Doll. // Bucky Barnes X OC

FOURTEEN

That morning, Tony had gotten word about what had happened. He'd been silently observing everything regarding the compound.

The conference room smelled faintly of old coffee and tension. Tony leaned back in one of the chairs, arms crossed, a barely suppressed smirk on his face. Across the table, Steve and Bucky sat rigid, shoulders squared, eyes sharp. Neither looked willing to admit weakness.

"Alright," Tony began, tapping his fingers against the table. "I'm curious. Over the last month and a half... what the hell have you two been doing?"

Steve's jaw flexed. "That's... none of your business."

Tony's smirk widened. "Oh, really? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like someone's been sneaking around, making questionable decisions, and generally creating chaos for everyone else in the compound. I'm surprised Bruce hasn't rung both of your asses out already. Care to explain?"

Bucky's hand twitched slightly under the table. "I'm not the one making a mess of things," he said, voice low but tense.

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Mess? Really? Because last night in the armory? That was... quite a display."

Steve slammed his fist lightly against the table. "That's none of your concern!"

Tony tilted his head, calm now, but with an edge that made both of them pause. "Oh, it is my concern."

Bucky's gaze stayed fixed on Tony. "I didn't start it. He did."

Steve leaned forward, voice tight. "I'm not taking blame for someone else's actions."

Tony's fingers drummed against the table again. "No one's asking you to. But I am asking why you've been letting this... whatever this is... spiral for six weeks without talking to anyone who could actually help you handle it."

Bucky shifted in his chair. "We don't need... intervention. We're handling it."

Tony's smirk faded. "Yeah? Because it doesn't look like handling it. It looks like hiding it, hurting people and escalating tension. And I hate escalation. Both of you are acting like children and Melany is getting caught in the middle. That stops today."

Bucky's hand flexed again. "She's fine."

Tony's gaze pinned him. "Is she? Or are you just telling yourself that because you don't want to admit how messy this is?"

Steve opened his mouth to argue, but Tony held up his hand. "No. Not yet. You listen first."

Bucky glanced at Steve. Tension radiating off both of them. Neither of them liked being called out. Neither liked being accountable. But neither could walk away this time.

Tony reclined slightly, folding his arms. He watched the two of them like a hawk.

"You want to start blaming each other? Fine. But one of you is going to explain." Tony said casually.

Steve's hands curled into fists under the table. "Blaming? Really, Stark?" Before Steve could continue, Bucky interrupted.

Bucky flexed his metal fingers on the table, a small tell of his tension. "I didn't start anything with her," he said, voice low but firm. "Everything between Melany and I has been her choice. I've been careful. You're the one losing perspective."

Steve's nostrils flared. "Careful? You call sneaking around, getting close to her, 'careful'? She's my - was my - best friend. You're supposed to give her space!"

Bucky's hand curled slightly. "I've been giving her the space she needs, Steve. I'm not forcing anything. She's made every decision herself. And you're acting like she doesn't have a say in it."