endsinafight | For littleguyfrombrooklyn

Call him a borough snob, but Bucky would always prefer Brooklyn over Manhattan, even if Manhattan was where both his therapist and physical therapist were. Thanks in great part to Steve, who'd gone along with him to both appointments for the last couple weeks, he was starting to feel more comfortable being out and about, even if it still put him on edge. Today, though, he was out on his own because Steve had been called to duty the day before for some kind of mission that he hadn't even been given details on. Just that SHIELD needed him. And Steve being Steve, stepped up to the plate.

That whole thing put him on edge, too. He'd tried texting him a couple times, but Steve hadn't responded yet, so he just hoped his friend was safe and not in any trouble he couldn't handle. He reminded himself that Steve was essentially an actual superhero, and he wouldn't let his thoughts drift too far into worry. Hopefully.

He was in the middle of flagging down a cab after his physical therapy appointment, too tired to walk all the way to the subway when things went to hell.

The sky opened up with a bright light and there were fucking spaceships darting around, shooting at people. For a moment he thought maybe he'd fallen asleep and was having some kind of fucked up dream, but no. Within moments the street was filled with panicked people screaming and running, and there were fires and smoke and utter pandemonium.

"What the fuck?" he muttered, standing frozen in place for a few seconds until he spotted one of the things heading for a woman and two children just a few feet away. He moved fast -- faster than he realized he even could, scooping the crying kids up in his arm and yanking the woman out of the way just as the ship fired at the spot they'd been standing. He pulled them under the cover of an overhang -- not that it would do much good for long.

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From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

He did not see aliens coming. The whole modern world was confused and unsettling, but he had not expected to be fighting off an alien invasion. The team of super-heroes that Fury had put together didn't like each other much and Tony kept needling him about Bucky--which just made him madder, because he did miss Bucky, and he did wish that he was back home, cooking to Bucky's instruction and watching Netflix.

Of course, he had the world to save, so he was going to do it. He threw himself into battle in Manhattan, shield ringing out and slicing through the alien attackers. Part of his brain was cataloging the damage--urban warfare was something particularly vicious. Each crumbling building or crashed car was another human's livelihood, destroyed. He couldn't focus on it now, but it was hard to stop thinking about.

He found himself in the fight, his body moving easily between target and target. When Tony fell through the portal, having saved the city, Steve sat back and took a deep breath. He looked at the devastation around him and prayed that Bucky was safe in Brooklyn.

He fished his phone out of one of the unnecessary number of pockets in this suit and painstakingly typed in a message for Bucky. It just said, status? -SGR.

From:

endsinafight

Bucky was in a daze as he sat on the sidewalk, surveying the amount of damage and devastation all around him. It was like being back in a war zone all over again, except this time the enemies weren't other humans, they were actual aliens. Growing up, he'd loved all things sci-fi related, but he was having serious second thoughts on that being his favorite genre. He drew in a breath and let it out slowly. It seemed to be over. The ships were all grounded and none of them was moving. The giant one was on fire, but seemed to be out of commission. He'd seen someone flying by and it hadn't taken a genius to figure out that it was Iron Man.

Which meant it was likely that Steve was here somewhere, in the chaos. And maybe Steve shouldn't be at the forefront of his mind considering how many people around the city were injured, in need of rescue, or dead, but he was there, at the top of Bucky's priority list.

He flinched at the sound of his phone's unexpected chirping, reaching into his jeans pocket and pulling it out, holding his breath when he saw it was from Steve.

Thank God.

Bucky entered his password quickly and typed back a message. I'm okay. You? He forced himself onto his feet, rubbing a hand over his dirt-stained face and looking down at the lead pipe he'd been wielding, mostly somewhat uselessly, though he'd managed to take out one of the smaller ships with it.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

Okay, Steve replied. How’s our building looking?

Tony was saying something about shawarma. Steve wasn’t certain about what that was, but no matter what, it felt less important than his tiny connection to Bucky. He was so grateful that Bucky replied, immediately. He was okay. He’d made it through.

From:

endsinafight

Bucky huffed out a humorless laugh at that. No idea. Had an appointment in Manhattan today. Where are you?

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

Steve sat up straight and looked around, as if he could see him. His heart-rate picked up at the idea that Bucky had been in the center of all this.

Right near Stark Tower. Where are you?

"Cap," Romanoff said. "Hear something?"

She seemed uneasy with how suddenly Steve jumped to alert.

"No," he said, vaguely, glancing between his phone and the wrecked streets around them.

From:

endsinafight

He pressed his lips together, typing another message in response. Few blocks South of there. Near the doctor's office. He knew Steve would understand that to mean he'd been at physical therapy. He slid his phone into his pocket, steeling his nerves and picking up the lead pipe once more - just in case not all of those things were really out of commission. He carried it with him as he made his way toward Stark Tower, gaze scanning the damage as he moved.

It was utter destruction, which wasn't a surprise considering the amount of alien crafts that had come down and attacked. He struggled to breathe as he walked past a man's body on the sidewalk, stomach burned through and blood everywhere. Jesus.

He quickened his pace, ignoring the pain in his right leg from broken glass that he'd landed on at some point. He limped a little, but it was a far cry from the worst injury he'd ever had. Cars were overturned all over the street, and his mind reeled at the realization of just how long it was going to take to get this all cleaned up. Rescue efforts would take days, at the least.

Bucky maneuvered around a demolished food cart, feeling a little dazed. He froze in his tracks at the sight of the Hulk, massive and green, but somehow looking as tired as Bucky felt.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

The Hulk peered down at Bucky, beady eyes narrowing on him. He shifted, as if he was considering smashing—but the movement caught Steve’s eye and there was Bucky. He looked exhausted—filthy and with blood streaking his face. He had a pipe in his hand and a dazed look on his face.

Steve was just about as exhausted as he looked, but he had enough energy to push himself to go to Bucky—he leapt right over a car, teetering on its side, to land near Bucky.

He stared at Bucky, eyes serious, cataloging his injuries for a moment, before the Hulk huffed and attracted his attention even more.

"Easy, big guy," he murmured to the Hulk, carefully maneuvering himself between Bucky’s body and the tired Hulk. He was gentle but firm as he pushed Bucky behind him.

From:

endsinafight

It was Steve's sudden movement that pulled his attention away from the Hulk and his eyes widened just a little when he leaped over a car and landed a few feet away from him. Shit, why did that make something inside of him twist around nervously? He took a couple steps toward him, scanning him from head to toe. He was dirty and looked exhausted, too, which of course he would because he was undoubtedly in the thick of the whole battle.

He let the pipe drop to the ground, mostly because Hulk looked like he was seriously considering snapping Bucky in half and Bucky wasn't stupid enough to think a pipe would do jack shit when it came to self-defense from Hulk.

Hulk's gaze shifted to Steve and he growled a little but finally turned away, assessing Bucky as not a threat.

Which. Good. "You all right?" His voice was hushed as he studied Steve.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

When Bruce lost interest, Steve turned entirely back to face Bucky. Without even thinking about it, he pulled Bucky in for a hug, tension shuddering out of his muscles at the feel of Bucky under his hands. He smelled, but he was warm and alive and not dead like so, so many of the people he’d seen over the past couple hours. He was a little overwhelmed to see him, after all this. He hadn’t ever had someone he wanted to see at the other side of a battle, not really.

"Yeah," he said, voice a little rough. "Aces. Aliens couldn’t do me in."

From:

endsinafight

Bucky exhaled, closing his eyes and hugging him back as tightly as he can. He could feel the other man relax into the embrace and he patted his back gently, unaware that they were being watched by a couple of Steve's new friends. "Good thing. I'd have to figure out how to fly one of those ships and go kick their asses myself." His voice was lighter than he felt, because the thought of Steve being seriously hurt -- or worse -- was too much to bear.

They'd only known each other a few weeks, but they'd been spending almost every day together with Bucky walking Steve through some of the bigger events from the last 70 years to try and help him catch up on things, and watching movies together, and Steve cooking at Bucky's behest and the two of them going to all of Bucky's various appointments. It had been a long time since Bucky had been close enough to anyone to call them a best friend, but it wasn't a stretch to say that Steve had fulfilled that missing piece of his life very quickly.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

He let himself squeeze Bucky, feeling greedy with holding him.

“I bet you could,” he said. “They can’t be as complicated as Snapchat.”

Steve had basically given up on Snapchat, but sometimes Bucky showed him snaps from his little sister.

From:

endsinafight

He chuckled quietly at that, exhaling. "Glad you're okay," he said, voice dropping as he reluctantly pulled away to look at him.

A few feet away, Natasha was watching the pair of men with interest, though she said nothing.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

Steve pulled away, very reluctant, because Bucky did. He reached out and cleaned off some soot that was right underneath his eye, clucking a little when his dirty hand just smeared more dirt on Bucky.

“Sorry,” he said, his voice low and intimate. His stomach was tight with a lot of feelings, as he looked down at Bucky. He felt warm and almost out of breath, for reasons other than the fight.

“Cap!” Tony shouted, and Steve flinched.

From:

endsinafight

Bucky held his breath when Steve's thumb brushed just beneath his eye, heart skipping a beat in his chest at the unexpected and quiet intimacy of the moment. His stomach did that weird thing again and this time he recognized it because he wasn't a complete idiot. It was butterflies. At that realization, his cheeks grew warm but he refused to look away from Steve.

At least until a familiar voice bellowed for Steve.

"Thought I saw him flying around," he said, mostly because he didn't know what else to say at the moment. He drew in a breath, glancing over his shoulder to where Tony was standing with a small group of people that looked like they'd just been involved in the battle. Probably were, he surmised considering they were all watching Steve. He arched his eyebrows and looked back at his friend. "Looks like you've either got some new friends, or a fan club." He grinned.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

Steve grimaced. He didn’t want to let go of Bucky or go back to the rest of his new team. This was a strange, quiet moment in the middle of all this chaos—but Tony had already broken the seal and Steve forced himself to step back, give Bucky a little space. He rested his hand on Bucky’s back, though, greedy to touch him and wanting to make sure he had something to lean on if he needed it. He was limping and the ground was uneven.

“Colleagues,” he said. “Fellow soldiers. Friends definitely seems like it would be too strong.”

He thought back to their fight on the helicarrier and made a face. He wanted to say something that made clear that if Bucky was classified as a “friend” to him, these people weren’t anywhere close—but he couldn’t find the words not to make it too intense and awkward.

From:

endsinafight

Bucky leaned into Steve instinctively, not necessarily because he was hurt, but because being close to him just felt right. He looked over at the group, taking them in one at a time, from Tony Stark, whose Iron Man suit looked like it had been singed in battle, to a tall broad-shouldered man with long blond hair and a cape, to a man with a bow and arrow strapped to his back, and finally to a fierce looking red-headed woman who looked far too interested in him and Steve. He wasn't sure where the Hulk had gone -- but he was noticeably absent now, and that was kind of strange considering his size.

He glanced sideways at Steve at that, trying unsuccessfully not to feel secretly pleased by the correction in terminology. It wasn't that he didn't want Steve to have other friends. It was just that it was kind of nice having him all to himself. And yeah. He might be in trouble.

Still, he smiled faintly. "Other heroes." He nodded.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

“Who’s this, Steve?” Romanoff said, bright eyes sharp on them both. Her observation made Steve feel like squirming away from Bucky—but he was a stubborn son of a gun, and the second he had that impulse, he leaned in closer.

“My friend and neighbor, Sergeant Barnes,” Steve said.

From:

endsinafight

The tiniest of smiles touched her mouth and she nodded. "Nice to meet you, Sergeant," she greeted, patting the archer's back momentarily before striding over toward them and extending her hand. "Natasha Romanoff."

Bucky pressed his lips together, resisting the urge to glance at Steve sideways before extending his hand, as well, and giving her a firm hand shake. "Likewise," he told her, nodding.

"We're going to grab something to eat. Schwarma. You coming?" Natasha smiled at Steve.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

Steve was hungry enough that he felt his stomach twist painfully at just the mention of food. But he cast Bucky a sideways glance, before agreeing.

“Up for it?” He said, quiet.

From:

endsinafight

It was almost humorous, really. They'd fought aliens in the middle of Manhattan and Steve had to be starving, but Steve was still giving him the chance to say no to a meal out because of his ongoing anxiety.

His lips quirked upwards slightly and he nodded. "Yeah, I could eat." Which was probably an understatement. He was famished. And exhausted.

Natasha hummed, then flashed them a smile. "Excellent."

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

“Is any place going to be open?” Steve asked, looking around them at the devastation. It was hard to see his city broken like this, and he pretty quickly looked down.

“I know the place,” Tony said. “I’m not sure this guy even has a lock on the door, I’ve never seen it closed. Chop chop. Foods on me and I’m starving. Buck Rogers.”

He said the last right at Bucky, nodding in greeting. Thor’s eyes lit up.

“Captain, this is your brother?”

From:

endsinafight

Bucky had wondered the same thing, and guilt flared in his chest at the realization of just how many people weren't going to be going home to have dinner with their families and friends tonight, or ever again. He didn't have to see the news to know that the casualties from this battle would be sky high. He had a feeling that was what Steve was thinking about at the moment, too.

Clint snorted at the Buck Rogers comment. "Pretty sure Cap doesn't have a brother," he told Thor.

"Friend and neighbor," Bucky responded, holding his hand out toward Thor. "Bucky Barnes." He nodded back at Tony.

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

Thor looked between Tony and Bucky, as he reached out to shake Bucky’s hand.

“Thor Odinson, god of thunder,” he said. “Is Rogers a nickname?”

“Tony is just being an ass,” Steve said, peaceably. He didn’t sound too upset about it. He was too hungry and tired to be too worked up.

“Excuse me,” Tony said. “Considering I nearly died saving the lives of millions, you guys gotta be nice to me.”

From:

endsinafight

Bucky blinked a couple of times. "Thor?" he echoed, a little dumbfounded. He'd liked literature enough that he'd actually paid attention to things like mythology, and he couldn't help but wonder if this was some sort of a joke. God of thunder? Seriously? There had been some wicked lightening earlier and the guy was holding a wicked looking hammer in his other hand. Aliens were real, and so were gods.

The day was just full of surprises.

He shifted his gaze between Thor and Steve and finally let it settle on Tony. "I think you said something about food."

From:

littleguyfrombrooklyn

Steve leaned in and whispered to Bucky, “I don’t know about god, but he sure as hell can control thunder.”

It was really weird. This was a strange, strange world. Maybe this made him a coward, but he wanted to go home and eat pizza and pretend like nothing had changed.

But he followed along to the little store where Tony lead them, keeping his hand on Bucky’s back.

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Cause I'm not who they see