Avengers Age Regression Oneshots

Bedtime

Peter Parker stood in the doorway of Tony's bedroom, arms crossed, watching his little struggle against bedtime like it was his life's mission to avoid sleep. The billionaire-turned-baby genius was curled under a blanket fort made of pillows, stuffed animals, and at least two Avengers-branded fleece throws.

"Tony," Peter called softly, trying to keep his voice patient, "it's bedtime. We talked about this."

"Nope!" came Tony's muffled reply from inside the fort. "I'm busy. Busy inventing!"

Peter rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the fond smile tugging at his lips. Bedtime was never easy with Little Tony. If the kid wasn't arguing, he was stalling, and if he wasn't stalling, he was debating the necessity of sleep as though it was optional.

Peter crossed the room, peeking under the edge of the blanket fort. "Inventing, huh? What are you working on this time?"

Tony's head popped out, his hair wild from the day's activities. "A... a sleep detector! If it beeps, I'll know when it's bedtime, and then I don't hafta sleep until it beeps."

Peter bit back a laugh. "Well, I hate to break it to you, genius, but it's already bedtime."

Tony huffed and retreated back into his fort. "Then the detector is... malfunctioning! Needs more testing."

Peter crouched down next to the fort, propping his chin in his hand. "How about this: if we go to bed now, tomorrow you can work on the sleep detector all morning. No interruptions, I promise."

Tony peeked out again, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Even if Mr. Fury calls?"

Peter nodded solemnly. "Even if Mr. Fury calls."

Tony considered this for a moment, chewing on his thumb.

"Deal?" Peter asked, holding out his hand.

Tony suddenly dove out from the fort, grabbing Peter's hand dramatically. "Deal!" he declared, before making a mad dash for the door.

Peter blinked. "Wait, where—?"

"I GOTTA BRUSH MY TEETH FIRST!" Tony shouted as he bolted down the hall.

Peter groaned, already knowing this would be a long night.
After wrangling Tony back to the bathroom and somehow convincing him that brushing his teeth didn't require five different toothbrushes ("I need one for each quadrant, Daddy!"), Peter finally got him back into the bedroom.

"Alright, kiddo. Into bed." Peter patted the mattress, but Tony stood by the door with his arms crossed, a tiny scowl on his face.

"Bed is boring," Tony muttered, clearly displeased. "What if I—what if I forget to wake up?"

Peter's heart squeezed a little. Bedtime wasn't just a battle for Tony because he was stubborn—there was always something deeper behind the resistance. Peter softened his voice. "You're not gonna forget, baby. I'll be right here if you wake up and need me, okay?"

Tony shuffled his feet, glancing at the bed and then back at Peter, conflicted. "Promise?"

"Promise."

Still pouting, Tony slowly climbed onto the mattress and allowed Peter to tuck him in. But just as Peter thought the ordeal might finally be over, Tony gave him a sly look.

"You forgot the story."

Peter sighed, but there was no real frustration in it. "What story do you want tonight?"

"Hmm..." Tony tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Something with pirates. And space robots."
Peter sat on the edge of the bed and launched into the most ridiculous story he could think of—about space pirates battling robot sharks to find a treasure chest full of glowing moon rocks. 

Tony's eyes lit up as he hung onto every word, wiggling under the blankets in excitement.

"And just when the space pirates thought all hope was lost," Peter whispered dramatically, "the captain's first mate saved the day by blasting the robots with his laser cannon!"

Tony gasped, fully immersed. "Was the first mate me?"

"Of course it was you," Peter said, booping Tony's nose. Satisfied with his role in the story, Tony let out a sleepy giggle and snuggled deeper into the blankets. His eyes fluttered shut, but his thumb drifted toward his mouth. Peter gently intercepted it with a stuffed Iron Man plushie instead.

"There you go," Peter whispered, brushing Tony's hair off his forehead.

Peter stayed by Tony's side until the little genius was fully asleep, his breathing soft and even. He leaned down to kiss Tony's temple, a surge of affection warming his chest.

"Goodnight, baby," Peter whispered, pulling the blankets snugly around Tony.

Just as Peter stood to leave, Tony mumbled in his sleep, "Don't let... the robots win, Daddy..."

Peter smiled, his heart full. "Never, kiddo."

Quietly, he tiptoed out of the room, closing the door just enough to leave a sliver of light peeking through.

Bedtime might have been an impossible mission, but with Tony, even the hardest challenges were worth it.