When the dust settled Steve called for his teammates. Natasha, Sam and Clint answered immediately, knowing exactly what it did to Steve if they didn't answer his calls when the fight was over.
Bucky was probably still the Soldier, it was a common occurrence by now that Bucky lost control during the fights, and the Soldier never answered. He wasn't a team player and he definitely didn't care for the others unless it concerned Tony. The Soldier seemed still hell bent on killing him and whenever he had a second to breathe during a fight he made his way over to him.
So far Steve and the others had managed to intercept him before he could reach Tony but Steve knew that it was a dangerous game. Someday they wouldn't be fast enough and from what he had seen so far the Soldier posed a genuine threat, not only to Tony but to all of them.
So his lack of response didn't worry Steve so much, even though the metal arm was still not working correctly. What did bother him was that Tony didn't respond. That was concerning because even if Tony was unconscious Jarvis should have answered Steve.
"Jarvis?" he asked after another minute without an answer from Tony.
"Sir is not in his suit and he seems to have lost the earpiece. I have currently no means to connect to him" Jarvis responded immediately and now Steve was really worried.
Tony shouldn't be out of the suit. They had practiced his defence if it should ever come to that but Tony wouldn't be able to hold himself against this many enemies.
Before he could ask Jarvis why Tony had left the suit Bucky, the Soldier, approached him. His gun was raised and levelled at Steve's head, this too had happened way to regularly lately for Steve to really worry about it, but he seemed genuinely angry.
"Where is he?" the Soldier snarled and came close enough to put the gun directly to Steve's head.
He usually kept more distance between them, very aware that Steve could disarm him if he wanted to and he rarely gave Steve such an easy opening. Steve could hear the others coming up behind him, even though he didn't dare to turn his head.
"You will not get to Tony, man" Clint said and tried to sound casually, but Steve could hear the underlying strain. "When will you learn that?"
The Soldier took out another gun and Steve briefly wondered how many he would have to strip him of if this went awry. "Tell me where he is" the Soldier said again but now he sounded a bit desperate. "I have to find him."
The Soldier was sweating and breathing too heavy and Steve suspected that the use of the damaged arm hurt him more than Bucky would ever let on.
"Sam, go find him" Steve ordered, still staring the Soldier down. He would not let the Soldier hurt Tony but fact was that Tony still hadn't said anything and that probably meant nothing good.
Sam immediately went into the direction the Soldier came from as that was the last place any of them had seen Tony and after a few minutes he reported back. "The suit's here, though it's empty. But it seems to work. Tony's nowhere in sight."
"Fuck" Clint murmured and the Soldier went tense all over.
"Where is he?" the Soldier said, as if that was the only thing he could say, and pressed the gun harder to Steve's head. This was getting out of hand quickly and Steve needed to restrain the Soldier so that they could look for Tony without being afraid that the Soldier would get to him first.
"Natasha, Quinjet, you know what" Steve said and Natasha slipped away.
Clint stepped a few steps back, giving Steve the space he would need to fight the Soldier and Steve didn't hesitate another second. He moved quickly, but the bullet still grazed his head and if it weren't for the helmet he would be bleeding like hell right now, and then he had to fully concentrate on the Soldier.
The Soldier had an advantage, it was clear that he fought to hurt Steve, while Steve always held back, not willing to hurt Bucky. The Soldier was fast and strong, even with his arm damaged, and Steve had to go all out until he managed to subdue him. But even then he could only hold him for so long and the Soldier was already wriggling out of his grip.
Natasha was at his side a second later, the cuffs Steve send her to get in her hands, and they snapped them around the Soldier's wrists. They were originally designed for the Hulk but during testing Tony had found out that they could also hold Steve and even Thor, and they suspected that they would work on a lot of super beings, so they came in different sizes now.
When they had started to bring the Soldier to missions Steve had also brought the cuffs and now he was glad he did.
When they snapped shut all the fight left the Soldier and he looked at Steve, betrayal clear in his eyes. "Please" he mumbled and tugged on the cuffs, though it was useless. He wouldn't get out of them anytime soon.
Steve stepped back while the Soldier moved to at least sit instead of lying on his front but he kept close, not wanting to underestimate the Soldier. Sam jogged back to them and he looked grim, especially when he saw the cuffs on the Soldier.
"Jarvis said Tony left the suit after he took an EMP that was meant for him" he pointed at the Soldier. Steve's eyebrows shot up at that. "For Bucky or the Soldier?"
"As far as I understood it for the Soldier."
"Why would he do that?" Clint asked but Steve knew no answer to that.
"Where is he now?" Steve asked instead and Sam shrugged.
"He left the suit to help the Soldier but then he lost his earpiece. Jarvis doesn't know what happened."
"He was unconscious" the Soldier suddenly said and he seemed really angry now.
"Did you do that?" Clint asked and it looked like the Soldier wanted to kill him just with his eyes.
"They hit him" he said, voice tight, and he didn't meet anyone's eyes. "I was right there" he mumbled and Steve couldn't identify the emotion in his voice.
"They probably took him" Natasha said and even though Steve really didn't want to hear that she was probably right.
"It was AIM. Would make sense if they were after him" Clint added and Steve nodded.
"Jarvis, you got any surveillance on this?"
"They disabled the system. I managed to bring it back online but I couldn't find Sir."
"Damn" Sam said and Steve could wholeheartedly agree.
"Okay, let's treat this as an abduction" Steve finally said and everyone nodded. "Sam, Clint, you'll be guarding him" he said and pointed at the Soldier who struggled against his restrains again. "Natasha and I will see what we can find here and then we'll meet you back at the tower." Everyone nodded. "Jarvis, can you operate the suit and fly it back to the tower?"
"Of course."
"Good. Take the Soldier with you."
"Certainly" Jarvis said while the suit started to move. The Soldier watched it wearily but he didn't fight when Jarvis put his arm around him.
The suit and Sam took off shortly after and Steve and Natasha swept the place. They couldn't find anything that would tell them what happened or where they took Tony and so they also flew back to the tower.
"Captain, I should inform you that my protocols demand for Colonel Rhodes to be informed as soon as Mister Stark's whereabouts are uncertain."
"Is he on his way?" Steve asked and hoped the answer would be yes. They would probably need the help.
"Yes, Captain. He will arrive in less than an hour."
"Keep him posted of everything we find until then." Jarvis didn't respond to that but Steve was certain that he would tell Rhodey everything they knew.
When Steve and Natasha entered the conference room the Soldier sat in a chair while Clint was standing right behind him, ready to interfere at any time. Sam was busy looking at some screens but when they entered he turned around.
"We started without you" he said and pointed at one screen. "They took him. Jarvis was able to get the footage of the surrounding buildings. We're trying to track their truck."
"Any luck so far?" Steve asked while he pushed back the cowl. He kept his shield though, who knew when he would need it again.
"Jarvis is trying to reconstruct their way."
"It's difficult. They kept to small roads. So far I lost them twice but I managed to find them again" Jarvis supplied and Steve frowned.
"Is there no way to track Tony at all?"
"Sir has refused any and all tracking devices, I'm afraid."
Of course Tony wouldn't want to be tracked but right now that would have been really convenient.
"Can you track the energy signature of the arc reactor?" Natasha asked.
"The energy output of the device is too small to be tracked."
"What about the truck? Still moving?" Steve asked and Jarvis showed him the footage.
"They are still on the move, though they are leaving the city which will make it harder for me."
"Don't lose that truck, Jarvis."
"I won't, Captain." Jarvis sounded very determined and while Steve was aware that computer programs shouldn't be able to sound like anything he was glad that Jarvis had as much of a personality as he did. It would help them get Tony back.
Steve turned back around to the Soldier who was still sitting very still though he seemed captivated by the footage that still played on the screen.
"What were you doing when they took him?" Steve asked him and the Soldier didn't even look away from the screen when he answered.
"I was fighting."
"Him?" Clint asked and now the Soldier looked around to him and his eyes were hard.
"No" he said and his voice didn't allow any discussion. "I can help" he said and looked back at Steve. "Please. I can help."
"So you can kill him in the end? I don't think so. We'll find him."
The Soldier obviously wanted to say something to that but in that moment the doors opened and Rhodey came in. "What happened?" he asked instead of a greeting.
"AIM. They attacked us and took Tony. We don't know where he is right now, but Jarvis is working on that."
"Good" Rhodey said and started to turn to the screen when his eyes landed on the Soldier. "Why is he handcuffed?" He seemed genuinely surprised at that and Steve wondered for the tenth times how much Tony told Rhodey.
"Bucky lost control. He's the Soldier right now."
"Yeah, I can see that. But why is he in cuffs?"
"He wants to kill Tony. I don't think we want him running around and doing what he wants" Clint said but Rhodey frowned.
"He wants to what?"
So Tony didn't tell Rhodey everything. Steve wasn't sure why Tony kept that a secret but with the way Rhodey was eyeing the Soldier he would probably have told Tony to just throw them out. If only to keep Tony safe.
"Bucky told us that the Soldier wants to kill Tony" Steve said but he didn't explain it any further.
The Soldier and Rhodey were staring at each other now and suddenly the Soldier seemed excited. "He told you" he said and Rhodey nodded.
Steve was at a total loss as to what the Soldier could mean but before he could ask anything the Soldier raised his hands. "I can help."
Rhodey took a step towards the Soldier and Steve was ready to stop him when he alreday stopped on his own. "Is it true what they say?" he asked and the Soldier shook his head while he said "Please." Rhodey seemed to think for a few seconds before he asked "Can you find him?"
"I always found him" the Soldier said and Steve didn't understand a word.
Rhodey obviously did though and before anyone could react he pressed his thumb to the side of the cuffs. They were solid, not allowing any room for movement and the pad for the fingerprint was on the side where the cuffed person had no chance to reach it. Steve knew that the whole team was able to open the cuffs again but he hadn't thought that Rhodey would be as well.
When the cuffs fell to the floor Steve rushed forwards but Rhodey stepped into his way. "Let him do his job" he said and while he didn't seem threatening Steve was pretty sure that Rhodey would fight if Steve tried to get to the Soldier.
"What is happening here?" Clint asked, bow already drawn and even Natasha had her guns out. Sam was still busy tracking the van but he also seemed tense.
"It's really not my place to tell but I am pretty sure that the Soldier will find Tony."
"To tell what?" Steve asked and Rhodey seemed unwilling to give an answer.
Before Steve could demand an answer from him the Soldier went over to the screens and joined Sam. He seemed to talk to Jarvis and Sam seemed surprised at his input. He looked back at Steve but all he could do was shrug.
Even with the help of the Soldier it took them almost a day to figure out where they held Tony captive and Steve wasn't sure they would have find him so quickly if the Soldier wouldn't be so determined. Sure, none of them slept during that day, no one even took as much as ten minutes for themselves but it seemed like the Soldier was desperate to find Tony and so it wasn't really a surprise when it was the Soldier who said "I got him. Let's move."
Steve blocked the door when the Soldier moved to it and he refused to budge this time. Bucky had never lost control for so long and there was no indication that he would come back anytime soon. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked the Soldier but to his surprise it was Rhodey who answered.
"What are you doing? Tony is out there, abducted and without his suit for almost a day now and we know where he is and you want to take some time to argue with him?"
"I wasn't going to argue" Steve said and raised the cuffs he had kept close this whole time.
"We don't have time for this shit" Rhodey said and pushed past Steve. "He is coming, if you like it or not."
The Soldier grinned at him, but there was an edge to it, like he dared Steve to attack him.
Steve gritted his teeth but then he let the Soldier pass and he was hot on his heels. Even if he couldn't cuff him again, he would damn well make sure that he wouldn't hurt anyone.
They were in the Quinjet a minute later and Clint was piloting while the Soldier was checking over his weapons. He pulled an alarming number of knives out of his suit and Steve really had to wonder where he got them all. He was pretty sure Bucky never carried that amount of weapons.
They flew out to a seemingly abandoned factory out of town and Steve wondered if villains would ever outgrow this cliché.
When Clint landed the Quinjet an explosion rocked the place and everyone was up and ready to go within seconds. They didn't even wait until the Quinjet really landed, Steve motioned for Clint to open the door before then, and as soon as everyone could safely make it out of the jet they were gone.
Rhodey and the Soldier were right next to Steve and Sam, and Steve was still eyeing the Soldier warily. He didn't know what he would do once he saw Tony but he wouldn't allow him to hurt Tony.
A second and third explosion destroyed most of the building and a few AIM agents were running away from it. Steve didn't pay them any attention, Clint, Sam and Natasha would take care of them he was sure of that, and he followed the Soldier and Rhodey who went for the main entrance of the building.
Before they could make it a figure stumbled out of it and after a heartbeat Steve realized it was Tony. He was bleeding from a head wound and he was covered in dirt and grime, probably from the explosions and he was limping and obviously favouring his left side but he was walking on his own and seemed otherwise unscathed.
When Tony saw them coming he grinned like the mad man he was but then his eyes fell on the Soldier and suddenly he seemed guarded. He didn't stop coming towards them though and the Soldier was running towards him unexpectedly.
Tony faltered in his steps, obviously torn between going forward and fleeing back into the factory and Steve had his shield up, ready to let it fly and knock the Soldier out when Rhodey pushed it down.
He didn't say anything but he seemed unconcerned that the Soldier would hurt Tony and when Steve looked back at them Tony seemed to think the same because he was moving towards them again.
The Soldier was still running towards him, he didn't even slow down and so he nearly knocked Tony off his feet when he crashed into him. But instead of attacking Tony the Soldier wrapped him in his arms and squeezed him, giving Tony the biggest bear hug Steve had ever seen.
Tony seemed surprised by that at first but after a few seconds he tentatively raised his hands to return the gesture. The Soldier said something, too low for Steve to understand, but Tony's face lit up and he relaxed into the embrace.
Steve seemed as confused by this as Sam, who had joined them when he saw Tony, but when he looked at Rhodey he was smiling. Steve really wanted to know what was going on here but before he could say anything another explosion rocked the compound and Tony and the Soldier parted to look back at the building.
When it started to come down completely they moved back towards Steve, Sam and Rhodey and when they were in reach, Rhodey pulled Tony into an embrace as well.
The Soldier was smiling faintly and was more relaxed than Steve had ever seen him. When he caught Steve's eye he said "I told you I would find him" and before Steve could say anything to that the Soldier's eyes rolled back and he fell to the ground, obviously unconscious.
Tony was hurt and he felt it with every step he took out of the compound. He really wished he could just sit down and wait to be rescued but he knew that this place wouldn't stand any longer and as to encourage his escape the first of many explosions went off.
Tony smiled grimly; he knew that AIM was generally not the brightest organisation out there but giving him a room to work in because they wanted his design? That had to be by far the stupidest thing they ever did.
Tony was very determined to leave the factory before it fell down on his head and so he didn't waste any more time on wistful thinking of being rescued and instead limped to the main entrance he could see. He wasn't armed but so far no one had tried to attack him; it seemed like they were all too busy running out of the building.
When Tony finally left the factory he could already see the Quinjet and soon after that he saw three people running towards him. A big grin split his face when he recognized Steve and Rhodey but when he saw Bucky, he faltered. It was very clear that that was the Soldier who was running towards him now and Tony was torn between evading him, he could almost hear Bucky's voice telling him that the Soldier wanted to kill him, and running towards him because screw all this.
He had missed the Soldier so damn much and if the only chance he got was right before he got stabbed by him then so be it.
So Tony limbed on, absently noting that Steve raised his shield while Rhodey stopped him from doing more with it when the Soldier started to sprint towards him and then the Soldier was right there.
He crashed into Tony without even slowing down and Tony only barely registered the pain that spiked in his side because suddenly he found himself in an embrace with the Soldier. He tentatively raised his hands to return the gesture, more reflex than anything else, confused as to what was happening.
"You're safe now. I've got you and I won't leave you again" the Soldier said and Tony could feel all the tension leave his body. He practically slumped into the Soldier and it didn't even matter that he was hurt.
The Soldier was back and he found him, like he always had, and he wouldn't leave Tony again. Tony couldn't even say something to this but he squeezed the Soldier as best as he could and he wondered how long they would have stayed like that if it weren't for another explosion.
Tony and the Soldier parted, though they didn't quite stop touching, to look back at the compound and when it started to come down they silently agreed that further away from it would be better.
They made their way back to Steve, Sam and Rhodey who came towards them and when they reached them Tony was pulled into another embrace by Rhodey. Tony felt reminded of the time Rhodey had found him in the desert but he didn't mind the hug and what if he stayed in Rhodey's arms longer than necessary.
"He found me" Tony mumbled into Rhodey's neck and Rhodey nodded.
"That he did" he answered and only then did Tony pull away from him.
He couldn't help but grin at Steve and Sam but Steve paid him no mind, he was looking at the Soldier, who smiled faintly and said "I told you I would find him."
Steve obviously wanted to say something to that but before he could manage that the Soldier's eyes rolled back and he fell to the ground. Tony was at this side a second later, not caring in the least that kneeling down wasn't good for his injured leg, but the Soldier was out cold.
"What just happened?" Tony asked but everyone just shrugged.
"He was in control the whole time. Maybe he needs some rest" Rhodey eventually said and Tony looked back at the Soldier.
He really hoped that it would still be him when he woke up again, Tony wasn't sure he could take it if Bucky came back right now. There were still so many things left unsaid between Tony and the Soldier and Tony didn't want to wait anymore.
"We should get him to the jet" Steve said and looked at Tony. "How bad are you hurt? You're still bleeding."
Tony put his hand to his head and he dimly recalled how a stone had hit him there after the first explosion.
"It's alright. I can still walk" Tony said instead of giving him an accurate description of his injuries and Rhodey raised his eyebrows at that. He knew exactly what Tony was doing but since he didn't call him out on it Tony guessed he didn't look as bad as he felt.
"Alright. Then let's move" Steve said and asked Sam to help him with the unconscious Bucky.
Clint and Natasha joined them at the Quinjet, they had restrained all the AIM agents and handed them to the police who must have arrived in the past few minutes.
Steve and Sam laid Bucky out on the cot they had in the jet and even though they ushered Tony to sit down and let himself be looked over Tony refused to leave his side.
When the Soldier woke up, Tony wanted to be there.
No one really argued with him, Tony wondered how much Rhodey told them, but after a few minutes standing became nearly unbearable due to his injured leg. Rhodey seemed to notice and offered Tony to lean on him and Tony gladly took the offer.
"You should really sit down, you know that right?" he asked but Tony could tell that it was more of a rhetorical question. Rhodey wouldn't make him leave the Soldier's side.
So Tony nodded but didn't move an inch away from the cot. He desperately wanted to know what had happened this last day but when he turned to ask Rhodey he shook his head.
"Later" was all he said and Tony understood what he was saying. He hadn't told the others anything. It was still a thing between Tony and the Soldier and Rhodey gave him a chance to keep it that way, which Tony gladly took.
Halfway through their flight the Soldier began to stir and Tony was leaning over him a second later. His eyes fluttered open and Tony did very pointedly not think about what that did to him but when he looked at him Tony could tell that this wasn't the Soldier anymore.
"Steve?" Bucky asked and Steve was at his side a second later.
"Here, Buck."
"Did we win?" Bucky asked and Steve shortly looked at Tony but Tony had a hard time processing this.
He was aware that Rhodey was steering him away from Bucky but he could hardly feel the hand on his body; he was numb all over. This couldn't be happening again. He couldn't take this anymore.
Rhodey brought him over to a seat so that he could finally sit down and then he positioned himself so that Tony couldn't see Bucky and Steve but he could still hear them. Tony knew that he shouldn't listen to this, he didn't need that right now, but he couldn't tune them out, even when Rhodey started to speak to him.
"Buck, it's been a day since that fight" Steve carefully said and Tony didn't need to see Bucky to know how he tensed up in panic.
"It's fine, you didn't hurt anyone" Steve rushed on and Bucky's voice was full of doubt when he asked "What happened?"
Before Steve could answer that though Bucky must have fallen back unconscious because Steve was swearing and then he walked over to Sam to lowly talk to him.
Only now did Tony realize that Rhodey was still talking and he had to force himself to listen to him. "Tony, it's okay. You with me? This is nothing to worry about" Rhodey said and Tony laughed at that.
"Of course it's not" he bitterly said and put his face in his hands. "He forgot again. He told me he wouldn't leave and he did."
It was more of a sob than anything else. Rhodey sat down next to him and pulled him close but Tony couldn't relax.
"I can't do this anymore. I can't…one minute I think it will be okay, that he will remember and the next something else happens and I can't….I can't…" Tony was gasping for air now, aware that he was talking himself into a panic attack but he couldn't stop.
Rhodey moved his hand up and down his back, mumbling meaningless reassurances but it worked and after a few minutes Tony could breathe easily again. He knew that the others watched them from the corner of their eyes and he straightened up. If anyone would ask what was going on right now he probably would burst into tears and he couldn't have that. He needed to get away from them first.
When the Quinjet landed on the tower Tony was the first up and he was halfway down the ramp when Rhodey caught up with him. "You have to go to medical. You need to let them check you out."
Tony didn't stop to answer him and Rhodey fell into step beside him. "You can do it" Tony said. "I won't go to medical. They will bring…" he motioned back at the jet, not willing to say anything else on that matter. Rhodey looked back as well and then sighed.
"Fine. Workshop. The medical kit there is the best stocked."
Tony held up until they were in the elevator and out of sight before he slumped against Rhodey again, who took his weight without comment. When they reached the workshop Rhodey brought him to the couch where he let Tony gently down before he went to get the medical kit.
"Why didn't you tell me that you thought he wanted to kill you?" Rhodey asked out of the blue when he came back to Tony.
"You were on a mission. I was not allowed to call you."
"And you didn't think to mention it again?"
"What was there to mention? Pepper knew and I just wanted to…"
"Forget that it happened. You told Pepper?" Rhodey asked while he carefully wiped away the blood from Tony's face and anaesthetised the area. "This needs stitches."
"It's all in the kit" Tony said and closed his eyes. "And I didn't tell Pepper by choice, Jarvis and you conspired against me."
"Rightfully so, like it seems." Tony opened his eyes accusingly, because he was damn well capable of taking care of himself, but when he saw how Rhodey threaded the needle he closed them again.
"Okay, starting now" Rhodey said and Tony tried not to think about the needle going through his flesh. "You know, what happened today" Rhodey started and now Tony actually concentrated on the needle.
"I don't want to hear it, Rhodey." He could feel how Rhodey inhaled to say something else but Tony beat him to it. "Please, Rhodey, just don't. I can't hear that right now. Don't make me."
Rhodey let out a long sigh but said "Fine. Not talking about it. You're done by the way." Tony opened his eyes at that and Rhodey was already putting the needle away. "Where else are you hurt?" he asked and Tony shrugged.
"Bruises on my left side, sprained something in my leg. It's fine."
"Sir broke one rip and cracked three more and he twisted his knee and shouldn't put much pressure on it."
Rhodey glared at him but Tony didn't want to argue about any of that right now and so he glared at Jarvis. "Thanks for nothing" he said and Jarvis didn't reply to that.
Rhodey bandaged his knee without comment and when he put the medical kit away he straightened his shoulders. Tony should have run right then and there but he didn't recognize it soon enough and when Rhodey said "He cares, you know" Tony really wished he could actually run away.
"I don't want to hear it" Tony said, really angry now that Rhodey couldn't let it be.
"But I think you should, Tony. I really think you should." Before Tony could object again Rhodey went right on. "He cares about you. He pleaded with me to let him help and he never doubted that he would find you. I don't know why Bucky doesn't remember that but when the Soldier takes over he definitely cares about you."
"But Bucky said..." Tony started, despite himself and Rhodey shook his head.
"I don't know what exactly Bucky said but did it occur to you that maybe he just doesn't think the Soldier could have positive feelings?"
Tony wanted to cover his ears or to throw Rhodey out, because he was sparking the same hope Pepper had and after what had happened today, Tony couldn't stand it.
"What difference does it make? Bucky doesn't remember and the Soldier only takes over during fights. What difference does it make if he doesn't want to kill me?" Tony yelled at Rhodey and wished he could stand so that he wouldn't feel so small. "I obviously wasn't important enough to remember."
Rhodey looked at him for a minute before he said "Maybe you were too important" and Tony wanted to hurl something at him.
"Stop talking!" Tony said but Rhodey didn't seem to listen because he opened his mouth again. "Please, just stop. Didn't you see today? It doesn't matter. Bucky doesn't remember and as long as that is the case it doesn't matter. I won't get him back."
Rhodey looked at him strangely for a second before he said "Are you in love with him?"
Tony didn't know how to react to that because he wasn't, he really wasn't, and in the end he only managed a weak "Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"So Pepper too, huh?" Rhodey smiled and Tony threw up his hands.
"Yes Pepper too. Why does this keep coming up? Because it's not… I'm not…" he trailed off here, not knowing exactly why he just couldn't say it and Rhodey smiled even more.
"You can't even deny it. Why didn't you say something?"
"Because I don't…Why would you even think that?"
Rhodey sat down next to Tony now and he was still smiling. "Because you are acting strange. Stranger than normal. Usually you would be all over this, trying to force Bucky to remember, telling everyone about the meetings. But you're not. You're acting like you are defeated and you only ever act this strange if you are in love or dying. Are you dying, Tony?"
"No, I'm not" Tony huffed out but he couldn't quite bring himself to dismiss the being in love part.
"Are you in love?"
Tony put his hands to his face, he felt like he would start to cry every second now and he didn't want Rhodey to see. "What difference would it make?"
"It would explain a lot" Rhodey said and he sounded way too smug about this. "Not only about you but also about him."
Tony made a vague noise at that because he didn't understand what Rhodey was going on about but before he could explain himself Jarvis interrupted them.
"Sir, something has happened in the medical wing, I think you should see that."
"Is Bucky involved?" Tony asked and Jarvis affirmed that. "Then I don't want to see it" Tony said decidedly but Rhodey got up.
"Well, I do. I'll be over there, if you want to join me."
Tony watched him go further into the workshop where Jarvis pulled up some video recording of the room Bucky was in. Tony tried to not look at it but Jarvis had angled the screen just in the right way for Tony to see everything and apparently Tony was a bigger masochist than he thought because he couldn't look away.
Sam and Steve were with him and Tony wondered where Natasha and Clint were, and how much time he had before they came hunting him down to make sure he was alright and drag him off to debriefing.
Bucky seemed still unconscious but he was moving which indicated that he wouldn't be for much longer. Steve was by his side the second he opened his eyes and Tony had some difficulties to tell if it was the Soldier or Bucky.
"Steve" Bucky, it had to be Bucky, said and Steve smiled at him. When Bucky sat up he looked around as if he was searching for something and then he looked back at Steve. "Where is he?" he asked and that sounded more like the Soldier this time.
Tony was confused because he didn't understand what was happening here and Steve didn't seem to either. "Who, Bucky?" he asked and Bucky was up and almost out of the room a second later.
"Tony. Where is Tony?" he asked again and Steve and Sam traded a look.
"In his workshop, I think" Steve said carefully. "Buck, why would you…" he continued but Bucky was already out of the door. Steve and Sam chased after him and Rhodey closed the window, turning around to Tony.
"What just happened?" Tony asked and Rhodey shrugged.
"No clue. You tell me. Soldier or Bucky?"
"I don't know, I couldn't tell. Where do you think he's going?"
Rhodey looked at him like he was worried that Tony hit his head. "He was looking for you. I'd say he is on his way."
Oh no. Tony wasn't ready for yet another confrontation with Bucky and he got up and wobbled over to his workbench. "Not happening" he said while he braced himself on the table to take the pressure of his knee. "Jarvis, black out…"
Before he could even finish the sentence Bucky was already storming into the workshop, Steve and Sam hot on his heels. Bucky didn't look too happy and when Steve tried to catch his hand he shook him off, not being deterred in coming right at Tony.
Tony had never seen Bucky look so angry and his mind decided that now was a good time to babble. "Okay, I see you're angry but the hug wasn't my fault, you practically crashed into me, I am not at fault there, you can't be angry about that" but Bucky didn't even seem to listen to him.
He stormed up right to Tony and crowded him against the workbench, caging him in with his arms, so that Tony had nowhere to go. "Why didn't you tell me" he hissed and punched the workbench for good measure.
Steve moved to pull Bucky away from Tony but before he could reach them Bucky kissed Tony. Tony was too stunned to react and when Bucky pulled away he tried to chase him, afraid that this was some horrible fluke and it would never happen again.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Bucky asked again and this time he sounded more desperate than angry. Tony dimly noted that Steve was rooted to the spot obviously as surprised by the turn of events as was Tony himself.
"Tell you what?" Tony carefully asked, once he found his voice and Bucky pulled him into a hug again.
"About us" Bucky said and Tony closed his eyes because this was Bucky and not the Soldier and so there was nothing to tell.
"I don't know what you are talking about" Tony said, trying hard to keep his voice neutral, "but there is no us."
Bucky pushed Tony at arm's length away and Tony really wished he could put more space between them.
"I remember" Bucky said and Tony needed a second to process that.
"You remember" he eventually managed, voice flat as if he didn't know what to do with that information and Bucky nodded.
"I'm sorry, remember what now?" Sam asked and Tony was glad for it because it meant he didn't need to say something.
Bucky turned around to Sam and Steve, but he took Tony's hand in his, as if to make sure that he would stay right where he was. "I met Tony before, he was two the first time. He interrupted me during a mission."
"The…first time?" Steve asked and Bucky smiled.
"I met him almost regularly after he was seven" he said and looked back at Tony. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more then, I didn't know how" he said and lightly traced the scar on Tony's wrist.
"Yeah, no, it was fine, you called Rhodey" Tony pressed out, still somewhat shocked that this seemed to be happening, that Bucky really did remember.
"I don't understand what's happening here" Sam finally declared and Steve nodded enthusiastically. "Why didn't you remember that when everything else came back?" Sam asked and Bucky shrugged.
"I had to keep him safe. I knew that my handlers took everything away from me and I couldn't let that happen with him. They would hurt him if they ever found out and that couldn't happen. So I buried it, tried to forget it when I was with them and I guess when everything else came back it just got buried even deeper underneath everything else. I'm so sorry I didn't remember" he said now to Tony who shrugged because he didn't know what else to do.
Bucky looked concerned now and Tony noticed that he was shaking and he wasn't sure how much longer his leg would carry him. Bucky seemed to notice that because he tugged Tony over to the couch. Tony tightened his grip on Bucky's hand, afraid that this would somehow all end when they stopped touching but Bucky didn't seem inclined to take his hand back. He even pulled Tony close when they settled down on the couch and Tony really didn't know what to think about this.
"What changed now?" Rhodey asked and Bucky put an arm around Tony's shoulder.
"Maybe the Soldier saw now that he was safe? That nothing would happen to him if he remembered? I don't really know." He squeezed Tony who finally began to relax and let himself believe that this was real, that it was happening.
But Bucky seemed to notice now that there was some underlying uncertainty on Tony's side and he kissed his forehead. "It's okay. I've got you. I told you I wouldn't leave again."
"Okay" Tony said and cautiously sneaked an arm around Bucky's waist unsure if that was welcome or not but Bucky didn't object to it and so Tony relaxed even more.
"Maybe it's time to give those two some space" Rhodey said and ushered Steve and Sam, who seemed to be too busy processing what just happened so they didn't even protest, out of the workshop but not without looking back one last time and winking at Tony. Tony suppressed his grin, and turned even more into Bucky who adjusted his grip so that Tony was now practically plastered to his side.
Tony knew that the team would have questions over questions about this but he refused to think about that now. He just wanted to enjoy this first.
They spend a few more minutes in silence before Bucky spoke again. "Why didn't you trust me?" he asked and his voice was low. "Why didn't you trust me to remember you?"
Tony sighed at that. "When you came to the tower you didn't remember" he mumbled and Bucky squeezed him closer.
"The Bucky part of me didn't remember. The Soldier part did. Why didn't you believe I would remember you? Why didn't you make me remember you?"
"I don't know. I wanted to, sometimes, I really wanted but then Bucky said that and…"
"And you believed him so readily." Tony gave a small nod, not sure what to say to that. Bucky just gave him another kiss to the forehead and took Tony's wrist in his hand. "I couldn't even stand to see you hurt when I didn't know who I was. I could never willingly hurt you" he said into Tony's hair and this time it was Tony who tightened his grip on him.
"I know. And I am sorry that I didn't try harder. It was just…it hurt you know? And I guess I was afraid I would tell you everything and you still wouldn't remember. I knew I wouldn't be able to stand it."
"I understand that. And I am really sorry I threw such a tantrum because of the arm. I will gladly take it, if you still want to give it to me" Bucky said after a few minutes and Tony smiled.
"It's your arm. Of course I want you to have it."
"Okay." There was a brief silence before Bucky spoke again. "And I am really sorry I didn't remember you. I didn't mean to do that to you."
"I know that" Tony whispered. "As long as you remember now, it's fine."
"I doubt I could ever really forget you. You left quite the impression, even when you were just two" Bucky mumbled and Tony chuckled.
"You'll have to tell me about that one day" he said and Bucky nodded.
"I will. You were adorable."
Tony couldn't quite believe that, adorable was not a word that was used when he was little, but he didn't argue.
He pressed his face into Bucky's neck when he tried to get even closer to him and Bucky pressed another kiss into his hairline. He would enjoy this as long as Bucky would have him and if the tight grip Bucky had on him right now was any indication that would be quite some time. Tony could live with that.
It's the end! Thank you all for staying with me the whole time and for all the lovely comments I got, they really made my day every time.
While this particular storyline is done, I am in no way read to leave this verse. I will start a "What If"-Series that is basically an AU of this AU and will show what happens when at several points in this verse things would have gone differently. So if you are interested in that, you should keep an eye out for them. The chapters will always start with 'What If:...' so that you can easily recognize them.