Chapter Text
It’s been a couple of long weeks for Toni. Not in a tired sense, but in the relieving sense. Toni is glad that she has had so much time to relax. She snagged her purse on the way out the door and she went to bank in the beginning of the week so she would have enough cash to sleep in a crappy motel where she is undetected and unbothered. This way, no one can track her because she hasn’t used her credit card and no one would catch Toni Stark being at a run down, smelly, and dirty motel. Besides, the inhabitants are only here to get high or have an one night stand. People couldn’t care less than her.
She’s on a vacation from everyone and everything. No one is demanding anything from her and she doesn’t have an overflowing to do list that she is legally required to complete. The world doesn’t need her. Toni is here for herself. She may be laying face down on a suspiciously lumpy mattress and there is unidentified piles of gunk in the shower, but this place is hers. That’s all that matters.
Toni stretches her limbs while blinking away from the sleep from her nap. She snags the styrofoam container filled with room temperature coffee and take a small sip of the strong liquid caffeine. She looks up from her cup to see an envelope on the floor, obviously slid from in under the door.
“What the hell?” Toni asks bemused and shoved the scratchy comforter off of her. She picks up the letter to see that it was indeed addressed to her.
She rips the envelope open to see only one sheet of paper addressed to her, which is ordinary. Not something she is used to. With stinging apprehension, Toni start to read.
Dear Toni,
I’d like to start of with an apology. I’m sorry.
Don’t worry this doesn’t come with some back handed compliment or defensive statement. I sincerely mean that I’m sorry for the way I treated you.
Good job, going into hiding. I almost didn’t find you. I mean, you could never hide from me, but you had Clint along with everyone else believe that you dropped off the face of the earth. Piece of advice, don’t use your alias as a dick joke. Richard Weiner? It was either you or Wade Wilson that rented that hotel room. Since Peter Parker just called me complaining that Deadpool is flirting with him while working, it became obvious who rented that stupid motel room.
That’s besides the point. You deal with enough in Stark Industries. I would know how hard you work, I did do undercover work in your business. (Sorry!) I also know how hard you work as an Avenger for obvious reasons. I know what it’s like to be a woman in our society. While we have it better off that women of color, the fact that we identify as female immediate puts us on a lower standing than men. A person that is any one of these things, it would be difficult for them to live in this world. The fact that you are everyone of these thing, but more is astonishing to me. You deal with alcoholism, paparazzi, PTSD, and most of all you dealt with me. I’m sorry I became a hardship in your life instead of an advantage. I will make it up to you.
You’re a genius, leader, businesswoman, inventor, and you’ve been an amazing friend. I will spend the rest of my life trying to be a good friend to you.
Future Steve is getting antsy, I think he wants to go home. Bruce isn’t sleeping because he is overridden with guilt. Clint is covered in whichever goo you’ve placed in your boobytrap. Thor won’t stop stress eating everything in the kitchen and visiting Asgard. Rhodes is sleeping on your couch. Pepper is overworking herself. Fury is concerned (as much as he can be). Steve misses you.
If you can forgive us, you will be welcomed with open arms.
Yours truly,
Natasha
P.S. You might wanna check the news.
Toni felt touched by the message. Maybe just a bit concerned. Nothing has happened since the day she’s left. Yet, they can’t seem to function as a team. This doesn’t mean she feels obligated to return, but she expected them to function longer without her. If this is all it took to be fully valued, she would’ve left after the Avengers first defeated Loki.
When Toni goes back to the tower, Natasha could be an acceptable person to talk to. Especially if she possesses pictures or videos of Clint discovering one of her traps.
What didn’t make sense is why Rhodey is at the tower. Rhodey knows Toni well enough to realize she was fine, she just needed a break. So why is he at the tower?
Then, everything clicked into place. He was observing their reactions. Rhodey purposely witnessed how the Avengers reacted to Toni. He has a front row seat to how Steve responds to Toni. Oh goodness, Rhodey has probably met the future Steve. After all this time, Rhodey is still looking out for her. He’s such a great friend.
Toni places the note on the nightstand. She feels the heavy pressure lift off her chest. She smiles and takes Natasha’s advice to watch the news. She expected to see some dumass remark from Douche Turnip, but instead she sees Steve Rogers dressed in his Captain America uniform standing at a podium. Toni flicks her finger to turn up the volume.
“It has been brought to my attention that Captain America is a symbol and a role model to the world, especially American society. I would like to take the time to reinforce Captain America’s principles, since it seems that over the years people have forgotten. Including myself. You see, Captain America fights for equal rights. He stands up for the little guy. To put it bluntly so there is no misinterpretation, I support the LGBTQ+ community, women, people of color, and immigrants. They deserve the same human rights and opportunities as everyone else. Captain America resists hatred and bigotry. He rejects the spread of fear and ignorance. Not only does Captain America have this ideology, but Steve Rogers does, too. Along with the rest of the Avengers. We protect people and we will not stop rescuing people in need. Steve Rogers hasn’t been holding that truth recently, so from this point forward I will strive to be the hero of all people.” Steve finishes his short speech and walks off the stage, swarms of reporters trailing after him.
Toni can read between the lines. This is a milestone for Steve. He’s stepping his game up and becoming the courageous warrior Toni always knew he could be. The person she worshipped as a kid. Not only that, this also was an apology to Toni. Steve is proving himself worthy because of all the wrong he has done to her. Nevertheless, Toni is impressed and maybe just a little bit in love.
Toni makes up her mind. She’s going to leave her run down smelly heaven to return to a place that she hopes she can deem as a home.
~
“Welcome home, Miss.” Her beloved AI greets her.
“It’s good to be back.” Toni replies stepping into her lab where she finds Bruce Banner sleeping on her couch.
“Brucie!” Toni pokes the side of his face.
Bruce drools a bit before fully awakening. He snaps out of his sleep to see Toni grinning down at him.
“Oh God, Toni! I have so much to tell you. I have been so afraid lately that I couldn’t control my anger inside me so I kept my distance from not only you, but everyone else. I didn’t want to hurt any of my friends, especially you. Thank you so much for my own lab, I definitely didn’t tell you that enough and-”
“Wow, Brucie you messed up, but you weren’t that bad!” Toni rolls her eyes.
“-I try not to interfere with anything that happens to you because everything I touch is bound to be destroyed, but I understand that I should have done something. Not doing anything only hurt you.”
“Bruce! Stop talking!” Toni commands.
His jaw snaps shut. Toni opens her arms and waited. Bruce slowly moved to accept the hug. As soon as they touched, Bruce relaxes into her grip.
“I’m so sorry.” Bruce whimpers. A few tears leak from his eyes and onto Toni’s shirt.
“Just make sure you don’t make the same mistake again.” Toni warns.
“Of course.” Bruce immediately agrees.
“Now, after I go talk to the others I think we should have some science bros time. You have any weed left over?” Toni asks with a small giggle.
~
Rhodey is easy to find considering he decided to stay in Toni’s room.
“Hey, nerd.” Rhodey acknowledges without looking up from her giant TV.
“You don’t seem too concerned for my well being, dork.” Toni retorts.
“Your kidding, right? You once escaped a cave in Afghanistan by building a suit of armor. I wasn’t too worried that you willing left a bunch of losers.” Rhodey glances over at her, “I begrudgingly accept your boy toy. He went a bit crazy without you. And we get along in the future.”
“Thanks Rhodey.”
“Just put him in his place. I need to go back to work. I can only act like a worried best friend for so long.” He winked and left her alone with a goodbye kiss on forehead.
At least Rhodey got a bit of a vacation. Toni jumps on her bed face first and embraces the comfort of a warm bed. She moans as she lays her head on her fluffy pillow.
“You never change. I’m thankful for that.”
Toni looks up to find Future Steve leaning against the doorframe.
“You will apparently always keep that well toned body. I’m grateful for that.” Toni replies.
“Yeah, you don’t change. But I still need to be with my Toni.” Future Steve admits.
“Oh,” Toni sits up on her bed. “Are you leaving?”
“Wait do you mean? I can’t just leave. I don’t have the technology and-”
“Did you forget who you’re talking to? Let’s say I did invent time travel. Let’s say that I sent Steve Rogers back in time to unite the Avengers so they can defeat Loki. As Toni Stark, I would never send someone back in time without a way to get back to their time. Don’t play me, Rogers. Just tell me why all the sudden you are leaving.”
Steve sits on the bed beside her and strokes his hand through her hair, “I accomplished my goal. My counterpart learned his lesson and in a few minutes the two leaders of the Avengers will be united. Loki won’t stand a chance against the Avengers that works as a team. Particularly when the co leaders are fucking.”
“Hey!” Toni protests.
“Now, I’m going to return to my wife and my daughter, but please promise me something.”
“Anything,” Toni agrees.
“Only smack me upside the head when I deserve it,” Steve chuckles.
“That may be more often than you realize.”
“I know,” He relents. “You should probably go talk to him. The rest of the Avengers are patiently waiting for you to exit your room.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“You don’t have to miss me. From now on I’ll never leave your side.” Steve promises and ushers Toni to the door, “Don’t worry about the future Toni. I can tell you that you’ll be happy, loved, and most importantly appreciated.”
~
Toni walks into the living room and watches everyone’s facial expressions. There’s a diverse mixture of happiness and guilt coming from the Avengers minus Bruce who is still at her lab. Which is exactly the reaction she was looking for. She looks at Steve to see him blinking back tears.
“Toni, I’m sorry,” Steve whispers. The quiet words amplify across the silent room.
Toni takes one trembling step forward.
“I’m working on forgiving you.” Toni responds.
“Of course,” Steve answers.
“We’ll need to work together to move on from everything you’ve done.” Toni says and takes another step into Steve’s personal space.
“I’ll do whatever you want.” Steve replies.
The other Avengers leaves the room as they see how the conversation is going. Which is groundbreaking, Clint didn’t say a snarky remark and Thor didn’t question the obvious.
Toni pulls Steve towards herself until his eyes are level with hers.
“How about you start by kissing me.” Toni murmurs using her hand to touch the side of his face and brings her lips onto his. She can feel Steve tense under her fingertips before he responds enthusiastically. Toni pulls away before the kiss can go any further.
“Wait. Did you say you’ll do whatever I want?” Toni asks a smirk taking over her face.
“Uh, yeah?” Steve looks a bit scared now.
“You know I always wanted to know what you’d look like with brown hair.”