Tony introduces the Squad™ to his Bots for the first time. [character] melts inside and falls a little more in love
I have a thing for winteriron rn so have this ficlet
“And this is Dum-E,” Tony was saying, pointing to the cutest creation Bucky had ever seen. Mostly because it perked up at the mention of its name; all but waving its hypothetical tail.
“Oh, hello,” he said, reaching up to pet the bot. “I’m Bucky.”
“He’s a brat.” Tony leaned closer to him. “But I spoil him because he’s one of my favorites. Don’t tell the others. Or him, for that matter. He’d never let me live it down.”
“You treat them like your children.”
“Well, yeah. I birthed them.”
“I didn’t need that mental image.”
Tony laughed, trailing his fingertips over Dum-E’s side. “He would bend over backward to be of help, but he tends to mess up.”
“Can’t you fix that?”
“I could.” Tony turned to smile at the bot. “But it wouldn’t be him.”
Bucky, already on the edge, felt himself fall completely for the softie of a man before him. He wouldn’t mind co-parenting Dum-E. Would bend over backward just to please them both.
“Good.” How his voice didn’t waver, Bucky didn’t know. “I don’t think I’d ever forgive you if you altered him in any way.”
“Uh oh. He made another person love him. How do you keep doing that, huh?” he asked the Bot, that made a motion as if shrugging. “Teach me your ways, won’t you?”
“I don’t think you need his help.”
Tony blinked. “Oh?”
Flushing, Bucky refused to avert his gaze from Dum-E. “I’m just saying.”
“Would you mind telling me a bit more over dinner? My treat.”
“Only if I can treat you next time.”
“Deal.”
