Irondad Oneshots

Sick And Stuck With Steve

"Good morning, Pete. I have to go to meetings for a few hours today. You'll be okay, Uncle Steve is going to stay with you while I'm gone. Sound alright?" Tony told his three year old as he walked into the kitchen in one of Tony's t-shirts that nearly reached his ankles.

Peter frowned as he joined his dad by the counter. "I don't want you to go."

"I'm sorry, kiddo, I have to go. But I bet you'll have fun with Uncle Steve, don't you think? You guys always have fun together!" Tony said, trying to cheer his kid up to no avail.

Peter clung onto Tony's legs as he began to wail. "No, you can't go! Don't leave, Daddy!"

Tony was confused as he picked Peter up and held him in his arms. Pete was never this upset when Tony had to go to meetings before, and especially not when Steve babysat. He usually loved when Steve babysat.

"What's going on, buddy? Why are you feeling so sad about hanging out with Uncle Steve today?" Tony asked softly, rubbing Peter's back.

"I just don't want you to go!" Peter sobbed, his arms wrapping around Tony's neck.

"Okay, bud, let's go sit down." Tony said as he carried Peter into the living room and sat down in the recliner. "Here, I want you to take this." He said, handing Peter a stuffed giraffe he had boughten him from the zoo the month previous. "And if you ever miss me, just hug the giraffe tight and remember how much I love you. And I'll always come home to you."

"Okay." Peter's crying slowing down as he took the giraffe in his arms.

"You want me to read a story?"

"Yeah, read Rainbow Fish." Peter sniffled as he laid on Tony's chest and hugged the giraffe tight.

Tony smiled and picked the book up off the floor beside the chair. By the time he was halfway through, Peter was asleep and Steve had walked in.

"Someone's tired today, huh?" Steve asked, gesturing towards the sleeping child on top of Tony.

"Yeah, I'm not sure what's going on with him. He was very upset that I was leaving today, even when I told him you'd be babysitting." Tony spoke quietly, setting the book aside. "But I have to go now."

The men switched places so Peter was now on Steve's chest as Tony got ready to go. "He's going to be upset when he wakes up and I'm not here. If you absolutely can't calm him down, you can FaceTime me."

"Alright." Steve nodded, rocking slightly in the chair. "See ya in a few hours."

"Bye, thanks for watching him." Tony called as he quietly slipped out the door.

Steve sat with Peter sleeping on him for nearly an hour until the boy began to stir. He woke up and looked at Steve before tears welled in his eyes. "I want Daddy."

"I know, buddy, he'll be back in a little while. What would you like to do until he comes back? If we stay busy, time goes by quicker." Steve spoke comfortingly to the boy in his arms.

"No, I just want Daddy here!" He cried, burying his face in his stuffed giraffe.

As Steve held the boy and tried to soothe him, he noticed how warm he was. "Pete, do you feel okay? You're warm."

"No I feel yucky and I want my daddy." Peter continued to cry, clutching onto Steve's shirt with one hand and the other holding the giraffe to his face.

"Jarvis, what's Peter's temperature?" Steve asked the AI, who scanned Peter's body and quickly responded. "His body temperature is 102.6, Captain."

Steve internally cursed as he hugged Peter close to him. "You have a fever, kiddo. Can we go get you some medicine so you feel better?"

Peter nodded slightly, holding onto Steve as the man carried him into the bathroom. "Alright, big guy, where's your medicine?" Steve asked as he rummaged through the cabinets until he found the grape flavored liquid.

Peter took the medicine with no argument before laying his head on Steve's shoulder as his crying began to slow.

"Wanna go lay down on the couch and watch Toy Story?" Steve asked gently, receiving a small nod from the sick child. He carried him back to the living room and laid on the couch with Peter on his chest.

As the movie played, Steve heard sniffling again. He looked down and saw Peter crying once more. "What's wrong, honey?"

"I miss Daddy and I don't feel good!" Peter sobbed into his uncle's shirt.

"I'm sorry, Pete. I know this day's no fun. But your dad should be home in a little bit, I promise." Steve said as he rubbed his back.

Peter continued to cry until he was out of tears. Then he continued to whimper until he fell into a restless sleep.

"Captain, Peter's temperature is 103.7 now." Jarvis spoke.

"Can you alert Tony please? I can't reach my phone at the moment."

"Of course." A few moments later, Jarvis spoke again. "Tony is on his way home now. He will be arriving in 28 minutes."

Steve sighed in relief, knowing that Peter needed his dad now more than ever. Fifteen minutes went by before Peter woke up crying once again.

"Hey buddy, your daddy's on his way home. He's coming back, kiddo." Steve assured him, hugging him tightly.

Peter continued to cry for Tony until he walked in the door.

"Hey, there's my guy." Tony spoke softly as he picked Peter up off of Steve's chest. "I'm here, Dad's here now."

"Daddy, I missed you." Peter sniffled, beginning to calm down in his dad's arms.

"I know, bubs, I missed you too. I heard you aren't feeling too good." Tony placed a hand on Peter's forehead as he spoke.

"I feel yucky." Pete whined as he buried his face in Tony's neck.

"I'm sorry, kiddo. What can I do? What will make you feel better right now?"

"You reading Rainbow Fish."

Tony smiled, sitting down in the chair with Peter as he had before he left. He picked the book up and began reading, only to hear light snoring moments later. "I love you, kid." He whispered, kissing his sleeping son's forehead.