#fictional caretaker

—yet you're wide awake. You sit in front of Nattys door, tail wagging as you enthu- siastically expect her.

You playfully let your tongue glide over your sharp teeth. Your ears twitch towards the very few noises of the morning, a few other early birds like Bruce and Steve awake, but you only wait this eagerly for your special caretaker Nat.

After every bad thought and experience that stuck with you, Natasha patiently made sure you're part of her family and aleays have enough toys and love. Finally her door lets out a little creak and a groggy looking Natasha steps out. You immedietly jump up and do an excited turn while panting. Natasha tiredly smiles, closing the door behind her.

While crouching down she ruffles your hair and says:

"Hey, lil gentleman."

You're technically able to speak, yet just give a bark of appreciation and excitment. But she quickly stand up again and walks down the hallway for a coffee. You pout and quickly follow. You start gnawing at the hem of her jeans. She doesnt stop walking so you keep it up, feeling the fabric between your teeth.

As the both of you reach the common room she crouched down again and very gently nudges you away with her hand, speaking up:

"Hey, buddy, I know you're energized as always, but give me a teeny bit time for my coffee. We already played the whole day yesterday. Plus I'll still need my jeans, won't I?"

You smile and nod, an effect she just has on you. She's the nicest person you ever came across to. But as she keeps walking, all the thoughts leave your head, your instincts focused on her jeans hem again. Whats the worse thing that could happen? They are so hypnotizing while she walks.

On your paws you rush towards them again while the tired redhead trys to make her coffee. She crouches down again and guides your mouth away from her jeans with her fingers. She speaks up patiently yet a little emphatically:

"Alright, buddy, I already told you...youre biting holes in my denims...why dont you go play with Mr.Elmo? Or a chewie?", she offers and goes back to ger morning routine.

You pout a little, that wasnt how you planned this morning...but Natty needs her time, she set a boundary, that doesnt mean she loves you any less. You go off and run around the whole common room, testing out how high you can climb, how well you can balance, how fast you can skate and how tasty the wood of the commode is — all despite Natashas warnings.

You go back to gnawing on her jeans, fighting with the hems. You feel her pick you up on the small of your neck as you protest against the interruption:

"Hey, I was winning!"

The woman just crooks her eyebrow a little.

"Against the evil of my 40$ jeans?"

"Well...yeah", you argue weakly, wiggling in the air while she holds you in place.

"No, buddy, you'll spend some time in the playpen now."

You gasp and playfully wiggle your paws in the air while repeating:

"No, babycage, no babycage."

Natasha chuckles while walking you over to the playpen, easily holding you with one hand.

"We talked about this before, it isnt a baby- cage, its fun and safe for you to calm down in while I'm getting ready.", she says while setting you down onto the soft pillows of the cage.

You look at her through the intefference pattern of the pen.

"Does it have a gwid?", you ask her.

"Well...yes.", she replys calmly, crouched down with her hands folded.

"Can me come out?", you continue your little interrogation.

"No", Natasha replys with a gentle shake of her hand.

"Then.Its.A.Babycage.", you decide firmly and huff.

"Sorry, buddy", Natasha replys gently but with a smile, "no coming out until I say so. Let me know if you need anything tho."

With that she stands up to really begin her morning routine. First you pout, but then you let yourself dramatically fall into the pillows and cushions. You quickly feel your nervous energy draw out of you, you're content with your thoughts.

With a stretch of your paws, you take a little half nap while you look around through the orange grid into the modern and calm common room.

After a while you watch Natasha walk over again, handing you your stuffie Mr.Elmo with a warm smile. You feels a rush of affection in your limbs and chest and nuzzle into him. After a while Clint comes in and a little of your energy returns.

"Uncle Clint! Nat puts me in babycage!"

He pulls up an eyebrow and takes a bite from an apple, casually sitting down to your pen and speaking up:

"That so? Thats rough, juvie 's hard, man. Whatcha do?"

Sometimes you dont really understand that man, but he is funny and chill and plays fetch with you and makes Natty happy, so you love him. You shrug and think about what you did.

"Uh, chew her jeans and being a little too hyper and 'm didnt listen", you explain and add a little cocky, "but is otay, cause I liked da pen time, it is cozy."

The man nods. "Yup, I think that was her plan, lil furball... Hey, once you grow up a little we can try to help you learn to articulate through archery."

You pout and tilt your head.

"Why no now?"

"Well, 'cause you cant walk on two legs yet, kiddo. For now letting you run crazy on the lawn will do."

You sit up and hold the teddy with your paws and speak up:

"Helen said 'm can walk when I'm a big boy, 'cause...'cause uhm....", you try to remember what the scientist told you. Clint patiently waits. "...uh, my stature gwows with me and when I get olda I look less like an anmal and more like a boy."

Clint smiles and says: "Thats, right, bud, youre a smart boy ... cup ... uh, smart lil furball."

You shake your little head and object:

"A big furball" You want to prove yourself and jump on your four paws, letting out your best growl. Its actually pretty impressive, almost grown up, yet your own unique growl.

Clint smiles with rather gentle eyes, which is unique for him. In that moment Nat comes in, changed and make-up on by now, as usual in her warm and soft but stern demeanor.

With her hands on her hips she asks: "Giving Clint trouble? Still in high spirits?"

Clint turns to her, you notice he always has the same look in his eyes when looking at her, its platonic, but sometimes it feels like they know something you dont, like they are best friends forever. Your tail starts wagging.

Clint assures her in your favor: "No, no, he was just showing off his big growl. He has been doing pretty good, he liked his...is it really called a babycage?"

"No"

"Yes"

You and Nat say in unison. Clint smiles amused at that, thats more like his usual facial expression.

"Well either way, he was doing very good, right, bud?"

You nod eagerly:

"Mhm, mhm. I'm wanna come out Natty, I didn't mean to uhm...uh, be too wild and do dangerous stuff and fighting with your expinsive jeans."

Nat smiles and crouches down next to Clint, ruffling your hair.

"No worrys, buddy, youre a good boy."

She picks you up with a gentle smile, you relax into her arms and lick her face, giggling alongside her. It might be a cheesy sight, but you wouldnt trade this happiness – or Nats chuckling – for the world.

Life here is great. Especially now where you spot the freshly hot baby bottle behind Nat."

~~Notes~~

This was my first real try, I hope its okay. I take requests and do babyre, agere and teenre as well, mostly to heal inner children and teens or have fun.

Next oneshot will be a lil hybrid baby getting checked over by Helen with Nat as emotional support.