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Yesterday the whole Avengers team was on a surveillance and extraction detail in Siberia where Hydra had taken up base. They were sent to extract information as to where their other bases were located and what their plans were, nothing more. Except it didn’t go according to plan. It was heavily guarded and fighting broke out. The Hydra agents set the place to blow as to cover up what they were doing there. They covered their asses, and the members of the Avengers were unable to get what they came for. Another thing was all the big players of Hydra were able to get away and elude arrest by the Avengers. Arriving back at the Avengers compound, Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross was now standing in front of the table in the conference room.“What happened in Siberia yesterday?” Ross looked at the team, demanding an answer. “We were under heavy fire once we got into the building Sir. Our surveillance showed nothing to these measures. The heads set the place to blow up, getting rid of all the evidence of what they were doing there. We never stood a chance to get the intel that we went for.” Steve was looking down at his folded hands.“More like you became distracted Rogers. You had your entire team to back you up. Someone could have gotten the information that I wanted, but you became distracted with your murderous boyfriend and what was happening with him.” Ross was in Steve's face, yelling at him.Letting out a sigh, Steve said “Yes I became distracted. I know what Hydra did to Buck, and I didn’t want anything to happen to him. I’m sorry.” Steve left the man yell in his face. He knew what he did, and he knew he left the mission get away from him, but he couldn't let anything happen to Buck. He needed to get him out of there before the place blew, and they were killed. Bucky looked on as Steve spoke, but he couldn’t remain quiet any longer. Ross was yelling and blaming Steve. Enough was enough. Buck stood up from his chair "Get the fuck out of Steve's face and move away from him before I make you. What fucking right do you have to stand there and blame Steve for what Hydra did? Never blame him again. Without Steve, we would all have been in that building when it exploded." Bucky couldn’t let this go on anymore. He was angry and had every right to be. Someone had to stand up to Ross. Laughing, Ross said to Barnes “He [pointing at Cap] would have gotten what I asked for if it wasn’t for you Barnes. You’re a loose canon, and Rogers has to look out for you, and clean up your messes.” The tension in the room was high and the conversation was heated. Both men were looking at each other. Before anyone could do anything, Bucky was around the table and in Ross' face and responded “Do you forget who I am? What I’ve done? Listen to me and listen carefully, I have done things and cleaned up my own messes that government, you, [Bucky pointed to Ross] are jealous of and wish you could do half as good. So don’t you EVER stand there and blame Steve for having to look out for me and to have to clean up my messes."Steve was up and grabbed Bucky away from Ross. He recognized the look in his boyfriend's eyes. It was the look of the Winter Soldier.Bucky even though he was being held back by Steve yelled "You think you know what you’re talking about when it comes to Hydra, but you don’t know shit. You know what they want you to know. Got that you arrogant, ignorant piece of shit.”Looking at his boyfriend, Steve placed a hand on Buck’s chest and said with a low, steady calm voice “Hey, Buck look at me. It’s okay, just calm down. Plus, Ross is right. I’m easily distracted and it can’t happen anymore.” He hated to admit that the man was right. Bucky looking at Steve in confusion and hurt laced his voice said “What are you saying Steve?”“What he saying is that you need to not be on missions together. That you should be under arrest and locked away in a dark cold cell.” Ross interrupted and answered before Steve could.Still being held back, Bucky responded “No one asked your opinion asshole. This conversation doesn’t concern you.” He really hated this fucking asshole. Something about him seemed off, but he couldn't place it. “Bucky would you please stop!" Steve yelled, turning to the man he was holding back. "He’s right to a degree. Maybe you should stay off the missions for now.” Steve said but quickly got interrupted by his boyfriend.“You can’t be fucking serious!" Bucky got out of Steve's grip. Bucky was pissed that Steve was siding with Ross. "How do you think this is good idea Steve? Huh? How am I going to know if you’re okay? How am I going to know if you need help, or what if Hydra gets you and does the same thing to you that they did to me? I won’t be able to live with myself.” The assassin yelled. Steve stood there, holding his ground against his boyfriend. “Bucky nothing is going to happen to me. I have my friends there to back me up if anything goes wrong.” Steve said back.Bucky stood there and looked around the room at everybody. “If that’s what you think is best, I’ll let you and your FRIENDS discuss the next mission. I’m going to go.” Bucky stormed out of the conference room, slamming the door closed, leaving Steve and the rest of the team behind. He could hear Steve shouting his name behind him, while he walked away.Right after what he had said to Bucky, Steve knew he fucked up. “Bucky...Buck, wait...James please I’m sorry!” But he was already gone. Steve looked upset and the others could see it too.“Captain Rogers, please come take a seat, we have a mission to discuss.” Secretary Ross called for Steve to retake his seat at the table.After what felt like hours have passed, the briefing was over and everyone went to do their own thing. Steve went to go find his boyfriend. The first place he went was to their room, but he found it empty. The second place he went to look was down at the gym, but again he came up empty handed. He went around asking his other friends, but no one has seen Bucky. Sitting down in the common room, Steve couldn’t help but feel horrible for what he said to Bucky and for not sticking up for him. Looking up when he heard someone approaching.“Hey man, I um, I heard you were looking for Barnes. He’s on watch, not sure for what, but that’s where he is.” Clint told Steve.“Thank you Clint.” Steve said, taking off to talk to Bucky. Once he saw him, he had his back towards him. Before he could say anything, Bucky spoke.“I know what you’re gonna say and it’s fine. I knew what I was walking into when I came here with you. And I know you have new friends…. I just overreacted. I get it, I do. You have a great team and a great group of people surrounding you. I’m just jealous I guess. I’m still not used to the fact that you have friends and don’t always need me around.” He stated. When he was done, he kept his back to towards Steve. Going over to Bucky, Steve took hold of his hand and turned him around to face him. “Bucky, yes I have other friends, but you are my best friend and boyfriend. I love you, okay?” Steve looked Bucky in the eyes. Bucky nodded to Steve.“So I guess you have your orders?” Bucky said, changing the subject.Letting out a sigh, Steve said “We ship out to Germany in the morning. Hydra has a base there. Ross isn’t sure if it’s still in use or not, but it's worth checking out." Shaking his head, Buck looked back at Steve. “I don’t like it. It doesn’t seem like he is giving you much information to go on Steve.”“I know Buck, but I have to go. The whole team is on this. I’ll be fine. We’ll get in and get out this time.” Steve reassure his boyfriend.“Don’t do anything stupid over there.” Bucky said to Steve trying to lighten the mood.Letting out a laugh, Steve replied, “How can I when you’re keeping all the stupid here with you.”“You’re a punk.” Bucky replied and gave Steve a hug and a kiss. He really didn’t want him to go. He’s seen this before and he knows the outcome, and it's never good. “Jerk.” Steve welcomed the embrace and the kiss from his boyfriend. He knew Buck didn’t like him going on missions without him, especially when it came to Hydra. He had to learn he has others that will help him, and he can't let them down. They were counting on him to lead them.
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Waking up the next morning, Bucky rolled over to an empty bed. Quickly sitting up he looked at the clock and it read 9am. He walked out of his room, and looked all over the compound but found it silent. Looking lost, Bucky didn’t know what to do. Even when he would go to be alone, he always knew that Steve would be waiting for him. He hasn’t been alone since he left Hydra when he was reunited with Steve.Throughout the day, he tried to keep busy by working out, but it didn’t last as long as he would have liked. He can only punch a punching bag, do so many pull ups and sit ups before his mind starts wandering to Steve and if he’s okay. ‘Get it together Buck.’ He thought to himself. He put away his equipment and went to take a shower. When he was done taking a shower, he went to the kitchen to make himself something to eat. Again he looked at the clock and saw that it was only after 12 in the afternoon. He sighed. The assassin took his lunch and sat at the table, reading the newspaper. After reading the newspaper, he started to do some light cleaning in the bedroom that he shared with Steve. It was during the ironing of Steve's shirts that he heard a group of people moving. He quietly put down the iron and made his way to the living quarters, and then he saw them appear. He saw Steve looking at him and smiling, making his way over to where Bucky was standing. “Hey soldier, how was your mission?” Bucky asked, while embracing his boyfriend in a hug.“It went really well. Found some higher profile Hydra agents, but none of the heavy hitters. We didn’t get a lot of information, but hopefully someone will talk and give something up. And you can stop looking me over for any harm. Nothing happened to me, I promise.” Steve tried to reassure his overprotective boyfriend, but he wasn’t having any of it.Letting Steve go, knowing that there wasn’t anything wrong with him, he went back to the kitchen to make himself another sandwich for himself. Steve quickly grabbed the sandwich that his boyfriend made, and took a bite out of it when Bucky turned away to put the items away. Going back to grab his snack, Bucky saw that his sandwich went missing. Looking up at Steve, he saw that he had taken his food. “You little shit, that was mine. I worked hard to make that.”Laughing, Steve said “It’s a very good sandwich.”“Punk.” Was all Bucky replied back to his boyfriend.“I love you too Jerk.” Steve said back.Coming into the kitchen, Tony said “Hate to break up the love fest, but we need Steve in the conference room asap.” Looking at Tony, both men immediately started to move when Tony said “Not you Barnes, just Steve.” Tony had a sorry look on his face.Steve looked at Bucky and said “I’ll be right back.” He kissed his boyfriend on the lips and followed Tony out of the kitchen to the conference room, leaving his boyfriend alone.When he was done in the conference room, Steve immediately went on the search for Bucky again. The last place he looked was their bedroom. When opening the door, he saw his boyfriend curled up in bed fast asleep. Going over, he gently put his arm around his boyfriend, kissed his head and softly said “Hey baby, why are you sleeping already?”Waking up to his Steve’s voice, he looked around to see Steve and said in reply “I’m not feeling so well. I thought I would just come and lay down.” He rarely lies to Steve, but he didn’t know what to say. He turned back over not wanting to look at Steve.Sighing, “I’m sorry. I didn’t think we were that long. You should have told me you were sick. I would have come right away?” Steve settled beside the other man, running his fingers through his friends hair.Still facing away from his boyfriend, “You were busy doing whatever it was that required your attention. I was fine on my own. I’ve been on my own for 70 years. I think I can handle one little upset stomach myself.” Buck replied.Looking at Bucky with a confused expression on his face, Steve replied back “Yeah I had to attend to something, but you’re always important to me, and you’re not alone. You have me now. You can lean on me when you need too. You don’t always have to be the big bad assassin.”“Thanks Steve.” Was all Bucky said back. He just wanted to go back to sleep, to be alone with his own thoughts. Steve must have picked up on this, and kissed Buck’s head, and went to sleep himself.The next morning came and Bucky woke up to the sound of dishes clanking together. “Mmm keep it down!” Bucky mumbled still half asleep.Laughing Steve said “Sorry about all the noise, but I got you breakfast.” Steve sat the meal tray on the side table and crawled into bed beside the sleeping soldier. Taking hold of their blanket, he pulled it away from Bucky’s face. “Wake up baby.”Bucky mumbled back “Go away.""No can do Buck." Steve replied back. "What kind of breakfast did you make?” He opened his eyes to look at Steve.Smiling down at his boyfriend, he said “Well I made you scrambled eggs, maple brown sugar oatmeal, and a mixed fruit bowl.”“Not toast with apricot jelly?” He asked the man smiling down at him. Steve shook his head no saying that he was sorry.“No toast with jelly, then I’m going back to bed.” Bucky said pulling the blanket back above his head.“James Buchanan Barnes, you better wake up. I worked for hours making you breakfast to bring to my wonderful boyfriend.” Steve said.“Fine, fine I’m awake." The other man said, sitting up and stretching. He looked at the tray of food. "This looks amazing. I love you very much, and I can’t thank you enough for making me this wonderful breakfast and bringing it back to me in bed." Bucky told his boyfriend. "You and I both know that it didn’t take you hours to make this.” Bucky said stabbing some eggs with his fork and putting them in his mouth and chewing them.“I take offense to that.” Steve said with a playful hurt look on his face.“Don’t be like that Stevie.” Bucky said quickly kissing Steve on the lips when he was done chewing his food.Pulling away from his boyfriend "Eat up. No more kissing until you finish our breakfast." Steve said back."Does that mean we can have alone time when I'm done eating?" Bucky wiggled his eyebrows at the super soldier. "Your hopeless, but yes. Now eat." Steve demanded. Bucky laughed. He really loved Steve. Later that day, the two super soldiers found themselves in the gym sparring. They were having fun taking each other down or getting one another in holds. They were both really getting into it when Bucky punched Steve with his left arm and took him down. At this time, others were down using the gym when they saw Steve laying on the ground holding his chest and stomach area. “Stevie? Steve, hey baby are you okay?”Steve kept coughing, not being able to respond back.At that moment, Natasha and Sam came running over to where Bucky was kneeling over Steve. “What happened?” Natasha asked the super soldier.“We were sparring and it was getting rough, but he was okay. We were both laughing. Then next thing, he was on the floor coughing. I may have punched and taken him down a little too hard.” Bucky said to the other two Avengers.They got him up and start to walk out of the gym. “What can I do to help?” Buck asked the two. “I think you’ve done enough already.” Sam rounded on Bucky. They got Steve to the medical wing and Bruce Banner looked Steve over, and told Nat and Sam that he needed rest and no physical labor. They agreed.Later, Bucky came up to see Steve and saw that Wilson was sitting with him. Taking a deep breath, Bucky knocks and walks into Steve’s room. Seeing the psycho assassin walking into the room, Sam stands up. “What are you doing here?” Sam said.Looking back at Wilson, “I’m visiting MY boyfriend. Got a problem with that?” He wasn’t too nice when he said that to Sam. There was something about Wilson that rubbed him the wrong way.“Oh you’re coming to visit the person that you put here?” Sam shot back.“It was an accident. I would never hurt Steve intentionally.” Bucky said to Sam.“Let’s see, you beat the crap out of him and shot Steve three times three years ago. You say that you don’t hurt him intentionally, but you’re track record proves other wise.” Wilson said back.“I wasn’t in my right frame of mind three years ago Wilson. You can’t hold that against me.” Bucky said. Trying to defend himself to Steve’s new friend.“He’s better off away from you. You bring nothing but pain and destruction to anyone and anything around you.” Sam said.Bucky didn’t say anything. He went over to Steve who was asleep and kissed his head and softly said “I love you, and I’m sorry.” With that said, Bucky walked out the door to leave, but not before Sam said,“You say that you love him, did you ever stop and think that Steve is better off without you?” Bucky looked at Steve and left.
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Two weeks pass and Steve is back to himself. Steve was out on a mission with the others, and Barnes is still not allowed out on missions with them. Steve didn’t even fight it anymore. Bucky never hears from Steve or knows when he’s supposed to return home. He just patiently waits, hoping that nothing happens to him. Steve doesn't talk about anything to Bucky any more when it comes to the missions he and the team are sent on.He’s doing dishes when the team arrives back, and they are all talking and excited about how well their assignment went. Bucky just stands there listening and Steve ignores him. “We went in, kicked Hydra ass and got out.” Wilson boomed.Steve laughed at Sam who was having fun along with everyone else. Steve turned around and saw Buck with his back to him. Going over, he took a cup from the cabinet and said “Hey Buck, whatcha doing?”“Just doing things around the house. Keeping busy.” Bucky said as he kept doing the dishes. He didn’t even look at Steve.Pouring himself a drink, Steve said “That’s good.” Steve said as he was walking back to the fridge to put away the drink that he poured. “Do you need any help?” He added walking back to stand beside the lonely man.Holding out a drying towel to Steve, he said “You dry, and I’ll wash?” Steve nodded and took the drying towel. Together both super soldiers stood side by side doing dishes when they heard Tony from the living room,“Are you coming Capsicle?”“I’m busy, but you can go ahead and start without me. I’ll be in when I’m done.” Steve answered.“We all agreed that we would come home and relax and watch a movie. Why are you not relaxing?” Tony yelled back out.“I’m helping Buck with the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. I promise I will be in and relax when I’m done.” Cap said back into the room.“Barnes didn’t kick some Hydra ass the last two days. The least he can do is the dishes and clean up the kitchen by himself. You need to come relax.” Sam shot back at Steve.Looking at Bucky, Steve had a sorry expression on his face. “Go and relax Stevie. He’s right. I’m quite capable of cleaning up around here.”“Steve can you please bring some snacks in please?” Wanda asked the older man. Steve stopped and shot back “I’m not your father. You can get your own snacks.” She was persistent and Steve ended up taking snacks into his team members.Staying in the kitchen, Bucky finished up drying the dishes up and wiping down the counter tops and stove. He hated things being messy, and he knew Steve did as well. Laughing to himself, he guesses somethings never change. As he’s cleaning, he can hear everyone laughing and having a good time. His smile goes away because no matter how much he and Steve spend time together, he’ll never get Steve to loosen up like his other friends can. Thoughts of him not being enough for Steve start to fill his mind.When he’s finally done cleaning up the kitchen, Bucky goes to Steve in the living room “Stevie I’m going to go to shower and head for bed.” Steve waves his hand, not turning away from the movie to look at him. He walks back to their room and takes a long hot shower thinking. Once he’s done, he packs a bag and then crawls into bed alone, clutching Steve’s pillow to his chest and buries his head into it and let’s the tears fall.The next day, Steve acts like he never brushed his boyfriend off. Bucky doesn’t forget, but he eats up the attention that Steve’s showing him. They together go for a walk around the city, and straying into some of the surrounding neighborhoods that they knew when they were younger. “Man this neighborhood really changed in the last 70 years. Maybe not so much the structure of the buildings themselves, but other things about it.” Steve said still looking in awe.“Yeah there were a lot more small shops back when we were growing up than there are now. Like I remember our mas taking the two of us to that small bakery that sat a few blocks down when we were done church if we were good and didn’t disrupt.” Bucky laughing along with Steve at the memory.They spent the entire day together holding hands enjoying each others company. They bought food from a little restaurant and continued their day. At one point, Bucky looked at Steve when he wasn’t paying attention, admiring everything that he loved about his best friend. They laughed so much people would stop and look at them like they were crazy, and that’s what Bucky loved to do most with Steve. The two men kept walking, remembering things from back in the day before the war. "I remember this alley. I had the group of bullies cornered in there." Steve said to Buck, standing at the entrance to the alley. "You mean where the bullies had you cornered. Yeah I remember looking all over for you and finally found you in there with a split lip and a nasty shiner. I beat the kids up and had to drag you home." Buck said back to his boyfriend remembering that incident. "Hey, I had a plan and they thought they had me cornered, but they really didn't." Steve said back defending himself. "Mhmm if that's how you want to remember it." Bucky laughed. The day started to turn to night and the couple made it back to the compound around 8. When they made it up to the living quarters, they were greeted by the team. “We were about to call someone. We thought you two senior citizens forgot where you lived.” Tony said to the two super soldiers.“Haha very funny Tony.” Steve said back to Tony’s comment.“Wait can we talk about the fact that they didn’t bring back any food for us?” Sam said to everyone.“We are not your parents. You all can take care of yourselves. Make something, call for take-out or go out and get something.” Steve said back.“Hey Barnes, since you’re not like ever busy, can you make dinner?” Sam said to the Winter Soldier.“Excuse me?!” Bucky stopped mid step and turned around. He was angry that he was asked that question.“Sam’s got a point Buckster.” Tony chimed in on the conversation to get Bucky to make them food.“I’m not making you shit to eat. If you’re hungry then make yourself something.” Bucky said back walking out to go to his room, Steve stayed out with the others.“Steve why does he always have to be rude? Does he ever lighten up?” Pietro asked. To be fair, he doesn’t know Bucky as well as everyone else.“He’s not rude Pietro, he doesn’t like to be used.” Steve said staring at Sam and Tony.“Come on Steve. You have to agree that Barnes doesn’t do anything around here. He doesn’t work and bums off us. He doesn’t pay anything to live here like everyone else. So why can’t he make dinner?” Sam replied back to Steve.Steve didn’t say anything to silence Sam. What no one knew, Bucky was listening to everything that they were saying. He knew that not everyone liked him, but he didn’t think it was this bad. Walking back out to the kitchen area, he started pulling food out to make along with pans he would need. “Buck what are you doing?” He just looked at Steve and then kept preparing dinner for everyone. “Bucky stop! What are you doing?”Stopping what he was doing, Bucky looked at Steve “I’m cooking dinner for everyone, because everyone knows I don’t do anything around here. I mean I don’t work either. So I have to earn my keep. Right Steve?” He went back to cooking dinner.Steve didn’t know what to say. He knew Bucky was mad at him for not defending him, but he also knew that he was mad at the team for thinking of him as a free looter and not doing anything. He was stuck in a hard spot, defending his boyfriend or siding with his team members.Roughly an hour later Bucky had the meal cooked. Once everyone was seated, he served breakfast food since nothing was thawed out to make. “Here are scrambled eggs, pancakes, toast and bacon. I hope it’s enough.”“Look at that, the psycho is good at being a housewife. Maybe you could just stay here and cook for us everyday.” Sam said to no one specific person.“Sam….” Steve started to say, but got interrupted.“I’m glad I could be of use. When you’re done, just put the dishes in the sink and I will take care of them in the morning.” Bucky walked away from the table and went to go shower for bed.Ready to go to bed himself, Steve walks to his room that he shares. He’s exhausted from their day and climbed into bed after he was done showering. He failed to realize was that Bucky was lying awake with tears filling his eyes.Next morning came and Steve rolled over to an empty bed. Sitting up, Steve quickly got dressed and went to see if his boyfriend was in the kitchen. When he got to the kitchen, he didn’t see him. Seeing Wanda sitting at the counter, he asked her “Wanda have you seen Bucky around this morning?”“No, but the dishes were done when I came out here this morning.” She answered back. Steve thanked her and walked off in search of his boyfriend.He checked all over and couldn’t find Bucky. Coming back into the sitting room, Steve asked “Has anyone seen Bucky at any point today?” He was becoming worried. It wasn't like Buck to just leave. He always told Steve where he was going. “I checked security footage earlier when you asked me and here you can see our psycho assassin leaving with a backpack.” Tony showed Steve the footage.Steve goes to change clothes and is ready to leave when Tony stops him. “Where are you going?”Stopping and looking back at his teammate, “I’m going to look for him.” Steve replies. Tony says to Steve “We don’t even know he ran away.”“Are you serious right now? He had a backpack on Tony. He isn’t coming back. He left.” Steve told to his friend.“Where are you going to look? We have no clue where he is. He can be anywhere. He’s good at hiding.” Tony said. He knew Steve was upset, and that they probably didn’t help things last night.“I know this area as well as he does. We grew up her Tony, I know where to look.” Steve said back. Steve left the others and began looking for his boyfriend. He knows where to look. He knows Bucky too well. Walking around places that Bucky may visit, Steve tried to make sense why Bucky left, but became frustrated. Finally coming to his destination, Steve went inside. Sitting alone in a run down house, he said “I knew I would find you here.” Steve walked into the room.Bucky just continued to sit there never looking back at his boyfriend. “I knew you would find me, I just didn’t know how long it would take you.” Bucky said.“I know you Buck. This is the only place I know you would come. I just can’t think of a reason why you would run and come here.” Steve answered back. He stood there and just looked at his best friend.“When you’re a kid and growing up, you can’t wait to leave and go someplace new and exciting. I went a lot of other places and after everything I’ve been through, I just wanted to come home.” Bucky replied back. He continued to sit there and not once looking up.After hearing what Bucky said, Steve felt bad for his friend. He knew he has been having a rough time, but he didn’t think it went this deep. Steve went and sat beside the assassin on the floor. They didn’t move. “We used to be so happy playing here when we were younger” He said to his friend.Bucky let out a little laugh, “We used to build forts here in the living area. We wouldn’t come out unless we absolutely had too.” Steve and Bucky laughed at the memory. “And our poor mas didn’t know what to do, not really being able to get to us.” Bucky continued on.Steve laughed and continued on with the memory from years past “I remember our fort being so good that they didn’t even try to get us out, but instead they sat down and had tea and I can’t remember if it was my ma or yours that said “They’ll have to use the bathroom at some point. And that ended up being how they got us out that night.” Both boys sat and laughed some more.“Those were good times Stevie. Now look at this place. I mean we weren’t rich, and had very little money, but our house was never this run down.” Bucky said in a sad tone. He couldn’t believe what their house became.“Well, our mas did everything they could to keep this place going, and then when they passed, we tried. Like you said, we weren’t rich, but we did okay keeping up with the rent and keeping it looking decent for the time. We went off to war and...I guess it went down hill.” Steve finished saying. “Do you remember all the hounding our mas got because they shared an apartment together?” Steve said to his best friend.“Yeah and they said to everyone who ever asked or said anything that since they had two young boys and their husbands dead, they couldn’t afford to live alone. Since they were friends and we were friends, it worked out great.” Bucky said back to Steve. People back in that time frowned on that kind of thing, but they never lied. Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Barnes were best friends who lived only a couple houses down from one another. When they both lost their husbands, the two women thought it would be good to move in together to help raise their boys, until they passed away. Then Bucky and Steve kept living in the same house.It was nice talking about the past with his friend, but he needed answers. Steve didn’t want to bring up the reason for leaving, but he had too. So he took a deep breath and went for it. “You had a home at the compound. Why did you leave?”Bucky didn’t turn to Steve when he asked the question. He just kept sitting there looking at anything else. He knew this question would come up some time, he just wasn’t ready for it. He knew that his answer would anger Steve. He enjoyed walking down memory lane, laughing at the things they did when they were younger, before everything turned to shit. So he answered Steve’s question anyways, not beating around the bush. “I didn’t feel welcomed there anymore.” “What do you mean you didn’t feel welcomed there anymore?” Steve questioned his friend.‘Here came the anger he knew would follow.’ Bucky thought to himself. Looking at Steve this time, he said “I was only wanted there to cook and to clean up after everyone. That’s it. And Wilson even said it was how I could earn my keep since I’m no longer wanted on missions due to being a liability.”“That doesn’t mean you just get up and run away!” Steve said back with anger in his voice. He wasn’t sugar coating it. He said what he felt, always has.“How am I supposed to feel Steve? Just keep taking orders and being the one who does all the shit work no one else wants to do? I’m sorry, but I lived the life of a slave for too long. I’m not doing it anymore, not for Hydra, our government or the Avengers. I want to live MY life.” Bucky shot back. His voice raised higher with anger too. He knew why Steve had come here looking for him, he was here to take him back, not to see him or because he was worried about him.“You’re not a slave at the compound. You don’t have to do what they say. They are grown ups who can take care of themselves. You should have said something instead of running away. That never solves anything.” Steve said a lot of the anger gone.“I’m not going back. Your friends don’t like me, and the only reason I was ever allowed there was because of you.” He said to Steve. He gets it, understood the moment he first arrived there. They would all look at him differently and always kept tabs on what he was doing.“I’m there. Would you come back for me?” Steve asked. A few moments passed between the two. They didn’t look at each other directly, but Steve would look at his boyfriend out of the corner of his eye. He could see him looking down at his hands, playing with them. He was thinking, and Steve could see his thoughts turning in his head.The quiet was deafening to Bucky. He was really thinking about what Steve asked him. He was thinking if all the torture and abuse was worth it. Sighing, Bucky spoke up “Yeah, I’ll come back for you.” He looked at Steve. In the end, he would do anything for Steve.Steve surprised at what his friend had just told him, he said back “You will?” He was hopeful. He was beyond excited, but didn’t want to show it in case Bucky changed his mind or he scared his friend away.“Yeah I will. I’d do anything for you Punk.” Bucky smiled at Steve. Steve finally let loose his excitement. Bucky wasn’t expecting Steve to be this happy that he was coming back. Out of nowhere, Steve kissed him. When he was done, he looked at Steve and Steve looked at him with love and want.Steve slid onto his boyfriend’s lap and a heated moment started between the two lovers. Before it could escalate in anything further, Steve said, “Maybe we shouldn’t do this here.”Bucky looking at Steve with an exasperated look on his face “You can’t start something and not finish it Stevie!” Steve tried to move but Bucky wouldn’t let him get up.“We should go home and finish this some place more comfortable.” Steve shot back. Finally getting out of Bucky’s grasp, and getting up to his feet.“You can’t think I’m going out with this.” Bucky said back, pointing at his crotch area.Laughing, “Yes I do. Now are you coming or not? I can’t guarantee I’ll be in the mood later.” Steve gave him a look of hurry your ass up, I have needs that need taken care of.Laughing himself because of the look his boyfriend was giving him, Bucky said “Such a tease.” Steve laughed, because he knew it was true. He always would get Bucky wound up, and then stop in the middle of it. “Oh Steve, I forgot to tell you, um I bought this place.” Bucky said to Steve as they were leaving.Stopping, Steve was surprised again by what his boyfriend said to him. Steve replied “You what?”“I bought our old home. You know if you ever just want some place to go and be alone, this is that place.” Bucky said looking at his boyfriend.Smiling, Steve let what Bucky said sink in. He couldn’t help but to smile. “We’ll fix it up and do all the repairs and make it how we want." Steve was looking around, picturing all that they were going to do to fix up their house and make it the way they want. "This is awesome Buck. I didn’t think I would ever see this place again, let alone own it.” Steve replied. He smiled at his amazing boyfriend. He couldn't have been happier than in that moment. Bucky could tell that Steve was just as happy as he was. They had their old home back and this was theirs. No matter what, no one could take that away from them. Seeing Steve so happy and looking around, Bucky couldn’t help but to smile. “Come on Punk, like you said, you may not be in this state all night.”Laughing the two super soldiers left their house. That had a nice ring to it in Bucky’s mind. It was another step at normalcy. Another step in their relationship. The two men, when they were done, hailed a cab back to the compound.When the two stepped through the door of the compound, they were greeted by the others. “Oh good, I’m glad you found him. I was getting worried when I didn’t hear from you.” Tony said to Steve when he came in.“Oh yay, you found him.” Sam said sarcastically. He silently hoped that something happened to their relationship and Steve would come back without the psycho. That didn’t happen when he saw Steve walk in with Bucky.Steve picked up on Sam’s attitude, and immediately said to the team, “There is no more asking Bucky to do things for you. He’s not anyone’s servant. Are we clear.” They all nodded. The two super soldiers went to their room for the evening.
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A month into Bucky returning to the compound, the two would travel to Brooklyn to fix up their old childhood home. When Steve was away on a mission, Bucky would go alone to keep working to make sure things still got done. When he would fix and finish something Buck would send a picture to Steve, so he could feel like he was there with him.When returning from Brooklyn one day, both Steve and Bucky were called into the conference room. They looked at each other in confusion. Something was wrong if both of them were being called into the conference room. When they opened the door and entered, they were greeted by their fellow teammates and the Secretary of State. “This should be good.” Bucky said when they took their seats.Ross didn't wait, and immediately confronted the group. “I want to address Barnes and then we’ll get to going over other business.” Ross turned his gaze to the Winter Soldier. “Since you’ve came to the Avengers, you were given a military pension for your years in the service." Ross opened a folder and took out a packet of papers and threw them at Bucky. "With your history and your track record, that pension is revoked as of this morning." Bucky was furious. Ross though didn't give a shit and said "You can leave now so I can discuss a mission with the Avengers.” Ross told Bucky.Getting up out of his seat, Barnes said “I earned that pension. I went to war for my country. You can’t take that away from me.” Bucky has every right to be angry. That was his military pension.Ross had the look of 'are you kidding me?' “You earned it? You didn’t earn anything Barnes.” He said back to the assassin. Ross was done dealing with Bucky. To him, he had more pressing things to deal with than some stupid military pension given to someone who didn't deserve one. Bucky got right in Secretary Ross’ face. “I earned it after everything I’ve been through. I was a prisoner of war twice for my country. You wouldn't know what being a prisoner is like. Hell you wear medals plastered on your chest, but you wouldn't know what it is to be a fucking hero.” He wasn’t done with Ross. The assassin already hated the man, and this just topped it off. “Soldiers who get captured are weak and shouldn't be given pensions for that exact reason. You were captured and did nothing to try to free yourself or your men. You didn’t even try to fight Hydra." Ross stated once Barnes was pulled away from him. "Honestly, you want to know what I think, I think you liked being with Hydra.” Ross shot back in Bucky’s face.That comment from Ross made Barnes see red. Despite the Avengers holding them apart, Bucky broke free of their hold and punched Ross in the face with his left arm. “Liked being with Hydra? They tortured me for 20 years before they finally broke me. You have no idea the things they did to me.” Bucky stated.Steve had a hold of his boyfriend and was all but dragging the soldier out the door and away from Ross. When he was finally able to get a good distance away from the conference room, he let go of Bucky. Together they sat and Steve was able to get him to calm down, but Bucky wasn’t hearing any of it, until Steve made Bucky look at him “Bucky you need to stop, now. Don’t do anything else. Just go back to our room and cool off. I’ll join you in a minute, okay?” Barnes sat there and watched Steve walk back to the conference room. Bucky was still pissed, but more upset at the fact that Steve didn't stand up for him. Once everyone calmed down and Ross was treated for his broken nose, he went on to discuss the mission. This time they were headed to Sokovia to take down another Hydra base. “Do you all understand what needs to be done in Sokovia?” Ross said to the team. They all nodded, knowing what they must do. It's the same thing over and over, get intel and take big wigs to get information from them. Yeah they understood their mission. It wasn't going to be easy though. They looked at pictures of the compound, and it looked like a fortress. If anyone was going to get what was needed, it would be the Avengers. As Steve was getting up from his seat to leave and go to talk to his boyfriend, Ross stopped him. “Rogers I think we need to address Barnes’ actions here today.” Steve looked down at the hand on his chest, and looking back up to the man standing in front of him with a pissed off look. “What about his actions? I personally think they were appropriate.” Steve answered back.“He is a danger Rogers. He’s a loose canon, and should be locked up some place that he can’t hurt anybody.” Ross said back to Rogers.Steve was now in Ross' face. How dare someone say such things about Bucky. No one knew him better than Steve. “A loose canon? He was fine. He has never hurt anyone. You brought that punch upon yourself. He’s the bravest man I have ever known. He risked his life to save mine 75 years ago. He fought Hydra since he was captured and continued to do so for years after until he physically and mentally couldn’t fight no more." Rogers was pissed, but tried very hard to keep his composure. "He’s earned his military pension and you took that away from him.” Steve shot back at Ross. He didn’t care who he was pissing off. He knew what his boyfriend went through. What he still continues to go through. He will always fight for Bucky.Ross grabbed Steve's arm. “Watch your tone with me. Look at who you’re talking to.” Ross was even more angry.Steve looked down at the hand gripping his arm, and looked back up at Ross. “Respect your elders, Sir. I out date all of you, and you need to watch your tone with me." Steve snatched his arm out the the man's grip. "I'm going to make this very clear and simple even you will understand. Bucky and I are the last two people you want to piss off and have as an enemy.” Steve said and walked to the door. “Is that a threat Captain?” Ross' voice raised in irritation. Looking back, Steve said “I don’t make threats Mr. Secretary, I make promises.” And he walked out of the conference room to go back to his assassin boyfriend.Once he left the conference room, Steve went to his room that he shared with Bucky. He was hoping that Bucky wouldn’t be there. Steve was hoping to cool off before he had a much needed conversation with the other man. He was hoping that James went somewhere else for the time being. When he got to his room, Bucky was already there occupying the space. 'So much for cooling off.' Steve was never one to back down from a fight and it was a fight Steve was looking to pick. “So James, when were you going to tell me you had a military pension?” Steve addressed the other man.“I was gonna tell ya, but it slipped my mind.” Bucky answered Steve back.Steve got even madder at the response from the other man. “How long have you known about it Buck?!”Bucky knew that Steve was having one of those days where he was angry, when he used his name instead of Bucky, he knew right then that this wasn’t going to end well.Bucky didn't want to fight with Steve. He really didn't. Not about this. “A month or so. I got a letter informing me because I was in the Army I had this money. Since I’m clearly alive, that this was mine." Buck told him. He took a breath and continued. "So for a while I’ve been thinking what to do with some of it, and I found our old home for sale one day while I was out, and I thought it would be nice for us to have our house back. To have something back that was taken from us.” Bucky said to Steve. He figured they could have something that was theirs again. He wanted to man up for Steve, and be the man his ma always told him to be for Steve. Steve ran his hands down his face. He was so angry. “So you thought the first thing you’d buy was a fucking house?!” Steve’s voice was loud. He never yelled at Bucky before, but there was a first for everything. Barnes was now angry at how Steve was being. “I did it so we could have our home back! I wanted to be the man you deserve." Buck yelled back. He turned around to take a deep breath and then turned back to Steve. "What the fuck is your problem anyways Rogers? It's not like they took anything from you. You still get everything.” Bucky now was supporting his own attitude.“My problem? My problem is that you’re keeping fucking secrets!” Steve shouted back.The other people that lived at the compound could hear that Steve and Bucky were having not just an argument, but a fight. They knew it was bad from what was being said. They never heard the two have such a fight.“I’m not keeping anything from you asshole.” Bucky shouted back at his partner.“You’re keeping a pension hidden from me, your boyfriend!” Steve shot back with such hate.Getting up in Steve’s face, “It’s my pension. I earned that, and I don’t have to tell a damn soul about every little thing. I’m done answering to people!” Bucky shouted back.“You know you could have fucking helped around here or hell maybe split our rent, but I guess that’s asking too fucking much!” Steve was done with this shit. Bucky lost all the fight he had in him when Steve said what he just said. He sighed. “Well we don’t have to worry about it anymore since Ross had it taken away.”Letting out a small chuckle, “Yeah I guess I have to pay for the rest of the remodeling to the fucking house you bought.” Steve was still angry. He needed to get his anger out, and he knew it wasn't fair to take it out on James, but he really didn't care at the time. “I’m sorry Steve. I didn’t think they would take it away from me.” Barnes was defeated. He didn't know what to say. He was trying to do right by Steve and give him a house of their own, to show the man that he loved that he could provide for him. “That’s your problem isn’t it? You never think. You just act! Screw the fucking consequences. Steve will just clean up my mess." Steve yelled. "You know what James, I’m sick of having to clean up everyone's messes. I’m tired of it!” Steve shouted at the man standing in front of him. He was so pissed off.“Yeah Stevie, that’s always been my problem.” Bucky said in a low, almost a whisper. He knew he really messed up. He didn’t know how to make it better. He just wanted to do something special. “I need to get out of here before either of us says something that we can’t come back from.” Storming out of the room, Steve went to the living room hoping that everyone else went to bed, but when he got there, everyone was sitting around talking quietly. When they saw Steve, they quickly stopped their conversation. Steve not being stupid asked the team “What are you talking about that you all had to stop when you saw me walk in.”Sam not being afraid to voice his opinion, especially when it came to Barnes “We were talking about what happened between Ross and Barnes. We feel like keeping money hidden, when he had income a secret was wrong. Everyone chips in here, and him not isn’t fair to all of us." Sam gets up and walks over to Steve and says "Ross is right Steve, he shouldn’t be here. Look at all the trouble he has caused over the past year he’s been here. We all agree that Barnes needs to go.”Looking around at his friends, Steve says “He’s my boyfriend. I just got him back. Yes he has his faults, but we all do. That doesn’t mean you throw him out.” Yeah Steve might be mad at James, but he would never throw him out, leave him. He loves him too much. He always has, and always will.“Steve did you ever think that you would be better off without him? Look, before he came here, you were at the top of your game. You never messed up on missions." Sam told his friend. "Since he’s been here, you’ve become distracted on missions. He’s hurt you and sent you to the hospital. This isn't normal love Steve. He's dangerous. He could hurt any one of us." Sam tried to explain to his friend. "You can do better. I know he’s your friend and your boyfriend, but somethings you have to let go of. He’s not the same guy that you knew from back in the 40’s.” Sam said to Steve. Ever since he meet Steve running all those years ago, he’s considered him a friend, but now his feelings have grown stronger.“I love him. I always have.” Steve said back to his friend. "I can't lose him." Steve looked down.“That’s why letting go is hard, but it’s what’s best for you. We all see it.” Sam responded. He does feel sorry for Steve, but in a way he is a bit selfish.Walking out to find Steve, Bucky wanted to apologize to him, but when he found him, Steve didn’t look so good. He looked upset and looks like he's got tears in his eyes. Going over to him, Bucky said “Steve, what’s wrong?” Bucky looked around to the others for any possible signs as to what has Steve so upset.“You’re the problem Barnes. Steve just doesn’t want to admit it. He's loyal to you for some unknown reason." Sam told the other man. "Before you came here, Cap was doing great. Then you show up and he’s a mess. You take advantage of not only him, but all of us. You don't help pay for anything around here. We all chip in so no one has to pay for everything, but you don't." Sam voiced. "And to top it all off, you send him to the hospital. If you haven't gotten the picture, you're the problem.” Sam said standing beside Steve.Bucky looked at everyone. Most of them weren't looking at them. He looks back at his love. “Steve?” He questioned. “I love you, and I just got you back. I don’t want you to leave me again.” Steve was hurt emotionally.Bucky knew that they were two different people since he came back to Steve. He knew that they weren’t the same two kids from Brooklyn before the war. Things are different now. It was about time he faced it. He just never wanted to admit it. He made Steve look at him. Once he had the man's attention, he said to him “Maybe their right Stevie. You’ll always have me, just not here." Steve started crying and shaking his head no. He couldn't lose him. He couldn't lose Bucky again. It will kill him.Bucky had to continue with what he was saying or he wouldn't ever finish. "If you ever need me, you know where to find me, or I’ll find you. I always will. You know I will. But maybe me being here isn’t good for us." Bucky himself started to cry. He quickly wiped his eyes and continued. "We fight more now than we ever did, and before one of us does something stupid, we should walk away.” He said to Steve, both super soldiers had tears rolling down their face. He wrapped Steve up in a hug, and both men cried to each other. He unfolded himself from Steve and wiped the tears away, and looked at the Avengers and said “Take care of him, because I swear to God if anything happens to him, none of you and I mean none of you can stop me from tearing you apart.” With that said Bucky went back to their room. He stood there and took in all the memories that he and Steve had created in that room. They had a lot of good ones and some bad ones, but that’s all part of being in a relationship. They talked about wanting a family in this room, and that made Bucky smile. He always thought Steve would make a great dad, and even joked that he would be the "mom" out of the two of them. Another fond memory in that happened in this room was when Bucky told Steve that he was going to marry him. All memories that Bucky will never forget. Not wanting to make things even harder, he quickly packed a bag of essentials that he would need to live off of. It won't be the first time that he had nothing to live off of, and it wouldn't be the last time. It was just life. Nothing was ever easy for him, and he accepted it. Once he was done, he stood there and looked around one last time. He again had tears running down his face, knowing that he was leaving the only family he had left. Walking back out to where the team still stood, he walked up to where Steve was and he kissed Steve one last time on the lips. “Until we meet again. I love you Punk.” And he walked out the door, leaving the love of his life behind. Steve went to go after Buck, but was held back by Sam. "BUCKY!" Steve yelled after his love, fighting to break free. He had silent tears falling from his eyes. Steve whispered “James” and gave up fighting. He hoped that by saying his name it would bring him back. No longer being able to see Bucky, Steve still stood in the doorway looking, and whispered “I love you too Jerk.” Bucky could hear Steve calling out for him. He sounded like he was struggling, but he couldn't turn back. He needed to keep going or he would never give Steve the freedom that he needed away from him. He needed to keep going so he couldn't hurt Steve anymore than he already has. Clint later walked out to the kitchen and when bypassing the living quarters, something caught his eye. He stopped and went in to get a better look. When he walked up on it, he saw it was Steve asleep against the door frame with the door still open. The archer bent down beside the super soldier and gently shook his shoulder. "Hey Steve, why don't we go back to bed."Steve woke up still full of sleep barely opened his eyes said "Buck?" Clint's heart broke. "I'm sorry Steve, just me, Clint. Let's get you to bed." Clint tried getting Steve up, but the soldier went full dead weight on him. "Come on Steve, you got to help me here." "Leave me alone. Want Buck. I have to wait here for Bucky." Steve mumbled. "No can do Steve. Now you need to help me by getting up and going to bed." Clint said back. Steve helped Clint by getting up with the aid of the archer. Steve stumbled, but Clint was there to help make sure that nothing happened to him. When they got to his bedroom, Clint pulled back the covers and helped Steve sit on the bed. "Alright Steve, I want you to get dressed for bed, and brush your teeth. I'll be back in to make sure you don't need anything else." Clint said as he went out the door to wait for the other man to finish up. When he heard the sheets moving, he entered and saw that Steve was sitting in bed. Clint's heart hurt for him. He walked over to the bed and sat down. "What's going on?" "He isn't coming back. I know he isn't. He left me." Steve said looking down at his hands. Barton sighed. "Steve, Bucky won't ever leave you. When Sam said everyone agreed that he should leave, Nat and I didn't agree with him. We know how much he means to you. I know if you ever needed him, he would be right there with you." "You think so?" Steve asked the other man."He broke whatever Hydra did to him because he remembered you, and he fought Hydra to come back to you. So yes Steve, if you ever needed him, he will come to you. He always will." Clint said to the young super soldier. Steve nodded. He didn't know what to say. He was hurting and it felt like a piece of himself was gone, and it wasn't coming back. Clint saw this. "Alright. I want you to lay down and get some sleep. If you need me or Nat, we are right down the hall. Come and get us, or text us and we will be right up. Okay?" All Steve did was nod his head and turned onto his side and curled up into a ball. He cried himself to sleep. Clint looked back at Steve and turned off the light. He walked down to his room where his wife was waiting for him. He walked in and sat on the bed. Nat was worried about her husband. She could see how upset he is. "Clint what's wrong?""I feel so awful Tasha. We didn't stick up for Bucky today, and now Steve is suffering." Clint gave a sad look to his wife."We'll fix it. In the mean time, we need to be there for Steve." She said to her husband. She cared just as much for those two boys as much as her husband did. Clint nodded to her. "Come here." She laid down and he laid his head on her chest. She ran her fingers through his short hair until he drifted off to sleep, and she followed not long after.The next day, Steve didn’t want to be bothered. He didn't even bother to make an appearance at meal time. The others tried to get him to come and watch a movie, but he declined. He was a zombie, not having a care in the world about anything.This with Steve went on for a week, and Clint and his wife had enough. They were worried about Steve, and so they picked his lock on his bedroom door and went in and found Steve curled up in bed crying. He looked awful. They could tell that he hadn’t showered at all and the smell, he was making himself sick. Seeing this, Nat went into full mother mode and said to Clint "Get a warm wet washcloth from the bathroom please." He did just that. Steve didn’t even put up a fight when she was cleaning him up. Once she was done, she told Clint "You need to strip Steve down and get him in the hot shower and make sure he gets cleaned." Clint nodded, and Nat went to clean up the room. When she was stripping the bed, she heard Steve.“Please don’t take the blue pillowcase off. It still smells like him. Please it’s the only thing I have left with his scent still on it.” She looked at the super soldier, but it wasn’t Steve she was looking at, it was a shell of the man. She hurts for Steve, because he looks so lost and broken.Later that day, they got Steve to finally come out of his room, and they made a lite lunch. Nat wanted to make sure Steve got what he needed without upsetting his stomach. No one dared to even bring up Bucky or what happened. They talked about some movie they had watched the other night and told Steve that it was the dumbest thing that could have ever have been made. That even got a smile from him. It was an improvement Nat thought.
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Their mission to Sokovia was put on hold because of what happened with Steve and Barnes. Ross didn't like it, but the team refused to do the mission without Steve and they knew that he was in no shape to go on the assignment. Three weeks later, they find themselves on a quinjet to the Eastern European country. The team members were all talking among themselves, except Steve. Steve was keeping to himself. He had headphones in listening to music and looking down at his hands. He was upset. He had sent Bucky another text message, but like the last several dozen texts, there was no reply. He hasn’t seen or heard from him since the night he left, three weeks ago.Seeing this and seeing Steve sitting alone, Clint went over and sat with him. “Hey man, still no word from Bucky?” Steve shook his head. He knew Clint had good intentions. He thinks Clint is a great person, and is glad that he has someone like Clint as a friend. “What if he wants nothing to do with me?” Steve asked the archer.Clint took a seat next to Steve. “Do you really think Bucky would be done with you Steve?” Barton asked. He doesn’t know what it’s like to not be with the person you love. If he couldn’t be with Tasha, he’d be lost.“I’ve sent him more than 20 messages and tried calling him several times and even left messages, but I haven’t heard back from him." Steve told the other man. "W...What if he found someone else to be with? I wouldn’t blame him for wanting to find someone better than me. I mean, I’m nothing special and broken. He probably found a great guy or is at least interested in someone.” Steve said to Clint. It was the only thing that he could think of. That or Bucky was just through with his shit. Steve knows he isn't the easiest person to be around, and Bucky has put up long enough with him. Barton looked at Steve. He never knew Steve thought so low of himself, and he surely never saw how depressed Steve was. “Steve you need to stop this. There is nothing wrong with you. You are the best person I’ve ever met, and you stick with what you think is right, and you’re a friend. Anyone would be happy to have a friend like you in their life." Clint says to the young super soldier. "If you ask me, that’s what makes you, you. You’re a great man. Never think of yourself other wise." Clint has been keeping up with Buck. He has been in constant contact with the man. He has been to Brooklyn helping Bucky out with the remodeling work when Barnes wasn't working. He has talked to buck about Steve and how it's been rough on Steve since he left. Barnes asked him to not tell Steve that he has been coming to help him. Clint didn't want to keep it from Steve, but he also didn't want to lose Barnes in the process. He and Bucky have connected on a whole other level, and didn't want to lose that trust with the other man. "I don’t think Barnes found someone else. I think he just needs a little time. When he’s ready to talk, he will." Clint tried to reassure Steve." He looks at the younger man and asks "Where is this all this doubt coming from?” He was good at giving advice, but he didn't like seeing the strongest person he has ever known so upset.Steve let out a breath. He never liked telling people about how insecure he is about himself. “I’ve always been like this. I never had much faith in myself. When you lived the life I did, growing up before the serum, you think differently about yourself." Steve told the archer. He continued. He trusted Clint with the info that he was telling him. "When you look and had all the problems I had, and somehow had someone like Bucky beside you all the time, you start to think horrible things. Thoughts like 'How could someone like Buck like someone like me?' or 'He's the cool kid, healthy and strong and handsome. He could have choosen anyone, but he stands with me and wants to be my friend even though I got bullied and made fun of all the time.'" "It's those things that maybe he finally had enough of me and all my crap to want to stick around.” Steve shared. He will never understood why James wanted to be his friend way back when. Barton had no idea. No one has ever seen his side of Steve before. They all have been together for four years now, and he keeps this all bundled up inside. Steve was always there when someone needed to talk or needed help, but no one knew how much the super soldier needed someone to be there for him. It hurts Clint to think that no one cared enough to ask Steve how he was doing, including himself and his wife. “Cap we all heard about your pre-serum days, and yes it was hard for you, but Bucky choose to stand by you through all that, just like he choose to stand by you now. He did it, not because he felt sympathy for you, but because he loved you for you then and he still loves you now.”Steve listened to what the master assassin said. He really was thankful to have Barton with him. “Thanks Clint.” Steve said to the man sitting beside him. It meant a lot to him that someone was wiling to sit with him and listen and help him through what he was feeling. It's been a long time since someone really listened to him. Hell since anyone cared about how he was feeling. The only one to ever just take time to talk to him was James, and it was nice to know that someone else cared. Two hours it took for the team to arrive at their destination. They didn't want to get too close to the based and be detected before they were in position. So they landed far enough away and crept up on the base to make sure they were in position before they attacked. They scouted the base and it was huge to say the least. When they got into position, each team member waited for their go ahead to move on the base and do their part. They wanted the element of surprise, but that was quickly lost. The enemy was waiting for them in heavy fortified bunkers and troops with tanks. When they got into the building again came under heavy fighting. They were evenly matched.“Guys I got the information we need. Let’s get out of here. I set this place to blow in 10 minutes.” Tony said through the comms to his other teammates. Everyone was making their way back to the jet to meet up and go home. Before he could get out, Steve took two shots to his abdomen. 'Fuck' Steve thought to himself. He had missed the sniper in the tree. He took cover under fire from the sniper. Steve was clutching his stomach. He was bleeding badly. He didn't have the strength to stand. "I need assistance. I'm down." Steve radioed to his team. "I got him. Pietro, get as many to the jet as fast as you can. Nat get a head count for me. I don't want anyone being left behind. Sam, take out the sniper in the woods. I got Steve." Tony informed his team. Tony grabbed Steve just as Sam took out the sniper. Tony quickly assessed Steve's injuries. "Fuck Rogers. Keep pressure on those wounds and we will get you back to the jet. Can you do that for me?" Tony asked.Steve coughed violently, and he spit out blood. "Hurts." Was all Steve got out. "Steve I need you to stay with me. Hey! Don't you go falling asleep Cap. Now isn't the time to take a nap." Tony said to his teammate. "Tired. I'm tired Tony." Steve mumbled out with more blood coming out of his mouth before he passed out. "Fuck! Get that quinjet started asap. I'm coming to you. Bruce, I need you to get the medical stuff ready. I'm bring Rogers to you." Tony said as he made his way to the quinjet. When he got there, he was met by Clint, Nat and Bruce. "Lay him here Tony." Bruce said to his husband. Bruce went to work immediately. "Clint and Nat, can you get his uniform off him please? Tony, I need you to help me get this stuff ready. I need to see what I am working with."Both Nat and Clint removed Steve's uniform. They saw the wounds on his abdomen. They applied pressure until Tony and Bruce were ready. Both Tony and Bruce got to work, but found that they were unable to really do much with what they had on the jet. The bullets were lodged inside, and they couldn't get them out without having to do surgery and they weren't equipt with what they needed. All they could do was keep applying pressure until they arrived back at the compound.When arriving back to the Avengers facility, they rushed Steve to the hospital wing. “Two gunshots to the abdomen. He was unconscious on the quinjet here.” Tony said to the medical team that took Cap from him and rushed him into the ER. Now all they could do was wait. This was the worst part.Hours passed when the doctor finally came out. “Let's sit and I will go over Captain Roger's surgery." The doctor opened Steve's chart. "He lost a lot of blood and despite the serum trying to heal him. The bullets were lodged in his large intestine and the other in his bladder. We were able to safely remove both of them. We did have to take a portion of his large intestine and remove it, and the same with his bladder. He needs lots of rest and will be sore for some weeks. He will have trouble using the bathroom at first, but this is normal. So please don't be alarmed. With removing a portion of his bladder, he will be more frequent in needing to use the bathroom. With his large intestine, he won't be able to absorb what his body needs from the food he eats, and this will make going to the bathroom harder as well. With his serum, he will heal up nicely, but once we had to cut portions of these two parts and remove the damage, there is nothing the serum will do to ever fix this. It will be permanent.” The doctor said to the team. The members thanked the doctor after they asked a bunch of questions. They all went to sit with Steve until they were summoned by Ross.When they all got to the conference room, Ross was already waiting in there for them. "I get that you want to meet with us, but this is not your home. This compound is the home of the Avengers. You don't get to just walk in here when you want." Tony said to the Secretary of State. "I can do whatever I want. Now sit down and lets go over what you all retrieved from Sokovia." Ross said to the team. Once they all took a seat, Ross started. "You got blueprints of weapons they either have or are making, and you got some low level names that are part of Hydra. Interesting as this information is, it's not what I asked for. Explain that to me." He looked around at the team. "I got what I could get my hands on, and what was all there. There was no other information. So what ever intel you had was wrong." Stark said back to their leader. "My information wasn't wrong. You all can't follow simple orders." Ross said to the group. "Take Rogers for example. He wouldn't be laid up in the hospital had he followed the simple instructions I laid out." Ross told them."Fuck you Ross. Steve made sure that we were all safe and away from the building before he left himself. Don't you ever speak about Steve like you did ever again." Clint stood up to leave the conference room. "Don't you walk out Barton." Ross said to the archer. "Take you assignment and shove it up your ass." Clint said and walked out. He was going to sit with Steve. "Hey wait for me." Nat said as she walked fast to catch up with her husband. "I thought you would have stayed." Clint said to his wife who caught up to him as they continued to walk to the hospital. "Fuck that man. Something is wrong. I don't know what it is yet, but I know something isn't right." Nat voiced to her husband. "And I don't like how he spoke of Steve. That boy is like a son to me, and I won't stand for Steve being talked about like that." The spy said. "I agree. I'm protective of Steve and Barnes, and I don't like it when people bad mouth them in front of me." Clint said back to his wife.Both husband and wife make it to Steve's room. When they entered they saw Steve still asleep. They did notice a picc iv on the inside of his upper arm, and a bump on his abdomen. Clint went and moved the covers to see what the bump was and saw a feeding tube. Clint put the covers back on Steve and went over to his wife. He noticed the upset look on her face, and he puled her into a hug. "He's going to be okay Tasha. His serum is working, just a bit slower than we are used to. He's going to be awake and more stubborn than ever." Clint reassured his wife. "I know he is. I just don't like seeing him in this condition is all." She said. She sat down beside the younger man and held his hand. She would talk to him. She even gave him a sponge bath so he would feel some normalcy. It was a few more days before the feeding tube came out and the picc iv. Steve's serum did it's job and he healed. Nat was in with him cleaning his room. She put out fresh flowers for him, and threw away the newspaper from the previous day. She was in the middle of combing his hair after she washed it with dry shampoo and put in leave in conditioner when the young man woke up. "Hey you. I'm happy to see those pretty blue eyes." She said to the man."Mmm, that feels nice. You can keep doing that." Steve mumbled out in a tired voice. She laughed. "I wanted to keep up your dashing handsome looks while you were taking a nap." She said as she continued to comb his hair.Steve had a smile on his face. "So, what all happened while I was sleeping?" Steve asked the woman he looked up to like a parent, but would never say a word. "Oh you know, Ross being an asshole. Clint told him to shove his intel up his ass, and we both walked out, and the others came to visit you. Tony brought you pudding, but he ended up eating it. All the normal things." She answered with a smile on her face. Steve nodded his head. He winced when he went to move, and Nat was there to help him so he wouldn't hurt himself anymore. "Thanks Nat. My back is stiff I guess from laying in the same position, and my stomach feels like it has a giant bruise." Steve said to her. "That's understandable. You have been asleep for four days Steve. And on top of that, you had some major surgery. The bullets lodged in your large intestine and your bladder. They had to remove a portion of each in order to repair the damage." She told the man. Steve looked at her, but before he could say anything, she continued. "Don't worry. The serum did it's job and you are fully healed. You probably will experience some discomfort still in your stomach, but it's all healed up, inside and out. Going to the bathroom will be a bit difficult, seeing as your body won't get all the nutrients it needs from food, and so we will have to modify your diet a bit, and your bladder will make going to the bathroom more frequent. Nothing we can't handle." Natasha said back to the man she sees as a son. "I'm sorry to put you through this. To put you all through this. I don't want any of you to think that you have to wait on me or feel like you need to help me through this. I can deal with this on my own." Steve said to the spy. "I am happy to help, and so is Clint. We want to help. You are not a burden, and you will not be dealing with this on your own." She said to him. She would never leave Steve to navigate this on his own. "Thanks Nat. It means a lot." Steve replied. The two sat together that day. They were doing the crossword puzzle in the paper together, and doing other puzzles. It passed the time when Steve wasn't sleeping. When he would fall asleep, she gave him a bath and went over to the house and got Steve a snack that she knows he would love and wouldn't get in the hospital. When she came back, Clint was sitting beside the bed. "Hey you. When did you get home?" Nat asked her husband."About a half hour go. Bucky had to go to work. I finished up sanding the hardwood floors for James, and came here. It was a pretty productive day. We got a lot done." Clint explained all that he did with their other boy that morning. "Sounds like the house is coming along." Nat said back. "It is. It's a nice place. Bucky wants the house done so he can gift it to Steve." Clint told his wife.Nat looked at Clint. "What do you mean gift it to Steve? Where would he live then?" Nat asked. She knew what her husband would say in response. "He said the only reason he bought the house in the first place, was because Steve always loved their home. He grew up there, and Bucky and his mom moved in so they all could afford to live somewhere. Then the war happened and both boys went missing and presumed dead, that they lost the house. He wanted to give it back to Steve. He said he had put the rest of his money into the main account that pays the bills, and that he put enough money in there that it would be used to keep the Avenger's home running for years. So the money that we all put in is just sitting in there." Clint told his wife what James had disclosed to him that morning. "He said Tony thinks he is paying the bills with the money that we all contribute, but really it's him that is footing the bills." Clint explained. "So the fight that broke up our boys was for nothing. We all condemned Barnes for living rent free, when in reality he was paying for all of us." She said working through what her husband just said to her. "We got to tell Tony, Clint. He needs to know that James isn't the freeloader he was made out to be." She said to Clint. "Tash, he didn't want me telling anyone. I wasn't even supposed to tell you. We can't tell Tony or the others what James did for us. He just wants to be left alone, and if that makes him be the bad guy in the eyes of the team, then it's a price he is willing to pay." Clint told her. "But he isn't the bad guy. He's sweet and caring behind his rough exterior." Nat responded back. "You and I know that. We have to respect his wishes Nat. We owe that to him." Barton told his wife. She conceded. She understood what Clint was saying. For seven decades, James has had people telling him what to do and who to be. She couldn't do that to him. She wouldn't do to him what those monsters did. As the couple sat there with Steve who was still asleep, Nat told her husband that Steve was awake for a few hours today. "What! He woke up? How is he?" Clint asked his wife. She laughed at her husband's excited tone. "Steve's okay. He said he is a little sore, but he is going okay. He woke up when I was combing his hair this morning after I washed it. We sat and did puzzles in the paper. He did eat something small, but didn't eat a lot." She explained. "This is great news. I didn't tell Bucky what happened. He has enough on his plate right now." Clint responded."I think we should keep this to ourselves. James will be irate if he knows what happened to Steve." Nat voiced. "Exactly why we can't tell him." Clint said."I'm going to go over to the house. I'll be back shortly." Nat said kissing her husband.It wasn't long that Steve woke up. "Hey Clint. Nice to see you." Steve said when he saw the archer. "It's nice to see you awake Cap. How are you feeling?" Clint asked the young man."I'm okay. I can't wait to be able to get up. I'm tired of laying here." Steve voiced. "I understand, but you took to bullets and had major surgery. We need to take it slow." Clint told the super soldier. "I know. Nat told me what all happened. I just would love to get up, even if it is just to stand up." Steve voiced. "You're going to be stubborn until you get what you want, aren't you?" Barton asked."Me? Stubborn? I am no such thing." Steve said back with a smirk on his face.Clint laughed at the man. Nat walked back in then with some sweats. "What's so funny?" She asked walking into the room."Oh nothing much. Steve being Steve and we wouldn't want it any other way." Clint said back to his wife. "Whatcha got there baby?" Clint then asked when he saw the bag in his wife's hand. "Doc told me that Steve was able to get up and start walking around, slowly. So I brought him some loose fitting sweats." She replied. Hearing this, Steve perked up. "I want to walk." He said to the two. Nat had a smile on her face. "I thought you would want to. We are going to go slow though. Understand young man?" She said back to the man.Steve nodded his head. "Got it." He was reaching for the bag. The sooner he got dressed, the sooner he could get up."Hang on young man. Clint or I are going to help you get dressed as to not put too much strain on your body. You haven't had any movement for several days." Natasha said back to Steve. Steve got embarrassed when he heard that Nat might help him, and this didn't go unnoticed by the couple. "I've seen it all before Steve." She responded. "What?" Steve responded back. "Who do you think bathed you while you were out?" She said back.Steve got even more embarrassed at the information that Nat had bathed him. "I'll help you Steve." Clint said. "Nat, why don't you look out the window while I help Steve." He said looking back at his wife. He walked over to Steve and helped him turn to sit on the side of the bed. Steve bent over to put on his pants, and winced. "Here, I will put them on you, and you can pull them up." Clint said to the super soldier. "It's embarrassing I can't even put on my pants." Steve said. "Your body is stiff. Don't worry. You will start to loosen up the more we get you moving." The archer said told Steve.Once he was dressed, both Natasha and Clint walked with Steve up and down the hallway. "It feels so good to be up and moving." Steve said to the two walking with him. "How are you feeling Steve?" Nat asked the younger man."Stiff. I don't have as much soreness as I did earlier when I woke up. I just need to get my legs and arms moving again to get rid of this stiffness." Steve answered the lady. "That's great to hear Steve. We're going to walk back to your room, but we will get up again and walk in a little. I want you to eat something. To get your strength back up." Nat said back to Steve. He nodded. The next day, Clint went to visit Steve. Nat had an important phone call to take and wasn't sure when she would be in to see him. "I got you something." Clint said to the man, handing Steve a white paper bag."Wha...how did you know I like donuts? I never ate one in front of anyone." Steve said to Clint after he looked in the bag. He pulled it out and saw it was his favorite kind, Boston creme. "You even got my favorite kind. How did you know?" Steve asked. Clint shrugged. "Lucky guess." Clint answered with a smile on his face. "I know a lot of things Steve. That's my job." Barton said as he was taking a seat beside Steve. Steve looked at him and then turned his attention to the delicious looking pastry in his hand. He took a bite and groaned. After he was done chewing he said "This tastes just like the ones Bucky and I used to get back in the day. I thought I would never taste these again." Steve took another bite. He was in love. It made him think of the past memory of him and Bucky being allowed to get one when they were younger and their ma's having enough money to buy them each one. It made Steve smile. "I'm glad you enjoy it, but this needs to be our secret. If Tasha found out I let you have a donut, she will make me sleep on the couch for the rest of my life." Clint said to Steve. "I won't tell a soul." Steve replied, finishing off the creamy pastry. "So, what have you been up to?" Clint asked when he saw Steve's phone sitting on his lap. It was Steve's turn to shrug his shoulders. "I texted Bucky and tried to call him, but he didn't answer either time." Steve said. Clint sighed. He knew that Steve wanted to talk to the assassin. James told him that he read every text and listened to every message that Steve left him, but he wanted Steve to eventually get over him. Clint told Barnes that Steve wouldn't simply get over him. "Steve, I'm sure Bucky is very busy. Just give him time to figure out life on his own." Clint tried to reason with the super soldier. "Yeah. He's probably busy out finding someone new. Bucky always caught the eye of people, and he would be asked out on dates all the time. Why would it be any different now?" Steve answered. He sighed. He was losing Bucky all over again and it hurt. It hurts so bad. "Clint?" "Hmm?" Clint responded. He knew that Bucky wasn't out looking for a date, but he couldn't tell Steve that. Steve would then start asking too many questions about how he would know what Bucky is and isn't doing, and Clint can't let Steve know that he has been going to Brooklyn almost every day helping Barnes out with the house. "I won't survive losing Buck again." Steve looked younger at that moment. "You won't lose him Steve." Clint said back. To be honest, he didn't know what to say. "Hey, I want you to get some rest. I will be back in a little bit. I have to go check on Nat." Clint said to Steve. "Okay. I could use a nap anyways." Steve replied. After Clint left Steve's room, he took out his phone and sent a text saying 'Do me a favor and please respond to Steve. He's in a deep depression and hearing from you will help get him out of it.'
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
A week later Steve was finally allowed to leave the hospital. His strength has come back in his legs and he can walk on his own without the fear of falling. He was able to successfully use the bathroom. It wasn't easy at first, but he managed to do it. The doctor was very happy with his improvements, and so he was a free man. He was supposed to let Nat and Clint know he was able to leave, but the hospital sits on the compound. Their home sits not far from the hospital. So he just walked over. When he walked into the living room, everyone was surprised to see him, including Nat and Clint. "Excuse me young man. You were supposed to call Clint or I when you were being discharged. I didn't receive a call. Did you Clint?" Nat asked her husband, never taking her eyes off Steve. "Nope." Clint answered his wife. "Funny, neither of us got a call, but yet you are standing in front of me. Care to explain?" Nat asked Steve. "Um...well I'm fine. The hospital is a short walk from here, and I thought I wouldn't disrupt you two. I'm okay to walk on my own." Steve answered. "Not good enough. Now get over here and relax on the recliner." She was so mad at the man she thought of as a son. Shaking his head, he replied “I can’t. I’m actually headed out for a bit.” He knew she would not be happy with him going out after just being released from the hospital.“Steven! You just left the hospital. You are going to relax.” She said back. Why must he be so stubborn.“No can do, ma.” Steve said and quickly looked at the spy. He never meant for her to find out that he thought of her a mother figure. 'Fuck! Now I really have to get out of here.' He thought to himself. Nat just gave him a surprised look. He went to turn when she called out to him. "Steve how long have you thought of me that way?" Nat asked the young man. Steve's ears were turning red. He was embarrassed. He not only said it out loud, but in front of the whole team. "For years now ma'am." He answered. Nat walked up to the soldier and gave him a big hug. "I'm so happy to hear that. I have thought of you as a son. Clint and I both see you in that way." She told him. "I will let you go out on one condition, you don't do anything stupid and you have to take Clint with you." She said to Steve. "I promise ma I won't do anything stupid. And Clint doesn't have to come. He's comfortable on the couch stretched out." Steve said back. Nat walked back and slapped her husband on the back of the head. "Hey Steve, I think it would be fun to hangout." Clint shouted, giving his wife a look, rubbing the back of his head. Already headed towards the door, Steve shouted back "Come on Pops, I ain't got all day." As the two men boarded the subway, Clint asked the other man “So where are we going Steve?”“Brooklyn.” Was all Steve said. He was on a mission.“Oh.” Was all Clint replied. He knew why Steve was so eager to get out today. He was going in search of Barnes. This was going to be interesting. Getting off the subway, Steve and Clint made their way up to Steve’s old house. “What is this place? Looks like someone is putting in a lot of work to fix it up, restoring it.” Clint said looking around. He had to make it appear that he had no idea where he was. He couldn't let Steve know that he has been here on several occasions.Going up to the house that Cap knew so well, he knocks on the door, but no one answered. He tried knocking again, but no answer. Steve took out his key that Bucky gave him, and unlocked the door. Barton and Steve went in looking around for the owner, but couldn’t find him. Steve looked around to see what all Buck got done with their old home. He sees that he got the living room almost finished. It looks modern, but with an antique look to remind them of the time period they were from. Steve couldn’t help but smile at the memory. “Hey, he’s not here.” Barton said to his friend. Clint looked around at what Barnes did when he wasn't here. He got the electrical work done in the bedroom, and started on the kitchen. Nodding his head, Steve was hoping he would be here. He just wanted to see his friend. He misses Bucky so much. He’s beginning to feel like he’s lost him all over again. “Since we’re here, mind if we look around? See some places if that’s okay.” Steve asked Clint. Clint nodded. It would be nice to walk around. He could pick up somethings that he needed and somethings for his wife. When going around looking at different sites, every once in a while Clint and Steve will stop in a store. Clint saw something that he knew Tasha would like. “Nat is very lucky to have a man like you.” Steve commented as they left the small store. That’s how they spent their day, eventually the two Avengers ended up down by the docks. “I remember coming down here all the time when I was younger, before I got turned into what you see today.” Steve said, not really talking to anyone. Barton just listened.“Why would you hang out at the docks? I’m sure there were better things to do.” Clint asked Steve.Letting out a small chuckle, Steve responded “There were, but I knew someone that worked down here and spending time here watching them work while I drew was comforting.”“Yeah comforting. That’s what you call watching someone work.” Clint said back as they continued to walk around the docks. This was familiar to Steve. The docks still looked the same as they did, but with more modern equipment. Steve shrugged. “It was. He knew I was there the whole time. When he was done with his hard days work, we would walk home together. My friend didn't like me being alone. He wanted me to be there in case something happened to me. I was at least around someone that could help me if a health problem arose. ” Steve said back to his teammate’s response.“Mhmm. You call it comforting, I call it stalking. Who was your friend?” Clint asked.Cap led them over to crates that were sitting around and they both sat on them watching the people hard at work. He spent many hours sitting on these crates.“This is a nice place to hangout.” His archer friend said as he was looking around.“See, comforting.” Was all Steve said in response.“In this case, yes it’s comforting, but I’m not here to watch my friend work. In your case, you were stalking and took comfort in watching him.” Clint shot back. “Who knew Captain America was a stalker.” He added.Steve laughed. “Whatever you say Barton.” They continued to sit there and laugh. "I was to be there as to not be alone, but keep saying I was stalking. It's fine." Steve smiled at the older man. It was a beautiful day to sit out and not worry about anything.The two sat there for awhile talking about everything. They even had lunch there. “Dad? Do you like Bucky? Shouldn’t you be like everyone else and hate him?” Steve asked, taking a bite of his hot dog.Clint knew he would eventually be asked this. “In my line of work, before I became an Avenger, I did some horrible things for the government. Being a soldier with my skill set, I was asked to do things that others weren’t. I met Tasha when I was sent to kill her, but I saw her and how she wanted out of her life, and so I brought her back with me. Fury liked her and saw that she could be an asset to our team. Then things between us escalated, and we ended up getting married. Then with the whole New York experience with Loki and being his puppet, I know what it’s like. Not having a say in what you're told to do, but you have to do it, or when you don't have control of your own thoughts. I guess I can relate to him and what he’s been through.” Clint told Steve. He’s never hated the assassin. Barton looked at Barnes as if he was another son. “I never knew.” Steve said in response to what Clint had told him. He didn’t really know his team members before he was brought in for the Avengers project. Over the years, he grew close to his teammates, but especially to Clint and Nat. Clint just shrugged his shoulders. “It’s not something I like to talk about. The only other person that knows is Tasha.” He said to his son.Steve nodded his head. He knew what it was like to not share much information with anyone except your loved one. “Bucky’s the only person that knows why I did the things I did in the war.” Steve said back, trying this new method of sharing things.“He was dead though, or so we thought. How’d you tell him?” Clint asked.“When we were out one day, I told him. I told him everything." Steve said. He went on to say "When he fell from that train car, I had a hard time seeing a purpose in living. S...so I went suicidal. I put myself at risk so many times, but I some how stayed alive. Then I saw my chance." Steve paused, and took a breath. "I downed that plane to kill myself.” Steve said. It was weird for him to talk about this, especially to someone he saw as a parent.Nodding, Clint asked “I thought you were saving the East Coast?”“I.... I could have easily landed that plane and told them my coordinates, but I lied and said the plane was moving too fast. I just... I just wanted to fall like he did. Freeze to death like him. Although 70 years later, here I am. Lost him all over again.” Steve shared his deepest secret with Clint.After that, they really didn’t talk much. Neither knew what to say to the other. They just continued on to sit there. "Can I ask you a question?" Clint asked.Steve nodded. "You call me dad. Why?" The archer asked."I never knew my father. He died in the Great War." Steve answered. "You have protected and saved me several times, given me advice when I needed it, and taken care of me." Steve shrugged. "To me, that's being a father. You are that for me. If you don't want me to call you that, I understand. Same goes for Nat. If you don't want me calling you both mom and dad, I won't." Steve told the other man."I'd love to be your dad. Nat and I wanted a family, but it wasn't in the cards for us. We get that opportunity now. We love you Steve. When we first met you, you were so lost. The world had changed from what you knew and we wanted to help you navigate it. That bond only grew stronger since. There is nothing that Nat or I wouldn't do for you." Clint said to Steve, wrapping an arm around the younger man's shoulders. Steve smiled back.It was getting late and both Clint and Steve thought it was time to head back home. As they were getting up, out of the corner of Steve's eye he saw one of the men leaving his shift at the docks. Steve called out "BUCKY!"Not paying attention to who was around, and with music playing through headphones in his ears, Bucky walked by Steve and Barton while he was looking at his phone. He was reading texts that were sent to him by Steve.Clint saw the disappointment in Steve's face when he called out to the assassin, but he didn't pay any attention and kept walking. Clint quickly ran over to Barnes and grabbed his arm. He almost got a metal fist to the face in the process. “Whoa man, just me, Clint.” He said trying to get Barnes' attention. Once Bucky saw who had grabbed his arm, he pulled the ear buds from his ears “Shit! Barton I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you. What are you doing here?” Bucky had a confused look on his face as to why his friend was standing in front of him at his workplace. He never told the archer where he was working. He didn't want the questions that he was sure would be asked.“I’m here with Steve. We had no clue that your worked here.” Clint responded to the question. “Yeah. I um... I got my old job back. I need a source of income.” Bucky told Clint. Looking behind him, he could see Steve standing there awkwardly."Right. Makes sense, friend who worked at the dock." Clint said fully understanding what Steve told him a bit ago. “How long have you been working here?” Clint asked the assassin.James was a bit confused on what Clint said. "Friend who used to work here? What are you talking about?" Clint ran a hand over his face. "Steve told me he used to come down here and watch is friend work back in the day. I just figured out that you are the friend he was talking about." Bucky smiled. "He told you that. Did he tell you that I made him sit down here so he wouldn't be out picking fights or he wasn't alone in case his health went south?" He asked the older man. "The health part yes, the fights no." Clint replied. "Of course he didn't. And to answer your other question, I've been working here since I left the facility." Buck told Clint. "Well I'm tired, I smell like fish and I want to get a shower. I also have some work to do yet around the house. So I'm going to go." James said. "Wait, Bucky. Please just talk to Steve. He's right over there." Clint asked the younger man."Clint I don't think that's...." Bucky was interrupted when Clint yelled. "Hey Steve, come over here a minute." Clint shouted back at the super soldier.Walking up, Steve said “Hey Buck. It’s really good to see you.” He wasn’t sure what to do. He wanted his Bucky back. That much he knew.Scratching the back of his neck, Bucky replied back “How are you Steve?” It was like Bucky didn’t know what to say.Smiling, Steve said “I’m good. I didn’t know you worked here again.” Steve couldn’t take his eyes off the man in front of him. Bucky always had that effect on him.“Yeah got my old job back. I needed a source of income to finish remodeling my house and for general necessities for everyday living.” Bucky told Steve. “Why don’t we go sit down and talk.” Bucky said to the two men. Steve couldn’t help but look sad when Bucky said it being his house, and not their house. ‘He really has moved on.' He thought to himself. He doesn’t want him back. Steve couldn't help but having the thought come back to him that maybe Bucky was better off without him. Once all three men were sitting down, Steve started up the conversation “How have you been Buck?” Barnes shrugged a bit. He wanted to tell Steve that he missed him, and that he still loved him, but thought better of it. So he replied “I’m good, really good actually. No one ordering me around, which is nice. I’m working long hours almost seven days a week, but it pays the bills. And working around the house.” Bucky didn't lie when he told Steve that he was doing really good, because he was. He was happy that he could support himself, and be a free man and do whatever he wanted. He just wish Steve was with him to do these things. Steve nodded his head. He was disappointed that he didn’t say anything about missing him. Clint saw the sad look on Steve’s face, before he quickly hid it. Clint knew this was hard on both the boys. He knew just how much Barnes missed Steve. Bucky told him all the time. To change the topic, Bucky asked “How are your missions going? Any new ones?” Steve told him all about Sokovia, and went to tell him that he was wounded during the assignment before Clint quickly jumped in and said “They’re going, some good, some not as well as we’d hoped. Ross still being an asshole.”Looking between the archer and the super soldier, Bucky knew there was something they weren’t telling him. “Steve, what aren’t you telling me? Please what you were going to say.” He knew Steve too well to know that he was hiding something. Steve never could hide anything from Bucky. Either Bucky always found out, or Steve would cave and tell him because he felt guilty. “It’s nothing Buck. Just a mission gone south.” Steve tried to reassure his friend.“Steven, tell me what happened.” Bucky said sternly.Sighing, Steve said “I was shot twice in the abdomen. One got stuck in my large intestine and the second was lodged in my bladder. I’m fine. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but my own. I was trying to make sure everyone got out and away from the building, and I didn't see the sniper in the tree.”Bucky was furious. “Again Steve? I go away and you go get yourself hurt? What, were you trying to kill yourself again?” Bucky shouted at the man sitting in front of him. He couldn't believe what Steve had just told him. He looked at Clint "And when were you going to tell me? Huh?" Steve was up in front of the assassin. “No Bucky, I wasn’t! I thought I was clear the damn building, but I didn’t see the sniper in the tree. Like I said, I misjudged. My fault. And do not talk to Clint like that ever again.” Steve shouted back at his friend. “Plus what do you care? You’re the one that can’t reply to any of my messages. You walked out on me.” Steve was livid.“I read every goddamn message Steve. I just wanted to keep my distance. You’re better off without me." Barnes yelled back. "And I’ve always cared about you Steve. I fought Hydra over and over again so I could get back to you.” Bucky responded back. How could he think that he never cared about him?“Yeah you have a funny way of showing it.” Steve shot back “Come on dad, this was a mistake.” Steve said. Steve turned away from his former boyfriend. He loves the man so much, but fuck if he doesn't make him angry some days. Grabbing Steve’s arm before he could walk away, Bucky demanded “What’s that supposed to mean Rogers?”Steve rounded and punched Bucky in the face. “You left me! I asked you to say, but you left. I’m done Barnes. I’m not your punk anymore. Don’t contact me.” With that said Steve walked away from the Winter Soldier.Clint watched Steve walk off. He turned to the other boy and sat him down. “Sorry man. I wanted to tell you about what happened to Steve, but I thought you didn't need the guilt, because you would have blamed yourself. Steve was clearing the building. He was being Steve. Please don't blame or be angry with him." Clint said the the assassin. He cleaned the broken lip that Steve caused and said "If you need me, call or text me, alright.”Bucky nodded at the man. "So dad huh?" Bucky asked the older man."Long story. I promise to tell you about it when you call me to come over." Clint told the younger man. He got up and walked over to where Steve was. He knew he had a lot of explaining to do to Barnes.As the two men were walking "What did Buck mean when he asked you when you were going to tell him about what happened to me?" Steve asked the man he sees as a father.Clint took a minute to think what he was going to say. "I've been in contact with Barnes since he left. I've been helping him with the construction and remodeling the house." Clint told his son. The archer smiled at the thought of calling Steve son.Steve nodded at what he was told. "He's doing okay?" Steve asked his father. "Yeah Steve, he's doing okay." Clint responded."So the donut you brought me, Bucky was the one to tell you where to go and what I liked." Steve wasn't asking a question. More stating a fact. "Bucky wanted me to make sure you got your dose of donuts. He said they were your favorite food." Clint said back.Steve smiled. Of course Buck would say that. "It's because they are my favorite. I could live on donuts." Steve has always had a sweet tooth.Later that night, Bucky channeled the Winter Soldier, and scoped out the Avengers' home. When Steve told him that he was shot, one of two things happened, one, Ross isn’t telling them everything, or two, his teammates weren’t looking out for him. He doesn't put all his cards in the second option. There was something up with Ross and he was going to find out what. Once he bugs the Avengers’ home, he’ll have ears inside. He’ll know everything he needs. Steve will never have to know anything. He'll do whatever needs to be done to keep Steve safe. He kept watch all night until he knew that the coast was clear. When everyone went to sleep, that’s when he made his move. Sneaking in through a window, Bucky bugged every room that mattered to him and getting the answers that he needed. When he is done, he went to Steve’s room. He really missed Steve, he just didn’t fit into Steve’s life anymore. He had to stop living in the past. He had to let Steve go once and for all. Quietly going over to Steve, Bucky gently kissed Steve’s head and whispers “I love you Stevie. I always have and always will. This is why I have to let you go. Goodbye Stevie.” Just as quickly and quietly he snuck in, Bucky snuck back out. No one, and that includes Natasha will know he was ever there.
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It’s been months since Steve has seen Bucky. He’s upset because of the way he treated Bucky, and the things that he said to his friend. He's frustrated because Bucky just up and left him. Never fought for him, but also because he left him go, never really fighting for Bucky either. He looks around and sees everyone happy. Tony had his husband, Dr. Banner. They were always together, and they even adopted a teenager named Peter after they found the boy homeless and digging through their trash. His parents had each other. When he looks in the mirror, he doesn't see happiness. All he sees is a lifeless man. He wonders if he’ll ever be happy, or if he was simply to put on this earth to please everyone. Steve sighs. He hated being alone. He knows he has his parents, but he doesn't wan to bring them down with how he felt. Steve looks back at the others and goes to sit outside alone with his thoughts. Twice a week, Bucky scopes out the Avengers' house at night. He knows no one will ever know he’s there, silently watching. There is no one better at hiding then the Winter Soldier. He can do what he wants and no one can stop him. He also sees Steve, even if Steve has no clue his silent protector is looking out for him. ‘So much for letting him go, huh Buck.’ He thought to himself. He has tried so hard to leave Steve, and forget about him, but he can't. No matter how hard he tries. Buck remembers what Clint told him, he and Steve are meant to be together. They are soulmates, and no matter what is done to keep them apart, they will always be drawn together. The soldier smiles. He guesses the archer was right. He and Steve will always have the deep bond that can never be broken. The next day, Ross called another meeting at the facility. "We discovered another Hydra base that we need to dismantle and get the intel they have."“Where is this base at?” Tony asked Ross.“Austria. It was an old base that they had during the war, but until recent drone footage, we thought it wasn’t being used anymore.” Ross informed the team.Looking at the pictures, Steve said “I know this place well.” It made him shiver. He in fact knew the place well. It was a place he never wanted to be again.“Well good Captain, because we need you on this. You are going in with Tony. Everyone else is sitting this one out." Ross said to Steve. Steve looked back at the other man. "You're just sending me and Tony in on this? We are a team. We do these missions together as a team. Plus I don't think you know this place as well as you think you do. I was here back during the war. They defended this place and blew it up for a reason. This facility was a house of horrors, and I am not putting myself or Tony at risk. We need all hands on deck for this one." Cap spoke out to the Secretary of State. "You will do as you are told. It's you and Stark." Ross stated back."Then Sir you can take your assignment and shove it up your ass. You want what they have, you can get it yourself." Steve said back. The team sat there and looked at Steve. Nat sat there and put her hand on Steve's leg trying to calm her son down. "You want this done, then you send all of us, if not, then none of us go." She stated. When Nat talks, you listen. Natasha isn't a person you want to make angry. She was scary, and there was a reason the team respected her so much. "Fine. You all go in, but I want to know everything that they are doing there. Got it?" Ross relented to the Avengers. He really did hate them. Once Cap clued in the rest of the Avengers of the base in Austria, and everything he remembered from that hell hole, the team dispersed and everyone went back to what they were doing. Steve went for a run to clear his mind. He couldn’t shake the awful feeling about their mission tomorrow. Something wasn't sitting right with him about this. Walking back into the place he called home, Steve went to take a long hot shower. When he was done he walked to the kitchen to see Clint sitting at the bar eating lunch. “Hey dad, can I talk to you?” Steve asked.“Sure Steve. Have a seat, lay it on me.” The archer said to Cap. He was now looking at the super soldier, abandoning his lunch. Something wasn't right with Steve. Something was eating at him.Taking a seat at the breakfast bar, Steve let out a sigh, he was tired. He hadn’t been sleeping well, and with this feeling, he was exhausted. “I can’t shake the feeling that something's going to happen with this mission tomorrow. I don’t know why, but something isn’t sitting right with me.” Steve tried to explain.Clint looked at his son. He could tell he was tired. Now he understands why. “Our last mission you were shot twice. Maybe that's playing a part. Another thing it could be is that you are thinking the last time you were there, is when you found Bucky captured.” Clint said to his son.“It could be, but I’ve been hurt before and never left that stop me from doing my job. And when it comes to Bucky, it shouldn’t bother me. I mean he’s safe.” Steve replied back. He can’t pinpoint why he feels this way. It's hard for Steve to explain what he’s feeling.“He’s safe, but it is still something that sticks with you Steve. As for getting hurt, you said it yourself, you didn’t have anything to live for, but since Bucky’s back, you do now. That plays a part.” Clint tried to help Steve understand. Ever since Tasha came into his life, he understands when things happen to you it affect other people, especially loved ones.“So you think Bucky is the reason for this feeling?” Steve asked his dad.“Maybe. You love him and want a life with him.” Clint answered Steve.“How can that be, when we aren’t even together?” Steve responded.“No matter what happens Steve, you and Barnes will always be bound together. You two are soulmates. You move, he moves kinda thing.” Clint explained to the younger man.“Thank you dad for everything.” Steve said before getting up to go back to his room.“Anytime Steve.” Clint said back. When Steve went to get up, Clint said "No matter what happens tomorrow, we'll all be there. You're not alone." Steve gave his father a small nod, and walked back to his room. Once Steve left, Clint sat there eating more of his lunch, when he felt arms wrap around his waist. “Hey babe, thought you’d be down in the gym.” Clint said to his wife.“Nah, just decided to take a nap. What are you doing sitting here all alone?” Nat asked her husband. She took a seat beside him, also taking a bite of his sandwich.“Wasn’t alone. You just missed Steve.” Clint said taking a chip from his plate and eating it.“Mmm, what did he want? Is he okay?” She asked Clint.“He’s worried about the assignment tomorrow. He said he has a feeling that something bad is going to happen. He can feel it." He said to his wife who had sat down beside him."I agree with him. I don't like this. Why did Ross want Steve and Tony to go alone? Something isn't adding up." Natasha said to her husband."I know. No matter what, we all are going to be there though. We have each other's backs." Clint said. "I won't ever let anyone hurt you Tasha or Steve." He kissed his wife. She smiled back at him. Nat loved Clint, and wouldn't know what she would do without him.Later that night, Barnes was back at the Avengers home when he heard the group talking about their mission over dinner. They were going through the details of their assignment one more time. That’s when he heard the words, old World War II base in Austria. That made the assassin freeze. He hated that place, he couldn’t help but remember all the experiments that were done to him there and all the inhumane things done to him. “Why the hell are you going back there Steve? Please be careful.” Bucky said to no one. He couldn’t believe they... Steve was being sent back there to that hell. He wish he could be there with Steve. He didn't trust anyone enough outside Nat and Clint to keep Steve safe if something went wrong. He heard Steve talking to Nat about the feeling he was having that something wasn't sitting right about the mission. She told him she felt it too. 'So someone else thinks there is something wrong.' Bucky thought to himself. If Nat and Steve both think something is off, then he needs to dig even deeper.
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It was very early morning, before the sun came up, the Avengers team was on a quinjet to Austria. They didn't want to waste any time. One the ride there, the team was again going over their plans for the mission and preparing what they needed. Hours later, the team is on the ground making their way towards the base when all hell broke loose. They are just outside the base, and got bogged down. They are bombarded with heavy artillery fire and mass amounts of troops. 'Fuck, I knew something was going to happen.' Steve thought to himself. Tony, Sam and Rhodes were in the sky doing their thing from up there. Tony was trying to find an access point, but he was being kept busy with shots being fired at him. Nat and Clint taking out strays and snipers they saw. Banner/Hulk destroying everything in his wake and Pietro, Wanda and Thor taking out what they could see. Steve is trying to make his way towards the base to get inside for his teammates, and make it safe for them to follow him. Steve found a way in at a loading docks on the backside of the building. He radios his team over comms where they can find their way in. Steve finds himself faced with a dozen Hydra agents. He does his best to fight them off, but he's overpowered with heavy fire and is wounded. He hides behind a wall to gather himself and calls for backup. He finds his radio is down and he is on his own. His message never gets delivered. ‘I knew it. I knew this wasn’t going to go well.’ Steve thought to himself. He should have listened to Bucky, and now he’s screwed. He takes a deep breath and tries his hardest to fight out of this situation he finds himself in, but is shot again. Steve's fighting to breath. Steve just lays there and closes his eyes, and thinks about the man he left back home, before going unconscious.Outside, the other Avengers had no idea what happened to Steve. They were still trying to gain some kind of control over the military force that Hydra had packing there. “Guys we can’t keep doing this. We need to regather and come back. Meet at the quinjet.” Stark said over the radio to the others. Clint was busy fighting off the horde of soldiers around him when Stark came over the radio. He and Steve were trying to move around the building to find another access point inside, when Clint and his son got separated. "I don't have eyes on Steve. We were going around back when I lost all contact with him. I'm surrounded back here." Clint said through comms to his teammates. "I lost contact with Steve as well. He isn't responding." Clint said as he shot at the enemy. Natasha ran back to aid her husband, and Thor came back as well. "We need to go to the jet. It is not safe here any longer." Thor said to the couple. "I'm not leaving my son." Clint said back to the Demi God. It was then that they were being over powered by several more soldiers that appeared out of nowhere. "Clint, we need to get out of here. Thor's right. It's unsafe to stay here any longer. Bring Natasha and let's go." Tony said landing beside them. Tony saw that Clint and Nat would not leave without Steve, but he couldn't let them remain there any longer. He grabbed Nat and Thor grabbed Barton and they made their way back to the quinjet. Once safe inside the aircraft, the two men let the couple go."What the fuck Tony? Steve is still out there. Our son is still out there." Clint was furious that they were taken without helping Steve. "I can't leave him there." Barton added, sliding down the wall, crying. He promised Steve that nothing would happen to him, and when something did, he wasn't there to help. Nat sat beside her husband and hugged him. "Clint we will get our son back. I promise you." She said trying to comfort him. Nat looked up at Tony, “What the hell happened? What was that back there? It’s like they knew we were coming. They were waiting on us.” Natasha was pissed. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wanted answers and she was going to get them one way or another.Bruce was looking over his husband, and cleaning any cuts that Tony had so they wouldn't be infected. "Clint what happened with you and Rogers?" Tony asked. “We were to find a way into the facility while you all kept everyone distracted. We couldn't find a access point and so we went around because Steve remembered that there were loading docks back there. We were together the whole time, and then a group of soldiers came out of nowhere and separated us. I lost him from sight, but he was telling me that he got to the docks, and then the radio went dead." Clint said to his teammate. "I tried to fight them off as fast as possible to get to Steve, but they just kept coming." He said. "I failed him. I left him there, and all alone." Clint said through tears. By this time the quinjet was in the air already on their way back to the compound. They were seriously out gunned and out manned. The team couldn’t stay there any longer, if they would have, they’d be counting casualties on their team, and that was something they could not afford.“We didn’t know he was in trouble Clint, but we will get him back. We'll go back to the compound, gather ourselves up, and make a new plan. I promise we will bring your boy home.” Tony knelt down to the assassin. He saw that Clint and Natasha took a more of a deeper role with Steve. He thinks Barton still sees Barnes too, but that’s another story. He was going to live up to his promise he made to Barton and Nat. They were going to get their friend back.“I just hope it’s not too late.” Sam says worried. He couldn’t believe Steve was in trouble and no one was there to help him. He wasn't there to help. Whenever they were in trouble, Steve always had their backs, getting them through it, and what hurt him was that no one was there for Steve when he needed it.On the way back to their home, the team sits in silence. None having anything to say. Steve was always their voice, he always knew what to say and do in these situations. The Avengers as a whole never lost a teammate. How were they going to explain this?When they got back to the compound, they were greeted by a very angry Secretary of State. Once in the conference room, Ross immediately demanded “What the hell happened in Austria?”Tony taking the role Steve usually occupied said “It’s obvious isn’t it, we were seriously outnumbered and outgunned.”“You’re telling me that you couldn’t do one simple task that I asked? You guys are the Avengers.” He was angry that they didn't get what he wanted.“They were waiting for us.” Natasha said to Ross. She still couldn’t believe that they walked into that. It was as if Steve’s plan had already been given to Hydra so they could counter it. It just made no sense. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, we have bigger issues other than not getting your stupid shit. We lost Steve today. Fuck your mission. And why did it feel like we walked into a trap over there? Huh Ross?” Clint got up from his seat. He wasn’t happy with what happened today. He lost his son. he could have lost Tasha, and this self centered prick doesn’t care.“Maybe Rogers led you guys astray. Maybe he’s plans were a little out dated.” Ross said to the Avengers. He then said something he should never had said “Men are captured or killed all the time, but what’s more important is getting what I asked for, and that’s what your job is to do. You got that!” He said angrily back to the team. Ross never had time for failure. He always left you know that you didn’t do exactly what he wanted, and if it didn’t go right, it was always your fault. He wasn’t worried about losing Steve, he was never worried about his team’s safety.Clint stood up from his seat. "The only other person that would have known our plan was you Ross. Care to explain?" Ross was in Barton's face. "Do not accuse me of something without any proof you sorry fuck." Ross didn't back down. No one was expecting the next thing to happen, and they weren’t ready for what was about to take place in that very conference room.Storming into the room and the door slamming open, James Buchanan Barnes stormed in and jacked Secretary Ross against the wall by his throat. “You son of a bitch. What did you do to Steve? I told you I was the last person you wanted as an enemy, anything happening to Steve would make you number one on my hit list.” Bucky told Ross.Clint went to the assassin, grabbing his right arm and said “Whoa big man, calm down. Let him go Bucky. He’s not worth it.”Never taking his eyes off his latest victim, Bucky says back to Clint “I’ll deal with all of you when I’m done with him." Putting his full attention back on Ross, Bucky says “How dare you say Steve’s not worth saving." Bucky was going to kill this man. "I told you that you know NOTHING about Hydra, and what happened? Steve goes missing in enemy territory because of your ignorance.” Bucky said as his grip kept getting tighter and tighter around Ross’ neck.The team went on offense and Tony was the first to attack and then followed Thor with their assault on the Winter Soldier. Bucky drops Ross and goes on the defense. He blocks a lot of what the Avengers throw at him, but some get in some lucky shots on him. That pisses off the Winter Soldier even more. Wanda stops everything using her powers.Clint says “Bucky you need to stop. Nothing good is going to come from this. We have to help Steve. That should be everyone’s priority.”Bucky looked like he was going to kill Clint. “How dare you say that to me. Steve has always been the most important thing to me. You know that Clint. I never left him. I gave my life for him, and what did you all do?" He looked around the room. "You ran when it got too hard for you, and left him there. You call yourselves the Avengers, but all I see is a group of cowards.” Bucky goes to leave when Banner stops him. “You show up here and cause chaos, threaten my husband, hurt not just him but others, and then leave?”Those words made the assassin stop dead in his tracks. Letting out a laugh, Bucky says “You think this is chaos, you haven’t seen anything.” He goes to walk away again when Bruce grabs his arm. He wasn’t letting him get away with coming in here and disrupting what they were doing and trashing the place, and then letting him walk away.“Get off of me before I make you.” Bucky said in a low angry, almost growling voice to Banner. He knows what Banner can do when he turns into that raging green monster, but Banner has no idea what the Winter Soldier is capable of.“Good luck trying to get the other guy to let go.” Banner shot back at Barnes. He wasn’t afraid of the Winter Soldier.“Good luck? You have no idea who you’re dealing with. I can end you. Remember I can be anywhere and you’ll never know it. I’m done here. I have to go save Steve, because you left him alone in what I called hell.” Bucky said to the team before making his way to the door. Before he could leave, Clint stopped him.“Bucky we need to talk, now." Clint said to the assassin. Nat followed her husband and Barnes out to the living area. Nat and Clint sat on the couch and Bucky was in a chair. "Bucky what happened today, it wasn't anyone's fault. Steve and I were sent to look for an access point into the building, and when we couldn't find one, we went around back. We were separated, but I still had communications with him, but then that went dead. I was completely surrounded." Clint looked down. "I didn't want to leave without him. Nat came running back to help me, but we were taken away."Bucky could tell that Clint was upset. "He's all I had left. It was because of Steve that I was able to break the hold Hydra had on me." Bucky said to the two. "I have to go find him. I have to bring him home." Clint got off the couch and knelt in front of the younger man. "We'll find him together." The archer said to the assassin.The rest of the team came out of the room. "Barnes we're sorry about Steve. If I had listened to Clint, we would be counting casualties. I couldn't risk that. I'm sorry. But we will bring Steve home. I promise you." Stark said. "Bucky we could use your help. No one knows Hydra better than you. Will you once more allow the Winter Soldier to come out and bring Steve home?" Natasha asked Bucky.Barnes looked at her. "The Winter Soldier never left. That training doesn't simply leave you. I will help you, but we do it my way." He looks at the Avengers. Clint and Nat agreed right away with Bucky. Some others took a little persuading, but eventually agreed. Others weren’t happy that they were taking orders from a murderer, but they agreed that if it would help bring Steve back, then they were in. Once everyone was on board, Tony said “What’s your plan?”“What can you tell me about your mission? What happened in every little detail that you can remember.” Bucky asked. He needed to know what happened before he can make up a game plan.“We were hit with heavy fire right from the start. They had some serious numbers when it came to troops, nothing like we’ve seen before.” Nat said to Bucky. He nodded. “We had the skies, but there was only so much we could do from up there. We counted 10 artillery groups, and they were laying it on thick.” Rhodes added into the group discussion.“Okay, if I were to get a map of the general area, could you point their locations on it?” Bucky said back to Rhodes.“I can’t. I was too busy dodging fire. It was a mess.” Rhodes responded back.“Alright, did anyone see what the base looked like? When Steve rescued me and the whole 107th, Schmidt blew the place up.” Bucky said to the team.“We have pictures. It was huge, like they were either storing weapons or building weapons there. Um, they had a loading dock there on the one side like I said earlier." Clint stated."And they had fences around it, multiple layers.” Sam added. He may not like Bucky, but he was trying to get Steve back, so he would tolerate him for the time being."These pictures, could you place the artillery on them?” Bucky asked the team."Sam, Tony and I can try." Rhodes said."Good. Is there anything else I need to know about?" Barnes asked looking at the others. “The best way I can describe it, it was like we were being set up, like a trap.” Natasha said to Barnes.“Well from what you’ve all told me, it sounds like you were being set up to fail. It sounds like Ross failed to tell you that this wasn't just any old facility. It sounds like a military base of sorts. I don't believe I ever went back there after being rescued by Steve. It has to be of importance if they had that much manpower there. Let me look at the pictures and I will come up with a plan." The soldier said to the group. “Wait, that’s it? That’s what we are going with? We have to wait?” Sam said to Bucky.“You all went in blind because that asshole didn’t give you much information to go on. I will have a well laid out plan by tomorrow evening. Plus you have something now that you didn’t have before, you have me.” Bucky shot back at bird boy.“How is your plan going to be any different, with or without you?” Tony asked back. He was actually curious.“I’ve been a prisoner of Hydra’s for 70 some years. I know how they operate. I was their punching bag when they were training their troops. Fuck I trained their troops in hand to hand combat. I know what they can do. Hell I was Hydra. I did everything for them. I know what is going to come once we get to Austria.” Bucky said to Stark and the rest of the team.“Okay, so we plan. Then what?” Rhodes interrupted his friend and the assassin’s little disagreement.“We take down Hydra. This ends. It was one thing to take me and put me through hell. They signed their death warrant when they took Steve.” Bucky responded back.“What makes you so sure you can take down Hydra? Steve’s been trying for ages and he hasn’t come close, and this is Steve we’re talking about.” Sam said to Bucky.“They made me into the most ruthless killer in history. I’m the most dangerous person to ever live. They will learn first hand what they did to me.” Bucky said to Sam.“You’re so sure of yourself.” Sam replied to Bucky. He really didn’t like Barnes.“You have a problem with me Wilson? Say it to my face and not behind my back. Man up or shut the fuck up.” Bucky stated to Sam.“Fuck you Barnes. Steve deserves better than you, as a friend and a boyfriend. I don’t know what he ever saw in you.” Sam said. Bucky just laughed at Wilson’s words and him getting upset. “Oh you think it’s funny?” Sam said to Bucky irritated.“I do because you obviously don’t know Steve at all.” Bucky still had a hint of humor in his words.“You’re the one that doesn’t know him, not anymore. You’re the one that is on the outs with him.” Sam said back to Barnes. He really hated this guy. He wishes he was still with Hydra, and out of their lives.With no traces of humor left in Barnes' voice, “You think I’m on the outs with him, but hate to break it to ya kid, Steve and I will always be together. That’s how it will always be. We will always share a bond that no one can break, not Hydra and especially not a punk ass kid like you. He’ll never like you in that way. Now I’m going to say this one time, stop trying to steal my boyfriend. You’ll never stand a chance.” Bucky hit hard back at Sam. He knew there was always something there with Wilson. The way he would look at Steve, and act around him, but he could never point it out until now.Back in Austria, Steve woke up to see scientists and doctors working around him. He tried to move, but he couldn’t. He was strapped down to the bed he was on. Through his foggy haze, he realized the room he was in, it was the same room that Bucky was in when he saved him all those years ago, just looked a little differently. Steve was awake enough to ask “What are you doing to me? Let me go. You have no idea who you are dealing with.” The person to answer him, shocked Steve.“Captain Rogers, please, they know what they are doing. Don’t fight it, just let it happen. More will come, embrace it.” The mysterious man said to Steve.Steve was moved to another chair that he again was strapped too. He started to panic. He didn't like the looks of this machine. He wanted to be anywhere but here. The next thing he remembers is severe pain. Electric shocks were running rampant through his brain for what felt like hours, when in reality, it was only a few minutes. He screamed for anyone to hear him. To help him, but it only continued. When the machine was stopped, Steve blacked out.This continued for days, and Steve was slowly losing himself.The next morning at the Avengers home, Clint walked out to the kitchen to find Bucky sitting on the living room floor with photos and maps lying all around him. "Hey Bucky whatcha got going on there?" Clint asked as he approached the soldier.Barnes didn't look up. He kept in studying the photos and maps. "I'm planning our assignment." Clint looked at Barnes. He could see that the soldier didn't get much sleep the previous night. "How did you get in here?" He asked.Bucky shrugged taking a map and looking at it closely. "Snuck in." Was all he responded."I see. That will stay between the two of us young man." Clint told the soldier. Bucky smiled and left out a small chuckle. "How long have you been looking over this stuff?" He then asked. "All night. Couldn't sleep." Bucky said back. If he closed his eyes, he remembered all the torture he'd received from Hydra. It made him physically sick, and so he stayed up. "Uh huh. Well would you care for some breakfast?" Clint asked as he was headed to the kitchen to start on some food. "No Sir. I have to keep looking at this." Bucky said back.Clint left the man to do what he was doing before he interrupted. He was making a big breakfast, knowing that the others will be up shortly. As the others slowly walked to the kitchen to eat the meal that the archer made, he went back to the living room. He took the papers out of the assassin's hand and laid them down in a pile. "Come eat breakfast please. This will wait." Clint said."I need to keep looking for a way to save Steve." Bucky said trying to pick the papers back up, but Clint wouldn't let him."Bucky, you're not doing anybody any good if you starve yourself. Now I'm not asking. I'm telling you to come eat breakfast." Clint said looking at the Winter Soldier in the eyes. Nat stood at the doorway with a smile on her face, and Bucky noticed. "Don't smile at me Romanoff. It's not funny." He said getting up from his seat on the floor. He stretched and bones were heard cracking. When the three entered the kitchen everyone looked at them. "How did metal man get here so early?" Tony asked as he placed a plate in front of Peter. "He got here earlier. He was sitting at the front door. I left him in." Barton told Stark. "Can't he be some place else? You're not part of the team." Wilson said as he looked at Barnes with a murderous look. Bucky looked at the couple. "I'm just going to head out. I shouldn't have come." Buck headed back into the living room to gather up the files he had. Natasha looked at her friends. "Listen that boy is here to help us. Don't be rude to him no more. You don't know anything about James. He is going to stay here. I lost one son, I'm not losing another. Do I make myself clear." She stated.Everyone nodded at what she said. They weren't going to fight Natasha. She walked in and saw Barnes packing up the papers into a backpack. "Bucky you are fine to stay here." She said to the younger man. "I'm not wanted Natasha. I'll be fine." He said. He stopped what he was doing. "I shouldn't have even came. I promise you I will get Steve back." He finished putting the papers in the bag and slung it over his shoulder."James Buchanan don't you walk out on me." She said in a serious tone. She walked up to him. "I lost one son, please don't make me lost another." He stopped and looked back at the spy. He has faced her before and knew not to mess with the black widow. "You think of me as a son? After everything I did to you?" He asked."Barnes I have seen first hand what you are capable of, but that's not you. I've seen the real you. Just like Steve has always seen the best of you. I understand if you don't want to be my son. I know you don't trust easily." She was interrupted by a crushing hug. "I would like that, but I'm not going to stop seeing Steve." He said to the woman.She smiled. "I don't expect you to. I have room in my heart for both of you. I will be there to help and protect you. Just like Clint is." She voiced to him and hugged him back. She released the man and said "Now come and eat breakfast." The two walked back into the kitchen. Clint got up and handed James a plate. "You eat as much as you want. There is plenty here." Clint said back to the soldier. Bucky took the plate from the man he has come to see as a father figure, but if anyone found out, he would deny it. He just stood there. He knew people were looking at him. He didn't quite feel right taking food off their table. Natasha went up to him and took the plate from his hands. "What would you like to eat?" She asked the man that agreed to be her son. Buck shrugged his shoulders. She piled eggs on his plate along with bacon and sausage and two pancakes. Handing the plate back to the boy, she said "Butter and syrup is there for you to use, and forks and knives are in the draw." "Are we really going to trust a man who is a known murderer have a knife?" Dr. Banner said. "Bruce...." Tony said to his husband. "Our 15 year old son is sitting here. I don't trust him. Especially after what he did yesterday." Banner said back to his husband. Bucky only got out a fork. He understood what the doctor was saying. He wouldn't trust him either if he was in their position. He went over to the counter and stood to eat. "Bucky you can sit down." Clint said to the boy. "Thank you, but I'm okay here." He had a hard time cutting his food with just a fork. He wanted syrup for his pancakes, but he would have reach over the table for it, and so he decided against it. He held his plate with one had and cut and ate his food with the other. Two hands appeared in from of the Winter Soldier. He looked up and saw the young kid that he didn't know too well holding out syrup and butter to him. "Pancakes are way better with these on them than just plain." Peter said to him. Bucky smiled at the boy. "Thank you kid." He took the butter and syrup from him and placed it on the counter. He buttered and and put syrup on his pancakes. When he was done, he gently placed them back on the table at the corner as to not interrupt the others eating. "You wanna come sit beside me? I don't bite." Peter said looking at the super soldier. "Peter please turn around and eat. Let him alone." Bruce said to his son, glaring at the Winter Soldier. "Papa I was just trying to be nice. He shouldn't have to stand." Peter said to his dad. "He's right kid. Thank you for the offer, but listen to your dad. Eat up if you want to become big and strong." Bucky said to the kid. He turned back to his food and finished eating. "Thanks ma for the food. It was great. I'm just going to go to Steve's room and finish up what I was doing." Barnes said and took his leave. Tony looked around the room and then to Natasha. "Did he just call you ma?" He asked. Raising an eyebrow she said "Got a problem with that?" "No. I just wanted to make sure I heard that right. So you and Clint adopt both super soldiers?" Tony asked back. "Not officially but yes we did. James Barnes is not who you think he is. He has come a long way from being what Hydra turned him into. He is a sweet young man who has nothing in the world. No family, just Steve. Clint has been helping Bucky with the remodeling of a house. He also is there for him. So I started thinking of him as my boy as well." She smiled. She has the family she and Clint have always wanted. In Steve's room, Bucky was looking through the maps again. He picks up the photos and starts to make his plan up on how he was going to get Steve out of that hell hole. When he was finished, he went back out to the living room. "Can I talk you guys for a minute?" Buck asked Clint and Nat. "Sure. What's going on?" Clint asks the man. He sees the backpack slung over his shoulder. "I found a way to get Steve back. I made a pretty solid plan. I'm headed out by tonight's end for Austria. I'll bring Steve home to you both. I promise." Buck said to the couple. He turned and was walking away. "You're not going by yourself." Clint stopped the super soldier from leaving. "I can't risk any of you getting hurt. There is really no safe entrance into that building like there was before. It's heavily guarded, and I can't risk anything." Barnes said to Clint. "Who is going to help you? Does your safety not count?" Clint asked the man standing in front of him. "I made those soldiers into what they are today. This is my doing that Steve was taken. Now it's my job to end this once and for all and bring Steve home where he is safe. I don't care what happens to me. I deserve whatever happens. I've done a lot of bad shit. This is the least I can do to try to make up for an ounce of the pain I have caused." Bucky said back to Clint. "That wasn't you and you know it James. Don't blame yourself for what those people did to you." Natasha said to her son. "You are a good man James. And I am not letting you go into this on your own. I'm going with you. That means Clint is coming too because he won't let me go without him." She said to him. "And we aren't letting Barton go without backup. So we are all tagging along." Tony said to the super soldier. He heard what the group was saying. Bucky shook his head. "It's too dangerous." "We kinda signed up for that when we signed on to be Avengers." Bruce said to the assassin. "Fine since I don't see any of you doing as I ask and staying home. We will go over the plan that I have once the kitchen is cleaned up." Barnes said to the group."Already done metal man." Tony said back. "You really don't like a dirty kitchen do you." Tony said."No I don't, and neither did Steve." Bucky said back. The plan was simple. They were going to divide the enemy troops up between each two person group. Four groups of two and they will each take a sector and keep the troops busy while Bucky and Clint got inside. "We take out the artillery first. We blow it. If it damages the building, then we make do with what we got and hope that none of us gets hurt in the process. I want everyone to stay alert. I am going to start with Clint and we are going to snipe any snipers we see and the men controlling the artillery. When they are taken out, Sam, Tony and Rhodes, you guys got the task of blowing the artillery. Thor, Wanda and Pietro and ma you guys have the ground. Split up and draw them to you. Don't let them get into a big group. That is how they will over power you." Bucky said to the group of men. Then he looked at Bruce. "Dr. Banner I know you and I don't see eye to eye, but I'm going to need you to bust a hole in the building so we can gain access to the inside. Think you can do that?" "I think that is doable." Banner said back. "Good. Relax, and check your weapons and make sure you have everything you need for a very late or early flight. We will start when it's dark out." Bucky said to the Avengers. "Can I come along?" Peter asked. "NO!" Both Tony and Bruce said at the same time. "Mr. Barnes, I can be of use." Peter said to the Winter Soldier. "Kid this isn't safe for us to do, and I will never put a kid in harms way. You will stay home where it's safe, where nothing can happen to you. Maybe when you are older." Bucky said to the boy. He knows the kid has powers, but he will never hurt a kid by thrusting them into such a situation. That night, the Avengers found themselves on their way to Austria. Bucky runs over the plan on what everyone is supposed to do one more time. "Does everyone understand what your job is?" He asked the team. They nodded indicating that they understood. He turned to Nat. "Ma I'm trusting you with the kids and keeping them safe. I know I can trust you." He said with a smile. "I'll keep my eye on them." Nat said back to her son. Thor comes back. "We are approaching the site." The bigger man said to the group.Clint looks at his son. He sees him loading up on as much ammunition as he could strap to himself. He was putting guns in places that one shouldn't put a gun, but who was he to say anything. Walking up to his boy he asked "Are you ready? Got everything you need?" "Yeah. I got as much as I can carry. How about you?" Bucky asked back. "I got more arrows with me. I'm good. I'll be right there with you through all this." The archer told his son."Dad I want you to promise me that if things get too bad, you get ma and the others out of there." Barnes said to the older man."James I'm not leaving you there. We go in together and we leave together. Believe it or not, your mom can take care of herself." Clint said. "I know she can. She kicked my ass on more than one occasion. I just worry about her. Please promise me that if things go wrong, you get her out." Barnes said back. He needed to know that the two people he cares for will be safe."Okay." Clint said to Barnes. He won't leave him though. He won't do that again. "We're here." Thor let the group know that they have arrived. Nat went up to her husband and hugged him. "You stay safe out there. You better keep James safe, and please come home to me safe." She said to her husband. "You be safe too. Don't go getting yourself hurt. Be smart and keep alert Tasha. I love you and I will bring our boys home safe." Clint reassured his wife. "I love you too." Nat said in response.Both Clint and Bucky were standing at the back of the quinjet. "Ready?" Clint asked."Yeah." Bucky answered. He looked back to the others "Stark you're in charge. On my queu send the others in." Bucky told Tony. Tony understood. Bucky and Clint together quietly made their way into position. Buck knew where Clint was and vice versa. From the quinjet, the others were taking bets on whether the two assassins could hit their targets from where they were with one shot. A shot was fired but you wouldn't have known it if it wasn't for the man falling with a shot to the head. Clint took the next one out. It took an hour but Hydra started to catch on to what was happening. They sent troops out to stop Clint and Barnes, and Barnes kept taking shots at the soldiers coming their way. The two were becoming out gunned. "Now Tony." Bucky said over the radio. The others went out and did what they were told to do, and it was working to their advantage. It took a bit longer, but the team of Stark, Rhodes and Wilson got all the artillery taken out. Step one was complete. "Clint, I'm going to see what Banner is up too. See if he got a hole smashed into the building so we can get in and get Steve." Buck said over the radio to his father. "I'm right behind you." Clint said back as he shot another arrow at someone who thought they could sneak up on him. Clint saw Bucky making his way towards the building and Clint was right on his heals. They saw the Hulk breaking and smashing the building, but he wasn't quite inside yet. So the two fought whoever came their way. "Barnes, Hulk created a huge hole in the side. You and Barton should be able to get inside without any trouble." Rhodes said over comms. The Winter Soldier and the archer made their way to the building where Banner smashed half the building. Barnes went in first, crawling through the rubble to get inside and waited for Clint to do the same. "You okay?" Buck asked Clint. "Yeah I'm peachy. Just getting old." Clint said back. Bucky laughed. "Don't talk to me about being old." He said back to the other man. He had at least 60 years on the man.As the two men were making their way through the facility, Barnes had his gun at the ready in case someone tried to attack them. "Barnes, Clint, can you hear me?" Tony was yelling into the comms. "We got you Tony." Clint replied."We were able to secure the outside. All the troops were killed or taken into custody. Natasha is coming towards you." Tony told the two. "The building seems to be secured as well." Clint shared the information with Tony. Clint and Bucky kept moving through the building, looking for Steve. Both men checked every room they came up on, but there was no sign of Rogers.Once all the Hydra agents were taken down, they were lucky in capturing one man who was important from the Hydra camp. Natasha went in search of the Winter Soldier and her husband when they didn’t respond over the comms. She found the assassins in a dark creepy room.Bucky knew this room all too well. In this room, it housed a gurney with straps to hold someone in place. It was more modern from the room back when he was strapped in here, but he knew it was the same room. Slowly approaching the Winter Soldier and Clint, Nat rubbed Bucky's back. She knew without anyone needing to tell her. When she moved closer the spy saw the big blood spot on the gurney and blood on the floor. “He’s gone.” Was all Bucky could say."James we need to keep looking." The spy said to the young man. She knew though what ever happened in this room wasn't good. "We looked in every other room and searched this building Tasha." Clint said to his wife. She looked at her husband, and he just shook his head with a sad expression. Natasha Romanoff had tears in her eyes. Her son was gone. She knew the blood on the gurney and floor was Steve's. She knew Bucky and Clint knew it too. "Come James. We took a high profiled Hydra agent into custody. He might have information on Steve." She coaxed the soldier to leave that dreadful room for the last time. As they were walking out of the building, Barnes saw Banner still Hulked out. He walked over to the man. "Hey!" Bucky shouted at the Hulk, pissed off. The Hulk looked at him like he was going to charge at Barnes. "Wanna be pissed off and destroy shit? Then go destroy that building. Leave nothing in tact." Hulk did exactly what the Winter Soldier said. As the Hulk was destroying the building, Bucky went to sit alone. His heart was broken. He knew there was no way Steve could be alive from seeing the blood in that room. He knows in his heart that the kid from Brooklyn never stopped fighting. He wasn't there to save him, and that guilt will haunt him the rest of his life. Natasha looked and saw Bucky sitting on a rock. She went over to him and crouched in front of the younger man. She saw the gun in his hand. "James this isn't your fault." She said to her son. She had tears still in her eyes, hurting because she knows the fate of her son, but also because she sees the hurt her other son is going through. "I know the torture he went through. That kid from Brooklyn didn't stop fighting them even in the end." Bucky said to the woman. His body racked from crying. Clint came over and was in front of the assassin. He received a short text of two words from his wife, gun. suicidal. He knew she was talking about Barnes and he quickly went to them. "Buck, please give me the gun."He said to the young man. Bucky shook his head. He gripped the gun tighter in his hand. "There is no life without Steve worth living." Bucky said to the two people. "I've done some really horrendous things from my time with Hydra. I remember all the things I did. All the people I killed. I'll be doing the world a service if I end it all. I'll be with the love of my life again." Bucky voiced. He wanted to be with Steve. That was all. "James please don't do this. Killing yourself won't help anyone. Your death will only hurt the people who care about you." Clint said to the man. He didn't want to see Bucky take his own life. He loves this young man too much to see him do this."The only people who care about me are you two." He replies back to Barton. "And yeah you might miss me for a bit, but it will pass. Wanda and Pietro could definitely use your guidance." He said. Natasha took a chance and put her hand on his. "Please James, please don't do this. I don't want to lose you." Bucky let out a whimper that broke the couple's hearts. Natasha knew Barnes as the Winter Soldier, but seeing that same man sitting here in front of her crying, she realized that he was just a kid who was thrown into a war and held captive and tortured for 70 plus years. He finally got his life back and his world was ripped from him again. She knew that some days Bucky hid behind the Winter Soldier persona, but deep down, behind that mask, he is barely an adult who had to navigate the world as a teenager. So yeah, her heart aches for the young man in front of her threatening to take one more life, his own. Nat puts her other hand on the gun. Bucky looks at her with a hurt look and tears running down his face. His grip loosens on the weapon, and she takes it from him. She wraps the young man in a hug and says in his ear "Thank you James. I know it's hard and it won't be easy, but thank you. You are stronger then you know. Always remember that." He nods at her words and cries even more.Tony was able to get his husband to calm down enough for him to return as himself. He looked over at his teammates sitting with Barnes. Things don't look so good, but he will talk to Barton and Romanoff about it later. Right now he wants to get his husband and return back to the compound and interrogate the prisoner they had captured today and see what he knows about Steve.Once everyone is on the quinjet they start their journey home. Barnes is sitting on the floor with his back against the side. His head was to the side, and he was sleeping. Bat saw this and went over and sat with him. She moved his head onto her shoulder, trying to not wake him but she was unsuccessful. Bucky woke up and looked at her through sleepy eyes. "You can lay your head on my lap. We have a bit yet until we are home." She told him. Buck laid down and put his head on her lap and he curled up and fell back to sleep. Nat gently ran her fingers through his hair and hummed a soft Russian lullaby to him. She could feel him instantly relax even more as he went deeper into sleep. Clint smiled at the sight. After he was done putting his things away, he went over and sat with his beautiful wife and their son. Tony was checking over Bruce, but he said he was fine. Tony knew he was, but when Bruce turned into the Hulk, he was drained afterwards and usually got dehydrated. Tony just wanted to make sure he was okay. After that he checked on the twins and they were fine. He then turned his attention to Clint and Natasha. He went over to them. "Wanna tell me what happened today after Nat got into the building?" He asked Clint. "We found the room empty. The same room that held Bucky when he was captured the first time. He knew the room instantly when he walked in. It looked different he said but still had that creepy feeling. When we looked around we saw a gurney and there was a lot of blood in it and blood on the floor. The gurney had straps on it to keep something attached and not let up. The straps were made for something stronger than your average person. He broke down. We both did. Then Nat came in and we all knew with that much blood, the chances of survival is very low. It broke him Tony." Clint looked at the man. "We came outside and he went over away from everyone. He wanted to be secluded." He said. Tony was sad to hear about what they found at the facility. "Why? Nothing was his fault." Tony answered back. "He wanted to.... He had a gun Tony. He didn't think it was worth living without Steve." Clint had to swallow around the lump that was forming in his throat. He almost lost another son today. He didn't want to think about it. He wanted to sit here with his family and embrace them. Tony wiped tears away from his eyes. "We'll get answers from the prick we took today. For you both and for metal man." Tony said as he walked back to his husband and rested his head on the man's shoulder. God Barnes is one of the strongest people he knows, but to hear that he almost took his own life was heard to hear. Back at the Avengers compound, they took the Hydra agent and placed him in a holding room that was secure with no way out. Nick Fury was in there interrogating the man to see what he could get about Steve Rogers. Once he woke up, Bucky immediately went to the interrogation room. "What's he doing here?" Bucky asked his Ms when he saw her standing there watching throw the window. "Sleep well?" She looked at her son. He looked tired still, but didn't say anything. "Not really." He responded back to his Ma. "Ma, what's Fury here for?" He asked again. "Ross is away some place. So Fury is here to do the interrogation. The man isn't spilling anything we don't already know." She answered her son's question.Fury turned his back and looked into the mirrored window. "You left me no choice." Fury said back to the Hydra agent. He walked out of the room and closed the door. He looked at Barnes. "You're up. Just don't kill him." He said and moved away from the door. Walking into the room, the Hydra agent was scared shitless. “What’s the matter agent, looks like you’ve seen a ghost.” Bucky said. He didn’t have to say much. His presence alone scares people. Depending on how high up the rank you are in Hydra, you knew of him, the Winter Soldier.“This..this can’t be. I...I thought you were….”The Hydra agent started to say but Bucky interrupted him.“Dead?” Bucky laughed at the reaction of the man. "You really thought when those helicarriers went down that I went with them? Or did you think I died when you all sent Hydra agents to kill me when they found out I went rogue? Which one?" He asked the man. The agent was too scared or shocked or both to answer the assassin. "Hate to tell you, but you guys have trained me too well over the years. They never stood a chance against me, but thanks for trying.” Bucky took a seat and laid down a map with the Swiss Alps circled in red, and said “I need to know why this is circled in red. What makes this place so important?”“Why would I tell you anything? I won’t talk.” The agent said back to Barnes.“Do you remember all those ways that you guys got me to finally break? I’m not above using those same methods." Bucky said to the man sitting across from him. "You see I’m not an Avenger. I’m a highly trained assassin that was tortured for 70 plus years. I’ll do what I need to in order to get you to spill every secret.” Bucky said back. “You choose.” He finished. He sat there staring down the man across the table. “Cut off one head, two more shall take its place. Hail....” The agent said as he went to bite down on a cyanide pill, but Bucky quickly grabbed the man’s jaw and took the pill out, and shoved the agent back into his chair.Bucky punched the Hydra agent in the face a few times. “That was dumb. So you choose the hard way.” Bucky said as he hit the agent a few more times. Hearing people rush to the door, Bucky quickly barricaded it so no one could interrupt him from getting what he needs. “Tell me what this place is!” Bucky demanded from the other guy.“What does it matter to you?” The agent said back. He has been with Hydra since the early 80’s, he knows how to manipulate interrogations. All Hydra agents were trained in these sort of things in case you were ever captured. He won't tell anyone anything.Bucky was irate. “You took something of mine. I want it back.” Barnes yelled. He wasn’t playing nice anymore.Laughing, the Hydra agent said “Ahh you mean Steve Rogers.”The Winter Soldier punched him again for even using Steve’s name. “You took him from me.”The man had a broken nose and a swelling right eye. But he wasn't done pissing off the soldier. “The question you should be asking is, what did we do to him.” He wanted to instigating the Winter Soldier. He knew he wouldn’t say anything, but he could put fear into the soldier.Jacking him up against the viewing window, Bucky growled out “What did you do to him?” He knew what Hydra was capable of. He witnessed first hand what they could do.“You know what we did to him, and what they continue to do to him. Or maybe he is already dead." The man said to the soldier. He knew what cards to play. "He called out for you. His screams were joyous to hear. Who knew Captain America would cry and beg." He laughed in Bucky's face. "This doesn’t mean anything for you. You will never find out what we did to him. You will wonder for the rest of your miserable life you piece of shit." The Hydra agent said to Barnes. Bucky heard enough. He started to beat the Hydra agent to death, when the door was finally broken down and the Avengers pulled Bucky off the badly beaten man. “Get off me!" Bucky yelled. He was fighting to be left go. "Let go of me! The son of a bitch needs to feel the pain that Steve felt!” Bucky shouted back at the people pulling him away from the man. They drug him out of the building entirely. When they knew they were far enough away from the building they let Barnes go. “Why did you stop me?” Bucky shouted at Stark and the rest of the team. “Killing him won’t bring Steve back.” Tony said back to the soldier. He knew Barnes was struggling with the news of Steve's death. But he couldn't let Barnes stoop to the level that Hydra wanted him to. He was better than that. “No it won't but he deserves to feel the pain that Steve endure. What I had to endure." Bucky shouted back. "He doesn’t deserve to live." He said. He lost some of the anger and fight he was feeling. "They took the one best person I’ve ever known and made him suffer. Steve didn’t deserve that.” Bucky broke down. “He was the best Tony. He was good, and they hurt him, tortured him. I wasn't there to help him. He screamed out for me and I failed him." Bucky was crying. 'They took the one thing that he had left in this world, and they ruined him.' He thought to himself. "You don't know that Buck." Tony said to the other man. Bucky looked at him. "Yea I do, because I did the same exact thing when I was taken. I screamed for him to help me. To save me." He cried. "Do any of you know what it's like to yell and scream for help?" He asked the team. They all shook their heads no. They didn't. None of them were ever in that position. "I hope you never have to find out what it's like to be helpless and knowing that help ain't coming." Barnes cried more. Clint went up to him and hugged the man. Seeing Barnes so broken and upset, Tony laid a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get justice for Steve, but not like this. Steve wouldn’t want it to be done this way. He wouldn’t want you to do it this way Bucky. He always saw the good in you when no one else did. Show the world who James Buchanan Barnes really is. What Steve saw.” Tony said to the assassin. He knew Barnes was having a hard time with Steve missing. He read his dad’s files and how Steve reacted to Bucky’s death. They really are meant to be together until the end of time.Clint walked with his wife and Bucky back to where the Avenger's house was. When they got there, Bucky went to Steve's room where he has been staying. He just wanted to be with Steve and this was the only way he felt close to him. A year has gone by. Bucky had called into his job and told his boss that he was having a family emergency and that he wouldn’t be into work. He told them that he wasn’t sure how long he would be, but he needed some time. They told him that his job would be here waiting for him when he got back.Bucky hadn't really left Steve's room that he used to share with him. He felt so lost. Buck took to looking around in Steve’s room for anything that he might have hidden. He found somethings that they had when they were younger, hidden from the world. It made him smile to see the things that Steve thought were important to keep. As he was going through things, Buck discovered Steve's notebook that Steve would write in. He started reading to remember his friend. “Steve, I miss you so much. How am I supposed to go on without you?” Bucky said to himself. As Bucky was looking at some other things, there was a knock on the door. Getting up to answer the door, he looked at the man standing before him. “Can I help you?” He wasn’t angry or anything, he was heartbroken.“I thought you might want these.” Fury said handing him a box. “It took me a while to get them all, but these are every file we have from WWII to present day that Steve was ever involved in, even when he found you were alive.” Fury felt bad for Barnes. Even after all their problems, he still felt bad for him. He knew what it was like to lose someone close to you.Nodding his head, Bucky said “Thank you. This means a lot to me.” Bucky had tears welling up in his eyes. He missed Steve. He still felt guilty that he wasn’t there to help Steve. To have saved him like Steve had saved him.For the past year Bucky read over every file that Nick Fury had brought him more than once. There was nothing that caught his attention. He was losing hope. Hydra had been radio silent over this year. Something didn't sit right with him about this. Why make all the fuss and then go silent? It made no sense to him. Ross still kept the team busy. He sent them on assignments, but Buck still wasn't allowed to go on any of them. He stayed at the house with Peter looking after the teen when his parents were away. He cooked and cleaned. He made sure the kid got to and from school every day. He even made sure his homework was done. One day he was home alone when Fury walked in. "I found this. It was buried deep. Someone didn't want anyone to know about this." He laid a file in front of Bucky. he looked it. It was old. "What did it say?" Buck asked the man. "I don't know. There were too many eyes and ears around to open it. It could be something or it could be nothing." Fury said back to the man. "Whose name was attached to the security lock?" Barnes asked."That's the million dollar question. There wasn't one." He said back. Fury pulled out a card and laid it down. "Call me if you find something interesting in there." Bucky looked at the card and then at Fury. The older man smiled. "It's more secure than Fort Knox." He said. He left Barnes alone with the file.If someone went to great heights to keep this file hidden from the world then it was either really important or someone didn't want the public to find out what was done. But the file will have to wait. The assassin finished eating his lunch and then went to pick up Peter from school. Later the night, Bucky was in Steve's room and the file was lying in front of him. He would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous about what could be in that file. "Um Friday, what's the status of the kid?" Bucky asked."Still sound asleep Sergeant Barnes. I will notify you if that changes." The computer known as Friday informed Bucky. He finally picked up the file folder. He was going to see what was worth being hidden so deep for so long. As he is going through the papers, he sees it had to do with a mission from WWII that Steve and the Howling Commandos were sent on. Looking at the date he sees he was already dead or presumed dead when this mission was assigned. Steve and the Howling Commandos went and raided the last Hydra base that Hydra had left, and it was in the Swiss Alps. The thing that really stuck out with this base is how important this place was to Hydra. It was the most heavily guarded. Going through more papers he found that this is where they housed all their information and stored all their weapons. The soldiers they captured were forced to build these weapons. They were then tested out on the captive POWs. This was their headquarters. This had to be the reason why it was circled in red on the map that both Bucky and Clint found at the base in Austria last year. To the right people, this information was worth hiding as far down as they could get it. At the Hydra base in the Swiss Alps, Steve was chained to the floor by a reinforced chain and cuffs that not even he could break. It was a dark and dirty cement room. He’s been in and out of consciousness since he was taken out from being frozen for a length of time. They came every so often to beat him and ask him questions. If he gets one wrong, they beat him and wipe his memory. What Steve didn't know was this is the exact way they tortured Bucky. “Captain, good, you’re awake.” One of the doctors and Brock Rumlow walked into the cold, dark and damp room that held Steve. Steve didn't look up at them. He knew better. He was beaten unconscious once because he looked up at them. “Look at me." Steve did as he was told. "Do you know who this is?” The doctor showed Steve a picture of Secretary Ross. Steve shook his head. Rumlow hit Steve with a whip because he did not use words to answer the question.“No Sir.” Steve answered the doctor. His voice was hoarse from the screaming and all the times he’s been sick.The doctor wrote something down on a clipboard. He then pulled out another picture and showed it to Steve. “Do you know who the Winter Soldier is?” The doctor asked showing the super soldier a picture of Bucky.“He’s Hydra’s assassin.” Steve answered. His throat hurt to talk. It was raw. He could use a drink, but knew better than to ask for one. Things weren't allowed to ask for anything. If his handlers wanted him to have something they would get would give it to him. Otherwise you stay quiet. The doctor again wrote something down. “Very good Captain. One more thing, who are you? What is your purpose?” The doctor said. He is pleased at how fast Captain Rogers is taking to his new training and programing.“I...I’m Captain Steven Rogers. My...My purpose… my purpose is to do whatever I’m asked to do by my superiors.” He responded. Something in the back of his mind was yelling at him, but he didn’t listen to it. The last time he did he was whipped more than 100 times. “Very good. Agent Rumlow, I think our asset here could use some water, and then hose him down. He stinks. Fucking animal." The doctor said to Rumlow and left the room. Finally receiving water, Steve drank it, but quickly discovered that it bothered his raw throat. “That’s enough asset, let’s go.” Rumlow said to Steve. He then grabbed him and dragged him to the room that housed the hose. Steve hated it. The water was freezing and he wasn't allowed to dry off. Seeing this, Steve tried to get out, but was quickly forced into the room and the chain was fastened to the wall so Roger's couldn't escape. Steve kept struggling throughout the whole process, fighting back. This just pissed off Rumlow and his handler. Rumlow beat Steve and took to reopening the bullet wound when he shot Rogers. He dug the knife into the wound making Steve scream out. He kept doing this until he was told to stop. Wipe him, and stick him back in the room. His handlers wanted said to Rumlow. The Hydra agent had a smile on his face. He liked seeing the great Captain Roger's scream in agony. He laughed when Steve would lose control of his bladder during the process. Brock and another agent dragged the soldier over to the machine and strapped him in. Steve hated this and was trying to keep his mouth closed, but was forced opened and the mouth guard shoved in. The machine was turned on and Steve started to scream in pain. His body convulsed as the electric shocks racked through his head. It was several minutes before the machine was turned off and they left Steve out of the chair. The young man was again grabbed by Rumlow and led back to the dark room. He shoved Steve into the room and Steve fell onto his hands and knees. He was panting and his stomach was rolling. As Brock was chaining the animal to the floor, Steve threw up the water that was in his stomach. The agent laughed at his state. "You are fucking disgusting." Brock said and kicked the prisoner making Steve whimper. The agent then walked out of the room, leaving the soldier alone once more. Later Steve's handler walks into the cold room. Behind him a man is drug into the room as well. "Captain this man is a SHIELD agent we captured. I want you to kill him." The man said to Steve. He went and unbound Steve's hand and the handler walks over and gave him a gun. Steve took it and looked at the man on the ground. "Captain Roger's this isn't you. These people have brainwashed you into making you do horrible...." Steve shot the man before he could finish what he was saying. Steve's handler walked back over to him and took the weapon from Steve and rebound his wrist in the cuffs. He turned around and looked at Rumlow. "Put him on ice until we are ready to bring the asset back."Brock looked at the older man. "Do you think he is ready to face him?" "His training is going better then we planned. He's been manipulated for nearly a year and lost the part of who he was. So yes agent I believe when the time comes, he will be fine to face him." The older man said and walked away. Rumlow drags Steve to where the cryo tank is held, and straps him in. Steve doesn't fight the process anymore. He was all too familiar with what the consequences are. The doctors hook up a tube to his feeding tube in his stomach and then place a mask over his face to allow him to breath while kept frozen. Once he was all hooked, they closed the tank and left the soldier sleep until the time was ready to bring him back out. At the Avenger's facility, the team was all sitting around in the kitchen eating lunch when Bucky walked in and slammed papers and a map on the table. Before he could say anything, Sam said “What’s this?”Bucky looked at Sam. “If you wouldn’t interrupt before I can explain you’d know.”Clint saw the murderous glare that his son was giving Sam. “James….” He warned his son but before he could finish what he was going to say Bucky interrupted.His son looked at his father, and tested his father's limits. "Don't." “No need to become hostile. When was the last time you got some sleep?” Clint asked his son.“I don’t need sleep.” Bucky answered.“Bucky, everyone needs sleep. This isn’t good or healthy for you.” Tony said to the soldier.Bucky turned all his attention to Stark. “I don’t always need sleep. When I was with Hydra on a mission, I only had so many hours to complete it and to get back to check in. I wasn’t allowed to sleep. I’m fine. What I need is to find Steve.”“You heard that Hydra agent, Steve’s gone Bucky.” Clint said to the assassin.“Shut up!” Bucky slams his fist on the table. Steve never gave up on him.“Bucky, listen, you can’t go on believing in false hopes that Steve’s alive. It’s not good to do that to yourself.” Clint said back to his son. He knew for the past year that Bucky has been having a hard time dealing with the loss of his friend and boyfriend. He knew that Bucky was stuck in denial. He didn't know how to help the young man get passed it. Bucky took a calming breath. “70 years ago, there was this main base in the Swiss Alps. Dad when we were looking for Steve in Austria we found this map and the Swiss Alps again are circled in red. It can’t be a coincidence that they are going back there. That’s where I’m headed next. Steve might be there.”“Bucky please….” Clint started to say.Bucky knows he thinks he sounds crazy to everyone, but he had a feeling. It's something he couldn't describe. “When I was captured I know what it’s like to have people believe you to be dead and to forget all about you. When Steve came out of the ice, he never left my memory be forgotten. Despite what people told him, he came for me. I never got the chance to repay him. Fuck anybody who thinks I am going to sit here and let him suffer any longer. He saved me twice, and now he’s depending on me to do the same for him. I’m not going to let him down again. If it’s the last thing I do then so be it.” Bucky said back to the team.“How do you know he’s even alive?” Natasha asked him. She always believed what her son told her. He was intelligent when it came to military operations, and what needed to be done. Now with this new information presented why shouldn't she believe what her son is telling them.“I know Steve. I know that little kid from Brooklyn that was too dumb to run from a fight, and if you know Steve at all, you know he’ll fight. Doesn’t matter if the odds are against him.” Bucky said back to his ma. He loved her so much.Clint looked at his son. It has been over a year since he last saw the determination in his eyes. Looking at him now, that look is present once more. He looked to his wife. She always believe in their son, even when no one else did. She nodded at him. "Alright Bucky lay it out for us." He said to his son. The young man looked at his dad. The look in his son's eyes told Clint that he was silently thanking him for believing in him. Clint smiled back. The team sat and listened to what the Winter Soldier had to say about their next mission.“And you think this will work?” Thor asked the super soldier.“Yeah I do. We go in smart. This place is going to be the hardest to break into. They are going to do everything they can to protect this place. So I will go in alone. Making appear that I went alone. This will draw them out of their bunkers, and leave the facility vulnerable. Hydra knows I'm not part of the Avengers because of my history and the things I done. The motive behind taking Steve was to draw me out. Hydra wants their asset back, and they knew taking Steve would bring me to them to get him back at any cost." Bucky told the team. "I will not let you go into this alone. It's too risky of a situation." Natasha squashed Barnes' plan. The assassin smiled back at her. "Ma I never said I was going alone." He loved her so much. She never stopped believing in what he said. "Well that's what it sounded like." She raised an eyebrow at her son. "Ma let me finish going over the plan before you go all momma mode on me." He laughed and smiled at her. She waved for him to continue. "They know I'm coming at the least. What they don't know is that you all will be coming too. After I draw them out, I want the Hulk to come rushing in and start destroying everything in his wake." He looked at Dr. Banner. Bruce nodded in agreeance. "Okay. Second, the Terror Twins, Pietro and Wanda you'll come in and disrupt things even more on the ground. Thor, you'll then come in not long after them and bring the lightening and shake the ground making them disoriented." He looked at the three. They smiled and agreed. "Third, Tony, Rhodes and Sam You take out anything you see and find a way into the building." They quickly agreed to the plan. "Good. Now for Ma and Dad. Dad as I start drawing their attention on myself, I need you to find a good position and snipe for me. You are the eyes for everyone. Keep them knowing what is coming at them, and keep them informed as to what is happening. Ma, once we find a way inside, you and Tony are with me." He looked at his parents. "Dad I'm putting you in charge of making sure everyone stays safe out there. Hydra is going to throw everything they have at us when they find out that I brought you all with me." Barnes said to his dad. He didn't think anyone else was up for the huge task that he just laid on his dad. "I won't let anything happen to the team." Clint told his son. "Wait. Can we just talk about the name that Metal Man just called Wanda and Pietro?" Tony said to the group. Bucky looked back at him. "What it's just a nickname. And they are mischievous as fuck." "James!" Natasha said to her son. "Ma! They think it's funny when I go for something too either levitate it high enough that I can't reach it or run past me to snatch it before I can grab it." Bucky said back to his mom. "Apologize." She said back to him. "They call me old man, or say I better take it easy before I break a hip. I'm not apologizing." The super soldier answered back. "This is fun. Someone get the popcorn made." Tony said to the group. Bruce slapped his husband's arm."The name suites them. They terrorize people for fun." He said back. "Not our fault you're an old man." Pietro said to Bucky. "You won't like what happens if I ever get my hands on you, you little shit." Bucky said back to the kid.Clint is laughing. Nat hits her husband. "Ow Tasha that hurt." He looks at his wife. "Don't encourage him." Nat said back to her husband.The group is still sitting at the table after Bucky put the papers and everything back into the folder. They were enjoying the lunch still when Ross called them to the conference room. When they all got in and settled, Ross looked at Barnes. "Whatever it is you have in that folder, it ain't happening." "You don't have that authority over me to tell me what I can and can't do." Barnes gave Ross a cocky smirk.Ross leaned over the table in front of Barnes. "Whip that fucking smirk off your face before I do it for you." "Don't you ever threaten my son again or you have to deal with me." Clint said to the Secretary of State.Bucky sat there with a shit eating grin on his face. “I’d watch what you say to me Ross. You have no right to talk to me like that." Bucky got up from his chair. "You see I don’t work for you. That means you can’t tell me what to do. If I enlist the help of the Avengers, there is nothing that you can do about it.” Bucky shot back at Ross.“The Avengers work for me. You know Barnes, you’re really starting to get on my nerves. I should have you arrested.” Ross said right to Bucky’s face.Bucky really wanted to beat Ross to a pulp, but thought better of it. Instead he just grinned to piss off Ross even more.“I advise you to not touch Sergeant Barnes, Secretary Ross.” Nick Fury walked in behind Bucky."Ah the cavalry arrived." Bucky said out loud.“Thought you died.” Ross said to Fury.“I did kinda sorta. In my absence I was rebuilding SHIELD. And now that I’ve done that, you are no longer needed.” Fury said back to Ross. No one really liked him. He was an arrogant prick.“Good for you rebuilding SHIELD, but you see the Avengers work under me now.” Ross stated.“They did. Higher ups thought it would be best if they came back to where they belonged, and that’s with me.” Fury was trying to play nice.“You come back and you take everything that I’ve worked hard for away. What do you have on them that they just gave you what you wanted Fury?” Ross was angry. He had everything right where he wanted it and now it was all being taken away from him.“I don’t have anything on them. I have a better way of working with the Avengers, and not making them work for me like you.” Fury said back. “Now if you excuse us, we have some business to talk about.” He added.“This isn’t over Fury. You think you won, but you haven’t.” Ross said back as he stormed out of the facility.“Man it’s great to be back under you Fury. Nick, I thought I would never say this, but I missed you.” Tony said once Ross left. He nor anyone else on the team liked Ross.“Thanks Stark. Now, where are we on the Swiss Alps mission?” Fury asked his team."Before we get to that. Who is now tasked with running SHIELD?" Tony asked the man. "I am. Ross didn't need to know that. Although he is going to be surprised when he finds out that I replaced him with someone else as Secretary of State." Fury replied to Stark. "So the Swiss Alps. Where are we?" He looked at Barnes. “We have a plan Sir.” Bucky answered the Director’s question.“Sergeant Barnes, I know we’ve met real briefly a couple of times but I really didn’t have a chance to talk to you. I would like to talk to you more. Get to know the man who Steve always talked about." Fury said to Bucky. He read the file that they had on the man, but paper never gives the full story of the individual.Barnes looked guilty. "I tried to kill you, and I thought I accomplished that. What is there else to know about me?" “There is more to you then the brainwashed assassin Hydra made you in to. I want to know more about that man. The man who took his pension and put it into a bank account that keeps this place running." Fury answered. "Wait, you took all your money and put it in the bank to keep the facility running?" Tony asked the super soldier.Bucky looked at Stark. "After I bought Steve and I's old house, I kept a little of the money to buy supplies for the remodeling. Then I saw I had 70 plus years worth of money sitting there and I didn't know what to do with it. So I went to the bank and withdrew the rest and put it into the account you all share to keep up with expenses. I didn't want you all to know I did that." Bucky replied. He really didn't want them to ever find out. No one needed to know except for his parents. "The fight that night between you and Steve. It was for nothing. We accused you of freeloading." Rhodes said to the assassin."It was for the best. Everyone is better off away from me. I hurt people even if I don't try too. If that means I get called something, then so be it. I got called worse things by worse people." Bucky told the group. He looked back to the Director. Bucky got up from his chair. "I'll let you talk to the group." He was moving towards the door.“I want you to stay and take your seat Sergeant Barnes.” The Director told Bucky. He took his seat like Fury asked him to. He looked to his parents, but even they weren't sure what was happening. “You see Barnes, this team, the Avengers Initiative is a program that I started a few years ago. It was to bring a group of extraordinary people together to fight a fight that regular people can’t." Fury explained to Barnes. "Steve told me all about it right after he found me alive." Bucky told the man. "I don't understand what this has to do with me." He said. "We talked it over, the team and I, and we would like to bring you into the team, officially." Nick said to Barnes. Bucky frowned. "I appreciate that you would like me to be on the team, but I can't. The government is building a case against me for crimes I committed with Hydra. I was made aware of this yesterday. They surely wouldn't like it if I appeared along side the Avengers." Bucky quickly exited the conference room. He went to Steve's room and cried. "I'll go get him." Natasha went to her son. "We'll be here." Fury said back to the woman.She made her way to the room her two sons shared. She opened the door and went to the bed. She saw his body racking from crying and heard his sobs. She sat on the bed and rubbed his back. "James why didn't you tell your father or I about the government making a case against you?" She gently asked her son. Bucky sat up after he composed himself a bit. "I knew there was nothing either of you could do for me." He looked at his mom with tear filled eyes. "For the past two year I have tried to make amends for all the horrible things I have done, but no matter what I do they want me to hurt me." He whipped his tears. "I don't want you and dad involved in this. I don't want to give them a reason to come after you guys." "James you need to calm down. You are going to make yourself...." She didn't even get to finish when her son was up off the bed and running to the bathroom. She heard him emptying his stomach into the toilet. She went in to see if he needed any help. "Are you okay?" She asked as she filled a cup up with water and handed it to him. "Take small sips please." She said. When he was done, he brushed his teeth and rinsed his mouth out. His mom was sitting on the bed when he came out. "Let's go back down to the conference room. Everyone is waiting for us." She smiled at him and the two walked back to the meeting room. As mother and son walked in Clint was standing looking from his wife to Bucky. "Sorry we took a bit longer." She smiled at everyone. Bucky followed the spy to where she was sitting and he took a seat beside her. "My apologies Sir for storming out of here." Barnes said to Fury. Fury took a seat of his own. "Listen Barnes, everyone sitting in this room has had something in their past that they aren't proud of. They redeem themselves every time they save the world and make it a better place than before. The offer still stands for you to join the team." The director said to the younger man. Bucky looked around at the team. “You all really want the Winter Soldier on your team?""You protected us by coming up with a great plan in Austria. You are considerate. You are everything Steve ever said about you." Rhodes said to Bucky. “And what did Steve say about me?” Bucky questioned.“He said underneath the hard exterior is a great guy who would always have his friend’s backs. No matter what. It’s hard to get you to trust because of how badly Hydra had been to you. We see that, we see what lengths you will go to not just get your boyfriend, but your teammate back. You’re a good person Barnes.” Tony Stark liked Barnes. He could throw sass and sarcasm with the best.“Not to forget about what you can do. Your skills are excellent.” Banner said to the soldier.Bucky sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of. I feared you’d just want me for my particular skill set.”Nat turned to look at Bucky. “Just the complete opposite. You’re skill set, like Bruce said is amazing. I think the team could all benefit from learning from you. Steve taught us much about fighting. You are one of the best hand to hand combat. If you help me teach I think we would be even better." She said to her son.Barnes was looking at his mom. "You want me to help you train? What if I accidentally hurt you?" He said to her. "I wouldn't worry about that. I trust you James." Natasha replied. Bucky looked around the room. He couldn’t believe that they want him to join their team. He looked at the Director and said “What’s the catch?”“There is no catch. Just say yes, but before you leave today, we need to discuss some other things privately.” Director Fury said to Barnes.“Okay I’m in.” Bucky said to Fury and the Avengers,“Welcome to SHIELD, and more importantly, welcome to the Avengers kid. You deserve it soldier.” Fury said to Bucky. He couldn’t believe he was an Avenger. Bucky's eyes filled with tears. ‘This is what being part of something was supposed to be like.’ Bucky thought to himself.Both Clint and Nat hugged the young man. "You deserve this and so much more. I'm proud of you, and I know Steve would be proud of you." Nat said in his ear. Bucky nodded his head at her words. He will make Steve proud of him.The team slowly left the room. Nick Fury sat with Sergeant Barnes, Nat and Clint in the conference room with the door closed. “There are somethings I would like to discuss with you all." Fury took out a folder from some place under the table and opened it. "First thing I would like to talk about is your rank in the military. Since you were a Sergeant in the Army and technically the longest POW, you are once again recognized as a Sergeant.” Fury said to Barnes.“What about my past once I became the Winter Soldier? Does the US military want someone like me still ranked and noticed as a Sergeant?” Bucky asked. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.Fury had a smile on his face. “Steve before he went missing talked highly of you and fought to keep your rank in the Army. He said that he would proudly stand beside you on any mission or battlefield as a Sergeant. We also heard from Steve how long you fought Hydra before you couldn’t fight any longer. So yes we would love to recognize you as a Sergeant.” Fury said to the young man. He believed Steve and what he said. Now sitting across from the man he sees that he was everything Steve said about him.Bucky nodded. He didn’t know what to say. Even though Steve and him were broken up, he still talked highly of him, fought for him. He wanted to say something, but nothing seemed good enough. “Thank you.” Nat squeezed his hand. She was so proud of her boy.“You're welcome. Thank you for your service. Now that leads me to the next thing." Fury flipped through some papers. "I was made aware that you were given a military pension.” Fury said looking at Bucky.“I was, but Ross had it revoked. He provided evidence stating that because of what I did I shouldn’t have one.” Bucky said to the man sitting beside him.Fury nodded his head. He heard all about what Ross did to this kid. “Do you have any other source of income?” He asked.Bucky shrugged. “I have a job. I work at the loading docks in Brooklyn where I worked and did the same job before going to war. It’s long days and I work seven days a week but it pays the bills.” He answered back. He didn’t mind working. Coming from the time period he did that’s what men did. They worked from the time they were old enough until they died supporting their family.Fury was pissed. “I saw that Ross had pension revoked. He did have evidence of what you did, but everyone knew after SHIELD fell what the Winter Soldier did. I on the other hand fought to have it reinstated. The world knew what the Winter Soldier did. No one knew what was going on behind the scenes as to why you did it. I fought for you and said that you wouldn’t knowingly do any of that on your own. I brought up all the things that Hydra did to you. The courts saw it in my favor. They said that it will be coming to you monthly.” Fury told Bucky. He could see that Bucky was thankful. “A war vet like yourself shouldn’t have to work a job to get by. You fought for your country and paid a price for it. I feel like you should be compensated for everything that you went through.” Fury added. He could see Barnes’ eyes welling up with tears.“One more thing. You said you were informed yesterday that the government was building a case against you for the crimes you committed as the Winter Soldier. I don't know how that can be. Your records for crimes that you committed as the Winter Soldier have been expunged. With a lot of evidence to back up our argument from Steve and I, the court saw it our way that you were not in control. Hydra was behind everything. The court pardoned you and all your crimes.” He told the young man. "You're a free man Sergeant." Bucky was crying. He hugged the two people he looked at as parents. The two people besides Steve that always stood by him. "I'm free Ma. I'm finally free." Bucky said to Nat. After he was done hugging his parents he turned to the man that gave him his life back. “I...I don’t know what to say. Thank you Sir. I don’t know how I will ever repay you for giving me back my life.” Bucky told the man. This man didn’t even know him. “Steve really fought for me?” Bucky asked the head of SHIELD.“He did. He talked about you every chance he got. Never said a bad thing about you. He was so happy that you got everything you deserved. He said you were one of the best people that he has ever known, not just because you two are dating, but because you were a good man.” He said to Barnes. Looking at the Sergeant standing across from him everything that Steve told him about the young man was true. He was a good kid and deserved to restart his life with a clean slate. If he could help he wanted too. “You don’t have to repay me, just help keep this world safe.” Fury said to Bucky. "I also want to see that letter you received. Something isn't right with that."Barnes nodded. “Yes Sir. I’ll do everything I can to help people like you helped me, but can I ask you something?” Bucky asked.“Sure.” Fury said back.“You don’t know me. I tried to kill you, and I thought I succeeded. Why would you agree to help me after that?” Bucky asked the older man.“Yeah you almost succeeded in killing me, but would you have done that if you weren’t brainwashed for 70 years by Hydra?” Fury asked his own question.Bucky didn't hesitate in answering. “No Sir. I was never hurt someone unless it was for defensive reasons."Nick nodded his head. “That’s what Steve said. He told me that you were his wingman. Always there protecting him when he got into fights. He also said that you would not willingly kill unless you had too. I read all about what Hydra done to you, and it was horrendous. No one should have to endure that. Steve told me what you were like before the war, growing up in Brooklyn. You’re right I don’t know you personally, but from what I read and was told you deserve better and a second chance to show the world who James Barnes really is.” Director Fury said Bucky. “I won’t disappoint you. Thank you so much.” Bucky told Fury. He was so happy. His Stevie always looking out for him. He really didn’t deserve someone like Steve. Even after all the hurtful things Bucky said. He was still looking out for him."I know you won't kid." Fury said. They all shook hands and said thank yous again. Before Nick left the compound he said he will be back in two days to go over the plans for the Swiss Alps assignment. The small family said they will see him then.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The next morning the Avengers were headed to the Swiss Alps. Barnes was on one quinjet and the rest of the team was on another. They were keeping their distance from Bucky since they were to be discreet and not let on that they were coming. It had to appear that Barnes was on his own for this plan to work. "Alright I am coming up to the base and I will land in the open where I will draw the attention to myself. You guys go in stealth mode and make sure you are not seen until I call you in. Everyone understands what is to happen?" Bucky asked the group over the radio."Yeah we understand. We are in stealth mode as we speak. We are hanging back from you and letting you land and then we will do the same. We will move into position and be ready for when you call us." Natasha said to her son. "Good. No matter what happens out there, please do not do anything until you are told. That includes you ma." Bucky said back. He needed to make sure that this went smoothly. They may not get a second chance and then Steve will be lost forever. "I know, I know. I want you to be careful out there." Nat said back to her son. She was worried that he will do whatever needed to be done to get Steve back. Bucky landed his aircraft and made sure he had everything he needed. 'Here goes nothing.' He said to himself. He lowered the door on the quinjet and walked out heading straight for the base that sat in front of him. He heard men moving. He knew that Hydra saw that he had arrived and sent out a welcoming committee for him. He quickly took them out, killing them all, but more quickly came his way. The Avengers had landed not long after Barnes did and took their places. Barton was on the move and found a great advantage point that he could see everything to either side and what was happening in front of him. "Alright Bucky I am in place. The team is ready for when you need them." He told the assassin. "Yep. Thanks." Bucky replied as he was fighting off another round of men. He heard what sounded like vehicles coming towards him. "Do I hear cars?" He asked his dad. "Yeah. That would be two armored convoys coming straight for you." Barton confirmed from his position. "That's sweet. They are sending a parade to greet me. Well I will have to go see what they want." Bucky said as he went walking towards them. "James...." It was a warning from his ma. "Yeah I know. Don't do anything reckless." Barnes replied back and that had Clint laughing.As he was walking he pulled something out and loaded it into his weapon. No one could see what it was. "There is no way he is taking out an armored convoy with a rifle." Rhodes said from where he was waiting to be sent in. "Stand down Asset. Don't do anything else that will cause you trouble in the end. Come back quietly and we can work this out." A Hydra agent said over a loud speaker from the first convoy. Bucky took aim and shot at the convoy that was first in line and blew it leaving no survivors. The team sat and watched as Barnes blew the first convoy, and reloaded and took aim at the second one. That's when he heard a roar and things being crumpled. "I didn't tell anyone to send in Banner." Bucky said through the radio. He took aim again at the second convoy and blew that one up as well. "Terror Twins you're up." The assassin called for his first round of assault to come in. "Thor wait two minutes and come in."Pietro and Wanda come into the fight and are doing pretty good at holding their own. Everyone froze when the sky became dark and thunder and lightening appeared. It gave Bucky the element of surprise he needed to shoot several more Hydra agents when the ground shook and the God of Thunder appeared. "Ma now is your chance to get as close to the building as you can. Stark, Rhodes and Wilson, it's go time." Barnes told the others. As the fight ensued, the Avengers and the Winter Soldier had a handle on the outside. "Thor you got a group of thirty agents coming at you from the right side with weapons drawn. Be careful." Clint said told the God through the radio. He saw a sniper taking aim at his son when he shot him before Bucky even knew he was there. Bucky waved letting his dad know he appreciated the looking out. "You're welcome." Barton responded. "Barnes it looks like there is an entrance open on the south end. Nat is making her way there now. I am covering her and will meet you there." Tony said through the radio."Keep her safe Stark. I am making my way there now." Bucky replied back to his teammate."Dad you are in charge out here. You going to be okay?" Bucky asked."Yep. Help is coming in shortly to round up the remaining agents." Clint responded. The soldier liked what he heard. He fought his way through more agents leaving a path of death in his wake. He quickly met up with his teammates. "Alright I want you Tony to search for any heat signatures a head of us. I don't want to be surprised by anyone coming out to attack us." Buck looked at Tony who nodded.Sam came in with Thor. "We're hear to help." Thor said to the other three. "Alright. Sam use that bird thingy you have to fly a head and look for anyone that might be hiding. I want you two to stay together. Do not get separated at any cost." Barnes said to the other two. "Sam you are in charge. I want you two to go right and search every room. If you find anything you think will be of use or looks interesting take it. It could be of valuable information." He looked at Sam. "Okay. If we happen to find Steve?" Sam asked back. "Do not approach him. I don't know what all Hydra has done to him. Call us for backup. I am the only one that can match Steve in the super soldier department." Bucky answered. The two groups split up and went their ways. Bucky and Natasha had their weapons drawn. They were ready to use them if necessary. “Barnes, I have heat signatures up ahead.” Tony informed Bucky.“How many?” The soldier asked.“Ten.”Stopping down the hall Bucky looked at Tony and Nat “Ready?” They nodded and burst into the room. They were greeted by a room full of people and more came in through a side door. “Ah, look who returns, the Asset.” Brock Rumlow said to the soldier. Bucky in a blink of an eye readied his weapon along with Stark and Natasha. They were severely out manned and out gunned even with all the weapons that both Barnes and Stark had on them.An all too familiar face came to the front. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Ross stood in front of the three Avengers.“You son of a bitch. I knew there was something not trustworthy about a piece of shit like yourself.” The soldier was not surprised. He had his gun at the ready. Whenever the opportunity presented itself he would put the traitor down with a bullet between the eyes.Tony and Natasha on the other hand were shocked. 'Clint was right to have accused Ross after Austria.' The spy said to herself. He was the one that hurt her son. "What made you join Hydra?" Tony asked the older man.“I’ve always been Hydra. I just kept it a secret. No one found out when SHIELD collapsed." Ross shrugged. He didn't owe anyone an answer. “We got you intel from the bases that we raided and took down.” Stark said back.“Nothing important. You got what I wanted you to get. Nothing more." Ross said back as if he was making simple conversation. "I alerted the bases that you were coming each time. Think of it as more of a training exercise for us. When the time came we wanted to make sure we could defeat the Avengers.” Ross told the three. He then turned his attention to Barnes. "He knew where my allegiance was. Isn't that right Asset?" Tony then turned to look at Barnes “You knew this entire time that he was Hydra. You did this." Tony said. He was furious and hurt. "You knew the entire time." Tony stated. Barnes never took his eyes off Ross. “I had no idea. Tony if he revealed himself when I was the Winter Soldier I probably forgot it or it was wiped from my memory like a lot of other things that they took from me.”“Don't give me that shit. You got all your memories back over the last two years. You fucking knew and you kept their secret.” Tony yelled back. "Fuck Sam was right about you. You hurt everyone around you. You aren't anything Steve said you were. You will always be Hydra." Tony said to the Winter Soldier. The words that Tony muttered hurt Bucky deep to his core. He had to blink away tears so no one saw that he was affected by the man's words. He needed to keep Tony and Natasha with him and not to be left alone. He needed the back up. “This is what he wants Tony. He wants us to fight so he can cause a rift and take us down. You can’t play into his hand.” Bucky said to Iron Man. He knew what Ross was trying to do. He would be damned if he would let Ross win. "Good luck on your own. Leave them Natasha. He isn't who you thought he was." Stark turned towards the door nudging the spy to go with him. Ross could see that Barnes was trying to beat him but he had another plan up his sleeve. He wasn't done just yet. “You should lower your weapon Asset. I wouldn’t want you to accidentally hit Steve.” Ross said to Barnes. He was trying to manipulate the soldier. Tony and Nat looked back to see what was going on. Ross moved and Bucky was able to see what was happening behind him. “You’re just in time to see the show. You remember this, don’t you Asset?” Ross said back to the Winter Soldier. Steve was strapped to the wiping machine.Bucky froze. “Steve!” Bucky yelled and tried to take a step closer towards his boyfriend when all the guns trained solely on the assassin. He couldn’t stand to see him strapped to this horrible device. “Do it.” Ross told the staff. Steve screamed in pain and agony. There was nothing Bucky could do to help. He again went to move towards Steve to get them to stop. “You try to make another move and my best agent here will put a bullet in your boyfriend’s head.” Ross said to Barnes. Brock Rumlow had a gun to Steve’s head. The soldier knew that Rumlow would pull the trigger without hesitation.Tony and Nat stood there and were powerless to do anything but watch. Tony saw what they had Steve strapped too. He was trying to figure out what went into the wiping machine and what to do to counter it. He knew it wouldn't be easy. Tony could see how this was affecting Barnes. It was killing him but he didn't really have any sympathy for the fraud. He understood what Steve meant when he said about Bucky having his memory wiped more times than they could count over 70 years. This took torture to an all new level.Bucky couldn’t take seeing them torture Steve anymore. “Stop!" Bucky shouted at Ross.Ross laughed at the Asset. He loved torturing Barnes. He made it so much fun. “What will you do for me Asset if I stop hurting your boyfriend?” Bucky was all alone. Tony and Natasha left him there. He knew there was no getting out of this alive. He just needed to make good on the promise that he made Natasha and Clint a year ago. He was going to get Steve back to them. “I’ll do anything. Anything you want, but you have to stop hurting him. Please.” Bucky fell to his knees crying. He knew what he would have to do. If it would mean saving Steve then he would do anything.Ross laughed again. This was even better then he could have imagined it. “A love story. Isn’t this cute everybody? The Asset has found love." Ross told the room. He walked up to Barnes. "This pains you. To see the person you love most in this world strapped down screaming in so much pain." He told the soldier. "I had more than a year to mold Rogers' into the perfect weapon. He knows his place, and I think that is something that you could learn again.” Ross said to Bucky. He knew if he wanted his Asset back he had to play on Rogers. That wouldn't be a problem. Tony pulled Natasha out of the room. "What the fuck Tony. I'm going back in there." Black Widow said to her teammate. "I can't let you do that Nat. Barnes is working with them. You see how easy it is for Ross to talk to him. We have to get everyone grouped up and come back in. We are taking Steve home today." Tony told her. "Everyone meet back at the quinjet." Tony said through the radio. Bucky had one play. It wasn't ideal, but it was all he had left. "Let Steve and the Avengers go. If you do this, then I will forever pledge my allegiance to you as my handler and to Hydra." Ross was a bit taken aback by what Barnes had asked. "Why give up Rogers? You could have him here. Isn't that what you want Asset? If we leave him go, you will never see him again. As for the Avengers, they already left you here. They're gone." Ross informed Barnes that Tony and Natasha were no longer with him, and that the whole team left the facility. Bucky wasn't surprised. He really fucked things up this time. He had to keep fighting for Steve. To make sure he got out of here. "I will always give my life so Steve can live his." The Winter Soldier said back to Ross.Ross didn’t like his answer. Barnes was being too stubborn. “Do it again.” Ross demanded the doctors turn the machine back on. Steve screamed in pain, and Bucky cried out even more.“STOP!” Bucky shouted. The Winter Soldier laid down his weapon in submission. There was no getting out of this. He knew if he laid down his weapon then that would make the agents stand down, especially Rumlow. He was the dangerous one. Just when they thought they won, the Winter Soldier pulled out a knife and charged at people. As the fighting was happening and gun shots rang out, Ross and Rumlow were making their way out of the room through another door followed by Steve. Bucky knew in order to save Steve he would have to rid himself of being James Buchanan Barnes and be the Winter Soldier. The ruthless killer that history knows and people fear. As he is fighting the agents in the room, he sees Ross and Rumlow make an escape with Steve in toe. He slices his way through the people in the room leaving no one alive when it was all over. He doesn't take a second glance back at the bodies in the room. He just stalks towards his next victims. Back at the quinjet, Clint saw his pissed off wife and Tony. “Where is Bucky?”“Ask Tony. He pushed me from the room." Natasha replied to her husband."Tony where is my son?" Clint asked the man. He was worried that no one was telling him where his son is. Tony looked back to the archer. "Barnes has been working with Hydra this whole time. Ross is the head of Hydra and Barnes knew it the whole time. He has played all of us this entire time. So I left the bastard in there." Clint charged at Stark. "You son of a fucking bitch. You left my son in there all alone? He's not fucking Hydra Stark. He left them after the DC debacle. He has been fighting them. There is no way that Bucky knew that Ross was the head of Hydra. If he had, he doesn't remember." Clint yelled at his teammate. Tony wrestled out of Barton's grip. "He got all his memories back. He knew." Tony shouted back. "He got most of his memories back. He knows what he did. He remembers most of his life, but there are parts that he doesn't remember at all. He never will. They fucked with his mind too much for him to be able to remember everything. So yeah Tony, he probably doesn't remember Ross being with Hydra. But thank you for believing the fucking man that has lied to us for fucking years over the man that has actually been helping us and trying to make something out of his life." Clint responded to Tony. He was so fucking pissed. He now lost both of his boys. "Well I called you back here to regroup. We found Steve. He's in bad shape and he needs our help. We are going in as a team to take him back." Tony said. "I don't think that will be necessary Mr. Stark. I see Steve walking with Ross and another man." Wanda said from her hiding place.Tony, Clint and Nat all went to where Wanda was and saw Steve following Rumlow and Ross. "What the fuck." Tony said out loud. It wasn't meant as a question."Why is Steve following them?" Rhodes asked the group.Just then they heard a door slamming open and out walked Barnes. The Winter Soldier took a shot at the group of three men walking in front of him. He succeeded in getting their attention. Rumlow turned and shot at Barnes, but he dodged the bullets. "I'm going to show you first hand what you made me into, and it's gonna end with me killing you both. Those other agents in that room and those doctors that love torturing people in vile ways are all dead." The Winter Soldier said as he kept moving towards Ross and Rumlow. "I will end you once and for all Asset. I should have done it years ago in DC when you hesitated and recognized Rogers. You were a liability then, and that was my mistake letting you live. I won't make that same mistake twice." Brock told the soldier shooting at him again. One of the bullets hits the Winter Soldier in the right shoulder. Barnes hid behind a rock and assessed his shoulder. He can feel from the tingling and searing pain running down his arm that he has no use of it. He also knows he is safe here for a minute. He knows Brock will never come and confront him this close. He's still deadly. The Winter Soldier moved from the other side of the rock and shot Rumlow in the right knee cap taking the Hydra agent down. He pounced on the man and beat him to death. He got off Rumlow and wiped the blood on his pants and stalked after Ross and Steve. Natasha knew looking at Bucky that he isn't James. No. This is the man that she had unfortunately several almost deadly interactions with. This was the Winter Soldier. She also knew that there may be no way of bringing him back. That there was only one way to get him to stop, and she would be the one to put the bullet in his head. She went to go out there, but was stopped by Tony. "Let me go." She demanded. "I can't Nat. He is the only one who can end this, and you know it. If what Clint said is true, then we have to let Barnes deal with this. We owe it to him." Tony said to his teammate. "That isn't Barnes Tony. That is the Winter Soldier. Bucky no longer exists. There is only one option to stop the Winter Soldier, and that's to put a bullet in his head. I know that, and so did Steve. In DC Steve was willing to go down with the hellicarrier that was being destroyed because he knew it was the only way to stop him if Steve couldn't get him to remember." She told the billionaire. "I am the only one that has faced him and lived beside's Steve. I have to be the one to do it." She said looking out at the assassin. The soldier saw that Ross and Steve were headed for a helicopter. Ross was ready to take off when he suddenly felt it jolt. Before he could react, the Winter Soldier grabbed him out from his seat and was thrown to the ground. He stalked closer to the older man. "You look scared Ross." The Winter soldier said to the head of Hydra. Ross laughed. "Scared of you? No I'm not scared of you." Ross said back. "You should be." The Winter Soldier said and then shot Ross in both knee caps. Now Ross couldn't go anywhere. He had to face the killer they made. "You think you won Asset, but you lost." Ross said. He knew he was going to die here, but he was going to take Barnes with him. "Come on Asset, do what you’ve been trained to do. You know you’re itching to do it. I can see it. The Winter Soldier is trying to take over. He’s clawing, trying to get out and do what he’s been trained to do.” Bucky wanted to shoot the man so bad. Ross was wrong about one thing, the Winter Soldier was already present. He then followed Ross' eyes and turned to look to Steve. Back the at quinjet, the Avengers looked on. "This has gotten out of control." Clint said and went to run out to help. Tony grabbed his teammate. "Let him finish this. He deserves the closure Clint." Once Bucky turned away from Ross to look at Steve, Ross shot the Winter Soldier in the back. Barnes fell to the ground. He saw the bullet went straight through, but he knows it did major damage. He was coughing up blood instantly. He knew if he didn't keep moving he would die. He moved backwards, until he could get his feet underneath him. He was able to get back to his feet slowly. "Steve this isn't you. Hydra has warped and twisted your mind like they did to me." Bucky said to his boyfriend. Coughing more blood up as he spoke. Ross was laughing again. "You see Asset I had a year to mold him into being the perfect weapon. Something you used to be." Ross said to Barnes. He then looks to Rogers. "Captain the Asset has been compromised. He needs to be eliminated. He is here to hurt you. To kill you. Kill him before he kills you." Ross told Steve. Bucky looked at Steve. It was becoming harder and harder for him to stay awake. His whole body hurt, and he was bleeding even more. "Steve he is the one that hurt you. Hydra doesn't care about you, but I do. Clint and Natasha care about you. The Avengers care about you. They all have risked their lives...." Bucky never got to finish what he was going to say. In mid sentence there was a bang and followed by more pain. Bucky fell to the ground, not being able to feel his legs. He reached down and found that he had been shot in the pelvic area. There was nothing he could do. He knew he was dying, but he needed to make sure Steve was safe before his body gave out. Clint ran over to Bucky but was quickly shot at by Steve. "James you with me still?" Clint said from behind a tree not far from where Barnes was lying. "Dad on three I need you to hit Steve really fucking...." He had to stop to cough up more blood. It was pooling in his throat. "Hit him really hard in the head and knock him out." He finished. Once he hit three, he used what energy he had left to sit up. He quickly stabbed his boyfriend in the thigh and saw his dad hit Steve over the head with a large rock. Clint checked Steve to make sure he was still breathing, and then checked on Barnes. "Fuck James." He said when he saw the state his son was in.Bucky coughed up more blood. "This is the end of the line for me." He coughed again. Clint put pressure on his wounds, but he was bleeding too much. "Take care of my Stevie for me. Tell him I love him, and I'll always be watching over him." He had another violent coughing fit. "Please don't ever tell him what he did." Bucky said to his dad. "I'm sorry for everything. Let Tony believe I was Hydra the whole time. Please don't fight over me." He coughed more. He couldn't talk anymore. He's too tired. It's over. Hydra has been defeated. Steve is going to be okay. He can finally go to sleep. As the team was coming out to take Ross into custody, Ross pulled a gun and shot Steve and Barnes both in the chest. "If I can't have them then no one will." Ross said out loud. He was quickly taken down and put on the quinjet to take back to the compound where he will be interrogated. Barnes and Steve were taken to the other quinjet with Bruce, Tony, Clint and Natasha to see what they could do to stop some of the bleeding until they got to the compound where they will get the top medical help they need. "Tony I need a shit ton of gauze and I need this uniform taken off him immediately. Natasha and Clint that is you job. Call me back when that is done." Bruce said as he went to check on Steve. "Do you see the blood coming from his ears? It could be from the machine that they strapped him to and sent electricity into his brain." Tony said to his husband. "I think that is exactly what it is from. I also see bruises and scars going down his uniform. They seem to be open and gross. They are more than likely infected. I don't know for how long though. He wraps Steve thigh in gauze, and puts cotton in his ears to catch the blood. "Bruce we got the uniform off." Natasha called to the doctor. Bruce went back to attending Barnes. "Thank you for putting the gauze in the wounds. I hope this slows some of the bleeding." The team of four worked between the two young men. The trip back to the compound seemed like it took far much longer then it should have. "What's our ETA?" Clint asked Tony. "Not soon enough. We are fifteen minutes out. I notified the hospital staff and they are all waiting for our arrival." Stark answered. He saw that Clint was sitting alone trying his best to keep pressure on all of Barnes' wounds. He walked over to him and applied his own pressure to two of the wounds. "He's going to be okay. He's a fighter." Tony said to Barton."Everyone is worried about Steve. As they should be, but no one seems to care about Bucky." Clint sighs. "I care. Natasha cares. That's three including you." Tony replied. Just then then aircraft lands and the door is immediately opened and both super soldiers are taken to the hospital to get the medical help they need. The team waits hours for some kind of news about Steve and Barnes. "You all go back to the house. I'll stay here and wait for the news." Clint said to the group. He can see that they are all tired and still need to shower from the earlier events in the Swiss Alps. Most of the team takes Clint up on the offer. Clint turns around to look out the window. "Tasha you should get some rest. I'll text you when there is some kind of news." He smiles. He knew should wouldn't listen to him though."Oh is that how you see me Barton? Hate to break it to you, but I am a happily married to a man that has severe anger issues that turns into a raging green monster and we have a son together." Tony said back to Clint's mistake. "Oh shit. Sorry Tony. I thought you were my wife." He answered. "No she went to take a shower and grab some blankets, coffee and food for you both. She told me she will be back." Tony replied. He sat down in one of the waiting chairs. "Man I need to upgrade these chairs. They are so uncomfortable. Take a seat." Stark said to his friend. Clint did as told. "Man they are uncomfortable." He agreed with Tony. "No wonder people pace. So I'm thinking nice soft recliners." Tony said. He has a problem where he brainstorms out loud and not to himself. "This hospital makes enough money." Barton answered."It does." Tony replied. The hospital sits on the Avengers Compound. That doesn't mean that people can't come use the hospital though. There is a local population in this area and they are without a lot. It's a very poor community. The Avengers help these people by providing a hospital and other things that they need. They even built a small school so the kids had somewhere they could go and learn. So this hospital even though it is used by the Avengers, it also gets heavily used by the townspeople. Clint and Tony are still waiting when Natasha comes back. "Still no word?" She asks the two men."No, and that worries me." Clint said to his wife. He went to her and took the stuff out of her hands and sat it down. "I got enough food for the three of us." She said to the two men. "Thank you, but you didn't have to do that." Tony said back to the woman."You need to eat too Tony." She told him. She handed him a burger and fries. "It's scary you know what I eat on my burger." Tony laughed. "You really are a good mom." He said to the spy."I have to super soldiers and depending on their mood their tastes change. I have to keep up on these kinds of thing. So of course I would know what you eat and like." She said back to the man. "Those two are lucky to have you and Clint." The older man said back. Nat smiled in return. Two more hours pass when a young man approaches them. "I'm going to guess and say you are here for a Mr. Rogers and a Mr. Barnes." "You guessed right. How are they?" Clint asked the doctor. "Nice to meet you all. I'm Dr. Andrews and I did the surgeries on both men. Let's go over here and have a seat." The small group went and had a seat and the doctor opened a chart. "Mr. Rogers is out of surgery and resting comfortably due to being heavily sedated. We were able to extract the bullet from his chest. It hit a few ribs and shattered them. He was very lucky it wasn't worse. We were able to go in and repair some of the muscle damage in his thigh and stitch it up. That will take a bit to heal. There were several muscles that were cut in half. He will need therapy on that leg eventually to get those muscles strengthened back up." The doctor explained to the three people. "We saw several cuts and bullet wounds that seemed like they were purposely torn open and kept from healing. Over time they became very infected and we are running a picc iv to get antibotics into his system faster so we can clear those infections up. His serum is slow working. Slower than normal. We ran tests and it appears that something was being injected into him on a regular bases to keep his serum from working to its full potential." Dr. Andrews flipped the paper over he was reading. "The gash on the back of his head, we stitched up. It wasn't as bad as it looked. For the last thing, we noticed the blood coming from his ears. We looked at the scans that you gave us Mr. Stark of the machine and the blood is from the machine. With that much electricity going into one's brain, his eardrums ruptured. We will be doing further testing on his brain activity to make sure there is no damage." Dr. Andrews explained to the group. "What are the chances of Steve having brain damage?" Natasha asked the doctor. "We are unsure how many times Mr. Rogers was in that machine or for how long. We cannot accurately say if he will or not. I'm sorry." The young doctor said back to the woman. "Will there be any lasting effects from any of his injuries?" Clint asked next. "Once all that toxin is out of his system and his serum can get back to full strength, I believe he will heal up fine. The only things I fear is his leg. The muscles that were severed were major ones, and he might suffer from that leg being more tired after a while or soreness in that area. We are hoping with therapy and his serum that it won't be much of an issue. The second thing is brain damage." The doctor answered. "What about James?" Natasha asked then. The young doctor sighed. He opened another chart and looked through some papers. "His case was worse then Mr. Rogers'." He told the group. "He wasn't even one the table five minutes before his heart gave out. We got it restarted, but he lost a lot of blood before he got here. We preformed the multiple surgeries that he needed. We extracted the bullet from his chest wound. It punctured his lung and it collapsed. We repaired it, and we have something in there to keep in from collapsing again. We are hoping this works and with time, that lung strengthens back up that we can remove it." He explained. "The wound in his abdomen was a straight through. It appears the bullet entered his back and came out the front. The issue is it caused damage to his stomach. We had to take a portion of his stomach out. As of now he will be fed through a feeding tube. Then we extracted the bullet from his pelvic area. When the bullet went in it struck his spinal cord, causing major damage. Right now, he doesn't react to being touched on his legs, but that could be due to the heavy sedation he is currently under. Then the last thing was the bullet wound to his right shoulder. We dislodged the bullet after we found it amongst all the bone fragments. It bounced around in his shoulder cavity causing a lot of damage. We will have to do a complete shoulder replacement in the near future after his other wounds have healed up better." The doctor told the group. Natasha had tears running down her face. "What are his chances of being paralyzed?" She asked. "There will be some form of paralysis. We will do a CT scan again when his other major wounds have healed to get a better reading just how bad the paralysis is." Dr. Andrews answered. "Why does he have to wait to have a shoulder replacement? Why couldn't you have done it while he was already in surgery?" Natasha asked back. "We couldn't put his body through any more torment. His heart gave out three times while under the knife and I couldn't risk a fourth. If we did push it and his heart stopped again, we wouldn't have been able to bring him back a fourth time. He needs rest. His body is under a lot of stress. He has a very similar serum to Mr. Rogers and we are hoping with lots of rest while being sedated his body will get stronger. We can then do his other surgery and the testing." The doctor replied. "Do we need to worry about his heart giving out again?" Clint asked the doctor. "We have multiple tubes going one to his stomach and the other one down his throat to help him breathe. We are closely monitoring his heart rate and blood pressure. He is resting comfortably as we speak. I have this monitor with me at all times to let me know if there is a change in his heart rate." The doctor answered Clint. "I will keep all of you up to date on what happens from here with both of the young men." The doctor said and got up from the seating area. "Is it okay to stay in the rooms with them over night?" Nat asked.The doctor smiled. "I think that will be very beneficial for them. Let them know that friends are there with them." He said to them. "Thank you for helping our two boys Dr. Andrews." Clint said shaking the man's hand."I never seen anything this bad before. I am going to do everything I can to make sure they both come out of this. Here are the room numbers for both men." The doctor told them. He bid the group farewell and walked back down the hallway. Tony was uncharacteristically quiet. "If I hadn't left him in that room alone. If I had been there to help him, then this would have never happened." Tony sighed and put his head in his hands. Natasha walked over to her teammate that she had known the longest besides her husband. She sat beside him. "You were played Tony. Ross is a fantastic manipulator. That's what he does. He knew from being around the compound that people didn't like James." She told Tony. "None of this is your fault."Tony looked at Natasha. "I believed a man who lied to us. I blamed a man who I saw first hand a piece of the torture he went through, and yet I basically told him to fuck off. How can you not hate me right now?" He asked Nat. "I hate me." "Tony I knew going in there that James was going to whatever was necessary to get Steve back. With that I knew even the Winter Soldier was going to get hurt. They may have made him into the deadliest monster, but behind that he is just a man who bleeds like all people do. He's not bulletproof. Bucky choose to go after Ross and Rumlow alone. He got to make a decision for once that he was going to protect the people he cares about and risk his own life. He wasn't upset at you. Trust me, if he was he would have killed you. He choose to keep you safe. He would tell you not to blame yourself for what happened to him. It was his choice." Natasha told her friend. "Plus I can be made at you, but I could never hate you." She smiled.She got up. "Alright I am going to go visit my boys. Clint and Tony, you both should go shower. Tony go see your son. He was waiting for you. He built a new computer he wants to show you." Nat addressed the two men. She picked up the blankets and walked to Steve's room. The next day, all the Avengers were down at the interrogation room where Ross was being held. He was there for the time being to answer questions that Director Fury had before he went to prison for the rest of his life. “I have two young men in the hospital because of you.” Fury said to Ross. He was pissed that everything went down the way it did.“It’s a shame really that things had to end that way. They both could have been with Hydra. Hydra could have been what Schmidt and Dr. Zola envisioned it to be. Those misfits had to take that all away.” The ex-Secretary of State said back to Fury.“You really think that you would have succeeded with your plan?” Fury asked the man.“You see with the Asset, we could have easily made him back into the Winter Soldier. With more mind wipes and reinstituting Hydra's ways he would have been fine. Rogers was really coming along well with his training and programing." Ross laughed. "Rogers broke so easily. S the answer to your question is yes I think I would have succeeded with having both of them in my control.” Ross informed the Director.Smirking, Fury said “You see, I have something that you will never have. Without it you’re nothing. Hydra will always lack because of it.”Ross leaned back in his chair as best as he could with his two knees shot out.“And what would that be?” “Conviction, love, wit and the best damn team the world has ever seen." Fury got out of his chair. "You see Hydra will never have any of those things. It didn’t have it 70 years ago and it doesn’t have it now. You can't be successful with just having power. Eventually people with those three things will beat you every time.” Fury said to Ross.Laughing Ross responded back to Fury “You think you have the best team but they are nothing more than a group of nomads disguised as a team. I know what they are like. I was their handler.” Ross was good at getting under the skin of people. He knew what places to hit that would make the other person crumble. That’s why he was so good at his job, and why he reached the points he did. He feeds off chaos and people's insecurities.It was Nick's turn to laugh. “Nomads? Yeah they all may have come from different backgrounds and have different ways of doing things. They may disagree on things, but this group of people, no matter what will always unite for the common good. That’s what makes them a team. No matter what happens they always have each other’s backs.” Fury stated to Ross."Like Stark and Romanoff had Barnes' back today? Where were they when he was shot four times? Oh that's right they ran away. Leaving him alone." Ross stated back “I see you have quite the injury. You better get comfortable. You’ll be here a while.” The Director said to the Hydra leader before walking out of the room.“Has he talked to you anymore about other Hydra bases or what they did to Steve?” Clint asked Fury. No one really knows what happened to Steve to make him turn like that. The only people that knows what happened is Bucky and Steve, and they are in no position to talk. The Avengers wants answers so they can get Steve the help that he needs.“No he’s not talking about anything. He’s trying to get under my skin. Piss me off. He's trying to lead me away from what I really want to know. What he’s trying to do is control the conversation. We’ll keep trying though. We’ll get the answers that we need to help Rogers. I promise Barton. Although it would be nice to have Barnes here to work his amazing interrogation skills.” Nick said to his archer assassin. He knows that Barton has been up researching anything he can to try to help Steve. The man hasn’t had much sleep.“I think I have an idea, but I would like to run it past you and Tasha first.” Clint said to his boss. Fury nodded. He will take any help he can get.Hours later when the place was quiet she snuck down to the room where they were keeping Secretary Ross. Seeing him sitting there she took a seat on the opposite side. “Ahh so they send in Black Widow because they couldn’t get the answers they wanted. What do they think that I’m afraid of you? That I'm just going to spill everything to the likes of you?” Ross said to Natasha. He knew all about her. She wouldn't get him to talk so easily like they thought he was going to.She smiled at him. 'He was so full of himself. What an arrogant asshole.' She thought to herself. “No, actually Fury or the others have no idea I’m even here. I would like to keep it that way. You see, they think that years ago when they sent my husband to kill me that I left the KGB and went SHIELD. I had miraculously changed my ways all because one man bats his eyelashes at me. That’s the beauty of it all though. I can make anyone believe anything I want them too." Natasha said to the man sitting in front of her. She leaned forward in her chair. "There is no audio right now in this room. We can talk freely and no one will know anything we say." She told him. "I have a deal for you Ross. The people I work for are very interested in joining Hydra. They have seen the things that Hydra is doing, and hey want to be part of it. A partnership. We help you, you help us. Deal?” Nat said to the Hydra leader.Ross contemplated what the spy was telling him. He could see the benefits in doing business with the Russian organization. “Okay on one condition. We do things my way. There is no ifs and or buts. Take it or leave it. It's Hydra's way or no way." Ross told her. "We can make that work. I mean there is a reason why my organization isn't what it once was. Too many hands in the pot if you know what I mean." Nat replied. Leaning back in his chair do to the pain in his knees from being shot. He looked at the Widow. "What can I do for you?"“Just answer my questions. I’m just a bit curious on somethings.” She said. Ross nodded his head.“Why did you join Hydra?” She asked. She was playing it slow, asking the questions to get him to talk. There is one thing Ross likes to do, it's talk about himself. Smiling at her Ross said “Hydra sees the world for what it is. Not as we want to see it. We don’t have false hopes in something that will never happen.” Ross explained.“I see. So it’s their ways and beliefs that made you join?” Natasha asked next. She needed to keep him talking.“When I came back from Vietnam I discovered this group called Hydra. When you start listening to what they were saying, the things our government was saying and doing...." Ross shook his head. "I couldn’t help but believe they were right. I’ve never regretted my actions for joining Hydra.” Ross answered.“You’re okay with betraying your country you fought for?” Nat asked.He smiled at the woman. “You do it everyday. You betray the Avengers and your husband. You betray the man you call your son. Do you have a problem in doing that? Do you lose sleep over it at night?” Ross said back to Nat.“You make a fair point. Just to let you know, I love my husband and son. They can never know my secret.” She smiled back at Ross.“My country betrayed us with all it’s lies. Freedom is America’s great lie.” Ross said back.Nat kept asking questions about everything, and Ross kept talking. He answered whatever she asked. Then she went and asked the question she wanted answers for. “I am really curious about one thing. How did you get the strongest person the world has ever known to bend to your will so easily?”Laughing, Ross said “I know what you’re trying to do. Why do you want to know what I did to Rogers?” He was looking at her with a questioning look.“I'm his mother. I see the trouble Barnes has caused my son. He put my son in the hospital for a brief stay two years ago. He's reckless and dangerous. I want to keep my son safe and away from that murderous psychopath." She told the man. “Why should I believe anything you’re telling me?” Ross said back to her. He didn’t fully trust her.Looking down at her phone. “$500,000 dollars just went into an account for you. I will give you more details on how to access the account. The rest will go into this account later.” She showed Ross the messages she was having with her boss. She needed him to believe her. He needed to believe in what she was saying was true. “I know the Winter Soldier better than anyone here. He tried to kill me a few times years ago. I want revenge on him for that.” She said to Ross.Ross smiled. "Sadistic much?" He asked her. "At what lengths are you willing to go Natasha?”“As far as I need to go. I want that bastard to pay. There is no better way of hurting him then keeping him from the one person he loves most.” She answered the man's question. "You won't like what I did to Rogers." He said to the woman. “Making them feel pain is the key. Beating them for every infraction they make is how you train someone like Barnes and Rogers.” Ross informed her.She had to keep her emotions in check. She couldn't let him see that she was angry for what he did to her son. “So you just beat them?” She asked.Ross laughed. “Only if it were that easy. You play to their weaknesses. In Barnes and Rogers cases it was each other. Once that is established you then drill Hydra ideology into them over and over and over. In between this you wipe their memory of their identity. If they have a flashback to their previous life, you wipe them again. Eventually between the beatings, treated like an animal, pounding Hydra ideology into them and the wiping of their memories, things stick because that's the norm. You teach them all over again as if they are babies. The amount of electricity running through their heads after awhile will make even the strongest person forget themselves. Hell it took twenty years, but Barnes eventually broke." Ross told Natasha. "I knew I didn't have enough time like we had with Barnes. I knew it was only a matter of time until Barnes would come looking for Steve once he found out that Steve had been captured. So I had to speed things up. We kept Steve in the chair longer and more frequently then we did Barnes. We beat Steve and kept him isolated like a dog. He lost himself way quicker than I even thought he would." Ross smiled at the thought of everything that he did to the two super soldiers over the years. 'I want to kill this bastard.' Nat texted. She schooled her feelings and looked back at Ross. “Is it possible for Steve to remember his old life?” Nat asked him.Ross shrugged. “It’s possible. Especially now since he wasn’t put through it enough. Barnes could trigger his old memories. That is if they survive.” Ross told her.Natasha heard a door close. 'Oh thank god.' She thought to herself. Nat looked at the man. "Someone is coming. I have to go. Thank you for all the information. My boss will have you out of here. Thank you Sir.” She left the room with a smile on her face.“I’m looking forward to us working closer together in the future, Ms. Romanoff.” Ross said back to her.Once she walked out to the hallway and saw Clint and Fury standing there. “How did it go?” Clint asked his wife.“I'm so happy you closed that door. I couldn't wait to get away from him." She said to her husband. She handed her phone to her husband. "I have all of it on tape. He fell for everything I said to him. Thanks babe for sending me those texts. You make a good bad guy.” She said to him.“Glad I could help.” He said to her. Clint looked at his wife. "What's wrong Tasha?" "The things he said he did to our boys. It's vile and disgusting. Steve may never remember us." She told her husband.Clint hugged his wife. "He'll remember. I promise he will be okay. Let's go see our boys." He said to his beautiful wife.“Think you could send me that recording?” Fury asked her before she left. “Yeah I’ll do it right now.” She said to her boss.“Good, we got the son of a bitch.” Fury said. "Thank you Natasha for doing this. I know it wasn't easy for you to sit there across from him, hearing what he did to your sons." Fury told her."Nick can I go in there and tell Ross how I really feel?" Nat asked the head of SHIELD?"Ya know I think I want to see this." Fury told her. "Be right back babe." She kissed her husband. Clint walked over to stand with Nick Fury. "This is going to suck for Ross. You know that right?" He said to his boss. Fury smiled and agreed with the archer.Natasha walked back into the room that she just vacated. "You know Ross you are an arrogant asshole who is so high on himself. You said I couldn't get you to talk, but that's exactly what I did. You sang like a canary." She said as she walked closer to the man. "You bitch. I will fucking end you like I did to your precious Rogers and that fuck up Barnes." Ross was seething in anger at the former Widow. Natasha pulled a knife and stabbed him in the bullet hole in his knee making Ross cry out in immense pain. "No you son of a bitch. I ended you. This is for all the pain and agony you have put my sons through." She said as she twisted the knife as she pushed the blade in deeper. "You fucked up when you went after both my boys. You should have headed Steve and James' warnings to be afraid of them. You will fear me." She ripped the knife out of the man's knee and walked out of the room.When she exited the room for the last time, Clint wrapped his arm around Nat. "Tony let me know that dinner is ready if you want to go over and eat before we head back to the hospital." "Let us go eat and then go back for the night." Natasha told her husband. Back at the living quarters all the team members were sitting around when Nat and Clint walked in. “So we heard the news. How did you get Ross to spill?” Tony asked the redhead.“I can get anyone to do anything.” She told the genius.“Clint you have one scary wife.” Tony said to his friend. "She is even more dangerous when it comes to her boys.” He responded to Tony and smiled.“No jokes about the two elderly folks while momma bear is present everybody.” Tony said to everyone. They all laughed. Even Nat had to laugh.Clint turned to his wife after they were finished eating. He could see she was tired from the day. “Hey babe. I’m going to go over to the hospital for a while to sit with Steve and Bucky. I want you to go to sleep. I'll be back then.” “I'm coming too. I was going to go sit with one of them. I want to freshen them up and to make sure they were okay. You go to one. I will go to the other and then we’ll switch." She said to her husband.“I may end up staying with one of them over night.” Clint said to his wife."I'll stay with you." Natasha told her husband.Barton looked back at the others. “Is anyone else coming to visit?”"Yep. Just let me grab Pete quick." Tony said to the couple. A couple of minutes pass and the kid comes down with Bruce. "Hey before you walk out that door you better put a sweatshirt on young man." The rest of the group all headed out to go over to the hospital. The first room the group came to was Bucky's room. He watched the group of nine walk up to Steve's room. He sighed. He was the only one to enter the room. “Hey Bucky. How’s it going? You have a nice view out your window. It’s very beautiful.” Clint said to the sleeping soldier. He really looked at the young man laying peacefully in the bed. It hurt to see his son in such a way. Bucky laid in his bed with all kinds of wires hooked up to different machines pumping to make sure he lived. Doctor Andrews was still cautious to make sure that his heart didn't give out again.Walking into the room the doctor saw the older man. “How’s he doing doctor?” Clint asked.“Hanging in there. He’s fighting which is good.” The doctor replied.“Can you tell me which tube and wires go to what?” He asked the doctor. "My wife will want to know when she comes in." “These wires are monitoring his heart, blood pressure, and pulse. He has two different IV’s, one for pain medication and the other for constant hydration. Then if he needs it, blood transfusions. This tube is going down his nose is called a nasogastric tube and that helps take any air, fluid or blood out from his stomach. The other tube is called a endotracheal tube. That helps protect his airway and helps him breath when you can’t get enough air in on your own.” The doctor informs them.Clint looked confused. “Wait he can’t breath on his own?” He asked the doctor worried.“He can. He's so weak and can’t get enough air in on his own. So we have a respirator here hooked up to the endotracheal tube to help him get the oxygen he needs.” The doctor told Clint."Will he ever be able to breath on his own?" Clint then asked. He was very worried about his son.“Once he is more stronger he’ll be able to.” The young doctor said.“So he’s going to get better.” Clint said.“We’re hoping. If he keeps fighting like he is he’ll be breathing on his own.” The doctor says.“Thank you Dr. Andrews.” Clint thanked him. He sounded like he knew what he was doing even if he looks no older than the men that he is helping.Down the hall Nat and the others were in with Steve. They could see that he was sleeping peacefully. He has two IVs hooked up to him. She walks up to him. “Hey Steve how are you feeling today? I thought I would never say this but I miss your stubbornness.” She sat with him and ran her fingers through his hair. Coming up next to him on the other side was Sam.Hours passed with the group all talking to Steve. Peter eventually fell asleep, and Tony and Bruce bid everyone a good night and took their son back to the house. Everyone else eventually trickled out except for Nat and Sam. "Sam can you give me about a half hour to freshen Steve up. Then you can come back in." Natasha asked her teammate. He nodded and she went to work giving her son as good as a bath as she could. She sat behind Steve and put on a clean gown and then covered him back up so he won't be cold. She knows Steve hates to be cold. She went to the door. "You can come back in." She told Sam. "I have to go freshen up James. Now is your time to tell Steve how you feel about him." She told Sam.Sam whipped his head up to look at her. "How do you know?" She shrugged. "I see how you look at him." She grabbed her things and went to the door. "Take care of my son Sam." She told the young man and left to go down to her other son's room.Once she’s gone Sam takes Steve’s hand. “Hey Steve. I’ve missed you this past year. I feel like a piece of me is gone." Sam was nervous to tell Steve how he felt for him, but he knew he just had to say it. "I know I’ve never told you what I'm about to tell you. I know you have Bucky and that you will always love him. I love you Steve. I'm in love with you. I feel better now that I told you. Now you know how I feel about you.” He sat there with Steve and held his hand. Sam talked about different things that have happened over the year that Steve was absent. Natasha walked down the hall to Bucky's room. When she got to the door, she saw that her husband was alone with their son. “Hey you.” Tasha said walking in the room.Clint looked up from the book he was reading to Bucky. “Hey." He got up and walked over to his wife. He took the things out of her hands and sat them down and then gave her a hug. "How’s Steve?” Clint asked.“Sleeping peacefully. Sam’s in with him now. Everyone else was exhausted and they went back to the house.” She told to her husband. Clint sat down on the couch and pulled Nat down onto his lap. She looks over to her son. “He has a lot of tubes and wires connected to him.” She said.“Yeah. Dr. Andrews told me what all the tubes and wires were for." He looked at the young man. "He’s in rough shape Tasha. He’s fighting. Which Dr. Andrews said is a good thing.” He said back to his wife. "I'm worried about him." She looked at her husband. "If there is one thing I know about James it's that he will fight. He will fight with everything he has. It might take him a while to heal, but he will." She reassured her husband. "Now you are going to help me wash him. I ain't got it in me to give another super soldier a sponge bath by myself."She got up and went to get water and a washrag. Clint helped her remove the gown and Nat did her magic. She even washed his hair without needing water. When she was done Clint was there to help her redress the young man. She then sat and combed out his shoulder length hair. 'I'm going to have to remember scissors and give him a haircut.' She thought to herself. When it was all over Clint and Nat settled on the nice wide couch. They watched a movie until they both fell asleep in each others arms.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It has been two full weeks since the Swiss Alps mission. Bucky is still hooked up to all the machines to keep him alive. Clint and Nat would split their time seeing both Steve Bucky. They would sit with them telling them all about the different things that were happening. Nat would put the tv on for them so they could hear different things. She knew the boys loved baseball and would put a random game on for them. Clint would read to James. The couple was in with Bucky. Nat was brushing his hair out after giving him a much needed trim. His hair had grown longer and so she had cut it for him. "I don't know why none of the others don't come visit him. It breaks my heart to know they bypass his room and go visit Steve." Natasha said to her husband.Clint looks up from his phone. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because they’ve known Steve longer than Bucky.” Clint says to Nat. He also has seen this happen but couldn’t really answer her question.“Hey you two love birds." Tony greeted the couple. "I’m here to out sass metal man here for a little. You guys go have a break.” Tony said as he walked into the room.“Of course you’re going to out sass him Tony. He can’t answer you.” Nat said to him.“Easy win then. This counts. Just letting you know metal man.” Tony answered Nat. He wanted to come visit with Bucky. He owes him that much."Where is Bruce and Peter?" Clint asked the man."Peter is doing homework and Bruce is in the lab working on something or another." Tony answered his friend. "Although I had to fight Pete to stay and do his homework. He wanted to come visit. Apparently he and Buckaroo here had formed some kind of bond over the last year and the kid misses him. Bruce on the other hand doesn't really want our kid hanging around the assassin." Tony told them. "James took care of Peter while we were away all last year. He made sure he ate, got to and from school, did his homework and etc. He even fixed the washer when Pete broke it by loading too much clothes in it. So what is Bruce's problem?" Clint asked Tony. "Your guess is as good as mine. I trust Barnes with my son, and you know how much I trust people." Tony replied. "Anyway, you guys go take a break. I'll sit here with metal man for a while." Tony said to his friends. "Thank you Tony. Tasha and I have to go to Brooklyn to check on Bucky's house and do some work there." Clint said to his friend. Tony nodded.Nat looked at her friend. “Be nice to him.” She warned her teammate.Tony smiled. “I’m always nice.” He answered back.Before leaving Nat said to her teammate “Thank you for coming in and visiting him. He hasn’t had anyone visit him that wasn’t Clint or I. It means a lot.” She smiled at him and left.The couple left to go do what they needed. Tony was there with the fallen soldier. He took a seat beside the bed. He felt horrible still for what he did to the man back at the Hydra base two weeks ago. “Hey Barnes. Just wanted to sit and talk for a little. I know you haven’t had many visitors as Steve does. It’s nothing against you. They are thankful for everything that you did for them. It’s just...I don’t know. Know that they like you. One person you don’t have to worry about coming in to visit you is Sam. He’s been in with Steve almost all day and night. He even told Steve that he was in love with him. Another person who misses you is Peter. He built you a computer he said even you will know how to use. He put a game on it that he said you liked. He misses you man. You have to pull through so my kid has someone besides Bruce and I to talk too.” Tony sighed. Tony sat and talked to the Winter Soldier as if he was an old friend. He sat there for hours talking about all kinds of things, he even talked to him about his ideas for his new suit. "Your mom and dad are headed back from Brooklyn. Your house is coming along they tell me. I can't wit to see it when it's done. Steve will be absolutely in love with it." Tony sat there for a bit longer. "I want to apologize for what I did to you in the Swiss Alps. I should have never believed a goddamn thing Ross said about you. You even warned me that he was trying to split us up, and yet I left him. I didn't believe you. I didn't believe that you were changed despite everything you have done since coming back to Steve." Tony said to the young man laying in the bed being kept alive by machines because his body is too weak to support itself. "I'm sorry for leaving you there and having to take all that on yourself. You didn't deserve that. You don't deserve to be in the state you are in now. This is all my doing Barnes and I'm so sorry." Tony wiped his eyes. He sat there until Nat and Clint got back. He left shortly after that.The next day Clint was in with Steve and Nat was done with James. The archer had fallen asleep on the couch next to his son's bed. The tv was on with a baseball game being played. Steve woke up and looked around at his surroundings and saw Clint stretched out and the tv on. He feels pain in his head and reaches to run his fingers where it hurts and feels stitches there. 'How did I get these?' He thought to himself. He sees the ivs and hears the machines running and he isn't sure why he is here. He doesn't even know where he is. He went to move when he felt painful tugging in his stomach and throbbing pain in his leg. He left out a small painful yell altering the doctor outside his room and to Clint who was now standing beside his bed."Steve what's wrong?" Clint was up and beside his son faster than one can blink."Hurts." Steve told his father. Just then Dr. Andrews comes into the room. "Oh hello Steve. I'm so happy you are awake." He said to the young man. Surprised to see that he was awake. Steve just looked at the man. The doctor smiles. "How are you feeling?" "I'm not talking to you. You're one of them. You're Hydra." Steve said back through a wince."Mr. Rogers I'm anything but Hydra. I'm the doctor who has been taking care of you for the last two weeks." The nice doctor said to Steve. "Steve can you please tell the nice doctor how you are feeling so he can help you." Clint said back to his son.Steve looks at his dad. "He isn't Hydra?" Clint shook his head no. Steve looked at the doctor. “I’m really hurting. My leg and whole body feels like I'm being stabbed. I can’t really remember what happened. Why am I here? Where am I? Oh I know. I need Bucky. Can you call James Buchanan Barnes for me?” Steve rambled on. His heart rate was spiking and alarms were going off. Dr. Andrews turns it off quickly and resets the bed alarm. “Hey what’s going on?” Natasha asked as she was coming into the room.“He was awake and then got himself all worked up, but he’ll be fine. I got him calmed down. I’m about to administer a heavy pain medication for his severe pain he is feeling. This will probably knock him out for the rest of the evening.” he explained to the couple.“What was he freaking out over?” Clint quietly asked the doctor.“He was in a lot of pain and he couldn’t remember what happened and why he was in here. He also said that he needed Bucky, and that he insisted that I called him.” Dr. Andrews told the archer. Clint thanked the young doctor and went back to his wife who was sitting beside Steve running her fingers through his hair, calming him.“Hey Steve, what got you all worried?” Clint asked.“I’m really sore, and I don’t know why. I can’t remember anything after being dragged the a machine that sent electric shocks through my head. I was strapped in it because I answered a question wrong. I need to talk to Bucky, Clint. He’s the only one that can help me.” Steve said in a whisper like voice.“Steve does your throat hurt? It sounds like you have no voice.” Clint asked the super soldier.“Yeah it’s been hurting me for awhile. Water doesn’t help either. It’s from all the screaming, and from throwing up so much.” Steve said to Clint.“Here, try just sucking on an ice cube. See if this helps.” Clint put an ice cube in Steve’s mouth to let the ice cold water run down his throat.Steve was asleep in an hour tops. They knew this was the best for him, letting his throat heal without him talking. Seeing his wife exhausted, Clint said “Let’s go home to bed, and I’ll come back tomorrow morning. They are going to sleep all night and there is nothing that we can do. So let us go to bed and be well rested for them tomorrow.” Clint said to Nat. She nodded and they both walked hand and hand back to their room to sleep.The next morning, Steve again woke up to an empty room. Instead of being confused and not being able to remember what happened, he remembers everything. Steve laid in bed, looking out the window and silently crying.Walking into the room, Clint saw Steve facing away from the door. “Hey Steve, are you hungry?” Clint asked the super soldier.Steve didn’t say anything, and stayed facing the window.Walking around to see Steve’s face, Clint saw that he was crying. “Steve, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?” Clint asked.“No.” Was all he said through tears, his voice still soft from his throat being sore.“Then what’s got you so upset?” He asked the young man. He was trying to get answers.“I remember what happened.” Steve said.“Talk to me Steve. What do you remember?” Clint pressed on.“I gave into them. I became what I fought so hard to destroy. I’m not hero Clint. I’m weak. It was so easy for them to break me. I need Bucky. Can you please get him for me? I know we...I know we aren’t together and that I hurt him, but I really need him. Please Clint.” Steve said to his teammate. He just wanted Bucky.“It’s okay Steve, please stop crying. You’re not weak. You’re one of the strongest people I know. They hurt you and did some unspeakable things to you, in order to break you. You didn’t willingly join them. And I never want to hear you say that you’re not a hero. You fight for everything that is good, and you don’t look for praise afterwards. You do it because that’s who you are. I want you to remember that. Now I want you to go to sleep. Can you do that for me?” Clint said to Steve. He wishes Bucky was here to help Steve. He’s the only one to get Steve to open up and talk, and to tell him that he isn’t bad person. Bucky is the only one that Steve’s going to listen to.“Clint, please stay with me. I don’t want to be alone. They locked me up by myself, and I just don’t want to be alone.” Steve pleaded through tears to Clint. He even had his hand stretched out towards him, like he was reaching to grab him and to never let go.“I’m going to stay right here. I promise I won’t leave you.” Clint said to the young man. In that moment, Steve looked like a little boy that had a nightmare and was looking for a parent to stay with him, and it broke his heart.Steve fell asleep and Clint sat right beside his bed, with Steve holding onto his hand, so he knew that Clint wouldn’t leave him, so that he wouldn’t be alone.Later in the afternoon, the doctor came in to see Steve, and to get an update on how he was feeling. “I’m still sore, like no matter how I move, I feel like I’m being pulled apart.” Steve said to the doctor.“That’s normal, you had some lacerations that needed stitches, and some of those stitches were torn open by accident. So we’ve had to restitch them. I’m going to give you a pain medication, again it might make you sleep, but that’s what you need.” Dr. Andrews said to Steve. He nodded, understanding what the doctor was saying. When Steve woke up from his nap earlier, he was a lot better. Clint almost saw some of the old Steve come out.Sam, Clint and Nat all went to the cafeteria to get lunch since Steve was sleeping and Bucky was still sedated. “So I heard you told Steve how you felt about him.” Clint said to Sam.“Yeah I did. It feels better that it’s off my chest.” Sam said back to his teammate.The three sat and ate and talked even more. When they were done, they were headed back to Steve’s room when alarms started going off and they could hear movement coming from inside the room. Dr. Andrews came rushing into the room with them.“Steve, you have to stay in bed, you can’t get up and move around.” Clint said stopping Steve from walking even more.“Captain Rogers, you are not strong enough to be up and moving around. You have to get back into bed.” Dr. Andrews said.Not listening to either Clint or his doctor, Steve said “I have to see Bucky. Where is he? I know what I did to him and I have to see him. I have to know that he is okay. Please I have to see him!” Steve was angry that they weren’t letting him go and see his friend.“Steve, Bucky is okay, he’s asleep. That’s what he needs right now, but I promise you he will be okay. I need you to get back into bed and lay down.” Clint said back to Steve.“I don’t want to lay down anymore. I want to see Buck! Why am I not allowed to see him?!” Steve shouted back. “Ouch!” Steve said clutching his side.“Sit!” Dr. Andrews said to Steve. Sitting down, Steve looked at the floor, he knows, he knows what all happened and what he did to Bucky. He shot him, he shot his best friend.Dr. Andrews saw that Steve again pulled his stitches in his side and needed to have them restitched. “Steve, I need you to not pull these a fourth time. They will never heal, and could become infected again.” Steve nodded. He understood what the doctor was saying.When the doctor was done stitching up Steve, he left to go check on Bucky. Clint helped Steve back into bed, but had him sitting up, instead of laying down. “Are you hungry?” Clint asked once he had Steve in bed.“I could eat something. I think I have a menu around here someplace for food to order.” Steve said looking on the bedside table. Clint called for food for Steve.“How’s your throat feel?” Clint asked the man when he was done ordering food.“Getting better. Doesn’t hurt as much.” He replied. He wouldn’t look up at Clint.“A penny for your thought?” Clint asked the super soldier.“I hurt him. They fucked me up enough to hurt Bucky. I shot him.” Steve said.“None of this is your fault. He loves you so much Steve that he was willing to risk his life again to make sure you were okay.” Clint said.“Is he going to be okay?” Steve asked.“He’s fighting Steve. He’s trying.” Clint replied.“If anything happens to him, I won’t be able to live with myself.” Steve said back to the older man.“Don’t worry about such things. He’ll be fine. He’s a fighter.” Clint said back.The two men sat there for a few hours together talking, when Tony came in carrying blueprints. “Oh good, you’re awake Capsicle.”“Tony what is all this?” Steve asked. “Clint, I’m hungry again. Is anyone else hungry?” He asked Clint and Tony.Clint ordered food for them all. “Glad to see your appetite is coming back.” Clint said to Steve when he was hanging the phone up.“I was starved for the time I was with Hydra.” Steve said.“Well as we wait for food, I have to go over these new suits.” Tony said to his two teammates.Tony went over five new designs he has come up for his suits. He went over everything that was new to each suit. “So which one do you think is the best?”“Um, well the last one is a combination of all them put together. But personally why do you need a new suit again?” Steve asked Tony.“It’s what I do Steve, and I have to stay looking good. I can’t keep wearing the same suit all the time. That gets boring.” He replied back.“I think you should go with the last one.” Clint said to Tony.“That’s the one I was leaning towards myself. I wasn’t sue if it was overbearing.” Tony said back to Clint.“Oh good, then you should definitely go with that one. It fits you so well.” Steve said back to Tony.“Always so helpful Steve.” Tony said back sarcastically.“Glad I could help.” He said back to his friend.Once their food got there, they sat and talked about new suits and tech for everyone. “New comms. I think we should have something that can’t be easily destroyed.” Steve said to both Clint and Tony.“I agree. I don’t like how they break so easily and then we are in the wind with no communications to each other.” Tony said. “I’ll get going and start working on them.” Tony added. He left leaving him alone with Clint.Knocking on the door, Sam stood in the doorway of Steve’s room. “Sam!” Steve said when seeing his friend standing there at his door.“Steve, I’m going to go, but I’ll be back in a little bit then. Okay?” Clint said.“Okay. Thanks Clint for everything. If you see Nat tell her thanks for letting me steal you.” Steve said to the man.“I will.” He said back. “Sam. Take care of him.” Clint said to the other man.“You know I will.” He said back.Once Clint left, Steve said to Sam “Am I missing something?” He said to his friend.“How are you feeling?” Sam asked his friend.“I’m doing better, still have pain, but other than that, I’m good.” Steve told his friend.“I heard you remembered everything.” Sam said.“Yeah, I know what I did, and I’m ashamed for my actions. I hurt and almost killed Bucky. How could I do something like that Sam?” Steve asked.“It wasn’t you doing it Steve. You were brainwashed to do it, and no one hates you for it or blames you. We understand.” Sam tried to reassure his friend.“So what was that between you and Clint when you walked in?” Steve asked. He knew something was going on.“Do you remember anything from when you were sleeping, anything I may have said to you?” Sam asked.“No, but I know you were here.” Steve responded.“I..This is hard for me to tell you. I like you Steve.” Sam said to his friend.“I like you to Sam.” Steve said with a confused expression.“No, not as a friend not like that anymore.” Sam tried to explain.“Sam?” Steve questioned.“I like, like you Steve, more than a friend should like someone.” Sam said back.“Sam, I...since when?” Steve questioned.“For months now. I wanted to tell you for awhile now, but then after you were captured and I saw you laying here, I had to tell you how I felt before it was too late.” Sam explained to Steve.“Sam I never knew. I mean with Bucky, I don’t know.” Steve didn’t know what to say.“I know you are in love with Bucky and that you will always will be, but I just wanted you to know that there was someone else that loved you just the same, if not more.” Sam said to his friend. He knew that he would never leave Bucky for him, but Steve had to know how he felt.“Sam, things with Bucky are complicated and they always will be. No one will ever totally understand what Bucky and I have. We’re twisted together by some fate. It’s….” Steve started to say, but was interrupted by Sam,“You’re soulmates. I get it, and even though I think you can do better than Bucky as a boyfriend, I don’t want this to ruin our friendship. I rather have you as just a friend then not have you at all in my life.” Sam said to Steve. He meant it.“I’m sorry Sam. Maybe in another time, but Bucky’s my everything.” Steve said to his friend. “But I would love to keep you in my life. You get it and me when no one else does. And I can’t replace that. I’m just sorry I broke your heart. Please don’t let this come between us. I need Sam Wilson in my life.” Steve explained. He relied on Sam for so much. He was such a good friend. He was always there, and never complained about doing something.“We’re good. I promise you can’t get rid of me that quick and easily.” Sam said with a smile on his face. He was just happy to have Steve back, even if that just meant as a friend. It was better than not having him at all.The two friends sat together for the rest of the evening talking about everything. They were laughing when Clint came back “Hey well would you look at that, Steve Rogers laughing.” Clint said to the man in the bed. He was happy to see Steve laughing and to have a smile on his face. It made him happy.“Sam and I were just talking about going to a club some night.” Steve said to the older man.“Oh I would love to see that.” Clint said.“See, that’s what I said.” Sam replied.“Hey, you both know I can let loose and have fun right?” Steve said sounding hurt.“Oh, you can, Mr. All work and no play.” Sam said with a serious expression on his face and in a stern tone of voice. They all laughed at Sam’s impression of Steve. The three of them were having a grand time messing and joking around.Walking into the room, Dr. Andrews said “It’s so nice to see you laughing and having fun Steve. How are you feeling tonight?”“Hi Dr. Andrews, I’m still having a lot of pain, and I get these headaches. And my side is thumping.” Steve responded back to the doctor.“When you say headaches, how bad is the pain? Can you describe them to me?” The young doctor asked.“Um, more like a migraine. It feels someone is in there with a jackhammer.” Steve said.“That could be from all the electro shocks they were putting through your head. We are going to run some tests tomorrow on your brain activity, but tonight we’re just going to give you another pain medication. As for your side, that’s normal to feel that. You’re body went through terrible beatings and you will hurt. Also with you pulling your stitches all the time, you will feel very sore, and throbbing pain is normal, sadly. How long have you been feeling pain?” The doctor asked him.“Well in my head, it comes and goes, but my side and body, that’s constant.” Steve said back.“You have to let me know when you feel pain. You can have more than one dose of pain medication a day.” Dr. Andrews said to his patient.“I just don’t want to rely on them, and I don’t like how it makes me sleep.” Steve responded.“I understand, but you need them. It’s not like you’re going to become addicted to them. You’re serum burns it off to quickly for that. And for sleep, that’s the best thing for your body. Your body in order for you to heal perfectly needs sleep.” The doctor told the younger man. Steve was a very stubborn man.The doctor gave Steve his pain medication through his IV and left him for the night, telling him that he will see him in the morning. They all thanked the nice doctor before he left.That night, Steve sleep the whole evening without waking up due to a nightmare. He hated those dreams that haunted him, ever since the war, but now he has new ones to add to his haunting dreams.Clint left Steve’s room when he fell asleep and went back down to see Bucky. Dr. Andrews was in with him, looking over his vitals to make sure he was doing okay. “How’s he doing doc?” Clint asked.“He’s doing much better. His blood count is climbing more and more. We are taking his IV out for blood transfusions. He doesn’t need them anymore. His wounds are healing nicely, slowly, but they are healing. I took the endotracheal and the nasogastric tubes out. He no longer needs them. He is strong enough to breath on his own and since his stomach wound is healing nicely, I don’t fear blood and unwanted stuff getting in there to cause any damage. His right shoulder is stiff, but that’s normal. Once he is awake, we’ll do some minor therapy for it to get it moving again. And once he is strong enough and his stomach is completely healed, we will see where his mobility is with his legs and get that moving as well.” Dr. Andrews informed the man. He seemed very pleased as to Bucky’s condition.“Thank you Dr. Andrews for everything that you are doing for the boys.” Clint said. He was so grateful for this young man helping them. The doctor said it was nothing and that he was just glad to see them coming through everything that happened to them.Clint stayed with Bucky for the night. “Hey Bucky. The doctor is really pleased to see the improvements that you are making. I am too, and I know everyone else will be happy to hear how well you’re doing, including Steve.” Clint says to the man still sleeping. Sitting down on the couch, Clint said “You know Steve remembers everything that happened. He blames himself for everything and what happened to you. The stubborn kid tried to fight me and the doctor to let him leave and to come see you when he wasn’t in any shape or form to be out of bed. He tore his stitches again or the third time trying to leave. I just don’t know what to do with him. He won’t listen to me, well not all the time. He won’t listen to anyone, really. He needs you Bucky. You’re the only one that he will listen to.” Clint told Bucky. He knew he could hear him, so Clint told Bucky about everything. “Now I have one last thing to tell you, and I don’t want you to get upset or angry. Sam told Steve how he felt about him, twice. Steve knows that Sam like his more than just a friend. I feel like Steve had a right to know about Sam’s feelings. Steve though, in a nice manor told Sam that he will always love you and that you were the only man for him. I thought you should know that Steve is waiting for you Bucky. He needs you now and forever.” Clint explained. Bucky laid there, and Clint knows that he was taking it all in, every word, and that he will fight even more now that he knows that his Steve is waiting for him.Another week has passed and Clint is in Bucky’s room when he is startled awake by moaning. Clint wakes to see Bucky gripping the blanket and moaning out loud. Running to the door, Clint shouts “I need Dr. Andrews NOW!” And he rushed back to Bucky’s side “Hey Bucky. It’s okay. Please it’s okay. I’m here with you. I called for Dr. Andrews. He is on his way.” Just as he said that Dr. Andrews runs into the room. “He just started moaning out like he was in pain and gripping the blanket.” Clint said to the doctor.“Clint, he’s okay. He’s waking up. He has been unconscious for weeks, he needs to get himself used to talking again, and he’s in pain from his shoulder and stomach. This is a good sign. I promise. I took him off the sedative yesterday morning. I wanted to see if he was ready to wake up. I’m going to keep a close eye on him and really monitor him. His vitals look excellent. I’m going to check on him every half hour until he wakes up.” Dr. Andrews said to Clint. He nodded and apologized for freaking out. He didn’t know that he was waking up.Clint stayed with him all day, but still no improvements were made on his part. He was still moaning and gripping the blanket. Clint sat with him and talked to him, told him that everything was going to be okay. “Hey honey, what’s wrong, I got your text that you needed me right away.” Nat said to her husband.“Yeah Bucky is in the process of waking up and he’s moaning and gripping the blanket. I feel like he’s in distress and in pain, but he won’t relax, I didn’t know if you could help him.” Clint said to Tasha. He knew she got Steve to calm down the one night he had a really bad nightmare, and was hoping that it would work with Bucky.Natasha sat beside the soldier and started to gently run her fingers through his hair and play with strains of his hair. She then started to softly hum a song and then started to sing a Russian lullaby. She did this until Bucky calmed down.“Thanks Tasha for working your magic.” Clint said to his wife as they laid down on the couch after she got two spare pillows from the closet and an extra blanket.“Never a problem. I’m just glad I could help.” She smiled at Clint. She loved him so much and it warmed her heart to see him care so much for these two boys as much as she does.That night, the couple spent the whole night stretched out on the couch in the soldier’s room to make sure he didn’t have another episode like earlier. They laid there and watched TV until they both fell asleep, Nat in Clint’s embrace all covered up.The next morning, Bucky slowly woke up to see the couple still asleep. He didn’t dare make a sound, he didn’t want to wake them, they looked peaceful. Looking around, he noticed that he was in a hospital bed, and that he was alone.When Clint and Nat woke, they were startled to see an awake Winter Soldier looking at them. “Dude, don’t scare us like that.” Clint said to the man lying in the bed.Nat hit her husband and said “Bucky, how are you feeling? Do you need anything? How long have you’ve been awake? Why didn’t you wake us up?” Nat was awake and checking on her boy.“I feel like I got hit by a truck, not that I would know how that feels, but I’m pretty sure this is what that feels like. I need to sit up. I’m sick of laying down. I’ve been awake for a few hours, I just woke up. I didn’t want to wake you, you two looked so peaceful.” Bucky said. “I need Steve, I have to go see him.” Bucky tried to move to get out of bed, found that his right shoulder was really stiff and could barely move it and his stomach was protesting.“Bucky you need to stay in bed, please don’t hurt yourself anymore. Steve’s fine. He’s awake and alert. You need to stay still before you damage your shoulder or your stomach. The doctors had to do some serious repairs to you. Your serum is working, but it’s a bit slow because of how bad your injuries were.” Clint said to the man.“Please I have to see Steve.” Bucky stayed in bed, but was still begging to see his friend.“We’ll see what we can do, but in the meantime, you still need rest.” Clint said just as the doctor was coming in.“Who are you?” Bucky said looking at the doctor.“I’m Dr. Andrews, the guy that did all the repair work to you. How are you feeling?” Dr. Andrews asked the soldier.“I got shot twice, how do you think I feel. Are you even old enough to be a doctor? Shouldn’t you still be in high school?” Bucky asked the young doctor.“James, that’s enough of that. You don’t have to be rude. He saved your life.” Natasha sternly said to the assassin.“It’s okay, and I look just as old as you. Are you old enough to be in the profession that you are?” The doctor asked back.“I’m 100 years old, so yes I think I meet the age requirement.” Bucky shot back.“This is a good sign, he’ll be just fine. We’re going to start some therapy for his shoulder where he stays in bed because of his stomach. I’ll be back to do that in a little bit here. I have to go check on Mr. Rogers.” Dr. Andrews chuckled. He was pleased to see James doing so well.`“James Buchanan Barnes, that was rude and uncalled for. Why were you so mean to the doctor?” Natasha said to the young man.“He looked to be about 20 years old! He isn’t touching my shoulder. I don’t want to lose another arm.” Bucky said back.“You better change your attitude right now. You will let Dr. Andrews work with you and your shoulder. He knows what he is doing.” She answered back in a tone that scared most people.“We’ll see.” Was all that Bucky replied.“Bucky, you need to listen to the doctor. He got you this far, and you need to stop fighting with Tasha.” Clint said to Barnes.“I’m sorry Nat that I was rude to you.” Bucky apologized. He didn’t mean to be so angry with her, she has done nothing to him, but care.“It’s okay, but I think you need to apologize to Dr. Andrews.” She said to him.“Let’s not push it.” Bucky said back. Nat gave him a look and he looked away quickly.“James!” She stated.“Okay, sure. You sound like my ma when I was in trouble.” He said to the woman looking at him.“Good. That’s my job.” She said. Bucky smiled, he couldn’t help it.“You do know I’m 100 years old right? Like I’m way older than you both.” Bucky said to the couple.“Yes we are well aware, but you are still act like you’re in your 20’s and need parents.” She said to the man.“Fair point.” Bucky replied. “But I’m the freaking Winter Soldier.” Bucky said back.“And I’m supposed to be scared? Please you’re a lost boy who still needs guidance.” Nat said back. Clint laughed at the exchange of words between the two.Coming back to Bucky’s room, Dr. Andrews says “Clint, can I talk to you for a second?”“What’s up? Is something wrong?” Clin asks the doctor.“No, I didn’t want to mention anything to in fron to James, but I’m going to be evaluating Steve’s brain activity. I didn’t know if you wanted to be there.” The doctor said to the other man.Nodding his head, he says back into his wife and Bucky “I’ll be right back babe, and you sir, better listen to her and be on your best behavior.” And walks down to Steve’s room.Walking in the two men saw Steve was still asleep. Going over to the super soldier, Clint said gently “Hey Steve, Dr. Andrews wants to run some tests, can you wake up for me?” Slowly, Steve woke up to Clint’s voice. He looked and saw his teammate leaning over his bed.Dr. Andrews ran a test on Steve’s brain activity and saw that it was better than the previous test a week ago. He asked Steve a series of questions and saw that Steve was doing way better. Once he got the results back, he said to Clint and Steve “Your results are way better, and your brain activity is normal. You’re gonna be just fine. How’s your pain?” He asked.“The migraines are better, but still there and my body isn’t as sore.” Steve replied.“That’s good. I would like to get you up and moving today, not a lot, but I want you moving.” Dr. Andrews said to the man. Steve nodded. He could do that.“I’ll be back in today to start that with you.” The doctor said and then left.“So I have some news for you.” Clint said looking at a still tired Steve.“What’s that.” Steve said back.“Bucky’s awake. Has a bit of an attitude, but other than that, he’s awake. He’s sore and has to start therapy today on his shoulder, but he’s doing really well.” Clint said with a smile on his face.“What! Can I see him?” Steve perked up.“I’ll check with Dr. Andrews.” Clint said back.“Thank you Clint. That just made my day.” Steve said with a smile. He was happy now that his Bucky was awake and was the same old Bucky.“James, time to start your therapy.” Said Dr. Andrews walking into the man’s room.They worked on moving his right arm and shoulder, getting some rotation in it. It cracked and Bucky winced. “Are you okay?” The doctor asked.“Yeah it’s just really stiff.” Bucky said back.“That’s normal. The bullet lodged in your joint cavity. It’s a very sensitive part of your shoulder. I had to repair a lot of that and the surrounding things.” Dr. Andrews informed the man.“So you had to give me a shoulder replacement?” Bucky asked.“No, you still have your shoulder, I just had to repair bits and pieces. I also had to inject some fluids to help your joint cavity so it doesn’t rub bone on bone. You can be lucky that I didn’t have to have a shoulder replacement. Most people never gain full rotation with them, but working with you everyday for the next week and you moving your arm on your own, you’ll have full rotation and will be just fine. It may hurt for awhile, but that’s normal. We’ll ice it and then apply heat.” The doctor said to Barnes.“Thanks Dr. Andrews. I know I was an ass earlier, but I do appreciate you helping me and saving my life, and most importantly, Steve’s.” Bucky said back to the doctor.Smiling Dr. Andrews said “You’re very welcome.”Later that afternoon, Dr. Andrews was once again back in Steve’s room. “Alright Steven, let’s get you up out of bed, and walking.” With Clint’s help, the two men helped Steve out of his bed and they first got him to stand, and then they slowly walked with him.“How are you feeling Steven?” Dr. Andrews asked his patient.“Some pulling. Is that good?” Steve asked.“Yes, even though your wounds have healed, they are still healing on the inside, and they are bruised still. We have to just take an easy.” The doctor said back to the man.They didn’t tell Steve that they were walking him down to Bucky’s room. “Where are we? Who’s room is this?” Steve asked as they knocked on the door and walked in. Steve’s face was priceless when they walked him in. “Bucky?” Steve said once he saw his best friend sitting there looking at him. Steve had tears in his eyes.They walked him over to Bucky’s bed and helped him climb into bed with his boyfriend. The two hugged for what seemed like hours, but was only seconds. They both were shedding tears. Bucky looked at the doctor and said “Thank you Dr. Andrews. Thank you for bringing my Stevie down to see me. You’re okay in my book.” He was so happy to have his boyfriend back in his arms. “Shh it’s okay Steve. I’m here and I don’t plan on going anywhere, anytime soon.” He still had his face buried in Steve’s shoulder.Later that day, Steve stayed with Bucky, sitting together in the bed, Bucky holding Steve. They both fell asleep like that and looked at peace for the first time since all this happened. The whole team even came and spent the day with them, all crowding into Bucky’s room, laughing at jokes and things that happened. Steve and Bucky were even laughing like they didn’t just go through their ordeal. They seemed happy and everyone saw it.Coming into the room, Dr. Andrews said to the couple, “Steven, are you ready to head back to your room now?”“Nope. I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here. Is there any way that I can be moved in here?” Steve asked the doctor.“With some moving things around, I don’t see why you can’t be moved in.” The doctor said.“Team, let’s move this stuff and help Steve get moved in.” Fury said to his team, and that’s what they did for next hour. Once it was all done, Steve was moved in and Clint and Nat still got to keep their couch in the room to spend the night if they want. Bucky was moved closer to the window and Steve moved in right beside him, they were close enough that they held hands and drifted off to sleep for the night. It was the first night Nat and Clint could remember them both having a peaceful sleep that wasn’t plagued with nightmares.The following week, both boys were released from the hospital but were on strict orders to not be allowed to do anything. Tony made Bucky special braces that he would have to wear on his legs in order to be able to walk on his own. He was still trying to get used to them and someone would always hold onto him when he was walking. The team really stepped up and was helping Bucky through this. He hated it, but it was better than not walking ever again. He had to go back every week to see Dr. Andrews to have tests ran on his legs and how much strength he had.“I’m very pleased to see how far you’ve come James. I don’t see why you won’t be walking on your own in a month or so with no braces. I can’t see any permanent damage keeping you from walking.” Dr. Andrews informed the assassin.“Thank you so much Dr. Andrews. You know for being just out of high school, you’re an okay doctor. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again for other things.” Bucky said to the young man. They all just laughed.
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Steve and Bucky were in their room sitting and just enjoying each other’s company. They missed it. The past months really put their relationship though a lot, and that’s the best thing about them, no matter what, they always make it through, and they get stronger. Bucky could see Steve thinking “Talk to me Steve. What’s happening in that mind of yours?” Bucky said to his boyfriend. “This is all my fault.” Steve mumbled, looking at the blanket on their bed. Bucky knew that something was eating away at Steve. Lifting his head up to make Steve look at him, Bucky said with a straight voice, “This is not your fault. Nothing you did was any of your doing.”Holding his gaze. Steve said “I pulled the trigger Bucky. I shot you. I did it. Stop trying to make me feel better.” “Do you remember you telling me that everything I did as the Winter Soldier under Hydra wasn’t my fault, because of everything that they did to me?” Bucky asked his friend. Steve nodded. “But that was different. They had control of your mind. They had 70 years to brainwash you.” Steve added. “It only takes on time in that memory wiping machine to start the process of them filling your mind with their beliefs Steve. How many….?” Bucky started to say when Natasha cut him off from their doorway of their bedroom. She came into check on them, but overheard their conversation. Bucky looked at Nat and again said “How many times were you strapped to that machine Steve?” Bucky was looking at his friend. He could see him trying to remember each time he was in that chair, and Bucky asks “More than 5?” Steve looked at Bucky “How did you know?” He was confused. How would he have known that?“I knew by the bruises that were on your face when I saw you.” Bucky said back answering his question. “When I came to rescue you, you were strapped to the machine. I know Stevie, I know what it’s like. All the pain of having that electricity going through your head, taking everything from you.” Bucky said looking at Steve. “What else did they do Steve?” Bucky asked. Steve looked back to the blanket. “Things.” He said. Again making Steve look at him, Bucky said “Come on Steve, What kinds of things?” “They beat me for every little thing I got wrong, and if I started to fight back, they would strap me to the machine and wipe my memory. They deprived me of food and water and would chain me up in a dark cold cell in solitude. Then they put me in cryo freeze.” Steve said. He hated what they did to him. He started to cry, because he couldn’t do anything to stop what happened to him. “Please Stevie don’t cry. It’s okay. I know what it’s like to not be able to do anything to help yourself.” Bucky pulled Steve into a hug and left him cry. Pulling out of the embrace, Steve softly spoke “I’m so ashamed. How could anyone, especially you ever look at me ever again? You should have just left me there to die Buck. I’m not worth what happened to you.” Steve was upset. “Hey! I NEVER want you to say you’re not worth saving. I risked my life twice for you. You will always be worth saving to me. I’d die for you Steve, hell I already did once, and I’d do it again. You’re the best part of me. Just because this happened, doesn’t change who you are. You’re the same Steve that I fell in love with when we were boys. You told me the samething Steve. You have to believe in me and yourself. You’re the best person I know, no matter what. I believe in you Steven Grant Rogers, you hear me punk?” Bucky said to his best friend. Steve nodded. You always see the best in me Buck.” Steve smiled at him. He really would be lost without him. “Don’t ever leave me James. I would die if you did.” Steve said to his friend as they sat together. Clint came and saw Nat hiding at the door of the boy’s room. He pulled her away. “Clint I don’t think it’s good to leave them alone right now.” She said to her husband. “Tasha, I know you think it’s not good for Steve to talk about his ordeal, but I think just the opposite. Bucky is the only one that knows what happened to Steve, if anyone is going to be able to help Steve through this, it’s going to be Barnes.” Clint said to his wife. The boys fell asleep together. They just wanted to be alone with each other. When they woke up, they were greeted with a room full of their teammates. “What’s going on?” Bucky asked. “Nothing, we haven’t seen you two since yesterday and we thought we would all come in and check on you.” Tony said. “What would you have done if I was ravishing my boyfriend when you all decided to come in?” Bucky said to the group. “James!” Steve said shocked to his boyfriend. “I could have been. Who knows. I’m 100 years old that looks to be in their 20’s. I have needs that need to be met, and don’t act all innocent Steven, you are anything but innocent. You know how you like it rough.” Bucky said making his boyfriend blush. “Bucky, please stop.” Steve said. “Oh don’t get me started on how you are interested in bond….” Bucky was cut off by Steve placing his hand over his boyfriend’s mouth. “James! Please stop!” Steve was blushing really bad now. He had to look away from his friends. “Steve you dirty dog. You are into some kinky stuff.” Sam said to the super soldier. Bucky laughed so hard. He liked messing with Steve. “You’re an ass James Buchanan Barnes.” Steve said. “You know you love me.” Bucky said to his boyfriend. “Who’s hungry?” Clint said to the group. They all chimed in and went out to the kitchen to eat. They made burgers and chicken out on the grill and had other things to eat along with it. “You two boys eat please.” Nat said to Steve and Bucky. “We are momma bear. I promise we will eat.” Steve said. They were all laughing and having a good time. They brought up past missions and some of the dumbest things that happened. Steve grew quiet. Bucky noticed. “What’s the matter Steve? You got quiet offly fast.” Bucky said to his boyfriend. “Just nervous.” Steve said back.“Of?” Bucky questioned. This is the only way to help Steve open up. He knows this because this is exactly what Steve did for him, and he came a long way since his Hydra days. “For everything I did. I compromised two missions, that could have put you all in danger.” He said looking at his plate of food. “Listen Capsicle, you never put any of us in danger. Missions go south sometimes, that’s part of the job. We make due with what we can.” Tony said to Steve. “You told me one time that we try to save as many people as we can, sometimes no one gets saved. If I didn’t trust you Steve, I wouldn’t go on these missions with you. You never put doubt in any of our minds, at least mine that I wouldn’t come home.” Wanda said from beside her brother. “I think I can speak for all of us that you [As he points to Steve] are the reason we’re what we are, the Avengers. We’re all proud to stand with you and we trust you. You’re our Captain.” Tony says to Steve. This all makes Steve smile, and he has tears welling up in his eyes. “If it wasn’t for you Stevie, I wouldn’t be here today. You’ve got me through some really bad times, and you’ve never once given up on me or ever questioned me about my past. You’ve fought with me and for me. That’s something I can never repay, but I’m never going to leave you, or stop trying to repay that debt. I was proud to stand side by side with you on the battlefields of World War II, and I’m sure as hell proud to stand next to you, not only as your friend, boyfriend, but as your teammate on missions.” Bucky said as he hugged Steve again and kissed his head. He could feel the tears on his shoulder, and he would hold him until he no longer needed a shoulder to cry on. Once he composed himself, Steve looked around the table to see all his friends and family smiling at him. “After everything, I’m glad you all are sticking with me. It will be a little before I’m ready to go on missions, but I’m proud and honored to be in such elite company as you all, my friends and family. Thank you to all of you for helping me.” “You take all the time you need. If you want, you can help me from here with the missions, but I’m going to leave that up to you to decide.” Fury said to Cap. They all continued to eat and joke and laugh with each other. Leaning into Steve, Bucky said “Remember Punk, I’m with ya till the end of the line.” They always meant it.“What does that mean? I hear you two say it on occasion, what’s it’s importance?” Nat asked her two boys.“It’s something Bucky said one time when we were little after I got beat up by a bully from school. He came to my rescue and he just said it. Now we say it when it needs to be said, as a reminder that we’ll always be together.” Steve responded, but looked at his love. “I think it’s cute.” She said with a smile and leaned into her husband. “Wait, did Black Widow just say somethings cute?” Tony asked the group. “Can I take it back?” She asked.“Nope, we all heard it. Mark that down Rhodey. This is one for the history books.” Tony said to his friend. “Tony, if you become ill tomorrow, I had nothing to do with it.” Nat said in a innocent way. Later that evening, they all sat around watching a movie in the family room. They needed this time to be together. This is what makes them a team, they do a lot together, but yet fight like brothers.
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Weeks that followed, Bucky no longer had to wear the braces for his legs to help him walk. He is able to move around like normal. Both super soldiers went to Brooklyn to finish working on their home. Clint even came over and helped with the plumbing and some of the construction. He was a huge help. Once they were done, Bucky coming up behind his boyfriend and said “Hey soldier, why don’t we go check out our newly done master bedroom?” “I would like that Sergeant.” Steve said back to his boyfriend. The next day, Bucky and Steve went down to the docks. Bucky walked up to where his boss was and said “Sir, can I talk to you?” His boss agreed to talk to Barnes. “I want to thank you for the opportunity to work for you, but I’m going to be working with my boyfriend. I’m sorry for the sudden notice.” Bucky said to his boss. “Son, I knew who you were the minute you came looking for a job. You see, my grandfather ran this business back in the 30’s and 40’s when a man named Bucky Barnes worked here before volunteering to go to war. It couldn’t have been a coincidence. If you ever need a job Sergeant Barnes, you’ll always have one here. Just say the word. Oh and tell Steve Rogers we all say hello.” His boss said to him. “Why didn’t you ever call me out on it?” Bucky asked. “Didn’t want you to be uncomfortable.” The man said back. “ Your grandfather was a great man to work for, and so are you. Thank you for everything. And we’ll keep that in mind. I will tell Steve that you all say hi.” Bucky responded. They left the docks to go home and set up for the party that they were throwing at their newly renovated home for their friends and family. “Wow boys, you guys did a wonderful job on the house. I’m so proud of you.” Natasha said to her boys. “Thanks Nat. We’re very happy to finally have it done.” Steve said to her. Standing with Steve, Bucky was looking at Nat and could tell that she was sad. “Natasha, what’s wrong? You look sad.” Bucky asked her. “It’s just now that your house is completed, you boys won’t be living at the house anymore. You’re so far away here in Brooklyn. Who’s gonna keep me busy?” She asked her boy. She really got used to having them around, looking for advice, or asking for a favor. Now she nor Clint will have that. She and Clint saw them like their two boys. They took care of them. Going up to her, Bucky hugged Nat. “We’ll still be there 99.9% of the time. This place is just somewhere we can go for a weekend to get away. You and Clint can’t get rid of us that easily. Somedays you’ll wish we were here.” He smiled at her. She smiled back. She felt better knowing that it wasn’t a permanent move. Another two weeks have come and gone. The Avengers were on a mission. Bucky was leading the charge, simple enough. A group was creating some trouble and they were there to shut them down. Steve was back at home at the compound helping them from there with Fury. “Steve where did you say that entrance was?” Bucky shouted through comms. “On the left side Bucky. It’s heavily guarded. Their leader must be inside held up surrounded by guards.” Steve answered. He and Fury had insight as to what was happening thanks to satellite footage, it was as if they were there.“Stark, Barton and Wanda, meet me at the far side of the building.” Bucky said to his teammates. Bucky got into position far enough away that the hostiles wouldn’t see. “What are you going to do?” Tony asked the Winter Soldier. The three Avengers heard three shots fired from behind them only to see the three armed guards fall dead. “Well they don’t call you the world’s deadliest assassin for nothing.” Tony said for everyone to hear. Without ever knowing, Bucky appeared right behind the three Avengers. “Alright let’s go finish this.” He said to them. “Geez man, we all know that you’re the most dangerous person in history, but can you not give me a heart attack?” Tony said to the Winter Soldier. Barton couldn’t help but laugh. “You all know that we’re busting ass out here, while you four are laughing and having fun. Please can we hurry this up?” Sam said through comms to his teammates. “Guys, eyes on the mission. Let’s get this done.” Steve said to his team. “Thank you Captain.” Thor responded. Another hour and the mission was completed. The group was rounded up and handed over to the proper authorities. On the quinjet home, Bucky called Steve. “Hey, I missed you today.” He said to his boyfriend back home. “I missed you too. Are you okay? Anything I should be worried about when you come home?” Steve replied. He knew Bucky and the others were fine, but he still worried. “Nah, everything's good here. I just couldn’t wait to talk to you is all.” The assassin said over the phone. “I’ll be waiting.” Steve responded before they both hung up. Waiting around for Bucky to get home was nerve racking. Steve did little things to keep himself busy. ‘Now I know how Bucky felt when he would go on missions and leave Bucky behind at the compound.’ He thought to himself. It was an awful feeling not knowing, even if they are just coming home. “Honey I’m home.” Bucky stood in the kitchen in front of Steve. Just like he thought, Steve came and gave him a big hug and kissed him. “Whoa big man, I just talked to you like two hours ago.” Bucky said to his boyfriend. “I know, but I missed you.” Steve said back. He hasn’t left go of his man yet. Bucky laughed. That night, both boys slept peacefully, so peacefully that they were still in bed snoring when everyone else was awake. “Do you think we should wake them?” Tony asked the group.“One of them is highly dangerous, and the other is a grump. I’m thinking this isn’t the best thing to do.” Sam said back. Tony nodded. When Steve and Bucky finally emerged from their room, they were fully dressed and were getting ready to head out when they were stopped. “And where do you two think you’re going?” Natasha asked her boys from the kitchen. Her and Wanda were preparing dinner. “Out for a little.” Steve said in reply. Both Bucky and Steve again went for the door when she said “Did you two take your medicine this morning? And did you both eat?” When they didn’t reply, Nat said “That’s what I thought. Come over here and take your pills and eat something.” Wanda chuckled at the two men being scolded. “We’re not children.” Steve said in a whine like voice, but they went over, each taking their medications, and grabbing a protein bar and quickly running out of the house. “Don’t grow up to be like them Wanda.” Nat said to the young Avenger. Later that day, both Steve and Bucky returned home, back to the facility. They looked around until they found the two people that they were looking for. Having a small lunch, just the two of them, Natasha and Clint were in the kitchen. “Just the two people we were looking for.” Bucky made themselves known to the couple. “What can we do for you two fellows?” Nat asked sitting beside her husband. “We know we’re kinda late with this, but it’s better late than never. Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Father’s Day.” Both boys said to Clint and Natasha. To say they were shocked was an understatement. “Guys you...you didn’t have to do this.” Natasha said with tears in her eyes. “We know we didn’t have to, but we wanted too. You both have been there for us when we needed someone. Steve and I look at you both as adopted parents.” Bucky said to the couple. “Bucky and I were so young when we “died” and we both didn’t have the guidance that we needed. We have that with you two. You keep us straight, even when we are being stubborn, and we thank you for all you do for us.” Steve finished saying. Nat and Clint hugged the two super soldiers. “Thank you both so much. All I ever wanted was to be a mom.” Natasha said to her two boys. “Well you technically have two 100 year old kids, but physically and mentally we’re only in our 20’s.” Steve said to her. They all laughed. This is the best day of her life, in Nat’s mind, well right behind her wedding day to her wonderful husband that is.
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A month later, they got wind that Hydra reared it’s head again and was causing mass trouble in Italy. Steve was ready to go back out on missions, and he couldn’t think of a better mission to start with then Hydra. Steve had some unfinished business with Hydra, and Ross had gotten out of jail somehow. Steve was going to have his revenge. The Avengers were lead by Captain America, and standing shoulder to shoulder with Cap was the Winter Soldier. Today Hydra will feel all the pain that Steve felt when they took him. Coming up to the woods edge, Steve looked to his left at Bucky and said “Ready to follow Captain America into the jaws of death? [Captain America: First Avenger]”Replying, “I’m with ya till the end of the line, pal.” Bucky said with such love. The look he was giving Steve, showed just how much love he has for the man standing to his right, his boyfriend. Steve showed the same amount of love right back. They would never have to say a word to each other to express how much love two people can have for one another. Bucky didn’t need to hear Steve say those nine words, because he already knew how he felt, always has. They knew when one would say that phrase to the other, it was telling one another that through thick or thin, good times and bad, that they would always have each other. It was their vowel to one another, that they were indeed together till the end of the line, and nothing was going to change that.