"Visiting Hours"

"Go on, get it out of your system."

How could he just stand there, calm, sounding like Phil Coulson, looking like Phil Coulson, after years of thinking… and saying…?

Steve got it out of his system, alright. He punched Coulson, harder than he meant to, but he already had the remnants of a slap-mark on his cheek and a bloody nose. Steve was furious, furious, that they'd been deceived again. As soon as someone had told him that Coulson was alive and upstairs, he'd come straight from the gym, knuckles already aching from another broken punching bag.

So he didn't exactly hold back the way he usually did with his team-mates. He didn't feel much satisfaction in the way the agent's head jerked back and he fell to the ground. Steve winced in sympathy when his head hit the table behind him, and he shut his eyes, fighting the urge to apologise when he had every right to be angry.

They thought Coulson was dead.

"Shit, Steve, what the hell did you do?" Steve looked over and Clint and scowled.

"He lied to us."

"We all wanted to punch him, but most of us resisted the impulse."

"Get an ambulance," Natasha said. Steve frowned, and realised that Coulson wasn't moving. He'd knocked him out. Jesus.

"I… I didn't mean to…"

"Get him out of here, Thor, and make him wash his hands. Barnes is due back any minute now, and he's going to worry when he hears the sirens. God, Rogers, of all the times for you not to hold back."

"Is he… okay?" Dead?

"He's still breathing, but I don't know what kind of head trauma he's sustained," she replied. "Thor, I mean it. Get him back to his quarters. Stark, send Barnes a message to tell him not to worry, there was an accident, that's all."

Thor ushered Steve out. He couldn't get the image out of his mind, the agent on the floor, eyes shut, nose crooked and bloodier than before, blood pooling beneath his head.

"Stark does not have our strength," Thor said on the elevator ride to Steve's floor. "Nor does Miss Potts. Clint and Lady Natasha held themselves back, and Banner left the room. I was sorely tempted, yet I knew my strength to be greater than a mortal's, and—"

"I shouldn't let my anger get the better of me," Steve said quietly. "He deserved better than that."

"For the deception?"

"For getting us all together in the first place. And for not signing his… his stupid trading cards. I was such a standoffish bastard when we met."

"You were confused," Thor said.

"No. It's because he was coming on too strong. That's still no excuse to…" He lowered his head, only looking up when the doors slid open at his level.

"Do you wish me to stay with you?"

"I'll be okay. I'm just gonna… wait here for Bucky. Let me know which hospital Coulson ends up at, okay?"

Thor nodded solemnly as the doors closed again. Steve went through to the bathroom and washed the blood from his hands. Both were already a little bloodied from the punching bag he'd torn through after finding out that Coulson was alive all this time. Bucky had already been out at a meeting, and Natasha was right; he was due back soon, so Steve waited. And remembered.

'Go on, get it out of your system'.

Those words were on the top of his left thigh. Only a medium grey at the moment, although the position suggested that the bond wasn't meant to be platonic. Where was Agent Coulson's corresponding soulmark? Was it grey, or was it the sharpest colour in the spectrum? Worse, did he even have one? Would Steve ever get a chance to speak to him, or would Coulson die before he could…?

No. He couldn't die. Bucky had the same writing, Steve had seen it. Unless, by some strange happenstance, Bucky and Coulson had already met, and just forgotten about it? Steve's best friend, his other soulmate, hadn't told him, but his memory was patchy at the best of times, thanks to HYDRA.

Steve… he couldn't let Coulson die. And he couldn't let him wake up alone. Quickly, he packed his bag while he was waiting for Bucky. JARVIS told him when the ambulance had departed, and then the moment Bucky stepped into the elevator to come upstairs. He hooked his shield over his back – always gotta be prepared – and smiled bitterly when Bucky walked into the room.

"You leaving me?" were Bucky's first words. Idiot. Of course he was gonna think that.

"I knocked out Agent Coulson," Steve said. "It's only right that I be there when he wakes up. I gotta make this right."

"Why would you punch him?" Bucky said. "In Tony's message… he said that you all thought Coulson was dead. Shouldn't you be happy? I know there's people we'd be happy to see if they turned out to be alive all along. Weren't you happy… to see me?"

"Yeah, of course I was," Steve said. "I was just… angry. I shouldn't've done it, and I wanna tell him so, soon as he wakes up."

"Tony said you were all angry. I don't understand." Bucky looked and sounded increasingly upset, frustrated even. "You should be happy, shouldn't you? I thought that was something you were supposed to be happy about. That good people should be alive, not dead."

Shit. Bucky's 'masters' had always said it was good when he killed people who later turned out to be innocent. They'd been trying to make sure Bucky understood human reactions and emotions again, and now they were all setting that back. He'd have to apologise to Sam as well. And it was no good saying that something was complicated; the one time he'd tried that, Bucky had run away for three days, having convinced himself that he'd never be able to handle 'complicated' again.

"It is good," Steve said. "We're angry because we didn't know."

"Oh. I understand that. Lack of knowledge is bad."

"He should've told us, and he didn't."

"Why not?"

"We don't know."

"Did you ask him?" Bucky pressed, his head cocked to the side.

"…I didn't give him a chance."

"I don't understand."

Steve huffed. "It was an irrational reaction based on emotion, Bucky. Irrational actions aren't meant to be understood."

"Oh."

"I…" He sighed. "I didn't meant to lose my temper. At you, or at Coulson."

"But you're leaving?"

"Just until I can tell him sorry. I need to say it; he needs to hear it."

"Lemme know how it goes then, punk," Bucky mumbled. Steve kissed him gently, not touching his face. His hands still reeked of Coulson's blood to his super senses. They weren't fit to touch Bucky's sweet face.

"Love you," Steve said.

"Love you, too."

Clint glared at Steve when he rocked up at the hospital, shield on his back and bag in hand.

"What're you doing, skippin' out?" the archer said.

"Stayin' here `til Coulson wakes up," Steve replied.

"You're gonna be waitin' awhile, then, `cause he's in a coma."

Steve's bag fell, his heart with it. "What?"

"Stark's punch didn't help, but yours made him hit the table. There's bleeding, they think. Doing a scan now, but he's showing the signs of being comatose."

"Clint…"

He shook his head. "Don't, Rogers. You've done enough damage."

"I'm still gonna stay here, as long as it takes. Bucky knows that."

"Bet he doesn't know that it might be days or weeks, maybe forever. If they try to repair the damage they can, he could still flat-line on the table."

Steve felt sick to his stomach. "He wouldn't. He'll live."

"He's a fifty-one-year-old agent who's died once, and there's no more of that experimental drug to use on him. This time, if he dies? He's stayin' dead." He shook his head again, and Steve saw tears. "After we just got him back."

"Clint, I'm so sorry—"

"Don't! You have no idea what it's like—"

"Actually," Steve said, drawing himself up, "I have a pretty damn good idea what it's like, Barton."

"Yeah, but you didn't punch Barnes into a coma the minute you saw him," he said, the look in his eyes deadly. "Did you?"

"No, but that's…"

"You knew him a lot longer."

"It wasn't Bucky's fault! Coulson could've told us at any time, especially after SHIELD fell, and all the regulations with it."

"Oh yeah, the perfect reason to try killin' a guy," Clint said.

"I wasn't trying to—"

"Or was it that crush on you he really couldn't hide when you met? Are you that homophobic, Rogers?"

"I'm not… look at me an' Bucky!"

"Everyone knows it doesn't count `tween soulmates. Gay-bashing's an offence these days, did you know that?"

"Clint!"

"They'll have you thrown out in less than a minute," Natasha said. Steve turned.

"I want to be here," he said. "I told Bucky I'd be here. I hurt Coulson, so I'm gonna stay at his side until I can apologise. Make sure he's okay. It's the right thing to do."

"And God forbid Captain America remains in debt to anyone," Clint said, before stalking off. "Call me, Natasha."

"I will," she said, gaze never wavering from Steve's. "How else do you intend to make up for this?"

"Playin' it by ear, but whatever he needs me to do."

"Make sure you tell him that."

Steve nodded, and settled into a seat in the waiting room.

The world was hazy and sore and grey. A blur of indistinct shapes and discomfort. Phil tried to make a noise, and it felt like a huge effort. He coughed, but there was something in his mouth, blocking the way. Strong hands held him down, and he fought them instinctively. Someone shushed him, then called… a nurse? Was he in a hospital?

"Thank you, Mr. Rogers, we'll take it from here."

My name isn't Mr. Rogers, Phil thought dimly.

The second time, he recognised black clothes and red hair, and relaxed until his eyes focussed.

"Natasha," he said. His throat ached, but at least he could talk.

"You've been out for over a week. I'm sure Barnes will be glad to have Rogers home now." He squinted at her. "What do you remember?"

"Not much."

"Captain Rogers knocked you out. You've been in a coma. His guilt complex kicked into overdrive, and he hasn't left your side since half an hour after you were admitted. He even hovered outside the operating theatre."

"Huh."

"That's all you have to say?" she said.

"Tired. My head hurts."

"You were lucky he'd already been working his arms off. If he'd been fresh you'd probably be brain-dead, if not actually dead."

"Always look on the bright side of life," he sang tunelessly. Natasha cringed.

"Don't do that," she said. "You've only just returned to us, and we almost lost you again."

"But you didn't," Phil said, closing his eyes for a few seconds. "That's the main thing. So… he left?"

"The first time you woke up. You were thrashing around, so he called a nurse, but he didn't say anything to you." She snorted. "He was supposed to apologise to you."

"I screwed up," he said. "Should've told you sooner."

"He hit you!"

"So did Pepper and Stark."

"They don't have super strength, last time I checked."

"How… is everyone?"

"We're fine."

"No, no." He shook his head. "Team. My…"

Natasha lowered her eyes. "They've visited. There is always at least one of them. That one is asleep." Phil looked over to the other side. Skye was curled up in a chair, resting.

"When can I go home?" he asked.

"The doctors will assess you now that you're awake again."

"Sorry. For disappointing you."

"Try not to get yourself killed again," she said in a small voice. Phil half-smiled.

"Can't make any promises," he said. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being here when I woke up."

Five weeks later

"Patching you through," Skye said, hitting a few more buttons. Phil could never keep up with the speed of her fingers.

"Is that the Avengers?" he asked into the comm. unit.

"Hey, Agent, glad to have you join us," Iron Man said. "Mean ol' doctors finally let you out to play?"

"Can everyone hear me?" he said, tucking spare ammo into his pockets. He waved at the kids as he ran out the door.

"Roger that," Hawkeye replied.

"Loud and clear," the Black Widow said.

Phil was suspicious when Captain America didn't respond, and figured that he wanted to apologise in person. The cards were acceptable, but… well, Phil wanted to reassure him in person more than he wanted an apology.

"Captain Rogers?" he prodded.

"Mmm-hmm."

"Good to know you're alive. Where do you need me?"

"Ah… Bucky, what do you think?"

Phil raised his eyebrows, pausing mid-step.

"Got your position," Iron Man said, flying overhead. Phil signalled to him. "Barnes, you're the closest. I'm just above him. Can you see me?"

"I see you," Hawkeye said.

"I see you, too, Iron Man," Barnes said. "Agent, go two blocks east, and I'll meet you there."

Phil was already running when the words registered. He heard the captain swear over the comms, and nearly tripped over a manhole cover.

"Did you really just say that to me?" he said incredulously. He picked up his pace, and saw the Winter Soldier go still in the middle of the road up ahead. "Barnes, look out!"

The Winter Soldier rolled out of the way of a barrage of gunfire, and Phil leapt behind a car to avoid it himself.

"What the hell is going on?" Iron Man said.

"I think we'd all like to know," Skye piped up.

"Skye—"

"I hooked you up to the comms, DC. You didn't think I wasn't gonna listen in, did you?"

"To return to my original question," Iron Man said, sounding almost prissy, "what the hell is going on?"

"We're your soulmates, Phil," Captain America said.

There was a drop in conversation. It didn't help that the HYDRA agents were gaining the upper hand as the rest of them fought this distraction.

"We're talkin' about this later, Steven," Barnes said. He sounded well and truly pissed off. "No more personal chatter on the comms."

"Understood, sergeant," Phil said. A close bullet snapped him out of it, and he concentrated on the rest of the battle, shoving the thought of oh-God-soulmates to the back of his mind.

He was so successful that as soon as the remaining HYDRA agents had been taken in by the army – thank you, Talbot – he went off to debrief his people. It was such a small group that he still had trouble thinking of them as SHIELD when they were in the field like this. He did wonder why they kept glancing at each other and then giving him strange looks during the debriefing, until Skye cleared her throat at the end.

"Aren't you gonna go talk to your soulmates now?" she asked. Phil froze.

"I… I don't know," he said. "Captain Rogers obviously knew. He hasn't mentioned it, so it's clear that he isn't interested… he didn't even want me to know. But… I have the words. Barnes must have them as well. We were going to meet eventually."

"Asshole," Skye said. "I looked up to him when I was a kid."

"So did I," Phil said softly. "Uh… I don't think I will. Meet them, I mean. I'll give them the time they need, and if… if they want to see me, they can come find me. I have more pressing matters to worry about."

"Phil," May said.

"Don't give me that look. I only got my soulmarks after I was… brought back. I wasn't expecting my soulmates to be… grown men, born half a century before me."

"What colour are your marks?" Simmons asked.

"Last time I checked, one is darker grey, and the other is light grey."

"Which is which?"

He arched an eyebrow. "Classified. If you'll excuse me, I'll be in my office."

Bucky hadn't actually said anything to Steve yet. He sat across the small dining table in their apartment in Stark Tower, silently fuming over a bowl of homemade pasta and meatballs, with sauce Steve had made himself. If anything could loosen Bucky, it was Italian food. Not tonight, apparently.

"I'm—"

"Don't fucking say you're sorry again, Steve."

"I panicked!"

"He said your words and then you put him in a coma." Bucky's cutlery was bending in his tense grip. "Then he woke up and you didn't say anything to him. And you never thought to tell me that you'd found our third. Dontcha think I would-a liked to know? He's my soulmate, too!"

"I know there's no excuse, but… damn it, I've barely got you back! Then the time to tell you never seemed right, and it kept going on longer and longer, and I knew you'd only be angrier when you found out. And of course you'd find out, you had words, too. But I didn't wanna lose you! I already lost my chance with him, and… you'd hate me for keeping it secret for so long."

"Shit, you really think I could hate you, you runt? After all those years together?"

"I hate me for this, Bucky!"

"And maybe now you can relate to how he must've felt when he came to tell all of you that he was alive."

Steve reeled back, feeling like he'd been slapped. He had been, verbally. Bucky was right. And he'd only kept the secret… barely two months. Coulson had managed to keep his for three years, and had more reason to feel trepidation than Steve. Soulmateship was a big thing, but it couldn't be denied that being brought back to life was major as well, more so if he thought about it.

"I messed up," he said.

"I'm gonna get to know Director Coulson," Bucky said, pushing his plate away and standing up. "He deserves that much. I know I'm the Winter Soldier, but I'm also his soulmate, and I'm not standin' in the way of Fate. He's already gonna think that you hate `im, that that's why you didn't say anythin' about it to either of us. He'll need some reassurance."

"Bucky—"

"I can't… talk to you anymore. Not right now. I'm too… I'm furious with you, Steve."

Steve bowed his head. "I understand. I'll clean up. You go call Coulson."

Bucky nodded shortly, and left the room. Steve buried his face in his hands, and tried to figure out how to fix everything he'd ruined.

Phil was slumped over his desk, listless and miserable. Since the day he realised that he finally had soulmarks, he'd assumed that they would be platonic (and that he would be working for SHIELD for at least another twenty years). Until after he discovered that he'd been dead for five days. Long enough to cancel old soulmarks – not that he'd had any before – and to be considered reborn. It was possible that his soulmates were already living, among the small percentage of those called Blanks. Phil had been one of them, once upon a time. No more.

But now… he may as well be for all the hope he held.

There was a knock at the door. He didn't bother looking up.

"Come in!" he called, and he went back to sulking. (Not that he was sulking. Directors of SHIELD didn't sulk.)

"Uh, Agent Coulson?"

Phil sat up straight with a jerk. "S-sergeant Barnes."

"No. Call me Bucky."

"If you like."

"Can I call you Phil?"

He smiled. "If you like," he repeated. "Take a seat."

Bucky sat down opposite him, his brow furrowed. "Steve didn't tell me that you were… are our third."

"It isn't compulsory," Phil said. "I feel obligated to point that out to you."

"You don't… want us?"

"I've wanted you all my life. I mean… damn it, that sounded creepy. I'm sorry. But of course I want my soulmates. But you have the option of re… rejecting me."

"I don't want to!"

Phil's smile grew, and he reached across the desk to take Bucky's hands in his. "I'm glad. But it's up to Captain Rogers as well."

"Steve."

"Steve. It's up to him, too."

"As far as I'm concerned, he has no say in this," Bucky said angrily.

"That's not how it works," Phil said, stroking Bucky's fingers gently. "You two are already together. It is supposed to be a joint decision. Otherwise…"

"Otherwise?"

Phil sucked in a breath slowly. "Do you want to risk being accused of infidelity?"

Bucky looked down at their hands, chewing his lower lip. "Can I kiss you? To see whether…"

"We're compatible?"

"Yes."

"Of course." Phil blushed at how quickly he replied, but Bucky's suddenly playful smile as he rounded the desk made Phil recall his reputation as a ladies' man. He wasn't sure how accurate the stories were, but he could see Bucky's potential as a heart-breaker, and hoped that he wouldn't fall victim to that.

"Stay there," Bucky said, putting a hand on Phil's chest when he made to stand up. Then, to Phil's everlasting surprise, Bucky perched on his lap and leaned in. "Like this?"

"However you want it," Phil whispered.

"I… I've only kissed Steve since I… got better."

Phil shook his head. "Doesn't matter to me. Come here."

He cupped the back of Bucky's neck and pulled him closer. Bucky closed the remaining distance, ducking his head and meeting Phil's lips. Phil tried to keep it chaste, desperate not to overwhelm the Winter Soldier, but it was no use. Either Bucky still remembered something or Steve was a good teacher or… whatever it was, he became almost fierce as he deepened the kiss, moaning quietly when their tongues met. Phil was breathless by the time they parted, and yearned for another taste. Bucky had to put a hand on his chest to stop him, and Phil apologised.

"I'd say we're compatible, wouldn't you?" Bucky remarked. Phil rolled his eyes.

"You think?" he said.

"My mark is on my back. Where's yours?"

"Here," Phil said, placing one of Bucky's hands over his chest, where his heart was. "It goes around my scar.

"Phil." Bucky leaned down and kissed Phil's nose. "Can I court you?"

"Shouldn't you—"

"All three of us are soulmates. I'm not gonna reject you, whether Steve likes it or not. And it's not infidelity to be with your soulmate unless you're married to someone who isn't… is it?"

"Not really," Phil said, stroking Bucky's sides. "It can be argued either way, but it nearly always comes down to soulmateship, and personal opinions on the subject."

"I really wanna keep kissing you," Bucky said softly. "I… I love Steve, and I don't think I could ever stop."

"You shouldn't stop, and I'd never ask you to, Bucky."

"But he kept this from us. I don't understand. He was… he was supposed to apologise when you woke up in hospital. He stayed there all those days, not leaving the room once, and not sayin' anything to you, from what I hear."

"Maybe he didn't want me to miss him saying the words," Phil mused.

"Then why'd he leave?"

"Fear? He put his soulmate in a coma, after all. Maybe he thought I'd reject him based on that, and wanted to give me time to cool off."

"It's been over a month!"

"And I can understand wanting to delay unpleasant tasks," Phil said. "I have him beat in that regard, when you think about it."

"You've been busy," Bucky mumbled.

"And so has Steve."

"So busy that he couldn't tell me you were our third? It'd take a lot less time to explain than you telling everyone that you were alive, and how."

Phil blanched. "Not the best week of my life, or however long it was."

"You don't know?" Bucky said.

"May won't let me go back in the memory machine to find out. Considering it nearly sent me crazy last time… she may have a point."

"Sensible lady."

"You'll like her."

"If she's your friend, I know I will."

Bucky didn't return until the next morning, and Steve was prepared to lose him. Well, not prepared, he could never be prepared for that, but he sure as hell was expecting it. Bucky's solemn expression when he entered the lounge in their apartment did nothing to reassure him, especially when he pointed at Steve.

"You got a lotta making up to do," he said. "Starting with Phil. Flowers. I know his favourites now, but don't expect me to feed you all the inside information. You're gonna work for this if you want both of us, is that clear?"

"A-absolutely, Buck."

"Because he doesn't want me to just leave you high an' dry, even though I'm real tempted to."

"And I wouldn't blame you at all, Bu—"

"Shut up an' lemme finish! You're also gonna write to him. If you want me to read `em first, I will, t' make sure you don't put your big damn foot in it again." Steve nodded, wide-eyed. "Not trustin' you over the phone or anythin', not yet. I don't think he's so keen on the idea, either. Just `cause the pain's no longer there doesn't mean the memories aren't. Or lack of `em." His face was haunted as he said this, and Steve knew that Bucky was thinking back over his own experiences. Steve had done this to him.

"Whatever you want me to do, Bucky, you know I'll do it," he said. "For you and Coul… for Phil."

"Damn right you are. He's a swell guy, and I'm not lettin' him go."

"I wouldn't ask you to—"

"So start with flowers an' a letter. Or an email, I guess. Just don't write anythin' stupid."

Steve nodded, biting his tongue so he wouldn't make the same mistake with Bucky.

"An' maybe…" Bucky trailed off, and glanced over his shoulder. "Send `im a nice drawing. I think he'd like that."

"I'm sure you're right," Steve said quickly. Bucky half-smiled, a positive sign, and then walked out.

Steve didn't let this get him down. He immediately started making notes in his head of what he could say, what he could draw, what he could put on the note to go with the flowers, whether Coulson… Phil liked chocolates. He liked Captain America stuff, but that would probably be awkward for everyone involved, and Bucky would frown and make Steve feel about two inches tall, so he dismissed that idea. He guessed… he really didn't know much about their third.

That would have to change.

Phil really wasn't expecting flowers.

He and Bucky had talked for about five hours before snuggling on the sofa together and falling asleep like that. Skye had taken a picture and left two printed copies beside them, so they could have one each. Bucky's face had brightened so much that Phil didn't risk saying that he didn't have to take it if he didn't want to. Before returning to the tower, Bucky had pecked him on the cheek, leaving Phil flushed and flustered as he waved farewell. Then he forced Skye to remove any and all footage of the two of them together. For security reasons. Naturally.

The point is, he'd forgotten most of what he'd said to Bucky but remembered everything his soulmate had told him. Clearly he confessed his favourite flowers, and Bucky had remembered. With a small smile, he read the note attached to them. His smile froze.

'Phil, I'm sorry. I was stupid because I was scared. Don't write me off yet? Steve.'

He sighed. It was sweet, and Bucky was obviously on Steve's side. Understandable, considering that they'd been together for a long time, and Phil had only recently entered the picture. Still, he couldn't help but feel the pinch of betrayal. One of the things he remembered was telling Bucky that it hurt doubly to be rejected by Steve, not just because they were soulmates, but because Steve was a man Phil had looked up to for a long time. Yes, he idolised Captain America, but Steve Rogers was the brave man who'd fought his way into the army, undergone a torturous procedure to have the chance to serve his country, and lost everything and everyone he held dear when he 'died' saving the world. He'd gone on fighting only a few weeks after being dumped in a completely different century, and continued to fight after discovering that HYDRA was alive and strong, and that they'd had his best friend and soulmate as a prisoner in his own body for seventy years. He was an incredible man worthy of respect, and Phil had felt about two inches tall when he realised that Steve had kept their soulmateship secret.

"His loss," Bucky had said. Now Phil wasn't so sure. Was Bucky serious about being ready to choose Phil over Steve if he said the word, or was he only interested in completing their triad? Assuming Steve would even wanted to bond with him. Hell, Phil was shocked that Bucky was in favour of it, considering the positions of their soulmarks.

He remembered Bucky's metal finger sending shivers down his spine as he traced the letters of his mark on Phil. He'd started to apologise, but Phil had shut him up by kissing the tip of each finger and thumb. In return, Bucky had kissed along the horrible scar in the middle of the mark.

"Wish I could fight all your demons for you," Bucky murmured.

"Or demi-god, in this case," Phil said, somehow still coherent.

He shifted in his chair, willing away his reaction and trying to concentrate on the beautiful flower arrangement from Steve. And the note in the same writing that was on the back of his left thigh. He hadn't just ordered over the phone or the internet; he must've gone to an actual florist and written the note himself. Not a huge deal, really, but he hadn't taken the easy way. It was more romantic.

Despite his reservations, Phil smiled.

"Okay," he said. "I won't write you off just yet, Steve Rogers. But don't ever bug me again if you want to regain my trust."

He plucked the tiny microphone out of the middle of the arrangement. A plant in a plant. Cute. Was he meant to find it? Well, it amused him, so if that was Steve's goal, he'd attained it.

One month later, Phil was trying not to knock over the things on his dresser as he got ready for his dinner date.

He received at least two presents a week from Bucky and Steve, sometimes together, sometimes separately. The newsy and inquiring emails from Steve swung between stiff formality and barely-restrained eagerness. Or desperation, depending on which way you looked at it. Bucky, on the other hand, had a tendency to get small talk out of the way quickly, then move on to a more romantic note, with the second half of the email or letter ending in descriptions of what he wanted to do to Phil when they finally bonded. The phone calls from Bucky were even worse, and on a couple of occasions would've descended into phone sex if they weren't interrupted. (Phil was starting to suspect a conspiracy among his kids.)

Bucky's rampant libido was explained when Phil realised that he was possibly withholding sex from Steve as punishment. It'd be a hell of a punishment, and Phil made a mental note never to piss off Bucky Barnes if he ever wanted to see him naked. He'd settle for semi-naked. Or maybe Bucky had super stamina? (An idea he had to put out of his head before the next mission briefing.) If that was the case, Steve would be able to keep up, so it was probably forced abstinence which explained the increasingly romantic tone to Steve's emails.

"Fine," he said one day, starting a new email to both of them. "I'll call you after our mission to let you know when I'm available."

Which led to tonight's dinner. The team was there to wave him off.

"Don't worry!" Simmons called. "I'm sure Agent May will take good care of us!"

She'd probably gag them and duct tape them to chairs as a 'training exercise', in reality just to give her some peace and quiet while Phil was out.

"Behave yourself, Dad!" Skye added. "And don't forget curfew!"

"Don't bond with them on the first date, or you'll just look cheap!" Great. Now Fitz was getting in on the act. Phil noticed that May was trying not to laugh, which was terrifying, so he put Lola into gear and drove off.

When he finally reached the restaurant, he had to stay in the car for ten seconds to cool off after spotting his soulmates. Yes, Phil had an array of different suits, including the black tie they'd requested tonight, and yes, he should've expected that his… not his, the two super soldiers would look great in anything they wore, but shit, they looked more handsome than his imagination had conjured up. He waited for his legs to feel steady before climbing out of his car. He met Bucky and Steve at the door, and tried not to feel small and plain next to them. Considering the way Bucky was devouring him with his eyes, it was possible he didn't have anything to worry about.

"If I was a bond-on-the-first-date kinda guy, I'd say let's go home and bond right now," Bucky said. "Hell, you look better than I imagined. I'm torn, `cause I also wanna peel you out of those—"

"Bucky," Phil said, his cheeks growing warmer. "Should we head inside?"

"Good thing we're eating in public, or I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off—"

"You look wonderful, Phil," Steve said sincerely.

"Thank you. I… I couldn't get out of my car right away. Good thing I parked before noticing the two of you, or I probably would've crashed."

"That good, hmm?" Bucky asked, looking at Phil from beneath his eyelashes. That wasn't fair.

"Yeah," Phil said softly. "That good."

"Let's get inside," Steve said. "Come on. It'll be warmer."

"D'you think he'll hold out until the third date, at least?" Fitz said. "He should. After what happened…"

"Captain Rogers has been trying to make it up to Coulson," Simmons said.

"Yeah, but we all saw what a mess he was until Barnes showed up and spent the night," Skye pointed out. "Besides, Coulson's a traditionalist. He'll go through all the declarations and stuff first."

"I think it's lovely," Simmons said.

As they argued, May crept up on them, holding knockout spray and duct tape behind her back. Suppressing a smile, she cleared her throat, and all three jumped in the air. That just made it harder to keep a straight face.

"How about a training exercise?" she asked.

I'm evil. But then I think you already knew that. ;)

So! I've been sitting on this idea – and this chapter – for awhile now. Then Warrior2014 requested the ship, which gave me extra incentive to move my tail and finished the darn thing. Hope it didn't suck.

Please review!

Edit: Lady Saphire also requested this ship. I missed that in my document where I've been noting down all the requests, so I apologise, Lady Saphire.