Chapter Text
Tony Stark is always in control. He's cool and collected with a razor sharp tongue. He never slips up. Never cracks. He graces the covers of magazines in designer suits and a press perfect smirk. He is unshakeable.
Tony Stark is currently exhausted.
He's been working in his lab for three days straight on his newest project. He would still be working if he hadn't ran out of coffee. Or someone hid it. He wouldn't put it past Jarvis and Dum-E to conspire against him.
Seeking fuel, he made his way to the nearest coffee shop. Shuffling off to the side after ordering his horrifyingly caffeinated drink, Tony doesn't really notice the person beside him until he speaks.
"I love you."
Tony snorts. He's heard that before. In many different ways. Sometimes it was flattering. Mostly it was annoying or downright creepy. Unfortunately for the stranger, he's too tired to be nice today.
He turns his head and opens his mouth to tell the guy off but ends up going slack jawed. He has to tilt his head up just to see the man's face. He wasn't looking at Tony but smiling shyly at the counter. Tony feels like he's melting. He wants to run his hands over the man's broad shoulders. To curl his fingers in his long, dark hair. To steal the well-wore leather jacket he's wearing and refuse to give it back until it stopped smelling like the gorgeous stranger.
He decides that he can be nice after all. "I love you too," he says firmly. He can't take his eyes off of the man.
Which is why he catches the man’s pause before he looks down at Tony in confusion. He doesn't respond though. Tony frowns. He was expecting something more...grandiose. Less awkward. But they're just staring at each other. Tony opens his mouth to say something - anything to break the silence - when his gaze drifts to the prosthetic hand holding a cellphone to the stranger's ear. The man's lips slowly curl into a pleased smirk.
"Mom, I'm gonna have to call you back," he says before lowering the phone.
Tony feels his face heating up and he's half a second from booking it out of the shop. Coffee and exhaustion be damned. His eyes find the exit but before he can make his escape, a large hand touches his arm in a barely there graze. Tony's eyes snap back up to the stranger.
He's smiling softly now. "Hi. Bucky Barnes. Want to grab a coffee with me?"