Avengers Ageplay (Baby Tony)

1 - I'm sowwy Daddy!

Bruce's POV:

I stared at the gaping hole in the wall in disbelief. As did most of the team. How could anyone possibly be so stupid?

Steve rounded on Tony. "What have you done Stark?!" He yelled. He was more annoyed than any of us and we were furious. I was having a hard time keeping myself as me.

Stark looked irritated. "It was an experiment and it's my tower, and my lab and I'll be the person paying for repairs, so there's no need for you to go getting yourself all riled up at me," he sassed.

"THERE IS NO EXCUSE!" Roared Cap, "This is getting ridiculous! How many times have you blown something up in the past week?!"

Tony didn't reply.

Clint glared daggers at him, "What's wrong Stark? You lost count?" He asked sounding quite bitchy.

Natasha asked Jarvis. "In the past 7 days, Mr Stark has exploded different things a total of 11 times, 4 of which have caused major damage."

"What the hell Tony?" I asked. I was trying to be mad at him while not letting the other guy out. Natasha saw this and briefly grasped my hand. I was instantly in control but I decided not to chance it and watched silently.

Steve was raging, "That's not good enough! You're supposed to be a superhero genius, not an imbecile!"

Tony stared fixedly at the floor and stayed quiet, his face blank.

Clint stepped forward and punched Tony in the shoulder. "Idiot," he muttered. Tony didn't react.

We all calmed down a little.

Steve had sunk to a mild irritation. "Whatever. Just get it cleared up Stark."

Me, Steve, Clint and Natasha turned to leave.

Steve's POV:

I was last in the line. We had almost reached the door when I heard a light thump. I turned back to make sure he hadn't destroyed anything else.

As it turns out, he hadn't. He was sitting with his back to his desk and had curled himself with his head resting on his knees.

I almost left him there when I heard a quiet sob. Startled, I realised that it was Tony. His sobs got a little louder and the others stopped.

I hesitated but went over there anyway. I knelt in front of him. "Tony?" I asked gently, my fury forgotten.

His body tensed up.

"Tony?" I asked again.

I heard him mutter something under his breath. I touched his arm lightly and he flinched. He resumed his muttering.

"Speak louder," I requested of him.

He raised his head and set his arms up vertically on his knees with his hands clutching his messy hair to hold his head up and still looking down. Now that I could see his face, I felt sorry for yelling at him. Tears ran down his cheeks and he looked like a scared mess. I reached my hand out to him but he whimpered and flinched so I drew it back quickly. Now I could hear his muttering. "I'm s-sorry." Sob. "Pwease-" Sob. "Please don't hu-huwt m-m-me." Sob. "Please. I-I'm sorry, I s-swear. P-Please." He begged quietly through his sobs.

I glanced back. They had all heard him and looked extremely worried. I reached out yet again and this time pulled him to his feet.

When I let go he stumbled back and released a loud sob. His terrified eyes darted around at us all. He looked back at the floor and leaned away from us. "I'm sowwy Daddy! Pwease don't huwt me!" He pleaded.

I didn't understand but I thought that he might be having a flashback or panic attack or something so I backed up and gave him room to calm down.

A few minutes later found us in the same position but with Tony curled up on his side on the floor, sucking his thumb and silently crying.

At last, Clint broke the silence. "I've seen something like this before. I think... I think Tony might be a little."

Natasha and I gave him questioning looks but Bruce let out a small gasp and gazed at the man on the floor with understanding.

Between them they managed to give a brief, awkward explanation of what a 'little' is.

Silence fell.

We all stared at Tony with the occasional glance at each other. I was trying to wrap my head around this. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?!

"Well," Clint spoke, "Somebody's going to have to deal with him in this state."

The silence and glances were immediately resumed. After a few minutes, both Clint and Natasha had backed out of the opportunity. Bruce and I stared at each other. He looked to Natasha and back to me. I understood and nodded. "OK. I'll do it," I announced. The others agreed.

The couple clasped hands and left.

Clint slapped my back, "Good luck. If you need me, I can stay?" I nodded and took a deep breath. He nodded as well and stepped back.

I exhaled and turned to the man-child.

Once again I approached slowly and cautiously. I had no idea how he would react and the last thing I wanted to do was scare him. I called his name and gently shook his shoulder but all the happened was him making a tighter ball.

I didn't understand it but I felt something in me snap. Suddenly this sobbing man sucking his thumb on the floor meant the whole world to me and I wanted nothing more than to hug him and comfort him until he was happy again. I felt a light-heartedness at the realisation of love but with it came a gut wrenching misery because the object of my love did not love me back. He was scared of me and it was breaking my heart.

I forgot the presence of Clint. I forgot that we were in a science lab. I forgot that only moments ago I had been infuriated by him.

Acting on my emotions I carefully reached down and scooped my beloved into my arms. I held his head against my heart and knelt with him while he cried. He did not fight me. In fact, he welcomed my embrace and leant into me, depending on me.

In that moment he was my entire world. There was nothing I wouldn't do for him and his wellbeing. I finally understood why being without Peggy had not effected me very much at all. I had thought that we were in love but now I realised we had simply been too young to know. Whilst we might have been close, we had not been destined to be together. It was in that moment that I discovered the true meaning of love.

Word Count: 1120