And then we were two (Tony stark's daughter fic)

Into the village

The train rattled along the tracks, cold air and snow slipping in through gaps in the freight car. Steve had managed to close the doors once they were inside but it made minimal difference in the dark, empty, expanse around them. The car wasn't built for passengers, but goods or, maybe, livestock. He pitied anything forced to ride in it through the heavy snowstorm but realized there was probably a reason it was empty. People knew better than to try and transport living things through this sort of weather. "Hey, Tones, come'ere," he sighed, watching the man shiver where he sat.

Steve pulled him in close, tucking his hands against his chest between them. "It's ok," he whispered as he rubbed his back. "We'll be ok."

Tony didn't respond. It was terrifying, the feel of him shuddering uncontrollably in his arms.

"Is...is okay,' the genius hissed against his collar bones, teeth clacking softly together as his body did what little it could to try and stay warm. "It's...w-worse, when, when the sh-shivers...s-stop," he sighed, as if relieved to have it out.

Steve only tightened his hold. "You're gonna be fine," he promised again, his own teeth clenched tightly against the cold. Wouldn't that just be his luck? All this time, the crash, the drug, finding food and shelter, keeping him alive, hell, even telling him the truth about Bucky, only to have Stark freeze to death in his arms. "Tones? Can I ask you something?"

Tony grunted, nuzzling his way beneath Steve's chin. "Ask."

Steve's fingers drummed a rhythm against Tony's shoulder where he was clutching him close. "What happened with you and Pepper?"

"You...you're just, trying to keep me talking," he shuddered. "Pep got tired of b-being. Shit I am stuttering like an abused kid with a nervous tick. Blech," he sat up, sticking his tongue out as he shook his head. "She got tired of my shit. I'm better in small doses. Like grandparents with a baby. Snuggle, coo, hand it back when it becomes loud and annoying."

Steve snorted. "You two should've let the team know that was an option."

"Didn't want you to get rid of me," he mumbled, much less joking than they'd been.

Steve held him a little nearer. "We'd never manage, Tones," he replied quietly.

A light caught through the slats alongside their box and his head snapped up, peering through the snow, hoping for another. Soon they were a steady splash of light every four to five clacks and Steve slowly stood to his feet, tugging Tony along. "Tones, come on doll," he murmured absently. "We need to get you something warmer...I have a little..."

"You keep a wallet in that thing?" Tony snickered.

Steve rolled his eyes and pointed toward his belt and the pouches at his hips. "More prepared than you. Ever consider an extra layer of tactical gear under the armor?"

Tony turned to hide his face from the cold, warm breath hitting Steve's neck with the action. "Too many layers hamper movements. And the suit chafes so..." Though, had he known he'd wind up here, he'd have put up with a little chafing. "Will you be around? If something happens? I mean, for Addy..."

"Shut up, Stark," Steve grumbled, tightening his arms once more until the genius grunted in protest. "Nuthin's gonna happen," he huffed as the train's brakes began to creek noisily.

The pair wound up in a small hostel, a man that had laughed and pointed them toward a room while counting Steve's money, speaking too quickly for either of them to even try and translate.

"Should really try and work out where we are..." Tony mumbled from his position on the bed. He'd dropped cross legged atop it and wrapped the blankets round him like a cloak while Steve fiddled with a soot blackened wood stove in the corner. "Call somebody," he added.

Steve glanced up. "First, we warm you up properly. I'll go downstairs and try and figure out dinner in a bit. We'll work on calling them after."

"Addy will be-"

"Tones," Steve cut over him. "We've been surviving, alright? We settle in, attend immediate needs, then call. When you're warm enough you should have that shower you've been whining about."

Steve settled in a crouch, blowing gently on the kindling as he worked to get the fire burning.

Tony watched him quietly, something of the companionship they'd built settling over them. "You're actually pretty handy to have around, Cap...I mean, I never, ever, want to go camping again but.."

Steve snorted out a laugh, glancing back at him. "See, you say stuff like that and I immediately imagine you floundering in my time. Turning your little rich boy nose up at Hoover stew and trying to figure out how to make toast without a toaster..."

"See, you said words that made sense separately but the order you put them in just...that didn't make any sense..." Tony patted the bed beside him. "Come on, I can hear it cracklings and you're a human furnace. Besides, this room has a serious lack of other furniture."

Steve rolled his eyes and moved to sit beside him. "You gonna share that or..?"

"Blanket's mine. What you get for making me eat all that fish. Now, explain. How do you make toast, without a toaster?"

Steve yanked the blanket from him, laughing uproariously when Tony fell over onto the bed. "Skillet, bread, and butter. It's actually a lot better. We get back home and I'll make you some."

"Hate to remind you but, home is rubble..." Tony pointed out. "We're going to have to rent or go stat somewhere else. Malibu or the cabin, or the villa but I'm not sure Addy's ready for another flight just yet..."

"Tones, stop planning for a minute, alright?" Steve reached out and rested a hand over his heart. "Warmer?"

Tony stared down at his hand, listening to the steady tick of the cuckoo clock on the wall. "Think I'm good, yeah," he mumbled. "You get food, I fix this?" He motioned toward his overgrown beard and rolled from the bed. "Get me a t-shirt and jeans?"

"Fo sho, Tones," Steve whispered as he watched him go.

______

Hey peoples! There's been some more commenting here lately and it has honestly made me smile so much! So thank you for that! Love that it's being enjoyed! 💙