Unexpected Developments
“Hey Dad?”
Sage wandered into Tony’s workshop, nose buried in a book, and for a moment, Tony thought that he’d imagined the question, until she looked up at him. He blinked, processing, and then replied, “Yeah, sweetheart, what’s up?”
“What’s happening on New Year’s Eve? Is there going to be a party or something? I wasn’t sure…”
“Shit. I totally forgot.” He groaned. “JARVIS, call Pepper.”
“Right away, Sir.”
A holoscreen came up and the sound of ringing filled the room. Pepper’s face came up on the screen, looking mildly exasperated. “Tony, what is it? I’m about to have a meeting with the board members to explain your absence for the past few months. Oh.” She drew closer to the screen. “Hi, Sage.”
Sage grinned. “Hi, Pepper.”
“Pep, did you have a gala scheduled on New Year’s Eve?”
“Anthony Edward Stark, don’t you dare tell me you forgot the exhibit opening!”
Tony winced and Sage laughed.
“No, I totally didn’t forget, did I, JARVIS?”
“I believe that you did, Sir.”
Tony swore under his breath, causing Sage to giggle. He sighed and turned to her. “Looks like I’ve got an art exhibit opening planned on New Year’s Eve. Why do you ask?”
“Well, if you were all going to something, I was going to ask if I could have Sam over so we could watch the ball drop.”
“Ah.” Tony considered the proposal for a moment, and was about to respond when Pepper cut in.
“Oh, let her have her friend over. You’ll all be gone anyway.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.” Tony joked, winking at Sage. “Yeah, I suppose that would be alright.”
Sage grinned. “Thanks, Daddy!” She hugged him tightly and raced to the elevator, stopping at the door of the workshop. “Bye, Pepper! Thanks!”
The redhead laughed. “Bye Sage, Love you.” She turned to Tony as Sage pulled out her phone and stepped into the elevator. “She’s calling you ‘dad’ now, huh?”
Tony shrugged. “I guess. Hey, you got the adoption papers drawn up, right?”
“Yep. The lawyer dropped them off this morning. Have you and Loki talked to her about it yet?”
“Not quite yet, but… I think she’ll be okay with it.”
Pepper smiled at him. “You’re a great dad, Tony. I have to go because I really do have that meeting, but I’ll drop by later, okay?”
“Yeah. See you.”
“Love you, Tony.”
“Love you too.”
---
“Loki? Do you have a minute?”
The god looked up from where he’d been meditating for the past half hour. “I have many minutes, Anthony. You take up most of them.” He smiled. “How can I help, my love?”
The inventor sat in front of Loki, eyeing the yoga mat the other man was sitting on distastefully. “Pepper’s brining Sage’s adoption papers by later. I want to bring it up with her.”
Loki nodded, unfolding from the lotus position and drawing his knees close to his chest. “I feel that we should broach the subject with her. I would love to adopt her, but we also do not want to go against her wishes in this. This is a large step forward, and not simply for us. Perhaps we ask her opinion in the matter without mentioning the paperwork.”
“Yeah, okay. Good plan.” Tony smiled softly and sighed, dropping h his head into his hands. “I totally forgot about the art opening on the thirty-first. Sage is having her brother over.”
The god arched an eyebrow at him. “Is that a prudent course of action?”
He shrugged. “He seems like a good kid. Loves She a lot. I guess we'll find out, won't we?”
“I suppose.” Loki took Tony's hands in his, eyes starving the other's face intently. “You look exhausted, love. Come rest with me.”
Tony groaned. “I can't. I'm so closer to finishing the StarkPhone update and I’ve just got a few more things to modify on the new armour and-”
“Anthony.” Loki squeezed his hands gently. “Everything that you just mentioned can be put on hill long enough for you to rest. You've been in your workshop for two days. This Is me staging an intervention. JARVIS, where is Sage?”
“Miss Ahlers is in her room reading, sir.”
“please Inform her that Anthony and I intend to watch National Treasure, and that she is welcome to join us.”
“Right away, Mister Laufeyson.”
Tony laughed. “You're such a geek, Lo’.”
The other man frowned. “I do not know what you are referring to, my love.”
Tony scoffed an individual rolled his eyes.
---
“Let’s make a bet.” Clint proposed, cuddled between Phil and Natasha as they all watched Flea Market Flip on HGTV on their own floor.
Natasha raised an eyebrow at him. “Really? You've been wrong about the winner every episode. You have ridiculous taste, Clint.”
Phil chuckled and Clint scowled at him.
“That wasn't what I wanted to bet on. I meant, I want to make a bet on when Tony and Loki will bring up adoption with Sage. She's been living in the tower a few months now, the whole team loves her; it has to be something they're considering, right? Because honestly, if they don't adopt her soon, I’ll do it myself.”
Phil rolled his eyes and paused the episode. “Clint, I love you, and you know I love you, but no one would let you adopt a child.”
“Sage is practically an adult!”
“She’s barely fifteen, you idiot.”
“Awwe, Nat.” He pulled out his best shit eating grin and wrapped his arms around her waist tightly, propping his chin on her chest. “I knew you loved me.”
She shoved his face away, and moved him to lean on Phil. “We’ve talked about you laying on my boobs.”
“But-”
Phil sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Children.”
“Five bucks says they talk to her about it within the week.”
Natasha squinted at him. “I see your five and raise you ten that they'll wait until after new year’s.”
Phil sighed. “Twenty says they do it by this Wednesday.”
The other two looked at each other and shrugged, not having a better offer. Natasha spat in her hand, Clint following and they shook hands. Phil grimaced disgustedly.
“I’m not doing that.”