"Metal Fusion"

Bucky Barnes stared up at the speaker in the store, scowling. The music was terrible, and if he had a gun he probably would've shot the damn thing to stop the racket. He winced at a particularly horrendous chord, and looked away, meeting the eyes of a man who seemed so familiar. But this one didn't have the right hair, and he didn't give any sign of recognition as he smiled at Bucky.

"I think it's called metal fusion," he said, jerking his head towards the speaker. Bucky's heart nearly stopped, and he clenched his fists. Without regular oiling, the left one squeaked. The man's gaze zeroed in on it.

"Whatever it is, it sounds like nails on slate," he said. The other man gasped softly, but Bucky's enhanced hearing picked it up despite the 'music'.

"I guess you'd know all about metal fusion… Sergeant Barnes."

Bucky froze, and then swallowed. He turned on his heel, forgetting why he'd even entered the shop in the first place, and hurried out. He heard his soulmate swear, and run to catch up.

"I'm sorry," he said, grabbing Bucky's right arm. The grip was probably light, but it felt bruising. "Shit. You're skin and bone." He tilted Bucky's head around. "You need food."

"I—"

"You're coming home with me. I'll look after you."

"No," Bucky said, pulling back. "I can't—"

"I know who you are. The whole superhero community's been on the lookout for you, ever since Rogers put the word out that you were around. If you want, I can say that the hunt's over now, or I can sneak you into my place. But you look emaciated, and as your soulmate I can't let that stand."

Bucky nodded. "Very well. But I'm dangerous."

"I'm the Human Torch. It's not like I'm a stranger to that myself."

"You look like—"

"Steve Rogers, I know. Not related, at least not closely. Come on." He hooked his elbow around Bucky's. "How do you feel about motorbikes?"

"Nothing wrong with them."

"Excellent! You can ride behind me."

There was still a problem. "What is your name?"

"Johnny Storm. What should I call you?"

"…Better make it Bucky. I'll have to get used to that."

Johnny kept a subtle hold on Bucky all the way to the bike, during the ride home, to the elevator, and all the way up to the penthouse. No matter how strong the Winter Soldier was supposed to be, he clearly wasn't eating. Probably couldn't risk getting a job, and the high moral code he was supposed to have likely excluded him from stealing all that much. A touch of shop-lifting or dumpster-diving, maybe, but not knocking over a store. At least he hoped not.

"Let me take care of you," Johnny said. "Until you get back on your feet. Unless you've grown used to me by then, in which case feel free to stay. In whatever capacity you want." He winked. Bucky stared at him blankly. "Food, sleep, shower, repeat."

"Or what?"

"Or you're gonna fall flat on your face, and that's not the greatest first impression to make on your prospective in-laws."

"What?" But the doors opened, and Johnny led Bucky through the apartment.

"Hey, Susan! I found my soulmate!"

"You did?" His sister ran into the room, and her jaw dropped when she saw them. "Oh my…"

"He's starving."

"No, I'm not," Bucky said.

"When did you last eat, Bucky?"

"…A few days ago?"

"Your mind isn't letting you acknowledge it, so you've obviously grown used to hunger. That ends now."

"I'll get something," Susan said. "Anything you want, Bucky?" He shook his head. "Do you have any allergies?"

"No."

"Okay. We'd better start with something small, easy for your stomach to handle—"

"Just get to it, Sue, okay?" Johnny said. She nodded, and disappeared again. The leaving-the-room type of disappearing, not the invisible kind. Johnny pushed Bucky onto the middle part of the sofa, and sat beside him. He hooked his foot on the underside of the coffee table and dragged it closer.

"You don't have to do this," Bucky whispered.

"I know, but you're my soulmate, so I'm going to. Deal with it. And you'll have to get used to Sue mother-henning you, because she will."

Bucky looked like he wanted to sink back in the cushions, whether out of embarrassment or tiredness Johnny wasn't sure. He casually rested his arm on the back of the sofa behind Bucky, who glanced at it and half-smiled.

"I used to pull that move with gals back in the day," he said. Johnny cocked his head.

"You know that same-sex relationships are permitted nowadays, right?"

"I got that impression."

"So." Johnny cosied up closer to him. "You're a good-looking guy. I'm a good-looking guy. We're soulmates. You can see where I'm going with this."

"I see alright," Bucky said, staring at Johnny's lips. Well, weren't things looking up? Johnny took a chance, leaning closer.

Then Susan chose that moment to enter the room. The tray rattled, and Johnny scooted away, keeping his hands to himself and looking anywhere but at Bucky. Susan gave him a disapproving look, but Bucky sniggered. That lightened Johnny's heart, and he peeked at Bucky out of the corner of his eye. Bucky winked at him.

"Thank you, Susan," he said, picking up one of the sandwiches. "This looks delicious."

"Is there anyone you want us to call for you?" she asked as he munched. He paused, and then shook his head.

"No," he said after he swallowed. "Not yet. I can't…"

"He's been looking for you. His soulmate's been helping him."

"That guy's Stevie's soulmate?" He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I nearly killed him."

"You nearly killed a lot of people," Johnny said. "'Nearly' is the operative word here."

"I have—"

"I'm an inconsiderate jackass and you're a war hero. I'm not the one getting the short end of the stick, sweetheart." Bucky blinked. "Eat your sandwiches. Then I'm gonna get you to bed. To sleep!" he added. "You need to sleep where you're safe." He glared at his sister. "No calling Steve Rogers. If Bucky doesn't want to see him yet, we're not gonna tell anyone where he is. He needs to feel safe here."

"Johnny—"

"He's my soulmate, Sue. If you're not happy with it, we'll go elsewhere." He grabbed onto Bucky's left hand and pulled it into his lap. Metal fingers curled around his. Metal fusion.

"Alright," she said. "Do you want me to make up the guest room?"

"No," they both said. She smiled.

"Consensus," she said. "I have a bad feeling about you two."

Bucky grinned behind his sandwich, and Johnny pressed into his side, pleased.

He had his soulmate!

It was two weeks before Bucky called Steve.

"Hi," he said.

"…Bucky? Is that you?"

"Yeah."

"Where are you?"

"With my soulmate."

"You… you got a soulmate? Who is it?"

"His name's Johnny Storm."

Johnny raised an eyebrow at the long silence. Bucky frowned from where he was resting his head in Johnny's lap, while Johnny ran his fingers through Bucky's hair.

"You still there?"

"Yeah," Steve said, sounding confused. "The Human Torch is your soulmate?"

"I feel I should tell you that I'm right here," Johnny said.

"Oh! Uh, hi, Storm."

"I hope we're all going to be friends," Bucky said, smirking.

"Of course, of course. So… you're at the Baxter Building?"

"Yep."

"And… how are you? Do you want me to visit?"

"Sure. Bring your soulmate. And… I'm good. Better with Johnny."

"He was starving on the streets, Rogers," Johnny said. Bucky scowled at him. "Don't give me that look. Anything was a step up from that."

"We steady each other. That's the most important thing, right? I need steady. I need Johnny."

"Can't think why," Johnny muttered. Bucky poked his leg.

"Can I come over anytime?" Steve asked.

"We're getting our own place soon," Bucky said.

"…Oh. Where?"

"Don't know yet. But at least I'm getting to choose things for myself these days."

"Look… can we have this conversation in person?"

"C'mon over," Bucky said. He glanced at Johnny, who nodded. "We'll get snacks ready."

"Sure thing," Steve said. "I'll be… be there soon."

"Bring your soulmate. Sam, isn't it?"

"Sure. He'll be happy to see you again, now that…"

"Now that I'm not a mindless killer."

"Uh, yeah." Bucky could almost hear Steve looking bashful.

"Don't worry, Rogers," Johnny said. "I made sure he had his mind before agreeing to bond with him."

"You…? Bucky, are you sure—"

"We're fated, Steve. Of course I'm gonna bond with him. It… fixed me, oddly enough."

"It's called magical healing cock," Johnny said.

"I really didn't need to hear that."

"Don't grumble, Stevie," Bucky said, tilting his head. "Be happy for me. And the sooner you get over here, the sooner you can see me again."

"Alright. We'll be there shortly."

After they hung up, Johnny leaned down and kissed Bucky, then nuzzled his nose.

"Thanks for sticking up for me," he said. "Not many people would think I'm a good influence."

"Same could be said about me, Johnny. But I love you anyway."

"Love you, too."

"You'll stay with me while Steve's here, won't you?" Bucky asked, wide-eyed. Johnny arched his eyebrows.

"Of course," he said. "You're my soulmate."

Bucky smiled, and tugged Johnny's arm closer around him. He was nice and warm after the decades of ice, and it drove away the nightmares. Not all, but at least Johnny could defend himself on the nights Bucky woke up thrashing and in Winter Soldier mode. Johnny just had to run a scorching hand up the inside of Bucky's right arm, where his soulmark was, and Bucky would settle right down.

It wasn't exactly a true love's kiss curing all, but it worked, and he was slowly getting better.

Eh. It's okay, I guess. I didn't want to lay on the angst or anything. I don't know whether metal fusion is a thing? I know about heavy and light metal. Not into heavy metal, but I loooooooooove Bon Jovi (light metal). Yeah, I studied pop music at university level.

So! Jade01 bugged me in a couple of reviews for this pairing, and it's just another slice of happiness before I break out the angst again in the next chapter. Because we have to have angst. And I threw in background Sam/Steve, because I got Mum to watch 'Cap 2' with me yesterday, and those boys are cute together.

Please review, peeps!