Steve looked worriedly at Bucky as they sat in his small thatched hut that rested peacefully near a sparkling blue lake. The former Winter Soldier gazed back with resolve, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees.
"I know, Steve."
"He might be there."
"I don't care. I am part of the team, right?"
Rogers didn't answer but cast his eyes to the dirt floor covered with an intricately woven grass mat.
"We're a team. We stick together, and I'm finally back together." Bucky gave a smirk and shoved Rogers in the shoulder with his new Wakandan arm, "And Shuri has taken very good care of me."
"I know." Rogers studied the grasses twisted in the mat some more. "But."
Finally, Steve broke his study of the rug, looking up anxiously. Bucky leaned back, resting against the wall of his cabin, his eyes dark.
"You think Stark will still try to kill me."
"It's not a stretch, Buck."
"Sure. Like no one else on the earth has tried to kill me."
"This is different."
"How? Revenge is fairly universal." Bucky gave a dry laugh, "Like how you wanted it for… whatshisname, Georgie Small? Ironic last name, that one."
Steve gave a tight smile as the memory of the long, lanky pale boy with the perpetually shaggy hair that defied all the combs in the world. He was one of Rogers' nemeses in the tenement when they were children.
The courtyard dust was stirred into the air as the children dashed around, squealing, trying to find hiding spots before Georgie counted to ten. Any hole or crevice large enough to push a tiny body was found; Steve thought he found the perfect one, behind a cracked wood door that led to a dark staircase.
"Nine, TEN!" Georgie's raspy, lackluster voice rang out into the yard. Quickly, his dull grey eyes scanned the space from his precocial height, hair dangling over his brows. "I'm coming for you!" A few suppressed giggles and snorts came in reply.
He didn't move forward those easily found targets but instead looked for the hardest one: Steve Rogers.
Creeping around like Nesferatu, he raked the yard and doorways for any sign of the small boy. His eyes found Bucky behind some crates, still as stone, but Barnes's gaze was fire aimed at Georgie. He knew Georgie was trouble for Steve and his temper pricked at his cheeks as sweat trickled down the back of his neck.
Finally, the faintest wheeze was heard. Georgie swiveled his long neck like a snake, bony arms folded like a praying mantis about to strike. In a few leggy strides, he pulled the door back in a flash and had his willowy forearm pressed up against Rogers's throat just above his larynx.
"You know why there's only one of you? Because your dad is gay." Georgie breathed foully into Steve's face, his lightless eyes under shaggy black hair drilling into him. Steve's eyes narrowed as he tried to breathe. "He likes boys. That's why he's in the Army to be around a bunch of dicks."
"Hey Dip Stick!" Bucky's voice cut the scene short, fists balled.
Straightening up to his full height, Georgie towered over Barnes. Steve slid down the wall, gasping and coughing. "Steve's it."
"You piece of-"Steve gasped, struggling to his feet. As Georgie brushed by both of them, he casually knocked Rogers with the back of his hand. Steve rocked back, hitting his head on the wall. Barnes went to catch his friend who fell to the ground in a heap.
"You're going to get it, Georgie! One of these days!" Barnes fumed as he felt a knot forming on the back of Steve's head.
"Yeah. I'll get one of your sisters, Barnes." Georgie said casually as he stepped back into the light of the courtyard.
"I'll get him. I swear it." Steve's weak voice added as he nodded in and out of consciousness.
Bucky looked down at his best friend worriedly and scooped him up carefully taking the staircase back to the Rogers's apartment. "I'll help you."
"Yeah. Too bad the flu got him before I did." Steve remarked shifting his weight, eyes flinty.
"I'm coming with you on this mission." Bucky stated, crossing his arms. Steve sighed.
"I don't need to remind you about the part of becoming an international war criminal if you do this, right?" Rogers replied wryly, his eyes mischievous.
Using his new left arm, Bucky threw Steve out the doorway.