The Souls

When Steve woke up, he knew immediately that he had been asleep for too long. He shot up with a gasp and blinked his eyes open. It took only him a few seconds to stop panicking because he realised that he knew exactly where he was.

The large room with no corners and a rounded , open door that looked out onto a glistening lake under the setting sun.

This was Wakanda. This was Bucky's hut in Wakanda.

Bucky.

Steve flew out of the bed, slightly dizzy and staggering, but with one thing on his mind.

Bucky.

He stumbled out of the door, squinting at the sunlight as it shone off the water.

He saw someone skipping rocks into the water, and a grin fell onto Steve's face.

"Sam?"

Sam turned around, and his face split into a grin, "we'll look who's finally joined the living!"

Sam jogged up to Steve, who pushed himself off the door frame and threw his arms immediately around his best friend.

It wasn't a dream. They had actually done it. They were actually alive.

"You're actually alive," Steve shook his head against Sam's shoulder, "I can't believe you're actually alive."

"Yeah, heard it's been a tough five years for you guys without us. Glad to know we were missed." Steve chuckled as he moved away, holding Sam at arms length. He was actually here. Actually alive.

"You... you drugged me." Steve said suddenly, his smile faltering a little bit.

Sam nodded, not even pretending to be sorry, "Technically, Natasha drugged you. I just watched."

When Steve opened his mouth to protest, Sam shook his head, "Don't even think about it Rogers, you needed that rest. Nat said it's the most you've slept in five years."

Steve wanted to complain some more, but he guessed deep down he knew that it was true.

"Okay but what about... What about the compound? The injured, they need taking care of. And we need to make sure that-"

"Yeah yeah yeah, I know." Sam waved his hand, cutting him off. "And that's all being taken care of. By people who aren't you."

"But-"

"But nothing Rogers," Sam shoved his shoulder, "Even Captain America should chill out once every five years, don't you think."

When Steve didn't immediately agree, Sam sighed.

"Well if you fight it Steve we're just gonna have to drug you again."

Steve sighed, but a smile also broke through, causing Sam's grin to widen.

"There you go." he patted Steve's face, "Now how about you go on and take a shower, you look absolutely terrible."

Steve laughed, nodding, "Yeah. Yeah I probably do."

"Well go on then," he gave him a shove, "I finally managed to get Bucky away from your bedside long enough to take one himself. I swear you Super Soldiers have something against taking care of yourselves."

Steve has stopped paying attention as soon as he said 'Bucky'.

Sam noticed immediately, and his smile widened as Steve's disappeared, replaced by the most pathetically adorable look of longing.

"Bucky?" He all but whispered.

He had seen him... before. After the battle. He didn't even know how long ago that was.

All he knew was that it was too long for him. After so long without him, he didn't plan to stay away for any amount of time again. Ever.

"Where is he?"

"I sent him off to the palace a while ago," said Sam, "He should be done up there soon. Why don't you get yourself cleaned up first and then-" Sam stopped as he looked over Steve's shoulder, "Oh never mind, there he is."

Steve whipped around so fast he almost fell over.

And there he was.

He was looking at the ground as he walked towards his hut, wearing sweat pants and a T-shirt. His hair tied back and his hands in his pockets. Just strolling as if he didn't have a care in the world. Wasn't running from anything. Wasn't running towards any fight. Just walking.

That's what did it for Steve. It's all he ever really wanted. For Bucky to stroll without a care in the world. For him to be free and happy and alive and here.

He was here.

It's then that Bucky looked up from his feet, and his steps faltered when he saw Steve, awake, and stumbling towards him.

Bucky's hands slipped out of his pockets and he walked faster. And faster. Steve did the same.

Their strides grew faster and faster until, before they knew it, they were running, until they met in the middle, colliding in a hug that had to have been painful.

By the lake, Sam shook his head and rolled his eyes. But he couldn't help the smile on his face as he turned back to skipping stones.

Steve and Bucky stood for a long time, just holding each other and not letting go. Steve had thought he'd feel a little less desperate to not let go since they weren't fresh from a fight anymore.

He was surprised to see that that desperation hadn't gone anywhere. Only difference was that they were in broad daylight, and he wasn't crying.

Well, almost not crying.

He was suddenly immensely grateful that Bucky was also serum enhanced, because that meant he could hug him with all his strength without actually hurting him. Which was good, Because he didn't think he could hold back now even if he tried.

So neither of them did.

They held on as if the other might disappear at any moment. And honestly, who could blame them? It had happened over and over again. They would be together one minute, and just as quickly, something would cause them to separate.

Well never again. Steve swore it to whoever was out there listening.

Never again.

When they unwrapped around each other, Steve's eyes were shining as they look Bucky in.

His hands gripped his shoulders as he shook his head, "you're real," he breathed, "I didn't dream it. You're actually really alive."

Bucky nodded as he too took it all in, "I'm actually really alive."

"And you're gonna stay that way, right?"

"Well I'll certainly try."

Steve shook his head, "that answer's not good enough, Buck."

Bucky grinned, gripping Steve's shoulder, "Come on, you know I'm not going anywhere. You should know by now that you're never getting rid of me, Rogers," he winked, "Nothing keeps me down. Not World War 2, or a Nazi scientist, or a bad train ride, or being brainwashed by Hydra or being unbrainwashed by Wakandans. Or even getting killed by a Purple alien and his rock collection."

Steve shook his head as he chuckled lightly, "yeah, you are pretty hard to squash aren't you?"

"I'm practically invisible." He shrugged playfully.

Steve pulled him into another hug before he could stop himself. Bucky had no complaints.

They stood there again, probably for longer than was socially acceptable for friends to hug.

Neither one cared.

Steve closed his eyes as he breathed him in.

"I missed you, Buck." he whispered into his shoulder.

Bucky's smile was adoring behind him.

"I missed you too, Steve."

When the two finally walked back to the hut, Bucky rummaged through his things to give Steve some clothes to change into.

He avoided looking at Sam, knowing that he would be sending not-at-all-subtle, suggestive looks his way. He would have hoped that that would all go away after the soul stone, but he had obviously overestimated Sam's maturity.

The three all walked towards the palace.

Steve was trying to still be mad at the fact that he had been asleep for a full night and day.

"Still can't believe you drugged me." He kept muttering.

"I had nothing to do with it," Bucky spoke up, "I mean, I didn't stop them either. 'Cause they were right. You needed to rest for once."

Naturally, he didn't argue with Bucky, which caused Sam to roll his eyes.

"But still, I lost a whole day."

"And nothing terrible happened." said Sam, "so shut up about it, okay?"

Steve would have loved to argue some more but he just ended up smiling. The fact that these were arguments he had the chance to have again was enough to have him beaming.

"Stark woke up by the way." Bucky said suddenly.

The other two stared at him.

"You're only now mentioning this?" Sam gasped.

"Well he went back to sleep," Bucky shrugged, "He's doing great. He was talking and everything."

"Talking?" Sam blinked, "To you?"

Bucky scoffed, "you're the one who told me to go there, why are you so shocked?"

Sam shook his head, "Well I didn't think you're actually do it. Or that he'd actually let you."

"Well jokes on you Wilson," smirked Bucky, "he woke up and we talked. We're actually pretty good friends now."

Sam looked at him with narrowed eyes, "You're messing with me."

"Nope. I even got a nickname like everyone else. 'Buck-man'. He also called me 'metal-head' a few times."

"Are you serious?" Steve looked ecstatic, "You and Tony had a conversation? And got along?"

"Weird, I know." Bucky nodded. "He forgave me almost immediately."

He glanced at Sam with a smirk, "makes you feel pretty shitty about what you said in the Soul Realm. huh."

Sam sighed, "I thought you said we were cool," he muttered.

"Oh we are." Bucky nodded, "But I am gonna bring it up every once in a while. Just to make you feel bad."

"What are you talking about?" Steve frowned, "Soul Realm? Wait, what did Sam say? Hang on, Soul Realm"

"We'll explain later," said Bucky, just as Sam muttered, "It's not important."

Steve frowned at the two on either side of him, but decided to drop it. For now.

"So is Tony still out? He taking visitors?"

"Yeah people have been going in and out all day," said Sam, "You're actually the only one who hasn't been to see him."

"Well that's because you drugged me, Sam."

Sam rolled his eyes, "Well you're awake now, so we can go see him."

"Well not me actually," said Bucky, "Pepper's quite angry at me, cause I didn't call her when Tony woke up. I think I'll stay away from her for another couple of hours."

"Well why didn't you call her?" asked Steve.

"He told me not to. Was I supposed to ignore the wishes of the man who just singlehandedly saved the Universe?"

"Fair enough." nodded Steve.

The three bantered back and forth all the way to the palace. Some conversations were about the past or about the battle or about the other

Avengers, and some conversations were about nothing at all.

All three were just happy that they were here, alive, together. Without a single worry in the world.p

:::

Tony Stark's hospital room was never empty, and honestly, he wouldn't have had it any other way. It almost seemed like this room had becomean unofficial gathering spot. People trickled in and out, hour by hour, as Tony drifted in and out of consciousness.

He didn't say anything every time he woke up. Just watched everyone interact around him with a small smile on his lips, faces changing every time his eyes opened.

The one thing that never changed however, was that his left hand was tight in Pepper's. Every time.

He saw Thor with his arms wide open and eyes basically blinking away tears, Loki, Bruce and Valkyrie around him.

"Can you believe it, friends?" he gushed, "the Revengers, back together again."

"Yeah it's... it's great." Valkyrie smiled in a way that was obviously forced to please Thor. Bruce's grin was matching Thor's, and Loki was just staring at him.

Eventually, Bruce sighed at him, "Oh come on Loki, how long are you gonna keep staring like that?"

Loki just shook his head, "I don't like it. It's... it's not... I don't like it."

Bruce just sighed and shrugged, "Well, it'll grow on you. Valkyrie's gotten used to it by now. Right angry girl?"

Valkyrie's forced smile stayed on her face, "Sure. Sure if you say so."

Bruce rolled his eyes and Valkyrie sighed.

"Come on Big Guy, you've mashed together a pathetic, nerdy human and a huge killing machine. It's more than a bit unnerving."

"It's disturbing" Loki cut in, "the word she's looking for is 'disturbing'. You look disturbing."

"Well I think you look amazing, Banner." Thor spoke up, "you've mastered the best of both worlds, as no one else has been able to do. It's remarkable. And I'm sure this solution aids the psychological issues that came with having two minds in one body."

"Thank you, Thor," Bruce smiled at his friend, "see, Thor gets it."

Loki scoffed at his brother, "I think perhaps Thor needs to begin working on his own psychological issues before he comments on those of others."

Thor scoffed loudly, "Psychological issues? I don't know what you mean, brother, I'm absolutely fine."

Three pairs of eyes looked at Thor, all with 'yeah right' written plainly on their faces.

"I'm fine!" Thor insisted.

Tony drifted off before he could hear the others' replies.

When he regained consciousness again, it was to see a frowning Shuri glaring up at a flustered looking Scott.

"What do you mean 'you don't know'?"

"I've already told you all I know," Scott told her.

"Well that really isn't much, Scott."

"I know!" He threw his hands up, "I'm not a scientist, Shuri, I'm sorry! I honestly don't know how the suit was made. You'll have to ask Hank. I mean, he and Hope have explained it to me enough times, but really I only pretended to get it so she'd think I'm smarter than I really am."

"If you cannot tell me how it was made in the first place, Scott how do you expect me to improve it?"

"I... I didn't really ask you to improve it." He muttered, "plus, I don't think you can do much more to Pym's design, it's flawless."

Shuri looked positively offended at the mere suggestion that something was 'flawless' before she had gotten to it. But she took a calming breath to steady herself.

Next to him, Pepper snorted at the conversation. Tony drifted off again before he could hear Shuri's rebuttal.

When he opened his eyes again, it was Wanda and Carol in front of him

"Captain Marvel, huh?" Wanda asked, "weird name."

Carol shrugged with a smirk, "I didn't come up with it. Didn't even realise all of you needed code names, or whatever."

"I know right, I found it weird too." She nodded, "but I've been on probation status basically since I became an Avenger so I try not to question much."

"Probation?" Carol frowned.

Wanda sighed, "yeah, what with Ultron, and then Sokovia, and then the Accords... It's been a bit of a mess."

Carol was still frowning, "I don't know what at of that means."

"It's been five years," Wanda shook her head, "No one told you about any of that?"

"Honestly I haven't spent much time on earth these past years." Carol shrugged, "Restoring order to a broken Universe and all. No time for small talk."

Wanda chuckled lightly, "well if you're an Avenger you should probably learn about our tortured history."

Carol leaned back on her chair and stretched her arms, "Alright then Scarlet Witch. Fill me in."

Tony blinked his eyes closed as their voices faded. When they opened again, it was to music. He smiled when he saw Morgan with her IPad on her lap, Peter sitting behind her with a grin.

"This is one of my favourite songs," she was telling him. "It's really, really old but it's still the best. Daddy said so.

Peter nodded along as Back in Black sounded from the IPad.

"Yeah this song is great," he grinned, "I love Led Zeppelin."

The smile on Morgan's face was wiped off as she gasped in horror. Tony felt quite similar. He wanted to yell that Back in Back was not Led Zeppelin, but his daughter spoke up for him.

"It's not Led Zeppelin!" she scolded him. Her head whipped around to where Pepper sat, "Mommy, I thought you and Daddy said Peter was smart."

Pepper held in a laugh and smirked at the kids on the floor, "We said 'sometimes', honey." she told her. Peter looked absolutely offended, but before he could defend himself, Tony was gone again.

When he opened his eyes again, Shuri and Groot were on either side of him, both with their feet propped up on his bed.

"I am Groot." Groot croaked.

"I am Groot," shrugged Shuri.

Groot sighed, "I am Groot."

"I am Groot?"

"I am Groot." He nodded.

"I am Groot?"

He smirked and nodded, "I am Groot."

Shuri burst out laughing, clutching her stomach and shaking her head.

"I am Groot," Groot nodded, crossing his arms in front of him.

Tony shut his eyes voluntarily this time, wondering if maybe he had simply imagined that part.

When his eyes opened again, two chair had joined Pepper's. They sat Natasha and Nebula, again their feet were propped up on his bed. Comfortable as they would ever let themselves be.

They were sitting in silence, as usual. He had always been quite confused about these two. They claimed that they were friends, despite the fact that Tony had never actually seen them say a word to each other.

They would always just sit together, completely silent. Well, they were quite similar, after all. Both taken away from their families. Groomed and trained from young ages. Tortured and moulded into perfect killing machines.

Maybe sometimes people didn't need to talk. Or want to. Maybe that's why Natasha and Nebula liked each other so much.

When Tony drifted off again, they still hadn't said a word.

When he blinked his eyes open again, it was to see Loki sitting across Pepper, a book in his hands. Thor stood by a window, whistling softly when the door opened to reveal an excited looking Peter. He walked over to Thor and took a breath.

"Thor?"

Thor turned around, smiling at the little boy behind him.

"Why hello, son of Stark." he nodded, tipping his shades down, "How are you?" He held out his hand and Peter took it, shaking vigorously.

He grinned up at him in awe, "I'm awesome," he breathed, "It's so great to finally meet you Thor."

Thor smiled back as Peter kept shaking his hand, "the pleasure is all mine, Peter."

Peter all but squealed at Thor addressing him by name. Like they were friends.

His grip stayed firm on his hand, "Loki told me so many stories about you in the stone, sir, it was awesome! You're awesome!"

"Loki told you stories about me? Thor seemed genuinely surprised, and also concerned. He knew that many of the stories from his youth were far from flattering, and Loki had a knack for remembering all the most humiliating details. But Peter still only grinned up a Thor.

"Yeah, he did. Well at first he didn't want to, but I kept asking-" nagging, more like, "-and he eventually caved. It's just so great to finally meet you in person."

Thor was grinning from ear to ear. It was good to know that after all these years, someone still saw him the way he used to be.

"You do look kinda different from what I expected though," Peter's head tilted to the side, and Thor's grin faltered.

Ah. There it was.

He tried to take his hand back from Peter, but the boys grip was relentless, "Ah, yes well... these past years did take quite a toll on me," he looked down, scratching the back of his neck and avoided looking at his protruding stomach.

Peter didn't seem to notice the change in Thor, and his smile never faltered.

"Yeah, Loki said you'd lost your hair in a tragic accident. I felt really bad 'cause I read in some article that your hair was your most prized possession after your hammer. And ... and he said you'd lost that too..."

Thor blinked at the boy as he kept talking.

"My... My hair." he said slowly, "you're... you're talking about my hair?"

Peter nodded, "Well and your eye. Loki said you'd lost that too like... the next day. In a fight with your sister. Just before you lost your planet." Peter was still staring up at Thor in awe, "I mean, I don't know how you got through all that with your sanity in check."

Thor still blinked down at him in disbelief. This Peter Parker was speaking as if he didn't see him. As if he didn't see just how much he had changed. How badly he really had take all the losses.

He was a smart boy, there was no way he just wasn't noticing. No way at all. Which got Thor thinking.

Perhaps... perhaps he just didn't care. Perhaps he believed that Thor's might wasn't reduced to his looks or his body. Could that be possible? Loki had said it. Mjolnir had showed it. And now this Peter Parker. Thor fought back tears that threatened to spill as the boy kept talking, not noticing the inner turmoil in Thor.

"Although in retrospect, I guess... I guess it makes sense that all that stuff happened to you. No one else would have been able to take it." He smiled adoringly at Thor, "It's also why you're my favourite Avenger, you know. You're the strongest one."

It's then that Thor couldn't help himself. He pulled the kid closer, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug.

It only took Peter a couple of seconds to recover from the surprise, and then his arms tightened around Thor as he closed his eyes, grinning into his chest. He was getting a lot of hugs these days. It was awesome. Tony internally shook his head. Honestly, that kid and hugs...

From the chair close by, Loki couldn't help but smile. He would never say this aloud, but Peter Parker was fast becoming his favourite Avenger.

After Thor of course.

No one would beat Thor.

Tony drifted off again, and this time when he woke up, Pepper wasn't at his hand like she usually was.

Instead he saw Steve, Sam and Bucky. Thor's Mjolnir sat on a chair in front of them.

Bucky and Sam were sweating quite a bit, chests rising and falling.

"Well I think it's Bullshit," Sam shook his head, "how come you can pick it up and we can't?"

Bucky nodded along with Sam, glaring at the hammer.

"This is supposed to be a Thor thing." Sam continued, "A God thing. You're not a god you're just Steve."

"It's not about being a god, it's about being worthy." Steve corrected, a grin in his face.

"And what, the hammer decides that?" Bucky asked with raised eyebrows.

Steve shrugged, "Well that's what Thor says."

"Okay but can we really trust what Thor says?" Sam asked, "I've seen him get stuck in a revolving door."

"Well that probably happened when he was still new to Earth." Steve defended.

"It was an hour ago."

Steve just shook his head, his grin unwavering, "It's Thor's hammer, so he knows how it works okay? And if it doesn't pick you-" he shrugged apologetically.

Sam was not satisfied, "Come on Bucky, try again. Maybe the hammer changed its mind."

Bucky reached out for the hammer, gripping it with his metal hand and heaving. To no avail. Sam cheered him on as he pulled, using both hands and his foot and going red in the face, while the hammer stayed put.

Steve looked on with crossed arms and a smile so big it could have been splitting his face.

Tony couldn't help his own small smile at that. So rarely did he ever see the Capsicle happy, it seemed like a special occasion when he grinned like this.

Bucky finally let go of the hammer, stumbling back as he and Sam looked at it in disappointment.

Sam turned his glare to Bucky, "What the hell Bucky, I thought you were supposed to be stronger than Steve."

Bucky sighed heavily, "Well yeah. I guess this hammer just doesn't like me."

"Wait wait what's this now?" Steve spoke up, "you're stronger than me? Since when?"

"Well... I mean, I am." Bucky shrugged.

Steve scoffed loudly, "Well, I disagree."

Bucky shook his head, "Steve this isn't a competition, alright? It's just the truth. I am generally stronger. I thought we all knew that."

"No!" Steve exclaimed, because he was Steve and this was definitely a competition now, "how do you even come to that conclusion?"

"I think I can weigh in here," Sam raised a hand.

The two turned to him and Sam cleared his throat.

"Logically speaking, Bucky is kinda the strongest."

Steve opened his mouth to protest but Bucky shushed him , "Let him finish, Rogers," he smiled.

"So you both got a serum," Sam continued, "which was basically the same, but also different. But Steve's serum was being monitored by scientists and doctors and people who actually cared if he got hurt.

"Bucky, however, was being given that shit by Nazi's and Hydra and people who, let's be frank, didn't give a shit what happened to you during their experiments. No offence Barnes."

"None taken," shrugged Bucky.

"That's a little offensive," Steve muttered.

"So my guess is that they pumped him full of the stuff and basically did whatever to make sure he was as drugged up and as ass-kicking as possible. You know, to be the perfect mindless weapon. No offence Bucky."

"Sam!" Steve scolded him, "you can't say that!"

"No he's right though," Bucky said, grinning, "what he's basically saying is that I'm stronger. Which is true."

Steve seemed torn between wanting to keep scolding Sam and arguing with Bucky. His mouth opened and closed as his brain switched from one thing to another.

Bucky finally sighed, shrugging again, "and besides all that, I'm stronger because I have a Vibranium arm. Do you have a Vibranium arm, Rogers? Yeah, didn't think so."

Steve sighed heavily and rubbed at his temples.

"But either way," Sam shrugged, tugging at the hammer again, "It doesn't even matter who's stronger. Everyone knows I'm better than the both of you because I can fly. And I'm not a senior citizen."

The two's retorts were cut off when they heard a chuckle, thatdidn't come from either of them.

Their eyes widened for a split second before all three heads whipped to the bed.

Tony smirked, "Oh my bad, carry on. You three are very entertaining. Just ignore me."

They stared for a few more seconds before jumping into action.

"You're awake!" Bucky smiled.

"He's awake!" Sam threw his hands up, and turned sprinting out of the room. His shouts could be heard echoing as he ran "Hey guys he's awake!"

Bucky dove for the bedside table, grabbing the phone there and running from the room before Tony could stop him.

Steve was left to stare at Tony on the bed. His shock turned into a smile as he approached the bed.

"Jesus Stark, do you always have to be so dramatic? Couldn't get by one day without making us all worry, huh?"

Tony smiled from his bed, "well you already showed me up with that hammer, Capsicle. I had to do something to get the attention back on me."

Steve grinned as he lay a soft hand on Tony's shoulder.

"It's good to have you back buddy."

Before Tony could reply, the door swung open, revealing a frazzled looking Pepper. She almost collapsed in relief when she saw brown eyes looking back at her.

Steve moved away as Pepper made her way to the bed.

She sat down as she took Tony's hand, smiling as tears finally trickled down her face.

"Hey Pep," he whispered.

Pepper kissed his hand as she shook her head, "Why do you keep waking up when I'm not here?"

"I've woken up quite a few times actually," he told her, "just spying on everyone. Gaining Intel. And besides," he shrugged with one shoulder, "I like the drama of it all."

Pepper just chuckled, and let out a sniff, "you're impossible, Stark."

"Yeah, but you love me."

She nodded quickly, "I do. I love you so much."

The two sat there gazing at each other for several seconds, just drinking in the fact that they were both here. Both alive.

It's then that the door swung open again.

"Daddy!"

Tony's head snapped to the door, and his smile widened almost painfully.

Morgan ran into the room, Peter Parker hot on her heels. She ran up to the bed, leaping up onto Tony. But Peter grabbed her out of the air just before she jumped onto Tony's bad side.

Tony smiled gratefully at the kid as he set Morgan down on the left side of the bed.

"Hi Daddy," she said again reaching carefully for his face.

Tony swallowed back tears as he smiled at his daughter, "Hey squirt." he managed to whisper.

People were trickling into the room, filling it up, and Tony barely noticed as he watched his kid.

"Everyone said that you were hurt." said Morgan, "but Princess Shuri said she was trying to fix you." She held his face in her tiny hands, "I think it worked,"

"I think it worked too, sweetheart," he nodded.

Morgan grinned, and leaned forward, wrapping he arms carefully around Tony's neck. This time he couldn't help the few tears that escaped.

He was happy to see that he wasn't the only one, because it seemed that behind Morgan, Peter was barely holding it together.

"You been taking care of my girl, Parker?"

Peter sniffed, swallowing back tears as he tried to talk.

"I think it's more like she's been taking care of me, Mister Stark." He managed to get out, "Morgan's pretty awesome."

"She is," Tony nodded, holding his arm out to him, "you're pretty awesome too, Spider-ling."

At that, Peter gave up on holding back, and he joined the hug behind Morgan, making a mess of Tony's shoulder. He smiled at Pepper with wet eyes as she let her fingers comb through his hair.

Tony was now aware that everyone was watching the scene, and he didn't even bother pretending to care. His left arm wrapped tightly around his kids.

They could call him soft all they wanted. He didn't care. He was still gonna damn well hug them as much as he wanted.

Because they were alive. And so was he. And that was something Tony would never take for granted, ever again.