Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tony was the first one to change.

He woke in the morning, his skin feeling a bit tighter, his clothes a bit baggier, but he paid it no mind and trudged down to breakfast.

Ignoring the other avengers’ pointed gazes, he opened a cabinet and rummaged through it before finding the coffee grounds. Setting the water to a boil, he finally turned around. 

“Tony,” Steve started, “you’re younger.”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks Cap. I know I’m irresistibly good-looking,” Tony said, brushing him off.

“No, Tony, you’re literally way younger. Have you looked in a mirror lately?”

“What?” Tony made a face.

“Steve’s right Tony, you may need to look in a mirror,” Natasha said.

Tony stopped moving, his eyes narrowing as he gave his own face a quick feel. His fingertips brushed over his skin, and for the first time, he realized how smooth it was. He ran his hand over his cheek again, and there was something unsettlingly different about the way it felt.

Something clicked. Tony raised a hand to his forehead and then his eyes, feeling the smoothness of his skin. “What the hell?”

Before he could process it further, his fingers brushed across his jaw, and there was no hint of the lines that had started to form there. He looked down at his hands, and noticed they looked smoother, younger.

“No, no, no... This isn’t—” Tony suddenly felt lightheaded. “Holy shit.”

Without another thought, Tony bolted toward the nearest bathroom. The others exchanged confused glances, but no one moved to stop him.

Seconds later, Tony emerged from the bathroom, his face pale and eyes wide in a mix of disbelief and shock.

“HOLY SHIT.”

Everyone turned to face him, their eyebrows raised in unison.

“I— What the— I’m twenty!” Tony was practically gasping for breath. He took another step into the room, trying to steady himself. “I— I’m twenty again!”

The room fell silent as they all stared at him. Steve blinked and then glanced at the others, but he was the first to speak.

“Tony, you’re twenty? As in you’re actually twenty?”

Tony threw his hands up, his voice rising. “What part of ‘holy shit’ do you guys not understand? I’ve been through some crazy stuff in my time, but this? This is next-level weird, even for me. Look at me!” He gestured to himself, still in shock.

“I don’t know about twenty,” Clint said, taking a cautious step toward him. “But you’re definitely... way younger. You’ve got that... fresh-faced thing going on.”

Tony’s eyes darted around the room, then back at himself in disbelief. “I feel twenty. I don’t know what the hell is happening to me, but it’s not just a couple years gone. I feel like a damn teenager again!”

Steve frowned, rubbing his chin as he took a step closer. “Well, I don’t know, Tony. Maybe you’re just... what, a little younger than usual?”

“You’re definitely younger,” Natasha said, still watching him closely. “But... what’s the deal? What happened at age twenty for you? Anything major?”

Tony blinked, trying to focus as he processed her question. “Major? Well, I didn’t inherit Stark Industries yet. That didn’t happen until I was twenty-one,” Tony said with a frown. “But... that year? It was a wild one. I partied a lot and, uh... had more intercourse than was probably healthy.”

Steve frowned, rubbing his chin as he took another step forward. “And you don’t remember anything... strange, or significant happening that year?”

Tony sighed, shaking his head. “Nothing that stands out. Just a lot of late nights and bad decisions. But I can’t think of anything that would explain... this.” He gestured to himself again, still trying to process it all.

“Well, it’s not like we can pin down what happened exactly... but this could have something to do with that freaky stuff Loki’s been up to, don’t you think?”

“That’s what I’m hoping for,” Tony said, shaking his head in frustration. “I’m calling him. He’s the only one who could do something this messed up.”

“Well, if this is Loki’s doing, we’re going to need to get ahead of it,” Natasha said, watching Tony closely. “If he’s messing with time or some weird magic, it could be happening to all of us.”

Tony groaned, feeling his frustration build. “I swear, I’m going to give that trickster an earful... This is insane.” He looked at his hands again, as if checking if they would suddenly turn back to their regular age. They stayed smooth and youthful.

“So, what now?” Clint asked, glancing around the room.

Tony put his phone down with a sigh. “Now, we wait. And I’m calling Loki as soon as I can. If we’re all going to get turned into... what? Babies? Pre-teens? This isn’t going to end well.”

Chapter Text

Clint was the second to change.

He woke up with a strange feeling, like something was off. He groggily stretched as he sat up, but when he did, he noticed something different. His sheets felt too loose, and his body felt... lighter. He quickly swung his legs off the bed, his feet hitting the floor with a softness that was unusual for him.

His mind still foggy, Clint stumbled to the bathroom, wiping the sleep from his eyes. As he glanced at himself in the mirror, his breath caught in his throat.

“Oh no,” he muttered to himself, blinking rapidly at his reflection.

His face was smoother, younger. He touched his jaw, his fingers brushing against skin that felt foreign to him—almost too soft, too clean. His hair looked like it hadn't even seen a comb in days, but that wasn’t the problem. The real shock came from his eyes, his skin—everything about him screamed teenager.

With a heavy sigh, Clint rushed down the hall, adrenaline kicking in as he bolted for the kitchen. The moment he entered the room, he could already feel the stares. The others had noticed.

“Guys,” Clint said, practically gasping for air, his voice higher than usual. He was still trying to process it all. “It happened to me too.”

Tony looked up from his mug, his eyes scanning Clint from head to toe.

“Damn, Barton. You’re, uh... eighteen?”

Clint looked down at his hands, still in disbelief. “I... I guess I am. I—What the hell is happening to us?”

“Eighteen?” Steve said with a frown, eyeing Clint carefully. “Are you sure?”

Clint nodded, still feeling the weight of the change settle on him. “Yeah. Definitely eighteen. What the hell else could it be?” He ran a hand through his messy hair, noting how it felt softer than usual. His reflection was still seared into his mind—this wasn’t just a change; it was much younger than he’d been the day before.

“You look like you just graduated high school,” Natasha observed, her voice even.

“I feel like I just did,” Clint said, running a hand over his face again, still trying to get used to how smooth his skin felt. “This is... this is insane.”

Tony leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee as he eyed Clint with amusement. “You’re not exactly giving off ‘young and carefree’ vibes. More like ‘perpetually hungover high school senior’.”

Clint shot him a glare, but it faltered when he realized he did feel a little like that. “I don’t know what the hell’s going on. I went to bed last night like a grown-ass man, and now I’m—” He gestured to himself, still in disbelief.

“Okay, so it’s not just Tony, then,” Steve said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “We’re all getting younger. But what’s the deal? Why is it happening?”

“I don’t think we’ve figured that out yet,” Natasha said, her gaze sharp as she looked at Clint. “But, Clint, you’re eighteen. Anything significant about that age? You know, anything that stands out?”

“Well,” Clint said, rubbing the back of his neck, his voice quieter than usual, “I... uh, well, I lost my virginity when I was eighteen.” He shot the group a sheepish look, feeling his face flush a little. “Kind of a big deal for me at the time.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “First time, huh?”

Clint nodded, a bit embarrassed but trying to roll with it. “Yeah. It wasn’t, like, the most romantic thing in the world, but it was big. I wasn’t exactly thinking about much else at that age.”

Tony leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. “So, at eighteen, you were a little... what, less focused on the world and more on you?”

Clint gave him a small shrug. “Maybe. I also joined SHIELD when I was eighteen. That was when things really started to get hectic. Lot of changes. My life didn’t feel ‘settled’ until well after that.”

“Oh, okay, so that’s another big thing,” Natasha said, her eyes narrowing as she processed it. “So, you weren’t just turning into a kid—you were turning into the age when your life was starting to shift, right? When everything started becoming crazy.”

“Right,” Clint said, rubbing his jaw. “Everything really changed after that. I wasn’t just a civilian anymore.”

Tony leaned forward. “Maybe we’re all turning into the age when things got a little more intense, when we had to start making real decisions. You know, like when things got messy.”

“Yeah, I think that tracks,” Steve agreed. “I mean, I had a pretty chaotic time when I was younger too. Maybe we're not just getting younger—we're getting younger when our lives were full of more hectic energy.”

Clint furrowed his brow. “Well, I’m not exactly excited to relive the whole teenage thing again,...” He trailed off, looking uncertain.

“We’ll figure it out,” Steve said, giving him a reassuring nod. “But yeah, it seems like there’s some pattern here. I guess we’ll all be dealing with it differently, depending on the age when our lives got... complicated.”

Clint sighed. “Great. Just what I needed... to be a teenager again.”

Tony chuckled. “At least you’ve got the maturity of a thirty-something, right?” He looked Clint up and down again. “I mean, I can still tell you’re older than your years, despite the whole ‘high school senior’ vibe. Your attitude’s not that much different.”

“Let’s hope I don’t go full teenager on you guys,” Clint muttered, shaking his head.

As the group settled into a heavy silence, Steve looked around the room, scanning the others. “So, if it’s not just Tony and Clint—then who’s next?”

Everyone went quiet for a moment. “Thor’s been... oddly absent lately,” Natasha remarked.

Steve frowned. “He hasn’t changed yet. Same with Bruce. I’m getting a little worried.”

“Me too,” Tony said, glancing at Steve with a furrowed brow. “They’ve been... out of it. What if they’re next?”

“Let’s just keep an eye on it,” Steve said, trying to mask the unease in his voice. “We need to figure out what’s really going on.”

Tony took another sip of his coffee, glancing at Clint. “Yeah, because I don’t know if I’m ready to see Thor looking like a teenager.”

Clint snorted. “Or Bruce. That’d be... weird.”

Natasha glanced at the door again. “I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to find out what happens next.”

Chapter Text

Natasha was the third to change.

She woke up with that familiar feeling—like something was off. Her body felt different, but it wasn’t until she stood up and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror that she realized what was happening. Her reflection didn’t match what she expected. Her face was softer, younger. She wasn’t just a little younger, she was... much younger.

A sigh left her lips as she ran her fingers over her face, noting the smoother skin and the overall softness that replaced the harsher edges of her usual features. She could feel the changes beneath her skin, and she didn’t need to check again to know what was going on.

Annoyed as hell, Natasha marched straight to the kitchen without bothering to change. She had no patience for the confusion that would inevitably follow, but there was no avoiding it.

She walked in, and without sparing a single glance, she said, “We’re turning into the age we lost our virginities at.”

The room fell silent for a moment as the others stared at her in disbelief.

Tony blinked. “What? You—what? You lost your virginity at a specific age?”

Natasha gave him a cold, withering glare. “Do I need to say it again, Stark?”

Tony quickly put his hands up, backing off. “Nope, got it. Loud and clear.” He smirked, though it was obvious he was still a bit confused. “Guess that explains a lot.”

Thor, looking lost, turned to Steve for clarification. “What is this? I do not understand. What does she mean?”

Steve glanced at Bucky and then back to Thor. “Some of us started turning into younger versions of ourselves. We had a few ideas about why it’s happening, but Natasha seems to have figured it out.”

Bucky, who’d been quiet until then, nodded. “Yep, people are turning into the age they were when they lost their virginity. Apparently.” He said it simply, without hesitation.

Thor blinked, still not quite following. “So this is... not random?”

“No, it’s not,” Steve answered, shaking his head. “It’s the age we were when we lost our virginity. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

Tony, ever the one for questions, leaned forward. “So, you mean, I’m twenty now because of when I—” He trailed off, realizing what he was implying. “Okay, yeah, I get it. I’m gonna stop right there before Natasha glares at me again.”

“Good choice,” Natasha muttered, clearly not in the mood for further interrogation.

Thor scratched his head, still confused. “So... you say you are becoming the age you were when you became an adult?”

“No,” Clint piped up. “It’s specifically the age we lost our virginity. That’s what’s happening.”

Tony shot Clint a look. “Seriously, Clint, stop acting like you didn’t just figure that out.”

“Not acting,” Clint shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m just trying to make sure I got this straight.”

“Okay, so if we’re turning into that age,” Steve said, looking around, “then what happens next? Who’s going to change now?”

“Bruce has been hiding out in his lab, hasn’t he?” Clint said, his gaze shifting to Steve. “He probably hasn’t noticed anything yet.”

“Maybe,” Steve said. “But we can’t be sure. And if Loki’s behind this, then... who’s next?”

Bucky, who had been listening quietly, gave a small shrug. “Could be Thor. Could be Bruce. We won’t know until it happens.”

Chapter Text

Thor was the fourth to change.

The thunder god woke up to an oddly familiar feeling, though it was strange even by his standards. When he tried to move, his body felt lighter—almost too light. He swung his legs off the bed and stood, rubbing his eyes. Something didn’t feel quite right, but he couldn’t quite place it. He made his way to the mirror, still half-dazed, and that’s when he saw it.

His reflection looked... younger.

At first, it was subtle—nothing too extreme. He’d always looked younger than his actual age, thanks to his Asgardian heritage, but this was different. He noticed the softness in his face, the slight change in the shape of his jaw, the way his hair seemed fuller, bouncier. But then it hit him—he wasn’t just younger.

He was exactly twenty-one.

Thor stood frozen, his hand still resting on the mirror. Twenty-one. His eyes widened as he realized what had happened. He had the same youthful glow that he did back when he was just a prince, full of recklessness and exuberance, eager to prove himself in battle. A far cry from the man who had fought countless wars and seen millennia pass.

He stared at his reflection for a long moment, uncertain of what to make of it. After a beat, he exhaled a heavy breath and muttered, “By the gods, this is... strange.”

From behind him, he heard a groggy voice. “What is it, honey?”

Thor glanced down and saw Bruce, still half asleep, his head buried in the pillows.

“I’m younger,” Thor said, his voice slightly gruff, still trying to wrap his mind around it.

Bruce, not lifting his head or opening his eyes, simply grunted, “Sure you are.” Then, with no further fanfare, he promptly rolled over and went back to sleep.

Thor just stared at him for a moment. It seemed his beloved was too tired to comprehend what was happening.

After a beat, Thor shrugged and walked down the hallway toward the kitchen. As he entered, he noticed everyone was already seated, looking a bit more anxious than usual.

Clint was the first to spot him. “Well, well, look who finally joined us.”

Tony, who’d been sipping his coffee, raised an eyebrow. “And Thor’s the next contestant. I’m guessing... twenty-one?”

Thor, still standing in the doorway, nodded slowly, running a hand through his now-too-fluffy hair. “Aye. It would seem so. It is the age I lost my virginity, after all.” He raised his eyebrows at the group. “Is this what is happening to all of you?”

“Yup,” Clint said, looking around at the group. “We’re all turning younger. It’s definitely real.”

Bucky, who had been quiet until then, leaned back in his chair with a slight grin. “So that means me, Steve, and Bruce are left. Spin the wheel—who’s next?”

Tony raised an eyebrow. “I wonder what age Capsicle over here is gonna turn into.”

Steve’s face immediately turned bright red, and he looked away quickly, suddenly very interested in his coffee. “Shut up, Tony.”

Bucky smirked and leaned towards Steve, raising his eyebrows suggestively. “Could be fun to find out.”

Chapter Text

It was Steve and Bucky’s turn on the same day.

When Steve woke up, something felt off immediately. He groggily rolled over, reaching out to adjust the blankets, and felt a body next to him. He didn’t think much of it at first, used to waking up beside Bucky after they’d started dating. But when he shifted and saw Bucky’s face, he froze for a moment, blinking.

Bucky had always looked young for his age, but now—now he looked like a teenager. A teenager.

Bucky was sixteen.

Steve sat up in a flash, his heart racing as he scrambled to check himself. He could feel the difference right away. His muscles didn’t have quite the same firmness they had the day before. He ran a hand over his face and his jawline felt different—softer. The body he had spent decades cultivating felt unfamiliar to him.

Bucky groaned and rubbed his eyes, and Steve turned to him. “Hey, Buck,” he said, trying to mask his anxiety. “What age do you think you are?”

Bucky, who had already figured it out, grinned widely. “Sixteen,” he said simply, raising an eyebrow. “And you’re twenty-five, Stevie. How could you forget?”

Steve blinked at him, still processing the situation. “Yeah... how could I forget?”

When they finally got their bearings, they walked into the kitchen, Steve already knowing exactly what to expect.

“Okay, okay, haha, laugh it up,” Steve said as he and Bucky entered the room.

Tony, who was already sitting at the table with his usual cup of coffee, raised an eyebrow. “Steve!? You changed!?” His voice was dripping with mock surprise. “I thought you wouldn’t, since you’re a virgin!”

Steve sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m not a virgin, Tony.”

Tony grinned mischievously, a skeptical look on his face. “Oh really? So who’s the lucky person who finally got you to break the vow?”

Bucky, who had leaned against the counter, shot Tony a raised eyebrow. “You think Steve would still be a virgin at a hundred?”

Tony looked between them, still trying to put the pieces together, his expression skeptical. “Okay, sure, whatever. But who exactly are we talking about here?”

Steve shifted awkwardly, feeling his cheeks heat up as he fumbled for the words. “It’s, uh... Bucky. It was... after the serum, before the ice. We were... different then.” His voice trailed off, and he looked anywhere but at Tony.

Bucky didn’t seem fazed by the revelation. He leaned back in his chair, giving Tony a casual look. “Yeah, I was the one who took Steve’s virginity. Not a big deal.”

Tony blinked a few times, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Wait, seriously? You two?”

Steve flushed deeply, clearly uncomfortable but forcing himself to shrug it off. “It wasn’t exactly the most romantic setup, but... yeah. Can we just move past this? I’m twenty-five, Bucky’s sixteen, and apparently, we’re all just... figuring out how to stop this. Can we focus on that instead?”

Tony raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop making fun of you. For now.” He leaned back in his chair, looking amused. “But hey, we all know Bruce is next, right?”

Chapter Text

Bruce was last. 

He didn’t even notice a change as he trudged out of his and Thor’s room, still half-asleep and craving coffee.

What he did notice, though, was everyone staring at him when he walked into the kitchen.

He paused mid-step, coffee pot in hand, blinking at the silent, expectant faces. “What?” he asked, his voice still rough with sleep.

“Say, Bruce, have you ever had sex?” Tony asked, acting way too innocent. 

“...Yes?” Bruce answered, looking and sounding incredibly confused. 

“Huh,” Tony said, still eyeing him curiously. “Then why haven’t you changed?”

“What do you mean changed?” Bruce asked, blinking and setting the coffee pot down. “Why do you look like you’re in your twenties? What is going on here?”

“So, Bruce,” Natasha interjected, her voice sweet but with an edge of amusement. “What age did you lose your virginity at?”

Bruce narrowed his eyes, wondering if he was still asleep and dreaming. He rubbed his face, trying to shake off the confusion. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

The others exchanged glances, but they weren’t going to let it go. Tony leaned forward on the table, “Come on, Bruce. You can’t keep dodging this one. We’re all talking about it. What’s your deal?”

Bruce sighed, trying to avoid the question. He didn’t want to answer; it felt too personal, too intrusive. “It was a long time ago, alright? I’m not going to share the details.”

“Oh, come on, Bruce,” Tony prodded. “How long ago was it?”

Bruce groaned inwardly. He knew it wasn’t going to stop until he answered. He stood there for a few moments, eyes darting between the Avengers, who were waiting for him to crack. Finally, he exhaled in resignation, rubbing the back of his neck, flustered.

“Okay, okay, fine,” he mumbled, his voice quiet, but still loud enough for the group to hear. “I lost my virginity at forty-three.”

There was a beat of silence. Tony’s face lit up, and he burst out laughing. “Ha! You lost your virginity only six years ago!”

Bruce’s face went bright red. “Can we just move on now? Seriously.”

But Tony wasn’t done. His eyes were gleaming with mischief as he leaned forward. “So, Bruce… who was she? Who did you lose your virginity to? What was she like?”

Bruce’s cheeks turned an even darker shade of red. “Tony—”

Tony grinned wider, already guessing. “Was she some kind of older woman? Did she have, like, a crazy experience? A professor, maybe? Or a nurse?”

“Tony…” Bruce’s voice was barely a whisper, but the teasing tone was starting to wear him thin.

“Or maybe she was a scientist?” Tony continued, his eyes scanning Bruce for any signs. “Someone from your field? Maybe a fellow biochemist? She a brunette? A redhead?”

With each guess, Bruce’s face flushed deeper and deeper. His hands clenched at his sides as his embarrassment began to boil over. He could feel his face burning up, and he wanted nothing more than to disappear.

Finally, Tony shot one last look at him. “Come on, Bruce, who was she? Just tell us. What’s the deal? Was she—”

“Okay, okay!” Bruce snapped, his patience finally snapping. He buried his face in his hands and groaned loudly. “It was Thor!”

The room fell silent.

Everyone stared at Bruce, their eyes wide with shock. For a few seconds, no one spoke.

“First of all, you lost your virginity to Thor?” Tony started, his voice incredulous.

“Second of all, YOU LOST YOUR VIRGINITY TO THOR!?” Clint added, his jaw dropping.

“Third of all,” Tony continued, his voice rising in disbelief, “YOU SLEPT WITH THOR!!?”

Bruce, still red-faced, nodded slowly, lowering his hands from his face with a heavy sigh. “Yeah. He was the one.”

Thor, leaning casually against the kitchen wall, smiled gently at Bruce. “It is true. Bruce is my beloved.”

Bruce could feel his face burning hotter by the second. “We’ve been dating for six years,” he muttered, looking down at his coffee cup, wishing the floor would just swallow him up.

The room was deathly quiet for a few moments as everyone processed the bombshell. Then, Tony blinked rapidly, as though he was trying to make sense of what he had just heard.

“Wait, so… you’re telling me that you…” Tony gestured between Thor and Bruce, still trying to wrap his head around the situation. “You… slept with Thor? And you’re dating him?”

“Tony,” Steve said, shaking his head. “Lay off, man. Let Bruce be.”

But Tony wasn’t backing down. His eyes were gleaming with curiosity, and his trademark sarcasm kicked back in. “No, no, I need details,” Tony said, looking Bruce up and down. “How exactly does one lose their virginity to Thor? What’s the… the technique there?”

“Tony!” Steve shot back. “Seriously?”

Thor chuckled softly, crossing his arms. “You seem curious, Stark. If you want the full report, I am sure I could share—”

“Oh god, please no,” Bruce interrupted, his face now so red it could have rivaled a tomato. “We don’t need to hear that.”

He glanced over at Thor, who was smiling faintly, clearly trying to suppress his own amusement. Thor’s presence was calming—strong, steady—and it made Bruce feel like maybe, just maybe, it was okay to not hide from everyone all the time.

“Alright,” Bruce muttered, looking down at his coffee cup, hoping it would swallow him whole. “Can we move on? Please?”

Thor gave a small nod, his eyes gleaming with fondness. “Of course, beloved,” he said, his tone serious.

Tony, still grinning but with a trace of respect in his eyes, raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine,” he said. “No more details. But you’re gonna owe me one, Bruce.”

Bruce groaned. “I swear, Tony, if you don’t stop, I’m going to start charging you for every word.”

There was a pause before the group laughed, the atmosphere lightening for the first time in what felt like forever. As the conversation shifted to something else, Bruce allowed himself a rare moment of peace, realizing that despite everything, he was still part of this chaotic, ridiculous family.