Avengers Age Regression Oneshots

🍼❤️🤖Take a break💭👩🏼‍💼

Tony Stark sat hunched over his desk, the glow from the holographic displays casting shadows under his tired eyes. Months of running Stark Industries without a break were beginning to take their toll. He'd gone from one crisis to another, constantly problem-solving, building, managing – and never taking time for himself. He was running on fumes, and Pepper could see it.

"Tony," Pepper's voice broke through the silence as she stepped into his office, holding a cup of tea in her hands. Her brow furrowed with concern as she watched him run a hand through his messy hair, eyes glued to the projections in front of him. "You need a break."

"I'm fine, Pep," Tony muttered, barely looking up. "Just one more thing to fix, then I'll take a break."

Pepper sighed, setting the tea down on his desk. She had heard this line too many times. "Tony, you've been saying that for weeks. You're exhausted." She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles. "It's okay to take some time for yourself."

Tony stiffened at her touch. The idea of taking a break, of letting himself relax, seemed foreign. "I can't. There's too much to do," he argued, though his voice lacked its usual energy. He knew she was right, but admitting it felt like giving up control.

Pepper crouched down beside him, her voice soft and comforting. "Tony, listen to me. You've been pushing yourself too hard. You don't have to do everything all at once. It's okay to step back and let yourself rest."

Tony shook his head, his jaw clenching. "I don't have time to rest, Pep. I've got responsibilities, people counting on me."

"I'm counting on you too," Pepper said, her eyes locking with his. "To take care of yourself. You can't keep running like this forever."

There was a long pause. Tony stared at his desk, the weight of her words slowly sinking in. He hated how right she was. His hands fidgeted with a pen, tapping it against the desk anxiously. "I don't know how to stop," he admitted quietly.

Pepper smiled softly, reaching up to take the pen from his hand and setting it aside. "That's why I'm here. Let me help." She stood up and took his hand, gently pulling him away from the desk. "Come on, just for a little while. No work, no stress. Just us."

Tony hesitated, his mind buzzing with a hundred reasons why he shouldn't stop. But there was something in Pepper's voice, something in her touch, that made him want to give in. He nodded, reluctantly allowing her to guide him out of the office.

They moved to a quieter part of the house, one that was filled with soft light and warmth. On the coffee table, Pepper had set out a small canvas, paintbrushes, and a box of Legos – all things Tony loved in his headspace.

"I know you've been fighting it," Pepper said gently, leading him to sit down. "But it's okay to let go for a little while. You don't have to be the CEO right now. You can just be Tony."

Tony looked at the paints and Legos, his defenses slowly crumbling. His heart ached with the desire to let go, to stop being the genius, billionaire, CEO for just a few hours. But the guilt still lingered.

"I don't... I don't know if I can," he murmured, looking up at Pepper with uncertain eyes.

Pepper kneeled in front of him, her hands resting on his knees. "You don't have to be perfect all the time. It's okay to be little, to let me take care of you for a while." Her voice was soft, but firm, grounding him. "You're safe with me, Tony. Let me help."

Tony's lips trembled, and he swallowed hard. Slowly, he let out a shaky breath, nodding ever so slightly. "Okay," he whispered, the word barely audible.

Pepper smiled warmly, leaning in to kiss his forehead. "That's my good boy."

With her reassurance, Tony felt the tension begin to melt away. His shoulders relaxed, and the weight of his responsibilities seemed to slip off, leaving behind something smaller, softer. He glanced at the paints and then at the Legos, his eyes brightening just a little.

"Legos?" he asked hesitantly, his voice sounding smaller, more like the little Tony that only Pepper knew.

Pepper chuckled softly. "Of course, sweetheart. We can build whatever you want."

Tony shifted, crossing his legs on the floor as Pepper sat beside him, opening the box of Legos. She watched as his hands, once shaky with stress, began picking out the pieces with growing excitement. His little space was slowly taking over, and for the first time in months, he seemed at ease.

As they built together, Tony's laughter bubbled up, the sound filling the room. His worries were far away now, replaced by the joy of creating something simple and fun. He babbled on about the different colors and shapes, his mind fully immersed in play.

After a while, Pepper nudged him gently. "Hey, how about we try painting next?"

Tony nodded eagerly, crawling over to the paints. He dipped his brush into the bright colors, sloppily spreading them across the canvas with childlike enthusiasm. The lines were messy, the shapes indistinct, but Pepper didn't care. It was perfect.

"You're such a good artist, Tony," she praised, her heart swelling with love as she watched him.

Tony beamed up at her, his face smeared with a bit of paint. "Fank you, Mama."

Pepper's heart melted at the sound of the word. She reached out, brushing some paint off his cheek. "You're welcome, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you."

As the afternoon wore on, Tony's energy began to slow. He yawned, rubbing his eyes sleepily as he leaned against Pepper's side.

"Ready for a nap?" Pepper asked softly.

Tony nodded, snuggling closer to her, his small body completely relaxed. "Stay wif me?" he mumbled.

"I'm not going anywhere," Pepper promised, wrapping her arms around him.

And as Tony drifted off to sleep, safe and loved in her arms, Pepper smiled, knowing that in this moment, everything was exactly as it should be.