A/N- Happy New Year Everyone!

Chapter 2

Tony had just finished his breakfast when he heard the elevator ping and he quickly jumped down from his chair knowing it was probably Pepper. He was very excited to see what she had brought him not to mention he totally wanted to see her reaction to his transformation.

He just wanted to know if she would be as receptive as the Avengers had been or would she avoid him. He ignored the flash of hurt that flared up at the thought of his friend and CEO hating him at even this size so he shook the thought away. He wouldn't know until he saw her so why worry himself now? He carefully pushed the chair in, turning to look up when he felt the eyes on him.

"Tony buddy, where are you going?" Clint asked curiously.

"I heard da elevator and I fink it might be Pepper," he answered helpfully before cocking his head to the side as JARVIS spoke up.

"Young sir is correct, Miss Potts is here with the aforementioned things that Captain Rogers had asked for yesterday," JARVIS replied smoothly.

"That means my clothes awe here too and I'm gonna go see her," Tony added cheekily when no one had said anything. He grinned before he hurried out of the kitchen knowing that someone would follow him.

"Even at this age, he's still the same Tony," Steve said with a small smile as he and Bruce hurried after the child.

"Well the adult him had to start somewhere," Clint muttered out as they left the kitchen.

Tony came to a stand in front of Pepper, watching for a moment as her eyebrows rose up in disbelief as she caught a look at him. "And who might you be?" She asked politely even though she was very much aware of who this child could be. And she knew that if he hadn't been right in front of her she wouldn't have believed it otherwise.

"I'm Antony Stark, but you can call me Tony," he replied with a grin.

"Its Anthony," Bruce corrected gently with emphasis on the h as he came into the room.

Pepper looked at the men for a moment before she turned back to the little boy who was trying to look into the bags at her feet. "Would you like to get dressed?" She asked as she carefully carried the bags to the couch and sat down. She knew there would be time for questions later, when Tony was busy elsewhere. The last thing she wanted to do was him to become aware of something he hadn't been aware of. For instance the deaths of his parents, she didn't want this little boy to have to deal with that heartbreak all over again.

"Yes and maybe take a baff too. I didn't get one yestewday and Jawvis says I have to take one every other day if not every day," he replied softly.

Steve eyebrows rose as his eyes flicked to the ceiling for a moment before they made contact with Bruce. "I didn't know the A.I had that function," he stated slowly

"He doesn't, I believe Tony is referring to the human Jarvis, that's who he named his A.I after," Bruce replied.

"Indeed," JARVIS replied before he silenced. He didn't want to cause his creator any unnecessary harm as he wasn't sure what the child remembered now. The last thing the needed was a hysterical child on their hands.

Tony was ignoring the chatter around him in favor of looking through the bag. He couldn't help the glee he felt when he saw what Pepper had gotten him.

"Avenger stuff!" He cheered. Tony knew this was probably his only chance to wear Avenger merchandise without his teammates ribbing on him. He swallowed thickly as he pulled out an Iron Man outfit, before setting it aside quickly in favor of grabbing something else. He didn't want to be reminded of who he was when he was in this body. He knew if he chose to think about it, he might break down regarding the situation. And he didn't ever want to do that in his teammate's vicinity.

"What did you choose honey?" Pepper asked after a moment.

"Well I wanna wear dis one but it's not wight. They don't got Bwack Widow or Hawkeye on here so it's not da whole Avengers like it says," Tony replied pouting as he held up the Avengers Playsuit that he wanted to wear.

Pepper hid a small smile at that, leave it to Tony to recognize the problem with the clothes. "That's alright, I'll make sure that they'll fix it," she promised him, wanting his smile to appear back on his face.

Tony nodded happily, as he grabbed the pack of Avengers underwear quickly hiding it under the playsuit before he turned to look back up at his teammates. "I'm gonna go take a baff," he informed them as he turned and headed towards the elevator.

Steve frowned as they watched the toddler walk away. "Shouldn't someone go with him?" He asked slowly, knowing that there was no way you were supposed to allow a four year old to bathe by themselves. He knew accidents could happen at any time.

Bruce was nodding having followed Steve's train of thought and turned to look at Pepper. "I don't mind going, I need to see what the last thing he remembers anyway," he told her. He knew that Tony and her had broken up and he didn't want to make things awkward for her or for Tony when he was back to his original age.

Steve nodded he was totally fine with that if he was being honest. And he simply turned back to Pepper to see what else that she had gotten for his tiny teammate.

Tony was slightly surprised to find Bruce stepping onto the elevator with him and he turned to look at the man in confusion for a moment before he pressed the button for Steve's floor. Even now he still couldn't get some alone time, he needed to speak with JARVIS.

"What awe you doing?" He asked the man after it became apparent that Bruce was fine with the silence.

"I'm coming to help you with your bath," Bruce replied kindly.

"I know how to take a baff by myself," Tony said with a pout hoping Bruce wasn't actually going to sit inside the bathroom with him. He wasn't embarrassed per say but they were science bros and they had boundaries.

"I'm sure you do, but just humor me buddy," Bruce replied in the same complacent tone.

"But why do I hafta humor you? Why do you gotta be in wiff me? I'm a big boy," Tony told him firmly his lip jutting out stubbornly.

"I know you're a big boy, but that being said you're still four," Bruce replied quietly.

"You fink I'm gonna drown in the baff tub?" Tony answered skeptically.

"That is not at all what I think," Bruce said as he took a deep breath to calm himself. He knew Tony was naturally a curious child he just didn't want to deal with the questions right now.

Tony noticed that and fell silent he didn't want Bruce to Hulk out, while he himself was in this tiny state. He wouldn't be able to do anything not that he was afraid of the big guy, it was just he knew that Bruce would be horrified once he came back to himself. He stopped at Steve's floor and walked to the man's bathroom setting his clothes on the chair in there before he turned on the water.

"After my baff what awe we gonna do?" Tony asked curiously he wasn't sure what they had in store for him.

"Well first the director of SHEILD will be by and he'll want to talk to you and talk to us," Bruce explained carefully. He honestly hoped that Fury had been able to get something from the wizard. He didn't even want to contemplate if they were called out to assemble, where would that leave Tony?

Tony shrugged, not really wanting to see Fury. He was afraid of what the man might try to do; he was too vulnerable in this body. He just needed to trust that Steve and Bruce would be there for him.

Bruce could see the tiny child was thinking and he left him too it. He would rather the child was quiet for the moment instead of asking a bunch of questions he wasn't totally sure of the answer too.

Back downstairs Steve was folding the clothes and setting them on the couch, unsure of how to approach this conversation with Pepper. He had nothing to lose so he figured he might as well just leap into it, and hope for the best.

"What can you tell me about Tony's childhood? Some of the things he's said aren't sitting with me so well," he started off slowly.

Pepper's eyebrow rose as she looked at the super soldier. "That unfortunately isn't my place to tell Captain," she said apologetically before her eyes flicked upwards. "But Tony himself might be more receptive to tell you at this age," she added slyly.

Steve was saved from replying with JARVIS spoke up. "Director Fury is requesting permission to come up to the floor,"

Steve sighed as he stood up, he was not looking forward to this. "Send him up Jay," he murmured as he turned back to Pepper. He didn't want to tell her to leave but what Fury and the team had to discuss well it wasn't for her ears.

"I'll go put away his things, and then I'll see you guys later," she told him easily as she stood up and after grabbing the aforementioned items she headed to the elevator. She headed straight to the Penthouse unaware that Tony was staying with Steve.

Steve's eyes flicked over to Clint and Natasha who had appeared as Pepper left, giving the grim smile. "What do you think he's going to say?"

"Considering he doesn't even know that Tony has shrunken in size, I'd say nothing," Clint replied pointedly.

"Hush Clint, you know we have to tell him," Natasha said even as she had a frown on her face. She was quickly trying to think on what the director would suggest, already having a hunch that she wouldn't like whatever it was.

"Should I be worried?" Steve butted in softly.

"Yeah you should," Clint replied quietly as Fury appeared.

Steve watched the man's eye flick from one side of the room to the other as if he was looking for someone. He didn't have to guess who, he was pretty sure he knew. However he was not going to be fore coming in his answer.

"Where are Stark and Banner? We need them here for the debriefing," Fury stated.

"You really don't, you officially only need the three of us you see here. There was nothing technical or mechanical that requires Tony or Bruce. What happened out there was magical and so you might need Thor but he's currently in Asgard so good luck there," Steve replied calmly.

Fury frowned at the tone; this was why he had been against the soldier moving into the tower with Stark. He was bound to pick up some of his habits and to his dismay he had. No matter he would be getting to the bottom of whatever it was. There was definitely something going on here.

"Romanoff, in your earlier assessment you told me that Stark had been injured. What were his injuries and where is he?" Fury said turning his attention to the widow.

"There was slight problem, the wizard's magic has reduced Stark down a size or so," she replied delicately.

Fury arched an eyebrow turning to look at Clint.

"He shrunk, in body mass and in age," Clint replied bluntly. "He's about the age of a four year old at this moment and he does not remember us,"

Fury frowned but he didn't say anything in reply to his agent's word. He wasn't totally worried at the moment, he was thinking on what this meant for him. With Stark out, SHIELD might actually have a chance to get the Iron Man suit; he just needed to figure out a way to do that.

"Where is Stark now?" He asked instead.

Steve made to answer but was interrupted yet again though this time by Tony as he came running into the room.

"Furry!" The little brown headed boy screamed excitedly as he ran into the room.

Nick Fury surprised everyone there when he caught the child in his arms. (Including the adult part of Tony's mind that had been skeptical that Fury would catch him)

"Hi Tony, are you being a good boy for the Avengers?" Nick asked in gentle tone.

"I am," Tony replied happily as he hugged the man. He would never admit it but it was nice having someone who had been with him in the past, even if it was brief. "I'm being a vewy good boy," he added just in case the man didn't believe him.

"Well in that case, I have a surprise for you," Nick replied as he pulled a small chocolate bar out of his jacket pocket.

Tony gasped happily as he held it in his hands; this was a rare treat that his father didn't like for him to have. "Why awe you here Furry?" The little boy asked curiously as he held his sweet securely in his hands.

"I just need to make sure that Avengers know what they are doing when it comes to taking care of you," Nick replied smoothly.

"Oh," Tony said with a frown, before he shrugged. His child mind was currently at the forefront and it figured that Fury wanted to make sure that they were safe. After all the little boy knew that Fury's boss was Tony's own father.

"Yes, so why don't you go and play while I talk with the Avengers okay?" Fury asked him.

Tony thought about that before sighing as he realized that the man wanted him out of the room to have this particular conversation. He hugged the man tight before he was set on his feet; He waved childishly to the man before he ran out of the room.

Tony pretended for a moment like he was heading another way to the elevator but he wasn't. He set his prize chocolate on the floor before he laid down next to it so he could hear the conversation that was going on. He wasn't sure what Fury was going to say but he felt that it was important. This could explain why he was now pushing the Adult part of his mind to the forefront so he could have a level head as he heard the conversation.

Back in the common room, Bruce was standing tensely by the wall, having exchanged a look with Steve once Tony had left the room. He could feel the tension, not to mention see Natasha and Clint, they didn't look the at ease at all and he didn't want to further think about that. He took a breath and directed his attention to the Director.

"Stark is now a liability, he has retained nothing of his adult mind and as such he is no longer an Avenger at this time," Fury declared boldly.

"The hell he isn't, Tony has given up everything for him to be an Avenger. Don't you dare give me that bull crap about him not being a part of this team," Steve hissed out angrily.

Fury gave him a look, clearly un-amused with the soldiers tone. He would get what needed to be done, and once Stark was out the way he would get the suit.

"What are you suggesting Director?" Natasha asked slowly, her own eyes narrowing of her own accord. She didn't like that greedy gleam in his eyes and she was a bit wary on what he might be planning.

"I think that until we can find a cure for this nonsense, we need to put Stark in a foster home. That way you won't feel like you are babysitting, this is not what the Avengers initiative does," he finished calmly.

"Hell no, no disrespect director but there is no way in hell am I doing that to Tony. Speaking as a former foster kid, that is the worst decision you could ever come up with," Clint broke out. "And I refuse to let you do this to him," he bit out angrily.

"Don't forget who you work for Barton," Fury cautioned.

"I still have my free will, and I can quit at any time. So don't forget what my skills are and how valuable an asset I am director. And I won't forget where I work," Clint bit out in annoyance.

"I agree with Clint, not to mention this is Tony's home and I will not let you kick him out of it," Bruce said as he carefully took off his glasses. He wasn't sure what the man was going to do, but at this point he would willingly let the Hulk out knowing how protective the green giant was of the 'tin man'.

"Is that a threat Banner?" Fury asked in a dangerous tone, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"No that was a promise, wasn't it JARVIS?" Steve replied in a smug tone as he remembered the AI had been unnaturally silent throughout all this.

"Indeed it was Captain, I think it would be best if you leave now Director Fury; and note that until Sir is back to his normal self you will not be allowed to enter the tower in any shape or form. I do not take kindly to my creator being threatened," JARVIS replied dangerously.

Steve smirked, unable to help himself as he saw the man give a barely visible shudder before he turned without a word and headed to the elevator.

Bruce blew out a sigh of relief. "That could have gone better, but did he honestly think that we would allow him to do that to Tony?"

"I think he was expecting Natasha and Clint to back him up," Steve replied slowly.

"Like I would, after everything Tony has done for me? Not to mention that Tony in the other room is a child and has already been through the worse kinds of imaginable things. I will not aid in whatever it is that Fury is trying to accomplish," Clint said before frowning as he cocked his good ear to the side.

Natasha immediately turned to look at him. "What is it?" She asked softly, still on edge after Fury's retreat.

"I think Tony might be crying," Clint replied slowly before his eyes flickered up. "Jarvis, where is he?"

"I'm not completely sure, which leads me to believe he is in one of mine known blind spots so to speak," JARVIS replied slowly.

"Why is he crying?" Natasha asked quietly.

"I believe he heard the part where Director Fury wanted to send him to a foster home," the AI replied quietly.

"Shit," Clint swore out as he mentally tried to think on what would be the best hiding spots for a child. The Tower had a shit ton of spots, he knew from personal experience.

"Does Tony know you have blind spots?" Steve asked trying to bring the conversation back to where his heart rate had gone up. He was carefully wondering if that was dangerous for the AI not to know when everything was going on.

"He does, they aren't what you would consider traditional blind spots, and nothing that would compromise your safety," JARVIS replied before he suddenly stopped talking.

"Jarvis?" Steve asked in confusion.

Bruce sighed as he slumped down in his chair. "Tony must have muted him," he deduced.

Steve turned to the other man in disbelief. "How in the world would he even know how to do that?"

Clint answered then. "Because it's Tony, hello he was a child prodigy. Why are you surprise?" He said before frowning. "Don't answer that we need to find him,"

Steve nodded quickly. "Split up, when you find him let us by getting him to unmute Jarvis and telling us," he said before they all spread out in various directions.

Tony couldn't believe that after all that Fury was just going to dump him off in a foster home. Well the adult part of his mind could believe it, and actually he wasn't surprised. He knew the man probably wanted to try and take control of his suits. Too bad in order to even get into his lab they needed the override code which only he knew, so his secret was safe. That didn't matter to his child mind who was staring at the chocolate next to him with a look of betrayal.

That part couldn't understand why Fury would throw him to the wolves like that hadn't the man liked him? He gulped out tearfully as both parts of his minds fought for control. The rational adult mind knew or at least hoped that Bruce wouldn't allow SHEILD to just dump him off. He didn't know where he stood in regards to his teammates. This is why, before he could even hear his teammate's responses to Fury's suggestion he had fled leaving the chocolate on the floor. He no longer wanted it.

He ran down the hall, not totally sure where he was going just that he needed to get away. Tony only had a moment of notice as he realized Jarvis was trying to give out his location, the traitor. Without thinking he muted his AI and ran over towards the wall. He could hear footsteps coming closer to where he was and quickly pulled the lid off the vent in the wall before he crawled inside.

Making sure to place the grate back over the hole he quietly made his way through the vents. He sniffled sadly, the adult part of his mind pushed to the back as his child survival instincts kicked in. He never should have gotten comfortable, this was going to be just like at home with daddy, and he had trusted them too. When they found him he was going to be punished so severely as he had ran from them. He knew it was a matter of when and not if and that's what scared him. He had thought this place would be different!

Tony crawled further in the vent unsure of where he was going but knowing the further he was away from where he had came in the better. He crawled for about ten minutes before he laid down inside the vent, unmoving for a moment. He was trying to see if he could hear anyone coming, but he couldn't. It didn't help that the only thing he could hear was the frantic beating of his heart and these small took a small shuddering breath before he buried his head into his arms and cried. He didn't try to quiet his sobs as he was sure no one was cared at this point, and he had never felt so alone.

He didn't know that it had been Clint whose footsteps he had heard and the archer had seen with his sharp eyes how uneven the grate over the vent was. It was with that suspicion that he crawled into the vent intent on finding his tiny team mate. Once Clint was inside the vent he just followed the sounds of the sobs, his own heart clenching at the hurt he could so obviously hear with every sniffle.

This was not the way to get the child to start trusting him and Natasha. Fury had really fucked up everything, what if his presence only made this worse? He sighed but he continued towards the crying. He was very much aware when Tony realized he was there as the little boy's shoulder's suddenly tensed.

"I'm not going to hurt you Tony, you know that. I promised you I would never do that to you," Clint said sincerely.

"But Fury said that I hadta leave," Tony replied tearfully.

"Yeah, well Fury is full of shit, and I say that you aren't going anywhere," Clint told him firmly. He knew that had Steve been here he would've been scolded for his language. But Clint was sure that with a father like Howard that Tony was used to foul words. That being said he didn't want to remind the child of the fact but at the moment it warranted the curse.

"You pwomise?" Tony asked sadly, not at all fazed by the man's words. He knew Fury longer and so he didn't really believe Clint over Fury.

"Oh yeah, there is no way in hell that Bruce let alone Steve will let Fury come and try to take you away. Now can you unmute Jarvis so I can let everyone know that I found you? We were really worried about you buddy," Clint replied.

Tony sniffled before he reached out to the archer, he definitely wanted some comfort right about now and since they all seemed to want to give to him he would be stupid not to take it.

"Jawvis, I'm sowwy. I unmute you," Tony replied softly.

"Thank you young sir, are you feeling better now?" Jarvis asked his creator kindly.

"Yes, can you make sure dat Fury can't come back in here and twy to get me?" Tony asked timidly.

"Of course young sir, I promise you the director is banned from the Tower until further notice," Jarvis promised him.

"Are you ready to head back out to see the others? I know they all want to see you and we never got to see your new outfit," Clint said with a smile.

Tony gave the archer a happy nod before he laid his head on his shoulder, trusting his teammate to get them out of the vents.

Clint carried Tony back to the common room and noted in amusement, as his teammates rushed to them. He felt Tony stiffen in his arms but he didn't say anything, the child needed to know that they wouldn't hurt him. He needed to get used to good touches and the easiest way to do that was this way.

"Tony, buddy why did you hide from us? Didn't you know that we'd never let anything happen to you?" Steve told him softly as he reached to grab the child.

Tony sniffled and went easily into the man's arms, pressing his wet face into the Captain's neck. He should have remembered that Captain America would have protected him and he had worried them. He felt so awful. "I'm sowwy," he said as way of reply.

"No no no little, man that's not what he asked. You have nothing to be sorry for," Clint broke in gently as he rubbed the boy's back.

"Damn it Fury," Natasha muttered before she swore in Russian. She gently touched the little boy's head as she passed and headed to the door. "I'll be back," she said ominously as she saw the curious look on Bruce's face.

Bruce gave a fond nod, wishing he could be a fly on the wall where she was going. No doubt Fury was going to get a talking too, or worse. One could never tell with Natasha.

Trying to get Tony back into his happy mood Bruce came over to where Tony was as he remembered the earlier conversation. "Hey Tony, did you show Steve and Clint your Avengers playsuit?"

Tony sniffled once before the back of his hand swiped at his eyes. "It's not a weal Avengers pwaysuit Bwuce, it only has you, Stebe and Thwor on it," he reminded the man with a pout.

"It has Iron Man too," Steve murmured out fondly, noting that Tony ignored him.

"What? No Hawkeye? Or Black Widow?" Clint said with pout. "We matter too!" He replied with an indignant tone.

Tony giggled at the tone of voice before he turned to face Clint. "Don't worry, I put on Hawkeye undewear and Bwack Widow socks," he assured him.

Clint howled with laughter at that, knowing once Tony was back to his normal age, this would be perfect teasing material. For now though he was just very much amused at the situation.

Tony wrinkled his nose at the laughter unsure what he was laughing at before he turned back to Steve. "Where did Pepper go?"

"She went upstairs to put your things away, and then I think she headed back to the office," Steve told him as he kissed the top of his tiny teammates head.

"Oh," Tony replied, feeling comfortable enough not to want to move. After all it wasn't everyday that Captain America cuddled you.

"What are we doing today anyway?" Clint asked after a moment had gone by.

"Nothing really, I still need to get samples from Tony and then run a few tests down in my lab," Bruce replied thoughtfully.

"Shall we do that now then? We can get that out of the way first," Steve said softly knowing children hated the doctors, he would know.

"While we do that, you can figure out something that Tony might want to do today. Whatever it is, we are staying inside," Steve told Clint, knowing how the archer was once he got an idea into his head.

"Aww you ruin my fun," Clint muttered but he figured he could just ask Jarvis if there was anything remotely fun to do in the Tower.

"Alright Steve, bring Tony," Bruce said as he turned and headed to the elevator.

"Wait, I missed it, where awe we going?" Tony asked blearily. He didn't want to admit that he had been dozing off on Steve's shoulder. He was only glad that he hadn't drooled on the other man as that would've been highly embarrassing.

"Bruce wants to show you something down in his lab," Steve replied slyly only half answering the question.

"Show me what?" Tony asked curiously.

"You'll see when you get down there," Steve answered he only hoped that Tony didn't pitch a fit.

"Then after we get done, can I haff a snack?" He asked hopefully, as he was getting hungry.

"Of course," Steve answered as he followed Bruce down to the lab. Once there he took a seat and carefully arranged Tony on his lap. This was done because of two things, one on the case that Tony was scared he would be there to help him and the second was he wasn't sure if the little boy would pull a runner or not. He noted that the child in question didn't look too suspicious, he just seemed content to lean against his chest.

Bruce washed his hands and grabbed his clipboard even though Jarvis was waiting and would be taking notes as well.

"Alright buddy, now I'm going to check your temperature, get some blood, ask a few questions, give you a quick exam and then you're gonna be done. If you act like the big boy you told me you were and the one I know you can be you'll get a treat as a reward and I will show you the workshop and we'll make a small robot together," Bruce told him calmly knowing exactly how to do this. He had been a doctor a long while and he knew children not to mention Tony.

Tony frowned as he turned to pout at Steve, he had been tricked! He wasn't mad though he was just worried as he knew Bruce said something about a shot and he wanted to prolong that bit as long as he could. He glanced around the lab anxiously, needing a plan. He ignored the bit in his mind that was stating he was being childish and that Bruce knew what he was doing. This was a legit fear in his child's mind.

"So I'm gonna take your blood first get it out the way," Bruce decided knowing once it was finished with everything would go smoother. He knew children often worried over the shot which turned out to be less of a deal then they all thought.

Tony's eyes widened and shook his head fearfully. He didn't like that idea at all. He pushed back further into Steve's chest.

"Are you sure that's a good idea Bruce?" Steve asked worriedly, his arms tightening around the toddler protectively.

"Well if I drag it out, it's only gonna make it worse in the long run. He knows its coming as it is," he pointed out gently.

Steve sighed before he nodded and gave the little boy a gentle squeeze. "It's alright Tony," he soothed, knowing that Bruce was correct in his assessment.

Tony wasn't having it; he needed to get away from their shots and stuff. He wanted Clint! His head jerked suddenly at the amusement he felt stemming from his adult side, he had never thought he would ever think that.

"I hafta go potty," he said a moment later. This had always worked with his mum and Nanny and sometimes his dad. It never worked with Jarvis the man always knew if he was telling the truth or not.

Steve sat up a bit alarmed at that confession and looked at Bruce in concern. "Maybe hit the bathroom first then?" He asked quickly, after all he was the one holding the child and he didn't wanted to get peed on from the child's fright.

Bruce shook his head as he gave the little boy a knowing look. "He doesn't need to go it's a tactic he uses to get out of something, most kids do it," he said in amusement. He outright grinned as he saw Tony giving him the stink eye. He quickly prepped the needle as Steve was currently trying to find out if Tony had been telling the truth or not. He was going to take advantage of this distraction.

Steve was looking at the little boy in his lip, with a slightly stern expression. "Were you lying juts now Tony?" he asked lightly.

Tony was very much lying, and he hated that Bruce hadn't even fell for it. He didn't want Captain America to think he was a little liar and he gave a small shrug in return.

"I wasn't lying, but I can wait until aftew," Tony grumbled out instead.

"Okay, Bruce said it wouldn't take so long," Steve said slowly, knowing an avoidance tactic when he saw one. "And remember it's not nice to lie especially about something like that. What do you think would happen if one day you really had to go but no one believed you?" he asked.

Tony flushed in embarrassment aware of where Steve was going with this and what his answer would be. "I would haff an askident," he finally mumbled out, before turning and burying his face into Steve's shirt. He decided he wasn't coming back out again. He flushed further in mortification as the adult part of his mind fully emerged. He had gotten scolded like a little child and it wasn't sitting right with him.

"Exactly," Steve replied watching the moment when Bruce stuck the needle into his tiny teammate's arm. He breathed a sigh of when Tony didn't react. If anything the little boy was trying to dig his way clear through his shirt. The super soldier turned to look at Bruce in confusion at the way Tony was now acting.

"You scolded him and now he's embarrassed at the fact. More so that it's Captain America that did it then anything else," Bruce explained as he finished up. That had gone better than he expected and reached out for the little boy.

As Tony wasn't looking at him Steve gently prodded the toddler. "Tony, Bruce wants you,"

Tony sighed, immediately reaching out towards his science bro. He just wanted to get away from Steve. "You said we could see the workshop as my tweat," he reminded the man softly as he pressed his face into the man's shirt.

"Tony I guess I'll see you later yeah?" Steve said quietly, feeling a bit unhappy that the little boy wouldn't even look at him anymore.

Bruce sighed as he rubbed the silent little boy's back. "He'll be back to his normal self in a bit you'll see," he reassured Steve as he headed out of his lab.

Steve could only sigh and followed them out, hoping he hadn't messed anything up with Tony.

Tony spent the rest of the morning in his workshop with Bruce getting reacquainted with his bots. He longed to work on one of his current projects but he knew unless he could sneak away from his minders; that wasn't happening. As he had had a couple hours to stew over what happened earlier he knew that had been his entire fault and Steve had every right to scold him.

At the moment he was hungry and thirsty and he just wanted Steve to hold him again. There was something to be said about feeling safe in someone's arms and he longed to experience it again. His stomach growled softly before making his way over to Bruce who had dozed off on the sofa when he realized that Tony was perfectly content to tinker with the general makings of a robot alone. He tapped the man's knee gently not wanting to freak him out.

"Bwuce I'm hungwy," Tony informed the man seriously.

The man in question; cracked open an eye to look at his charge curiously. "You all done?"

"No but I'm hungwy," he repeated as he looked at the man expectantly.

"That's understandable it is a bit after lunch time," he said as he looked at his watch. "I'm sure Steve or Clint has something made already that they won't mind you having some," he promised as he grabbed the little boy's hand and led him to the elevator.

Tony was happy to be led, and eagerly made his way off the elevator and towards the kitchen once they made it to the floor. He could smell something yummy and he hurried to get a look. He was surprised to see Clint by the stove; he would have figured Steve was the one making the food. He suddenly got a horrible thought in his head. What if the man was still mad at him for earlier? He hoped not, he liked Steve. His stomach growled and he was sidetracked by his hunger yet again.

"Hi Cwint, what did you make?" He asked curiously, hoping it was something yummy.

"Hey little man, I wonder what happened to you," he said teasingly. "I made some homemade Mac and cheese," he replied knowing every picky eater everywhere loved this simple dish or a variant of it.

"Yummy," Tony said softly his eyes wide in his happiness.

"Kay, go wash your hands and get Steve from his room and by the time you come back it'll be ready," Clint said knowing how impatient children tended to be.

"Kay don't eat wiffout me," Tony informed the man.

"We won't," Bruce assured him.

Tony grinned before he skipped off to the elevator.

"Is it really going to be done by the time he comes back?" Bruce asked skeptically.

"Yeah, just grab some bowls and some cups," Clint said sure of himself as he stirred the pot.

Bruce did what he was told and got the table set up for them.

Meanwhile Tony was looking through the good Captain's quarters unsure if he was even here. Maybe Clint had been mistaken? He checked the room he had stayed in before going to the other bedroom before frowning. Where was Steve? He face palmed as he remembered something.

"Jawvis? Where is Stebe?" He asked after a moment.

"The Captain is currently in the bathroom," Jarvis replied promptly.

Tony jolted slightly at that as he realized it had been a while since he had used the bathroom himself. In all his excitement down in the lab he had ignored his body and was starting to regret it. He bent over quickly as he went to grab himself between the legs before he disgraced himself.

He swallowed thickly as he hobbled his way to the bathroom; Steve was going to have to get out, at that very moment. He couldn't have an accident, he would die of mortification. Not to mention, if he had an accident what would that do to him emotionally. His adult side was trying to rationalize the situation but the child bit was freaking out, it knew its body's limit and they were approaching it.

"Jawvis, c'n you tell Stebe to come out of the baffroom, he might not believe me," Tony asked the AI anxiously. He had remembered their earlier discussion; it was a bit of instant irony at the moment.

Thankfully Jarvis didn't need to speak as Steve opened the door a moment later, looking in surprise as he saw Tony standing out the door.

"Hey kiddo, you need any help?" Steve asked, as he turned to the side to allow the child to come inside the bathroom. It was obvious yet again what the problem was, and he had to wonder if he had ever been like this when he was a kid; the holding it until the last minute bit.

Tony nodded urgently as he straightened up as best as he could before quickly hurrying over to the toilet. He hurriedly unzipped his playsuit, not even caring that Steve was still here. He looked around frantically, wondering why they hadn't yet got him a damn stepstool yet. "Stebe, hewp," he whined out.

Steve simply lifted him up onto the toilet like he had that morning before he was gazing at the ceiling. "Tony, buddy you need to stop waiting until the last minute," he chided gently.

Tony's face flushed, his toes unconsciously curling in his relief. He didn't want to get scolded again by Steve, least of all while he was stuck on the pot unable to move.

"I'm sowwy," Tony replied quietly, that had usually worked with his father on the man's good days anyway.

Steve sighed as he looked at the child's head and shook his own. He didn't want the boy to constantly apologize for something that needed no apology in the first place. He frowned turning his gaze once more as the child finished and pulled his outfit back on again.

"Do you need help washing your hands?" He asked quietly.

"I can do it," Tony mumbled out as he closed the lid on the toilet seat before he climbed on it and then climbed onto the counter. "Can you ask Pepper if I can haff a step stool?"

"Yeah, I will," Steve replied quickly. "What where you doing up here? I thought you were in the lab with Bruce?"

"It's time to eat wunch and Cwint said to come get you," Tony informed him as he finished washing his hands before he carefully climbed down off the sink.

"Oh, it's that time? What are we having?" Steve wanted to know.

"Mac and cheese," Tony said with a bright grin before he rubbed his hungry tummy again.

Steve grinned, knowing at least that Tony would eat this meal. He picked up the child and hugged him tightly. "I missed you today buddy," he told him as he carried him out the bathroom and out towards the elevator.

Tony sighed softly before he gave a nod. "Me too I'm sorry I was lied and then was mean," he told him timidly.

"That's alright buddy, just I hope you learned your lesson is all," the super soldier told him.

"I did," Tony nodded seriously.

"Good," Steve replied happily before he tickled the child in his arms, his giggling following them as they headed into the kitchen to eat.