Nurture

Tony Stark wasn't expecting any phone calls today, so when his phone all of a sudden goes off, he's confused. Not to mention if anyone was to call him, it would usually go through F.R.I.D.A.Y. first before it got to him.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y. I want you to tell whoever is calling me that I'm busy with more important stuff." He calls as he continues working on his latest project.

He's far too busy to answer any phones right now.

"Boss, that isn't the main phone going off." F.R.I.D.A.Y. says. "It appears that you have an old cellphone going off somewhere in here."

Tony stops what he's doing, as he realizes that the A.I. is right. The ringtone certainly doesn't sound like the main phone in his lab, more one of those annoying ringtones of the old cellphones now that he actually takes the time to hear it more.

At first he's confused. Why would he have an old cellphone in here? Until he realizes that he's still got that old flip phone that Steve Rogers gave him after the whole incident with the accords and in Siberia after he tried to kill Rogers' omega five years ago.

Why he's kept it all this time, he doesn't know. And now that it's going off, he kind of wishes that he hadn't just thrown it away along with the letter Rogers had sent him.

He really doesn't wish to speak with Steve Rogers at all right now. That idiotic alpha is hardly worth his time. Then again, that phone is for emergencies, and just maybe he should see what it is the moron wants.

Maybe the authorities finally got to him and Barnes, and he's calling for help to bail them out. If that's the case, then Tony has no desire in helping him. Maybe he should answer the call just to tell him that.

Tony sighs, stopping what he's doing to rummage around in one of the drawers, finding the ringing phone sitting there just waiting or him to pick it up and answer the call.

"What?" He asks as soon as he picks up the phone and answers the call.

There's a bit of a long silence on the other side of the phone, and Tony could've sworn he heard what sounded like a kid in the background, before Steve finally speaks.

"Hey, Tony." He says.

"It's been five years and you finally decide to call now?" Tony asks. "What do you want, Rogers?"

He's really not in the mood to talk with the traitor. Well, he's not really a traitor, but he still kind of is.

"I know this phone was to be used for emergencies, but Buck and I have a favor to ask." Steve says.

"If you two have been caught by the authorities, then I'm not going to waste money to bail you both out." Tony says. "You both can stay locked up. It's probably for the better if Barnes is locked up anyway."

More silence. Though Tony can hear some faint talking off speaker, but he can't quite understand what they're saying.

"That's not why I'm calling, Tony." Steve says.

"Then what do you want?" Tony asks. "Where are you anyway?"

Maybe he can find out where they are, then get the authorities on their trail.

"Where we are doesn't matter, Tony." Steve says. "Buck and I need a place to stay. We're coming back soon, and we need somewhere to stay temporarily before we find somewhere of our own."

Of course they want something from him. He should've known. Also means that he shouldn't have bothered answering the call.

"What, you want me to allow you and the murderer back into the compound?" He asks. "And you know that as soon as Ross finds out you're back he'll be be on both your asses."

"Tony...." Steve sighs. Another pause. "I've already spoken to Ross." He sighs. "Both Bucky and I have, and Bucky has agreed to sit trial in six months time."

He has to admit, he's surprised to hear that. He wasn't expecting to them to have talked with Ross and actually come to an agreement.

"Okay, I'll admit. I wasn't expecting that." He says. "But why should I do anything for you both?"

Sure he's allowed the Avengers who were on Steve's side in regards to the accords back into the compound, but why should be do it for the man who killed his parents? And the man who hid it from him?

"You're the only one we could turn to." Steve says. "And in case you haven't noticed, we have no living relatives who'll help us."

Tony supposes that Steve has a point there. But why should he help them? Barnes killed his parents and Steve kept that from him.

Though he understands that it wasn't Barnes' fault for killing his parents, he understands that now. But it was still by the guys hands.

"How long do you intend on staying in the compound before finding a place of your own?" Tony sighs.

Maybe he can manage to tolerate them being in the compound for a short while until they find a place of their own. Just as long as he doesn't have to give them any money.

"We're not sure yet." Steve says. "We hope no longer than a year at the most."

Hearing that, Tony isn't sure if he likes the idea of having them in the compound for a full year before they find somewhere for themselves. Though he supposes he should probably at least give them somewhere to stay, despite not liking the sound of having them in the compound.

"Fine." Tony sighs. "You both can stay here."

"Thank you, Tony." Steve says. There's a bit of a pause and a loud crash the background before Steve speaks again. "I gotta go. My son just broke something again."

"Alright." Tony says, before realizing that Steve had said son. "Wait, what do you mean son?"

Though unfortunately before Tony gets an answer, Steve has already hung up the phone.

Sighing, Tony flips the phone shut, before setting it down on the bench.

Steve Rogers and James Barnes are coming back to America and staying in the compound.... He's got to figure out how to break the news to the rest of the team.

He's not even sure how the others will react to that news, aside from maybe Sam and Wanda.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y.?" He calls. "Call the team into the main living area." He says. "They need to know that Steve Rogers and James Barnes will be returning."

Timetoinformtheothers....