Chapter Text
Tony Stark wasn’t someone who asked for help. He didn’t go knocking on doors asking for charity. He didn’t have to. He never had to.
But here’s the thing. Him and Pepper were having hard times. That had become a normal thing. They just weren’t getting along as partners. In any other relationship, they were perfect.
As parents? Great. As friends? Good. As superhero’s? Amazing. Even just a sexual relationship? Yeah, they’d been good at that, great at that.
But bring in any sort of partnership? Nope. Tony expected Pepper to balance him out. He’d thought she’d be great at the whole relationship thing. She wasn’t. Not that he’d tell her that.
Communication wasn’t their strong suit. Unfortunately, that’s what a healthy relationship needs.
Fucking great. Tony was shit at it. He could get as far as telling her he loved her, he liked her, he cared about her, he didn’t want anything to happen to her. He was good with that but anything else? Nope.
She knew all those things though. She knew he loved him, she loved him too. She knew he liked her, she liked him too. She knew he cared about her, she cared about him too. She knew he didn’t want anything to happen to her, she wanted the same for him. They were good at saying those things straight up.
What they were bad at, was the whole being in love. Because loving each other and being in love were two completely different things. Like how loving someone and liking them were two different things.
Being in love meant doing romancey stuff. Tony could have sex all day long any day of the week. He could buy Pepper dinner, get her jewelry, a nice house, and put a giant fucking bunny in their goddamn living room but that was just stuff. Materialistic things that had no value in the face of Cupid who always seemed to ask “what’s the most meaningful romantic thing you’ve ever done to show how much you love this woman?”
Yeah, he didn’t have an answer for that. To be fair, Pepper didn’t either.
First Tony tried the whole, candlelight, feelings, and mess out back of the cabin. It ended with a “you can’t even think of one thing you love about me?” from Pepper. He apologized the next morning with the usual.
“I’m sorry, I just don’t do putting what I feel into words.”
She nodded but that apology didn’t feel right to either of them. Not that they said it.
Pepper thought it wasn’t that. She’d seen him put his emotions into words. Just not in a romantic way, not to her at least.
Tony thought it was him. He hadn’t ever really been in a serious relationship like this. He’d had girlfriends but not like this. Not communicating, not feelings, not straight-up pure romance from a Hallmark movie.
Pepper booked them counseling. Tony thought it was stupid but went anyway.
They did it for a long time. The counselor had them separate and talk to her for a few sessions on their own. After a few went by she deemed them ready to come together and discuss.
After that first session of them coming back together, once they were home alone, Pepper brought up something someone had said to her. She wouldn’t tell him who it was.
“Maybe it’s a romantic chemistry issue.” He frowned at that from where he was on the other side of the kitchen island.
“Chemistry?”
“Yes, what if we’re just not compatible.”
Tony went on to tell her all the reasons they should be compatible. She agreed but they just weren’t. He got a bit angry and soon found himself driving the streets in his car alone.
He honestly didn’t know where to go. Most of his friends lived out of town. Except Rhodey but he was on vacation. Mexico or some shit.
He wouldn’t go to the compound because Nat would be there. And Pepper was definitely talking to Nat right now. She would beat Tony’s ass if he showed up there now. She was probably going to hunt him down after talking to Pepper.
He didn’t know Scott that well. Though the guy would probably let him stay. Clint wasn’t an option because Pepper talked to his wife. Bruce was out of town. Thor was off-world. Steve was at the compound so he can’t crash at that guy's place.
He wasn’t gonna go crash at Peter’s place. Hell no. That kid looked up to him he couldn’t go there after being kicked— after mutually parting ways with his wife for the night.
She didn’t kick him out. It was a mutual decision between the two of them that he would leave for the night. Definitely what happened.
“She kicked you out,” Sam said back door open arm across the entryway so Tony couldn’t just walk straight in.
“How’d you—“
“I talk to Nat.” He smirked still waiting for a full explanation.
“We’re just having problems. Rhodey’s out of town, Mexico, or some shit. Just let me in pigeon.” Tony said and Sam just smirked raising an eyebrow.
“If anyone asks me if I’ve seen you I’m not lying,” Sam said letting Tony through and closing the door behind him.
“Nice place.” Tony looked around it was a regular-looking rental unit. Two bedrooms and a bathroom from the hall he looked down.
So he sat down on the couch and Sam leaned on the kitchen counter. Tony glanced up but rolled his eyes at the expectant look on Sam’s face.
“Just for the night then I’m gone—“
“What happened?” He asked to which Tony stood rolling his eyes again.
“I didn’t come here for a shrink just a bed.”
“You coulda gotten a hotel. Or gone to the compound. Or—“ Sam said about to list a hundred other places he could have gone.
“Okay, I get it.” Tony sat back down hands covering his face elbows on his knees. “You don’t really know me or Pepper that well so I thought you wouldn’t have any bias on a question I wanted to ask you,” Tony said looking up at Sam who nodded moving to the armchair next to the couch the other man sat on.
“Alright. But remember,” Sam said making direct eye contact with Tony, “I’m not biased. Therefore whatever you ask, it’s my opinion don’t shoot it down.” Sam said having a pretty good idea about what this was about.
“Pepper and I are great parents to Morgan. I think I am at least,” Sam nodded at that, “we were great as friends. Great as co-workers, well, most of the time. And we’re great at sex— don’t make that face Wilson— but the thing is…” Tony scratched the back of his head. “We aren’t good at the romance. It’s not just me though, she admitted it too so it’s not just me. Communication too we suck at that. And I think we just…” he put his head in his hands again.
He remembers marrying her. Not long after finding out Morgan was coming along. It had just seemed like a given. And they’d both been happy.
“We had Morgan and we both love her and we’re great co-parents and all that bullshit. But she says we’re not compatible. Like there’s no romantic chemistry? What does that even mean?” Tony said leaning back on the couch and staring off at the ceiling.
“It’s a real thing that happens, Tony. Some people just don’t work like that. And it’s alright.” Sam said, “Maybe you’re just doing this for Morgan. There could be many factors that are holding you back. Maybe you don’t even know about some.” That made Tony frown.
“What do you mean?” Sam sighed at the question moving to sit down in the chair across from Tony.
“How have other relationships gone for you?” Sam asked making Tony once again make a face.
“What does that have to do with me and Pepper?”
“Just think about it,” Sam said raising an eyebrow and Tony took a deep breath before looking away.
He hated thinking about all his past relationships. They never worked out well. None of them. Not a single woman has ever worked for him.
“None of them have gone well,” Tony said making Sam nod looking him in the eye as if searching for something.
“Were they all women?” This was only one of Sam's theories.
“So?”
“You gotta figure it out,” Sam said questioning himself because Tony hadn't caught on and the guy was smarter than almost everyone. Almost.
“You know the answer. Tell me.” Tony said to which Sam rolled his eyes.
“I can’t just tell you how you're feeling. First of all, it’s a hunch. Second, you’d probably deny it and/or try to punch me in the face. You gotta figure it out yourself.” Sam said slouching in his chair.
Tony rolled his eyes and laid back on the couch arm over his eyes. He groaned as Sam got up to get them both a beer.
—
Four weeks later a few things had changed. Tony was sleeping in the guest room instead of with Pepper. They were on good terms and she understood he needed to figure some things out if they were going to try again.
He was going on more missions and also spending time with both Morgan and Peter. Morgan started calling Peter her big brother.
He was happier. Then of course he figured it out. “You gotta figure it out yourself.” He knows what Sam meant now.
He was on a mission with Steve and Nat. Simple mission just some terrorists trying to blow up a country. He hadn’t been on a mission with Steve since the whole Sam saying that bullshit.
After said mission, they were scratched up and Tony had gotten a gun to his head making everyone pause. Steve had begged for his life and tried to trade his own for it. He'd said things that had made everyone want to cry. The words had made Tony cry, thank god no one had a camera.
Walking away Tony felt some weird shit shift within his chest. Steve liked him. Liked him liked him. Loved him liked him. You know?!
He went to Sam’s in his iron man armor and destroyed his garden once they got back to New York.
“Tony what the fuck?! I just got those tomatoes.”
“Steve is in love with me?!”
Sam stood at his back door and stared. Tony was bruised and scratched as he knelt on Sam’s tomato plant ironman suit still crawling its way back into the plate on his chest.
“You figuring it out meant doing it on your own. Not coming back here when you had a life-altering revelation and squishing my tomatoes.” Sam said still salty.
“I’ll buy you more tomatoes.”
“I liked those tomatoes.”
“Fuck your tomatoes,” Tony said standing and moving toward the doorway. “He tried to sacrifice himself for me. And he said a bunch of stuff and now I’m thinking—“
“Yeah, I get it. But if he’s in love with you that has nothing to do with you figuring out your relationship with Pepper.” Sam said crossing his arms after closing the back door behind them both.
“So he is?!”
“I didn’t say that. I said if.”
They both stood there staring for a moment. Tony then rolled his eyes turning away.
“Alright, whatever don’t tell me.” Tony crossed his arms and sat on the couch pouting like a child.
“Why does that even matter? And why would you think I know?” Sam asked making Tony raise an eyebrow at him before scoffing.
“You, Bucky, and Steve are basically sparkly vampires and werewolves except I don't know which one of you is Bella yet,” Tony said side eyeing Sam who was the one scoffing.
“Twilight, really?” There was a pause of silence before Sam finally decided to break it. “No, ones Bella. As we've established Steve's into you not either of us.” Sam said but once Tony made a victorious sound he regretted all the words that had come out of his mouth.
“I knew it!” He yelled making Sam roll his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, get over yourself. It doesn't help your relationship with Pepper.” Sam said sitting down on the opposite side of the couch to Tony.
Sam could tell there was something else bothering Tony. He had a clue what it was but he needed Tony to say it.
The thing is the journey from the compound was long. It took time especially when his thrusters weren't at full power from being broken during the fight.
Tony had time to think on the way over here. He had time, alone, just him and Friday, to think about what he'd found out about Steve. The thoughts had gone to his own feelings for the super soldier.
“What if...” he paused sighing heavily, “what if I wasn't so repulsed by the idea of Steve,” Tony said glancing over at Sam who had his eyebrow in his hairline and his head tilted ever so slightly. “Okay so maybe I like Steve! Maybe I more than like Steve! So what?!” Tony said groaning into his hands as he covered his face. “I don't get it. I'm supposed to like Pepper. I like women, a lot, sex is so good with women but my feelings just aren't there for them. I swear I'm not gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.” Tony said his words muffled by his hands but Sam still understood every word.
“There wouldn't be any problem with you thinking that. It's called internalized homophobia. But the term you are looking for to describe yourself is homoromantic bisexuality.” Sam said making Tony look up at him eyes seeming to realize a few things.
“Sexually attracted to both genders but only have romantic feelings for the same gender.” He mumbled more to himself but Sam wanted to confirm the definition so there wasn't any confusion.
“Yeah, it's normal man,” Sam said making Tony nod slowly thinking it over for a long while.
—
Two months later Sam was invited to the compound for a little party. All the Avengers were there and so were their families. Sam witnessed the Stark family in their full glory.
Pepper smiling happily with Morgan on her hip, no ring on her finger. Peter talking to Tony about his new suit ideas. Steve holding Tony's, also ringless, hand while making jokes to Morgan causing her to giggle loudly along with her mother. Sam had never seen such a beautifully weird dynamic in his entire life, yet here it was. So beautiful and he'd helped create it.
“You gonna eat that?”
Before he could even answer the metal-armed freak had taken his slice of pepperoni pizza, the last slice might he add. Sam watched him shove half the slice in his mouth his own jaw on the floor.
“You complete piece of shit,” Sam said Bucky chewing his bite of pizza while trying not to smile. He loved fucking with Sam so god damn much.
“What are you gonna do?” Bucky said shoving the last bit of pizza in his mouth.
“I'm gonna fucking kill you is what I'm gonna do.”
The next thing everyone knew was that two men were wrestling on top of the broken table that Bucky had let Sam throw him on. Steve was yelling, Tony was cheering, the women were rolling their eyes and moving to the bar for more drinks, and Rhodey was the one to grab his suit and pull them apart.
—