Chapter 6
Natasha was seriously contemplating tossing Bucky out of the car, the amount he was fidgeting, before she decided to just hold his hand. He shoots her a grateful look and proceeds to stop bouncing his leg as well.
“Stop acting nervous, you’re making me nervous,” She whispers firmly shooting a glance to see if Tony heard her. He’s been on the phone with everyone stateside letting them know they landed safely, just like he promised he would.
“I can’t help it, what if they hate me?”
“Will you relax?” She huffs a breath of air and interlocks their fingers. “If you’re honestly worried about that why did you come?”
“I have been in this relationship with you two for three months how the fuck are they going to take that?”
“You obviously mean a lot to Tony, boom, there you go.” She states with a shrug. The man just blinks and opens his mouth to retort when-
“What are you two conspiring about?”
“Nothing,” They say a little too guiltily, but to be fair, they have been whispering to each other this entire conversation. Tony can’t be blamed for his suspicious look.
“We’re just nervous,” Bucky’s jaw drops at the sheer amount of betrayal he’s feeling.
“You don’t tell him that!”
“I can’t lie to him,” Natasha pouts, well as close to pouts as she allows herself.
“If it makes you two feel any better, the munchkins will all jump Rhodey?” He points a thumb toward the bear who just snorts.
“The only reason you bring me anymore? Maybe I’ll let the little monsters jump your new beaus, they’ll last five minutes.” He makes a point of examining his nails. That earns an eye roll and a shove, which causes the man to practically giggle.
“You love them, shut up,” His attention returns to the nervous duo, “We can leave if it’s gets to be too much for you guys.”
“We’ll be fine,” Nat sends a gentle smile his way, “I think we’d both like to see an army of children charge a bear.”
Tony’s eyes spark with glee, “It’s the best,”
***
The moment Jim stepped out of the private car and onto the gravel driveway of the Carbonell estate, he was tackled by nearly a dozen screeching children.
It was the best.
***
Tony’s practically seething and everyone around the patio table laughing at him certainly isn’t helping.
“For being a multi-billionaire, I’d think you’d be better at this game by now,”
“Shut up Uncle Matteo,” the man growls as he rolls the dice again, fucking praying for a five or a seven. “Son of a bitch!”
“Antonio!” Angela admonishes from his right, “There are children present.” Tony just waves his cousin off.
“There is a baby present, he doesn’t know what I’m saying. Plus you never bring a child to monopoly, there is always foul language.” He points a finger at Matteo who’s just laughing his fucking ass off. “We’re playing again.”
Natasha and Bucky are snickering to themselves over his shoulder as they watch the proceedings.
Tony’s adorable with his family.
***
Surprisingly, four monopoly games in a row was a bit too much and Angela ferried Natasha and Bucky away when Tony demanded yet another rematch.
The man was too stubborn for his own good.
On their way to meet family members ‘less intimidating” Bucky almost trips over a skittering young fox darting out in front of him. The thing has the audacity to send him an affronted look and yip at him. Bucky’s midway through an apology when Angela just shoos the thing along.
“Hurry on and hide Teresa, before Jim finds you,” Teresa manages to huff before she books it toward the nearby gardens. Angela’s current company both send her looks and she just smiles, “It’s wonderful that Jim visits with Antonio, hide and seek is the children’s favorite. Gives us parents a break for a day.”
“How long has Rhodes been coming here anyway?”
“Oh, since the college days,”
“He’s been here that long?” Jesus Christ, Tony would have been a baby.
“Of course, I remember when I pierced both of their ears, well not really, we’d been drinking,” She snorts at the memory, the utter confusion and terror that morphed on their faces after waking up. Some twenty years ago, good lord no way was it that long ago. “That’s a story for another time.”
“So there’s more stories?” Comes Natasha’s innocent enough sounding query.
“Oh tons, the girls will have more stories, especially great aunt Olivia, they’re probably down by the water, you can head there, I need to help with dinner.” As calm as they try to act, the hurried pace betrays their excitement at the notion.
***
“And that’s how Tonio got that scar on his chin,” Great aunt Olivia is a blessing they’ve both decided. The vampire’s been around since 1850, she knows things.
Before they can ask about the “Honeybear Incident” there’s a loud boom and a roaring fire coming from the house, to which great aunt Olivia just rolls her eyes and the mermaids currently relaxing in the water send each other looks.
“Are you not worried about that?” Natasha asks from her warm place on the rocky shore.Bucky’s head resting on her stomach, arms crossed, startled from his relaxation.
“That’s just the boys fighting over whichever game they decided to play,” Anna manages with a pointed smile. Sure enough two dragons become visible when they take to the air and start snapping at each other. “If it’s hold ‘em, Matteo started it, monopoly, Antonio.” She says with a disinterested air. As if two dragons fighting is commonplace. “This happens every year, you’ll get used to it.”
But the soldier isn’t exactly paying attention.
Bucky’s still a little stuck on seeing Tony’s shift for the first time. There are two dragons in the sky, one practically pure white, tapering into grey along each of its limbs. The other predominantly black along its spine with a golden underbelly.
“He’s gorgeous isn’t he?” He can’t exactly disagree with her, because it’s true. Their dragon has got to be the finest thing on two legs or four with wings they’ve ever seen.
“...Yeah. Yeah he is.”
***
The next morning, the trio is trying to sleep in, properly recover from jet lag.
So of course Bucky and Natasha are woken at seven in the morning by Tony's startled yelp.
Before either of them can retaliate from a potential threat a high pitched voice is detected.
Ah. Tony’s being jumped by the kids.
Cute.
Turns out the hellions that woke so early in the morning demanded going flying with the dragon, he promised he would when they were done with Rhodey.
And Rhodey was capable of locking a door to a bedroom, so he was safe this morning. Meanwhile the billionaire is dragged past the breakfast table, to which he sends a longing look, before being shuffled out the door.
“You didn’t want to spend another day with the kiddos Rhodes?” Bucky manages over mouthfuls of eggs and bacon. Natasha slaps his arm for poor manners. They are trying to impress the family.
“Listen, just because I know how the lock on a door works, doesn’t mean Tony couldn’t do the same thing. I happen to make an effort to enjoy sleep.” Which earns outright laughter from Olivia, who’s been quietly sipping at her coffee.
“You can just be honest, or I can tell them the story of how you woke up three years ago with dicks drawn all over your face.”
Bucky chokes on a strip of bacon.
Great aunt Olivia is the best.