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not-close-to-straight · 4 years

Text

Falling (Three)

TW for Character Death but like... not really cos we know where Tony is. Also Tissues because I cried outlining Rhodey’s speech, and then again rough drafting it, and then again editing it...good times.

Also I already have so many ideas for expansions of this verse ughhhh

MASTERLIST HERE

***********

MCU-verse

“A few days ago, the world as I knew it changed forever.”

The cathedral went quiet as Colonel James Rhodes took to the podium, serious and somber in his dress uniform, eyes red and hands shaking as he looked down at his notes.

“I don’t mean because of the wormhole over New York, though that certainly changed my mind about a lot of things I’d never thought to consider true.” the Colonel cleared his throat once, twice, darted a glance first towards Pepper sat off to the side and then to the casket sat closed and heavy on the platform below.

“One week ago, my entire world changed when my best friend re routed a bomb out of Manhattan and took it straight into the sky. Through the damn wormhole and into the other side without even hesitating cos he knew it would save us.” James had to stop again, let his voice crack and he heard Pepper start quietly crying. “Tony um-- Tony was Iron Man. He was a hero from the minute he put on that suit to the minute he--”

The podium shook when James gripped at it hard, counted to ten once and then again to give himself time to breathe and to keep reading the speech he’d prepared only last night.

“Tony was a hero from the minute he put on the suit to the minute he-- oh hell, I can’t read this.” Rhodey put the cards away and scrubbed at his eyes until they stung. “Can’t read a speech about Iron Man when it’s my best friend-- my best friend laying over there, I can’t--”

Another deep breath, another quiet cough to clear the tears from his throat and James began again, stronger this time.

“Tony Stark was my best friend. We met at MIT, he was basically five and a half feet of pure disaster and I knew I was in trouble the minute he showed up and tried to claim top bunk. Tony fell right the hell off the ladder and I had to carry his dramatic ass to Health Services because he was sure he broke his ankle.”

A few chuckles broke out and Rhodey managed a small smile. “He was a disaster that day, and every after that but he was my disaster and my best friend and that’s all that ever mattered.”

“My favorite memory--” the Colonel closed his eyes again and forced out a breath. “My favorite memory of Tony is actually from a few weeks after we met for the first time. It’s obvious these days how mechanically inclined Tony was but what no one else really knows is that Tony’s first robot was one I built.”

He tapped at his chest and tried not to sob when his fingers hit his half of a best friends necklace Tony had bought for them one drunk spring break a long long time ago. “I built Tony’s very first robot and the brat actually stole it from me.”

A few more laughs and Rhodey continued, “I drank all the coffee one day and Tony barged into the robotics class a few hours later screeching about how badly he needed caffeine and I needed to fix it now and then he stopped and stared at just-- just the saddest looking robot you've ever seen. It was basically a box on wheels with one arm and it never did anything I programmed in so when Tony asked what it was, I said 'it's a damn dummy is what it is, doesn't do anything right'."

The Colonel pulled an old picture out of his pocket, one of a very young Tony next to that same robot. "Tony was so offended I'd call a robot dummy that he told me I didn't deserve to have cool toys and that it was his now, I could have it back when I was worthy. Believe me, I didn’t take kindly to having my project stolen and for the rest of college-- and honestly the next thirty years-- I tried damn hard to get that robot back. It was like a heist movie, me making plans and Tony thwarting them at every turn, me roping people into the conspiracy and Tony shrieking that I wasn't worthy and that's why my plans never worked."

"...Dum-E is still down there in Tony's workshop." he finished softly. "He wears a dunce cap and carries a fire extinguisher and he's Tony's favorite thing in the world. See that's what no one knew about Tony. Everyone knows Tony was Iron Man and-- and a goddamn hero, but he was also sentimental and sort of embarrassingly sappy and when he decided he loved something it was forever and nothing could ever change it.”

“Dum-E was lucky enough to be something Tony loved. I was lucky enough to be someone Tony loved and it changed my life. Tony changed my life."

Rhodey put the picture away and looked towards the casket, tears blurring his eyes as he finished, "I uh-- I miss you, Tpnes. Miss you, bud. And I want to keep thinking this is some sort of trick, some sort of prank but I know in my heart--”

He held tight to his half of the best friends necklace. “--I know in my heart that it-- it’s not. And that makes me real sad.”

Pepper dropped her face into her hands, thin shoulders shaking and James tried hard to smile, to get through these last few words. “So uh-- right now I'm gonna go get my robot back. I fully expect JARVIS to have some anti heist protocol that ends with my hair on fire but you know what? I’m gonna try anyway. Rest well, Tony. We miss you.”

There was polite laughs, some tears dabbed from eyes, a smattering of clapping and James stepped back from the podium to sit by Pepper. "How was that?"

"It's exactly what he would have wanted you to say." she whispered through her hankie, and he wound an arm around her shoulders to hold her tight. “I miss him so much, Rhodey.”

"I miss him too, Pep.”

“It’s so stupid.” Pepper blew her nose daintily. “Wishful thinking. But you know, I get the feeling that he’s okay. I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel like he’s okay. Resting.”

“Yeah, I know, I keep thinking the same thing.” Rhodey touched the necklace again. “But resting or not, when I get to heaven, I’m kicking his ass for leaving me too soon.”

“Oh definitely.”

****************

Bucky and Steve’s Apartment

“Billionaire socialite Maria Carbonell shown here with her husband Howard Stark…” Tony mumbled to himself as he read through yet another article about his mom-- or rather, this universe’s version of his mom. “--donated millions to her husbands research to cure leukemia.”

“Philanthropist Maria Carbonell opens a school of music for inner city kids.” He kept scrolling, smiling, as he read about Maria changing the world with her money-- and it was certainly Maria’s money this time around. Apparently this Howard Stark was an attractive scientist with a sugar mama and in each of the pictures Howard looked absolutely delighted to be accompanying Maria down red carpets, up stairs to national monuments, through the door of yet another awards ceremony for Humanitarian and conservation efforts ranging from restoring museum pieces clear through establishing brand new schools in sorely lacking communities.

“Howard Stark, husband to Italy’s sweetheart Maria Carbonell passed this morning --” Tony swallowed, pausing in his scrolling. “--at home with his wife. The cause of death is noted as a heart attack, though Mrs. Carbonell is comforted knowing he passed quickly and peacefully into the afterlife. The scientist is lauded for his contributions and research into childhood illnesses and since they had no children of their own, Howard’s personal funds will be diverted into a scholarship fund for MIT. “They are the future, not me.” he is quoted as saying often, “They will turn my first steps into a journey that will change the world.”

“...bye Dad.” Tony whispered, though the article was dated three years past, though this Howard wasn’t his dad and had led a much different life than the Howard Stark that built Project Manhattan. “I um-- I love you.”

“Maria Carbonell retires to Italy after husband’s passing, ‘I’m content to live out my life with my grand piano and library and wine!’”

“Maria Carbonell breaks her silence on ex-family friend and advisor Obadiah Stane-- “he can rot in prison for all I care, and yes you can quote me on that, I said it, didn’t I?”

Obadiah… Tony hesitated just a moment before searching for the name, his hand automatically over his heart and his breath coming faster as picture after picture of the man that had been Uncle and then had turned to nightmares filled the computer screen.

‘Obadiah Stane accused of embezzling millions from Carbonell Foundation’

‘Obadiah Stane accused of funneling money meant for prosthetic limb research into smart bombs’

‘Former Carbonell advisor Obadiah Stane egged as he walks to the courthouse, Maria Carbonell shown handing out eggs to crowd’

‘Obadiah Stane found guilty of embezzlement and intent to fund terrorists, sentenced to thirty five years in prison’

‘Maria Carbonell laughs in reporters face when asked how she feels about Obadiah Stane’

“Oh.” Tony sat back in his chair and scrubbed his hands over his face. “Jesus Christ.”

His mom and dad were okay, Howard passed peacefully and Maria sure seemed to be living her best life in her seaside villa in Italy. Obadiah had been caught before he could hurt anyone and was rotting away in a prison cell.

Last night Tony had got to have dinner with his friends, with his family Pepper and Rhodey and this morning he’d woken up to forehead kisses from both his Doms before Bucky had rolled out of bed for a shower and Steve had gone to start breakfast.

Captain America was making him breakfast and Bucky had walked past in a towel and his mom and dad were okay.

This was-- everything was--

“Beauty?” Steve threaded his fingers into Tony’s hair and smiled affectionately when Tony automatically tipped his head back. “What are you doing, you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Tony pushed the laptop away and let himself sink into the feeling of security, the weight of Steve’s palm on his scalp, the way the blond always smelled like ocean body wash. There was definitely an inside joke there about his Steve being in the water for seventy years and this Steve using ocean mist soap, but Tony kept that to himself and settled a little firmer into Steve’s hold.

The Dom’s breath caught when Tony opened his neck further, and Steve brushed carefully over Tony’s pulse point, over the curve of his neck where a collar would lay. “Tell me the truth.” he said quietly. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Tony said again, and he meant it. “I’m fine and I’m-- I’m happy--”

He hadn’t heard Bucky come in, but the Dom was at his side in an instant, bending low to dot a kiss at Tony’s collarbone and to spread his fingers wide over the patch of scars on his chest. “Sure do love hearing you say that, baby doll. You happy with us?”

“Mmm…” the lure of falling tingled at the base of Tony’s neck, the urge to slide off the chair and let the Doms catch him on his knees. He was so safe right here, safe and caught in this place beyond-- beyond his own world.

And things were different, sure. Thor was a model which was equal parts hilarious and alarmingly arousing. Clint was tall as hell and Natasha laughed so easily here. Bruce was a professional wrestler and in his free time worked with the Ph.d candidates at the university, Steve was an artist and Bucky was alive…

...and oh Pepper was so beautiful and so at peace and Rhodey was a stunt pilot in that ridiculous get up and…

“Sweetheart.” Bucky's voice was nearly a growl in response to the soft whine Tony gave. “You need us to take care of you? Bring you under real easy? It's been a few days since your drop, are you ready for more?”

“We’d take care of you, Tony.” Steve now, whispering the words into Tony’s ear and right into his heart. “Baby I promise. If you’re gonna gift us with your trust and submission we are gonna do everything to keep it. Everything.”

“Anything, sugar.” Bucky’s big hand closed just lightly over Tony’s throat and he gasped out loud before going loose and pliant, practically whimpering as blue fuzzed at the edges of consciousness, called him in and under. “Don’t need a collar for us to be yours, Tony. If that’s what you want.”

Oh oh oh---

"Tony!" A new voice, breaking into their moment as James Rhodes pushed open the door of Steve and Bucky's apartment and called out for the sub. "Tony! You home? Where are you?"

Tony snapped out of the near-scene whiplash fast, jolting up in the seat as everything in his body tuned to his best friend’s voice.

“I’m sorry.” he said quickly, reached to press at both Steve and Bucky’s hands. “I’m sorry, I want--” this. you. falling. “I do, I just-- I have to talk to him.” I miss him. “Please?”

“You don’t need our permission to talk to a friend, Tony.” Steve was quick to reassure him, but the Dom’s blue eyes softened at the request anyway. “We will pick this up after though.”

Not a question, and not a seconds hesitation when Tony nodded in confirmation.

“Yes sir. Thank you.”

Bucky caught him as he left, snagged his wrist and pulled him back for a slow kiss that had Tony seeing stars by the time they parted.

“Hurry.”

“Yes sir.”

James looked thoroughly unimpressed when Tony basically staggered from the bedroom and he looked somehow even less impressed when Bucky and Steve posted up in the doorway to watch.

“Settle down, boys.” he scoffed. “I’m not gonna steal your sub or snatch him away somewhere wicked when it’s pretty damn obvious he’s halfway to down. Not gonna mess with him, I just need a minute. Quit snarling at me and go have a soda or something.”

“Rhodey!” Tony laughed out loud and James pulled a face to complain, “You weren’t kidding about calling me Rhodey huh?”

“Oh no. Not in the least.”

“I guess I’ll learn to deal.” the other Dom said blandly. “Now come on, I’ve got something to show you down in the truck, I think you’ll like it.”

"...okay?" Tony grabbed his jacket and followed Rhodey down the stairs. “What um--”

“Are those two assholes treating you right?” Suddenly Rhodey was all Dom, straightening his shoulders and lowering his voice and part of Tony wanted to laugh out loud over Rhodey being threatening, but the other part missed having his best friend be protective to the point of moving him to tears.

“They um--” he coughed lightly. “They’re being great to me.”

“They’re good guys.” James continued. “Steve’s a little cheesy for my tastes and Bucky always smirks like he’s one breath away from a stupid come-on, but they’re good men and good Dominants but none of that matters if you came outta a shitty situation and can’t handle them.”

“Well I--”

“You’re welcome to move in with me.” The elevator doors opened and Tony gaped up at his friend in surprise. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want a sub and certainly not one that looks like as much trouble as you do, but you can stay with me and know you’re safe if you don’t want to stay with those goons.”

“I’d like to stay with the goons.” Tony said faux seriously, and Rhodey finally cracked a grin and winked down at him.

“I knew you’d say that, but felt like I needed to speak up anyway. Should I give them a shovel talk so you can see how your Doms look quaking in their boots?”

“Are they scared of you?”

“Damn straight.” James pushed Tony through the outside doors and down towards the parking lot. “So last night at dinner Steve mentioned you’re into robotics and stuff? Might even try to improve on Buck’s arm?”

“You could say I’m into robotics.” Tony eyed the tarp covered lump in the back of the truck curiously. “Really got into it in my college days. Why?”

“Cos I thought you’d get a kick out of this.” Rhodey undid the latch of his truck and pushed away the tarp, lifted down a clunky looking robot that was nothing more than a box on wheels with an arm attached. "I built this thing back a few years ago when I tried to impress some hot scientist who loved the Terminator movies. What do you think?"

"I um--" Tony stared at the robot, at the paper dunce cap on it's head and the familiar treads on its wheels. "I--I--” he put a hand over his mouth and tried not to cry. “I um-- Well, why-- why is it wearing a dunce cap?"

"Cos it's a dummy." Rhodey scowled at the contraption. "Never does anything I tell it to. It wasn’t even cool enough to get me laid. I’m a fighter pilot, a stunt pilot and I build robots and she wasn’t impressed.”

“She was missing out.” Tony tried to laugh but it came out as a half sob. “You can’t call a robot a dummy, though. That’s just mean.”

“The hell it is!”

“Just for that, I’m keeping him.” Tony reached out and straightened the dunce cap tenderly, rubbed at a little bit of grease buildup at the arm hinge. “I’m keeping your robot, Rhodey. He’s mine now. He’s going to live with me.”

“THE HELL HE IS!” The Dominant gaped down at him. “You can’t take my robot! You can look at it maybe, but you aren’t about to just walk away with--”

"You can have it back when you're worthy of such a cool toy." the sub stuck his nose in the air and snapped his fingers. "Wake up, robot, you're coming with me."

The robot beeped and whirred to life immediately to follow Tony up the path towards the doors and Rhodey groaned, “Of course the stupid thing listens to him. Of course it does.”

“You’re welcome to try and take him back!” Tony called over his shoulder. “But be warned my interest in robotics extends to booby traps and anti-heist protocols!”

"Traitor!” The Dom threw his hands up in exasperation. “Tony! I want that thing back! That is my robot and I’m getting it back!”

“The hell you are!” the sub snapped and if Rhodey wouldn’t have been laughing so hard he might have wondered why he was letting a submissive back talk him so loudly and thoroughly, shouting sass across a parking lot.

Bucky and Steve were in for a ride with that one.

He was a fan.

Tony could hear the Dom laughing clear into the building and into the elevator so he waited until the doors had closed before breaking down, falling to his knees and throwing his arms around the scrappy robot. "I’m real glad to see you, bud.”

Dum-E only beeped and waved his arm around in excitement, and Tony hugged him tighter. “This feels an awful lot like heaven, Dum-e, don’t you think? Mom and Dad are okay and Pepper’s okay and Rhodey and now-- now I even have you here and that’s pretty damn perfect.”

A few more beeps and Tony nodded, pushed his hair out of his eyes and stood back up. “Time to find my Doms, huh?”

The robot rolled quickly after Tony down the hall to Steve and Bucky’s door, clicking and whirring curiously as Tony led it inside the apartment and then went off to explore the new place while Tony went to find his Doms.

“Bucky?” he called. “Steve? I’m-- I’m home again!”

“Hey sweetheart.” Bucky looked up and smiled, took his hand off Steve’s thigh to beckon for Tony. “C’mere and see us.”

“Come here, honey.” Steve tapped his foot a few times and pointed down at the floor and Tony didn’t even hesitate to move, didn’t hesitate to kick his shoes off and stumble towards them on unsteady feet until he could fall to his knees.

Home and it was so easy and so beautiful, Tony gasped out a word that might have been a prayer and his Doms were right there to catch him when he teetered, Steve meeting him there on the floor to hold him, Bucky protective over them both as Tony slid towards the edge of under and falling.

...Tony used to love falling. He used to love the exhilaration and anticipation, the way his breath stuttered in that split second of flying before gravity took over. He used to love falling into a new habit, falling into a new love, just falling when he jumped from the diving board or the airplane or the rocks he’d climbed on as a child that he thought were so big.

...Tony used to love falling and when Steve knelt down beside him and pulled him in close, when Bucky lowered his voice to a rumble and ordered his subs to submit, when gravity tugged at Tony’s soul and he let himself slip to the pull of submission and that quiet, secret need to be held...

… then falling was like coming home.

Like finding himself.

Like closing his eyes and letting go.

Heaven.

********************

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#ncts fics #stuckony #tony stark #steve rogers #bucky barnes #alternate universe #dom/sub

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theragingpan · 4 years

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okay, hear me out. dum-e dies during the snap. just---evaporates. tony tries to restore him, but his coding is lost forever. since he was constantly learning and adapting, tony is literally unable to recreate him, even with his photographic memory. when bruce snaps everyone back, dum-e reappears-but no one will tell him where ton-e is! he tries to prod (read as, spray with fire extinguisher) rhod-e into telling him, but he just looks sad. he even wrecks one of the suits, but ton-e doesn’t give him his dunce cap.

dum-e never stops looking.

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imaginetonyandbucky · 6 years

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After coming home from a mission, Bucky is informed that his husband Tony has died...but it's actually some kind of clerical error. All the winteriron h/c! xoxo

Bucky takes a quick glance back behind him and catches the gaze oftwo SHIELD agents.

The agents turn away quickly, continuing their walk, but theirshoulders are tense as they stride the opposite direction as Bucky.

Bucky frowns. It’s the first pair that Bucky has caught givinghim a double-take, but not the first he’s suspected. Some he’d recognized asupper level agents.

...So he’s behind on SHIELD gossip, SHIELD gossip that hassomething to do with him.

He’s only just returned from a mission, two days behind schedule,but he doubts Natasha would be this out of the loop. Especially if she’sconnected to the gossip, like Bucky must be. Maybe she took pity on him sincehis mission had been in the Alaskan mountains - because of course Hydra likedto lurk in cold, out-of-reach places - and texted him the details.

Bucky had already wanted to delay his mission debriefing so hecould finally have a hot shower, and now he’s definitely going to. Bucky takesa right at the next corner to head toward the locker room - to information andcomfort - rather than an agent that will ask Bucky to recount his every thoughtas soon as he left SHIELD.

His thoughts usually ends up following something like: Tony,Tony, shoot enemy agent, punch enemy agent, Tony, aim, fire, aim, fire,download hard drive, Tony, shoot, run, Tony, Tony, Tony, and sometimesBucky recounts his exact thoughts about Tony because it’s entertaining to watchthe agent struggle to retain their composure - and also give Coulson aheadache when reviewing the paperwork.

Though Coulson’s comment about a sex position Bucky had beenfantasizing about trying had actually turned out to be useful.

(More after the break!)

Bucky doesn’t feel up to messing with SHIELD agents, not yet, butNatasha’s intel and a hot shower would probably improve his mood.

His phone is in his locker, and Bucky powers it back on as heunbuckles his tac gear. Message notifications light up the screen - from Sam(probably insults), from Clint (probably memes), from Tony (probably pictures).

Bucky thumbs open the messages from Natasha, and while her textsare definitely entertaining, they aren’t the type of intel that would haveSHIELD agents giving Bucky double-takes in the hallway. He’s confused, but atleast the pictures from Tony make him smile.

The latest photo is of DUM-E with his dunce cap in the corner ofthe workshop, clinging to his fire extinguisher with a blender of something,most likely non-edible, tipped over at his feet. Bucky can’t wait to hear thestory behind that one.

Then his phone beeps with a voicemail notification.

The door to the locker room opens, and an agent steps in.

“Agent Barnes, you’re needed in Conference Room A34 immediately.”

The voicemail is from Steve, and Bucky’s heart races as he startsit. He lowers the volume to keep it quiet, so quiet only his enhanced hearingwill catch it.

“Hey Buck,” Steve’s voice says. “Call me when you get this. Rightaway, okay?”

Bucky’s stomach drops, followed by a wave of coldness through hisbody.

“...Agent Barnes?”

Bucky takes a controlled breath. He is the Winter Soldier, theex-Fist of Hydra. He will handle whatever situation this is. Even if Steve’stone of voice is sending Bucky’s stomach on a plunge. Steve had beencommanding, terse - and that didn’t mean good news.

He doesn’t acknowledge the agent. Bucky buckles back up histactical vest and grabs the extra handgun he keeps in his locker. Then Buckystrides from the room, the agent walking double-speed to keep up.

Bucky opens his last line of communication and thumbs open hisemail. It hampers his image a bit, but it does mean that anyone in his path hasto dodge out of the way, as Bucky isn’t even looking to make sure that his pathis clear.

Hundreds of unread emails flood his screen - memos and protocolupdates and overdue paperwork notices - but one catches his eye. One in allcaps, bolded, and time-stamped yesterday.

Yesterday, which is the same timestamp as on Steve’s voicemailmessage. Yesterday, which is after his texts. Tony’s text had been three daysago, and Natasha’s two.

URGENT: ACTION REQUESTED, SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

Bucky opens the email and stops cold.

“Agent Barnes?” the agent tailing him pants, pulling up short nextto him.

Bucky isn’t listening. Bucky isn’t breathing.

Bucky can’t even read a sentence, his eyes taking in only snatchesof phrases. Sorry for your loss. Our sincerest condolences. Down in the theline of duty. Mission of sensitive nature. Delay on death certificate. Sign andreturn acknowledgement of gag order. Global security concerns.

Decease of partner.

Bucky’s mind freezes, halts on that thought and can’t move pastit. He’s stuck, looping through that phrase again and again. Decease ofpartner. Decease of partner. Decease of partner.

Decease of… Tony.

Tony, deceased.

Tony… dead.

“Agent Barnes?” the agent prompts again, as everyone else swervesaround them. They are the fixed point in the middle of a busy hallway,receiving looks of curiosity and judgement and on a few agents - agents whomust know - grimaces. Grimaces of sympathy? Maybe. Bucky isn’t sure hecan recognize the emotion and wouldn’t want it even if he did. He doesn’t wantsympathy. He doesn’t want pity, or platitudes, or flowers or whatever else goesalong with… funerals.

Oh God. Tony is dead.

Bucky disappears, leaving the agent in the wake. He races for theconference room, for that all-important ‘debriefing’ in which someone issupposed to be breaking the news to him. Someone who got preempted by an email,a damn email, and there better be some mistake because Tony isnot dead.

Tony is not dead.

Bucky hears voices in the conference room before he reaches it,thanks to the serum.

“You need to take a seat before I pull you from this mission.”

Fury.

“Don’t try that bluff with me, Director. You won’t like how itends.”

Steve.

“I don’t bluff. This is not a mission we go in guns blazing, so Ineed you to sit down and take a breath.”

“I don’t carry guns,” Steve argues, in full on stubborn bastardmode.

“But you know someone who does, and he follows you.”

Bucky bursts into the conference room.

Coulson, the only one currently sitting, swears when he seesBucky’s face. Fury is also there, trench coat whipping behind him as he turnsto Bucky, scowl in place.

“Who told you?” Fury demands.

But Bucky only has eyes for Steve.

“Is it true?”

Steve’s eyes are wide and pained. He looks… sympathetic.Apparently Bucky can identify sympathy on someone’s face.

Steve steps toward Bucky, reaching out. “Buck…”

“Who?” Bucky barks. “How?”

Steve grimaces. “It’s always Hydra.”

Bucky takes a shaky, gasping breath, and then he flees. He hearsSteve shout his name behind him, hears Steve’s footsteps trying to follow him.But Bucky lets his flight instincts take over and Steve didn’t have those,Steve had always been fight.

Bucky loses Steve’s in thirty seconds, and goes off of any SHIELDsurveillance in forty-five.

Bucky has nowhere to run to, he just runs. After he hijacks one ofSHIELD’s helicopters, he simply flies. He disables the tracking sensors andthen just goes in a direction, flying blind.

Tony is gone. He won’t be waiting at home. He won’t smile whenBucky walks through the door. He won’t reach out for a hug, or offer a joke, ortilt his head up for a kiss. Bucky won’t fall asleep next to him, won’t wake upnext to him, won’t… won’t get another minute with Tony ever again.

Bucky won’t be able to sit in the workshop and watch Tony yank thefuture into the present, one experiment at a time. Bucky won’t sit next to Tonyat movie night, teasing Tony about why he hasn’t invented whatever sci-ficontraption is on screen. Bucky won’t walk into the living room only to findthat Tony had shoved all the furniture aside so that Tony could ask him todance - swing band, the polka, disco - anything and everything. Bucky won’twrap his arm around the Iron Man armor and fly with Tony, buzzing the streetsand skimming the skylights and soaring the sky.

Bucky crashes the helicopter, not caring to pay enough attentionto land properly.

He climbs out of the wreckage, already healing, and sinks to hisknees.

Tony is gone.

Four years. They’d had four years together, married for two. Thering finger on Bucky’s left arm had a plate of gold, with Tony wearing hismatching ring around his neck. It hadn’t been enough, not nearly long enough.It never would’ve been, but… four years? After everything they’d been through,only four years of happiness? (Or 3.6 years, really because there had been thatmassive fight right after their first year anniversary)

How many days, how many months, how many years is Bucky supposedto face now, without Tony? Bucky gasps for breath. His tears don’t come, notyet, but soon enough a pinhole will open up in his current wall of numbness,and then he won’t be able to stop.

A streak of light catches his attention, and Bucky leaps to hisfeet when he hears the sound of repulsors.

Rage, a crushing wave of it, overtakes him as he grabs the smallhandgun at his back - the one he’d taken from his locker and is stocked full ofammunition.

It was the Iron Man armor that pulled to stop above Bucky andslowly descended, cautious and wary in a way that Tony never was. SHIELD hadalready put someone else in the suit, in Tony’s suit.

“Bucky… hey,” the suit greets as the armor comes to a halt on theground.

Bucky raised his gun and aimed for the faceplate, right betweenthe eyes.

“Whoa, okay, are we reallygoing to do this?” the person in the armor greets.

Gag order. Global security.Tony Stark’s life and death is a political storm, but for Bucky every bit of itis personal. SHIELD hiding and waiting until they could spin Tony’s death in amanner that benefited them, putting someone else in the suit to do so andsending them after Bucky… Bucky fires.

The bullet hits its mark, ricocheting off the helmet.

“Can we talk about this?” the suit asks, hands held up insurrender. “I mean, if you want a sparring partner we can do that, but if youget hit by a ricochet I’m going to be upset...”

“Get out,” Bucky orders. He fires again, the bullet pingingagainst the suit. “Get out of the suit!”

Bucky aims for the reactor, but he can’t pull the trigger. Even ifit’s not Tony on the other end… Bucky can’t shoot the reactor, not knowing whatit means, what it stands for.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming out, but if you shoot me I will never letit go. Just warning you. I’ll bring it up during every argument, andit’ll be super annoying, and you’ll be annoyed, but I will keep bringing upthat you shot me if you pull that trigger. So think twice, okay?”

The helmet retracts. The suit opens.

Tony Stark steps out, his eyebrows drawn in concern, his handsraised in surrender.

“Hi,” Tony says, wary. “Come here often?”

“...Tony?” Bucky whispers. He realizes he’s still holding his gun,aiming for Tony’s face, and Bucky lowers his arm.

“No bullet? Awesome, we’re doing great, really great. Let’s keeprolling with that, yeah?”

“Tony,” Bucky croaks out. Something that was going to be ahalf-laugh gets stuck in his throat, then it rips out like a sob. “Tony.”

Bucky struggles to breathe. His body trembles. His body flashes hotand cold and then hot again. Blood and violence he can take, he’s dealt fordecades in that, but this - Tony yanked from him but now back again -has Bucky falling to his knees.

Tony leaps forward, hand outstretched, but he’s not quick enoughto stop Bucky from crashing to the ground. “Baby, you’re scaring me,” Tonyadmits, his eyes wide with concern.

But Tony is now within arm’s reach, and Bucky lets his gun fallfrom numb fingers so that he can reach out and crush Tony to him. He buries hisface in Tony’s shirt, takes in the scent of Tony and workshop and home. He’dalmost lost this. He’d thought he had lost this.

“I’m sorry. I tried to be there. I wanted to, but I didn’t make itand I should’ve. I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry,” Tony says as he cards hisfingers through Bucky’s hair. “We’ll get Zola. We will.”

Bucky leaps to his feet, gun back in hand. “What?” he barks as hecases the horizon. “Zola? He’s alive?” Bucky tips back over into fear,cold and rigid, as he tries to quiet the tremors in his fingertips as heclutches his handgun.

Tony stars at Bucky, brow furrowed. “Didn’t Steve tell you?...Isn’t that why we’re here?” Tony asks, gesturing to the grassy field and theremains of the helicopter.

“They told me you were dead!” Bucky argues. “Was that all a trickfor, for him?”

Bucky’s mind races. Zola. Zola. Bucky remembers him all toowell. Bucky remembers the look in Zola’s eyes after he had first strapped Buckydown onto a table. Zola had been curious, clinical - he hadn’t seen a humanwhen he looked down at Bucky, he’d only seen his next experiment. And thenthere were the memories after the fall, with that second experimentation, thefinishing of the first. The arm, the words, the serum… Bucky wishes he forgetagain, at least that part.

Steve had promised Zola was gone, Zola’s mind erased with thedestruction of those hard drives.

“No! What kind of stupid, idiotic… They told you I was dead?” Tonyyelps. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” Bucky admits, heaving for breath. “Steve said itwas Hydra and then I… left.”

Tony wraps his arms around Bucky, but Bucky can’t take his eyesoff the landscape. What if he’d put Tony in danger, running away from SHIELD,drawing them both out, and Zola is around the bend waiting to make his move?What if Zola is already infiltrating SHIELD, the Tower, as they speak?

“Oh God, honey,” Tony breathes, hugging Bucky tight. “I’m fine.Nothing happened. Fury must have been on something, because seriously what thehell? And Steve just, what, went along with it?”

Bucky swallows and locks the metal joints of his fingers before hewraps the arm around Tony’s waist, so Tony can’t feel the micro-movements thatgive away Bucky’s nerves. “We should… we should get back to the Tower. Moredefensible. Safe,” Bucky mumbles. He can’t get Tony killed. He can’t let Zolaget a finger on Tony.

“Yes, but first there’s a certain Star Spangled Asshole to dealwith,” Tony says as he unwraps one arm from Bucky to grab his phone from hispocket. “Then I’ll move onto Fury. And Coulson. And SHIELD entirely, the bunchof assholes.”

“Tony! Tell me you found him -”

With his enhanced hearing, Bucky doesn’t even have to strain tohear the worry in Steve’s tone.

“Yeah, I found him,” Tony interrupts. “Now shut up and explainyourself, Rogers. Where the hell do you guys get off on telling Bucky that I’mdead?!”

“What?” Steve shouts in reply.

Bucky blinks back tears, the ones that had been building sinceBucky had opened that damn email, as the story untangles and straightens out.Steve had assumed - as had Fury and Coulson - that Bucky’s devastation had beenbecause someone had already spilled the beans that they’d found evidence thatZola still lurked in Hydra’s systems. Bucky’s questions hadn’t specified, andSteve’s answers hadn’t clarified.

That email, that damn email, had been nothing but a mistake. Ittook Coulson to realize that the email should have gone to [email protected] instead of [email protected]. Someone had died, someone on a classified mission, but it hadn’tbeen Tony.

Bucky feels guilt at his relief because now he knows how thatsomeone will feel finding out their partner is dead.

But it’s not Tony.

It’s not Tony, and it’s not that Bucky didn’t know for almosttwenty-four hours. It’s not that Bucky didn’t know because he had been on amission, finishing up stuff for SHIELD, ignorant, while they kept fromhim that his partner was dead. It’s not that Bucky is nothing but a tool, anasset, to be used until his mission is complete.

It’s not Tony who is dead, and Bucky will always be grateful forthat.

“Let’s go home,” Tony suggests, voice soft. He’s kept one hand onBucky the entire time as if Bucky is the one who is going to disappear.

“Please,” Bucky breathes out.

He clings to the Iron Man armor the entire way home, and then toTony the rest of the night.

“I’m here,” Tony promises. It’s as much of a promise as he canmake, futurist as he is. With Zola back in the world, even Bucky isn’t going tomake any promises about always being there for Tony. “I’m still here.”

#winteriron #tony x bucky #tony stark #bucky barnes #temporary character death #misunderstandings #prompts #hddnone #Anonymous

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duaneodavila · 5 years

Text

Top 10 ‘New Rules’ For 2019

Bill Maher (Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage)

In the spirit of the New Year, it seems appropriate to start 2019 by simultaneously poking fun at the legal profession and providing some insight into issues facing legal operations and technology professionals. There are plenty of lawyer jokes out there. This is not that. These are more in the spirit of new year’s resolutions we all make and hardly ever stick to. Think of these new rules as a sort of aspirational wish list. And for anyone taking life too seriously right now, these quips are meant to be funny, silly, and generally harmless. If you feel otherwise, write your congressional representative or local bar, not me.

New Rule: Any lawyer who says technology and innovation in the legal business is putting lawyers out of work should have credits deducted from their CLE account. I mean, c’mon, we’re better than this in the legal business, aren’t we? If you don’t respect and value technologies as tools to make the practice of law more efficient and thereby make time for new or more prosperous opportunities, perhaps you’re in the wrong business.

New Rule: Anyone who thinks they will save money by “self-collecting” ESI in discovery should be forced to pay an immediate 10 percent rate increase. Look, the horror stories are legion when it comes to self-collection. It rarely works out well and there are some good legal reasons why companies should not self-collect ESI. Do yourself a favor and consult an expert (or at least someone who’s done it before).

New Rule: Anyone who mentions “blockchain” in a presentation must stop and explain blockchain, how it works, and its application to the current presentation. It’s just gotten crazy out there. It’s not alright to just throw around the latest buzzwords and marketing terms and trends. Blockchain is just the latest in the litany of shiny new objects. Not much happening there yet. But there are well-intentioned people, some of whom haven’t got a clue, who actually believe some of this hype.

New Rule: The next person to say that eyes on every document is the safest route should be fined (or at least be made to put eyes on every document). It’s 2019, people. We have the technology today to eliminate some of the waste in document review. I know, document review was and in some instances still is a money maker. But the simple fact is, if you can eliminate 50 percent of the documents in a collection because you can determine to a reasonable certainty that they are irrelevant, isn’t that a good thing?

New Rule: Anyone who thinks it’s too expensive to hire an expert to do the job should be forced to hire an amateur. This one is actually a modification of a famous quote by Red Adair, who built a career out of extinguishing oil well fires — by using explosives, of all things. We all know an amateur who can suck the air out a room. Be certain the expert you hire is the right person for the job.

New Rule: The next lawyer who decides to choose a vendor based on a +/-$40 bottle of wine without first doing some homework on the vendor should be forced to wear a dunce cap. This will likely get me in trouble with my friends on the service provider side, but hey, let’s face it, not all service providers are the same. Different people, different cases, different technology, different expectations. Truth is a project could go off the rails at any vendor at any time. At least do some basic due diligence and don’t let gifts influence important decisions.

New Rule: Next person to use the words “artificial intelligence” in the legal technology space has to pay for drinks. We get it, the computer revolution has invaded the industry. But it’s been more than a decade now. No one is using pure AI in legal, plain and simple. And we can debate whether machine learning is AI, but after 10 years can we find something else to fixate on?

New Rule: No one should assume that greater attention to disciplines like privacy, cybersecurity, or information governance will diminish the need for eDiscovery. Let’s not get complacent about eDiscovery. Investing in these other disciplines is necessary, but lawyers still believe the devil is in the details and eDiscovery is still an area that can cost you if you’re not careful about it.

New Rule: No more renaming the use of analytics or machine learning technologies. We’ve got TAR, CAR, CAL, SAL, structured this and predictive that. Really? Sure, there are differences, but at some point can we all just a agree that tan and beige are basically the same color? Can we just get to using the technology and move on already?

New Rule: No firm or company in the legal industry is allowed to lay people off right before the December holiday season. I know, Trump shut down the federal government and there’s hundreds of thousands of government employees who didn’t get a paycheck before Christmas, but do you really want to be in the same category with that guy? I mean, who does this? I’ve never seen or heard of this before.

I am indebted to friends and colleagues who contributed to and/or inspired this column. I could not possibly have divined these rules on my own, so I reached out to the community. Thanks Brad, Catherine, Tom, Ari, Herb, Craig, Rob, Scott, Steve, and others who asked not to be named. Not all rules made the cut and we’ve taken some editorial license and added commentary as appropriate.

Happy New Year! Have a great 2019!

Mike Quartararo

Mike Quartararo is the managing director of eDPM Advisory Services, a consulting firm providing e-discovery, project management and legal technology advisory and training services to the legal industry. He is also the author of the 2016 book Project Management in Electronic Discovery. Mike has many years of experience delivering e-discovery, project management, and legal technology solutions to law firms and Fortune 500 corporations across the globe and is widely considered an expert on project management, e-discovery and legal matter management. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter @edpmadvisory.

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tonystarkbingo · 3 years

Photo

TSB May Flash, Week 4!

We’ve got quite a few, due to our Birthday Bash Discord Party, so go check it out and spread some love!

We’ll have one more Roundup for our May Flash, then on to June! If you want your masterpost included in our Grand Masterpost, make sure they’re done by June 3rd!

Title: Sam Wilson, Captain America Collaborator Name: newnewyorker93 Card Number: 02 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : Sam Wilson Ship: none Rating: Gen Major Tags: crafts Summary: felt figure of Sam Wilson as Captain America Word Count: 0

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Title: The Steel Bars between Me and a Promise (suddenly bend with ease), chapter 1 Collaborator Name: deehellcat Card Number: 02 Link: AO3 Square Filled : Sam Wilson Ship: pre-sambucky Rating: Teen Major Tags: post-FATWS, canon divergence post-Endgame, pining, Cap Sam Summary: Sam's crushing on Bucky, but he is positive Bucky and Sarah are crushing on each other, and he is determined to be the adult and be happy for them. He is. Except deep down, he really isn't. (After the events of FATWS, Sam and Bucky both moved back to their respective apartments in Washington DC and Brooklyn. That situation may not last long, with a little nudging from the world’s most questionable relationship advisor, one Tony Stark.) Word Count: 712*

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Title: The Steel Bars between Me and a Promise (suddenly bend with ease), chapter 2 Collaborator Name: deehellcat Card Number: 02 Link: AO3 Square Filled : tools Ship: Tony/Pepper Rating: Teen Major Tags: post-FATWS, canon divergence post-Endgame, Cap Sam Wilson, domestic Pepperony, adorable Morgan Stark Summary: Tony's hurrying to repair Sam's wings, but runs into some tool issues. Word Count: 963

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Title: Science Sons + Flamethrower Collaborator Name: rebelmeg Card Number: 04 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : Flamethrower Ship: Tony & the Science Sons + Dum-E Rating: Gen Major Tags: moodboard, workshop shenanigans Summary: Tony returns to his lab to find it on fire. Harley blames Peter, Dum-E is on extinguishing duty. Word Count: N/A

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Title: A Time to Mend Collaborator Name: PoliZ Card Number: 06 Link: AO3 Square Filled : 4 - Goat Ship: Bucky & Ayo Rating: Gen Major Tags: missing scene, Black Panther compliant, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Compliant Summary: Ayo helps Bucky get settled into his new role in Wakanda. Word Count: 626

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Title: The Steel Bars between Me and a Promise (suddenly bend with ease), chapter 3 Collaborator Name: deehellcat Card Number: 02 Link: AO3 Square Filled : park Ship: pre-sambucky Rating: Teen Major Tags: post-FATWS, canon divergence post-Endgame, pining, Cap Sam, Showing off Summary: Sam meets Sarah and Bucky at a park, and doubles down on his determination to be happy for them. Word Count: 1032

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Title: -DUNCE- DUM-E Collaborator Name: newnewyorker93 Card Number: 02 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : party Ship: Dum-E & U Rating: Gen Major Tags: art (pencil drawing) Summary: After Tony (finally) goes to bed, U turns Dum-E's dunce cap into a proper party hat Word Count: 0

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Title: The Steel Bars between Me and a Promise (suddenly bend with ease), chapter 4 Collaborator Name: deehellcat Card Number: 02 Link: AO3 Square Filled : chicken Ship: pre-sambucky, Pepperony Rating: Teen Major Tags: post-FATWS, canon divergence post-Endgame, pining, Cap Sam, mutual pining, SO MUCH PINING, Tony Stark is a Good Bro Summary: Tony plays agony aunt for Bucky this time. He really tries to give good advice, and opens up a little to Pepper later about why. Word Count: 837

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Title: The Steel Bars between Me and a Promise (suddenly bend with ease), chapter 5 Collaborator Name: deehellcat Card Number: 02 Link: AO3 Square Filled : party Ship: sambucky Rating: Teen Major Tags: post-FATWS, canon divergence post-Endgame, pining, Cap Sam, mutual pining, inappropriate gifting, getting together Summary: The party is for Sarah and the boys, but it’s Sam who gets a couple of unexpected presents. Word Count: 910

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Title: A Little Bit Of Magic In My Life Collaborator Name: Magica Card Number: 06 Link: AO3 Square Filled : Magician Ship: Phoebe Halliwell & Tony Stark Rating: Teen Major Tags: AU - Canon Divergence, crossover, magic, witchcraft, witch!Tony Stark, dodgy spells Summary: When her friend Tony Stark goes missing in Afghanistan, now retired Charmed One Phoebe Halliwell convinces her sisters to cast a little spell - just a *little* one! - to give him the strength of will to get through the ordeal. Their little spell has a rather unexpected *big* consequence. Word Count: 2851

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Title: Appropriate Attire Collaborator Name: Magica Card Number: 06 Link: AO3 Square Filled : Goat Ship: James "Bucky" Barnes & Tony Stark Rating: Gen Major Tags: Post-CA:CW, Wakanda, goats, healing, Bucky Barnes recovering Summary: Recovering in Wakanda after the disastrous events in the old Hydra bunker, Barnes receives a letter - and a visit - from the last person he expected. He hasn't been the only one healing. Word Count: 1642

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Title: Appropriate Attire Collaborator Name: Magica Card Number: 06 Link: AO3 Square Filled : Business Suits Ship: James "Bucky" Barnes & Tony Stark Rating: Gen Major Tags: Post-CA:CW, Wakanda, goats, healing, Bucky Barnes recovering Summary: Recovering in Wakanda after the disastrous events in the old Hydra bunker, Barnes receives a letter - and a visit - from the last person he expected. He hasn't been the only one healing. Word Count: 1642

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Title: Chibi party Collaborator Name: eachpeachpearplum Card Number: 02 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : Party Ship: N/S Rating: Gen Major Tags: art, chibi Summary: Chibi Tony with party paraphenalia Word Count: N/A

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Title: Sharply Dressed [WinterIron Moodboard] Collaborator Name: PoliZ Card Number: 06 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : 2 - Business Suits Ship: WinterIron Rating: Gen Major Tags: moodboard, business suits, tailor Summary: Tony takes his new bodyguard to his personal tailor Word Count: n/a

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Title: When the Lights Go Down in the City Collaborator Name: PoliZ Card Number: 06 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : 1 - Peter Quill Ship: StarkLord Rating: Gen Major Tags: fluff, pining!Tony, FlashFictionFriday prompt Summary: Peter gets a bit homesick, and Groot tries to help Word Count: 422

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Title: chibi tools Collaborator Name: eachpeachpearplum Card Number: 02 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : Tools Ship: N/A Rating: Gen Major Tags: Chibi, art Summary: Chibi Tony with tools Word Count: N/A

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Title: Chibi trees Collaborator Name: eachpeachpearplum Card Number: 02 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : Park Ship: N/A Rating: Gen Major Tags: Chibi, art Summary: Chibi Tony with trees Word Count: N/A

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Title: Chibi chickens Collaborator Name: eachpeachpearplum Card Number: 02 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : Chicken Ship: N/A Rating: Gen Major Tags: Chibi Tony, art Summary: Chibi Tony with chickens Word Count: N/A

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Title: Chibi Sam and Tony Collaborator Name: eachpeachpearplum Card Number: 02 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : Sam Wilson Ship: N/A Rating: Gen Major Tags: Chibi, art, Sam Wilson, Tony Stark Summary: Chibi Sam and Tony Word Count: N/A

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Title: Broad Shoulders Collaborator Name: PoliZ Card Number: 06 Link: AO3 Square Filled : Water Fight Ship: WinterIron Rating: Teen Major Tags: Pool shenanigans , fluff with a bit of angst, Bucky POV Summary: Bucky finds out why Tony never goes swimming in the pool. Word Count: 1720

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Title: Birthday gift Collaborator Name: SaganaRojanaOlt Card Number: 02 Link: Tumblr Square Filled : Sam Wilson Ship: SamBucky Rating: Gen Major Tags: Tsums, birthday gifts, hobbit Summary: Sam's Tsum standing on the top of the Hobbit, holding onto Bucky's metal arm Word Count: N/A

#tonystarkbingoflash2021 #tsbflash2021 #tsb flash weekly roundup #tsb flash week 4

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