Avengers Age Regression Oneshots

🍼❤️🤖Home💭👩🏼‍💼

Quick note, the caregiver in this is Pepper Potts😊

It had been months since Tony Stark had been taken, months since he'd been ripped away from everything safe and familiar. The kidnapping in Afghanistan had changed him, leaving behind scars not just on his body but on his mind as well. He had survived, escaped, and made it back home—but things weren't the same.

Pepper Potts knew this better than anyone. She had been there when they found him, seen the hollow look in his eyes when he first came back. And she had been there every day since, helping him piece himself back together. But one thing had stayed hidden away, something neither of them had spoken about until now: his regression.

It had been months since Tony had been able to slip into his little headspace, months since he had felt safe enough to let his walls down. But today, after weeks of rest and recovery, Pepper saw the signs. Tony had been quieter than usual, more hesitant, and when she asked if he wanted to take a break from his work, his eyes had softened in that familiar way.

"M-momma?" he asked, his voice small and unsure, barely above a whisper.

Pepper's heart squeezed at the sound. "Yes, sweetheart, I'm right here," she said softly, brushing her fingers through his hair.

He nodded, curling into her side on the couch. "I... I think I'm little," he admitted after a moment, sounding almost guilty.

Pepper kissed the top of his head. "That's okay, baby. You're safe now. You can be little whenever you need to be."

Tony pressed his face into her shoulder, trembling slightly. "I was scared. For a long time, I was really, really scared."

"I know, honey," Pepper whispered, holding him closer. "But you're home now. You're safe with Momma."

Tony didn't say anything, just clung to her like a lifeline. His regression had always been a way for him to cope with the stress and trauma of his life, but after what he had been through, it seemed like there were deeper layers to his fears now. Pepper knew it wasn't going to be easy helping him work through them, but she was willing to do whatever it took.

As the day went on, Pepper kept Tony close, offering him small toys and snacks to help ground him in his little headspace. He played quietly, but there was a tension in him that hadn't been there before. When Pepper suggested it was time for a bath, that tension snapped.

"N-no!" Tony's voice was sharp, panicked. He backed away from her, eyes wide and terrified. "No bath, Momma. Please, no."

Pepper immediately knelt down in front of him, taking his hands gently. "It's okay, baby. You don't have to take a bath if you don't want to. I'm right here, no one's going to make you do anything."

But Tony was shaking now, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "They—they dunked me, Momma. They put me in cold water, and I couldn't breathe, and I couldn't get out..."

Pepper felt her heart break at his words. He had never told her this before. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close and rocking him gently. "Shh, shh, baby, it's okay. They're not here. You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you, I promise."

Tony sobbed into her chest, clinging to her as if she were the only thing keeping him anchored to the present. "I don't wanna take a bath, Momma. I don't want the water."

"You don't have to, baby," Pepper reassured him, rubbing soothing circles on his back. "We can skip the bath tonight. We'll find something else, something that makes you feel safe."

Tony nodded against her, his breathing slowly calming as he held onto her tightly. Pepper continued to rock him, humming softly as she thought of what might help. Finally, she had an idea.

"How about we try a sponge bath instead?" she suggested. "No water, just a warm washcloth. You can even sit with Momma while we do it."

Tony sniffled, pulling back slightly to look at her with wide, watery eyes. "Just a cloth? No water?"

"No water, sweetie. Just a soft, warm cloth," Pepper promised.

Tony hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Okay... Okay, Momma."

Pepper smiled gently, kissing his forehead. "You're so brave, baby. Let's get you cleaned up."

She guided Tony to the bathroom, but instead of filling the tub, she grabbed a soft cloth and a bowl of warm water. She let Tony sit on her lap as she carefully dipped the cloth in the water and wrung it out, making sure it wasn't too wet or too cold.

As she gently wiped his arms and face, she kept talking to him in a soft, calming voice. "See? Just like this, baby. No tub, no scary water. Just Momma and the soft cloth."

Tony stayed quiet, but Pepper could feel him slowly start to relax. She kept the movements gentle, careful not to startle him or bring back any of the bad memories. By the time she was done, Tony was leaning back against her, his eyes half-closed in exhaustion.

"There we go," Pepper whispered, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. "All clean. You did such a good job, baby."

Tony mumbled something sleepily, nuzzling into her shoulder. "Thanks, Momma."

Pepper smiled, carrying him back to bed and tucking him in. As she sat beside him, stroking his hair, she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that he was finally home—safe and sound, right where he belonged.

"I love you, Tony," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"I love you too, Momma," Tony murmured, his voice small and content as he drifted off to sleep.