To See Him Smile Again
Bucky is used to having the Tower almost completely to himself sometimes. The Avengers still go on missions, so it makes sense when he's left behind for them to tend to what they need. When they run off to Sokovia, Bucky finds himself left behind with the remnants of an empty AI system and a very quiet building. He doesn't know everything that happened, but apparently Tony and Bruce had been trying to make some sort of shield and things went sideways. Now they're halfway across the world chasing some killer robot or something.
Bucky can't be too sure. It's not that he doesn't pay attention. It's that he's not usually let in on much that goes on in the actual Avengers world until after the missions are over. He's not one of them, after all. If the world saw the Winter Soldier fighting alongside the Avengers, especially before he's gotten himself fully freed of his Hydra triggers, it could ruin the Avengers' reputation. Bucky won't do that to them.
He's down in the lab, trying to reconcile with the quiet of the Tower by surrounding himself with Tony's machines. The quiet hum of all the equipment helps him feel at least a little bit less alone, and that's all he can hope for right now. Tensions were high when everyone left, and Bucky's just hoping things turn out okay for the team. He doesn't know what to do from where he is, but his worry for Steve and Tony and the others is up there, and he has no way of checking in on them, considering the Tower is disconnected from JARVIS down.
So Bucky isn't at all expecting it when Tony comes down into the lab and flings his helmet across the room. The metal slams against a cabinet, making a loud sound that echoes throughout the lab and causes every muscle in Bucky's back to tense. His breath hitches and he feels himself go on full alert before he registers that it's Tony who's gone and caused the noise.
When he does see Tony, he manages a shaking inhale and watches Tony pulling off the remaining bits of his suit, throwing himself onto a couch against a far wall with a heavy growl of a sigh.
Bucky hasn't actually seen Tony angry before. He knows the guy can be angry. He's heard stories. This is the first time he thinks he's witnessing it, though. And Bucky isn't entirely sure if it's fully anger he's seeing or something else. He catches sight of some bruising around Tony's shoulder and more along his face, and Bucky goes for the fridge in the corner, grabbing an ice pack and a towel from a drawer before he makes his way to the couch, sitting next to Tony and gently resting the wrapped ice pack against Tony's face.
"Are you okay?" Bucky asks softly, concern clear in his voice and gaze.
Tony stays quiet, though he does meet Bucky's eyes. He watches him for a second, then sighs and looks away.
"I fucked up, James," Tony whispers, and Bucky knows it's serious. Tony rarely calls him Bucky over other nicknames. To hear his given name from that mouth means something is very much not okay.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Bucky asks, shifting a little closer. He adjusts which hand is holding the ice pack to Tony's face, his other arm draping over the back of the couch between them.
Tony sighs and shakes his head, then scoots over and leans into Bucky's side. "Not right now," he says, voice broken. "Talking won't fix this."
Bucky can feel Tony's body shaking. He's practically vibrating, and Bucky sets the ice pack aside in favor of wrapping his arms tightly around Tony, pulling him in against his chest as he adjusts their position on the couch. He rests himself back against the arm and cradles Tony to himself, running the fingers of his right hand through Tony's hair, shushing him softly when Tony starts to whimper.
This is not the man he pulled from the fire months ago. This is not the man he's been watching rebuild this lab or discussing science and politics with. This is a man broken, shattered at the knees and falling apart in Bucky's arms. Bucky doesn't know what to do with this. This is different. This isn't his Tony right now.
And when did he start thinking of this man as his Tony? When did Tony start belonging to anyone but himself? No. Tony is still his own man, but God has Bucky grown attached. Seeing Tony crying has broken him twice now. He hated it when he'd confessed about Tony's parents, and he hates it right now. Watching Tony fall apart makes Bucky want to scream. This isn't right. Tony's too good for this pain.
He shakes his thoughts free and focuses on Tony again, watching as the other man curls against his chest and clings to his shirt. Tony is breaking down in Bucky's arms, and all he can do is hold him. It's all he can do to gently run his fingers through Tony's hair and rest his chin on his head, whispering about how everything will be okay. It just takes time.
We'll all be okay, he tells Tony. I've got you, he says over and over. I'm here.
And as he offers his comfort and company to Tony, the engineer starts to calm down, his body starting to settle and his breathing evening out. Eventually, Tony falls asleep in Bucky's arms and all Bucky can do is watch over him, wondering just what happened out there in Sokovia.
What broke Tony Stark this bad? Why is he hurting this much?
And the biggest question Bucky has over it all, is can he do anything to make it better? Because he really wants to make Tony smile again.