Chapter Text
Tony fell flat onto his bed, suit and all. He was so tired, he loosened his tie lifelessly, so it would stop digging into his neck. Thank God the rest of the team wasn't up and about when he arrived, he wouldn't like them to see him weary and beat up. It was bad press.
Pepper had told him he had next few days off, so he could rest, she'd said, as if she didn't know he couldn't live without something to do... Something to tinker with. But oh well he'd humour her and stay at home, she really had no way of knowing whether or not he was resting.
It was still dark out, and a quick look at his phone told him it was quarter past five, quite early. He'd been to Pretoria for the launching of a new branch of SI, then to Istanbul to give a talk at a science and technology convention without a break in between. One would think he would be used to that kind of lifestyle by now, but alas he was only human.
He lay flopped on the bed for a good long while, but as tired and jetlagged as he was, sleep still evaded him and he had no desire to take some of those melatonin pills that Pepper gave him a while back. So he decided he might as well get up and begin his day.
After a seriously long time in the shower, he got dressed in an old Grey sweater which he was quite sure had once belonged to Rhodey, because of the sheer size of it. It was woven in a loose pattern, so it was partially see through, but it was soft and cozy so it would do. That paired with a pair of tragically old jeans made him look as homey as he could get...for when Pepper would most definitely video call to see if he was being good.
"To the common room, J," he murmured to his AI as he got into the elevator.
"It's nice to see you too, Sir," the cool electronic voice of JARVIS answered.
Tony had to laugh at that.
"It's not as if we're never together, J, you've seen and heard me every day since I created you," he said softly, tired beyond compare.
The elevator opened with a whoosh of warm air and Tony smiled a little as he exited the car, "Thanks, J."
"My pleasure, Sir."
It was a little past seven so Tony wasn't surprised when he found Steve sat at the couch with his drawing book and a couple color pencils on the table in front of him.
"Morning, Cap," he greeted trying to sound as cheerful as possible not only to distract Steve's observant eyes from his visible exhaustion, but also to divert his own attention from how absolutely beautiful the Captain looked with his still slightly wet hair and bright blue eyes and pretty pink lips and unbelievably wide shoulders and how the sun rays filtering from the window behind him made him glow like....
"Good morning, Tony," Steve said and his train of thought, mercifully, halted.
As he prepared his coffee, he was painfully aware of Steve's piercing gaze, he could feel it scorching the side of his face and it was making him nervous. The fact that Steve was so obviously staring, and not bothering to hide it, meant he found a fault in his scrutiny and he was going to ask about it.
Please God no, Tony was sure he was going to burst into tears if Steve asked in his oh so gentle voice if he was okay.
Before he did though, Bucky spilled into the room with a high whine of "Stevie" and Steve turned to face him. Thank God for small mercies.
Bucky proceeded to literally drape himself over Steve, completely disregarding the fact that the latter had been drawing, to kiss him on the lips. Tony looked away and his hand shook as he poured himself coffee. He was starting to think it had been a bad idea to come down for coffee.
"Hiya Tony," Bucky was lounging against Steve, completely uncaring of the fact that his wet hair was dripping all over the place, including Steve, he didn't seem to mind.
"Morning, Bucky," he said forced to look back so as not to seem rude and promptly choked on his coffee.
Because... because Bucky was shirtless as he almost always usually was (so it shouldn't be such a shock really) and was looking at him with those blue-gray eyes of his... And and... Why oh why did he have to be so.... hot.
"You okay?" Steve asked, not moving an inch since he was buried in a pile of muscle and metal.
Bucky just smiled with the barest hint of a smirk.
"I'm fine," he choked out weakly, settling himself on a bar stool. Bucky was going to kill him.
It was then that both Natasha and Clint came in announcing that they were going to make breakfast, Russian, so they didn't want to be bothered in the kitchen.
Bucky had completely staked claim to Steve's entire left side snuggling into him like a lazy cat demanding to be pet, and Steve indulged him, running his fingers through Bucky's long hair while drawing with the other.
Tony was a little jealous.
He made eye contact with Bucky and his soul almost left him as Bucky's tiny smirk had graduated to an almighty one. He could feel his face heat like a great furnace, but he could not make himself look away, he couldn't not look at Bucky looking at him like that.
He saw Steve turn, look at Bucky, then follow the trajectory of his eyes... and Steve smiled his cheeks glowing a delicate pink. Tony faltered, his gaze dropping and inadvertently loosing their little game.
There was the faint sound of chuckling, and Tony had no idea when Bruce had come into the room so engrossed he had been staring at Bucky... and his boyfriend.
His eyes were brought back up the sound of Steve's rumbling chuckle, and he could clearly see Steve and Bucky looking at him. Were they talking about him? Right here where he could see them? So very obviously? The thought wasn't bad at all, in fact it made him squirmy and a little hot under the collar. When Bucky leaned over to nibble on Steve's earlobe all while staring at Tony, he couldn't take it.
He stood on shaky legs, barely avoiding pouring his now cold coffee over himself and quite literally fled the room not in the least bit subtle.
Bruce's highly amused laughter following him all the way to his workshop.