TONY

Brooklyn Apartments, New York
2018

It was still daylight when Tony sluggishly got the key from the top of the doorframe, unlocking the door and shuffled inside, letting the door swing behind him as he made his way to the couch. He shrugged off his jacket and threw it onto the back of the couch before setting the key down on the coffee table and sat down on the said couch with a heavy sigh. He ran a hand through his unruly hair and just stared blankly at the monitor, the events of the days catching up with him- among other things.

Today was the two-year anniversary of the murders of Steve and Bucky, and it was really hitting him hard as it had when it was the first anniversary. God, he missed the two assholes, he really did. He missed their humor, their bantering…everything.

He shook his head and grabbed the remote and clicked the power button, watching as the screen of the monitor came to life. An anchorman behind the news desk filled the screen, droning on about something he really did not care for. He tilted his head back with another sigh, knowing that tonight was going to be a long night of drinking for him.

This was the only night he permitted himself doing some heavy drinking. He had to give himself at least that so he could forget about the pain within him for just one night. If he didn't…well, he would most likely regress to the state it was in during the months after the murders. Days and nights full of alcohol. It was only thanks to Rhodey's and Pepper's intervention that stopped him from getting worse. How they managed to keep dealing with his shit, he'll never know but he was grateful.

"Now, we will send you to the man on the murder scene in Central Park. Adams?" Tony blinked and looked at the screen. The scene switched to a field reporter that was standing in front of yellow police take in the stated park.

"Well, the scene is pretty grueling, Matt." Stated the reporter. "The bodies of thirteen men was discovered this afternoon. Two people who found them had stated that this was the most disturbing sights that they had seen to date. So far, we know that they belong to the notorious gang of our city, HYDRA. Now, it's believed that the same person who killed these members also killed the other members around the same time and months after up until now."

"Good fucking riddance." Tony huffed as he continued to watch. A picture popped onto the screen, a shape of some type of bird burned into the grass.

"This is one reason why we think it's the same unknown suspect. At every crime scene, there's always this shape that came up. We think it's their calling card of sorts. We have some eyewitnesses this time but they only reported a figure walking. When asked, the figure called himself The Winter Soldier. We believe-"

Tony turned off the TV, not caring if they had more to say about it or not. Knowing that someone had been taking care of the trash was more enough for him. He always had hated that damn gang, and all he wanted to do is to burn the gang to the ground.

He shook his head and stood, stretching before he dragged himself over to Bucky's- his bedroom, tearing off all his clothes when he walked in except for his briefs. He slipped into a cozy pair of sweatpants and, after closing the blinds, slipped into the bed and curled up under the covers with just his head poking out. He shivered at the cool covers until they warmed up thanks to his body heat, letting him get comfortable.

He usually doesn't take naps or go to bed early, he was always up so, so late doing one thing or another. Today, he was rather tired, so napping for an hour or two shouldn't hurt, right?

He felt his eyelids drop until they closed, and he knew no more, just his dreams.

BUCKY

He knew that someone was in the apartment as soon as he noted that the key that usually sat on the door frame had gone. He was forced to climb up the fire escape- thank God the sun had just set- and slip inside through the unlocked window in the kitchen. He silently closed it once the crow flew through and land on his shoulder. He tugged off his mask, slipping it into his pocket and setting his rifle quietly on the table.

He still wore the black face paint around his eyes, even if a strand or two of his now shoulder length hair get caught in it.

He made his way through the apartment, noting the unknown jacket that lay on the back of the couch and he could tell that the remote was moved. He had a good idea about who it was, but he wasn't so sure as he was never around when the other person was here.

He stalked silently towards his old room and stopped in the doorway, eyes taking in the lump under the covers on his old bed. He hesitated for a minute before making his way over to the bed and knelt down, now able to take in all the features that he had missed since his resurrection, the features he forced himself not to look for when he's on rooftops, looking down to look for other members of the HYDRA gang to murder.

He memorized the features he had longed to see, as well as the dark circles under the other's eyes. It pained him to know that Tony hadn't been gotten much sleep these passed few months, most likely longer. He would do anything to make sure that the other could get a better night's sleep.

He reached a cool hand towards the other's face, brushing the bangs slightly before laying his hand against the side of Tony's head, thumb stroking the other's cheek.

He welcomed the warmth that Tony had to offer, even with minimal contact. It made him feel more human again.

He froze when Tony shifted slightly, letting out a small noise before his eyes fluttered open and he was staring into his own.

"…Brooklyn…?" Tony's voice was heavy with sleep and he was giving the other a small blink and he made sure, within that blink, he fled, grabbing his rifle and mask on the way out, leaving just as quietly as he came in.

He hoped that Tony would just believe that it was a dream and just leave it.

But he knew that Tony was too smart for that and will most likely try and find him. He just knew Tony too well. No matter how much he wished, Tony would not leave anything alone.

It terrified him, the thought of what kind of Tony could get into.