for a potential prompt: bucky and tony meeting at a bookshop?
Tony’s fingers grazed lightly upon the various books that he passed as he walked down the aisle, loving the feeling of the old and used books. Currently, Tony was wandering around this bookstore, The Silver Haunt.
To be completely honest, Tony wasn’t even planning on walking in, but unfortunately for him, someone had shared his location on social media.
(Which honestly wasn’t fucking cool at all. After spending weeks promoting some film he was the lead in and being pushed to answer unnecessary questions about his current love life—which was pretty much nonexistent, but the press and his fans would never believe that, especially after photos of him and Thor napping and cuddling together were leaked—Tony thought he deserved some quality ‘me time.’ He had just wanted to go on a small walk, get some fresh air, and have some quiet time for himself. Should have he brought Sam and Maria, who were his bodyguards? Yeah, probably, but Tony’s never been one to fully think things through.)
It wasn’t long after that, a small hoard of creepy men—who don’t understand the basic decency of privacy and space—with their flashy cameras, and some overbearing fans started to follow him, Tony sought sanctuary, which is how he came across the independent bookshop.
Once Tony dashed inside, he immediately became enamored with the shop. Practically, the shop was filled to the brim with books, some new, some old, and some encased in a glass container—which Tony assumed were rare first editions. There was even a spot within the shop that was designated as a cafe and lounge area.
Thankfully, the shop was pretty vacant. And the customers who were there paid him no mind, all of them seemed to be focused in the different worlds that they were escaping in. Tony figured he could spend at least an hour or so in The Silver Haunt before it would be safe enough to step back out and head back to his hotel.
So, in order to kill some time, Tony headed over to the science fiction section. His eyes scanned the various books, debating which one he should jump into.
“Hi, is there anything in particular you’re looking for that I can help you find?” A voice from behind Tony asked.
Tony, who wasn’t expecting anyone to be speaking to him at all, jumped at the voice and fell over, knocking down the stack of books that were meticulously and cleverly stacked into the shape of a UFO in the process.
“Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you!” the same voice said.
Embarrassment filled Tony’s soul as his cheeks flushed to a pretty shade of red. “I... um,” he stammered, still too embarrassed to form a complete and coherent thought. A hand reached out to Tony. Tony finally looked up to the person and let out a small gasp.
The voice that Tony was startled by belonged to a gorgeous brunette.
Tony gulped and hesitantly took the man’s hand.
Tony was certain that if he were even attempt to bother speaking, it would just come out as gibberish. So, he nodded.
“I’m James,” the man who in Tony’s opinion had no business being that hot introduced. “I own this place.”
God, Tony, he chastised himself mentally, pull yourself together man!
James grinned at him before looking apologetically at him. “I’m still sorry for scaring you.”
Tony, who finally managed to pull himself together, waved off the apology. “It’s not your fault.” He turned back to look at the fallen books. “I can fix that,” he pointed.
“Nah, don’t worry about it,” James reassured. “I can just make Clint fix it later, have it be one of his punishments for using an actual taco as a bookmark for one of the rare first edition books I found.”
“I’m sorry, but did you just say that someone used a taco for a bookmark?”
James nodded and sighed. “Yeah, unfortunately.”
Tony gave him an incredulous look. “How does that even happen?”
James bit the bottom of his lip and motioned his head over to the cafe area “If you’re free, I can tell you all about it, pictures and all.”
“You got yourself a deal, gorgeous,” Tony replied, not realizing his slip.
James beamed and turned around but suddenly froze. He turned back around, “Did you just call me gorgeous?” A teasing smile on his face.
Tony blue-screened as his eyes widen. “Uhhhhh, yes?”
The two stood face to face, the silence thickening. Tony was afraid he had messed everything up and was about to apologize but was cut off when James spoke.
“You’re not too bad yourself,” James teased as he turned and started walking towards the cafe. “C’mon, doll, lemme tell you about the disaster that is my one of my employees and current housemate,” he called back to Tony.
