A/N: I'm sorry for what you're about to read I forced it onto paper in a very crammed car over the course of the day and I legit think it's trash but hey you might like it idk *cries and laughs simultaneously* if it's bad don't hesitate to tell me in the reviews so I can FIX IT. Thank you. :D

"Put it higher—no, not like that—no, dammit, higher—"

"Do you want to do it yourself?" Clint muttered, lazily holding the corner of a huge banner, leaning against the ladder. He looked bored out of his mind. "C'mon. Get up here, Stark. Let's see how well you can do it in your heels."

Tony crossed his arms over his chest and said, "They're lifts, jackass. And I'm the planner. Pepper can't make it over from California, so this is all my job now. Planners don't do work, they order other people around."

"So how is that different than normal?" Sam asked from the industrial kitchen. It had a bar that opened into the gigantic ballroom the Avengers were decorating. Sam was charged with cooking, since, ya know, everything piece of edible food that Sam touched turned into ambrosia.

"It's not," Steve murmured, sitting at one of the white cloth-covered round tables, putting together expensive party favors. Bucky was sitting with him, folding programs. Bruce was at the other end of the large hall, settling tablecloths over the tables that hadn't been covered yet. Thor was having a grand old time sprinkling glitter around, dropping it in Stella's fur as she pounced around at his feet.

I was sweeping ahead of Thor, since the room hadn't been used in a long time and was pretty dusty. I couldn't stop sneezing. Tasha was setting the places with cutlery and plates and those super extra-fancy folded napkins. And Tony was standing in the middle of it all, barking orders.

In response to Steve's comment, Tony pursed his lips. "I don't usually order you around. I make non-negotiable suggestions that you guys follow because it's smart. Because I'm smart. And I have smart ideas. And then everybody's happy."

"Remind me again why Earth's mightiest heroes are setting up for a gala?" I asked, leaning against the broom, sneezing after I'd finished. We'd been at it for a couple of hours, and I was hungry. I wandered towards the open bar while Tony responded.

"Because the people I hired to do it didn't show up," Tony grumbled, glancing at the floor to ceiling glass windows at the end of the large room, where the sun was starting to dip in the sky. "At least, that's the story we're feeding Pepper if she happens to ask."

"So, in translation, you forgot," Sam explained, sliding me a plate of cheese cubes, cookies, finger sandwiches, and some type of sushi-sashimi-fish-thing. I grinned at him and grabbed it. He winked back, going back to a pot on the stove before it could boil over.

"No." Silence. "Maybe. That's not the point. The point is we don't tell Pepper."

"I still haven't met Pepper," I murmured around the (surprisingly delicious) fish thingy.

They ignored me. "This is why you don't plan things, Tony." Steve murmured disappointedly, tepidly glaring at the party favors. "We could be training. Or strategizing. Or doing anything else."

"Double time it, people!" Tony yelled, clapping his hands together. "Guests start arriving in two hours. And you guys still need to get ready."

"What's the gala for?" I asked, breaking off a corner of a cheese cube and setting it in front of Stella, stroking her tail as she licked it up. "I thought this was a high security off the grid place."

"It is," Clint said, hopping down from the ladder once he'd finally secured the banner. "It's a SHIELD – Stark Industries cosponsored gathering for rich people to have pissing contests."

"And this is why you never managed to climb the social ladder, Clint," Tony said sadly, tsking. "It's a sophisticated event in which society's elite—in this case, society's super secret spy elite—gather to compare experiences and information while relaxing and having a few whiskeys. Or coffees."

"So, a pissing contest with snacks." I clarified, sweeping up the crumbs from Stella's snacks. Bucky looked up and smirked at me.

"You're all incorrigible," Tony muttered, adjusting his designer suit.

"See? You're already breaking out the big words." Steve chuckled, dropping another party favor into the pile to his left.

"Peter, would you go get Honey Bear from the gym so I have someone who supports me?" Tony grumbled. "Since no one here seems to want to back me up."

"Sure," I said, shoving the broom into his hands and grabbing my plate. "You can finish my job, planner."

I ran to the elevator before he could protest, grinning as he started cursing the broom. I popped another cheese cube into my mouth as the elevator descended to the ground floor, where all of our rooms were, then made my way to the gym. I stopped short outside the door when I heard two voices.

"Good, Rhodes, a bit more," a young, female voice said, sounding coaxing and demanding at the same time. "This is all you, James. I'm not touching you. C'mon, this is mental, now. A bit further."

Rhodey's ragged panting followed her voice, small grunts worming their way out every now and then. I felt bad listening in, but at the same time, I didn't want to interrupt them. It was Rhodey's weekly physical therapy appointment. I knew he didn't like any team members or me with him during these sessions.

"Nice job, Rhodes! That's a personal best!" The woman's voice said, sounding excited. A slap reached my ears, and I assumed they high fived. "You're regaining control at an incredible rate."

Rhodey gave a breathy chuckle. "Thanks to Tony's tech. I wouldn't be able to move without it."

I cringed at his tone. Though joking, I could hear the bitterness.

The woman didn't seem bothered. "Even without the tech. Your control is amazing, and it's getting better every day. You really are improving."

Rhodey sighed. "Thanks, Amanda."

A few seconds of silence, then Amanda spoke again. "Guess our time's up. I'll see you next week, Rhodes. Do those independent exercises and don't you dare think I won't know if you don't."

Rhodey gave a quiet chuckle. "Yes, ma'am."

There was another exit on the other side of the gym that led straight to an elevator used for employees or people who didn't come to the Compound regularly. I assumed she left through there, since she didn't open the door in my face or anything.

Unsure of what to do, I shuffled from foot to foot for a moment or two and finally knocked on the door. "Come in," Rhodey's tired voice drifted through the door. I shoved it open and walked inside.

Rhodey had his braces on and was sitting on a stool over by the parallel bars, a towel over his shoulders and a water bottle in his hand. He was still breathing heavily. "Hey, kiddo. What's up?"

"Hi," I said, shifting awkwardly. He glanced at me questioningly, probably sensing my indecision. Should I tell him I overheard part of his conversation? Or would it just embarrass him? In the end, I decided not to address the issue at all for the moment, instead shoving the plate of food in his face and shouting, "Cheese cube?!"

Surprise flickered across his face, but then he smirked, plucking one off the plate. "Sam snuck you food again, didn't he?"

I grinned at the floor, pink dusting my cheeks. "Maybe. There was extra anyways."

"He spoils you."

"You all spoil me. Don't stop."

Rhodey laughed, his eyes crinkling. I swiped a cookie from the plate, setting the plate on the bench beside him and sitting cross-legged in front of him. Tugging at my sleeves, I said, "Uh. I didn't really mean to, but…I k-kind of overheard some of your session. Just a little bit. Like, the very end." I looked down. "I'm sorry. I know you don't like anyone down here during those."

Rhodey was silent for a second, then he smiled and leaned forward, gently ruffling my hair. "It's okay. You didn't know."

I nodded, grabbing a finger sandwich. I hadn't tried those yet. "It's okay if you don't wanna talk about it, but…I mean, how's it going? How are you?" I paused, swallowing. "That lady Amanda said you were getting better."

Rhodey sighed through his nose and glanced at the braces silently. "It's slow. It's…frustrating. But, yeah. Amanda swears I'm gaining more control over my legs." Rhodey smiled grimly. "It's just not happening fast enough."

I nodded slowly, glancing at the braces. The cloaking technology was working well, but he didn't have it on right now. There was no reason to. I glanced at the brace on one knee, eyebrows furrowing. "Doesn't that hurt?"

Rhodey glanced down. "Doesn't what hurt?"

"That," I said, scooting closer and gently grasping the mechanism, studying the bolt in the knee joint. It was structured in such a way that it enclosed the patella to support the joint without causing pain, but the bolt on his left brace seemed a little snug. "The bolt. It isn't digging into your kneecap?"

Rhodey's brow furrowed. "I mean, my nerves down there aren't all that great yet. They're healing slowly, but I can't feel much. Sometimes it twinges, I guess."

"Wait here," I said. I ran to Tony's workshop (up one floor and down the hall) and grabbed one of his tool kits.

I adjusted the bolt a little, unscrewing it enough to take the pressure off the kneecap, then slipping a small piece of padding I cut from the lining of Tony's toolbox (if he noticed, I seriously doubted he'd care) and fastening it on. I screwed it back in, a little looser than before, but secure enough to support him.

Putting the screwdriver back in the kit, I leaned back to examine my work. "Can you walk around a little bit and tell me how it feels?"

Rhodey, who had been watching me work, stood slowly and flexed his leg, testing out the joint, his brow furrowing as he walked around a little bit. As he doubled back, he grinned and shook his head. "I didn't even know it was bothering me that much, honestly. That feels a lot better. Thanks, Peter."

I smiled up at him and packed up the tool kit as he sat back down, taking another swig from his bottle. "I'm glad. If anything else is bothering you, you can always ask me. Or Tony. I figure you're more comfortable with him."

Rhodey snorted. "Comfortable is a strong word."

I grinned, shaking my head. "Your relationship is ridiculous."

He smirked. "Ridiculous relationships are the best. We've known each other since college. We've got so much blackmail on each other it's not even funny. We've just been through a lot together, that's all."

"If what you told me about his college days are true, I'm sure it's a truckload of blackmail."

Rhodey winked. "Most definitely. I mean, a lot of our friendship was just having fun, showing each other up with our stupidity, but Tony does mean a lot to me. And no matter how much he denies it, he cares about me a little bit somewhere behind that big suit of armor."

I paused, looking down. "He hides his emotions a lot, huh?"

"Yeah," he sighed, sounding sad.

"You do, too."

"Hm?"

"Hide your emotions a lot. I can tell the braces make you feel bad. Feel…I dunno, inferior, or something, but that's not true at all."

Rhodey pursed his lips, his grip tightening on his water bottle. "Not now, kid. It's—"

"You never talk to anybody, though," I said, my voice taking on a pleading edge. "I know I may be annoying or pushy or whatever, but you gotta talk to somebody, Rhodey. I can tell you're unhappy with them, and I don't want to see you upset. You don't have to talk to me. Or Tony. Or anybody here. But you can talk to somebody. Please?" Rhodey didn't look t me. "Just…promise me you'll think about it?"

Rhodey turned and looked me in the eyes. I stared up at him, the most pleading expression I could muster on my face, hands clenched in my lap. Rhodey's eyebrows drew together and he stared at me for a long minute before finally looking away, grunting. "You and those damn puppy dog eyes. Fine. I'll talk to somebody."

I beamed up at him, grinning. "Thank you!"

"You're adorable. You're just freaking adorable, Peter. It's your greatest weapon."

Recoiling, I shouted, "I'm not adorable, I'm a teenager! I'm…okay, no, I'm not manly, but I'm not adorable, Rhodey!"

"You are, though. You're like a furry puppy that just tripped over nothing and rolled over. You're that level of adorable."

"I'm not a damn puppy!" I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. Then I realized as he laughed that sitting here like this, I probably actually did look like a kid. I uncrossed my legs and my arms and leaned back, though I was far less comfortable, in attempt to look a little bigger. "Way to make a guy feel mature. Call me adorable and then a puppy all in one breath."

He grinned, ruffling my hair. I swatted his hand away, though I couldn't hide the smile that crept in. "No wonder Stella loves you so much. She probably thinks you're her kitten."

In complete shock of what had just come out of Rhodey's mouth, I spluttered indignantly, unable to actually articulate a response. Rhodey burst out laughing at my expression, and eventually I joined in, his infectious laughter irresistible.

Companionable silence stretched over us for a few moments after that. I munched on another cookie, wondering if Tony was expecting us back anytime soon. I hoped not.

"Tony sent me to get you," I said around the cookie, "but I'm comfortable."

Rhodey smirked. "You and me both."

…

Tony wasn't happy we'd ditched the rest of set-up, but he was too busy and flustered to yell at us too much. All the Avengers had to be present, but with SHIELD still questionable in terms of HYDRA spies, they decided it was best if I didn't come.

I holed up in the common room with Stella for company and turned on the TV for background noise, lying on the couch and reading one of the encyclopedias Bruce had gotten me. I set one of Stella's electronic toys to automatic and let her chase it around the room, only stopping when it got wedged into the corner and wouldn't roll any further. When that happened, she pouted on top of my chest, staring at me over the rim of my book, finally curling up against my side.

When I was hungry, I helped myself to some leftover pizza and finished my encyclopedia, setting down a little bowl of food for Stella, then lay on the couch in boredom. Eventually, I drifted off, Stella leaping up to curl against me.

It couldn't have been much later that I was awoken by a foreign feeling on my bare arms. Blearily, I blinked my eyes open, only to see Bucky above me, draping my fuzzy Avengers blanket over my body.

"Bucky?" I slurred, rubbing my eyes.

Bucky gave a little half smile and sat down where my head had been as I sat up, ruffling my hair. "Hey, kid. Didn't mean to wake you."

Stella, having also been woken up, leapt off the couch and into the armchair, curling up where she could sleep undisturbed.

"S'okay," I yawned. "How was the party?"

Bucky's hair was slicked back with gel and product, making him look ridiculously like a vampire. His necktie hung open under his collar, his dress shirt untucked and unbuttoned at the top. He looked like one of those fashionable bad boys in every cliché spy movie.

He gave an exasperated chuckle. "It was hell. I barely escaped with my life, and I left early."

"What, kiss-ass socialites just not doing it for you?" I asked with a grin, tugging the blanket up higher.

Bucky gave an exaggerated shiver of disgust, rolling his eyes. "You were right about the pissing contests. It was ridiculous out there, I won't lie."

I huffed a laugh, leaning against him. He put an arm around my shoulders and leaned back into the couch, his head resting against the seatback.

I'd almost drifted off again, but his words startled me awake.

"I'm a lucky son of a bitch, aren't I?"

Puzzled, I sat up, glancing at him. "What do you mean?"

He shook his head, smiling, staring at the now-muted TV with some ridiculous comedy show blaring across the screen. "I used to think I was the unluckiest bastard on the face of this planet. I fell off a train into a snowy, deserted wasteland, only for HYDRA to drag me back from death and brainwash me into killing hundreds of innocents for seventy years. Then when I woke up, I realized I'd almost killed Steve. I used to be almost as protective of Steve as I am of you. He was scrawny and small and always getting into fights. He never knew when to back down. I don't think I would have been so fond of him if he hadn't always been sticking up for the little guy, actually.

"And then I realized that even so, Steve had almost given up everything he'd worked so hard for after being recovered from the ice. For me. And I felt so guilty. He stashed me away in Wakanda for a while, and I went back into cryo until T'Challa could fix me. Gave me a new arm and everything. Then it all…settled down, I guess, and we all lived happily every after. But I was still having flashbacks, and panic attacks. Nightmares. Steve did his best, but he couldn't be with me all the time. It got really, really bad a few months ago.

"Then you came along. And as I got to know you, it was…worth it. Everything I'd been through to hit this point. It was worth it."

Bucky looked away, seeming embarrassed. I was sitting up straight by now, eyes wide, completely attentive. Bucky was never this open. Ever. He always kept everything in a neat, tight little box behind a padlocked door. This was super rare.

And super sappy.

And super necessary.

"You mean that?" I asked, my voice shaking despite myself. "You really mean that? I mean—why, though?"

Bucky glanced at me, a smile gracing his lips. "I've seen too much weird shit to not believe in fate or destiny. Some people are just connected, Peter, from the get go. I feel like…for me, that's you. I never had siblings. Steve was the closest. The others aren't…siblings. Maybe Natasha sometimes, but all the others are…valued friends. You started out as a street rat. A gutsy street rat that I respected. And then you were an ally, and then a friend. And now…well, you're the closest thing to a kid brother I think I'll ever have, Peter. And I don't want to waste this chance. I've had so many choices, so many chances, taken from me, and I'll be damned if I let go of this one."

Somewhere during his spiel, I'd felt tears start trickling down my cheeks, unaware that I was even actually crying. The weight of his words were more important then he could ever imagine.

"I can trust you," I whispered, my forehead settling on his shoulder, his arm tightening around me. "I can really trust you."

"What? Of course you can," Bucky said, sitting up, sounding a little worried.

"I know," I choked, drawing the blanket around my shoulders. "I know. I knew. But n-now I know. I can stay. Right? I c-can stay?"

"Of course you can stay, Peter," Bucky said vehemently, ruffling my hair and leaving his hand cupping the back of my head, holding it against his shoulder as I just…breathed. "Where's this coming from?"

I breathed out shakily, my head still against his shoulder. "I love you, Bucky."

Bucky froze. I froze. I hadn't said those words to anyone since May and Ben, because there hadn't been anyone else who deserved them. I had somewhere along the way convinced myself that I would never say those words to anyone again.

But I found that my words were true. Bucky was family. Bucky was real, and here and warm and solid and staying.

"I love you too, kid," Bucky said, and I could hear the gentle smile as his metal hand settled gently atop my head, his thumb massaging the scalp there. "I do. I really do, street rat. I love everything about you."

Something between a sob and a laugh left my lips, and I swallowed thickly, decision made.

"I'm ready," I breathed, sitting up, wiping my face on my sleeves and looking at him straight on. "I'm ready to…to give you the formula. To give you what you wanted."

But we both knew this was so much bigger than just the formula. It had evolved way beyond that. Giving them the formula would be giving them my complete, whole, unadulterated trust. Because after that, they didn't have to keep me here anymore. They could ship me off to Nevada or God knows where else.

This was me trusting that they wouldn't.

Bucky breathed in a sharp breath, turning completely to face me. "Are you sure, Peter? You don't have to. You know you can take as much time as you need."

I shook my head, giving him a watery smile. "I want to. I w-want to."

Bucky isn't the most expressive person. It's usually all patient smiles or resting bitch face. But he broke out into a grin that lit up the room, his eyes crinkling, his cheeks stretching. Because he knew how big this was.

"That's amazing, Peter," he said, sounding…almost relieved. I supposed he'd been worried I'd never trust them enough. "You're amazing, kid."

I grinned at him, months—years—of stress and doubt and guilt and worry and bitterness draining from my body all at once, letting me almost deflate in relief. I slumped against Bucky and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, peering over his shoulder with blurry eyes, just relishing the feeling of someone who wasn't going to ever let go holding me.

…

We told the others after the party.

They were all exhausted when they got back—fraternizing with suck-up socialites apparently drains you of energy pretty quickly (except for Tony, of course, who was more than used to it)—but at the news, it was like they all got twelve hours of sleep.

Natasha gave me a genuine smile and ruffled my hair, kissing my head and wandering to the kitchen to make hot chocolate. Bruce gave me a rare grin, and Clint yelled in joy. Tony's bright smile got brighter as he told me it was about damn time, and Rhodey gave me as wink as he cuffed him on the head. Sam gave me a high five and told me he was proud of me. Thor leapt from his chair, pumped his fist in the air, and yelled, "TODAY IS A JOYOUS DAY! LET US CELEBRATE!" And rumbling thunder on a starry clear night was heard in the distance.

Nope, not weird at all.

Natasha came back with the hot chocolate, and we all sat and talked and planned. Planned who was going to be present when I gave the formula, when I wanted to do it, etc. Tony took a phone call at some point, but Steve was the official SHIELD liaison, so his presence wasn't mandatory.

For my part, leaned into Bucky, fuzzy blanket wrapped around me, hot chocolate in my hands, Stella against my side, content to let my family plan for me. For the first time since May and Ben, I felt true, pure peace. Trust, acceptance. Love.

I should have known better.

Tony came back into the room, his posture tense, his body rigid and coiled, shoulders stiff. I sat up, immediately recognizing bad news as he cleared his throat, drawing the room's attention. "I hate to interrupt the strategy meeting, but…we have a problem," Tony said, dragging a hand down his face, looking older than he was, shoulders slumping with fatigue.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked, setting down his cup. Everyone else in the room looked up intently, on edge from Tony's tone.

Tony grimaced and glanced at me with worried eyes. "Ross is coming."

A/N: Cool, so, I actually have no idea how this got written. I'm sorry for this trash I have labeled a chapter T-T I forced like 95% of this, and I hate forcing chapters. I feel like they're never as good and real as chapters that just kind of come to you, you know? But at the same time, I didn't want to leave you hanging. Literally I had less than 200 words less than twenty-four hours ago, and I got you almost 4000, so yay me and forcing things X'D

Anyways, as always, a wonderful and overwhelming response! Thanks so much for all my followers and favoriters, and especially my supportive, encouraging reviewers: Puppens101, Anunknowntimelord, CelinaB, TC Howl, Amaxe, SnowyLuna, Ammy of Asgard, Princess Naina, monkeybaby, Lavender Queen, kittymyth96, RoseCentury, BabyPinkPuppy, The Striking Storms, Esha Napoleon, ALonesomeAuthor, Silvermane1, LoonyLovegood1981, DemonSkitty, AleuStark, Bob is a ninja, katwinchester, Tala May, IeatSoulGreen, and the three guests!

Guest (I love this story so much! I absolutely adore…): Thanks so much! Thanks, I'm glad you like the spider relationship! I was afraid I put too much emotional into an undeniably very unemotional character, but then I was like "screw it I love Natasha and I have creative license" and it worked! I'm so glad you're waiting for updates, and I REALLY REALLY appreciate the review :) thanks so much for reading!

Bob is a ninja: Thanks so much! Natasha is my favorite female Marvel character for sure. Heck yeah, he is ;) we're getting there! XD hahahhaa don't worry, I'm working on it!

Guest (That was so sweet. Among all the bonding moments…): Honeslty me too XD though I did really like writing Peter's and Bucky's, even though I don't think it turned out as well as I'd envisioned it X'''D Also. STAN LEE WILL HAVE A CAMEO! I have NO IDEA where, but it'll happen XD Ya know? That is an excellent question. I don't actually have an answer for you yet. I'll play around with it and see how it feels. I dunno. I may include it from the get go, I may put it in the sequel, or maybe not at all. Hm. The possibilities…Thanks for the reminder on that tho! I appreciate it, and the review!

Guest (I liked this chapter! ANOTHER! *throws laptop*): Hahahahahaha XD your review had me laughing out loud I'm not gonna lie. Here's another chapter! Please don't throw expensive technology X'D thanks so much for leaving a review!

I really truly appreciate every single one of your reviews, and I really thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts :) I reply to every single review, so never be afraid to ask a question or share a thought or anything like that!

So. Next chapter. The long awaited/dreaded Chapter 26. Ross comes ;) wonder what happens…? Hm. We'll find out in a week XD *cackles evilly* Also this has been written for weeks and edited several times so I promise it's better than this one!