Chapter Text
Someone was watching television. The sound was on low, but Clint could still make out the sound of canned laughter. He blinked heavy eyes, realizing that he was laying on the couch on the common room floor. Bruce was still in the room with him, half-watching the television and half reading the book that was open on his lap. The last thing Clint remembered was eating a sandwich he’d made for himself.
He'd felt big when he got up that morning, and Tony and Steve had backed off accordingly. In fact, Steve had left the tower entirely, heading out to go to the movies with some friends, while Tony had rubbed his hands together in a manner reminiscent of an evil overlord and walked away muttering something about an invention. Clint hadn’t seen either one of them all morning, and that was just the way he liked it. It was a good feeling to know he could have space when he needed it.
But right now, he was the complete opposite to how he’d been earlier: he felt very little. He didn’t know what had happened during his nap to change his headspace, but suddenly all he wanted was a pacifier and a drink of juice. Even his thumb wouldn’t do right now. He pushed himself up with one hand and whined low in his throat. Bruce glanced over at him.
“Hey,” he said. “You okay?”
Clint whined again; he was a bit embarrassed to be this little around Bruce, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted his mama or papa, he didn’t know how to make that happen. Tears formed in his eyes and he gulped.
“Tony!” Bruce called out immediately. “Clint needs you.”
Tony appeared in the doorway before Bruce had even finished his sentence. “What’s wrong?” he asked. Clint lifted his arms up, whimpering. Understanding flashed across Tony’s face and he was by Clint’s side in an instant, reaching down to cup the side of Clint’s cheek. Clint leaned into the touch, closing his eyes.
“Hey baby,” Tony cooed, voice dropping into that sweet tone that made Clint feel warm. “Someone having a hard afternoon?” He sat down, sliding into the space Clint’s upper body had been occupying, and pulled Clint down onto his lap. “Shh, you’re okay. Here.” He produced a pacifier like magic, guiding it into Clint’s mouth. Clint gave it a couple of sucks and sighed, relaxing into Tony’s lap.
“Bruce,” Tony said, rubbing Clint’s back. “Would you do me a favor?”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Could you get me some apple juice in a sippy cup? There should be one in the cupboard.”
“Not orange?” Bruce said, setting his book aside and getting up.
“Clint doesn’t like orange juice,” Tony said.
Bruce smiled. “Fair enough. I’ll be right back.” He walked into the kitchen.
Clint smiled too around his pacifier. He couldn’t put into words exactly how it felt whenever Tony remembered exactly how he liked or didn’t like something, but it was kind of like getting a giant hug from the inside out. He’d wondered why there was a sudden increase in apple and grape juices in the fridge when everyone else in the tower liked orange juice. Of course it was because his mama had noticed.
“There’s my happy boy,” Tony said, smiling back at him. “Is that better, peanut?”
Clint nodded. He loved that Tony and Steve always seemed to know what he wanted when he was feeling this little and couldn’t put things into words. He nuzzled into the hand that was still on his cheek. Tony’s smile widened and he leaned down to brush a kiss against Clint’s temple.
“Papa will be back any minute. Maybe we can all go upstairs and play a game. I found something new I think you’ll like.”
A new game? Clint’s eyes lit up, but before he could demand more details Bruce came back into the room with the promised cup of juice. It was in one of two favorite cups: this one was the Black Widow cup, which Tony and Steve used when Clint was feeling extra little because he had to suck to get the juice out. The other was a Hulk sippy cup, which he didn’t need to suck from; there was a lid, but the liquid came out as soon as the cup was tipped.
He took the cup with a shy, “Thank you” and spit his pacifier out. Tony caught it as Clint put the spout to his lips and sucked to get some of the juice. It was cold and fresh and he drank eagerly.
Steve walked in while Clint was still drinking. He paused in the doorway to take Clint and Tony in. His expression softened, and then the biggest smile broke out across his face. “Someone feeling little this afternoon?” he asked, walking over to the couch. He bent down and kissed Clint on the forehead, which was normal enough. But then he turned his head and kissed Tony on the month.
Clint choked on his drink. Bruce gasped. It was enough to make both Steve and Tony freeze like deer caught in headlights. Then Steve bolted upright, turning a shade of red to rival the Iron Man armor. He babbled something about a shower and took off, nearly running right into Natasha and Thor. Natasha just barely stepped aside in time and raised both her eyebrows as she watched Steve literally run away.
“What was that about?” she asked.
Bruce snapped out of it and swatted Tony on the arm. “What are you doing?! Go after him!”
Tony’s mouth open and closed soundlessly. Finally, he sputtered out, “B-but h-he – maybe –”
Before Tony could talk himself into thinking that the kiss had been mistake, Clint said, “Mama, please? I want you and Papa to be happy together.” He plastered on his best pleading look, complete with the big puppy eyes Tony could never resist. Because if they left this to Steve and Tony, it would mean weeks of awkwardness and dancing around each other until one of them finally got up the nerve to confess.
“You think…” Tony trailed off.
“We all think,” Bruce said gently. “This has been a really long time coming. We’ve got Clint. Go talk to Steve.”
Clint nodded encouragingly when Tony glanced at him. Tony swallowed hard, then slipped out from under Clint. He squared his shoulders and followed Steve. No one dared to move or even breathe until they heard the sound of the elevator doors closing for a second time.
“What the hell just happened?” Natasha said then, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Papa kissed Mama!” Clint said gleefully.
Natasha actually squeaked. “I need to call Pepper!”
“This is a joyous occasion indeed,” Thor declared, moving over to the couch. He scooped Clint up and tossed him into the air. Clint squealed with joy, dropping his sippy cup. Bruce caught it before it could hit the floor.
“Again!” Clint shouted.
“Thor, don’t make him sick!” Bruce said.
“Not sick! Again!” Clint yelled.
Thor grinned and obliged. He threw Clint up over and over until Clint really did start to feel sick, at which point Bruce put a stop to the game. Bruce asked JARVIS to put a movie on. Natasha sat down on the couch and let Clint put his head in her lap. Thor and Bruce both sat in the chairs. Clint felt very peaceful laying there with his aunts and uncles around him, though he couldn’t stop wondering about his parents.
They were all the way through the movie and halfway into another one before Tony and Steve came back. Steve was still blushing a little, but he was beaming just as widely as Tony. Clint figured that was as good as an answer, but, having suffered all the dancing around for literal weeks, he figured they were due some confirmation. He sat up and looked at them over the back of the couch.
“Papa, did you kiss Mama again?” he asked, all wide eyed innocence.
Both of them flushed and Natasha snickered, but Steve nodded. “Yes, baby, I did.”
“So you’re together now?” Natasha asked.
“Yup. This All-American bod is mine now,” Tony said, playfully slapping Steve’s ass.
“Tony!” Steve squawked. Tony just grinned.
“Congrats,” Bruce said. “It’s about time.”
The rest of them nodded in unison, and Thor added, “We should celebrate. Friend JARVIS! Order in food and drink so that we may celebrate in style!”
Steve walked over to the couch and picked Clint up over the back of it, giving him a hug. Clint wrapped his arms and legs around Steve’s neck and waist and hugged him back hard. He couldn’t help giggling when he felt Tony pressing up behind him. Tony wrapped his arms around Clint and Steve, leaving Clint caught in between them… which he loved until he glanced up and realized that they were kissing over his head.
“Mama! Papa! Ew!” he whined.
Tony laughed. “First you want us to kiss, then you don’t. Make up your mind, my little imp.” He tickled Clint, who squealed and burst into giggles. Steve started laughing too.
“Oh my god, it’s like watching a sit com,” Natasha said, sounding somewhere between awed and disgusted. “Is this going to be how it is all the time?”
“Probably. Better get used to it,” Bruce told her.
“Excuse you, we are adorable!” Tony said, releasing Clint to follow them into the kitchen.
Steve rolled his eyes at them all, pressing a kiss to Clint’s temple. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go rescue your mama before Natasha gets too annoyed,” he said, but his words were all tempered with fondness and affection. Clint smiled so wide his cheeks hurt and nodded.