A high-pitched wailing sounded over the baby monitor. "Not again," Steve groaned. Both new parents were exhausted at having to wake up at hour intervals every time Peter cried. It was only the first night and Steve and Tony were now starting to realize how much work an infant can be. "Tony, It's your turn," said Steve as he nudged his partner who was trying to pretend he did not hear the siren like noise coming from the nursery.
"I went last time," mumbled Tony. "It's your turn." Tony rolled onto his side with his back facing Steve.
"Did not!" replied Steve.
"Did too!" Tony snapped back.
"Fine," declared Steve. As Peter cried on, he was growing uncomfortable with how long they were delaying this. "Let's both go then."
Tony and Steve both dragged themselves out of bed and headed for Peter's nursery. "Hey there, Petey. Hush now," coddled Steve as he lifted Peter out of his crib. Peter continued to cry. Steve felt his diaper and found that it was not wet. "Tony, I think maybe he's hungry. Could you go fetch him a bottle?"
"Oh, uh yeah. On it," said Tony as he stifled back a yawn. Peter's cries turned into tearful whimpers as Steve coxed the small child. Tony returned with a warm bottle of milk a few moment's later. "Bon apatite."
"Did you make sure it isn't too hot?" asked Steve.
"Seriously, Cap. You have like zero faith in me," said Tony, rolling his tired brown eyes.
Steve took the bottle and offered it to Peter who eagerly accepted it. "Maybe with a full tummy you'll stay down this time," Steve half said to Peter and half assured himself.
"Babies are hard work," complained Tony.
"It doesn't take a genius to figure that out, Tony," commented Steve.
Steve brought Peter's head up against his shoulder in order to burp him. Tony gently wiped a away the excess formula off of Peter's mouth just as the babe started to do a small yawn. Tony cracked a heartfelt smile at the utter cuteness of it and gently took Peter from Steve. "Yeah, you and me both, kiddo," he said as he lightly rocked and bounce Peter in his arms until the baby's eyes shut and he fell back asleep. Tony then placed Peter back in the crib and tucked the blanket around the sleeping figure.
"Come on, Capsicle. Let's follow Peter's lead and try to get a few more hours of sleep," said Tony. He and Steve filed out of Peter's room and went back to the comfort of their own bed.
"Are you sure he's ready to meet them?" Steve asked Tony. It had been a few days since they brought Peter home and the couple had just settled into the roles of parents. After much hounding by their teammates, Tony had agreed to finally let the rest of the Avengers meet Peter. Steve still thought it was a bit to early for Peter to meet new people after only a week of being with his new family.
"Don't worry Spangles," Tony said reassuringly while grasping his husband's broad shoulder. "We're all superheroes. Peter will be perfectly safe with everyone around."
Steve still wasn't quite convinced. However, he still wanted Peter to look nice when he first met Natasha, Clint, Bruce and Thor. Steve had Peter on the changing table and was dressing him in a red-and-black-stripped hoodie over a grey onesie with navy blue pants pulled over his bottom. A pair of red booties completed the outfit and Steve lifted Peter up to admire his handiwork. Peter gave Steve a toothless smile as if to say he approved of the new look.
Tony was back in the living room of the penthouse when Steve walked in with Peter. "Well someone's looking almost as handsome as his daddy," commented Tony upon seeing Peter.
"Are you kidding? He looks way better than you," countered Steve.
"You're hurtful," said Tony with a pouty lower lip.
"Sirs," sounded Jarvis. "Dr. Banner has arrived."
"Great. Send him up," replied Tony
Not a minute later the elevator dinged and the doors parted to reveal Bruce Banner. "Well, if it isn't my favorite giant green rage monster," greeted Tony over enthusiastically.
Bruce turned a bit pink at that. "I promise I won't let the other guy out while I'm here."
"Come on in, Bruce. Make yourself at home," said Steve politely.
"He could be at home if he wanted. You do have a whole floor reserved for you, ya know," said Tony.
"Nah, I don't want to intrude." Bruce glanced around. "Am I early?"
"No, you're just punctual," replied Steve.
Bruce looked at Peter who was looking back at him curiously from Steve's arms. "Is that him?"
Steve saw the longing in Bruce's eyes. "Do you want to hold him?" he asked.
Bruce looked a bit nervous. "Can I?" He had held babies before when he was treating them as sickness in places like Brazil and Calcutta. The parent's of those children did not know about the other guy. To have Steve trust him with their new child while fully knowing about the Hulk warmed his heart.
Steve passed Peter over to Bruce. Peter looked up at his new holder with wide eyes. Bruce looked down on him and smiled while he swayed back and forth in a soothing motion. Deciding he liked Bruce, Peter broke into a smile of his own and grabbed fistfuls of Bruce's shirt.
"He likes you," commented Steve.
A moment later, Jarvis's voice came on overhead. "Agents Romanova and Barton are headed up now, Sir."
"Hey, there's my nephew!" called Clint as he and Natasha exited the elevator.
Natasha wacked him on the back of the head. "Don't shout," she scolded.
Peter turned his head in the direction of the newcomers. He looked a bit frightened. Bruce handed Peter back over to Steve, which seemed to calm him down.
Clint strolled over to where Steve stood with Peter and smiled down on him. "Hey there little guy," Clint said in a much softer voice. "I'm Clint. I'm gonna be your favorite uncle," he declared.
"I think Bruce already has you beat on that one," said Tony.
"Whatever. I'm the cooler uncle," argued Clint.
Natasha was standing off to the side, eyeing Peter with an emotion Steve could not place. He could only guess what the master spy wanted. "I think Peter want's to meet his Aunt Natasha," Steve declared, though he could have no way of knowing.
"Oh, um…" Natasha stammered. Steve just walked over to her and proceeded to place Peter in her arms, making sure she was holding him correctly.
Peter fixed his wide hazel eyes on Natasha. He then grabbed her yellow V-neck t-shirt, noticing there was something different about this adult. Peter began to pat her chest with curiosity. "Whoa, there, sport. Don't get any ideas."
"No fair. The little guy gets all the fun!" joked Clint.
"He's okay for now. But if you ever try that, Clint, you'll find yourself at the south end of a heel hook chokehold," Natasha threatened while managing to make her voice sound soft so as not to alarm Peter. Finally deciding that Natasha's breasts would make a good pillow, Peter rested his head on one and began to drift asleep.
Not ten seconds had passed for Natasha to savor this moment before thunder sounded loudly from the rooftop on that bright sunny day. Peter's eyes snapped open and he began to wail in fright. Natasha quickly handed Peter back over to Steve.
"Well, I guess that means Thor's here," said Tony, rolling his eyes so far back that they seemed to almost go completely back into his head. Tony went up the elevator in order to reprimand the thunder god.
"Greetings, friend Stark," Thor greeted as Tony came onto the roof. Arms, crossed, Tony stared daggers into the Asgardian. Wondering what he could have possibly done this time to anger the man, Thor asked, "Are things not well?"
Tony smacked his forehead with his palm in annoyance and ran his fingers through his hair. "Thor, what are you the god of?"
Thor thought this a silly question. "I am Thor, god of thunder," replied Thor.
"And thunder makes a really loud sound that scares babies and makes them cry," explained Tony.
"I do not… oh. You mean young Peter," said Thor a bit guiltily.
Tony sighed. "Come on, maybe he's stopped crying now."
Back in the penthouse level of the tower, Steve was bouncing back and forth trying to sooth Peter. The baby's cries had turned into small sniffles and hiccups.
"Don't worry, I already yelled at him," said Tony as he and Thor walked into the room.
"Well I must congratulate the two of you on your new son. Tis cause for celebration indeed," bellowed Thor as he heartily slapped Stark on the back in good gesture. Tony stumbled forward a bit and Thor had to once again remind himself that he was among mortals.
"Thank you, Thor," said Steve as he managed a smile.
"So I bet this is different from how they start families on Asgard, isn't it?" asked Clint.
"Family is highly valued. But I in no way judge Stark and Captain Rogers. Tis encouraged to embrace love in anyway it comes," replied Thor.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Natasha.
"How should I put this…?" said Thor hesitantly. "My brother… courted a horse."
"Wait, what?" asked Tony. Everybody in the room looked completely shocked.
"Tell us some more dirt on the crazed bastard," pleaded Clint eagerly.
"Language!" scolded Steve. "Young ears in the room."