Little Flame

11

It was around 4 when everybody made it back to Steve and Tony's floor of the tower. Tony had let August play for a while on Nick's floor, as Steve and Peter had really trained their asses off. Once the two had showered they crashed on the couch and that's were Tony found them when he returned with August dozing on his shoulder. He got August settled in his crib for a nap before joining his husband and Mentee on the couch. Peter was sandwiched between the two and was snuggled into caps side. He felt so out of it he didn't even notice he was practically slipping into headspace. However, Tony was keenly aware of Peter's thumb having snuck between his lips and his eyes gently closing.
This defiantly wasn't the first time Peters done this in front of Tony and Steve. He's absentmindedly sucked his thumb while working in the lab, while he's thinking. Steve even noticed it last night during their movie.
Tony lightly nudged Steve, causing him to tiredly look down at the smaller hero, and smile. He wrapped the arm Peter was laying on protectively around the boys shoulder, bringing him closer to cuddle, while Tony nudged Peter's damp hair off his face. Peter felt the movement and his face scrunched up. He nuzzled deeper into Steve's side and whined slightly. They sat on the couch in comfortable silence for a bit before cries from Auggy's nursery alerted all three of them. Peter shot awake with a few whimpers when Steve motioned to Tony that he had this one, and got up to get Auggy.
Peter looked at Tony with big sad brown eyes, causing him to react with his caregiving instincts
"It's ok bud. C'mere." Tony reassured as he took Peter in his arms.
Once Steve entered the nursery he was met with Auggy sitting up with his hands on the bars of his crib, pacifier hanging from it clip on his shirt, his hair a mess, and his face bright red from his crying. Steve instantly started to coo as he picked up the upset boy. Shushing him as he rocked him in his arms.
By the time Steve had gotten back to the living room, Peter was in Tony's lap being snuggled into his chest.
Steve and Tony shared a look.
Auggy cooed around his paci as Steve sat in the couch with him in his lap. Peter nuzzled into Steve too, leaving Tony out of the cuddle pile.
"Ouch. I don't get snuggles?" Tony asked as he faked hurt. August made grabby hands at Tony and Steve handed the squirmy boy to Tony. Auggy giggled as Tony kissed him all over his face. Peter was content laying on Steve.
Soon Peter was out while August played in the floor with some jingly toys with Peony batting at them. He was having a blast. Rattling a soft plush ball and leaning against Tony's legs. Peters snores eventually got noticed by Steve and he went to put him in bed.
"I guess the training really knocked him out." Tony said once Steve was back in the living room.
Steve nodded as he joined August in the floor.
"So how did everything go with Nick?" Steve asked as he started shaking a rattle in front of Auggy.
"Yeah, it went well. Turns out our little guy is a mutant. Born with his powers." Tony responded with a sad smile while August giggled at the rattle. Steve smiled. "Incredible."
"So, what happened?" Steve's tone was serious as he drew back to the topic of the scars, but he still distracted August.
"He got them from protecting his mother."
Steve was a little shocked. "Protecting her?"
"She was holding him in the front seat of the car when he was five because he wouldn't stop crying. His dad was driving, they got t-boned on the passenger side-"
"How the hell does a five year old protect a grown woman from that kind of impact and they both survive?" Steve was quick to interrupt. August jolted at his sudden rise in tone and looked between his daddies with a look of worry. Tony slid off the couch and pulled August into his lap and had his head over his shoulder while he rocked him a little.
They were silent for a while.

"He had these," Tony takes a breath. "Wings."
Steve's brow knit in confusion. "Wings?" He almost sounded like he didn't believe his husband.
"Very big wings. They covered his back and his mothers chest and face. Her and his father came out with a few broken bones but August was in and out of surgery's for about 6 months. He was lucky to live." When Tony finished his explanation, he pulled August out of his neck and kissed his forehead sweetly.
Steve was stunned. His little boy was helping people even at such a young age. He saved his mother just to have to watch her die at 16. It was heartbreaking. Steve inched his way to Tony and held them both close. August barely even knew what was going on. But his daddies looked sad so he figured he should help. He leaned up from Tony's shoulder and kissed Steve on the nose before nuzzling into his chest. Steve kissed the top of his head and smiled at him.
Tony sighed and smiled as well. "How'd training go?"
Steve laughed a little. "I think Peter's been practicing. He nearly got me."
They continue to chat as Auggy maneuvered himself on to his back on the floor, looking up at his daddies. He was kicking his feet out and chewing on the rattle he'd gotten ahold of. He was in heaven. He felt so safe and cared for. The world was fuzzy to him and he just wanted to stay with his daddies on the soft carpet forever. Apparently he'd spaced out because Tony took notice of August's sudden stillness and booped his nose. August's eyes crossed and he let out a few gurgles, causing both Steve and Tony to coo and fawn over him. Steve started tickling his sides while Tony kissed his cheeks. August was squealing.
"Awe such a happy little boy you are." Tony started
"Such a sweet little baby. Yes you are!" August was giggling like mad. Steve started in too. "Papas got you! Yes he does!" And more laughter went through the living room.
August's laughing slowly turned silent as he started to get an upset feeling in his stomach. It felt like there was tons of pressure building up. He grunted and kicked uncomfortably and Steve and Tony noticed immediately.
"Aww why you gettin' grumpy for lil guy?" Tony asked as he pulled August into his lap. Auggy whined and shut his eyes tight in response.
Tony pat his bottom and hushed him, taking note of the fact that his diaper was dry.
"Do you think he's hungry?" Steve asked over August's small whines.
"No, I just fed him before his nap." Tony spoke.
August clenched his fists and let out a cry. The pain wasn't going away. He didn't know what else to do but get louder.
"Maybe try a bottle." Tony was quick to change his mind.
August kept crying with tears running down his face while Steve went to make his bottle and without knowing what else to do, Tony put August's head over his shoulder and started to bounce him.
"Calm down bud, papa's coming right back." Tony tried to soothe but with August's cries getting louder, he doubted the boy even heard him.
August's stomach bubbled more as he was bounced.
This can't be good.
And right as Steve came in with the bottle, and Tony stood out of the floor, August spit up a good bit onto Tony's shirt. This caused him to wail louder, Tony to stand there in shock, and Steve to dash over to help. He grabbed Auggy and hushed him, taking the burp cloth he had for after the bottle and whipping some of the residue off of August's chin while he tried to quiet his cries. Tony peeled his shirt off and was quick to put it in the laundry room. Lucky for him it was fairly easy to clean.
August calmed down to whimpers by the time Tony came back over to him and Steve.
"Feel better bud?" Tony asked with a sympathetic smile. August's bottom lip trembled and his eyes glossed over with tears. Steve shot Tony a 'seriously' look as he rocked Auggy. "Shh shh it's ok. Daddy's just being dumb." Steve tried to stop the second fit of tears. Auggy didn't even register what his papa said. He just reached for Tony. He was passed over and snuggled into Tony with some babbles that resembled an apology. Tony swayed and he held the poor boy close. "Shhhhh it's ok buddy." Tony tried as he gave Steve an apologetic look.
August was quiet as he snuggled into his daddy's neck.
"Did you burp him after his bottle earlier?" Steve asked
Tony's eyes went wide.
"Shit."
Steve smacked his upper arm.
"Ow"
Auggy giggled. He felt so much better. Why was he crying again? He nuzzled into his daddy's bare chest. Weird. There was a soft thing here. He started to suck his fingers as he listened to his daddies whisper stuff he didn't think was too important. He looked up at Tony's face. His beard looked funny to him. He reached up with his free hand and grabbed at Tony's chin while he was speaking. This grabbed Steve and Tony's attention and made Auggy giggle.
Tony smiled and took his smaller hand into his own.
"Much better, huh?" He asked and nuzzled his nose against August's. August continued giggling before he let out a yawn.
"Mr. Stark, you're presence is requested by Ms. Romanoff on the third floor."
Friday spoke, interrupting the family moment.
Tony sighed and looked up at Steve. "Think it's important?"
Steve chuckled. "You know if you don't hurry down there she'll be up here and all over August."
Tony nods. "And then she'd kill us for not telling her about him sooner."
Steve took August into his arms and Tony gave them both a quick kiss before going to put a new shirt on and leaving. August fussed at Tony leaving, and squirmed in Steve's arms.
"Hey now, no fuss. Papas got you."
Steve sat down with Auggy in his lap.

Once Tony got to Natasha and Bruce's floor, Nat immediately grabbed him by the wrist and sat him down at the dining room table. Bruce was sat facing him, with his arms crossed and a knowing look on his face.
Natasha stood beside the table, leaning her arms on the table.
"What's this about? I was in the middle of something when you called for me." Tony spoke cooly, easily hiding his slight anxiety with the interrogation setting.
"You're hiding something." Nat got straight to the point. Bruce stayed silent with his eyes flicking to Natasha.
Tony was stone. "I don't know what you mean."
The spy's eyes narrow.
"Where were you Steve and Fury heading to yesterday morning?"
'Shit' Tony thought with his expression unwavering
"It was a small mission." He answered
Natasha looked at him with thought.
"What kind of mission?"
"Just picked up a new recruit is all." Tony shrugged with a smirk.
Natasha gave a knowing smile.
"Oh I see." She eased off the table and stood up straight. "I'm assuming you and Steve have it covered then?"
"Please. It's more me than Steve. I'm obviously more experienced with newbies."
"Mmm hm." Nat crossed her arms with an eyebrow raised.
"It's true." Tony pressed. "I've been the best example for people under my wing."
"Like how Peter literally had a building fall on him?"
"Ok we all decided that wouldn't be brought up again. He was fine! Just 2 broken bones. It was one time! He was 15 and did something dumb. You know what I was doing at 15–"
This went on for some time
"Ok ok I get it!" Nat finally interrupted. "God I just called you here because you were acting off."
Tony froze.
"Oh"
"So how about we meet this new recruit with a family dinner?" Nat suggests. "We can get everyone gathered on the common floor. Everyone can bring some food or we can order out."
"Well, uh—" Tony was stammering
"Great! We'll let everyone know, won't we Brucy?"
Bruce blushed at Natasha's nickname and nodded.
And with that, Tony had to return to his floor, and tell Steve about tonight.