no-cap-ybara

[no-cap-ybara]

Steve Rogers had had a rotten day. Not awful, just... rotten. Must come with being the smallest boy in class. Smaller than the girls even! Something the others were quick to remind him of.

He trudged back home with his bag full of math he didn't want to do and let his thoughts swirl. And, maybe that's why by the time he passed the paper boy, his tolerance level was at low point.

Just, this kid was clearly not doin his job right. People walked by him casting stares when he tried to charm them. As far as Steve could tell, he wasn't a bully. He'd been there twice this week already, and sometimes it worked and he was pretty funny actually.

"Terrific suit, sir! A paper would go would be a wonderful accessory," sometimes worked to catch attention. And, once he stopped a young lady with "Care for a paper ma'am? Reading's better company than him, yeah?" then pointed to her husband walking a bit ahead of her.

Today though, Steve wasn't in the mood to hear about the paper boy's other great uses for a newspaper.

"Y'don't need to read it you know. Wrap stuff in it. Wrap meat. Gifts. Fruitcake? I would know. I wrapped by girl's anniversary gift in one of these!"

"You don't have a girlfriend." Steve's words came tumbling out before he could stop it.

The kid turned to face him, arms dropping to his sides. He frowned and his sharp blue eyes narrowed when he griped, "How would you know? I could."

"It's just... you're my age."

The kid smirked, "You're jealous then."

"What's her name?"

"Er- Janet."

"Like her?" Steve asked pointing at the woman headlining on the paper the boy was holding.

His grin dropped. "You're killing my business, jerk."

"Yeah, well you're lying, punk!"

"A punk, with money, Blondie," the boy stood proud with his papers. "I'm a working ma-"

"HEY"

Both boys turned to see a man stomping towards them.

"Give me back my papers, kid!"

In a flash, the boy dropped the stack of newspapers to the ground, dug out a wad of cash from his pocket, and grabbed Steve's hand. He pulled them down the road and ran.

"W- wait! I can't-" he breaths heavy after just a short period of running.

Understanding flushed his eyes and the boy tugged them into an alley, shrinking down behind the bins, silent as they watched the angry paper man run by them.

They turned to each other, and all at once, Steve could feel the laughter bubbling up inside him until he couldn't stop it. The boy threw his head back and let out a huge bark of laughter.

When it died down he held his hand out, "I'm Steve."

The kid took his hand immediately and shook.

"Bucky," he said with a grin.

[no-cap-ybara]

Look, Yelena doesn’t normally break into people’s houses.

Ok. That’s a lie.

Yelena doesn’t… try to have to break into people’s houses... on a regular basis.

But they were on a mission. Just her and Walker. He spent the whole mission complaining and bickering with her over comms. And now, he’s gotten himself shot, which of course, makes it her problem.

Anyway. Mission is complete. It’s too late to get back to the Watchtower tonight. Oh, and John is injured.

So, yes, when she realized that Bucky and Sam have a house in DC Yelena decided that that was a better option than waiting it out or taking John to a hospital. At least they would have a good first aid kit with super soldier gear. And hopefully food. She was absolutely starving.

If only he would stop whining though! “Yelena, slow down,” “Yelena, I can take care of it. It’s fine,” “Gah! That hurts! Stop it!” “Wh- who’s house is this?” Blah blah blah blah blah.

And of course after she dumps him in Bucky’s living room and starts rooting through their bathroom cabinets for a first aid kit: “Wait! Is this Bucky’s house?! Bucky has a house?!”

What an idiot.

[no-cap-ybara]

Sam’s car wasn’t working. It was a long day spent in his office combing through sources on this new lead Joaquin dug up, and Sam just wanted to go home.

He stood staring into the open hood with full intentions to figure out what’s wrong but he just- well, not. now.

He could call Bucky. Bucky who was a mechanic before the war and, according to Steve, spent most of his teenage years working in the garage. But Bucky was in New York and would be in New York through the weekend. Also, he didn’t think working on an engine over FaceTime was going to work.

He’d almost resigned himself to walking home and calling a tow company in the morning when he heard, “Hey! You have car trouble?”

Sam turned to the source of the voice to see a man with no hair except for a bushy beard smiling broadly in his direction.

“I have limo!”

And he slaps the side of the brick red vehicle he’s standing next to.

And Sam blames his tired brain for the fact that he considers that he could take this guy if he pulls anything funny.

At least Alexei waits a few minutes into the drive to go, “So, you are Captain America huh? Though you do not have super soldier serum?”

“…No.”

------------------------------------------------------------

Later...

Bucky: *taking a look at Sam's car*

Bucky: Hey Sam? Why are these lines cut?

[no-cap-ybara]

Alexei’s time in DC must have been so wild.

Like, he wanted to speak to Valentina and within a day he had figured out where she would be and arranged for himself to be her limo driver.

Just imagine when he found out that Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier! Can you believe it, Lena?) was in Washington DC.

[no-cap-ybara]

Ok this looks bad...

Clint was coming back from a mission, and all he wanted was a bagel sandwich and sleep. And to call Laura. That comes first.

But the mission wasn't bad. It was just long. He was tired, and his shoulder made a clicking sound now that he should really get checked out. And now people keep recognizing him on his way back to the tower- which was fair because how often do you see a guy walking the streets of New York in tactile gear and a bow slung over his shoulder. At first it was cool, now it's getting a little annoying.

As the elevators opened to the communal floor- sandwich in hand- he heard the sounds of an argument. Tony and Steve. Not surprising. He almost let it be. He wanted to sleep. He deserved it. Did he mention that mission was long? Except... if it escalated, well- yeah he didn't want to deal with that. And he was a good person.

Clint moved closer until he could make out the words... and immediately regretted it.

"Look, Cap. We're in over our heads here. Already JARVIS has found- How many HYDRA cells Jar?"

"Over tw-"

"That's the priority right now. We have limited resources and time that is already stretched thin."

"Tony. We have to do something. We have to find Bucky."

"Who the hell is Bucky?"

"Oh no. That's a bad choice of words, man."

Forget being a good person. When a 90 year old super soldier and an obnoxious billionaire get into an argument about morals- Wait. He does not recognize that last voice.

"Stay out of it, Birdbrain," Tony snapped.

And hold on! That's him! And he didn't even do anything! Before he can stop himself, he says exactly that.

"Hey! I didn't even do anything."

Four heads whip over to him. The silence in the room is even worse.

"Hi Bruce. Tony. Steve. New Guy," Clint takes a bite of his sandwich as if that would reduce the tension in the room.

"...Wha’d I miss?"

[no-cap-ybara]

Ok, imagine:

Yes, Sam and Bucky fought. They disagreed about the Thunderbolts* and Valentina and "John Walker?! You're working with him now? Really Buck?"

But they are 100% on the same page about the lawsuit. Bucky likes his team, but they are not Avengers. They are Avengerz with a Z. They are Thunderbolts. A team of antiheroes bringing light and all that. Sam's the Avenger after all, he thinks. Plus, it drives Valentina insane.

So now at the Tower Bucky will be talking to Sam on the phone and whenever one of his teammates walks by his entire conversation just completely changes. Like:

Sam: So you're still coming by Sarah's on Saturday right? Cass and AJ been missing you.

Bucky: Yeah of course. But what about Sarah, she mis-

Bob: *whistling as he walks into the kitchen for a snack*

Bucky: *suddenly sounding angry* Dammit Sam I told you to just drop the lawsuit already!

Sam: Oh yeah. Who is it this time? Walker?

Bucky: I swear it's just tearing us apart!

Sam: No! No. What's tearing us apart is you flirting with my sister. Serves you right.

Bucky: *trying to keep a straight face* I can't do this right now. Bye Sam.

Sam: Yeah Yeah. Love you too, man. Maybe we can carpool to Sarah's. Call me later.

Bucky: *hangs up* *turns to Bob* Well, that went poorly.

Bob:*trying to hide behind an orange juice carton* ...uh