Daddy Duty

Chapter One: Favorites and Failures

Tony would never admit it, but Steve was definitely his favorite. After having lived with the guy for a little over a year in the Avenger's Tower, Tony just couldn't help falling into the likable trap that was Captain America. He supposed it was part of being completely and unarguably good in every freaking way. However frustrating that was to Tony- who was quite the opposite- he couldn't keep fighting with the guy. Not even his Stark blood could protect him from the dejected puppy look that the guy adopted when there were altercations between team mates.

On days that the world didn't need saving, Steve spent a lot of time sitting in an arm chair in Tony's workshop, where he could get the best lit view of the cityscape in the entire tower. Tony begrudgingly shared his work space- Steve didn't exactly give him a choice, he had no tolerance for Tony's antics- and eventually, Steve began to belong there as much as any of Tony's machines.

And, because Steve was his favorite, Tony didn't mind when Fury ask them to work on a top secret mission together without the other avengers. That is, until he heard what the mission was.

"Fuck no. I am not playing babysitter for you." Tony spat at Fury from his chair in the debriefing room. He gripped the edge of the table in a white knuckled grip, trying to regain his normal snarky distaste for authority. He was trying to get over the initial panic attack that had ensued after the word "baby" had left the directors ever frowning mouth.

"Sir, with all due respect, I must agree with Tony. Caring for an infant is not something to be taken lightly; putting him in the care of people who have no experience and little aptitude would be negligent. The baby wouldn't be safe with us. We need to be ready to deploy with the other Avengers at anytime; taking care of a child just doesn't fit into that equation."

Tony gave a silent thanks that the Captain agreed with him. Tony had a tendency to just leave people with a resounding, indisputable "no" rather than giving a logical argument. If Steve had decided that it was a good idea, there was no way Tony would've been able to say no to his logic, let alone his puppy dog eyes, no matter how petrified he was of children.

Fury sighed and leaned against the counter. "Look. I know this isn't up your alley, but this kid needs to be protected. His father is a brilliant scientist and is involved with some major threat. He only agreed to help us if we keep his son safe. A simple enough request, right? Except that every nanny turns out to be a spy, and the guards almost lost him like six times already. The kid is in serious danger, and it's your job to protect people. Right now you're not needed on a citywide scale. We need someone strong and vigilant and responsible-" Tony shot Steve a look saying he-means-you-dude. "and somewhere he can be kept safe."

Tony glared at him resentfully while Steve wavered over his instinctive need to protect innocents and his common sense. "You can't be serious? Why not Coulson? You guys can keep him in the hulk tank or something. I can't even take care of myself; I guarantee that an infant would not survive me."

Steve agreed silently, which would have been insulting to Tony if it didn't serve his purposes. Fury glared with his good eye. "We just covered this," the director ground out. "Rogers is the responsible one, the one that could care for a child, while you could provide protection through your security systems and technology." Tony just gave him a disbelieving look and opened his mouth to ward off the on slot of logic only to be cut off. "We had him in a hospital last week and an assassin just strutted in the room like he owned the place. Nearly cut the kid's head clean off. He wouldn't have been able to do that if Jarvis had been there to tell you about the threat. I hate to feed the colossal forest fire that is your all-consuming ego, but I have to admit that even SHIELD would have trouble getting past Jarvis; any threat would have to go through Jarvis and Iron Man."

Fury silently raised an eyebrow at the pair. Steve seemed to have lost the last bit of resistance at the mention of decapitations while Tony was still struggling to beat back the sheer panic of being responsible for a baby. An infant. He felt a chill go down his spine. He couldn't deal with that; he was convinced that he was going to make a worse father than all the Starks before him. Anyone who had seen the way his father was with him would vow that it was nearly impossible, but Tony knew better.

Even if it was temporary- Fury had said six months at most- Tony knew that he would break any child placed in his care. He feared for any innocent placed in his care. He would hurt the baby, undoubtedly.

He knew it was irrational, but he couldn't help it. He wouldn't be able to live with himself after he screwed up.

"Tony…" Steve gave Tony a sideways, sheepish look. Tony just stared at him for a moment, caught in the pleading depths of his blue eyes. He knew that he had lost as soon as Fury had started in on how much danger the child was in. He would never be able to get out of it now that Steve was on board.

He considered throwing a tantrum, but decided against it. Steve would have none of his shit, and he knew it. I'm so done for. He thought bitterly as he glared at Steve.

"Fine. Fine. Let's be daddies. Great. I will not be responsible for this child, understood? I will amp up my kick ass security system; I will destroy any threats with malice and a whole lot of vindictive satisfaction, but I will not be changing diapers or feeding or any of that grossness." Tony dared Steve to challenge him with a glare and an irritated frown.

Steve smiled sadly. "Why do I have to do all the hard work?"

Fury gave them both a nod and handed them both the boy's file. "You are not to attend to any other post or mission until I say so; this means you stay close enough to the kid to defend him at all times. Stark, as soon as the security is finished, we will have Peter moved to your New York estate where you and Rogers will be staying for the duration of your mission. Good luck, gentlemen. You're now on full time daddy duty."

A note from the author: Writing a Stony fic is a lot harder than it looks. I'm just going to put that out there. I will try to get more chapters up soon… ish.