The team was in the midst of a fight with the new villain of the week. It would have been easy to take down one person, that is if she wasn’t able to make, what seemed like, infinite clones of herself. Each hero was fighting off more than one of the same person. To make matters worse, she had planted bombs around the city. Peter was getting people to safety while Bucky was using his Hydra training to disarm as many of the bombs as possible.
Bucky had gotten through a good number of the bombs before he got to one just a bit too late. He had run into a building that FRIDAY had scanned and informed him that there was a bomb in a back room on the first floor. When he got there he realized there would not be enough time to disarm it. He only had ten seconds. Before it went off he turned to run back out to safety. He was just a few feet from the front door when the explosion went off. The force of it sent Bucky careening even more toward the exit, warmth boarding on hot licking at his back, but he didn’t get out in time before the whole thing came crashing down on top of him.
“What was that? Is everyone okay?” Tony’s voice came through the comms.
“Bucky, status report,” Steve said authoritatively, but everyone could hear the slight worry in his voice.
There was no answer.
“Bucky, report now.” It was said more frantically than the last time.
Everyone held their breaths while simultaneously fighting off the clones, waiting for the man’s reply.
A second later there was a bit of static and a cough that came through the comms.
“Bucky?” Sam asked.
Another cough, “Yeah, I’m okay, just a bit stuck.” Although his voice sounded rough his tone was strong.
“Define stuck,” Tony said with a grunt as he fired off a repulsor.
“As in, a few tons of concrete are currently on top of me.” He ground out.
“Shit,” Clint cut in.
“Language,” Cap called out, “Are you hurt?”
“A little banged up, but I don’t think anything is broken.” His breaths were a bit fast, but physically he was okay for the most part.
“I hate to ask this Buck, but any chance you can hold on for a bit? The clones are not letting up and we have to find, catch, and restrain the original one.” Steve asked in a sorry tone.
Bucky hesitated but knew he couldn’t put the mission at risk, “Yeah, I-” he took a breath steeling himself, “I can do that.”
“Thanks, Buck. We’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Bucky sighed and settled in to be alone until the fight was over. He could feel his panic rising but he tried to push it down as much as possible.
“I’m on my way to Mr. Barnes’s location now.” Bucky heard Peter say over the comms, “Just cleared the last few civilians.”
“Thanks, kid. We’ll see you both soon.” Tony said before the comms went quiet once more.
Peter swung over immediately spotting the giant mass of rubble. Once he was close he lowered himself on a web gracefully as his feet touched the ground. He ran over to where he believed the entrance of the building used to be. It was there that he could see Bucky’s head and just a bit of his shoulders peeking out from the concrete pile. “Mr. Barnes sir!” He called as he got closer.
An amused smile crossed Bucky’s face that softened the panic starting to creep up again. “I told you, call me Bucky.”
Peter was finally in front of the metal-armed man. He crouched down and took in the scene. Luckily the building was smaller than many in New York. If it had been a high rise it would have been much worse. This building had only been about two stories. The top was apartments, while the bottom was a store or cafe of sorts. Bucky was pinned underneath. The concrete and stone piled high on his back. The man’s hair had turned from dark brown to almost gray as the silica dust from the stone and concrete had gotten all over the now matted strands. Part of Bucky’s metal arm was also peeking out, palm flat on the ground.
Peter looks for weak spots in the heap, “Hey Karen?”
“Yes, Peter.” Her soothing mechanical voice filled his mask. Bucky heard it too thanks to his enhanced hearing.
“Can you scan the pile and let me know the best way to get him out?” Peter asked, standing up and still looking at the mound of weight on his teammate.
A blue light emitted from the red mask as Karen scanned what used to be a building. After another moment Karen’s voice filtered back in, “It seems that Mr. Barnes’s legs are in a pocket underneath. Moving anything the wrong way could risk something giving way and crushing his legs.” Peter took a sharp breath in.
He crouched back down, “Okay, so moving things on my own is a no-go.”
“Yeah, I heard.” Bucky stated. “Thanks for trying. You can go back to the fight if they need you.”
“I’m not leaving you here on your own.” Peter did not want to leave Bucky alone like he had been with the warehouse. If he can’t free Bucky the least he can do is keep him company.
“Pete-”
“Even if I went back Tony would want to keep me out of the main fight. He puts me on civilian duty for a reason. If I go out there he will be worried about me and get distracted. Better I stay.” Peter shrugged as he sat down all the way, crossing his legs like you would in elementary school.
Bucky didn’t reply after that, he could feel little shifts in the pile and he willed himself to stay as still as possible. It was hard when the panic was returning once more at full force, not that it ever went away really. His breathing picked up which made things more painful as the concrete was crushing his lungs between it and the ground.
Peter could see his struggle. He could also hear the fight still happening as well as the orders being shouted through the comms. He wanted to have his full attention on Bucky while also not broadcasting their conversation to the others so they don’t get distracted, “Karen, mute comms.” He put his complete attention on Bucky now, keeping his mask on just in case a civilian wandered by that he missed when clearing everyone out of the danger zone. He feels a little awkward because he hasn’t spent that much time with Bucky. There is still a bit of tension between him and Tony and Peter is usually around Tony when he is in the Tower. Still, he tries to be a calming presence while also making sure the man is doing alright. “Are you okay?” Bucky looked up at him as much as he was able, his chin barely leaving the ground. Peter cringed, “Okay, yeah, stupid question, sorry. Of course, you’re not okay. I just meant…well, I don’t exactly know what I meant…I just wanted to see if…I don’t know, if-”
Bucky cut Peter’s rambling off, his head was back down, turned to the side so his cheek rested on the ground, “Did I ever tell you I don’t like enclosed spaces?” he says to Peter as he tries to get his breath under control. “I hate feeling trapped.” Bucky gritted out. He hated the feeling more than he could ever verbalize. Being trapped and imprisoned by Hydra had made this feeling unbearable. Being stuck and unable to move made him feel as though he is trapped once more behind the Winter Soldier.
“Yeah, I get that,” Peter responded in a solemn tone.
“How? I don’t like being trapped because of Hydra. You weren’t kidnapped and imprisoned.” It came out harsher than he meant it to. He didn’t mean to sound accusatory or unkind, but he was panicking while also trying not to move. It was a very conflicting and infuriating feeling.
“No,” Peter agreed calmly, “but I have been crushed by a building before.”
Bucky’s breath hitched as he turned his head as much as he was able toward Peter, “I think I misheard you; what did you just say?”
Peter looked at him guilty. He had never told any of the Avengers about the warehouse, not even Tony. Still, he wants Bucky to know he is not alone in how he feels. “Um, I had a whole warehouse come down on me.”
“Holy shit.” Bucky breathed out, his neck aching with the effort of keeping his head up. Peter saw this and moved so Bucky would still be able to see him when he rested his head back down on the ground, which he did gratefully.
“So, yeah,” Peter said awkwardly, “so I do understand.” Bucky says nothing taking in the horrifying information, “I was alone then,” Peter says in a sad almost far-off voice, but then perks up just a bit and says, “But you aren’t. You’ve got me right now and the rest of the team is on the way.” Peter forced himself to give Bucky a strained smile before he realized that the man couldn’t see it as his mask was still on.
“How did you get out?” Bucky asked, looking at the concrete piled on top of him.
Peter’s half-fake smile faded at the question, “I honestly didn’t think I was going to.” Peter let out a short laugh; a coping mechanism. Bucky looked at him in a worried manner even though he was the one buried under tons of concrete at the moment, “But then I thought about everyone who would die if I didn’t get out and how I would disappoint Mr. Stark again.”
“Hey,” Bucky said getting Peter’s attention back on him as the boy had looked off into the distance, “Granted, I haven’t known Tony very long, but as long as I have known him, I have never seen him be disappointed in you once,” Peter says nothing, the words, I wanted you to be better, echoed in his head, contradicting Bucky’s words. “Why didn’t you call for help?” Bucky asks after a moment of silence. Talking is helping distract him from the crushing weight above him.
“I didn’t have my suit, well the one Mr. Stark designed, he took it away,” Peter said. He saw the frown on Bucky’s face and quickly backtracked, “Not that I blame him. He was right to take it away, it was my fault.”
Bucky decides not to comment on that, it’s not his place. Even though he has a hard time believing that it was Peter’s fault. “So, how did you physically get out?”
“I lifted it off myself.” Peter shrugged.
“You lifted an entire building off yourself?” Bucky asks, his tone filled with disbelief as he turns his head just a bit to get a better look at the mountain for rubble on top of him. He’s a super soldier and he can’t even fathom lifting this off of himself.
“I mean, not all of it since some collapsed around me, but I guess…yeah, basically,” Peter said, scratching the back of his neck through the suit awkwardly.
“After this, you, Steve, and I are seeing how much we can each lift.”
“Like a competition?” Peter asks, excitement evident in his tone.
“With what you just said, there won’t be much of a competition as I can definitely not lift this off of myself. Doubt Steve could either, but don’t tell him I said that.”
“What about Thor?”
Bucky rolled his eyes, “We all know he could lift this. If we invite him he will put us all to shame.”
Peter laughed, “True.” There is a pause in the conversation, “Ever lift a bus?” Peter asked like it was an everyday conversation to be having.
“As a matter of fact, I have.”
“Ever fought a bird guy before?”
“If you count Sam, then yes,” Bucky smiled and Peter laughed once again. “It was pretty easy to take him down.”
“Hey!” Bucky heard Sam say through the comm still in his ear.
It was then that Sam came swooping down from overhead along with Tony. “The others are on the way,” Tony states, his voice coming out mechanical through his suit, “Let’s see what we’re dealing with. FRIDAY be a dear and scan this to see the best way to get Bucky free.”
“Yes Boss,” FRIDAY replies as she scans the pile of rubble just as Karen had. “It would advise you to remove these pieces first,” Through Tony’s HUD he sees a few big pieces highlighted by FRIDAY, “This should open up a pocket near Mr. Barnes’s legs. From there it would be best for someone to hold up the pieces as you work, to make sure nothing else collapses and crushes in on him.”
“Alright,” Tony says, “Wilson, with me.” They fly up and Tony points to one large piece so Sam knows where to go. Together they lift it. Bucky’s breath hitches once again as he can feel the mound shift above him, pieces grind into his back as it does. He grits his teeth and breathes through the pain. Tony and Sam work to get rid of the pieces FRIDAY suggested as the rest of the team comes running up. This would be so much easier if Thor wasn’t off-world at the moment. Sam and Tony land back on the ground right as the rest make it to the collapsed building.
“Did you guys get her?” Bucky asks, turning his head the other way so he is facing the others.
“Yeah, she’s restrained and being taken in for questioning now, how are you doing?” Steve asks, his eyes are filled with worry.
“Hanging in there,” Bucky says trying to tamp down the everpresent panic.
“Good, just hang on a little longer while we get you out.”
“Don’t have much of a choice,” Bucky mutters.
“We made a hole in the pile,” Sam states, “but we need someone to hold up the concrete from underneath while we clear the rest away to be safe.”
“I’ll do it,” Steve says immediately with a determined expression.
“The space is pretty small, Cap.” Sam replied.
“I’ll do it,” Peter spoke up from his place next to Bucky.
“Nope, no way, not happening,” Tony says quickly, his faceplate still down.
“He is probably the only one who can fit and who is strong enough,” Sam counters.
“I said no.” This time the face plate does lift and Tony’s expression is a mixture of apprehension, anger, and what looked like guilt.
“We really don’t have much of a choice Tony.”
“Pete,” Bucky says, Peter turns his attention to him, “you don’t have to do this.” After hearing Peter’s story he really doesn’t want to be the reason Peter relives being buried under a building. He, obviously, knows what it’s like and never ever wants to be in this situation again.
“I can do it,” Peter says again.
“I know you can,” Bucky says sincerely, “that doesn’t mean you should have to.” The others watch on but say nothing, their faces somber.
“I’ll be okay,” Peter smiles once again, this time it’s not as forced, but it is still hidden behind his mask. He gets a bit closer so the others can’t hear, “I’m not alone this time.” he whispers. Bucky gives him a sad yet understanding look and nods once before letting his head rest on the ground again. Peter gets up and walks over to Tony, “It’s okay Mr. Stark.”
Tony sighed looking at him almost sadly, “No, it really isn’t.” Peter didn’t have time to think about the man’s words or expression as the faceplate went back down and Tony hooked his hands under Peter’s arms to lift and fly him over to the space they had cleared. He lowers the boy gently in. “If you need to get out for any reason don’t hesitate to call okay?”
Peter knows he won’t, not if it will end up hurting Bucky, but he wants to alleviate some of his mentor’s worries, “Okay.” He lies.
There is not enough room to stand so Peter crouches in the small space and plants both palms above him, holding up the weight of the concrete right above Bucky’s legs. He can feel it shift as pieces on top of it are removed one by one.
“Peter,” the boy hears. It’s quiet, but thanks to his enhanced hearing he can make it out. “Peter, can you hear me?” Bucky is whispering from the other side of the broken pieces of the building. The voice slightly bounces off the walls in the dark hollow space.
“Yes.”
“Are you doing okay?”
“Yes”
“Are you lying?” Bucky asks.
Peter lets out a small huff of laughter but keeps most of his attention on the weight he is holding up. “Only a tiny bit,” he concedes.
It is still the middle of the day with the sun shining, but down here, in this little pocket underneath the rubble, it is almost pitch black. The light peaks through the small hole that was made but not enough. The darkness reminds him even more of that night under the warehouse. The weight just above him threatening to crush him. Calling out for help but nobody being around to hear it. Thinking for a brief, but not brief enough, moment that he was going to die hurt, scared, and alone. No body knowing where he is. No body finding his bod-
“Peter I can hear your heart racing and your breaths are fast,” Peter hadn’t even realized any of this until Bucky said something, “Can you do me a favor and take some deep breaths?”
Peter tries but he chokes on some dust particles floating around. “Pete, you okay?” Bucky asks urgently as there is no way he can see the boy.
Peter tries to catch his breath after the coughing stops. “Yeah,” he says breathlessly.
“Take some deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth.” Peter does and very slowly starts calming down, “Good, keep going. I would do them with you, but my lungs feel like they are being flattened into pancakes right now.” He jokes, but it falls short because he is only partly lying,
“We can stick to waffles from now on for breakfast,” Peter says and Bucky can’t help but let out a small laugh.
“Sounds good, I always preferred them over pancakes anyhow.”
“Me too,” Peter replies in a small voice.
“How are you doing now?”
“Better, thanks,” Peter says truthfully, even if the warehouse creeps into his mind every few minutes anyhow. “I can feel the weight getting lighter, they should hopefully have you out really soon.”
“You too,” Bucky reminds him.
“Yeah,” Peter takes another deep breath, “me too.” He agrees.
They stay quiet for a bit with Bucky guiding Peter through some calming breaths every few minutes and checking in on how he is holding up. After the weight Peter is holding gets significantly lighter he calls out. “Can everyone stand back for a second?”
They trust him and do as he says immediately, “Sure thing kid.”
“Is everyone clear?” Peter hears an affirmative response from each member of the team.
He slowly unbends his knees lifting the concrete up and then, with a small grunt of effort, throws it in the opposite direction of where Bucky’s body lays. It lands on the rest of the destroyed building with a dull thud, away from both Bucky and himself. With no more threat to Bucky’s legs, Tony flies over and lifts Peter once again. He puts the kid down gently right in front of where the rest of the team is almost done, freeing Bucky’s back.
Once the last big piece is lifted by Steve, Bucky rolls over so he is now laying face up. He pays no mind to the small pebbles of concrete and stone on the ground that dig into his back and he finally takes a full unimpeded breath.
“You okay?” Steve says, kneeling beside him.
“Yeah,” Bucky breathes out, closing his eyes in relief.
“Okay, is everyone good?” Tony asks. Once he gets an affirmative answer from them all he quickly opens his suit, steps out, and wraps Peter in a tight hug.
“Mr. Stark, wha-” Peter says confused, but then melts into the hug wrapping his own arms around his mentor, “Oh, this is nice.” He smiles under the mask.
“I’m so sorry.” Tony says holding the kid even tighter.
Peter’s smile turns into a bewildered frown, “It’s okay Mr. Stark. It was only for a little bit.”
“Not about that,” Tony says but then retracts his statement and pulls away from the hug, “I mean yes about that, but-” he sounded frustrated with himself.
Peter cuts him off, “I’m okay Mr. Stark, really.”
“I know you are, I’m just sorry you had to go through that again.” He tries to pull Peter back into a hug but the boy stops him.
“Again? Mr. Stark I-” He tries to come up with an excuse but is too confused to think.
“I heard you, Peter.” He said in a sad and guilt-ridden tone.
“But…how? I muted my comms.”
“Muting your comms only mutes input, not output,” Tony explains.
“I-I didn’t know that.”
“We can’t have anyone muting themselves in case they get into trouble and need help.” He expands his explanation further.
“You heard everything?” Peter’s voice is small and high when he asks.
“Yeah kiddo, and I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” Peter asks, a bit baffled, “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Yes, it was. I took your suit and you got hurt. That’s on me.” Peter shakes his head about to fight him on that, “No, Peter, it’s true. I really screwed the pooch on that one.” He utters the same words he had angrily said to the boy on the roof, but this time he aims them at himself. “Also, just so you know, Bucky was right.”
“About what?”
“I have never been disappointed in you. I am disappointed in myself though for the way I treated you.” Peter doesn’t have any words for that so instead he just goes in for another hug that Tony immediately reciprocates, “I’m so proud of you.” Peter beams at the praise and tightens his grip before he lets go.
He looks over to see Steve helping Bucky up. Bucky is leaning heavily on Cap, almost his entire weight on him as circulation slowly comes back into the metal-armed man’s legs. The weight on his back had cut off blood flow, for the most part, to the lower half of his body. The painfully annoying pins and needle sensation overtakes the two limbs. Peter walks over to them.
Bucky tries to stand on his own when he sees Peter come over. He stands on his own for approximately two seconds before he starts to fall forward, his legs not yet ready to take his full weight. Peter catches him and Bucky uses it as an excuse to hug the kid. “Thank you.”
There is a lot encompassed in those two words. Thank you for staying with me and not leaving me alone. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for going through it all again to save me.
“You would have done the same for me,” Peter says, half-hugging and half-holding Bucky up.
As much as Bucky can’t stand feeling trapped and never wants to be under another collapsed building again, Peter is right. “Yeah, I would, but that doesn’t lessen what you had to go through…again. So, thank you.” Peter answers by hugging back a bit tighter in acknowledgment. Being trapped under a collapsed building is not a great thing to have in common, but the situation did bring Peter and Bucky closer.
Sometimes all it takes is some shared trauma to bring people together.