Six
Banner's Med Lab; July 4
Bruce is examining Steve left hand. Steve woke on the first and his hand grew back in another. Bruce asked if he wanted any other of his limbs to be grown back but he refused. Just his left hand, he had told Bruce softly after Natasha had told him about Bucky.
"Is there a reason why just your left hand?" Steve looked up at Bruce. He could see Natasha walk past the open door.
'Not everything yet, Steve.' Grant said.
"It seemed the most reasonable one. It was only a hand. The other ones are larger parts." Half true. "I'm tired, Grant." Another half truth. Grant frowned but took over for him. Steve walked out of the glass box and met the Winter Captain's eyes.
'Tell me, Steven.' He said. Steve sighed and ran a hand through his short hair.
'We were...married in a sense, Captain. He had my dog tags and I had his grandparents rings.' The Captain didn't show any emotion but Steve could feel the concern he is giving off.
'Steve,' the Captain starts. Steve holds out a hand.
'It's alright. I know you didn't mean to harm me. It was your job. Just let's not have that happen again. Alright?' Steve smiles as he holds out a hand toward the Captain. The Captain takes his hands and they shake as Grant asks them a question.
"Pepper just asked us what we wanted to wear for the masked gala." Grant frowns and so does the Captain. Steve smiles.
'Buck always loved blue suits.'
Grant relays this to Pepper and then Grant and her make a cover story for why he's there as he is fitted for a dark navy suit. Natasha cuts their hair in a similar style that Steve had during the war except it's sorter on the sides. Grant slides the mask over their eyes and moves aside for Steve, stopping only to tell Steve, "if you need an out, let me know. Cap will be here only if you are in danger. I'm here to get you out. Just remember you are Pepper's brother who lost an arm in Afghanistan. Stefan Potts. You go by Steve sometimes. Natasha is out there and so is Bruce. They have your cover also." Steve nods and takes control. He walks to the mirror and looks at his reflection. He can do this. He just has to take it slow.
July 4; Ballroom, Stark Tower
Midnight
Bucky watches as Damien and Adam Lambert grind out on the dance floor. Natasha stands by his side dressed in a black dress with a matching feather mask. She sips her vodka before she speaks.
"10 dollars says that my brother bottoms for him."
Bucky raises a brow. Although she probably can't see it behind his black domino mask. "That's not a bet, that's a fact."
Natasha laughs and Clint comes from behind clad in all purple and hooks an arm around her waist.
"Hey gorgeous." He pecks her cheek.
"Aw, thanks Clint!" Bucky says. Clint laughs as Natasha starts walking to the dance floor.
"That's my cue, Buck. Gotta go get some some assassin ass. Or as I call ASSassin. Because damn son-"
"Clint!" Natasha hooks a finger in his collar and pulls him away.
Bucky chuckles softly to himself and sips his cup of scotch. The burn a nice pleasure running down his throat. He scans the room as he leans back in the bar counter. Bruce is off to the side talking with people, Clint and Natasha are off on the dance floor along with Tony, Damien, and Thor, and Pepper seems to be coming down the stairs with a man in a dark suit. Pepper is in blue with a silver mask and the man...shit. Bucky sets his drink down and turns. He fixes his pants so no one could see the half hard on he got by just looking at him. Bucky waved over the bartender.
"Another round please." Bucky looks back to see where Mystery Blond went and he spots him dancing with Pepper. He can see a metal peaking out of his right sleeve and his hair has been styled in spikes. Bucky swallows hard.
"Who're looking at?" Bucky jumps as Bruce appears almost out of no where.
"Ah, um, no one in particular." Bucky sips his freshly topped off scotch.
Bruce raises an eyebrow. "His name is Stefan Potts. Pepper's brother. He goes by Steve sometimes. He's fresh out of Afghanistan. Don't ask about his arm and you're all set." Bruce smirks as Bucky stares shocked at him. He pats Bucky's shoulder. "You deserve to let loose for once. Enjoy it." Bruce was off after and Bucky stares at Stefan Potts from across the floor. Their eyes meet and Bucky almost whines at the color o his eyes. Their a gorgeous baby blue brought out by the dark navy suit. Bucky chugs the rest of his scotch and marches towards Pepper and her brother.
Steve spots Bucky heading towards them out of the corner of his eye. "Pepper," he mutters. Pepper turns and smiles at Bucky.
"Oh, Bucky! How are you?" They stop dancing and Pepper holds out her hand. Bucky takes it and smiles.
"I'm well, Miss Potts. Who's this?" Bucky quirks a brow at Steve. Steve swallow his nerves and extends his left hand.
"Stefan Potts. But you can call me Steve. And you are?"
"Bucky Barnes. Pleasure." He smirks and a blush flushes Steve's neck. They continue to stare at each other until Pepper clears her throat.
"I'm going to go find Tony, Steve. I'll meet back up with you later?" She raises a brow.
'She's asking if you'll be ok.' Grant says.
"Yes, I'll catch you later, Pepper." He smiles.
'You're welcome.' Grant smiles.
"So," Bucky starts. Steve smirks. "You going to leave a fella hanging? Or are you too chicken to dance with me?"
"Do you think you can handle my dancing?" Steve holds out his left hand and nods his head around them. Bucky smiles widely and takes his hand.
Natasha is watching them and smirks. Damien sees the motion and he squints. Adam Lambert grips his hips and Damien looses track of his thoughts. He'll figure out what's happening later, after he gets Adam's number because damn.
Bucky never knew dancing could be so damn awkward. Steve is a fantastic guy and his dancing is beyond perfect but...he keeps holding Bucky about a foot away from him at all times. Grant notices this also.
'Hold him closer, Steve.'
Steve smiles. 'Please help me I can't do this. He's going to hate me forever if he finds out it's me.' He laughs at a joke Bucky tells and smiles. Grant knocks him away from the control of his body and then Grant is spinning Bucky and they're chest to chest.
'Grant.' Steve's eyes widen and so do Bucky's. Grant smiles meekly at Bucky, acting as Steve.
"So," Grant says matching Steve's Brooklyn accent. "I really like you...but I mean. Oh geez. I didn't mean to say that out loud." Grant blushes and Steve stares horrified just outside the glass box of his mind.
"It's ok because, well, I like you too, Steve." Bucky smirks and leans in closer.
"Oh thank god." Grant says and then leans in to kiss Bucky and-
Steve pushes Grant out of the box and then he and Bucky are kissing. And it's like home. Steve reaches his hands to cup Bucky's face. Bucky flinches and Steve pulls away. Oh god. His hand. Steve immediately shoves it in his pocket.
"Um. Sorry, I...I, um- sorry. Excuse me." Steve turns and quickly strides away. Bucky reaches out to grab his shoulder but only grabs Steve's handkerchief. Steve disappears into the mass of people and Bucky regrets everything. He wishes he could have seen Steve's face. God, he fucked up. Steve's metal hand was cold and he flinched. Jesus, Steve probably thought he was grossed out by it. Bucky sighs and looks at the blue piece of cloth. He holds it up to his nose and he could smell Stefan's scent. It reminded him of his Steve. His husband. Jesus, he was going to hell. How could he just have forgotten Stevie? Jesus. Stefan Potts made him forget about his best guy. But maybe that was for the best. Steve doesn't know who he is. And he's Hydra. He's probably dead now or in hiding. He needs to forget about him. Bucky heads off the dance floor and searches everywhere for Stefan. An hour after he started searching, Natasha comes up to him.
"What are you doing?" She asks.
"I'm looking for Steve- ahm. Stefan Potts? Pepper's brother? I may have fucked up and made him think I'm grossed out by his prosthetic arm?" Bucky flinches as Natasha's eyes narrow.
"If you hurt him at all, I will hurt you, Barnes. He's one of the best guys I know and he's super sensitive about that. What did you do?" She steps up into Bucky's space.
"Well- I mean- shit, Nat, he kissed me and it was fucking amazing, ok? And then he reaches up with both hands and his prosthetic was really fucking cold and I wasn't expecting that! I kinda flinched because of how freezing it was and he just took off without hearing me out! I swear!" Bucky sighs and hunches his shoulders. "Jesus, he was fucking amazing, Nat, and I fucked up." His voice cracks and Natasha's face gives away nothing.
"You didn't fuck up, Barnes." Natasha pats his shoulder. "You just didn't know how he'd respond."
Bucky is about to respond when Damien crashes through them, tugging a very turned on Adam Lambert behind him.
"Sister, dear, don't come in my room until tomorrow afternoon. Thank you! Good night, Los Angeles." He stops a waiter and the two men grab another glass of champagne and then they disappear. Bucky chuckles and looks at Natasha. He sighs.
"I'm going to head back up to my room. Tell Tony thanks for the party and scotch." He heads towards the elevators.
Pepper's Office, 2:00 am
Steve sits in Pepper's chair as he grips his hair with both hands. He rocks back as he mutters, frustrated.
"What did I do, Grant? Why was I so damn stupid?!"
'Steve, you don't know he actually doesn't like it-'
"To think for even one second that I could have him back. God damn. Why was I so stupid?! Jesus H. Christ." Steve rests his forehead on the desk as the door opens. The Winter Captain takes over and they're out of sight before the door is halfway open.
"Captain?"
The Captain pauses and waits for Grant and Steve's response.
'Natalia!' Steve says.
'It's alright as long as she's alone.' Grant warns. The Captain peers over the desk and he can see that she is alone. The Captain stands and Natasha walks towards him.
"Papochka!" She smiles. Steve smiles and opens his arms. Natasha rushes into them and kisses his cheek.
"Natalia, my angel!" The Captain shoves Steve out and takes over, body becoming rigid in her embrace. She pulls away.
"Captain? Bucky really wants to see Steve right now. Is there any way...?" Natasha looks hopeful.
"Nyet. Steve is hurt. I promised he would not receive hurt under my watch."
'That's right.' Grant yells.
'Bucky wants to see me?' Steve asks.
"But, Captain-" Natasha's eyebrows pull together.
"No, Natalia. That's final. We are just about to leave."
'What?!' Steve tries to open the door to the glass box. Grant holds him back.
'Steve, it's not going to be for long. I swear. There's more of Hydra out there we need to stop. It will be a few weeks at least.' Grant frowns. 'It's been decided already, Steve.'
'No!' Steve yells.
"Where are you going?" She replaces her smile with her poker frown.
"No where that concerns you for the moment, malen'kiy pauk." The Captain starts to turn away when Natasha places a hand on his shoulder.
"I can help, Captain. Tell me what to do."
"It's up to Steve if you are allowed to join. I will let you know by noon. We leave tomorrow night." He takes off his tie. "If I had a say, malen'kiy pauk, you would join us. Damien is already suspicious so plead a solo mission if the time comes that they allow you to come but for now-" he presses a kiss to the top of her head. Natasha closes her eyes. "-stay and protect."
Natasha opens her eyes to an empty room; the only way someone would know another person was here would be the tie laying on the table. She picks it up and inspects it. It's one of Bucky's that he sometimes wears to press conferences. She grips it tighter in her hand and leaves quickly. Her heels are silent across the linoleum and her dress swishes around her legs. She'll pack and get er things together. She'll tell Fury that she has a mission to do and find the Winter Captain anyways. She'll do anything to get her father back even if it means killing the Winter Captain.