Chapter Text
When the elevator closed, the screen went black. “Who are they and why the fuck are they in my Tower.” Tony glared at the screen, waiting for an answer from Jarvis. “J?!”
“Steven Rogers and James Barnes are guests of Ms Potts and Lt. Col. Rhodes.”
Frowning, Tony paced around their small circle. Pulling at his bottom lip in thought, he muttered to himself in agitation. “I know those names, how the fuck do I know those names?!”
“They've been here for a while if we didn't notice them sooner. Why wouldn't Pepper or Jim not tell us they were bringing guests? Tonight's game night!” Aveline sighed as she sat down next to Bruce. “Do I have to get dressed for dinner or can I still wear my jersey? Bruce, I don't really feel like changing!”
Bruce shook his head as he glanced up at Tony. “Stop pacing, you'll make yourself tired and then we won't enjoy the game.” Turning to Aveline, he gave her a small smile. “It's game night, we're wearing jersey's and eating pizza and wings.” Letting out a soft breath, he gave them both a small grin. “Jim and Pepper both told us that they were adding two more people to the team. Maybe they are the new guys?”
Tony stopped, pausing mid-step as he turned to look at Bruce. “I don't remember hearing anything about additions or new guys and especially not hot new guys that look like they do!”
“They were rather handsome, were they not? I wonder what they would look like..” Aveline was cut off by the sound of an angry huff. Looking up, she smiled to see Rhodey walking into the room. “Hi Jim, good to see you!”
“And you as well beautiful. As for our new guests. Neither of you are to harass them or try to run them off. Be as nice as possible to these two, they're here to help.” Rhodey grinned as he gave Aveline a quick kiss before waving at Bruce then turning to Tony. “And I need you to come look at the new toys I got for you. This last mission was hectic but I think you'll love these new toys.” He threw an arm around Tony's shoulder's, slowly leading him from the room. “Plus there's pizza, wings, and beer waiting for us in the game lounge.”
Tony nodded, following Rhodey as they left the lab. Turning back to Bruce and Aveline, he grinned. “Don't be late for game night, the Dodgers are not beating the Cubs tonight!”
“Blasphemous! I will not tolerate such words within my hearing!” Aveline shouted at Tony, smiling as he and Rhodey boarded the elevator. “They are not just simple men, Bruce, they are military.” She looked at Bruce over her shoulder, a frown curving her lips down. “They have both seen war and death.”
Bruce chuckled, looking up from his tablet to study the petite brunette in front of him. “Why do you say that, a gut feeling?”
“You didn't see them, Tony and I did. Bruce, they know who we are and we know nothing of them. That is a concern, we always know everything about everyone around us. If we don't then..”
“Hey, heyheyhey, stop before you work yourself up.” Bruce sighed, laying his tablet on the desk in front of him. Pushing his glasses up, he gave Aveline a soft look. “I know you two are worried about something happening, but so are Jim and Pepper. If these two are military that is not necessarily a bad thing.” He slowly reached over and pulled Aveline closer. “Last year was not a good year, especially with both of you going missing. I thought I was going to come out of my skin. You already know how it is, the feeds don't stop and if we do stop them..” Bruce broke off at the shiver that raced over Aveline. “I'm sorry, ok? I am but I couldn't hold it together with both of you gone. If Jim and Pepper feel like this will help..”
Sighing, Aveline nodded, hugging Bruce around his waist. “Then we will allow them to help.” Shaking her head, she frowned. “Tony is right though, we've heard their names before.” Looking up, Aveline called for Jarvis. “Tell me what you know and don't think I won't find out if anything has been left out.”
Bruce chuckled as he turned back to his tablet. He ran a finger idly over the screen, tracing an experiment he was working on. It wasn't until Jarvis started to bypass the military history did he pause. “Jarvis, wait. So they do have a military history?”
“Captain Steven Rogers and Sgt. James Buchannon Barnes, of the United States Army.”
“Son of a bitch! I knew those names sounded familiar! Dad's god damn science experiment is here..in my god damn Tower?!”
Aveline looked behind her, eyes narrowing as Tony stomped back into the room. “First, why are you back down here, didn't you leave with Jim?” Frowning, Aveline shook her head as Tony glared at her. “Behave yourself, he is not a science experiment, he is an actual human being. You can't go around saying things like that, cousin.” She turned, trying to hide her smile. “Besides, you can't deny he is gorgeous. All those muscles and that blond hair but those eyes, so intense and so very, very..blue.”
Tony felt his gaze narrow on Aveline, watching as she looked through the screens in front of her. “Are you baiting me?” Glancing at Bruce, Tony frowned. “You're baiting me, aren't you? Why in the hell are you baiting me and all I said was..”
“What you said negates the huge twenty something year old crush you've had on Captain Steven Rogers.” Aveline grinned as she turned to face Tony. “Despite what Howard said about him, you've always thought he was gorgeous. Who didn't? I mean, I look at him and see a beautiful soldier. A man I would love to see in my show as part of the collection.”
“He was an art major before the war. Maybe modeling would be a thing for him?” Bruce stated absently. He glanced up at the sudden silence, before sighing. “Now Tony look, before you get started..”
Tony glared at Bruce before turning to Aveline. “And Barnes? You want him to model for you as well?” At her blank expression, Tony frowned. “You've forgotten..”
“No, I have not but can we afford to upset Jim or Pepper right now? He may try and kill us or he may actually be a changed man. You and I both know cousin, that this life can be cruel and unfeeling but sometimes, we have to make the best of it no matter what.” Taking a deep breath, Aveline walked over to where Tony stood. “If we keep them close we won't have to worry about them harming us. Pepper and Jim brought them here for a reason. They must trust them or they never would have made it past the lobby doors.”
Tony sighed, shaking his head. “This is such a bad idea. Do you know how many ways this can blow up in our faces?” At the silent looks from Aveline and Bruce, Tony felt his shoulders drop. “We shouldn't need their help. Even if Pep and Rhodey think we do, we shouldn't. I've tried..”
“And you've done a great job cousin, honestly but last time must be the last time.” Sighing, Aveline framed Tony's face with her hands. “We can accept this, no matter what happens we will always have each other.” Aveline smiled as she pressed a kiss against Tony's forehead. “Nothing else matters but that, alright?”
“Alright.” Voice soft, Tony gave Aveline a tight hug. He wouldn't directly admit to the thrill of having Steve in the Tower. Not out loud but inside, where no one would know.. “Maybe he won't hate me once he meets me.” Voice still soft, Tony sighed. Howard's greatest creation was in his Tower and just as gorgeous as the day he went missing. “Do you think they like their floor? Pepper forbade me from doing anything with that floor. Now I see why, but do you think..”
“It will be fine, Tony. Come on, you two need to get ready for the game. Hurry up, Clint and Wade are in the living room with Jim. Along with the food.” Bruce stood up, stretching his arms over his head with a smile. “Make sure you leave your tablet, Tony. You broke the last one throwing it at the television.” He laughed as Tony stuck his tongue out at him. “Put that up, you know those tricks don't work on me.”
Tony glared at Bruce, no heat behind the look, before turning to his cousin. “So, should we go out and win over our new guests? Especially since they are being added to the group?”
“Hmm, yes, let's go, tonight is game night and Jim owes me money and Wade owes me food.” Linking her arm with Tony's, Aveline smiled as they left the lab. Looking back, she gave Bruce a wink as they boarded the elevator. “We have nothing to worry about, right?”
Sighing in nervous frustration, Tony shook his head. “It will be fine, what's the worse that could happen while watching a baseball game?”