Avengers Age Regression Oneshots

🍼💚🐍Bratty God💭💜🦅

Clint Barton sighed as he leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Loki stomp around the living room with an unmistakable pout on his face. Loki had regressed earlier in the day, and while Clint was used to Loki's headspace ranging from sweet and playful to mischievous, today was different. Today, Loki was being a full-on brat.

"No," Loki said sharply as Clint offered him his favorite sippy cup filled with juice. His little voice was firm, crossing his arms and sticking out his bottom lip in a way that only the God of Mischief could pull off.

"C'mon, Loki, you need to drink something," Clint coaxed, keeping his tone light and calm. He had plenty of experience dealing with regressed Littles, and Loki's moods were nothing new. But Loki was particularly stubborn today.

"I don't want it," Loki huffed, stomping his foot dramatically as if that would make his point clearer.

Clint raised an eyebrow. "Okay, then what do you want?"

Loki glared at the sippy cup in Clint's hand like it had personally offended him. "I want... I want candy," he demanded, turning on his heel and marching over to the couch, climbing onto it with an air of defiance.

"Candy? Before dinner?" Clint crossed his arms, watching the little god settle into a pouty lump on the cushions. "Sorry, buddy, but that's not happening. You know the rules."

Loki glared at him from under a messy fringe of black hair, his green eyes narrowing. "I don't care about rules," he mumbled, kicking his legs. "I'm not eating anything else."

Clint chuckled, shaking his head. "Nice try, but you're not gonna win this one, Loki."

Loki scrunched his nose, crossing his arms again. "You're mean, Hawkeye. I don't like you."

Clint raised an eyebrow, not at all fazed by the outburst. "Oh, really? That's too bad, because I like you."

Loki's face faltered for just a moment, but the bratty attitude returned just as quickly. "No, you don't! You're just trying to boss me around."

Clint walked over and plopped down on the couch next to Loki, who promptly scooted to the far side, sulking. Clint stayed quiet for a moment, letting Loki have his little tantrum while he mentally planned his next move. He knew from experience that trying to force Loki out of this mood wasn't going to work. Patience was the key with him.

After a minute or two, Clint finally spoke up. "Look, I get it. You're upset, and that's okay. But you're still not getting candy before dinner."

Loki's pout deepened, and he huffed again. "You're not the boss of me."

Clint leaned back into the cushions, crossing his arms casually. "Oh, I'm definitely not the boss of you. But I am the one who's gonna make sure you're taken care of, whether you like it or not."

Loki shot him a side-eye, clearly debating whether or not to throw another fit. Clint waited, knowing that eventually, the little brat routine would run out of steam.

Sure enough, after a few minutes of silence, Loki shifted uncomfortably, his lower lip wobbling slightly. The bratty defiance was still there, but it was starting to crack.

"Why can't I have candy?" Loki asked quietly, his voice a little softer now.

Clint sighed, scooting a little closer but not invading Loki's space just yet. "Because you need real food, buddy. You can have a little treat after dinner, but not before."

Loki's arms loosened from their tight cross over his chest, and he glanced at Clint with those big green eyes, now looking a little less angry and a little more unsure. "You promise?"

"I promise," Clint said, giving him a reassuring smile. "But you gotta eat dinner first."

Loki frowned, clearly still not thrilled with the idea, but his bratty attitude was fading. "What's for dinner?"

Clint grinned, sensing the shift in Loki's mood. "Mac and cheese. Your favorite."

Loki perked up slightly, his sulk almost completely disappearing. "The kind with the dinosaur shapes?"

"You bet," Clint said, standing up from the couch. "Wanna help me make it?"

Loki's pout turned into a small smile, and he nodded, slipping off the couch and padding after Clint into the kitchen. His earlier defiance seemed to have melted away, replaced with curiosity as he stood next to Clint by the stove.

Clint handed Loki a wooden spoon. "You can stir the noodles, okay? But carefully."

Loki took the spoon and stood on his tiptoes to reach the pot, stirring the noodles with intense concentration. Clint watched him for a moment, glad to see the little god had calmed down. He knew Loki's moods could change on a dime, and sometimes all it took was a little bit of patience—and some dinosaur-shaped mac and cheese.

When dinner was ready, they sat down at the table, and Loki dug into his bowl with enthusiasm. Clint chuckled to himself, watching the god of mischief happily eat his noodles like any regular little kid.

After dinner, true to his word, Clint handed Loki a small piece of candy. "You earned it."

Loki beamed at him, all traces of the earlier tantrum gone. "Thanks, Hawkeye."

Clint ruffled his hair. "Anytime, brat."