Chapter 3
TONY
He not so subtly watched Steve’s ass as they walked into the kitchen. Not that anyone could blame him at this point, the sexy bastard has barely aged a day in the nearly forty years they’ve known each other.
Whereas, Tony…on the other hand...
Steve constantly reassured him he didn’t need to dye his hair, but he was getting real tired of the old jokes real quick. Plus retiring after having knee replacement surgery didn’t help the recently retired superhero feel any younger.
If anything, Steve retiring along with him made him feel ancient – like it wasn’t obvious the blonde was doing it out of pity for his husband. His deprecating thoughts are interrupted when his husband snaps his fingers to get his attention.
“Did you hear me?” the blonde asked with a small smile as he rested against the counter.
“No, sorry it must be my old age.” Steve rolled his beautiful blue eyes as he turned back to the refrigerator.
“You’re not that old.”
“Tell that to my grey hairs you won’t let me dye!” the genius whined. The blonde promptly closed the fridge door and walked over to the shorter man, pressing a kiss to his temple before murmuring, “you’re not that old.”
“Oh, I see what you did there, you think you’re so cute,” the brunette playfully growled out before smacking the super soldier’s ass. His love threw him a mock glare before he went back to check the cabinets for ingredients.
“What are you thinking moving wise, babe?” Steve asked as he brought out the supplies to make sandwiches. “This kind of puts our plans on hold.”
“Eh, the mansion isn’t going anywhere. Plus your bestie will be like three floors below you, so…” he trailed off, hoping it didn’t sound sarcastic. “I do have concerns regarding that cute fluff ball. And Harvey,” he said, laughing at his own joke. It got a snort out of his husband as well.
“You sure you’re okay with all of this? I know you’re itching to expand your lab…Plus we’re already babysitting our daughter and still have Miles to consider.” Tony let out a huff of laughter thinking of his moping girl.
“Well, we’re still retired. Unless of course you want to go back…”
“Tony…”
“I’m just saying! In case you start to get bored–”
“Tony, wha–”
“Poppy!” their granddaughter interrupted them as she toddled into the kitchen, running straight into Steve’s legs. “Poppy I’m hung’y!” she whined with a pout that looked suspiciously like Tony's own enough to get another laugh from the genius.
“You are, huh?” Steve asked with his hands on his hips.
“Yeah, how long does it take to whip up some food, grampa?” Emerson asked trailing in after the toddler.
“What did I tell you about that?” Steve asked her with a mock glare as the toddler continued trying to get Steve to pick her up.
“Pick up your grandbaby, grandfather, and I’ll repeat myself,” Emerson teased as Steve rolled his eyes and picked up the baby girl.
“Repeat yourself, Thumper,” the blonde said as he walked the two over to their middle child, who was also walking towards the genius.
“I was asking how long it takes,” she said as she used her darker-haired father as a shield, “for a decrepit old man such as yourself, to make a sandwich. Should my brothers and I start looking for a home to place you in?” she asked like the little shit she was.
“Alright, that’s it,” Steve said as he promptly placed the toddler in Tony’s lap while Emerson hightailed it back into the living room. “Get back here young lady!” the super soldier shouted as Tony simply smiled and followed them with his granddaughter on his hip.
“Uncle Buck save me!” Em cried out as Peter picked up Isaac before he was stampeded on by the running adults and excited eighty pound puppy. The young woman was hiding behind the other super soldier as Tony watched Miles, Peter and Isaac calmly walk into the kitchen to eat.
“Steve what are you doing?” Bucky asked, shielding his niece as Natasha simply smiled while remaining quiet on the couch.
“This doesn’t concern you, Buck. She knows what she did,” the blonde said with a mock glare as he tried to reach around the metal-armed man.
“Dad! You said twenty-seven was the cut off! If Peter was in here he would back me up!” Em said as she tried to get the puppy to attack her blonde father. The dog simply barked excitedly until Nat gave it an order in Russian to be silent.
“Must be my old age, but I don’t remember that conversation,” Tony teased with a grin as he set down the wiggly toddler – who also made her way into the kitchen to eat.
“See? I am totally justified. Don’t worry Dad, I won’t put you in the home where they beat old people,” she teased back before yelping in laughter – seems Steve found a way to get around his old friend and unleash payback. Buck, no longer wanting to play ref, simply took a step towards the genius and laughed along with him at what followed.
Steve tickled their daughter until she flopped over the couch – and almost onto Nat who simply rolled to the side.
“Barnes, how’s your arm? Any updates I can help with?” Tony offered the man as they watched Emerson refuse to concede. Bucky stretched the limb out, looking it over before answering the genius.
“Nah, I think I’m okay. Shuri updated it before she left.” Tony rolled his eyes and mockingly cursed that brilliant daughter-in-law of his. Not like anything he could do would top that little genius.
“James, we should go settle in,” Nat said as she scratched behind the puppy’s ears.
“Aunt Tasha where do your loyalties lie??” Emerson screeched as Steve fumbled over the couch to reach her better – while simultaneously squashing her.
“You two should settle in, probably had a long flight,” Steve teased as he didn’t relent torturing their middle child.
“Sorry for springing up on you,” Barnes said as he clapped Tony’s shoulder before following Nat and Harvey to the elevator.
“Not a single drop Barnes!” Tony called out with a smile.
“Bye traitors!” Em shouted before trying to wiggle out of the super soldier’s grasp. Tony turned and continued smiling at the pair before he eventually heard the defeated “Papa please!” that released her from the super soldier.
“Poppy!” one of the toddlers yelled from the kitchen.
“Yes, go to your literal grandchild!” Em teased as Steve straightened himself up to leave. But not before one more quick jab to their snarky daughter. Tony was so focused on watching his ass as he left the room, he hadn’t noticed his daughter was talking to him.
“Dad? Did you hear me?” the young woman – god he was so old – asked him as he unashamedly looked back at her in surprise.
“Huh? No.”
“Jesus you two are still as gross as ever. I asked if you thought Pepper was okay with me taking a little break? Before I return to SI?” she asked skeptically, and for a moment Tony saw the fifteen year old he met over thirteen years ago.
“Of course honey,” he quickly reassured her. “Take as much time as you need. Steve once was gone for five months and I damn near lost my mind. Ask Peter, poor kid was eleven and set the kitchen on fire trying to be helpful and cook.” He laughed along with his girl as he also walked over to give her another hug.
“Take all the time you need little Thumper,” he whispered, not in any rush for his girl to (fully) grow up yet.