Chapter 2
Leo craned his neck as he gazed upon the Avengers Tower (formerly Stark Tower) The giant building loomed overhead, foreshadowing a major change in his young life. The doors opened soundlessly, revealing a flawless and beautiful interior. Everything seemed to glow, or sparkle, or shine. The floors were black marble, inlaid with chrome frames. The bouncer at the desk didn't even need to give them a second glance, before opening the elevator to them.
Leo was transferred to Steve's back (piggy back style, so he would not hit his head on the ceiling) The elevator played pleasant music, as they rose up the top floor. The doors opened, revealing Tony behind his private bar, talking to Bruce, Clint, and Natasha.
Natasha immediately rose up to greet them, "Hey guys!" She said, her orange hair bouncing, "Who's the new arrival?"
"This is Leo." Bucky said, running his hand through his hair with a bashful grin. Roxy, Bucky's one year old golden retriever bounded toward her owner yipping happily. "Hey girl!" he said, giving the pup a good rub all along her ribs. "Meet our son, Leo." He said to everyone, including Roxy.
(Bucky had gotten Roxy as a puppy from Steve, six months after he came to the Avengers headquarters for refuge and forgiveness. Though he loved Steve, he was afraid of himself. He slept on the floor or the couch, instead of the bed with Steve. He had nightmares of killing Steve, and often woke up drenched in sweat or even blood, when he harmed himself in his sleep. Some days he couldn't look at himself, Steve, or even get up. He couldn't smile. Some nights after a nightmare, he would draw a blade against his skin, leaving cuts along the inside of his forearms, on his shoulder, or his back. Steve took to hiding all the sharp objects after a while. Bucky sometimes even tried to kill Steve in his sleep a few times. He seemed to hate himself more and more every day. Finally Steve came home with a puppy. At first, Bucky rejected the puppy, afraid he'd hurt it. Despite his efforts, the puppy followed him everywhere, and he grew to love her, naming her Roxy. It was a few weeks after getting Roxy that he began to improve. He ate more, and spoke more than just a few words to anyone. After a few months, he slept beside Steve in bed. Another month went by, and they were going out in public on dates. Eight months and he hadn't touched a blade. It was because of Steve that he hoped to become normal. It was because of Roxy that he started that journey.)
He hugged his dog, kissing her forehead affectionately. Steve let Leo down gently, setting him on a chair. Roxy barked again, putting her feet up on the sofa, licking Leo's face. He laughed happily and was much occupied with her.
"SO where'd you pick him up?" Tony asked. Natasha elbowed him in the ribs, "What? I'm just asking."
Steve spoke, "We found him on the streets getting beat up by other kids. Buck dove them off, and we couldn't just leave Leo on the streets. We had to do something for him, and since we wanted a kid, here was one we could take in and love." Bucky put his arm around Steve's waist and kissed his cheek affectionately. "A son of our own." He murmured to his boyfriend.
Bucky hummed contentedly, leaning against Steve's shoulder, who held his hand tenderly. Bruce looked past the duo at Leo, noting how thin and frail he looked, and how weak his legs were. Soundlessly he walked to Leo's side, examining him at a distance. Finally, he knelt next to the boy. "How long have you been unable to walk?" he asked.
Leo shrugged, "I don't know really. I've been like this for as long as I can remember. I don't even think I have parents anymore. I'm pretty sure they're dead." Bruce was taken aback by the ease with which Leo spoke, hearing no bitterness or sorrow in his young voice. He looked the boy over, seeing his shins bruised, and an abrasion on his cheekbone.
"We can help you walk." Bruce said, "I can help make braces for your legs so you can stand and balance on your own."
Tony stepped toward them, "I can build some braces for him." He said, feeling something in his heart for the boy. He looked at Steve and Bucky, "Should it have spinning rims? I think it should have spinning rims."
"If you can make it happen." Bucky said, "The braces won't be permanent though will they?" he asked both Bruce and Tony.
Bruce responded reassuringly, "When Leo learns to walk, he will never need them again. He'll remain whole."
Steve could hear the concern in Bucky's voice. He knew Bucky sometimes hated his metal arm, and didn't want Leo to suffer the dependence on metal parts like him. "Good." Bucky said softly, looking back at his new son with joy.
"As soon as you want me to, I can start the designs." Tony said.
"I can examine Leo and find the best way to help him stand and walk." Bruce responded.
Steve watched Leo's reaction, happy to help a young orphan, a kid that was as powerless as himself once. The look on Bucky's face also made this day brighter. They had talked of children after Bucky began to heal in his mind. They often wondered about adopting a child together. They wondered what it would be like if they adopted a girl or a boy, a baby, a toddler, a child. What would it be like? What would the child's name be? Would the child be happy with them?
Several of these questions still rang through their minds together, but the joys of having a small boy to care for was great, and eventually blew their worries away as Bruce tended to him and Tony drew up schematics for some high tech braces. "Congratulations." Natasha said warmly, giving both Bucky and Steve a kiss on their cheeks.
"It's a boy!" Clint exclaimed dramatically, giving the two men bear hugs after Natasha's embrace.
"So what do you think of this?" Tony asked, holding up a bar napkin he had been drawing on. It was a diagram of two legs, with high-tech braces on them. They were impressive looking, and designed much like his suits, with stylized spinning rims on the knees and ankles. "It's just the drawing right now. I still need to get his measurements, and work on a prototype before we get the real braces on him."
"It looks great." Steve said, grateful for his efforts already, and not entirely comprehending all the information on his schematics. Bucky got the gist of it all, but it was still somewhat beyond him how Tony drew up braces for Leo in a matter of minutes on a bar napkin, after at least two glasses of scotch.
Leo could not stop staring at the people bustling around him. So much had happened in one day. He got two dads, three uncles, and one aunt all in one day.
"C'mon. Let's show you around." Steve said, as Bucky picked up the boy in his arms.
Steve showed him where everyone's room was, where the bathroom, kitchen, the entire layout of the building that he needed to know of.
They brought Leo back to the main room, finding Wanda and Pietro sitting by the window. Pietro was by Leo's side in an instant, "Hey it's the new kid." His accent foreign, he held out a bit of candy, which Leo gratefully took, adding another uncle and aunt to his list of family.
Wanda moved toward him next, her crimson shawl waving behind her, "He will bring much to this family." Her accent as thick as her brother's, her hands danced with a red glow around them. "You will be good fathers."
They passed the day with much excitement, as Bruce recorded all of Leo's measurements on a clear tablet, sketching out a very basic design for braces. He and Tony soon hid themselves away in the lab, the soundproof walls blocking out the sound of metal being cut, shaped, and riveted.
Together, Steve and Bucky put Leo to sleep in a shirt much too big for him, and pajama pants cut to size. He smiled, cocooned in warm sheets and soft pillows, warming the hearts of his new fathers. "We'll be in our room Leo. Just press this button if you need any of us." Bucky pointed to a button on a phone dock beside the bed, with labels consisting of each Avenger's symbol.
'Nat probably put those there.' Steve thought.
After saying goodnight one more time, the couple went to bed as well, their hearts warm and happy.
