Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count - 2207
Pairing: Pre-Slash, TonyBucky
When You Smile At Me (There's Nothing Better)
Tony was an enthusiastic person. It was one of the first things that Bucky noticed about the engineer, and he enjoyed watching the animated man whenever he got the opportunity.
Until he noticed the way that Tony flirted with everyone but him.
He gave everyone nicknames, hell, Stevie had a different nickname for every day of the year with some to spare. He touched people continuously, a hand on a shoulder, an arm around a waist, and just a few days ago, Bucky saw him plonk his stunning ass down on Thor's lap like it was nothing.
Bucky wanted some of that energy for himself, but he had no idea how to ask for it.
Tony treated him with kid gloves—likely at the instruction of Steve—and he never touched him, not even by accident. He hadn't even given Bucky a nickname, though he'd clearly tripped himself up a few times, stuttering over Bucky's name when he opened his mouth to call him something else.
It was frustrating.
…
"You know, this is how people die. Do you not watch movies?" Tony asked over the comms, as he wandered down a dark alleyway alone. "Someone is going to come out with a mask and a chainsaw at any minute."
"Don't joke about that," Steve said, though Bucky could hear the humour in his tone. "With our luck, someone will prove you right."
"Will you avenge my death, Darling?" Tony asked, and there was a grin in his voice. "Really, Cap, this is unfair. These shoes cost more than a new car would, and I'm stepping in all kinds of unfortunate things."
"Maybe you shouldn't spend so much on shoes then," Steve quipped, making both Tony and Clint snort.
"Tell Pepper. She's the one who orders my clothes; I'm practically a Ken-Doll at this point."
There was silence for a moment, and then Tony came into view, stepping out of the alley. He shrugged in the direction he knew Steve was watching from, and Bucky glanced around, his gun held steady.
There was something not quite right, and he barely managed to shout a warning for Tony to move before the building at the end of the street blew up, fire and smoke and debris filling the air between one second and the next.
"Holy fuck," Tony managed to get out as he stumbled out of range, coughing harshly. "Good call, Snow—uh. Barnes."
Before any of them could really realise the situation, they were being swarmed by people in yellow suits. Steve let out a curse, and then they were fighting.
Bucky tried to keep an eye on Tony, who was doing his best to keep out of the way until his suit arrived.
He was doing well, or at least… he was until he decided to be a self sacrificing idiot, anyway.
Bucky was doing what he could to keep the A.I.M idiots back, but he hadn't realised that they'd circled until he heard Tony shout out a warning. By the time he'd turned around, it was too late to do anything.
Tony had already jumped in front of him to block the rock heading his way at a rather alarming speed. Tony screamed out as the rock hit, falling to the ground as Bucky set three bullets flying at the assailant.
They were true to their aim, but Tony was already hurt.
"I need an extraction for Iron Man," he said into the comms, trying his hardest to keep the panic out of his voice as Tony lay on the ground, clutching at his leg as he groaned in pain. "I think there's a broken leg involved."
Bucky crouched, pressing a hand to Tony's lower back. "Bloody idiot," he muttered softly. "Help's on it's way, Tony. Try to relax, you're going to be okay."
Tony looked up at him with pained eyes. "You're okay?"
Bucky could only stare at him with disbelief. Was this guy for real?
…
"Tony can be—"
"A self-sacrificing idiot," Bucky interrupted, shaking his head. "I've seen it with my own eyes now, Stevie. Why did he do that? I wouldn't have half as hurt as him if it had hit me."
"I think he probably forgot that he didn't have his suit on," Clint said, shaking his head fondly. "Tony is so used to taking hits for us in battle because his armour can protect him that he probably moved on instinct."
Bucky shook his head.
He didn't know how to explain how he was feeling, because he couldn't put it into words that wouldn't make Steve cry. He just… really didn't like that Tony was hurt because he was protecting Bucky.
Not in any which way did Bucky deserve that kind of regard, and certainly not from a man who didn't even feel comfortable to nickname him when nicknames were his way of life.
It just felt… wrong, somehow.
"You can see him now."
Bucky looked up to see Doctor Cho standing in the doorway with a small smile on her face.
"He's mostly fine, and he'll make a full recovery," she added. "He's being a child at the moment though, so I'm quite happy to send him home with you to deal with."
Steve chuckled and nodded. "I'll come and get him. Is there any medication I should be aware of?"
The two of them walked off, and Natasha, Clint, Thor and Bruce all seemed to collectively relax, the tension leaving their shoulders now that they knew they could take their Tony home with them.
Bucky was relieved too, but it was a tainted relief, because Tony shouldn't have been injured in the first place.
He tried to smile when Natasha rested her delicate hand on his shoulder, but judging from the look she gave him, he didn't manage it.
"If you want to make it up to him, maybe you could find a way to let him know that he can be himself around you," she offered softly. "He wants to reach out, but he's worried about pushing you too far too fast. Tony… well. Tony doesn't see himself very clearly, and while we all love him and his enthusiasm and his affectionate nature, he often thinks that he's going to be rejected.
"So… maybe you could fix that, hmm?"
Bucky watched her walk out with the others and followed behind thoughtfully. Maybe Steve hadn't told Tony to treat him with kid gloves after all.
…
"It's a masterpiece, Steven, you utter heathen."
"That's one of the things I love about you, Tones. You're so humble."
"I'm as humble as a bumble bee," Tony replied, his nose in the air.
It didn't have quite the effect that Tony wanted, since he was still bundled up in blankets and looked utterly tiny and adorable.
Bucky chuckled as he sat down on the sofa. Tony glanced his way and smiled, suddenly gentle as his gaze ran over Bucky for a moment, clearly checking for injuries.
"How's the patient?" He asked, nodding to the cast on Tony's leg. "Broken or fractured?"
"Broken ankle," Tony muttered, a pout shaping his lips. "Doc says no flying until it's healed."
"Tony is trying to convince me that the suit is built in a way that would protect his ankle from more injury."
"Would it even fit into the suit in a cast?" Bucky asked. From his time spent listening to Tony rambling about the suit, he was relatively sure that it was measured down to the millimeter.
Tony wrinkled his nose. "I could build one especially for—"
"No missions until you get the all clear," Steve interrupted, shaking his head. "And be grateful that I'm not asking Miss Potts to lock you out of the workshop for the first few weeks."
"That's cruel!"
"I said I'm not going to, didn't I?" Steve offered, innocently.
Tony glared at him for a moment before he huffed and sank back into the cushions of the sofa. "If you're going to be mean, at least come here and let me use you as a pillow."
"Sorry, Tones," Steve murmured, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "I've got to go and fill in the mission reports. I'll be here later though, and I can see if Thor is free if you want?"
Tony groaned and shook his head. "No, Thor was going to Skype Jane, I don't want to interrupt that. He was really looking forward to it."
"I'm sure he wouldn't—"
"I can come sit with you?" Bucky offered, amazed at his own daring. "If you, uh. Want?"
Tony's eyes widened but then he smiled, bright and happy and he nodded, patting the sofa beside him.
Bucky stood immediately and crossed the room, slipping into the spot Tony indicated. After only a split second hesitation, he lifted his arm so that Tony could snuggle into his side properly, and once Tony was comfortable, he let his hand run through Tony's hair.
"Oh my god," Tony muttered, his eyes flickering shut. "Steve, you're being demoted. Bucky is the best pillow."
Steve wandered off with a chuckle, turning his head for just a second to raise his eyebrows knowingly at Bucky.
To Bucky's horror, he felt his face heat up.
He hadn't blushed in over seventy years. What the hell?
…
Bucky placed a small plate of cakes on the work table beside Tony and retreated to the sofa, picking up a book on his way. Tony still had the cast on his leg, but he was back to work regardless, hobbling around the workshop like a madman.
Bucky liked that. He liked that Tony had such an unbreakable spirit, that even being injured couldn't stop him from doing what made him happy.
He turned his attention to his book and let himself sink into the story, losing himself into a world of wizards and spells and a clear line between good and evil.
"Who—"
The noise drew Bucky's attention, and he looked up to see Tony looking between both him and the cupcakes on the plate.
"Did you—?"
Bucky nodded. "I know you like vanilla and strawberry frosting," he said with a small shrug. "So I made you some."
"You made these?"
"Uh huh."
"Oh. Thanks, Cupcake. Uh. I mean—"
"You can use nicknames, Tony," Bucky said softly. "You're not going to scare me away by calling me something that isn't my name, you know?"
"I." Tony blinked and looked down at the cupcakes, and then back at Bucky. "Sorry. I thought maybe you wouldn't… I know I can be a lot, you know? I've been trying to… not."
Bucky shook his head. "I like how affectionate you are, Tony. I like that you don't think about it before you reach out to touch people, or the way you're just… so endlessly enthusiastic about things. It's different to what I'm used to, sure, but… it's good different. I like it. I like you."
There was a moment's pause, and then a smile of pure childlike happiness appeared on Tony's face, and Bucky had never seen anything quite so beautiful.
"Yeah?"
Bucky nodded. "Yeah."
"Huh. Well then, Snowflake, how about you help me eat these cupcakes? If I eat them all myself—and I will—I won't get anything else done and Steven, the heathen, is making me leave the lab at a reasonable time at the moment."
Tony wrinkled his nose like that was entirely unreasonable and Bucky couldn't help but laugh.
"Sure thing, Doll."
And then Bucky realised he'd been wrong; Tony Stark smiling and blushing was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
…
It was raining outside, and Bucky paused by the window to watch as the raindrops bounced off the ground for a moment, before he joined the others on the sofas.
He liked rain, like the sound of it and he liked to watch it in the early mornings when he'd first woken up and the world had a softness to it that he hadn't known for too many decades.
Tony—fresh out of his cast—was sprawled on one of the sofa's with his legs over Thor's. The God of Thunder was massaging his recently healed ankle gently.
When Tony caught sight of Bucky, he raised himself up so that Bucky could slip beneath him, and accepted the soft kiss pressed to his temple with a small smile.
Tony, after being told he could, had practically showered Bucky with affection, and Bucky found himself returning it with an unparalleled joy. It made Stevie almost incandescent with happiness, which was an added bonus, he supposed.
"You're like a cat," Clint said to Tony, as he glanced over at them.
"Nah," Natasha said, shaking her head. "He's like a kitten. Spoiled rotten but adorable."
Tony preened comically, and Bucky chuckled, running a hand through Tony's hair, as Steve dropped a hot pink blanket over him. The look on Tony's face was pure bliss, and Bucky thought that Natasha was right.
If he could be purring, he definitely would be.
"Мой котик," he murmured, not thinking.
Tony blinked up at him and then smiled lazily as he nuzzled his face against Bucky's stomach.
"I like that," he murmured. "I'm going to keep you."
Bucky grinned. He'd like nothing better.
Written for:
Character Appreciation: 15. Enthusiastic
Record Collection: Back To Black 11. Alone
Time Machine: 16. Broken Ankle
Book Club: Mandy: Cupcake / Book / (word) Curse
Showtime: 16. Rainy
Amber's Attic: 6. (word) Nickname
Bex's Basement: 12. Splash Canyon: Rain
Lizzy's Loft: 10. You're So Sober - (dialogue) "I'm as humble as a bumble bee." (bonus)
Angel's Arcade: 10. Lovers. Character A Steps in for Character B
Scamander's Case: 16. Gentle
Film Festival: 21. Different
Marvel Appreciation: Luke Cage 2: (word) Unbreakable
Lyric Alley: 21. I've seen it with my own eyes
The Forecast Says: 1st. Sunny With Clouds: Happiness
Treasure Hunting: Quiver Of Arrows: Hot Pink
Auction: Day 1, Prompt 1: "This is how people die. Do you not watch movies?"