#slackwater au

[tisfan]

Slack Water, Part Six

Part One: Ripples | Part Two: Gyre | Part Three: Phytotelma | Part Four: Palagic | Part Five: Tsumani

Name of Piece Slack Water, part six: Shoals Square Filled K2: Reunion Also on A03 Rating Mature Warnings: Consentacles, tentacle sex, marine mating habits, oral sex (sort of? I dunno, Tony’s a fish!) Summary: Tony Stark/Bucky Barnes

Bucky’s never actually been free. While Bucky is discovering what freedom is like, Tony is learning everything his mate likes. Fleeing south, Tony eventually brings Bucky home...

Created For : @tonystarkbingo

There was the sea.

Bucky had dragged the tiny tank down a bumpy path, much less smooth than the interior of Hydra’s cavern. He had to stop more frequently to rest; pushing the tank, or pulling it, both were equally exhausting. And the little rocks that made up the path were painful against his skin. It wasn’t far, he hoped. He scouted ahead a few times, although he tried not to get out of sight; Tony got anxious if he couldn’t see where Bucky was.

But he could hear the tide crashing against the beach, somewhere.

He only hoped he was going in the right direction.

The sun was hot, and the water in Tony’s tank was getting warmer. Uncomfortable. And Tony was starting to have trouble breathing. There just wasn’t that much oxygen left. Damn Hydra. But if they died now, so close to their goal, at least they would die free.

Further, and the rocky path gave way to thick plant material. It was smoother, and the tank rolled easier. Below them, low water rushed under it, not deep enough for Tony, and too far away to get to.

Finally, Bucky reached the end of the long wooden thing, a projected, manthings built path over the sea. The water was below them, several manlengths down.

Tony. I’m going to push you in. Try to dive shallow. I don’t know how deep the water is.

Tony managed a weak nod.

Bucky worked the tank all the way to the edge of the wooden path and shoved as hard as he could, rocking the tank back and forth. Water spilled out of both sides as Tony sloshed back and forth inside.

The whole thing tipped and Tony hit the wooden path. He flopped a few times, back bowing as he struggled to move in the strange, waterless world, and then, splash, over the side.

Bucky peered cautiously over the side, looking down into the water. He didn’t see Tony. The white froth crashed against the pillars holding up the wooden path.

Bucky skittered to the edge, then down the side to the water.

He paused at the very surface.

He’d never actually been in the ocean, not that he remembered. He knew he came from there, but Bucky was tank-raised. He’d always been in Hydra’s waters. He hesitated, then… Tony.

(more below the cut)

Tony was waiting for him, near the bottom, tucked against one of the wooden pillars, just breathing.

The water was cool. Fresh and full of oxygen. There were other, living things. Clusters of mollusks on the wooden pillars. A bed of clams.

Bucky wrapped one arm around his mate. He told himself he wasn’t frightened. They were free. They were free of Hydra, and they could go anywhere they wanted. Well, Tony could. Bucky still had the arm, attached to him. Marked by Hydra. He would always be one of them. Not a free mer. Not… worthy.

Tony broke open a few of the mollusks, teasing the morsel out of its casing. Food. Eat?

We shouldn’t stay here long. They might come looking for us.

Tony shoved several pieces of mollusk and clam into his mouth, chewing hastily. Yeah. I don’t… I need to get my bearings.

Bucky wasn’t even sure he knew what that meant.

Come on. This way.

Bucky followed.

The water grew deeper. Colder. Blacker. Bucky kept close to his mate.

There were more living things in the waters than Bucky had ever seen before. Fish and crustaceans. A pod of squeaky dolphins swam by them, playing in the water. Tony kept them low in the water and they moved slowly, with Tony darting from clusters of plants to sunken manthings, always looking around.

What are you doing?

There are sharks, sometimes.

Bucky didn’t know what a shark was.

Whenever Bucky asked where they were going, Tony just answered south. Or something home. At least Tony had a home, Bucky guessed. Even if Bucky had no idea what or where that was. They passed a school of mers at one point, and Tony stopped to chat with them, Bucky hanging back shyly.

The water got warmer again, cleaner.

Tony was moving faster now, well fed and with fresh water surrounding them all the time, he was stronger.

They found a small cavern, enough room for them both, and a wide rock that Bucky could pull across the entrance. It was nice. Safe. They stayed a few days. Tony hunted, using his electrical pulses to stun almost an entire school of fish. Some of them swam away, but the rest of them, Bucky scurried around to grab hold of, before they floated, dead, to the surface.

It was nice.

In the dark safety of their cavern, Bucky discovered other nice things.

He discovered that Tony was honing his skill at kisses. And that there were other things they could do to each other that were pleasurable.

Tony slid his mouth along Bucky’s body, testing his reactions, seeing what felt best. There were places that Bucky liked Tony’s mouth. On his ears, especially when Tony would nip along the shell. Down the length of Bucky’s neck, which made Bucky lean his head back as far as he could, to expose his throat. Tony would lick and taste Bucky’s chest. Along the divisial line, between his upper body and that of his lower half, where pale flesh gave way to red skin.

And then there were places on Bucky’s body where Bucky loved Tony’s mouth.

Tony found Bucky’s mating arm, the third right, with its sensitive packets, and touched them with his mouth. It was unbearable and wonderful at the same time. Bucky’s other arms pulled ‘round his mate, drew him closer. Each sucker mouth clamped on to Tony’s skin, a little kiss, a hundred little kisses.

I have you, darling.

Bucky writhed in Tony’s embrace as Tony licked and fondled the length of Bucky’s mating arm, stimulating and teasing and tormenting it all at once. Sensation zinged along all his nerves.

What do I… how do-- Bucky and Tony were different species, Tony didn’t have a mating arm, not that Bucky had been able to see or discover. Bucky didn’t know how to please his mate.  

You are pleasing me. Tony gently pulled Bucky’s mating arm out of his mouth, nipped at the very tip. He swam up, rubbing himself against Bucky’s body. Took Bucky’s upper arm, one finger. Press, here. He opened his mouth, indicated the specialized glands inside his mouth. Here. And here. Every time you give me kisses, it pleases me.

Bucky poked gingerly inside Tony’s mouth. Tony arched into it, his spine curving beautifully.

Yes like, oh. Oh, Neptune, sweet--

And then it was push and pull, Bucky holding onto Tony with as many arms as he could wrap around the daggerfish. Tony, open mouthed and making sweet sounds in the water, licking and biting and stroking at Bucky’s mating arm.

Tension shot between them, grew, and grew, until Bucky didn’t know what was happening. Everything was light and soft and warm, and he felt so, so good.

Tony! Tony!

There was a rhythm in it, an intimacy like Bucky had never known. Losing himself in the body of another. Touching, and stroking and-- Oh, Tony!

He tightened his grip until there was no room at all between Tony and himself, until every inch of his flesh was pressed against Tony, fingers and mating arm in Tony’s mouth, and he swelled and ached and…

Bucky!

The ocean boiled around him. Everything, everything was light and pleasure and sweetness. Bucky felt like his very essence was pulling away from his body, that he was glowing like the sun, that… oh, Neptune, that was good. It was go, so good.

Tony was shivering all over, clinging and tense and then he cried out.

I’ve got you.

Yes, yes you do. Tony gazed at him fondly through lowered eyelids. You have me, and you will always have me.

The days passed, hunting and securing their home. The nights passed, locking in each other’s embrace.

Bucky was happy, satisfied. Octomers were solitary creatures. Even a mate was more than Bucky usually had. He was happy. Content. But Tony was missing the company of others. Bucky was good, Tony insisted, but sometimes, Bucky still found his mate staring south, like there was somewhere else he wanted to be.

They were hunting one day, the waters warm and calm, and then a creature approached.

Bucky had never seen anything like it. Both dark and shiny at the same time, hundreds of tendrils descending from its body, with a full, purple mantle and beautiful, rippling skin. A jellyfish of some sort, Bucky thought. He knew the creature; Hydra had tested him against other marine life, sometimes, drove them to combat and killing. Dumb, witless animals, or sometimes other men. Bucky was a survivor. He pulled Tony behind him, getting ready to defend his mate.

Tony was squirming around, trying to see past Bucky.

Tones!

Oh! Tony was staring at the jellyfish, a thick, poisonous, dangerous creature, and Tony dodged Bucky’s protective embrace and swam at it, fast as anything.

Tony! Tony, wait, no. Bucky tried to catch his mate, but he wasn’t fast enough, and the jellyfish swarmed over him. The tendrils that could catch and sting, poison and kill, wrapped around Tony.

Next time, next time, you stay with me. The man-o-war was petting Tony, as if reassuring himself that Tony was okay, that he was alive, that he was safe.

Bucky hovered, worried.

Bucky. Tony reached out through the sea of tendrils for Bucky’s hand. This is Rhodey, my best friend. How did… how did you find me? Us?

I ain’t ever going to stop looking for you, not ever. Rhodey’s hands were tight on Tony’s shoulders, his whole face relieved, and Tony was hugging the man-o’-war with all his might.

Tony smiled, his whole face crinkling up with joy. Rhodey, this is Bucky. My mate.

Rhodey looked over Tony’s shoulder at Bucky, brown eyes assessing, everything about the man-o’-war shrieking danger, hostility. Defending Tony from Bucky? Bucky wouldn’t harm his mate. Bucky scowled, crossing his arms over his chest.

Rhodey shook his head. Tones, why don’t you ever do things th’ easy way?

Where would the fun in that be? Tony protested. Stop being such a grump, sourpatch. It’s all good. Everything’s good here. I’m home.

Bucky squeezed in, evading the spiny, stinging tendrils, until he could reach Tony’s hand. Twined their fingers together. He wasn’t sure what a best friend was, or why Tony had one, but this was part of his mate’s life, and he was staying with his mate. No matter what.

Tony leaned over and kissed him, in front of his friend, like their mating was already accepted, acknowledged. Bucky humming into it, taking comfort. And if he was cautiously checking every inch of Tony’s skin, making sure Rhodey hadn’t hurt him or stung him, well, that was just concern. Tony didn’t seem to mind.

Welcome home, Tones. 

A/N -- Electric Eels mate by the boy eel spitting up a nest for the female to lay eggs in. I took some liberties (and more than a few, since electric eels are actually fresh water fish) and basically, Tony orgasms through oral stimulation. So, all those kisses? Yeah, Bucky was getting Very Fresh, as far as Tony was concerned! 

And look! Rhodey!

#tonystarkbingo2018 #tonystarkbingo #bingo fill #winteriron #mermaid au #slackwater au #consentacles #the smut you've been waiting for