Okay.

Bucky might have made a mistake.

But in his defense, he thought he was dying in that prison cell.

And then he thought he was dying on that table.

Sure he was a little confused why his guardian angel eading him to heaven was Steve, who was somehow giant now, but hey, he'd had his insides outside just a day ago, so can you blame him for being a mess?

Then big Steve is punching Schmidt and it really clicks that Bucky's not dead at all and Steve really is that big and what the actual hell is happening.

So how could you really blame him for talking about his family when they were all shivering together in that cell? When they were dividing the stale rations up between them?

That's what you do when you're dying. You remember your family. The ones you loved. The good times.

Well, Steve may not have been blood but he was the only brother Bucky had ever had, so of course he'd traded stories about him. Just like Gabe had talked about his parents and little sister, Dugan had talked about his three younger brothers and his two half sisters. Monty and his twin sister, and Denier talked about his grandparents like they walked on water. Morita's little sister and his cousin that they'd taken in when the internment camps had separated him from his parents.

They laughed. They cried. They told the truth.

"This kid was how old?" Gabe splutters, coughing with his too dry throat. They hadn't had water in hours.

"This was two years ago," Bucky says with a laugh, "so Steve was only fifteen then," he points at Dugan, "but these two guys your side had their heads spinning as he talked circles around them! Then of course I had to step in when both sides started swinging."

They laugh and Monty shakes his head, "sounds like a handful."

"Yeah," Bucky shrugs, "our ma's were friends. So I knew him since he was born. We're brothers basically."

"Tell us about the time with the backfiring car," Morita says, "Denier didn't get to hear that one."

Denier nods eagerly and Bucky laughs, "okay, so there me and Steve were—-"

—-

But now here Steve is.

Big and tall and broad and all serious.

And seventeen.

During most of the escape from the factory, everyone had been so busy that they hadn't really noticed Steve. Plus, he'd gotten everyone free and sent them ahead to escape while he looked for Bucky.

Reckless idiot.

But Bucky was grateful. He thought he'd die on that table.

Now here he was, walking with Steve back towards their camp. Trucks and tanks and 400 soldiers all walking behind Steve like he's the guiding light.

Steve tells him all about the Project Rebirth and Erskine and the Tour. And Bucky chews him out for hours because 'what the actual hell was he thinking' and then he chews Steve out for lying on his inlistment form again for the millionth time, doesn't he know that's a felony?

But Steve just shrugs and smiles.

It pisses Bucky off.

But he really does seem fine, and so they just keep walking.

Then the second day into the trek, Dugan finds him, "Sarge! You're alive!"

Bucky nods, "yeah, Dum-Dum. I'm here."

"So that guy found you!"

Bucky's pretty sure he knows, but he asks anyway, "what guy?"

"What guy?" Dugan asks, "the guy who set us all free to begin with! He came up to our cell and asked directly for you, he called himself Captain America, you know him?"

Bucky nods, "yeah, I know him."

"It's you!"

Bucky looks up to see Steve walking towards their circle. He has rations and a water canteen in his hands. Steve approaches and looks at him, "me?" He hands Bucky the canteen, "I recognize you, you were in the first cell."

Dugan nods, "that's me, Captain Timothy Dugan, 107th. At your service." Dugan tips his bowler hat and grins.

Steve smiles back, "nice to meet you Dugan. I'm Steve Rogers." Steve extends his hand and Dugan's eyes flick to Bucky who winces. But he grasps Steve's firmly and shakes.

"Steve, huh?" He looks back to Steve with a head tilt, "any chance you're from Brooklyn?"

Steve nods, "yep, me and Buck grew up together."

"Is that so?" Dugan says, "probably got a lot of dirt on our Sergeant here."

Steve laughs good-naturedly, "mostly he's been pulling my ass out of fights but sure, I'm sure there's some good stories in there of him too."

"You called yourself Captain America," Dugan asks, "any reason?"

And Steve laughs, "better than saying 'I'm Steve' to a bunch of strangers." He points to his back where the shield rests, "actually I was only here because I'm on the USO Tour."

Dugan looks confused, "huh?"

Steve laughs, "it's a really long story. You steady on your feet?"

"Yes, sir." Dugan says easily, "what do you need?"

"Let's get the men gathered and into the woods. It looks like it might rain and I want cover, especially for the sick and injured. They need to be kept out of the cold and rain as much as possible. If any of the trucks or tanks have supplies, don't be afraid to use them, we've only got another day ish walk ahead of us. You have any men who you trust to help me with that?"

Dugan grins, "hell yes I do."

—

Steve isn't shy to use his real name. In fact he never says Captain America. Which means it isn't long until all the men he shared a cell with know Steve is Steve.

His brother Steve.

His much younger brother Steve.

Denier almost ruins it. He's the last to make the connection, and they're around the campfire when he does.

"Wait," the man says, "but if you are Steve, how are you here?"

Steve looks up, "huh?"

"The requirement—" he starts before Dugan starts coughing loudly, shaking his head at Denier.

The Frenchmen thankfully catches the signal and quiets.

Steve's confused, "requirements for what?"

And bless Denier for being quick on his feet, "your basic training requirement? You must have gone through it quickly, Sergeant Barnes said you weren't enlisted."

Steve nods and accepts that, telling them all about project rebirth and who he used to be. Bucky's glad he's not shy of explaining what he used to look like, and the men seem to respect him more for it. They'd known the truth already, because, of course, Bucky had described Steve in his stories about him, but Steve telling them himself? That earns their respect.

Then they're marching into camp and Steve's being stared down by a gorgeous dame and being hugged at by the Colonel Phillips and Bucky feels leagues behind.

—

"He can't be 17." Gabe whispers to him for the 60th time.

"Fuck off, Jones." Bucky grits out, "I'm working here."

They were indeed working. Sniping people from up high and keeping their fellow teammates covered.

Including one star spangled idiot who kept hurtling himself into the most dangerous sections of the fight like he didn't have any fear.

Which… Bucky grits his teeth, he probably doesn't. The idiot. Steve had always been sort of 'take on whatever' back home. Now he was full blown reckless.

Some Hydra but gets a little too close to getting the drop on Steve who's taking on six other guys, so Bucky lines up, breathes slowly and pulls the trigger.

The shot registers and the man drops. Steve takes a pause to turn and find his sniper's nest. He salutes and is back to fighting the other 6 six guys in seconds.

"Seventeen." He hears Gabe whisper in disbelief.

Bucky rolls his eyes.

—-

Bucky and Gabe and Denier are requested at another camp to do some sniper training drills and demolition instructions. While Monty, and Morita and Gabe are sent with the cartographers and geographical experts to ensure the set up for the next mission is accurate.

Dugan and Steve are kept at the same camp to work on hand to hand combat, catching Steve up to speed on all the weapons Stark is working on, and learning Captain's protocol.

Something happens while they're separated. Bucky's not sure what.

Dugan is being protective. Now, Dugan's always protective. But this is different. Steve doesn't notice. But Dugan is like his shadow. Always having his back or keeping a watch out. Standing at Steve's side when any new command or regiment drops in. Bucky notices.

He just doesn't know why.

He asks.

Dugan shrugs it off. "Nothin'" the large man lies.

So maybe he's not sure why, but he's glad for all the help he can get wrangling the one man tornado that is Steve.

—

"Happy Birthday, Steve!" Gabe says, pounding the man on the back.

And Morita, with a grin asks, "how old are you now?"

Steve doesn't even blink, "twenty-six!"

They all smile and congratulate him.

Later that night Monty is sitting with him at watch around the campfire. "At least he's legal now."

Bucky sighs, "yeah…" he looks up at the moon that's bright, "you think I'm making a mistake by not telling the truth?"

There's a silence as Monty, never one to speak without thinking, takes time to process his question. "I guess that depends on what you think of him. If he was his old self as you described, he'd be unfit for war and the lie would place his life in danger. Now, he's in less physical danger than even we are simply because of the serum. Although the target on his back is significantly larger because of the persona he's required to embody." There's another brief pause, "do you doubt your friend's capabilities based on his age? Does him being 18 make him less capable and therefore more dangerous to himself or the team?"

Bucky shakes his head slowly, "no…"

"Then my answer to your question is no." He points back towards the tents. "All of us commandos will go to our graves with this knowledge. No one ever needs to know." Then he grins, "except Carter." He laughs, "one day, preferably before they get wed, he needs to tell her the truth."

Bucky grimaces, "that's his problem, not mine."

Monty laughs.

—-

Steve's head finally drops forward, sleep overtaking him.

They had been caught in a freak storm that had made them have to push back and not be able to make the meet up. Now they had soggy radios and no way of knowing when or where the next meet up point will be.

And they're behind enemy lines.

"Il brouillard être très fatigué après deux jours sans dormir." Denier says, his own eyes looking tired.

Bucky turns to him, "what do you mean two days of no sleep?"

"Hier soir, il ne m'a jamais réveillé pour ma montre, quand je me suis réveillé, je lui ai crié dessus, mais il a dit que j'avais besoin de repos. Insensé, mais gentil."

Gabe chokes, "you're lying."

"Pourquoi mentirais-je?"

"Oh shit." Gabe huffs out, "make that three days."

"Four—" Morita says quietly. "He didn't wake me for my watch either.

Bucky stands up, "you're telling me that Steve has had first watch every night and didn't wake any of you!?" They nod their heads solemnly, "and no one thought to say something!"

"I thought it was just my night!" Gabe says, "I didn't know it was a pattern!

"With the 6 hour sleep schedule it's easy to miss." Dugan says quietly, "he's smart when he wants to be dumb."

Bucky walks over to wake Steve but Monty grabs his arm, "yell at him after he's slept, hmm?"

"I'm taking first watch tonight." Bucky growls out, "and Dugan the next. And this shit ends now. I don't care, serum or no serum we can't let him be an idiot."

"You know," Dugan says with a rare solemn attitude, "my youngest brother thought that by not telling us he was being bullied, it would save us the pain. He decided to take it all on by himself." He shakes his head, "Steve reminds me so much of Liam. Facing the world with his fists raised and pushing everyone behind him as if he can take the brunt everytime."

They all look at Steve who looks genuinely young as he sleeps, uninhibited by his Captain America persona or the show he has to "put on".

"We'll have his back, Sarge." Dugan says, "don't you worry."

—-

They switch camps to a bigger collection of regiments and Steve's placed in the Captain's section with Dugan.

Bucky doesn't care, he and the other sergeants get along fine.

But the morning after they arrive and set up camp, something is off.

Bucky scours the camp, unable to find Steve, they always went for a run around the perimeter and Steve didn't show up.

He finally finds him and Dugan in the communications tent trying to get ahold of someone.

"What's going on?"

Steve's back goes ramrod straight, shoulders so tense they look like they could snap. "Nothing." He responds, "just tryna get a message sent."

"To who?"

"Phillips." Steve responds, and Bucky's eyes slid to Dugan who looks perfectly at ease, if not for the way his hands are crushing at the rifle in his hands.

"What happened?"

And he swears Steve looks at Dugan nervously before pretending to be calm, "it's nothing, Buck, I swear."

He's about to press again when Dugan's eyes meet his. And there's the slightest shake. The smallest motion to tell him to back off.

So without knowing why, he does.

—-

They get sent out again and this time Peggy is with them.

The commandos laugh at the difference in how Steve behaves. It's not that different, but he sits straighter and he tends to not stay in one place for too long. Bucky can't decide if it's because he doesn't want to look idle, or if he's worried about her thinking he's lingering.

Then Bucky realizes they've been had. Steve's acting that way as a distraction. He turns the corner and freezes, slinking back behind the tent. Peggy is speaking to Steve, her eyes on him like he's a fruit she'd like to pick. Steve has a respectful distance but there's a light in his eyes, like he knows he's being seen and it brings him the greatest joy.

Man, Bucky's glad he's 18 now.

But they part ways soon after without so much as a peck.

A few hours later, Bucky sidles up to Steve's side. "You and Carter, huh?"

Steve goes rigid, "what? No. There's nothing."

"Please." Bucky scoffs, "I'm not blind, and you're like a clock. Everything's displayed on your face."

Steve's ears redden and he glares at Bucky before walking off.

—

Bucky and Steve both look up to see Monty returning with a grimace on his face.

"Uh-oh." Bucky says, "they said no?"

"Indeed." The Brit says, "and Carter was fiery mad. Us Brit's sure now how to pick our words I'll tell you that. Colonel Phillips told her to go dunk her head in ice water."

Steve winces, "yikes. Why'd they say no? She's the best code cracker, we need her on this one."

"Higher ups don't want the liability of a woman on this mission. It was out of Phillips' hands."

"That's too bad." Steve says, "we could have used her. Hopefully Gabe and Morita are up for it. We need those messages decoded and sent before the next pick up."

—

They head out, taking the trucks for the first leg of the trip. The commandos and two other smaller teams were heading out on this particular mission. Bucky thinks nothing of it as they drive and work their way towards their first designated stopping point.

The men all jump from the vehicles and start getting their camp set up. They laugh and talk and work, nowhere near enemy lines yet, and therefore highly unlikely to need to remain quiet.

As they're working, Bucky's nose picks up a familiar scent.

He furrows his brow and looks around. A group of three soldiers is walking by.

And one of them smells like Peggy's shampoo.

He hasn't wanted to talk about it, his 4 days of hell on that medical table back in that factory under Zola's scalpel. Not Steve. Not Phillips.

His heightened senses have helped him be a better sniper and he knows there's something different about him.

Which is why he doesn't write it off as a phantom smell.

He turns and stares at the group of three walking through camp. All three are similar height and brown hair. And he wonders briefly if Peggy was perhaps talking to more men than just Steve. Had someone else been in her tent, or in her arms to be able to smell that way?

The rumors sure went wild with her. Every idiot claiming she only got where she was because of her 'assets'. But Steve had been pretty clear that she'd earned every stripe. Was better than the lot of them. And Bucky had seen her in action now, he knows it's true.

And despite the fact that she'd have a whole court of men at her disposal if she wanted… he really didn't think she was that kind of dame. Her intense looks and raised eyebrows were reserved only for Steve.

Which still leaves the mystery of the shampoo.

The three soldiers are gone, and he didn't see any of their faces, but he has a feeling… a very strange idea that maybe, just maybe they have a stowaway in their midst.

—-

Dinner was cleaned up and put away, but the soldiers weren't leaving yet. Bucky knew some of it had to do with the draw of Captain America in their midst. They were all sitting around listening to him talk and laugh with his team.

He could see the ways that guys lit up when Steve acknowledged them.

And none the wiser that he was practically a kid.

Not that Steve had ever acted like a kid. Cuz he hadn't. But now he was the face a war. Sometimes it made Bucky's head spin.

Bucky does a slow walk around the circle. His eyes are peeled for a face he might recognize in disguise. Or maybe the smell.

¾ of the way on his slow meander he breathes in deep. It's hard to pick out in the stench of the men and the smoke. But his heightened nose catches it. So he keeps walking, keeping an eye on the few guys where the smell seemed to be coming from. He makes it across the way and settles on a stump, using his heightened eyes to look at the soldiers across from him.

An Asian, a very blonde American, and another Brit that Bucky knows gets eliminated immediately. Then his eyes land on another face. A hat shadows the top half, and some well calculated dirt smudges, and what looks like a scar help distract from the features.

He grins.

Peggy Carter in the flesh. Hiding in plain sight. Not a single man smart enough or observant enough to catch her out. Only him. And only because of her scent.

Which makes him pause. He wonders if Steve has noticed… or most likely… since she knows about his heightened smell, she's giving him a wide berth. He notices that Steve is sitting directly across from her, none the wiser.

She must feel eyes on her because he senses a shift and he looks away before her eyes can find them on her.

But he's also sort of a trouble maker. Hell people thought Steve caused all the trouble, but that wasn't all the way true.

"Hey Steve," Bucky calls keeping his peripheral open to where Peggy is, "tell us about when Carter knocked that guy Hodge on his ass back in basic."

It's not a super well-known story. Hodge is still serving, but he thinks it will be harmless right now. And Steve glows like a lightbulb when he tells it.

Steve grins, laughing, "there I was, this stick of a guy, standing in line with all these big healthy guys and here comes Agent Carter, straight as an arrow and meaning business."

And there it is. The glow. He's animatedly telling the story of Peggy having Hodge step forward, and teaching that jackass a lesson, and Bucky looks at Peggy, whose expression is so surprised and so soft, like she's never heard him tell the story. Which is probably true.

"Put him in the dirt like it was nothing." Steve finishes, "he's lucky Phillips came at that time. And Phillips just told him to 'get your ass up out of that dirt and stand in that line at attention until someone comes and tells you what to do." He laughs again, then men hanging in his every word.

Bucky catches Morita's eyes, and mouths, 'ask more about Carter'.

Morita looks at him in confusion and he makes a face, mouthing 'do it!m

"Cap," Morita calls, "she really the best code cracker you know?"

Steve nods, "by far, gentleman." He points to Morita and Gabe, "no offense to you two, but she worked in Bletchley Circle. And you all know Colonel Phillips only chooses the best of the best. And that's what she is. The best."

His eyes are alight in the fire and you can just feel the absolute resounding adoration in Steve's voice.

Bucky can practically feel the intensity of the way Peggy is looking at Steve. This open and honest and uninhibited Steve that she probably doesn't get to see much of. He's always so careful or shy around her.

And some brave soldier calls out, "you sweet on her, Cap?"

Bucky's eyes train on Peggy, not sure exactly how Steve will respond.

Steve's face goes wry, then he gets serious, "she's the type of woman we should all be sweet on. Good, kind, smarter and more determined than anyone I know. Fighting for what's right. Fighting for what she believes in. Isn't that what we all want in the Right Partner?"

Only with his sensitive ears does he hear the smallest intake of surprised air. Peggy's face is pointed at the ground, and her hands are in gloves, but they're gripping her legs very tightly. That must mean something to her.

"I'm sure she's got a line of rich and more suitable guys she'll have her pick of when we all go home." Steve teases self-deprecatingly. "She's not going to want boring old me." Bucky is surprised at the change in tone, but then Steve's standing. "Night, gentlemen. See you all bright and early tomorrow."

The group disperses quickly after that, and Bucky waits until most of the men have gone. She's still there. Waiting, maybe for everyone else to go away so she can clean up or do whatever she needs to in peace.

Then it's just her and him. Morita gives him a raised eyebrow but he had waved him away.

"You on watch, soldier?" Bucky asks, standing.

And her smooth voice answers, "you know that I'm not, Sergeant Barnes."

He grins, "when did you know that I clocked you?"

Her face is still serious, "you're not very subtle." She responds, her eyes pinned to the fire. "You stared at me practically the whole time he was speaking."

"But you weren't looking at me."

She glares at him and then rolls her eyes as if he's an idiot.

"You know everything he said was the truth."

She glares at him again, "I know." She snaps, "that's what makes it all the more frightening."

And then Bucky makes a snap decision, "how old are you?"

She looks up, "I'm only 22." She states, "that's only four years younger than him."

He grins. "Yeah, four years isn't much."

"Are you going to rat me out?"

"Hell no." Bucky says with a grin, "I'm glad you're here to help us kick Nazi ass. They were wrong to keep you from this mission. And Steve thinks so too just so you know."

"Perhaps he's misguided." She says as she stands, "he thinks I'm too good for him. But perhaps it's the opposite."

Bucky nudges her shoulder with his, "or maybe you're both just idiots in love."

Peggy rolls her eyes and that makes him laugh.

—-

Two weeks later and the op goes to shit, fast. He's not sure how but the intel must have been wrong or something. Not to mention the storm and wind is causing so much interference that they are running in basically half blind.

And then a bullet whizzes past him and into the head of a French general somewhere in front of him.

Bucky's head whips back and he ducks, throwing himself for cover, fearing the enemy had somehow got behind him.

When no more bullets are forthcoming, he peeks out and crawls a bit away. Once he stands there's no one to see but friendlies behind him.

He turns to fight, not able to focus on what just happened. He just has to survive.

—

There's angry yelling in English and French. Bucky's trying to keep up with it until Denier shows up. "What are they saying?"

Denier listens and his eyes grow wide. "They're accusing the death of General Drammond on friendly fire!"

Bucky gasps, "what! No way!" But his voice dies off. He'd thought the bullet had come from behind him. It had. He's just assumed it was the enemy. Now… maybe it wasn't.

"Who'd want to kill him?" Bucky asks, "why would we have in-fighting?"

Denier shrugs, his accent thick, "I have never liked him. But I do not know why they accuse us, so."

Phillips is arguing with someone and Bucky realizes that Steve and Dugan are missing.

"I'll be right back."

He walks, keeping his footsteps silent and listening.

He finds them half a mile outside of camp. He can't hear them, but he can see them.

Steve's talking to Dugan with furtive whispers and worried glances and Dugan is stone faced and non verbal.

It looks like Steve is pleading with Dugan about something. But the good humored mustachioed man is silent and unwavering.

Steve covers his face with his gloves and then strides away, walking back towards camp.

Bucky walks out to meet Dugan.

The man eyes him with an expressionless face, "what is going on?"

"Nothing."

"No!" Bucky snaps, "no, you said nothing last time. And now again. That's not good enough. I want answers."

Dugan turns slowly towards him, and it's a reminder that this man is as large and imposing as he usually is kind, "I thought I had 3 little brothers I'd kill for. Turns out I have 4. Understood? If you care about either of us. Don't ask again."

And the man walks away, leaving a stunned Bucky behind.

—

Things are tense at camp for awhile. Bucky notices the way Phillips avoids Dugan. But says nothing.

The commandos know something went down. Just not what.

They only get more tight-knit and protective as a team.

He sees Steve draw a sketch of Dugan's parents and brothers from just the tiny photo Dugan Carrie's in his wallet.

It's pinned up in Dugan's tent.

—-

Steve turns 19 and they can sense the end of the war looming, and they start to envision the future.

All of them, brothers in arms. A team. A family. Moving on and living life together. Bucky grins, he can't wait.

—-

Morita watches as Steve sits silently at the end of the table.

Red eyes and a stone faced angry expression. Agent Carter had informed the commandos of finding him in that bombed out bar.

He's just a kid. Well. Maybe in years. But Morita and the rest of them know he's been through more than most full fledged adults.

"Why not?" Steve's voice cuts through, "that's exactly what we're going to do."

From there, the commandos watch helplessly as Steve plans the most wildly reckless plan to stop Schmidt.

They pack up and get moving.

As they wait for the signal, Steve having already been arrested, Dugan turns to them and looks at them seriously, "once we bust in there, do not let Steve go anywhere alone. Understood?"

They all nod.

Dugan's eyes are on the window they're going to zip line over to, "he's our brother. And we're bringing him home. For Barnes."

They all nod.

Phillip's voice crackles over the radio,

"Commandos, move in."

—-