Bucky wiped off the counter top for the millionth time that morning. It was ten o' clock on a Monday, which meant that the adults were working and the kids were in school, meaning no business. No business meant that Bucky was bored. A bored Bucky used to mean trouble, but now not so much. They had gotten a new shipment of Captain America comics that morning and Bucky was officially bored enough to read them.
He sighed as he picked up the brightly colored comic. The cover depicted Steve, bigger than life, waving the Flag proudly, and an annoying pre-teen Bucky. Bucky barely held back his grimace. It was bad enough that the USO made up fake adventures for him and Steve, but did he have to be a tween?!
Bucky rolled his eyes but read the blasted thing anyway. It was getting pretty ridiculous; tween-Bucky had just been kidnapped by a grown man wearing a purple sock on his face. Ugh, these writers seriously lacked imagination. Despite how much he loathed the comic, Bucky was really getting into it. So much so that he failed to notice the jingle of the door or the man standing in front of him.
"Ya know, some would call reading your own comic egotistical, Barnes." Howard Stark said loudly, causing Bucky to jump.
"Howard?" Bucky gaped.
"Not that I would know anything about being egotistical. But seriously, those comic books are just sad." Howard continued as if Bucky had never spoken.
"What can I do for you, Stark?" Bucky asked trying to sound annoyed, but the truth was, Howard showing up was the most excitement Bucky had gotten in months.
"It's not what you can do for me, well actually it is, but it's also about what I can do for you." Howard said, leaning on the counter. "I have a job opportunity for you."
Intrigued, Bucky leaned forward as well. "I'm listening."
"After my…little disagreement with the government, they don't totally trust me." Howard started.
"Ya don't say." Bucky snarked. Howard rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, the only way the S.S.R. is willing to let me continue my work is if I allow someone they trust to babysit me. And seeing as you're the Bucky Barnes, and you're actually a pretty good mechanic, I thought I'd offer you a job."
Bucky gaped. "So, I'd be your…?"
"Oh, you'd be my assistant. You'd fetch me coffee and hand me wrenches and things like that. Maybe I'd let you conduct a few of your own experiments as well."
Bucky's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Of course." Howard waved his hand. "You'd get a pretty handsome pay check and live in one of my estates. What do you say?"
"Yes!" Bucky agreed readily. There was no way he was gonna pass this up.
"Great! I'll send my butler down to move you upstate this weekend." With that, Howard sauntered out the door. Bucky stared after him, barely holding in his excitement.
X-X-X
Bucky had been practically vibrating for the rest of the day. He giddily gave Mr. Lee his less than a week's notice and skipped out the door. When he got home, he gave his ma a big kiss on the cheek and threw himself into his chores.
By dinner time, Bucky was still bouncing in his seat like he used to do as a child on the day before his birthday. Winifred gave into her curiosity. She had to know what had made her baby so happy.
"What happened at work today, Jaime?"
Bucky grinned wide and proud. "Howard Stark offered me a job and I accepted."
"That's wonderful, son!" George declared. He'd began to fear that once he was gone, his son would wind up on the streets. Working for Stark Industries could set Bucky up for life if he played his cards right.
"What are you going to be doing?" Winifred asked enthusiastically.
"Well, on paper, I'll be babysitting Stark for the S.S.R., but Stark wants me to assist him in his experiments." Bucky bragged excitedly. It was the first time since before the war that Winifred had seen her son truly happy.
"I'm so happy for you, Jaime-boy!" she said as she stood up to hug him. Bucky laughed into her embrace.