Under Pressure

Natasha knew she was in over her head as soon as she finally put the dots together. So the guy running the tech was smarter than her- slightly- but the good news is that she had someone smarter than them. So she called Tony- what else could she do- and from there they set up a plan. Well, she set up a plan he just made sure it was technologically possible for her to do what needed to be done and he comes through too. The info dump goes off without a hitch, releasing HYDRAs information- and only HYDRAs information- to the world at large. She reminds herself to talk to Tony more often about his skills.

*

It’s Natasha that tells him. Tony thought his parents were killed in a car accident and before Nat told him what really happened he knew for sure Steve would tell him what actually went down right away. It was, after all, who Steve Rogers was supposed to be, right? Wrong he guessed so when Natasha tells him he’s pissed and he’s hurt but he’s seen the records too. He had set up that info dump with Nat and stashed the records of the famous Winter Soldier because as far as Tony knew he was a myth. As it turned out the Winter Soldier wasn’t a myth- he killed Tony’s parents and was the famed Sargent Bucky Barnes.

If he was to pinpoint when, exactly, he decided to quit the Avengers Tony knew that this was the main catalyst to the event. It was Steve’s hounding him about secret keeping during the Ultron incident, though, that does it for him. Of all the things he chose to complain about in regards to Tony’s behavior he chooses that and Tony was done. Wanda was just the cherry on top of that shit sundae. Even Natasha, who generally liked Steve, thought that brining someone who manipulated all their minds onto the team because Clint was stupid enough to trust her was irresponsible at best. Tony felt for her really- she was far more sensitive in regards to mind control than he was. It couldn’t be easy for her to be around Wanda still but Natasha was tough. She could handle it, but it was Tony’s personal opinion that she shouldn’t have to.

Natasha was the one to ask about Bucky too. Bruce had just gotten ahold of that infinity stone and they were trying to figure it out when she came to him and asked for a favor. Steve had been going to ask according to her but he had no idea that Tony knew about the Winter Soldier and Tony refused to clue him in. At the time he assumed that Steve would still tell him, and on another level he wanted to see how long it would take. Natasha probably suspected his motives but didn’t say much about it either way, including not saying anything to Steve.

But she’s the one to ask if he would help- read: fund- the search for Bucky Barnes. For a week he considered it, considered whether or not he cared to catch his parent’s murderer and if so for what purpose? Steve did eventually visit him and he got a whole new history of the story of Captain America and Bucky Barnes. Turns out they weren’t just inseparable, they were lovers. And it turned out Aunt Peggy was bisexual and dating a woman at the time. It had been convenient for them both to pretend to be with each other and Tony didn’t doubt that they loved each other on some level.

But Peggy would never hold a flame to Bucky fucking Barnes- no one did. Steve thought he had been appealing to Tony’s emotional side and he was honestly shocked Steve thought he had one given how often he acted like Tony was heartless. But that isn’t what gets Tony to agree. Its Bucky’s skillset before he had been tortured by HYDRA that made him dangerous, but after? Whether Steve wanted to admit it or not Barnes was a weapon, and a fucking dangerous one at that, so Tony agreed to fund the search because someone like that needed to be away from civilians. It wasn’t until later, and several more HYDRA records being read, that he knew the man needed to be put into some kind of therapy immediately.

He was pretty sure no one expected Bucky Barnes to show up in the middle of Sokovia during that battle with Ultron but that’s where they find him, getting people off what had ended up an island floating in the air. They had all made the snap decision to loop him into communications and Tony dropped an ear piece off to him before flying off and giving him several instructions to get as many people off that chunk of earth as possible complete with coordinates. Barnes does well- very well- and his presence frees up Clint, who immediately distracts himself with Wanda so he became useless again. But it freed up Natasha too and she was shockingly efficient.

From there Tony quit and walked away to the shock of the whole team and Tony just didn’t get that. Not one of them- Natasha not included- had any love for him and blamed him solely for Ultron so why they cared that he was leaving the Avengers he had no idea. And Tony had other things to do, like put JARVIS back together. His code was deeply scattered but he had found a few snatches and FRIDAY was adept enough to search for more with him. So he occupied his time with that and watching, of all things, Wakanda reenter world politics. And of all ways to come back they chose the Avengers and a set of laws to make them relevant again.

T’Chaka- the king- certainly had some good ideas but the involvement from Ross is what makes Tony suspicious. But one hundred and seventeen countries were on board with this and Tony had to wonder how the team was going to react. With that much support ‘no’ was no longer an answer. Imagine his surprise when Steve proves him wrong once again.

*

Tony watches as Bucky tracks his movements with an easy confidence that should probably make him uncomfortable. He knew the man’s skills set and the way he was looking at Tony was like he was some kind of snack- he probably shouldn’t feel so comfortable with an assassin looking at him like a meal to be eaten but here he was.

Bucky leans forward in the chair he usually sits in, one leg curled up to his chest in an languid, assured way as he grins lazily at Tony. “We should go do something spontaneous. New York is supposed to be fun and the most exciting thing I’ve done in the last five months is find an excellent tea shop a couple blocks from Steve’s apartment,” he says. His tone matches that same cool, secure way he held his body and it was a far cry from what he used to be. When Bucky first came back he flinched at everything, he was suspicious, and he seemed unable to settle in his new home. Now though he was casually leaning over the edge of the chair Tony had him sit in to work on his arm with a lazy smile on his face that indicated a level of comfort that wasn’t there before.

“And risk your keeper skinning me alive? No thanks,” Tony says, shaking his head.

His response gets him a pout, “its all work no play with you,” he accuses, giving Tony an almost… seductive look from beneath his eyelashes.

If he didn’t know any better he would assume Bucky was flirting but that couldn’t be right. It didn’t help that this was hardly unusual for him but Tony has seen him and Steve together- they were very, very clearly together so this must be that flirtatious personality Tony heard so much about as a kid. Except he was considered a ladies man back in the day and it turned out Bucky never really had an affinity for women. Steve didn’t seem to mind either way, but Bucky was faking it. Seeing him with Steve Tony totally believed it too. He’s never seen Steve so happy and Bucky was… well, attached. Except, interestingly, when he was in here with Tony. Then Steve didn’t seem to matter and Tony knew he shouldn’t let that affect him but he was only human. Bucky is attractive and he liked the attention.

His breakup with Pepper still stung even if he understood her and agreed that she was right to move on. Their relationship just wasn’t working the way it used to and that was no one’s fault really, Tony knew that, but the attention he got from Bucky was… pleasant. It helped that Tony hated Steve. He still had yet to own up to what really happened to Tony’s parents- unaware that Natasha already told him- and he’d be lying if it didn’t bring him some kind of joy to watch Steve’s precious Bucky show an interest in him that was hardly innocent. The slight flush and smile he gives Bucky is for all the wrong reasons but he does it anyways, curious to see what would happen if he indulged Bucky. Until now he’s mostly kept his slight interest to himself but morbid curiosity had to win out eventually and the pouty looks he was getting were enough to egg him on.

“Oh there’s plenty of play, just not with you,” he says, giving Bucky a wry smile. Bucky looks delighted to have gotten a response and leans further out of his chair.

“But I’m so fun,” he says, giving Tony another pouty face.

He snorts, “Natasha has told me tales,” he says and he’s surprised when he gets an immediate sour look. He raises an eyebrow and Bucky’s sour face disappears back into his easy confidence as he looks Tony over.

“Natasha doesn’t know anything about me. Neither do you, at least at the moment,” he says, his eyes travelling down Tony’s body in an obvious, easy to read way.

Tony curses the way he feels himself react, leaning closer a little because the attention was pleasant and he missed the intimacy he used to get from Pepper. He was only human and Bucky… he didn’t know what was going on there but if he was honest he didn’t care. His inquisitiveness combined with fucking with Steve’s relationship was enough for him. It wasn’t exactly his proudest moment but he felt at least a little vindicated in his feelings. If Steve thought he could toy with Tony’s emotions regarding important people in his life for his own benefit he should expect the same treatment.

*

James- that’s what he chose to call himself- hated Steve Rogers. It wasn’t just because he loved Bucky, and it wasn’t just because he couldn’t stand being a tag-along on his sex life with Bucky, it was because Steve rubbed him the wrong way. Usually when Bucky wasn’t handling things well he took over- its what he’s always done- but when he’s around Steve James learned to hold himself back. It was hard work and it didn’t always go his way but for the most part he managed to avoid the man. For the first little while he avoided existing at all outside of the dark recesses of Bucky’s mind. His ability to hide eventually runs out, probably at least little to the partial shift in Bucky’s mind for the worst.

See, Bucky hadn’t been looking forward to one Tony Stark looking at his arm but Steve insisted his precious boyfriend get looked at anyways. After a week of Bucky managing to stave him off Steve eventually managed to convince Bucky, and James put that in loose terms, him to let Tony take a look at his arm. It was right before Tony was supposed to show up that Bucky had had enough and James was all but ejected into the driver’s seat so-to-speak. What happened was hard to describe, and even more strange to feel, but Bucky’s instability forced James forward and that was when he met Tony Stark.

Looking back on it he couldn’t blame himself for his reaction, he’s only human and boy was Tony attractive. It wasn’t even the custom suit, stylized facial hair, or the quiet confidence in the way he held his body that initially drew his attention. There were two things that caught James’ interest. One, there was a sharp intelligence to Tony’s eyes that suggested he knew more than he was willing to say and James wanted to test that. And two, the first thing Tony does is ask if he was okay. It was obvious at least to James that Tony didn’t want to ask but he had memories Bucky didn’t- he knew he murdered the man’s parents and he knew Tony knew it too, but he still asked. James was curious about a man who could look his parent’s murderer in the eye and ask if he was comfortable despite his own obvious conflict of interest.

So he pays attention to Tony, slowly watching as he got more comfortable in James’ presence- and it was always him thanks to Bucky’s anxiety- and he starts talking more too. First it was small things like music and movies, and then he asked about his arm, and that led to James talking about whatever. Initially Tony responded out of mostly politeness but James watches as he grows more comfortable and starts replying because he wanted to and not because he didn’t want to be rude. This eventually leads to James shamelessly flirting with the guy because why not, he’s hot and Bucky never asked him about his thoughts on his relationship with Steve. And Bucky didn’t even have to tag along on James’ adventures. He figured if Bucky got to have his fun James could have his own and Stark was a good way to go. Smart, funny, attractive- he could definitely do worse.

Tony works on his arm quietly, eyes flicking up to James every once and awhile while he watches Tony work on his limb. He’s long ago learned that he had a thing with technology and James sometimes uses it to his advantage. The first time he ever got a reaction out of Tony was thanks to the arm actually. He had used it to flick his hair out of his face and Tony had tracked the movement with more interest than the average person would have and it had made him curious so he did it again the next time they were together. Tony had tracked that too, but it was the way he licked his lips when James’ arm dropped to his side, Tony’s eyes still on it, that gave him away. He had ginned, eyes lingering on Tony in a way that was difficult to misread but Tony didn’t bite. At least not until today and James is thrilled.

“So what is it about technology that draws you?” he asks in a low, husky tone after some silence. Tony’s eyes flick back up to him for a moment and he smiles in a way that was a cross between wistful and flirtatious, like he was half lost in a memory and half still in the room.

“Curiosity. I’ve always wanted to know what people can do, what I can do, with the materials around me. Building something out of nothing but the bits and pieces of scraps that surround you is… its hard to describe but I love inventing,” he says.

James leans back in his seat and smiles, “so you like playing god,” he says.

Tony snorts, “hardly. I like being a creator, not a god. Contrary to popular belief,” he mumbles more to himself than James.

“The difference?” James asks, raising an eyebrow flippantly.

“The difference is that a god acts as some kind of… higher power I guess. Gods have rules and guidelines, I just want my creations to work and flourish the best they can in their environments. Or if they’re like JARVIS or FRIDAY I want them to learn.” His semi-autonomous AIs that James keeps hearing about but has never met.

“You know I’ve heard all about these AIs but I’ve never actually seen any evidence for them,” he says thoughtfully, head tilted to the side.

The point was to get a reaction out of Tony and it works because Tony stops working on some wiring in his arm to look up. “That’s because you’ve never been to my lab. From what I gathered you didn’t want anything to do with me fixing your arm to begin with, hence being here,” he says, gesturing around them. They were currently in the guest room of Bucky’s and Steve’s apartment- or usually Natasha’s room- with a bunch of tools that Tony brought with him for these sessions. The purpose was to make Bucky comfortable but Bucky was never around during these things so James really resented that.

James rolls his eyes, “sweetheart I’d rather be anywhere but here,” he says honestly. He gives Tony an easy smile as he says it; leaning into his space a little and Tony’s eyes flick down to his lips. James bites his bottom lip and Tony’s eyes linger on the movement a little before he looks back up and tilts his head to the side a bit.

“Then maybe next time you can pay a visit to my lab,” he says, lips tipping up just a little and James gives him a full smile, pleased with this development.

*

Bucky is attempting to make food when Steve curls his arms around his waist and sets his head on his shoulder, “how’d it go with Tony?” he asks just like he always does. There’s a slight edge to his voice, like he expects Tony to do something to him or… he had no idea and truth be told he mostly didn’t remember anything of Tony anyways. Bucky attributed it to his anxiety but he kept it to himself. Steve worried too much as it was, he didn’t need more reason to hover over Bucky’s every move.

“Fine,” he says softly, poking at his food.

“That doesn’t sound convincing,” Steve says, “did something happen?” His tone is innocent enough but Bucky senses that he’s still looking for something.

“No Steve, I mostly don’t pay attention so if something did happen I probably wouldn’t even notice,” he says honestly. It was like his mind totally blanked for hours at a time but he didn’t really care that it happened given that his arm always worked ten times better when he ‘woke up’ so to speak. It was nice to not have to attempt fixing it himself because he wasn’t really any good at it.

“You sure?” Steve asks, nuzzling Bucky’s jaw a little.

He laughs and does a poor job of waving Steve off, “yes I’m sure, now leave me be I’m trying to cook,” he says, trying to wave Steve off again when he steals Bucky’s spatula. “I can cook myself,” he tells Steve but he’s already taken over, shaking his head at Bucky.

“Do you even know how to cook? Pretty sure I remember making all the food,” he says, giving Bucky a half smile.

Okay so he had a point. “In my defense that’s because I was mostly at work so I feel like that’s not a good excuse to take over my cooking,” he says, leaning over Steve as he moved the food around in the frying pan.

“How long did it take you to figure out how to turn on the stove?” he asks, giving Bucky a knowing look.

“A couple minutes,” he says and Steve raises an eyebrow. “Okay, like a half an hour but in my defense this is a really high tech stove.” And it looked nothing like what he was used to in the nineteen forties.

Steve lets out a soft laugh, “this isn’t that high tech, you should see Tony’s house. That’d take you hours to figure out,” he says.

Bucky frowns, considers taking back over his food, and then gives up and makes his way to the living room knowing Steve won’t let him cook anyways. So instead of going after a fruitless cause he finds that list Steve made of all the things he had missed out on, reading through it for something he finds interesting. Most of the later pages were music suggested by Sam, but Bucky happened to catch references to other things that were movies or TV shows. He’s contemplating how Star Wars and Star Trek could be different things when they shared such similar names when Steve walks in and finds him sitting on the living room floor with the little book.

“What are you up to?” he asks, pulling the small book from Bucky’s hands.

“Trying to figure out what the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek is,” he replies and then he smiles. “Wanna find out?” he asks, giving Steve a hopeful look.

Steve seems to consider it for a moment before he shakes his head, “I thought maybe we could do something quiet tonight, just us, no distractions,” he says and Bucky frowns a little but nods.

“Alright. Do you know the difference between those things though because I’m confused,” he says.

Steve shrugs, “everything is confusing in the future.”