*waves* Hi! I would like to apologize for any and all grammar mistakes, it's no excuse but between work and summer classes, my grammar skills are lacking. I'm really sorry!

I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows! :)

Bruce liked being alone. He really did.

The ability to be able to work without anyone talking or calling him and just being able to work…it was nice. Tony was his friend…well, actually his best friend, but Tony had this little thing where he had to talk a mile a minute about whatever he could think of.

Tony was a good friend, but Bruce was an introvert for Pete's sake, he could only stand being around him for so long. So when Bruce had woken up at six in the morning to no Tony, and it was now ten in the morning with no Tony, made Bruce feel like something bad had happened. Being alone in Stark tower was never a good thing. Usually, it meant Tony was doing something very stupid. Bruce sighed. As much as he enjoyed being alone, he knew that he needed to see Tony.

"Dr. Banner?"

Bruce did a small jump at the sound of the disembodied voice before straightening himself, turning a small shade of pink. He still not used to the AI. "Hi Jarvis." Bruce said kindly, embarrassed that he didn't know where to look to speak to Jarvis. "Do you know where Tony went?"

"Yes Dr. Banner, and we need to talk about that…"

Bruce did not like the sound of that.

"Yeah?" Bruce prompted.

"It's about Mr. Stark's parents…"

Oh yeah, this was bad.

CATSWCATWSCATWS

A pounding fist connecting with their door awaken Bucky from his sleep. The noise broke him out of what little peaceful sleep he was in and he felt his heart tighten in anxiety. Since he had started to slowly stop being…well, the Solider, his emotions and feelings were raw and vulnerable. Loud noises left him feeling stressed and uneasy. He felt a strong hand set on his shoulder to calm him down and relaxed knowing it belonged to Steve.

They had been up much too late again last night due to one of Bucky's nightmares. Steve's heart ached for his friend and he willing stayed up half the night to comfort him. Steve would do whatever he needed to do for his friend. He knew Bucky feared he was being a burden but honestly, there was no place Steve wanted to be other than at his best friend's side.

"Tony?" Steve asked groggily. He wasn't upset to hear if it was Tony but not this late (or early?) in the morning.

"One and only." Came an incoherent voice. Basically, the only time one would ever hear Tony's voice inaudible would be if he was drunk…er than normal.

Steve cringed at the sound of one very drunk Tony Stark. Bucky was pulling their blanket up high, wrapping himself around with it. "Why does he sound hurt?" Bucky asked worriedly.

"He's not hurt." Steve yawn, heading towards the door. "Just an idiot."

"I'll drink to that." Came the voice through the door.

"Please don't." Steve said dryly as he opened the door to reveal a disheveled Tony, looking like he had been drinking since they last saw him. "Did you find the answers to the universe at the end of the bottle?" Steve asked in a bored tone, still holding on to the doorknob.

"Bottles." Tony enunciated the plurals of that sentence before walking into the room uninvited.

"Welcome in." Steve sighed as he started closing the door, not even realizing that he was subconsciously positioning himself between Tony and Bucky. Bucky stared at his own knees shyly, gulping. Nowadays Bucky needed some time to be able to muster up the energy for other people. The only exception to that feeling was Steve. Steve sat down in the bed, never letting his gaze leave Tony's face. "Something up?"

"I'd just thought I'd see you guys." Tony answered. Steve knew that Tony rarely got drunk. He usually had a drink in his hand, but Steve couldn't remember a time when Tony was drunk enough to show it. "I used to think I was pretty good at spotting out liars, but then again, I did get betrayed by someone I considered family a few years ago, so maybe I'm not the best judge of character."

"Tony, what are you talking about?" Steve crossed his arms defensively, feeling Bucky behind him breathing heavily.

"I'm talking about the fact I don't know I housing my parent's murder in my own house." Tony smiled yet his eyes were cold, looking past Steve and at Bucky. "I'm impressed, I never though you grandpas were good liars."

Steve kept his face indifferent but he was ready to have what felt close to his past asthma attacks. Of course, of course, Tony would find out without them telling him first. Steve felt cool, mental fingers grip his wrist. He didn't move from his positioned but he did move his fingers to gently hold on to Bucky's, letting him know it was going to be okay.

"Tony-" Steve started but was swiftly interrupted.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tony's voice was dangerously low, he stayed standing by the doorway.

"Because you don't understand." Steve answered honestly.

"Then why didn't you just tell me I apparently don't understand?"

"Because I needed to explain it to you, why it isn't his fault, why you shouldn't blame him because I know you will."

"You're damn right I will." Tony practically snarled.

"Tony please." Steve knew arguing wasn't going to help anyone. He just needed to calm Tony down, to tell him the truth. "I wanted to explain everything before telling you."

"Then explain." Tony said coolly, moving his gaze from Bucky' terrified brown eyes to Steve's steady blue ones.

Steve inhaled deeply before answering, keeping his voice calm to protect Bucky. "It wasn't him, okay? The real Bucky, the Bucky who is my brother, would never do that." Steve implored Tony. "You don't know him like I do, and I know you well enough to know that you would let the government know where he is, and I can't allow that."

"Of course I would!" Tony snapped. "He is a killer! They are the only ones who can 'fix' him, if he even needs fixing."

"This!" Steve yelled, gesturing to Tony. "Is why I didn't tell you anything! He was tortured for over seventy years-"

"So who knows if he can even be fixed!?" Tony shouted, pointing to Bucky who ducked his head down, unable to look at either men in shame. "The Bucky you know has been dead since he fell from that train! This is just a shell!" Tony's voice rose to a scream.

"Even if he is, he's still worth saving!" Steve shouted back, taking a step forward just as Tony did the same. "Hydra is the one that ordered their hit, Tony!"

"But he pulled the trigger!" Tony raged. "I can't do anything about them but I can take care of the thing that killed them!"

"Over my dead body." Steve growled out slowly.

Steve didn't even see the punch coming.

Maybe because he was distracted from the heated discussion or he was too shocked to believe this 5'8 man would think he could successfully attack the 6 foot man, but he wasn't fast enough to be able to successfully block him.

Tony had gotten the element of surprise but he was still physically weaker than the taller man. Bucky sat on his knees on the bed. "Steve!" He yelled.

Steve wanted to answer but the punch in the gut from the dark haired man took him by surprise. Taking advantage of the situation, Tony punched him again in the gut, sending the stronger man to the floor on one knee. Okay, need to remember to not take my eyes off of Tony when he's drunk. Steve thought helpfully to himself, wincing as he moved to sit up. Tony looked at the crouching Steve, his eyes wide at the realization of what he did. The punch itself didn't hurt Steve but it was right in his gut, temporarily stunning him. He breathed uneasily, the punch had knocked the wind of him, causing him to feel like he couldn't breathe for a moment.

"Steve…" Tony started, breathing heavily at the sight of what he had done. "I'm-" But the apology never left his lips.

Bucky had shot off the bed, the shock of the first punch at frozen him, but the second one unleashed his wrath and he grabbed Tony by the neck, surprising both Tony and Steve. Tony gasped, never seeing any emotion on the man's face before that was always similar to a scared rabbit. But now…he didn't think he had ever seen such rage before on anyone.

"You hurt him." Bucky growled. "You hurt Steve." Bucky tightened his hold on the other man's neck, causing Tony to gasp in pain and try to weakly push at the solider off of him. "No one hurts Steve."

"Just breathe Stevie." Bucky instructed, rubbing soothing circles on Steve's thin back. He could feel his bones through the shirt he was so thin. Bucky was practically hunched over Steve, trying to calm him down.

A group of some assholes had tried to pick on some girl just trying to go to work. Steve, of course, wasn't having any of that. By the time Bucky had arrived, Steve was doubled over in pain and there were three guys kicking very inch of him that their boots could find. And Bucky, of course, wasn't having any of that.

"Ca-c-can't bre-beathe-" Steve tried, holding on to Buck's hand for dear life, neither men paid any attention to the three morons who were currently running away after unleashing the wrath of Bucky Barnes.

"It's okay." Bucky blinked rapidly, tears falling down his cheek, pulling Steve closer against his chest while still rubbing Steve's back. "Just-just breathe Stevie, I'm here, I'll protect you, just breathe for me. That's all you have to do Steve, just breathe."

"I can't-"

"Yes you can. I'm right here, I'm not leaving you until I hear you breathing."

"Hurts, Buck…"

"I know pal, I know, but you are going to be fine, I will make sure of that, okay buddy?"

"Please don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere, punk.

"Jerk."

"Bucky stop!"

Bucky instantly let go of Tony as the order left Steve's lips. Before Tony even had time to fall limpness to the floor, Bucky had grabbed Steve in his hold, looking him over for any injuries. "Can you breathe?" Bucky demanded, cupping Steve's face with his hands as he searched for any wounds he may have missed. His metal hand gripped a bit too tight but Steve didn't care.

"I'm fine Buck." Steve promised, gentling wrapping Bucky's wrist with his fingers, trying to calm him down.

"You couldn't breathe." Bucky whispered, still holding on to Steve with raw intensity that Steve felt vulnerable. "You couldn't breathe then and you couldn't breathe now…"

Suddenly realizing that Bucky must have remembered something from their lives in Brooklyn, Steve moved his other hand to rest on the nape of Bucky's neck, using enough force to still Bucky's shuddering head, full understanding in his eyes.

"I'm okay…" Steve whispered. "I'm breathing now Buck, you helped me, remember?" Bucky's body still trembling, tears uncontrollably falling down his cheeks. "You couldn't breathe." Bucky repeated, still shaking.

Steve gently pulled Bucky's head closer until he rested against Steve's chest. Bucky immediately grabbed Steve's shirt, gripping the fabric tightly in his fingers and burying his head against the firm torso. Steve rested his chin on top of his friend's hair, rocking them slowly side by side. "It's okay Buck…" Steve said softly in Bucky's ear. "It's okay…"

Tony watched the ordeal silently. His lips pressed together in a firm line, he wobbly stood up on his still drunk legs. Steve raised his eyes to Tony's looking at him with desperate eyes. "Tony" Steve whispered. "…please…."

"He can stay." Tony said in a tight voice. He left the room without another word, but Steve thought for a moment that his eyes looked wet.

Steve turned his attention back to Bucky, pulling him closer against him until he felt the dark haired man stop shaking hours later, still clinging to his friend.

Have a wonderful day! *hug!*