Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 1757

Itch

They were too early into their relationship to deal with problems. Tony knew that. They'd barely been together for a month. So when his skin started itching with the need to touch, to be touched, to hold and be held, Tony ignored it.

He fulfilled it best he could with Pepper and Happy, because they knew how clingy he could be and they were used to him. Sometimes, he thought they even didn't mind it. Pepper would hold his hand while they went over paperwork, and Happy would clap his shoulder and leave his hand there for longer than considered normal.

It helped. It wasn't perfect, but life rarely was, and Tony knew that.

Not to say that Bucky never touched him, because he did. He just… wasn't overly affectionate. When it was just the two of them, he'd curl up with his head against Tony's thigh, and most of the time when they shared a bed, he'd wrap his arm around Tony's waist.

They exchanged kisses too, and of course, when they were in bed, there was a lot of touching, but that wasn't often the touch that Tony needed. Tony soaked up affection like a sponge. It was soft, casual touches that he needed.

An arm around his shoulders, holding hands, or someone playing with his hair. A connection that lasted so he could build it up. It always helped the itch go away for longer.

Rhodey was the best for it. He always made it seem like it wasn't a chore for him to cuddle on the sofa with Tony, to let Tony curl up on his lap at the breakfast table, or even to just hold his hand when they strolled around town.

Closing down his work, Tony sighed. He could never concentrate properly when his skin itched. Rubbing a hand over his face, he wondered to himself if maybe he could get Nat or Clint to spar with him. It wasn't great, but he couldn't think of anything better.

…

Bucky was writing in his diary again. He scrawled furiously, as if he was scared the words would leave his mind if he didn't get them onto the page fast enough. Tony didn't interrupt, instead going into the kitchen to get himself coffee.

"J, ask Rhodey when he's going to be in town," he said as he set the coffee maker off. The itch was getting steadily worse and he just… he needed.

There was a pause, and then J.A.R.V.I.S said, "Master Rhodes is not planning to be in town for another month or so, but he'd like to remind you that you have a standing invitation to visit him whenever you'd like."

Huh. Tony nodded slowly, thoughtfully. He didn't have too much work on at the moment, he could afford to take a few days away, and War Machine could always be upgraded.

"Sounds like a plan, J. Prep the suit for flight. I'll be leaving in about twenty minutes."

"Leaving? Where you going, Doll?"

"I'm going to go see a Rhodey about a War Machine," Tony said, the words falling off his lips easily. Bucky leant against the cabinet facing Tony and crossed his arms over his chest.

Tony barely held back his sigh. Bucky was always so… closed off. Tony just wanted to burrow under his arms and snuggle against his chest but… he shook the thought off and smiled at Bucky.

"I'll only be gone for a few days, Cupcake. Three max."

"I thought Rhodes fetched the armour here when it was due an upgrade?"

Bucky seemed upset about Tony going away, and Tony almost called the trip off entirely. He hated to be the cause of that frown.

"He can't get away until next month, and I don't have loads going on at the moment." A thought occurred to Tony and he frowned. "You… you know that Rhodey and I are friends, right? I mean…. Just friends?"

The frown cleared of Bucky's face as he assured Tony that, "Oh, of course I know that. I trust you, Doll. I just… I'll miss you. Guess I got used to you being here all the time."

"I'll be back before you know it," Tony promised. "You won't even have time to miss me."

As he made his way past Bucky to leave the kitchen, he leant forward and pressed a soft kiss to Bucky's lips. "I'll see you in a few days."

Bucky nodded and Tony continued on his way. He completely missed the way Bucky dropped his arms to his sides and looked down unhappily, twisting his fingers together.

...

"You know, if you just told Barnes about your 'itch' I'm sure he'd be down for all the cuddles," Rhodey said, running his hand through Tony's hair.

They were curled up on the sofa with the TV playing softly in the background. Tony felt miles better already.

"I don't want to be clingy," he replied, nuzzling closer. "We haven't been together long and… well, he doesn't seem like much of a fan of P.D.A, you know? And like, even when it's just the two of us, it's like he's not really that interested in physical contact and I really don't want to push him into it because I really like him and—"

"Breathe, Tones."

"Hmph. Well. Anyway, I don't want to push him away by being all needy. So."

"He wore a bow tie for you," Rhodey muttered, talking about a gala that Bucky accompanied Tony too a couple of weeks earlier. "If he'll wear bow ties for you, then I'm sure he'll be happy to cuddle you."

"Bowties are cool," Tony pouted.

"Sure they are."

…

"Missed you," Bucky murmured, kissing Tony softly in welcome.

Tony pressed against him, enjoying the contact for the few seconds Bucky allowed it before he stepped back.

Barely repressing a sigh, Tony smiled at his boyfriend. "I missed you too."

Bucky grinned at him and started filling him in about the shenanigans the team had gotten up to in the tower while he was gone. It was great, especially since while he talked, Bucky made breakfast, but Tony couldn't help but wish they could have had the conversation with Bucky's arm around his shoulder, or with him curled up in the bigger man's lap.

The Rhodey-voice in his head told him to just tell Bucky how he felt, but Tony pushed it away forcibly. He wouldn't ruin this. Not if he could help it.

Instead, he listened to Bucky, laughing at the appropriate times and threatening eviction when Bucky explained exactly what Clint had been up to.

…

In the weeks following his visit to Rhodey, Tony did notice some small changes in their relationship. Bucky spent more time in the lab, sitting on the little sofa Tony kept in there for passing out purposes, playing with the bots or writing in his diary, or even a few times, asking Tony about what he was working on.

It was good, Tony enjoyed having him around more often.

He also initiated kisses more, which of course Tony definitely wasn't complaining about.

It was on one such occasion that Bucky had been in the lab when the man went to hunt down lunch for the two of them that Tony ran across Bucky's diary, left open on the sofa.

He didn't want to read it. It was an invasion of privacy and—who the hell was he kidding?

As soon as he saw the last sentence Bucky had written, he couldn't stop himself from picking it up.

Have been initiating more contact, and Tony seems to be receptive.

Was there really a doubt that he wouldn't be? He picked the diary up and flipped through the last few pages, a sinking feeling in his stomach when he saw the words hastily scrawled on the pages.

When Bucky returned from upstairs, it was to find Tony sitting on the sofa, the diary beside him, still open to the last page.

"I can explain—" he rushed to say, before Tony held his hand up to hush him.

"War Machine didn't actually need an upgrade," he said softly, looking up at Bucky, who was holding a large plate filled with sandwiches and had a fearful look on his face. "I went to see Rhodey because I'm needy and clingy and I need physical contact. I need cuddles and hand holding and all of the affection, because when I don't get it, I get itchy and I can't concentrate."

Bucky swallowed and looked down, putting the plate on a small side table. Tony stood up and walked over to him, entwining their fingers.

"I didn't want to push you, and since you always moved away whenever I tried to initiate contact, I thought maybe you just weren't comfortable with it. But then, I run across an open diary, and I realise that you're just as clingy and needy as I am, but you don't want to run me off."

He stepped closer still, until he couldn't actually get any closer. Their chests pressed against each other, and Bucky was forced to tilt his head back up and meet Tony's eyes.

"Why didn't you ever want to stay when I tried to hug you?" Tony asked, making sure to keep any accusations out of his tone because that wasn't what Bucky needed right now.

His metal hand, seemingly without him noticing, had raised to rest on Tony's hipbone, his thumb caressing the skin there softly.

"I, uh, I thought if I got used to holding you that… well. Maybe I wouldn't wanna let you go. I didn't want you to think I was too much but—"

"I want too much, Buck. I want all of you, clinginess and all. And, uh, I hope you know that now I know that you actually want physical contact, I probably won't leave you alone. Like. Ever."

Bucky's lips tilted up. "Sounds perfect, Doll."

…

"Urgh."

Bucky snorted, but ignored Clint. Tony was curled up on his lap, accepting small bites of his breakfast directly from Bucky's hand. He was barely awake yet, and sleepy Tony was definitely one of Bucky's favourite Tony's.

Though… that probably didn't mean much considering all of the Tony's were Bucky's favourite.

"You two are so… cute. It's gross."

"Jealous," Tony mumbled. "I get all the cuddles 'n you don't."

Bucky chuckled, and Clint rolled his eyes, but even he couldn't resist sleepy Tony.

"Sure Tones, that's what it is. I'm jealous."

Tony nodded. "Yes. Yes you are."

Written for:

North Funfair - Photo Booth - Doctor Who theme - 1. Bowtie - "Bowties are cool."

East Funfair - Bingo - Item Board - Diary

South Funfair - Pygmy Puff - Edith - Diary

365. 222. Hipbone