He’d been working since… two days ago, really, but he wasn’t tired. He wasn’t tired at all, not even as his hands trembled and his eyelids felt heavy with an exhaustion not even his 26th cup of coffee could stave off.
But Tony was a professional, a genius with several degrees and many more accomplishments behind him than any other human being could dream of.
So he continued to work on his project despite his exhaustion, because he will complete it by that deadline, basic human necessities be damned.
At least that was the plan. Until his trembling hand slipped and the tip of the soldering iron grazed against the calloused yet sensitive flesh of one of his fingers.
“Fuck!”
Tony was quick to drop the soldering iron onto his workbench and instinctually bring the burnt finger into his mouth, wincing as his saliva could only provide so much soothingness to the burn. He stood up, knocking his metal stool over and flinching at the loud noise it made, before he trudged over to the nearby sink and turned it on. He held his hand beneath the water and exhaled a soft breath of relief. The icy-cold stream of water felt better than his saliva.
Unfortunately, the ruckus he’d made was enough to alert his boyfriend who’d been passing by his workshop. The door opened after Bruce typed in a manual override for Tony’s lock.
“Tony? Tony, what happened?” Bruce walked in and quickly rushed over to his boyfriend’s side, grabbing ahold of his wrist to pull his hand closer for examination.
“I burnt my finger with the soldering iron.” Tony held back the urge to yawn. God, he was tired. “Just a little slip-up and another scar to add to the collection.”
“Baby,” Bruce spoke in that quiet, yet calculated tone that made Tony’s expression soften, “you’re tired. When was the last time you’d slept?”
Tony’s brows furrowed as he searched for an answer.
“Stopping to think about it just tells me it’s been long enough already.” Bruce said, gently guiding Tony’s hand underneath the cold water yet again. “Baby boy…”
“Oh, Bruce, don’t.” Tony sighed and rubbed his temples with his uninjured hand. The last thing he wanted to do was get into that headspace right before he was about to complete a crucial part of one of his projects, because he’d stay like that for who knows how long…
He couldn’t help that when it was so comforting.
“Tony, you know it wouldn’t hurt to take a break every once in a while.” Bruce continued to speak in that soft tone, stepping away briefly to open the sink’s cabinet and pull out a first aid kit– the first aid kit he’d insisted be placed in Tony’s workshop. He set it on the edge of the sink and opened it, briefly pushing up his glasses before examining the kit’s contents. His eyes scanned it for what he needed. “Especially when it’s been a month since you and I have… you know.”
“I don’t know what you’re implying here, Brucie.” Tony looked at the stream of water to avoid eye contact as he was lightly scolded. “Suddenly, I’m an idiot and can’t figure out what you mean.”
Bruce just gave a soft chuckle. He opened a small packet of a burn cream and gently guided Tony’s hand closer. He applied the cream. “You know what I’m talking about, Tones, I miss my baby boy…and I think now’s the perfect time for you to be little.” With words like that, Tony felt his brain almost go to mush with how happy those caring words made him feel. He bit down on his lip worryingly, still avoiding eye contact with his partner. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it after realizing he had absolutely nothing to say.
Bruce’s magical way of talking was already making him feel little.
“And I think my baby boy agrees with me.” Bruce said, reaching into the first-aid kit for a bandage, searching for the right one. He smiled when he found the one with the blue cartoon puppy his little seemed to adore, and he held it up to show him. “Look what daddy found, baby.”
“..Wha’s that for?” Tony asked, his tone of voice slurring slightly as he felt himself slip slowly into his headspace. He blinked a bit, shaking his head. What was he, stupid? Of course it was for covering the wound. How could he forget? Stupid headspace…
“It’s a bravery badge, pumpkin.” Bruce said, passing it to Tony’s uninjured hand so the baby could take a closer look. “It’s for only the bravest babies.”
Tony blinked, looking at the bandage, smiling when he saw the blue puppy and orange puppy on it–his favorite cartoon! Dada was so thoughtful. “Why?”
“Because,” Bruce took the bandage gently from his little and he unwrapped it, before wrapping it around his baby’s finger, “it’ll protect your owie.”
“Ohhh.” Tony’s eyes widened a little in surprise, which made Bruce laugh. He loved how curious his little baby was.
“I think someone’s due for naptime.” Bruce said as he closed the first-aid kit. He tucked it into the cabinet, where it belonged, and he held onto Tony’s hand. “Come on, let’s go upstairs and get you tucked into bed.”
Sometimes Bruce wished he had the strength of the big guy without letting him out so he could carry his baby boy. The two being close in height made it awfully difficult for him to even try.
He guided his baby across the workshop, making sure not to let go of Tony in case he stumbled–which happened often when the little one was regressed, the poor baby’s coordination wasn’t the best when he was tiny. He stopped halfway through to unplug the soldering iron and then continued on their trek out of the workshop, and into the bedroom.
Once they were there, he let go of Tony’s hand and gently helped his little one into the bed. He smiled softly at how Tony’s thumb seemed to instantly fly into his mouth.
“No, no. We have a friend for that.” Bruce said and searched through the box of little gear beneath the bed, taking out Tony’s favorite green pacifier. He popped it into the little’s mouth and Tony immediately suckled on it. What a cute picture.
Tony glanced at the box of little gear and pointed eagerly at the stuffed bear toy in the box, the big one that was large enough to make him feel absolutely tiny. The one that was perfect for cuddles that he’d lovingly named Spark.
“You want your teddy?” Bruce asked, grabbing the teddy when he saw the little one nod. He set it down on the mattress and closed the box, sliding it beneath the bed.
Tony picked up his teddy and hugged it close, running his calloused fingers through its soft, short fur. His sleepy, heavy eyelids closed and he rested his head atop the teddy bear’s head.
Bruce sat down on the edge of the bed, and he lifted the blankets carefully. “Come on, baby boy, lay down for me.”
Tony sleepily opened his eyes with a whine, pouting briefly before slowly laying down in bed, curling up around his large teddy. He looked at Bruce with those big, sweet, chocolate brown eyes of his…as if begging for his daddy to take a nap with him.
And who would Bruce be if he denied such a request?
Bruce just smiled and climbed into a comfortable position, wrapping his arms around his baby. He pulled the blankets up and hummed softly, lulling his sleepy baby to bed.