#tsbmvii

[hereandnowwearealive]

A deal with the devil (for candy)

Created for @tonystarkbingo

[rebelmeg]

It's Good To Be Back

by rebelmeg

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Peter Parker & Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Pepper Potts & Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe) & Tony Stark, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Peter Parker & Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Pepper Potts Additional Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Not Avengers: Endgame (Movie) Compliant, Tony Stark Lives, Peter Parker Needs a Hug, Precious Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Family Fluff, happy tears, in this house we take Endgame apart and only keep the bits we like, and toss the rest right out the window Summary:

After the Snap and everyone comes back, Peter visits Tony in the hospital and meets someone he didn't expect.

(UM, CUTEST GIF EVER COURTESY OF SREPPUB!)

For my @tonystarkbingo adopted prompt "Next Generation"

[starksvinyls]

Tony Stark has been a vampire for nearly 200 years. When he discovers a newly turned Bucky Barnes, he feels he has no choice but to help him. Even if his lifestyle is a little more lavish than Bucky is used to.

for @buckybarnesbingo square C3 'free space' and @tonystarkbingo square A4 'vampire/werewolf' (cards below the cut)

[trekkingaroundasgard]

A Bed Big Enough for Two (Tony Stark x Reader)

Summary: After a bad mission, Tony checks in with a bottle of something that effectively knocks you out. He puts you to bed and you ask him to stay the night.

Gender: neutral - unnamed, no description

Rating: Teen/Mature (18+ only blog)

Tags: Avenger!reader, mentioned unhealthy coping mechanisms (drinking, medication and substance abuse), established friendship, unspoken feelings, what timeline?, hurt/comfort, softness, pet name (sweetheart)

Words: ~1000

Note: So it turns out I won't stop writing even after tumblr took away 6 years worth of posts and stories from me. This is for my dearest @shewhohangsoutincemeteries. It's a little abrupt in the endning but it's still pretty soft.

@tonystarkbingo #1003, square S5: bed sharing

“God, you’re such a lightweight.”

You groaned into Tony’s shoulder, the earthiness of his aftershave an annoyingly good relaxant. Every cell in your body recognised that scent, knew it meant one thing above all else: safe.Any other day you would bite back at his snark, always enjoying the witty back and forth you shared with the genius, but tonight? Well, it was enough to just nuzzle your face into the crook of his neck and settle into his arms as he carried you to bed.

You probably should have tidied earlier, you supposed as Tony tripped and tangled his feet in a forgotten pair of jeans. In your defence, though, you hadn’t expected him to drop in unannounced and certainly not with an exceptionally overpriced bottle of that… whatever it was you’d been knocking back all night. Certainly not withthat knowing look, the one that pierced every single one of your walls and immediately latched on to the feelings that everyone else on the team had managed to overlook.

Tony set you down on your bed, frowning slightly. He didn’t say anything as he perched on the edge of the mattress, though the lines on his forehead deepened at the horrendous creaking noise it made beneath his weight. He flicked on the small lamp at your bedside then, to the room, said, “Main lights off.”

“There’s no Jarvis here, Tony,” you chuckled, turning onto your side to look up at him. He really was quite handsome, all soft eyes and sharp jaw. Of course, that was something you’d always known. It was as fundamental a fact of the universe as the Earth orbiting the sun. However, it truly was something to see Stark off the field, out of the office. When he didn’t have to hide, when he could be simply Tony, he was striking in a whole other way.

Rising to his feet, Tony sounded more annoyed than you would have liked as he flicked the main switch. “Obviously. J is one of a kind. But Fury was supposed to outfit all the off site residences with one of the other AIs. This whole place is…”

You narrowed your eyes, daring him to say something about your flat. It wasn’t much, that was for certain, but it was your home. Yes, compared to the floor he’d allocated you at the Tower, it was small and cramped and the weird smell under the sink never really went away no matter how many scented candles you lit, but it was your space. Yours.

He must have sensed that for Tony held back further judgement. What he didn’t hold back, however, was the absolute blinding concern that radiated from him when he saw the pile of empty bottles overflowing from the bin under your desk. He was observant. You could hardly pretend that the monthly glass recycling was due tomorrow when you’d seen him reading the council schedule on the kitchen board. The last collection had been only a few days ago.

Preparing an excuse, you readied to defend yourself but Tony cut you off. “Don’t drink that shit, alright? You wanna drown your sorrows, you come to me and we can at least get pissed on the good stuff.”

Though you nodded, you were fairly sure he knew you’d never take him up on your offer.

“What else did you take, then?”

Your eyes flickered to the bedside table, in the top drawer of which Tony found a whole collection of painkillers. It was strong shit, the best that SHIELD had to offer, but after missions like today’s it didn’t work fast enough and the half a bottle that Tony had so willingly supplied had certainly sped the effects along.

“Say something, next time.”

Once again you found it difficult not to be dragged down by the undercurrent of concern that laced his words. There wasn’t a person on the team that wouldn’t understand but with Tony… It was more personal.

“Didn’t wanna be alone,” you admitted, shifting onto your back. Eyes drifting shut, you added, “Still don’t.”

Tony was silent a beat before he said, “Your bed isn’t big enough for two, sweetheart.”

“Sure it is. Just have to get up close and personal.” The words were heavy, slung together as the alcohol and pills pulled you nearer to unconsciousness but the sentiment remained clear.

As did Tony’s apparent resolve. But not completely. He never had been one not to allow himself a few small indulgences. He slowly reached over and brushed your cheek softly, strong fingertips ever so gentle against your skin. “Rest. I’ll call in the morning. Check you’re alright.”

You caught his wrist easily, even with your eyes closed. More adamantly this time, you whispered, “Stay. Please.”

The mattress dipped beneath his weight and you shuffled over as far as you dared without risking falling off. Tony slipped off his shoes then made himself comfy under the quilt. A long moment passed before he laughed, suddenly wrapping his arms around you and pulling you to his side. You sighed into his chest, relished the warmth of his embrace. Just like that, every terrible thought of the day vanished.

“Always figured you’d be the one to charm me into bed first,” you muttered sleepily.

“Not like I haven’t been trying.”

“You don’t need to try hard, Tony. Only have to ask.”

He hummed acknowledgement but took the thought no further. Instead, he simply trailed his fingers in intricate patterns up and down the length of your arm. Too ordered to be random, a distant part of your brain wondered if they were new schematics for something he was working on. The larger part, though, took only comfort from the action, release in the repetitive strokes of friendly fingers on your skin, until the darkness finally pulled you under.

When you woke the next morning, the space beside you was stone cold. Your heart tightened until you noticed the bright yellow post it note on your lamp. Hastily scrawled in a hand you recognised well, it read:

Places to be, didn’t want to wake you. Eat then come by the Tower. Got something to ask you.

[tencitizens]

Iron Man (2008)

Agent Phil Coulson

Phil Coulson || Agent of SHIELD & Tony Stark || Iron Man

Oh Phil... just you wait. "Official statements" are not Tony's strong suit. He IS Iron Man. Made for the @tonystarkbingo!

Card Number: 7013 Square Number: R3 - Phil Coulson

[scottxlogan]

This story was written for the @stonyauniverse and @tonystarkbingo​ challenges.

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Iron Man (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Characters: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes, Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe) Additional Tags: Domestic Fluff, Tony's POV, Threesome - M/M/M, Polyamory, Implied Sexual Content, Fluff, Morning Cuddles, Sleepy Cuddles, Established Relationship, contemplations, Reflection

Summary: Snuggled in bed with his lovers, Tony contemplates how far they've come together from their sexy beginnings.

[deehellcat]

Another moodboard for @tonystarkbingo! this time the prompt was Tony/Natasha, and I came up with this au thanks to my cousin who basically lived a RL version of this as the teacher in the story. lol!

Title of Fill—A Timeline of My Life

Card Number 7014

Square Filled (Letter AND number AND prompt) A5, Tony/Natasha

Ship/Main Pairing (romantic, platonic, or none) tonynat

Rating (Gen, Teen, Mature, Explicit) gen

Major Tags/Warnings/Triggers—AU-No Powers, Tattoo Artist AU, Single Dad Tony Stark

Summary: Tony’s a bit taken aback when he arrives to pick up little Peter from kindergarten one day and finds what appears to be a severed arm lying on a table in the classroom. Turned out Peter’s teacher Yelena had invited her sister, tattoo artist Natasha, on career day (Peter had asked his dad to come, but Tony was just too busy) to show the kids how she practiced her work. Tony didn’t expect to be smitten by the gorgeous redhead either, but he was, and when she talked about how working all day every day wasn’t the only way he needed to provide for his son, he actually listened. “You can work til you’re dead, but you only get one chance to be Petey’s dad.”

Word Count (if applicable) na

[tonystarkbingo]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor (Movies), Captain America (Movies), Iron Man (Movies) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Darcy Lewis Additional Tags: holiday fic, Hanukkah, Meet the Family, Jewish Darcy Lewis Series: Part 24 of In Cups of Coffee Summary:

Darcy invited her boyfriend to meet her family over Hanukkah. It does not go well. It'll be a funny story by next Hanukkah.

[endlesstwanted]

Picking Love

My entry for @fleurdelouvemonth day 22 prompt — Apple picking, inspired by this Stony drabble 🍎🥧

Fandom: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV), Captain America (Movies)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Sarah Wilson, minor Steve/Tony

Tags: Modern: No Powers, Meet-Cute, Apples, Flirting

Summary: Tony takes Bucky to the farmers’ market as an excuse to meet with his new fling, but Bucky makes the best out of it with the idea to bake something for his sister’s birthday.

Wordcount: 2k

Also created for: @buckybarnesevents’ Build-a-Bucky-Bingo — Farmer’s market / @slumberpartybingo — Would you rather ... Cook dinner OR eat out / @multifandom-flash’s taboo bingo — Please Put Some Clothes On / @tonystarkbingo — Asking For Trouble / @buckybarnesbingo — Terrible choices / @lyricalescape — “Light the signal fire, proceed without hesitation.”

Excerpt:

“Okay, I gotta say I was definitely not expecting that,” the woman said.

“Why is that?” Bucky frowned, but he side-smiled too. “Is it my long hair or my cool tattoos, the one telling you I’ve never baked a thing in my life?” he joked.

“None of those, actually.” She laughed, and Bucky’s chest filled up with joy in knowing it was because of him. “Only said that because I rarely see people baking anything with fruit lately. Apple pies specially, they’re often bought from bakeries. I’m surprised, but in a good way.”

Continue reading on Ao3!

[gotlostonmywayhome]

Title: The Future is Filled with Surprises Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Word Count: 1.3k Rating: Mature Tags: Canon Divergence, Steve Rogers and the 21st Century, Online Dating, Secret Identity (sort of) Getting Together, Mild Sexual Content

Summary:  A chat on his favorite app has Steve meeting the last person he expected for a hookup.

Written for a few bingos: @stevetonygames - Dating App @cap-ironman Bingo - Wish @tonystarkbingo - Stony

The Future is Filled with Surprises is available to read on AO3!

[psychiccatpanda]

Tony Stark Bingo Party - Never have I ever written a fic with all 6 OG Avengers members.

I am strewing more NHIE recommendations from the last few Tony Stark Bingo parties! (I am consolidating because I am just like that and am laaaaate on some of these!) For explicit and archive warnings DO apply, click the "keep reading" thingie.

@illogicalkat - Adventures in Interdimensional Time Travel. (fanfic) Rating: General. Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. General (no ships). Jadzia and Worf transit the wormhole and meet new friends. (*Yes, this is a crossover!)

@polizwrites - Earth’s Mightiest Hero at the Happiest Place on Earth. (fanfic) Rating: General. Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Clint Barton/Phil Coulson, Scott Lang/Hope Van Dyne. Tony Stark takes the Avengers (and Avengers-adjacent personnel) to Walt Disney World - and gets to spoil his beloved a bit along the way. A series of vignettes where our faves have fun (mostly) at the Happiest Place on Earth.

@psychiccatpanda - You Know Thor Is Afraid of Ghosts! (fanfic) Rating: Teen+. Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark, Tony Stark & Thor, Tony Stark & Avengers Team, Clint Barton & Thor. Tony tells Thor a ghost story and Thor is too scared to sleep alone... so he sleeps with Clint and they're both late for the Avengers assembly drill the next morning.

@somesortofitalianroast - All roads lead to where you are. (fanfic) Rating: Teen+. Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers. Five times the Avengers didn’t know Steve and Bucky were a couple (+1 time the world learned).

This fic is intended to be a humorous look at what it might be like for Steve, if the Avengers decide to “help” him get involved in the modern world by helping him find a date, since they don’t realize that he’s dating Bucky. After a failed blind date, he decides to roll with their efforts and have fun meeting new people.

And then video of Bucky kissing him after he’s injured on an Assembly call goes viral.

@rebelmeg & @newnewyorker93 - What We Do in the Tower. (fanfic) Rating: General. Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark. Peter Parker has been having an awkward time as a brand new vampire. But now he's got Tony Stark whisking him off to meet a whole group of weird and hilarious vampires that live in Stark Tower and maybe this won't be so bad after all?

@tinystark616 - Christmases When You Were Mine. (fanfic) Rating: Mature. Steve Rogers/Tony Stark. Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. 4 times Tony spends Christmas with Steve + 1 time he doesn't.

@psychiccatpanda - Too Good to Be True. (fanfic) Rating: Mature. James "Bucky" Barnes/Tony Stark. Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. The Winter Soldier doesn't remember much at all. Just fragments of someone else's life in long cryo-dreams. That is, until someone wakes him up for real. Will the new life be better than the dream?

@somesortofitalianroast - All I need to know is there is no end to love. (fanfic) Rating: Explicit. Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. Steve Rogers/Avengers Team, Clint Barton/Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Jane Foster/Steve Rogers/Thor, Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov, James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers/Thor. After years of having team-building orgies with the Avengers, Steve decides it’s time to ask them to do something he’s always wanted. He wants them to gang bang him, as a team, on the carpeted floor of the Stark Penthouse.

AoifeLaufeyson - Pack Bonding Night. (fanfic) Rating: Explicit. Archive Warnings: Rape/Non-con. Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Clint Barton/Tony Stark, Bruce Banner/Tony Stark, Natasha Romanov/Tony Stark, Tony Stark/Thor. It's been a little while since the Battle of New York, and the Avengers are not coming together as the cohesive pack they need to be in order to face future threats. Steve had easily stepped into the Alpha role, and decides that Tony will make the perfect omega for the pack. Together, as a bonded pair, they will lead to pack to victory after victory. Tony disagrees but the rest of the Avengers take matters into their own hands and refuse to take no for an answer.

[hereandnowwearealive]

Metallurgy

Created for @tonystarkbingo

[rebelmeg]

Laugh Lines

by rebelmeg

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Iron Man (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Pepper Potts & Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe) & Tony Stark Characters: Pepper Potts, Tony Stark, Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe) Additional Tags: Happily Married, Domestic Bliss, Endgame Fix-It, tossing another one on the pile, Married Life, Teen Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Slowly growing old together, sometimes the best part about being married is being silly and grossing out your kids Series: Part 26 of Iron Family Summary:

Pepper has spent years watching the subtle (and sometimes unsubtle) ways Tony's face has changed. This one is probably her favorite.

Notes: For my @tonystarkbingo​ square S5 - Tony x Happiness, my @lyricalescape​ Bingo square I5 - All Is Soft Inside, my @mfbingo​ square B3 - domestic, my Warm & Fluffy bingo square B5 - lap sitting, and for @comfortember​ day 19 – Loved Ones!

[starksvinyls]

Title: The Sugar Effect (1/?) Rating: Teen+ Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Tags/Warnings: AU - Modern, AU - Bakery, AU - Coffee Shop, AU - No Powers, Slow Burn, Awkward Flirting, Flirting, Pre-Serum Steve Rogers, Additional Tags To Be Added Summary: While out in Brooklyn, Tony Stark stumbles upon a bakery, and a bakery owner, that he just can't seem to stay away from. Notes: for @buckybarnesbingo square K4 'au: bakery' and @tonystarkbingo square R4 'au: coffee shop'.

AO3 Link

Tony grumbled to himself as he trudged down the block. What sort of company held their meetings in Brooklyn, of all places? The manufacturing plant wasn’t here, and their head office certainly wasn’t here. Tony sent sent Friday a note to remind him to deny the company's offers for a merger and then shoved his phone in his inner jacket pocket just as the clouds overhead opened up. He cursed and tried to stay under storefront awnings, but it was no use, the rain coming down traveled with the slight wind whipping through the buildings, and Tony found that his Tom Ford suit was not made for the rain. 

Reaching for the handle on the first place he saw that served coffee, Tony pulled the door open and nearly sighed at the cinnamon scented warmth at seeped through his suit. A small bell had jingled over the door, and a man in long sleeves stepped out from the back. He was taller than Tony and his silky looking brown hair was pulled back into a bun. Pfft, hipsters. 

“Welcome to Wake and Bake, what can I getcha?” 

“Wake and Bake?” Tony raised an eyebrow and then glanced back at the door. Definitely hipsters. 

“It’s funny,” The man shrugged. “So, can I get ya anything?” 

“Coffee, hot.” Tony stepped towards the counter. 

The man nodded and turned his back to Tony as he prepared his drink. Taking the opportunity, Tony glanced around the shop; the walls were covered in shelves full of knickknacks, several mismatched overstuffed arm chairs were placed around low bookshelves and coffee tables. The walls, what little of them he could see through all the artwork hung up, were black. The floor looked like that industrial made light colored hard wood. Several pastry cases sat to his left, shelves half filled with delicious looking treats. There was no one else in the small store besides him and the employee. 

“Here ya go,” The man said as he placed the full cardboard cup on the counter. “Lids, sugar and what-not are over there.” He jerked his head, chin indicating which way as he his fingers tapped over an iPad. “Anything else?” 

“How about a chocolate muffin? My CEO will kill me if I come back empty handed after ducking out of a meeting.”

The man chuckled and stepped over to the case. He selected one and placed it into a paper bag. “Wouldn’t want that,” He placed the bag next to Tony’s coffee.

With nothing else to keep him, Tony tapped his card on the reader and gathered up his coffee and muffin. He dreaded going back out into the rain, so he tapped out an SOS to Happy while he doctored up his coffee. 

—-

He wasn’t specifically out to go to the bakery in Brooklyn, but once again Tony found himself in the borough and thought “why the hell not?” so he instructed Happy to stop on the way back to Manhattan. Tony hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the guy behind the counter. It had been awhile since a man caught his attention like that, it mostly being women - and then exclusively Pepper for awhile - for quite some years. But that stupid hipster man-bun had Made Tony wonder that deep brown hair would look like when let down, freshly washed and soft– damnit. Tony definitely had a thing for long hair, and he needed to stop thinking about it before the car came to a stop outside the shop. 

This time, there were a few people scattered around - a girl on a laptop with green hair and more metal in her face than was probably healthy, a guy reading a book, and a tiny man with a drawing pad and a pencil. The same guy was behind the counter, wiping part of it down, and he smiled as Tony walked up. 

“Duck out of another meeting?” 

Tony smirked. “Nah, but I figured I’d give this place another shot. CEO loved the muffin, by the way.” 

“Well, I appreciate it.” 

“You’re the owner?” Tony was a bit surprised, this guy definitely did not give off bakery owner vibes. 

“Owner, head baker, cleaning staff, and occasional accountant,” The man smiled. “I’m Bucky.” 

“Tony,” He glanced up at the menu board. “Let me have a latte this time.” 

—-

Bucky got to work, he didn’t know much about coffee - baking was his true specialty - but damn near everyone he talked to when he was trying to get Wake and Bake from an idea to an actual business told him it would be a good idea to serve coffee with the baked goods. So a couple brews of simple drip coffee, a latte, and a plain mocha made it’s way to the menu. Stuff Bucky could handle. 

He turned back to the man at the counter and placed the latte down. “Anything else?” 

The man studied the pastry case for a moment before his eyes lit up. “You have baklava?” 

Bucky smiled. “Ma’s family recipe.” 

“I’ll take two - no wait make it three - pieces.”

Bucky laughed as he bagged up the baklava, it was always nice when people appreciated his family recipes. Once Bucky placed the bag down, the man grabbed it and pulled out a piece to immediately try. 

The noise he mad as he bit into the crispy and gooey layers was almost pornographic, but Bucky ignored the way it made heat pool in his stomach and just chuckled. “Good?”  

“So good,” Tony quickly nodded. “In fact gimme a couple more pieces.” He said as he pulled out his wallet. 

—-

As soon as the door had finished shutting, Steve was out of his seat, headed for the counter. He had to pause as his vision swam and he swayed slightly, but then resumed his mission. 

“Bucky!” 

His best friend grinned over at him. “Another cookie?”

“You can not flirt with him!” Steve hissed. 

Bucky’s eyebrows notched down, furrowing. “What the hell are you talkin’ about?” 

“That is Tony Stark,” When there was no recognition in his friend’s expression, Steve huffed. “But ugly building in Manhattan? Takes up my view of an otherwise gorgeous skyline?” 

He ignored Bucky’s muttered “Oh, right.” and barreled on. 

“I know you like to flirt with the customers, get more tips, but you can not flirt with that one, Buck, he’s bad news!” 

Bucky just raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t know being nice to the customers was considered flirtin’, but I’ll keep that in mind.” 

Steve huffed, arms crossing over his chest. “Whatever, just give me another cookie.” 

[every-marveler-ever]

Sam Wilson's Luck With Blind Dates

Sam Wilson Bingo Round 3 | 🪶 @samwilsonbingo | Going On A Blind Date

Black Widow Bingo Never-ending | 🧨 @blackwidowbingo | Jane & Natasha & Darcy

Tony Stark Bingo Mark VII | 📻 @tonystarkbingo | College AU

2023 masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING: Tony Stark is a mess, Sam Wilson has sisters who love him, Jane, Natasha & Darcy are Sam's sisters, Thinking you are going to be stood up, Blind dates

Sam Wilson has horrible luck when it comes to dating, he really just isn't interested. His sisters (Darcy, Jane and Natasha) decided it was their job to set him up on blind dates. Not knowing that Sam Wilson is seriously unlucky regarding blind dates. | Sam Wilson/Tony Stark

swb 🪶 round 3 | bwb 🧨 never-ending | tsb 📻 mark vii

“I am not going on a blind date.” 

Sam thought that letting his sisters set up a Tinder account for him would get them off his back about dating, he was the youngest of the four and ever since moving to college, the girls seemed to be treading intrusively into his love life.  College is meant to be a time for exciting new opportunities, meeting people, taking exciting classes, and even testing some relationships. That did not mean Sam needed his sisters involved. 

Natasha sat next to him on the couch scrolling through his phone, swiping left and right. She sighs, “It’s not that we want to interfere,” Sam rolls his eyes, “I don’t believe that,” she smiles in the way that Sam knows she doesn’t mean it from years of practice. Refiguring herself to face his phone towards him, she restates, “But do you really want to be dating somebody who is holding a fish in their profile?” The guy on the screen is in fact holding a fish in his profile and as a proud fisher, Sam doesn’t hate that.

Instead, he steals his phone back from Natasha and sighs, “Why aren’t you bothering Darcy with getting a partner, she’s single and yet you don’t seem interested in her love life.” Sam points out looking over to the youngest of the three sisters, only a year older than he is and nowhere near as mature.  

Darcy smiles young upside down on the back of the couch, “Because they realise I am long gone and you are still young and not drowning with work.” Sam forgot how much he rolled his eyes when all four of them were in the same room. 

It was nice being together again though. 

“Fine,” Sam sighs and puts his phone back on the coffee table for any of his sister's choosing, “But I don’t want this date to happen until after Christmas break. Understood?”

Jane gets a large smile on her face as she and Natasha fight for the phone squealing, “You are going to love the guy I set you up with! He’s smart and gorgeous and-” Natasha shoves her moving onto the adjoining couch where they both can go through his phone. 

Darcy moves her position so she can be with her other two sisters and laugh at their brother's misery, “I actually think my guy is the one for him,” she says shrugging already getting ahead of herself. 

Natasha shakes her head, “Bucky has a good friend who is like perfect for Sam, he even asked me about it at a party ages ago,” Nastahsa mentions off handly not showing her cards. 

This is when it dawns on Sam what is actually happening, “your all setting me up on individual blind dates?” he asks hoping, desperately that it isn’t true. But the way the three girls turn to him like it’s obvious makes Sam cry inside. Darcy laughs patting Sam on the back as she leaves the room, “Well obviously.” 

Sam is going on three blind dates when he didn't even want to go on one. Great. 

The first date is set up by Jane, the guy is apparently a mechanic who works in the same lab as she and Bruce do. Bruce talks him up well and Sam likes Brcue so he has high expectations. Apparently, he and Sam are the same age but the guy is like a genius and so he skipped a few high school years and ended up at college 2 years early, now in his 4th year while Sam is only in his 2nd. That doesn’t give Sam the most confidence because unlike his sister's science has never been his best subject. Jane does work around astrophysicists, Darcy had always been good at science and decided to major in poli-sci and Natasha is a literal private investigator, the oldest of them all and the coolest job after only being in the field for 3 years. 

Sam is at college on a football scholarship and majoring in psych to become a counsellor, which is no easy feat, but nothing like what his sisters did. 

“Hi,” Sam introduces coming up to the hostess desk of a fairly fancy restaurant which Sam isn’t quite sure he can afford, “this is going to sound crazy but I am here on a blind date, the reservation might be under Sam or Jane?” 

Smiling the hostess nods and shows Sam to his table informing him that his date had called earlier saying he would be late, “he was very apologetic and seemed excited for tonight,” she reassures but it doesn’t make Sam feel any better about this date. He didn’t want to come in the first place and now his date was going to be late. 

His date was especially late now. Sam had been sitting there for an hour drafting an angry message directed at Jane for setting up a date at a place where he can’t afford the food and the date doesn’t show up. The wait staff kept filling up his water jug and offering lemons as a side as a sorry for the wait, asking if he would like to order by himself, which Sam didn’t. 

Just when Sam thinks he is at his wit's ends, ready to leave and forget about this whole situation a guy stumbles through the glass, leather jacket, sunglasses on and not at all prepared for the fancy establishment, which makes Sam feel a little better about his situation. “Umm I am here on a blind date, if my date even wanted to wait for me that is because I am seriously late and-” It seemed the guy would have just kept going if the hostess didn’t stop him, “Right this way Mr Stark.” And the guy, Sam’s date, shut up quickly and followed. 

When they get to the table and the rest of the restaurant isn’t looking at them anymore, Mr Stark takes Sam’s hands apologising profusely, “I would have been here sooner but I was waiting on lab results which were meant to be finished in 15 minutes and then I got a call from Obie who just wanted to ruin my night so the results were all mixed up and I promise I will pay for dinner and I-” Sam stops him by putting his hands on top of Stark’s.

“I’m Sam what’s your name?” Sam introduces and Mr Stark laughs, at himself not at Sam and it makes the two of them feel much more comfortable.  

Mystery guy smiles, “My name is Tony, and I am sorry if you couldn’t tell, feel free to leave.” 

Sam likes this guy, he doesn’t know why but he does and so he offers a different solution, “this place is way out of my price point and honestly I don’t think I could pronounce half of the things on this menu.” He admits and it makes Tony smile.

“I know just the place.”

So Sam takes Tony’s hand and allows himself to be led out of the restaurant to somewhere else, somewhere he can pronounce the names on the menu. They end up at a Burger place and that is much nicer. Not nicer in comparison to the interior or the fancy food Sam is sure the other place served but this is run by a family who knew Tony as soon as he walked through the door. It just feels like a better place, much more comforting and Sam admits that is one of the factors that made him fall on that very first date. 

The two keep in touch, texting from across campus, it makes Natasha pout when he tells her.

She frowns reminding Sam that, “You agreed to three blind dates, at least give my guy a try, yours hasn’t even asked for a second date.” Sam can’t admit that his sister is wrong and so he agrees to go on a second blind date, and when Darcy hears he knows he will be going on a third, but that’s what brothers do. 

Anywhere it is only messages between Sam and Tony, neither has had the guts to ask each other out again and so maybe Natasha is right. She is the one in a long-term relationship after all. 

The place Natasha sets them up is much more in Sam’s region of date material, an outback steakhouse which makes Sam much more comfortable. He’s not wearing ridiculously stuffy clothes and he doesn't feel bad about ordering a starter for his date and him to share because this time he knows the menu. There is no sympathy from the staff, or the constant asking about his date. 

Because Sam’s luck isn’t so great when it comes to blind dates because once again the guy is late. 

Nearly finishing his entre of fries he ordered he hears an eerily familiar voice. With another ridiculous excuse fro being late which is similar to his last date. 

“This sounds crazy, but I am late to a blind date and am hoping that the guy I was meant to meet hasn’t left yet,” the hostess rolls her eyes at the guy (Sam can’t see it but can feel it from her posture) and point the guy in the direction of Sam’s table.

Which is when he sees him all over again. Tony Stark is his blind date, again. 

BONUS

Darcy also sets up Sam with Tony but doesn’t get the chance to call it a blind date because Sam drags Tony to a family dinner on college family weekend because the Starks don’t come and Sam’s parents are bugging him about the guy he is seeing. So instead Darcy fets to set them up on a mystery date with clues and everything, it is adorable. They all live happily ever after, Sam and Tony move in their senior year of college, Tony goes and watches Sam’s football games, Sam stays up late with Tony tracking lab data, and they are seriously cute together. Cute enough that Darcy and Nat are disgusted by themselves (and fighting over who really set them up and should get to toast at their wedding). 

Bingo Cards: (🪶 4/25) (bwb 🧨 2/25) (tsb 📻 2/25)

[tencitizens]

Midtown Magazine's Special Edition - The Man Behind Iron Man

The two covers are different! Can you spot it?

Hint: Cover 1 is "before" and Cover 2 is "after"

made for @tonystarkbingo

Card Number: 7013 Square Number: T5 - Art Format: Book/Magazine/Comic Cover