Need your blessing and to charge it to the Avengers card.
[ Because he wants the top of the line for Katherine and her baby, but Steve Rogers is not a high roller. ]
Okay, fine. You've got me dead to rights. I'll take Katherine to buy one once she gets out. Let's just hope she wasn't eating where we're going next week.
Is it bad? I only met her half an hour ago, and I don't want to put her down. I think you'd have to be here, but you'd like her.
[Steve never needs to ask, but Tony knows that's exactly why he does. It's just one of those things. That Steve doesn't have to, Tony has more money anyone could ever spend in several lifetimes, but some part of Tony will be grateful that he does.
Steve's last texts leave him feeling a little-
...something. Guilty, maybe. Bad, but not in the way Steve's asking for confirmation on. He feels like he might be robbing Steve of something. Even if he's a little bit more in the consideration category after today. If some things have maybe helped push him a little closer to the idea that maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Steve would make a really good dad. Some part of Tony has always been pretty sure about this. And it feels like he's denying both Steve and the world of it by being... well. Him. His answer isn't as immediate the next time but not too long to come back, either.]
I'm there in spirit. For what it's worth I think I'd just make things worse. I've been far more helpful from here. And you've got it handled. Just make sure you don't get so attached you can't actually not put her down.
[There we go. Putting himself down. Back to normal.]
[ It's bait, but Steve can't not rise to it. It's like another game they play. ]
If you were here, it'd be just the same, except I'd have a whole other hand to hold yours with, and I think that'd settle some of my nerves.
Think it's easier to take down a HYDRA base.
[ But having Tony on call and ready to figure out what to do in order to get Steve all the information he needs to focus on the nice parts of babysitting, which is just hanging with and getting to know the baby. He doesn't even know this baby's name.
He knows they'll have to address the fatherhood issue sometime down the road, but they haven't even tied the knot yet, so they can wait on that. He thinks, if anything, that it should be Tony who broaches the subject again, because Steve hasn't changed his mind about any of it.
And Steve may only get to know this baby for a single afternoon, but their kid would be a lifetime commitment. But if he knew that Tony was thinking these thoughts, he'd ask him to put them out of his mind, because he doesn't want him to make a decision based on guilt.
He goes to hang out at the bodega with the person behind the register while he waits for Katherine, checking up every once in awhile. ]
[That doesn't mean Steve's not nervous. Tony knows this very well. But also- yes. Having a random baby foisted on you while the general public stops to gawk can't be the easiest position to have been in.
Tony would have to agree with him. Some missions seem easier than the thought of this. ...all this.]
I can multitask. I happen to think I'm very good at it. Unless you want me to leave the two of you alone.
Definitely not. I picked you to text for a reason. No one else I want holding my hands through all this.
[ For Steve, this is hard work but he finds it rewarding. He thinks if Tony were here, he'd probably get to reap more of it, having this baby in his arms, snoring away in her wheezy way, little spit bubbles every once in awhile cropping up. ]
Just didn't want to keep you for my sake, since I think the crisis is over. But now I just get to sit here and watch her sleep.
[There's something to that statement. Something that makes him feel somehow uneasy and settled all at the same time. There's more hiding there, beneath the surface, he's sure of it. Except Steve's often not like him, talking behind high walls. He's always been pretty forthright.
The problem is the discussion Tony thinks they're both talking around is one Steve has tried to have with him a few times now and he's always shied away. They've always shelved it.
But...
Steve did pick him. For better or for worse. A single-day baby crisis doesn't make him feel like he's capable of being a parent, but it has awakened a lot of other things in him. Things he might have otherwise been trying to keep out of his head.]
Feel me watching you?
Is that too much? It sounds creepy on second read.
That bodega needs higher quality cameras, by the way. You should tell them to upgrade.
[So he does what he always does. Moves on and jokes around. He'll have a lot to think about tonight.]
[ He thinks it's a good thing Tony doesn't bring it up, maybe he's put it out of his mind for now. He certainly doesn't want Tony dwelling on this thought and overthinking and letting it affect him and not communicate his thoughts to Steve. ]
No. I like knowing you've got my back from miles away.
[ The baby's awake now, and Steve's bouncing her up and down as he waits with her, assuring her gently that mommy's going to be out soon, mommy will be back soon. He gets delighted little squeals in response, so he'll take that as a win. ]
Send them new ones, I'm sure they won't ask about how you even know.
[ He does think that he'd like to have this more regularly, have this on a daily basis, maybe. Someday. If Tony ever decides he's for it, and he's all in, then Steve will do everything that he possibly can to put in the work and make then both happy. ]
Love you, by the way, in case I haven't told you enough today.
[Easy enough to say because it's so true. Whatever Steve needs from him, as long as he gets a say, he'll always be there to provide for him. Even if that's asking FRIDAY for diaper changing videos.]
Alright but only because you said to. Does that count as a good deed?
I love you. And even if you have, I'll take it as many times as you wanna say it. You know I'm greedy.
[ At that point, he hits enter because hears a flush, and the sound of the running tap. When Katherine comes out of the bathroom, she looks tired and embarrassed, so naturally Steve moves his way over to assure her that she's got nothing to be embarrassed about, that he's happy to have watched her kid, that look, she's awake now, fresh diaper, doing great.
Katherine cries in her relief, and Steve just stands there holding her for a bit before explaining the rest of the plan: going home, but dropping by one of the baby stores first to help him with an errand, if that's okay. If she winds up crying over a whole lot of gifts after, then, well, he'll deal with it.
And then he hands Katherine her baby back, easily, but the weight seems to stay on Steve's chest, regardless.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ Because he wants the top of the line for Katherine and her baby, but Steve Rogers is not a high roller. ]
Okay, fine. You've got me dead to rights. I'll take Katherine to buy one once she gets out. Let's just hope she wasn't eating where we're going next week.
Is it bad? I only met her half an hour ago, and I don't want to put her down. I think you'd have to be here, but you'd like her.
no subject
[Steve never needs to ask, but Tony knows that's exactly why he does. It's just one of those things. That Steve doesn't have to, Tony has more money anyone could ever spend in several lifetimes, but some part of Tony will be grateful that he does.
Steve's last texts leave him feeling a little-
...something. Guilty, maybe. Bad, but not in the way Steve's asking for confirmation on. He feels like he might be robbing Steve of something. Even if he's a little bit more in the consideration category after today. If some things have maybe helped push him a little closer to the idea that maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Steve would make a really good dad. Some part of Tony has always been pretty sure about this. And it feels like he's denying both Steve and the world of it by being... well. Him. His answer isn't as immediate the next time but not too long to come back, either.]
I'm there in spirit. For what it's worth I think I'd just make things worse. I've been far more helpful from here. And you've got it handled. Just make sure you don't get so attached you can't actually not put her down.
[There we go. Putting himself down. Back to normal.]
no subject
If you were here, it'd be just the same, except I'd have a whole other hand to hold yours with, and I think that'd settle some of my nerves.
Think it's easier to take down a HYDRA base.
[ But having Tony on call and ready to figure out what to do in order to get Steve all the information he needs to focus on the nice parts of babysitting, which is just hanging with and getting to know the baby. He doesn't even know this baby's name.
He knows they'll have to address the fatherhood issue sometime down the road, but they haven't even tied the knot yet, so they can wait on that. He thinks, if anything, that it should be Tony who broaches the subject again, because Steve hasn't changed his mind about any of it.
And Steve may only get to know this baby for a single afternoon, but their kid would be a lifetime commitment. But if he knew that Tony was thinking these thoughts, he'd ask him to put them out of his mind, because he doesn't want him to make a decision based on guilt.
He goes to hang out at the bodega with the person behind the register while he waits for Katherine, checking up every once in awhile. ]
Do you have to get back to work?
no subject
[That doesn't mean Steve's not nervous. Tony knows this very well. But also- yes. Having a random baby foisted on you while the general public stops to gawk can't be the easiest position to have been in.
Tony would have to agree with him. Some missions seem easier than the thought of this. ...all this.]
I can multitask. I happen to think I'm very good at it. Unless you want me to leave the two of you alone.
no subject
[ For Steve, this is hard work but he finds it rewarding. He thinks if Tony were here, he'd probably get to reap more of it, having this baby in his arms, snoring away in her wheezy way, little spit bubbles every once in awhile cropping up. ]
Just didn't want to keep you for my sake, since I think the crisis is over. But now I just get to sit here and watch her sleep.
Is there a feed? Are you watching?
no subject
The problem is the discussion Tony thinks they're both talking around is one Steve has tried to have with him a few times now and he's always shied away. They've always shelved it.
But...
Steve did pick him. For better or for worse. A single-day baby crisis doesn't make him feel like he's capable of being a parent, but it has awakened a lot of other things in him. Things he might have otherwise been trying to keep out of his head.]
Feel me watching you?
Is that too much? It sounds creepy on second read.
That bodega needs higher quality cameras, by the way. You should tell them to upgrade.
[So he does what he always does. Moves on and jokes around. He'll have a lot to think about tonight.]
no subject
No. I like knowing you've got my back from miles away.
[ The baby's awake now, and Steve's bouncing her up and down as he waits with her, assuring her gently that mommy's going to be out soon, mommy will be back soon. He gets delighted little squeals in response, so he'll take that as a win. ]
Send them new ones, I'm sure they won't ask about how you even know.
[ He does think that he'd like to have this more regularly, have this on a daily basis, maybe. Someday. If Tony ever decides he's for it, and he's all in, then Steve will do everything that he possibly can to put in the work and make then both happy. ]
Love you, by the way, in case I haven't told you enough today.
no subject
[Easy enough to say because it's so true. Whatever Steve needs from him, as long as he gets a say, he'll always be there to provide for him. Even if that's asking FRIDAY for diaper changing videos.]
Alright but only because you said to. Does that count as a good deed?
I love you. And even if you have, I'll take it as many times as you wanna say it. You know I'm greedy.
no subject
[ At that point, he hits enter because hears a flush, and the sound of the running tap. When Katherine comes out of the bathroom, she looks tired and embarrassed, so naturally Steve moves his way over to assure her that she's got nothing to be embarrassed about, that he's happy to have watched her kid, that look, she's awake now, fresh diaper, doing great.
Katherine cries in her relief, and Steve just stands there holding her for a bit before explaining the rest of the plan: going home, but dropping by one of the baby stores first to help him with an errand, if that's okay. If she winds up crying over a whole lot of gifts after, then, well, he'll deal with it.
And then he hands Katherine her baby back, easily, but the weight seems to stay on Steve's chest, regardless.
A few minutes later, he texts: ]
Her name's Joy.