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Word Count: 459

Trust Me

"You'll never be able to make up for your mistakes, Stark!" Steve screamed, his face red with rage. "You've done too much damage!"

Tony reared back as if he'd been slapped.

Before Steve could say anything else, Bucky elbowed him out of the way and wrapped an arm around Tony's shoulders, leading him from the room without a backwards glance, despite the way Steve called his name.

Tony kept his head down, but he didn't pull away from Bucky. For his part, Bucky was seething. How could Steve throw that in Tony's face when he knew how hard the smaller man worked to make up for his past.

Even though most of what happened wasn't even Tony's fault.

After everything that Bucky had done—forced or not, it was still his hands the blood lingered on—to hear Steve say such a thing was like a knife plunged into his back.

Hypocritical jackass.

They made it down to the workshop, and Tony allowed Bucky to tug him over to the small sofa and down so that Tony was practically in his lap.

Bucky pulled him even closer, cuddling him aggressively until Tony's breathing evened out and he stopped trembling.

When Bucky relaxed his arms, Tony sat up a little, wiping his face.

"I guess I didn't realise he hated me so much," he mumbled, shaking his head.

"He doesn't hate you," Bucky refuted immediately, shaking his head. "He… I'm not trying to make excuses for him, but… he's been spending a lot of time with Wanda. I don't trust her."

Tony flinched minutely, and Bucky frowned.

"Tony? What is it?"

Tony shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing, it's fine. I'm fine."

"Tony?"

"She told me this was going to happen, okay? I guess… I thought it was an empty threat but… she's really going to turn you all against me, one by one. It's already worked with Steve… Nat'll be next, and Clint, and then… and then you."

"I notice that you didn't mention Rhodes," Bucky said, arching his eyebrow.

Tony shook his head immediately. "My Rhodey would never. He knows what she did, he hates her. He can barely stand to look at her, never mind be close enough for her to… corrupt."

Bucky huffed. "She won't get me, either. I'll take care of this for you, Tony. Don't worry about it, Doll, I got you."

"I don't want her to hurt you," Tony murmured. "Certainly not for me."

"You're worth it," Bucky replied, stroking his metal hand down Tony's back. "But she can't hurt me. I'll end her before she even realises the possibility of it."

"You don't—"

"Shhh," Bucky hushed. "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it and I'll take care of you. Trust me."

"I do."

Written for:

Showtime, 34. Insulting someone

Scrapbooking: Mini Pegs: cuddling