*A/N- I couldn't log in to FF for like a couple weeks, I think it was a mix of user error and internet issues. I was updating on A03 but couldn't here. So you may see an influx of updates!
—
Barnes' arm is the first thing to be addressed. Howard and Tony buzz around him like bees, tinkering and opening panels and arguing lightly.
"Should Howard be helping with the arm since he's…" Natasha pauses then makes a circle around her ear with an apologetic face.
Clint wants to laugh but Steve is actually the one who responds. "Never underestimate a Stark."
Clint sees the ghost of a smile on Tony's face at that comment.
Over the course of the next three days. Barnes' arm is slowly replaced with a much more up-to-date, easier on his skeletal frame version. His face goes from pinched and obviously in pain, to surprised at the careful attention and then to still wary but more relaxed. There's a surprise there. Like he's shocked at their level of gentleness in their treatment. Clint can see Barnes taking to them slowly, like he's hopeful this treatment will continue. Steve's levels of anxiety seem to dissipate at the same rate as Barnes' trust for them rises.
"It's going to alert you when it has an issue." Howard says seriously once the last issue is squared away. Barnes is looking at him with a calmness that surprises Clint. "When you have an issue, which you shouldn't, it's perfect, but if you do, it will alert you through a relay. That will alert your device." He hands Barnes a device that almost looks like a modern pager. "The error code will read out here and then pull up the specs and manual as needed. The pain receptors have been modified. Enough so you will know if you're being harmed. Nothing to cause actual damaging or lasting pain."
Steve is nodding, listening to every word. Even as his eyes constantly flick to the corner where Carter is standing like a centinel.
The girl, who has refused to pick a name because Steve insists that she probably does have one, listens and asks questions. And she eats.
She and Steve set records for how much they ingest. Howard and Tony and a nice young assistant named Pepper are very happy to provide a mountain of food.
—
Clint watches the two.
They run the gamut of emotions without really showing a bit of it. He had at first wondered if the draw of freedom would cause them to bolt.
And he can tell Steve went through the same fear.
But with each passing day, they do not run, or flee, or fight.
They do as they're told. And only as they're told.
It's not better per say.
But it's not worse.
He thinks.
—
Clint hears something. He slowly sits up in bed and listens.
Nothing.
But his instincts are hardly wrong.
He silently creeps out of bed and slips into the hallway. He can smell Howard's cologne.
He follows the smell down numerous hallways until he hears sound. He stops at a doorway that leads into a room that looks like some sort half living room half personal theater.
The screen is flickering and Clint's eyes widen at what's on the screen.
It's Carter, and she's smiling, laughing as someone off screen says something.
There's no one in the room.
"That is not at all funny." Someone else says on screen, sounding annoyed.
But Carter is still smiling on screen, "of course you wouldn't laugh, Denier. It's at the expense of the French."
Clint feels his mouth gape as Barnes walks into view of the camera, and back off in a blink, and his voice is heard from the back, "Steve's on his way back with Phillips. No one mentions the fuse debacle, understood?"
There's murmurs of agreement and amused chuckles from the screen.
"He's going to find out." Carter quips, then she looks at the screen, "He always knows." She laughs, "Is that something you put in the serum? The ability to just know things?"
Clint hears Howard's laugh from behind the camera, "no, that's all Rogers."
Another flicker.
The commandos are in their dress uniforms. And the camera is inspecting them all while they all laugh at Howard's ridiculous commentary like it's a fashion show.
Dugan wolf whistles and the camera swings around. Carter stands in a wedding dress, hair pinned to perfection and lips crimson red.
"Ain't she a sight, fellas!" Dugan crowd, "Rogers is damn lucky."
Carter walks around to the boys and straightens their medals and decorations. "I think we're both lucky." Her soft voice speaks, "now don't you ruin this wedding by blubbering like ninnies. Understood?"
The men laugh and Denier taps Peggy's nose, "no promises, ma cherie."
Then it flickers to Steve in a room, dressed in his own dress uniform, staring at notecards and his mouth moves silently as if he's reading them.
"Even if you mess up I'm betting Carter will still say I do."
Steve turns and he stares at the camera in surprise. "Howard? Shouldn't you be in the church?"
Howard laughs, "just had to get a shot of the groom. Just saw the bride—" a whistle, "she's a sight to behold."
Steve's face gets nervous, "geez, I'm such a wreck, what if she changes her mind?"
The sound of a door opens and another lady comes breezing into frame. "Not possible. Pegs, while pretending to have a stiff upper lip, was a mess when you were MIA. She's not a woman who changes her mind about stuff like this. You're it, buster."
Steve smiles, "thanks Angie."
Then the wedding is happening and Clint watches the beautiful ceremony through the lens of the camera. When they kiss after "I do" a wild howl goes through the groomsmen and the guests all cheer.
Clint sees Barnes shouting and grinning right beside Steve.
"It's bait."
Clint practically jolts into the air in surprise. He whips around to see Howard Stark eyeing him in amusement.
—Never underestimate a Stark, Steve had warned.
—No shit, Clint thinks.
"Bait?" Clint asks, his heartrate slowing.
Howard gestures him forward, and points to a plush seat. "Watch."
Clint sits as directed and watches the screen.
"No." Howard corrects, pointing to an open doorway on the other side of the room. "Watch."
His brow pulls down, "watch? For what?"
Howard grins, settling back, "the captive audience."
Clint's eyes slowly make their way to the doorway, and he watches. He can hear the screen flickering through home movies and mission tapes. And it takes maybe the better part of 10 minutes, but then he stiffens.
The ghost of a movement. A flash of pale skin and brown hair and brown eyes appears and then sinks back into the background.
Carter.
"She can't stay away." Howard whispers, somehow knowing she'd arrived.. "The first night you guys were back, I showed these to Steve. Shield had issued a 'destroy all trace' but as usual I never listened. Who the hell did they think I am? Delete memories? Evidence? Science? No. Fuck that. Anyways, halfway through he'd realized she'd made her way to that doorway and was watching in secret. Been playing them on loop every night since." Howard yawns and cracks his knuckles softly against the upholstery. "She knows. Maybe not consciously. But damn, she knows."
Clint doesn't disagree.
His eyes catch on the shadow of her in that darkened doorway. Her eyes glued to the screen.
"Where's Steve?" Clint asks, "I'm surprised he's not here if you knew she was going to be."
"He was the first couple nights. But he kept trying to get her engaged in conversation and she would bolt. So I told him to fuck off and leave her to watch in peace."
Steve is relentless. That's true. But Clint doesn't blame him.
"Do you…" Clint starts, then hesitates, looking over at Howard who appraises him with a patient raised eyebrow, "are you ever sad that they're all so much younger than you now? You aged…" he says with a wince, "they stayed the same."
Howard shakes his grey hair and points at Clint, "I've lived a full life. They've had theirs stripped. Youthfulness does not happiness make." He ponders his own statement and then sighs, "I just wish I could have an instant solution for them." His eyes flicker to Carter's phantom presence and then back to the screen. "Bring back what once was."
Clint thinks about his own life. All the things he wishes he could have had an instant fix or solution for. He also thinks about how every step of his life has been leading him to exactly this moment. Surrounded by a group of people he trusts implicitly. Perhaps… a new set of friends. The possibility of a new family. One who loves. Who is safe.
"No." He says quietly, "I know that temptation. But that's not how life works. There's no instant solution. They'll work it out. They've made it this far. They're obviously stubborn as hell. I know Steve is."
Howard snorts, rubbing at his eyes with his thumb and forefinger on one hand, "you've got that right."
Clint's eyes flicker back to Carter who is watching the screen. Howard was right. She is a captive audience, unable to look away even for a moment.
—
"You're relying too much on force—" Steve says with a smile, his stance calm but his eyes sharp, "you will wear out a lot faster that way. You need to prioritize speed, and flexibility." He motions for his daughter to attack and she does, leaping forward and trying to land a blow. Clint can see that Steve is in awe at his daughter even as he deftly blocks and slides out of her way. The girl is elated, seemingly excited that someone can out maneuver her.
About 30 minutes into the sparring session, the girl feints, but Steve is in motion, unable to balance in time since he's on one foot and already sent his motion forward, the back of his heel clips his daughter's shoulder and she goes flying. Landing hard on the edge of the mat, elbow striking the cement under it. She groans and huffs as she lands.
There's a brief pause where Steve looks horrified before he starts to move towards her.
And suddenly he's there.
Barnes.
Standing in front of the girl, staring at Steve. A mix of wariness and determination on his face. Like he wants to protect her and is afraid of the repercussions of doing so.
Steve halts, staring at Barnes like he's a man being stabbed, "I didn't mean to. I would never hurt her on purpose."
Barnes says nothing. Clearly terrified of standing up for her, but unwilling to not do so.
Steve sinks very slowly to his knees and his hands are in surrender, "I promise. I promise. I didn't mean to. And I'm grateful that you're protective. I cannot thank you enough for protecting her all those years. Thank you, Bucky. But you have to trust me. It was an accident. I wouldn't hurt her. Ever."
The girl is standing now and she places a hand on Barnes' shoulder, "he's okay. I promise. He didn't mean to." Then she walks to Steve and holds out a hand to help him up, making sure Barnes is watching. Steve accepts the offer and they stand. Then the girl looks to Barnes, "you're the only person I've ever fought who even stands a chance of matching him—" she juts her thumb to Steve, "you two should spar."
Steve's eyes light up, waiting for Barnes to respond. When he says nothing, Steve leans towards him, keeping eye contact, "I would love to spar with you. If you wanted. I miss having you as a fighting partner." He waits and Barnes seems unsure, "again, only if you want to?"
"Consequence for losing?"
The question brings back the awkward silence. But Steve swallows and speaks through a tight voice, "There is never a consequence for losing here. Ever."
"Consequence for winning?"
"Shit." Clint hears Natasha whisper, and Tony is frowning.
"Same goes for winning." Steve clarifies, that same anguished expression from when they first found them appearing briefly, "If you win, you win. That's it."
"Parameters?"
"Fight till you want to stop." Steve offers, "no parameters."
Instead of verbally answering, Barnes walks to the mat and shifts, falling into a fighting stance.
Steve slowly walks to the other side and sinks into a mirroring stance.
The girl slides next to him and sits on the bench, "who do you think will win?"
Clint eyes the two. Sure, Barnes has the metal arm. But Clint has watched Steve tear through dozens of armed people without even breaking a sweat. "Your dad," he responds.
She turns to him and a grin grows on her face, "my dad." She repeats softly. "My dad."
Steve is looking at Barnes. "Do you remember when we used to do this? After the factory. When you were back on missions? You would have so much energy. And so did I. We'd do this to calm down and be able to sleep. Kept us in tip top shape too."
"We'd fight."
Steve has a half smile at the not-question, more of a statement, "yeah. We'd fight. But we were always friends. We're friends now. Or I'd like to be again."
"Parameters?"
"Parameters of… friendship?"
Barnes nods to Steve's question.
"We take care of each other." Steve responds, shifting out of fighting stance, "we always have. Or…" he looks at Barnes sadly, "I tried to. I failed a few times."
The door opens, startling everyone out of the seriousness of the conversation. Howard and Carter appear.
It's impossible to label the way she walks beside him as protective. And yet… Clint senses that Carter is watchful of Howard's older steps. The age slowing him down and she slows to match, her arms looking ready to snatch him if he should stumble.
Steve straightens.
He always straightens when she appears, as if he's awaiting her inspection.
Her eyes do tend to find him first when she enters a room. Only to flit away as if she expects to be admonished for seeking him out.
"Hey pops." Tony calls, "they're gonna fight."
"I haven't seen you two fight in decades." Howard says with a grin, "go on, let the old man be entertained."
Steve grins and turns to Barnes, sliding back easily into stance, "you ready?"
And the very briefest glimmer of excitement builds in Barnes' eyes. He nods, "affirmative."
"Then bring it on." Steve replies, gesturing him forward.
Clint can feel the girls' excitement next to him. And he won't lie, he watched them fight in the apartment, but that was Steve avoiding a fight. Now… He grins, this will be fun.
Barnes advances first. But not leaping, like the girl tends to, but from side to side, as if he's a jaguar trying to stalk his prey into a corner. Steve is less sly, but there's no skill lost as he avoids Barnes' strikes.
But then Steve seems to get into a groove, feeling comfortable against Barnes' abilities and Clint watches as he starts to move into offense, pushing Barnes back or making him have to feint or redirect his hits.
The girl cheers after a particularly clever move and Steve turns, grinning at her like he's happy she's proud of him. But that moment's distraction is all Barnes' needs. His arm snaps out, faster than Clint can follow and the palm of his hand slams against Steve's chest. His shoulders flail forwards as his chest goes concave and he stumbles back.
Steve doesn't retaliate and there's only a blink before Barnes' is going to strike again.
"Stop." Steve breathes out, holding up a hand, deftly batting away Barnes' kick and stepping back, straightening out of stance, "sto—" he cuts off, sucking in a sharp breath of air and his face pinches, "ow, shit—" he presses his hand against his ribs, and then winces, pressing harder as he huffs out another pained breath.
Barnes' eyes widen and he straightens, hands going behind his back.
"Steve?" Natasha asks, "what's wrong?"
Steve waves them away as if nothing's wrong, but then he coughs, quickly covering his mouth with his hand. His face is a grimace as the cough subsides and then he tries to appear relaxed, voice muffled, "we're good."
But he hasn't taken his hand away from his mouth.
"Dad?" The girl calls, stepping over, "what's wrong?"
He's still covering his mouth as he responds, waving with his other hand again like he's fine, "nothing, just a harder hit than I expected."
Clint can see the way his jaw is set tightly. He watches him swallow hard and try not to grimace.
"Dad." The girls' tone is sort of a warning. "What happened."
Steve starts to talk again but is interrupted by another cough. His hand is still covering his mouth but then he's lifting his black shirt and wiping at his face as if sweaty. Then his hand is in a fist at his side. "It's all fine." He says, barely opening his lips. "He just knocked the wind out of me. It was a good hit."
Natasha steps closer, up next to the girl, "I saw you take a bullet and not stop a fight. Yet here you are, pausing from a "good hit'?"
He seems a bit unsure what to say but then he goes rigid. Clint isn't sure why until he watches Steve look behind him.
Carter is there, looking at him, studying him. Again he straightens, as if she finds him suitable in her inspection she'll remember their entire story.
But she surprises Steve, reaching a hand out and grasping the wrist of his closed fist.
Clint knows that Steve would yank that hand and whatever it's hiding out of anyone else's grasp. But never Carter's. He wonders if Carter knows this on some subconscious level.
She holds his hand still and fingers up with one hand and then slowly reaches her other hand, watching his face to see if he'll deny her permission, but he doesn't, too stunned at her initiation of contact.
Her fingers gently pry his fingers away from his palm, revealing a bloody mess. Her eyes go wide and then narrow at the sight.
And in a move that causes all of them to hold their breath in surprise, she slowly reaches up to his mouth, pulling his bottom lip down to reveal another bloody mess. Blood and saliva along his teeth and gums, from the coughing Clint assumes. Her eyes snap to Barnes and she glares at him, "injuring other assets is forbidden."
Barnes nods, looking ready for punishment, "affirmative. Accident."
"I'm fine." Steve responds, not moving so her fingers are still in contact with him, "I promise."
The hand that was holding his wrist moves quickly pressing against his side. He sucks air in, obviously in pain and her eyes narrow further. "Broken rib. Blood means punctured lung. Medical attention required."
"I'll be fine, I don't—"
"Medical attention required." She grits out the last word, as if she's angry he's fighting her on this.
He stops, studying her fierce expression. His face softens in just pure adoration; it almost makes Clint want to look away.
"Yes, ma'am," he says softly. "I'll get checked out. I promise." Her hands retract from him and she nods. Then she steps back, returning to Howard's side who is beaming.
"Did he really break your rib?" The girl asks, stepping closer.
"Yes," Steve now admits easily, he huffs, "ow, shit." He looks over to Barnes, "that was a good hit you got in."
"Injury not intended."
Steve nods, "I know. I didn't think it was. I'm not angry. Accidents happen." He points to the girl, "just like me. I hit her earlier, but it was an accident. Neither of us meant to do harm, right?"
Barnes nods.
"Come on." The girl grins, "I bet eating will help."
Steve barks out a laugh, then he winces and sucks in air, "ow, ow, ow, ow." He puffs out, then he laughs again.
And Clint's eyes catch movement. He looks to see Carter has taken a step forward. Just like the week and a half before when she heard her daughter laugh. The sound of Steve's laugh pulls her forward. Her eyes trained on him, wide, as if seeing him for the first time.
His back is to her, and he doesn't notice, but everyone else does.
The girls' eyes light up. An idea clearly forming, "you know, if you let me fight you now, I might actually have a chance at winning."
Steve laughs again and then huffs, "ow, stop making me laugh."
She acts affronted, "are you saying even with a punctured lung I couldn't beat you?"
He wrinkles his nose, "in a life and death situation? No. I wouldn't let it affect me. In a normal spar, sure you might."
She pretends to pester him all the way out and to the lab. His protests and half chuckles make the group trail behind him.
Carter's eyes are viciously tacked onto Steve's back as she follows. Her steps are quiet but every laugh or humored huff of air has her following him an inch closer.
And Clint is reminded of Howard's words.
She knows.
—
About an hour later Steve is fine. He and Natasha are trying to find what topics make Barnes talk the most. Weaponry is one, and stealth tactics are another. But they're trying to see if anything non-asset related will get him to open up. Clint's not exactly sure what they gain other than making Barnes looking vaguely pained, but he's not going to step in.
"So." He hears a quiet voice ask. He turns to see the girl sidle up to Howard. "What makes him laugh?"
Howard tilts his head, "who?"
"Steve."
"Oh…" Howard thinks for a bit, then he gestures to her, "you should call up Dugan and Denier. The combination of those two would make him belly laugh."
Clint's eyes go wide as do the girl's, "he belly laughs?" She asks in disbelief.
Howard grins, his wrinkly skin pulling up at his eyes, "oh yeah, after the plane when we got Barnes back he was much more lighthearted. Laughed a lot." He looks around, "I'll call them." He's searching his pockets, "JARVIS." He calls out, "hey JARVIS!"
"He's dead dad." Tony huffs from the other side of the room.
Can I be of assistance, sir?
"Call Dugan and Denier, would ya?" Howard responds to the automated voice, "tell them to come over soon as they can."
Tony stands, hands on his hips, "they're dead, dad." He walks over, "they've been gone for a long time. Why, what did you need from them?"
Clint can hear that the others have started to listen in, wondering at the conversation.
"I need them." Howard gruffs. "Just call them, they'll come."
Steve is walking over, he rests a hand on Howard's shoulder. "They died on the factory mission, remember?"
Clint wrinkles his nose, remembering the medical files of that mission.
Howard pauses and studies Steve's face, "you died that day too."
Clint expects Steve to refute him, but Steve just nods and sighs, "in some ways, yes." Then he looks up at and to Carter, standing by the door, and Barnes and then to finally his daughter, "but now I'm back. And I'm going to try to make up for lost time."
Howard's face grows serious as his eyes go unfocused and he shakes his head, "no such thing, pal."
"Well…" Steve responds slowly, "then I'll make the most of the time I have left."
Howard nods, seeming more at ease, "that's more like it."
—
It's week after week of Steve unceasingly devoting every second of his focus onto three people. His daughter, who Clint sees flourish and relish his attention and love. Like it's something she always wanted but now she's getting.
Other than the occasional strange remark about what her life was like, or a reference she doesn't understand, she takes to freedom, and Steve, like a duck takes to water. And Steve takes to fatherhood like he was born to do it.
He'd taken her shopping. She'd never been in a mall before and Steve had taken her to any store he thought she might like.
That billionaire comment was starting to really bother Tony. Clint had heard him ask his dad but Howard had just raised an eyebrow and asked why it mattered, to which Tony had huffed and stormed out of the room to Natasha's laughter.
Clint has noticed that the girl is partial to a leather jacket that looks suspiciously like one Steve wears.
He teaches her how to cook and how to fight. They watch movies, something she states she's only dreamed of doing. And he slowly works through things, helping her figure out her favorite color (violet), her favorite food (pasta), her favorite genre of music (big band, go figure), and other things that most people figure out all along.
There was one night she fell asleep during a movie and her head rested on his shoulder and Clint could swear Steve's eyes went misty.
It's all so fucking beautiful it makes Clint ache for that kind of father figure. Too late for him, he guesses.
The other two sides of that unceasingly-devoted-to- triangle are more difficult.
Both Barnes and Carter are the definition of wary. As if they expect any moment for this kind and gentle treatment to really be a front for something horrible. Everything and everyone is kept at arms length even if Clint can see the barriers being pushed against.
Clint and Natasha have been traveling back and forth to Shield. Now with Coulson and Pierce dead, Shield is scrambling. Howard and Tony have helped them collect all the shit that Pierce had been hiding all along and bring it out to the light.
Everything except the Asset, the Agent, and the Collateral. They keep that part to themselves.
But he and Natasha can't seem to stay away. Every bit of free time they get, they come back to Howard's house and just try to support Steve.
And the girl.
Who still doesn't have a freakin' name.
But who eats more than Clint can comprehend, and basically spends her time trying to make Steve laugh or smile.
She sees how Carter reacts to those things. What she doesn't see is how Carter reacts when she also does those things.
Carter loves seeing her family happy, she just doesn't know it yet.
Tony doesn't seem to mind all the guests. Now with the secrets out all in the open, his dad is constantly pulling out files, film reels, and artifacts about his past that Tony never even knew existed. "What do you mean you flew a plane into Nazi airspace and almost got shot down?"
Howard just points to Carter, "she convinced me to do it for him—" his finger swings to Steve. "If I hadn't—" his finger swings to Barnes, "he wouldn't have made it out alive. And Steve would have never gotten Phillips' respect."
Steve is grinning and nodding and Tony just huffs in disbelief.
"Azzano."
The room goes still. Steve looks over at Barnes who looks pale, like even saying that one word took the effort of moving a mountain.
Steve's eyes light up, and he's leaning forward, a smile spreading across his face, "yes! Yes, you were captured at Azzano and taken to that labor factory, that's where I found you!"
Barnes is wary to answer, but he just barely nods, and his lips part before whispering Azzano again and then falling silent.
Steve looks at Howard, and Howard is smiling too, "one step at a time, pal." He taps his fingers on the desk and looks to Carter, "just one step at a time."
—