Another Tuesday (Continuation) Pt. 2
Please Note! This is a continuation of writer Manicr’s unfinished fanfic Another Tuesday continued with her consent by myself. I’ve taken some creative liberties but otherwise will try my best to connect the following segments to her original work. Please check her out!
Log in report. Day Two. Four days until total regression to child mindset.
Current symptoms (see below) :
Little Wolverine ; exhibiting uncontrolled rage responses to negative stimuli. Mixed responses to positive stimuli. Manipulative behavior apparent. Animalistic behavior slowly showing. Caution advised.
Little Spiderman ; exhibiting rapid shifts in mood. Twitch and fear responses to negative stimuli. Strong attachment to food and positive stimuli. Low doses of appropriate medication to be added to testing and into meals.
Little Hawkeye ; exhibiting psychological distress by causes currently unknown. Acts of violence immediate after negative stimuli. Distrustful responses to positive stimuli. Possible medication to be added to testing and into meals.
Little Ms. Marvel ; exhibiting highly manipulative behavior. Entitlement responses to negative and positive stimuli. Controlling behavior using psychological exploitation. Extreme caution advised.
Little Patriot ; exhibiting erratic angry outbursts and heightened paranoia. Violent tendencies apparent. Extreme adverse responses to negative stimuli. No reaction to positive stimuli. Caution advised. Medication possibly needed.
Little Sentry ; exhibiting zero symptoms currently. Monitoring cycle via neurological tests and telepathic mind sweeps. Changes to be immediately addressed. Extreme caution advised.
The night had been one hell of a predicament. Most of the Young Avengers got to leave besides Billy, Teddy who wouldn't leave his boyfriend's side and Tommy if only to continue being part of the debacle; although they would be gone come morning to not worry their parents. The miniature Dark Avengers refused to be separated so everyone was piled between two rooms with makeshift beds. Daken was near mortified when his father attempted to tuck him into bed in plain sight of his comrades earning him cat calls from Bullseye who laughed himself hoarse.
The morning didn't seem to fair any better as an awkward breakfast commenced. Many of the "children" were irate from a near sleepless night. Norman looked the worst having slept hardly at all due to his increasing paranoia, something Steve brought to Reed's attention.
"Because of Osborn's circumstances it's highly probable this will only continue. I'm thinking about adding in some medications for the time being to help them through the process. Neurologically and physically they are going to have some difficulties as they adjust to the changes happening to them." Reed had explained it simply but Steve didn't feel any better about it. Watching Norman toss and turn all night flinching when spoken to and snarled when touched hadn't sat well in his stomach. Villain or not, child or not, it had been painful to be aware of and even worse was being helpless to do much about it.
Mac happily munched through his second bowl of cereal that morning as Peter watched. There was something oddly endearing about the little guy chowing down like a puppy given a treat. Mac had these big expressive oval eyes that squinted when he was confused, shined when he was awed and widened almost comically when shocked.
"You know, I kind of agree with that blonde girl's statement about them being cute. I can see it." Peter admitted to Logan at his right. "I mean, in a strange way. Everyone is cute as a kid maybe. What do you think?"
Logan just nodded absently, fixated on his son just as he had been since yesterday. "If you're talking about your little gobbler then yeah, I can see it." Without a second thought he reached over and swiped a thumb against the corner of Daken's mouth, rubbing away a small smudge of food remnant left behind. The boy had stilled briefly before snarling and smacked at the hand before it could pull out of reach. His cheeks brightened into an apple red blush as he floundered to wipe at his mouth with a sleeve carelessly. Being in a smaller body that was constantly in a state of change had left him unbalanced and unguarded, adding to the already frustratingly maddening ordeal.
"Look at Daddy's little girl," crowed Lester, cackling and nearly falling off his chair as he held his sides from laughing so hard. "Has to have his mouth wiped like a fuckin' baby!"
Daken growled, lunging over the table and tackling his mocker hard enough to push the chair over with them still in it. They wrestled and rolled around for a minute before being pulled apart by Clint and Logan respectively. Daken was hugged tightly to restrain his arms, back to Wolverine's chest as he kicked and panted for a few straining moments. Bullseye had been lifted by the collar of his shirt and the back of his pants in an embarrassing display of how light he was now. Clint shook him a little, not enough to harm but enough to warrant his attention.
"Quit provoking him. You don't look any better yourself trapped in an oversized T-shirt and shorts, kiddo." It was true, the white T-shirt hung on Lester's frame quite a bit and his shorts were being held up by what appeared to be a long shoelace tied around his waist substituted for a belt.
"Fuck off, you piece of shit!" Lester howled, struggling to get himself released. If only he had something to throw, then the bastard would be thoroughly sorry. As sorry as a bloodied screaming mess on the floor with something sharp stuck in his eye.
"Enough." Bob's voice rang throughout the room, effectively silencing everyone.
Bullseye hung limply for a few moments before Clint set him down again. "You are one hell of a brat. Even if you're a man stuck in a child's body." Clint snorted, shaking his head. He was shot a glare for the comment but given no further trouble as Lester buried himself in finishing his french toast. Daken had finally been let down too and shifted away from Logan immediately to sit shoulder to shoulder with the other boy even if they had only been fighting each other seconds ago. It was better than dealing with their "handlers".
"Are they always this strange of a duo?" Carol inquired of her little charge.
Karla just yawned, pointedly not looking at her. "Always."
When evening rolled around some visitors came in the middle of daily testing. "Knock, knock." A female voice was heard at the door of the lab. Mockingbird stood there with a smile, her eyes glinting with amusement. "What a sight this is."
Behind her Laura Kinney stepped into the room followed by her boyfriend Hellion. "...." Her eyes were sharply focused on Daken who was sitting on an examination table. He tensed, staring right back like it was a challenge as she advanced cautiously and sniffed the air. "You smell... different. And your hair is longer. And your clothes are changed."
"I change my clothes every day, sweetie." Daken mustered up his most patronizing tone.
"Well he looks rather non-threatening," Julian pitched in, walking closer. "They all do."
"Well isn't it pretty boy," Daken sneered. "Pleasure to see you again. Still ruining everything around you?"
A hand came down in a hard pat ontop of his head, ruffling his hair slightly. "None of that, kid." Rumbled Logan's voice who nodded at the new arrivals in greeting.
"They are rather adorable." Mockingbird commented as she came to stand next to Hawkeye. Lester sat on another table hooked up to a monitor as Reed drew blood for more tests, his legs dangled over the edge.
"You should of seen them earlier. Then you wouldn't be saying that."
Mockingbird rolled her eyes at Clint before addressing Reed. "So is this a permanent thing or...?"
"No," Mr. Fantastic hummed, storing the blood vials safely on a nearby desk. "We are working on a solution it's just taking some time. There are options available it's just a matter of finding a suitable one that won't cause any damage by reversing the spell that's been cast."
"Sounds tedious," Hellion sighed as he looked around the lab.
Osborn was looking mighty annoyed at his table, Dr. Banner taking his pulse and heart rate. "We are not a circus, Richards! Stop showing us off to ever idiot in your friends list!"
"Calm down, please. Your blood pressure is at risk if you don't learn to control your temper." Banner murmured, jotting down notes of his results.
Karla huffed a soft laugh. "That's rich coming from a green rage machine." She was cuffed on the back of the head by Carol who sported a reproachful expression.
"I'm sorry, Osborn. I hadn't expected company." Reed chimed in, hoping to dispel any further argument. He wasn't keen on the idea of Bruce hulking out over something one of their patients said. However, he was also fairly confident Bruce could handle himself as he usually did.
"I hold you responsible for what happens in your own damn building!" The little Stormin' Norman fumed, Banner softly trying to hush the irritable child sized man.
Steve sighed, sharing a look with Peter who seemed to be the luckiest of them all; Mac hardly made a peep other than squirming every so often from having to sit still for so long on a cold and hard examination table.
"He's awfully quiet," Tony voiced Cap's thoughts for him. He was running through some scans on a computer but otherwise looked bored.
Peter shrugged,"I don't know why but he just behaves really well. Especially without the symbiote. He's been really compliant. Then again I'm not teasing or making him do anything he doesn't want to. So there's that."
Another knock on the door shifted the attention to Johnny who was leaning in slightly. "So, uh, it's family movie night. Got the food and drinks ready. Are we going to take a vote on what to watch?"
"Family movie night," Mac spoke up with barely contained delight. "I want popcorn."
Lester on the other hand, snorted and clearly appeared unimpressed. "We're not fuckin' babies despite what we look like. They'll probably try to make us watch some bullshit kids movie about pony friendship and pink sparkly bitch princesses."
"Well what else are we gonna do," Mac sniped. He had a point at least. They were stuck here until they were changed back or risk running complications on the outside.
"... well?" Johnny looked to Reed who nodded with a smile.
"A movie night sounds like just the thing we need for a shut in week."
It wasn't as nice of an arrangement as they'd hoped but halfway through The Princess Bride a shift changed in the atmosphere. Hocus Pocus despite it being nowhere near Halloween was deemed entertaining and by the time they started Who Framed Roger Rabbit everyone was officially settled in.
Mac sat closest to the TV, engrossed like he really was a five year old kid all over again. Karla was snuggled into an armchair with a quilt wrapped around her. Bob, Norman and Emma occupied one of the couches, across from them sat Reed, Susan and their two children bundled between them. Johnny and Peter sat in chairs next to each other while Logan was on the loveseat with Laura and Julian cuddled together on the other end. Clint and Bobbi were lying together, backs rested on some pillows to cushion them from the wall. Daken and Bullseye were lying on the floor near Mac, whispering and elbowing each other every now and again. Carol, Steve, Ben, Tony and Bruce were attending an emergency call back at Avengers Tower expecting to be back a long while after movie night had ended.
When Beetle Juice came on most of the "children" were asleep, including Franklin and Valeria. Mac was the only one who was keeping his eyes open but just barely. He'd eaten through two bowls of popcorn, a handful of sugary snacks and a full bottle of soda. Everyone else still awake was surprised he'd lasted as long as he did. As the credits rolled signalling the end of movie night, the others had come back.
"Woah, okay so this is kind of cute but really shouldn't be. I mean come on!" Tony exasperatedly whispered, arms thrown up in the air after he saw Lester cuddled up to Daken.
Johnny stretched and yawned, resting his head on Peter's shoulder for a moment. "Well, it could be worse. At least they aren't trying to kill each other or us, right?"
"I second that," chimed in Peter moving away despite Johnny's grumble at losing a human headrest. He scooped up Mac who was beginning to slouch from sleepiness. "Let's get you to bed, little Mac."
The others were following his example, collecting their rugrats in their arms like parents coddling their children; not much different from the Richards couple carrying their own son and daughter off to bed. Carol carefully wrapped the quilt safely around Karla before lifting her up and walking out. Clint had to pry Lester away from his cuddle buddy, Bobbi cooing softly next to him as they carried him out together. Emma was very gentle when she maneuvered Bob into her arms, quietly exiting without a glance back. Steve huddled up Norman, eyes thoughtful as he got a glimpse of a more peaceful expression on that young face generally reddened from anger most days. Laura watched as Logan with great care lifted Daken off the floor into a protective hold saying her goodbye and leaving with Julian after a brief conversation.
That night while everyone else was fast asleep, Logan took the opportunity to lie closer to his son for once. He gazed over the sleeping face of the boy he'd come to know too late. Who had grown before he'd even known he existed. He ran the back of his finger over Daken's cheek lightly, marveling at the smooth baby faced skin. He noticed the boy had long lashes, dark and beautiful like his mother. If the clench of his heart didn't hurt then the sting of Itsu's memory was certainly painful enough to compensate.
Original | Introduction | Pt. 1 | Pt. 2 (here) | Other Pts. TBA
