The Avengers
Tony really shouldn’t have agreed to allow them to stay. He knew, deep down, that it was a terrible idea. But, of course, like the people-pleasing idiot he was, he agreed. And now he was stuck with the consequences of his actions. Now he had to house 4 out of 5 of the Avengers. Which made hiding his secret that much harder. How do you hide the fact that you’re a little from two secret agents, a super soldier, and one of the most brilliant scientists to date?
Tony’s solution was to hide away in his lab at first. He occasionally would attend a dinner or movie night. He, of course, showed up when there was an emergency that required the Avengers. But other than that he would hide. Which, of course, the rest of the team disliked immensely. Though, it wasn’t for the reasons that Tony would assume.
They weren’t annoyed with him for being busy, they were worried about him taking care of himself and isolating himself. It was strange for someone outside his small group of people to care about him. But apparently, the rest of the Avengers care quite a bit, and they soon became determined to make that known. He knew he should put an end to it, separate himself before it was too late, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so.
He accepted the meals that Steve would bring him, eating them dutifully while the man hovered over him like a mother hen. He’d thank Bruce for bringing him coffee and allow him to stay and watch him work, chatting idly about anything that came to mind. And when he’d start to get tired he’d let the other scientist usher him off to bed. When Clint showed up in his lab asking to play with his robots, he obliged. And when the archer demanded that he stop working to play video games, more times than not Tony would simply sigh and put down whatever tool he was holding. Even Natasha would show up and find some reason to drag him out of the lab, usually some excuse of needing him to fix something on her floor. And for the most part, Tony obliged.
He knew it was a dangerous game to be playing. The rest of the team were all incredibly intelligent people so the likelihood of them noticing the patterns was very high. But he just couldn’t help himself. The companionship, the genuine concern about his welfare, it was all Tony had ever wanted.
So, he continued, praying that no one noticed anything off about him. As the weeks passed by, he grew more and more comfortable around the team, quickly becoming friends with each one, and learning as much about them as they would allow. He didn’t need to worry about not knowing anyone’s classification, that was on record through SHIELD.
Clint was a little. Tony to this day is impressed with the fact that the other little one was able to get into the line of work he’s in. The same with Natasha who was a caregiver-little switch. Bruce was a caregiver, something that surprised Tony when he first read the other scientist’s file. The man hadn’t struck him as a caregiver at first, but when he’d think back to the way that Bruce would firmly direct him to bed, make him drink water, and assist Steve in forcing him to eat, it became rather clear. He wasn’t sure what Thor was, he didn’t have a file with SHIELD, but if he had to take a stab he would guess that he was either a Dom or Caregiver. He did know, however, that Steve was also a caregiver-little switch though he tended to be in his caregiver headspace.
That particular piece of information had been a recent discovery because up until now most everyone had assumed Captain America was a dom. The man came from a time before being accurately tested was possible and a requirement. Many people were misclassified and it was a lot easier to fake being a different classification than it was now. Now, you had essentially had to pay hush money and commit fraud.
Tony sometimes got the urge to admit his secret. Figured that maybe he could trust his team. But he always chickened out last minute, his worries about losing his company, his reputation, and his ability to be an Avenger stopping him. He knew that logically he wouldn’t be kicked off the team, if he was then Clint would have to be as well, and maybe even Natasha and Steve, but that didn’t stop him from being afraid of it.
But when he’d sit in the living room and watch Clint get doted on by the others the small seeds of jealousy would root themselves in his chest. He wanted what the other little one had so badly. To be doted on and cared for. To be coddled and loved. He wanted it so badly and he hated himself for it. He had resolved himself to a life of silent wishing and desire, but of course, the world wouldn’t allow that for him.
A year had passed when Tony got a phone call from SHIELD asking for the Avengers to convene for an emergency meeting. Steve, of course quickly obliged, dragging all of them up to Headquarters to meet with Fury. Tony had been going through every worst possibility since he received the phone call, so he was a bundle of nerves when he finally sat down at the meeting table. Everyone looked at Fury nervously and the man stood there, silently for a moment, seeming to consider his words before he finally looked up and locked eyes with Steve.
“James Barnes is alive.”