Chapter 4
It’s been three weeks now and they are no closer to finding an answer than they were before. Loki had come to stay with them in the tower a few days after the incident. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had apparently gotten fed up with being outsmarted by a child and had been run ragged. It had taken no less than 8 agents working together to deliver the god to the tower.
But once the god had laid eyes on Tony, well, let’s just say all hell broke loose. Loki had joined Tony in Bucky’s arms and for all intents and purposes, the god was the epitome of angelic.
The agents thanked them profusely as they backed into the elevator as fast as possible.
The avengers blinked.
Tony and Loki babbled cheerfully whilst Bucky stared at the rest of them mouthing “help.”
The rest of them shrugged and even Clint backed away.
”Congrats Buck,” Steve grinned clapping him on the shoulder, “you’ve been promoted.”
The look Bucky sent Steve could've killed had he not been cuddling two toddlers.
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Babysitting duty as it turned out was excellent for Bucky.
He and the boys had come to an understanding. No causing trouble for Bucky and the boys could do whatever they wanted. Within reason. Obviously, since everyone had left him to fend for himself that first day, he did not extend this deal to anyone else. Instead, he actively encouraged the twin trouble makers to wreak as much inconveniencing havoc as their little hearts desired.
Only inconveniencing.
No maiming, torture, or serious injuries.
Only wounded pride.
The boys relished the challenge. Absolutely making it their mission to do the most before getting caught. And they rarely ever did. No one seemed to suspect the boys. Tony was an angel, which prompted the team to assume that Loki was also an angel since the two were practically inseparable.
Big mistake.
So when the first pranks fell, Bucky treated the boys to pizza for lunch, ice cream for dessert, and an extra hour of playtime. It was glorious.
Pink hair for Steve.
All the furniture in the common room was shifted just 5 centimetres to the left. Steve tripped over the coffee table twice, Bruce frowned at his seat but couldn't figure out why he was, Clint over-flopped on the couch and fell right off.
Clint's underwear? Missing.
Natasha's jackets were all placed out of order. She was not pleased. She stole all of Clint's socks.
Rhodey's army pins were just slightly off-center and his belts swapped for Hello Kitty-themed ones. Rhodey had one meeting with the board and had to raid Tony's closet in the hopes that his were still intact. News flash, they weren't for this exact reason. The colonel had to ask Pepper for one in order to get to the meeting on time.
Obviously, they had to mess with Bucky too or else he would have looked like the culprit, so in full view of the tower's residence, Bucky's shirts were replaced with neon coloured tank-tops that had varying slogans on them. From the classic "Winter is coming," to "who stole my plums?" It was a sight that's for sure.
The pranks got even better when Tony's pseudo-sons Peter and Harley dropped by a week later after having finally been briefed. Pepper had really debated on whether or not telling the boys would be a good idea.
Harley 18 and Peter 16 had practically dropped everything as soon as they could and rushed to the tower to see for themselves. Harley had to switch his classes to online in order to fly over from MIT, but he had gotten it done. Dropping Tony's name and mentioning the internship didn't hurt either.
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"Petey! Petey! Petey!"
Said teenager practically tackled, no, definitely tackled Bucky in his efforts to squish the little genius alive. They ended up in a heap on the floor and Bucky let out a small "oof."
"Mr. Stark! You're so small!"
Tony immediately gave Peter a headbutt, and the teen winced.
"Okay! Okay! Sorry!"
This resulted in giggles, which prompted Peter to giggle, Loki followed, and soon everyone in the vicinity was laughing. When everyone finally calmed down, Peter looked at the other toddler.
"Hello, Mr. Loki. You look adorable when you're not on a mind-controlled murder spree."
Loki merely shrugged.
Peter finally took a look at the adult he was currently on top of. He paled. Leaping from his spot, he put his hands up in prayer in front of his face and managed to squeak out, "I'm very very sorry, please don't punch me or rip my arm off Mr. Barnes, Sargent, sir!"
Bucky snorted.
"The hell kinda things you thinkin' bout squirt. I ain't ripped nobody's arm off last I checked."
"Right! Right, sorry. I just mean, you're the Winter Soldier and I just shoved you. To the ground! And-" Peter whipped his head towards the door, thankfully no one was there.
"Mr. Captain America sir might've murdered me for jumping his best friend, ex-assassin types person."
Bucky shook his head as he sat up, the two kids settling in his lap before peering up at the frantic teenager.
"Dun worry Petey. I pwotect you," Tony declared with as much resolve as a 4-year-old can have.
"And I'll puhtect you," Loki said with such certainty that Peter almost gaped at the boy. But then he realized that Loki wasn't talking to him, no, he was talking to Mr. Stark.
"Sit down before ya stroke squirt," Bucky chuckled. "Here, have a child."
And with that, Peter had one child thrust into his arms and he barely had time to register which one it was before he was plopping down onto the floor and cradling them close. Tony giggled at Loki's displeased expression from the safety of Bucky's arms. Adorable. Really. And if F.R.I.D.A.Y. was taking pictures and videos to store on Boss' private server, then no one had to know.
Right?