Little Flame

3

While August was in the floor thinking, his fingers creep up to his mouth and he chews on them. A bad nervous habit he has that was easily explained when he was labeled a little in his classification. He was classified almost two years ago and never really regressed. He laid low and never got assigned a caregiver. He's been off of the authorities radar and has been regressing very rarely. Not even going down fully.
  If anyone found out, he'd be put in a little's home for sure. He'd loose his job and be forced to depend on the homes caretakers. He prefers independence. Even with his head space being very young, he never fully let's go. The one time August did fully regress, his father said he could loose control and burn the whole house down. His father then proceeded to beat August like he usually would when it came to his sons regressing.
Not wanting to hurt anyone, or anyone to hurt him, August kinda refused it. Never fully regressing was taking its toll on him. Making his sleep schedule nonexistent and giving him poor eating habits. If he just had a caregiver, he'd be so much healthier. But why would he risk that?
August didn't mean to regress now. But it is his off day. So there's nothing really holding him back. He finally lets it all out. He sobs loudly, with his fingers still in his mouth for a few minutes. He felt pathetic. Peony came up to him, pushing her head into his shoulder, and looking at his face with large curious eyes. August takes his free hand and pats her head. He sits up and leans against the couch. Peony walks away from his touch, going to his room. August smiles and giggles, taking his hand out of his mouth to crawl after her. He finds Peony sitting in front of his closet, with her tail flicking back and forth in anticipation. "Oh good idea Peenee." He giggled out in a softer voice. He got up on his knees to open the closet doors. As the doors opened, the one stuffed animal August owns fell out, causing the rattle inside it to shake slightly. August grinned and instantly pulled the stuffed bunny into a hug. He fell back onto his bottom, giggling as he shook his bunny. Peony rubbed against August's side and looked at the plushy. He shook the bunny in front of Peony and she playfully batted at it. He pats Peony's head gently and sets the bunny down so it was sitting. "You two wait here." He slurred in his childish voice, getting back up on his knees. He grabs his small wooden box from the back of the closet, along with his blanket from childhood. It was practically a rag at this point but it still brought him so much comfort in headspace. He rubs it against his face as he goes back to sit with peony, who was laying on top of his bunny. "Tank oo for payin nice, Peenee." He says as he leans down and kisses the cats head.
In his box is a blue adult pacifier, and a green sippy cup. These were the few things he has allowed himself to buy, along with the bunny he had named jingles. He was trying to save his money but rent and bills were killing him. He was lucky enough to to buy food for himself and cat food. His little side aches for some actual toys, or even just someone to play with, but because of the lack of caregiver, he's usually trying to be the adult to his little side and he never actually regresses.
August pops his paci in his mouth and gets on his bed. He left jingles with Peony, since she looked so comfortable. He snuggled his blanky to his face and slowly began to drift back to sleep.
——
Three weeks after that whole ordeal, August was woken up on his off day when his phone rang. He instantly sat up and answered with as best of an awake voice he could muster. "Hello?"
"Heeeeeeey Augy." An overly chipper voice spoke loudly into the phone. "Oh fuck me!" August sighs as he realizes. "Hi Carla." August replies in a flat tone. "Gee don't sound too excited" the girl laughs into the phone. "Someone called out, didn't they?" August just wants to get straight to the point. Carla is his manager at McDonalds and only ever calls him to see if he'll come in and work.
"Ok fine. Drake called in because "he's not feeling well." Carla said, putting a mocking tone on the lame excuse Drake always gives when he calls out. "If you could just come at 12 that'd really save my ass. I'll get someone to cover your shift tomorrow so you can leave at 7." August sighs into the phone. "Is there seriously no one else you can call in?"
"Everyone else already said no. Please Augy! I'm desperate." Carla was begging. And August just can't say no when people ask him to do them a favor. He sighs into the phone. "Alright. I'll be in at midnight."
  The phone call ends and he checks the time. 7:40pm. He'd slept most of today. At least he's getting back to sleeping. Let's just hope work goes well.
——
Well after several long and annoying hours, August finally got off work, completely exhausted and in dire need of a shower. He clocked out at 7:30. The walk home was uneventful this time, thank the Gods, and August made quick work to get up the stairs to his apartment and open the door.
Setting his stuff down, August heard someone clear their throat in the kitchen. His eyes grew wide. He slowly locks the front door, and turns around. August keeps his arms defensively in front of himself. And slowly walks towards the noise. The sound of Peony's purrs grew louder as he crept closer.
When August steps into the kitchen, a ball of flame in each hand, he sees a familiar black trench coat, and the man wearing it, facing away from him.
"Calm down, pyro. I'm just here to talk." Fury said calmly as he poured hot water off the stove into a mug. He turned to face August. Fury leaned against the counter and blew on his tea, not taking his eye off of the small boy, still wielding flames. August slowly relaxed his tense muscles, the fire disappearing, and arms lowering. "How did you even get in here?" August asked with his voice low.
Fury stands up again, motioning with a head tilt to the living room. "Let's have a chat."
   August follows him to the couch, where they sat several weeks ago. He sits, watching Fury set his mug on a side table, take his coat off, and lay it in the lazy chair beside the couch. He wore a grey turtle neck and black jeans. He sits next to august, with a cushion between them. His legs cross and his hand fold in his lap.
   "You're not an easy person to look into, Mr. Reeves. Your record's almost spotless." Fury said before taking a sip of his tea. "Why were you looking into me?" August asks, looking and sounding very flat. He knew he was caught. "Technology has come a long way, you know. After a few hours of going through security footage, traffic cams, and the spider suit recording, all it took was some voice recognition. You fit it perfectly when I came in and questioned you." Fury calmly stated.
  "So what?" August was pail, and his hands were trembling as he stared at his lap. "You're gonna lock me away like the Scarlet witch? Or Dr. Banner?" He gripped his hands into tight fists as he spoke. Tears pricked his eye. Fury studied the boy for a moment, taking another sip of tea. "Well," he started, "You seem to have much more control over yourself then Wanda did when we found her, or Bruce when he couldn't control himself. I was thinking to give you an offer instead." He glanced at August with a slight smirk.
August blinked up at Fury with a puzzled expression. "You want me to be on your super hero team?" He didn't mean to come off as though he thought he was above such a thing, but why have him as a hero? He never once saw the appeal. Nick chuckles at the kids question. "Not at all. You seem to not like that idea yourself." August continued to look in confusion. "I've read up on everything about you, August." Nick gave the kid a knowing look. "Which reminds me, how did you manage to get an apartment without a caretaker?"
August gulps and looks down. "L-look, Mrs. Samson didn't ask questions. I told her I got kicked out, and as long as I pay rent, I'm allowed to stay here." He didn't want to risk anything. A caregiver would just get hurt by him, wouldn't they? "I did see that in my digging on you. Getting tested at 15. Loosing your mother a year later, only having your dad. He didn't really care for you, did he?" Fury took another sip from his mug. August stayed silent. That stuff still hurt. He looks at the floor.
"I have a solution that will keep you out of trouble, Auggy. If you take the offer, I won't have you put in a littles home for going so long without regressing and without any kind of supervision." Fury looks at the boy, keeping his firm look. August sighed and closed his eyes. "What exactly is your solution?" He asks, glancing up at Nick with big green eyes, with a glint of hope peaking behind them. Nick smiles slightly, sipping his tea before answering. "Well I'd like to see your powers blossom a bit more. I want you training every Monday and Thursday after noon. I'll be supervising while you train with some of the Avengers." August was quick to interject at Nicks pause. "But I can't get that off time at work, I-"
  "I think it'd be best if you quit that job." Nick gave a stern look that told August he wasn't finished with explaining. "You won't be needing it. I want you to have proper care, and regress 4 days a week. Seeing as that is the legal requirement."
"So I'm just supposed to give up my independence? And what if I hurt someone while I'm regressed! I don't know how my powers work when I let myself go like that." August started, calmly. He wasn't too thrilled with the idea, but submitting mostly seems like the way to keep him out of trouble. "You'll be allowed independence when you're out of headspace." Nick could sense the boy's anxieties. "And you'll still have the right to say no to things in headspace. Its not like you'll be forced into truly nonnegotiable situations."
"But I don't want to hurt anyone." August had tears in his eyes. This was all so overwhelming. He could feel himself starting to slip, as his thumb made its way to his lips. "Hey, you won't hurt anyone." Nick cooed as he put his hands on the boys shoulders. August sniffles and looks up at him. "Your powers won't work in headspace. Banner and Stark have been studying it for several years now. Bruce can get so upset over his blocks falling or his mommy not being in his sight, but the most he can do is cry. The hulk won't even huff the behavior. Apparently your brain will turn it off." Nick rubbed the boys arms reassuringly. August thought for a moment. He looked into nicks eye, as if to ask 'really?'. Nick smiles. "I already have two caregivers who are very interested in you, kiddo. How about you hop in the shower, and I can help you regress after." Auggy seemed to melt. He nodded. Nick patted his shoulder and stood up. August followed on instinct. "Ok buddy. I got everything I need for you in my car. I'll get that while you wash up." Nick instructed as he lead August to the bathroom. He nods in responds, closing the door behind himself.