Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tony hated himself for falling. His presentation ruined his life and he spent the first few years after his parents deaths trying to prove to the world that omegas could do everything alphas could without their help. Tony was independent, powerful, successful, and mateless ; no Alpha was supposed to change that. Then, Steve came along.

Letting himself fall in love was Tony’s downfall. Steve Rogers, the beta turned alpha super solider, couldn’t help himself, but get close to the billionaire super genius and feelings happened too fast for either of them to stop. They became teammates, friends, more… Tony shouldn’t have let it become more.

Steve’s courting started with small gestures. He’d try to pry Tony out of his lab, and was always bringing food down to make sure he ate. Sometimes, Steve did errands for him, and he accompanied Tony places like his personal guard dog. The gifts came next - starting with supplies Tony needed for work and ending with bracelets and other types of jewellery. They went on dates to restaurants, star gazed on the roof, danced, watched tv… Life got to the point that Tony was never without Steve by his side.

Tony saw himself letting go of the baggage and letting his body act like it was supposed to. He started nesting, something he hadn’t done since his early twenties, and he was always cooking to try and impress Steve. He scent-marked everything in their home, and loved snuggling in his alphas arms, especially when they scented each other. Steve was the first alpha Tony let bond mark him, and the only one to ever share his heats. Tony had never been wanted before, but there Steve was, making him feel loved and treasured in every way and over protecting him like he was the most important person in the universe. Tony loved it when Steve got possessive and jealous, but he still didn’t like being needy and reliant on an alpha. Even if the alpha was Steve Rogers, Tony wasn’t losing his independence.

Falling was as horrible as Tony had expected. He promised himself to never blind himself with love and yet, he did everything he told himself he wouldn’t do. Steve Rogers walked into his life, messed up everything he worked for, and left him like some sort of object he got bored of after he won. In a flash, the Avengers was over and Tony was alone in the compound with his best friend in hospital, a scared pup looking for guidance and his alpha gone for good. The latest hurt the most, keeping Tony up every night in a bed full of tears - as much as he wanted to hate Rogers for choosing Barnes over him, his body and mind still screamed for his alpha.

Tony should’ve known it would happen. He knew Steve loved Bucky, they had been mates after all, and if they were mates once, they would be mates again. Steve never sided with him on anything anyway, so with James Barnes in the mix, it wasn’t surprising that he dropped everything in a heartbeat to be with him. It was Tony’s fault for getting invested. It was Tony’s fault for thinking that he and Steve were something. He let it get out of hand, he let himself fall, and now, he was living the consequence.

He started drinking again. Steve had been helping him cut down on the alcohol, but Tony started going through at least three bottles a night to keep the voices away. Most days, he refused to leave the compound, until Pepper or Happy physically dragged him out for work. Clouded by his problems, Tony forgot how to live, and most days, he didn’t even want to.

Another thing he’d told Steve about was his self harm, and although he had been clean for a good amount of years, Tony couldn’t keep it up. He really was some object to be ruined. He was an omega, a useless, stupid omega, and he hated himself for it. It was the first month after Siberia that Tony found himself in his bathroom. Friday had her protocols not to intervene and he had his razor in his hand ; it was easy. Tony didn’t regret it until both his arms were stained with crimson and the tears began to fall. He curled up and sobbed, knowing full well that no one was coming to help him. Tony didn’t deserve the help. Broken omegas weren’t allowed to be saved.

Tony didn’t know how long he’d been on the bathroom floor when he picked up his phone and dialled Steve’s number. He knew he wouldn’t pick up, he didn’t even know if he still had the same number, but he called anyway.

”Hi, this is Steve. Please leave a message.”

Just hearing his voice, made Tony break. For a while, he couldn’t speak, letting himself burst into tears into the speaker like the broken omega he was. He wanted to say something, anything, but his damn emotions wouldn’t let him open his mouth to do anything but wail.

“I…want to…regret us, if I could I w-would, I’d do it in a heartbeat, but capsicle…I…” Tony gulped, biting his lip and trying to stop the tears ruining his speech. “I love you.” He finished, hoarsely. “I-I love you, I w-want m-my alpha, please.” Tony stopped to sob. He put his phone back onto the tiles and broke down into his own little world, until he found the energy to continue. “Sometimes I feel like the world would be a better place without Tony Stark in it.” He whispered. “I’m just a broken omega that ruins everything. No wonder you don’t love me. Y-you never did, did you? Love me? I hate myself because I’m not angry with you and I should be angry with you, but I can’t…because…because you’re my alpha. My stupid biology doesn’t realise you’ve rejected me, and it hurts. You left me, but I still love you. Do you know how messed up that is?” Tony asked. “I want to be angry at you, and blame you and Bucky for everything, but what if this is all my fault? It’s karma. It happened because I was bad and I didn’t deserve you. I think you and Bucky are good mates. You love and deserve each other. I think it’s…I think it’s nice you two have each other, but I’m selfish and I want you and I can’t because you’re not here.” Tony cried. “And I guess…I guess that’s all I wanted to say. Hopefully w-we c-can a-all h-have closure now, and y-you can get on with your new life. Maybe I’ll kill myself to get out your hair, you never know, but as crazy and messed up as it sounds, I’ll always love you.”

…

“Nonono doll please.” He wailed, falling to the floor, and taking his omega in his arms. Tony wasn’t supposed to look so frail, so pail, so lifeless ; Steve wanted to throw up. He found his pulse in his neck and sighed - his omega was alive. Tony wasn’t okay, but he was alive. “Please wake up for me, doll. Can you do that for me sweetheart?” Steve asked him.

Tony had stopped bleeding, but he was still covered in it and red was poured all over the floor. Reluctantly, Steve let go of his omega and stood up, searching the room for some sort of first aid. He found a kit in one of the cupboards and took it back to Tony. “Hey doll, can I have your arms?” He asked, but his omega didn’t answer. Steve grunted, taking one of his arms and wiping the blood away. There were so many cuts. Steve quickly wrapped the arm up with a white bandage, and then did the same to the other one. “I’m sorry.” Steve sniffled. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m going to fix this, o-okay?”

Tony shouldn’t have been so light when he picked him up and took him to bed. Steve climbed in beside him and pulled his omega into a hug ; this time, he was never letting go.

…

At first, Tony thought he was still dreaming. His alpha was in his bed, his limbs intertwine with his, and all he could smell was the sweet safe scent he’d missed more than anything in the world. Tony believed it had to be fake because his alpha was never coming back for him, but it was still a nice dream. If he could be with Steve forever, Tony never wanted to wake up.

“Mine.” He murmured sleepily, pulling Tony back in when he tried to sit up. “My omega.”

“Stevie, let go.” Tony told him.

Steve grunted. “But I don’t want you to leave.” His alpha replied. “I need to keep you safe, doll.”

Tony hummed, pushing his head into his alpha’s chest and hugging him around the waist. “I’m always safe with you.” He murmured.

“No.” His alpha grunted. “I always hurt you. I’m a bad alpha, but I’m going to fix that. I’m going to fix everything. I love you, doll.”

“I love you too, Stevie.”

“You shouldn’t.” His alpha murmured.

“I shouldn’t…but I love you anyway.” Tony replied, and he fell back to sleep shortly after.

Chapter Text

Tony woke up to Steve playing with his hair. He remembered how much he used it to love it when his alpha brushed his fingers through his hair and twirled his curls on his fingers. It was something Steve always did when they cuddled in bed late at night, or were watching a movie downstairs, and it had become a comfort for both of them. So much so that Tony was about to purr, before he realised it wasn’t the good days anymore, and quickly bit his lip.

“Tony, sweetie, are you awake?” Steve asked him, softly, and Tony couldn’t put into words how much he missed waking up to his voice.

“Yep.” He replied. “Yeah, I-I’m awake, but I’m tired. I wish we could stay here all day.” Tony told him. He was surprised how calm he was acting considering everything, but suspected it was his damn submissive hormones doing the talking. He knew he needed to be mad at his alpha, but he also wanted to make up for the loss of snuggles from the past month.

Steve sighed. “Me too doll, but you need to eat and drink. How about I make you breakfast in bed and then, we can talk about last night, alright?” He asked.

Tony didn’t want to talk about it, but Steve was right - he was starving and he needed to eat. “Only if you make pancakes.” Tony replied.

Steve smiled. “Of course, doll. Your wish is my command.”

He didn’t like his alpha leaving him, he was scared he wouldn’t come back, but Steve was true to his word, bringing up a tray with Tony’s favourite pancakes. However, things were silent when Tony ate, too silent if someone asked him, and reality hit him that Steve’s return really wasn’t a dream.

“Where have you been?” He asked. No one had been able to contact him since he disappeared with Bucky and the rogues weren’t giving anything away. At the time, Tony had believed Steve would never return, but maybe his alpha wasn’t abandoning him, after all.

“Wakanda.” Steve replied. “I missed you everyday, doll.”

“Then why didn’t you call? W-why didn’t you come visit? You knew where I’d be.” Tony huffed. He wasn’t going to let himself cry - not again. He might have been a weak omega, but he wouldn’t let himself act too pathetically.

His alpha sighed. “I thought you wouldn’t want to talk to me. You were angry, you had every right to be, and I thought…I thought you wanted us to be over.” He admitted.

“Then, why did you come back?” Tony asked him.

“Because I love you.” Steve replied, matter of factly. “Because you’re my omega and you mean the world to me. When, I listened to your voicemail, I freaked out. I-I thought you were…” He gulped. “The message sounded like a last cry for help o-or some sort of suicidal letter before you took your life. I thought I’d get to New York and I’d be too late. I thought I’d break into the compound and see my perfect darling omega dead on the floor.” Steve told him as he started to weep. Tony hated it when he cried.

“I’m sor—“

“No.” Steve snapped. “Don’t you dare apologise. I’m the one, who abandoned you in the first place, doll. I never want you to feel like you’re a bad omega for anything of this, okay? I’m not going to lie to you, you need help Tony, real help, because drinking and hurting yourself aren’t healthy copying mechanisms, but you know all that. I’m just glad you’re alive - my sweet doll.”

“How long are you staying?” He asked, but it came out hoarser than he hoped.

“As long as want me, I’ll be here.” Steve replied.

Tony raised his eyebrows. “And what about Bucky?” He asked with a frown. Steve would always choose his past mate over him and Tony would rather not get in the way of their relationship than get attached to something that would never last. He couldn’t let Steve break his heart again, even if it broke him more to let him go.

“He’s safe.” He answered. “I’m more worried about my darling omega.”

Tony chose to believe him.

…

Tony didn’t like how fast he forgave his alpha, but he wasn’t complaining, either. He had to go down to the lab for a couple of hours, but for the rest of the day, he and Steve enjoyed each other’s company like the old times.

Everyone knew that Steve and Tony could sit in silence for hours together and not be bored. They loved cuddling, with Steve playing with Tony’s hair and giving him an occasional massage, but above pleasure, it was the most important way they bonded on a day to day basis. The couple could sit and scent each other for hours without realising the time, and both of them hated when the other didn’t smell like them.

It made it easy for Tony to fall back into Steve’s lap and demand attention. His body ached for his alpha, and Steve was happy to comply, kissing, cuddling and scenting his omega for most of the afternoon. Even after everything they’d been through, Tony still felt safest when he was with Steve, and it made letting down his barriers feel like nothing. He was so caught up in the fact that his alpha was back and he loved him that Tony forgot about his urge not to be clingy and needy. He could worry about it later once his hormones calmed down, but he would rather soak up his alphas love first.

“I think we still have two weeks before my rut. We should still be in sync for you to have your heat at the same time.” Steve told him. “I’m not expecting you to want to share, but…I think we should get ready.”

Tony sighed. He could regret his decision later, but he was trying to do the best for both of them. “My heats were really bad before we mated.” He admitted. “You’re the only alpha I’ve had sex with. Sometimes, my heats were dangerous and I needed omega nurses looking after me, but if anyone touched me, it was betas. You know I hate my heats, how I hate the fact I’m so vulnerable and I can’t think straight, but I trust you to look after me, and I would be stupid to go through the pain instead of taking your knot. If you’re happy with sharing my heat, I’m happy too.”

Steve gave him a small smile. “That means a lot to me, baby doll. I don’t know why you still trust me, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to be worthy of your love.” He promised.

“Just don’t leave me again. I can’t lose you, Stevie - I’ll break and you won’t have an omega anymore.” Tony told him.

“I won’t, my love. I’ve learnt my lesson, and I’m never letting you go again. I love you, my darling omega.”

“I love you too, Capsicle.” Tony replied, but this time, Steve didn’t add ‘you shouldn’t’.

…

Tony felt like Steve was babying him when he put locks on all the alcohol and sharp objects in the compound, but he knew he was trying to protect him. Tony wasn’t an idiot, what he did was unhealthy, but he only did it because he needed it. He was so numb and the pain helped him feel, but Tony also did it to punish himself.

It was the second day after Steve came back and Tony spent most of it in his lab. Steve had to sort some personal things out, but he visited his mate regularly, and had Tony wear his jacket. It wasn’t a secret that his alpha loved seeing him in his clothes and Tony gladly complied, loving to wear his alpha’s sweet safe scent whenever he could.

“What have you been up to?” Pepper asked with a sly tone. She was calling for work, something about a new partnership, and Tony hadn’t snapped at her once.

“What do you mean?” He asked her.

“You sound happy.” She replied. “You’re not running on zero sleep and food.”

“Wow, I actually fed myself and slept, woohoo.” Tony told her, sarcastically.

Pepper sighed. “Tony, I know you, what’s going on?”

“Steve came back.” He admitted. “I sent him a voice mail and he came straight away. He still loves me, Pep.”

It took a while for his friend to reply. “Why can you trust him? He’s a bad alpha, Tony.” She exclaimed.

“No he’s not!” He snapped. “Steve grounds me. He cares for me and keeps me sane without trying to control every little thing I do. All mates have arguments, but…maybe the distance just made our love…I don’t know…stronger?”

“Do you really believe that?” Pepper sighed. “Bonds are reversible. You don’t have to settle for the first alpha you mated with.”

“I know, but out of all the alphas in the world, I still choose Steve.” Tony told her. He could have rejected his alpha’s bond mark ages ago, but there was no one other than Steve that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Tony wanted to believe that Steve was born for him and he was born for Steve and not even Bucky could get in the way of that. “He hurt me, Pep, but…”

“He hurt you Tony. No excuses.” She replied.

Tony bit his lip and sighed. “You’re right. I’m just used to being the cause of all my failed relationships. I can’t promise you that I’ll stop blaming myself for everything that goes wrong in my life, but…I want to get better.”

“I’ll always be here for you if you need anything.” Pepper offered.

“I know, and I love you for that.” Tony replied.

…

Tony found Steve in their bed and crawled into his lap. Steve smiled, turning off his phone and cupping his face in his hands. “I wish you could see how gorgeous you took.” He murmured, before pulling his mate in for a kiss.

Tony sighed. “I’m old, Stevie.”

“And I’m not?” Steve chuckled.

“Yeah, but you’re still perfect and I’m getting more winkles by the day.” Tony moaned. “I’m broken goods.”

Steve frowned. “Don’t say that, doll.” He told him, giving Tony a hug. “Alphas everywhere drool over you. I hate it. You’re so beautiful that they can’t help it. I’ll make sure they keep it in their pants, though. Only I’m allowed to think dirty thoughts about you.” Blushing, Tony shivered and hid his face in Steve’s chest. He smiled, pulling Tony’s hair out of his face. “I’m the only one, who’s allowed to touch you. Do you understand, sweet thing?” Steve whispered.

“Stevieee.” Tony moaned as his alpha pulled him into another kiss.

“I’m only speaking the truth, love.” Steve replied, touching Tony’s lip with a smile on his face. “I wish the world could see how perfect you look presenting for me. You’re mouthwatering, baby doll. So pretty in my jacket on my lap.”

“I missed you.” Tony whispered. “I missed this.”

Steve sighed, biting his lip and playing with his sweet omega’s hair. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I should’ve come back sooner.”

“Just don’t do it again.” Tony told him.

Steve planted a kiss on his forehead. “I won’t, I promise. You’re my omega, and mine only, and I love you.”He replied. “Do you want to get into some more comfy clothes and do something?” Steve asked him.

“I’m too sweaty.” Tony whined. “I need a shower first.” He sat up and took off his alphas jacket. He paused mid-way through taking his shirt off and blushed. “Y-you could come too, if you want.” He told him. Tony wasn’t sure why he was so embarrassed to ask. He’d been with Steve for years and they had showered and bathed together lots of times. Tony loved the clumsy kisses in the water, and how they washed each other. He also liked it how Steve would fuck him against the tiled wall…

“I’d love that, sweetheart.” Steve smiled, pulling Tony’s shirt over his head and discarding it on the bed.

Tony kissed him on the lips. “I hoped so.” He told him.

Chapter Text

Tony entered his lab with a frown on his face. He spent the morning at a disaster board meeting, Pepper was furious at him for a reason Tony didn’t understand, and Steve was going to be out the day, so there was no one to cheer him up with cuddles. With his schedule fully booked and Pepper flying out to San Francisco, the rest of the week sounded like it was going to be just as bad (if not worse).

“Sir, you have two missed calls and one voicemail from Underoos.” Friday told him.

Tony chuckled and shook his head. Although his messages always brightened up his day, the pup thought he had to alert him and Happy of every single detail of his life. “Let’s here it, Fri.” Tony replied.

”Hey Mister Stark! It’s me, Peter Parker. I just called to ask if you’ve found a mission for me yet? Because yesterday Happy said you hadn’t, but I forgot to ask him today, and things have been really boring lately. I went on patrol after school, and I webbed some muggers, but that was it and I really want to help people and I’m responsible and I can do whatever job you need me to do, except anything abroad because Aunt May got worried last time, and I don’t want her to find out I’m Spider Man. Oh and things were good at school today. I got the best score out in my physics class on the quiz and I aced my biology paper, and Academic Decathlon was really fun. I promised Ned I’d make Lego’s with him after school tomorrow, but afterwards, I’ll go on patrol because I never miss patrol. Anyway, I’m just calling to ask if you have any cool missions for me—oh wait, I already said that! Oops. Bye, Mister Stark! Call me when you can, but not if you’re busy because I know you have lots of work to do, but you get what I mean. Anyways, bye! Have a good day, Mister Stark!”

“My head hurts from listening to that.” Tony sighed. “Hey Friday, can you call him back?” He asked. Tony rarely called the kid, but inviting him to the compound for the afternoon sounded like a nice plan.

“Okay, boss - calling Underoos now.” Friday replied.

”M-mister Stark! H-hey!” A voice exclaimed.

“Hi kiddo, where are you?” Tony asked him.

”Oh, I’m just patrolling mister Stark - I’m on a roof.” Peter replied.

“Of course you are.” Mister Stark smiled ; he could hear the interference in the background of the call. “I was wondering if you wanted to swing over to the compound.”

”I thought you were selling the compound.”

He was, but now Steve was back, it changed everything. “I’ve decided not to. I don’t think I could ever sell this place. Anyway, how about you swing over and we can do some upgrades on your suit.”

”W-wait really?” The pup gasped.

“Yes, really. I’ll give you a tour of my lab and then we can do it together.” Tony told him.

”Awesome!” Peter explained.

“So is that a yes?” Tony asked.

”Of course it is Mister Stark, I’ll be right over.” He replied.

Tony smiled. “Friday send Karen the coordinates to the compound.”

…

Peter stayed for five hours, somehow persuading Tony to order pizza and watch his favourite Star Wars movie after upgrading his suit. If he was going to have pups of his own, Tony needed to stop giving into puppy eyes, especially when those eyes came from an overly excitable kid with way too much innocence for a mutant. Before Siberia, Tony had always thought he would settle down and start a family with Steve, but now he wasn’t sure what he or his alpha wanted.

Tony knew Steve wouldn’t say no to kids, but he was worried that he would find it hard to become pregnant. Tony wasn’t getting any younger, and he didn’t know if the super soldier serum would have any impact on how easily Steve could in-pregnant him. They couldn’t leave settling down too late, but Tony was yet to decide when too late was. Since the breakdown of the Avengers, he had found himself with more time on his hands, but he was still buried in work from Pepper and Stark Industries. Plus, he had Rhodey and Peter to worry about. With his best friend still struggling with his health and a pup he’d accidentally taken under his wing, he didn’t have time to get kicked in the stomach every time he moved.

If they did settle down, Tony would want to move out of the city. He’d always dreamed of bringing up his family by the beach, but anywhere safe and remote sounded like a treat.

Tony heard Steve telling Friday to turn on a dimmed light around one am. He bit his lip eagerly as he watched his alpha take off his trousers and unbutton his shirt - god, his mate was gorgeous. Steve climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around his mate. “Sorry for waking you up, sweetie.” He murmured.

“It’s okay.” Tony mumbled, cuddling his alpha back and giving him a kiss. “I wanted to say goodnight to you.”

Steve smiled, and they kissed again. “I was thinking about you all day.” He told him. “I didn’t want to leave you again.”

Tony yawned. “I trusted you to come back. I was right.” He replied as Steve learnt forwards and sniffed at his neck. “Hey, Stevie - stop it!” Tony protested.

“I wondered why the compound smelt strange. You smell like pre heat, doll.” Steve exclaimed.

“Pr-pre heat? But my full heat isn’t supposed to start until next week. My work schedule is booked up and Pepper can’t cover me because she’s in California and—-“

“H-hey, sweetheart, stop panicking, can you take some deep breaths for me?” Steve asked, interrupting his omega from his dread. “I’m sure we can sort everything out. It’s perfectly normal for omegas to get out of sync. When we started dating, you were always two or three days early, remember?”

Pre heat would explain all the snuggling Tony had been up to, and the constant thought of carrying his alphas pups. “I’ll have to ring Pepper and cancel everything. I might be able to work tomorrow, but I always get distracted in pre heats. I’d rather be at home and nesting for the two days.”

“Pepper will understand. If you don’t feel up to it, I’ll ring her. I don’t want you worrying about work, doll.” Steve told him. He cupped Tony’s face in his hand and stroked his cheeks. “You’re already glowing, sweetheart.” He murmured.

Tony smiled, feeling a blush creep up onto his face. “Take care of me.” He whispered.

“Always.” Steve replied.

…

Tony didn’t hate heats - they were natural and a good excuse for amazing sex with Steve, but he hated what happened to him when he had one. It was the loss of control that drove Tony crazy. He hated turning into a needing helpless mess and becoming the weak omega society saw him as. Not all omega’s completely zoned out in heats, but Tony was one of the unlucky ones that did ; most of the time, he couldn’t remember anything that happened in them.

It was the lack of awareness and control that lead to Tony refusing to let alphas share his heat. With his brain as good as gone, he was worried he would be taken advantage of, but he knew that with Steve, he would be safe. His alpha would never make him uncomfortable, and Tony was forever grateful to be mated to such a perfect caregiver.

Steve was true to his words and although Pepper wasn’t the happiest to get a call from him, she quickly changed her tune at the news of Tony’s coming heat. She promised to clear his schedule and set to work at organising the week. Meanwhile, Tony called Happy to let him know that he wouldn’t be available and made him promise to look after Peter. If the pup got himself into trouble as Spider Man, he wasn’t going to be able to suit up and rescue him, so the kid needed to be careful.

Tony had designed a special room for his heats by his lab and would spend most of his pre heats making sure everything was perfect. He had to grab extra bedding from storage, strip all the bedding from the bedroom and find all the soft things that smelt like Steve. Then, it was time to build. Tony, like all omegas, was extremely fussy about nesting and needed everything to be perfect. However, Steve was more worried about him taking food and drink breaks than finishing the nest.

“Please come up for lunch, doll.” His alpha begged. Steve hadn’t dared enter the room as Tony organised, so he was standing against the corridor wall with his arms crossed, and a frown on his face.

Tony huffed. “Would you cut it out?” He snapped. “I’m kind of working here.” Steve let out a sharp grunting sound and Tony whined. “Al-alpha, I—“

“Food. Now.” He growled.

“B-but I’m bus—“ Tony began, before his alpha cut him off again with a grunt. “Okay, okay. I’ll come up for a little while.”

“That’s my good boy.” Steve praised.

Tony felt his dick twitch in his pants (damn praise kink, damn heat hormones, damn alpha voice) and bit back a smile. “So what’s for lunch?” He asked.

…

The next time, Steve came down, Tony was nearly finished building his nest. The only problem was that it didn’t smell like his alpha enough. “How are you doing, sweetheart?” Steve asked him.

“I’m okay.” Tony replied, kneeling down and adjusting one of the pillows. “Can you go to our room and get some more of your clothes?” He asked.

Steve’s lips twitched into a smile. “Yeah, sure doll. Should I find the shirts I wore for training?”

“Yes please.” Tony replied. The shirts would be perfect ; they would definitely make the nest smell more like his alpha.

It was a little while after Steve had left, that Tony finally unbuttoned his shorts and discarded them in the nest. His underwear, still stuck to his skin, was soaking wet, and slick was starting to drip down his legs - Tony felt disgusting. He gulped, and tried to continue tweaking his nest, but his body hurt too much to continue. Tony decided to slip his hand down his pants and start fingering his hole, while he organised some of the smaller blankets. It was awkward, but the omega made it work, knowing that he could have some release after the nest was finished.

Tony had been so engrossed in his nest that he didn’t notice when Steve returned with more clothes. “God, baby doll - you’re covered already.” Steve gasped, snapping his mate out of his thoughts. “I didn’t realise you were so wet.”

Tony blushed, not able to look into his alphas eyes, and took his hand out of his pants. “Stevie.” He whispered.

“Can I come in, sweetheart?” He asked him.

“Y-yeah.” Tony replied, sheepishly. Steve dropped his clothes in the nest and pulled him into a hug. “Al-alpha.” He begged.

“Use your words, sweet thing.” Steve told him.

“I-I need…I need you to t-take m-my clothes off, al-alpha.” Tony stumbled.

“Good boy.” Steve praised, giving his omega a small smile. He took off Tony’s shirt and pants, before kneeling down in the nest. “Get on the floor.” He ordered.

Tony obeyed, sitting down in the nest with a blush still on his face. “Stevie.” He whispered as he started to shake.

“Words, doll.” Steve reminded him. “You need to use your words.”

Right. Words. “St-Stevie It hurts already. I-I thought I had longer, stevie.” Tony moaned. His small cock was throbbing and his ass ached and burned as it wanted to be filled. He felt so empty. “N-need you. Need you, now.”

“Can I eat you out, baby doll?” Steve asked.

Tony bit his lip and nodded eagerly. “Y-yes please, Stevie please.” He whined.

“Lay down.” Steve told him. Tony turned around and laid down on his stomach. “That’s it, omega. Good boy.” He murmured.

Tony felt his tongue enter his hole and moaned. Steve knew how much Tony loved being eaten out, so learnt exactly how to make his omega feel good. In Tony’s opinion, Steve’s tongue was almost as good as his cock.

“You’re so beautiful when you moan for me.” Steve murmured. “Such a good omega. You taste so good.” He praised.

Tony was so hard. He bit his lip, trying not to cum early and let out another loud moan. Steve’s tongue trailed deeper into his ass and Tony gasped.

Chapter Text

Tony arched back and let out another moan. His omega was beautiful, covered head to toe in slick and cum, as he fell in and out of sleep. Steve had been fucking him for hours, and the sounds his omega made every time he was knotted made every second worth it. Steve was so lucky. Tony was a perfect omega, doll eyed with soft skin and nice hips, but he’d look even more perfect filled with his pups.

“Alpha.” Tony groaned.

“I’ve got you, doll.” Steve replied. “I love you. You’re so good to me.”

“L-lo-love you t-t-two alpha.” He replied in a stuttering mess, as he moaned and groaned with even the slightest of touch. Tony was always such a sensitive, fragile thing and Steve loved it.

He knew that their relationship would never go back to where it was, that the trust between them needed more than cuddles, scenting and sex to reappear. After Siberia, Steve had thought it was lost completely, but now his sweet omega was back in his arms, Steve was never letting him go again. They both needed time, but wounds would heal, and Steve promised to do everything possible to prove his love.

However, that didn’t mean the sharp stabbing pains of regret would ever stop plaguing his mind. Not only were there the accords and Siberia, but all the pain from that, which caused the love of his life to relapse. His baby was doing so well, and Steve ruined all the precious process he made before the mess. He never wanted to hurt his omega, but he went and did it anyway. Steve thought he loved Tony, and he did love him, before he was thinking about getting down on one knee and settling down with the man, but now, with Bucky still in Wakanda, Steve was conflicted.

His promise to Tony was empty. Bucky had always been such a huge part of his life, and would do anything for the other alpha. Tony saw it himself - Steve, intentionally or unintentionally, would always, always choose Bucky over him. It sucked. There shouldn’t have to be a decision. Steve needed to commit to Tony, and he wanted to, but his omega deserved someone who wouldn’t abandon him. Although Steve didn’t want to abandon him again, he didn’t know if he would, and Steve knew he was a bad person for it.

His omega was asleep again, peacefully weak beneath his alphas arms…and Steve loved him, he would always love him, but his heart was torn. He loved Tony, but he would never be James Buchanan Barnes.

…

“Stevie?” Tony asked, flashing his innocent doll eyes at his alpha. Sitting up in his nest, he bit his lip and let out a little sigh. “Stevie, what’s wrong?” He pouted, asking again with a frown on his face.

“Nothing, doll.” Steve replied. “Are you alright?” He asked him.

“I’m okay.” He yawned. “I think my heats wearing off, but I still…my brains all mushy with hormones, and I want you.” Tony knew Steve had to give in to that. His alpha sighed and looked up at him with a small smile.

“Come here, sweetheart.” He murmured, and Tony happily snuggled into his alphas lap. Steve pressed a kiss to his forehead and started to play with his frizzled hair.

“I love you.” Tony told him, and he would always mean those words. No matter what happened between them, he would always love his alpha with everything he had. Maybe it was his downfall, maybe it was the opposite, but nothing would ever change how he felt. Steve was back ; that was all that mattered, now.

“I love you, Tony.” Steve replied, and Tony was surprised by the lack of a pet name. “I’m so sorry.”

Tony frowned, looking up at his alpha, confusedly, and squinting his eyes. “For what?” He asked.

“For…” Steve paused. His voice sounded deflated and raw. Tony didn’t like his alpha sounding so sad. “I’m sorry.” He repeated.

“But for what?” Tony asked again. Steve sighed, but Tony didn’t need to be out of heat to know that look, especially when his alpha couldn’t look him in the eyes. Tony gulped, getting out of his alphas embrace immediately. He didn’t want to cry. He refused to. “I’m not enough, am I?” Tony whispered, wrapping his arms around his naked body. Suddenly, he felt fragile and used. “You mi-iss h-him, don’t you? You want to be with him, but you needed a release. You’re using me as your slutty sex slave because you know I’d present endlessly for you, but I don’t deserve to be treated like my only asset is my biology, Rogers.” Tony exclaimed, voice cracking, and falling apart with every word.

“Doll, no, th-that’s not true.” Steve argued. “I love you, I wouldn’t just come back for the sex, you know that.” He insisted.

“You’re not denying missing him.” Tony huffed.

Steve sighed. “Of course I miss him. Bucky is a huge part of my life—“

“But what about me?” Tony asked, interrupting him with a loud wail. “Why aren’t I a huge part of your life?”

“You are!” Steve exclaimed. “Calm down, it’s not healthy for you to get so worked up in heat.”

“Oh, cut that crap.” Tony snapped. “You can’t silence me with your dick this time.”

“I love you, Tony. I mean it.” He told him. “I love you, but it’s not enough. I love you more than anything, I’d do anything for you, I want to spend the rest of my life by your side, settle down with you, get married, h-have kids, but Bucky is really important to me. I’m never going to stop loving him. I’ll never stop protecting him, or caring about him, ever, and there’s nothing you or I or anyone else can do about it.” Steve sighed. “My feelings for him will never go away, but nor will the feelings I have for you. I’m going to do whatever it takes for you to trust me again, and one day, I’ll be able to fully say that I am one hundred percent committing my heart to you, a-and only you, but I need time.” Steve explained. Tony let out another sigh when he realised his alpha was being truthful. “I’m sorry I’m not ready yet.”

Tony gulped, biting his lip, and wiping the tears from his face. “I always knew I would never be enough to compete with him, but I fell in love with you anyway because I thought he was gone. I thought he couldn’t h-hurt us, or what we had, but now he’s back and you two love each other so much…I don’t want to get in the way of that.” Tony sniffled. “I love you, Stevie, so if you…if you ever stop feeling the same about me, tell me and I’ll let you go. I want you to be happy as much as I want to be happy. I can’t trust you if there’s any lies between us.” He told his alpha, firmly.

“You make me so happy.” Steve cried. “Y-you make me so happy, Tony, I love you so much, you have to believe me, please, please Tony, I love you.” He babbled.

It wasn’t fair, none of this was fair, but Tony knew they would never be able to get back to where they were. Unfair would have to be a fact of life. “But you also love him.” Tony insisted.

“I-I do.” Steve replied. “I know it’s hard to hear and I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t stop loving him because of my love for you. I’m sorry.” He murmured.

Tony sighed. “Leave.” He told him. “I-I can’t have you in my nest right now. Stay in the compound, or leave if you must, but if you do, I’m not waiting around for you to come back.”

…

Tony spent the last day of his heat alone, but after leaving the soggy, scent filled mess, and taking a shower to wash away all the awful omega hormones and Steve’s alpha, he came out into the sitting room to see him still waiting for him. Tony didn’t know what to think, but a part of him was beyond grateful to know his alpha was choosing to stay over him than see the other man he claimed to love.

They didn’t have sex for the rest of the week, and didn’t scent or cuddle around the house. Steve made the decision to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms, and give him space, but it only made Tony feel worse. He missed his alpha so much it hurt him more than any betrayal had or would. Tony hated the feeling, he hated how dependant he was becoming to Steve’s touch, but he loved him. He couldn’t help that.

In their argument, Steve told him he wanted kids - heck, he even said he wanted to marry him. The fact he saw Tony in his future reassured him of their love, but it was scary. There was nothing that Tony wanted more than giving birth to Steve’s, and only Steve’s, pups, but there was always a risk that Steve would leave him to care for them alone. His alpha could always change his mind and go back to Bucky, and there was nothing that he could do to reassure Tony that he wouldn’t. Like Steve said, he loved Bucky, so why wouldn’t he choose him?

He didn’t want to be the one to go back to him, to knock on Steve’s door and beg for his attention, but Tony didn’t know if Steve would be the first one to make a move. He was giving him space, but how much space did Steve think he needed, and how long would the space last? Tony sighed.

“Friday?“ He asked.

“Yes, boss - what can I do for you?” His AI replied.

Tony bit lip. “Tell Steve that I don’t need space. Whenever he’s ready, he can come and talk.” He told her.

“Telling him now, boss.”

“Thanks, Fri.” He sighed, laying back on his bed and letting the back of his head drop onto his pillow. This was it. If Steve wanted to make up, there was nothing in Tony that would stop him. After all, despite everything, he loved that man more than anything. Tony couldn’t be mad at him forever, even if he did love Bucky more than him sometimes. As long as he didn’t go back to him, and it meant he could still have his alpha, Tony would just have to accept that for the rest of his life.

Tony heard footsteps, followed by a knock on his, no, their bedroom door. “Tony? Can I come in?”

The omega sat up, and sighed. This was it. “Come in.” He told his alpha.

Steve opened the door and sat on the bottom edge of his bed, giving Tony a small smile. “Hi, doll. I’m sorry about how I’ve been making you feel. It was wrong of me.” He apologised.

He gulped. “It’s okay.” Tony told him with another sigh. “You were being honest with me, and I didn’t like the truth. I understand, I know how much you love him, but it still hurts me, Stevie.”

“I won’t leave you again. I know you’re worried that I will, but I won’t.” Steve replied.

“But are you doing that because you don’t want to hurt me, or because you want to stay and be with me?“ Tony asked, bluntly.

“If I didn’t want to be with you, I wouldn’t have come back.” Steve told him. “If I was going to go back to Bucky, I would already be in Wakanda. I love you, Tony.”

“I love you.” He smiled.

“I know and you shouldn’t.” Steve replied. Great - they were back to that.

“I don’t care.” Tony told him. “I want you. God, just come over and kiss me already - I’m dying.” He moaned.

“Doll, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I don’t want to manipulate you into doing anything you don’t want to.” He replied.

Responding with a grunt and a roll of the eyes, Tony crawled along his bed and grabbed Steve by the face, kissing his alpha on the lips. “I said kiss me already.” He told him, before pushing his lips onto his alphas for another.

Steve didn’t fight him off. Instead, he pushed his omega down onto the bed and continued to plant kisses, until Tony’s lips were blotched and swollen. “I love you.” Steve breathed. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you more.” Tony told him. “I don’t want to spend another second without you in my whole life.”

Steve kissed him on the forehead. “I’m so lucky to have you.” He whispered into his hair. “I’m so, so lucky to have you - my perfect, little omega. I love you Tony, and I’m going to take care of you so well, you’ll never forget it again.“

“You better.” He huffed, kissing him again. “I’m trusting you.”