Apartment Above Stark Industries, Saturday morning [Oh God, so early]

[heroic_jawline]

The sun was barely peaking up over the horizon when Steve popped up out of bed. "Tony," he said, shaking him awake. "Tony, Tony, Tooooony."

Steve was even more of a morning person when he was nine! Good luck with that, Tony.

Comments

[imafuturist]

"He doesn't, but he likes to make sure us living people don't forget to eat," Tony replied. "Right, J?"

"Of course, sir. It would be a great strain were you to die from malnutrition having only consumed coffee."

...he regretted giving JARVIS sarcasm sometimes.

[heroic_jawline]

"Can I have coffee too?" Steve asked.

[imafuturist]

"You can have milk. Coffee will stunt your growth." BECAUSE THAT MATTERED WITH A SUPER SOLDIER.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve made a face. "I'm getting taller!"

This was...not at all true. Steve was nine but looked seven.

[imafuturist]

"One day you'll be taller than me, I promise," Tony replied, pointing a finger at him. "But coffee won't let that happen. Capiche?"

[heroic_jawline]

Steve stuck his lower lip out. "Can the milk be warm, at least?" he tried. "Please?"

[imafuturist]

"We can heat up the milk," Tony replied. "Hey, we might have some hot cocoa mix to add to it."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve's eyes went wide. "Really?"

[imafuturist]

"You bet." Okay, Tony was starting to be okay with this because that? That was adorable.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve beamed at him. "Thank you!" he said excitedly, bouncing up and down until he accidentally worked himself into a coughing fit.

[imafuturist]

"Oops, oops," Tony said, keeping his panic shoved down as he was out of the bed and hunting for that inhaler from last time Steve had been younger. "Sit. Breathe for me?"

[heroic_jawline]

Steve nodded, big blue eyes fixed on Tony as he concentrated on breathing more slowly.

[imafuturist]

Tony, wearing an oversized and borrowed set of clothing from Steve returned only a moment later with the inhaler to hold up for him to use. "In. And out."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve nodded, breathing in carefully and closing his eyes as the medicine did its work.

[imafuturist]

Tony rubbed Steve's back, waiting for his breathing to even out again. "Wow, hot cocoa gets quite the reaction, huh?" he teased gently.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve let out a slightly watery laugh. "Maybe a little too excitin' this morning," he said softly.

[imafuturist]

"Okay, new plan is that you sip cocoa while I make oatmeal and bacon."

He probably couldn't burn the bacon, right?

[heroic_jawline]

"Okay," Steve said, looking resigned. "But I clean up after, okay?"

He had to pull his weight.

[imafuturist]

"You can dry the dishes," Tony granted him. "I hate drying."

[heroic_jawline]

"And do the washing," Steve said, doing the wee version of Captain America's righteous jaw clench. "I can reach the sink now!"

[imafuturist]

It was insidious. "Alright, and do the washing."

All five dishes.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve nodded. "Good," he said stubbornly.

[imafuturist]

Tony sighed, ruffling Steve's hair for that. "C'mon. Before one of us starves."

[heroic_jawline]

"I had dinner last night, so I'm good for a while still," Steve said, nodding stoutly.

Welcome to the Great Depression, Tony. Give him a hug.

[imafuturist]

STEVE, WHY?

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," he said, soldiering on. "Especially for a growing kid."