Rating: Gen
Universe: Avengers Assemble
Pairings: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, Avengers Team & Steve Rogers
Characters: Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, Thor, Other Avengers
Warnings: None
Major Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Past Relationship, Lovers to Enemies to Friends (?) …to Maybe Lovers Again in the Future (???), Avengers Movie Night, Avengers Family, Steve Rogers Needs a Hug, Good Friend Thor, Good Friend Clint Barton, Bucky Barnes Recovering, Queer Steve Rogers, Bisexual Steve Rogers, Pining Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers Loves Bucky Barnes, Past Stucky, Avengers Tower, POV Clint Barton
Word Count: 400 - Quadruple Drabble
Summery: Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier, Captain America's old war buddy, has been brought in from the cold. As Barnes takes shelter with the Avengers, questions arise within the Team.
For the:
✦ @ julybreakbingoevent - But You Only Date Women [ALT 1] - 7x7 Card
✦ stevesbirthdaycalendar prompt - Team [Day 27]
Read below or on AO3 >HERE<
"Captain, I have but a small query?" comes Thor's booming voice as he enters the living room of Avengers Tower.
Clint sighs and pauses the movie. If Thor was going to talk through it, there's not much point. Sam and Tony, beside him, flop back against the couch in disappointment. Nat picks up a magazine from the coffee table, pretending she wasn't interested or listening.
"Yeah?" Steve called from the kitchen counter where he was eating his pile of sandwiches.
"Barnes is an old companion of yours, yes?" Thor asks. "He is dear to thee?"
There are several tense heartbeats of silence where everyone turns to stare at Steve.
Steve pushes his plate away slowly, scraping loudly in the otherwise silent room. "Yes..." he says. "He is. Dear. -To me". He coughs, clearing his throat, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"Captain..." Thor says, unusually soft. "Dear as he is, why do you avoid him so?"
Natasha sets aside the magazine. Everyone is fully locked in now. No one pretending not to be. Everyone has been wondering. It took so much to bring Barnes in. Why, after all that, avoid the guy?
Steve wraps his arms around himself.
Thor takes a step forward, stopping when Steve shakes his head.
"Bucky needs space with his recovery," Steve says, hunching in on himself, "having me around might complicate things. Our pasts are, well, entwined. But he's not that guy anymore; he can't be. It- It wouldn't be fair to expect that. And I'm not the guy I was either..." Steve lets out a shaky breath. "...Also, for personal reasons."
"Personal reasons?" Clint pipes up when no one else says anything.
Nat gives him a kick in the leg. Not hard enough to be a real warning... just for show. So, Clint presses on. "That's... vague?"
Steve squeezes his eyes shut and looks towards the ceiling. "Yeah,"
Just as Clint's about to press further, Steve continues. "Bucky and I, before the war we-..." Steve's voice cracks. "We were an item. I can't- I mean..."
"I'm sorry," Sam says.
Clint winces. Yeah. That sucks. "Man..." he breathes. That kind of explains the whole 'I work alone. I don't do partners anymore,' thing Steve had going when Barnes resurfaced.
"But you only date women?" Tony croaks.
"I'm bisexual?" Steve says, laughing humorlessly.
Thor strides over and pulls Steve into a hug, and the other Avengers follow shortly after.
Tony: Am I ever gonna find a boyfriend again? I die an old maid.
Steve: You’re not gonna die an old maid, maybe an old spinster cook.
Tony: Thanks!
Steve: Hey now besides, if worst comes to worst, I’ll be your boyfriend.
Tony: [laughs] Yeah right.
Steve: Why is that so funny?
Tony: You made a joke, right? So I laughed.
Steve: Ha-ha-ha. A little too hard. What am I not boyfriend material?
Tony: Well, no. You’re Steve. You know, Steve!
[Tony hits him on the arm]
Steve: Okay, so we’ve established my name, and hit me. But theoretically, y'know, I mean say we weren’t friends, say it’s a blind date. I show up at your door, and I’m like [in a fake voice] “Hey, nice to meet ya. Hey, oh-hey.”
Tony: Well I’d probably be scared of a guy using a fake voice.
"Rumlow said 'Bucky' and all of the sudden I was that 16 year old boy from Brooklyn again."
Read on AO3
“Your pal, you buddy, your Bucky.” Steve froze, Rumlow’s words echoing in his ears. Bucky. His Bucky. And all of the sudden he was 16 again.
Steve was drawing in his sketchbook, charcoal covering his hands as he worked. Working with the medium wasn’t ideal for someone with asthma, but it was all they were able to find for him to draw with. With the war, art supplies wasn’t something that was easy to come by, but wood and a lighter were.
“Whatcha drawin’ there?” Bucky leaned over Steve’s shoulder, admiring his work. He could feel his breath on his neck and his heart skipped a beat. Why was Bucky being so close to him making him feel like this?
Shaking off the thought, he lifted up the sketchbook to show the piece he’d been working on. It was a self portrait and it was only about halfway done. Steve wasn’t used to drawing himself, so it was taking much longer than his other sketches.
“It’s supposed to be me…” He says quietly. Bucky reaches forward and takes the sketchbook from his hands, holding it up next to Steve’s face. He grins.
“I think it looks great, Stevie.” Steve blushes at the complement.
“It’s not done yet- I mean it’s- I’m still working on like the eyes cause that’s the hardest part.” Why were words suddenly so hard? Had Bucky always been that handsome? Steve’s palms started to sweat nervously. Bucky handed him back the sketchbook and Steve quickly put it behind his back to hide his clammy hands.
That night, Steve had trouble sleeping. He could hear Bucky’s snoring from the other bed. Bucky. Bucky. Bucky. He couldn’t think of anything else. He thought of what it might be like to hold his hand. To kiss him. To have him sleeping in his arms instead of across the room. The thoughts terrified him. He wasn’t supposed to think like this. Boys weren’t supposed to think about other boys like this, it wasn’t right. But then why did it not feel wrong to feel this way about his friend? In fact, it suddenly felt like the only right thing in the entire world. Because loving Bucky was the only thing worth fighting for in his life.
Steve blinked and it was present day. He had Rumlow by the collar and was interrogating him about the mission, but his mind was still stuck somewhere in the past. He didn’t care as much about the mission anymore, hell he didn’t even care if Rumlow was toying with him, but he knew that if there was even a sliver of hope that Bucky, his Bucky, remembered him, he’d be willing to fight to get him back.
Steve had decided to drag you along to see Sharon after you two had your "reunion" of sorts. You had dozed off and on for a few hours after you two
had spent considerable time exploring each other, thoroughly.
But honestly, you were still tired and slightly sore and just wanted sleep.A few more hours in Steve's arms would have been nice and you
told him as much but he was clearly a man on a mission, insisting he wanted to formally break the news to Sharon after which
you two were "not supposed to get out of bed, ever". Steve's words, not yours.
You were not comfortable with the idea of being a part of this confrontation, or "discussion" as Steve said but he insisted that he wanted you
to be there, saying there was nothing better than Sharon's corroboration of Steve's side of the story, to clear your head of any lingering doubts.
He appeared confident that Sharon won't mind one bit since there was nothing romantic between them and they were just friends, in fact she might be
happy as the burden of breaking this alliance off would fall on Steve in front of both families.
He playfully rolled his eyes and dragged you along " for the 4th time sweetheart, there is nothing to worry about, trust me"
He gave you a boyish grin and opened the door. Steve had asked Sharon to come to Asgard,the one nearer to his place,
Even though it wasn't the same outlet, visiting this place brought back so many memories, most of them happy and quite a few involving Steve.
As if reading your mind, Steve turned around and pecked you on the lips, eyes shining with so much love that you couldn't stop a smile
from spreading on your lips.
You eyes caught movement behind Steve, spotting Sharon standing up from her sitting position with a frown on her face. Following your lead,
Steve turned around and smiled at Sharon, which she hesitantly mirrored.
"What is going on?" Sharon blurted as soon as you two neared her table. She eyed your intertwined fingers and then looked back at up Steve,
not making eye contact with you at all.
You just knew this was not going to go as Steve expected.
Steve, oblivious to all this, beamed at you and squeezed your hand before addressing Sharon "Remember Shar, I told you I fell in love long
ago but there was no hope for me" Sharon gave no outward response but a twitch in her eye told you she had heard him.
Steve looked back towards you and continued " Well, looks like there is hope after all"
There was a pause where Steve continued beaming at you, Sharon stood there like a statue and you were torn between smiling back at Steve, eyeing Sharon for a reaction and exploring imaginary dirt on your shoes.
You should have asked Steve to do this alone, it was weird accompanying your boyfriend while he was breaking up with his fiance.
God! This sounded so bad with no context.
"What is the meaning of this Steve?" Sharon had tears in her eyes and that is what broke Steve out of his lovesick stupor "you said that to me when I left for fashion school".
You immediately looked between Steve and Sharon while Steve looked like a fish out of water. Opening his mouth several times to say something and then closing.
After a tense few seconds, Steve, finally, spoke "Sharon, I know I never said that to you. Cmon, stop goofing around, my girl here is gonna leave me again" The easygoing air Steve was aiming for did not hit its mark.
There were tears streaming down Sharon's eye "Why do you keep doing this Steve.We are getting married in a few months, please stop this nonsense now. I am not putting up with this anymore, I won't pretend to break up with you just so you could fuck some random gir, again!"
If that wasn't a bucket of cold water, you didn't know what was.
You tried snatching your hand back from Steve but he held on, if anything, his grip tightened
"No, you are not running away from me again" he spoke to you before turning to Sharon " I don't know what game you are playing but you need to stop now.
We are not getting married, no date has been announced and it never will and I never asked for your approval to fuck any girl"
You hissed and tried yanking your arm back.
Steve realised what he said "I don't sleep around with random girls sweetheart, that's what I meant"
Sharon interrupted and spoke directly to you now "I don't know what lies he has told you but he has done this exact thing multiple times before.
At that time, I let it go because I love him too much and didn't want him to feel tied down but now so close to our wedding, this is unacceptable"
"Sharon,I am warning you. I will call your mother and tell her the truth about the baby if you don't stop fucking lying" Steve was pissed now.
"What baby, waa..Steve what complicated story have you weaved this time. Honestly, I don't care. Come back to me when you are ready to apologise and then we will talk"
Sharon grabbed her things and stood upto Steve "..and No, you don't have my permission to fuck her"
Now,that pissed you off. Who the hell did she think she was?
"Too late for that now" You spit at her and she turned to look at you horrified but recovered quickly.
"Great, just great. Another conquest added to the list. Did she ask you to break up with me so you could fuck her the second time. Is she that good a lay? Fine, have it your way. Come to me when you are bored of her" Sharon glared at you and tried rounding Steve to leave but Steve grabbed her arm and pulled out his phone.
"I am calling Mrs. Barned right now if you don't tell y/n the truth"
Sharon scoffed "Sure, go ahead"
Steve sighed " I am sorry Sharon but you have left me with no choice"
Steve dialed her number and put the phone on speaker "If you confess, I will hang up"
Sharon stood expressionless, crossing her arms in front of her.
Mrs. Barnes picked up the phone and she had the same annoying tilt in her voice that Sharon had "Hi Steve, how are you honey"
Steve looked at Sharon for a beat who just raised an eyebrow at him.
"I am good Mrs. Barnes, I have called you to confess something to you"
You realised that everyone in Asgard had gone quiet. Jesus! Every single person in the sparsely crowded bar was looking at you three.
"Oh go ahead honey. What is it?"
"The baby Sharon miscarried wasn't mine. She was in love with some guy named Stephen and he was the father of her child. I agreed to take the blame just to keep her out of trouble" Steve spoke softly on the phone and you were so thankful that he kept his temper in check given the delicate nature of this declaration. He truly was a gentleman.You squeezed his hand softly and tried giving him a small smile, which fell the moment the next words were out of Mrs. Barnes' mouth.
"What baby are you talking about Steve?"
You stopped breathing.
Steve blanched and started saying something on the phone, which you couldn't hear over the ringing in your ears.
Sharon had a smirk on her lips when your eyes met.
There was pindrop silence in Asgard apart from Steve's vehement conversation on the phone.
You wanted the earth to swallow you.
Your cheeks heated up from embarrassment and you started looking at possible exits.
But then a lightbulb went on in your head.
You put your hand over Steve's cheek and saw Sharon tense in the periphery while Steve stopped speaking on the phone and looked at you with pleading eyes.
"Please believe me. I don't know why she..."
"Shh, it's okay baby. Whatever happened in the past doesn't really matter to me. What matters is today and our future, I know you love me and I love you. You can break up with Sharon and we will be on our way"
If Steve was shocked by your words, he didn't show it. He just stayed rooted on the spot, his eyes asking you a million questions at once.
But before he could say something and ruin your plan, exactly what you hoped for, happened.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter, of course it matters. I was pregnant with his baby and it doesn't matter to you. What if the baby was around, would you still say the same thing" Sharon was seething now.
You heard an audible gasp on the other side of the phone and Steve let out a puff of air through his mouth.
Sharon was still looking at you with anger, clearly missing what she had just confessed.
I mean, everyone in the bar collectively gasped but she was still oblivious.
You decided to help her catch up "But Sharon, your mother just said there was no baby" Sharon physically recoiled from you both and started blabbering " I mean, there was no baby. My mom meant there was no baby from Stephan. Of course, there was a baby from Steve..."
"Enough! Just stop. You and your mother are more vicious than I thought"Steve disconnected the phone and turned to Sharon with venom in his eyes "I will tell my family the truth because it looks like your treacherous family knew everything all along. Keep the ring if you want, it means just as much as it meant before,nothing"
He then grabbed your hand and walked out of the bar.
As soon as you two were out of the door, he swung you to face him and hugged you tight "Thank you. Thank you so much for trusting me. Thank you"
You leaned back and cupped his face "It wasn't hard to, I beleived in you" you hugged him again and spoke with your face tucked in his chest "but I am also not stupid, no one would be dumb enought to call someone's parents with such a huge claim if they didn't beleive it to be true, specailly on speaker phone"
You could feel Steve's laugh rumble in his chest while you continued with a grimace" I just wish you would have done this somewhere private. I am 77% sure someone recorded the whole thing"
----------------------
Nat's Wedding
"C'mon Steve, just one more dance" you were pleading with Steve for another dance while he was shaking his head.
Nat's wedding was a dream. Outdoor with the most lavish decor you had ever seen, even on TV.
But now at the reception, everyone was drunk and dancing like crazy.
"I think I have stepped on your toes enough for today" Steve grabbed your arm to pull you into his lap "and I think you need to rest too. I can't wait to get you all alone and help you out of this beautiful dress, can't have you tiring yourself out entirely on the dance floor"
"I am too tired to get the dress off by myself handsome" you said sleepily and grabbed his hair to attack his mouth.
After a few heated moments, Steve pulled away while you chased his mouth with yours " Okaay..no more drinks for you honey. Here, have a glass of water and you are not leaving my sight now" He bopped your nose and passed you a glass of water.
"But I want that fruity tall glass that Wanda has. Wanda, gimmie" you slurred a Wanda made her appearance followed by Vision.
Wanda had surprisingly become one of your good friends. She had filed for divorce from James a few weeks ago, stating that yours & Steve's and Nat & Pietro's love had given her the push she needed to follow her own heart.
"This is orange juice babe, you hate orange juice" She said while sipping on her drink.
"Orange juice sucks. I only like one kinda juice..Steve's" you smiled dopely at him while he shut his eyes and subtly shook his head over Wanda and Vision's loud bark of laughter.
"TMI baby and I think that is our cue to retire for the night" Steve made to get the both of you out of the chair.
"I can't goooo.. it's my sister's wedding, There are things that need to be done. What if she needs me to help her pee" you pouted at Steve.
Why was he looking at your face like that "I love it when he looks at me like that, it's usually wohooo night after this" you whisper yelled at Wanda and gave her an exaggerated wink.
Wanda put her drink down while trying and failing to keep a straight face "Honey, you know Nat has Pietro to help her now and then I am here. You can go off to bed"
"With Steve" you added "I go to bed with Steve, every night, mostly" you then turned to Steve "baby, wohoo night?"
"Honey, with how drunk you are, it will really be a boohoo morning for you" . With that, Steve picked you up bridal style and bid Wanda and Vision good night.
"I can't wait" you said sleepily before grabbing onto Steve's shoulders and hugging him from your position in his arms "I love you"
You felt a pair of lips in your hair and a deep " I love you too baby, so much" from Steve before slowly entering dreamland.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/3
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Characters: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, James "Bucky" Barnes, Sam Wilson (Marvel), James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Pepper Potts
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Pining, Past Relationship(s), Requited Unrequited Love, Angst with a Happy Ending, Eventual Happy Ending
Summary:
Tony did this, thing where he fell in love with his friends. All of his friends, except maybe Steve.
for everyone who asked to be tagged in part 3 all the way back in April of last year when i first posted this, im sorry it’s taken so long but im finally updating it!!
“Buck, what are you doing?”
“Getting comfortable, Stevie. This bench is slanted strangely.”
“So sitting against me, pushing me into the wall is your solution?”
“I ain’t pushing you into anything. You’ve got a good few inches between you and the wall. Besides, our food order should be ready soon. I’ll switch you spots if it bothers you that much.”
“No.” Steve shook his head and tried not to think of how nice it felt to have Buck pressed up against his side. He was both relieved and disappointed when their order got called and Bucky moved to get it.
Here is another shippp of mineeeee (Wow I need less sugar or more coffee lol). Day 2 (The word is Slant) of the inkandblade prompt challenge! Today it’s Stucky (Pre-Serum Steve no less) because I have all the feels for this ship too. Thanks!
Tony is babysitting Rhodey and Carol’s baby daughter while they are on a trip. Newly returned post-CW Steve is puzzled at seeing Tony go about his day (workshop, business meetings, etc) with a baby in a canguru, watching Tv with her in his lap while talking to Peter to know how he’s doing, and take perfect care of her. Pining develops, except Tony is ignoring and wants nothing to do with Steve because of Civil War. A LOT of grovelling ensues before they get together.
Bonus points for Papa Bear Rhodey calling everyday to know if *Tony* is doing OK (because he knows he’ll take care of his kid), Carol being super chill about leaving her kid with Tony and assuring Rhodey she pulled rank and put the fear of the lord into Sam to make sure their fine, and an overprotective Happy accidentally (totally on purpose) bumping the car on Steve’s bike and getting it fucked up but it’s not his fault because it was irregularly parked (it was not).
Love is unconditional and should never be taken for granted.
Short comic of a pretend scenario after Civil War. Steve and Tony have reconciled. Bruce returns from his self-appointed exile after hearing about what happened to the team (and about Steve’s betrayal) and whisks Tony away after giving Steve a very serious warning.
This was a very ambitious project for me as I was trying to make sure all the base colors were consistent (forget the shading, that’s all wonky but whatevs). Despite how laborious this was, I had fun and hope you all enjoy!
