A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. I wanted to get this out before Infinity War premiered but important things just kept popping up that took my attention away from this. But here it is now!

I apologize for any and all errors and without any further ado, on with the show!

Chapter Thirty-Seven: As Time Goes By

Days passed in a blur and a restless eerie calm descended upon the Avengers. It had been three weeks since the Baltimore massacre and not a hair nor hide could be found of any new foe seeking to wreak havoc upon the world. It scared Tony more than he was ever willing to admit. Something big was coming and the uneasy peace made Tony's nerves stretch tighter than a guitar string.

It didn't really help that Calamity had been as equally quiet. The total number of cases still remained at 1,039 and as it was the genius was no closer to figuring out Calamity's code as he was weeks ago. The only real progress he had made, amazingly, was with Barnes.

They had finished calibrating the painkilling device, completed a full body scan and had somehow miraculously succeeded in the first step of getting Barnes combat ready, they had removed all of Hydra's old hardware. Everything from the bone anchoring mechanisms in his shoulder to the neuro-cybernetic microchips implanted in his spinal cord at the base of his skull.

Upon further analysis, the microchips acted as neurotransmitters sending the soldiers neurological commands to the cybernetic arm creating a complex system of precise dexterity.

Now that piece of technology is what really threw Tony. Our genius had been working on something very similar to those microchips in an attempt to aid wounded veterans. Yet, Hydra had managed to create something so sophisticated and intricate seventy years ago. Tony was both in awe and utterly disgusted. The more he learned about Hydra the more he came to utterly detest them. Hydra had made such incredible advancements in medicine and technology and instead of bettering the world they hid it away and used it on creating weapons. Tony's disgust soon turned inward as he realized that not too long ago he himself was guilty of the same.

While Barnes was happily recovering after the removal of the hardware, Tony spent a few days analyzing each and every component and adding his own altercations and upgrades to the new designs. After that, he had Jarvis thoroughly analyze the microchips and came up with a refined program for the neurotransmitters. He had also isolated Hydra's other potentially malevolent programming and was running analysis on their exact purpose.

Unfortunately, Tony could not quite find a way to completely eradicate the pain that came with the unnatural union of the cybernetic machinery and the organic matter of human flesh, taking in future patients into consideration. As far as Barnes was concerned, he preferred to keep the pain.

This is where we find our favorite genius now, preparing the OR to receive Barnes and install the new upgraded hardware. He gingerly placed each mechanism and part down in precise order on a steel table next to the operating station. He was going over the physical procedure in his mind as he mentally catalogued all of the parts over and over again.

Just as Tony had been heavily involved in the removal of Hydra's hardware he was also going to be overseeing the installation of his own hardware. With the aid of Dr. Davidson and a Dr. Cho from SHIELD, his multitude of notes derived from his consultation with leading neurosurgeon in the world, Dr. Stephen Strange, and a medical precision robot he had quickly whipped together for this purpose, he was ready to get this show on the road.

One may be wondering as to why Tony Stark was involving himself so immensely in this endeavor. Such concerns were expressed numerous times by varying members of his fragmented team. Why not just let Davidson and Cho do it alone? They are not imbeciles after all. Much to the contrary. They could feasibly handle the operation alone with the notes and Jarvis to aid them. Why does Tony need to be present at all? He could be working on the code in the meantime… Blah blah blah…

In truth, there were three reasons why Tony decided to stay and oversee each and every operation regarding Barnes's arm.

Reason one was unsurprisingly egotistical. He needed to make sure his hardware was being handled with care and installed correctly. He absolutely could not sit back and let it all happen without him. It's like having somebody else work on his arc reactor or any of his suits, it just isn't done.

The second reason was more practical. Tony was no stranger to the unbearable fusion of man and machine if his arc reactor was any indication. He also had the stomach for it to a degree, having operated and experimented on himself numerous times, finding ways to merge his own body and Iron Man persona more efficiently.

Lastly, the third reason was born out of obligation and lack for a better word, irony. As it would happen, Barnes refused to go along with the procedure if Tony was not present. Through their banter of constant, unyielding bickering and throwing around salty barbed insults like rotten eggs, they had somehow created something of a dysfunctional camaraderie that no one but Wanda and the Professor seem to understand. It was utterly unnerving to most members of the team yet they had all somehow accepted it with a sigh and shake of the head.

Because of this odd relationship they had developed Barnes had apparently found himself trusting our genius, as an evidence of his adamant decision in trusting no one but Tony to handle and oversee his horrific and traumatizing operations to get a new battle-ready arm. Trust and believe, after everything Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes had gone through, the operations would indeed be horrific and traumatizing. Tony, in good conscience, could not, would not leave him alone for that. Especially because the soldier needed to stay completely conscious through the entire thing. And of course, it's the way Steve would have wanted it…

Tony sighed and ran his hands through his hair as he tried to calm his nerves. He desperately tried as hard as he could not to think of Steve but it was so hard. Memories of Steve permeated his thoughts everywhere he went. It was a near impossible task but if he allowed his thoughts to linger too long on the Captain his heart sputtered in agony and his mind shut down. And right now, his mind was the only real weapon they had.

Saving everyone from Calamity was a priority. He had tried a few more algorithms earlier that day. They all failed spectacularly. To be honest he had somewhat given up on trying to decipher the data load Calamity gave to him and had gone back to writing the desynthization program from scratch. The simulations were as detestable as ever. He really did not know what he was going to do if he couldn't solve the code or create one to free people from their comas, to release Calamity's hold over them.

He clicked his tongue at himself and chuckled darkly. That was another reason he guessed that he himself was so adamant to help Barnes in this way. It was something that he could accomplish, something that he could control 100%. He needed to be of use in this one little stupid way. Calamity probably has them all fucked six ways to Sunday but at least Tony was going to accomplish this. He was going to help this man, Steve's friend and brother in ways Steve himself could not.

"Mr. Stark!" Tony jolted out of his dark thoughts as one of the doctors bounded into the room. "I see you prepared the tables. Efficient as always." Dr. Davidson stated briskly as she prepared a few of the surrounding monitors to display the Soldiers scans of his shoulder taken just an hour ago.

As Dr. Davidson went about making her own preparations, Tony took the opportunity to look at the scans. He took in all of the important details with a critical eye. He frowned when he assessed how much the soldier had healed in that time. Normally, a fast healing rate would be a good thing, a fantastic thing even. In this case, however, it made their work a tad bit harder. They were literally going to have to open up old wounds to get in there to install the new hardware.

The doctors would have liked to have done it all in one go but Tony needed the old hardware they had removed to be fully analyzed. Tony knew where the doctors were coming from and agreed to an extent but he doubted his advanced scanners could reach the tiniest and most delicate mechanisms in the bone anchors and he did not want to risk guessing, not with this. Turns out he was right to worry, but did you really doubt our favorite genius?

Tony found the internal bone anchor mechanisms and neuro-clasps were far more intricate than he had originally assumed and that was with giving Hydra immense credit for their foul ingenuity in addition to everything he learned within the journal. Thus, the days he spent analyzing every little component of every piece of mechanism removed from the soldier's body, including the neuro-microchips. Unfortunately, that meant giving the soldier the time to heal and heal rapidly at that.

'But at least,' Tony thought. 'He hadn't healed all the way.' Tony continue to frown at the scans.

Flesh was easy enough to open back up, the bone, however, would be some nasty business. At least this way, they would be able to work the bone to the perfect shape of the newly modified bone anchor mechanisms and cybernetics.

Tony was so deep in thought he did not hear the approach of the dark assailant behind him and thus did not realize he was about to become his unassuming victim.

"Gotcha!" Was all the warning Tony got before he was instantly jabbed in the ribs then having something inexplicably wet shoved in his right ear.

He instantly regretted the undignified and very unmanly squeal that escaped his throat. He wheeled around instantly on his attacker only to see Barnes sporting a wide grin big enough to rival the Cheshire cat.

"That would be eighteen for me and twelve for you, Dumbass!" The soldier declared jovially.

"Oh God! This is nasty!" Tony nearly bellowed as his face scrunched up in disgust. "How fucking old are you?" He exclaimed as he desperately wiped the wetness out of his ear, dreadfully hoping it was merely saliva and not something… else. Tony wouldn't put it past him.

"I believe ninety-something." Barnes replied in thoughtfulness, completely ignoring Tony's revulsion. "Anyway," he narrowed his eyes at Tony, "What you are you doing standing there freaking out like a baby. You're supposed to be a superhero and now you're making a scene." He nodded to the doctors and Wanda who all were watching him with unconcealed mirth. "It's time to be serious and get to work." He declared with an air of authority. Then he turned to Tony and mouthed 'Nineteen.'

Tony balked at him and sputtered, "Oh shut up, asshole, you are far more the child than I am and everybody knows it." Tony retorted then proceeded to zap him in the bandaged shoulder with a tiny electro-stick the genius now carried on his person for this very purpose.

Barnes swallowed a growl.

Tony continued, "And the score happens to be 16-19, get it right! Now get your ass into that chair!" Tony pointed to the operating station.

"Ah! Fuck you! That was a cheap shot!" He growled at Tony, holding onto his tender shoulder but still made his way obediently to the chair and plopped down heavily.

It was amazing, the kind of progress he's made the last few weeks. Where before, Barnes was reluctant, even terrified to get near an exam chair, now he didn't even bat an eye.

Tony continued to scowl at the soldier as he made himself comfortable. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair again, as if the act would somehow smooth his thoughts into place.

Spending the last couple weeks with Barnes had given Tony insight into some of the facets of Steve's personality. Namely the capacity to handle Tony with a no-nonsense attitude and then turn around and dish out insults as well as he took them. In the beginning, when they first met, Tony thought Steve was an arrogant prick, a witless military puppet.

Oh, how wrong he was.

When Tony finally managed to goad Steve into verbal battles, that bastard had a hidden talent for poetic insults. He was so sophisticated about it he never had to use a curse word one. Tony still felt some of those barbs. Now, the genius found, however, how Steve ended up being like that. It was no wonder considering he had to spend most of his life with a creature like Barnes.

Yes creature.

That foul mouth little turd was getting on Tony's last nerve.

Tony took another deep breath and made his way to the soldier to begin the procedure. Upon his arrival Barnes stuck out his tongue at Tony and flipped him off then turned to wink at the ladies earning him exasperated giggles. Tony's left eye began to twitch when the soldier mouthed twenty.

'Yes creature.' Tony thought again.

"Laugh it up asshole, just remember I am the one solely in control of your level of pain. Keep fucking with me and we will see how we match up at the end of this operation." Tony warned darkly through clenched teeth.

"Oh, I'm so scared." Barnes wailed imitating a high girly voice.

"You should be." Tony murmured ominously.

"All right! Stop fooling around." Dr. Cho laughed out getting everyone's attention. "It's time to begin."

-0-

Six long hours later the score ended with Tony 26 to Barnes 22. Oh, and the operation went smoothly, well mostly smoothly. All of the bone anchors, hardware and cybernetics had been implanted perfectly. Tony was immensely pleased with the outcome. Barnes was now with Nat and Barton in recovery. He said that he could profoundly feel the difference.

During the operation Barnes nearly had a breakdown. It was one thing to remove hardware that caused his pain and torment for years. It was another to have new, similar hardware installed. Like Tony warned, the procedure was excruciating. You'd think the most painful part was mounting the bone anchors as they needed to drill deep into the bone for the insertion mechanism and anchor screws. Because, he had the painkilling device that Tony created, that part will was a piece of cake for Barnes in comparison to the installation of the neuro-clasps. Each clasp needed to be attached to an existing nerve then tested.

Tony tried to keep Barnes distracted as best he could by continuing their burn war much to the chagrin of the doctors. It did help for some time, but after each attachment of a neuro-clasp, Barnes had descended further and further deep into his own personal hell. The memory of Hydra's experimentations plagued him endlessly. Fortunately, our genius did have an ace card.

Music.

Bucky's resurging love of music was the final nail in the coffin that was Hydra's hold over him. Days ago, he had told Tony how much he loved music but had somehow completely forgotten. Tony took it upon himself to introduce Barnes to modern music, which included all his favorite rock and roll tracks. Branching out from there it really was no surprise that the soldier had taken a profound interest in various punk and metal bands. Genres like those tended to generally use darker themes, touching on war, murder, suicide, and an overall unjust world. Those particular themes resonated deeply with Bucky, as one can imagine. And despite everything, Barnes's original love for jazz, and swing, in particular, had not diminished in the slightest, if anything, he appreciated them more.

So, much to Tony's ire, Barnes's playlist consisted of the oddest selection of music; bouncing around between jazz, swing, classic rock, punk rock, metal and soul. Tony could not begrudge him of it however, because incidentally, music calmed the soldier down immensely. It's affect at soothing him was even greater than that of Wanda. When their burn war proved to no longer distract Barnes from his personal hell while installing the new hardware, his music became invaluable.

Tony liked jazz as much as the next guy, but Barnes's playlist consisted of some of the more obscure and absurd tracks he's ever heard. Right before a clasp was to be attached the soldier would change the track to some upbeat swing. It annoyed Tony to no end. Even more so when he realized that, after a time, Barnes was doing it on purpose to all irritate Tony further having recognized the genius's initial annoyance.

The genius's annoyance did nothing to diminish his concern, however. As advanced as the mechanics and technology used in Hydra's cybernetic arm was; their execution was crude at best. It really went to show that they cared nothing for the subject. Barnes was merely a convenient body. It hurt and sickened Tony to no end. Tony was never ever going to admit it, he'd die first, but Barnes had become something of a friend despite every single fucking thing that has happened to this point.

After cleaning up after the operation, Tony walked leisurely to his workshop letting his thoughts zip about and land where they may. The last few months altogether had been really something else. Never before could he have imagined his life taking all the twists and turns that it had.

As soon as he walked into his workshop he forced his thoughts to get back on task. He took a deep breath and let it out all at once. He clapped his hands together and spoke out loud.

"All right, everybody, time to wake up!" He bellowed to his machines and computers. "We've got two things to work on today: code breaking and designing prototype arms." He said as he sat himself in front of a holographic monitor.

"Sir, the skeletal rendering is complete. Shall I start the manufacturing?" Jarvis sounded off.

"Yes, right away, Jar. The sooner the better." Tony replied.

"Of course, Sir."

A full cybernetic prosthetic arm had similarities in design to his Iron Man armor. It really wouldn't be too hard to use the attributes and physics he learned creating his own armor to create a full arm. Barnes had expressed that full mobility, precision in dexterity, and durability took absolute precedence over any special bells and whistles and weaponization Tony so badly wanted to install. They can come up with something super fancy later.

Because of Tony's new design to the bone anchoring mechanism it would be relatively easy to remove and replace any arm they came up with. He could have a whole set of different arms specifically geared to certain types of missions or for whatever he wanted or needed. That feature also worked very well for removing damaged arms and replacing them with ease. At the time, Barnes had gawked at Tony after hearing his suggestion. Hydra's arm wasn't very removable. The soldier had a whole team of engineers and scientists to do maintenance and repair to the arm after each mission. Those times were awful. Tony's design made life so much easier.

Tony explained how like with his old arm, shattered as it was, the damaged neuro-cybernetic circuits caused excruciating pain. If such damage occurred again he could easily remove the damaged arm alleviating the pain.

They didn't get much further than that in their conversation about arm designs, however, due to the fact that Tony mentioned, quite impishly, how he could also create an arm with a sex toy attachment. That of course led to Barnes clapping back by mentioning Tony's giant Patriotic dildo. Thus, their conversation descended into a raunchy banter. No more work on the arm designs had been done that day. So now, Tony was only working with Barnes's key points that they managed to come up with before losing focus.

Tony also supposed he would come up with a few designs utilizing the shifting plate technology Hydra employed. But, of course, with a few tweaks of his own. It really was a genius idea and it definitely increased strength and mobility without losing too much durability.

Tony spent the next several hours coming up with idea after idea for prosthetic arms. Some were practical, some overly embellished and for shits and giggles. Some were completely outlandish and most certainly utilized the sex toy design and one design had to do with a rubber chicken.

As he was picking out an absurd color scheme for a spatula attachment there was suddenly a puff of warm air blown right into his left ear.

"Jesus Christ!" Tony shouted grabbing his ear and launching out of his chair onto the floor.

Barnes stood back laughing. He gestured out twenty-three with his hand as he tried and failed to contain his chuckles.

"Not quite," he guffawed. "But with this hair I can see how ya got confused." He remarked as he flipped his hair dramatically.

Tony kicked the chair from his position on the floor and it smacked right into Barnes, clipping him on the hip.

"Ow?" The soldier smirked.

"Damn." Tony said as he picked himself off of the floor. "I was aiming for your groin. Wouldn't be smirking then would you, asshole?"

"Try me!" Bucky challenged before looking up at what Tony was working on. "What the hell is that?" He said pointing to the holo-screen.

Tony deflated instantly, turning to the screen with a fuchsia and teal spatula.

"Oh, I was fucking around with some ideas." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Uh huh, well if you do your job right I should be able to hold in ordinary spatula… With my hand. I won't need whatever that is." He said pointedly, gesturing to the screen.

"Shut up freeloader!" Tony blustered, pointing a finger at the soldier. "It's part of my process. Don't mack on the creative flow!" Tony stated proudly.

Barnes merely rose an eyebrow.

"What the hell are you doing out of recovery, anyway?" Tony asked turning back to his work. But before Barnes could answer Tony's eyes widened, focusing now on something across the room. "Dumm-E no! That way with those! That way!" He shouted at the poor bumbling robot, gesturing to a room to the left.

"Why do you still have it if it doesn't work well?" Bucky asked nodding to Dumm-E who was holding on to a box of glass vials no doubt containing some sort of caustic fluid.

It was a genuine question, with not a hint of mockery.

Tony glanced sideways at him then sighed. "Because he was my first. A.I., I mean. He's perfect as he is." Tony replied with something of a rueful exasperated smile. "I'll upgrade his body from time to time so he can help me with my projects but Dumm-E is still Dumm-E and Butterfingers is Butterfingers." He said with a genuine laugh, gesturing to the other robot who was sweeping near a whirring machine. "And Jarvis is Jarvis."

"Always a pleasure, Sir." Jarvis commented.

"That's… Awesome." Barnes said after a long moment. He had been watching as Dumm-E made its way to the next room during Tony's explanation.

Now he was eyeing Tony queerly.

Tony noticed his gaze and bristled, "What? Do I have a pimple or something?"

"Or something." Barnes commented wryly as Tony rubbed his face.

"Dick." Tony barked before asking his original question again. "Why are you here again?"

"I've come to help work on arm designs, good thing too if that flipper is all you got." He replied.

"You obviously wholly underestimate me." Tony stated in a triumphant smirk as he snapped his fingers and gestured wide, signaling all his holo-image ports to display, all around them, every single design for the soldier's prosthetic arm he had created thus far.

Bucky stared wide-eyed in wonder as he began to turn around and around to take them all in.

"Now that's cool." He whistled. "I'll admit it, you get one giant ass point for these."

"And I'll take it!" Tony replied. "Tell me which ones give you a hard on and we'll work on those."

Barnes nodded mutely then began to point out the designs that caught his eye.

-0-

Both worked well into the night refining three basic designs. It wasn't till nearly 3 AM when Bucky stopped them.

"Hey, you need to go to sleep or at least try to."

"I'm fine." Tony replied through his yawn.

"Suuure, look, I can stay awake for days without needing sleep. You on the other hand could really go for a rest. Unless you want to pass out standing up like two-" He paused and looked at the time. "Three days ago. I'm sure everybody would love to see those pictures." The soldier smirked.

He was referring back to the incident where Tony had, in fact, fallen asleep standing up. And where, of course, Barnes took pictures and sent it to everybody. It was inadvertently the incident that began their burn war.

"God, you can't even cut me a freaking break for one God damn moment!" Tony sighed. "Fine! We'll continue this later. Tomorrow afternoon I want to mount the first prototype. Be ready." He said stifling yet another yawn. As Tony brushed past Barnes to get to the door first our genius zapped him in the ribs with his tiny zap stick.

"Ah!" Bucky squealed.

Tony chuckled and shouted 28 to 23 over his shoulder. Out of his peripherals he could see Barnes flipping him off.

The walk back to his quarters was long, arduous and daunting.

When the genius finally made it to his room and walked in, he stared at his perfectly made bed. He really did know how important sleep was. But he also knew the moment he laid down and closed his eyes Steve would be there. It did not matter in what form the Captain presented himself, good or bad, the guilt and pain would be there all the same.

End Chapter 37

A/N: I was actually working on this for nearly a month and a half, but it grew way out of control and again I had to break it in half. Sorry for the long wait, life is a hoe. The next chapter finally hits one of my major key points, only a few more to go after that.

Woot! this story is finally almost done. I cannot wait!

Please leave me a review and let me know what you think! All questions, comments, and theories welcome!