"On the Run"
Bruce Banner knew the look of someone on the run, searching for something which couldn't easily be found. In Bruce's case, it was invariably safety. He didn't know what this man or woman was after, but they were ducking in and out of the shadows. He wouldn't have seen them if it weren't for his own experience and heightened senses (both thanks to the Hulk). Hell, he wouldn't have even bothered them if it wasn't for the limp they weren't bothering to hide. Why hide something no one should be able to see?
He began to follow. Either he'd catch up or they'd confront him. They weren't going to get far with an injured leg, and Bruce had more energy now that he was living with Tony Stark and getting… well, not three square meals, because science. But when JARVIS reminded them to eat something, he didn't have to grab what he could and make it stretch.
It was the second. One minute he thought he'd lost the person he was trailing; a moment later, there was a hand around his throat pushing him against the wall. He stared into wild eyes and tried to swallow behind the metal hand. Robot? No, that face was human.
"Who are you?" the man growled. "What do you want?"
The Hulk was trying to get out, and Bruce fought it. With a muted roar, he managed to fling the man away. Metal clattered as the guy hit the ground. Bruce moved towards him, and the man scrambled backwards, trying to get up. Where he'd been a threat before, now he was scared. Bruce squatted beside him, and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you," he said.
"You're not?"
"No. I'm a doctor, a good doctor. I've… been on the wrong end of medicine before, so I can understand your fear."
The man's chest was heaving as he stared at Bruce from behind straggly hairs. Bruce tucked them back.
"I have your words on me," the stranger said. Bruce nearly fell flat on his ass.
"I…" He blinked, and half-smiled. "I have yours on me."
"Can I see?"
"Not in public."
The stranger raised his eyebrows and smirked slightly. The way he looked Bruce over was blatantly appreciative, and it made Bruce blush. He held out his hand and helped the man up.
"What's your name?" he said.
"Hmm?" The man ducked his head. "I asked first."
"I'm Bruce Banner. Like I said, I'm a doctor, and I think you hurt your leg. Will you let me look at it?"
"Not in public," the man said, echoing Bruce's words. Bruce chuckled.
"Tell me your name?" he asked, tilting the man's head up. Dark, wary eyes met his.
"Bucky Barnes," he said softly. Bruce thought he'd misheard. He replayed it in his head, and it still came out as 'Bucky Barnes'. Huh.
"What do you want me to call you?" he said.
"You can call me Bucky."
"Alright." Bruce took both his hands; that explained the metal one. He kept Bucky close to him. "Do you have a place to stay?" Bucky shook his head, watching Bruce carefully. He'd have to tread lightly. "I'm about to tell you something, and I need you to promise not to run as soon as I say it. Do you promise?"
"Y-yes."
"I… know Steve Rogers. We both live at Stark Tower." Bucky's eyes dropped. "You don't have to see him. I'll find somewhere else for you to live, somewhere safe, or try to sneak you in. I think JARVIS likes me. He's the computer that runs the tower," he added when Bucky tilted his head, frowning.
"I want to go with you," Bucky said. "But I don't want to see…"
"Steve?"
"Yet."
"You know he's been searching for you?"
"I don't…" Bucky shook his head fiercely, and Bruce cupped his face to calm him down.
"He'll respect your privacy," he said. "I'll make sure he understands that the Other Guy won't like any attempts to contact you before you're ready."
"Other guy?"
"How… how much do you know about the Avengers?"
"I've seen pictures. And toys."
"You know the big green one, the Hulk?" Bucky nodded. "That's me. That's what I become."
Bucky's eyes widened. "How do you control it?" he asked. Bruce studied him.
"Do you want me to show you?" he said.
"Yes. Please."
"Alright. So do you want to go to Stark Tower with me?"
"Stark…"
"JARVIS will keep unwanted visitors away from you." Bruce let go of Bucky's hands and held him loosely by the elbows. "You get to control who visits you. Unless," he continued, "you're moping, and someone needs to snap you out of it."
"I want to stay with you." In a quick movement, Bucky wrapped his arms around Bruce's torso and hid his face in Bruce's neck. "Don't let them get me."
"I think we'll be looking out for each other, Bucky." He held his soulmate close. "The military is always after me. I was supposed to replicate the super soldier serum, and my big green alter ego was the result. They like testing me, to see how much it takes to kill me." He laughed hollowly. "If a bullet in my mouth didn't do it, I don't see what the military could throw at me short of an atomic bomb." Bucky glared at him. "Let's get you inside. As soon as we're there, I'll take you straight to medical and look at that leg."
"Sure you're not just tryin' to get me outta my clothes, doc?"
Bruce didn't realise that a strong Brooklyn accent could make his breath hitch like that; apparently, it could. Judging by Bucky's slow smile, he'd noticed it.
"Not until we know each other a little better," Bruce said dryly. "Come on."
JARVIS was the best electronic friend a doctor could have. He agreed to keep Bucky's presence secret as long as possible, and ensure that no one disturbed them.
"Y' make it sound like you're gonna seduce me or somethin', doc," Bucky said, trying to pull Bruce closer. Bruce stayed just out of reach as he armed himself with stethoscope and reflex hammer. His stern glares were half-hearted at best, and had no effect on his soulmate, who'd come alive the longer they spent together. It helped that Bruce refused to settle on any depressing topics, instead talking about New York City, Stark Tower, and lolcats.
"You're like an octopus," he said, fending off Bucky's greedy hands. "Sit still; I need to listen to your heart."
"You could hear my heart if I wasn't wearin' a shirt," Bucky said, his eyes glittering, "an' you just had your ear pressed there. Never been with a man before. Wonder what this'd be like `gainst my skin." He stroked Bruce's stubble. The doctor swallowed.
"Bucky," he said slowly.
"C'mere. I wanna kiss."
Bruce huffed, but stepped closer. He couldn't resist those puppy-dog eyes. How the hell did the Winter Soldier even learn to do puppy-dog eyes?
"Fi—"
Bucky cut him off, his flesh hand scrunching up Bruce's hair as he controlled the kiss. Bruce grappled for something to hold, and caught Bucky's waist. Their tongues met, and his hands slipped to the mattress in shock. Bucky took advantage of his loss of balance to pull him back onto the reinforced hospital bed. The Other Guy purred in contentment. Taking this as permission, Bruce followed Bucky's lips as the soldier moved backwards until he was lying down, head on the pillows, fingers still entwined in Bruce's hair.
"You kept him secret for a week?"
Bruce looked at Steve blankly.
"What?" he said.
"Bucky's here, and you didn't tell anyone?"
"Of course we did," he said. "We told JARVIS. He respected Bucky's wish for privacy, as I know you will." His voice turned hard towards the end. Steve fidgeted in place. "I said that I know you will respect my soulmate's wish for privacy."
It was the only time he'd ever seen Natasha Romanov choke on a drink. It was a relief that she really didn't know everything. He handed her a serviette, and she croaked a thank-you.
"Won't he let me see him?" Steve said glumly. "At all? Bruce, he's my—"
"Best friend, once upon a time," Bruce said. "You have to get to know him again. I'm not forcing him to see you until he's ready. And I'll be there if he asks me to."
Steve opened his mouth, then closed it pretty quickly. He nodded.
"You'll… encourage him, won't you?" he asked. "Please, Bruce."
"He's making good progress. I wouldn't bond with him without getting your blessing, out of respect for your friendship."
"I wanna see him."
"Now you sound less pathetic and more petulant. May I ask how you worked it out?"
Steve lifted a shoulder. "He sent me a video message to say 'hi'. I recognised one of your shirts in the background. So, you're his…"
"Yes."
He smiled sadly. "Well, you look after him, y'hear? That's a great guy you've got for a soulmate."
"I know," Bruce said. He folded up the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. "Please don't drop in unexpectedly. He doesn't like surprises."
"Noted." Bruce was nearly out the door when Steve continued. "When I see him… I'll tell him he's a got a great guy for a soulmate, too."
"Odin save me from Hallmark moments," Natasha muttered.
Usually it's Tony or Clint who chokes on a drink in my stories. This time I made Natasha the victim, because the thought makes me grin.
Well, this chapter was actually inspired by a prompt on the kink meme. The pairing, the words, taking place post-Cap 2. Round 26, page 18. The prompter is tigriswolf. If you're on here, hello, tigriswolf! *Waves*
Please review, folks!