Chapter 4

Don't run away

Steve sits next to him, so close their thighs are touching even when there's enough space on the other side of the couch, where Natasha's sitting. Bucky is not sure if Steve's aware of what he's doing because he's busy looking at Fury standing in front of them with his arms on his back; Steve frowns at him while the Black Widows seems particularly amused with the whole situation.

"So… you're saying you want to make a team of super people?" Bucky says then, because the Avengers thing is confusing him and nobody seems willing to ask about anything.

"People with abilities," Fury corrects him. "But yeah, that's basically it."

"And you want me in it," Steve says and doesn't look pleased when the man nods in response.

"We certainly need a leader, a man with strength and experience in the battlefield," Fury continues. "We need Captain America back."

"Well I'm not sure I want to be him again," Steve protests. He takes Bucky's hand in his and Bucky thinks he doesn't know what he's doing but lets him because his friend seems to need something to grab onto. "I just want to have a normal life… I want to get married and maybe someday to have a family."

Bucky tries to hide his surprise, but it's really difficult. He didn't know all those things about Steve till now. He wonders why Steve never talked to him about that. He also thinks about what will happen to him when Steve finds the right woman for him. Of course they'll still be friends, but it won't be the same, Steve will stop spending so much time with him to be with his family and Bucky will miss him because he's pathetic like that, because he's so broken he can't have a relationship.

He's so stuck in his own mind he doesn't notice the moment Steve looks at him with hope, he also doesn't notice the moment his friend's expression changes to worry.

"Buck, are you okay?"

He blinks and then tries to control himself, before smiling at Steve.

"Yes, of course. I just… got distracted."

"Don't you think the best way to get what you want, to keep the ones that you love safe is to be Captain America again?" Fury cuts in suddenly. "I want to make the world a safer place and believe me Rogers there are so many who want power no matter the cost and we must stop them."

Bucky knows exactly what he's doing, he's using Steve's kindness and good heart against him, he's trying to manipulate him in order to get what he wants. And by the worried look on Steve's face, Fury is winning.

"You don't have to do this, Steve. You did enough back then; you don't own this world anything. It's not your responsibility." Bucky says, but he knows it's too late when he looks back at him. Steve smiles and tucks a lock of Bucky's hair behind his ear.

"It's okay, Buck. I think Fury's right," he says.

"But what about you? Is this really what you want?"

"Hey, you can still do the things you want. You just have to see this like some kind of job." Natasha interrupts Bucky. "You can have a relationship and I'm sure whoever you want to marry he… they'll accept in a heartbeat you just have to, you know, tell them, Steve."

The Black Widow winks at him and Bucky watches the exact moment Steve's face blushes. Natasha knows something that he doesn't.

Fury clears his throat. They all finally look back at him.

"It's decided then. I'm going back to SHIELD. Rogers, are you coming?"

Steve looks reluctant to go. Bucky knows he doesn't like to live there, but he can't really imagine what's so bad about that place to make Steve to want to spend more time in his apartment with him.

"The place you gave him it's really depressing," Nat comments then. "It looks more like a prison than an apartment."

"I'm afraid all SHIELD looks the same, Romanoff."

"It's okay Nat–" Steve says, but gets quickly interrupted by the woman.

"Well, what about you, Bucky?"

"What do you mean?" He asks, not sure what the whole thing is about, but he knows her enough to know she's planning something.

Nat grins from ear to ear.

"Steve can live here, with you. After all you have a spare room. You can share the bills. I think it'll benefit you both."

No, it will not be okay, because Bucky will have to spend more time with Steve and when he finally moves out to live with his girlfriend, to get married… he'll leave him, but Bucky will be so into deep by then it'll hurt him so much. He doesn't want that. Bucky's about to open his mouth to say something, anything, but then he looks at Steve; he's smiling, looking hopeful and happy that Bucky decides not to say a word.

"I think it's a great idea!" He says, but stops smiling when he catches a glimpse of Bucky's hesitant look. "Well… only if you agree, I don't want to be a bother."

"You won't be, Steve," Bucky manages to smile. "You can stay here as much as you want."

Steve's so happy he leans in and puts his arms around Bucky and presses him close.

"I'll just go to get my stuff and I'll be back," he informs him, grinning like he has just received the best news he has in a while.

"I have to go to work, so I won't be here by the time you return, but here… you can have my spare key," he says.

"Thanks, I'll see you tonight," Steve standing up. "I'll pick you up."

"Yeah," he answers; he's still trying to process the whole thing he doesn't notice when the two men get out till Nat sits closer to him.

"You two are so cute, you know that?" She giggles.

"What've you done?" Bucky asks when he recovers.

"This is the best for you, believe me."

"I don't think this is a good idea."

"Why? You don't like him?" Nat raises her red eyebrows at him and Bucky can't help blushing.

"Yes, of course I do… I mean we're good friends." He blurts out.

She rolls her eyes in response.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, sweetheart," she looks at some kind of watch on her wrist and then at him again. "Look I know you're scared and I know what you've been through and how difficult was for you to recover from it, but please trust me on this, okay?"

Bucky's not sure what to think of it, but he nods anyway.

"And listen, I care about you both and I don't want any of you to get hurt, so please do me a favor and don't run away… please."

"Run away from what exactly?" Bucky asks.

"You KNOW what…"

No, he doesn't and he thinks that he doesn't want to either.


Our Bucky is so oblivious, please someone save him.

I think it's time for them to meet the other Avengers, at least the ones Fury has convinced so far.