Chapter Text
Nine times.
The face of her watch lit up. Telling her the hour. The only light in the dark room. Y/n sighed. Hitting the watch to turn off the watch face light.
She and Tony where suppose to go out on a date...
Five hours ago.
She didn't need a light in her room to find her go bag. She already made an arrangement with a few friends of hers. She sent Nick a message earlier saying that she needed time and he granted it to her.
Gripping her go bag she went over to the balcony. Clipping the rope to the banister y/n repelled her way down to the ground. With a well practiced move the clip came off and she wound up the rope.
"Come on feet. Let's get moving. We have a long way to go."
•
Bucky had a smile on his face as he went to the common area. Y/n called it a living room but it was much more then that. Spying Tony brewing a fresh pot of coffee.
"Hey Tony. How did it go last night? I know that Y/n was pretty excited for it."
"Excited for what?" Tony's confused look made Bucky's jaw drop.
"Your date last night. Y/n was excited about it. You should have seen the smile she had plastered on her face."
"That's next...week...though..."
Both men felt a sense of dread. Tony dropped his cup of coffee and ran. Bucky was right on his tail.
"You fucking forgot!"
"I was busy. Working on something for both of you!" Bucky paused. Watching as Tony swung into the elevator and hit the number for y/ns floor.
Tony has his arms crossed and his foot is tapping on the floor. He has hope that y/n didn't do what she said that she was going to do if he bailed on another one of their dates again.
He was out of the elevator the second he could squeeze his body through. He gets to her door and sees it cracked open. The door opens further as he knocks on it.
"Y/n, kitten, queen of hell, goddess of badasses?" He speaks but gets no reply. Friday raises the lights. The room is empty. Spotless. The only thing out of place was the dress hanging on the closet and the boots below them.
Along with the door to the balcony left open.
"When"
"Ten last night."
•
Bucky found Tony in his lab. Looking at what seemed to be a prosthetic arm. Something that looked like y/ns.
"To..."
"It's a sleeve to go over the prosthetic. It melds to the metal attached and even feels like real skin. I've been working on trying to get it to recognize in the brain. Give it the sensation of being a real limb."
"T..."
"Her birthday is in a few weeks. I was hoping to have it done by then."
In one sweep of his arm everything on the table lands on the floor.
"Tony, is this what's been occupying your time?" Bucky bends down to pick up the limb.
"Yeah. It is."
"I get that you want to surprise her, but this doesn't explain why she left."
"Friday, if you would."
"Please babe. Let's reschedule and I promise that I will make it up to you."
"Eight times. Eight times I've sat up till dawn waiting and hoping that I would hear your knock on my door. Asking if I was ready. You get one more chance Antony Stark. One! Mess this up then it's over. I'm gone. Do you understand."
"I do. I promise that I won't let you down."
Once the audio recording is done Bucky looks over to his boyfriend. He can see the tears running down his face. When the man started sobbing Bucky stood as Tony collapsed into the chair behind him. Hands at his face.
Bucky went over to Tony and began to rub his back. Knowing that the man needed time to cry it out.
"I lost her Buck. I lost her for both of us."
•
She knocked on the door as dawn began to show. It had taken a while to get there. Several hours. She just wanted to clean up and get some sleep. Maybe figure out her next step.
She had a burner phone on her. So she could be in contact with Nick as needed. But she was done with Tony.
"Y/n, come in dear."
"Hey Auntie. Thank you for letting me crash."
"Oh it's no problem y/n. I'm sure that your tired and in need of a shower."
"You have to be a mind reader Auntie."
"Oh no dear. I just know my little Starlight. Come in."
Y/n made her way over to her room. The only thing that changed was a new bed. Everything else was the same.
"Have you talked to your father?"
"Not since I found out about my little bro."
"He didn't tell you when it happened?"
"No. He was the benefactor for six years. I confronted him. Then I went to his boss with the evidence." Y/n sat down looking at her mismatched hands.
"What happened?"
"My...ex boyfriends got involved. Through legal means they forced him to repay every red cent. Plus interest. Then I found out what happened to my brothers body."
"You don't have to force yourself to tell me Y/n. Go shower then come down for food. Something warm in your stomach before you try to sleep."
"Again Auntie. Thank you."
•
"So we all agree?"
The room gave the man a nod. Bucky hung back sitting next to Tony rubbing the other man's back.
"It's going to be ok Tony. She will come back."
"It's been six months Bucky. I don't think that she will."
•
Y/n started bussing tables when the dinner rush hit. She was quick on her feet and hid her arms well. Fast and efficient. Like her boss liked. It was her last shift before the weekend and if all went well she would have a few days to herself. Of course she would be helping her aunt every so often. To repay her for letting her stay at her house. Small in the grand scheme.
She got home and went to bed.
The smell of scrabble woke her. Her stomach demanding food. Yawning she makes her way down to the kitchen.
"Morning dear."
"Morning Auntie."
"This just in an unexpected press conference from the Avengers." Y/n sat down as the news played.
"I'm retiring from boots on the ground missions." Y/ns jaw drops. Orange juice pouring out of her mouth.
Excuse her?
"I have decided that stark industries will be focusing on medical implications of our tech from here on out. There are several devices that is under the stark name that require training and one hospital in each state will have to chose among themselves to send one person to receive training."
"Mister stark, what was your motivation behind this decision?"
"Missed opportunities with the woman I love. No further questions." Tony turns and there's a flag attached to the back of his suit. Y/ns eyes go wide.
Tony moves over to Bucky. Dipping the man as the pair kiss.
Y/n gives a strangled gasp. She's stunned. She's shocked. She...she...
She just realized he called her the woman he loves.
•
Bucky is a bit breathless when Tony stands him back up.
"Go bring our girl home."
"Will do."
Tony takes a few steps away and his suit forms around him. Going to fly off.
He heard a commotion behind him but pays it no mind.
Bucky had a goofy smile on his face as he looked up to the sky.
That....
Was one hell of a kiss.
•
Y/ns poor brain still struggled to put one and one together. Let alone comprehend the scene she just saw. Her mind was running through the tabloids field day.
"Y/n? Are you ok dear?"
"I don't know Auntie. I never thought..."
The doorbell went off. Y/n looked over to her aunt. Whom only sipped at her tea.
"I'm pretty sure that's for you dear."
Y/n slowly opened the door to show Tony Stark. Still in his suit. Still wearing the bisexual flag on his back.
"Mister Stark."
"Miss l/n. May I come in?"
"You may." She opens the door farther and permits him entry.
"May I speak before you say anything?"
"You may."
"I've seen how you look at your prosthetic. I've seen you work your left side to compensate for your right. I've seen you look at it with hatred. I have been working on something that would, more or less return your arm to you in all but form. It will look like it was. Feel like it was.
That is what's been consuming my focus. I want you to stop hating the limb. I want you to see it as a new beginning. Not as something that was taken from you."
Tony place the case he held closer to her. Farther from him.
"I will respect if you never want to see me again. But you will always have a space at the tower. And my heart."
Y/n didn't say a word. She couldn't. Not really. Tony gave her a nod and left.
Y/n looks at the case. A bit weary but does pick it up.
•
Tony's back at the tower pacing. His hands are behind his neck and he's out of his monkey suit. He had a few hours before he needed to be at the spot.
"Your worried for nothing Tony. She will be there."
"She didn't say anything when I got done. I couldn't read her expression. I couldn't tell what she was thinking."
"Babe, your stressing yourself out. It's not good for you."
"I know. I don't know what I will do if she calls it quits for good."
•
Y/n dressed and looked at the glove in the case. Shaking her head. Taking the envelop out of the case. She closed it and put on her normal black one.
"Last chance?"
"Yes. One last chance."
"Be safe."
"I will Auntie."
•
Tony sighed as the car rolled into view. He saw her and smiled as she stepped from the car. She looked beautiful. But when he sees her right hand he's a bit confused.
"What may not work for me, may work for others."
Tony reaches his hand out to her. She lightly places her gloved hand in his.
"I do believe that we have a date to get to."
"Will you tell me where or is it a surprise?"
"I believe that you will be pleasantly surprised."
Once they settle y/n takes her cues from Tony. Within minuets they are in the air.
"Tony?"
"I would take a nap if I where you. It's a thirteen plus hour flight."
"I didn't...."
"Already taken care of Y/n. You just relax."
"I'm going to need to make a phone call when we land."
"Ok."
•
She wakes up a bit after. Her seat back and a blanket over her.
"Good nap?"
"Yeah. Haven been sleeping well."
"I'm sorry."
"We aren't going to be heading back to the US for a while aren't we?"
"That all depends on you. I owe you nine dates don't I?"
She smiles as she stretches.