonade. “Harley, would you like some lemonade sweetheart? George also made his famous chocolate chip cookies.”
“Thank you,” Harley said, joining his Daddy on the couch as Steve sat on the other side of Tony. The Alpha put his arm around the brunette who leaned against his side.
“So Tony you work for your father, is that right?” Sarah asked as she sat down next to Clint, snuggling close to the Omega who snuggled right back.
“Pop, I told you Tony Stark works for Stark Industries ,” Steve said with a fond sigh.
“Lay off your Papa, she doesn’t stay up to date on the cool hip lingo like I do,” George teased, getting a groan from his teenage sister.
“Mama, we talked about this…”
“So Harley, Steve tells me you like dinosaurs. Do you have a favorite?” Clint asked the boy, leaning forward to address the pup.
“This answer changes every few weeks, fair warning,” Tony interceded, followed by a pout from his pup and a chuckle from the others.
“My favorite is the pachycephalosaurs!” Harley said carefully, clearly having memorized the long word. Steve smiled watching the pup interact with his family.
“That one is so cool! My favorite is the velociraptor,” Becca said as she munched on one of Ma’s cookies. “Also, you should definitely try one of these,” his sister offered Harley, who took it and immediately took a big bite.
“Fis ‘s amafing,” the pup said around a mouthful of cookie, prompting his Daddy to flick the boy’s ear.
“Eat, then speak and say thank you,” Tony said pointedly, pulling the pup into his embrace after Harley drank some more lemonade.
“Thank you.”
“You are welcome, baby. Have as many as you want,” his Ma cooed, getting a huff out of Steve.
“Ma we haven’t even had dinner yet,” the Alpha scolded, knowing it’s a lost cause when it came to his Ma. Especially since Harley is technically his first grandbaby...and there is another on the way...
“Harley is at Nanny’s house so he can have as many cookies as he wants,” the older Omega predictably replied, purposefully pushing the plate closer to the pup. Steve stole a glance at Tony, who was smiling fondly at the interaction.
“Yeah Steve this is Nanny’s house,” Becca added in a smug tone, reaching for a cookie and getting swatted away by their Pop. “Hey!”
“You haven’t had dinner yet,” Pop said with a grin, leaning back and wrapping her arm around her Omega.
“Sucks not being the cute one anymore, huh?” Bucky teased their sister, who maturely stuck her tongue out at the Alpha.
“Like you were ever the cute one?” Steve chimed in, laughing as he caught the pillow his brother threw at him.
“I was there, Bucky was definitely the cute one,” Clint purred, getting Steve to throw the pillow right back at his brother when he blushed at his mate.
“Alright! Enough pillow throwing you two. And Clint dear, you’re a tad biased,” their Ma said with a smile, reaching for a cookie and giving half of it to a giggling Harley. “So Tony, would you like to see baby pictures of Stevie?” The Alpha had taken a drink of lemonade and choked on it from the question.
“I don’t think -”
“- I would absolutely love to see baby pictures of Stevie!” Tony purred next to him, ignoring the pout coming from the Alpha. Steve groaned as his Ma left and came back with six photo albums.
“Ma please -”
“- Ooh! Mama grab the photo of Steve and Bucky in tutus!”
“Oh honey, here’s Stevie running naked in the front yard when it rained!” Pop cooed and handed Tony the picture as Steve felt himself blush more. Especially when his sister found the ballerina picture and handed that to Tony as well. It got a laugh out of Harley, who looked back and forth between the picture and Steve before bursting into giggles.
But Steve couldn’t find himself to care, especially when Harley dug in to look at more photos, laughing along at the stories his family began to share. His mate was happy next to him, pulling the Alpha down to kiss his cheek in approval.
As his step-pup asked for more stories, the Alpha found himself feeling more love for his mate and son, and how well they got along with his family.
The only one he’d really been worried about was Harley, but the pup quickly took a liking to his new grandparents and even managed to squeeze more cookies out of them. Warmed up to his aunt who coaxed him into playing MarioKart with her.
Harley even let Steve carry the sleepy pup home, which won the Alpha sweet, sweet rewards from his Omega when they went to bed that night.