Steve took another sip of his coffee, scrubbing at his stubble with one hand, voice rumbly and tired. "He won't leave. I pulled him out so Bruce could do his thing but he screamed until I let him back in. What are we supposed to do?"

Natasha flopped an arm over her eyes as she laid on the couch, head resting on Steve's knee. "He made me sing the same song to him eleven times."

Steve sighed, handing his coffee to her for a sip. "I don't know how long we can keep doing this."

Natasha handed the mug back, never taking her arm off her face. "You ever hear that saying 'it takes a village'? They lied. It takes an entire fucking city. We need more Avengers."

It wasn't that they didn't love Peter, of course, they did! But when Peter is two years old and stuck like glue to Tony's side, it's a little difficult to take care of him.

Steve's watch beeped and he held in a groan, handing his mug to Natasha before gently easing her off his knee. "That's Sam's shift done. I gotta get back."

Steve rolled out his shoulders as he made his way back to Tony's room, hearing Peters' voice interrupt Sams before he'd even got to the door.

"My-"

"No, read it to Daddy."

A sigh, tired and sad. "Peter, this is your book. You asked for the story."

Steve made his way to the door, watching through the little window as Peter pouted and smacked the book with a hand. "It's for Daddy!"

Sam sighed and Steve leaned against the doorway, watching as Sam shifted Peter on his lap so they were both facing Tony. Peter leaned back against Sams' chest and stuck his thumb in his mouth, waiting.

"My Daddy is a hero. My Daddy may look quite normal, no different from the rest but out of all the daddies in the world, I promise mines the best."

Steve smiled a little, watching Sam press his cheek to Peters curls as he read on.

When someone you love is hurt and there's nothing you can do for them, it's nice to be needed by someone else. And Peter was easy to love.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Come on, kiddo. Into your pjs."

One curl-covered head shook, thumb popping out of his mouth just long enough to speak. "Petey no tired."

Clint nodded his head, holding the onesie out in front of him like he was going to catch Peter with it.

"Petey yes tired. You need to go to bed."

Peter shook his head again, scrambling from his chair to Tony's bed and laying his head down on his mentors shoulder. "Ni-night."

Clint sighed and dropped the onesie on the side table. "I know you want to stay with him but you can't. You have to sleep in your own bed."

Peter watched him for a moment, considering before he sat up and tapped a gentle hand on Tony's arm. "Daddy wake up and sleep with Petey."

Clint lurched forward, grabbing the kid just as he called out again. "Daddy, wake up!"

Clint pulled Peter off the bed and to his chest.

"Shit, Peter stop! Daddy needs rest to-" Tony moved. Tony moved? His eyebrows scrunched a little, mouth opening to release a pained breath and Clint's heart beat eagerly as he leaned forward.

"Tony? Can you hear me?"

Eyes scrunched, opening to blink and Peter let out a cry, happy and rippling giggles. "Daddy!"

The boy snuggled into Tony's neck before Clint could grab him and Tony instinctively lifted his hands to Peters back.

"What…? What happened?"

Clint almost didn't want to tell him or say it in front of Peter, as if the words would make it all worse somehow.

"You had a heart attack, man. It's so good to see you awake."

Tony blinked, taking in the information, hand still on Peters back. "Oh."

Suddenly his eyes went wide and he shifted in his bed.

"Where's Pepper? She's going to kill me- and Peter- oh god."

Clint nodded, reaching for Peter before the kid could do any damage. "Pepper is okay, she's dealing with the press right now and Pete's right here."

He pulled Peter back, much to the child's disappointment, and held him in front of Tony so he could see.

Confusion clouded Tony's eyes for a moment, weak hand reaching forward. "No, that's not- oh shit, Magic-Man."

Peter hung from Clint's hands, feet kicking his tiny trainers as he pouted. "Daddy said a naughty word."

Tony blinked away his cloudy thoughts and reached for the toddler. "Sorry, kid. Here, let me have h-wait...did you call me-?"

Peter saw his hands coming forward and smiled, kicking again and he reached for the man. "Daddy!"

Tony's wide eyes flickered up to Clint's as he offered a lopsided smile. "Yeaaaah, he's been calling you that for the past couple of days."

Tony wasn't sure what to do with that information and let Clint place Peter on the bed with him. "Hey, little spider. What's up with the new name? Is 'Tony' too hard for you to say?"

Peter laid his head back down and snuggled close to Tony's side, ignoring the question entirely. "Missed you."

Tony rubbed his back, nodding. "I missed you too, kiddo. But everything's okay now, you can poof back."

Clint bit his lip as he waited, both of them watching for the puff of smoke, for the teenager to come back...but it didn't come.

Tony frowned, nasal cannula shifting as he tried again. "Can you say 'everything's alright'?"

Peter nodded dutifully, tongue-tying adorably on the tricky words. "Ebebing is awite."

Tony waited, eyebrows furrowing as he tried something else. "I love you, Spider-baby."

Peter beamed, shuffling closer as his hands tapped against Tony's arm excitedly. "Petey loves Daddy."

No smoke, no puff, no teenager.

The heart rate monitor began to speed up, an alarm blaring with dissatisfaction at Tony's elevated pulse.

Clint reached for his friend, worry bleeding into his voice. "Tony, calm down. Bruce said you weren't supposed to get too excited."

But Tony was already panicking, croaky voice loud in the small room. "Why won't he change?!"

He pressed his palms to the boy's cheeks, almost yelling at the poor kid in his desperation.

"Peter, come back to me!"

The toddler didn't know why he was being yelled at and his bottom lip started to wobble as his wide brown eyes filled with tears.

"Too loud."

The door swung open as Bruce stormed inside and suddenly Peter was being thrust into Clint's arms and the both of them pushed from the room as Bruce tried to calm his patient.

"Tony, take a deep breath and slow your heart rate, right now!"

Peter cried as Clint pulled him out, door swinging shut behind them.

"Shh, I know. It's okay, Pete."

But it wasn't and they both knew it. Peter wasn't turning back, Tony was recovering and Clint had no idea what to do.

(sorry this was short works been keeping me busy but ill try to update soon)