As Steve left the office he felt slightly more at ease hearing from the horse's mouth, that Bucky did nothing that couldn't be resolved. Sure he was way out of line, but the situation was repairable. For an Alpha to force himself on an Omega without consent, was irreversibly wrong and forbidden. The punishment for Beta's was ostracisation and in some cases imprisonment for such a heinous act. But for Alpha's, preying on an Omega who cannot think clearly in their heat, such a thing would warrant death. Steve was grateful for Tonys ignorance in these matters. Being a 'mated' Beta with one of his own kind kept him in the dark about a lot of things. The super-soldier thought this was a choice rather than a lack of knowledge.
Ever since Tessa' heat Bucky had holed himself up in his apartment. He was resourceful and made himself equipment to workout with from around his rooms. He had access to a TV and a computer so found enough material to watch and entertain himself. Steve and Sam had helped him out at mealtimes, bringing up trays of food in the morning and evening. Being the only two who knew him the best, they had been fiercely loyal to their friend over the past week. Whilst rumours had been rife about what actually had gone on down in the bungalow, both Sam and Steve would believe it not to be true. Now that Tessa had vindicated Bucky, Steve was determined to make him leave his apartment.
The wary man reached his friends apartment and rapped his knuckles on the door out of politeness, before letting himself in. He called out Bucky's name and heard him shout back from the bedroom. His reply was followed by several low grunts and heavy panting and when Steve went to investigate, he found his friend on the floor pumping out press ups at an alarming speed. He was dripping sweat from his head, torso and down his back. The white cotton vest he wore saturated and starting to smell strongly. Steve stood patiently at the doorway leaning on the frame waiting for the sweaty man to stop. When he did, Bucky jumped up and grabbed a water bottle off his bed and drank from it lengthily, his adam's apple bobbing up and down furiously as he swallowed. The thirsty man capped the lid and threw the plastic bottle back in the bed when he saw Steve holding a brown paper bag.
"Ham on rye with an extra pickle." Steve said plainly before tossing it to James.
Bucky caught the bag deftly and didn't utter another sound until he had ripped the sandwich from the bag, bit into the bread and sighed hungrily.
"That's the last one." Rogers said stoically.
"Huh?" Bucky replied mid chew.
"I spoke to Tessa, Buck'."
The soldier brought the sandwich down from his lips and shifted uncomfortably on his feet with his eyes down.
"What did she say?"
"She told me everything, well the parts that I didn't know already."
Bucky sat down on the edge of the bed in shock.
"Is she okay?"
"She will be. Buck' why didn't you say anything? This whole mess could have been dealt with much sooner." Steve said exacerbated.
"Would anyone have believed me?" Bucky scoffed.
"Look what you did was questionable there's no denying that. But you didn't do anything that can't be fixed." Steve said placatingly as he sat down next to his friend.
"You gotta get out of this apartment Buck'! Not least of all because it stinks." He joked.
Bucky exhaled furiously and moved away from his friend towards the window in the bedroom.
"What?" Steve snapped.
"She told you everything?" Bucky said disbelievingly.
"Enough."
"Then you know why?"
"Bucky you gotta stop talking in riddles man! What are you both not saying?"
Bucky sighed uncomfortably, Steve was his best friend, he should have been able to talk to him about this openly, without fear of judgement. But Steve was also an Alpha and what happened that night confused and shook him, playing on his mind ever since. Would he understand? He began to explain tactfully,
"When I got to Tessa's place the other night, my instinct just sorta, took over you know."
Steve nodded. He knew how intoxicating an Omega could be.
"Her scent was, oh my god- intoxicating. It was strong, tempting, drawing me in. Telling me to,"
"Bucky!" His friend said in warning.
"But when she yelled stop, it was like something snapped in my brain. No Omega has ever had that effect on me."
"What do you mean?"
"She was in control and I would have done anything she said. It was like my free will was gone. That whatever she would tell me to do I would have."
"Perhaps you're reading too much into it Buck'."
"No I'm not. I know how I felt then and I still feel the same."
"You're a good guy and the fact you didn't do anything because she said so shows that. It's a good thing if you ask me."
"Good? Its anything but good!" Bucky mocked.
"Its torture. Knowing that you love someone and they want nothing to do with them!"
"Oh c'mon Buck' that's a little over-, wait what did you just say?"
"I love her man."
"You've only just met her." Steve said shocked.
"It doesn't matter. I know it."
Steve left his friends apartment more perplexed and concerned than when he had entered. He wasn't sure how he should process the information Bucky just told him. He wasn't a born Alpha like his friend, his genes were only ignited when he became Steve Rogers the super soldier. Could an Alpha fall in love so fast? Perhaps it was for the best that Tessa was removing herself from Bucky's case. But at the same time how would he take it when he found out?
A/N - Okay! How do people feel about the A/O being flipped on its head. Like I said in my last chapter, Tessa has the right to choose as does Bucky. However, he's clearly beginning to understand just how much she could possibly mean. I hope that came across well?! Pleas continue to R&R. Thanks Mrs-E x
