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For Tony Stark

[He's been on the run for what feels like decades, but is really only a few months. He knows he's doing a good job at being hidden because ever since the helicarriers fell out of the air there hasn't been a single confirmed sighting of him, and he knows that Steve is looking. Not just Steve, either. He's just not ready to be found yet.

The easiest way to move between countries, he's found, is by stowing away on private chartered flights. They're usually less attended than commercial flights, and if he can get on board then it's fairly easy to avoid the one or two passengers and crew. He has no idea that the flight he's stowed away on is Tony Stark's private jet, and that it's only Tony himself on board.

At least not until he hears a disembodied voice speaking throughout the plane once they're in the air. It's JARVIS, not that he has any idea who that is.]

Sir, scans of the plane show that there's a man crouching in your cargo hold. I wasn't aware you were transporting any men today.

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If you wanted to be found, you would be.

[He shrugs, like it's the simplest thing in the world, as if he hasn't been watching Steve twist himself apart. But the thing is, Tony can understand the need to hole up somewhere and put yourself back together again. Steve is great and Steve is a friend, but he can be...overbearing, sometimes. And Barnes probably knows that better than anyone.]

I figure you've got your reasons. So I try to tone him down. [They both know exactly who they're talking about.] Doesn't always work, but I try.

[Of all the people who he thought might understand the need to hide and lick his wounds, the playboy always in the public eye wasn't one of them. There's something deeper there, something that has brought that understanding to the surface.]

He thinks I'm someone that I'm not.

[Why is he telling this to Stark? It's private, vulnerable.]

I can't be what he needs me to be.

And what is it you think he needs?

[Not that Tony disagrees, particularly. The singe-mindedness with which Steve has thrown himself at the Barnes issue speaks to a lot of things, not all of them good. He's always been more than a little desperate for something that feels like home to him, and there really isn't a lot of that left.

And Tony can't help but huff out something that's almost a laugh.]

Not for nothing, if you shot him a line and told him you were safe and he needed to back off, it might help.

[Might being the operative word.]

[He doesn't answer that first question. He can't, it opens up too much of a can of worms to say that Steve needs the Bucky that used to exist. It raises questions as to why he can't be that man any more, and who exactly he is these days, questions which he has no answers for.]

Do you even know Steve at all?

[He raises an eyebrow.]

I don't remember much, but even I know that if I give him any sign that I'm alive, he'll cling to it like a dog with a goddamn bone and get ten times more stubborn about the search.

[The look he shoots Barnes in return is slightly offended - he knows Steve just fine, thanks - but he just shrugs.]

He already knows you're alive. He's flipping out because he thinks you might still be in trouble.

[Well he probably is still in trouble, but the point stands.]

Look, I'm just saying. He's stubborn as shit, but he's not an idiot. [Much.] The current status quo is driving you both crazy, why not try something else?

[How can he possibly explain that he's terrified of Steve? He's scared of not being who he needs, he's even more scared of somehow becoming that Bucky just because of being in his presence but it not really being him, he's scared that the programming is still there and he'll try to kill him again.

Steve represents everything - the past of who he might have been once, and the present of breaking free - it's too big to do that.

But he can't find the words and so he ends up just closing and opening his left hand into a fist over and over, expression locked in a scowl.]

Hey. [Tony puts his hands up in front of him, not least because Bucky is starting to get that look he doesn't like again.] It's you call. And I won't say anything to him if you don't want me to.

[He still doesn't get it really, but he also doesn't particularly need to. If Steve flips out at him over it, well, it won't be the first time. He can handle Steve. Barnes, he's less sure on.

Not that it's going to stop him from running his mouth. Probably ever.]

But for the record, what are you going to do? Keep running forever?

[It takes him a few moments to get out of the feedback loop in his head, eyes slowly focusing on Stark again. It's a good question, but not really one that he knows the answer to.]

...I don't know.

[At least he's being honest.]

Maybe. I don't even know why I'm still going, it'd be safer for everyone if I didn't, guess it's just things I might figure out down the line.

[Something in that statement makes Tony's eyebrows lift, but he's not going to chance after it for the moment. For one, he has no idea what he'd even say if Barnes is suggesting what Tony thinks he is. Not for the first time, Tony suspects that he is wildly out of his depth in this conversation. But here they are.]

You might. You seem to be doing alright for the moment. [Comparatively speaking, anyway. Maybe that's what prompts the next thing, the words coming out almost with Tony realizing them.] Would it help if you had somewhere fixed to stay for a bit? Somewhere out of the way, I mean.

What?!

[Pure surprise breaks through his usually neutral expression, just staring at Tony as if he must have imagined what he just heard.]

What are you-- suggesting?

[One eyebrow goes right up. What's with the surprise, Barnes?]

I'm suggesting I've got a house in Dubai that's empty. I could probably have worse squatters than you.

[If he doesn't already. But Barnes can look after himself, clearly.]

[Is it a trap? A way to get him into place so he can call Rogers over? Why would this man he's never met just offer him a place to stay? It doesn't make sense. But there's a longing on his face for somewhere finally safe that he can stop and rest; he's been running for so long, he's so tired.]

How do I know you wouldn't tell anyone?

[Tony can't help an amused snort.]

You do remember that you are currently in my clutches, right? If I wanted, all I'd have to do is tase your ass and present you to Steve with a bow on your head.

[Not that he would, but it is a fun mental image.]

[That wouldn't end well, he's fairly sure that he can stand up to a tasing, but he can get where Stark is coming from.]

You're risking a lot.

[Stark might be on his side about needing some space, but that's a whole different ballgame to literally sheltering him from Steve.]

From you? Worst you can do is raid the fridge or throw a wild kegger or something.

[Okay, yes, he knows what Barnes means. Tony also still waves it off.]

I'd think he'd want you to be safe. And I can do that, so hey, everybody wins.

You're one hell of a weird guy, Stark.

[But that's not a no. He should say no, he should stay silent and get off this plane as soon as it lands to disappear, but he's genuinely considering it. To not have to run, to have a secure place to figure out who the hell he was, it was an attractive proposition.]

I've heard that before.

[He doesn't sound particularly upset about it. More amused than anything.]

Look, I'll give you the code, use it or not. It's not like I'm ever there, I won't know either way. Plausible deniability, or something.

[Nope, he definitely doesn't know where Barnes is. Tony needs some kind of defense against Steve's goddamn lethal puppy eyes.]

You'll know.

[His remote AI would likely tell him as soon as anyone entered any of his properties, he's not dumb enough to assume he'd be able to move in and out with total impunity.

He's still not saying no.]

What's the code?

[He gives Barnes a long look, like he's weighing something, then quirks an amused smile. The glass he's been holding gets set down on the nearest flat surface as Tony slowly climbs to his feet and moves over to one of the nearby tables and snags a pen and paper. Sometimes it's better to have things that can't be hacked. And somehow, he suspects Barnes would prefer it.]

Here.

[He wanders back over, holding the strip of paper out to him.] Now don't flash that around or all the kids will want one.

[He takes the piece of paper and folds it as if it's precious, before sliding it into one of his pockets.]

You're a weird man, Tony Stark.

[Is that a compliment, an insult, or just a fact?]

But thank you.

I've heard worse.

[He shrugs and drops back into his seat, immediately reaching for his drink.]

So whatever shall we do for the next few hours?

You know how to play cards?

[The question is asked in a complete deadpan, not giving away if he's joking or being serious.]

[Tony shoots him an immensely dry look over the top of his glass.]

We are we talking here, poker? Rummy? Go fish?

You're making that last one up.

[Poker and rummy he knows, though it's only really poker that he sort of remembers the rules for.]

[There's the briefest pause before Tony lets out what can only be described as a cackle. He's almost instantly on his feet again to see if there's a deck around anywhere.]

Oh, now we're definitely playing. If you're good, I might even introduce you to War afterwards.

[Playing kid's card games with a notorious assassin. What even is his life.]

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cw: suicide

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