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It had been a long mission, everyone was tired, but you specifically were beyond exhausted, eyes kept drifting closed, but never for long, the meeting after was going way too long, but of course Steve noticed. After the meeting you started to walk to the kitchen, but ran right into Steve who was standing in the hall, arms crossed in front of him. “And where exactly do you think you’re going?” He raised his eyebrow, that stupid ‘dad’ look he had.
“Food.” You mumbled rubbing your eyes.
“You see, I can’t let that happen. You, my dear, are going to bed.” You pouted glaring at him. “Ah ah, don’t you give me that look. You can barely keep your eyes open. You are tired and going to bed. So how do we want to go to bed, little one?”
You blushed slightly from embarrassment, he noticed, of course he noticed, he noticed everything, him and his stupid soldier training.
He smirked. “So, are we going to willing put ourselves to bed like the very responsible child you claim to be, or we do the more fun method where I get to carry you to your room and throw you onto the very soft bed that you refuse to use.”
“I’m not tired–” You protested weakly, “And I’m not-”
He raised an eyebrow again. “Mhm, okay “Not tired” you are fooling no one on this team. Nobody here believes for a single moment that you are not tired. And you definitely aren’t fooling me. I know you. You have eye bags again, you fell asleep in the meeting twice kiddo. So since you insist that you are above the human need to sleep, carrying you it is.”
Your attempt to protest your Cap instilled and enforced bedtime was cut off as you were hoisted off your feet and into Steve’s arms. “Hmph.” You pouted, trying to wiggle away from him, but he held on, his super strength making it quite easy to hold onto your far smaller form. “You better not drop me.” You mumbled taking the chance to snuggle into his chest.
He laughed. “Wouldn’t dream of such a thing my dear. Now to bed with you, I will not be taking any of this, Stark already thinks caffeine means he doesn’t need sleep, I will not be having another Stark on this team, so you are under arrest.” He smiled adjusting his hold to keep you comfortable.
You gasp. “But I didn’t do anything, you can’t arrest me.” You say dramatically.
“Yuh uh, you did do something my little one. You acted like Stark, that is a horrible crime you know.” Steve nodded as if he was stating the obvious. “But of course I don’t expect a little one like you to understand the complexity of the law.” He chuckled. “But legal consequences aside, do you need help falling asleep kiddo?”
You nodded, “Mhm…” Steve carried you to your room and tossed you onto the bed earning a fit of giggles from you. “Hey! You said you wouldn’t drop me!”
“And I didn’t. I threw you. I never said I wouldn’t do that.” He grabbed a small stuffed bear dressed in a Captain America costume. “Okay, your mini Steve is safe, hmm, do you need a story or a song?”
You thought for a moment looking at Steve. “Song, your voice sounds really soft when you sing. Helps me sleep without nightmares.”
Steve smiled and helped you into pajamas before tucking you in gently. He smiled as he brushed your hair behind your ear and tucked the mini Steve under your arm. “Comfortable kiddo?”
“Mhm.” Your eyelids felt heavy as Steve gently rubbed your back humming softly before he began to sing, his voice soft and soothing. “Twinkle twinkle little star,how I wonder what you are up above the world so high–” You could feel yourself slipping more and more with each word in his voice. “–like a diamond in the sky, twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.” He cycled through a few more songs before he finally stopped and kissed you on the forehead. “Good night kiddo, sweet dreams.”