#siwwath

Tony is sitting with Harley and Peter on with side of him, the six year old twins curious about the blueprints their Dada was drawing.

"Hey."

The greeting has Tony looking up, the soft smile of comfort shifting into a broad grin.

"Steve!"

"I thought you might want to help me cook? Bucky said he was going to talk to Sam for some weird reason."

"Huh, well, I'm up for it," Tony smiles, getting up.

What neither adults realize is that both twins had been completely silent during this exchange, watching Steve take their Dada into the kitchen, which they were banned from.

They were also oddly silent during the cooking and meal.

So, as the meal was interrupted halfway through by a mission, then when they returned and both twins grabbed their mother tightly, Steve didn't suspect a thing as he went for a kiss...

Only to get kicked, in the stomach, into a wall.

Peter lands on his feet on the coffee table, pointing at Steve and the others, who are all caught up in shock.

"My Dada!" Peter proclaims, "Dada belongs to me and Harley! No stinky Dog-Alphas! Ever!!"

"Peter?!"

Tony picks up his angry child, as Harley calmly sticks as close to both of his family members.

"He's Ours!" Harley says, "Ours!"

Tony seems to be unable to decide between embarrassment and humour, so he just steers the twins away, not wanting to deal with anymore destruction of property.

Steve falls out of the wall with a tug from Bucky.

"So... That happened," Scott remarks.

Steve was sitting on the couch when he heard a loud scream.

Instantly on alert, he jumps up and runs for whatever’s happening, turning the corner to find Peter looking down at Tony, the 40 year old face-down on the carpet.

“Uh… Tony?”

Steve looks up to see Harley and the others.

There is a loud thunk as Tony jumps to his feet.

“Harley Tyson Keener…” Tony growls, “You have some explaining to do!”

Harley lets out an embarrassed chuckle.

“Uh… What?”

Tony leans back a little, fingers twitching, before turning to Peter, putting his hands on his knees with a soft smile.

“Petey-pie, what did you just say about Harley?”

Peter’s face lights up.

“I love Harley and I’m gunna marry him in future!” the four-year-old booms, giving a very angelic smile, filled to the brim with joy.

It feels like a complete punch to the gut, Peter even having an outline of what those words mean...

Steve’s fists tighten.

“Heh heh, uhhh…” Harley backs away a bit, smile frozen, “I’m just… Gunna…”

“Keeeeenerrr!” Tony hisses, as Harley makes a break for it, Tony hot on his heels.

Steve watches them go, before turning back to everyone else, who are watching the current events with varying forms of entertainment, Clint practically jumping up and down on his feet in excitement.

“Nat, Sam, Bruce: you’re on Tony duty. The rest of you lot, scram,” Steve says, taking a slow breath, before turning to Peter, crouching down to reduce how intimidating he could look.

“Hey, do you want to come and help me cook some pop-tarts?” he asks, offering a hand.

Completely forgetting what had just occurred between his Dad and brother-figure, Peter runs over to Steve, grabbing his hand with an eager grin.

Peter sat by the lift, the three year old recently done with their nappy-change, so now sat in a pastel-blue top with white stars and his currently-creaseless, white nappy.

“Petey-Pie...” Tony says, attempting to get his fussy toddler away from the penthouse entrance: Harley had already dropped off and should now be fast asleep in the twins’ crib.

Peter lets out a wordless, sulky yell, scooting away from Tony.

“Pops!” Peter snaps, glaring at Tony.

“He won’t be back yet, sweetheart,” Tony says, trying to help Peter understand.

“Will!” Peter snaps, “Pops Will!”

Tony is tired, he’s still got forms to sign and-

“PATTA!”

Harley had escaped their crib again.

Tony lets out a soft groan, as Peter points at the lift door.

“Pops!”

Harley looks at the door, then at Peter and, after a moment, yells a very loud “NO!”

“Yeah!” Peter snaps, Tony quickly moving to grab the two, though only Harley is willing, Peter scooching away again.

Tony gives up; at this rate, if he tried forcing Peter to go to sleep, Peter will not stop yelling and probably set off Harley.

So, he’ll let Harley play with his toys on the couch, by Tony, then when Peter drops off he can take them both back to their crib...

Tony tries to ignore the worry in his gut as Peter, now surrounded by five of his most loyal soft toys, the Captain Bear tightly held in his little arms, the toy’s twin, an Iron Bear, in Harley’s arms.

Harley drops off again, leaning against Tony, though Peter continues to sit at the doorway, not even taking into account anything Tony says, ignoring the sippy-cup at his side.

Tony looks at the clock on his StarkPad.

It’s past midnight; Christmas Eve had just become Christmas Day.

“Pete-” Tony starts, though then Peter sits up straighter, Tony just about hearing the lift as it passed the floor two storeys down.

The lift opens, revealing a muddy, smoke-covered Captain America.

Peter lets out a loud, happy yell, waking Harley, as Steve finally spots the quieter of his two sproglets at his feet, holding their arms out towards him.

“Heyyy, what are you doing up?” Steve asks, carefully propping his shield against the wall, looking around for something to wipe his hands clean on, though Peter lets out a pouty “Poppa!”

Steve gives up, moving to scoop Peter up, only for another, equally small child to tackle him, wrapping their arms around his neck.

“Woah! Harley?”

“Pops!” Harley greets.

Peter lets out a low whine, Steve scooping up Peter with his free hand.

Peter leans against his chest, as Tony stands up, smiling softly.

“Tony, the Sun’s already set, what are-” Steve starts, though Tony can only bring himself to greet his husband with a warm kiss.

“Peter refused  to go to bed until you returned,” Tony whispers, as Peter finally fell asleep, snuggled up pn Steve’s shoulder as Harley is quick to follow.

Really?” Steve asks, voice equally soft, though it cracks slightly as Tony takes Harley, being careful of the ring of toys and the Paddington-Bear-themed sippy cup.

“He wouldn’t even move from where he was sitting. Harley broke out of their cot again and then dropped off by me on the sofa, until Peter woke him, of course.”

Steve’s face goes from surprise, to worry, to that soft, sappy warmth Tony couldn’t help but reflect.

“Well then, looks like I should start having a hometime, myself.”

Tony can’t resist giving his hubby another kiss, though this time he gets a mouthful of soot, making him have tourn away, disgust twisting his features.

“Shower, now,” he says, “I’ll bathe these two, again, though I have a feeling putting them back in their cot is a bad idea.”

“They can sleep in our bed tonight,” Steve agrees, “And if you need any help with Harley...”

“He takes after his Dada,” Tony smirks, “Definitely has that Stark brattiness.”

Thirty minutes later, Peter and Harley are cuddled up between their parents, though Peter had refused to relinquish his grip on Steve until Steve had just bathed with Peter instead of separately, gently holding Peter slightly above the water, cleaning him down himself as Tony got Harley dressed in a new set of jammies.

Steve doesn’t realise Tony has fallen asleep himself, until Steve’s “I love you” is answered with soft breaths.

Careful of their children, Steve leans over to kiss Tony’s forehead.

"Wait, Tony-" Steve yells as Tony almost runs into Bucky, the hulking Alpha making Tony look two-thirds Bucky's size.

Tony freezes, looks at Steve and Natasha, as Bucky sniffs.

Then promptly jumps on Tony, Tony's yell muffled by chapped lips and a silver hand, turning it into a submissive whine.

Natasha is quick to try and tug Bucky off, Steve running to help as he sees the dulled surprise on Tony's face.

"Uh, hey, Stevie; next time, mention he's my soulmate, too, alright?"

Bucky growls, getting Natasha off, though she still tries baring her own Alpha fangs in challenge, as Bucky's directed elsewhere, giving enough time for Steve to hoist his Omega into his arms.

"You OK, sweetheart? I know we're near your heat but-"

"I haven't been getting any for ages!" Tony snaps, "And I'm really close, oh my god you're carrying me. Steve, Stevie-Wonder? Don't put me down, I don't think I'll get up again."

"Okay, really close heat," Steve says, as both Alpha and Omega hear the other Alpha Roar.

Tony lets out a high-pitched keen.

The gala was in full swing, the Midgardians twice as annoying as Long when he found some new, tiny creature.

"How can you stand this?" he hisses to Stark, having avoided a groping hand for the twentieth time.

"Practice," Tony replies, before calling out to Steve, heading off towards the soldier.

He ends up wandering, watching everyone intently, when he sees Peter.

For a moment, he watches him as he's walking amongst everyone, a smile like moonlight upon his face.

But then he stops, eyes fixed off to the left, an expression Loki knew all too well upon his face.

Loki looks over, unable to see who. Nonetheless, he'll spend some time with him, strolling over with very little outward care.

"Peter," he smiles, "are you well?"

"Wh- oh! Yeah! Yeah, I'm okay!" Peter stammers, the grip on his glass of soda tight enough to make tiny cracks appear.

Loki manages to calm him down and they talk for a bit...

Until a tall blonde, only a little less built than Steve, steps in.

"Peter Parker, right?!" the man smiles, as Loki eyes the way the glass is stressed again.

"S-Skip, f-fancy seeing you here," Peter stutters, slinking closer to Loki, who analyses the man: blonde, blue eyes, could be handsome if it wasn't for the leer on his face as he loomed over the spiderling.

He lets himself focus on the actions and words, mind screaming wrongwrongwrong-

The powder is held over Peter's drink as Skip keeps Peter's eyes on his face.

Loki needs no further explanation, grabbing the man's wrist.

"My my," he hums, "Whatever could this be?"

Skip's eyes widen for a second, before he relaxes.

"Sugar, to sweeten up the drinks they're serving."

"Aren't the non-alcoholic drinks sweet enough?" Loki grins.

The squirming slug gives a smirk of his own, trying to keep Loki's attention away from the sneaking hand.

Peter flinches away with a yelp, as Loki boils over, punching the fool in the jaw, sending him flying across the room.

"YOU KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OF HIM YOU LECHEROUS WORM!" Loki roars, putting himself between Peter and the disgusting creature.

Silence falls as Loki faintly realises Peter has accidentally broken his glass.

But the others are there already.

"Do you think you could so blatantly try drugging and groping one of the few Midgardians I care about! But by the way he was acting, this was at least the second time!"

He vaguely hears Tony tending to Peter, as a hand is set on his own arm.

"Loki," Thor says.

But Loki doesn't care, shaking off Thor's hand as he strides forwards.

"I believe Stark's dear FRIDAY will have caught all of that on tape, and Dr Banner might even confirm the powder in your pocket to not be the mere food condiment you claimed. Or is there really a type of sugar out there to make one lose control of their bodily functions enough for fake predators, such as yourself?"

The mewling quim scrabbles back, until Thor is grabbing Loki more firmly.

"Do not dirty your hands with something as puny as this creature," Thor says, voice soft.

"I rather punish him," Loki growls.

"Midgard has its own laws for this, I believe that good Captain and Stark will deal with this appropriately."

Loki is quiet for a moment, until Steve has come from the crowd with Bucky, both hoisting the snivelling cur to his feet.

Finally, Loki turns, Thor letting Loki move to Peter's side, showing his hands.

"May I?" he asks, as Rhodey, Natasha, Pepper and the SI security team shoo the guests from the room.

Peter wraps his arms around Loki's chest, Loki returning the favour as he lets himself break.

"How did you know?" Peter asks.

"The fear on your face," Loki says, voice heavy, "You are not the only one to suffer in such a way, but you will never experience it again, as long as I am here."

Peter shatters, a sniff breaking free as a hand moves to try and clutch Loki closer, as Loki only holds him, Tony waiting until Loki notices him again to speak.

"Thanks, he's gunna be rotting in jail for as long as I I get it."

"There will be others who have suffered from him," Loki says, voice soft, "To know he is caught will most likely encourage some of them to come forwards."

Tony nods.

"Yeah," he says, "I'll get Nat to make you guys some hot choc."

Tony, in the middle of Avengers, staring at the live feed for Loki's Tank: Hey Thor, do you know a Goddess of Death, by any chance?

Thor: ??? I do not believe we have one, no.

Tony: Well, you see, I was balanced between life and death once, when this lady, dressed with a black cloak made of midnight and this dress that seemed to be woven from supernovas came to me. She called herself death and, apparently, my title is more than just a title, so she said "My Merchant, much wrong has been done to my Goddess and you. One day you will meet, but only my Goddess' brothers, both younger and untaught of their origins, shall truly find the way"... So I thought I'd ask you.

Thor: Well then, I will ask it of my Father, once all this is said and done.

*trillions of light years away*

Loki arrives to the Stark Tower, caring very little about the amount of men he had lost: he would have The Others with him, soon.

He would have his Great Master's Prize and rule over this puny, backwater planet.

"Gaa!"

He stops in his tracks, looking down to see the tiny human gripping the base of his jacket.

"What?"

The infant grins, locks of messy curls framing an angelic face...

That turns cheeky, just as Loki finds himself flying across the room, denting the wall.

"EEEEE!" the child(?!) squeals, clapping tiny hands.

Loki moves to attack with the staff, only for a black and white wolf to snatch the staff from his hands.

"AaaAAAAh!!" The toddling infant coos, as gravity finally helps Loki from the wall.

"Damn it!" Loki hisses, moving to grab his staff from the creature who had-

Another crash resounds, as Loki finds himself unable to see beyond the wallpaper and wall-fillament.

"Blasted Brat!" he growls.

When he rolls out this time, he's not expecting to find the wolf already throwing the room's largest seat at him...

Tony lands.

"Peter?!" he calls, "Peter?!"

He finds Loki imitating the witch from the Wizard of Oz, crushed under the couch, on which was Peter and his Nanny-Bot, APHINA.

"Oh god, Peter!" he calls, scooping up his child.

"Daaaaa!!" Peter coos, throwing his arms around Tony's neck.

A muffled groan comes from under the couch.

"I believe the Young Master has made... Friends. Of a sort."

Tony pauses, looking round.

Only then does he realize the pair had been sat in front of a large, Loki-shaped hole in the wall, another one to the left of the lift...

"Huh."

Well... Loki had gone bear Peter, of course APHINA would bash him about a bit.

"Daa! DadadadadaDA!" Peter chants.

"Alright, as long as he doesn't die or bleed to much, and you stay away from the window, you can play in here," Tony hums, "Daddy loves you."

Peter giggles as Tony kisses his forehead, leaning up to splatter an infantile kiss on Tony's jaw.

"Dada! DadadadadaDA!"

Tony coos, bouncing his son a little, setting him down gently, as the new suit arrives.

"Bye bye!" he waves.

"BAH BAH!" Peter yells, as Tony flies off, synching back into the Avenger's com-line.

"I found Loki. He got in trouble with my Dog."

"What?!" Steve demands.

"Right now he's under the couch, APHINA didn't take kindly to him going near her pup."