Avengers Age Regression Oneshots

I thought you were on my side

Steve Rogers stood in Tony Stark's lab, arms crossed, the stern Captain America look on full display. Tony, sitting at his desk, scribbled equations on a tablet, pretending not to notice. 

Jarvis's soft hum filled the room, but even that wasn't enough to mask the tension.

"Tony," Steve started, voice steady, "you haven't let yourself take a break in over a month. No regression, no downtime—nothing."

Tony kept his eyes glued to his tablet, fingers tapping furiously. "I've been busy," he mumbled. "World doesn't save itself, Cap."

Steve sighed. "That's the thing—you've been saving the world, Tony. But you don't have to do it all the time."

The genius kept quiet, brows furrowed in concentration. He didn't want to have this conversation. He knew where it was going, and he wasn't in the mood to admit that Steve had a point.

Steve looked to the ceiling. "Jarvis, help me out. What's going on with him?"

There was a brief pause, and Tony shot a glare at the ceiling. "Don't you dare, J."

But Jarvis was unwavering. "Sir has not regressed in 43 days," the AI answered smoothly. "He has refused every suggestion for a break, citing the need to stay 'useful.'"

Tony's face flushed, and he slammed his tablet onto the table. "Jarvis, I thought you were on my side!"

"I am always on your side, sir," Jarvis replied calmly, "but I believe Captain Rogers is, too."

Steve crouched beside Tony's chair, gently resting a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone, Tony. You've got me—and you've got the team. It's okay to stop and breathe. You don't need permission to take care of yourself."

Tony shifted in his chair, clearly uncomfortable but not pulling away from Steve's touch. "I... I don't know how," he admitted quietly, voice cracking a little. "Feels like if I stop, everything will fall apart."

Steve gave him a reassuring squeeze. "It won't. I promise. You know what I think? I think it's time to let someone else carry the weight for a bit."

Tony bit his lip, shoulders tense. He hated feeling vulnerable, even with Steve. But deep down, a part of him wanted to let go—wanted to stop being Iron Man for a little while and just be Tony.

"Okay," Tony whispered, almost inaudible.

Steve smiled softly, tilting his head. "Yeah?"

Tony gave a tiny, reluctant nod. "But... no baby talk, okay? Just—just be normal."

Steve chuckled. "I'll do my best."

He gently pulled Tony up from the chair, guiding him away from the desk. "Come on. I think a certain someone needs a blanket fort."

Tony huffed, but the faintest trace of a smile played on his lips as he let Steve lead him out of the lab.