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Steve ran a hand through his damp hair, trying to pull it into some sort of order. That would do for now. He was starving and brushing his hair was taking second priority.
However, once he entered the Bartons’ kitchen, he knew it wasn’t going to be as quick as he planned to grab his snack and go back to his room that he was sharing with Thor. Truthfully though, seeing who it was secretly delighted him because in all honesty, he had grown incredibly close to the two in the kitchen and never shied away from spending some time with them.
Standing at the open refrigerator door, using it as a leaning post, was Tony. And … Steve looked again just to make sure though he already truly knew … there was little Bruce, settled easily on the engineer’s right hip, peering into the fridge as well, but also glancing up at Tony, huge honeyed eyes bright with humour at whatever the genius was up to.
Steve grinned fondly to himself. Those two were thick as thieves. A person simply didn’t see one without the other. It was downright sweet, if for no other fact that this was Tony. The man wasn’t the most open of people, but when it came to the toddler currently perched on his hip, Tony was absolute mush with him.
Tony, hearing Steve’s footsteps, glanced over his shoulder and gave a casual wave before turning back to the refrigerator. Whether he saw the goofy smile on Steve’s face, the captain didn’t know, but he was pretty sure Tony had and was just ignoring it. Or he had probably grown used to those looks being directed at him. The bond between those two wasn’t growing any less endearing as time drew on and any amount of insults Tony threw the team’s way wasn’t dampening it either. Maybe the engineer had finally conceded that no matter how hard he tried, he wasn’t going to stop getting ‘Aw’ looks when paired with the toddler currently clinging to him.
Steve’s smile softened ten-fold as a pair of honeyed brown eyes peeked over the engineer’s shoulder and he could just see a glimpse of smile on the pudgy lips almost hidden by Tony’s body.
Steve gave him a tiny wave, which Bruce always took as an invitation to talk then.
He sat up straighter so Steve could see his face better before pointing to the fridge.
‘Snack,’ he said, the huskiness in the voice just as cute as the first time Steve had heard him speak.
Now, Steve had always liked kids. He found it easy to interact with them and they were just all round fun, not to mention innocent from the nastiness that so often plagued adults. But Bruce had gone from the level of Steve liking him to the super soldier downright adoring the toddler. Bruce was the sweetest, gentlest child Steve had ever encountered and he never failed to amaze the super soldier with his giving nature, which was what made adult Bruce just as special.
Everything about Steve felt warm as he strode over and gently ruffled those curls. His own smile grew as a shy grin lighted up the tiny boy’s face.
‘Is that so, huh?’ He grinned down at the child.
Bruce gave a shy nod before burying his head into Tony’s shoulder.
The immediate crinkle around Tony’s eyes was unmistakeable. Still staying staring ahead, he planted a soft kiss to Bruce’s curls, not acknowledging the pointed smile Steve sent his way, tacitly saying, ‘Don’t like kids, huh?’
Chuckling to himself at Tony still trying to pretend he wasn’t utterly smitten with the little boy basically glued to his side, the soldier moved over to the bench, getting some bread from the bread bin.
Tony, continuing on like he wasn’t there, bounced Bruce, drawing his attention to the fridge again.
‘So, what looks good, bud?’
Steve smirked to himself as he gathered a plate. Tony would be the only person that would show a kid every food possible and let him choose whatever. The captain really couldn’t bring himself to put a stop to it though, especially upon seeing Bruce’s little face grew so adorably serious and he even tapped an index finger against his pudgy lips, just as his adult counterpart would have.
Tony saw it too and this time, couldn’t resist sending a delighted, fond smile over to Steve, as though saying, ‘See this here? He’s mine.’
Yeah, Tony was one million percent smitten. Steve returned the look with a chuckle and amused shake of his head.
The kid really was too cute and never failed to be the centre of attention of a room without even trying.
Bruce reached up a small hand to rest on Tony’s cheek and draw the engineer’s attention back to him.
‘What do you like?’ He asked, putting so much weight into the decision of a snack.
Tony hid a smile and instead looked serious as he stared into the fridge. ‘Hmm, well, I’m kind of an al dente kind of guy so …’ he quirked his head towards the baby in his arms. ‘Are you an al dente kind of guy, Brucie?’
Even though Bruce obviously had no idea what Tony meant, he gave the engineer a large, gummy smile. ‘Yep!’ he proclaimed happily, legs kicking as he got Tony’s full attention, practically glowing under the engineer’s gaze.
Steve couldn’t help but chuckle again. It was obvious Bruce just wanted to copy Tony while having no idea what he was agreeing to.
Tony saw it too and he smiled that open, happy smile Steve had only come to know so well in the past few weeks.
‘Good choice, Bubba,’ he praised, bouncing the child, eliciting a delighted giggle.
Steve’s head whipped around, mouth agape. He spluttered for a moment, but upon seeing the engineer smiling so openly smugly at him, all do was glare at Tony.
It said how much they had spent too much time together when Steve knew exactly what Tony was up to. No witnesses; his word against Tony’s; so, once again, Steve couldn’t prove that Tony actually called Bruce Bubba. It was maddening and Tony took great pleasure rubbing it whenever the opportunity arose.
‘I hate you,’ Steve mouthed, though he knew his dimples were showing. While Tony knew how to push every single one of his buttons, Steve was well aware that one of his major soft spots was for the sardonic engineer.
Tony shrugged amicably, not at all concerned, before pointing out items of food to Bruce, who watched everything Tony did with such attention.
‘Well, in that case, avoid the broccoli bake. Actually, anything to do with broccoli.’ Tony turned a serious gaze on to Bruce, like he was passing on some important life lessons. ‘Repeat after me, Bubba. Broccoli is lethal.’
‘Brocc’li is lethal,’ Bruce nodded, just as serious, eyes huge as he nodded to Tony’s words of wisdom.
‘Oh, don’t tell him that,’ Steve sighed in fond exasperation from where he was pulling out a frying pan. After all these years, he still preferred to toast his bread the old fashioned way. Besides, it tasted better with the butter melted all through it.
Tony stared over at Steve, looking thoroughly offended by being defied, while Bruce glanced between the two of them curiously.
Rolling his eyes dramatically, Tony turned back to Bruce and held up one index finger. ‘Lesson ten, Brucie.’
Bruce immediately leaned forward, wrapping Tony’s finger in both of his tiny hands, smiling cheekily up at the engineer.
Tony nearly choked by holding back his laughter and he gave a cough, pushing onwards, though his eyes absolutely twinkled at the little boy. ‘Listen to Tony’s food choices over Steve’s.’
Bruce bit his bottom lip, not in thought this time, but instead, to stop the smile that was about to spring forth.
Steve openly scoffed at that, but made sure to keep his voice light as he spoke, so Bruce was well aware they were just playing around and not truly arguing.
‘You actually like caviar,’ he snorted.
Tony gave his ‘You are so stupid that it literally pains me’ expression. ‘I’m a billionaire. It is ingrained in me to like caviar.’
‘Fish eggs, Tony,’ Steve felt obliged to point out.
Expression turning exceptionally smug, Tony placed his hand up over his mouth and stage-whispered to Bruce, whose grin couldn’t be contained at Tony’s antics.
‘Steve likes asparagus.’ Then, Tony did a fist pump. ‘Argument solved and won.’
Bruce giggled, which grew into an adorable husky chuckling when Tony playfully blew air on his neck. The toddler threw up his hands and placed them over Tony’s mouth, which had the engineer’s shoulders shaking and eyes crinkling strongly with mirth.
‘Tony,’ he laughed, smile adoring as he looked up at his hero.
The engineer immediately chuckled, nodding his head in amusement. ‘Yeah, bud, I know, Tony,’ he mumbled behind Bruce’s tiny hands.
Steve knew he was smiling sappily at the exchange, but really didn’t care. He may have inadvertently made an ‘Aw’ sound because he suddenly had Bruce’s attention. Or may accurately, the bread in his hand had Bruce’s attention.
‘Toast!’ He cried happily, hands now grasping the collar of the engineer’s shirt, smiling back at Tony, expecting his hero to make it all happen.
Tony outright laughed at the exclamation while Steve got a fond sideways smile on his face.
‘Would you like me to make you some toast, Bruce?’ He asked, bending a little so he was more in Bruce’s direct line of sight.
Almost immediately, Bruce’s fingers went into his mouth and he huddled his shoulders shyly, ducking his head down and leaning into Tony for safety. While Steve had initially thought Bruce sucked his fingers in thought, he soon discovered it was something the baby did when shy, worried or just generally a bit distraught.
Tony and Steve exchanged equally knowing and slightly murderous expressions with each other. Bruce still didn’t like doing what he seemed to think was inconveniencing one of them and always curled in on himself until he knew it was all right. As though waiting for some sort of physical reprimand. Steve felt a burning sensation all through him whenever it happened, the rage basically a tangible thing for him. He couldn’t imagine how it made Tony feel.
Steve greatly admired the engineer though as he put on a smile and ducked his head low in a bid to get Bruce to look at him.
‘Hey, Bubba,’ Tony cooed, giving the toddler a bounce and gently bringing his other hand around to pat the little boy’s back. ‘You remember one of those rules we talked about?’
Steve was able to decipher a tiny nod from the toddler huddled into Tony.
‘Good boy, Brucie,’ Tony praised, running his calloused fingers lightly along the back of Bruce’s neck, causing the baby to squirm and giggle. The noise spurring him on, Tony pushed on with a grin, ‘That’s a clever boy. You have to remember because I sure can’t, bud. You think you could tell me what the rule was?’
And damn if Steve’s admiration didn’t grow for the engineer. He was a damn natural with the child, making sure to assure Bruce all the time that he was a good boy and how clever he was. Yet, the engineer did it subtly and often in a fun way, reassuring Bruce while simultaneously making him happier.
Peeking up, Bruce finally made eye contact with Tony. Rather than ducking back down though, he perked up at seeing Tony’s soft smile directed at him. So, though he squirmed shyly and plucked at Tony’s shirt, he offered in a small voice, ‘I can ask for stuff without getting in twouble.’
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Steve just melted at the de-aged Bruce. Though his speech was very advanced for a child his age, Bruce would now and then have trouble with certain words or just slip. It was tooth-rottingly cute.
Tony playfully nudged Bruce’s cheek, which immediately had Bruce scrubbing at his cheek with a husky chuckle from where Tony’s goatee had tickled him. It was obviously why Tony had done it because the engineer grinned softly at the reaction he got.
‘And?’ Tony prompted gently. It wasn’t the first time Steve could detect the gentle love in the billionaire’s voice for the physicist, normal age or de-aged.
Bruce pushed on, braver this time, a hopeful little grin on his face that he was doing the right thing. ‘And that if I get in twouble, I tell you ‘cause … um … and, and,’ here, Bruce lit up, expression absolutely idolising as he looked up at Tony, ‘and you’ll fix it!’
Steve had to turn away at that. Bruce’s undying faith in Tony was beautiful, but upsetting at the same time because it brought home all the reasons of why it was so touching.
Tony nodded firmly. ‘That’s right, darlin’. Iron Man will take care of anyone that upsets you, won’t he?’
‘Mm-mm,’ Bruce said in the negative, hands reaching up to grasp Tony’s cheeks, saying, as though, in confirmation, ‘Tony?’
Tony’s laughter was full of lightness, bringing some brightness to what had been Steve’s rapidly darkening mood. It was something special to hear Tony at ease and once again, not for the first time, Steve wondered what the billionaire would have been like if he would have been around for Tony when he was growing up.
He didn’t have time to drop into that depressing thinking either as Tony’s amused chuckling caught his attention.
‘Yes, Brucie, Tony,’ the billionaire confirmed, chestnut eyes twinkling lovingly, and Bruce smiled back in obvious relief. ‘Always Tony for you. Okay?’
‘Okay,’ Bruce nodded and Steve couldn’t help, but wonder in amusement what the toddler had expected. That Tony would stop being Tony when he became Iron Man? Maybe, as a child, that would be confusing.
It was also an interesting development lately between those two. Bruce often repeated Tony’s name, in which Tony would give an amused smile and confirm his name back to Bruce. It had started up only a few days ago and was just another thing to add to the endearing friendship Tony and Bruce had created between themselves as well as even more warming to watch (though Steve hadn’t thought that possible). Steve was curious to ask Tony about it, but didn’t want to draw attention to it in front of Bruce, in case it made the child self-conscious over it.
Grinning to himself, he asked gently, so as not to startle the baby or engineer, as he suspected Tony had temporarily forgotten his presence because of his last words, ‘So, two toasted sandwiches then?’
‘And whatever you want,’ Tony said, the cheek back in his voice as he waved his left hand about magnanimously.
Steve rolled his eyes. ‘I’m not your maid.’
‘How about chef?’ Tony threw back easily.
The super soldier snorted, trying to hold back his laughter at the witty billionaire, but judging by the smug smirk on the shorter man’s face, Tony knew.
Bruce blinked up at Tony before glancing unsurely at Steve. While his right hand gravitated to his mouth again, he did look over at Steve.
‘Tony?’ he questioned softly at the soldier.
And, damn, Steve felt like he was physically melting at that sweet, shy little gaze being directed completely at him. How Tony didn’t smother him with kisses every second was beyond him.
‘Of course, sweetheart, I’ll cook Tony food too,’ he reassured immediately, smiling kindly down at the thoughtful toddler.
While Tony just looked too damn smug for his own good and his eyes twinkled mischievously, as though just realising he had a secret weapon in his hands this whole time and hadn’t been utilising it, Bruce gave Steve the biggest smile.
‘Thank you,’ he said softly, ducking shyly back into Tony.
Tony could look as smug as he damn wanted too. Steve would do it all over again to receive that from Bruce.
‘You are very welcome, sweetheart,’ he said, leaning over to ruffle Bruce’s hair again before setting out to grab more bread.
Tony looked extremely tempted to make a crack at what a softie Steve was, but the soldier knew the billionaire wasn’t game to. It wasn’t like he had heaps of ground to stand on here.
As the kitchen fell into a peaceful domestic routine, Tony actually moving to help Steve, the soldier took time to just enjoy it. It was nice when Tony was in this sort of mood, not always after a rise, but simply being mischievous. He made something as simple as cooking toast fun and adding Bruce into the equation made it a blast. Tony playfully stole a tea towel from Steve as he went to wipe down the frying pan after washing it, dashing around the room, all to get Bruce to chuckle that throaty chuckle, but so much adorably huskier in Bruce’s case.
Steve couldn’t help, but laugh as well, giving half-hearted chase so the game would last longer for Bruce until the engineer finally chucked the towel to him, exaggeratedly collapsing into a chair, proclaiming, ‘Alas, I can go on no longer without sustenance.’
Bruce twisted in his lap so he could smile up at Tony, who winked back at the toddler.
‘Silly Tony,’ he said, shaking his head, causing Steve to chuckle at the action. ‘Sounds like Thor, but Tony.’
That got a laugh out of Tony too, but he played along, giving a gasp. ‘I know, bud, what is Tony thinking?’
Bruce put both his hands up in an exaggerated shrug. ‘I don’t know!’ He exclaimed, voice going high in joking.
It was such an all-round ‘Tony’ action that Steve burst into laughter, actually having to lean over and clutch his stomach. Bruce was a cheeky little thing when relaxed and the way he was starting to copy Tony was just too adorable.
The engineer’s mouth dropped open at the action, but he quickly recovered himself. Steve watched with amazement as he pulled Bruce into an exaggerated bear hug, causing Bruce to burst into giggles.
The billionaire had gotten so openly affectionate with Bruce that sometimes, it still caught Steve off-guard. While Tony really had no choice, because if he had even jokingly pushed Bruce away, it would have made little Bruce absolutely distraught (unlike his adult counterpart, who could always tell what Tony did in jest and not), Tony went above and beyond what he had to do with the toddler
It was just another reason for Steve why Tony was an amazing person that had nothing to do with his genius.
‘Cheeky parrot,’ Tony murmured, placing a kiss on Bruce’s curls, leaning back in the chair, the toddler still wrapped in his arms.
Bruce didn’t protest at all, leaning casually back with the billionaire. It was actually a big step, Bruce sitting so relaxed because he usually curled up as much as he could. But this time, he looked so chilled, if Steve remembered the reference properly.
Smiling softly at the scene, blissfully ignoring the dirty look Tony sent his way at his open sentimentality of those two, he began to butter both sides of ten slices of bread, two for Bruce, two for Tony and six for him.
Before he began frying them though, he heard Clint calling from somewhere outside.
‘Stark! I thought you said you fixed this damn tractor?’
Tony clicked his tongue in exasperation, causing Bruce to crane his neck up to be able to see his face. The engineer sent a soft, lopsided smirk to the toddler.
‘When will they learn the difference between being “fixed” and “improved”, huh, Brucie?’
Bruce picked up on his adopted older brother’s exasperation and gave an exaggerated sigh of his own. ‘Yeah,’ he sighed, patting Tony comfortingly on his chest, right where the arc reactor had been.
Tony’s smirk immediately softened, but he clicked his tongue as Clint’s shouts grew slightly more insistent. ‘Hang tight, bud,’ he said, gently lifting Bruce around the waist and depositing him on the floor like the toddler was made of glass, making sure he had his feet before Tony let go. ‘I better go help the damn idiot before he knocks himself out.’
Steve gave a sigh of his own. Should he try saying again that Tony shouldn’t say certain things in front of Bruce? Judging by the trying little smirk Tony sent his way as he sat Bruce down, Steve didn’t really think so, as it was mostly all said for his benefit anyway. The more he reacted, the more Tony would do it. And people thought Bruce was now the child in the friendship.
Immediately when set on his feet, Bruce twisted around and reached back up, making grabby hands. ‘Come, Tony,’ he pleaded, a distressed tone emerging in his voice at being out of the engineer’s arms.
The toddler had been extremely clingy since getting sick from the curry. And if that thought didn’t make Steve wince, unable to stop the overwhelming guilt at his unknowing contribution to that episode.
Tony grimaced sympathetically and leaned down to gently push Bruce’s curls back, but didn’t move to pick him up again.
‘Sorry, bud,’ he said, and Steve swore his voice was on the border of cooing. ‘But it’s a bit dangerous, big man.’
Bruce let his arms fall slowly down, but he didn’t look any less devastated. ‘Splosians?’ He asked sadly.
Grinning a little at that, Tony nodded. ‘Yeah, big man, explosions.’
Steve whipped his head around at that, glaring sternly at Tony. He swore, Tony gave him whiplash most days of the week.
The engineer rolled his eyes, not cowed at all by Steve’s reprimanding glare. Though Steve really should have known it wouldn’t.
Instead, the soldier gave a defeated sigh and rubbed at his forehead as the familiar tension began to form there when Tony suggested doing something even semi-dangerous. ‘Be careful,’ he mouthed.
While he hoped Tony was just exaggerating slightly so as to keep Bruce away from the tractor, where the toddler might get curious and put his hands where he shouldn’t (because if they had learned anything by now, little Bruce loved studying the inner workings of anything as much as big Bruce did), one never really knew when it came to the eccentric genius.
Snorting at Steve, the soldier found himself surprised and grateful when Tony actually gave a nod. Giving one last stroke of Bruce’s hair, Tony disappeared out of the open kitchen doorway with a ‘Be back in a few tics, Brucie! Guard my sandwich for me,’ thrown over his shoulder before he was gone.
Now, if Steve thought Bruce looked sad before Tony left, the poor toddler looked guttered now that the engineer was out of sight. While the little sweetheart didn’t attempt to disobey his hero, not trying to follow Tony, he stayed staring where he had last seen Tony. His chin began to tremble while Steve’s hearing could detect the hitch in the tiny boy’s breathing, one hand still stretched out as though hoping Tony would come back to him sooner if he stayed like that.
Steve couldn’t hold back his soft coo if he tried. It was so darn sad while just so darn cute. ‘Aw, baby, he’ll be back soon,’ he soothed, sitting the frying pan off the hot burner so he could intercept the impending breakdown.
Another thing the team had learned since Bruce had been de-aged: the baby could cry and would until Tony came back into the room.
Bruce glanced at Steve and Steve felt like the little guy was trying to stab his heart with how those huge honeyed eyes trembled and shone with unshed tears. They were a little red too, showing that Tony yet again shied away from enforcing nap-time.
Bruce was tired on top of everything else so at the moment, the poor little guy looked like his whole world was collapsing around him. As far as the toddler was concerned, it probably was because his world had just walked out the door to go help Clint.
Steve’s shoulders slumped helplessly at the poor, distraught toddler, expression sympathetic. ‘Honey,’ Steve cooed, crouching and holding out his arms. ‘How about you come here and help me toast the bread, huh? I bet Tony will be back by the time we’re finished.’
The prospect of helping caught Bruce’s attention, as Steve knew it would, but he still sniffled and he began to suck on his fingers in an attempt to self-soothe.
‘Tony,’ he whispered, little voice coated with tears.
Sighing in a helplessly loving fashion, Steve softened his voice and waved to the toddler, trying to get him to come forward. He didn’t want to force Bruce into being picked up, but always preferred to let the baby come to him. It was only really Tony, and sometimes Natasha, who were allowed to do that.
Thinking of that fact, it clicked how to get Bruce to come to him.
‘You can help me toast Tony’s sandwich,’ he coaxed. ‘That way it will be done for him by the time he gets back.’
That did it for Bruce. Anything for Tony and Bruce, de-aged or regular, was right in on it. Though he did give one dejected, longing look to the doorway, accompanied with a sniffle, he began to shuffle towards Steve. He was a little wobbly on his feet sometimes, especially when he was upset, which only added to the toddler’s overall charm.
Steve grinned in fondness, holding his arms out wider in anticipation. It made Bruce speed up a bit and as soon as the toddler was within reach, Steve gently scooped him up and stood, making sure not to move too fast. He settled the baby on his left hip and Bruce automatically dug his little fingers into his collared shirt for security.
The weight was miniscule for Steve, but all he could think about was the tiny body in his hands, depending on him to keep the baby safe. And the fact that the baby was Bruce made it all the more important and special to Steve.
As Bruce curled into his hold, resting his head on the soldier’s shoulder, a warm glow melted through Steve’s chest. Yeah, he could see why Tony hardly put the child down. Especially when he glanced down to see Bruce absently sucking on his fingers, looking up at him with those huge eyes, still glittering a little with some tears while his cheeks were streaked with a couple that had fallen.
He knew his smile was absolutely sappy, but couldn’t stop it. ‘It’s okay, sweetheart,’ he soothed, reaching out a hand to gently wipe away at the sloping cheeks before giving the curls another ruffle. ‘Tony will be back soon. I promise.’
Bruce simply sniffled, but didn’t grow anymore upset. Knowing some of the reactions that had taken place when Tony had left the room, Steve was taking that as an absolute victory.
Humming softly, he placed the frying pan back on the burner. Bruce squirmed deeper into his embrace as the butter began to melt and crackle. Steve hushed him gently.
‘It’s okay, sweetheart, it just makes some loud noises sometimes, that’s all.’
‘Tony says hot stuff bad,’ Bruce repeated dutifully, looking up into Steve’s eyes questioningly.
Steve nodded seriously, hiding a grin at Bruce’s faithfulness to Tony’s rules. ‘And he’s absolutely right, sweetheart. It’s all right if an adult is with you to protect you though.’
Bruce nodded slowly at that, obviously able to accept the addition to the rule as long as it didn’t outright disobey Tony’s one.
Smiling to himself, Steve could help, but ask, if for no more than the reason that the conversation was making the tears less evident in Bruce’s voice, ‘So, what are some of Tony’s rules?’
Bruce’s scrutinising gaze followed Steve’s right hand as he placed two pieces of bread into the pan, but answered at the same time. ‘Oh, lots.’
Steve felt extremely proud when the tiny fingers intertwined into his shirt loosened minutely.
‘What are a couple?’ he pressed, realising the talking was doing wonders for relaxing the toddler and making him forget it wasn’t Tony currently holding him.
‘Umm,’ Bruce sucked on his fingers, in thought this time, before they popped out, and he glanced shyly up at Steve, ‘I’m ‘lowed to p’ay with the all of the toys you and … and Thor bought me.’
‘That’s right, you are,’ Steve agreed firmly and Bruce’s smile grew braver at the confirmation. He even kicked his legs a bit before settling down as he thought of another rule.
‘And I’m not s’posed to leave the cot and not tell someone,’ Bruce continued, thoughtfully watching as the bread browned.
Steve nodded emphatically with that one as he used the tongs to flip the bread. ‘That’s a good one.’ He still had nightmares when the little Houdini escaped his cot, location unknown to the whole team for far too long.
‘That’s what Tashi said,’ Bruce said seriously, using his adorable nickname for Natasha.
Steve chuckled at that and couldn’t resist planting a playful, noisy kiss on the toddler’s cheek.
Bruce squealed at that, legs giving another kick before he burrowed shyly into Steve’s broad shoulder.
The soldier smiled down at the toddler that had the whole Avengers team wrapped around his little finger without even trying or knowing it for that matter. Seriously though, who couldn’t?
Immediately, Steve pushed that thought aside before he could sink into that darkness which sometimes sat on the outskirts of his mind. While he could usually handle some of the black memories, if he thought too deeply about the answers to those questions concerning Bruce, he wasn’t going to come out the other side fairing very well.
So, taking a fortifying breath, he gave the toddler in his arms a bounce like he saw Tony do all the time. It was should be a familiar movement to Bruce by now and thereby, comforting.
Bruce didn’t emerge from his safety spot, but Steve swore he saw a tiny grin on the little face currently buried into his shoulder.
Smiling again, he started up the conversation as he took the toast out and put more bread in. ‘What is your least favourite rule?’
The question brought an adorable pout to the toddler’s face as he shifted a bit so Steve could now see his face better. ‘Baths are evil cessities,’ he said, stumbling over the word of necessities.
Steve threw his head back and laughed at that. These were absolutely golden and obviously such Tony rules that they were hilarious.
Bruce giggled with him, caught up in Steve’s mirth. Steve grinned down at him at that.
‘What does Tony say is the most important rule, Bruce?’ the soldier asked, unable to keep all the chuckles out of his voice.
He was expecting to hear something like, ‘Don’t ever trust men who wear spandex’ or maybe ‘Anyone who says God is real is lying. Unless it’s the god is Iron Man then they are telling the truth’.
What he wasn’t expecting was Bruce smiling softly, more to himself as though relishing in his own little secret for a moment before divulging it, as he absently watched the next set of bread brown, finally saying in a soft, content voice, ‘That Tony will always ‘ove me.’
Steve froze at that, glancing down at the toddler, who wasn’t even looking at him as the child kicked his heels absently.
‘He said that?’ Steve whispered softly.
Bruce sent a happy smile up at Steve before going back to watching the bread cook. ‘Yep,’ he said easily, so content in the fact of that rule.
Steve temporarily felt winded from the emotion that assaulted him. He huffed out a small, astounded, ‘Huh,’ smiling in amazement to himself. His heart absolutely swelled and at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to go find Tony and just give the guy a hug. Trying to convey to him how Steve knew how special he was and somehow thank him for the amazing things he continued to do for this child in Steve’s arms, who just deserved so, so much. And Tony was more than delivering, much to Steve’s eternal gratefulness.
Before he could fully comprehend the warmth flooding him, Bruce suddenly gave an excited squeal and began to squirm.
Only one person could elicit that reaction from him.
Smiling lovingly at the excited baby, Steve knelt down and gently set Bruce on his feet, making sure he had his balance before the soldier let go.
The toddler was off like a shot and Steve looked ahead to see what the child saw.
Sure enough, there was Tony, already kneeling on the floor, arms out wide in anticipation.
‘There’s my Bubba,’ the engineer downright cooed, joy practically palpitating off him, smile bright and light. It was obvious all thought of Steve watching had fled his thought process. Instead, all his concentration was on the child running towards him.
Little legs pumping, Bruce flew into Tony’s arms and Tony scooped him up, lifting Bruce high above his head.
It was one of the most touching images that Steve had ever seen. Tony, head thrown back, skin crinkling around his twinkling eyes, mouth open in laughter, arms up high; Bruce, honeyed brown eyes completely devoid of any past hauntings, but instead full of complete happiness, little nose screwed up with absolute joy, something that Bruce just never had, while his tiny hands reached out, grasping Tony on either side of his face. Both just shone with their own uniqueness and specialness, so palpable at that very moment.
With the sun shining through the bay windows in the lounge room, illuminating the two, Bruce high in the air while Tony was still on his knees, both of their combined smiles brighter than the rays streaming through the glass, it cemented in Steve why this one of the most special days.
Tony and Bruce … two people that were so often terrorised by past horrors, had amazingly twisted views on their self-value and were so often just sad … were content.
And that was why he knew that precious image would be cemented into him until his dying day.