A Civil Phone Call
Tony had never felt more focused on anything then he did right now. It wasn't hard to fix the phone and it wouldn't take long, he was Tony Stark after all, but the way he was treating it felt like he was working on a suit. That's how much care and focus he put into it. He was driven by the thought of his kids; he wanted to know everything about them, and he wanted to know now. Tony Stark was many things, but patient was not one of them.
And Steve. As much as Tony didn't want to admit it, he wanted to talk to Steve. Steve had always been the mother hen of the team, but Tony was starting to feel that way. Was Steve okay? Was he taking care of himself? Was he sleeping at night? Eating? He could only hope Steve wasn't dealing with everything the way he was.
'Huh' Tony thought as he worked, 'This must have been how Steve felt all that time' all that time Steve worried about Tony, Tony had always pushed him away and told him he was fine. Now he was experiencing something similar and he understood how Steve felt. It sucked. Never again would he push away Steve's mother hen self. That is, if they ever got there again.
Finally after what seemed like forever, but was really only like twenty minutes, the phone was fixed. Turning it on, he watched the screen light up and dialed the only number on the phone, holding his breath until Steve answered.
Steve sat crumpled on the floor, head in his hands tugging at his hair. If Tony had ignored him or blew up at him, he said he'd be fine. That at least he could say he tried to get a connection with him again, but now Steve realizes he is a fool. Because he'd never be able to just brush off Tony, and Tony hanging up on him cut pretty deep.
He didn't demand that Steve hand the kids over to him, which was good. Not like Steve would ever, but it meant that Tony wasn't going to try and take them from him. At least Steve could say that he had told Tony the truth now; his conscious wouldn't eat away at him anymore. And really, Steve's been raising the kids for almost a year without Tony, he could continue to do it. Steve was fine. A good soldier can walk through hell with a smile, and that's exactly what he planned on doing.
Picking himself up off the floor he went to see what his rugrats were doing, and despite his mood couldn't help but smile as he saw them passed out on the floor, cuddled together. Picking them both up he cuddled them to his chest as he brought them to their room. He admired them as he walked; they really were the most precious things to Steve. They made everything ok.
Their room was half pink and half blue, making it look like a cotton candy monster had thrown up everywhere. Putting down both babies in their own cribs he went back to the living room to tidy up this mess before they made a new one. It was impressive how they made it look like a tornado mixed with an earthquake blew threw every room they entered.
Going into the kitchen so he could fill a bucket to scrub the floors and get rid of the yellow paint, he saw the cell phone still on the ground. Bending down to pick it up he examined it in his hands. There was a crack in the screen, but other then that it was fine. He knew he'd never be able to just toss it, even if Tony were to tell him to rot in hell or something along those lines, so he opened the drawer to put it back in its spot, and jumped when it started to ring.
The phone was ringing.
He was getting a call.
Tony was calling.
Once that thought kicked in, he hurriedly hit answer before it stopped.
"Tony?" the line was silent. Steve couldn't even hear anyone breathing. Had Tony pocket dialed him somehow?
"Tony, are you there?" Steve's voice broke as he spoke, really wishing that Tony would say something. Finally, he heard someone take a breath, sounding like it was their first breath in a while.
"I'm here" his voice was strained, and Steve imagined he had either been yelling or crying before this phone call. Maybe a bit of both.
"You called back" Steve couldn't keep the amazement out of his voice, truly believing that Tony was done with him.
"Ya, sorry about that. I just, I just needed time. To process. Everything"
"And have you? Processed?" Steve picked at a loose thread from his t-shirt that was becoming longer the more Steve pulled but it offered a pleasant distraction.
"A little" Tony answered honestly, and Steve took a seat on the floor knowing this was going to be a long conversation, and he wanted to at least be comfortable physically because verbally he may not be.
"We have a boy and a girl. Almost a year old, in two weeks they will be" Steve started to speak and he heard Tony let out a quiet hum.
"What are their names?" this is the part Steve knew would get emotional, because the names had meaning to Tony, and he hoped he could control himself enough to keep a level and steady voice, without starting to get choked up.
"The boy's name is James-"
"Named after Barnes?" of course Tony wouldn't be able to let him talk without interrupting. Sometimes it would seem that Tony was incapable of holding his tongue. He said it was part of his charm. Although, Steve noticed that when he said Barnes it wasn't as venomous as it usually was. It seemed nicer. Still with an edge to it, but almost mellowed out. Like instead of a steak knife it was a butter knife.
"Partly. And after Rhodey. You and I both had a James by our side through everything. I wanted our daughter to have that as well"
"So you've given him the James curse? For shame Rogers" and it wasn't that funny, but hearing Tony joke around with him in that teasing tone of his, sent Steve into a fit of giggles that he couldn't stop. It was almost like old times. After a few moments he managed to compose himself and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry, that wasn't that funny" he apologized, but Tony cut him off with a chuckle that sent chills throughout him.
"Haven't heard you laugh in a while. Almost forgot what it sounded like"
"The girls name" Steve blurt out before Tony could say whether he missed the sound or not, not wanting to hear the answer, "is Maria" Tony was silent, but Steve knew he was still on the line. Steve was willing to sit in silence with Tony until he was ready.
"Maria?" Tony whispered like he couldn't believe Steve would still name her that after everything.
"After your mother. You always said that's what you wanted the girls name to be" Tony went quiet again so Steve decided to keep talking. "They don't look like twins, but they do look like a mix of us. James is older by eighteen minutes. He has your brown hair, but my blue eyes. He likes to build things and take things apart, but he's got my shyer personality, and a more innocent look in his eyes. Maria has my blonde hair, but your brown eyes. She likes to paint things and make messes, but she's got your devilish personality. Even mastered your smirk at only a year old. They are both a handful, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. I could send you pictures after this, if you'd like" Steve offered, knowing Tony would want some.
"I'd like that. Shit Steve, they sound perfect" Tony finally said, voice cracking a little, and he couldn't be more right. Steve grinned as he realized Tony had just called him Steve for the first time, and not Rogers. He wouldn't comment on it because he didn't want to set Tony off, but he felt tingly. Maybe one day they wouldn't be walking around on egg shells with each other.
"They are one hundred percent perfect"
"And what about you?"
"What about me?" Steve furrowed his eyebrows, confused by what Tony was asking.
"How have you been?" Tony asked, and Steve's heart sped up a little at the care that he could hear.
"I've been decent. I'm taking care of myself. Some days I don't feel like rolling out of bed, but they make it worth it" he admitted honestly because some days he really didn't feel like getting up. He just wanted to lie in bed and cry, or pretend for a little while he didn't exist anymore. But then the kids would need him, and he'd be fine for a while. "What about you?"
"You saw the news" was all Tony said, and Steve sighed.
"Ya, I did" they grew silent again, and Steve didn't know what else he could say that would help Tony. There was one thing, but he wasn't sure if Tony would want to. But this was all about starting something together, meaning no more secrets and lies. Plus he'd never know unless he offered.
"Hey Tony?"
"Ya Steve?"
"We're having a party, in two weeks for their first birthday. Would you want to come? You could come a few days earlier if you wanted, that way you could meet them in private, and you could bring whoever you wanted. I could text you our coordinates" please come was left unsaid, but Steve's sure Tony picked up on it. He was always good at being able to pick up what Steve wasn't saying. It was another reason they worked so well together, both being able to just sense and read the other person, being able to communicate with no words. He waited with bated breath for Tony's answer.
"Ya Steve, I'll be there"