"What else haven't you told me?" June asked, her tone shrill as she slammed a glass of whiskey on the bar top. Tony, Sam, Steve, Natasha, Wanda, and Bucky were in the bar June had kicked everyone else out of when they came in and said it was safe to leave the cooler. She flipped the open sign to closed and asked if anyone wanted a drink, to which Tony and Natasha replied they did. June made their drinks then made herself one that she slammed on the bar as she asked the question.

"I… Well… A lot," Bucky admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Apparently. And you two," she snapped, whipping towards Sam and Tony. "Did he send you here? Is that why I have a security system courtesy of Stark Industries in my apartment?"

Unabashed, Tony shook his head. "He had no idea. In fact, he was furious when we told him we had come here because he didn't want you to know he's one of us."

Bucky groaned. "Not helpful."

"I'm just being truthful, not helpful."

"Maybe you should take some lessons, Barnes," June spat. "I haven't even known your last name before today. Again, something about you that I learn by happenstance. Here all this time I've thought you had PTSD from, like, a war or something and it turns out you're an Avenger."

"It's not entirely wrong that he does have PTSD," Steve said. "He-"

"And your friend you grew up with?! Steve? Captain America!" June interrupted. "How old are you? I feel like I don't actually know anything about you Bucky. Literally everything is a lie."

"Never a lie," Bucky corrected quickly. "Just… a lot of omission. I have never lied to you."

"I want to punch you in your stupid fucking face," June said.

Bucky held his arms open. "Go ahead. I'm not going to act like I don't deserve that and more."

"I think you would benefit from meeting Pepper, Junie B. Jones," Tony said.

"Oh you would," Sam agreed. "She could give you advice about how to deal with all… this," Sam waved his hands around.

"I'll help you kick his ass," Natasha offered.

"I don't need help kicking anyone's ass," June said, pulling a pocket knife out of her jeans, doing an impressive flip and catch, before opening it and planting it solidly in the bar.

"Oh shit," Sam muttered. "This is the perfect girl for him-"

"Everyone out," June barked, pointing at the door. "Except you," she said, looking at Bucky. "You have this one opportunity to tell me everything. I mean everything, Bucky. You don't have the luxury of taking your time anymore. It's now or never."

Several minutes of silence passed before Sam couldn't stand it. "This is hella awkward."

"Then leave," Bucky and June snapped simultaneously.

"Geeze," Tony said dramatically. "We co-"

"Let's go," Steve interrupted, ushering the group towards the door. "Call me, Buck."

Once the bar was empty June let out a slow breath. "Are you alright? Like, alright from whatever that giant person was?"

Bucky nodded.

"Is the giant person alright?"

"I think he will be," Bucky said, smiling at her concern.

"So which is it? Are you telling me about your life or are we done being friends?" June asked softly.

Bucky ran his hands through his hair and let out a defeated breath. "I think they're one and the same after I tell you about my past. Can we at least have this conversation elsewhere?"

"Let's go to your place, it's closer than mine."

June gathered her things and locked the bar up. She had already sent her boss a text that she was going to close up with all the excitement from earlier. Tension radiated off Bucky as they walked in silence. June racked her brain for something of comfort to say but found herself coming up short. Finally, she took his hand in her own and squeezed.

"You're like a rain cloud, Bucky. I hate that you legitimately believe there's anything that could be that detrimental to our friendship."

A wry smile came onto Bucky's face. He opened the door to his building and gently pushed June inside and hummed a funeral march as they walked up the stairs. June laughed and playfully shoved him. Bucky unlocked his apartment and flopped down onto the couch. June sat down beside him and put her feet up on the coffee table.

Bucky let out a breath. "Do you know Steve's story? His time in the war with the Howling Commandos?"

"Sorta. Claire and I went to that exhibit before."

"Well I was part of the Howling Commandos. I was in the exhibit but you wouldn't have noticed because I was listed as dead. Steve and I grew up together. Best friends since as long as I can remember. He was a scrawny kid, nothing like he is now. He'd pick fights, I'd save him from getting pummeled. I enlisted, eventually Steve got the serum and then he was part of the war too. We were on a mission and, the shortest version of things, I fell out of a train and everyone assumed I was dead. Rightfully assumed," Bucky said. He'd barely taken a breath and briefly looked at June. "It was a long fall. I woke up and was in this… I thought it was a hospital. I was captured by HYDRA. They took off my mangled arm and replaced it with metal. They did all kinds of experimenting on me. They wiped my memory. Then put me on ice, essentially."

June pulled the blanket off the back of Bucky's couch and wrapped it around herself. She took his metal hand and squeezed, making his lips turn into the tiniest of smiles. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

He shook his head. "I'm just getting started, June. HYDRA brainwashed me, wiped my memories, experimented, brainwashed, wiped my memories, over and over again. It was this never ending loop until I wasn't me anymore. I've always been a spot on shot, I was a sniper in the war. The best, actually. They made sure to keep that part. HYDRA made it so I had survival instincts for myself and the instinct to kill whoever my mission was at the time. They would unfreeze me long enough to send me on a mission. Sometimes a few missions in a row before it started over and they would wipe me and freeze me. Over fifty years I killed anyone HYDRA told me to, anyone that was a threat to them. There were… a lot of threats. I'm a murderer, June. HYDRA controlled me with these trigger words… I wish I could tell you that they weren't part of me anymore but I can't. I can't promise you it's safe to be around me. I can't tell you I'm a good person. I can't justify any of this. I-"

"Justify?" June exclaimed. "Bucky you were brainwashed. I don't know how you could think you need to justify anything. I'm really sorry all of this happened to you."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I think you can see why it's not the first thing I tell people. I generally try and not meet people," Bucky chuckled darkly. "I can understand if you don't want anything to do with me. I can get Steve to walk you home."

"Don't be dumb," June said, rolling her eyes. "So how'd you get away from HYDRA?"

"HYDRA hadn't wiped me for a few missions. I was remembering things that didn't make sense. I was on a mission and then Steve was my mission. We fought and I remembered even more… I ran from HYDRA, from Steve… From the government," Bucky chuckled. "Steve is stubborn. He dragged my ass back here and I've been living in this apartment across the hall from him and working with The Avengers. Here we are," Bucky shrugged.

"Is there anything else?"

"All that wasn't enough?" Bucky asked incredulously.

"Not what I meant," June laughed, shoving Bucky. "I mean are there any more omissions? Is there anything else you're not telling me? This is your only chance where you won't face my wrath."

Bucky shook his head. "I am mostly positive I have told you everything… I don't remember everything. Memories still come back to me. The time we ate sandwiches in the park, that sandwich reminded me of being a kid and my Mom. Sometimes the memories that come back aren't happy ones - like missions with HYDRA. I have really bad nightmares. But, Junie B. Jones," Bucky winked, using Tony's nickname from earlier. "I have told you everything I can remember right now."

"Alright. Good enough," June said. "Wanna put on a movie?"

"What?"

"I think we've had an exciting day and it would be cool to just chill the rest of the day, don't ya think? Wanna watch a movie? We could play cards but I can be pretty competitive which isn't very chill."

"That's it? No questions? You aren't afraid of me? June, you understand I could easily kill you, right?"

June rolled her eyes. "Bucky, you might be better trained to easily kill me but I'm a petite woman. I'm not super strong. Most men could kill me pretty easily. You're not special just because you could murder me. It just comes with the territory of being a woman." Bucky looked at her in bewilderment. "Besides, I don't think you're gonna kill me, you go out of your way too often to make sure I'm safe. I'm not scared of you. I don't think I have any questions but if some come to mind I'll ask when they do. You're my best friend. This is just part of you, alright? I didn't want to know your past so I could judge you or abandon you for it. I wanted to know because I want to know you and I care about you."

Bucky couldn't believe the words coming out of June's mouth. He couldn't think of anything to say and instead of arguing further he decided to count himself lucky. He pulled June into a tight hug for several minutes. When he finally released her June positioned herself nestled underneath his arm.

"So… movie?"

"Yeah," Bucky agreed. He picked up the remote and handed it to June, lost in thought about how lucky he felt to have June as a friend. A best friend.

"So," Bucky began at the end of Avengers family dinner. "June said she would like to come to family dinner. She's especially interested in meeting Pepper after your suggestion, Tony."

"Oh so she knows now?" Pepper asked excitedly. "That's great!"

"Our second ice cicle didn't have much say in the matter," Tony said. "The giant yellow thing was right next to her job and she came out to see what was going on and found all of us."

"I like her," Natasha said. "She's spunky. Had no problem yelling at Barnes in front of us."

"She even pulled a knife out," Sam added.

"Enough," Bucky groaned. "I'm going to take Pepper and June to dinner so we aren't forced to endure all of you the entire time."

"We're excellent company," Tony exclaimed.

"Some of us," Steve corrected. "Don't ruin this, I want to meet her." A lively discussion began about who would ruin Bucky bringing June over and how. Bucky shook his head and tried to think of even one excuse that would convince June she didn't need to come to a family dinner, but knew it was as fruitless as trying to keep his friends on their best behavior.