Author: The Wayward Angel
Story: The Red String
Rating: M
Word Count: 1262
Chapter: 6/?
Pairings: Starbuck
Spoilers: Captain America: The Winter Soldier spoilers apply
Trigger Warnings: a/b/o dynamics, alpha!Bucky, omega!Steve, explicit sex
Summary: It was snowing out and Steve had a cold. Those were the two things Bucky focused on. Their heating had been cut off two days prior and Steve had taken to burning old sketches and drawings to try to keep warm. Bucky had started sleeping next to Steve at night to keep him warm. *Alpha/Omega AU*
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

AN: So if you didn't notice, I edited the last chapter. I'll go back and edit the others as well. Sorry I've been slow to update, I'll try to get back on this story and wrap it up. Please read the author's note at the end of the chapter!

Unbeta'd. All mistakes are mine. Please feel free to point out any grammatical or spelling errors.

The Red String
Chapter Six

2012
Manhattan, New York

"I didn't know the Capsicle had an Alpha mate." Tony said, leaning back in his chair at the kitchen table in Avenger's Tower. It had been weeks since Steve started living with Tony, Pepper, and Bruce; months since Loki's attack on New York. Tony, Pepper, and Steve sat at the table eating breakfast while Bruce slept in. The Beta scientist would get up around nine or so for coffee before heading down to the labs for the day.

"Oh," Steve said, reaching a hand back to touch the mark on the back of his neck, "I don't. Well, not anymore. He- uh…he died, back in the war." He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, taking a sip of coffee. Steve looked away from the table, plainly avoiding Tony's gaze.

"I'm sorry," Pepper said, placing a hand on Steve's arm, shooting Tony a dirty look, "We didn't know."

"It's okay." Steve replied tensely, shrugging in an effort to appear nonchalant, "It was a long time ago."

Pepper looked unconvinced but nodded anyway, "Okay," She replied.

There was a brief, awkward silence before Tony said, "So that would make you an unmated Omega then."

This was definitely not a conversation that Steve wanted to have. Ever. "I have no idea what you're talking about," He said tersely, "I'm not-"

"Oh you're so fucking lying," Tony grinned, deftly ignoring the glare Pepper gave him, "I can smell it all over you, Rogers. You smell fucking awesome and fertile as hell." The Alpha smirked.

"We're not talking about this." Steve said, standing abruptly and toppling his chair.

"Steve…" Tony whined.

Steve shook his head, "No, we're not talking about this Tony. Not now. Not ever." He stormed out before Tony could say another word.

Pepper came by later to apologize for Tony. She sat down on Steve's bed, her hands in her lap. "He didn't mean to upset you." She said, "I don't understand him sometimes, why he says the things he does, but I know he didn't want to hurt you."

"I hoped no one knew. I'm so careful about my suppressants." Steve mumbled, sitting next to Pepper.

"You were off them seventy years Steve, obviously you still have the scent on you and the suppressants haven't masked the smell yet." The Beta woman smiled gently, "That claim bite has probably helped keep Alphas off of you, but once someone scents you…" She trailed off. Unmated Omegas were free game, even in the 21st century.

"They'll know I'm unmated, and then anyone can take me if they want." Steve sighed, placing his head in his hands, curling in on himself. "What am I going to do?"

"Find a mate." Pepper replied, "Or someone you trust enough to scent you and keep off other Alphas."

Steve snorted, "Yeah, right."

"Steve, your mate isn't here anymore." Pepper said gently, resting her hand on Steve's shoulder, "You don't have to be celibate for the rest of your life. Your mate wouldn't have wanted that, would he?"

Steve shook his head, a small smile on his face, "No."

"Then get out there, meet someone. It'll be fun."

"I could do it, you know." Tony said about a week later from the doorway of the gym.

Steve was pounding on a punching bag, not stopping as he asked, "Do what?"

"I could be your Alpha."

Steve stopped, his fist resting against the canvas surface of the bag. He turned his head to look at Tony, eyebrows raised, "Yeah, right. You, as my Alpha."

Tony snarled at that, the Alpha in him enraged at being insulted by a lowly little bitch, "Now you listen here, bitch-" He was caught off guard by a right hook to the jaw. The punch left him dazed and Steve boxed him in against the wall next to the door.

"I'm not a bitch," Steve snapped, "You will never call me a bitch, you will never treat me like a bitch, and I sure as hell won't bend over for you." His blue eyes were wild, hair mussed, and he smelled perfect. Sweet and fertile in a way that had Tony almost moaning. Almost.

Tony nodded curtly and Steve stepped away, clearly still furious at the insult to him and his biology. The Alpha took a few calming breaths. He could use his Alpha Voice on Steve, if he wanted, make the Omega bow to him, but he wouldn't do that to Steve. They were friends, as much as Tony didn't really want to admit it, and forcing his friend to submit to him would make him no better than a rapist. "I'm sorry," He said, hands up as if in surrender.

Steve watched him suspiciously before he nodded, "Okay." He said.

"Okay?"

"Yeah, we're good." Steve said, turning back to his punching bag to continue his workout. Tony watched him for a little longer before he walked out.

"Tony said you were looking for a mate." Bruce said over dinner one night, taking a bite of his salad. Tony and Pepper were out at a function, so it was one of the rare nights that the Beta and Omega had to eat alone.

Steve choked on his water. Bruce waited patiently for him to be able to speak. "Tony talks too much." Steve finally sputtered.

Bruce smiled lightly, "I think Tony would be good for you."

Steve just raised an eyebrow.

"I mean it."

"Aren't Tony and Pepper-"

"No," Bruce shook his head, "They had a thing a while back, but it didn't get serious. They're just friends now."

"Oh…" Steve pushed his food around his plate distractedly.

They sat in silence for a while, Steve lost in his thoughts and Bruce finishing his dinner. The Beta scientist got up and put his plate in the sink, "Tony's not a bad guy, Steve. And he likes you."

"Would that be settling?" Steve asked.

Bruce just shrugged and went back downstairs to his lab.

To be continued…

AN: Um so yeah you guys might not be happy with me, but I do happen to ship Tony/Steve so there's gonna be a little of that. Hopefully not too many of you are gonna hop off the bandwagon because it'll only be for a couple of chapters.

Now, question time! I need to know in the comments how many of you would read a sequel about Steve and Bucky with kids. I'd like to know if anyone would read it before I start planning it. It would include mpreg so if that squicks you, sorry, a/b/o universe says I can.