Feb 1992
The Two-Steves conundrum became Tony’s obsession, much to Steve’s chagrin. However, Tony was apparently going to earn a PhD for discovering that there were two subcategories of Pym particles. One had something to do with mass and the other was somehow created from moments when universes diverged.
Tony had tried to explain it to him, but he just did not get it. But Steve tried his best to support him though and to make sure Tony ate and slept. Most movie nights, Tony was too tired to even make a pass at him. He would just curl up on the couch and fall asleep against his fiancé. Usually Steve ended up with a crick in one joint or the other. Clint would occasionally make a comment about Tony wearing him out. However That was far from the truth- Tony would fall asleep against him and Steve would put himself through hell to make sure Tony stayed asleep at least for a few hours- even if he was slowly developing joint problems.
Those nights were becoming scarce as movie night had been reduced to one night a week. With Tony’s now ridiculously busy schedule, Steve needed something to occupy himself. Tony had joked he could join a VA support group.
As much as Steve wanted to roll his eyes at the suggestion he needed something to do that wasn’t going out drinking with other Agents every night. Not that his metabolism couldn’t take it, it just wasn’t healthy...for his team.
He ended up joining a boxing gym. It wasn’t that SHIELD lacked the facilities. No Steve was just far more comfortable with the Vets that were there than the spies at SHIELD.
Well he supposed now he was a spy as well, but he didn’t have to like spies being every part of his life.
One of the ‘old guys’- everyone called him Sarge- was a special ops guy in Vietnam. It was a few visits in before Sarge had spotted him. Steve thought the old man was going to have a heart attack.
Steve dropped his gym bag to the floor and ushered him into his office.
“Sarge, what’s wrong?” The marine he’d been coaching had asked.
Steve got the older man onto his earth tone couch. “Get him some water and one of those cold towels.”
The marine scurried away.
“You’re him ain’tcha?”
Steve leaned back against the desk. “That depends on which him you’re refuting too.”
“Captain America.”
Steve crossed his arm. “How’d you know?”
The Sarge leaned back in his seat. “I saw you on the War updates at the pictures.”
“That’s an impressive memory.”
“My father was in the 107th infantry.”
Oh. Bucky’s unit.
The marine rushed back in with the towel and water. “Thank you son. I was just telling Steve here how he looks a lot like Captain America.”
The marine smiled clearly relieved his mentor’s color was returning to his face as he handed him the water. “That why everyone calls you Captain?.”
Steve smiled to himself. “No, that would be because I was a Captain. You’ll be alright Sarge?”
The older man waved his hand at him as he drank from the water bottle.
“Is was just shocked to see someone with such an un-beat up face walk into a boxing gym-their either hella good or don’t know what’s about to hit them.”
“My fiancé doesn’t call me Captain Handsome for nothing. But I think I’ll manage just fine in the ring.”
Sarge's eyes sparkled with curiosity at the mention of a fiancé. “I otta put you in the ring here with Michaels-he’s got a brutal strike speed.”
“I think I could handle myself.”
Michaels shot him a teasing smirk. “Yeah? I was the Marine Corps heavyweight champion.”
Steve ducked his head. He’d punched out a tank before… much to Tony’s joy at that rumor being true. “That it?”
“Oh ho ho. Big shot you got a few fights under your belt then?”
“A fair few.”
“Well you’re gonna have to get in the ring with me at some point and see how you’ve held up.”
Steve nodded. “I’d love to. I promise I won’t pull too many punches.”
He shot a knowing look to Sarge who was smirking.
“You keep talking a big game but I want to see if you can back it up.”
Steve offered his hand out to Michaels, who was laid out splat on the mat. “You put up a hell of a fight.”
He reached out and took his hand. “I’m just impressed. You can back up your talk.”
Steve pulled him to his feet and watched Sarge smirk at them both. Steve could almost say it looked like a twinkle of pride.
“What branch are you in?” I haven’t seen training like that.
Steve ducked his head. “That's classified.”
Michaels grinned. “If you hadn’t just gotten me down in the ring like that I would call bullshit. You gonna be a regular now?”
“I’ll keep sparring you until you can lay me out.”
“You got a deal.”
When Steve entered his apartment that evening, the door was already unlocked. Cautiously he entered. The TV was on. An opened Ballantine beer bottle sat on the island next to two pizza boxes. For a moment Steve assumed Clint had broken in. But then Steve noticed that the pizza boxes were from the mom and pop place down the street from Tony’s apartment.
“You still are underage. Just cause we’re engaged doesn’t mean I aid you in underage drinking.” Steve teased as dropped his gym bag and started taking off his coat.
Tony appeared from the bathroom with a wet face. He looked utterly exhausted- breathtakingly beautiful but exhausted. He was wearing one of his MIT sweatshirts, running shorts and his glasses.
“Just one beer, Steven, that’s all I’m having.”
He moved to Tony letting his hands rest on the omega’s waist. “Rough day?”
Tony rested his head on Steve’s shoulder and nodded.
“What went wrong in the lab?”
“Nothing.”
“R&D?”
“No.”
“Something with the thesis?”
“No- everything with the lab and my inventions is fine.” Tony wrapped his arms around Steve’s neck.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“I just- can’t a man miss his fiancé?”
Steve kissed his head. “You saw me yesterday at lunch.”
Tony rolled his head up to look at him with those puppy dog eyes. “It’s not enough. I’m so ready to be married.”
Steve knew he shouldn’t be so surprised he was the one who’d given him a ring after all. “Not just cause you want to get me into bed?”
“Not just that. It’s the other stuff before that too. How good it feels to fall asleep with you after a long day. How we just sit some nights not even watching the TV when you doodle and I tinker with things. I want that to be everyday.”
“Is that what you need right now? Or cuddling on the couch?”
“Does pizza get me cuddles?”
Steve stepped back from Tony. “It does but it won’t get you a beer- I’m finishing off that one you opened.”
Tony pouted. “You’re so mean, Steve.”
Steve just smiled. “Come on, let's eat before it gets cold.”
Tony was quiet through our dinner. He listened as Steve told him about Sarge and Michaels. But the fact that Tony stayed rather quiet said more to him than he’d ever get Tony to say.
“Tones, something is still bothering you.”
“There is something else… but I don’t really know how to bring it up.”
Steve sipped his beer. “If it’s something important, we need to get to the point of being comfortable being whatever to each other. That’s what being married means.”
Tony propped his head up with his hand. “I thought it meant faithfulness getting you for eternity.”
“It means a lot of things.” Steve whispered despite the fact that they were the only two people in the apartment.
“I...I have to go to San Francisco for a few months.”
“Oh. For work or… the Particle thing.”
“The particle thing… but I’m being temporarily assigned to do upgrades to the west coast facilities’ tech. I’ll be gone until June.”
It wasn’t what Steve thought Tony was going to say. He didn’t want Tony to go, but they weren’t mated yet; he didn’t have a reason for him not to go.
“When will you leave?”
“Late next week.”
Steve was trying to think of his current schedule; he didn’t think he had any ops coming up. He wanted to spend the last few days they had with Tony.
“Maybe it’s for the best. My rut is due soon. And I already have a hard enough time keeping control over myself around you. And your heat is due just before your 18th. Maybe us being in different cities will make it harder for either of us to be tempted.”
“But we’ll be without movie nights for four months.”
“I can visit on my recoupe days after ops. And we can schedule a time to talk every evening.”
Tony was chewing on his bottom lip. “Can you get a phone in your room?”
Steve cocked an eyebrow before Tony took the hint and explained. “So we can fall asleep talking about the same shows on TV.”
“Yea then I can wake up and listen to you snoring.”
“I don’t snore!”
“You do.” Tony looked insulted. “I like it. It lets me know you’re actually asleep and not just laying there pretending.”
Steve shrugged. “Same reason I like bringing you lunch; it satisfies my instincts to protect and provide for my mate.”
Tony smirked and slid off of the chair. “We’re not mated yet.”
“You forget, I’m from the future. The first time I met you, you were already mine with our pups.”
Tony slid between Steve’s spread legs and braced himself against the bar counter. “What was sex like with me when I’m older?”
Steve tipped the beer up for the last sip. Thank Mother Mary that Steve couldn’t get intoxicated since that question was loaded enough without he too being loaded. He placed his hands on either side of Tony on the counter. “I don’t know. I didn’t find out that Tony was my mate until just before I was sent back here.”
“I find it surprising that I wouldn’t have told you immediately.”
“There were complicated events.”
Tony looked at Steve over the rimms of his glasses. “You’re telling me I didn’t try to get you into bed at all.”
“Older you was very flirtatious. But he didn’t try to get me into bed; he was concerned by how things had changed since I’d been missing.”
“Oh god. Don’t tell me I age horribly.”
Steve laughed. “Of course that's what you’re worried about.”
“Well do I, Steven? I can’t be worried about someone younger and prettier stealing you away one-”
Steve leaned forward and kissed Tony to get him to be quiet. “You’re not going to like my answer.”
Tony groaned and closed his eyes. “I’m a toad aren’t I?”
“You’re breathtaking, now and in the future. In fact, you know the saying aging like a fine wine.”
“Cheese is the same way.” Tony pushed off the counter forcing Steve back.
“Cheese?”
Tony nodded and hooked his fingers into Steve’s belt loops. “Cheese. Because you, Captain Rogers, are cheesy.”
Steve let Tony lead him to the couch by his pants. He wished he had more self control with how much Tony’s teasing turned him on. (No he didn’t). “Doesn’t wine go with cheese?”
Tony grinned. “I wouldn’t know now would I? I’m not old enough to drink.”
Steve huffed as Tony pushed him back onto the couch. “I am painfully aware.”
The omega straddled Steve’s lap. While balancing himself with his hands on Steve’s neck he played with the hairs on his neck. “How far are you willing to let me go?”
Steve lavished in the feeling of Tony’s hands. He let his eyes fall shut and his head fall back. “Nothing below the belt. And I mean nothing- no grinding.”
Tony’s hands were gone. Steve waited a second before the rustle of fabric made him open his eyes. Tony pulled his sweater shirt over his head before depositing it onto the floor.
That- That was not what he’d expected, but he couldn’t help but drink in Tony olive skin. He was thin but not scrawny like Steve was before Rebirth. No Tony was… well he didn’t have a word for it. But he was muscled in a toned way but still had that omega softness.
“You can-” But Tony didn’t get to finish Steve flipped them over so that he had Tony pinned to the couch. He pushed back to strip his own shirt off before dropping it next to Tony’s on the floor.
“Oh fuck.” Tony muttered, drinking him in. Steve smirked before letting his hands slid down Tony’s rib cage to his waist. He couldn’t pull his eyes away from Tony’s intact sternum. It was strangely errotic. He wanted to keep it intact and prevent the incident that had caused Tony to need the arc reactor in the first place. But damn if Steve wasn’t aroused by an intact breast bone.
Steve kissed Tony’s lips gently, before moving down to kiss that enticing sternum. He moved his hands down to Tony’s rib cage so he could tease his omega a bit with his thumbs.
He kissed down Tony’s chest before nibbling his way down from his collar bone to where his abbs started. It was heavenly feeling Tony’s pulse and breath quicken with both his hands on his ribs and under his mouth. Tony’s nails scraped against his scalp and his shoulders.
“Oh fuck, Steve, please.”
Steve spared a glance up at Tony. The omega’s eyes were screwed shut as if he was in pain. Of course he probably was; his cock was straining in his shorts against Steve’s stomach. He should really stop but he was enjoying the tiny little hitches in Tony’s breath every little gasp.
Steve knew he shouldn’t; but Tony was too perfect. He peppered kisses across His omega’s chest. Giving him no warning Steve wrapped his lips around Tony’s nipple and teasing it with the tip of his tongue.
“Oh God! Fuck!” Tony’s back arched off of the couch grinding his cock into Steve’s half hard groin.
Steve released the nipple instantly and rested his forehead on Tony’s sternum. His grip on Tony’s waist was probably too tight and would leave bruises there but he had to hold Tony still. His self control was glass with spiderwebing cracks skittering across it. The slightest movement and it would shatter.
The alpha knew what would happen if he didn’t control himself. He’d end up grinding against Tony until they both came. But that was still over the line for now. Steve’s grip tightened and Tony responded with a sharp inhale.
Steve's mind filled with the image of Tony under him with a broken wrist from the October before last. No, Steve would not do something like that again. He wretched himself away from Tony and sat back on the couch.
His lungs were burning and every instinct he had was telling him to fuck Tony into the couch.
For a moment the only sounds were muffled traffic noises and Steve and Tony’s harsh wet breaths. Steve risked a glance over to Tony.
Possessive satisfaction shot through him. Tony’s glasses were half fogged up, hickey’s covered his chest and there was a faint red outline of where Steve’s hands were. Steve couldn’t help but smile.
“Son of a Bitch.” Tony huffed and stormed over to the fridge. He grabbed two ice packs out before grabbing a dish towel from under the sink.
Steve was about to ask him what he was doing before he returned to the couch. Tony dropped one of the ice packs onto Steve’s crotch before throwing himself back down to the couch. He shoved the towel into his shorts and the ice pack on top of his crotch.
Him and Tony just stared at one another for a moment before Steve couldn’t help but smile at the ridiculousness of it all. Both of them sweaty aroused- engaged and trying desperately not to be aroused by each other. Tony bite his lip to keep from smiling.
“You’re an ass.” Tony huffs.
Steve laid his head on the back of the couch facing towards Tony. “You won’t be saying that when you get back from San Francisco.”
“No, I'll be calling you so much worse if you wind me up like this after May.”
The alpha shifted the ice pack off his crotch; it was starting to do its job a little too well. “If I wind us both up like that after May I don’t plan on needing ice packs to make our arousal go away.”
“Such a tease Steve.” Tony slid from the couch and snatched their shirts from the floor. He threw Steve’s at his head before pulling his own back on.
“‘cause I’m the one who first pulled their shirt off.”
Tony gave him a look before grabbing a blanket from behind Steve and the remote from the coffee table. He settled into the couch curled up next to Steve. It was everything Steve had been missing with Tony spending more time working on his research.
“What do you want to watch?”
You. “It doesn’t really matter to me. I haven’t been keeping up with any shows that are on lately.”
“Do...do you just want to lay here? I could just watch you draw.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“What I want-Steven- is to have sex, but I will settle for snuggling under a blanket with you.”
Steve pulled on his shirt before tugging Tony’s feet along with part of the blanket into his lap. “You know that’s not going to happen.”
“I’m counting the days.”
Steve was fairly certain Tony was joking but then again Tony’d had a crush on Captain America practically his whole life. He smirked at the omega as Tony flipped through the channels. “I just hope it lives up to your expectations.”
Tony didn’t say anything and continued to flip through the channels. Anytime Steve got the last word in a conversation it felt like a gift from Tony. Tony finally settled on a Hitchcock movie on one of the late night channels.
Steve let himself relax and settled in for falling asleep on the couch. He closed his eyes and let every sensation sink in. There was the faintest sound of traffic outside beneath the quiet murmur of the TV. Tony’s legs were a warm weight across him. Not to mention the scents that filled the air were perfectly domestic. He could still smell and taste both the beer and Tony. He understood why Tony had wanted to come over and just bask in Steve’s apartment. Closing his eyes it really was like they were finally together as mates.
The only thing that would be more perfect would be to hear Peter pacing on the ceiling or listening to Tony and Harley discuss their latest project together.
Steve got a slight thrill when he realized a year from now Tony would be his mate and be several months pregnant. Peter would be growing inside Tony. He thought of the picture of Tony holding Peter in his arms.
He’d get to see Pete grow up. And he was going to make sure he got to watch Harley grow up too.
He must have drifted off. Because he jolted when Tony dug his heel into his thigh. “I guess it’s true about soldiers being able to fall asleep anywhere.”
Steve rubbed his eyes. “What time is it?”
Tony threw the blanket over the back of the couch. Cold air hit Steve’s legs through his pants. “Just after two. I’m moving to your bed by the way.”
Tony sauntered into the bathroom. Steve got up and headed into the kitchen. He threw the pizza boxes in the fridge and turned off the lights.
As he walked to his bedroom he started stripping down to his boxers. He’d throw on sleep pants in his room. Tony returned from the bathroom a few moments later. Steve tossed his pants into the bin and entered the bathroom after Tony.
While he was happy to brush the garlic and stale beer taste from his mouth, it also meant brushing away the taste of Tony’s skin. Steve was certain Tony would be more than happy to let him refresh that in the morning.
He peeked out of the bathroom to see Tony hugging his pillow to his chest. He wiped tooth paste from his mouth before tossing the towel onto the counter.
“I need that pillow to go to sleep.” Steve put his hands on his hips as he stared down at the omega.
Tony groaned sleepily. “Sorry, it smells like my alpha. You can’t have it.”
“I guess I’ll just have to go sleep on the couch-Ooof!” Tony hit him in the stomach with said pillow. Steve threw back the covers and crawled into bed. Tony was on him before Steve even got comfortable. He rolled over to pillow his head into the alpha’s shoulder. He let out a small humph.
Even in the pitch black Steve could see Tony’s dissatisfied grimace. “It’s too hard.”
“Not something you normally complain about.” He muttered into his hair.
Tony wiggled and shuffled around until his head was on Steve’s chest. “That’s better. Those bara titties are perfect.”
Steve rolled his eyes at the darkness. He listened to Tony’s steady breaths and felt himself start to fall asleep again.
“Steve?”
“Yeah?”
Tony moved his head from his chest but he could feel he hand next to his side on the bed propping Tony up.
“Why didn’t you sleep with the me in 2009?”
Steve sighed Tony had found an insecurity bone and Steve knew Tony would not relent until he found his answer. “I told you it was-“
“Complicated- yes but specifically why was it complicated?”
“Are you sure it won’t change anything? I’m not risking changing the future until we have our boys.”
“Depends was what made it complicated, something that happen before or after you ‘disappeared’.”
“You-“ Steve stopped and moved his hand over Tony’s on the bed. “After I disappeared as you call it, Tony had a second mate.”
“I wouldn’t-“
“Tony, the older or other you made the right call. He did it to protect our sons.”
“From what?”
“The world. Apparently we told the press Peter was adopted, so people wouldn’t figure out that he had serum in his veins. In order to do that with Harley, he slept with another alpha not long after ‘I’ went missing. So everyone thought Harley was his.”
Tony was silent while he processed the information. Never a good sign when it came to Tony. “Who was it that I was married too?”
Steve sighed. “Tony can we please just go to sleep?”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“Stane.”
“Obie?”
“Yeah.” Steve gritted out hoping Tony would now drop the conversation and let them go to sleep, but knowing damn well he wouldn’t.
Tony was quiet for a moment before Steve could practically hear him smirking. “You were totally jealous of him at the party.”
Steve wanted to argue that he wasn’t jealous, just protective that Stane was awful to Tony and Peter.
“I’m sure whatever he did to you in 2009 was because he knew I loved you and not him.”
“I hadn’t met him before your father’s party. He died in 2008.”
Tony’s silence indicated he wanted more explanation. “That Tony killed him in self defense.”
Tony moved to lay his head back down on Steve’s chest. “I’m not going to let what happened to him happen to you though.”
“I’ve already been warned not to make that choice though.”