Ok! Hi, me again. I don't have much to say except thanks for sticking with me. As I mentioned in the last chapter, this is a time jump from the last one so dynamics have changed a little. Also a reminder, Clint is younger. He's around 23/24. That being said, heed to tags.
Thanks again!
アベンジャーズ
March 7th
The soft chimes of a quiet alarm wake Juno from his slumber, his eyes opening slightly to peer around to dimly lit room. He sits up in the bed, yawning a little as he reaches over to his bedside table to tap his phone screen and silence the alarm.
It's six am, his usual wake up time, but for some reason he's a little more tired and more reluctant to get out of bed. It probably has something to do with being up until the early hours of the morning with Clint watching movies.
Juno smiles as he remembers the activities of only a few hours ago. Clint had wanted to finish a Star Wars marathon, despite the late hour, and who was Juno to disagree? Besides, he enjoys the movie marathons as much as Clint.
Over the last several months, the pair had become a lot closer. So much so, that some occupants of the tower have joked that they're like twins, or more recently, like boyfriends. When the latter statement is casually mentioned with knowing smirks and glances, Juno usually laughs along before hiding his reddening face or making a quick exit. He likes Clint. He has done for a while now. But there's no way he and Clint-
Juno shakes his head to stop this particular train of thought. There's no point dwelling on something that isn't going to happen. Not when Clint is in a relationship with Phil. He shakes his head again, before throwing his blankets back and climbing out of bed.
He yawns again, stretching his arms over his head and walks into the bathroom. Once there, he turns on the shower and begins getting ready for his big day.
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"Mornin'." Clint mumbles around a mug of coffee as Juno walks into the kitchen.
A smile tugs at his lips as he looks over Clint, his bedhead hair jutting about the place, his eyes half way closed and his whole body giving off this 'don't talk to me' vibe. Clearly the late night movie marathon was taking its toll on the archer as well.
"Morning Sunshine!" Juno beams, making his voice high and happy, jumping up onto the counter to dance excitedly in front of Clint.
Juno's exhausted himself, but the horrified look on Clint's face is totally worth the morning outburst. Clint eyes him with a look that screams 'I'm gonna kill you' as Juno continues to jig about on the countertop, now blowing an imaginary trumpet to the tune of 'Star Spangled Man'.
As he spins around for the third time, Clint leaps across the kitchen and grabs Juno around his waist. Juno lets out a war cry, his voice cracking in the surprise of the attack as Clint throws him over his shoulder and carries him into the living area.
"Dude!" Juno shouts, grappling with the back of Clint's undershirt that he's slept in. "Dude, ok, chill!" Juno laughs as Clint throws him onto the couch.
His legs are hanging over the side of the couch and Clint pins them with his own so he can't scramble away, like he's been known to do before.
Clint then proceeds to wrap his hands around Juno's ribs and push him down against the couch cushions with each word he says.
"You think you're funny, huh?" Clint says as he flexes his fingers, effectively tickling Juno. "Think it's funny to be a clown this early in the mornin'?"
Juno bursts into fits of laughter, squirming on the couch like a fish out of water. "Du-dude!" He stammers out.
"Don't 'dude' me ya lil shit." Clint says with the hint of a smirk.
He stops the relentless attack and leans back a little, only for Juno to hook his legs around Clint's waist, haul himself up and start to pummel (light) punches against his chest, all still while laughing.
"Oh you are so dead." Clint murmurs as he hunkers himself down.
He reaches behind to grab hold of Juno's left leg and squeezes the pressure point just above his ankle. Juno yelps and unhooks his legs, falling back onto the couch and curling up into a ball. Clint watches for a few seconds as Juno stays completely still and then he hears a tiny sob.
"Juno?" He says, worry lacing his voice.
He rests his hand on Juno's shoulder to make sure he's ok and the boy immediately grabs his forearm, digs his feet into the couch and throws Clint over his body to land on his back on the couch. Clint stares at the ceiling in complete shock and listens to Juno giggle as he leaps on top of him, straddling him and effectively pinning him to the couch.
Clint laughs as well, looking up at the triumphant glee on Juno's face. He reaches his hands up and Juno slaps them away, expecting another attack.
"Nah, I'm ready for you now, babe." Juno giggles, the pet name slipping out.
"Oh yeah?" Clint challenges, not giving him time to reply as his spins them around so Juno is underneath him instead.
Juno bursts into laughter, his legs wrapped around Clint's waist and his hands on Clint's chest. His laughter dies down slowly as he continues to beam up at Clint, the older man smiling as well.
Juno wriggles a little to get comfortable and Clint, for the life of him, can't seem to control his body when their crotches rub against each other. His smile falters a little and he tries to escape, but Juno takes it as a bid for another attack, tightening his grip around Clint's waist.
"June, you gotta let me go." Clint grunts, trying to shift away from Juno as much as possible but all is does is make him harder.
"I ain't falling for that." Juno laughs, but then as he's laughing, his smile falls, his eyes going wide.
Clint stares at him in horror as realisation flashes across his face.
Juno visibly swallows and lets his hands slide a little. "Clint," He says quietly.
"I'm sorry." Clint blurts out. "It's just, it was an accident. I'm sor"
Clint's cut off by Juno's lips pressing against his. He feels his breath catch and he feels like time stands still and they're kissing forever. But in reality, it's only a second or two.
"Hope it's not an accident." Juno murmurs, a smile tugging at his lips.
"No?" Clint asks.
Juno shifts a little so Clint can feel that he's in the exact situation as him.
"Oh." Clint breaths out.
"Yeah, oh." Juno giggles.
He leans up again and pulls Clint's lips down to his, this time with a little more confidence. They move against each other and Clint dares to swipe his tongue along Juno's bottom lip, asking for entrance. Juno grants it with a tiny whine in the back of his throat his hands clenching in Clint's shirt and he feels Clint's tongue exploring his mouth.
"Fuck baby." Clint says on a breath as he pulls back.
"Sorry." Juno mumbles, not sorry at all.
"S'ok." Clint whispers. "Um, happy birthday."
There's a few seconds silence, both of them staring at each other, before they both burst into laughter. Juno rolls sideways slightly so Clint can move, but they don't move too far apart, arms still around one and other.
It's a comfortable silence, Clint brushing his fingers lightly up and down Juno's forearm where rests across Clint's stomach. They've cuddled before, this is nothing new, but now there's a sense of something else. Something Juno can't quite put his finger on.
"I need more coffee." Clint states suddenly, bringing Juno out of his thoughts.
Clint peaks a small kiss onto Juno's lips, surprising the boy, before rolling off the couch and onto his feet in one smooth motion.
"More coffee, baby?" He asks as he strolls towards the kitchen, leaving Juno stunned, but ultimately beaming with happiness.
アベンジャーズ
"S dnem rozhdeniya, krasavchik." Natasha murmurs, hugging Juno and kissing the side of his head, the tallest point she could now reach on Juno since his latest growth spurt. (Happy birthday, Handsome.)
"Spasibo, sestra." He tells her, hugging her back and leaning down slightly to kiss her cheek. (Thank you, sister.) "Sleep good?"
Natasha shrugs her shoulders, and Juno knows that means no, but she doesn't want to talk about it. "Coffee?" He asks, already pouring her a mug and placing it in front of her.
Natasha murmurs her thanks before taking a sip, savouring the flavour before see looks back up at Juno. She watches him as he tidies the almost not existent mess in the kitchen, watching the way his hands flit about and his eyebrows crease into a frown every few seconds. He's stimming and after all this time, she can tell something is on his mind.
"Hey," She calls across to get his attention. "What's wrong?"
Juno's cheeks tinge pink as he dips his head, not meeting her worried gaze. "Its- its nothing." He mumbles, turning around towards the empty sink.
"Juno." She warns, knowing that if he doesn't talk about what's bothering him, it'll eat him up from the inside. "You can tell me."
She stays quiet for a minute or two, watching as the boys shoulders tense and relax, as his fists clench and unclench, clearly trying to decide how to communicate what it is that's bothering him. Then she hears him sigh and his shoulders slump.
"I kissed Clint." Juno whispers. "I mean I- he- we kissed."
Silence.
There's such a long silence in fact, that Juno has to turn around to make sure Natasha hasn't left the room. She's sitting there still, staring at him. Not grinning, or laughing, or looking angry. Just staring.
Then she nods her head. "Ok." She says quietly, and Juno frowns her at. She notices the confused look on his face and smiles to reassure him.
"Ok?" He asks, his voice cracking slightly.
Natasha chuckles lightly. "Honey, it was bound to happen eventually." She tells him, taking another sip of her coffee. "I mean, did you want to kiss him?"
Juno nods.
"And did he want to kiss you?"
Juno frowns, but nods again.
"And are you ok?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Juno's frown deepens.
"That's all that matters, malen'kiy detenysh. As long as you both are happy and what you do is consensual." Natasha tells the still frowning boy.
"But" Juno starts, his frown deepening. "Clint is with Phil."
Natasha sips her coffee as she nods. "He is." She agrees. "But they're what you call polyamorous." When she sees the confusion on Juno's face, she continues. "It means they are open to having more than just the two of them in their relationship."
Juno can feel disappointment flood through his body. "So there are other people as well?" He asks.
"Actually, no. Neither of them have ever found anyone they wanted to share their relationship with." She explains, seeing the hurt flash across Juno's face.
Juno doesn't really understand and he'd very much like to continue the conversation. But he hears the familiar ding of the elevator and metallic slide of the elevator doors as someone enters the communal floor.
"We can talk more about this later, malen'kiy detenysh." Natasha tells him, obviously hearing the elevator as well.
"Happy birthday, June-Bug!" Tony exclaims as he strolls into the kitchen, wrapping an arm around Juno's shoulders and ruffling his hair.
Juno laughs and tries to duck away, shoving the older man a little. "Thanks, dad." He says quietly, the term still feeling a little strange on his tongue but also liking how it sounds.
Tony beams across at him, knowing how long it's taken for the young boy, his son, to get use to calling him dad without feeling uncomfortable about it.
"Happy birthday, kiddo." Steve says, walking in behind Tony and clapping Juno on the shoulder.
"Thanks." Juno murmurs, blushing a little at all the sudden attention.
He never thought he'd reach his sixteenth birthday. He also never thought he'd celebrate a birthday away from the horrific conditions he was kidnapped into and raised in. When he lived at the Gakkō, it was difficult to tell one day from another, so things like birthdays were never really remembered. But despite the many years in captive isolation, Juno still remembers his birth date, therefore enabling him to add it to his S.H.I.E.L.D. and make it public knowledge amongst the rest of the towers occupants.
"You ok, Bug?" Tony asks, noticing Juno getting lost in his thoughts and using his new favourite nickname for the boy to get his attention.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine, dad. Just thinking." Juno tells him, smiling to reassure his father.
Everyone makes their way into the common room, spreading out on the vast couch and talking amongst themselves. Bruce is already sitting there, tapping away on his phone with his glasses perched on his nose. He smiles as everyone enters.
"Happy birthday, Juno." He tells the boy with a smile.
"Thanks big guy." Juno replies, using the nickname he'd coined for Bruce since befriending Hulk on their last mission.
Bruce chuckles and goes back to his phone, squinting at it slightly as he continues to type.
"So, what're your plans for your big day?" Steve asks.
"Oh, um, I, um" Juno is a little stunned by the question, never really having the chance to think about it. "I haven't really thought of anything."
"We can do anything you like." Steve tells him. "We can order take out, watch movies, spar. We could go for a drive somewhere like maybe to the beach or for a hike, or we could build some of the little bricks that you like so much."
"They're called Lego, babe." Tony laughs, rolling his eyes at his husband. "And stop mother-henning, give the boy a chance to think."
Steve blushes, not realising he had been rambling until Tony pointed it out.
Juno looks around the common room at everyone, at Steve still looking embarrassed, at Tony smiling encouragingly, at Natasha who nods to let him know it's ok to speak his mind. Clint is still absent, taking a mysteriously long time in the shower.
"I dunno." Juno murmurs with a small shrug. "What do normal people do on their sixteenth birthday?"
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"Ok, so the left one is the gas. The right one is the brake." Tony explains. "Now this car is automatic, so you don't need to worry about shifting gears. Not all cars are though, so bare that in mind. You wanna make sure the car is in 'park' and the e-brake is on before you do anything else."
Juno nods, not wanting to interrupt and miss any vital information.
"Ok, so" Tony says again. "You checked your mirrors? Make sure you can see alright?"
Juno checks again, for the umpteenth time. "Yeah." He murmurs.
"Great. Now press the 'start' button."
Juno lifts a trembling finger towards the button and presses it in. The car rumbles to live around him and he feels his anxiety increase a little.
"Good job." Tony praises. "Now, keep your foot on the brake, shift it into 'drive', the little 'D' there, and release the e-brake."
Juno follows the instructions, keeping his left hand wrapped firmly around the steering wheel.
"Great, you're doing great, Bug." Tony tells him softly. "Now, slowly, lift your foot away from the brake."
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"I don't think I could eat another thing." Juno groans, letting his head fall back against the headrest and closing his eyes.
Tony laughs next to him as he crumples up the last two burger wrappers and drops them into the paper takeout bag.
After Juno's first driving lesson, the pair had decided to partake in one of Tony's favourite traditions. Burger King cheese burgers. Tony knew the boy must be hungry, having an extreme metabolism and being a growing teenager, but he never expected Juno to put away six cheese burgers and three sides of fries. He doubted even Steve would manage with that amount of food without feeling sick to his stomach.
Juno groans again and shuffles in the car seat so he can stretch his legs out a little further. "That was so good." He tells Tony. "Seriously, dad, I can't believe you've never introduce me to cheesy burgers before."
Tony laughs again and shakes his head. "They're just called cheese burgers, Bug, but I'm glad you enjoyed."
Tony watches as the boy blindly reaches out for his soda cup filled with orange Fanta, a favourite that Clint had gotten Juno hooked on, and takes a long slurp. Right now, as this very moment, Juno looks and is acting like a regular teenage boy. But Tony's heart aches a little as he remembers that Juno isn't a regular teenager. Not after everything he's been through in his short life. He can't help but think about how different Juno's life would have been if Tony had been able to raise him from day one.
Juno cracks his eyes open to peer at Tony. "Why're you staring at me?" He asks.
Tony smiles again, hoping Juno can't see the hurt in his eyes. "Just thinking, June-Bug."
"About what?"
"About what my life would've been like if I'd known about you from the start." Tony says, turning his head to look out the window at the waves crashing on the rocks. "When you were a baby I mean."
A silence fills the car, only the muffled sound of the waves and seagulls the only noise to be heard. Then Tony clears his throat.
"Anyway," Tony says, clapping Juno on the knee. "Lets head home. I think there's something about a surprise birthday cake."
Juno laughs at Tony's blatant lack of surprise and buckles his seat belt. As they begin to drive away from the beach and towards the tower, Juno looks across to his father.
"Thanks, dad." He almost whispers. "For, you know, for today. And for, well, everything."
Tony offers him a small smile, still focusing on the road ahead of him. He doesn't say anything. He doesn't feel like he needs to. At that moment, everything was well and happy with both the Stark men.
アベンジャーズ
A few days after Juno's birthday, everyone was sitting in the common room of the tower having a Mario Kart tournament. It was a relaxing day, filled with snacks, laughter and banter and general camaraderie as they poked fun at each others gaming tactics and style.
Steve was dreadful at video games, always falling off the track and finishing eighth, while Juno picked up the technique clearly, almost beating Clint to first place only to fall on the final lap with a well placed blue shell, courtesy of the sneaky archer.
As the pair argued about a rematch, Natasha, Tony and Bruce laughing at them fighting over the 'best controller', Steve's phone rang. He excused himself and took the call in the kitchen.
"Dude, there's no such thing as a best controller!" Clint was laughing, holding his purple controller out of Juno's reach.
Juno jumped onto his lap, grabbing at his hand and poking him in the chest. "Then you won't mind giving it up." Juno laughed. "Swap and we'll see whose the best."
They pair were interrupted by Steve re-entering the room looking grave.
"We need to do a press conference." Steve informs the team with a sigh.
"What? Why?" Bruce asks, his face displaying the confusion that no doubt everyone is feeling.
"Fury called. There's been some kinda leak within S.H.I.E.L.D." Steve locks eyes with Tony. "They know Juno is your son. It's only a matter of time before the media find out."
"Shit." Tony huffs, pulling out his phone.
"Wha-what does that mean?" Juno asks, worry spiking through him as he looks from Steve to Tony. "Tony?"
Steve sighs again and slumps into a chair. "It means we have to tell the world the truth before they hear a twisted version of it through the wonders of the media." He explains with a tight smile.
"Pep, hey," Tony snaps into the phone, leaning against the back of the couch. "You've heard? How?"
Juno watches as Tony's eyes flick to Natasha. Natasha gives him a tiny nod and Tony softens a little.
"Ok, can you set it up? It'll be me and Juno of course, probably the rest of the team on stand by to show support and solidarity." He explains, leaning back and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sooner the better. Thanks Pep, bye."
He tosses his phone onto the table a little too harshly and then huffs. "Pepper is organising a press conference. Should be in a couple of days."
"Tony, Dad," Juno says again, catching the billionaires attention. "What's happening?" He asks, looking and sounding scared.
Tony smiles to him but Juno can tell it's a little forced. "Nothing to worry about kiddo." He tries to reassure.
"If it's nothing to worry about, why has everyones heart rates increased?" Juno asks.
"How do you know our heart rates have increased?" Steve asks.
"I can hear them." Juno states, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "What's going on?"
"Juno, you know how we all decided it was best to keep it to ourselves about you and Tony being related?" Natasha asks calmly.
"Yes." Juno nods.
"Well, now we need to tell the media."
"Why?" Juno frowns, looking around at Tony, Steve and Bruce.
"The media is a very strange thing, Juno." Tony explains. "They like to make up stories because it gets them money. The bigger the story, the more money they get."
"Can't we just tell them the truth?" Juno asks.
"Of course we can." Steve agrees. "But we need to do it officially via a press conference. Which means you and Tony will have to speak and answer questions in front of an audience of journalists with cameras."
"Surely it isn't any of their business. It's private, right?" Juno murmurs.
"You're right." Bruce nods. "It isn't any of their business. But unfortunately when you live in the medias eye, like Tony does, private things don't really stay private."
"And now you're a part of my life, that includes you." Tony adds with a sympathetic smile.
Juno doesn't like it. He doesn't like that the whole world will know about him. If the whole world knows about him and where he is, surely that means it'll only be a matter of time before Masutāarufa knows where he is. Nothing and no one will stop Masutāarufa from hunting down and reclaiming what he believes is rightfully his.
Juno feels warm fingers wrap around his own hand, squeezing it for comfort. He looks across to see Clint sitting next to him, smiling softly.
"It'll be ok, honey." Clint whispers. "Nothing is going to happen to you."
Despite the anxiety building up in him just moments ago, Clint's comforting hold eases Juno's nerves. He shuffles a little closer to the archer so they're flush against each other and allows Clint to wrap an arm around his waist. Juno can feel the eyes of everyone else in the room watching the pair, but strangely, he doesn't care.
"Ok," Steve says, breaking the silence in his Captains voice. "We need to be prepared."
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"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Pepper asks. "You look worried."
Juno sighs and turns to face Pepper. "I've never done anything like this before. What if I mess it up for everyone?" He asks, not meeting her eye.
It's the last thing he wants, to make a fool of himself and embarrass not only Tony, but the whole of the Avengers. If that happens, would Tony be mad? Would he hate Juno? Or worse, would he deny all knowledge of ever knowing him or of him being Tony's son?
"Honey," Pepper says quietly, reaching out a hand to lift Juno's chin so she can look into his eyes. "You're going to do great. If you're anything like your father, you'll have them eating out of your hand."
"But, um, I don't have anything to wear." Juno whispers, now feeling ridiculously embarrassed by such a petty thing.
Pepper chuckles softly, wrapping Juno in a tight hug. It's not the first time they've hugged. As Tony would say, Pepper is a hugger. But Juno still feels a little embarrassed by it. Pepper steps back and looks Juno up and down, clearly trying to decide something.
"Alright, I think you'd look good in a suit." Pepper tells Juno, eyeing him closely.
Juno frowns. "A suit? Like the Iron Man suit? Why? Is it going to be dangerous?" He asks nervously.
"No, honey," Pepper chuckles. "like the ones Tony wears to the office. You know, with a smart shirt and tie and smart shoes."
"Oh." Juno murmurs, now feeling a little stupid for thinking Ms Potts would want him in an Iron Man suit to answer media questions. "They look really uncomfortable though."
Pepper laughs again, shaking her head a little.
"They're not so bad, Kiddo." Tony tells him, strolling into the office and loosening his tie and top button as he walks.
"Then why are you trying to pull your tie off like it's strangling you?" Juno asks, raising his eyebrows at Tony.
Tony narrows his eyes at Juno. "You getting a little too cheeky." He says with little seriousness.
"He obviously gets it from you." Pepper tells him with a smirk.
"That, and his good looks." Tony replies with a shit eating grin.
Pepper rolls her eyes and steps closer to Juno. "Right, Tony Junior, tomorrow morning we'll get you measured for a suit."
"Tony Junior?" Juno laughs. "Great, another name to add to the ever growing list."
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"Ms Potts! Oh my goodness! It's so wonderful to see you!"
Juno stops in his tracks as a bald man with huge, thick rimmed spectacles launches himself through the small crowd of people and attaches himself to Pepper like a barnacle.
Juno stares at Pepper with wide, anxious eyes as she chuckles and wraps her arms around the man.
"Erik, so wonderful to see you again." She says with a level of...something Juno's never heard before.
"Oh, my dear, it's been too long!" The man, Erik, exclaims as he steps back, his hands flitting over her jacket lapels. Then his huge, round eyes turn to Juno. "And who is this young man?" He asks, his hand resting on Juno's shoulder.
"Erik, this is Juno." Pepper says with a bright smile.
"And where did you find this handsome little thing?" Erik asks, winking at Juno.
"Juno is my nephew."
Erik's eyes go even wider, which Juno didn't think was possible without them literally falling out of his head, and then he pulls Juno against his chest, wrapping him in a rib crushing hug.
"Um, Ms Potts, help?" Juno murmurs, holding his hands up in surrender and eyeing the man nervously.
Pepper chuckles and shakes her head affectionately. "Erik, Don't crush the poor boy." Pepper chastises lightly, pushing gently at the mans shoulder.
"Oh, my dear," Erik exclaims again, stepping away from Juno but moving his hands so one is on his shoulder and the other is gripping his chin, turning his head side to side. "Your nephew, you say?"
Juno's eyes flick to Pepper as she nods her head. "That's right, he's recently come to live with Rhodey and I so he can go to school in the city." She explains.
Erik hums approvingly. "Well your family has quite the gene pool." He says with a velvety smooth voice.
"Uh, thanks?" Juno murmurs, his brows creasing at the guys outright weirdness.
"Erik, Juno needs a suit." Pepper speaks up. "Nothing too extravagant, nothing black and nothing checked."
Erik moves aside and gestures to a small step for Juno to stand on. He does, feeling like he's exposed and on display as the small man walks around him, tape measure and note pad in hand, pencil between his teeth.
Pepper makes her comfortable in a plush looking armchair a few feet away, crossing her legs at the knee and taking out her phone to answer a few emails. Every now and then, she looks up to offer Juno a reassuring smile before looking back down to her phone and tapping away.
"Ok!" Erik exclaims, holding both his hands up in front of Juno. "Here's what I'm thinking. Single breasted, fully lined, two button jacket, fitted, of course, with not vents. We don't want vents, darling. Simple notch lapel but with jetted pockets and three, maybe four kissing buttons."
"So basically an Italian style suit?" Pepper asks from her chair.
Erik beams a smile at her. "Yes, darling, perfect with his body type. What do you think handsome?" He asks Juno.
Juno stares at him with wide eyes. "I have no idea what any of that means." He tells the man honestly. "But whatever you think is best."
Erik grins at Pepper. "I like this one, can I keep him?" He asks with a wink towards to Juno.
Pepper laughs and shakes her head. "I'm afraid not, Erik." She tells the beaming man, standing up and straightening out skirt. "Can you have it ready for tomorrow morning?"
"Of course, darling!" Erik stands on his tiptoes to plant a kiss on each of Pepper's cheeks.
"Excellent. Thank you, Erik." Pepper kisses the mans cheeks as well before reaching a hand out for Juno. "Shoes next, young man."
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"Ready?" Tony asks Juno, straighten the boys tie and smoothing down his jacket.
"No." Juno mumbles, fiddling with his shirt cuffs.
Tony chuckles and nods his head. "I'll do most of the talking and then there'll probably be a few questions, but you don't have to worry about those. I'll be honest with you, these are usually really boring." He stage whispers the last sentence.
Juno laughs, ducking his head. "What if He's out there?" Juno asks quietly, looking up through his lashes at Tony.
"We have Agents at the entrances checking IDs, Agents in the audience and outside the building vetting people coming in and out. Coulson has his best guys and gals on it and I've seen him pull bigger things off before with less Agents, less prep and more drama." Tony explains. "You've given and incredibly accurate, detailed description of Him and every Agent has a copy of it. He's not getting in here, Kiddo."
Juno smiles his thanks, knowing that Tony is trying his best to help him feel better about the whole thing. But he still can't help but feel nervous.
"You know when you get like, I dunno, just when you get that weird feeling in your stomach?" Juno asks.
Tony nods slowly. "Yeah, usually after Nat has tried cooking." He deadpans.
"I heard that, shit head." Natasha tells him, slapping Tony upside the head and Juno snorts out a laugh.
"Kak ty sebya chuvstvuyesh', malen'kiy detenysh?" Natasha asks, stepping into Juno's personal space. (How do you feel, little cub?)
"Ispugannyy. YA nemnogo volnuyus'." Juno mumbles, feeling his cheeks redden. (Scared. I'm a little worried.)
"You have nothing to worry about, malen'kiy detenysh." Natasha reminds him. "We are all here for you. Lyublyu vas." (Love you)
Juno smiles and wraps his arms around Natasha's waist, resting his forehead on her shoulder. "Lyublyu tebya tozhe sestra." (Love you too sister)
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The team stand silently behind Tony as he takes up his position at the podium, Steve leading the way as Captain with Bruce next to him. Thor is off world on Asgardian business, but his space is taken by Phil as a show of solidarity, with Natasha on Phil's other side. Juno is sandwiched between Natasha and Clint, the rest of the team deciding that it would be best for him to have support on both sides rather than being left at the end of the team line, feeling exposed.
The hall is jam-packed, not a single seat is empty and there are almost as many people standing as there are sitting. Cameras and microphones are jutting out from everywhere with the occasional flash as a picture is taken.
Tony turns to face the team, giving Juno one last reassuring smile, before facing the crowd again and clearing his throat into the microphone.
"Firstly, thank you all for attending this press conference at such short notice." Tony beams his 'fake' smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "As you know, we've called this to clear up the many rumours that have been circulating recently, the rumours that I have a son. It's quite simple really. I do."
The noise in the hall erupts, and Juno can feel his heart rate quicken. He takes a minuscule step closer to Natasha so his hand is just brushing hers and lets the tiny amount of contact ground him. Clint is on his other side and he has a desperate need to reach over and take his hand, but he restrains himself, not wanting to draw anymore attention than he already has.
Juno doesn't pay too much attention to Tony answering questions, trying to keep his focus on his breathing and on not bolting out of the room. He finds himself thinking about the progress he's made over the last several months and how, if this had happened even a couple of months ago, he might not have been able to cope.
Regular visits to see Dr Grey and putting all her useful tips into practice has definitely helped Juno to centre himself in times of need and more important, to get himself out of his head when his own mind tries to attack him with flashbacks and nightmares.
Tony's next sentence does catch Juno's attention.
"I suppose you all have some questions for my son." Tony tells the room, looking back at Juno. "We'll keep this brief, if you don't mind."
Tony steps away from the podium and holds his hand out to Juno. The boy swallows his nerves, remembering that everyone had promised him he had nothing to worry about, and steps forward. Tony wraps his hand around Juno's upper arm and gives it a comforting, reassuring squeeze, stepping to the side slightly so Juno can stand in front of the now intimidating looking podium.
Juno swallows again and steps forward, resting his shaking hands on the edge of the glass stand. He clears his throat and looks out over the crowd of staring faces.
"Uh, hello." He murmurs into the microphone, his voice cracking with nerves.
"Master Stark! Does Mr Starks genius-billionaire status have anything to do with you coming forward, claiming to be his son?"
"No, of course not." Juno says truthfully. "I didn't even know who he was when we first met."
"Excuse me but, how can you not know who Tony Stark is? His name and face are all over the media and internet."
Juno can feel Tony's hand on his shoulder, ready to jump in if he gets uncomfortable with any of the questions. But Juno takes a leaf out of his old mans book and smiles politely before saying, "I guess I've had more important things to do than obsess over unnecessaries such as media outlets."
He has to hold back a laugh as he hears Clint snort behind him. Tony squeezes his shoulder and the points into the crowd. "You, with the glasses."
"Thank you, Mr Stark." The reporter says, standing and adjusting his notepad. "Master Stark, what does your mother have to say about this?"
Juno feels Tony's grip on his shoulder tighten slightly. "Nothing," Juno says calmly. "She's dead."
The crowd of reporters goes quiet for a few seconds before the same man speaks up again. "Is that why you chose to seek out Mr Stark now?"
"No," Juno frowns. "My mother died shortly after my second birthday."
"Do you think she'd be happy for you?"
Juno's frown deepens and his grip on the edge of the podium stand tightens a little, his knuckles going white. "Yes, I do. I can't imagine any parent wanting anything but happiness for their child."
Tony steps forward then and leans into the mic. "This'll be the last question folks." He tells the crowd. "You at the back in the sunglasses and trench coat."
"Master Stark," the person says, their voice showing a slight British accent. "Is it true you were abducted as a toddler and forced to live underground, with a group of other abducted children while being beaten and tortured by a man you called Master?"
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So there we have it! Hope you all enjoyed and look forward to feedback as always.
Much love to all!