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Bucky walked around the park once more, stopping abruptly where he knew it should have been, startling a couple that had been walking behind him. He apologized awkwardly before stepping off the pathway between two stalls that sold local honey and vegan ice cream, and pulling out his phone.
“It's gone,” he blurted out when his best friend answered.
“You'll need to be way more specific than that, dude,” Steve chuckled and Bucky could hear him juggle his goddaughter and what he could only imagine was the ridiculously oversized plushie he had gotten her for her first birthday. Which, as planned, had become her favourite thing and Steve had promised retaliation for someday.
“The tree. The place I was supposed to meet him at. It's gone.” Bucky looked around at the busy park. This had turned into a disaster. “The place is overrun with hipsters.”
“Are you sure you're in the right place?”
“Yes. I am, fuckface!”
“Language! You’re on speaker.”
“Shit, sorry,” he mumbled, grumbling at himself for letting another slip. “The place has a farmer’s market going, it's packed. Why am I here again?”
“So that I can finally stop hearing about the one that got away whenever you get sad-drunk, and we have a new happily ever after story to tell your goddaughter as she grows up,” Steve reminded him once again.
“What if he doesn’t show?” Bucky asked before he could stop himself, kicking a rock by his sneaker.
“He'll show,” Steve said again patiently. They'd been through this song and dance often the past few months as the day crept up on them. “Even if it's just to tell you he's seeing someone, I don’t think he'll leave you hanging, Buck.”
It had been Bucky's biggest regret in life. Letting Anthony Stark walk away without telling him that the thing they had was more than just sex for him. That somewhere in their little arrangement he'd fallen for him. And fallen hard. But, as Steve had put it so often in the 7 years since they'd last seen each other, Bucky would have felt like he was holding Tony back by admitting he liked him, even though they had options.
Their last night together was imprinted in Bucky's mind as clearly as if it had happened the night before. He could still remember how Tony smelled and tasted. How perfectly he'd fit curled up against his side after Bucky had seamlessly fit inside him, holding him tightly against his chest as Tony rode him. All the sounds he'd pulled from him that night, and how reverently Tony had said his name when he finally found his release (both times).
“Do you really have to get on that plane tomorrow?” Bucky had asked in the dark, unsure if Tony was still awake or not in his arms.
“Are you saying you'll miss me?” Tony had replied, Bucky feeling a soft smile against his chest where Tony lay.
“I’ll miss this, yeah,” Bucky had answered, hoping Tony understood that he meant this exact moment, the quiet after the exertion, the moment that had evolved from a quick exit for whoever was invading the other's space to never wanting to leave the other's embrace. At least for him anyways.
The smile had left Tony's face as he reminded Bucky he knew he had to leave, and he did, but fuck he didn’t want him to. He wanted to tell him he didn’t think he would ever get over him getting on that plane and flying back to California. He wanted to tell him he'd fallen for him. That he was absolutely, positively, unequivocally in love with him.
But he couldn’t say those things. Because if Tony stayed and didn’t achieve the greatness everyone who'd spent a minute around him knew he would, he could never forgive himself.
“When will I see you again?” he had said instead.
“I have no idea,” Tony had sighed. He'd started running his fingers along Bucky's stomach, Bucky recognizing a few numbers and equations being traced on his skin.
“You're overthinking something,” he'd said simply, holding back the urge to pull him tighter in his arms and kiss him senseless until whatever was on Tony's mind had gone.
“You know those silly bets people make?” Tony started saying, the finger doodling not subsiding as he spoke. “We should have that.”
“Wha’ kinda bet?”
Tony's hand flattened against Bucky's stomach, staying in place like an anchor.
“What if we say that if we're not seeing someone when we're older we get together again. One of those kinds of bets. Or whatever it’s called.”
Bucky mulled the idea over. It wasn’t a horrible one, not that he thought Tony would ever stay single too long once he wasn’t in school anymore. The only reason this arrangement had started anyways was because they were both too busy for regular relationships but still needed some pressure release. Bucky catching feels in the process hadn’t been planned, but Tony had made it expressly clear that this was just sex. No feelings, no relationships.
“When you thinking?” Bucky found himself asking quietly.
“When we're 30?” Tony had suggested quickly, pulling a loud laugh from Bucky.
“I thought you’d say like 50 or something. 30 isn’t old Tony. I’m 23 for crying out loud.”
“It feels old. I found a grey hair yesterday.”
“Name the time and place, since your birthday’s after mine.” Bucky answered after taking a long deep breath.
Tony had turned, resting his chin on his chest, looking at him with an expression Bucky couldn’t quite place.
“Brewer Park? “
“In front of the tree Stevie and I had to rescue you from the first time I met your ass?” Bucky smirked.
“You did not rescue me. I just required assistance getting down,” Tony replied seriously, making Bucky chuckle. “June 1 st at lunch?”
“I'll be there,” Bucky answered around the lump in his throat. He couldn’t help how his hand automatically went to Tony's dark hair, roaming down to his neck and cheek. “How about one more for the road. Since I might not be getting any for the next 7 years or so.”
“Doubtful,” Tony grinned, “but sure.”
Bucky had pulled him into a heated kiss before he rolled, laying Tony beneath him and taking his time with him. He'd woken up alone the next morning, a note on his bedside table telling him he'd see him in a few years.
“I don’t think-" Bucky had started saying before a female voice saying his name pulled him out of his downward spiral.
“Who's asking?” he asked the strawberry blond in a suit who was looking around and calling his name.
“Mr. Barnes, if you'll follow me. I think you were expecting someone?”
“Stevie-"
“Go get ‘im, Buck,” Steve answered, Gabby cheering in the background, hanging up before Bucky could say anything else.
He put away his phone and walked towards the woman who was smiling politely at him in a black skirt suit and heels that didn’t look like they belonged in the middle of a park, let alone a busy market. When they started walking away from the market, he noticed two men falling into step behind them. Dressed in their black suits, dark shades, and earpieces, they fit in even less than the mystery woman did.
Someone’s an even bigger deal than I realized , he thought to himself, the realization making his stomach drop.
Like the rest of the world, he’d seen Tony’s star rise quick and bright. He’d become a household name for all the right reasons, something he’d strived to achieve in his time after MIT. His father’s company was lucrative, but Tony had never wanted to build weapons. He wanted to do good, be a positive force in the world. And Bucky had watched him do just that. He’d built a new form of sustainable green energy that was slowly being implemented the world over. He’d built prosthetics and medical equipment – which he sold below cost to veterans – that were better than anything on the market. He’d set up scholarships at so many different universities around the world that Bucky had lost track. And in the past year, he’d shut down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries.
They rounded a corner to a playground that Bucky knew wasn’t there when he’d met Tony almost ten years ago now to find it completely deserted except for a handful more bodyguards and on the swing set, the man that had stolen his heart.
“Thanks Pep,” Tony said with a smile to the woman that was still besides Bucky. She nodded and gave him a wink before walking away.
“Anthony,” Bucky greeted him, his hands shoved deeply in his pockets, mostly to remind himself he couldn’t just leap forward and kiss him like he used to do.
“James. Long time no see, old man,” Tony finally said when she wasn’t within earshot anymore.
“Who’re you calling old? I see at least five grey hairs on ya,” Bucky answered with a smirk.
“I’ll need to fire my colourist,” Tony frowned, but the playfulness hadn’t left his eyes.
Bucky sat on the swing next to Tony, facing the opposite direction than he was, as he tried to think of what to say, where to start.
“You cut your hair,” Tony finally said.
“Yeah. Which I’m now seeing was a mistake. The man-bun woulda fit right in at the market,” he answered with a nod towards the stalls behind him.
“I was sure I was in the wrong place when my driver stopped in front of the park entrance. This place has changed so much,” Tony added wistfully, letting himself sway a bit on the swing.
“Sure has. Seems lotsa stuff’s changed.”
Tony chuckled quietly, likely guessing Bucky was talking about him.
“Just because I come with an entourage that rivals that of the President doesn’t mean I’ve changed, Buck. I’m still just me.”
Bucky finally looked over to him to find Tony looking back at him with the softest expression on his face. “You say that like just you was never a big deal.”
“I’m really not. I still can’t remember basic human things like eating and showering. Sleep’s gotten worse too. If it wasn’t for Pepper, I wouldn’t be able to keep my life in check – whatever life I do have.” Tony’s feet kicked around the sand beneath him. “I’m not a big deal, Bucky. It just looks like I am.”
“You were always a big deal to me, Tony,” Bucky said as evenly as he could muster.
“I’m sorry I left,” Tony answered sadly. “I’m sorry for so many things that night, Buck. I should have been honest with you. I just didn’t know- this felt like the only way I wouldn’t fuck it all up.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“I did something really, really stupid. I fell for- I fell in love with you.” Tony gave him a smile that sent every cell in Bucky’s body on fire along with the words he’d wanted to say and hear more than anything in the world. “But, I knew we couldn’t do the long distance thing, and you couldn’t move with me, and I couldn’t stay.”
“You assumed a lot of shit, sounds like.”
“Come on. I had to go, that’s a given. You had plans here with Steve, your whole life was here. And I knew I’d mess up a long distance relationship if we tried that. I travelled so much this whole time, we never would have seen each other. You deserved a chance at a normal life, and a real relationship, and someone that would be there for you all the time, not just when they weren’t busy with other stuff.” Tony looked away from him then. “I thought up this idea after I figured out how long it might take me to get SI where I wanted it, I put in a bit of a buffer so it didn’t look weird if I said 28 and a half. And then I hoped the best-case scenario happened.”
“And what was that exactly?” Bucky asked.
“That you'd spend seven years single, lonely, and missing me. That you’d show up here today and tell me you missed me.”
“That's it?”
Tony nodded to his feet, still not looking at Bucky.
“Bit cruel of you to wish I was sad and lonely for seven years,” Bucky reflected, making Tony huff out a laugh. “I tried so damned hard to get over you the first couple years. I almost flew to California a few times. I was so mad at myself for not fighting for you to stay. Or I dunno. Mostly spent lots of time kicking myself for not telling you I’d fallen in love with you. Then the design company finally got some traction, so I was busy enough that I didn’t think about you every second. Didn’t help that your gorgeous face was everywhere.”
“I saw you guys used some of the arc reactor tech in some projects. They look amazing.”
Bucky shrugged, like he usually did when he got compliments about his and Steve’s business. “Steve makes things look good, I make sure he considers the right beams and retaining walls. It’s all him, really.”
“We both know that’s not true.” Tony leaned his head against the chain link of the swing, looking at Bucky with a hopeful expression he likely mirrored on his own features. “Did you manage to do it? Get over me?”
“What do you think?” Bucky answered quietly.
Before Tony could answer anything, Bucky reached for the swing he sat on and pulled him towards his own. Just as their lips connected Bucky realized the chain of events he'd set off. Two of Tony's bodyguards were rushing towards them, one on each of them, pulling them away from each other.
“I wasn’t hurting him,” Bucky tried to defend himself with a huff as he tried not to topple off the swing.
“Let him go,” Tony yelped beside him as he extricated himself from the other bodyguard’s grip. “Did I look unhappy or in danger?”
“Sorry boss,” the man closest to Tony answered sheepishly. “Got a little carried away there.”
“No shit!” Tony stomped to the man still holding Bucky by his jacket, slapping him on the shoulder. “Let him go.”
The man did, but not before scowling at Bucky.
“What's with the Men in Black contingent anyways?” Bucky asked as they retreated towards their previous positions.
“Apparently, when you shut down a weapons manufacturing division, you piss people off enough to have minor death threats against you,” Tony shrugged.
“ Minor ?! There is nothing minor about death threats, Tony!” Bucky huffed. “You really haven’t changed. You’re still the dumbest genius out there.”
“It’s being handled, I promise. It isn’t a big deal, really.” Tony stepped closer to Bucky, slotting himself between his legs and framing his face with his hands. “I’m about to kiss him, and I swear if any of you tries to interrupt again, your next job will be as mall cops,” he yelled out before pulling Bucky in for a kiss that was definitely better than the one they’d just shared.
“Come home with me,” Bucky said when Tony finally released him, resting their foreheads together so they could both catch their breaths.
“New York?” Tony asked.
“Yeah.” Bucky wrapped his arms tighter around Tony's waist, worried he'd magically disappear if he didn’t hold on to him. “At least give me a few days with you before you have to jet back.”
“We're actually looking at some real-estate there this week. Opening up an East Coast office. I’m thinking of moving there. I have a bit of free time between now and then that I was hoping you’d help me fill.”
Bucky let out a relieved laugh and kissed Tony again and again.
“I know we still have lots of shit to figure out, but I never got over you either, Buck. I’d really like to go on a date with you.”
“You free now?” Tony nodded and Bucky took his hand and got up. “Let’s go. Saw this really cute market on my way here.”
Tony laughed as he let Bucky pull him towards the pathway.
“The end,” Bucky said quietly, careful not to wake the newborn that had fallen asleep in his arms.
“You know you two acted like idiots right,” Gabriella told them seriously looking up at Tony then Bucky, who'd just recounted the PG version of how they'd met to her for the hundredth time.
“Gabby, it isn’t nice to say that,” Sam told her pointedly from the doorway of her bedroom.
“Even if you are pointing out the obvious,” Steve added from behind his husband, who just chuckled.
Bucky flipped them both off over his goddaughter's head where she couldn’t see.
“Wouldn’t be as good a story though, now would it?” Tony chuckled, kissing her hair. “And, you wouldn’t get to be the flower girl at our wedding.”
“I get to be in your wedding?” she shrieked excitedly.
“Only if you want to, squirt,” Bucky answered.
“Of course I do!” she answered like it was the most obvious thing ever.
“Thought so. Now, go to sleep, and we can talk about pretty outfits tomorrow,” Bucky warned, kissing her forehead.
He scooted off her bed carefully, Tony tucking her in and letting her dads finish their nighttime routine. They made their way to the living room with Sam and Steve's newest bundle of joy tucked snuggly in Bucky's arms.
“Gabby's not wrong. We were idiots,” Tony agreed, as he curled himself against his fiancé and watched their nephew sleeping peacefully.
“Well, we still are, so I don’t think that coulda been avoided,” Bucky smirked at him before turning serious. “All that matters is that you’re mine now and we're together. And in a few months, I get to call you my husband. How we got here is just our story.”
“It is a pretty good story,” Tony smiled at him.
“Especially the non-PG version.” Tony laughed and kissed Bucky, a soft and slow thing that never failed to make Bucky's heart soar. “Love you, Tony.”
“Love you too, Bucky.”