#widowfalcon

Once confirming you were not in danger, scanning the room with his cold steel blue orbs, ready to kill whomever had intended to do you harm, his features softened. Gaining distance on you he rumbled quietly,

 “Oh, Doll. Another Nightmare? Come here. S’alright.”

His weight buckled his side of the bed, where he fell asleep initially. He’d wandered after hours of tossing and turning, feeling like he’d sunk into quicksand and needing the rigidity of hardwood floors.

He pressed your trembling body close to his chest, as he always did when either of you had nightmares. He rubbed soothing circles into your back with his flesh hand. And took your hand in his Vibrianium one.

He brought your dainty hand to his soft lips, kissing the gold and black wedding ring he gave you. He'd requested it in Wakanda while you stayed with him. It was the best gift he could give you.

"I will always love you, Doll. Don't ever forget that." He said. His voice steady, and tender. He landed gentle kisses on your neck and temple in an effort to calm your racing heart. You remembered to breathe and closed your eyes, resting your head firmly in his chest. You tried to forget the fear that took a hold of you in your dream but one thing stuck out, the stone. 

“Bucky?” you asked staring into the TV aimlessly. a random program playing, recognizing FRIENDS was on. Bucky continued to stroke your back and kissed your hair.

“Yes, Doll?” 

“Do you think if you could re-do it all would you? i mean if the whole Thanos thing didn’t happen in the first place. where would we even be? Tony would still be here, Nat, and you’d still have Steve.” you asked.

Bucky thought, turning to you, the brilliant blue of his eyes boring into your own. He let out a long sigh. “Yeah i think i would. but something like that-- i don’t know, it’s not without major consequences.”  

you bit the inside of your cheek, thinking, hoping. you settled your gaze on his in the dim light that the TV was giving off. 

“You’re right, but. What if we could try? Just make things right. You know?” you pondered out loud. Bucky re-adjusted himself on the bed, facing you more clearly, his legs closing in bringing you closer to him. 

“What do you mean, Y/N?” 

“My nightmare. I saw-- I saw a second soul stone. And i dunno, i feel it. Can’t we just try?” you spoke unsure if he would accept your decision.

He sighed deeply, his chest rising and falling with the exhale. his flesh hand caressed your cheek, you leaned into the warmth. 

“I don’t like it Doll, but we’ll need a bird-brain to help us. We’ll go tomorrow. For now, rest.” he smiled enjoying staring at you, thinking how he could ever land someone as beautiful as you. it wasn’t your physical beauty he saw, but rather what your personality was. You reminded him of some flicker of himself, his old self-- before HYDRA.

He tucked you into bed, crawling under the covers after you, dragging your head close to his chest, so you’d be soothed to sleep by the beating, the drumming of his heart still strong inside his sternum. You opened your mouth slightly to speak. you were going to ask him if he thought you were going crazy. but you didn’t mention it. you stayed silent just listening to that beautiful sound. you were so glad to have him. you held on to him a little tighter as you fell asleep.

You spent the morning nearly tearing your hair out. you needed to find this second soul stone, needing it almost as much as air to breathe. now you were staring down a heavily guarded HYDRA base. one you didn’t even know existed until now. it was nestled high on a mountain in the vast desolation that was Alaska’s infamous Denali mountain. The howling wind ominous in your ears only made you stare down the base with more determination.

“Just had to be Denali, huh?” Sam chided to your left.

“Nice to know you were so willing to come.” you responded fighting fire with fire. And he smirked at you, shaking his head letting the conversation fall on deaf ears.

“I hate the cold. But, I’ll go anywhere with you Y/N.” Bucky said through slightly chattering teeth. a sudden sickening feeling found itself into the pit of your stomach. You hadn’t thought of that before, how he had always hated the sharp chill of winter. it must bring back painful memories of his torture. you grabbed his flesh hand in yours and used your powers carefully to warm him. 

You had the abilities of fire, burning in bright blue flames. You loved that color, reminding you of the blue of Bucky’s eyes. In a way even if you were alone, you’d see your fires and think of him. Not that the cold didn’t effect you. you hated it too. but regarding your powers, it was easier for you to fight off. 

“Thank you, Doll.” he said as he looked into your e/c orbs. He took this small moment and caught you off guard, swooping you into a long kiss. Always the romantic Casanova. 

“Can i get some of that?” Sam interrupted. 

“NO! I don’t share my Doll.” Bucky looked deeply offended, holding you closer to him, possessively. you chuckled holding out your hand, the surface glowing a familiar blue hue.

“God! i didn’t mean it that way. You know i think all those freezes killed off more than a few brain cells, Buck. oooooh God, thank you so much, Y/N.” Sam melted into my touch. i shook my head.

“What would you two do without me?” you said chuckling slightly. Your attention was suddenly averted to the base. to it’s center, no to the right, maybe in the left corner? The stone was calling to you like an unrelenting siren’s song. sweet and irresistible. A sickening feeling fluttered into your stomach, making you nauseous and grimace.

“Bird-Brain would definitely get frostbite. What’s wrong Doll?” Bucky’s attention sharpening at the sight of his wife in pain.

“It’s moving? it doesn’t want me to catch it. We need to go before i lose it. Are you ready Boys?” you asked.

“Ladies first.” Sam said warming his hands together and blowing warm air into them. 

As much as you wanted to storm the front gate and set them ablaze, that wasn’t smart. it would set off an alarm and then who knows what they’d do with the stone? You popped you head just barely above the cavern to scope out the area. three guards, armed, about Bucky’s size, all male. you rolled your eyes. just like HYDRA to be sexists. Bucky was better at stealth than yourself but, you didn’t mind the challenge. 

“We can take them, be careful of the camera’s Doll. Doll?” Bucky questioned noticing too late that you were no longer by his side, striding into the eye of the storm head on. “Shit!” He cursed, having no choice but to follow. 

The guards noticed you, one of them reaching for the alarm. in a split second you conjured a fireball to your palm and hurled it, making contact with his hand. the man screamed, or at least tried to. Bucky muffled the man with his vibranium hand. Bucky tussled with the man which was odd. Super Soldiers? was all you had time to think about when one of the men squared you up.

“Heh. Small and weak.” he said. Oh, Now you’re pissed. Yeah you’re only 5 feet even. But, you ain’t weak. He went to punch and you caught his forearm, blazing beneath my palm a charring blue. He screamed, Damn! There goes our cover! You grabbed the mans throat, unable to encapsulate it completely due to your small frame. That didn’t matter much, you burned through his wind pipe in a matter of seconds. You heard the familiar sound of a gun cocking, ready to exhibit lethal force. you turned your head in time to see the barrel. Bucky covered you with his body, his vibrainium arm covering your face.

Great metallic wings swoop him up and throw him off the cave entrance. All that was left of the guard was his screams echoing downward to the rocky base below. Bucky held you out by the shoulders his eyes scanning for injuries. 

“You alright, Doll?”

You smiled up at him, “Peachy.” 

Swooping in for a landing Sam came back to the cave entrance. His large wings folding in on themselves and forming to his body. 

“Nobody messes with my favorite heater.” Sam said standing next to you and Bucky. You don’t have much time left, despite your efforts to stay undetected the alarm was still triggered. Sending an ominous shrieking throughout the mountain. You didn’t even have time to make a witty come back towards Sam. All three of you went into action mode, not that you weren’t already in that kind of a mood. Adrenaline pumping through your veins, making your senses wired, attention sharp as a blade.

You tried to make sense of the stone, feeling where it might be. Bucky and Sam made good work of debilitating as much of the HYDRA minions as they could. You came to a fork in the passages. winding endlessly into the darkened corridors filled with unknown assailants and various experiments. You had to keep going, running as fast as you could towards the stone. it was fading from your senses. it’s pulse weakening like that of a dying heart. Bucky called out to you, needing you in sight. He desperately wanted your wellbeing to be paramount. His attention focused on you, one of the HYDRA men struck his bicep with a blade, blood and pain searing into him.

“Y/N!! Come back!!” he yelled out. Sam was preoccupied with his own minions. your heart racing, thumping wildly beneath your chest, panting, fighting to keep oxygen in your lungs. You stopped dead in your tracks seeing the stone nestled in a room, caged in glass. You looked around for a keypad or something of the like to open the door. 

“Guys! I’m okay! I found it! I gotta open this case somehow.” You yelled out to your team mates. you heard boots coming towards you from your left. Bucky must be so worried, what a cute little watch dog. 

“C’mon, man. It’s probably just a HYDRA trick. I know it sounds like her--” Sam’s voiced was exasperated. You didn’t turn your back to look still figuring out how to open the room. Bucky wasn’t saying anything, which you thought was odd but you didn’t have time to find out why. 

“Fuck it. When in Rome.” you said to yourself and loud enough to where Bucky could hear you. You hand glowed that brilliant blue and you touched the glass, melting it with ease. The orange glow of the stone grew as your hand reached out for it. it was too far away to grab. Still you tried, “C’mon!” the jewel floated to your hand, as if it was meant to be there. You were surprised, was Wanda there helping you?

You heard the loud clang of a heavy metal door closing to your right, a large man with formidable looking guns, if you could call them that, ready to turn their hyper-beams on you. To turn you into a mere vapor. You ducked with the stone still firmly in you grasp. You waited for impact, to disappear before your eyes. Was this really how you were gonna go out? but nothing happened. Contrarily you heard an oddly familiar clang, and a whoosh of air streaming past you, blowing your hair. 

“Are you hurt Doll?” said Bucky’s voice, it rattled with a tinge of sadness, but was otherwise strangely sweet. His voice barely had the rasp that you knew.

You looked up at your savior, Bucky was wielding Steve’s shield and was garnished with his Captain America costume. Most puzzling was his left arm, it was... flesh and bone and muscle. it was so weird seeing him like this. He held out his hand as you dared not to break eye contact with him. You took it without hesitation. He pulled you up from the ground and to your feet. Something snapped in you.

Angrily you jabbed your index finger into his chest, in the center of the bright white star.

“Don’t you Doll me when you decide to play fucked up dress up! Where did you even get Cap’s suit? and--and his shield?! Did Sam give it to you? Did you lose a bet?” you rambled on as more footsteps approached from the left. 

Bucky’s eyes frantically scanned your features, his lips beginning to quiver, his orbs filling with tears threatening to spill over. he took you face in his massive hands and kissed you, as if he was devoid of love for a long time. he continued to pepper kisses to your lips.

“Y/N. I. love. you. so much!” he vowed to you as he peppered his kisses.

“Y/N? Cap? You alright in the head, man? What the--” Sam stopped in his tracks clothed in his old red and black Falcon’s suit.

“Babe, is this really happening? Pinch me.” Sam continued talking to someone on his left. A gloved hand punches him and the person comes into view. brushing her long red locks out of her face, satisfied with Sam’s reaction.

“Goddamn Baby! I said pinch not punch! Holy shit, that’s really her ain’t it?” Sam replied to--Nat. No way. Did your theory actually work? You felt the stone beneath your palm and looked at it, it cracked and fell apart into miniscule shards. Shit!!  The lair’s alarms went into over drive and sounded shrilly. Bucky scooped you up, and trudged forward towards the exit. twisting in his grasp to look at the remnants of what was the stone.

“Dammit Bucky! I need that! We need that! Listen to me!” you said desperate. But it was fruitless. The Stone was obliterated. Bucky shhhed you, his grip tightening on you. in response you slapped his chest, discontent with his shh-ing. He touched the communication device in his ear.

“All units depart as soon as possible.” He looked down at you ending his order to whomever was on the other end. “It’s alright Y/N. You’re safe now.” 

He carried you out of the complex Nat and Sam following behind, no HYDRA operative in sight. Nat smiled at Sam, “Look at you in one piece. HYDRA won’t be having KFC tonight after all, huh?”

“Oh, that’s cold. You’ll have to make up for that punch Babe. How ‘bout a little R ‘n’ R?” Sam said pulling Nat closer to him as his hands traveled down to clasp the globes of her ass, squeezing with want. Nat chuckled seductively and laced her hands together and held onto his neck kissing him with a soft passion.

“Maybe if you can find someone to watch the kids tonight.” Nat replied. Kids? I thought Nat couldn’t have kids. You found yourself staring at the couple. this was all so weird. Bucky cleared his throat to politely get your attention. 

“What’s wrong? They’ve been married  for a while now. I was the best man and you were one of Nat’s bride’s maids. Don’t you?-- God. Did HYDRA wipe your memory that much Doll?” Bucky explained. Married?! Kids?! Best men and Bride’s maids? What the hell is going on?! 

A large gust of wind came from nowhere as the Quinjet lined up with the opening of the cave. You all entered the Quinjet like normal, taking your respective seats. All except Bucky, rather he sat with you in his lap, unable to keep his gaze off of you. If he did, he feared he might lose you again.

“You always take too long, how did the raid go this time?” a distinct European accent called from the pilot’s seat.

“Pretty damned good Twinkle-Toes. We got Y/N back.” said Sam with pride as he finished strapping himself into his seat. 

“What? I thought Y/N,--” the voice questioned as he turned around in his seat, not paying attention to his duty of being the pilot. You recognized his face but you couldn’t put a name to it.

“Just take us home Pietro,” Bucky ordered as he stroked your arm to warm you from the cold, “On second thought, take us to the Safehouse.” You were so confused you felt your stomach bend in knots making you nauseated.

“Aye, Aye, Captain.” Pietro responded grumpily, the hatch to the Quinjet closing. You felt the ride of the Quinjet soothing you to sleep, even though you wished to be awake. You had to stay awake, everything was so topsy-turvy. You had to see what else had changed. You struggled to keep your eyes open, feeling exhausted.

“It’s fine Doll, sleep. I’ll be here when you wake.” Bucky said, his voice soft and familiar. After a while of resisting, you gave up and let yourself succumb to the tiring events of the day. What else is there? What else is screwed to hell? Was the last conscious thoughts your remember.

end part 1....

Author’s note: sorry this is so long! but i hope it was good. more parts to come soon. please comment if you wish. I tried to get everyone on the taglist, if you are not on it, try following me and maybe you will get updated. i’m still new to this platform.

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“Okay, well are you alright?” Steve asked, while Clint got one of his patented ‘I’m about to get nosy’ expressions and added, “You’re walking funny. What were you doing down there all night?” 

“Oh.” Tony raised his eyebrows and tried to look as innocent as possible. “Working? But now I have a headache, so Steve could you get me the ibuprofen?” 

“Yeah, sure.” Always helpful, Steve reached up to the top shelf and handed down the bottle. “But um-- you jabbed me in the boob muscle and yelled that I was making fun of you for being short the last time I tried to get something off the top shelf for you.” 

“Okay, but people can change right?” Tony shook out two of the pills, thought about it, and shook out two more and swallowed them dry. “And also, please don’t call them boob muscles.” 

“Well it’s better than tiddy knocker.” Steve said dryly and Clint crowed, “That one was my idea!” 

“Fantastic.” Tony managed to get a water bottle by himself and drained half the drink in one go. “Okay well I’m going to go sleep for about thirty hours. Nobody bother me.” 

“...sure.” Both Steve and Clint watched as Tony gingerly, carefully, awkwardly waddled his way out of the kitchen and towards the elevator. “What on earth is going on with him?”

*******

9:30 pm The Previous Night

“Oh my god, your arms are incredible.” Tony squeezed at Thor’s biceps and the big blond groaned and yanked Tony right up off his feet and into the air, crushing their mouths together.

“Can you take me like this?” Tony gasped when talented lips landed at his neck and slid over his collarbone as calloused hands grasped eagerly at his ass. “Just holding me up? Not up against the wall or anything?”

“Whatever you wish, Anthony.” Thor rumbled, and tore Tony’s sleep pants right off with nothing more than a twist of his wrist. “You want me here?” 

“Oh-oh-oh--” Tony writhed and wriggled when Thor’s palm circled his cock to work him to the first orgasm of the night. “Oh yeah, just fuck me like this. Put me on your cock and just use me.” 

“Anthony.” Thor practically growled and Tony swore he heard thunder. “Yes.” 

********

“Tony.” Natasha dropped quick kiss on his cheek. “How are you? I haven’t seen you all day!” 

“Hey Tasha, I --EEP!” Tony didn’t mean to scream when Tasha gave him a little swat on the rear, but he certainly did, and promptly turned bright red, a hand over his mouth. 

“Uh--” Natasha’s eyebrows shot towards her forehead. “What was that?” 

“Nothing.” Tony shook his head, his eyes wide and cheeks scarlet. “Maybe you shouldn’t go around touching people’s butts!” 

“It’s your butt though.” She pointed out. “Everyone touches your butt.” 

“Yeah.” From Sam, who had come out of absolutely nowhere to add his own two cents. “Cos oh my god, it’s so big and out there.” 

Natasha did one of those ugly snort laughs she only did when Sam made terrible jokes, and he grinned and gave her a kiss, perfectly pleased with how he could always make his girlfriend laugh. 

“Seriously though, we were about to stage an intervention and drag you out of the lab.” Sam bent down to peer into Tony’s eyes. “You could pack clothes in those bags under your eyes, bud. You didn’t sleep last night?” 

“Honestly, I don’t know what you see in him.” Tony grumped and swatted Sam’s hand away. “And I slept a little last night.” 

“Okay but did you really?” Natasha tsked at him and smoothed out his hair. “Or did you do that thing where you work until you black out and then say you slept?” 

“I um--” Tony scratched at his chin uncomfortably. “I might have blacked out.” 

“Well go get some real sleep then.” Sam decided. “Maybe a shower first and I’ll make you a sandwich?” 

“Thank you.” Tony smiled tiredly. “I’ll see you guys later.”

“Is he--” Tasha tilted her head to the side. “Is he waddling?” 

“We’ve got to get him to stop sitting on those stools while he works.” Sam hooked his arm around Natasha’s waist and steered her towards the couch. “My butt would hurt after a night like that too.” 

*********

11:45 pm The Previous Night

“Mmmm, beautiful.” Thor mumbled and if Tony would have been able to form a coherent word, he might have told Thor that he was the beautiful one. 

As it was, Thor had Tony’s legs spread to either side of those massive shoulders and his mouth working across Tony’s hole, slurping and licking, lapping and tugging at the rim until it was sloppy and loose and Thor could shove his tongue deep inside alongside his fingers to stretch Tony open again. 

Not that Tony wasn’t still stretched from their first round, but oh Thor was so good at this and Tony’s vision actually whited out when the demi god did something with his tongue and Tony’s body buzzed from his toes clear to his head. 

“Come for me.” Thor commanded and Tony whimpered back, “Can’t come with just your tongue.” 

“Oh yes you can.” 

“No.” Tony was gasping, almost in tears at a press of teeth on the inside of his thigh, the unexpected sharpness driving his pleasure up so sharply it almost hurt. “No no please I need-- I need you, Thor I need you in me--” 

Thor muttered a curse in one of his languages, adding in English, “How can I say no when you are like this?” and before Tony could wail over the loss of Thor’s tongue at the seam of his sac, Thor had sat up on his heels and driven the length of his cock into Tony’s dripping hole.

Tony came in an instant, back arching, heels locking at Thor’s waist, his mouth falling open in a scream and eyes rolling back. 

He might have blacked out. He probably blacked out, and he came to with Thor wiping tears from his face and crooning soft things. 

“Don’t stop.” 

“No, Anthony. No we are just getting started.”

*********

A shower was a good idea, but sitting down in the shower was not a good idea and Tony knew he was screwed the minute his butt touched the cold tile. 

“Oh Mary, mother of--” he bit into his knuckles to muffle another little cry, even as his cock-- traitorous, horny, thing-- perked up at the flash of heat in his core. He was so sore he could scream and yet all the soreness did was remind Tony of all the reasons why he was so sore and oh man were all those reasons just fucking great. 

Like the reason that happened at about 2 am this morning, when Thor had rolled Tony face down into the bed and fucked into him with slow, shallow strokes that were no where near deep enough and no where near fast enough and no where near rough enough for Tony to get off. He’d lain there gasping into the sheets, clutching at pillows, muffling his moans for harder into his hands as Thor murmured for him to be patient, to be slow, to just enjoy the moment between them. 

Thor had come first that time, pressing deep and grinding his hips against Tony’s ass and Tony had cried out and tried to wriggle away when he was suddenly full and then uncomfortably over full but Thor had draped that big body over Tony’s smaller frame and whispered, “No, my love. Take all of me.” and Tony had lain still and taken it all. 

And again at right around three am, because Tony hadn’t come the time before and Thor set out to make it happen with use of his mouth and lips and tongue and throat and three fingers deep inside Tony, using his own spend to ease the way, and adding a fourth finger before Tony grabbed at Thor’s wrist and rode out his orgasm. 

They’d slept a little after that. Or at least, Tony had sort of slept a little. It was hard to sleep when there was a god desperate for more of your body and Thor had been so very flattering....

5:22 am That Morning

“I cannot believe how responsive you are.” Thor drew achingly tender fingers down Tony’s neck and to his chest, covering the arc reactor for a moment before moving lower and spreading wide across Tony’s soft stomach. “Even now when you are mostly asleep your body wakes for my touch.” 

A careful hand stroking over Tony’s length, and he was half comatose but he still lifted his hips and let his knees fall open willingly. 

Thor chuckled, “And how should I take you this time, my love? Should I bend you over the bed or push you to your knees? Face to face so I can see you smile or with you riding me so I can touch you all over.” 

Tony wanted to answer but he was exhausted and already sore and Thor murmured something understanding and kept his touch gentle as he explored Tony’s body. They were both hard again but Thor’s hands were intimate, not sexual as they traveled up his legs to massage his calves and thighs shaky from being opened so wide for so long. He kneaded deep at the curve of Tony’s rear, then gentler up his spine to work the knots in Tony’s shoulders, up further to tangle his fingers in Tony’s dark hair and slot their mouths together for a long kiss. 

“Beautiful.” he whispered as they parted, and Tony smiled sleepily before turning to curl into Thor’s arms, content to feel the thick weight of Thor’s cock against his stomach and to hear the heartbeat beneath his ear. 

*******

Tony’s phone rang and he pulled himself begrudgingly out of the shower, wincing as he inched across the tile floor and out into the main room so he could collapse face first onto his bed and fumble for his phone. 

“Mmmblegh?” he mumbled into the quilt. “What do you want?” 

“Uh, hey Tones.” It was Rhodey, who already sounded like he disapproved of Tony trying to sleep at three o clock in the afternoon. “What’s up, are you napping?”

“...no?” 

“You mean yes, cos you worked all night and now are doing that weird zombie thing where you’re sorta awake but not actually awake at all?” 

“...yes.” 

“Oh my god.” 

“What’s up, platypus?” 

“Just checking on you.” Rhodey said conversationally. “I thought you’d call me this morning and tell me about your date last night but you didn’t. What’s up with that?” 

“My date.” Tony thought back to the date he was supposed to have with a very nice girl from Rhodey’s church group. “Um, she cancelled to read her Bible.” 

“Which means you cancelled to work on one of your evil scientist experiments.” Rhodey corrected. “You stood her up, didn’t you, Tony?” 

“Can’t date someone who’s going to judge me for working on the Sabbath, Rhodey.” 

“Tones, Becca was perfectly nice and very sweet and she’d be good for you and---” 

Tony tuned Rhodey out for the most part, pushing his nose into the blankets and closing his eyes to try and drift off a little and....

*****

7:01 That Morning

“I’ve got you, you can let go.” Thor’s voice was low and gravelly in Tony’s ear as he coaxed him towards yet another peak of pleasure and Tony could feel it building just out of his reach, just right there if only Thor would--

“I’ve got you.” Thor said again, and Tony relaxed back into the hold, letting his entire body go limp and loving the way Thor was tall enough to completely cover him in this position, with one strong arm wrapped under Tony’s stomach to support him on all fours, the other braced at Tony’s head and playing with his hair as Thor stroked in and out, in and out, in and out and in and out and--

“There.” Tony moaned and Thor immediately shifted so he could thrust against that spot again, the hand by Tony’s head switching to palm at his ass, to squeeze at the round globes and open the cleft between them so Thor could catch glimpses of himself disappearing inside Tony. “Oh there there there!” 

“Come on, lovely, l’ve got you.” Thor could take Tony’s weight with no issue, could support them both on the bed and cover Tony as if keeping him safe, the broad back bowed to overshadow Tony’s shoulders and thick thighs steady behind Tony’s frame. 

Tony came with a relieved sort of sob, his body wrung nearly dry, his skin lighting up as Thor left bruises at his waist as he lost himself as well and they collapsed forward and to the side, Thor quickly and easily turning Tony so he wasn’t crushed. 

“I love that you take care of me.” Tony knew he was slurring his words, but it had been twelve hours and he couldn’t care anymore. “Thank you.” 

“Always.” Thor whispered, and Tony had slipped into oblivion.

*******

“I’m just saying it wouldn’t be the worst if you hung out with someone outside the Tower. Hanging out with superheros all the time will make you forget what regular people are like!” 

“Pepper?” Tony lifted his head in surprise. “When did you get on the phone?” 

Highly judgmental silence from the other line, and then Pepper said frostily-- “Like fifteen minutes ago, Tony. You were talking with me the entire time. “

“To be fair--” Rhodey was still on the line too. “He was just sort of agreeing with what you said, which most likely means he wasn’t listening at all.” 

“Of course not.” Pepper sighed. “Tony, honey, we’re just looking out for you.” 

“Oh don’t you worry about me, I’m being well taken care of--.” Tony rolled over on the bed and yelped when a thick blurt of come slid from his body and down to stain the comforter. “Oh fuck me.” 

“WHAT?!”

“Yeah, I gotta go.” he sighed and pinched his nose. “I uh-- I need another shower. Or a vacuum for my butt or--” 

“TONY!” 

“Okay, love you bye!” 

*******

10:53 am That Morning

“You’re so full of me.” Thor circled his finger around Tony’s rim, blue eyes lighting with glee when Tony moaned and shifted and spilled wet and white into Thor’s palm. “I love it.” 

“It’s gross.” Tony managed a shaky laugh, his lips still tingling from trying to stretch around Thor’s cock, his throat sore from the effort. “But I guess I’m glad you like it?” 

“There isn’t a creature alive that won’t know you belong to me.” Thor said gravely, proudly. “You have the look of a man well love and well satisfied.” 

“I have the look of a man that’s been fucked within an inch of his life.” Tony countered, but he still blushed under Thor’s adoring smile. “But for good reason, I suppose.” 

“You aren’t sorry you cancelled your date and spent the night with me instead?” Thor wanted to know, stretching out alongside Tony and giving him a slow kiss. “Hm?” 

“No.” Tony sat up, or rather, he tried and failed to sit up and Thor laughed out loud at his efforts for a solid two minutes before helping Tony sit up a little more and adjust the towel beneath his hips. “No, I’m’ not sorry I cancelled, though I might kick you out of bed for laughing at me just now.” 

“If two lovers cannot laugh together, they are doing something incorrect.” Thor caught Tony’s hand and mouthed a kiss to his palm. “I am glad to laugh with you, Anthony.” 

Tony threaded his fingers through a long piece of hair and tugged Thor close for a real kiss. “I’m glad to laugh with you too.” 

*******

“All I’m saying is, the guy was walking like he’d been dicked to within parameters that are dangerous to his health.” Clint shrugged. “And seeing as how we are all here, Bruce doesn’t do that sort of thing, the only other possible explanation is that our resident god of thunder gave Tony the yeehaw of his life all night last night.”

“Well let’s make two things perfectly clear.” Steve held up a finger. “First of all, don’t ever say ‘the yeehaw of his life’ ever again. That’s a terrible sentence. Stop. Second of all, I know for a fact that Tony had a date with a nice girl from Colonel Rhodes’s church last night so--” 

Clint laughed so hard he was practically screaming, cackling peals of disbelieving laughter over shadowed by Sam doing what could only be called guffawing over the thought of Tony dating a nice girl, much less a nice girl from church. 

“Point of order!” Natasha had to raise her voice to be heard over the noise. “Point of order. Tony is tiny. Practically snack sized. Anyone could get him walking with a waddle. Hell I’ve got a sparkly pink strap on that would get the job done. Let’s not assume he went  ass to hammer with Thor just cos he’s walking funny.” 

Three sets of horrified eyes met hers and Natasha sighed. “He’s standing right behind me, isn’t he?” 

“Uh no?” Bruce cleared his throat. “But I was, so thank you for that? I think? Did you just say Tony went ass to hammer with Thor?” 

“Did she say it was a sparkly pink strap on?” Clint muttered and Sam put up both hands, denying, “Don’t look at me man, she doesn’t use it on me.” 

“Yet.” Natasha added with a smirk and both Steve and Bruce groaned as if the conversation physically pained them. 

“Anyway, we can all agree that something happened to Tony last night, right?” Steve finally said. “And I’m hoping it was a person, because my head will explode if I have to think about Tony designing something that would make him walk like that.” 

“Oh no, it was definitely somebody.” 

“Definitely somebody.” 

“Man, my money’s still on Thor.” Clint propped his feet up and went back to his cake. “I don’t even like dudes and that guy makes me want to walk side to side.” 

**********

12:17 That Afternoon

Tony uncurled from Thor’s arms and slid out of the bed, wincing and grimacing, waddling and shuffling, tip toeing so he didn’t wake the demi god up, but determined to get out of the bedroom before things got awkward. 

Sex was one thing. Awkward ‘what now’ conversations after the sex were something else all together. They were teammates and they were Avengers and even though there had been several times over the last fifteen hours Tony had been pretty sure he’d gone and fallen in love with Thor, he wasn’t about to say anything. 

Thor was sweet and he was passionate and god damn was he good in the sack, but Tony knew it wouldn’t ever go further than that. Tony Stark was terrible with relationships and you couldn’t expect the god of thunder and hammers and fertility and wonder-dicks to stick around for anything resembling monogamy for a guy already into his forties and well past physically compromised. 

No, it was easier if Tony just slipped away while Thor was sleeping, but Christ, it was the hardest thing Tony had ever done, and he stood outside Thor’s closed door for a good ten minutes trying to convince himself to go back in. 

The soreness and need for water won out though, and Tony crept away to the kitchen for some ibuprofen. 

*******

“Anthony.” the bed dipped alarmingly as Thor climbed in and Tony cried out when he rolled unexpectedly and every pulled. “Oh oh, sorry my love. I’m sorry.” 

Thor instantly gathered Tony up close, rolling onto his back and spreading his knees so Tony could fit right between his hips and rest on his chest. “Is that better? You must be so sore.” 

“So so sore.” Tony inhaled noisily, too relieved that his butt didn’t hurt at that exact second to say much more. “Thanks.” 

“Hmmm.” Thor made a comforting sort of noise and ran gentle hands up and down Tony’s back and lightly just lightly over Tony’s rear. “You ventured out for medication, hm? You should have stayed in bed, I have a healing salve that will take away your soreness.” 

Tony only yawned and after a minute Thor continued in a quiet tone, “Or did you leave because you thought things would be awkward between us? Teammates who fell into bed together?” 

“Ummm...” Tony tensed in Thor’s arms. “Well, I--” 

“We spent all night and most of the day together.” Thor said thoughtfully. “Surely you knew my feelings for you are more than sexual, and if not before last night, you know now, don’t you?” 

“I do now?” Tony squeaked. “I just figured at the least it was a one night stand, at the most we could hook up and no one has to know that we’re doing it.” 

“Why wouldn’t anyone know?” 

“Just in case you didn’t want it to be public. You know, in case people talk?”

“Anthony.” Tony could feel Thor’s smile. “I know for certain you couldn’t hardly walk this morning. Anyone who saw you will know you spent the night with me and that is exactly how I want it. I would be proud to be known as your consort, my love. Prouder still if you would want to be known as mine.” 

“Oh.” Tony breathed out all in a rush. “Well in that case, why don’t you take my pants off again?” 

**********

7:00 PM The Previous Night

“Anthony!” Thor looked up in surprise when Tony came into the living room. “Aren’t you late for you date? Colonel Rhodes will be upset if you stood his friend up, don’t you think?” 

“I didn’t stand her up.” Tony dropped onto the couch and started to undo his tie. “I showed up at the restaurant and she sat me down and told me that I was very handsome, and that Colonel Rhodes spoke highly of me, but that she could never be in a relationship with someone like me, so she didn’t feel right wasting my time.” 

Thor’s mouth dropped in shock and Tony shook his head. “It’s fine. At least she was honest, right? And it wouldn’t have worked out anyway for about a thousand reasons, so no harm no foul.” 

He still looked sad though and Thor came to sit by him. “What’s wrong, Anthony?” 

“I just--” Tony rubbed his hands down his thighs. “I look at what Sam and Tasha have, right? They are best friends and they have so much fun together and I’m sure the sex is incredible and I mean-- how hard is it to find that? Because it seems impossible. All my friends are superheros and it’s not like any of them want to date me. Where am I supposed to find someone who--” 

“Come to bed with me.” Thor held out his hand and Tony blinked down at the huge palm and then up into earnest blue eyes. 

“What?” 

“I am a friend, Anthony. And I can promise our time together will leave you satisfied. Come to bed with me and forget all this sadness.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Of course.” Thor pulled Tony to standing and leaned in to kiss him. “Come with me.” 

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

SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE FIC!

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

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“Antonio.” Natalia put her hand on his arm before he stood. “Are you alright? I didn't mean anything by the comment about your money, but you seem upset all the same.” She inclined her head in the barest motion towards James. “Is there a reason you are being particularly stiff and irritable this morning?” 

“Don’t be ridiculous." A streak of red painted Tony’s cheeks, but he still waved Natalia’s question off. "You’ve just forgotten how stiff my manners can be. I was raised practically noble you know. What you see as irritable, others see as evidence of class."

“Well, you were sort of a bore when I snatched you from that party, weren’t you?” Natalia’s mouth was still set in an uncertain line as she sent another look at where James was talking with Samuel. “But irritability or manners aside, no one expects you to put on airs today, not even with the amount of money you’ll be spending, do you understand? No need to pretend. About anything.”

“I’m not pretending about anything.” Tony slid fine gloves onto his hands and shrugged into his warmer coat. “And I think you should stop worrying.”

Stop meddling is what Tony meant, the censure evident in his posture. “Antonio.” Natalia tried again, keeping her voice low so it didn't carry to the men at the door. "I just don't want you to worry about James. He is more discreet than his terrible attitude would suggest and--”  “Natalia.” Tony’s eyes flashed in a clear warning for her to back off. “I might be out of my element chopping wood and cleaning chamber pots around the manor,  but there are several things I know how to do very well, including how to behave after a late night indiscretion. Please do not think I need any help navigating this sort of situation and please do not make assumptions about how I’m feeling.” To the men at the door, effectively cutting off any sort of reply from Natalia-- “Let’s get on. We have lots of supplies to purchase and if we want to be home again by dark, we need to move.”  Tony’s tone was brittle and almost snappish, and while Ronin raised his eyebrows at the sharp words, Samuel simply slung a friendly arm over Pietro’s shoulder and said, “Pietro, come along with us to get the ammunition and nails and that sort. Leave the women to prance around with Tony in that ridiculous fur coat.” “This coat is worth more than your horse.” Tony informed him with a faux offended sniff and Samuel grinned back. “And you’ll be sorry when I buy Natalia and Wanda new dresses and you have to keep wearing the same ratty pants.” “Antonio!” Wanda’s eyes lit in surprise and hope. “Would you really buy me a new dress?” “I’ll buy you four if you like.” Tony said nonchalantly, a smile curving his mouth when the pretty girl flushed in pleasure. “Natalia as well. I’ve got the coin, we should spend it on something.” “Oy! I want to go along with Tony!” Pietro protested loudly and Samuel just clapped a hand on his collar and hauled him out the door behind James. "No wait! I want new things! I want new things too!"   “My love.” Ronin bent to give Natalia a long kiss, then looked up at Tony, “Buy her something in purple. I like when she wears purple.” “Purple it is.” Tony nodded and looked away politely when Natalia kissed her love back. “We’ll try for two in the afternoon to meet? That should be plenty of time to do our shopping and to start back home again.” “I’m sure that’s enough time.” Natalia signed the same to Ronin and blew him another kiss as he left. “Now then, Antonio I was thinking we should--" She shut up abruptly when James came back, ignoring both her and Wanda in favor of coming round to Tony’s side of the small table and covering his mouth in a long kiss, burying his fingers in Tony’s hair to angle his head just right and murmuring against Tony’s lips-- “dobroye utro.”-- as they parted. “Good morning.” “Good morning.” Tony whispered back and James gave him one last kiss before straightening and leaving again, closing the door behind him and thumping down the stairs to catch up with Samuel and Ronin. Wanda was the one to break the stunned silence, giggling, “My oh my. Antonio, you two must have had a wonderful time together! I've never seen James smile in the morning, it must be the same smile you left him with last night!” 

Tony turned positively scarlet and Natalia was quick to reprimand, “Wanda! You are too young to know about those sort of things!”  

Wanda protested, “I’ve been grown for three years now! You can’t expect me to only talk about hair ribbons and pretty horses forever! Of course I know what happens in the bedroom--” 

“No!” Natalia burst into laughter and waved her hands wildly. “No, child. I cannot believe that. Don’t hurt my ears with such talk!” 

“You are as old fashioned as a grandmama.” Wanda informed her with a little huff, before turning frankly curious eyes to Tony. “Are you and James in love? Is that why he kissed you?” 

“Don’t be ridiculous. There are a million reasons to kiss someone that have nothing to do with love or affection at all.” Tony managed, biting at his lips to hide a smile. “Let’s go please.” “But what about--” “Let’s go please!” Tony swept out of the room without another word, and Wanda hesitated less than a second before whirling around to ask, “Talia, why is he so surprised James wanted to kiss him after spending the night together? They are so obviously smitten, I’m sure they’ve kissed before!”  “First of all, I'm sure neither my brother nor Antonio have any idea exactly how smitten they are." Natalia said dryly. "And second, I assume Antonio’s previous lover never initiated a kiss unless they were already in bed He doesn’t talk about it much, but it seems he and his lover only met on the other man’s terms, in a private place and never ever spent the night together. I can’t imagine Antonio has ever been kissed good morning.” “How sad for Antonio.” Wanda buttoned her own jacket then held out Natalia’s to help her into the sleeves. “I’ve never been in love and even I know it couldn't have been true affection.” “It’s always easier to judge a situation when you are on the outside looking in, darling.” Natalia retrieved her purse and checked the room one more time to be sure they hadn’t forgotten anything. “And you’ve spent years watching how Ronin and Samuel and I are together, the way our entire family loves so freely. James is the odd one out in that respect, and Antonio is the same. You recognize love when you see it.” “And you think Antonio doesn’t?” “I think he’s so jaded by what he thought was love, he won’t want to recognize it.” Natalia tsked sympathetically. “Shadows, Wanda. He has shadows in his heart and I’m afraid they are too dark for him to see anything at all.” “You’re worried James will be hurt.” “I’m worried they’ll hurt themselves and each other and not realize until it’s too late.” Natalia tucked a piece of red hair behind Wanda’s ear and smiled into the girl’s eyes. “Promise me you won’t go running after the first boy to smile at you. Or the first woman to call you beautiful. Please please be smarter than that. For me.” “Talia.” Wanda sighed and pushed her out the door. “I’ll be lucky if anyone gets close enough to even see me, what with Ronin and Samuel being so protective. There’s nothing to worry about, not for a long while.” “It’s terrible selfish of me to be glad for that.” Natalia linked their arms and hurried down the stairs. “Now come on. We don’t want Antonio to change his mind about buying us dresses, do we?”

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

Natalia Romanova was born a blue blood, raised in a home that was damn near a castle and wed to a high ranking nobleman and yet she had never been treated with the respect just walking around as Tony’s wife gave her. Her father had been suspected of treason long before he’d ever been convicted and Natalia’s childhood had been full of snide remarks, of less than quiet comments and outright awful insinuations about her family and the lack of morals afforded the Romanovs. 

As the young bride of a monster, Natalia was handed all the responsibilities of a noblewoman and was given none of the benefits-- no party invitations, no afternoons of tea with the other ladies, no dressmakers clamoring to create something lovely for the next ball. She had been isolated and ostracized, lonely and miserable and no one had ever cared. Talia was used to being looked down at, whispered about, having her money accepted only begrudgingly, as if even her coin was tainted and Natalia hated every moment of every interaction clear to her very soul. But around the city with Tony, Natalia was treated like a queen, shop owners opening their doors wide and eagerly showing the three of them around. The dressmaker nearly fell over herself calling for assistants to take measurements for Natalia and Wanda, promising to have several of the ready made dresses tailored immediately and sent out as soon as possible, holding up hats to model and pair after pair of delicate kid gloves, scarves, broaches and baubles. Shopping for food things and pantry items was the same, vendors happy to sell to Natalia now when in months previous they had sniffed and turned away. Tony ordered everything crated and delivered to their wagon with an itemized receipt, the finer things stored in the carriage and oh would there be hell to pay if he discovered even one item missing from the list. “We can carry some of the things, Antonio.” Wanda whispered and Tony hushed her with a lofty, “I’ve never carried a package in my life and I’m not about to start now. Next shop, please.” Clear on the other side of the town, James and the others were busy purchasing as much ammunition as they could, two new rifles and four more refurbished pieces they could tear apart and use to repair the pile at home. Nails of all sizes, a new saw, a new ax head as well, and the coin purse still wasn’t empty by the time they were done. 

Ronin and Samuel stopped into a trinket shop to purchase a few gifts for Talia and the twins, and James privately purchased something he tucked into his pocket for later, something he'd give Tony if the time was ever right. “Everything alright?” Samuel asked James as he rechecked the supplies against the list Natalia had written. "You're quiet today." “I’m always quiet.” James countered brusquely. “Are we done?” I agree. Quiet. Ronin signed, and then, “We’re done if you are." “It was good to see you smile this morning.” Samuel spoke for both of them, shaking his head when Pietro looked like he was going to ask a question. “Been a long time since you managed that sorta thing for anything other than bloodshed.” “I don’t want to talk about it.” the big soldier tucked away a new pouch of tobacco and cloves. “So don’t.” “It’s not--” Samuel sent a glance over to Ronin. “--I mean, It’s been ten years, James. You don’t have to feel guilty for this sorta thing, for being with Tony? And he sure looked happy this morning so--” “I said don’t!” “Alright then.” Samuel wisely let the topic drop, handing Pietro the rifles and a sack of ammunition. “Let’s find the others.” ************ The ride home was spent with Wanda excitedly telling Pietro about her day, about the dresses they’d tried on and the ribbons Tony had bought for their hair and how she couldn’t wait to have an excuse to wear her new hat somewhere fun. Samuel rode along the other side of the carriage to keep an eye out for any danger, listening with one ear to the conversation and grinning over Wanda's glee.

Natalia napped in the carriage with most of the smaller packages taking over the seats, a blanket spread over her lap so she was warm. She was exhausted from the long day, from putting on the airs and manners she had always hated. It had been fun to be so spoiled, to be treated so well, but more than anything Natalia wanted to get back to their manor house, back home so she could sleep next to her loves and finish readying the house for the coldest months.

Ronin drove the heavily laden wagon with his horse tied behind, and Tony rode to the side as guard. The pace was slower this time around but the horses put in a valiant effort and Tony encouraged them with quiet clicks of his tongue and soft words. James trailed behind the group much like he had the first time, sweeping the surrounding woods for any sign of life, turning in the saddle to check behind to be sure they hadn't been followed from town. He hadn't seen a single soldier today no had he caught anyone looking at them with anything any other than generic curiosity, but that didn’t mean soldiers hadn’t been present, or that their family hadn’t been watched.

So James scanned the woods, checked the trail behind, looked as far ahead as he could to be sure there were no surprises ahead and his eyes only paused in their surveying when to settle on Tony’s back every few moments. The night between them had been… well, it had been surprising, to say the least.  Their first real kiss had shocked James as much as it had seemed to shock Tony, the way their bodies suddenly yearned and clung and ached. James had tried to go slow, he had. It had been a long time for him after all, ten years since he’d lost Stevie and James hadn’t wanted anyone since that awful day. 

In reality, James had barely wanted at all since then, forsaking even the comfort of his own hand and drowning any lingering urge for pleasure in blood and pain until it didn’t exist anymore. But Tony had been nothing like Stevie. Shorter for one, and quite a bit smaller. James’s hands could just about fit around Tony's waist and the pretty brunette had made this gorgeous surprised noise that made James’s fingers tighten around the reins just thinking about it. And afterwards when they had held each other for just a few minutes, Tony had fit with his head tucked under James’s chin, their feet tangling beneath the covers and it had been damn near perfect. And Tony was soft, so soft. Not rows and rows of hard muscle, not arms strong enough to pick Bucky up and shove him into a wall, not thighs thick enough to clamp around Bucky’s head and nearly suffocate him as he tried to fit everything in his mouth. No, Tony was soft and breakable and for the first time in ten years James hadn’t wanted to break anything. He’d tried to be gentle. He’d tried to be soft. He’d tried to find the words to soothe Tony’s obvious embarrassment over expecting to be turned face down. It hadn’t been until after Tony had left the room, not until after the sun had risen that it occurred to James that at some point, Tony had always been pushed face down in bed. Who would do that, when there were such sweet lips waiting to be kissed and a mouth begging to be tasted and a blush red on porcelain skin and the chance to listen to every little gasp and pant and the way Italian slipped into Tony's words when he was overwhelmed? Who would want to miss that? Tony hadn’t said anything after their kiss this morning, in fact he hadn't said anything at all since leaving the town, only flashing James a quick smile before ducking inside the carriage to change out of his fancier clothes and into a shirt and coat he could travel in. Then he’d climbed aboard his horse--with a grimace and a wince that had made a very specific sort of satisfaction curl through James’s stomach-- and hadn’t said a single word. That was alright. They’d have time to talk tonight after the wagon was unloaded and supplies stacked in the pantry to be sorted through in the morning. They could talk and then they could-- James cursed out loud when he was suddenly physically uncomfortable in the saddle, shifting his weight and lifting up in the seat so there wasn’t quite so much pressure. Ten years of foregoing this sort of thing and now he was as eager as a young man, nothing more than a few thoughts needed to get him going. 

Tony turned around at the noise, shooting James a concerned glance. “Alright?” “Saddle’s uncomfortable.” James said evenly, and then with a pointed look lower on Tony’s body. “How’s yours?” Tony lifted one shoulder in an approximation of the least concerned shrug he could manage and turned back around, being sure to muffle his whimper as his core lit up with a flash of pain, settling into a dull ache that made his cheeks heat and his heart race. All day he’d managed to keep his mind off of James and on the tasks at hand, but now they were only a few hours from home all Tony could think of was what would happen tonight. If anything would happen tonight. He couldn’t imagine wanting someone so soon again after a night together-- he and Ty had always gone at least a week between trysts, sometimes even longer. But James had come in this morning and kissed him in full view of Talia and Wanda, had kissed him and whispered soft things into his ear and last night he had asked Tony to stay for a few minutes so they could hold each other and oh Tony didn’t know what he’d do if James wanted him again tonight. That was absurd, of course he knew what he’d do. He’d say yes. **************** It was dark by the time they made it home to the manor house, and James sent Natalia and Wanda inside while the men carried everything through the house and stacked it in the pantry and around the kitchen. Samuel and Ronin took care of the wagon and carriage, sweeping out the dirt that had accumulated over the past two days and backing them each into the empty barn on the other side of the courtyard. Wheels were locked into position and any hinges or latches secured, then the barn doors were barred and left until next time. “I’ll get the horses.” James was already walking Zima towards the stables, so neither Samuel nor Ronin argued with him, eager to get upstairs and into bed with Natalia. Pietro didn't bother offering to help, the boy more than ready for something eat and to open the new novel James had bought for him at the bookstore. “You three start locking up the house for the night and I’ll be in soon. Be sure to secure the windows so the wind doesn't come through." Tony walked his mount to the stables next to James and and they worked in silence to get the horses all wiped down and given a quick brush, special attention paid to the team that had pulled the heavy wagon for so long-- hooves inspected and noses checked to be sure the bridles hadn't rubbed uncomfortably. 

Clean hay was laid down on the floors and a handful of newly bought oats mixed in with the food for the night, water poured into the trough so there was plenty to drink. Tack was sorted and worked through with oil, saddles checked for burrs or thorns and blankets shaken out before being lain over the sides of an empty stall. When it was all said and done, James hung the pitchfork up along the wall and reached for Tony, dragging him up close for a kiss he’d been thinking about all day, greedy and grabby as he spun around to pin Tony to the stable wall, caging the smaller brunette in with his arms before taking his mouth again, thrusting his tongue past Tony’s lips without pausing for a breath. Tony gasped something coaxing and excited, then set his fingers to scrabbling at James’s shirt to yank it from his pants, dragged his nails along the flex of muscles and palmed confidently over the front of James’s trousers, getting his reward in the form of a burst of Russian profanity and an eager push of hips. It was dark in the stables, the scent of sweet hay and night wind and each other filling their heads and their senses and it was so easy to find release right then and there, rutting against each other and the wall, sharing messy kisses that were more teeth and tongue than lips, sharing air and breathing wanton, indecipherable things into each other’s ear, mouthing it into sweat warmed skin. James finished first this time, using the leftover oils on his hand to stroke them together, panting into the curve of Tony’s neck and shaking through his release. Tony followed a minute later, pushed over the edge by the added slick of James’s spend, by the way the soldier’s voice had gone hoarse and lazy and satisfied as he brought Tony over into pleasure as well. And then they stayed huddled together, Tony’s hand in James’s hair and James not willing to straighten up and pull away, breath slowing and bodies cooling until everything had settled into a low simmer of arousal and contentment. “So.” James finally lifted his head and pressed a kiss to Tony’s temple. “This is what we’re doing then?” “So long as it’s just this.” Tony said quietly, tucking himself back into his trousers and wiping his hands on a handful of hay. “You understand?” “Don’t worry.” in the dark, Tony couldn’t tell if James’s smile was amused or melancholy. “My heart is not involved, nor do I want yours to be.” “Alright then.” Despite their words, James’s arm wound around Tony’s waist as they walked from the barn, another kiss or two landing in his hair and before they climbed the stairs, once more on his mouth, James cupping Tony’s jaw lightly and kissing him sweetly before saying goodnight. And just as he fell asleep, Tony thought about the ice in James’s soul, the winter that drove the soldier to such violence. How could so cold a man could have hands so warm, how someone so brittle could make Tony feel hot and liquid with nothing more than a kiss?  James lay in his bed across the hall and told himself over and over that their hearts weren't involved, that it was physical and nothing else...

...then closed his eyes and dreamed about all the way he could erase the shadows from deep brown eyes.  

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