WinterIron one shots

Kitten

Word count: 2737

Summary: Tony and Bucky need cuddles.

————

Tony was like a kitten.

That was the impression Bucky got at least. He'd been at the Tower for a few weeks when the thought first crossed his mind. He hadn't seen much of the genius in his time there, sticking to Steve's shadow as he had been, and then he'd suddenly arrived to a movie night.

He'd stumbled into the room in low slung sweatpants and a too big tank top, and practically collapsed over the laps of Natasha and Clint. He squirmed over them until his head was resting comfortably on Clint's legs, and his legs were draped over Natasha.

Bucky stared at the scene for a long moment before he looked at Steve, who was also watching with a familiar fond smile.

None of the Avengers seemed to find anything strange about it.

Clint's hand moved to thread through Tony's hair, and Natasha ran her fingers up and down Tony's calves, pressing gently in certain spots.

Tony was asleep before ten minutes passed by.

Bucky found his attention split between the TV and the sleeping man, his gaze moving across the room time and time again.

When the movie was finished, Steve stood, and Bucky followed suit as he always did, but Steve put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hang on here, Buck, we'll watch another movie in a few," he said quietly before he moved over to the other couch, where Natasha, Clint, and Tony were. With gentle hands, Steve picked Tony up in a bridal lift, shushing him gently when he let out a whine at the movement.

Tony settled against Steve almost immediately, and Steve left the room, JARVIS opening the elevator for him when he reached it. Bucky turned back to the TV, feeling awkward without Steve there to act as a buffer for him.

Thankfully, the others didn't try and make conversation, instead moving around the room, getting fresh drinks and more snacks while they waited for Steve to return. Bucky twisted his fingers together, only relaxing when the elevator dinged, signalling Steve's return to the room.

...

As Bucky got used to the freedom he'd been given and the occupants of the tower, he relaxed more into his place, getting more and more comfortable with people he now thought of as his friends. While Tony was still the one he saw the least of, he got used to the man stumbling into the common lounge and collapsing over Nat and Clint.

He figured that the three of them were closer than he'd realised and wrote it off as a quirk of their friendship.

He still didn't see much of the movies whenever Tony was there, his eyes drifting to the man more than the screen, but thankfully nobody called him on it, and Tony, genius that he was, remained oblivious to the ever-growing pining.

Not that he was pining. He wasn't. Of course not. Shut up, Steve.

Except... then Thor was there, and Tony made a beeline for the God's lap as soon as he arrived in the living room, curling up against his chest. Thor hugged him close, as though this was normal behaviour.

"Are they... um, a thing?" Bucky asked Steve quietly, nodding his head to the cuddling men.

Steve looked over and smiled at the sight before he shook his head. "No, of course not."

Apparently, that was the end of that conversation because the room darkened and the movie started, and Steve turned his attention to the TV.

Bucky was growing more and more confused by the odd behaviour. He couldn't find a pattern to it, and the next time Tony appeared, he returned to his regular place of being sprawled over Nat and Clint.