AN: First of all, I'm really sorry! I know I promised a quick update and I blew it hard. Life has been kicking my ass a bit and I love writing for you guys but other stuff has gotta come first. So that means this chapter a) sucks and b) is really short. I wanted to make it longer in celebration of having over 100 followers but you guys deserved an update and this is what I had. Good news is that my spring break is next week so (fingers crossed) I should be able to update much quicker.
To NaruShika-Forever: That's a good question. The reason the guards didn't check on Clint and Natasha is that despite how much of a liability it might be for the two to be awake and planning something, it was much more risky to enter the cell with two highly trained agents. Even without their weapons it was way too dangerous to send anyone into the cell. Also yeah, I think Natasha and Tony have a really good relationship in the movies despite everything so I kinda made her a mom figure XD sorry to people who think that's ooc.
To FlowerChild23: This is exactly the effect I was going for so I'm glad it's coming off that way! I hope it seems organic enough. I'm glad you're enjoying everything!
To the guest that put their name as OMGTHISSTORY: I'm really glad you like it. Sorry I didn't update quicker, I'll try harder in the future!
Alright, super long author's note is over (I just keep getting worse at keeping these short). Here's the crappy chapter!
Clint decided very quickly that allowing Tony to ride on his shoulders with a recently dislocated shoulder was a bad idea, but still a better idea than him or Natasha not having their hands free, and a much better idea than letting the stupid genius walk on his own injured feet. He looked like something out of a horror movie, and although most of the blood covering the small body wasn't his, some of it was, and children couldn't handle as much as Clint and Natasha could even with their astounding ability to endure. Not to mention Tony was already battered before any of this happened, and looked dead on his feet.
The problem was the tiny mechanic kept dozing off on Clint's head and was acting increasingly like a fussy, overtired child. Which, Clint supposed, he was, and he was prone to this sort of attitude anyway, but not normally on missions or life-and-death situations. Though he was strung tight as a wire himself, Clint would've been happy to let Boy Wonder sleep, except that he was the one with the map nestled away in his brain, and they kinda needed it.
Another thing was how uncomfortable Tony's behavior made him, although he didn't want to admit it. Tasha acted like it was completely normal, although Clint had a feeling that was more because of her impeccable acting than true acceptance. He liked kids, he was good with kids, but this was also Tony Stark, and he had never been anything but arrogant, loud, self-assured, self-fulfilling, obnoxious, and quietly philanthropic in the time they had known him. He had never been vulnerable, unsure, weak, scared - no one in their right mind, not even his enemies, would use those words to describe Tony Stark.
Maybe that's what he really was though. Just a man in a bad situation, forced to adapt. Clint could respect that, hell, he could identify with it.
That being said, there was no way he would ever let his discomfort show. He had a feeling Tony needed this; an opportunity to learn to trust the team, trust himself and his emotions, maybe an opportunity at a second childhood, although Clint didn't know what could've been bad about the first (though he had his suspicions just from the genius's behavior). He would support him. He never thought he would be saying this, but Tony was his friend, probably one of the best ones, and he secretly hoped he was considered a friend too. They got along well together, with similar humor and personalities, and sure, Tony could rub Clint the wrong way, but even good friends needed space, and they weren't really good friends yet.
But they were friends, Clint thought. He knew probably the most about the genius, aside from Bruce, and Natasha (although she had gained her information from files and spying). It was certainly a surprise, when one day the billionaire began to disclose sacred information about himself, and Clint had no idea what he had done to earn such trust, but it was nice, and then he found himself sharing things too, and that was also nice.
"Tony," Natasha said again, quiet and almost motherly. "Come on, baby, wake up. I know you're tired. Just a bit more." And there was another thing that was strange, the endearment Tasha had adopted for the genius. He didn't even want to touch the motherly attitude she had come to adopt around him. But maybe that's what they both needed. Tasha had always liked kids, and couldn't have any of her own, and maybe Tony needed a parent right now - maybe he'd always needed one.
He could feel frustration rolling off Tony in waves as his body tensed and he let out a long breath that sounded suspiciously close to tears. He rubbed the billionaire's leg, trying to give him a little comfort, and heard another sigh.
"I can't do anymore." Clint was surprised to hear his voice crack. "There's nothing I can do like this."
"I know, Tones," Natasha answered, reaching up to rub his arm. "But we need you to lead us. Help is coming. Just a few more hours." Tony had managed to rig one of the soldier's communicators to send a signal to Fury, which he hopefully had received. He felt Tony shift and stifled his discomfort at the pressure on his injured shoulder.
"Don't..." Tony paused and they waited as he swallowed, licking his lips. "Don't tell the others but... but I'm really scared right now guys. And I'm the one who got us into this."
"You didn't get us into this," Clint responded, frowning as he and Nat shared a glance. "Cap should've listened to you when you were trying to warn us. And without you we would still be in that cage. I'll let you in on a secret: I'm scared too."
Tony snorted. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better."
"Tony." Natasha placed a hand on the ripped knee of his jeans, right next to Clint's ear, ensuring he met her eyes. She looked about as serious as she could without seeming murderous. "In all my years as a spy and assassin, and in all my years working together with Clint, we have never been so completely helpless as we were back there. These people planned for us, for the Avengers, and all we could do was wait for an opportunity. When you're in that situation, you always wonder if there's going to be an opening this time. You are the wrench in their plan; that was all you."
"I wouldn't lie to you, Tones," Clint added. "And there's no reason to. It's alright to be scared. Most of the situations we're in are downright terrifying - it's alright to crack sometimes. You weren't trained for this. It doesn't make you any less strong, or any less of a hero." There was a moment of silence.
"No one has ever said something like that to me," Tony whispered, his voice breaking. "Can I tell you a secret?" There was a pause as he and Natasha shared a look. "I'm really struggling with all this. I'm actually not handling it well at all. It's hard. I don't... I remember everything, I know how I'm supposed to act and that I'm not acting normal, but I don't want to be Tony Stark. I just want to be a kid, and act normal, and not get weird looks or be treated differently by you guys or anyone. I want to trust you guys - I do trust you - but it's hard for me to put my defenses down."
"Then do it," Natasha said bluntly. "Stark, we aren't going to treat you any differently once you turn back. We're your friends, and we understand the situation you're in, and you know you can trust us. You're always taking care of us; don't deny it, I've seen what you do and heard Pepper's complaints. Let us take care of you this time. I promise, it'll be okay."
"Man, you're a kid again!" Clint burst out, forgetting they were in the middle of a hostile environment for a second and glancing around for enemies. "Do you know how many people would love that? You should enjoy it, act like a kid all you want, that's what I'd be doing."
"You act like a kid already," Natasha quipped with a smirk, and Clint felt a giggle shake Tony.
"Okay," Tony croaked out, sounding distinctly teary. "Okay. You have to promise me you won't treat me different. I'll still be the same rich asshole once I'm back." Natasha rolled her eyes and Clint snorted.
"You got it."
His everything was sore. Even his bones were sore, that should be both impossible and illegal. His ears were ringing loudly and honestly it made it really hard to focus on anything except how much it hurt and how cold he was. He despised the cold.
"Steve!" The small voice barely broke through the ringing and he realized he hadn't opened his eyes yet. It took far more effort than it should have to pry them open and bring them into focus.
Tony sighed in relief as Steve's eyelids fluttered open, pleased despite the glaze that clouded the blue. "You're finally awake, Cap." Steve blinked slowly, staring, his eyes crossing a few times as he tried to get rid of the blurry vision.
"I feel sick," he finally muttered, moving a hand over his abdomen like he was about to throw up.
"It's because of the blood loss. You're bones probably hurt too since your marrow is trying to regenerate the lost blood. It'll go away soon, don't worry."
"Blood loss?" Of course, that was the thing Captain America would focus on. The facts, just the facts, everything else could come later.
"They were draining it to keep you subdued and probably to try and extract the serum. I destroyed the machine though, so they don't have any of it anymore." Steve watched as Tony puffed out his chest proudly, grinning, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Good job." His head was starting to clear, and he could hear gunfire and shouting nearby. "Where are the others?"
"Clint and Natasha are outside taking care of the guards. They sent me in to get you. Thor and Bruce are still locked up, but I know where they are." Steve started to sit up and Tony tried to push him back down. "Bad Cap! I know you aren't better yet. Hawk and Widow have got it! Stay here, you need to regenerate." Steve sighed but obliged, seeing the truth in the genius's words, and for the first time since waking up looked at Tony.
"Blood. Stark, you're covered in blood!" What little bit of Tony's skin was visible blanched, and he took a deep breath.
"It's not mine," he whispered, and Steve felt horror grow in him at the implication of those words. Maybe it would've been better if it had been Tony's blood. The billionaire swallowed, closed his eyes, his body tense as he visibly tried to push down sickness. "Sorry, I should be able to handle this."
"No, you shouldn't. You aren't a soldier, Tony. You aren't even a grown up right now." Tony didn't move, didn't say anything, and Steve's eyes raked over him, identifying physical injuries and the much deeper emotional ones before sweeping the boy into his arms, standing and settling him on his hip. And it said something that despite how much they couldn't stand each other, Tony rested his head on Cap's shoulder and sighed. But maybe it just said that Tony was dead on his feet, and nothing more.
"Natasha has your shield," was all the mechanic muttered. "Fury should be sending backup soon."
"Alright."
He stepped over the puddle of blood (his blood) on the floor and peered out the door just as the sound of gunfire died, watching Hawkeye and Black Widow turn to him. Widow nodded and Hawkeye grinned as he assessed his teammates, taking in their injuries and lack of supplies. Things weren't looking good. He took his shield with his free hand as Widow handed it to him, hiking Tony up as he began to slip and getting a small noise of discomfort in response.
"You alright?" he asked Hawkeye, who looked worse for wear. He distinctly remembered the archer throwing himself out of the pilot's seat of the quinjet and wrapping himself around Stark and Widow, while Widow grabbed Banner and pulled him in, trying to protect the civilians. The man simply responded with a cocky grin.
"Bruce's room is just around the corner," Tony spoke up. "The weapons are a bit further on."
"Right," Steve muttered in acknowledgement. "Let's go get Banner then. Do we know his status?"
"Not good," Tony answered again, and Steve noticed he was carefully only looking at Natasha and Clint, who both shared a look. "I think they're keeping him sedated to keep away the Hulk, but who knows what that's doing to Bruce. We should be prepared for a Hulk-out."
"I'll be ready with a lullaby," Widow answered, and Steve nodded before taking the lead, carefully holding his shield in front of Tony, who seemed to find it irritating and kept peering over it.
"Cap, c'mon!"
"I'm not moving it. You're vulnerable right now, Stark. Let me be a good leader and protect you." Tony seemed to shrink down, thinking hard about something, but Steve didn't pay attention to it because honestly, it was far easier to hold onto him when he wasn't squirming. He very specifically ignored the looks Widow and Hawkeye were shooting at them and each other.