Work Text:
Obstreperous
Everyone knew Tony and children didn’t get along well. What no one knew or realized was that it was because he was actually afraid of the children. Most children were obstreperous and uncontrollable and he just didn’t know how to handle that.
It was more than that though. He was afraid that the children with their ability to see the truth adults often miss, would reveal who he really was, which would destroy him. He’d spent so long protecting himself that if the real him the one behind the mask got out, he wouldn’t be able to handle it. In his mind, the children threatened his very livelihood since they saw who he really was, an insecure mess.
