#fluffbruary2023

[sliebman10]

Ignite

Parvati wasn't sure how Lavender did it, but she always managed to ignite her desire in seemingly simple ways. A hand on her thigh, a kiss to the back of her neck, a look and a raised eyebrow promising…things.

Tonight, she'd snuck up behind Parvati while she'd been directing the dirty dinner dishes with her wand and hugged her from behind. Parvati stopped what she was doing, waiting to see what Lavender would do. She slid her hands down the backs of Parvati's leg and she turned around to kiss Lavender, the dishes forgotten. Her lips were soft and insistent.

@fluffbruary

@hpsaffics (bingo squares: m rated, established relationship)

[companionwolf]

Fluffbruary fill #4

@fluffbruary

Prompt: 26. beautiful + ice + night

Fandom: XCOM 2; Comfort and Command+ verse? unsure

Rating: PG

Warnings: N/A

You and Central huddle around a meager fire, long shadows playing in the flicker of the flames. It's cold enough that there's snow, and from here you can see the ice accumulate on your central officer's eyelashes.

You aren't sure he'd agree with the wording, but in the firelight he looks beautiful-- handsome? dashing? The exact phrase doesn't matter, really.

His breath steams out of his mouth in a fast dissipating cloud as he speaks: "We'll reach the Reaper camp tomorrow afternoon. You still feel ready to talk?"

You nod at him. "Volk seems…" You struggle for the right words, falter.

"He can be a little prickly, but I'll be there," Central says.

"You're friends," you say, remembering his comment when you'd walked onto the bridge during their meeting.

Central smiles a little. "That's definitely a way to word it," he says.

You arch an eyebrow at him but he doesn't elaborate. "Alright, keep your secrets," you say.

Central excuses himself from the huddle, gets out a small glass and pours some drink from his flask into it before offering it to you as he comes back and sits down again. You accept, and the pair of you drink in silence for a while, watching the fire.

When you turn in for the night, you find yourself shivering on the floor of the tent. Eventually it gets so bad you sit up, pulling the blankets further around you as your teeth chatter.

Across the tent you hear Central shift. "Something wrong, Commander?" he asks, voice thick with sleep.

"I'm cold as hell," you say.

Central doesn't say anything back, but you hear him sigh and adjust again. Then: "Can't have you freezing overnight. Come over here."

You blink owlishly at him in the dark.

He's propped up on one elbow on looking at you now with…is his expression soft, or are you tired and interpreting too much into what isn't there?

Central pats the ground beside him. "C'mon," he says. "I don't bite."

You pull yourself and your meager bedding over to him. He looks you over, nods, and lies back down himself. You lie there, still cold.

You know what would help. You know what you want. But you can't do that. You can't, it wouldn't be--

Central absently drapes a arm over your form and pulls you closer. You don't dare to breathe as you're brought flush against his body. It's much warmer like this but--

Eventually you manage to get yourself to relax a tick, lean into him further; he makes a soft noise in his sleep, something quiet and contented. Jesus Christ, he's cute.

Somehow you sleep.

When you wake, neither of you mention it as you pack up the tent and tear down the outside evidence of your campsite. Central is back to his usual looking slightly irritable, and doesn't speak much beyond grunts until you're on the road again.

"So, uh," you begin, "about last night--"

"Don't mention it," he says.

You suppose that's it, then.

God, you wish it wasn't.

[annaofthenorthernlights]

My home is with you

This is a daily prompt fic-work for fluffbruary2023!

Rules: Bring on the fluff!

Fandom: Frozen Pairing: Agnar/Iduna

general rating: T

day 22 - prompt: young on AO3

[fluffbruary]

A 2023 Ao3 collection for your Fluffbruary creations is here! (Also, very belatedly, one for 2022 works should you want to go back to add them!)

You can find the 2023 collection here and the 2022 collection here. We are happy to reblog your tagged fluffy creations on Tumblr, but we’re leaving it to creators to decide whether or not to add their creations to the Ao3 collections. The collections will never be made private.

Bring on the fluff!

[baubeautyandthegeek]

Set Sail - Abi Borin/Sarah Porter

A/N: Picture prompt for day 21 of @fluffbruary​.  I will be catching up so, incoming fluff tornado.

“I never really understood the thing about boats…” Sarah murmurs, watching Abi sail the boat, the smile on Abi’s lips is soft, subtle and Abi is clearly confident and relaxed. She’s never understood the love of boats, but as she watches Abi, she begins to understand it. “Now I think I might.” “Yeah?” Abi smiles across at her, ducks the sail and settles beside her as the sail does it’s work. “Why’s that then?” “It’s peaceful out here��� with you.” “Aw, I’m flattered.” Abi smiles, kissing Sarah’s cheek. “You deserve some time to rest.” She means that, Sarah realizes, smiling when Abi ducks back under the sail and brings back some beers. “Cheers.”

[sliebman10]

Breathe

It took awhile after the war for Harry to be able to breathe easily again. He'd been on edge for so long that being able to relax felt foreign.

It was different for George. Every breath he took took him further away from his fallen brother. But when Harry was with him, their shared grief felt lighter. When he held Harry's hand, he could breathe normally.

So he decided he would never let go.

He looked at Harry now, next to him, still holding his hand and took a deep breath. He knew what he wanted, no needed, to ask.

@fluffbruary

[sliebman10]

Slip

They were tightly entwined on the sofa. Harry wasn't sure where his body ended and George began. George's kisses were all encompassing, always. Harry frequently got lost in them. But now it didn't matter. Neither of them had anywhere else to be.

Panting a little, they came up for air and George leaned his forehead against Harry's. Harry smiled softly at him and leaned back so he could see him better and brushed à piece of his hair back.

He wobbled a little at the end of the sofa and George put his hand on Harry's back. "Careful. Don't slip."

@fluffbruary

[every-marveler-ever]

Some Dramatics First

Fluffbruary Day 9 | @fluffbruary | Harmony

Bucky Barnes Flash Bingo | 📚 @buckybarnesbingo | Unlucky

IronStrange Bingo Round 3 | 🏥 @ironstrangebingo | Cops

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING(S): Sitting in campus prison cell, bail out, sleeping on the couch.

Bucky Barnes wouldn’t say that he is unlucky, but he’s certainly not the luckiest person in the world, it’s exactly what he’s thinking while sitting in the campus jail cell. But he has an (okay) friend who can bail him out, it might just take some dramatics first. | Sam Wilson/James 'Bucky' Barnes, Tony Stark/Stephen Strange

fluffbruary 2023 | bbb 📚 flash | isb 🏥 round 3

Bucky Barnes wouldn’t say that he is unlucky, but he’s certainly not the luckiest person in the world, it’s exactly what he’s thinking while sitting in the campus jail cell. 

“You got pulled over by the cops?” Sam laughs from the other side of the bars, not at all worried about the situation that his boyfriend is currently in.

Bucky sighs rolling his eyes, “I called you to ask you to bail me out not sit there and make fun of me,” if anybody else saw the pout on Bucky’s face he would deny it, but in front of Sam it’s extremely hard to do. He wasn’t stupid, his bike was registered and he was wearing all the right equipment, he just happened to forget what the speed limit was on campus. 

Sam tilts his head because he knows Bucky’s not going to like the answer, “I thought about it but then I was on the phone with Tony and he offered to pay,” Bucky’s smile lights up but Sam, hadn’t finished talking, “if he gets to come and see you  in jail.”

The way Bucky’s face shifts he should be glad they are inside and the wind won’t change, “you have got to be kidding me,” he says as he kicks the bars of the cell. 

“He’s also bringing Stephen,” Sam adds before Bucky can get even more angry and consider just ripping the cheap bars out. “Great let’s just make it a family affair then! Are you going to call Steve down too so he can yell at me for being irresponsible? Or how about my mother?”

Wincing slightly at the remark Sam realises his grave mistake and pulls out his phone to message everyone, but the door opens and he’s already too late. “Mr Harmony! I hear you need a bailout,” Tony Stark yells walking into the building like he owns the place, which isn’t half bad seeing as his dad’s name is on the plaque outside because Howard expected Tony would wind up here more often than not. 

The joint groan comes from Sam, Bucky and even Stpehen as he watches his boyfriend's large nonsensical behaviour. “I am so sorry, and I’ve already kicked him out to sleep with Rhodey tonight,” Stephen says in an apology and it does make Bucky feel better that Tony has been kicked out so he won’t have to deal with the man after he leaves this cell tonight. 

If Bucky thinks about it, the cell isn’t that horrible it’s not like he’s actually in jail, it’s just campus jail, which he got pulled into by campus police. The cell has a bed, a private bathroom off to the side and two chairs and a table, it’s almost homey. 

“Yes, I am here to bail out one James Buchanan Barnes, on account of speeding, which honestly couldn’t you have just given him a ticket because now I have to sleep on my best friend’s couch rather than my own bed with my extremely hot boyfriend-” the cop that Tony is talking to gets annoyed after the first two words come out of the man's mouth and just stamps Bucky’s card unlock the electronic gate door. 

Bucky happily leaves the cell moving towards Sam and kissing him so he knows that he appreciates the support but oh-my-god I still hate you for bringing Tony here, and Sam understands it. Tony slaps him on the back and smiles, “let’s get you out of here, Mr Harmony, Mr we should be respectful of nature, and the ground of being, and yet got put in campus jail.”

Rolling his eyes he shoves Tony’s hand off his shoulder, “shove off Tony.”

He would never want to ask that again. 

But at least tonight he would have a good night's sleep, he can’t say the same for Tony.

Cards:

[sliebman10]

Unlikely

“Um, babe? Are you sure about this?” Paravti asked, as she frowned in the mirror.

“Trust me,” Lavender said as she directed her wand to the material Parvati was holding. It snaked its way around her, shortening and lengthening, stitching together, as necessary. 

It was really the print that concerned Parvati, it was much busier than she was used to. But if Lavender knew anything, it was clothes and fabric. Even if it seemed unlikely, she had this way of making it work. 

When she was done, she met Parvati’s eyes in the mirror. “What do you think?”

“It’s perfect.”

@fluffbruary

@hpsaffics (bingo square: post-Hogwarts)

[every-marveler-ever]

Magic and Middle-Earth

Fluffbruary Day 7 | @fluffbruary | Energy

Bucky Barnes Flash Bingo | 📚 @buckybarnesbingo | Undone

IronStrange Bingo Round 3 | 🏥 @ironstrangebingo | Body Swap

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING(S): JK Rowling is mentioned.

A/N: I have never read or watched The Lord Of The Rings/Hobbit series so I didn’t have much knowledge so everything Bucky fangirls over is googled. Also, I kinda added the fluffbruary prompt in later but I thought energy and magic were a pretty clear connection.

Stephen doesn’t like when people take his notes or idea for Avengers book club which leads Bucky and Peter into an interesting situation, almost punishment for Bucky loving the Hobbit so much. | Stephen Strange/Tony Stark

fluffbruary 2023 | bbb 📚 flash | isb 🏥 round 3

Bucky read the Hobbit in 1937, he remembers lining up and being so excited when his parents could spare the money to buy him a copy of the book. It was a beautiful paperback that he treasured and slept with it under his pillow every night hoping it would bring magic to the world. When he would wake up and realise that magic had yet to come he would instead read and be transferred into the magical world of Middle-Earth. 

It was almost like the magic in the books gave Bucky the energy to keep going. His energy seemed pretty similar to magic. 

So when Tony brings a wizard home one night Bucky is ecstatic to learn about magic. He asks more questions than Stephen ever expected from somebody who lived during World War 2, where magic must have seemed hopeless. 

“Can you really use magic portals? Does Middle-Earth actually exist? Is JK Woling actually Rita Skeeter? Is the Hobbit possible? Is it similar to energy? Is there science behind it?”

Stephen thoughtfully answers his questions the smae way that he does with Peter when he shows excitement for the mystical art. It brings a smile to Stephen’s face knowing that Bucky Barnes of all people is just as excited as a teenager who was infatuated with Hogwarts. 

“The energy is more obstetrical then scientific. We can see multiple possibilities or outcomes of different timelines but not as many different worlds entirely. There is also no distinct evidence to prove JK Rowling has ever come in contact with mystical arts and if I can help it, it will stay that way,” Stephen says with a straight face as Tony taps his boyfriend's shoulder laughing at the proposition. 

They are many more questions and warnings.

Tony as he laughs smiles at Bucky happy to see him enjoying something about the tower and their people. “Just don’t touch any of his books, trust me nothing ever goes right from touching one of Stpehen’s books.” 

Bucky takes the warning with a grain of salt.

.

It’s a casual Thursday afternoon, they aren’t expecting any visitors and Peter had come over after school to join Bucky in his quest to watch all the Lord Of The Rings movies after recently re-reading the books in the Avengers book club. It was almost routine between them all they read a book that had a movie or TV show adjacent and find themselves making time to watch and read both.

When he touched Stephen's book it was because he thought it was Stephen’s edition of the Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, that’s what the colour said. Sure he and Peter both thought it was unusual because it was hardcover and the blue emblem on the front related nothing to the book, but what would it hurt?

They’re plan to have movie night was replaced with the panicking and calling, Stephen Strange.

“You swapped bodies?” The sorcerer yells as he comes in via portal to the common floor of the tower where Bucky and Peter both stand sheepishly, in each other bodies, Bucky (Peter?) is currently stuck to the kitchen counter as he struggles to get unstuck.

Peter (Bucky?) gulped at the look on the doctor's face, “we thought about calling Mr Stark but  we quickly realised that he was the person who told us not to touch your books and then he would have laughed at us.” Bucky’s face is pouting which is a funny sight to see because Bucky doesn’t pout. Peter on the other hand is known for his pouting and puppy eye skills. 

Bucky flinches as he unsticks himself from the counter, not realising his strength he flings himself to the other side of the kitchen, which he notices changes Stephen’s smirk into a small smile. “We really are sorry Stephen, we honestly thought it would be no harm because it was just a regular book.” Stephen rolls his eyes before sitting down on the couch throwing his head back, clearly had a long day and now Bucky and Peter had made it longer.

Sighing Stephen talks with his eyes closed, “JARVIS, tell Tony that while the kitchen is fine, we really need to re-test Peter’s strength and power because even Bucky can’t withstand it.” He smiles at the thought of seeing Tony react to the citation his two teammates were in, “and ask him to bring his copy of The Fellowship with him so we can actually start movie night.” 

Sharing a look of confusion Peter and Bucky stand in their opposite bodies still, “aren’t you going to do something about this?” Peter gestures to both Bucky and himself.

Stephen waves it off with a hand, “calm down it will ware off, I only put it on the book so nobody will steal my book notes again-” He’s cut off by the loud sound that is coming from the hallway as Tony Stark runs down it laughing at what he’s expecting to see.

He laughs even harder when he gets to the kitchen looking between Bucky and Peter, breathing heavily as he’s exhausted from running and then laughing so hard. He  turns to his boyfriend a large smile on his face, “this was intended for me wasn’t it?” The idea of that makes the older man laugh harder.

The look on Stephen’s face and the way he folds his arms over his chest prove that Tony is correct in his suspensions, “you stole my notes last month, I’m not letting you do that again.”

Tony continues to laugh falling down onto the couch throwing an arm around Stpehen’s shoulders and kissing him on the cheek, “love you.” And from the background, he can hear Bucky eye-rolling and Peter grumbling as they both sit back down on the couch.

“JARVIS, start The Hobbit.”

“Movie starting.”

It’s fine, the magic will come undone after 17.5 hours of watching the 6 total movies. 

Cards:

[sliebman10]

Ice/Night

“We’re going…ice skating?” Harry asked, looking dubiously at the skates George handed him.

“It’ll be worth it, love…I promise.”

Harry sighed. For all his skill on a broom, he'd never mastered skating, even when George bewitched his skates. But he knew George loved it, so he agreed.

It was a cold night; the moon rose over the pond that was in the woods adjacent to their house. George took Harry's hand firmly and led him onto the ice.

It took a little while, but Harry relaxed a little, managing to mostly stay upright. George pulled him into the center of the pond. He stopped, facing Harry as he held both of his hands.

"Alright?" George asked, his cheeks pink from the cold.

"Surprisingly…you wouldn't let me fall."

"No. I wouldn't," George said in a quieter tone. "Harry. I love you."

"I love you, too."

George smiled softly. "Will you marry me?"

Harry looked at him, wide eyed. "I…yes. Yes, of course."

George kissed him fiercely as he reached into his pocket. A few seconds later, fireworks lit up the night sky. Harry snuggled closer as George held him securely around the waist. "Maybe I don't hate ice skating that much."

@fluffbruary

[sliebman10]

Art

Picking out the right outfit was an art, Lavender knew. You had to consider so many different things. And decide if any of those things were important. For a job interview, you want to appear formidable, capable. A family dinner? Probably need something demure and unassuming so you don't invite commentary, stares.

Nothing matches the scars though. But they're always part of the outfit. Covering them with makeup and magic is an art in itself.

But a date with your girlfriend? That was easier. All you needed was clothes that you felt good in, and you'd look good for her.

@fluffbruary

@hpsaffics (bingo square: second person...sort of)

[sliebman10]

Mosaic

Parvati stared at the mosaic in wonder. She was already wondering how it fit together and if there were spells that could make such a thing.

"I hear you thinking," Lavender said. "Just enjoy the colors."

"Do you think they used magic to make it?"

Lavender shrugged. "It's possible…it's probably like anything else though..you have to practice those spells to get good at it."

Parvati nodded, still entranced by the bits of glass, rock and shell that looked so random by themselves, but fit together to make this impressive sight.

"Do you have the camera? I want a photo."

@fluffbruary

@hpsaffics (bingo square: g rated)

[every-marveler-ever]

Chicken Whiny Soup

Fluffbruary Day 23 | @fluffbruary | Snack

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | 🗯️ @ironhusbandsbingo | Chicken Noodle Soup

Sam Wilson Bingo Round 3 | 🪶 @samwilsonbingo | Domestic Fluff

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING: Sickness, Stealing food, Kisses

Sam makes chicken noodle soup for everyone when they are sick, the thing is, you have to actually be sick to get the soup. | Sam Wilson/James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/Tony Stark

fluffbruary 2023 | ihb 🗯️ round 4 | swb 🪶 round 3

On a sick day it is known by everyone in the Avengers tower that Sam Wilson makes chicken noodle soup for the person who is unquestionably sick, Sam brings it down to the fact that when he was younger it is what his mum used to do and it always made him feel better. The one downside is that Sam’s chicken noodle soup is legendary, it tastes perfect with a brilliant mix of beef and chicken stock with roasted spotted potatoes on the side and toast to dip. 

People have tried before to fake being sick to get the soup (chough* Clint *cough*) and for some of these people as spies, they don’t do a very good job. Despite no superpowers or  spidey sense, Sam knows when people really are sick it’s a hidden superpower that he uses sparingly. 

“Are we really sure he is sick Sam?” Rhodey asks sitting on the kitchen counter swinging his legs back and forth as he watches Sam cook, not an unusual situation. Except for this time Sam is making chicken noddle soup for their partner Tony and Rhodey is suspicious, “he use to act like this all the time during college to get out of classes and exams, are we sure Pepper hasn’t asked for paperwork and  he has just faked a cough?”

It is highly suspicious, in all the years that Rhodey has known Tony the man didn’t get sick, not when they were in college, not when Harley brought home a stomach bug from school that affected everyone else in the tower, the only time Rhodey had even seen Tony throw up was after drinking (which he doesn’t do anymore). 

Sam puts down the spoon being used to mix the soup together and turns to Rhodey his hands found themselves on Rhodey’s thighs, “are you questioning my superpower?” He lifts a single eyebrow in expression, teasing Rhodey.

Rhodey just rolls his eyes in retaliation, “you dote on him too much and when he is sick he gets whiny, and now he begs for your special chicken noddle so, up and you just make it for him.” Rhodey points out mouth placed in a frown, “you spoil him too much.”

Laughing Sam goes back to cooking the soup and taking the potatoes out of the oven, hitting Rhodey’s hand when he notices the man trying to steal some of the soup. Sam shakes his hands off on the apron around his waist and begins preparing the meal for Tony, “he is out of the lab right now and is actually sleeping for the first time in a while so if it takes giving him chicken noddle soup to take some time  for himself, I am okay with that sick or not.” 

As Rhodey shakes his head and rolls his eyes they can hear the whiny person in question throughout this conversation, “SAMMMMMy, palatapuuuuuuuusss, I need cuddles!” Tony whines from down the hall, so loud that Rhodey is fairly sure anyone down in the common room four floors down could hear.

Smiling Sam takes the soup off the stoves and pours a serving of it into a bowl with soldier bread to go with it, “guess we should give this to him? But first-” Sam raises an eyebrow pointing to his cheek a smile on his face.

Rhodey does as told kissing Sam’s cheek and then jumping off the kitchen counter, “guess our lover needs us?”

Cards:

[every-marveler-ever]

Laughter, Relationships and Partners

Fluffbruary Day 12 | @fluffbruary | Tenderness

Bucky Barnes Flash Bingo | 📚 @buckybarnesbingo | Underdog

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | 🗯️ @ironhusbandsbingo | Words Unsaid

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING(S): Relationship drama, Open relationship, Marriage open relationship, Bad communication

It wasn’t Bucky’s intention to get between a relationship, especially not one as strong as Rhodey and Tony’s, but in his defence, he didn’t know they were dating. (A bad description). | Tony Stark/James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/James 'Bucky' Barnes

fluffbruary 2023 | bbb 📚 flash | ihb 🗯️ round 4

Bucky was extremely lucky he understands that he has complete access to Tony’s lab with his one fingerprint unlocking the glass sliding doors that Tony keeps locked. The lab is Tony’s sanctuary and to have any access means that Tony trusts him which Bucky didn’t think when he followed Steve into the Avengers tower.

.

“Who is this?” Tony says not in the nicest tone of voice, Steve had been getting on Tony’s nerves. He had given him a home, a new uniform, and food, yet none of it seemed to be enough for Steve, for somebody who came from nothing Tony thought Steve would appreciate the luxury he provided. Instead, Steve seems to take advantage of his kindness by dragging in a lost puppy behind him, “and what does he think he is doing here?”

Steve smiles not sensing the strained sense of tone in Tony’s voice, he has a smile on his face, “this is Bucky, he came out of the ice. I thought he could stay here, maybe train with us and,” Steve's face drops as he looks back to his friend, and moves over an inch, this is the first time Tony sees why this guy is such an underdog, “maybe you could help with his arm?”

Tony knows who Bucky is, he was Steve’s bestfriend, his right-hand man, and his Rhodey (without all the relationship stuff), Tony read history books about this man and went to museum collections detailing his fall from the train and how devastated Steve supposedly was. Never in any of the books, collections or articles did they mention a silver arm, a rusted, badly built silver arm that must be killing him from the weight alone. Tony hates to admit it but that arm is reason enough for Tony to house the man. 

“Yeah I’ll give it a look at, um” Tony blinks a few times before taking a deep breath, this has changed his day of pace, “the spare room on your floor is clean right? If not I can call the cleaner but I’m not quite sure when she will get here…” Steve smiles brightly and quickly reassures Tony, “yes one of the rooms is clean he can definitely stay there, thank you, Tony.”

Steve quickly pulls Bucky away from Tony and leads him to the elevator to move up to Steve’s. 

Tony hates to admit how quickly he pulled up blueprints and began sketching a new arm, Steve’s new friend is cute and Tony can’t get him out of his head, because it is clearly because of the arm, just the arm. 

.

When he does sit in the workshop with Tony sometimes it is because he is getting his arm looked at and Tony has exciting new blueprints to show him, but other times it because he just wants to sit and watch Tony. 

These are the times that Bucky notices the wedding band.

There are all ways words unsaid in the situation because how do you bring it up to the man that you thought might be flirting with you. 

.

Bucky sits in the lab one day because he felt like he needed the quietness that the lab brings, he feels bad because Tony isn’t here and he is in Tony’s space but he needed it. Steve had been nice since moving into the Avengers tower, but he always feels like he was intruding when he sees Sam and Steve cooking in the kitchen, or lounging on top of each other during movie nights. 

The lab offers quietness that the spare room or the floor he is taking residence in can’t. “You’ve come to escape have you?” Tony jokes announcing himself to the room, laughing along with his own comment. Bucky nods along as he watches Tony sit and pull up blueprints and doesn’t seem fussed by the fact that Bucky just let himself in, asking JARVIS to play some music as they both just appreciate each other's presence. 

Bucky doesn’t get out a stark pad or read like he normally does when they are both in the lab, he just watches Tony which is when he notices the ring. “Are you married?” The question comes out of nowhere as he watches Tony stop fiddling, “sorry,” Bucky winces when he realises his upfronts, “it’s just you were playing with what looks like a wedding ring and it’s definitely on your ring finger so I just assumed, sorry.” 

Something Tony and Bucky both have in common is their rambling and when Peter is also in the lab with them both it becomes quite a lot for anybody else that may join them, but as both nerds the rambling is normal.  

Tony doesn’t stop what he’s doing, “yeah in 0’11, right after the bill was passed, we had been engaged for years but it wasn’t until then that we actually tied the knot.”

Two things in this conversation shock Bucky, 1. He’s right and Tony is actually married which feels weird because he thought they were flirting and 2. Tony is gay (or bisexual, or whatever term he chooses) which he assumed but Tony also just seemed charming to anybody he meets. 

But Tony is married with a ring and everything, and Bucky is nothing.

.

Rhodey is extremely nice to Bucky and doesn’t wear a wedding band which seems like the perfect situation in Bucky’s predicament. Rhodey is Tony’s best friend but when Tony sees Bucky sitting on Rhodey’s lap he doesn’t complain or fight it, most of the time he smiles with warmth over at them.

It makes his heart tender thinking about being with Rhodey but them he remembers the moments in the lab and his heart seems caught between. 

.

“Movie night!” Peter screams as he enters the lounge on Clint and Natasha’s floor, this month's movie night location. Movie night traditionally transferred from floor to floor each month, except for Tony, Tony never seemed interested in hosting a movie night and so he was never included in the mix. 

Rhodey was happy to include Bucky in movie night when he joined the tower despite the weariness of Steve and Tony, Rhodey saw the excitement Bucky had in his eyes when he discovered new things, completely different to the confusion that used to show on Steve’s face when being introduced to the new world. He quickly introduced Bucky to all new types of work, “are we continuing James Bond tonight?” 

Bucky smiles brightly which is enough for Natasha to roll her eyes and turn on James Bond, as Peter talks about random James Bond facts he found out since last month. 

The movie plays with minimal talking as everybody finds themselves intensively watching You Only Live Twice, and Bucky’s head slowly falls onto Rhodey’s shoulder for the first time and suddenly Rhodey is no longer interested in the movie, as the smile on his face may suggest. 

. 

Bucky never thought of himself as an underdog he was a soldier who thought in war, but now he feels like he is the most underdog of them all.

When Natasha tells him that Rhodey and Tony are married Bucky’s tender heart breaks because it just can’t be true, he is dating Rhodey, they made it official just last week, and they were dating. Now Bucky just feels like he’s a mistress. 

“How could you do this to me!” Never before had he questioned that they slept on the same floor, never had he questioned that Rhodey always sleeps in his room when they sleep together, never even being invited to Tony’s floor.

Bucky for the first time steps onto Tony’s floor yelling a storm. There is a part of him that is glad the elevator didn’t lock him out of getting there, that eventually, he would have found out on his own because the elevator door opens and he can see wedding photos on the grand piano with them both in matching white suits. 

He is met with confused looks from Rhodey and Tony who are sitting on the couch next to each other, arms around each other, sharing a StarkPad. Bucky breathes a hard breath, fuming, “you’re married, to each other,” you can tell he’s really angry from the wild hand signals he is using, “and neither of you, my boyfriend nor my friend thought you would tell me!”

Rhodey pushes his eyebrows down and together even more confused than when Bucky walked in, if Bucky wasn’t made he would call it super cute, “you didn’t know?” And Tony begins to laugh so loud that he is nearly falling off the couch, hitting Rhodeys knee forcefully, “he doesn’t realise we’re open and both dating him,” Tony explains in a fit of laughter.

 Bucky tilts his head like a lost dog, “open relationship? But you’re married?” He’s no longer screaming and is instead the one confused in the whole situation. 

“Open relationships can relate to marriage, and in our case it does, it just so happens to be that we both really like you,” Rhodey explains with a wincing smile. He moves over to the lounge while simultaneously pushing Tony back onto the lounge as the older man recovers, “sit down” he pats the spot he just made, “and we can discuss this all. No words unsaid this time, we promise”

Listening to the suggestion Bucky sits down between them and leans his head on Rhodeys shoulder looking at Tony, “this would explain the coffee dates, and kissing my forehead in the lab,” he says and Tony spills out into more laughter.

Bucky can work with this.  Laughter, relationships and partners. 

Cards:

[every-marveler-ever]

Out Of My Limit - Live

Fluffbruary Day 16 | @fluffbruary | Glasses

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | 🗯️ @ironhusbandsbingo | Free

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING: N/A

A/N: I’ve been trying this new drabble idea by writing a plot bunny from whatever song shuffles from my liked songs on Spotify, so far it has definitely worked. I'm also actually using a Free Square for once which I am so excited for!

James stares at the customer in front of him, “uh sorry sir but we don’t have any of that,” because who walks into a service station and asks for a poppyseed muffin. | Tony Stark/James 'Rhodey' Rhodes

fluffbruary 2023 | ihb 🗯️ round 4

“Hey can I just get a poppyseed muffin and a caramel lattee?”

James stares at the customer infront of him, “uh sorry sir but we don’t have any of that,” this is the first time the customer looks up from the phone that he is hastily messaging on. It is Tony Stark, the man James is serving is Tony Stark of Stark industries. The guy who saved him without even knowing it. “I can get you a chocolate muffin and fairly bad cup of coffee instead?” How does he, a service station employee, tell Tony Stark no.

The Tony Stark in question raises the sunglasses off his eyes to rest ontop of his head, his attention fully of James now rather than the phone, “could I get a cup of you?” Tony looks the guy up and down, inquiring with subtle flirtation.

“I am pretty sure I’m out of your limit,” Rhodey says while taking a blueberry muffin out of the display shelves. Plugging the price and code into the machine he slides the muffin towards Tony, “on the house,” he mentions off handidly, trying to ease the tension between them.

Tony smiles gracefully sliding a personal business card in tandem with taking his muffin, “I am pretty sure you are,” he taps the card twice “please use it anyway, maybe hit below your level.” He leaves without another word.

He sees the reflection of James' excitement as he puts his glasses back on and his smile doesn’t fade. 

Cards: