The New Alpha
The next day, only one word and question went through Tony's brain was; 'Pain pain pain, why am I in pain,' Tony hissed as he stood up from the couch he didn't remember sitting on, holding his face, immediately wincing. It had been a while since he woke up with his face aching. Memories from yesterday came to him like a flash, so did Steve's voice which told him they were gone with a friend and are at S.H.I.E.L.D. He paused, wondering why that was. He brushed it off as the talk they had yesterday when they discussed S.H.I.E.L.D. He winced again, this time not because of the pain. He'll have to apology to Steve for butting in. Hoping they were safe, Tony walked inside the bathroom to wash his face and apply some makeup on the huge bruise. 'Been a while since I've done this. Let's see...' It had been such a long time. Everything felt unfamiliar in his shaky hands. He applied the concealer the best he could, but some purple and yellow from the bruise was still slightly visible. He just hoped the people won't question it too much, as he headed out.
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Fury greeted him in the room they usually met up in, along with Nat, Clint, Loki and Tal. He knew Bruce was somewhere working on some theories, and the others were around the facility somewhere from what Fury had told him. It was strange for them all to be together like this. "Have a seat, kid." Fury spoke, looking over some paperwork.
Natasha petted the seat next to her. "I have nothing nice to say at this time, and I know you don't either, so come sit next to me. I've got the latest news on Gabby from floor 2-A." and how could Tony refuse his partner in crime anything. He knew Natasha observed the bruise around his eye and was probably trying to distract him. "You've got people here. More than usual..." Tony frowned as he sat down. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine, Tony." Fury replied, his tone always a little lighter towards his godson. "This is a new initiative we're planning, that's all. An idea and a meeting is all for today."
"Okay, if you say so." Tony nodded. "What did you have in mind?"
"We got to wait for the rest of them to turn up, relax and talk amongst yourselves, there's coffee in the corner."
"Oh thank God!" Tony sighed in relief, standing up again to grab coffee for him and the others, but made Nick some tea instead, being the overprotective godson that he was. "Steve came yet?"
"He's still sleeping." Nat responded.
"Really?" Tony asked surprised, handing Fury his tea. "It's kinda late for him."
"Well, he is pretty much nocturnal." Fury then spoke quieter so the others wouldn't hear. "Tony, remember I've told you before that sometimes when you meet someone you like you come across... very... forceful? You know, you've only known Steve for about a week and most of that was through texting." Tony raised a brow, wondering how his godfather knew that. "I asked Steve." Fury explained. "I know you like him kid, but come on. You shouldn't act like you know everything about him simply based on the fact he's stayed round your house for two days. Just... just try and tone it down a bit, don't wanna scare him off do you?" His tone was soft, showing he wasn't trying to hurt Tony with his words, simply trying to help him in his relationship with Steve. He must have liked Steve enough for him to be trying to help Tony in the relationship department.
"I'm forceful?" Tony asked in a small voice. "Oh, I didn't... Didn't realise. I'll try toning it down." Natasha bit her lip, resting a hand on Tony's shoulder. "Sometimes, you get really excited over someone you like and honestly? It's very cute, and sweet, and we all know how hard it is for you to get into relationships, especially after the Rumlow incident..." she spoke carefully. "But you don't notice that you can get just a bit over your head. It's heartwarming that you're so comfortable around Steve, but maybe wait a bit more before you throw your heart in?" Tony took it all in, quietly nodding his head and sitting back down.
"We're just trying to help, Tones." Tal stepped forward. "Ya know, lots of people like to take advantage of people who have big, open hearts... And we don't want you getting hurt." They shrugged slightly. "Don't be discouraged but just try and be careful. Cuz if someone hurts you again you know Ima have to kick their ass and I don't really want another restraining order." They sat down, a smirk appearing on their face.
"I must agree, it is better to be guarded than to blaze ahead." Loki added, sipping on some tea. "Now, shall I go wake up the two or let them sleep?"
"Let them sleep, he's exhausted." Fury answered. "We also have a surprise for him so we have to wait until that's ready."
Tony finally took in all their words. "I know, Tal..." Tony replied, looking down. Tal was very protective of their friends, and they tended to get a bit overboard when someone hurt those said friends. Tony didn't exactly approve, but there was no stopping Tal when they were angry. Loki was the only one who could get them to stop their tirades for a while with distractions. Such a shame neither of them knew they liked each other and were pretty much perfect for each other. "I appreciate it. Honestly." He said softly, looking at his family with a smile that didn't quite reached his eyes. He was just... Upset. Not at them, of course, he appreciated them for being honest with him, but at himself for not realising this issue sooner. He cringed at just how uncomfortable he must have made Steve feel. "What's the surprise?" He asked, looking up again after staring at his shoes for a moment.
"His friend who got caught up in some issues last night has been bought in, mostly ok. Thought he'd want to see him." Fury explained.
"Oh, is he okay?" Tony asked worriedly when his godfather said 'mostly' "He's not seriously injured, right?"
"No Tony that's what mostly ok means." Fury replied with an amused smile. "Relax, we've got him sorted."
"Oh, that's good!" Tony nodded. "You fed these people yet, Nick?" Tony raised an eyebrow.
Fury rolled his eyes, fondly at his godson constantly fretting around people. "Of course, stark, there are pastries from your own shop over there. Pepper bought them by."
"Oh, did they like it?" Tony beamed. "I wondered why Pepper bought so much."
"She told me you tried to give her MORE." Natasha shook her head as she laughed, as did the others.
Tony blushed. "I thought she had a party or something!"
Steve walked into the room, holding Peter, greeting everyone and nodding to Tony, a small red tint coming over his cheeks.
The casual joking conversation came to as stop as Tony blushed too, nodding to him and beamed at Peter, giving the toddler a wave that was returned enthusiastically. "How's is it going, Pete?"
Peter ran over and hopped in up onto Tony's lap. "Good! This place is big!"
"I know right?" Tony pretended to be as marvelled like Peter as he held him better in his lap. "If I get lost you'll have to start a search party for me!"
Peter gave a determined look "I make sure nobody gets lost!"
Smiling softly at the toddler, Tony kissed the crest of his head before the meeting started. "That's good to know. I totally feel safer now."
A clearness of a throat made Tony look at Nick, who had an eyebrow raised and a fond/amused smile on his face. Tony huffed, rolling his eyes with a smirk. "Sorry, are we disturbing tea time?"
Fury sighed "Take your seats, everyone." the rest of the group had joined, Bruce, Thor, who as already starting to annoy his brother, etc. "I've called you all here today to discuss a little project I've been working on."
"Don't keep us in suspense!" Tony smirked "We're not getting any younger."
"This initiative will bring together all of you, to work as a team. Whether it be research, or engineering, or fighting." Fury continued ignoring Tony's sarcastic comments.
"I've seen a few drafts." Natasha nodded, getting into her professional role "I believe you and uh... Our other associates-" she spoke carefully, referring to the werewolves "-already had a discussion about this. About this patrol team?"
"Different initiative though with some of the same people. This would involve all of you, which means no stabbing." He looked to Loki, Tal and Thor. "No arguing." he looked to Nat and Clint. "And everyone to get along, understood?"
"By everyone, you mean Tony too?" Clint asked with a raised brow. "We've never had a civilian on our team before." Tony gave the spy a wave, as he gestured over to Steve.
"What do you mean? You have Steve, don't you?" He asked and Clint's eyes widened, looking at the others for help. He was terrible at lying. There's a reason he stayed int he vents most of the time.
"Steve may be a civilian, but he's also incredibly skilled in what we do." Natasha answered, feeling a bit guilty when she lied to Tony. It wasn't something she enjoyed doing, not to him, at least "Plus, we're going to give him an official place at SHIELD. He'll officially be one of us then."
Steve nodded "I have a family to look after, so I agreed to joining the team." He explained to Tony. "I'm actually quite proficient in certain areas."
"Oh..." Tony blinked, nodding. "Oh, alright. Just, you know, be safe. Even if you're skilled, take it easy if you can, okay?" Even if he knew Steve could take care of himself, he still worried.
Steve rolled his eyes in a friendly way "We all do this often, Tony. But thank you for worrying."
Fury shared a look with Maria before huffing a short laugh. "Right- that's gonna be all for today. I'll call you if I need you for something. Dismissed."
They all slowly trickled out of the room, or in Tal and Loki's case, fled as quick as possible before they got stabby. They didn't exactly enjoy company apart from each others. "Sorry about leaving you like that, Tony." Steve spoke, picking Peter up. Fury came over to them, notifying Steve that Bucky was there and well, and that he could visit him if he wanted, it would probably help the other calm down from being in the strange place.
"Oh, don't worry about it, its fine!" Tony brushed off the apology quickly, smiling as he ruffled Peter's hair. "You should check up on your friend though, make sure he and the others are okay."
Steve nodded glad some of the air was cleared from before. "Thanks, Tony." he left to go find Bucky.
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Back in the safety rooms, Bucky was currently being patched up when he saw Steve coming in with Peter. Giving him the best smile that he could manage, the brunette looked Steve up and down with a smirk "Well, look at you." He smirked "Guess daddy-hood is the new alpha."
Steve couldn't help but smile despite seeing the deep gash in his friends upper arm. "Does it hurt...?" He perched on a seat nearby.
"Only a bit." he shrugged, trying to hold back the wince from his wound being cared for. "How are you, though? Your pup's okay?"
"We're all fine, the others are still feeling a bit of pain after the change in leadership but they're fighting through..." he looked down at his hands. "I have no clue what I'm doing..." he admitted softly.
"You're doing the best you can." Bucky replied just as softly, knowing his friend would be in the most amount of pain but keeping it back for the sake of everyone else. Typical Steve... "I get this is a big step for you, but you've been a good Alpha now. You protected the pups, brought us to safety. You'll learn as you go."
"You know I never wanted this, Buck..." Steve sighed. "But I'm not going to shirk my duties now that they're mine, I'll make sure the pack is better."
"I know you never wanted this." Bucky acknowledged, feeling sympathy stir for his best friend. "But it's like you said, what's done is done. There is no turning back now. But Steve, if there's one guy out there who can make this pack better... That one is you. I believe in you, Stevie. I don't even want to imagine what would have happened to us if you hadn't stepped the fuck up. Thank you."
"No, thank you, Buck. Also, you realise I have to appoint a second in command?" He smirked, folding his arms. "feeling up to the job?"
Bucky raised an eyebrow "You know I am, punk. Just tell me when your old ass feels like starting."
Steve laughed, knowing Bucky wouldn't care about the pain of changing ranks to second in command, as long as he could help Steve. "Good to know you're OK. And try not to give the agents here too hard a time, it's just their job to be annoying."
"I figured." Bucky rolled his eyes with an amused huff. Expression turning from amused to a bit remorseful, Bucky asked. "Hey, uh... Is your guy in here? I heard some agents talking. Wanna apologise for the whole punching thing..."
"That was mean!" Peter pouted, playing with the material of Steve's shirt. "And it made daddy sad." The kid knew Bucky enough by now to know he wouldn't hurt anyone that bad on purpose. But the pup would demand the older wolf apologise.
"It's OK, Bucky... I know it was the wolf, not you." Steve smiled. "He's here, and I don't know if he fully remembers what happened... He was asking if you were OK."
"I am, but is he? Hit him pretty hard," Bucky winced for the last time as he stood up, walking over to Peter with a small smile, tickling the pup on his side. "C'mon Pete, cut me some slack, I was in a hurry, yeah?"
"S'ok" Peter smiled, giggling at being tickled. "But say sorry to Tony!"
"I will, I will!" Bucky chuckled "if it makes you feel better, I'll let him punch me back." He winked, as he put his shirt back on, walking out of the room with Steve. "Though, from the way you described him, Stevie, I could pour hot soup on his lap and he'd probably apologise to me."
Steve chuckled "He's is... Kinda adorably sweet."
"If he's as sweet as his pastries, pretty sure you're full of cavities." Bucky chuckled. It had been a while since anyone in the pack could fully joke around with each other, and the two best friends missed it.