The street names were familiar and there was a faint hint of memory around the neighborhood but it had been 'gentrified'. Upscaled. A few familiar things remained and Bucky startled him at one point, laughing out loud, pointing out the historical plaque that marked the childhood home of Steve Rogers, Captain America. Steve didn't recognize the building and didn't even realize the marker existed, it didn't back in his world, and wondered if Howard or Tony had anything to do with it. They visited Coney Island where they ate the real Coney Island hot dogs and rode the Cyclone. It could have been a depressing trip but in its own way, it helped them heal. Things had come full circle.
"We can move here," Bucky said. "We're city boys at heart. Be closer to the Compound."
The offer was tempting. "You've made a life for yourself in Wakanda, and I'm not ready, not yet, because this really isn't my world, but we could come back here every so often, just to stay in touch. We could find a place here," Steve said as he weaved in and out of the pedestrians.
"It's expensive!" Bucky said, following behind him.
"You can stay at the Wankandan Consulate if you wanted, for nothing."
"How do you know?"
"I asked. I still have the back pay from the Army. We could work something out."
"Ok, but we come back in the spring. I've gotten over the winters and if I have to endure the summer heat, I'll do it in Wakanda, close nature and not concrete."
"Sounds fair. We'll find a place for our 'Spring' home."
"A Spring Home? Sounds pretentious, but ok."
They arrived back at the Compound later that evening. To their surprise, they found Tony still in his office.
"Rhodey is awake, paid him a visit, he's doing fine, a little more snippy than he was, but nothing we can't work around. Natasha woke up too. Bruce showed up there, and I think they've worked things out. Clint wants to have a big sit down with me which I am not looking forward to and there's this other thing… kind of sensitive but I came across something and, well, keeping secrets has never served either one of us well in the past…"
"What?" Steve asked.
He reached into his desk and pulled out a picture and handed it to Steve. A black-and-white photo, taken from a video, showing Steve and Bucky in the pool, in a passionate embrace. Bucky exhaled and turned away.
"It's from the security camera. Don't worry! As soon as I realized what it was, I stopped looking but…" Tony said.
"We're consenting adults, Tony," Steve said.
"That's not the problem. The problem is why didn't you tell me? I mean, why keep this a secret? Did you think I'd judge you or throw you off the team?" Tony asked. He sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.
"That was me," Bucky said turning around. "All my doing, but what the hell. This relationship isn't what you think it is. I'm asexual. I'm different and I don't like having to explain myself over and over so that's why we kept quiet about it."
"Oh," Tony said, he blinked, his head snapping back in surprise. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. This is I didn't want to tell people!" Bucky said, more to Steve than Tony. "I'm not sick, I'm not broken, I'm ok with myself but people assume things…"
"But you two were going at it hot and heavy there…" Tony said. "I'm confused."
"Bucky experiences romantic and sensual attraction. They're not the same thing as sexual attraction."
"They're not?"
"No…"
"Then what's the point? I mean, isn't that why we do what we do…"
"The point is, we're in a relationship, we love each other and that's how we show it."
"And you're ok.."
"Yes, I'm ok with it. We consider our relationship to be as valid as anyone else's. Tony, would stand for it if anyone dug around in your private life?" Steve asked.
Tony took a moment to stare at the wall behind Steve. "Ok, consider me properly chastened and rebuked. What you do, or don't do is none of my business. I wanted you to know I know."
"Thanks, Tony."
"Keep the picture. It's actually a nice picture. I destroyed the rest of the tape. And we won't say anything more about it."
"Thank you," Bucky said. "This is probably for the best. One less person to dance around."
"I had my suspicions, even back in the other life," Tony said. "But I suppose he's told you all about that."
"Some of it," Bucky said. "Enough, but not everything. I'm sorry, about everything that happened and what you went through, Tony."
Tony looked past him, then focused his eyes back around. "So am I. I saw it all again when I was dreaming, and a lot more. The part where they held you captive. It was terrible. I chased after you through the streets of New York!" he shifted his focus to Steve. "When's it all going to come together? I don't know if I can live with these different memories shifting back and forth inside my head."
"I don't have an answer but we can't worry about it," Steve said. " If a few of us go through the rest of our lives a little disjointed and unfocused, it's a small price to pay."
"I suppose you're right. You're usually always right, except for those times when I am. So you're leaving?"
"First thing tomorrow, but we'll be back in the spring. Best time to come to New York unless we're needed before then."
"Let's hope not. We'll see you in the spring."
The flight home was uneventful. Bucky didn't understand the concept of the mile high club but he didn't stop Steve's advances either.
The hut was the same. The neighbors had fed the goats; the vegetables harvested, and the meat was drying in the smokehouse They mowed the grass and had repaired a piece of the thatching of the roof. Steve took a moment to look out over the lake. Nothing disturbed the water; the sun sending out its early afternoon rays across the lake. Bucky disappeared into the kitchen, returning with the two blue spice bags. Seeing them was a reminder they had taken the dead tree down less than a week before. Bucky hung the two bags onto the doorframe so it was visible to any visitor. Steve understood the significance of the act.
"You sure about this?" He asked. "People will talk."
Bucky turned around, smiling. "I should say something sappy like I've never been surer of anything, and I don't care if they talk, but when it all comes down to it, I'm ready to believe you, when you tell me what we have is what you want. That was my real hang up. I didn't believe you and I'm sorry."
Steve joined him in the doorway. He reached up to touch one of the bags and watched it swing in the breeze. A slight pleasant scent surrounded them. He reached out to Bucky and pulled him close. Bucky moved in to kiss him, not caring they were out in the open for anyone to see.