I need comfort so I wrote it.

Bucky was in the kitchen, he had been staying at Avengers Tower for a month now, but that doesn't explain why he was standing in the communal kitchen, alone at *checks clock* 3:43am.

Even though he had been staying in the tower for a while and the team was playing nice with him he tended to avoid them all. The only exceptions being Steve and Tony, Steve for obvious reasons, and Tony because of the arm - and other reasons he wasn't ready to face.

Anyway the ex-assassin had retreated to the communal kitchen to distract himself with making something to eat. He would have stayed on Steve's floor but he didn't want to wake the man or Wilson, who was in town visiting. Although it seemed like he too would be moving in as well soon enough.

So Bucky had come down and decided to make eggs and toast, the two easiest things to make at such an early hour. He was grabbing a plate from the cabinet when he heard the elevator. Who the hell is up right now? His question was answered when the resident billionaire came shuffling towards him.

"Hey Barnes, didn't realize anyone was up."

"Me neither" was the soldiers quiet reply. His eyes tracked the engineers every move - as they seemed to be doing a lot lately. Tony was wearing a well loved pair of jeans and a black hoodie with black high tops covering his feet.

Tony walked past him to the coffee maker. After he prepped it and got a mug he just, kind of, stood there, staring at the liquid steadily filling the pot. Bucky couldn't help noticing how lost the man looked. It was odd seeing it on this man that was usually so caught up in projects and new designs, lost was just something you wouldn't normally associate with Tony Stark. It didn't escape his notice when the man released a full body sigh that looked to be knocking the wind from his sails.

"You OK?" He hadn't meant to ask that but-

"Not really." after he said it he looked shocked, like he had wanted to say something else but then the truth just slipped out. "Just been a long week."

A silent moment passed when, "Need a hug?" and where the fuck did that come from!?

But before he could continue to internally freak out he heard Tony let out a barely there 'Yeah' almost like he was whispering, afraid what the admission would bring.

Not even hesitating, he reached out with his flesh arm and curled his hand around the nap of Tony's neck, gently guiding his forehead into his chest. Slowly, as is afraid to spook the man he wrapped his arms around the man. At first both men stood very still unsure what to do, then Tony let go of the breath he was holding and just melted into the embrace. Bringing his arms up to wrap around Bucky's middle and just clutch at the back of his t-shirt. Feeling warm and content himself, Bucky relaxed, rubbing his cheek in Tony's soft hair and running his metal arm up and down the shorter man's back.

"Thanks Bucky." Tony whispered into his chest. The 'I really needed this' went unsaid between them.

"Anytime, and I mean anytime," he answered and threw in a quick squeeze to go with it.

After that time in the kitchen, Tony came to him 8 more times over the course of 5 months, always in private where no prying eyes could see. It never bothered Bucky, he was happy to be able to do this for the genius and if he was being honest with himself, he really enjoyed those hugs.

It wasn't til almost six months later did things change. Bucky was on the common floor sitting on the couch waiting for Steve and Bruce to finish lunch when Tony walked in.

He didn't look good at all, his hair was a mess and it seemed like he was somehow hiding in his long sleeve shirt. Head down and palms covered but arms wrapped securely around his chest he wandered over to the couch. When Tony looked up from his chest, Bucky's breath caught. His eyes, they were damp (he hadn't been crying though, his cheeks were dry) but the look, they looked so lost, and vulnerable, and with the way the man was holding himself, he just looked so young.

Without a word Bucky opened his arms. Knowing he had permission Tony climbed into the bigger man's lap and curled into his chest refusing to release his own arms from his chest. Bucky quickly wrapped the man up in his arms.

Steve made his way towards them but stopped when Bucky gave him a look. They had a silent conversation with their eyes before Steve nodded and escorted everyone out of the kitchen.

Bucky looked back to the man in his lap, although he wasn't crying he was clearly very upset about something. God, he wanted to ask so many questions but knew that's not what Tony needed nor wanted. All he needed in this moment was physical comfort and if he was going to rely on Bucky for this, well he was damn sure going to deliver.

Over these past months the two brunettes had grown closer, spending time in the lab discussing things not related to his arm, having late night movie marathons when sleep wouldn't come. Hell, they've even been going on little dates to eat at the diner down the block. It didn't take very long to start seeing the caring, funny, shy and beautiful man that the real Tony is. It took no time at all for Bucky to fall in love with this man. So seeing him like this, it crushed him. Having made up his mind, since he couldn't protect Tony from everything, he promised he would always be there to hold him like this when he needed it.