#samxtony

Tony full on yelped when Sam grabbed him around the waist and lifted him onto the counter, moving between his legs and burying his face in Tony's neck, humming in satisfaction when Tony lifted his wings around them, hiding them in a warm wall of feathers.

“I've missed you, Tony. Alpha. Can we spend some time together?”

“Sam--” Tony sucked in a quick breath when big hands slid down his waist and gripped at his ass, tugging him closer. “I've missed you too. But we shouldn't mess around here. Not in the kitchen, I mean. The family is going to be up at any minute and they probably don't want to see us doing the nasty on the counter.”

“You fed them so much pizza last night we will be lucky if they are up before noon.” Sam mouthed down Tony's neck, letting his teeth scrape enough to make the Alpha growl in response. “We have a few hours, I'm sure. And by the way, who says we look nasty doing this? I'll have you know, I am a professional at this sort of thing. We would look great on camera.”

“Yeah?” Tony tried to quiet his laughter in Sam’s shoulder. “A professional, hm? My oh my, I am flattered!” He let his wings drop, tilting his neck in something of a submissive gesture. “And what on earth could we do for a few hours, Mr Professional? You want to play Alpha?”

“Tony.” Sam’s fingers tightened around him. “Yeah, let me play Alpha for you.”

Tony bit his lip in excitement. Sam was the only one he did this with, the only one that he would switch back and forth with. Sometimes it was Tony pinning Sam to the bed, biting down into his neck in a mark of ownership, even if it didn't actually form a bond with a Beta. Other times Sam would do his damndest to make Tony scream, using every trick he knew to have the Alpha begging beneath him for more.

No matter which position they chose, it was always fun between them, always heated and sexy, laughing in between kisses and arguing over which one of them was actually the Alpha while goading the other into proving it.

This time was no different, even though Sam had already decided he wanted to top.

Sam grabbed Tony tight, hooking his legs around his waist and carried him right out of the kitchen, slamming the door shut button on the elevator and sending it up towards the penthouse suite.

“What, you have to have a bed to do this?” Tony teased breathlessly. “Too old to do it in the kitchen?”

“You’re older than me, Stark.” Sam retorted and dragged his fingers through Tony's hair, tilting his head up for a mind-drugging kiss. “If anything, I'm worried about you breaking a hip on the kitchen floor. Wouldn't want you to slip or anything.”

“Which is why--” Tony bit at Sam’s bottom lip sharply and the Beta jerked against him. “Which is why you still have me up against the elevator wall instead of letting me stand, hm? So I don't slip?”

“You’re onto my plan.” Sam was mock-horrified and pushed Tony all the harder into the wall. “Just trying to look out for you. Keeping you off that dangerous floor. You should be thanking me.”

“That's the worst excuse for wall sex I’ve ever heard.” Tony laughed out loud and Sam hushed him with another hard kiss, thrusting his tongue into the Alpha’s mouth until Tony was running his hands over Sam’s shoulders and feathers, lifting his hips against him.

“Seems to me like my excuse is working.” Sam grinned into Tony's lips. “Why don't we see how well it works when I take your pants off.”

“You are awfully cocky for a man trying to seduce an Alpha.” Tony wiggled against him suggestively. “You’d think the submissive route would work better with someone like me.”

“I’m not trying to seduce an Alpha.” Sam ground into Tony roughly, their pajama pants doing nothing to hide how aroused either of them were.

“Oh yeah?” Tony's eyes were starting to shade red. “Then what the hell are you doing?”

Sam slowed down, cupped Tony's jaw in his hand and brought their lips together in a slow kiss. “I’m just trying to spend some time with the man I love. It’s been months, Tony. Months since you and I have been together. You’ve been running yourself ragged taking care of the Omegas, and everyone and everything else in the Tower. I just want to take care of you. I want you to be able to relax and let someone else call the shots because you deserve a break. I love you, Tony. Let me show you how much.”

“Damn.” Tony swallowed hard, staring into Sam's dark brown eyes. “Sam I— I love you too.”

“Good.” Sam took his mouth again in a sweet kiss. “So...does that mean I can top? Because I really want to see you bouncing up and down on my—“

“Sam!” Tony howled and snapped his wings out, the force of the motion forcing him off the wall and shoving Sam halfway across the elevator.

Sam was absolutely cackling, completely satisfied with himself, and when Tony pushed him to his knees, Sam went willingly, looking up and laughing at his Alpha.

“I should make you choke on my cock for that.” Tony's voice was dangerous, a tone that he never used with his Omegas and Sam sobered up instantly, curling his fingers through the waistband of Tony's sleep pants.

“Whatever you want, Alpha.” He said honestly. “I wasn’t lying earlier. You’ve been stressed out and I love you and want you to relax. Just because I was kind of a pervy jerk about it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”

“Yeah?” Tony asked and Sam nodded, running his thumb over the sharp vee of Tony's hip, tracing it through the flannel. “So if I wanted you to choke on my cock you would? What if I wanted to tie you up? Gag you?” His wings lifted almost menacingly. “You’d let me do whatever I wanted to?”

“Anything you want, Alpha.” Sam promised, his eyes glowing in adoration and Tony breathed a deep sigh, his posture relaxing, something like peace warming his gaze because he knew Sam would do whatever he wanted, all of that and more, and that was both powerful and humbling all at the same time.

If the Alpha asked, Sam would do it, nothing but trust, love, want winding between them. 

But Tony never asked, because he didn't need or want that kind of submission, that kind of dynamic between them.

Instead he bent and kissed him, soft and slow and trilled something comforting, watching as Sam relaxed as well.

“Well if that’s the case, if you will in fact do anything I want—“ Tony pushed at Sam lightly until the Beta was laying back on the floor and climbed on top of him, settling heavy over his hips, his lips twitching in a smile when Sam's beautiful eyes lit. Tony took a second to comb his fingers through the red feathers, spreading his own wings out to compare the shades, enjoying the soft texture, and scent of sandalwood that always accompanied Sam.

“You’re killing me, Tony.” The Beta said with a chuckle when Tony didn’t say anything for a full two minutes. “I do love when you just sit on me and play with my wings, but come on. Finish your sentence. If that’s the case…”

“If that’s the case,” Tony repeated, and slipped his hands under Sam's shirt. “I much prefer it if you call it riding versus bouncing.”

Sam shouted with laughter, and started ripping at Tony's clothes.

*******************

*******************

“Alpha.” Sam roused Tony close to half an hour later and Tony shifted on top of him with a groan.

“Sam. Let me sleep. All that bouncing wore me out and it's still early as hell.”

Sam smoothed a hand over Tony's hair, scratching down his back and stroking the base of his wings soothingly. “I love you.” Sam kissed his head. “But seriously, we should move. We’re still in the elevator, and I feel like people are going to get suspicious if it's stopped for this long.”

“Honey, I think JARVIS just automatically stops it if you and I are in here, and everyone knows us enough to just take the stairs.  What is this, like the fourth time we’ve done this?”

“Fifth.” Sam corrected. “You were drunk one night and we ended up in here too.”

“Sam Wilson!” Tony sounded horrified. “You took advantage of me in the elevator while I was drunk?”

“You took my pants off, Tony.” Sam said patiently. “And then laughed hysterically because I was wearing-“

“—blue silk boxers with snowflakes on them.” Tony finished. “I do remember that. We still messed around. Good for you, getting it up after being laughed at. I feel like I laughed really really hard at you.”

“Jesus Christ.” Sam shook his head and gave up on trying not to laugh. “Tony. Yes, you laughed for a very long time, but thankfully, just seeing you is enough to get things started at my end, so drunk you giggling and ripping at my pants works well too.”

Tony sighed happily and lay harder against him. “Thanks for this, Sam. I didn't realize how badly I needed it. I appreciate you doing this.”

“Now why do you say it like that?” Sam rubbed at Tony's back, shifting beneath him to try and get more comfortable on the elevator floor. “Like it's some sort of a hardship to be with you? I told you, I like the view from this angle. Plus I don’t have to do any of the work when you’re on top, but I still get to be inside you. Not a difficult thing to enjoy, Alpha.”

“Lazy ass.” Tony said affectionately. “Just the laziest top ever. But seriously, thank you.”

“Alpha.” Sam held him close. “You’ve been burning yourself out with all of us lately. Bucky needs so much love, of course, and I know Nats been struggling and now Clint with Phil. You don’t ever stop worrying about Bruce, and you and Steve haven’t been able to connect like you want to, and an Alpha needs his Omegas. You need them just like they need you. But you never speak up, you know? When you need something. I'm a Beta, so there’s not a whole lot I can do to take care of you, not like your Omegas can but—“

“You do just fine.” Tony say up and kissed him lovingly. “Sam, you are wonderful to me. You always are. Always have been. But we should get out of here and into my bed, because you’re right, people are going to be upset about the elevator. So let’s go, and why don’t you show me how wonderful you are again.”

“More time with you sounds like the perfect way to spend my morning.” Sam nodded. “Can we get this thing moving again?”

The elevator turned on with a low rumble and they started moving again.

“Thank you JARVIS.” Tony called.

“Oh, you’re welcome sir. I was expecting something along these lines and have rerouted everyone as needed.”

“It’s weird that the AI knows our habits well enough for this sort of thing. Creeps me out.” Sam commented and then he jumped when JARVIS spoke again.

“I would rather you talk to me, rather than about me, Mr Wilson.”

“You offended him.” Tony whispered. “Apologize.”

“Uh, sorry JARVIS.” Sam offered and jabbed Tony when the Alpha laughed at him. “Quiet, you.”

“Put me in bed and make me.” Tony challenged as the elevator doors opened, and Sam growled playfully.

“Start running.”

********************

********************

“Would you let me knot you?” Tony asked later, the words muffled in a pillow.

“Right now?” Sam paused mid motion, halfway to reaching for more lotion. “Uh, Alpha, I know we joke about who gets to top and all that, and you know I trust you, but uh—“

“Are you saying no?” Tony sounded upset and Sam went back to massaging his lower back, working the lotion into the lean muscles.

“I’m saying that Steve is literally made to take your knot and he still limps after a night with you.” Sam chewed at his bottom lip anxiously. “But if that's what you wanted, then sure. We could maybe get some toys that would help me prep? I think it would take a few days…?”

“I was joking, Sam.” Tony's wings fluttered as he grinned. “I’d never ask anyone other than an Omega to even try. Thanks for being willing though.”

“Oh thank god.” Sam bent and lay a kiss between Tony's shoulder blades, between where his wings lay. “Because I will try anything with you once, but I feel like I'd have to be drunk to try that.”

“Well then, I'll have to get you drinking my whiskey.” Tony rolled his hips and sighed when Sam’s strong hands dug into the knots low on his back, and then moved lower. “You got another one in you?”

“Alpha, I haven't had anything in me.” Sam retorted and bit the curve of Tony's ass when he laughed out loud. “But you’ve had two so isn't the question whether or not you can handle another one?”

“You want one in you?” Tony rolled over onto his stomach, then with a push of his wings flipped them both over so Sam was lying beneath him. “Hm? Think you can handle taking me?”

“Well we never find out if you don't stop talking.” Sam teased. “What are you waiting for, Alpha?”

Tony just bared his teeth in a grin and pushed Sam’s legs apart.

*****************

*****************

Bucky could not handle scenting Sam on Tony. Or maybe it was that he scented Tony on Sam, because when the Beta showed up in the kitchen reeking of Alpha, Bucky thought he would scream.

“Buck?” Clint sent him a concerned look when Bucky shoved away from the table and bolted from the room. “Bucky?” Clint raised his voice and Steve looked up from the stove.

“Clint? What happened?”

“I don't know.” Clint frowned. “Bucky just took off, I don't know what's wrong.”

“You probably smell.” Pietro elbowed Wanda, who zapped him with a bolt of power. “Ouch! Dam it! Alright, you don't smell but it was still probably you.”

“Brother--” she warned and Tony walked by and slapped her hands down.

“No frying your brother in the kitchen, Wanda, you know that. Pietro, would you watch your language? You might think you’re grown, but this is still my house. Good morning, sweetheart.” The Alpha brushed a kiss over Steve’s mouth. “Where’s Bucky?”

“He took off when I came in.” Sam answered, taking a big gulp of coffee and popping a pain reliever while winking at Tony. “Just ran right out the door.”

Tony's lips twitched in a smile when he saw Sam swallow the pill, knowing the Beta would be sore later in the day, and not feeling bad about it at all. “Why would Bucky just leave when--” Tony's voice trailed off when Natasha came through the door, pressing her nose to Sam’s neck and breathing in deep.

“Mmm. Sam. Alpha smells good on you.”  She pecked Sam’s cheek, then lifted on her toes to give Tony a kiss as well, white wings flicking out to touch his before heading to the stove to see what Steve was making for breakfast.

“Sam smells like you, and Bucky couldn't handle it.” Bruce came up behind Tony and touched his shoulder, rubbing his nose against Tony's when the Alpha turned around. “He bolted the second Sam walked through the door.”

“But he doesn't mind the scent of me, anymore.” Tony frowned. “We’ve worked through that. We’ve even gotten… close-ish. And he hasn't had a problem. And he has always had a good relationship with Sam.”

“It's not that the scent bothers him...” Bruce supplied, letting the words dangle and hoping Tony would finish his thought.  

“He’s jealous.” Tony realized. “That Sam spent time with me.” Then his expression changed, his wings lifting in interest, the barest hint of red edging into his gaze. “He’s jealous.”

“Easy, Alpha.” Sam cautioned, watching Tony's hands clench into fists. “Just because he’s jealous doesn't mean he’s ready for anything.”

“Oh I know.” Tony nodded, but he wasn't looking at any of them, staring out the door that Bucky had left through. “But he’s jealous.”

“I feel like you’re happier than you should be about this.” Bruce said dryly.

Tony just grinned.

“The stupidcat hates me,” Sam mutters as he flops down on the couch and Bucky, onlynarrowly avoiding Bucky’s metal arm in the process.

“It reallydoes,” Bucky agrees and pats Sam’s head.

“You’resupposed to tell me I’m seeing things, that it’s my imagination. This is nothelping,” Sam groans.

“And lyingto you is somehow going to help? Sorry, Sam, but the cat does hate you.Everyone knows it. Except maybe Tony. Even Thor noticed and he is not here halfthe time.”

“What did Iever do to the cat?” Sam asks and buries his face further in Bucky’s chest.

“I wouldguess you are trying to woo Tony and the cat doesn’t like it.”

“But how?”Sam whined. “How the fuck does the stupid cat even know what I am trying to do.It’s just a cat.” Sam paused for a second. “And I don’t even know if it has aname. Tony has so many nicknames for the cat it’s impossible to make out if oneof it could be really the name.”

“Why don’tyou ask him?”

“I did, andhe just laughed in my face,” Sam grumbled and then pushed himself up. “I am notgonna be defeated by a stupid cat. I will ask Tony out today and if I have todo it with the beast hanging from my face then I will,” Sam declared and Buckyactually looked proud.

“You go getyour man, bird boy. I’ll cheer you on.”

“From thesafety of this couch, right?” Sam asked with an eye roll and Bucky laughed.

“You knowme entirely too well.”

“I won’ttell you how it went then.”

“As if youhad to. If he says yes, you’re gonna walk around like you’re high, don’tpretend. Now shoo and get him.”

Sam flippedBucky the bird before he left but Bucky didn’t even respond to that. Samimmediately went to find Tony, who was on the couch, cuddling the littlemonster but who also seemed really pleased to see Sam.

The cat onthe other hand, was not pleased at all, going by the growling and hissing.

“What’s upwith you, buttercup?” Tony asked and stroke his fingers through the probablyreally soft fur. Not that Sam would know.

“The catdoesn’t like me,” Sam told Tony, who looked surprised at that.

“But helikes you just fine,” Tony said with a little frown. “I saw you two spendingtime together and getting along.”

Samactually had the urge to check Tony for a fever. “What the hell are you talkingabout? The little beast does nothing but attack me.” He didn’t mention the partwhere he also effectively cockblocked Sam.

“ButT’Challa and you are friends?” Tony uncertainly asked and now Sam really neededto know if he was sick.

“Do youhave a fever? What does T’Challa have to do with anything?”

Instead ofan answer from Tony the cat gracefully got up and jumped down to the ground.Even before it touched down something blurry went on and suddenly T’Challa wasstanding in front of Sam.

“And youlaughed when I asked you if you liked to dress as a cat,” Sam weakly managedand Tony burst out laughing.

“I thoughtyou knew,” Tony wheezed through another fit of laughter.

“How wouldI have known, if no one ever brought that up?” Sam asked incredulous and thenglared at T’Challa.

“And whatthe fuck is your problem. You said you liked me! How does that translate tonearly clawing my eyes out when I attempt to ask Tony out?”

“You weretrying to ask me out?” Tony asked, suddenly serious again and eyes huge in hisbeautiful face.

“You andBarnes seem awfully close,” T’Challa said. “I was just trying to make sure youare serious about this.”

“And youdon’t think coming up to me and asking ‘Hey, Sam, I noticed you have a thingfor Tony. Aren’t you with Bucky? How does this work? Are you serious aboutTony?’ would have done the trick?”

“This wasmore fun,” T’Challa admitted with a cheeky grin and then bent down to kiss Tonyon the head. “I approve,” he whispered loud enough that Sam could hear him.

“What thefuck,” Sam said because he felt like he hadn’t properly translated hisdisbelieve at this whole situation.

“He knowsme for almost as long as Rhodey does,” Tony admitted after T’Challa left. “Heis a little overprotective sometimes.” Tony turned a thoughtful glance at Sam.“And you and Bucky do seem awfully close,” he lowly admitted and Sam sighedwhile he sat down next to Tony.

“As do youand Rhodey, to be honest. I caught you sleeping in the same bed,” Sam remindedhim.

“We’refriends! He’s like my brother. There’s nothing going on!” Tony quickly declaredand Sam shrugged.

“Same withme and Bucky.”

“So, whatare you saying?” Tony asked him, but he was already leaning into Sam.

“I’m sayingthat I like you and I wanted to ask you out on a date for almost four monthsnow.”

Tonysnorted. “That’s how long T’Challa has been an ass to you?”

“Yeah,” Samadmitted.

“Hedefinitely needs to make up for that lost time,” Tony decided. “And since weboth waited entirely too long for this date to finally happen, how about we goright now, before something else comes up?”

“Soundslike the perfect plan. But I tell you right now, no more cats when we aretogether. I don’t want T’Challa to be snuggled up to you real close while Ihave to take what’s left.”

“Honey, Ipromise, from now on T’Challa can go look for someone else to cuddle. I’m allyours now,” Tony promised.

But now that Rhodey was going to be back for at least a few weeks, Tony could whisk him away for dinner and business whenever team dinner came around, so he wouldn’t have to spent so much time around Sam.

Tony was prowling up and down in his workshop when Jarvis announced “Colonel Rhodes has landed on the pad.”

Tony was out of the workshop in a second and Jarvis was moving the elevator as fast as he could but it still felt too slowly for Tony.

When he finally arrived, Rhodey was already out of his suit and walking towards the elevator.

Before Tony could even fully take in if Rhodey looked healthy or not, he was soaked up in so much love that it nearly knocked the wind out of him.

Tony was still sometimes surprised by the amount of love Rhodey had for him, but it was always a welcome surprise nowadays and Tony laughed as he wrapped Rhodey up in a hug.

“Oh, how I missed you, platypus,” he said and Rhodey chuckled but he squeezed him just as tight.

“Missed you too, Tones. Even though I still think you only miss me for my love,” he said teasingly, knowing full well that Tony never needed to worry about a thing when Rhodey was around.

“Oh, honey, I am sorry to inform you that I don’t need you anymore for food purposes,” Tony said with a wink when he pulled back and Rhodey’s eyebrow shot up in surprise.

“Found someone else to love you, huh?” he asked while they stepped into the elevator.

“Not precisely. Found someone else who loves is more like it.”

“You’re leeching again, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” Tony said and got a poke to his side for that. “Okay, yes I am. But it’s not like I am actively searching him out. Sam always comes to my workshop and he insists I attend team dinner, even though I never eat anything and he knows that, and it’s just really convenient?”

“I’m glad you’re getting enough food,” Rhodey said in answer to that and pulled Tony in for a kiss to his temple.

“But,” Tony said and slightly pulled away from Rhodey, “you can’t leave again, don’t leave me here on my own again, I cannot feed from Sam anymore.” Tony practically whined at the end and Rhodey furrowed his brows at him.

“And why is that?” he asked.

“I feel dirty,” Tony admitted. “I lied to him when he figured out that something’s going on with my eating habits and then still leech off him even though his love is not for me, and I just feel dirty. Don’t leave again, please.”

“You never felt guilty about using love not meant for you,” Rhodey mused and scrutinized Tony.

Tony squirmed under his gaze and then realized that they should have long reached Rhodey’s floor.

“Jarvis, why is this elevator not opening?” he asked in an attempt to get out of answering Rhodey’s implied question.

“I felt that it was crucial for Colonel Rhodes to talk to you,” Jarvis smoothly replied and Tony cursed his own invention.

“Fine, we talked, we can leave now.”

“No, we didn’t. Why do you feel guilty about using Sam’s love to keep you healthy?” Rhodey asked and now that there was finally a question for Tony, he knew Jarvis wouldn’t let them leave.

“Come on,” Tony tried to deflect nonetheless. “Let’s get out of here, you must be starving.”

“Tony,” Rhodey said, very obviously unimpressed by Tony’s attempt at a diversion.

“Fine,” Tony sighed. “I may have done the dumb thing and fallen in love with Sam.”

Rhodey didn’t even seem surprised. “And why does feeding off him make you guilty?”

“Because his love is not for me, and therefore I shouldn’t use something he doesn’t want to give me freely and it just feels wrong. Like I’m betraying him somehow.”

“You’re not betraying him, Tony,” Rhodey said and pulled Tony into his side. “And if it bothers you so much tell him, and then you can ask if it’s still alright for you to feed off his love. If he tells you no, then you stop. If he says it’s okay, no problem. If he tells you he loves you back, even better.”

Tony groaned. “Not happening, Rhodey. He loves one or even both of the soldier boys. There is no place for little old me.”

Tony turned to look at Rhodey and went on before he even could respond to that. “And what do you mean ‘tell him’? As if I can just go up to Sam and say, ‘Hey, by the way, I am not fully human and feed off love and your love for the soldiers has been keeping me alive for the past few months, so thanks for that’?”

Rhodey shrugged. “Sure, why not. Maybe give him some time to process it but yeah. That sounds like a solid plan.”

“You gotta be joking,” Tony said but Rhodey seemed dead serious.

“You are insane!” Tony exclaimed and threw his hands in the air. “Jarvis, get me out of here, maybe his stupid is contagious.”

To his immense surprise Jarvis opened the doors and Tony quickly stepped out into the living room of Rhodey’s suite.

“Tony, why wouldn’t you tell him. He is your friend, he likes you, and to be honest, he seems like the most accepting person in your team. If you can’t tell him, you will never be able to tell the others.”

“Who said I am going to tell the others,” Tony said and busied himself with getting some water for the both of them.

“We talked about this. You said you would tell your team if you ever feel completely comfortable with them. Since that still isn’t the case, I have not been pressuring you, but you are comfortable around Sam. You just said he comes to your workshop all the time. Name three other people who are allowed in whenever.”

Rhodey looked at him and Tony cursed. “You know damn well I can only name two, honeybear. That is not playing fair.”

Rhodey shrugged as if he couldn’t care less. “Maybe it means something then, that Sam is allowed in. Maybe it means you should trust him.”

“Maybe it means you can leave right now if you keep this up,” Tony grumbled and then immediately bit his lip.

He didn’t want Rhodey to leave, he just came back after all, and he was about to apologize when Rhodey stepped close and ruffled his hair.

“Not leaving, and you know that. Now come on, I am actually really hungry, the pizza should arrive soon and I heard there is a new movie I haven’t seen yet.”

“You ordered pizza on your way here,” Tony said and leaned into the contact. “Sneaky, I like,” he went on when Rhodey nodded and then dragged him onto the couch.

“And you’re right, there is this one movie with horrible science in it, I want you to suffer with me,” Tony told Rhodey while Jarvis was already starting the movie.

They ended up on the couch, snuggled together since they long abandoned personal space with each other. The pizza was good, the movie was horrible and Rhodey agreed with him there, and the evening was just perfect.

~*~*~

Tony managed to avoid team dinner for almost a week, always claiming to show Rhodey a new movie or dragging him off to yet another work binge in the shop but eventually Rhodey called him out on his bullshit.

The team was very understanding, even Sam, though he had looked a tad sadder than usual, and so Tony hadn’t expected the protest to come from Rhodey himself.

“Tony, come on. They are your friends, and I like them too, and team dinner sounds nice actually.”

“But Sam…” Tony started and Rhodey rolled his eyes at him.

“I will be there, you can eat my love, you don’t have to leech off him and you know it. Come on, just admit it, it would be nice to spend some time with him again, don’t tell me otherwise. Now you can finally enjoy your time with him without feeling guilty about it.”

Tony groaned, because Rhodey actually had a point there, though he is not about to admit that.

“Fine, fine. You win. One evening.”

“Three, and no complain about that,” Rhodey shot back and Tony wanted to protest, he really wanted to, but Rhodey actually seemed to look forward to eat with the team and Tony immediately felt bad about keeping him from them.

“Don’t do this,” Rhodey said and pulled him close. “I can see that you worked yourself into some unnecessary guilt and I am not having it. So either spill or let it go.”

“You know me too well, platypus,” Tony mumbled, but didn’t explain anything.

“You idiot,” Rhodey fondly said and then dragged him up for dinner.

It went fine, as good as ever, even though Tony didn’t even pretend to eat today, too busy catching up with everyone and listening to their stories.

It brought him some concerned glances from Natasha, and even Steve seemed to have caught up on the fact that something was wrong, but Sam determinedly kept his glance away from Tony’s plate as it seemed.

When Tony fell silent Rhodey nudged him in the side to get his attention and drag him back into the conversation and Tony was so lucky to have Rhodey, he sometimes didn’t know what he would do without him.

The dinner went fine, so fine in fact that Tony forgot to worry about it on the next evening and of course that was when Clint decided to call him out on his lack of eating.

“Tony, come on, you never eat enough, you’re not eating at all right now, don’t you like Sam’s food?” he asked and Tony went stiff all over when everyone looked at him.

“I don’t… I’m not…” Tony stuttered out but he couldn’t finish the sentence, too afraid that he would have to admit to everything right now but it was actually Natasha who saved him.

“Maybe he lives off love and air,” she joked when it became clear that Tony wouldn’t say anything.

Tony flinched at that, it was too close to the truth, but Rhodey put a steading hand on his thigh.

“That would be…kind of creepy actually. Like a violation, taking things no one wants to give him, like a kind of monster” Clint commented with worry in his voice and Tony’s eyes shot up to look at Sam.

If he would see the same worry and disgust he could hear in Clint’s voice on Sam’s face he wouldn’t be able to stand it.

But Sam’s face was carefully blank, eyes fixed on a point on the table and Tony couldn’t stand that for another second either.

He shot up and practically fled from the kitchen, Rhodey closely in tow, but he didn’t stop until they reached the workshop.

“What do I do now?” he frantically asked and paced in front of Rhodey, who just stood there and watched him. “What do I do, what do I do, they are gonna figure it out, they are gonna hunt me like I’m one of the monsters we fight on a regular basis, did you see their look, what am I gonna do?”

“You’re not gonna do anything, Tony,” Rhodey told him. “They won’t hunt you down and you know it, they don’t even know the truth and they will never figure it out if you don’t tell them. I need you to calm down.”

Tony realized that he had started to hyperventilate and he tried to take deep breaths but it wasn’t working so much and in the end Rhodey had to coach his breathing.

When Tony was calm again he noticed that they were on the couch now, Tony with his back to Rhodey’s chest so that he could feel him breathing and Tony slumped against him.

“Back with me again?” Rhodey asked and Tony nodded.

“Good, because Sam is asking to come in,” Rhodey went on and Tony went cold all over again.

“What does he want?” he lowly asked and Rhodey shrugged beneath him.

“I don’t know but I’m guessing it has something to do with dinner.”

“Don’t leave me,” Tony pleaded but Rhodey was already getting up.

“I don’t think he wants me here for this.”

“But I, I need you here for this,” Tony pleaded. “Don’t leave me alone with him, Rhodey, please don’t.”

“It will be alright,” Rhodey said and bend down to kiss him on the head. “Jarvis will call me the moment you need me, won’t you, buddy?”

“Of course, Colonel.”

“See. I won’t even go far, I’ll stay on this floor. So I’ll be back in a second if you need me to.”

Tony felt unsteady even sitting down but Rhodey wasn’t swayed and in the next second he left the shop while Sam came in.

Tony put his arms around his middle, trying to keep himself together somehow, even before Sam started to talk.

“So,” Sam began and Tony was too afraid to even look at him.

Tony didn’t say anything and eventually Sam sat down on a chair opposite of the couch. “I am guessing Natasha hit kind of a sore spot with what she said,” Sam mused and Tony shrugged.

“Maybe?” he carefully asked, still keeping his gaze low.

“Air, love or both?” Sam asked him and Tony felt himself starting to shake.

He had never told anyone besides Jarvis and Rhodey, and he didn’t know how to do this, how to tell him the truth and not make Sam hate him.

“Love,” he eventually whispered, when Sam stayed silent to give him time to answer.

The reaction he got was exactly how he had expected this to go. Sam’s face got hard and he stood up, taking a few steps away from Tony.

“Why did you never say anything?” he asked, and he sounded hurt.

“I never wanted anyone to know,” Tony whispered.

“But I could have stayed away. If only you had said something, I would have stayed away, Tony,” Sam said and he sounded hurt.

“You are the only one who feeds me when Rhodey isn’t here, why would I have told you to stay away?” Tony ask, painfully aware that he admitted to leeching off Sam right then and there.

“Because clearly it’s not reciprocated. You never acknowledged it, and I wouldn’t have bothered you with it, never, there has to be someone else you can feed off.”

“How…would I know if it’s not reciprocated?” Tony asked, unsure about what they were talking about now.

“Because you never said anything! If you would feel the same you surely would have said something, so I am guessing you don’t feel the same.”

Tony’s head snapped up at that only to see Sam’s eyes get wide.

“Am I your only source of food? Is that why you endured it? Because there is nothing else for you to eat here? Is that why you kept me and my unwanted feelings around?”

“I….you’re in love with the supersoldiers,” Tony eventually managed and Sam actually seemed surprised by that.

“Why the hell would you think that?”

“Because it makes sense?” Tony asked and Sam shook his head.

“How can you live off love and be so oblivious?” Sam asked him.

“It’s not like I know who the love is for!” Tony almost yelled at Sam.

“But you know Rhodey loves you,” Sam said with a frown.

“Because I have known him for almost all my life. Because I know by now that his love for someone else feels, tastes, different than his love for me. But it took me a damn long time to figure that one out.”

“What does his love taste like?” Sam asked, voice quiet and Tony couldn’t look at him any longer.

“It’s fierce and soothing all at once; it feels like reassurance and stability, endless and sweet.”

Sam nodded once. “What does my love taste like?”

It tastes like home, Tony didn’t say.

“It’s warm and comforting, deep and steady,” Tony said instead.

“And it’s not for them,” Sam added to Tony’s description.

“But it started during team dinner. And they are always there, you spend most of your time with them, it just makes sense.”

Before Sam could say anything to that, Tony continued.

“That’s the reason I stopped coming. I know it wasn’t for me and I still took it like I had any right to it. I felt bad for that, I still do, and I am so sorry I took your love for them and twisted it into something for me, but, it’s just, you have so much, I figured it wouldn’t hurt you. But I won’t be doing it again, I can’t apologize enough.”

“The only one it hurt was you,” Sam gave back. “And you didn’t twist it into anything, it was yours to begin with.”

Tony drew back into himself even more. “You don’t have to give it to me. It’s fine. I can live without it for a long time. Rhodey will be by more regularly now, it’s okay, you don’t have to offer this to me.”

“Tony,” Sam said and his voice was soft and much closer than Tony had expected.

“My love has been for you from the beginning. I’m not in love with Steve and Bucky. I love you.”

Tony’s head snapped up at that, disbelieve clear on his face, going by the pained expression on Sam’s face.

“I have been in love with you for a very long time,” Sam told him and Tony weakly shook his head.

“But you didn’t say anything.”

“I thought it was not reciprocated. Is it? Not reciprocated? Do you want me to leave?”

Tony quickly reached out to grab Sam’s hand.

“Your love tastes like home,” Tony mumbled and Sam laughed and pulled him up.

“What does your love taste like?” Sam asked him and pulled him closer.

Burnt and broken, like it can destroy everything, Tony thought, thinking back to the previous times his love had ruined everything.

“I don’t know,” he mumbled, honestly too, because he couldn’t place the sunshine and sweetness that accompanied his own love now.

“Why don’t we find out together?” Sam asked him and Tony smiled cautiously.

“I would like that.”

“Good,” Sam whispered and drew him in for a soft kiss.