Steve's P.O.V.
Bucky has been living with me for a few months now and he's finally starting to come around.
He talks, has an appetite, he even laughs sometimes.
I know Bucky can never be the same as who he used to be. Neither can I.
But there's something he isn't telling me. Something he wants to say but won't. I thought maybe after all the nights we spent lying awake, reliving our horrors out loud to each other, he would feel more comfortable expressing things to me. Maybe he's just not there yet.
"Steve?" A voice broke Steve's thoughts, and he looked up to see Bucky sitting across from him at the kitchen table studying his face.
"Did you hear anything I said?"
"Sorry." Steve shook his head. "I guess I zoned out a bit there. What did you say?"
Bucky looked down at his coffee mug "I asked if I could go with you today. To headquarters."
Steve was mixed between surprised and confused. He wouldn't know how everyone else would feel about Bucky being there. But he also wanted his friend to know that he trusted him.
"Why would you want to do that Buck?"
"To start over, reintroduce myself, second chances. Take your pick."
"Some of the Avengers can be….."
"I can handle Stark, Steve. I'll be okay."
Steve sighed and shook his head. "Alright, if that's really what you want. You're welcome to follow me anywhere. Just be yourself and they'll love you."
Bucky's P.O.V:
Bucky offered a smile and got up from the table exiting to his room. Steve's new apartment was a lot bigger than the old shoebox they use to share together. But sometimes Bucky missed having only one room. And Steve had a strange, swanky couch…..The cushions didn't come off.
He pulled a solid black shirt over himself and shoved a toothbrush in his mouth. They had to leave in about 20 minutes.
Bucky rummaged through his pants trying to find his simplest pair of jeans.
They're probably going to be expecting some sort of trap. That's what the winter soldier would do right? Get close to Steve to infiltrate S.H.E.I.L.D.? I better stick with a simple outfit. Nothing that will make anyone think I'm concealing any weapons. Not that it's THEIR opinion that matters to me… But Stevie is close to these people, so I have to try. Even if they can never forgive me. Even if I can't forgive myself.
Bucky re-entered the common space to find Steve fully dressed and opening the door for his friend. They made their way off to headquarters. It was a beautiful day to take the bikes out, but S.H.E.I.L.D. had strict orders and the boys had to settle for a bullet proof limo with dark tinted windows. The driver wasn't allowed to return the same way they came, so the drive was a few minutes longer than it had to be. But Bucky didn't mind. He enjoyed the time he got with Steve. He was just glad that Steve still wanted anything to do with him. Even if Bucky is a monster, Steve still saw that kid from Brooklyn, saving him from street fights.
They pulled into the hidden garage and were promptly sent up the elevator to a floor with a secluded glass room. They were the last ones to arrive, three minutes late. Everyone watched as Steve entered the room and Bucky followed.
"Uh, you have a little something left on you from this morning." Stark said to Steve as he gestured towards Bucky.
"Very funny." Bucky scoffed as he took a seat next to Steve and Natasha.
Natasha gave him a smile, "Good to see you, soldier. How have you been?"
Relief washed over Bucky. At least two of the Avenger's wanted to see him succeed. "I'm doing better. Still having flash backs, but doc says that can last for the next 40 or so years. Now it's all about how to deal with them."
"Well you're lucky to have such a supporting friend by your side." Natasha winked at Steve before she turned back to the rest of the table.
What the hell was that about?
"We're not going to wait for Thor but Decepticon over here is just going to kick start the whole meeting?"
"Watch it." Steve barked.
"Thor is kind of busy with you know, ruling Asgard? And it looks like every one that can show up is here." Bruce chimed in reluctantly, and ready to get this over with so he can go back to hiding from the world.
"Can we just start? I've been here for thirty minutes and all of you are already getting on my nerves." Sam pushed himself back in his chair, glaring at everyone present.
And with that, the meeting ensued. They talked about possible threats that need to be taken care of, upcoming events, and at the end of the meeting Hawkeye sighed and rested his head on his hand. "I really need to retire."
"Well how about a vacation?" Natasha offered.
"What, with you dingleberries?" Clint laughed at the idea.
"Actually I meant just for you and maybe your family, but now that you've offered, I think that actually might be a good team building experience." Natasha smiled up at the rest of the group stopping at Bucky. "Even if it's just one day. We should all promise to meet up and do something together, we all need a break."
Bucky scanned the room and found everyone looking at him. He sighed turning to Natasha and placing his hand on hers. "Doll…I don't think that's such-."
Clint cut him off before he could get another word out. "It's not an offer, it's an order. She's made up her mind, you don't have a choice."
"So what exactly am I being forced to do?" Sam gave Natasha a questioning look.
"Well it's the end of June, We're having record breaking highs this year. Let's go to the water park." She offered.
Bruce choked on his water.
Great, let's just scare all of the children with my metal arm.
"Natasha, I don't do so well with crowds….or adrenaline inducing rides." Bruce spoke up after catching his breath.
"You don't HAVE to go on the rides. Besides, I'll probably be in the lazy river all day. You can come with me. It will be anything but adrenaline inducing."
Bruce sighed as he accepted defeat and nodded agreeing to her proposal.
"Great! I'll get tickets for this weekend. Have a good rest of the day everyone." She finished her water and slipped Bucky a napkin before she headed out the door, leaving everyone planted in their seats.
"Well…" Steve finally spoke up, coming out of his shock. "Guess one of us is getting pulled out of the water again aye Buck?"
Bucky shook his head grabbing the napkin with Nat's number on it and shoved it in his pocket while he rose from his seat. "Well, this was….an experience."
"Every meeting with you is an experience cyborg." Tony shot at him.
"Isn't there a machine stopping metal shavings from entering your heart and keeping you alive?" Bucky retorted as he made his way out of the room stopping to wait for Steve.
"I guess we'll see you guys this weekend." Steve offered weakly as he waved to the remaining crowd.
"You better update me before then!" Sam called after and Steve picked up his pace.
Bucky caught up, matching Steve's footsteps. "Update about what?" He asked as they walked back to the elevator.
"Don't worry about it" Steve replied quickly, pressing the elevator button four or five times.