WinterIron one shots

Coffee

Word count: 2295

Summery: so why does Bucky keep making tony coffee?

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The first time Bucky made him coffee, Tony was half-asleep.

"Oh my god, that smells good."

Tony was still standing away from the kitchen, but that hardly mattered. He could smell a pot of coffee boiling  from a mile away. It was like a song. It called to him. It probably didn't help Tony to be so addicted to the stuff; but on the scale of addictive substances, it was relatively harmless. ( so far?). And it helped him stay awake to make new tech. Good for him or not, he wasn't quitting any time soon.

Tony shuffled into the kitchen, drawn to the familiar smell, that burbling sound warming him in a way that only the thought of coffee could.

He hadn't thought to question who might be making the coffee. His mind, running on less than empty, hadn't gotten quite that far. Still, he was more than a little surprised when his eyes landed on Bucky Barnes.

He was in the middle of cleaning up. Tony watched as he moved effortlessly around the space, reaching with his metal arm. There was something so easy about that movement and fascinating to watch. The prosthetic wasn't causing him pain any more, and it was so damn satisfying to see his range of motion restored.

Since fixing the arm, Tony saw Bucky a lot less. He couldn't decide if he liked that or not. Was it better, being around the person you were attracted to and having to hide it? Or not being around them at all?

When he wasn't with Bucky, Tony could convince himself his feelings were irrelevant. He could distract them out of his mind with tech and formulas and strategies. But whenever he and Bucky were in the same room - well. It was sort of like torture. Looking, but not being able to touch. Wanting, and not being able to say so. Not brave enough or stupid enough to do anything about it.

It almost made Tony believe that avoiding Bucky was the better plan.

"Mornin'," Bucky said gently, turning around and smiling at him. God. If looks could kill, that smile would've stopped Tony's heart. He considered turning around to breath and escape the awkward situation "You're up early."

He was going to stay.

Tony nodded in agreement. "Haven't slept yet."

"When's the last time you did sleep?" Bucky said looking over his shoulder at the genius who was shuffling awkwardly in the door way.

Tony took in a breath as if to answer, then paused. When had he slept? Not yesterday, not the day before... Oh. He didn't actually know. "That is a very good question."

Bucky raised his eyebrows, looking more amused than surprised. "Sounds to me like what you need is sleep, not coffee."

"But it smells so good."

Tony groaned dramatically, covering his face in his hands. He heard Bucky moving behind him, and then there was the sound of a cup being placed down on the island's countertop. Tony lifted his head, peering through spread fingers. It was his Paris cup - the one with the Eiffel Tower painted artfully on the side - and it was full of delicious, steaming-hot coffee. And suddenly it was the most wonderful mug in existence.

Tony grabbed the cup with both hands and brought it to his lips to take a sip, the hot liquid ignored as it burnt its way down . "Oh my god."

It tasted even better than it smelled. He didn't know it was possible? Tony had made this coffee before, and it had never tasted like that. He took another sip.