Finding Out
Royalty
Chapter 2
A few hours after Tony forced Maximoff from his mind.
The morning passes with everyone in a seemingly dazed state at what happened earlier that day. Rhodey had walked himself straight over to the long, comfortable couch with Tony and laid back with Tony propped against his chest and hadn’t moved since. The others had come and gone, some lingering in the living room, merely gazing at the fragile figure of Tony on his best friend’s body, desperately grasping for something to hold onto to stabilise himself.
The only one apart from Rhodey that’d deemed to stay constantly near the genius billionaire was Bucky. He’d grabbed a book and sat down on one of the plush armchairs, body stiff and tense as his flesh hand held the book open and his metal one curling into a fist and untangling until his fingers where splayed about on his thigh. It was clear he wasn’t really reading as he hadn’t flipped one page in the last three hours and merely stared down at it or looked up at the doorway when some made an entrance.
It was unclear why the Winter Soldier was so determined to seemingly protect Tony even if the Colonel was already there by his side. There were a few reasons that Rhodey could think of; maybe Barnes had realised that even in their so called 'safe space', they still weren't actually safe enough to let their guards down. And it seemed that the Winter Soldier's guard was back up once more. Another reason was because of the witch being HYDRA. With Barnes' vendetta against them, he might've seen Tony as a victim and him a protector. The last was that that maybe Barnes liked Tony more than he let on and that the attack on Tony had forced his protective energy to the surface.
After three hours of Tony occasionally sniffling and shifting, drifting in and out of consciousness; did he finally sit up and stare blankly around the room. His eyes were red with veins, not with Maximoff's power thank god, coming to the surface due to lack of sleep. His hair was sticking up everywhere and seemed to have no intention of flattering down. Unlike what the world usually saw of it, the style being 'just rolled out of bed' or 'just got shagged silly', this was more of a 'just had an exhausting mental breakdown' kind of style. Which he had in a way. Tony's gaze dragged around before focusing on the Winter Soldier.
A frown appears on his face. “What—why are you here?” There was a strange look in his eyes as he examines Barnes, expecting to find something to indicate why the Winter Soldier is sitting there, willing going near him. He's used to Barnes running away at the slightest glimpse of him. He's not expecting Barnes to choose to be near him. “Why are you just sitting there—wait—what happened?”
Rhodey wets his lips and glanced over at the Winter Soldier who’s looked away and is staring at the doorway, eyes narrowed. Tony makes a soft sound and Rhodey looked down at him with a sigh that escaped his lips. “Well, Tones, uh, do you remember what happened in the kitchen?” Tony stared at his best friend for a long moment as he thought back. All he remembers was a red haze, a feeling of intense panic and a splitting headache crushing his skull which rivalled that of his own personal migraines from hell.
“No.” The shockingly quick reply seems to surprise the other two though Barnes hides it well enough. The only give away is the tightening of his metal fingers and the way he shifts to the side to get a better look at the genius’s face. Rhodey’s eyes widen a fraction before he schools his expression at Tony’s rapidly growing agitated face. “Why? Did something happen? Are you okay, Rhodey? Is everyone okay?” Even though no one except Rhodey and Pepper gave a shit about him, Tony still cared about each and every one of them. Well—except Maximoff but that was a given as she seemed to loathe the ground he walked on.
Rhodey made a soft sound that made it seem like it hurt him to release. And then a truly helpless look formed on his face. “Tony … Tones, Maximoff she …” Rhodey stops, and another sound escapes him. This one is almost like a sob. Tony tries to sit up but a sharp pain crashes throughout his skull. He hisses and places his fingers to his temple, fingers feeling faintly numb as he rubs at the skin to soothe the ache. Rhodey’s expression tightens at the movement. “Maximoff she—”
“She’s a HYDRA bitch an’ she’s been fuckin’ with your head for a while, Stark.” Barnes interjects smoothly. Tony looks at him and is surprised to see the fury in the males eyes, hidden beneath the surface, the anger something he couldn’t quite control. And Tony had a faint passing thought that maybe Barnes didn’t want to; it was HYDRA after all. And HYDRA had fucked enough with the Winter Soldier’s head for him to be raging for revenge against the organisation. The only thing that’s stumping Tony is why Barnes cares enough to be there when he’s told about Maximoff.
“Okay …?” Tony glances at Rhodey, only to see the males eyes are closed. Tony frowns and glances at Barnes to see if he could discern what was wrong through him but only sees him staring at the doorway with a clenched jaw and shadowed eyes. “Okay guys …” He gave a humourless chuckle. “You're kinda' scaring me now, fellas. What's going on? Is someone dying?” He jokes. Rhodey's eyes snap open, arms tightening from where they were wrapped around Tony's body.
“Don't you dare joke about that, Anthony Edward Stark! Don't you dare—” His voice broke. There's a sound like someone's broken a bone before sound returns to him. Blood is roaring in his ears as something in his brain connects the pathways to the things Rhodey and Barnes aren't saying. Or aren't capable of saying in Rhodey's case.
“I'm the one dying.” Tony realises in a whisper. Barnes inhales in surprise but Rhodey just nodded, resigned to the fact that Tony would've figured it out sooner rather than later. He wasn't a genius for nothing after all. “How long?”
“Tones—”
“How long, James Rhodes?” Tony whispered, but it's as if he's shouted it if the silence is anything to go by.
“A month.” Rhodey murmured back, clenching his eyes shut. Tony breaths in slowly before letting it go in a rush, nodding his head as he takes that into account. His mind is already catalouging it into things that need to be done if he didn't make it and things weren't sorted. He thinks to Harley and to Peter and his lips thin.
“Okay and who gave the diagnosis?”
Rhodey cracked one eye open to stare at him in confusion. “Uh, Strange. Why?”
“Stephen. I trust him.” Tony murmured, nodding once more. Rhodey frowned but Tony just got to his feet shakily. He yelped as his knees gave way and Rhodey reached for him as if to catch him but he was already landing into a hard muscled chest. Tony blinked and looked up and into Barnes' dark eyes. “Um, thanks, Barnes.” Barnes nodded. Tony squeaked when Barnes lifted him into a bridal carry, carrying him into the kitchen and dropping him gently into one of the bar stools before disappearing.
Rhodey hurried into the kitchen, looking perplexed. “Did I see what I thought I just saw? Tell me what I just saw was real.”
“What that the most deadly feared assassin just lifted me off my feet like I was a damsel in need of saving?” Tony snorted a little in amusement, confusion warring in his chest. Then he gave a light maniacal giggle and nodded again. “Yep! It happened. This is the weirdest day of my life.” Tony decided just as Barnes walked back into the room, doing that murder gate walk that made Tony both wary and a tiny bit turned on at the same time.
Tony jerked in surprise when Barnes dropped things in front of him, face blank. Staring, he reached for the Stark-pad, finding that it was his own one. He must've left it somewhere easy for Barnes to find. He stares at seeing things he'd been working on sitting in front of him.
The clanking of pans made him look up just in time to see Barnes frown at the coffee machine, looking adorably confused—which fyi, just wasn't fair—before he looked at the ceiling. “How do I work this thing, Mister JARVIS?” His voice was rough, like he hadn't used it in a long time. Tony glanced at Rhodey to see him staring in astonishment at the assassin. Seems the mechanic wasn't the only one surprised with the display that was happening right in front of his face.
Barnes nodded to things JARVIS was saying as he took him through everything he should do. By the end of it, he handed a big mug of coffee to Tony, avoiding his eyes as he grabbed some eggs from the cupboard, cutting off a chunk of butter and chucking it into the pan, letting it sizzle as he added some milk to the eggs he cracked in a bowl, grabbing a fork and whisking them thoroughly.
Tony reached for his mug hesitantly, peering inside before grabbing the handle and lifting it to his mouth, blowing on it to cool it down a little. Then he took a timid sip, a moan slipping past his lips before he could stop it. Barnes glanced over his shoulders, eyes a little wide before whipping back around, though Tony noticed his body had relaxed. Tony hummed happily, groaning a little when he took another gulp of the liquid from the heavens. It was exactly how he liked it; black with a dash of creamer and lots of sugar.
Tony watched as Barnes grabbed some bacon from the fridge, frying it on the same pan. He grabbed some salt and pepper, shaking it on top of the eggs and scrambling them a little more. Then he grabbed some toast and put both pieces into the toaster, lathering them with butter once they were done toasting. By the time everything was finished, Barnes grabbed a plate and placed the bacon, eggs and toast cut into triangles onto it before sliding it in front of Tony.
Looking up in surprise, Tony blinked. “Um, is this for … me?” Tony asked in confusion. Barnes nodded silently, watching with intense eyes as he handed Tony some cutlery. They turned pleased when Tony gasped at the taste. “Oh my god, this … why didn't you tell me you could cook? I would've hired you as my personal chef!” Tony exclaims, grabbing some bacon with his fingers and shoving it into his mouth, liking the taste off his fingers absentmindedly.
Rhodey laughed. “Looks like you've got a new job, Barnes.” Barnes stared for another moment and gave a shrug when Tony looked up inquisitively at him before turning around and making himself a cup of tea. Rhodey and Tony shared a perplexed glance that ended with Rhodey shrugging in a 'what can you do motion?' that made Tony scowl and point his fork at him. Rhodey snickered and Tony turned back around, shovelling some more food into his mouth, humming happily at the taste. Barnes turned around and walked over to one of the bar stool, perching himself on the edge before taking a long sip of his tea. Rhodey trotted over and collapsed onto the seat next to Tony.
“So lay it on me.” Tony slurped the rest of the coffee down and placed the mug on the counter, levelling a look to Barnes instead of Rhodey, which seemed to surprise Barnes if the glance was anything to go by.
“The wizard said that the HYDRA bitch,” Tony's lips quirked up in mirth at that nickname, finding it fitting, “targeted your mind. Lobe for sleep. Caused it to shrink. Your mind flung it off but it caused it to swell to combat the previous shrinkage. It'll push against your skull and you'll be brain dead in a month. Falcon suggested calling Loki. He might be able to fix it with his Asgardian magic. He'll also find out if any of her oily magic leeched into other branches of your mind.” Barnes relayed the information quickly and efficiently. Tony's mouth thinned before he turned to Rhodey, who looked a little pale, face drawn and more than a little exhausted.
“Okay, so Reindeer Games will fix me.” He gave a humourless shrug. “Not the first time I've been close to dying and it won't be the last, honey bear. Chin up, we both know it's hard to kill Tony Stark.” Tony preened a little at the appraising look that earned him from Barnes but it died a painful death when he saw the way Rhodey was staring at him; as if he was already dead. “Hey, what did I say, platypus?”
“Chin up.” Rhodey mocked lightly. Tony snickered, glancing mournfully at his coffee. He looked up, blinking when Barnes snatched it quickly from where it was in front of him, getting to his feet and ambling towards the coffee maker, frowning a little before grumbling instructions under his breath as he went about making another cup. Rhodey chuckled softly. “On the upside, it seems you have a former assassin at your every beck and call.” Rhodey got to his feet and exited the room, still chuckling. Tony glanced at Barnes's broad back, muscles rippling and gulped.
He, Tony Stark, was one hundred percent undoubtedly screwed.