#perdix writes

~~

It was a testament to how much Bucky was relaxed here, in Tony’s home, that he didn’t even flinch when Tony came up behind him.

“Good morning,” Tony said, draping himself over the back of the couch. Bucky blinked in surprise at the appearance of a potted plant in his hands.

“Mornin’ solnyshko.” Bucky said, taking the pot and shifting it so he could see his boyfriends face. “Whats this?”

“A flower?” Tony said, and at Bucky’s raised eyebrow he huffed and elaborated. “I was coming back from this meeting, and I saw this plant, and you’re always digging around in the greenhouse so...I thought I’d get you something? Maybe you can save it?...I got you a dying plant for a present. This is another 40 foot stuffed rabbit isn’t it? Fuck, I should have checked with JAR-”  

“It’s fine, I love it.” Bucky said before he could work himself into a tizzy. He carefully set the plant down beside his StarkPad, tugging Tony hand until he collapsed onto the couch beside him. “And for the record, I woulda loved a 40 foot tall stuffed rabbit. Imagine how great it would be for napping?”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Tony said thoughtfully. He jolted up from his sprawled position on the couch, looking determined as he looked at Bucky. “Let’s go on a date.”

“Sure,” Bucky said easily, “When?”

“Now.” Tony declared.

“Now?” Bucky said, raising an eyebrow. “Is this a spontaneous thing?”

“Maybe,” Tony said, his face shutting down slightly and Bucky cursed inwardly.

“Aw sugar, you know I’d love to spend time with ya,” he said, letting some of his Brooklyn Drawl seep through until he saw the faint blush on Tony’s cheeks. He stood and stretched, pleased to see Tony’s eyes trailing over him appraisingly. “Where we going?”

“Just thought we could go on a walk?” Tony said questioningly. “JARVIS said walks were good, fresh air, plus it’s not too strenuous so I won’t hurt my chest.”

“Your arc hurting again?” Bucky said, frowning down at him.

“Nothing bad, no I swear,” Tony said at Bucky’s skeptical look. “I’ve just been doing some lifting in the workshop, so I needed a break.”

“Sounds good,” Bucky said, throwing an arm over Tony’s shoulders and steering him towards the door. “Where we headed?”

“I hadn’t really decided that?” Tony admitted, “Just... wherever I guess?”

“Lucky for you, I’m down to go wherever with you,” Bucky said, winking at Tony who burst out in laughter at the innuendo.

“I’ve corrupted you,” Tony said in amusement.

“Nah doll, the Army did that long before you came around,” Bucky said as they emerged into the warm sunshine. A tug by Tony had them meandering up a random street. “Tell ya what, we’ll move all of Stevie’s furniture an inch left when we get back, and then we’ll get JARVIS to record the swearing when he stubs his toe.”

“You’re a bad influence on me Barnes,” Tony said with a chuckle. “Rhodey’s gonna be jealous.”

“Jealous?” Bucky asked, knocking his hip into Tony’s to enter a small park tucked away.

It really was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly, and the air actually warm.

“Rhodey’s usually my partner in crime,” Tony explained, “He’s gonna be jealous I found another prankster to enable me.”

“I’ll have to prank him the next time he visits,” Bucky said thoughtfully, running through the ones he knew from Before, and the new ones Harley had planned with him.

“Leave me out of it,” Tony proclaimed.

“I’m wounded, you don’t have any faith in me?” Bucky said in mock affront.

“Everyone thinks I’m the one who used to cause all the chaos in MIT, but really, put any amount of tequila in Rhodey, and that’s how you end up with a rainbow painted piano suspended over a building,” Tony said dryly. “Or you end up in a glitter dress being chased by an angry chicken, two security guards dressed in drag and a priest in Milwaukee.”

“I need to hear that story,” Bucky said, making sad eyes at Tony’s protest until he gave in and started the story.

Apparently Bucky needed to give the Colonel tequila the next time he came around and have a camera ready.

They continued strolling around the park as Tony shared more stories. They even got ice cream from a vendor who absolutely knew who Tony was and pretended his register was broken and insisted on them taking the ice cream for free. Not that it stopped Tony from stuffing $300 in the tip jar.

“What?” Tony said curiously as they walked off. “You’re staring.”

“I love you,” he said abruptly, and Tony paused mid-lick to stare at him in bafflement. “I’m lucky that you’re dating me.”

“I could say the same,” Tony said, eyes crinkling as he smiled up at Bucky. “I love you too.”

He leaned up and kissed Bucky, before biting into Bucky’s ice cream like a savage and made him splutter in outrage.

It ended in a mud fight with the children in the park taking sides, but it was worth it, even if pictures of Tony tackling him into a mud puddle made headlines.

Bucky printed out the article and framed it.

His madre was always right.

Always.

It scared him, seeing her stare into the distance sometimes, the soft hissing of snakes floating through the air...even though he had never ever seen a snake. She’d always come back to herself quickly, her eyes losing the glazed look. She would call him paidí mou and wrap him up in a hug.

He didn’t really realize it at first, just accepted that it happened with his madre, and that it was their little secret.

He didn’t even tell Jarvis.

When Tony was six, Tony asked “What did you See?”.

Even though….he didn’t really understand why he asked that. Maria merely smoothed a hand down his cheek and said that the tree in the back would crush the shed in the storm tomorrow.

She was right.

Tony went to find her, found her drinking wine off the balcony, staring down at the massive tree that had smashed through the shed, sending wood everywhere across the once pristine lawn.

“How did you know?” he asked. He’d never feared his mother. Howard he did, with an alcohol slurred voice and clenched fists.

But never his mother.

“We come from a lineage of a time where monsters and gods roamed freely.” his mother said, her voice flat and cold and scary. “And when you rebuff a god Antonio, you suffer the consequences. You, and everyone descended from you.”

“Why did they rebuff the gods?” Tony asked, wide-eyed and curious. He didn’t know then.

“Because they wanted what she did not want to give.” Maria said, finally looking at him. She pressed a hand against his back, turning him away from the wreckage and steering him back inside. “Come with me, and I will tell you the story of Cassandra.”

~~

Years later, Tony would understand, and ask her how long she could See.

~~

Mantis knows she’s there, hovering in the doorway.

Knows Nebula has knives on her, is holding them in her hands.

Knows she needs to actually be testing out her newly constructed limbs, but is awkwardly standing there.

She won’t say anything, unless Nebula makes the first step into the room.

No judgement, always.

She’s wearing a rainbow coloured pantsuit, because she once told Nebula seeing happy colours makes her feel more happy. Plus Peter had introduced her to ‘vintage’ and she’d promptly bought fourteen pantsuits.

“What are you making?” Nebula said finally, stepping into the kitchen. She doesn’t go over to Mantis, not yet, but leans against the fridge.

“Rocket brought me a cookbook,” Mantis said, turning slightly to smile at Nebula, soft and sweet. “I am attempting a ‘pancake’, it does not look much like a cake in a pan, so I don’t think I am doing it right.”

“I’m sure it will be delicious.” Nebula said awkwardly.

“Well, currently its not.” Mantis said, sighing and dropping the chunky and strange looking batter down the drain. “Maybe I’ll get Peter to show me tomorrow.”

Mantis’ antennae twitched as Nebula was abruptly reminded of the mission yesterday. Mantis had nearly died, and Nebula had to completely replace her arm and part of her side.

Clockwork parts for a clockwork girl.

“Dance with me.” Nebula blurted, turning away from Mantis, towards the jukebox.

“Alright,” Mantis said, as Nebula started playing something classical and without words. “I’ll teach you how to waltz.”

“Mantis, I’ll step on your feet!” Nebula protested. “Can we not do an energetic sway?”

Mantis laughed openly at the familiar line, before sliding into Nebulas space and starting to move her limbs into the right position. She didn’t seem to mind the rough unfinished scrap from her new arm, and directed her without hesitation.

“You’d never hurt me.” she stated calmly.

Nebula focused on calming herself, at the blind trust Mantis had around her even after everything.

They stumbled over each other, Mantis only really seeing TV shows and Nebula unused to dancing and not fighting.

“People dancing, and no one invited me?” Peter said dramatically as he entered with Gamora trailing behind him.

He caught hold of Gamora’s hand, and decided to start dancing, except it was a more flailing, jumpy dance with something that Nebula had been informed was a ‘dab’ mixed in with him trying to spin Gamora as well.

Gamora obliged, laughing slightly at how ridiculous he was being. He held out a hand towards both of them, still doing a eccentric shuffle. “Come on, join the group.”

“We were dancing first Peter, and we’re actually waltzing.” Mantis said, even though they were just swaying and watching both of them now.

“Waltzing smaltzing,” Peter said cheerfully, letting out his own laugh when Gamora decided to dip him. “Gamora back me up.”

“Why not?” Gamora said, letting go when Peter spun her out again and reaching to catch hold on Nebulas hand. She glanced knowingly between Mantis and Nebula and if Nebula could blush she would have. She accepted Gamoras hand and Mantis started copying Peters weird shuffle while Peter cheered her on.

“You alright?” Gamora said as they watched Peter start teaching a bleary eyed Drax to ‘dab’.

“Yeah,” Nebula said, watching as Mantis laughed as Drax spun Peter. “I think I will be.”

“I’m glad your girlfriend cheered you up.” Gamora said teasingly and Nebula choked.

“She’s not, we’re not-“ Nebula spluttered. “We’re just friends!”

“You keep telling yourself that baby sis.” Gamora said, winking at Nebula and joining the dancing group before Nebula could defend herself.

Nebula would have gone after her, but Mantis glanced over and held out her hand encouragingly and Nebula settled for death glaring her sister over Mantis’ shoulder.

“Jarvis, help.” Tony hissed into the phone. 

“Tony, are you alright?” he said in alarm, dropping the usual Master Anthony in his panic and Tony cursed inwardly. 

“I’m fine!” he said quickly, “But how do you make soup?” 

“I’m sorry?” Jarvis said in utter confusion. 

“Soup Jarvis, I need to make soup!” Tony said, glancing over to where his laptop was perched precariously on the sink. “Uh, apparently chicken noodle is the best? So how do I make chicken noodle soup?” 

“Perhaps you should explain why you need soup?” Jarvis said, calmer now that he’d realized Tony had not been kidnapped again and was calling him from a payphone in Milwaukee like the last time. 

“Rhodey’s sick.” Tony muttered. “And I don’t know how to help. I should, but I don’t. I don’t think scotch is the right answer.” 

“No, scotch is the entirely wrong answer.” Jarvis said. “Okay, I’ll help you. Firstly, where is he?” 

“He’s lying on the couch and swearing. He feels really hot and he says he has a headache.” Tony said, cracking the bathroom door to peek. “I searched the web, but everyone says that chicken noodle soup is the best but I don’t know how to make that!”

“Well, it’s more of a nostalgia thing I believe.” Jarvis said, “Why don’t you call Mrs.Rhodes after and ask her what type of things James likes to have when sick?” 

“What if she laughs at me?” Tony said quietly, “Don’t people know this stuff?”

“Roberta will not laugh at you Anthony,” Jarvis said firmly, “For now, help James to bed, make sure he’s wearing comfortable clothing, and get him a few more blankets. Heat will help him fight off the infection faster.” 

“But he was complaining about being hot!” Tony said anxiously. “What if he combusts?” He paused. “Okay I know he’s not gonna combust, but won’t it…be more uncomfortable?” 

“It will, but he’ll get better faster.” Jarvis said with calm assurance. “Make sure he drinks plenty of water alright? You can handle this. Get him to bed, and then call Roberta. You’re not gonna help by hiding out in the bathroom and panicking.” 

“Okay, thanks Jarvis.” Tony said and his fath-butler hung up. He squinted at the phone. “Wait how did he know I was in the bathroom?” 

He shut his laptop and went back to the room. Bed, comfy clothes, blankets and then call Mama Rhodes. He could do this. 

“Tony,” Rhodey slurred when he heard Tony approach the couch. He made grabby hands and Tony crouched beside the bed so his boyfriend could octopus himself closer. “I missed you, where’d you go?” 

“Just had to make a call.” Tony said, surveying Rhodey’s sprawled position. He was already wearing fairly comfortable clothing, sweatpants and his large MIT hoodie that Tony would eventually steal to wear once again. That scratched comfy clothing off the list, so it was bed and blankets now. “Hey, DUM-E, get over here. No, not with with the fire extinguisher, that’s not how we’re supposed to cool him down. Just grab him-gently. There we go, we’re gonna go to the bed.”

“Bed,” Rhodey repeated dazedly. “I like bed. Tony, come to bed I wanna cuddle.” 

“Lets get you there first.” Tony said, heaving up Rhodey as DUM-E wound his claw into the back of Rhodey’s sweatshirt and hauled him up at the same time. They managed to stagger over to the bed, which Tony hastily cleared of the aricraft engine schematics Rhodey had been working on. He had to perform some creative twisting (god bless that stripper who taught him how to move and told him where the best sushi in Boston was) so that Rhodey didn’t end up trapping him in cuddles. 

Not that he was adverse to cuddles, but he had blankets and food to go, and Jarvis knew best. 

“Okay, good job DUM-E.” Tony said, patting where he’d put the sensors so that DUM-E clicked in happiness. “Yeah you did good, now can you get blankets while I call Mama Rhodes?”

The bot sped off, and Rhodey seemed to be falling back asleep, so Tony dailed Rhodey’s mom and waited for it to connect. DUM-E was so used to draping blankets over Tony that he only had to make sure his son-he meant bot didn’t drop the blankets on Rhodey’s face twice. 

“Tony!” Mama Rhodes said in surprise. “How are you doing?” 

“I’m good,” Tony said, clearing his throat and then asking. “Uh, Rhodey’s sick. I don’t know how to make chicken noodle soup. Is there…something else I can give him?” 

“Oh, don’t worry about that, James hates soup when he’s sick.” she said cheerfully, “You boys have that stash of trail mix and granola bars right?”

“Uh-huh.” he said, double checking the nearest stash. 

“Good, just make sure he has some later on.” she said. “He doesn’t really like eating much at all when sick, so there’s no point in making anything else because its too much of a hassle to convince him. Make sure he drinks water, make him eat the granola, and if you’re sure you won’t get sick too, just sleep near him. He tends to get a little…affectionate when sick.” 

“I’m the last person who would complain about that.” he teased, feeling some of his anxiousness drain away. 

“I know,” Mama Rhodes said warmly. “Thank you Tony.” 

“It’s no problem.” he said, feeling oddly shy. “I’m gonna go now.”

“Take care, and keep me updated.” she said and he hung up after saying his own goodbyes. He took a moment, stuffing a handful of granola bars in his hoodie pocket. 

“DUM-E, lights.” he said, and the robot awkwardly smashed the light switch, leaving the single lamp and the glow in the dark stars Rhodey had insisted they put up after learning that Tony knew all the constellations by heart as the only light source. 

He crawled onto the bed beside Rhodey, who opened his eyes to give Tony the sleepiest, dopiest smile and throwing an arm around him before instantly falling back asleep. 

Chapters: 1/5 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Tony Stark Characters: Tony Stark, James "Bucky" Barnes, Maria Stark Additional Tags: cassandra!Tony, Angst Summary:

Prompt: Napping in sunshine

~~

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Warm sun, soft blanket, bees humming.

Wake up Tony

Wake up Tonio, Maria said, her laugh soft and sweet. You’re going to miss the show.

Eyes wide, eyes up, eyes tired.

The buzzing gets louder, the hum of the airplanes ripping through the air.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Wake up Tony

Chocolate melting on his tongue, pudgy fingers reaching for sweet berries and tangy pastries.

Wake up Tony

Jarvis’s polite chuckle, Ana’s laughter, brazen and free. Peggy’s lipstick shining, his mother’s pearls glistening.

Wake up Tony

Howard nowhere to be seen.

Wake up Tony

Breathe in, br-his chest hurt.

The hum of the airplanes turning into the crackle of electricity. His mother’s voice fading into FRIDAYS. The blanket turning cold and stone.

Tony blinked.

And woke up.

In a bunker in Siberia.

Tony strained.

Cold tears, cold hands, cold heart.

Prompt: Rust red dirt

~~

Dry tongue. Red dirt. Glaring sun.

One step in front of another.

.

41 steps straight ahead. Then 16 steps, that's from the door, fork right, 33 steps, turn right.

.

Dirt floors, stone walls, stale air.

.

Yinsen’s blood was already drying when Tony found him. Blood spilling out of him, covering the floor.

Blood smells like pennies. Blood looks like rust. Blood is supposed to stay in the body.

Time had marched on Tony’s terms before. Time flew in the workshop, dragged through meetings, sped through sex.

Now Tony hadn’t had enough time to do what really mattered.

His weapons, his heart, his fault.

.

Yinsen closed his eyes, and Tony opened them.

There was just so much blood.

Now it was his turn to spill some.

.

Red sand now, miles in every direction.

One step.

Another step.

Time dragged.

Prompt: Darting shadows in the corner of your eye

~~

Don’t look at the shadows.

Don’t look away from the path, don’t look at the sounds in the forest, don’t look at the shadows in the corners.

You won’t see anything, but it will see you.

Maria had ingrained in it him, day after day she’d make him repeat it, follow it, swear to it.

He’d asked her once, what she saw, what rattled her so badly. She pressed red painted nails under his chin and looked at him with pity.

She saw him.

Had seen him before he was born, before he grew, before she knew.

Knowing what’s staring at you will give you knowledge beyond measure, she whispered, hiding away from Howard, from Jarvis, from Ana, from the world. But the moment you look, the moment you’re doomed.

So Tony didn’t.

Especially when he found his mother staring at the corner of the room, empty eyes and a glazed smile.

Howard standing beside her.

He didn’t know, too young, too stupid, too naïve.

They didn’t come back from that drive.

Don’t look at the shadows.

But he realized they were there, flashes of red, flashes of blue, flashes of gold.

Tempting, tempting, tempting.

He didn’t look.

He didn’t say.

Ana died.

Jarvis died.

His only command to his bots.

Don’t look at the shadows.

He didn’t look. Not in Afghanistan, not when the poison spread through his veins and he started to hear sounds.

Then he flew up, up, up.

Into a wormhole in the sky.

An explosion he couldn’t turn away from.

And then.

Shadows in the corner of his eye.

Doomed, they whispered, accept our help, and we will help.

Don’t look at the shadows.

He knew.

But.

For Rhodey. For Pepper. For Happy. For JARVIS.

Tony blinked.