What Was I Thinking? // Anthony & Tony
"Yes, it was a man," Tony answered calmly, but he didn’t pursue the remainder of his son’s questions; if Steve and Tony did take their relationship to the next level, if they did decide to continue dating one another, then of course Tony would have to tell his children the truth, but for now, he didn’t want Anthony to go hating his uncle just because the two men seemed unable to keep their hands off of one other. Anthony needed his uncle. To lose Steve Rogers in their life was not a fate he’d wish on anyone, especially his kids who had grown up with Steve like an extra father, always there to babysit them or take them out, always there to protect them.
Tony watched Anthony set the money at his feet before he picked it up and set it aside, setting a mental reminder to give it back to his son when he was in his right mind enough to accept it. “When you sober up, I’ll get you something for your head,” he promised, knowing all too well how horrible a hangover could be, and that terrible place between too drunk and growing sober was almost worse. “Yeah, JARVIS, turn down the volume of the room, will you?” he said just to humor the boy. He thought he could hear the AI rolling his non existent eyes. And then, suddenly, everything was spiraling out of control.
The next few seconds seemed to pass by in a blur, Anthony screaming and running, the boy throwing up and collapsing, and there was nothing Tony could do to stop it, nothing he could do to help no matter how much he wanted to, no matter how much it killed him to see his only son this way. He hurried over to the boy’s side and helped lift him into a sitting position, sliding is arm under Anthony’s shoulder and using his own body to support him. “I got you,” he whispered, reaching out for the water bottle and bringing it back over. “Come on, you need to drink or you’re just going to get sick again,” he said, unscrewing the cap on the bottle and raising it to his son’s lips. “You can do it. I know you can. You’ve been taking care of them your whole life. You can do anything you want, Anthony. You can be anything you want. But they have to come first, alright? You just make sure they’re safe when I can’t anymore. You can still be a kid, still…have fun. I just…I need to know that if I’m not here anymore, you’re going to be okay, and they’re going to be okay. And I know you can do that. Here, hold on a second.” He stood up carefully and went to grab some more water, a bottle of pain killers, and some bread—something Steve had dropped off to get Tony to eat finally. He brought these things back to his son’s side as he sat down next to him again. “Here, it’ll settle your stomach,” he said, handing him the bread. “Eat first, then take these.” He held up the bottle of pills.
"Sooo, I guess liking men runs in the family huh?" Anthony laughed loudly, tossing his head back. "So, you love him? Does he fuck you good Tony Stark? Is that why you love him? Do you love him more than Mom? I really, really want to know." He shook his head slowly. "I just don't get it. Have you always loved him? Or is this a recent thing?" Anthony still didn't quite get what was going on in his drunken state, but the words seemed to flow out of his mouth without much thinking.
Anthony closed his eyes, nodding slowly at his Father's words, slowly sipping the water that was put to his lips. He swallowed and pulled out of his Father's grip, laying on the cool tile floor with a sigh. He stayed silent for a few minutes, closing his eyes until the spinning in his head calmed down enough for him to open them again. Anthony shook his head, then slowly nodded it against the floor. "I will try. I need to take care of them. But....don't leave me Dad. Don't leave us. We need you..." His voice trailed off as he closed his eyes again. "But I will try. Anthony opened his eyes to see bread in front of his face and turned away. "No..." He whined. "I'll get sick again."
