Chapter Text
The first time Bucky Barnes met the young Stark heir was three days into the new school year. The child had been enrolled in Super Human Interdisciplinary Early Learning Daycare (SHIELD for short), the childcare center Bucky worked (as of a week ago), but he had been absent, apparently due to illness. The scowling little boy didn’t look sick now, as he glared up at the tall man whose hand he was clutching tightly in the doorway of the large playroom. “Do I have to, Mister Jarvis?” he complained, his speech quite advanced for a four year old.
Bucky waited a moment to see what the man – not the boy’s father, he realized – was going to do. The elderly gentleman knelt down so that he was eye-level with the wary pre-schooler. “Master Anthony,” he intoned, his voice colored with affection, “you don’t have to if you really don’t want to, but I think you should give it a try. There are other children here for you to play with, and I’m sure you’ll make some friends.”
Tony Stark’s mouth tightened as he shook his head. “I don’t wanna make friends!” he insisted, moving closer to the other man and deliberately not looking at the children who were watching the byplay curiously.
Bucky stepped forward, leaving Darcy to distract the other kids from the newcomers. He crouched down and held out his flesh hand to Tony. “Hello,” he greeted evenly, keeping his voice calm, “my name is Bucky. And you must be Anthony.”
Brown eyes narrowed at him. “Tony,” the four-year-old insisted stubbornly. “Only Mister Jarvis and Miss Anna can call me Anthony!” There was a short pause. “And Aunt Peggy,” he tacked on. Bucky fought the urge to grin; this child was guaranteed to be a handful.
“Tony,” he agreed easily. “Is there a reason that you don’t want to make friends?” he asked.
“Friends are stupid,” Tony fairly spat, shifting so that he was mostly hidden from view by Jarvis’ body. “Dad says so. And these are all babies!” he insisted, a tiny hand sweeping out and nearly clipping both Bucky and Jarvis. Bucky wished he could place the name, but it escaped him at the moment.
“Master Anthony,” Jarvis said, his tone firm now. The child fell silent, his gaze locked on the older man. “You must learn to get along with children your own age. It’s not good for you to spend all day indoors. I promise you’ll be safe here, and you might even make some friends, whether you want to or not.” He paused, then gave the child a mournful look. It was surprisingly effective. “Won’t you at least try for me, sir?” he asked softly.
Tony hesitated, his eyes darting towards Bucky before he looked back at Jarvis. “Okay,” he agreed grudgingly. “But only one day!” he bargained.
Jarvis smiled kindly. “One week,” he suggested. Tony scowled, and Jarvis’ smile widened. “One week, and we’ll invite Miss Carter over for supper,” he added.
Tony’s eyes widened. “Okay!” he agreed, holding out his hand. Jarvis shook on the deal solemnly, then rose fluidly to his feet. Bucky stood with him.
“I apologize, sir,” Jarvis offered with a faint flush. “The young master has only adults for companionship most of the time, and is rather less socialized for it, I’m afraid.”
Bucky smiled, turning up the charm. “It’s all right, Mr. Jarvis,” he replied readily. “Many of these children come here from single-child households. They adjust. Children are remarkably adaptable.”
“This child is more likely to make everybody else adapt to him,” Jarvis said wryly. He looked down at the young boy, who was watching the two adults talk with a bored expression. “Young master Anthony, perhaps you would care to see what the other children are up to?” he suggested.
Tony looked at the other children, then looked at Jarvis, and shrugged. “’Kay,” he mumbled, releasing Jarvis’ hand and making his way over to the other children, dragging his feet. Jarvis sighed.
“I had hoped that the opportunity to be with children his own age might be something he’d enjoy,” the man murmured softly.
Bucky shook his head. “This is a new environment for him,” he reassured the other man. “But it’s early enough that the other children should accept him easily. After pelting him with all sorts of questions, I’m sure,” he added. Jarvis shifted uneasily on his feet, and Bucky sighed internally. Jarvis might not be Tony Stark’s biological father, but he was showing all the signs of a concerned parent releasing their child into another’s care for the first time ever. “He’s in good hands, Mr. Jarvis. I’m sure you have other things you need to be doing, and it’ll be easier for him to settle in if you’re not hovering.” He was careful to keep his tone even, not wanting to offend the other man.
Jarvis nodded, but still seemed uncertain. He watched Tony – who was now ordering the children gathered around the table to make room for him – with a sort of resignation. “I understand,” he agreed. He met Bucky’s eyes. “Mister Stark researched this place very thoroughly,” he said. “I hope you understand what it means to have his only son in your care.”
Like Bucky’s boss would let him forget. “Stark put up a lot of money for us to take his brat in and beef up security,” the Director had told him. “Don’t fuck it up.” He had made it quite clear that Bucky’s continuing presence at SHIELD was dependent solely upon his ability to handle a bunch of rowdy children without losing anyone to adventure. Or kidnapping. With this group one never knew.
“Tony will be perfectly safe here,” he assured the concerned gentleman. “He’s amongst friends.” Bucky’s smile very carefully didn’t waver as a squabble broke out behind him – Loki and Thor, no doubt. The two brothers couldn’t seem to agree on anything.
Jarvis looked uncertain, but nonetheless nodded and left after one last look towards Tony, who was now seated and fielding questions from the other children. His mouth was clamped tightly shut as he stared mutinously at the table. Bucky found himself surprised; he had expected the child of Howard Stark to be more outgoing, charming like his father. Instead, he found himself with a moody, antisocial four year old.
“All right, you all, that’s enough,” Darcy said, brandishing a box of animal crackers like a weapon. “Who wants a snack?” Never mind that snack time wasn’t for another hour.
Bucky sighed and moved to help Darcy run herd on the children as Thor and Loki got into an argument regarding whether the lions or elephants were better, and Virginia threatened to smack them both.