Despite the cold nights, hot days, and long journey, the next few days passed quickly, and in relative peace.
They made camp and rested as often as they could on the first few days while Bucky's leg was healing. Tony was not at all happy about it - ever the aristocrat, he was not as comfortable camping outdoors as Bucky was - but after Bucky had convinced him that no, he could not actually drag Bucky and his sled all the way home by himself, he seemed mostly content to slow his pace and revel in their newfound freedom.
Water turned out to be a less of a problem than Bucky had predicted. Fresh water dripped regularly from cliff walls, and was easy enough to gather, even if it did taste a bit gritty. At least it was cleaner than what the bandits had given them.
Food, on the other hand, was a bigger challenge.
"How about these?" Tony asked, presenting his findings to Bucky for inspection.
They'd had to make a rule that Bucky had to check anything Tony foraged after an incident involving toxic berries on the second day. Luckily for Tony, he'd only eaten a few and they had only numbed his mouth a little, but neither he nor Bucky wanted to take anymore chances.
"Well, those mushrooms will kill us, but those will only make us wish we were dead," Bucky said politely, pointing at the toadstools Tony had proudly dumped before him with his makeshift crutch and trying not to smile. "The moss on your knees is edible, though. Where'd you find it?"
Tony narrowed his eyes suspiciously, trying to decide if Bucky was joking or not. When Bucky just raised his eyebrows, Tony goggled at him in horror.
"I am not eating moss," he said, crossing his arms and blanching. "I am willing to sleep in dirt, drink gritty sand water, and risk death climbing ridges for mushrooms that may or may not kill us, but I put my foot down at eating moss."
Bucky grinned. "Think of it as an exotic salad," he suggested, poking at the mossy patch on Tony's knee with his crutch. "Maybe we can even find some ants or something to eat with it. Like those little crunchy crouton things you fancy people eat."
Tony glowered at him. "I'd rather eat that dead, rotting thing I ran across getting these deathstools," he declared, kicking sullenly at said deathstools. Then he froze and looked up at Bucky in alarm. "Wait - I'm not going to get sick from touching them, am I?"
"You shouldn't," Bucky said, frowning at the rest of what Tony had said while Tony swore and started dumping part of his canteen over his hands. "What dead thing?"
Tony shrugged distractedly. "Oh, uh, some dead animal carcass. Couldn't tell what it was - most of it was eaten, and the rest was all rotted and bloated, so it could have been anything from a deer or a mountain goat to a sheep or a cow." He wrinkled his nose and recapped the canteen. "It's actually the second one I ran into. I found another one the day before yesterday, too, and I -" He paused when he got a look at Bucky's face, and blanched again. "Please don't actually suggest we eat it. I was only joking," he said, misreading Bucky's expression.
Bucky rolled his eyes. "Of course not," he scoffed. "I was just wondering where the hell they were coming from, and if it would be possible for us to catch one."
The valley had proven mostly - and oddly - devoid of wildlife; thus far, Bucky hadn't seen anything but bugs, a few lizards, and a stray bird here and there.
Tony eyed Bucky suspiciously for a few more seconds, then relaxed. "The thought occurred to me, too," he said glumly, staring down at their inedible mushrooms with remorse. "God, I would kill for some meat right about now…"
Bucky chuckled and elbowed him in the side. "There's always the things or thing that's been leaving the carcasses…" he teased, even though the realization that there was a predator or predators like that in the valley made him uneasy.
Tony scowled at him. "Don't even joke about it," he grumbled. "You're the crippled, slower target. Whatever it is is more likely to catch and eat you first."
"Only if it catches us before we starve to death," Bucky replied cheerfully. He then pulled some of the wildberries he'd found near their campsite while Tony had been off foraging out of his pocket, and offered Tony one.
"I hate you," Tony muttered, before accepting one of the berries.
Bucky grinned.
"I hate you," Tony mumbled again later that night, half-asleep with his face buried in Bucky's shoulder, after a very filling meal of berries, (non-poisonous) mushrooms, and, at Bucky's challenge, moss.
Bucky laughed and ruffled his hair, eyes on the night sky.
The whole situation was not anything Bucky could have predicted.
It was not ideal. It was not easy.
Yet it was the most relaxed Bucky had felt since he'd been freed from HYDRA's grasp.
True to his estimation, Bucky's leg was mostly healed within a week, though he still walked with a limp and had converted his make-do crutch into a make-do cane instead.
"I feel like an old man," Bucky complained, limping along beside Tony and trying not to stumble over the much rockier terrain. Tony had already tripped twice, and the last thing Bucky wanted was a sprained or twisted ankle on top of everything else.
Tony peered over his shoulder at Bucky and smirked. "Well, at least you've retained your good looks in you old age," he said cheekily, before promptly tripping again.
Bucky refrained from laughing until he was sure Tony was okay. "Young folks these days. Never watching where they're goin'," he lamented once Tony turned to glare at him daringly.
Tony responded by throwing a pebble at him.
Still sniggering, Bucky was deciding on whether to retaliate or not when they heard the first rumble.
They both glanced upwards.
"I really hope that's thunder and not a volcano," Tony muttered, slowly turning in a circle with his eyes still heavenward.
"I think I remember someone saying all the volcanoes on this side of the continent are dormant," Bucky said, following Tony's example and turning in a circle. "Oh, there," he added, pointing towards the western horizon.
Though their view was partially blocked by the mountains and the canyon wall to the west, there was no mistaking the gray clouds just at the edge of the horizon.
"That… is the last thing we need," Tony sighed, squinting and dropping the hand he'd been using to shield his eyes from the sun.
"A little rain won't kill us," Bucky said, even though he wasn't fond of the idea of having to walk in it.
Tony made a face. "That looks like more than a little rain," he pointed out, just as the sound of another rumble made it to their ears. "And I don't know about you, but I don't like the thought of being in the middle of the canyon when it starts coming down." He nodded towards the canyon walls. "Those rocks don't look at all stable, and I don't want to get caught in a mudslide."
Bucky frowned and followed Tony's gaze warily. He hadn't thought of that. A landslide would be devastating, especially with them trapped in the valley with nowhere to go. "I guess… we could always wait it out in one of the caves," he suggested reluctantly.
Besides becoming less steep the farther north they'd gone, the cliffs had also given way to more caves. By unspoken agreement, Bucky and Tony hadn't tried to explore and or take shelter in any of them, even the few that wouldn't have had to climb to get to.
They'd had their fill of dark, dank caverns, and, given the choice, preferred the open air and a view of the sky when they fell asleep.
"Better than being crushed under a pile of rocks, I guess," Tony said, though he didn't look any happier about the idea than Bucky felt.
Bucky shrugged one shoulder. "Maybe it'll miss us," he offered, before they started walking again.
Less than twenty minutes later, however, and it had become apparent that they were directly in the storm's path.
"Shit," Tony muttered, when the first few drops started coming down.
Bucky repeated the sentiment when the drops became a torrent, then flinched when lightning struck uncomfortable close.
"Over here!" Bucky yelled, pointing back towards one of the caves they'd just passed. It had been slightly up an incline, but it hadn't looked hard to climb, and if there was a landslide Bucky didn't want to be trapped at the very bottom of the canyon.
Tony shouted an affirmation that was lost to the wind and rain and scrambled closer to him, taking hold of Bucky's hand as soon as he was able.
They both sprinted (well, Tony sprinted - Bucky mostly tripped and slid, and let Tony pull him along) until they were at the incline, then scrambled up, another flash of lightning spurring Bucky to go faster.
After several minutes of pushing, slipping, pulling, and sliding, they finally made it to the mouth of cave, soaked to the bone and shivering.
"W-well, at l-least we h-have s-something to start a f-fire with," Tony stuttered out with chattering teeth, pointing to the sad little brush plant sitting just inside the mouth of the cave.
Tony wandered off while Bucky busied himself trying to start a fire, sacrificing his cane and the last bit of wood from Tony's armor sled to add to the brush.
Bucky didn't figure he'd get far - it was too dark in the cave to do so without light - so he was surprised by how far away Tony's voice sounded when Bucky heard him shriek.
"Tony?!" Bucky yelled in a panic, and tried to push himself to his feet.
Tony didn't reply, but Bucky could hear the sound of his footsteps echoing along the cave walls as he ran back towards Bucky.
Bucky picked up his slightly-charred cane and reached for one of his knives in case he had to fight someone or something off, but when Tony finally ran into view, he was wearing an expression of elation rather than fear.
"Bucky! You're never going to believe what I - what are you doing?" Tony asked, stopping himself short and cocking his head in bewilderment. "Do you know your walking stick is on fire?"
Bucky blinked, then looked down at the smouldering end of his cane and scowled. "I was getting ready for a fight," he said irritably. "What's all the shouting about? I thought we were under attack!"
Tony's brow wrinkled. "What? Why? Oh, never mind, and keep your stick, we can use it as a torch," he said, positively vibrating with energy. "Come on!" He eagerly motioned for Bucky to follow him, then skipped back into the bowels of the cave.
Bucky frowned after him, glanced down at his not-quite-fire, then sighed and followed. "Hey, don't go too far, I can't see you!"
Tony turned around and waited for him, fidgeting impatiently, then seemed to remember that Bucky was using his now-flaming cane as a torch and trudged back.
"Come on, it's worth the walk, I promise," he said, hooking his arm through Bucky's and hurrying him along.
They had walked almost forty paces, by Bucky's count, when the cave opened up and became more cavernous, as well as, oddly, warmer.
Tony stopped them, still squirming like an excited puppy, and pointed towards a dark pool to the left, which appeared to be the source of the heat.
"It's a hot spring!" Tony crowed, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Bucky raised his eyebrows and ventured a little closer. "Uh, neat," he said, peering into the pool cautiously.
"'Neat'?" Tony scoffed, throwing his hands in the air. "It's a hot spring! Hot water, Bucky! Do you know who long it's been since I've had a bath?" He bent down and reached out as though he was going to put his hand in the water, making Bucky tense and grab his wrist.
"Is it safe?" Bucky asked dubiously, frowning down at the water suspiciously.
Tony rolled his eyes, flicked his other hand into the water, and splashed Bucky with it.
Bucky scowled at him, and it was on the tip of his tongue to reprimand him, but then the warm water seeped through the cold, wet cloth of his shirt. "Oh, fuck that's warm," Bucky sighed, leaning over further in an attempt to get closer to the warmth.
Tony grinned. "See?" he said, taking Bucky's hand and slipping it into the water with his.
Bucky tried and nearly failed to contain a whimper, not realizing how cold he was until now.
Tony bumped his shoulder, still grinning widely.
"We'll build a fire back here," Bucky decided, though prying himself away from there long enough to go get the wood was going to be a challenge.
Tony ended up dashing off and bringing the rest of the supplies back, the promise of a hot bath apparently giving him the motivation he needed to do the job quickly.
Bucky certainly didn't complain, and set about starting the fire again as soon as he was able, sticking the end of his walking stick/torch between two rocks to free his hands and give them some light in the meantime.
"I haven't bathed in weeks - that cold, agonizing shower just now notwithstanding," Tony said as he started peeling his wet clothes off.
Bucky quickly turned away, his face warming, and not from the steam or the fire.
"I - well, we, I'm sorry, but you don't exactly smell like daisies yourself - really needed this," Tony continued, oblivious to Bucky's sudden embarrassment. "Hey, should we lay these out around the fire so they'll dry?" he added, looking over his shoulder at Bucky and holding his shirt out innocently.
Bucky swallowed and ducked his head. "Uh, yeah, good idea. Maybe they'll be dry by the time we're done," he mumbled, unable to look Tony in the eye.
He didn't know what was wrong with him. His sense of modesty had all but died during the war, and he'd seen plenty of men in various stages of dress for the same reason. Hell, it wouldn't even be the first time he and Tony had gotten an eyeful of each other - they had pretty much lost all sense of decorum with each other after the second day in their cell, and out of necessity when Bucky's leg had first been broken.
Somehow, though, undressing like this, for the sole purpose of bathing together, felt… different. More intimate, almost, which made Bucky feel funny just thinking about it. But then, Tony seemed fine with it, and if Bucky said or did something about it, he'd be the one making it weird.
Tony shuffled over and started setting his clothes out, then paused and cocked his head at Bucky. "You okay? You don't need help with your clothes, do you?"
Impossibly, Bucky felt his face go redder. "No, fine. Just deciding how to set things so they'll dry faster," he said hastily, reaching down to take off his shirt.
Ah, fuck it. The water wasn't all that clear, so they probably wouldn't see that much of each other anyway, once they were both in. Until then, Bucky would just politely keep his eyes to himself, and try not to flash Tony in the meantime.
Bucky heard a splash behind him, followed by the most obscene groan that had ever reached his ears.
Oh, shit. Now he was really going to have to get in quickly.
"I'm staying in here forever!" Tony announced amidst more splashing. "You're going to have to drag me out, I'm not leaving!"
Bucky gritted his teeth, and chanced a glance over his shoulder. Tony's back was too him, sunk to his neck in the water, so Bucky made a run for it and slipped in quickly. The motion made the water slosh and caught Tony's attention, but by the time he turned Bucky was already waist-deep in the water - and in heaven.
"Oh God," he groaned, sinking down further, until his shoulders were covered like Tony's. The warmth was absolutely glorious, just a few degrees shy of being too hot but no less toe-curling for it. Bucky could feel muscles he hadn't even known were tense loosen up and relax.
Tony was watching him out of the corner of his eyes, the heat of the water making his skin pink. "See?" he said, after clearing his throat. "S'nice, right?"
Bucky closed his eyes and nodded, noticing that his leg felt pain-free for the first time since it had been broken. "Never leaving," he agreed, cupping some of the water and scrubbing his face with it.
Hmmm, maybe he could use one of his knives and shave…
More water splashed him in the face, making him splutter and breaking him out of his spell. "Hey!"
Tony grinned, face still flushed beautifully, and splashed him again.
"Don't fall asleep," he ordered, eyes dancing mischievously. "I don't want to go home and have to tell everyone the great Bucky Barnes drowned in three feet of water."
Bucky growled and splashed him back. "Shut up. I'll have died happy," he said, distracting Tony while his hand reached under the water. He encountered what felt like a foot and seized it, his fingers dancing along the sole.
Tony shrieked and kicked him. "No tickling!" he yelled, though he was already moving closer so he could retaliate.
Bucky laughed and slapped his hand down on the water to splash him, then scooted away, feeling like a little kid.
They played like that for almost half an hour, until Bucky had chased Tony to a corner of the pool and tickled his sides until he'd called uncle.
"You're an evil, corrupt man!" Tony wheezed, color high in his cheeks.
Bucky grinned, and splashed him once more for good measure. "And you're adorable," he said without thinking, then snapped his mouth shut, eyes wide.
Tony turned towards him, but he looked amused and curious rather than angry or embarrassed. "I feel like I should be more offended by that than I am," he said, running a hand through his damp locks. "I haven't been called adorable since I was twelve."
Bucky wasn't sure what to say to that, and at the risk of embarrassing himself further, kept his mouth shut.
Because Tony was adorable. He had a sweet smile, and a playfulness about him that bordered on childish but fell somewhere around charming instead. His eyes were bright and kind, and framed with long, dark lashes that helped emphasize the brown of his eyes.
Bucky blinked, then frowned internally.
When the hell had he starting noticing Tony's eyelashes?
"Dragon baths," Tony said suddenly, ducking down until the water just brushed his lips.
Bucky shook himself out of his stupor and swallowed around his suddenly dry throat. "Huh?"
"Dragon baths," Tony repeated, grinning. "That's what Ana - the woman who helped raise me - always called hot springs. She'd mention them in her stories all the time. 'A sure-fire way to meet a dragon is to find one of his special baths'," he said, imitating a voice and accent unknown to Bucky. Then he smiled softly, eyes far away but fond. "I can't tell you how many stories began with some beautiful maiden or feisty adventurer deciding to take a bath in a hot spring, only to have some dragon take offense or whisk them away."
Bucky chuckled, welcoming the change in subject. "Sounds reasonable," he said, pulling a strand of wet hair away from his face and tucking it behind his ear. "I wouldn't care much for finding some naked stranger in my bathtub, either."
Tony laughed. "See, that's what I always said," he huffed, folding his arms over the edge of the spring and then resting his head on them. "Still, those were some of my favorite stories. I think Ana knew that, which was why she kept telling them, I guess."
Bucky hummed and scooted closer to the edge as well. "Something thrilling about slaying a dragon, I s'pose," he agreed, moving beside Tony and mimicking his position, because it looked comfortable.
Tony shook his head. "No, that's why I liked Ana's stories," he said. "Nobody ever slayed the dragons. Sometimes they were even the heroes."
Bucky tilted his head. "How does that work?"
Tony's face lit up. "Well, it's like - okay, in my favorite story, there's this princess," he began, eyes bright.
"Any good story needs a princess," Bucky hummed with a nod.
Tony huffed, but didn't seem to mind the interruption.
"Right. Well, anyway, this princess - she has everything. She's beautiful, is rich, lives in a nice castle, is loved by her people, the whole shebang. She has and is given whatever she wants whenever she wants it, but only under the condition that she throws many balls so that she may find a suitable prince the king and queen approve of to marry her."
Bucky frowned, noticing the way Tony's eyes lost some of their brightness at that, but he didn't say anything.
Tony continued.
"Anyway, she has whatever she wants. But despite that, she isn't very happy, because she's always very, very bored. Now because she's so important, and her parents want to protect her, she's not allowed to leave the kingdom, or travel very far from the castle. But one day, when the boredom finally gets to be too much, she sneaks out of the castle to one of the nearby hot springs she's heard of, and decides to bathe there."
"Scandalous," Bucky said, smirking, which earned him a splash.
"This is where the dragon comes in. You see, as you've probably guessed, the hot spring she chooses happens to be one of his dragon baths. And it just so happens that he decides to visit it while she's there bathing. He is, of course, rather outraged to find a beautiful naked maiden in his bath -"
"I think he needs to reprioritize his life," Bucky murmured, and while Tony didn't pause in his story, he did grin widely.
"- so he gets all fired up -"
"I'm assuming you don't mean passionately…"
"- and whisks her off, flying over the lands and far away from her home."
Bucky propped his chin up. "Did he at least let her put her clothes back on first?" he asked.
Tony frowned. "You know, Ana never said, and it never actually occurred to me to ask," he confessed, looking thoroughly chagrined with this oversight.
"I imagine flying naked could get quite cold," Bucky remarked seriously.
Tony opened his mouth to reply, then caught sight of Bucky's expression and scowled.
"You're making fun of me," he accused, crossing his arms.
"Not really," Bucky said, unable to keep a straight face. It was the story he was teasing, and he almost said so. But then Tony splashed him angrily and looked down, face red, which made Bucky realize just how much the story must have meant to him.
"No, come on, finish the story," Bucky pleaded, catching Tony's wrist before he could splash him again. "I won't tease anymore, I promise."
Tony side-eyed him suspiciously. "Promise?" he asked, and gradually lowered his hand.
Bucky nodded. "Cross my heart," he said, and did so. "Come on, he carried her off, she's far from home, what happens next?"
Tony frowned, still suspicious, but after a few seconds he cleared his throat. "Well, eventually the dragon stops and sets her down so he can rest and get a bite to eat. And he expects her to be cowering and terrified, because what sane person wouldn't be after something like that? But instead, he sets her down, and she starts laughing."
"Laughing?" Bucky asked incredulously.
Tony nodded, mouth turning up. "Laughing," he confirmed. "And if this confuses you and me, you can imagine how the dragon felt. But anyway, she laughs, and she looks up at the dragon and says, 'Oh, thank you, Sir Dragon! I do think that is the most incredible journey I've ever taken!'
"And the dragon is still confused, but he's also rather charmed by the compliment, because no one has ever said something so nice about his flying before. 'Well now, young maiden,' he says. 'That journey wasn't anything special. We've barely flown more than a league, and not even a very fast one at that! If you want a real incredible journey, I can take you on quite an adventure, I can.'
"The dragon doesn't expect much from this - he's just boasting, really - but once again the princess surprises him. 'Oh, would you?' she says. And then, just like that, the dragon picks her up and takes her flying again, this time taking care to be as showy as possible."
Bucky chuckled. "He had quite the ego, didn't he?"
Tony laughed. "All dragons do," he said, the sparkle returning to his eyes. "Or so Ana always said. So anyway, the dragon flew her around the kingdom, and, when that started to lose its excitement, the world.
"They flew to faraway lands. Exotic places with foods the princess had never eaten, and sights she'd never seen. They flew to the tallest mountains in the world, and to islands no man had ever explored. They went on so many adventures together, that soon, without ever really realizing it, they had become the best of friends, and neither the dragon nor the princess could remember a time when they've had so much fun."
Tony stopped and bit his lip. "Sometimes, if I asked, one of Ana's other stories would be about their adventures," he said shyly, as though admitting some big secret.
"I'd think I'd like to hear those, someday," Bucky said softly. And though he couldn't read the look Tony gave him, he felt Tony's hand brush against his forearm in gratitude.
"Then, one day, after a particularly thrilling adventure, the dragon is hit with a fit of conscious. 'Princess, I am terribly sorry,' he says, surprising the princess.
"'Well, whatever for?' she asks. 'We've been having such fun, haven't we?'
"'Perhaps,' the dragon says in remorse. 'But I stole you away from your home and family. Took you away from your perfect life, your wonderful castle, and all of your wonderful things. You must hate me!'"
Bucky had to bite back a smile as Tony's hands moved theatrically, his expressions and voice changing when the characters spoke. It wasn't hard to picture him as a child, sitting rapt at his storyteller's feet and drinking in every word like a sponge.
"The princess just laughs. 'Hate you?' she says. 'How can I hate you? I've never loved anything as much as I love this new life with you. You didn't steal me away, my friend…'
"'You saved me'," Tony finished, opening his hands and then letting them fall into the water. He cleared his throat and looked up, those eyes still impossibly bright, and a small, sheepish smile playing at his mouth. "That… that was my favorite story, growing up. I don't know why, I knew it by heart but I made Ana tell it to me over and over again, and I just…" He shrugged, embarrassed, and looked down at the water.
"I like it," Bucky said quietly, a strange feeling welling up in his chest.
And it wasn't hard at all to see why Tony did, either.
A person of high breeding trapped in a boring life of duty, and destined to marry someone their parents picked for them?
Once again he pictured little Tony, this time dreaming of a dragon that could take him away on an adventure, and found this one even easier to imagine than the first.
Tony flushed. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," Bucky said lightly, and then, because he wanted Tony's smile back, he raised his right hand and wiggled his fingers. "We're getting wrinkly."
Tony snickered, just like Bucky knew he would. "Speak for yourself, old man," he scoffed, and poked at Bucky's chest.
Bucky caught Tony's hand and held it to his chest with one hand and reached out to tickle Tony's side with the other.
Tony yelped and shoved at Bucky's shoulder with his free hand. "Cheater!" he shrieked, laughing and trying to squirm out of Bucky's grasp. "No more tickling - I already told you you won!"
Bucky laughed and tugged Tony closer by his captive hand. "Oh really?" he snickered, feeling oddly breathless. "What did I win?"
Tony stopped moving and grinned up at him. "I dunno," he huffed, relaxing now that Bucky had stopped tickling him. "What do you want?"
And, all of a sudden, Bucky became hyper aware of just how close they were sitting.
Though he'd stopped tickling him, Bucky's right hand was still splayed over Tony's ribs. Without thinking, Bucky stroked his thumb across Tony's skin, and felt his heart leap to his throat when Tony shivered and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, Bucky noticed his pupils were dilated.
Swallowing hard, Bucky's eyes dropped to Tony's mouth, which was also a lot closer than Bucky remembered. So close, in fact, that all Bucky would have to do is lean forward, just a few inches, and…
Tony moved forward at the same time Bucky did, mouth parted, and just as their lips were about to touch, Bucky felt something small and hard thunk against his chest.
Thoughts foggy and heart still thrumming, Bucky looked down -
And saw Tony's engagement necklace.
It was like being dunked in ice water.
Guilt shot through Bucky like lightning, making his pulse pound in his ears and the warm feeling in his stomach turn sour. He let go of Tony as though he had been burned, though he stopped short of throwing himself backwards and away from him at the look of wide-eyed alarm Tony was giving him.
"Bucky?" Tony asked, voice small.
Bucky swallowed, hard, around an apology that wouldn't come. "I think our clothes might be dry," he said hoarsely, unable to look Tony in the eye.
Tony opened his mouth, then shut it, expression closing off. "Okay," he said, throat clicking. "I - are you -"
"We should probably get out soon before we overheat, anyway," Bucky continued, turning his back to Tony and moving to the opposite end of the pool.
He didn't hear Tony's response, but he did hear a soft splash of displaced water as Tony got out.
Bucky stared at the cavern's ceiling, chest tight and stomach in knots.
Tony was breathing deeply in sleep beside him, back turned to Bucky and head resting on Bucky's arm.
They hadn't said much to each other after getting out of the hot spring. Not that there was really much to discuss, at least on Bucky's part.
He had feelings for Tony.
Mostly, Bucky was just upset that he hadn't realized it until that moment in the spring. Because, reflecting on the events and his feelings over the last few weeks, there was no way this was a new or sudden development.
It had happened so fast - or so gradually - that he hadn't even realized it until the moment he'd looked down into those beautiful brown eyes, and found himself physically aching with the desire to kiss their owner. Hadn't realized the feelings he'd been dismissing for weeks as simply protective were much, much more.
Bucky closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.
He was - and had been - falling in love with Tony.
Tony, who was going to marry Steve.
Steve, who was Bucky's best and oldest friend, and who clearly cared about Tony as well.
Bucky clenched his fists. What the hell was he doing? Best friends did not frolic naked in a bath with - and then try to kiss - their best friends' fiancés. Then again, best friends didn't go falling for their best friends' fiancés, either, so perhaps he should try to focus on the bigger issue, here.
He was just going to have to try get over Tony. Ignore his feelings, concentrate on getting them both back home, and keep Tony safe, just like he'd promised Steve. Even if a niggling little part of him couldn't help but notice that Tony had looked like he'd been leaning into the kiss, too.
Wishful thinking, Bucky thought to himself gloomily, shifting slightly so he could look down at Tony. He remembered the way Tony had looked when he'd told Bucky about the jasper pendant, and what Steve had said about it. Despite what Tony had said about not being in love with Steve, it was obvious - to Bucky at least - that Tony cared deeply about him, and was well on his way to falling for him as well. How could he not? Steve was loyal and kindhearted, and clearly the kind of person someone would want in life partner.
He was good for Tony, where Bucky was not.
No, Tony couldn't possibly love Bucky, and that was okay - even if the thought sent a little pang through Bucky's heart.
Closing his eyes, Bucky shifted again, and ended up with his nose buried in Tony's hair.
Just this once, he thought to himself, as Tony's scent and soft breathing began lulling him to sleep. It wasn't as if Tony was complaining - Bucky usually woke up with him plastered to his side - and besides, it was warmer this way, anyway.
Feigning sleep, Tony kept his breathing deep and even, and prayed Bucky couldn't hear the way his heart was hammering in his chest.
He's almost kissed Bucky.
The pendant around his neck felt twice as heavy as usual, nestled against his thundering chest as though mocking him.
He'd never even kissed Steve, his fucking betrothed, but he'd almost kissed Bucky, a man who most certainly was not his betrothed, and said betrothed's best friend besides.
Behind him, Bucky sighed, and the bicep Tony was using as a pillow flexed.
Tony's heart fluttered.
Oh, God.
This couldn't be happening. He couldn't be falling in lo-
No, don't go there, Tony, he chided himself firmly, even if the fluttering in his chest got worse at the thought.
Swallowing hard, Tony thought of Steve, and wrapped his hand around his pendant.
Don't want for things you can't have, he thought, before squeezing his eyes shut and trying to think of other things.
That night he dreamed of dragons and princesses, metal fingers in his hair, and warm lips on his.
He woke up still clutching his pendant, Bucky's scent in his nose and Bucky's arm wrapped firmly around his middle.