Little Flame

5

When Steve and Tony get to the building, they buzz the exact apartment Fury told them to and Fury pushed the button to let them in. The loud buzz sound startles August awake and he looks around silently. He hears footsteps, the door open, and new voices. He then realized a few things. 1) he was still very regressed, 2) he was hungry, 3) he had an accident, and 4) he lost his binky in his sleep. Nick was discussing a few things with Tony and Steve, who had two backpacks just with stuff incase August needed it. They haven't even seen him yet but they already loved him and were ready to have a little of their own.
Nick is on the middle of explaining that Auggy's still sleeping to the two antsy new parents, when he's interrupted by a heartbreaking sob from the living room. Steve and Tony's eyes both got large and they follow Nick quickly to the sound of the noise. More sobs followed that first one, and within seconds August looked up at the ceiling to see all three 'adults' looking at him. He's hiccuping with his cries, which got quieter. He kicks his feet and reaches for Nick. He's the only one the poor boy can recognize and everything's just too much right now.
Nick clicks his tongue, and picks up August from under his armpits. The blanket falls as August is hoisted onto Nick's hip and bounced lightly. He hides his little face in Nick's neck. Nick sees the pacifier in the play pen and thinks that might help. "Tony, could you hand me that?" He gestures to the binky and Tony is quick to help. He and Steve are completely fixated on the little boy who cried in Nick's grasp. Steve noticed the pacifier decorated like his shield and the blue socks. August looked absolutely adorable and Steve just wanted to hold him and make him smile. August accepts the pacifier greedily and slowly starts to calm himself down as he's bounced by Fury. "What was all that about, huh little guy?" Nick asks rubbing his back. Auggy whimpers and snuggles close to him.
Nick pats August on the back and then his bottom. When August started squirming and whimpering, Nick instantly knew what was wrong. "Oh, I know what's wrong." Nick cooed and he looked at Auggy. "Here I know what'll help. Hey Steve, could you hold him for a sec?" Steve was eager to do so, and grabbed August from under his arm pits with a great big smile. "Hi August." He said in a sweet tone. "Hi." He repeated as he sat down on the couch with him in his lap. Tony was quick to sit next to them. August giggled at their smiles. They looked so happy, and August could tell that they were nice just from sitting with them. Tony reached over and ruffled his hair a little. August smiled and leaned into the touch and closed his eyes. Tony's hand moved to the boys cheek and August followed the contact. He opened his eyes to look into Tony's. Tony looked practically awestruck. Steve loved watching this all unfold in front of him. The little coos coming from Auggy were just too precious. Taking a closer look at the mittens he was wearing, Steve gasped. Tony looked at his husband with concern. "What?" "Hon, look." He gestures to Auggy's hands and Tony looked so happy. Auggy tilted his head and looked at his hands too. He pointed them at Tony, and with a 'Bah' Tony decided to have some fun with the kid. "Ooooooh, he got me." Tony fell on the spare cushion next to him, closed his eyes, and stuck his tongue out with a 'bleh'. Auggy immediately began to fuss. His bottom lip trembled and he was on the brink of another crying fit. Steve was quick to bounce him and try to calm him down. "Hey hey hey, no tears. Daddy's just playing, Auggy. See? He's ok. Sh sh sh." Tony quickly got up and tried to make August feel better. "I'm ok buddy. We were just playing." Auggy looks between the two and looked almost relieved. He snuggled Steve as if to say 'sorry' and Steve pet his hair.
"Alright I'm back. Little stinker here just needs a quick change." Nick announced walking into the room with the supplies he needed for the diaper change. Before Steve and Tony got here, he'd put the baby gym, and diaper bag in August's room to get it out of the way. "I got it." Tony said proudly as he stood up. He plucked August from Steve's lap, with a roar that made August giggle his little head off.
Nick laid out the changing pad for Tony and sat the rest of the supplies around it. Tony crouched down, and as carefully as he could, laid Auggy in front of him. August looked up at Tony and Nick kinda confused. Steve got up and sat by his head and played with his hair to sort of distract him. Tony worked quickly, unsnapping the onesie, taking the soiled diaper off him, and cleaning him up. Auggy only struggled when he felt the really cold wipes. He kicked a little and started to whine. Steve got his attention by poking his nose, and wiggling his fingers above his head. He kept reaching for them, but stayed still enough for a new diaper to be strapped on and his onesie to be put back in place. "Oh you did such a good job, baby." Steve cooed as he kissed the little boy on the nose, causing him to giggle more. "Thank you honey." Tony joked leaning in for a kiss. Steve playfully rolled his eyes and gave him a kiss. "Now go wash your hands." Steve smirked as Tony grumbled and stood to go to the kitchen. "This apartment is really tiny, Nick. Which agent picked this as a meeting spot." Tony half shouted from the kitchen. Steve held Auggy close to him. "Yeah, why did we pick him up here?" Nick smiled at Auggy. "Because it's his apartment." Nick said cooly, poking Auggy's binky, causing him to giggle. Tony came in with a confused expression. "But-" he cut himself off looking about the practically empty apartment.
  Steve looked down at Auggy who started squealing and reaching past Nick. Steve followed August's gaze, and saw a little kitty. Steve gasped a little. "Who's that buddy?" Steve asked in an excited tone. Tony looked over just asking so many questions in his head. He then saw the cat. "He has a cat?" Tony asks allowed. Nick smiles and pets her as she walks past. She's purring loudly and curls up right in Auggy's lap. Auggy's giggling like mad and petting her very gently with his mittened hands. They all just stared at the sight. He's so gentle with the cat. The cat rubs against Steve and he pets her gently as well. "Her names Peony." Nick informed them.
Tony sighs slightly. "Ok Fury. I'm going to need you to explain all of this." Tony says as he slowly pulls Auggy into his lap. August started to whine a little and spit out his pacifier. "Hey hey hey." Tony started bouncing him. "When was the last time he ate?" He looked to Nick as August started fussing more. "I don't think he's eaten since yesterday." Nick sighs, getting out of the floor. He went to the kitchen for a moment. "Yesterday?" Tony was pretty unhappy with how his little guy was living before. He handed a still fussy August to Steve, and went into the kitchen.