Chapter Text
Bucky’s sense of time had been warped since Hydra had taken him in. Days felt like months sometimes while hours could feel like seconds. With Tony things seemed to slow down but the passage of time still happened. Winter lost his thick coat when the warm air hit, causing Tony to freak out and deep clean the apartment. That had led them to a new floor where nothing smelled of them and the crawling feeling of sleeping there for only a night still made Bucky’s back itch every now and then.
When he blew his coat a second time in the fall, Tony was prepared for it. The wolf grew more comfortable around the others in the tower and while new people moved in and out, he didn’t react as he had before. Others touching Tony was still a slow process but not a death sentence as it once had. Everyone loved Winter once they got past the large set of teeth that could and would kill them if they fucked up. Who wouldn’t? His other side was practically a giant puppy at times.
Hydra had tried once to break in and capture him again. To his and everyone else’s surprise Tony calling out to him was enough to break both of them of the control wrapped around their brain before they could do any damage. It had felt nice sinking their teeth in the agents that tried to make him hurt his mate. But that night and the following nights after that, he had tucked himself so close to Tony that they were practically one.
They had gone on a few missions with the team since then, but for the most part Winter and Bucky had been left at the Tower to protect those who also stayed. Whether it be by choice or injury, Winter was there in case someone tried to get the upper hand on them. Tony’s pack became his pack over time and Winter would do anything to protect those his mate cared for.
Bucky had settled in just fine around everyone as well. It was only Tony who saw him at his worst when the nightmares would come. Sam and him had bonded pretty quickly, even if he wouldn’t admit it. And Natasha was a familiar face that he could confide in sometimes while also sparring with. He overall liked being around people for the most part but some nights, like tonight, he found himself hiding on the living room deck. He could still hear Tony inside, could still hear the laughter and fun the group was having, but he could be safe out here. The cool fall air running along his face and calming down his senses. Thor’s return to earth was a cause for a party and while Winter and Bucky enjoyed Thor’s company, Winter especially loved wrestling with him, they both needed some air to clear out their minds.
“Mind if I join you?” Bucky looked up from his spot on the ground and saw Steve standing over him with a beer in his hand. Winter didn’t like the taste of beer so even when he craved it, he knew better than to try and consume one. Steve on the other hand was something Winter craved that Bucky stayed away from. He remembered some of his past, slowly and not always correctly, but there were flashes of a tiny blonde haired boy always at his side. He knew Steve wanted him to be that man again, and he couldn’t. So what did Bucky do? Avoid him completely.
Bucky was well aware of how that was a bad idea and wouldn’t help solve his problems with the other. It also made the scent of sadness fill the air every time Bucky would make an excuse to get away from him. Something Bucky hated doing, knowing how close Tony and Steve had gotten in the years past.
“I hear it’s a free country now.” Tony pushed him to reconnect, it would be good for him and maybe help him get over some of the guilt he felt for abandoning his old friend. Even if the abandoning part hadn’t been his own choice. Tony also claimed it would help work through some of the trauma he had gone through with Hydra, and while Bucky knew that was a good idea, he was still stubborn about doing it.
“If only that were the truth.” Steve sat down on one of the layback chairs, purposefully giving Bucky a few feet between them. Bucky didn’t need it but he appreciated it. Despite avoiding him, Steve never pushed him. He always gave Bucky space and never assumed everything was okay even when his other half purposefully sought him out to rough house with or bother when Tony was busy. Deep down Bucky knew it was because Winter had the least chance of hurting him and thus didn’t have to mind his claws as much. Steve and Thor were the only two outside of the Hulk he could be rough with so it made sense. “Too loud in there, tonight?” Steve questioned, taking a long sip of his drink.
“Yeah, gets a bit much for us sometimes. Just safer to hide out here until he calms down.”
‘I’m not the one over-stimulated right now.’ Winter was quick to correct him. Bucky put a hand on his chest and smiled, knowing his other half would take the fall for his own shortcomings if he needed to.
“You’ve got a pretty good handle on him. I’m surprised, you never were good with animals back in the day.” Bucky snapped his head to look at Steve, ready to make some comment about Winter not being an animal when he saw the man smiling around his beer. There was a memory he wasn’t remembering.
Instead of hiding away from it, he asked; “Tell me.”
Steve leaned back in the chair and stared up at the night sky. “These high school boys were kicking around a cat. Tiny thing, probably only a year old. I got in the middle of it, of course.”
“Guessing I saved your ass?” Bucky added with a chuckle as he too looked up at the sky. It was nothing like the sky he met Tony under, the one now clouded with too much light pollution to see even a single star…but it was still peaceful knowing he could choose to be out here. It was nice living a life where he didn’t have someone telling him what to do or where to go. He could just move around freely, and while he had the option to walk around the city if he wanted, he still felt safest here in the tower. And that was his choice.
“That you did. We decided to sneak the cat into your ma’s and hide her in your room. I left for five minutes, if that, to get some scraps and I come back and you’re covered in scratches and blood all over your shirt. You had one on your left arm that got infected and you swore up and down that you’d never save another animal.” They both laughed and for a moment Bucky swore he could see the little orange cat in his mind but the memory was gone just as quickly as it flashed back.
“Did I?” He asked after a moment of silence.
“You did. There was a dog on 32nd street. A pig you helped me rescue from a butchers shop one night you drank too much vodka. Oh, and a rat who had gotten its head stuck in a pop can.” Bucky smiled as Steve reminisced about everything. He didn’t remember any of them, though if he was that drunk on vodka he doubted he would remember anything in the first place. It was still nice to hear though and smell the happiness coming from his old friend. Maybe one day the memories would come back to him.
“Hey!” He tilted his head back when the deck door opened and Tony popped out. “We’re going to start a game of Jack Box, did you guys want in?” His mate smelled absolutely delightfully. Full of happiness and excitement over having everyone together again.
“I’m going to stay out here.” Bucky felt a little twist of excitement run through him when Tony walked out and leaned down to steal a kiss. If he had shifted, he knew without a doubt his tail would be wagging. They kept their touches in private, mostly because Winter got extremely territorial when Tony showed them physical affection. So little things like this that Winter allowed, had Bucky beaming up at this mate.
“You doing okay?” His mate whispered, even though they both knew Steve and his super soldier hearing could hear them.
“Yeah, just needed a break from everything.” Bucky was already smittened with Tony, but when he smiled it felt like he couldn’t breathe sometimes. Tony was always looking out for him, always checking in to make sure he was doing okay on days he went quiet.
“Okay. I’ll come grab you before bed.” Tony pressed his lips to Bucky’s forehead before turning around. “You coming Cap?”
Steve waved him off with his own smile. “I’m sitting this one out, too. Clint get’s a little too competitive when he’s drinking.” They both laughed as Tony made his exit. Bucky didn’t understand the reference but he was fine with it since he got to watch Tony walk away and see that perfect ass on display. It wasn’t until Bucky looked back up at the sky that Steve spoke again. “You’re really gone on him something good, aren’t you?”
“Tony?” Bucky smiled just thinking about the man. “Yeah.” He could write a book on how Tony made him feel. Tony was always so gentle and understanding with both of them. He could be stern at times, the three of them had gotten into a number of arguments before, but in the end he knew he could always talk to Tony. Nothing would scare the older man away and not even Winter snapping and growling at him, could make their mate back down. He had seen Tony save the world ten times over now and then come home to get into his fuzzy robe and slippers and curl up with Bucky or Winter on the couch to watch a movie. Like the world wasn’t still turning because of something he had done. “Can’t explain how he makes us feel. Winter knew the moment he saw him, that that was it.” It was almost a year ago but it still felt like just yesterday for them.
“I’ll have to thank him again sometime for bringing my friend home.” There was a pause before Steve continued. “Tony, and you.” Bucky stilled for a moment, feeling that guilt wash over him again.
“Steve…I know I’m…” He had been avoiding Steve this whole time for exactly this reason. “I can’t be the person you remember. I know you want me to be, but I’m not. I might remember things but I’m not that Bucky anymore and nothing will make me be him.” Bucky turned to look at his old friend when there was no response and the smile that Steve had felt sad.
“I know,” Steve sat up and faced Bucky, his arms going to lean on his knees. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t start new. Right? I’m not exactly that same shrimpy kid anymore either. We both grew up, went through some generational trauma, and now we’re here. Me wearing the Stars and Stripes, fighting aliens, and you in love with my new best friend and turning into a big fuzzy dog every full moon.” Steve smirked, waiting for the bait to take.
“He said he’s going to bite your ass next time you spar.” Bucky smirked right back and the two of them dissolved into laughter. They both settled down after a moment, staring back at the sky as the good cheer fell through them.
“I am serious though. I’m glad you’re back, and I do hope we can be friends sometime. Maybe even get to the point where you’ll ask me to be your best man instead of Sam.” It was a tease but Steve’s words caught him off guard. Best man?
“Steve, I’m pretty sure it’ll be a long day before anyones my best man.”
“Hm? You think? I’m pretty sure Tony would say yes any day you ask him. I’ve known him for a while now and he’s never acted this way towards any of his other partners.” Steve finished off his beer before setting it down on the concrete. “Plus aren’t you guys already werewolf married or something? Might as well do it the human way too.”
Bucky gave a shrug, trying to hide the smug look on his face. “I have no doubts he would say yes. I just don’t know if it’s worth the grief it’ll cause publicly”
“Everyone knows Tony’s bisexual, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Bucky arched his brow and looked to Steve who seemed confused by it all.
“I know that. I meant the whole marriage thing. Pretty sure it’s only legal with a dame.”
“Huh? No, they threw that out a while ago. Same sex marriages are legal, Buck.” Bucky’s stomach dropped at that moment, just as his eyes went wide.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah?” Steve slowly sat up to meet his gaze. “Did you not know that?”
“Obviously not!” Bucky jumped up and marched back into the living room, his heart pounding against his chest. Steve called out to him but he couldn’t stop. The team stopped what they were doing and Tony looked up to say his name. Bucky finally came to a stop in front of Tony, where the man sat comfortably on the couch pressed between Bruce and Natasha. “Stand up.” He huffed. His hands were already starting to sweat but he was determined to do this now that he knew he could, even if he didn’t have a ring. Or money to buy said ring. It didn’t matter to him and he knew it wouldn’t to Tony either.
“Are you feeling okay?” Tony sprung up and reached to touch Bucky’s forehead but Bucky was too quick. Catching his love’s hand with his own, he dropped to one knee.
“Anthony Edward Stark, will you marry me?” Tony’s eyes were wide and for that moment Bucky couldn’t hear anything else going on around them. All of his focus was narrowed onto his mate as he slowly nodded his head.
“Yes.” And then he was jumping back up and clamping his hands around Tony’s face to kiss him. He vaguely felt Tony’s arms around his waist and the cheering around them but his real attention was drawn to the happy thumping of Winter inside him. They might have already been bonded, but now they could legally and fully be together forever.
“I love you.” Tony hummed against his lips.
“We love you too.” Bucky echoed back.