Chapter 18
August was blushing while Tony held him. Steve was busy getting a bottle ready in the kitchen. Tony hummed and bounced Auggy on his knees making the smaller boy whine and squirm.
"Shhh you're ok." Tony croons. August hid in his chest trying to get his feelings in order.
Peter came into the living room with a stretch. "Good morning." He says with a yawn
August's face burns red and burrows further into Tony's chest, and he kept bouncing him. "Auggy, you're ok." He says causing Peter to look on confused. "Aww, lil guy not feeling well?" He asks. August whines and fusses. Steve came in at this time shaking a warmed bottle. "He's a little fussy, he woke up big." He said as he sat next to Tony and pulled August into his lap with slight fuss from the little one and a huff from his husband. He settles August in his arms, and eases the bottle in his mouth. "Oh poor guy." Peter says.
"Have a seat, Pete. We need to chat." Tony says before taking a sip of his coffee. Peter froze for a moment, before grabbing a seat in a chair next to the couch. The sound of August gulping his bottle with small coos was the only thing penetrating the silence.
"We love having you here. And we love you in general. But we see that you're struggling." Tony starts.
Peters foot was bouncing like crazy. "Struggling?" He asks nervously. "Last night was alot kid. I just didn't even know that you were having nightmares." Tony starts.
"I didn't know they'd been so bad." Steve adds
"So I have some nightmares. It's normal in our work." Peter tried to sound nonchalant. "They're so bad that you're wetting the bed." Tony counters.
Peters face gets red and he looks almost pouty. "So what? It's a natural trauma response!" He says sounding angry. "Just tell us what's going on with you." Tony demands. "You've been tense! Do you think that maybe it has something to do with your placement?"
"Please stop it!" Peter blurts out finally with his voice cracking and his eyes watering.
The room was quiet.
The silence finally broke with Auggy whimpering and hiding his face in Steve's chest.
"I-I..." Peter couldn't speak. He looked up at Tony's concerned expression. "Kid, what's going on?" He asks calmly putting a hand on Peter's back.
"I just- Im jealous." He managed to get out looking at the carpet now, as if it could swallow him out of this situation.
"What?" Steve asks as he rubs Augusts back.
"I want what Auggy has." He says, with his voice sounding so hurt.
The two caregivers were lost. August looked at Peter and tilted his head.
"What do you mean kid?" Tony finally asks.
Peter was obviously getting frustrated with having to express his emotions. His bottom lip trembled before he finally bursts.
"I want to be held! I want to be coddled and babied and I want someone to help me after I have those nightmares and I just want what you guys have with Auggy!" It was a sudden outburst that left Peter pulling at his brown locks and tears streaming down his rosy cheeks.
Tony and Steve were stunned. August was in his headspace. The only thing going through his mind was that Peter was sad, and he know what helped when he was sad.
August offered Peter his paci to try and comfort him.
Peter looked up as the pacifier was nudged into the back of his hand that had been clutching his hair.
"I- uh." Peter stammers looking at Steve and Tony, who both had a look of pity for the youngest avenger.
His bottom lip trembles as Tony pulls him into his lap, holding him to his chest. "It's ok Bud." Tony practically whispers. And the flood gates break. So much pent up emotion flows from the poor boy.
Tony hushed him and Steve cuddled closer with August towards Tony and Peter. Peter looked up at the two with big sad eyes and this gained him two sympathetic smiles. "Kid, how long have you felt this way?" Tony asks calmly.
"Since I was about 19. W-when you guys really started looking for a little." He answers honestly. "I thought that m-maybe it was just jealousy but— I think I should get retested."
"That's very mature of you." Steve says straightening Peters brown curls. The boy nuzzled into the touch with a sniffle.
Tony rubs his back. "Can I get up real quick, kid? I need to call Fury for your retest." He says gently. Peter frowns almost pouting but Steve offers a hand to him and he slinks into Steve's warmth. With that Tony gets up and goes to the kitchen to make the call.
"What?" Nick answers annoyed.
"Jeez, bad time?" Tony asked as he grabbed a sippy cup for Peter.
"I'm in the middle of a call with Professor Xavier, now what do you need?" Came a snappy reply
"Could you get ahold of Doctor Simians? We need him for two placement tests." Tony says poring juice into the Iron Man sippy cup. Feeling anxious with Xavier being brought up.
"Two?" Nick asks. "Peters in need of a retest." Tony was quick to explain. "Right. I'll call him as soon as I'm done with Xavier." He grumbles hanging up.
Tony sighs and gets the lid on the cup before heading back to the living room. He tries to shake the feeling.
Peter looked up at him, blushing and burying his face in Caps chest when he saw the sippy cup.
August was wiggling out of Steve's arms and proceeded to crawl to Peony, still not fully in his head space. Tony smiles as he looks at Auggy, and goes to sit on the couch next to Peter, gently pulling him into his lap. "C'mere kiddo." He says in a soft tone with a reassuring smile. Peter eased at the touch and nuzzled into Tony looking up at him and Steve with big brown eyes. Steve ruffled his hair and Tony offered him the juice, which he took gratefully looking at Auggy as he drinks. August was shaking a rattle over Peony and she batted at it while he giggles like crazy. Tony puts on a show for them.
An hour later, the elevator dings.