Work Text:
Fox in the Henhouse
Steve huffed as Bucky finally helped him crawl onto the roof. This was the thing he hated most about traveling—so many countries still sequestered omegas away from betas and alphas. Some even sequestered them away from their mates, only allowing them to share a room if the omega was in heat! And that was even when they weren’t on a diplomatic mission trying to be on their best behavior.
This time, though. This time had been a simple kidnapping—at least, as “simple” as kidnapping could be. Tony had mentioned at least he wasn’t being tortured, just being kept until the country’s monarch could come and force him into marriage. ‘If only I had an alpha or beta who could sully my innocence before he arrived,’ Tony had sighed, maudlin, as he’d been led away.
Natasha had immediately called Pepper, who had immediately called Tony’s lawyers, but even she had mentioned that it would probably take longer than they had time for and they should just bite the bullet and mate Tony properly.
Steve, personally, would have preferred to do it on his own timeline, but as the hours ticked down and both the embassy and Tony’s lawyers failed to make headway, he had to admit that this was probably their only chance.
“They know he’s not even a virgin anymore, right?” Bucky groused as he used the device Clint had handed him to peek into each room, eyes carefully glancing away from the camera screen when he realized it wasn’t the correct one and he was basically peeping other royal omega concubines.
“We did more research on that tea ceremony Natasha had never heard of,” Bruce offered into their earpieces. “It’s actually a religious ceremony to cleanse an omega of their sins. Effectively, in their culture, Tony is a virgin.”
“Tony is going to be so pissed when he finds out,” Steve muttered. “I think we should aim him at the king when we tell him.”
“I think we should aim him at our hosts,” Bucky replied.
“Hey, uh, you should hurry,” Natasha said suddenly. “Bruce is looking up the tea they gave us and. Well. You’re gonna be upset.”
Steve pinched the bridge of his nose. “I am already so upset. What. What did Bruce find.”
“It’s an herbal supplement to induce a heat, Steve,” Bruce explained, ripping the band-aid off. “I assume so that he’d be less able to fight off the king’s advances.”
“That mother fucker,” Bucky growled.
Steve reached out to grab his shoulder, partly to ease his emotions, but mostly because he heard a guard coming and wanted them both to get as close to the roof as possible so they wouldn’t be visible from the ground. They would be no good to Tony if guards sounded the alarm. From what Clint and Natasha had dug up, an alarm would mean omegas being moved to a safer location that only a choice few knew. Tony would be pissed if he had to rework his own escape plans. (At least, they assumed Tony was making his own escape plans. Even now, he still had difficulty relying on the team for help. They'd learned to be okay with that, but they liked to get there before he could rescue himself just so he knew they did care.) Steve could admit he also didn't exactly trust himself not to simply plow through the guards and storm the harem, nor did he trust himself to stop Bucky from doing the same. The Avengers did not need another international incident. They'd be lucky to get out quickly and quietly and hope that the king was too embarrassed by his plot failing to say anything.
It took fifteen more minutes and several more rooms before they finally found Tony’s. It took another ten to get inside.
“You couldn’t unlock the windows?” Bucky asked, scowling at him.
Tony blinked at him placidly. “Where’s the fun in that? You’re the Winter Soldier. You know how windows work.”
“You’re a brat,” Bucky sighed, frustrated.
“We’re getting you out of here,” Steve said, reaching out to grab his shoulders. “And then taking you home. This country can go on America’s permanent shit list.”
“That sounds good,” Tony admitted. “But, um. I don’t know that I can leave anymore. I—” He flushed a little when Bucky raised a skeptical brow. “I’m a little… too warm to be out on the streets, if you know what I mean.”
“Oh,” Steve said, and then reached out and grabbed Bucky’s arm. “So you were serious about the… 'sullying your innocence’ thing.”
“Well not at the time, but I am now,” Tony began, embarrassed. “If I’m caught outside like this, I’m gonna be in even hotter water than I am now. And it’s not like we don’t already—”
“Say less,” Bucky said, picking him up and carrying him over to the bed.
Tony covered his mouth to muffle a yelp so as to not draw any guards. Steve privately thought the guards would get everything they deserved if they tried to bust in, compliments of two very pissed off super soldiers, but he figured he’d be foolish to say so out loud, especially when Tony was already grilling Bucky about who had taught him how to properly use 'say less’ to his face.