Tony ran as fast as he could around the diner, shouting for Clint and Natasha. It was his only job that night. "Watch the kids!" Everyone had said before filing out into the pouring rain to visit Steve. The idiot had gotten himself hit by a goddamned car a half hour before and was sitting in the hospital at that very moment. He'd wanted to go. He didn't always get along with the great patriot, but he did want to be there at the hospital for him. "Natasha and Clint I swear to god if you don't get out here right now I'm going to." A slight sniffle coming from underneath the long counter cut him off before he could get to the threat he'd intended.
Tony sighed and stepped behind the freshly scrubbed counter. The pair were seated on the ground, doing something he had never seen them do before. Crying. Both kids held onto one another like their lives depended on it. Clint's back was to Tony, but Natasha's was facing toward him with half of her head buried in Clint's shoulder. She shot to her feet, wiping her red, swollen eyes and settling into an incredibly defensive posture. Clint was not far behind.
"You can leave us alone Tony. Just go away." Natasha scowled, taking Clint's hand and making a valiant effort to brush past Tony. He nearly rolled his eyes as a thought came across his mind. He loved those kids. He knew he loved Clint the second the kid showed up half scared to death, and more than a little rebellious. He felt it again when Natasha came around, pretending around everyone, and he knew he didn't want anything bad to ever come near them again. The golden boy of the family was in the hospital and there Tony was, seeing the smallest of the crowd hurting. He might be a walking ball of issues, but he could help out the little hellions of their crazy family. He caught up with the teary duo and scooped both of them up into each arm, which was a feat in and of itself, both of them being a little over 12 years old. His physique wasn't awful, but he wasn't a Thor or Steve.
"Tony! Let us go!" They protested, squirming and wiggling in his grasp. Tony laughed a lot, but climbed the stairs as carefully as can be accomplished with 2 squirming kids in your arms. "You guys want to hear a story? It'll take your mind off Steve." he asked once he had both kids sat down on Nick and Maria's monstrous bed. The bunk beds were perfectly comfortable, but nothing said storytelling like a huge bed heaped with covers. Tony actually felt like a kid again for a few seconds before Clint spoke. "We're 12, not six. We don't need stories." Natasha glowered and agreed. Tony changed his strategy. "Well it would really help me out if you listened, cause I'm worried about Steve and this'll make it better." Both of the kids were smart, and were suspicious of his statement, but both finally agreed, and all three plopped down onto the bed. Tony began.
"Iron Man is a mighty man, encased completely in a suit that he designed on his own. It is self-sufficient. You can take a piss in the suit and that water is good enough to drink afterward." That bit got a giggle from Clint. "He doesn't actually have any superpowers, but he has something better." Both Clint and Natasha looked suspicious at what could possibly be better than superpowers, but Tony was unphased. "He's got brainpower, and money. Lots of money."
He talked for three hours. Of Iron Man's heroism and his daring rescue of the American Man, and how he got the girl in the end. It was a long tale that eventually had both of the tough little kids completely enraptured. Tony himself didn't know how he was coming up with it, but it didn't matter. Neither one had begun crying again.
Steve returned from the hospital at 3 in the morning. He had a sprained ankle, a mild concussion, and bruises, but other than that he'd been incredibly lucky. The boys helped Steve up the stairs, half carrying the behemoth of a boy up, and fell exhausted into their respective beds. Nick and Maria went to their room and grinned at one another. Natasha and Clint lay on either side of their most rebellious charge, fast asleep. Tony had a protective arm around both of the kids, and was snoring loudly. "Well it seems there's more to the kid than his snark." Nick commented, pointing to the pile of kids. Maria smiled warmly down at the kids before gently picking Natasha up off the bed. Nick did the same for Clint. Tony woke with a start. "Is the Star Spangled Man gonna be okay?" he said, half coherently to Maria. Maria nodded and ruffled Tony's hair like he said he hated, but he grinned anyway. "Can we have more story tomorrow, Tony?" Natasha whispered as Maria laid her down on her bunk. Maria raised an eyebrow at Tony and smiled. "Don't mention the stories. It was just to shut them up." Tony replied to her wordless question. Maria nodded, but even Tony knew she wasn't convinced. He was just too damn happy to care.