This is a bit of a filler chapter... a collection of fluffy moments and smaller missions. May or may not be leading up to Iron Man 3...
I don't know why the Avengers use Twitter to talk to each other instead of texting... they just do. The world loves it and they do try and respond to their fans when they can.
Steve frowned as he looked at the canvas in front of him. It had been a long time since he'd used paint in his art but the acrylic set had been a gift from Tony when they'd returned from DC so he'd bought himself a canvas and started work. The brush work was messy and there was something off about the jawline. Bucky's eyes were staring back at him from the canvas. His muse was lying sprawled out on their bed, his shirt rolled up exposing his stomach whilst he was scrolling through something on his StarkPad. God he was beautiful.
"Hey Steve." Bucky called and Steve blushed as he was caught staring at his boyfriend. Bucky smirked and raised his eyebrow knowingly. "You ever hear of tumblr?"
Steve tilted his head in confusion. He couldn't remember hearing about a tumblr… whatever that meant. "I don't think so Buck… I have a feeling I'm about to." Bucky laughed and turned his StarkPad to show Steve a picture.
Steve blushed darker than he'd ever blushed before. It was a very graphic painting of Bucky on his knees in front of Steve. They were both naked and the artist hadn't left anything up to the imagination. "Holy shit Buck! Where did you even find that?!" He buried his head in his eyes willing the image out of his mind. Bucky cackled and pulled him onto the bed.
"Aww Stevie. Don't you like it? I think I might make it my background. I already asked the artist." Bucky's arms were around him in an instant and Steve melted into his embraced.
"I hate you." He mumbled.
"I hate you too, Doll" Bucky pressed his lips against his cheeks. "There's some less graphic stuff too and stories to go with it. Our fans are the best Stevie. I was gonna share it on Twitter. Fan Art Friday or something…"
"There are stories!" Steve groaned as he phone buzzed. He warily unlocked it and clicked on the notification.
Bucky Barnes SergeantBarnes
Welcome to Fan Art Friday! From the phenomenal Bvckybears on tumblr. I am in love. It's my new background. SteveGRogers has never blushed so brightly. Thank you! #fanartfriday #nsfw #diditagthatright #stuckyartlife
Captain America SteveGRogers
BUCKY NO! SergeantBarnes. I hate you.
Bucky Barnes SergeantBarnes
Look at this talent from caplainh0tass on tumblr. Steve's ass looks better irl. Just saying #fanartfriday #captainhotass #nsfw
Attached was a digital drawing of Steve, nude, covered in a paint and a rainbow flag thrown across his shoulder.
Sam Wilson ProjectFalcon1
SergeantBarnes Who introduced you to tumblr? I want them to know that they are the worst. My poor eyes! #ididnotsignupforthis
Bucky Barnes SergeantBarnes
ProjectFalcon1 You can blame Pepper's new assistant TaserLewis She's my favourite. #youloveit #theladydothprotesttoomuch
Sam groaned and hit the first number on his speed dial. "Steve, control your man!" Sam glared at the hologram from his phone. Steve ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.
"Sorry Sam. There's no stopping him once he finds something he likes. You should have seen his science magazine collection back in the 30s." Steve's voice was crystal clear, God he loved Stark Tech.
"Did it have to be porn art?" He whined. His twitter feed was full of art of the two super soldiers and it was an image he really didn't need to see. Although some of it was actually really good. Sam's favourite was a drawing of his two friends cuddled up with a golden retriever in the middle of them. Clint insisted that it was Lucky, even though same knew that Lucky was more of a mutt.
"So have you considered joining us in New York? We could use your talents Sam." Steve dodged the question and it was Sam's turn to blush.
"Widow put you up to this didn't she?" Nat had been on his case ever since shield collapsed. He was almost convinced that's why her and Barton had flown to DC in the first place.
"I can't answer that. Just think about it Sam" Steve hung up on that note. He always did have a dramatic flare. He turned back to his twitter feed whilst he pondered about how life could be if he joined the Avengers full time.
Tony Stark therealironman
SergentBarnes I see your stucky fan art. I raise you Frost Iron. Thanks TaserLewis. Credit goes to Tonilaufeyson.
Sam blinked in disbelief as he looked at the photo Tony Stark attached to his post. It was a picture of Tony in suspenders draped over a similarly dressed Loki, the guy who had tried to trash New York. Sam couldn't believe he was actually considering joining this team, they were insane.
Bucky was cold, wet and hungry. He also really wanted to shoot Barton. They had spent almost 24 hours on a rooftop in London together staking out potential Hydra agents. It had been Steve's dumbass idea for them to team up. Apparently they needed to work together outside their normal pairs so Steve had gone with War Machine to investigate some strange explosions in Mexico, Tony was busy with Sam in the lab working on a new suit, Natasha was undercover somewhere in Asia with Maria Hill and Bucky had been stuck on a rooftop in London with Clint Barton.
"Stop sulking Barnes, it's not a good look for you." Clint was twirling an arrow between his fingers. Bucky turned to glare at him. He was a bloody hypocrite, the whole evening Barton had been complaining that the mission was better suited to Natasha's skillset not Bucky's.
"I'm not sulking. I'm hungry. Some of us have a higher metabolism and can't live off pizza from the trash can." Clint laughed and rolled his eyes. He took out his phone and snapped a picture of Bucky, the flash of the camera almost blinded him in the dark.
Clint Barton cawcawmotherfxcker
SergeantBarnes is a hangry super soldier. They should put a warning on the box. Must be fed frequently… or else #ihatestakeouts #whyisitraining #sos
He attached the photo, it was less than flattering as Bucky was shielding his eyes from the bright flash.
Tony Stark therealironman
SergeantBarnes cawcawmotherfxcker good to see the mission is going well. Barnes looks like a vampire. #yourenotyouwhenyourehungry
Bucky Barnes SergeantBarnes
therealironman cawcawmotherfxcker fuck off
"Can we please go home? This clearly isn't Hydra. It's just some students fucking about." Bucky sighed and pulled the strings of his hoodie tighter around his chin.
"I already sent the report to Stark. Let's go. We'll order Chinese on the way back." Clint put the arrow back in it's quiver and Bucky picked up his backpack.
"When did you send it? Also I want pizza. Real pizza, fresh and hot. Not the garbage you picked off the street." Bucky grimaced as he remember Clint's delight as he found the unopened box of pizza on the roof. It didn't look too old but it was a matter of principle.
"About 10 minutes ago… I was wondering how long it would take you to reach the same conclusion." Clint grinned and ducked as Bucky threw a can at his face.
"Fuck you Barton."
Steve was lying in bed feeling sorry for himself. His arms hurt from where Rhodey had been carrying him all the way to Mexico and back. He was starting to think he should get a jet pack for travelling purposes. He still wasn't entirely sure why they couldn't have used the jet. He was pretty sure that Tony and Rhodey just wanted to laugh at him. They hadn't even found anything useful on their mission. The heat signatures were off the charts but it didn't look like alien tech, in fact there hadn't been any tech at all. Bruce was currently looking at samples in the labs but the results weren't due back yet.
He grabbed his phone and scrolled through his notifications, laughing as he saw that Clint and Bucky's mission had gone just about as well as his and Rhodey's. Hopefully they would be back soon.
James Rhodes WarMachineRox
Today SteveGRogers went on an Avengers mission where he wasn't the highest ranked soldier. Captain America really hates following orders. #steverogersisashit #suckonthatcaptain
Captain America SteveGRogers
WarMachineRox Sorry Colonel. Captain America is great at following orders. Steve Rogers… not so much #dontdisrespecttheelderly #theywerestupidorders
Steve chuckled to himself as he sent his reply and opened his laptop. He pulled the covers up to his chin and started to read. He would never admit to Bucky that he actually loved the stories his boyfriend had introduced him to. He avoided the really graphic ones but there was something really heartwarming about reading stories of them together back in the war. They hadn't been able to come out back then, sure the howlies had known about them but on the outside Captain America and Bucky Barnes were brothers and Bucky had a reputation for being a hit with the dames. So to read stories where it wasn't illegal, where they could be just Steve and Bucky before the war and before the serum, it was something Steve had always longed for. He managed to read a couple of chapters before he heard footsteps in the corridor. He slammed the laptop shut and pulled himself out of bed.
"Honey! I'm home! I brought Pizza and a drowned bird." Bucky burst through the door, his hair was dripping wet and his clothes were soaked through. Clint trailed in behind with a pile of soggy pizza boxes. "How was your mission with the other Iron Man?" Bucky pulled him into a wet hug and pressed his cold body against Steve's warm one.
"Could have gone better. Jesus, Buck you're freezing!" Bucky and Clint both laughed as they sat down in front of the television to eat the pizza.
Clint Barton cawcawmotherfxcker
SteveGRoger said SergeantBarnes was freezing… you'd think they be done with that after 70 years on ice. #sopunny #jk #itsreallycoldoutside
Captain America SteveGRogers
cawcawmotherfxcker The cold never bothered me anyway
Pepper was sat soaking in the bathtub with bubble right up to her chin and a glass of wine in one hand. Between the collapse of shield and Barnes' discovery of tumblr she'd had her hands full. She had every media outlet hounding her for interviews and comments on every single event. On top of that Stark Industries was in the middle of launching a new line of prosthetics which would enable almost full movement and feeling in the mechanic limb. It was a project Tony and Banner had been working on which meant she hadn't even seen her boyfriend recently. So Pepper Potts was shutting out the world, if only for an hour. She was scrolling through Twitter via a hologram Tony had set up for bath time. When she switched off from work it was actually entertaining to watch the Avengers spar on social media. Barnes was currently in a battle with Sam Wilson to see who could embarrass Steve the most.
Bucky Barnes SergeantBarnes
12 year old SteveGRogers, barely 4"6, once decided he could take on 3 fully grown men because they called his Ma a waste of space. Steve was in hospital for a week. #suchadumbass #iworryconstantly #thankgodforerskine
Captain America SteveGRogers
SergeantBarnes You willingly helped me crash a plane. You're the dumbass. No one insults Sarah Rogers in front of me. #youloveme #tiltheendoftheline
Sam Wilson ProjectFalcon1
When I went to Starbucks with SteveGRogers he ordered a PSL… Captain America is a basic bitch.
Captain America SteveGRogers
ProjectFalcon1 PSL is life. I may be a basic bitch… but I'm your basic bitch. #yourejustjealous #igetbettercoffee
Bucky Barnes SergeantBarnes
Hey Stevie SteveGRogers remember that time you had to sneak out my tent completely naked because Colonel Phillips heard moaning and thought I was being attacked? #howdidwesurvive #iblameyou
Sam Wilson ProjectFalcon1
SergeantBarnes that's playing dirty Bucky Bear! We agreed no sex stories! Also way too much information. #ursogross #sorrysteve
Captain America SteveGRogers
SergeantBarnes I distinctly remember why you were moaning so much. I'm not sorry. #younevercouldkeepquiet #yourplanisntworking
Pepper was giggling into her wine by the time she'd finished reading the exchange. She hadn't realised Steve Rogers had it in him but he'd risen to the challenge. He'd stopped responding after that, which was probably a good thing seeing as he was supposed to be undercover in Canada. She groaned as she heard a knock on the door and sunk further into the bubbles, expertly keeping her wine glass above the water.
"Pepper? Honey are you in here?" Tony's head peaked around the corner. Pepper sighed with relief. Tony looked about exhausted as she felt with dark circles under his eyes and holes littering his lounge pants.
Pepper pulled herself back up in the bath and smiled at her boyfriend. "Yeah Honey. Just hiding from responsibility. Darcy is monitoring the internet whilst I take a break. I might promote her to head of PR. I need the help."
"Pep, no shop talk. I only just got away from Banner. I swear he's worse than me on coffee." He ran an oily hand through his hair and smiled dopily as he entered the room.
"Tony, sweetie, no one is worse than you on coffee. He started talking about neurology didn't he?"
"Maybe… I just don't get the fascination with the human brain! So can I join you?" Pepper nodded and in no time Tony had squeezed into the bathtub that was not quite big enough for both of them. Pepper was sure he'd designed it that way on purpose.
Inviting Tony into a bubble bath had been a mistake though. Soon enough Tony was scooping up bubbles and giving Pepper her own bubble goatee to match his.
"Jarvis take a photo!" Tony laughed and she glared at him as the bubble tickled her chin. She splashed back as he planted a soggy kiss on her cheek.
"Don't you dare post it Tony!" She squealed as he dropped bubbles all over her hair.
"Override! Tony Stark. Jarvis post it as discussed!" As discussed? The bastard had planned it. She wondered what she saw in him, love was strange.
Tony Stark therealironman
When your girlfriend gets beard envy so she grows her own. PepperPotts #pleasedontleaveme #iloveyou #bubblebeard
Attached was the photo Jarvis had taken of them. Pepper was very grateful for the coverage the bubbles gave them but it was still obviously they were in the bath. Pepper grabbed her own handful of bubbles and dumped them on Tony's head. He coughed as he inhaled the soapy suds and Pepper yelled at Jarvis to take a photo to post. She then ran to their room, grabbing her towel on the way, and found her phone; tapping out the post before Tony could stop her.
Pepper Potts PepperPotts
When your boyfriend is an idiot and you don't have a real dunce hat to hand. #bubbleman #iloveyoutoo
Bucky Barnes SergeantBarnes
Somethings never change SteveGRogers. #alwayslookingafterhim #dumbass
A picture of Steve was attached with a bloodied nose and a black ice. Bucky had his arm around the Captain with an icepack in his hands.
Clint Barton cawcawmotherfxcker
SteveGRogers the mission went sooo well then. Can you believe we follow this guy?
Captain America SteveGRogers
cawcawmotherfxcker SergeantBarnes no respect for the elderly these days. The mission was very successful. You should see the other guy. #shouldhavestayedintheice
"Clint, can you please focus? The buyer is going to arrive at any moment." Natasha was sat sipping coffee down in the streets below. Clint rolled his eyes and stuffed his phone back in his pocket.
"How do know I'm not focussing?" He murmured back into his microphone on his sleeve.
"You're tweeting Captain America. Now focus." She glanced up in his direction, her green eyes sparkling and a wisp of red hair escaping her pony tail.
"You'd only know that if you were also on your phone. 10 o clock. Guy in the flower shirt." He pulled an arrow from his quiver. It was one of favourites, laced with a chemical that would paralyse his target, not lethal but effective.
"Got it. Only shoot if you have to. We need information so try not to blow our cover."
He watched Natasha do her work. It was beautiful to watch, the poor hydra goon had no idea he was being played. Once she had all the information she needed she pressed her wrist to the guys neck and activated the shocks pulses. The guy fell silently to the ground and she disappeared into the crowd. He was only slightly disappointed when he put the arrow back. There was always next time.
"Are you going to stand there all day or can we go home?" Clint jumped as Natasha was suddenly behind him, her hands on her hips. He grinned as he saw her, wondering how he was so lucky to have her. He picked up his bow, snapped it shut and made his way over to the redhead.
"You didn't even need me here." His fingers brushed against her wrist and she smiled fondly at him.
"No, but I always feel better when you are." She linked their fingers and kissed his cheek. Clint's heart fluttered in his chest. "Now come on, James is looking after Lucky so we can't be late."
Clint Barton cawcawmotherfxcker
SteveGRogers SergeantBarnes Mission success. Coming to pick up the mutt. You better not have lost him.
Bucky Barnes SergeantBarnes
cawcawmotherfxcker He's helping me fix SteveGRogers. Pick up later. #luckyisminenow
Bucky attached a photo of the three of them cuddled up on the sofa. Lucky was lying over both soldiers' laps with his head hanging off the sofa.
Clint Barton cawcawmotherfxcker
SteveGRogers SergeantBarnes Aww… Lucky!
Natasha Romanoff BallerinaWidow
SteveGRogers SergeantBarnes Hand over the dog James and no one gets hurt. #getyourown
Clint laughed as he read Natasha's response. She always pretended to hate his disaster dog but he always knew she secretly loved him. She gave him a wink and they got back into the jet. It was time to go home.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think. I really need to work on some of my other projects so I won't be writing anymore of this until I post the next chapter of The First Mistake. Come follow me on Tumblr at Avengersbarnes.