Broodmare

I AM SO SO SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE IVE UPDATED. THIS CHAPTER GAVE ME SUCH A FIT. I ENDED UP RE-WRITING BITS OF IT TWICE BECAUSE I JUST COULDN’T DEAL WITH BITS OF IT. IT’S STILL NOT 100% WHAT I WANTED BUT I’M TRYYYYYING *SOB*

________

Rhodey found Sam, Clint and Scott standing together in the middle of the hall way.

“Umm…” Clint couldn’t look him in the face, his eyes darting around.

“Okay on this…”

“No.” Scott put his hand on Sam’s arm. “I see what you’re doing here, and I appreciate it. But door number two is only going to make him mad. It’s insult to injury. It’s bad enough that we are willfully showing him his worst nightmare. Door number two is NOT an option!”

Rhodey turned away from Sam and Scott and started walking towards the second door.

Scott took off his helmet, tossed it to Clint, pivoted on his heel, put both hands on either side of Rhodey's chest, and dug his feet into the ground in an attempt to stop Rhodes, but really only managed to slow him down. Rhodey was going to the second door even if it meant pushing Scott through first.

“Don’t do it.” He grunted as Rhodes tried to push through. “Listen to me! LISTEN! I’m talking to you not as a teammate but from one Alpha to another. Don’t do this to yourself. You don’t want to see what’s in there. Don’t do this, Rhodey. DAMMIT! Don’t do it because you love him!” He growled, causing Rhodey to stop. His chest was heaving, his breathing erratic.

“I just met the guy a couple of hours ago and I know you love him. Not in the same way you love Pepper, but just as intensely and this is killing you.  And … and… look… look at me. I get it. Maybe not the way you got it, but I get it. I love my Cassie. And Maggie… we weren’t meant to be together, but if something were to happen to her… if someone were to take Maggie or hurt Cassie or to something… anything to either of them I’m not going to lie, Rhodes, I’d go full on Sith. But you have… you have to listen to me. There is nothing in that room that isn’t going to fill you with rage and fury and disgust and horror and pity. But you can’t… You can’t. Tony… think about Tony. He doesn’t want you feel that way towards him. And that’s all there is behind door number two. That’s all there is.”

“What’s in there, Lang. What did you see?” He asked weakly.

“Nothing that isn’t going to haunt my every waking hour for the rest of my life. And Rhodes, I wasn’t paying attention. All… All there is in there is a busted lab and… and another room that would no doubt but you into full on cardiac arrest… and that’s from just glancing.”

Rhodey deflated at his words. “And… what about door number one makes it so preferable?” He huffed, already feeling all the fight in him drain.

“Because, there’s at least something to hit.”

Rhodey’s eyebrow shot up.

“Sam and Clint are going to go back to T’Challa’s jet after Sam gives me my helmet back.” Sam tossed it to him and he caught it easily. “Thank you… and then you, me, and my acetylene torch.” He pulled one handed away to bring up said torch. “Are going into that room and fuck some shit up.”

“Lang, why do you have a --”

“We should probably leave our comms out here… just for safe keeping.”

--------

It had been almost two hours since both teams had left and T’Challa hadn’t left his spot on the balcony watching the horizon, as though staring at the mountain of rock above the accursed catacombs he could see what was going on some 50 miles away. Maybe he thought all the answers to his questions were in the horizon… she didn’t know.

Ellen looked over her shoulder at the sleeping family behind her. Amadeus had gotten up and let Winter have his seat the moment they had re-entered the room. She had sat down where she had been and Amadeus had curled up in her and Tony’s lap and fallen asleep easily. Winter had kissed Tony’s head and Tony’s body had automatically leaned against him. Winter was a force of nature… much like his name. And he seemed so natural at it, at home with his patchwork family. It was where he belonged.

It hadn’t taken long for Winter to fall asleep with his head resting against Tony’s, his fingers tangled in Amadeus’s hair. It hadn’t been easy to extricate herself from her son, but she felt the need to get an update and she didn’t want to wake everyone.

When she was sure they were all still asleep she carefully made her way to the balcony and approached T’Challa as silently as she could.

T’Challa was looking out over the desert, his back straight, feet shoulder width apart, arms crossed behind his back… he looked like a Panther about to spring into attack.

“Yes, Thor, Hill has been contacted and a S.H.I.E.L.D. transport is in route to your location as we speak.” He paused. “Yes, yes, of course. If you both feel the desire to stay with her during the blast, then so be it, but Pietro should return before the blast; for his own protection.” He paused again. “Agreed. See you then, friend.”

“Are they almost done?” She asked softly.

T’Challa turned around abruptly. “Yes. Though Thor and Hulk are both insistent that they stay with Wanda during the final phase.”

He paused for a moment before exhaling and letting his shoulders relax. “My apologies Dr. Cho. The last couple of days have been...” he trailed off.

“Eventful? Stressful? Catastrophic? Mind Blowing… stop me I’ve reached the appropriate term.”

He let out a mirthless chuckle. “All that and more.” He said looking off into the distance.

“Two days ago I was looking over paperwork to do business with Stark Industries and wondering what my country could possibly gain from said proposal. And then Shuri came running into the room; without so much as a knock, very unlike her… just like the running… so out of character. And she was breathless. ‘Come to the the border facing the northernmost desert. It must be seen to be believed.’ She said to me. And so I followed her and…”

“And what you saw--”

“Was innocent enough at first, if not startling. Two men, one Alpha, the other a distressed Omega, and a pack of multi-racial pups.” He let a harsh breath out through his nose. “Nothing of import, really. Not until I asked for his name and then…” he paused. “It was like the world erupted. I told him that Tony Stark was dead and he looked at Winter and said ‘I’m a dead man.’ and then he collapsed.” He exhaled sharply again. “And that was when I knew that life as I knew it, was over.” He chuckled softly.

“And that was before I knew who Amadeus was.” He turned to her then, relaxing against a pillar and sitting on the stone railing. “I knew that I was in the middle of a potential shit storm. But the moment that they introduced me to Amadeus Banner-Cho.” He smiled weakly. “There were no less than a million thoughts going through my head. At first it was. ‘How do I explain this to Rhodes and Pepper? How long do I wait before I insist that they know he is alive?’ and then it became ‘How do I deceive Director Fury into bringing the Banners to Wakanda without inciting the Hulk? How do I word this request so that I am not forcing Director Fury to deceive the Hulk? How much information do I give that won’t end up risking the lives of the rest of the Avengers mid-air?’ It was a very tentative tightrope walk.”

Ellen smiled. “I’d like to say you did a very good job of walking that tight rope. I mean,” she shrugged, “we’re here and the quinjet only has a tiny bit Hulk-related damage. I call that a win.”

T’Challa couldn’t help but laugh at that. “We had spent hours outside allowing the pups to run and scream and play… Afterwards Deus told us that the Hulk would be able to scent him out from halfway across the desert.” He said softly. “Deus knew that was going to happen. He asked to show Tony, Winter, the Dora, and I, his Hulk form. Because he knew…”

“...That he would be the only one that could stop Hulk’s rampage… oh god.” She whispered softly.

“Yes, and when Tony saw the size of Hulk… he panicked…”

“And ran after him because he was worried.” She breathed out softly,  raising her hand to her chest, eyes never leaving the couch, her son or the other occupants.

“I don’t think I could have asked for anyone better to look after him.” She said softly, emotion creeping into her voice. “The circumstances … I would change but… the people…” She whispered, her voice strained with emotion and tears filled her eyes as she turned to look at her son, her baby, curled up in the lap of the men he’d come to think of as his Uncles and the children that were practically his siblings.

“I agree.” T’Challa said softly. “While I would do anything in my power to go back and change it, to keep this from happening… in the same breath I must admit that changing one thing could have ended very differently.” He whispered. “It keeps swirling around in my brain. What if Winter hadn’t been there to guard him? What if the drugs they had him on hadn’t started losing their effectiveness? What if it had been a different Omega, one that wasn’t as strong willed or resilient? What if Yinsen hadn’t been there? What if it had been a different Alpha, someone less compassionate or caring. What if they hadn’t conceived Kamala? What if Winter had come back empty handed? What if Deus hadn’t been kidnapped? What if Deus had been taken elsewhere? What would have happened if they gone in a different direction? On the one hand; there is nothing but desert to the North and the East of the catacombs. We are at the West. But had they gone south they would have headed for the small territory run by a compassionate War Lord… but, from what I can discern, it is also the place where the Ten Rings do most of their resource gathering… would they have run right back into their former captors none-to-tender embrace? ” He shook his head sharply. “If one variable had been changed would the outcome changed as well? Would there be as many pups? Would there be fewer or more? Would Tony have survived... “ he rambled.

Eventually he shrugged and let out a sharp breath.

“What I’m trying to say is…” he scooted over a little closer, cautiously put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her a little closer in a semi-awkward embrace. “While it is what it is, and that we cannot change, I feel it does them all a great disservice to want to change anything. They are stronger for what they have been through, and while I despise what hardships they encountered, you will find me hardpressed to alter the bonds they have forged because of it.”

She nodded in agreement, cleared her throat and started to get to her feet. “I think it’s time to wake them, or they’ll never sleep tonight.”

“Agreed.” He nodded following her. “I was thinking of relocating them to the library. They have yet to see the library, and the balcony has a better vantage point for which to watch the final stage of the operation.”

Ellen smiled and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Is there any part of your estate that doesn’t have a balcony?”

T’Challa paused. “The front and back entrances are not balconies.” He said seriously enough to make Ellen do a doubletake. He cracked a smile and she felt a genuine laugh bubble up in her throat.

T’Challa smiled as well. “Even though I am king, I cannot always be serious. It wears poorly on the soul.”

Ellen snickered, bumped her shoulder against his and continued into the living room.

They stopped at the threshold to take in the sight before them. T’Challa took out his smartphone to take a quick picture of them. Tony curled up against Winter; Tony’s hand tangled in Deus’s hair as the boy lay curled up in Tony’s lap. Kamala and Nova on one side of the loveseat opposite from them with Riri and Peter on the other. Just off the side in a large overstuffed chair was Miles with Gwennie curled up tight against his chest.

They looked so content… like they belonged there. It was enough to give T’Challa’s heart a tug. As if he could ever dream of having this.

“I hate to wake them…” he muttered.

“But if we don’t, they’ll be no sleeping tonight, and I think sleeping tonight is a must.”

“Agreed.” T’Challa said with a nod as he walked over to Miles and gently shook him awake. Miles first reaction was to pull Gwennie closer to his chest, curl up tighter and scoot away… but when he saw T’Challa’s face he relaxed. “Is… is everyone okay?” He asked sleepily as he sat up, pulling Gwennie onto his lap and waking her up as well. She gave a sleepy snort and made to bury her head in the crook of his neck and shoulder.

“Everything is fine.” He reassured him with a pat on the head. “We merely wish to move the festivities to the library.”

“Festi…” he was cut off by both Peter and Gwen popping up like little jack-in-the-boxes and chiming in “LIBRARY?!”

Nova chirped and Kamala yawned. “I don’t know… did you just say library?”

When Ellen put her hand on Deus’s arm it started a chain reaction. First he pulled away, gasping, then the hand that Tony had carded through his hair pulled away and yanked him by the torso closer to his chest. Tony gasped sharply, his entire body went rigid, his eyes were wild and looking around frantically, but not seeing anything.

But her eyes fell on Winter. Winter had his hand on the back of Tony’s neck massaging it. His lips were pressed against the shell of his ear as he whispered softly. “We’re in Wakanda. We’re safe now. The pups are safe. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m here. We’re safe now.” He whispered ardently. “We’re in Wakanda. We’re safe now. The pups are safe now. Nothing can hurt us now. I will always protect you and the pups. They can’t hurt us now.”

Tony shut his eyes tightly, as though letting his words wash over him, sinking into the warmth and candor of his voice. His body slowly relaxed and when he opened his eyes he blinked them slowly, and as his gaze met Ellen’s he smiled as she was smiling at him. When he realized that he was holding onto Deus with a death grip he loosened his embrace and whispered. “Sorry, sorry,” he turned to Winter and whispered. “Sorry.”

Winter nuzzled his neck. “Sssssh…” he cooed softly.

His chest was heaving. “I promise… I won’t… It won’t always be like this…” he whispered breathlessly.

Ellen pulled Amadeus close but kept her hand on Tony’s and gave it a squeeze. “It’s only day number two, correct?” Winter nodded over his shoulder. “Rome wasn’t built in a day and no one is expecting you to be suddenly healed overnight.”

Tony looked like he was about to say something but suddenly their laps were full of wildly squirming pups.

“BOBA BOBA!”

“POPPA POPPA!”

“BOBA BOBA!”

“What is it? What’s going on?!”

“Is everything okay?” Tony looked towards T’Challa anxiously.

T’Challa had the decency to look bashful.

“I may have said the word…” he winced. “Library.”

Tony’s expression shifted, softened, and smile tugged at his lips.

“Boba! Libwawy! WIFF BOOKS!” Peter’s exclamation was muffled because his face was buried in Tony's shirt. He pulled away excitedly. “LIBWAWY WIFF BOOKS!!” He exclaimed as he wildly waved his arms.

Tony couldn’t help but laugh as his little wiggle worm wiggled his way into Winter’s lap and Gwenny climbed into his lap. “BOOKS BOBA!”

He pulled her close and gave her a hug, a squeeze and as he stood he placed her on his hip with ease. “Books you say?”

“Libraries have books… right?” Gwennie turned her head to look at T’Challa.

T’Challa smiled at her. “Of course, my library has books.”

She turned her head and let out a tiny squeal, she was practically shaking with excitement. “Can we, Boba? Can we go and see the library?” She asked softly.

Questions. It was like cold water being thrown on his good mood. Questions.

He felt a comforting weight settle on the base of his neck as turned to see Winter looking at T’Challa. T’Challa nodded and then Winter nodded to him. The relief was… immediate.

“Yeah, yeah. L-let’s go to the Library.” He turned to the kids who were gathering themselves to leave the room.  “Umm, restroom break first?”

“I’ll help with that.” Ellen offered and corralled the pups towards the restroom.

Tony relaxed against Winter as soon as they were around the corner. “You did fine.” He whispered.

“I apologize. I should have asked you first.” T’Challa rushed over to them. “I should have asked you first before--”

“No, no. It’s fine.” Tony yawned weakly as he rubbed his eyes. “I’m actually glad you have a library. We had… what 10 books.”

“Still have.” Winter corrected. “I… I wanted them to have something familiar.”

Tony’s eyes welled up with tears. “Yeah.. yeah…” he turned to T’Challa with uncertainty in his eyes. “Is… is that okay? I mean… the books?”

T’Challa was quick to nod. “Of course. Of course.” He nodded. “If you would like, you may keep them in your personal rooms.”

Tony nodded. “Yeah, yeah,” he glanced at Winter. “Yeah, yeah. I’d like that.”

“Good. Good. Now there is the small matter of J.A.R.V.I.S.”

Tony’s smile faltered. “J-Jarvis?”

“Yes, but it’s nothing to worry about. I give you my word.” He said softly. “J.A.R.V.I.S. has a port in the Wakandan Palace. It allows him unfettered access to help the Avengers, with a few precautionary provisions to protect Wakanda’s secrets. If you would like, I could allow him access to that port; which will allow you and your pups to have complete access to him from anywhere in the palace.”

Tony felt like his heart could burst. “Yeah… yeah.. How do I…”

“All I need to do is be able to talk to him.” He paused. “Close to your ear, I mean… if I may?”

Tony jumped a little when T’Challa put his hand on his hip, but nodded when the King stopped moving towards him. The hand was warm and comforting; something that had been in short supply for him until recently. He was a very tactile person and he missed the little incidental touches of day to day life. T’Challa’s hand on his hip hadn’t startled him so much as reminded him that this was a thing that could happen now. Incidental touches, small gestures, the rubbing of shoulders, a pat on the back, a squeeze of the hand… they were all things that could happen now and it brought such warmth to him.

T’Challa stopped and almost pulled away when Tony gasped and jumped, but Tony nodded and he pulled up just short of his ear. “J.A.R.V.I.S., this is T’Challa Udaku giving you permission to take your place in the palace matrix; with the earlier security caveats that were agreed upon.”

“Process initiated. And… thank you, Your Majesty.” J.A.R.V.I.S.’s tinny voice came through Tony’s earpiece.

“You are quite welcome.” He said as he pulled back, his eyes briefly and fleetingly meeting with Tony’s and smiled at him as he pulled his hand away from Tony’s hip. J.A.R.V.I.S. wasn’t a person, he also knew without a doubt in his mind that the ‘thank you’ had not been merely for the access to his usual port, but for taking care of his ‘sire’.

Tony smiled, but broke eye contact almost immediately. He put his finger in his ear. “Are you still there J.A.R.V.I.S.?” He asked softly, with an anxious tinge to his voice.

“For you sir, always.”

Tony had a small smile on his face but no one missed the way he swallowed hard when the A.I. confirmed his presence.

“I am in the matrix.” J.A.R.V.I.S. said a second later as the pups and Ellen walked back into the room.

As the pups rounded the corner the lights gave a small flicker. They all stopped in their tracks. “Wuzzzat?” Peter and Gwennie asked.

T’Challa smiled as the twins ran towards their parents. Winter caught Peter easily and Gwennie crawled up Tony with little effort.

“Uh…” Tony looked uncertain, but T’Challa gave him a small nod as the rest of the group walked over to them.

“Perhaps it would best to explain it on the way to the library.”

--------

Maria Hill stood by Shuri as the quinjets bay door opened and the plank extended itself onto the desert.

“Are you sure you want to do this with the Dora Milaje? S.H.I.E.L.D. is more than happy to send an emissary on its behalf to thank the warlord and his people for their continued cooperation in this matter.”

Shuri smiled but shook her head. “They may not be part of Wakanda, but in keeping their settlement clear of terrorist cells it also protects Wakandan interests.” She nodded to the other Dora Milaje who grabbed their sand gliders and slid them down the plank and onto either side of the jet.

“Okay, I get it. I get it. But the offer still stands.”

Shuri smiled as she pulled up her head covering and walked down the plank and joined the second team of Avengers. They both stopped short.

“Were there really that many?” Maria asked incredulously.

“Nay, Lady Hill.” Thor called out as they approached the quinjet. “It’s not as bad as it looks… mostly.” He added with a slight shrug. He had re-donned his travelling cloak and there were two or three bags of goods slung over his shoulder.

“What he means Agent Hill, is that there were only eight members of the Ten Rings in the settlement.” Wanda explained softly. “We interrogated them with the help of the warlord. He confirmed that the rest, except for a small band of two or three that had headed back there to retrieve supplies, were dead. Winter and Tony took out the bulk load the day they escaped.”

Shuri and Maria both felt a wave of relief overcome them.

“And the other ten?”

“Terrorists, planning on becoming a terrorist, and three of them are well… it was either take them now or they were going to end up terrorists later… they’d already started terrorizing their own families.” Hope ticked off her fingers as she went.

That was enough to bring both women up short.

“Excuse me? What did you say?” Shuri asked sharply.

Pietro cleared his throat. “Terrorists. And terrorists in training. They crave mayhem.”

Hulk gave a snort. “They hurt punies. So Witch sent them to me to stop them.” He nodded, pounding his fist into his hand and then gesturing towards the orbs, eight red, the other 10 blue. “Gift wrapped.”   

Maria and Shuri had to bite the inside of their mouths to keep from laughing. Hulk was a gift, and sometimes his inadvertent humor was the gift that kept on giving. But no one was stupid enough to laugh at the jokes to his face, because they most definitely did not want to hurt the Hulk’s feelings.

“Gift wrapped.” Maria repeated. She turned to Shuri. “Gift wrapped.”

“I see.” Shuri said brightly as she approached the Avengers. “You’ve done well here. You have my word as King T’Challa’s right hand that we shall reward these peoples and their warlord for their cooperation in this and future matters.”

Thor approached her, leaned over and whispered something into her ear. Shuri’s eyes lit up with mirth. “I will take care of that as well freind.”

“You have my thanks, Lady Shuri.” He said with a bow before turning back to the others.

“I bid you all good day, and promise that we shall see you again by dinner.” She turned to Maria one last time. “I leave these fugitives in your capable hands, Agent Hill.”

“And we leave this territory in your capable hands.”

They both bowed to another one last time before Shuri and the Dora Milaje turned on their sand gliders and rode off into the distance.

-------

The breeder.

It sent a shiver down his spine.

It sat in the middle of a table in the middle of the room surrounded by chairs and stools.

It was almost like “...spectator sport.” Rhodey muttered under his breath as he walked towards to the table.

“Did… did you know that they outlawed breeders before they outlawed slavery?” Rhodey said with a snort of derision. He turned to Scott sharply. “They realized that breeding Omega’s was wrong before they realized owning people was wrong.”

Scott nodded. “Yeah. That was a bad day in history class. I didn’t take it too well.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. One of the Alpha’s  in class thought it was cute to tell a black Omega that they still wished both were legal.” He paused as Rhodey let out a low whistle. “I got expelled for that fight. But damn it felt good.”

Rhodey chortled dryly, before carrying on. “Did you know that breeders are illegal in every country in the world. Not just the ‘progressive’ ones. All of em.” Rhodey looked around the room. “And yet… here we are. Standing in front of one.”

It wasn’t the torture chamber they expected, or was it prefer? Because that’s what you expect when you hear about breeding Omega’s. You have certain mental images that come to mind: dark, dank, dusty rooms full of begging Omega’s and screams for mercy. There are certain expectations of filthy floors, dimly lit rooms, and devices of  torture hanging like ornaments on the wall. But this room had none of that. The walls were bare, the lighting was as good as you could expect in the depths of a catacombs, but everything else about the room was clean, sterile, and well kept.

Which probably made it worse.

Rhodes was walking around the table slowly, eyes never leaving the barbaric machine. He could practically picture them shoving Tony, his Tony; still nursing and swollen, being ordered or yanked across the room and manhandled him onto this table, strapped him down with the leg irons and leather straps on the table and the contraption. His Tony, his friend, his barely 17 year old friend, begging for mercy from men that knew nothing of the word.

It.

Made.

Him.

So.

Angry.

There was a long pause and Scott braced himself for the inevitable. He watched as Rhodey circled the table, glared at the machine, picked up  the closest chair, lifted it above his head and with a primal scream he brought down the chair onto the breeder over and over and over again.

Scott didn’t try to intervene at first, it was obvious that Rhodey needed this catharsis desperately. It also proved that the breeder wasn’t made of vibranium because the chair was leaving dents behind it. So they didn’t have to worry about T’Challa having a coronary about the breeder being made in Wakanda.

As Rhody grabbed for a second chair he darted forward. “Wait wait wait…”

Rhodey turned his head and gave him a death glare. “WHAT!?”

“Torch or Ax?”

Rhodey blinked at him owlishly. “You. You brought an axe, but instead of mentioning the axe; you let Fury hear you had an acetylene torch??” Rhodey asked incredulously.

Scott shrugged. “Mistakes have been made. Wouldn’t be the first time and it sure as shit won’t be the last time.” Scott flicked the torch on and shook the axe. “Pick one. Cause I get the other.”

Rhodey narrowed his eyes. “What you gonna do?”

“Put on my helmet and destroy as much of this shit as I can so I can feel like I’ve done something productive.”

Rhodey looked around the room and noticed that the walls were lined with book shelves and there were even storage closets. He didn’t want to know what was in them; but they definitely needed destroyed.

Rhodey eyed him warily. “Gimme that damned torch.”

------

“Soooo.” Kamala drawled out. “He can understand us?”

“I can also hear you.” The pups all jumped back a little and gave a tiny squeak. “Apologies. It was never my intentions to startle you. Perhaps I should introduce myself. I am Just A Really Very Intelligent System. Or J.A.R.V.I.S. for short. You may call me Jarvis.”

Tony turned to Winter and nudged him gently. “Introduce yourself.” He mouthed when Winter looked at him blankly.

“Oh oh. Hi, I’m Winter.”

Voice imprint recognition accepted: Winter

“Good day, Winter.”

Ellen nudged Deus and he did a double take before realizing what she wanted. “Oh um… Hi. I’m Amadeus Banner-Cho.”

Voice imprint recognition accepted: Amadeus Banner-Cho.

“Good day, Master Cho, and welcome back to the fold.”

“T-thanks… y-you can call me Deus. I’d…. I like that.”

“Duly noted, Deus.”

Amadeus looked at Kamala; who was looking at the ceiling in awe and wonder. It took her a second to realize that Tony was nudging her.

“Oh, uh, hi. I’m Kamala.” She patted her chest, glanced at Tony and quickly added. “I’m Kamala, Kamala Stark.”

Voice imprint recognition accepted: Kamala Stark.

“Good day, Madam Kamala.”

Kamala couldn’t help but giggle. “You can call me Kamala.”

“Duly Note.”

Riri looked excited as she introduced herself as “Riri Stark; but you can call me Riri!” but Winter’s eyes were trained on Tony. His eyes were glassy and his nose was red. It wasn’t until after Miles’ voice was recognized and greeted by the AI and Gwennie exclaimed. “I’m Gwennie STARK!” That it dawned on him why it was stirring such strong emotions for him.

“I’m Petey Stark!” Peter exclaimed, tapping his chest as the others had done. “You can call me PETEY!”

Voice imprint recognition accepted: Peter Stark.

“Good day, Petey.”

Stark.

They get to be Starks.

Names made them real.

But last names. Last names were verboten. Neither of them had even contemplated the pups ever getting to use their last names. But now. For this pups to say that they were a Stark, that they his family… Winter took a moment to reach out and tentatively give Tony’s arm a squeeze. Tony looked at him, his chin quiver as he buried his face in Gwennies hair.

Last names meant thing were real.

“Is that the last of the pups, Sir?”

They all looked at Nova who was resting comfortably against Kamala’s chest.

“Nova, Nova.” She cooed. “Say something.”

Nova look at the ceiling, chirped and tapped his chest the way he’d seen his siblings do it.

There was a long pause.

“I may have missed that.”

With a sigh he repeated himself.

“I truly apologize, but do I hear chirping?”

Kamala chuckled as she kissed the top of Nova’s head as he buried it in her chest. “Yes, that’s what he does.” She nuzzled him once more. “He’s not quite the grasp of talking yet.”

“Fascinating. Perhaps he could speak once more."

Nova turned to Kamala and chirped.

“He wants to know what you want him to say.” Kamala translated.

“Have him say his name loud and clear.”

Nova tapped his chest and chirped as clearly as he could.

Voice imprint recognition accepted: Nova Stark.

“Good day, little sire Nova. Perhaps, if Sire approves, Nova could help me create a compendium of words so that I might be able to better understand him.”

Nova bounced in her arms and turned to Tony with a look of hope in his eyes.

“I… I don’t see why not… but that doesn’t mean you get to stop trying to learn to speak English, little man.” Tony said and tweaked his little nose causing his youngest to let out a tiny yip of surprise before giggling.

T’Challa couldn’t help but ruffle the boy's hair as they reached the end of the hall.

“And without further ado…” he said as he turned the knob and allowed the door to swing open. “The library.”

As the walked into the room they all gasped and gave small exclamations of wonder and surprise.

This, T’Challa decided, was something that would never get old.