Nov 1990-DEC 1990
Nov 1990
Steve, Howard and Peggy had discussed it. The day after Veteran’s day they would announce the return of Captain America. Howard had wanted it to be on Veteran’s day. However, Steve had insisted on not over shadowing the veterans returning from Desert Storm.
Steve had been avoiding Tony since his rut. But on Veteran’s day Steve went to the SHIELD storage facility, to find his old dress uniform from World War II. The alpha vaguely wondered why it was stored in a different place than the rest of his things, that was until he walked down to the storage area.
There was a little old man that looked to be about a hundred sitting behind a plexiglass panel, who happened to be the person that kept track of the inventory in the facility.
“Hi, I’m Agent Parker. I was told to get Captain America’s old uniform from storage by Director Carter.”
He looked at Steve through his thick glass lens. “I need I.D Agent Parker.”
Steve pulled his badge from his belt and slid it through the part in the glass.
The man examined it for a minute then pulled out a massive binder. He flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for. “Item #ASR000891.”
He then went to a system of filing cabinets and pulled out a card. And printed Steve’s badge number on the line. “Initial here.”
He slid a pen and the card through the glass along with Steve’s I.D card back. Steve complied and was handed a key. “You’ll find the Captain’s uniform on display in the lobby where the highschool tours are.”
He thanked the old man and headed for the elevators. He wandered around the lobby until he came to an area near the cafeteria that didn’t require a key card to get in. In front of the entrance was his old uniform on a dummy. His original costume was somewhere in the arctic on a still frozen version of him.
He stared up at the dummy of him pictures and a plaque were in the display case.
The plaque read, “Capt America, began life as a sickly boy in Brooklyn and grew up in the Great Depression. When war broke out he was desperate to help his fellow country men out. After being denied multiple time, Captain America was accepted into the SSR and allowed Dr. Eskine to use him for experimentation. On the right you will see the Captain’s before transformation uniform and his after transformation uniform.
After spending time in the USO, the Captain braved a daring rescue mission and saved over three hundred Allied POWs. Many of which went on the join the Howling Commandos and the organization that would become SHIELD.
In the missions that followed…..
……..In order to save the lives of millions the Captain drove a plane carrying an atom bomb into the ocean, officially MIA, his body is yet to be recovered.”
Steve noticed someone come up next to him as he read. “Kinda an amazing guy.”
Steve smirked. “Yeah, I guess he was.”
The man next to him leaned against the glass. “Pretty handsome too. You know if he wasn’t such an idiot.”
“How’d you find me, Tony?”
“I didn’t. I was leaving and noticed you standing over here looking like a kicked puppy.”
“We’re announcing I’m back tomorrow. Who I am. I told Barton today. He was well he was shocked, to say the least.”
Tony hummed. “I figured it would be soon; Director Carter had me begin designing the new suit.”
Steve started unlocking the case. And gathering his uniform that still fit from the manikin.
“Steve, I’m sorry about what happened but would you please stop avoid-”
“Tony you have nothing to be sorry for. I should… I should have been the adult and put a stop to it.”
Tony huffed. “I’m not a child.”
“No, but you are a teenager. It may have been common for sixteen year olds to be dating and marrying people older than them when i went in the ice. And sixteen year olds may have served in the army, but this is not that world.”
“You have never given a fuck about the rules. Why is this where you draw the line?”
The alpha stared at his uniform. Because our son was a year younger than you the last time I saw him. Would it be so bad if Tony knew he was from the future? But that would change the future wouldn’t it.
Outside a horn blew.
Tony sighed. “Steve, I have to go my date’s here.”
Steve finally looked at Tony. apparently his face said everything. Tony took a step closer staring him dead in the eyes. “Just tell me you want me and I’ll go tell him to beat it, and you and I can go back to dating and denying that’s what we’re doing.”
“We weren’t-”
“Jesus, you may not have conciously been doing it, but fuck, bringing me lunch everyday -watching fucking romcoms on my couch with me- the board games- and I noticed how pleased you pretended not to be when I wear my Captain America shirt- Steven, if we weren’t dating then you lead me on. What with how many times you denied it, and told me it was a stupid teenager with a crush... And just to prove you right that… that I’m a stupid naive teenager, I fell in love with you!”
Tony seemed to realize what he’d just said, because he ducked his head and turned to walk away.
“Tony,” He stopped near the door. There was so much to say and so much Steve couldn’t yet fix. “Will you be at the press conference tomorrow?”
The omega remained rigid but his voice was shaky. “Why?”
“We may not be able to have the relationship you want us too, but you are still the most important person to me. And I want you there.”
“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” And he walked towards the door.
Steve turned back and started to fold his pants. The clang of metal on concrete stopped him. He turned to see his mother’s ring rolling across the floor. Steve snatched it from the floor. And the yellow piece of paper that had also fallen out of it.
He’d kept it in the pocket of his dress uniform in case he ever got the chance to ask Peggy to marry him. He’d also kept a note with it incase something happened to him on the field, because well Peggy was who his personal stuff was left to.
He opened the note. “Peggy, If you’re reading this then I didn’t make it back from a mission and I never got it out. But I wanted you to have this. It was my mother’s and I had been trying to find the right time to give it to you Peggy. But I guess my time ran out.
I’m sorry and I love you. Steven Roger.”
He’d written that nearly fifty years ago, but down below it was new unfaded unworn ink in a different hand.
“Steven, In another lifetime I would have been overjoyed to be your wife, but our time is passed. As much as you try to hide it or deny it the fact, your heart and everything this ring symbolizes belongs to someone else, now. I’ve had this ring for long enough.
If Howard gives you any trouble, call me. I wish you all the happiness, I’m sure you and Tony’s sons will be wonderful. Love, Peg.”
Steve was stunned. It was dated the day of Tony’s training graduation. That was the only time Peggy had even seen the two of them together. God how obvious was he if Peggy figured it out with one interaction.
He flipped the ring over in his hand. Tony had said I love you and Steve had an idea.
The next morning was a blur; Steve had hardly slept the night before. He was one of the last people to be seated on the stage. But much to his glee, Tony had come. He was seated next to his mother making faces to Rhodes in the audience. He had also worn another suit and his glasses. Steve was seated next to Director Carter and another high ranking government official. First Howard got up to speak and introduced Peggy. Peggy got up and spoke.
“For years I have run SHIELD, formerly the SSR, most of you know the SSR because of our most famous operative, Captain America. Howard, has been searching since he went missing in action years ago. The hope was to recover the remains one of our history’s greatest heroes. Ladies and Gentlemen we are here today to confirm announce we have confirmed we have indeed found Captain America.”
The press started going nuts, but Peggy continued over them. “However, we did not find a corpse. Due to the serum, we found Captain America in a comma like state.”
Lies, but Steve supposed it was true they just didn’t say when they found him.
“Without further introduction, I give you Captain America.”
Peggy returned to her seat as Steve stood. The lights were flashing and going crazy. But it was clear the media hadn’t prepared questions for Captain America. Not that Steve intended to answer many.
“Captain, how long have you been out of your comma?”
“Only a few months, I’ve spent most of that time at SHIELD.”
“Do you plan to continue working as Captain America in this day and age?”
“Yes, I plan on continuing as an Agent of SHIELD.”
“What do you think of the current military conflict in the Middle-East?”
“I think America is at its best when protecting people’s freedom.”
The questions continued for several more minutes.
“Director Carter was once known to be romantically involved with you are you developing any new romances now?”
Steve couldn’t help but smile. “I think that will be all for today.”
Steve retreated to the Stark Industries Building as Howard and Peggy continued to answer questions. SHIELD Agents ushered him, Maria, Tony and the other two Generals into the building. The Generals shook his hand and told him they were inspired by him to Join the military when they were teenagers. It made Steve’s chest swell with pride knowing he had inspire someone to do great things. However once the press conference was over Director Carter and Howard Stark took the General’s attention.
The alpha was relieved because he was able to turn his attention to Tony and Maria. Steve waltzed over to where the two were talking. “Are you enjoying your work there?”
Tony nodded. “Yeah. I get to work on my own prototypes. I almost have one working.”
“Are you eating?” Maria clearly knew Tony’s laboratory habits very well.
“At least breakfast and dinner.”
She raised and eyebrow. “Lunch?”
Tony shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“Tony” She scolded.
Steve cleared his throat. “Maria.”
Tony turned away from Steve but his mother with looked at him with a sweet smile. “Captain Rogers, welcome back to the modern world. We miss you at dinner.”
“It’s a bit overwhelming but I think Howard and Peggy are taking the brunt of it.” Steve eyed Tony trying to slip away.
“How are you enjoying your new apartment? It's in North Brooklyn as well isn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She grinned. “It makes me sleep a bit better knowing that Tony has such a wonderful alpha living so close to him.” She glanced to her son which stopped him from slinking away further. “I’m so relieved to know that someone like you could be there in a matter of minutes if Tony needed something.”
Tony stared at his shoes waiting for him mother to ignore him again.
Steve stood up straight. “Actually I was wondering if I could borough Tony for a few minutes, SHIELD stuff.” He smiled.
Maria waved him on. “Of course, I’m go see what Howard is doing.”
She walked towards her husband but gave her son a wink as she walked off. Tony in response rolled his eyes. “So what SHIELD business is oh-so-important? Worried your suit will chaff or that its being designed by a child?”
“How was your date?” Steve asked sincerely.
The omega just stared at him for a moment before huffing, “No.” He promptly turned and headed for the conference room door.
Steve still had to walk pretty quickly to catch up to him and even then Tony didn’t stop walking. “Tony, that was a serious question.”
“I am well aware, are you aware that I don’t want to answer it.”
“That bad, huh? I’ve had plenty of bad-”
Tony stopped and turned on him. “It wasn’t bad. Okay, I’m not going to see him, but the reason isn’t because it wasn’t a good date. Nope in fact it ended with both of us having an orgasm so no it wasn’t bad, Steven.”
Steve didn’t want to think about Tony having sex with someone else. “Then why aren’t you seeing him again?”
“Oh I don’t know, maybe because I couldn’t stop comparing him to you. I kept thinking Steve knows me better, Steve’s shoulders are wider, Steve’s arms are thicker- Captain America casts a large shadow. So if you don’t mind I’d like to wallow in my feelings alone.” He started to storm off again but Steve grabbed his arm.
“I wasn’t kidding about having important business.”
Tony stopped and gave the alpha a look that he knew meant he had very little time to explain himself before Tony lost his patience. Steve reached into his uniform pocket and pulled out a small-thick book.
“I wasn’t playing you last night when I said you are the most important person in my life. There is a tradition we started back in the SSR, I don’t know if it’s still going but if it is for good reason no one talks about it. Operatives in the field would give a book to one person the person they trusted the most, a book, file or something that should worse- come to worse had a few things in it. It’s part last will and testament, part confession of sins and part here are my off the books safe houses if my mission is compromised.”
Tony didn’t even look at the book laid in his hands he was still staring at Steve with questions in his eyes. “You’re giving that to me?”
Steve nodded. “It’s only for emergency situations though. Keep it close but safe until then.”
Tony finally looked at the book and rolled his eyes. “The Life of Howard Stark- pocket edition. Are fucking with me?”
Steve smiled. “No, its thick enough to contain everything I need it too, no one will question why you have it stored somewhere weird, but easily to get to.”
“So I could really open this up figure out all of Captain America’s secrets?”
“You could. You’d have to know the cipher and then you’d have to read all about your father to figure out the secrets.” Tony wrinkled his nose in disgust. Steve laughed. “I had to have some insurance you wouldn’t just read it for fun. The only way you’d endure that much of your father’s ego would be if I was really in trouble.”
Tony nodded. “I’ll keep it safe. But I’m still mad at you.”
Steve shook his head and back towards from where they came. “Someday Tony, you’ll see it was for the best that you weren’t with me before being a legal adult.”
“Oh yeah? When?”
Steve smirked back at him. “When we have our own teenagers.”
Tony bit at his lip to hide his forming grin.
Tony was away from SHIELD from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The Starks regularly spent the holidays at their Ski Lodge in the Canadian Rockies. Steve had been invited to go, but he just didn’t think he could handle being around all of that snow again. However, Christmas Morning there was a knock at his door
Steve ran to get it pulling on pants in the process. He opened the door only to have Tony push his way past him inside. “Jesus, its fucking freezing out there.”
“Tony?” Steve was gobsmacked.
“What you were expecting someone else?” He started unwrapping his scarf.
Steve shook his head. “No, I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
Tony smiled his lips and nose red. “Which is exactly why I’m here. I couldn’t let the symbol of wholesomeness spend Christmas alone.”
They spent the day watching Christmas movies on the couch and drinking hot coco.