This took for FUCKING ever but I was finally able to come up with something that didn't irritate me or sound stupid. So thank you for your patience. Watch out for the cut and please comment or like, it literally makes my everything (day, week, night, etc.)

It all started about three weeks after the 'Rogue' Avengers returned home and with all the new people trying to coexist in the compound things got…hectic. And for Tony, it became utter chaos.

Handing the CEO position over to Pepper will always be the best decision of his life. His position as head of Research and Development kept him plenty busy with projects and his portion of shares kept him in the loop with the board.

Next was the Accords that he and T'Challa were working on timeously to improve which took up a great deal of time with lawyers and the UN. Let's not forget all the attention that Iron Man and the Avengers require. Team dynamics (read: team bonding), upgrades, training, missions, debriefing, the list went on. He was lucky he could skip on somethings. Less important board meetings, movie nights with the team, which he mostly missed because he was at a gala for the Maria Stark foundation.

So when it came to the team trying to spend time with him he really didn't have the time to spare.

"Hey Tony, feeling like sushi?"

"Sorry Cap, can't today." Which was true, he had a sit down with Peter, Gamora and Rocket around noon that involved building and strategizing a defense against alien attacks. He could (and probably would) be eating with them, surprisingly it was Gamora that was obsessed with all the different human foods available.

Wrapping up with the Guardians later that day, Peter turned to Tony, "So Mr. Genius, will you be joining the 'team bonding' movie night?" He didn't use his hands but you could almost hear the quotation marks around team bonding when he said it.

"No can do Star Hopper, got a gala to attend to tonight." Tony was already on his phone double checking his schedule and list of things to do. "I'll catch you guys later."

xXx

The next day Peter, the spider one, came over in a panic. His science project that was worth half his grade was due next week and he couldn't get this one equation to add up correctly. That pushed his schedule back three hours before DUM-E intervened and hosed the over-active teenager down with the fire extinguisher. Now he was behind and people just kept interrupting him.

Natasha came by to say he needed to join the team dinner. Clint asked him for new arrows, Vision needed help with understanding some of his human interactions. He got an email attachment from SI with some stuff that needed his approval. Steve stopped by, again, to see if he was free to spar. Of course when he stopped by it just so happened that Stephen was in the shop asking if he wanted to help him with a new spell.

It was time to relocate. With a half assed excuse and tablet under his arm he made a quick stop in the kitchen for a few snacks and then went hunting for a new hiding spot. The shop was too obvious and almost seemed to invite people to disturb him.

He was just wandering around the compound, distracted by an update Friday had texted him about when he head footsteps coming in his direction. "….they puny earthling, Stark should be able to help."

That was Drax, fuck! If the alien was searching from him there was no escaping his strong hold, literally. The last time Drax had sought him out the 'Destroyer' had gripped his arm tight, sat him down and had him explain the meaning of killing two birds with one stone. It took two hours and then another three when Clint mentioned that it was about time the elephant in the room was addressed.

He spun and ducked into the room he had just stepped past. As quickly and as quietly as possible he shut the door and turned, pressing his ear against the wood. He listened as Drax turned the corner and walked passed the door he was hiding behind. He listened until the footsteps completely faded from his range of hearing.

With a full body sigh he turned and put all his weight into leaning against the door. "Hiding from someone?" Tony nearly shrieked when he heard the deep grumble come from across the room and saw Bucky Barnes standing causally in the doorway to his bathroom, naked except from the towel wrapped tightly around his hips. He didn't even realize that he had been wandering the residential wing of the compound. Barnes had a small devious smirk on his face, standing there causally, water drying on his exposed skin. Metal and flesh arms raised to towel his hair dry. He either had the best or worse luck in the world, depending on who you asked.

"I'm – I'm sorry, I just needed somewhere to hide." He wasn't a hundred percent sure why he admitted that but he guessed there was no taking it back now.

Bringing the towel down to rest over one shoulder he shrugged his shoulder a little, "Okay. That's fine, make yourself at home." Tony was silent and staring, mouth opening and closing but no words actually forming. As if sensing this Barnes turned to look at him again, one eyebrow rising as if to ask, yes?

"It's just – I mean, are you sure?"

"Technically speaking, this entire place is owned by you. If you want to lay low here, that's fine by me." The genius hesitated and waited while Barnes went about getting dressed. Not caring when he let his towel drop in front of Tony before grabbing clean underwear and going about getting dressed. Once he had some comfortable sweats and a loose tee shirt on he grabbed a book and got settle on his bed. It took about 8 minutes (and 49 seconds) of Barnes ignoring his presences for him to feel brave enough to move. Taking a few steps into the room and away from the door didn't result in the other man throwing him out so he snatched up the blanket and pillow that had been sitting in the chair by the closet and ducked inside.

The walk in closet was pretty spacious and had another closet within, but ignoring the closed door he moved passed that moderate amount of clothes into the back corner. There he settled down with his things and got comfortable. Armed with his tablet he dived head first into some important work emails that he had been putting off.

He must have been at it for a while because one second he was reviewing a new policy in the Accords and the next there was someone standing over him. Looking up he saw the bottom of a pizza box. Barnes turned and sat next to him, setting the pizza box in his lap and handing Tony a can of Pepsi.

"So why the closet?"

"Let's be real, who is going to go looking for Tony Stark in the Winter Soldier's closet?

"Point."

xXx

It became a thing for them, when things got overwhelming for Tony he would go hide in Bucky's closet, catching up on work that he could do from his tablet or (on the very rare occasion) catch a few Zs.

If he thought back to a couple months ago he never would have pictured himself curled up in his little nest in the back of the winter soldiers closet attempting to get some peace from all the interruptions that came with living with a bunch of super powerful beings. For the most part Bucky left him alone, allowing him the quiet time he so desperately craved, even going as far as to cover for him when someone came looking for him.

Surprisingly it was Sam.

"Hey man, have you seen Tony around?"

"Can't say that I have, why do you think I would know where he went?" Bucky played the dumb card good.

"Well since Natasha isn't here right now I figure the second best person to know where someone is or find them would be the winter soldier…"

"I guess that makes sense…." When Sam continued to stare at him, Barnes sighed loud enough Tony could hear it from the back of the closet. "I guess you want me to help look for him now." It wasn't even a question.

"Yep, come on. Steve's starting to get annoying."

xXx

But everything changed a week later.

It was a bad week. Projects were piling up and overdue, this week's Accords meetings had him wanting to pull his hair out, spider kid got hurting taking on a new enemy alone while the Avengers were dealing with a situation down south. With all the stress Tony felt like he was barely keeping it together when it all came crashing down.

For some reason everyone was gathered in the common room, reminiscing over old battles when Clint brought up the battle of New York. Tony had been on the out skirts of the room trying not to draw to much attention while he put a sandwich together. But when Clint mentioned that damn portal he felt his stomach drop.

Panic made his heartrate sky rocket and before he knew it he was stumbling out of the kitchen in the direction of the bedrooms, more specifically, Bucky's bedroom.

Not even bothering to knock he shouldered the door open, the force almost causing the door to bounce of the wall and swing back and hit him. Luckily he moved fast enough that it just shut again and he walked passed a very shocked super soldier. Bucky was lying in bed watching a movie when Tony barged in and nearly ran in his closet. "Tony, are you okay?" He sat up and watched after the man, not getting a response.

He waited, listening for anything when he heard it. The faintest sound of sobbing, quickly climbing off the bed he made his way in the closet. Stark was in the farthest corner of the closet, back against the wall, knees pulled up close to his chest, face hidden in said knees. His hands held his head, shaking and sometimes tugging at any hair he could reach.

He came closer, kneeling down beside him. A hand came out to touch and when his flesh hand made contact Tony jerked away and let out the most heartbreaking whimper. "I'm sorry, I'll just – leave." Standing up he went to leave when a hand shot out and gripped his metal wrist tightly.

"Don't – please don't…" Tears were falling down his face.

"Tony?"

He tugged at his captured wrist, "stay." And so he stayed.

xXx

That day changed them, Tony started to seek Barnes out for more than just hiding in his closet and Bucky found himself craving the billionaire's attention.

For once, it was a slow day for the genius. So with his free time, he grabbed a bowl of pizza rolls, a bag of chips and made his way to Bucky's room.

Hands full he kicked the door and waited patiently (not so patiently) for Bucky to open the door. Once the door opened he shifted his load to one are and grabbed Bucky's shirt, pulling him towards his closet nest.

Bucky laughed but allowed the smaller man to pull him along anyway. Tony sat down his treasures and then got settled in his nest, Bucky was still standing there watching the genius get settled. Once he was satisfied he turned and looked up at the soldier, "Cuddle with me?"

Stevie was going to be pissed, but looking down at Tony Stark curled up in a nest of blankets and pillows he couldn't help himself, "Can I kiss you?"

Tony's smile grew, "Only if you come down here and cuddle me."

"I think that's something I can do." He dropped down on the other, loving the laugh that erupted from him. Too bad he couldn't hear more of that laugh but he just really wanted to kiss those soft lips.