L'Uomo Nero
“So what?!” Tony spat, “I stole a car!”
“It’s not what you’ve done that angers me so,” Howard took a sip from his drink. “It’s who you did it to.”
“What,” Tony got up, trying to stand tall in front of his father, “that fucking nobody?” he asked calmly.
“That ‘fucking nobody’,” Howard answered in a cold tone before taking yet another sip, “is James Barnes.”
Tony had never heard of a ‘James Barnes’, but the way his father pronounced his name—almost as if he were afraid to speak it out loud—must mean he is someone important. His confusion must have shone, for Howard began to explain.
“He used to work for us. Most ruthless and dangerous man I’ve ever seen. One day, out of the blue, he asked to leave, this all for a mere crush of course. I said he could leave if he did one thing for me. He agreed. So, I gave him an impossible task, one which no one could have completed, but the son of a bitch did it,” Howard turned his back to Tony. “We called him L’Uomo Nero.”
“The Boogeyman?” Tony frowned.
“Yes. But James wasn’t exactly The Boogeyman. He was the one you sent to kill the fucking Boogeyman.”
Tony, unwillingly, took a step back.
“And now, my son, two days after his brother dies, you steal his car which was a gift from said brother, and tear up his house,” Howard took a step forward. “James will come for you,” he wrapped Tony up in a bone crushing hug—not the good kind—and whispered: “and you will do nothing, because you can do nothing, so get the fuck out of my sight!”
When Tony entered his apartment an hour later, a figure was watching him from the shadows.
“So, Tony Stark is Antonio Carbonell, the lowlife that stole my car.”
Tony was flabbergasted, “Bucky?! You’re James Barnes?!”
“Hello Sweetheart.”
“Howard was right,” Tony breathed with wide eyes, “L'Uomo Nero è venuto per me...”
James smiled, he reminded Tony of the Cheshire Cat.
Tony shivered. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Tony casted his eyes to the ground.
James got up, pressed Tony to the wall and kissed him. “I’m not gonna hurt you, Doll.”
Tony gave a wet chuckle. “I would like to see Howard’s face, though, once he sees I’m sleeping with The Boogeyman.” Tony looked down, not meeting James’ eyes as he whispered: “He said I should do nothing about you coming for me, because I can do nothing.”
James hit the light button and saw the bruises on Tony’s face, a low and dangerous growl escaped from his throat, which gave Tony all the right shivers. James’ terrifying Cheshire Cat-smile was back, “Then… lets fucking show him, Baby.”
Tony’s smile matched James’.