Tony was sure that his friends were determined to give him more gray hairs. They must be having a bet going on, why else would Bruce, a social scientific pariah, Natasha, a deadly ex-ballet dancer/assassin, and Bucky, a wanted man by Hydra and all of the Untied States, all be hiding in his tower at the same time. He was ready to help them but God guys could you please not all be wanted people to which the government is watching his every move now? Well, watching him more than usual at least.

Not that Tony would send them away or not want them here, he just had barely enough sanity left since he had lost JARVIS and almost destroyed the world with Ultron. Plus, Hydra and the government were out searching for Steve and his robo cop frozen friend. Tony hardly saw Steve or his friend since they had come to him almost three days ago, most likely trying to help the Soldier gain his memories back. Course, the only reason Steve was here was because Natasha had somehow (meaning Pepper told her) figured out that Tony had located Bucky after months of searching since he had gained the information that the Winter Soldier had murdered his parents from exposed S.H.I.E.L.D files. In Tony's defense, he was looking for the deadly, murderous Winter Soldier who could kill you with his metal pinky finger; not this starving, pale, metal armed twenty-something year old who looked like a five year old could take him out without much work.

Tony had found him in an abandoned bank, the last place where Hydra was confirmed to be. Tony had gotten there with weapons raised from his suit, equipped dangerously and fully expecting (and maybe even hoping) for an epic battle between him and his parent's murderer. Even Steve wouldn't be able to disagree with the Soldier's death if Tony killed him in self-defense…right?

Instead he found Barnes sitting alone in some sort of bizarre metal chair cradling his flesh arm tenderly. Blue eyes raised up and eyed Tony's with indifference, not caring about the Suit's weapons that were faced at his heart. "It's broken." The Soldier whispered in a hoarse voice as he jerked his chin towards his right arm, seemingly unamused at the full power of the Iron Man suit. Indeed it was broken; the arm was longer on the right side then it was on the left, and it was at an odd angle. Most likely it was from when Steve and the Soldier last fought a few months back on the helicarrier.

Tony expected it to be a trick. It must be. The Winter Soldier was a trained assassin, programmed for killing and nothing else. Yet still, he couldn't bring himself to even consider firing upon him. Not at this hurt little kid. God, he looked so young, he couldn't be past his early twenties. Tony could barely remember how he ended up calling Happy to bring his ride over to pick up Barnes and himself, or how he was soon out of his suit and calling Nat. But there he was, sitting on the edge of his couch swishing back his second bottle of beer when Nat had sudden appeared in front of him.

"There's this beautiful invention called knocking. You should learn it." Tony replied emotionlessly, taking another swing at his nearly empty drink.

"Where is he?" Natasha wasted no time asking as she slammed the doors to his office room open with a deafening thud as they bounced against the walls. She wore civilian clothes and seemed to be carrying no weapons, but Tony doubted that was true.

"In that clear Tupperware container thingy that Bruce and I made for the Hulk." Tony continued his drinking, avoiding her piercing gaze. Tony knew that Nat was always going to be on Steve's side and his alone, and because of that, Nat would be on the side of the Soldier, even if this Soldier was the one who had shot her through her side years prior.

"No, I mean Steve. He knows you found him, right?" Nat frowned slightly, already assuming the worst of Tony.

Well, she was right but still, Tony didn't appreciate that kind of assumption.

"He doesn't know yet. And he won't until we know the Soldier isn't going to kill him at first glance. You saw what the Soldier did to him last time they faced off. He nearly killed him, not to mention you and Nick."

"If he was going to do that, you'd be dead already." Natasha responded knowingly as she sat in the chair in front of Stark, not asking for permission as she set her feet up on top of his desk. "You're hoping to get answers out of him about your parents before Steve takes him away." Her strong tone proved that it wasn't a question, it was a statement. And again she was right but damn, when did Tony get so predictable?

When Tony didn't answer, Nat pressed on calmly, almost tenderly. "I know you want answers, and you deserve them Tony, but the Soldier who killed them is not this man; he isn't Barnes. This man is the victim, and you holding him in that cell like he is the monster is just going to make things worse."

"He killed them." Tony's voice was low but it was enough to have Nat stop and listen to his words. "Maybe he remembers, maybe not, but he killed them and he has to pay for that. Not just my parents, but the others that he has killed."

"And you're going to force one of Hydra's own victims to take the blame for what they did?"

"He killed them!" Tony shot up from his chair, knocking back his drink. How could no one else see that the Soldier has killed whatever was left of Barnes and this thing is all that's left. "Then why didn't he let Steve drown?" Said a small voice. Shaking his head, Tony almost screamed at Natasha. "He forced their car off the road and he killed them!"

"Because they brainwashed him." Nat stayed in her seat, unfazed by Tony's outburst. "Steve would not be trying so hard to help and protect someone who you are describing. Yes, the Soldier did that, but that Soldier is not what Barnes is now. I believe Steve and if he says that Barnes is a good man, I will protect Barnes with my life…and no one will get in between that."

The threat was hanging between them like a dagger. Tony scoffed in disgust, plopping back down on the couch with a small grunt, he turned away from Nat's cold stare. "Soldier boy stays in the cell until Bruce and I confirm that he isn't going to attack anyone…but go ahead and call Wonder Boy."

Nat nodded. "That should be good enough for a while, but don't take your time. I'll go call Steve." With Tony's indifferent wave of a hand, Natasha rose from her seat, turning back without a second look at her ex-boss.

In what Tony would have sworn was less than five minutes later, Steve had slammed the door open, despite the fact that last Tony heard, Rogers was nowhere near Stark Tower. "You found him?" Steve panted, holding his wounded side from the Ultron attack that occurred a few days prior. Tony hardly expected to see him so soon after his own creation of Ultron went wild. "Did you find Bucky?"

Tony flinched at the hopeful look on Roger's face. He looked so…tender. It was hard to put into words but Tony looked at Steve's face and saw so much affection in his eyes over the possibility of finding his friend that Tony had to take a second before answering. "Yeah…yeah he's alive." He answered hurriedly after he cleared his throat.

"I need to see him. Please, I need to make sure he's okay." Steve begs. Begging… not something that Tony had ever seen Roger do. Though being in a world that is completely different, having your friend from your old life would properly make thing better.

"He's still dangerous." Tony answered. How could Steve want to see the guy who almost killed him? He has his friend's face but the Soldier was no longer Bucky Barnes. Yet Steve pushed on. "He could kill anyone of us."

Excitement was threatening to burst through Steve's chest as his mind went through the ceaseless chant of "Bucky's here. He's alive. Bucky's okay and here and I can't lose him again please God please don't male me lose him again." "I need to see him-Tony please."

"He's still dangerous, Steve." Tony tried to reason once again, trying desperately to get his pint across. He could understand Steve wanting to see the man that used to be his friend but for the love of God, the Soldier was a killer.

"He's just confused." Steve answered like it was obvious. "He's not going to hurt me. Please let me see him."

Tony had planned on answering and staying firm to his answer of "no"…but somehow Tony finds himself guiding Steve outside of the clear cell that Loki had once been in and observed Steve as he looked like a brother who had finally found his long lost sibling. Bucky was huddled up in the corner of the room by his bed, his hood from his jacket was up and covering most of his pale face. Curdled up into a tight ball, his flesh hand was protectively wrapped around his ribcage and he seemed to have no notice of the two men as his breathing was the only indication that he was still alive.

"Steve?"

Okay, maybe he was more observant than Tony gave him credit for.

Bucky's head was risen up slightly, dark locks swooped around his cheeks as his dark blue eyes locked onto Steve's. His voice was soft, like raising it anymore would hurt him and if Tony is feeling his own heart crack for the Soldier, he can only imagine what Steve is feeling. Either the Soldier was a brilliant actor who was just waiting for the right moment to attack them both, or he was actually this weak.

Steve pressed his hand against the clear glass, his eyes never leaving Bucky's. "Hi Buck." He whispered, seemingly forgetting about Tony being in the room. "Can I go in?" Steve silently implores Stark, giving Tony the image of a lost little kid who finally found his way home again.

Tony found himself unable to bring himself to say no as he flicks the switch up to allow the door to slide fluidly open.

A small look of thank was given to Tony by Steve and soon he was inside the cell, his eyes only for Bucky's. "Are you hurt?' Steve asked, moving forward until he is only a few feet away from Bucky and up close he can see cuts and bruises on his friend's face. Dark shadows and bits of blood are under his bright blue eyes. His flesh arm looks to be in an odd position and his clothes are caked in dirt.

Bucky is edged as physically close to the corner of the wall as he can get though his eyes never look away from the man from the bridge…from Steve. Looking at the damaged arm, Steve kneels down in front of Bucky, closer to him than Bucky would have allowed anyone else to be. Tony brings his hand over to the hidden pistol that is covered by papers, ready to shoot if the Soldier tries anything. And in all honesty, he is hoping that he does attack, just so he can kill the thing that murdered his own family.

"Your arm…does it hurt?" Steve questioned softly, fighting his strong, almost overwhelming urge to pull Bucky's shaking form against his chest and never let him go as long as he drew breath. "I'm so sorry I hurt you Buck…"

Bucky replied in a soft voice that only Steve could hear. "You had to. I was hurting you. I had to be punished." Steve felt like a vice was wrapped around his heart at the fact that he was again unable to stop his friend from being in pain. Slowly Steve starts to reach out to look at Bucky's arm when he flinches. "Don't…I might hurt you again…" Bucky whimpers involuntary after his confession, the pain around his whole body becoming too much for him to stay still and soon his whole body is trembling.

Unable to speak without his voice cracking, Steve settles his fingers ever so gently on Bucky's quivering knee, his thumb carefully caressing the ripped denim that covers Bucky's skin. "I know you won't Buck…I trust you." Bucky looks at Steve's thin fingers that rest fondly on his trembling knee, all the while his eyes start to slowly water, lowering his chin so it rest on his free knee. "Why would you want to help me?" He asked delicately, his voice holding confusion.

"Because you're my friend Buck…I would anything for you…and I know you would do the same." Steve barely moves, or even breathes. He can't risk losing him again. He would leave Bucky alone if he asked but God, please don't make him push Steve away. "I know what Hydra did to you." Bucky swallows thickly for a second and Steve hurries on. "I won't let them hurt you Bucky, I promise. And if you want…I can help you get your memories back, or if you don't want that, I can stay with you."

Steve lowers his head slightly to catch his friend's gaze and finally, Bucky looks at him; his gaze looked almost frustrated as his metal fingers grip his other knee. "But I don't remember you. Why would you help?" How could someone want to help him? He couldn't remember a time when someone helped him heal unless they needed him to go on another mission. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Bucky could hear a small voice encouraging to stay with Steve, to protect him.

"Because you're my friend." Steve spoke like it was such a simple concept' how could Bucky not understand that he was so, so important to Steve? "You will always be my friend." Steve's fingers still hold firm to his best friend, looking like he wasn't planning to let ago any time soon. And from the look that Bucky was giving him, he didn't want Steve to let go ever again.

And that was the story of how Tony Stark became a free hotel for the damaged and wanted superheroes.

Bruce was already leaving in Stark Tower since the end of Ultron's attack. Having heard of the situation that was at hand, Bruce had soon come into the room after hearing from Nat what was going on and was prepared to help Bucky's injuries, to which Steve had quickly accepted. Tony stepped away to watch as Bucky examined Bruce from outside of the cell with a terrified expression, as if he is just waiting for Bruce to relive himself to be Hydra and take him back. Tony was soon forgotten about as the three men in the cell focused on other things. Steve had his arm around the back of Bucky's thin shoulders and rests his temple next to Buck's, but still Barnes started shaking like a frightened animal while his head is shaking back and forth in distress at the thought of having someone else touch him to the point that Steve looked like he was the one in pain.

Bruce made sure to say nothing to upset Barnes as he was gently wrapping his broken arm in the correct angle with bandages. Bucky turned his head to Bruce who was entirely focused on his task and then to Steve, who was holding onto Bucky in such tenderness that Bucky didn't even know how to deal with it. Bucky makes the slightest noise of protest when Bruce tightens the bandage around his flesh arm to which Steve moves his hand from Bucky's back to the nape of the neck and rubs the back of his neck affectionately and soon he feels the tension slowly start to leave Bucky. "If I am correct," Bruce starts in a soft voice looking at the two soldiers. "Your super strength should have this sling be off in a few days, a week at the most."

"Thank you Bruce." Steve breathed gratefully, his hand going out to rest on Bruce's shoulder appreciatively before pulling back to place it back on Bucky's metal arm comfortingly.

"No thanks needed." Bruce smiled before looking back at Bucky who was staring at Steve with a thoughtful expression on his face. "If you need anything else, I'm in the next floor up."

Unable to think of an answer, Bucky says nothing as Bruce's gets up from his knees and leaves the cell. Bruce walks pass Tony with a small smile yet Tony does not return the exchange. Without Steve having to say a word, he knew that he would have to get Bucky a room, one for both Steve and Bu- Steve and the Soldier.

Tony wasn't exactly pleased to know that the man who had murdered his parents was under his roof. No matter how Steve tried to explain it, Tony just couldn't separate that this man, this Winter Soldier made Tony an orphan was also the war hero who was basically Steve's brother. But that closeness between the two soldiers didn't stop Tony from wanting to storm into Steve and Bucky's room and demanded to know if Bucky knew anything about his parent's murder. Were they killed because of something they knew? Was it in case they ever became self-aware of what S.H.I.L.E.D was? Did they say anything before they were murdered? Did they beg for their lives to be pared? For Tony to be spared? Did they even have time?

Tony clenched his jaw painfully as he turned away from his laptop that he was looking at for work, unable to even focus on what he was seeing. All the answers that he had been looking for while in the same building and it had no memories. Just his luck.

There had to be something that Tony could do to get the information he needed. The Soldier may not have memories but they must be in there somewhere. Buried under the orders and killings, there must be something that he remembered about why Tony's mother and father had to be killed.

And he was going to find out how to get that information.

MARVELMARVELMARVEL

Exactly one week into their new home life Steve was sure that this was the happiest he had been in three years. Even though that Bucky wasn't exactly the same, he was still here, in a way. Bucky had always been his best friend, his brother, and nothing was going to change that for him, no matter what got in their way.

That didn't mean things were any easier for the PTSD ex-assassin. Steve was currently holding a whimpering Bucky Barnes in his arms at three in the morning. The city lights shone through the window to give them some light as Steve tenderly wrapped his arm around the back of Bucky and his chin rested carefully on Buck's floppy hair. Another nightmare of his "dealings" with Hydra, something that has happened every night. The problem was that Bucky can't sleep, he just can't. Steve hardly ever sleep either since he makes sure to stay up alongside of Bucky to help him slowly ease off into a slumber. It does eventually happen most nights but not without a lot of coaxing and whispered promises of how Hydra will never get their hands on either of them ever again. Bucky's programming screams at him nightly to not sleep unless he was given orders from Hydra to do so. Eating has the same dilemma. He was trained and brainwashed for over seventy years to follow their ever command, to do only as they said and nothing else. And then comes along Steve Rogers and the Winter Soldier's world goes completely into ruin…for the better.

Barnes's young face held terror while his metal arm was lying uselessly on his lap, something he always did when Steve would get out of his own bed and hold his best friend tight during the night; it was as if he was afraid of hurting Steve with that arm once again. His flesh arm was now healed after having proper medical care done and it looked like it was never even broken.

Bucky can't help himself from burrowing further into Steve's chest and slowly, his breathing relaxes. Steve can't begin to describe how grateful he is that Buck trusts him enough to comfort him and even touch him. It may look like a small step to anyone else but to Steve it is the best thing he's ever come across since waking up in this world.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Steve's tone was soft yet it still made Bucky jump slightly. Clearly he wasn't completely used to not being barked at or hurt. The thought had Steve force himself to breath calmly. If he ever came across another Hydra agent ever again he was going to-

"I think I'm gonna throw up." Bucky mumbled, pushing Steve away to rush to the bathroom that was directly across from their bed. The door slammed with a loud thud and Steve quickly got up to follow him, ready to be there if Bucky needed it.

The sound of painful retching was heard through the solid oak door as Bucky's nausea won the battle between his stomach and his willpower. Quietly Steve remained outside the bathroom, swallowing nervously in concern and wanting so badly to go in and help in any way he could. After a few more minutes of gasping and moans was heard, the sound of the toilet flush and the sink running was heard and Bucky slowly opened the door, hunched over himself slightly. His bottom lips had water from the sink drip slowly down his chin and he was looking even paler than he was before. "I got sick." Bucky mumbled, his head hung low like a child in trouble.

"That's okay, Buck." Steve slowly reach over to set his hand on Bucky's shoulder; he had to hide the fact that his heart soared when Bucky leaned into the touch. He had stopped trembling but he looked exhausted and Steve had a feeling that he still wasn't used to being able to sleep like a normal person, without the fear of being taken away and being unmade day after day after day. "Do you want to try to go back to sleep?" Steve questioned.

Bucky leaned against Steve body, breathing deeply. "You can." Bucky answered. He didn't have all of his memories but somehow he knew that Steve was just as tired as he was and his own concern for this man who refused to fight him back on the plane was greater than his own concern for himself.

"I'm not tired." Steve quickly lied, watching his friend carefully and holding him carefully in case he got sick again. "I'll stay up with you."

"I don't want to sleep anymore," Bucky muttered forlornly. "I don't want to see the Chair again. I don't want to be alone." His voice wavers at the last statement.

A boatload of questions sprang to Steve's mind over the timid statement but now was not the time to ask Bucky about it. He needed to help him sleep, even if it was for only an hour or two. "Okay then." Steve answered. "I'll stay awake with you."

Bucky's eyes sprang up to Steve's. "You sure?" He asked hopefully, not wanting to stay awake alone in case things got too painful again. Steve somehow had gotten through all his defenses and programming and now he could feel his mind slowly everyday started to stop screaming at him to finish his mission. Steve wasn't his target. He was…he was his friend.

"Of course." Steve smiled and he finds himself pressing his lips to the side of Bucky's temple, much like he did to Steve when he couldn't sleep back in Brooklyn. Bucky unwillingly gives a sigh of relief at the touch and he gives a small quirk of the lips and Steve counts that as a smile.

Neither man sleep for the rest of the night but somehow it still was relaxing.