Okie dokie. Here's chapter four. Looking at maybe two or three more chapters. We'll have to see. I have a basic idea on how this all ends but I'm mostly winging it. Thank you to Kaia the lovely guest and other mysterious guest for reviewing. New point of view by the way. Onward!
Lila. Cooper.
They had been right there, doing the usual sibling arguing. As they had aged they'd started nitpicking each other, never anything serious and they certainly didn't tolerate others doing it to their siblings. Laura wasn't overly fond of Clint practically strutting out of the principal's office smiling and radiating pride whenever Cooper or Lila got in trouble for defending each other or others.
Reaching his old room in the compound Clint closed the door, letting out a sigh as he held the glove against his chest. He'd needed a moment alone when he got back, the others could see that, so he'd slipped away, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he had been home, just for a moment, with his family. His wife and kids.
Because Tony had managed to make a time machine. Damn Stark.
"Did it work?"
Clint, weaponless, could only fall into his instinctual defensive stance at the sudden voice in his room. With his training Clint was nearly immune to surprises. There were very few exceptions to the rule though. And one of them was standing a few feet away.
"Bucky?" He hadn't seen the man since Germany but he did know he'd managed to get the triggers out of his head. But sadly not the memories. Even Clint still had some problems with that.
"Not Bucky."
The man wearing the jeans, navy shirt, and dark jacket certainly looked like Bucky Barnes. The identity denial was getting his defenses up. "I'm sorry man, you look like Barnes. You one of Stark's Life Model Decoys?"
The doppelganger let out growl, sounding more frustrated than aggressive. "Fucking Rogers. I'm Bucky but not. All the pain and torture Hydra did to him over the decades broke his mind and made alternates personalities to protect what was left."
"So DID." That made a lot of sense to Clint. He knew in most cases the abuse started in childhood and reared its ugly head when they were older. But with as much shit as Hydra put Bucky through it didn't surprise him. "So you one of his alters?"
The other man nodded. "Sully. The name was Jamie's idea."
Jamie. Wanda. Shit. There was the other ache. He'd known, he wasn't sure how he'd known but Natasha had pretty much confirmed it for him on the ride back to the States.
"Did it work, Barton? The time travel thing?"
Right, he'd asked that question when he walked in. "Yeah." Clint lifted the glove. "Got this from my house. We needed to know if we could bring something back. Managed to grab this-"
Suddenly Sully was grabbing his upper arms in a vice grip, just shy of shaking him, eyes suddenly wet. "It worked? It really worked?"
Clint paused, releasing the tension from his unexpected tackle. This person, on the brink of sobbing, this had to be Bucky. He soften his eyes, voice gentle. "Yeah man, it worked. We're gonna get them back."
The larger man fell, Clint scrambling to help ease him to the floor. He stayed crouched down with his former teammate, just being a presence, hoping it helped. Bucky didn't make a sound, just sat with his arms wrapped around his knees pressed up against his chest, his entire frame trembling.
After a good fifteen minutes, the super soldier seemed to have worked though his emotions, lifting his head and meeting Clint's gaze.
"You good?" The archer asked, confidant that he was talking to Bucky and not his alter.
"Yeah."
The other man's voice was raspy, like he hadn't used it in awhile. Considering what they had lost Clint wouldn't be surprised if Sully had taken over for a good portion of the past five years. Hell, he knew he'd like to be able to fade away and have someone else face the day.
"We're really gonna get them back?"
It was asked with such softness Clint knew he was only able to hear it because of his Stark aids. He studied the man hunched over across from him. This was definitely Barnes. The man's mass was so intimidating Clint, when he first met him, had noticed he hunched slightly, to keep from looming.
"Yeah." Clint's kept his voice strong, confidant. Bucky needed to hear it as much as he did. "We're gonna get them all back."
The large brunet nodded at his words, finally uncurling and face setting in determination, which switched to awkwardness when he finally looked around. He stood up, subtly wiping at his face. "Sorry I should let you rest."
"Steve know you're here? Pietro?" From the too long pause and slight grimace Clint knew their leader and Wanda's brother was none the wiser.
"No, Sully didn't want to clue me in case this plan didn't work. I…" At this point Bucky shuffled back and forth a bit, hands clenching and unclenching. "I didn't…I didn't take what happened five year ago well."
"Yeah man, neither did I." Wasn't that the truth. It was something he was gonna have to work through. When they got his family back would he tell Laura what had become of him? He really didn't want to, but he knew he would. He had too. She had known what he'd done before working with Shield, he just hoped she didn't care like she hadn't back then. That she still loved him regardless of the fresh blood on his hands.
Barnes went to move around him but paused, looking at Clint for a second before reaching his hand into his jacket's inner pocket, bringing out what looked like a few photographers. The brunet held them out to the archer.
Clint gently took them from him, knowing exactly what they were. And he wasn't disappointed. Wanda and an older Jamie, at least three years old, were smiling at him with blue hats on. He smirked at the white embroidered 'B.' "Brooklyn Dodgers huh?"
He glanced up in time to see a small smile flash across Bucky's face, "Yeah. Still pissed they moved though."
"You and Steve both." He switched to the next photo, this one of Jamie and Barnes grinning to the camera. He chuckled. "Me and Lila don't look alike so I don't believe that whole thing about the first-born daughter looking like the dad but shit man, she's definitely your mini-me."
When he looked up at Bucky he was expecting an agreeing smile or nod but what he got was wide eyes and a gaping mouth. "What?"
Bucky seemed speechless but he pulled himself together. "H-how did you know? When did you know?"
Clint was a little confused. "About what? You, Wanda, and Jamie?" He got a nod. Which made the blond frown, arching an eyebrow in disbelief. "You mean no one knows you're Jamie's dad?"
Bucky shook his head. "They do now. At least most of them. Steve found out after Siberia, Tony a few days ago, and Romanoff probably knows, I just don't know for how long. I don't think Rhodes, Thor, or Banner know. Or Scott. When did you know?"
Clint switched to a new picture, this one of Jamie laying on the floor reading a book, using a large dog as a pillow. "Jamie's first birthday."
"But how? Did Wanda tell you?"
"No, even after I figured it out she didn't tell me or really anyone I think. For a second I thought Steve knew because Wanda made him Godfather but I think she did it because of how important he is to you. But yeah, at the party I smeared cake on Jamie's face." Clint paused to laugh. "Bit of a tradition in my house. We all thought it was funny but man, she had the scariest glare I've ever seen on a baby. Course it took me a second to realize where I'd seen that same look before, even if it was just pictures. All I had to do was connect the dots."
Bucky stayed quiet so Clint switched to a new photo, one that made him pause. The arrangement of everyone, the attire. Could it be? "Is this what I think it is?"
The brunet gave a faint smile. "Yeah."
Clint let out a breath, eyes tracing the girls' smiles. "They look beautiful." Wanda had married Barnes. Wanda was married. His chest throbbed ever so slightly. "Sorry I missed it."
"Not entirely." Clint looked up at the other man's words, who shrugged before continuing. "It was a Wakandan soul binding ceremony. Ancient stuff, a little more serious than a wedding. In the eyes of Wakanda and its people me and Wanda are married. To the rest of the world, not so much. Shuri could have faked some papers but Wanda…she didn't want to have a wedding if everyone couldn't be there. Especially you."
Clint fought the burn in his eyes, nodding at Bucky's words as he switched to the next photo, which promptly took his breath away. The small family were lounging on a couch, big smiles all around but Bucky had one of his hands on Wanda's large swollen stomach. He flipped to the next picture and had to hold himself back from gripping too hard.
They were in front of a large lake, Jamie sitting on Barnes' shoulders, arms raised in triumph, but both Wanda and the super soldier were holding a toddler each. The little girl in Wanda's arms definitely favored her mother in features, but still had the steel blue eyes of her father like Jamie.
The boy on the other hand was a good blend of his parents. The hair color was Bucky's but the texture had a hint of Wanda's soft waves. Her round face and lips but his eyebrows and nose. However the small boy, unlike his sisters, had inherited his mother's soft jade eyes.
"Shit, they're…they're beautiful." Clint stumbled through the words, looking up at Bucky only to see the brunet's eyes shine with building tears. Clint turned away, trying to give the other man time to compose himself, chuckling as he noticed something. "We're kinda opposite, you and me. I got two boys and a girl while you got two girls and a boy. I don't envy you man." He took one more look, trying to memorize the smiles before handing the pictures back. "What-what are their names?"
Barnes took the photos back, gently holding them and gazing down at the faces beaming back at him. "Stephanie and Alec. Alec's the oldest by seventeen minutes."
Clint smiled. "Stephanie, huh? For Steve?"
Barnes nodded, small grin pulling at his lips as he put the pictures away. "Yeah, Punk was too stubborn to leave me alone. Managed to bring me back. That led me to Wanda. I owe him." At that point the brunet's smile faded and he glanced up at Clint, now looking unsure, nervous.
Which made the archer nervous. "What?"
"We, uh." Bucky gave a small cough. "We, Wanda and me, we…gave him your name."
Clint froze, his voice hoarse, mind blanking out. "What?"
The super soldier radiated nervousness, clenching and unclenching his hands, playing with the end of his sleeves. "When we found out we were gonna have a boy, we choose the name Alec to honor Wanda's European roots but for the middle name? It wasn't even a choice. She...she really looks up to you. You gave her strength in Sokovia, after Sokovia, a purpose, a reason to use her powers. To become an Avenger. You gave her a family. And…" Barnes took in a breath.
"And you took care of them when I couldn't. You and your family helped mine when I didn't even know about them." Barnes looked a bit angry but Clint was sure it wasn't toward him. "When-when we found out that Wanda was pregnant, all I could think about was what happened those years ago. Wanda in Sokovia, a prisoner of Hydra, separated from her brother and pregnant with Jamie. Fucking Hydra had Wanda and my baby girl as prisoners. As experiments!"
Barnes paused and Clint watched warily as the super soldier calmed himself with slow breaths. He picked where he left off.
"The way I was raised, you didn't abandon your girl. Didn't abandoned your child. Not like some of these so-called men in this day and age, these fucking fat-head cowards. I was gonna be there every step of the way. But I wasn't there for her with Jamie, you were. So when we found out about Alec, it was easy."
Clint nodded, caught up in what Barnes had told him. Wanda had given her son his name. He knew he had done the same with Nate and Pietro but that was because the speedster had saved his life. Clint…Clint hadn't done anything incredible like that. He'd just been there, as a friend or whatever the three Sokovians had needed at the time. To have her do that, it blew his mind.
"So," He gave a small cough, getting rid of the hoarse quiver of his voice. "So…Alec Clint Barnes?" Bucky nodded, emotions seemingly under control and a small curling of his lips. The realization hit him. There was a child named after him. He was important enough to someone to warrant such an honor. And suddenly he chuckled. "Bet Pietro pouted like a baby."
Bucky rolled his eyes. "You have no idea. T'Challa too."
This time Clint grinned. He beat out the King of Wakanda and Wanda's own brother. He was feeling pretty good right now.
"I'll leave you to it. I took up too much of your time." Barnes was on the move, maneuvering around the archer before he could stop him.
"Hold up." The brunet looked over his shoulder at the blond. "There's a meeting tomorrow, you coming?"
Barnes's eyes went blank for a second before he gave a stiff nod. "Yeah. I'll be there."
Without even a whisper the super soldier, the other desperate father of the group, was gone. Clint hoped he'd be at the meeting.
~~~Lighthouse~~~
Bucky wasn't at the meeting. Granted, Clint allowed, the meeting hadn't even started yet so technically Barnes wasn't late or a no-show. At least for now.
"We all ready?" Tony announced and Clint twitched in his seat. Throughout the room the others had spread themselves, Pietro and Natasha close by. The archer let out a sigh. Guess he was a no show.
"Room for one more?"
The whole room froze, only for a second before the best friend and brother-in-law recovered first.
"Bucky?"
"James?"
Clint watched as Barnes edged into the room, shoulders hunched slightly, his gaze jumping from person to person. Yeah, this was definitely Barnes. The archer gave a nod when those slate blue eyes landed on him.
"Bucky, you-you're here. What are you-I thought…I thought Sully wasn't gonna tell you?" Steve looked confused and maybe even hopeful.
"Well, Sully came over here yesterday, camped outside and watched the place. He saw what happened with Clint and he snuck in to get confirmation. That's when he told me." The brunet nodded his head at the screens where the infinity stones hovered. "I want in. If…if it'll get the others back, I want in."
Clint watched as stricken expressions flitted across both Steve and Tony's face before smoothing out. Of course, Barnes had said they knew. The two leaders glanced at each other before Tony waved at Bucky. "No loitering at the door Ice Bear, get in here. The more the merrier."
Clint let out a breath, glad that the hostility Tony held for the former, unwilling, assassin was absent. But he was taken aback when Scott suddenly stood and walked up to the super soldier.
"Hey." He started, his voice more subdued than Clint had ever heard him. "I heard about what happened and I just wanna say that whatever it takes, we're gonna get them back. I lost Hope but if I had lost Hope and Cassie? I don't know man. But with this plan, we can get them back, Wanda and your daughter. We'll get them back, I promise."
And like that Clint watched the confusion and bewilderment cross over Bruce and Rhodey's faces at what was just revealed. Thor seemed slightly dazed but that could be from the alcohol. Neither Rocket or Nebula seemed to care and Natasha, by the expression on her face, she had already known. How long, he wasn't sure but she had known about Jamie. He wondered if she knew about their marriage and the twins too.
"What daughter?"
"You're Jamie's dad?"
More questions filled the air and Steve had to raise his voice. "Alright enough. Yes, Bucky is Jamie's dad. This was back before the whole D.C. thing."
"So they really were dating?" This came from Rhodey and Clint wondered how the suspicion even started.
"No." All eyes turned to Barnes but he was looking at Rhodey and Bruce. "Me and Wanda are married."
This got more reactions, this time from Natasha and Rocket too. His Russian friend only let her eyes widen before schooling her face into calm while Rocket exclaimed, "You and Missy Magic Hands are hitched?"
Scott had an interesting response. His face split into a wide smile and he reached out, taking a hold of one of Bucky's hands and started shaking. "Oh my god. Congratulations. I'm glad you two worked it out, that's great."
"Okay, we're getting off topic." Steve spoke, trying to get the room back under control.
The brunet soldier glanced at his friend. "Full disclosure Steve. Friday?"
On Bucky's command one of the holo-screens changed, showing the same picture Clint had seen yesterday of the Barnes quintet. The whole room quieted, realization settling in. Scott patted Bucky on the shoulder, "We'll get them back."
"We done?" Steve asked the room and everyone nodded. Everyone except Clint. He raised his hand, earning a confused look from Steve and Barnes while Tony quirked an eyebrow.
"You serious right now?"
"I'm just curious." Clint started, and he really was. He turned his attention to Scott. "How did you know, Lang? About Jamie and Bucky?"
"Clint…" Steve sighed but Tony lifted a finger in the air.
"No, I concur with Barton. I just found out about, well everything, a couple days ago. Steve knew since when? After Siberia?" Steve nodded and Tony continued with his spiel. "Natashalie found out…"
Natasha picked up were he left off. "I knew about Jamie and Barnes after Germany but I didn't know about their marriage or the twins until just now."
Tony turned to Rhodey and Bruce. "Platypus and Hulka Burnin' Love over there had no idea about anything until just now. And Thor is…" Said Thunderer was sitting in the corner, silent with sunglasses on. "Thor is Thor. Pietro I would assume knew."
"Of course." The Sokovian spoke for the first time, doodling on some paper and ignoring the chaos of the room.
"Clint apparently knows, everything?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I knew about Jamie and Barnes since her first birthday and I found out about their married life and the twins yesterday."
"Really? Her first birthday?" Pietro asked, looking surprised.
Clint glanced over at him. "They got the same angry face." Pietro nodded in agreement.
"See!" Tony exclaimed. He turned eyes on Scott. "That just leaves the Borrower. So how did you know? When did you know?"
Scott looked confused, taking everyone's expressions. Finally he gave a small huff. "Well, I didn't know about his other kids or their marriage, again congratulations by the way but I knew about him being Jamie's dad since the parking garage."
"Parking garage?" This time Bucky seemed intrigued. "At the airport? In Germany? You've known since we first met?"
Scott shrugged. "Well yeah. I mean, I spent that whole plane ride entertaining her, playing games and whatnot. Your daughter's a genius by the way, it's amazing. And when I met you, it was kinda obvious. You two are practically copies. But I think it's a parent thing. You just notice stuff like that."
"You serious? That's all it took. Even Capsicle didn't know and they're BFF's."
Now Scott looked defensive. "Well, that wasn't all. They kept looking at each other when the other wasn't looking and when they did catch each other it was all nervous smiles or nods. Plus their body language in general was kinda awkward but they watched out for each other during the fighting." He shrugged his shoulders. "I figured they were exes."
Looking back Clint could see how Lang would think that. He did remember seeing them constantly looking at each other from across the garage, very middle school-esque. He'd also been keeping an eye on Wanda during the fight and he'd seen her stop T'Challa from ripping out Barnes' throat. She'd looked panicked. And then there had been the time the soldier covered her with his body when Rhodey had shot at them.
"Okay he's got a point." Pietro agreed, nodding at Lang.
Clint lifted a couple fingers. "I second that. And since I've known longer than everyone here, not counting Pietro, I think he's right about the parent thing."
"Are we done now?" sighed Steve, hands on hips.
"Don't be such a punk," scoffed Barnes, walking past to settle on the couch in the back.
"Alright," Tony announced again, hands raised. "We should probably start before Cap has eagles. Avengers, time to work for a living."
Yes, if you read Mirage I did have Scott paying a bit of attention to Bucky and Wanda. That was kind of a foreshadowing bit. Hope you guys liked it. Also because it's my fan fiction, there are enough particles for everyone. So suck it. Let me know what you guys think. Peace out. -Mez
