Could I convince you to write FrostIronWinter? All three trauma babies snuggled up together, drinking tea under a fuzzy blanket because none of them like to be cold and ever since Tony informed Loki that his accent was vaguely English; Loki has been obsessed with English culture.
You donât have to convince me! I like WinterIron with pretty much anyone added and Iâve been a fan of those three since I read a series about them a couple of months back. (Also not sure this is what you had in mind but I tried.)
Tony wasnât tired. Fine, maybe he was a little tired. Maybe.
Tired enough not to have heard FRIDAY announcing his visitor at least, to let out a startled âEeeeep!â when the soldering iron is suddenly taken from his hands, set down carefully, before heâs lifted in a strong grip. Tony flails, would have called for the suit already if not for how intimately familiar the hands holding him feel.
That one of them is made of metal is a decent clue as well.
âBuuucky!â Tony whines, squirms in an attempt to reach for his soldering iron, but the grip doesnât let up. Instead heâs being lifted, carried away from his workstation.
It takes Tonyâs brain a full two seconds to process this, which is a warning sign all on its own. But thatâs besides the point.
âBucky!â Tony calls again, sharper this time. âLet me down! Iâm not a child! I donât need you to drag me out of my workshop, Iâm perfectly capableââ
Bucky doesnât slow down, doesnât even acknowledge Tonyâs rant until theyâre in the elevator and the door is closing behind them with a soft wooshing noise. Tony likes that noise. Heâs had it installed into every door possible (and even a few empty doorways) just so he gets to listen to it every day.
He doesnât like it very much right now.
âWhat the fuck, Bucky?!â
Heâs past annoyed and gone straight to furious. He doesnât need anyone to babysit-kidnap him and really, Bucky should know better, what the ever loving fuckâ
âLoki is sad,â Bucky finally says, voice devoid of any inflection.
Yeah. Sure. Tony scowls. Like he is gonna fall for that I-was-brainwashed-by-HYDRA-now-I-canât-talk-and-explain-my-actions-like-a-normal-person bullshit. Tony happens to know that Bucky can talk just fine.Â
Itâs a struggle to find the right words sometimes, but just last week when the room caved into itself around Tony, Bucky was there by his side, talking about the pros and cons of Stelena vs Delena for half an hour, just to distract him.
(Which worked fine, in case anyone is wondering. Bucky dared to suggest Stelena would be a decent option and Tony just couldnât let that stand.)
âAnd what does that have to do with you kidnapping me from my workstation?â Tony snaps impatiently. Or exhausted. At this point, itâs hard to tell the difference.
A small frown curls around Buckyâs upper lip, but otherwise he remains unmoved, much to Tonyâs frustration.Â
âYouâre the best cuddler,â is all Bucky has to say in his defence, like that is a reasonable explanation. Tony hates that he can already feel his (justified) annoyance crumbling.
Then the elevator stops, prompting Bucky to carry him towards the common living room. Andâokay. As soon as Tony catches sight of Loki, he gets why Bucky interrupted workshop time.
Loki is sitting hunched over on the couch, green eyes dark with something that isnât quite sorrow, a frown on his face that remind Tony of the day the demigod tried to brainwash him with a glow stick. Good times.
Before Tony has time to fully catalogue the signs of Lokiâs distress, Bucky drops him in Lokiâs lap. Literally drops him.Â
Tony groans because that hurt, alright, itâs not like Loki is made of pillows and plush. Loki on the other hand seems to barely notice the sudden weight, save a quiet huff of breath. Thereâs no mocking, no insults, just hands clinging to Tonyâs waist, and thatâs how Tony knows how bad this is.
He shiftsâto find a comfortable position as well as ease the dull ache in his bottom from his less than comfortable landingâcurls one arm around Lokiâs neck, the other one around his back. The position allows him to rest his chin on Lokiâs shoulder and glare at Buckyâs blank face while simultaneously rubbing slow circles across Lokiâs back.
How come Tony, who is the least mature person he has ever met, has to be the functional adult in thisâwhatever it is that they have?
After a long moment of glaring, Bucky finally cracks, begins to fidget restlessly. Itâs better than the creepy motionlessness though. He still falls into that mask too often for Tonyâs comfort.
âI donâtââ Bucky gestures helplessly, a wounded look in his eyes that conveys how much heâs struggling with the situation just fine.
âLoki is sad, Bucky,â Tony says in the calmest voice he can manage, never once breaking his (hopefully) soothing ministrations. Breaks the emotional mess down into simple words, to help Bucky regain his footing. The last thing he needs is Bucky to lash out again because being, feeling, thinking becomes too much. Simple protocols are easier for him still, sometimes.
âWhat do we do when people are said?â
âMake them tea,â Bucky repeats automatically, then turns towards the kitchen to do exactly that.
Really, whoever thought Tony would be the right person to help a brainwashed prisoner of war to become a human being again should be shot. Or at the very least subjected to Buckyâs When-people-are-happy-we-bake-them-something-sweet cakes. Baking was still on the To Be Improved list, and for good reason.
âYou alright, Mr Evil Overlord?â Tony murmurs once heâs certain Bucky doesnât try to go off and kidnap a clown to lift the mood. Again.
Loki huffs a laugh under his breath but stays otherwise quiet, which is so unlike him that Tony feels a twinge of genuine worry in his chest. Which sucks. Tony doesnât approve of genuine emotions at all.
âI am fine,â Loki murmurs after another moment, his grip on Tony tightening momentarily before easing into what an uninformed bystander might call âaffectionateâ.
Tony doesnât know what heâs supposed to call it. He buries his face in Lokiâs chest instead.
He waits for Loki to continue, but he doesnât say anything. Tony finds himself listening to the sounds of Bucky moving around in the kitchen, the steady beat of Lokiâs heart, their breathing. ItâsâŠ
Then Bucky joins them with three steaming mugs of tea. Tony wrinkles his nose, eyes the cups suspiciously. Everyone knows he prefers coffee.
Honestly, heâd suspect the two of them were just trying to lure him out of his workshop, if not for how upset Bucky was. As much as Loki likes messing with them, heâd never take it so far. Not over something as silly as cuddling.
âYouâre not gonna talk about it, are you?â Tony mumbles around a careful sip of teaâthough Bucky knows better by now than to hand him anything hot enough to burn his tongue.
Loki blinks, the picture of clueless innocence. He arches an eyebrow at Tony and really, how the demigod can hold a cup of tea that regally while Tony is stretched out over his lap is a mystery.
âI have no idea what you are referring to, Anthony,â Loki says with a masterfully added edge of curiosity. As though he hadnât sunken back into that strange state of utter stillness, so similar to Buckyâs own behaviour from time to time, that never fails to freak Bucky and Tony out.Â
âOf course you donât.â Tony makes no effort to hide his eye-roll. âNow come on, Winter Boy, cuddle me!â he demands when Bucky doesnât join them, remains standing instead. âI need at least two cuddle buddies at all times!â
Sometimes the closeness is too much for Bucky, sometimes heâs just insecure. Tony can never tell what it is, so as always he pushes and waits to be told to back off.Â
It doesnât happen this time.
Instead Bucky carefully sets his tea down on the small coffee table and sits down next to Loki, so close that their shoulders are brushing against each other. Pulls Tonyâs feet into his lap until he lies sprawled across them (thankfully Lokiâs quick reflexes save Tonyâs cup of tea).
Then Lokiâs slender fingers sneak into Tonyâs hair, skilfully card through the curlsâhe needs a hair cutâand massage the skin beneath. Tony can feel himself melting into the gentle touches, turns until his face is buried in Lokiâs stomach, Buckyâs hand resting on his hip, anchoring him. And with a sigh of pure bliss Tony closes his eyes and relaxes. Lets go of a tension he hadnât even realised he has been holding in him.
Sleep comes easily after that. It always does, with Loki and Bucky close to him. Steady and dangerous and maddeningly complex and safe.
Okay, thatâs it for now. I hope you all like it, especially of course @agenderraskel! Basically (because Iâm not sure I conveyed that very well) Loki had some sort of panic attack/flashback/terrible mood and Bucky doesnât know how to cheer him up so he places a Tony in his lap. I thought it was kinda cute but I also was ready to go to sleep an hour ago so I might not be the best judge right now.
Also Stelena/Delena is a Vampire Diaries reference I wonât apologise for. It was the first show that came to mind *shrug* I donât mind either pairing by the way, so in case anyone has strong opinions, Iâm not trying to bash Stelena. Bucky just needed to distract Tony for a while.
Added: I JUST REALISED I FORGOT TO MENTION THEIR ISSUES WITH BEING COLD DAMN IT. HOW ABOUT I WRITE A SECOND PART THAT MENTIONS IT? IâM SO SORRY!!!