Tony Creates Nanobots, Bucky Reminisces About Howard, Clint is Not There
Peter Parker had become a feature in Steve’s life despite his best interests to ignore the strange child. With Peter Parker came the worse addition of Wade Wilson, who – now that Peter was eighteen – seemed to be around constantly. It was an improvement from when that dirty chaotic journalist had been lurking around though.
And so when Steve walked into Tony’s lab to check on the status of the new uniform he apparently needed, he was not surprised to see Peter Parker standing on the ceiling and Deadpool lying on one of Tony’s tables. He was equally unsurprised to hear Peter Parker rambling about old ladies giving him and Wade snacks. The surprise was seeing Bucky lounging in a desk chair, with no Clint in sight.
“Hi Mr. America!” Peter waved and Tony looked up from his work, to glance at Steve over his shoulder.
Steve took a deep breath. He had really been hoping beyond all hope that he would catch Tony alone. With their stupid bet on he couldn’t property greet his boyfriend in front of others. That would be cheating. “Good afternoon, Peter.” He glanced over at Bucky, “hey Buck.”
“Stark is dicking around with nanotechnology.” Bucky told him, answering the questions Steve had before he could ask them. “It’s fuckin’ cool.” He pointed at a jar of swarming shiny things, “I don’t think in Howard’s wildest imaginations he ever would have dreamed this sort of stuff could exist.”
Steve glanced over at Tony, expecting him to break whatever was in his hand at Bucky’s mention of Howard. The dalliance between the two was still a point of contention. It was one for Steve as well, if he was honest. “He probably didn’t. We weren’t anywhere near this tech when he drove himself into a tree.
There it was, Steve thought. Tony was a master at lashing out.
“Sorry.” Bucky leaned back in his chair.
Tony shrugged, “same. Not your fault.”
Peter between the two men and then over at Wade, who shrugged his shoulders. They probably weren’t privy to the issue there. They weren’t exactly out publicizing it.
“I thought you were making uniforms this week, Tony?” Steve dropped into a chair near Bucky.
Tony spun around to look at Steve, the frantic look in his eyes of a man running on caffeine and no sleep. He was stressing about letting the team die again. And likely creating something dangerous or pointless with the hope of protecting people. “I’m making nanobots that turn into uniforms.” Pointless then. “That way no matter where you are you can become Captain America if someone needs it!”
“Why?” Steve asked cautiously, not wanting to put a damper on Tony’s parade, but also not sure why this new upgrade was necessary. He very rarely found himself in situations when he needed to dress up in his spandex without at least enough warning to grab it and put it on.
“There’s no way for us to know when aliens are going to attack, Steven.” Bucky answered for Tony, eyeing Tony with a hint of nervousness. A frantic Tony could be a dangerous Tony. Instant Kill Mode had been a frantic Tony decision. “You could be walking around Central Park,” Steve didn’t bother to tell Bucky that he never just walked around Central Park, “and a portal opens up and Loki or some shit falls out.”
“Are you making a shield out of nanotech?” He asked, thinking that would defeat the purpose of the vibranium. Nanotech was probably not as strong as vibranium.
“Don’t be dumb, Steve.” Bucky was on a roll, apparently, he was sold on Tony’s new ideas. That was probably dangerous as well. “You just gotta hold them off until someone can bring your shield.”
Steve furrowed his eyebrows. That was a stupid plan. The nanotech was stupid. Bucky was just sold on the science of it, like he had always been. Kate called him a big gay nerd, which was probably accurate. Clint didn’t seem to know anything about science, Steve didn’t know why Bucky had fallen for him. Instead of someone like Tony. Maybe he’d just had the sense to realize how weird that would have been.
“Or you could just carry a goddamn gun.”
“The writers have decided he doesn’t carry guns.” Wade added and Steve couldn’t keep himself from glancing over at the other man. He was nodding as though he’d said something useful or sagely. Peter was also nodding.
Bucky’s lips curled and he rolled his eyes. “Thanks Wade. As always, you’ve shined a light on the situation.”
Steve sighed. He needed to scold Bucky for snarking at Wade, but god Wade’s voice made him think about hanging himself even when he wasn’t saying meaningless things like that. Wade wasn’t even on the team, it would probably be fine to let it slide.
“That’d be like Wonder Woman carrying a gun.”
Tony looked up from his work again, confusion written all over his face. He, apparently, didn’t know who Wonder Woman was either. If this wasn’t more of Wade’s shit, they probably needed to meet her. The team could always use more strong women.
Steve shook his head, “so, um, Buck. Where’s Clint today?”
“Myanmar, with Nat. He didn’t get me any details.” That was abnormal. It must have been something more secret than normal. “I’m just hanging out here until he gets home.”
“And it’s been great.” Tony forced a smile and waved Steve over. Steve complied and sat down on Tony’s work bench. Was is cheating? He didn’t know. He’d come down here to spend time with Tony. Not to deal with all the bullshit. “He is not at all a hinderance to progress.”
“He likes science. And you like telling people about stuff.” Steve grinned, making himself comfortable. “I’m sure you’re having an amazing time.”
“True.” Tony reached over to pet Steve on the thigh and then turned back to his work. Why he needed a screwdriver for nanobots, Steve did not know. Steve also did not care.
He grabbed a copy of Men’s Fitness off of the cabinets and opened it up. Some fella that looked something like a cut-rate Thor was on the cover. He probably could have been related to Thor. Steve knew he wasn’t, but it was odd anyway. “Can the nanobots make guns for Bucky? Or arrows for Clint?”
“Probably.” Tony didn’t bother to look up, “This is just phase one. I can probably do anything once I figure it out.”
Steve nodded, “probably.” Tony could do anything he set his mind to, Steve had learned early on not to doubt Tony. Probably around the time he got caught in the propeller of a helicarrier. Definitely by the time he’d flown a nuke into space.
Bucky narrowed his eyes, eyeing Steve suspiciously. Good Bucky was getting the hint. “I have to go call Clinton.” He stood up and rushed out the door.
The second the door closed behind him, Steve reached out and rest his hand on Tony’s shoulder. “Hey, babe.”
“Hey, Steven. You’re looking good today.”
Steve actively ignored Wade’s gasp, and pretended he didn’t see Peter fall from the ceiling and crash to the floor.