Chapter seventeen
Bucky woke up in the early hours of the morning, his brain just wouldn’t switch off. He kept having the same nightmare over and over again. Flashes of Pierce killing Steve in the most horrific, gruesome, graphic, mutilated way possible. While he watched and screamed helpless from the side lines.
Bucky couldn’t let that happen, he needed to fight, fight to protect Steve.
He rolled over to his side facing Steve, he had blond strands of hair covering his forehead, snoring lightly. His face would crease every now and then, muttering half words under his breath, probably having a nightmare of his own.
Bucky saw this as the perfect opportunity to start his training. Placing a kiss on his forehead, Bucky slipped out of his arms. Finding some tight joggers and a t- shirt quickly and quietly changed. Giving him one last look, Bucky left the bedroom. He grabbed a bottle of water and a protein bar from the kitchen, making his way towards the gym. Bucky headed right for the punching bag, after a few warm ups Bucky felt that almost caffeine-like surge of energy kick in, using tricks that Rumlow and Rollins had shown him, Bucky got into a fighting stance, throwing punches at the bag. He’d come a long way since his first fist fight with the punching bag, he was happy to get back in the swing of things.
“Still got it” He panted, undoing the velcro on his boxing glove. Bucky spotted a sharpie on the floor, he picked it up, his smile widened when an idea sprung in his head. Moving back to the bag popping the cap off, on one side of the bag he drew a V set jaw with long hair, broad shoulders, and a fitted costume. Focusing on her face, he drew a single line for her mouth and a pair of eyes. He twirled the bag around, drawing Pierce on the blank side, instead of drawing eyes he simply drew two crosses and a frown for his mouth. Bucky walked around the bag with a triumphant look on his face.
Throwing the marker down, He went at the bag with bare fists, his punches having turned from gentle to straight up violent. Growling he repeatedly punched the Captain Marvel side, aiming at her stomach, then administering hard punches to her face. One of his punches twisted the bag around, he was now staring at the scribbled Pierce on the soft surface of the bag. Breathing heavily he wiped sweat from his hairline, looking into the two crosses in place of eyes, anger bubbling in him, his fists clenched turning his flesh knuckles white and his metal one plate’s shifting.
Bucky threw himself at the bag, throwing punch after violent punch at the fake Alexander Pierce.
The drawn on face began to smear with sweat and blood. Finally Bucky collapsed to his knees in exhaustion, he looked down at his bloody and bruised knuckles, scolding himself for being stupid enough to lose control without wrapping his hand first. There was no way his hand was gonna heal quick enough to hide it from Steve.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck” He cursed, small tears rolling down his cheeks. Bucky sucked at his knuckles trying to calm the blood flow, he hissed when his mouth made contact with his open flesh. Rising to his feet, Bucky walked out of the gym making his way towards the kitchen. He turned on the cold tap running his knuckles under the icy water.
“Ahh” He cried, biting through his lip in pain. Bucky looked at the clock on the microwave, it was six fifty seven am. Steve’s alarm would be going off any moment. He had to think fast, Steve would go crazy if he saw the damage he’d done to his hand and he’d be suspicious as to what the hell caused it to happen.
Bucky panicked, turning off the water he ran into the hallway when Steve’s alarm started, he usually let it ring three times before getting up.
FIrst ring, “Shit!” Bucky froze in panic looking around for something to hide his hand in. Second ring.. He ended up facing the front door, a painful, but good idea sprung into his head. Third ring..Bucky ran to the door opening it, standing on the other side he locked himself out, preparing for the pain that was about to follow. He smashed his fist through the window, Bucky clenched his teeth, going a little cross eyed watching the glass slice through his already torn skin.
Back in the bedroom Steve groaned, rolling over to turn off his alarm after the third ring. Steve yawned, shuffling back to his original position, expecting Bucky to wake him up fully with a kiss on the lips like he usually does, but when he didn’t, his head shot up to see his side of the bed empty.
Steve moved his hand over to Bucky’s pillow, it was cold, he must’ve been up for a while.
“Puppy?” He mumbled, rubbing his eyes. Listening for the shower, he heard nothing. A loud shattering sound of glass pierced his eardrums followed by a half shriek half whimper. Steve jumped up, “Bucky!?” He shouted, racing out of the room.
“Bucky!?” Steve ran down the stairs. When he reached the bottom he was met with the sight of Bucky sitting on broken glass, leaning his back against the front door, clutching his bleeding hand. “Bucky, what happened?” He asked kneeling to his level. Bucky didn’t say anything, he just whimpered at the burning in his hand. Steve carefully looked at his knuckles, cursing when he saw tiny shards of glass sticking out from his skin. Looking back up at his tear stained face, he cupped his chin bringing Bucky’s eyes to his.
“What happened? Did someone hurt you?” He asked, checking him over for other injuries. “No” He whimpered. “What happened?” His temper was wearing thin, he needed to know, Now.
“I-I went for a run and locked myself out. I left my phone in the house and I-I heard a noise and I-” He cried, his words may have been fake but his tears were real. Bucky hated the fact that he had to lie to Steve again, but it was the only way.
Steve tensed his jaw. “That’s why we have a fuckin’ treadmil Bucky! You know not to go out without asking me first, just in case something like this happens!” He stood and poked his head out the door, checking if any one was nearby. “What if someone had seen you huh? What if someone had-” he stopped, looking down at him. How could he be so stupid.
“ ‘M sorry Daddy, I- ‘m sorry” Although his tears had stopped they still blurred his vision. Bucky heard him sigh, a fuzzy outline of his face leaned closer.
“It’s okay pup, don’t cry. Daddy’ll clean you up” Steve scooped him into his arms, Steve carried him to the kitchen sitting him on the counter. Steve grabbed a bowl of cold water, he filled it up from the tap, being met with tiny splatters of blood against the white marble sink. Interesting. He thought to himself, shaking it off when he heard Bucky whine behind him. Grabbing tweezers and a roll of gauze, Steve dragged a chair over to him, sitting between his legs. He cleaned up his hand, pulling the glass shards gently out of his bruised and blood stained knuckles. Bucky bit his lip, muffling his cries.
“I was worried” Steve said, wrapping his hand in a tight bandage. “You shouldn’t have been, it was my own fault” Bucky said, touching his face. “Don’t make me worry like that again” He growled, “Next time I ask you what happened, you answer me right away”
“Yes, Daddy” He cowered, trying not to anger him further. “Good boy” He said, taking his hand in his kissing his knuckles softly. Bucky pulled his hand away from him, placing each hand on his face. “I love you” Bucky said bringing his face to his, Bucky kissed him slowly.
“You look like Rocky with your hand all wrapped up” He said smiling into Bucky’s lips. “Yeah? Do I look badass?” He asked pulling away. “You always look badass”
“I thought so” He kissed him again, Steve pulled him off the counter onto his lap. “Bucky?”
“Yeah?”
“Why didn’t you use your metal hand?” Steve asks, Bucky looks down at said metal hand, “I-” He blushes “I’m right handed so I don’t think to use it, immediately”. Steve chuckles, pulling him into a kiss.
They were interrupted when Steve’s phone started ringing. Bucky covered his ears with his hands, continuing to kiss him. “Ignore it” Bucky said.
“I can’t” He muttered, pulling him away, “It’s important”
Bucky rolled his eyes reaching behind himself to grab the phone, placing it in Steve’s hand. “Yes?” He snapped
Bucky waited a moment, then kissed his nose gently, trailing soft pecks over his beard to his neck, as much as he was enjoying Bucky’s company, he wasn’t helping. Steve held the phone to his chest, staring at Bucky. “Stop it” Steve said. Usually he would have continued, taking the blond’s resistance as playful encouragement, but he saw a glint in his eye. Steve was not to be messed with.
“Sorry Daddy” Bucky mouthed to him apologetically. “Why don’t you grab a shower, Try not to get your hand wet” Steve slipped him off his lap, watching him leave.
“What is it?” He asked, talking to Rumlow on the other end of the phone. “Sorry to disturb ya boss, But I have some information you might want to hear” Brock’s voice was laced with caution. “Well, speak”
“It’s betta if I tell ya in person” Brock answered hesitantly, Steve rubbed his forehead. “Fine, meet me at LUX in twenty minutes”
Steve hung up and sighed resting his head in his hands. Everything was piling up on him, he felt as though he was going to snap at any moment. Last night was the first time in a while that he got to spend some quality time with Bucky, even that came with interruptions. He just wanted some time to regroup his thoughts, but things kept popping up.
Steve growled slamming his fist down on the counter, trying to gain composure, he raised out of his seat and walked up stairs. Entering the bedroom he heard the shower running, seeing Bucky’s gym clothes laying on the floor, Steve knocked on the bathroom door before entering.
“Princess, I need the shower. Hurry up” He said with a rough tone. “Kay, just a sec” He said, detecting the change in mood. Turning off the water the two toned brunette stepped out of the shower, his bandages were wet, there was no way he could avoid them coming into contact with the water.
Steve looked at them instantly, narrowing his eyes. “Didn’t I tell you to keep them dry! Why do I bother helping you, if you ain’t gon’ listen to me?!” He bitched, pushing past the small brunette to get to the shower. “Stevie, I’m sorry, I couldn’t avoid it.” Bucky said calmly. “It’ll dry, don’t worry”
“That’s a fucking breeding ground for bacteria and infection Bucky, you wan’t a nasty puss filled fungal infection? Cuz serum or not that’s gonna be a bitch to deal with”
“Daddy, calm down. It’s not a big deal..I’ll just change the bandage” Bucky rolled his eyes, tightening the towel around his body. “Whatever” He said in response.
“What the hell is going on with you?”
“Nothing.” He snapped
Bucky sighed, “I’m not talking to you while you’re like this” Bucky headed for the bathroom door, walking back in the bedroom. “Come find me when you’ve grown up”
Not wishing to start a fight and add to the ever growing list of things he had to worry about, Steve ignored his comment letting the hot water rush over him for a moment before taking a proper shower.
After he had finished he wrapped a towel around his hips, brushing his teeth he glanced in the mirror seeing Bucky brush his hair in the full length mirror in the bedroom. The brunette would throw the fit of the century if he ever found out that Steve was lying to him again. Things were still a bit raw in their relationship, he was worried this might break it for good.
“Puppy, I’ve gotta go to work today” He said, watching him still. Bucky paused in his movements, then continued. “Did you hear me?” Steve swished mouthwash in his mouth.
“Da” (yes) Bucky snapped.
Steve tensed his jaw, inadvertently snapping the toothbrush in half. He growled, throwing it in the trash. Spitting the mouthwash in the sink.
Storming out of the bathroom, he approached Bucky. He could feel him standing behind him, but didn’t turn around.
“Bucky” Steve said with a warning undertone. “What?” He turned briefly to grab a hair tie from the dresser. Steve caught his wrist spinning him around to face him, Bucky looked away. Bucky yanked his wrist back and pushed past, Steve caught his forearm, slamming him into the wall, he stepped closer trapping him against the wall. “Don’t test my patience Bucky. It’s wearing pretty damn thin”
“I noticed,” he replied, making eye contact. Steve loosened his grip slightly. “I know you’re under a lot of stress at work with these meetings with Brock, and the ‘important’ phone calls. But I can help, I can lighten the load a little”
“You can’t help, you know nothing about my businesses and to be quite frank, they’re none of your concern” He snapped. “They are my concern, when my boyfriend gets stressed and can’t fuckin’ talk to me about it. I may not be Tony Stark but I can still help you, even if you just talk to me about it. You’ll feel a lot betta sharing your problems”
“My problems are mine to bare and mine to bare alone” Steve let go of his arm, Bucky didn’t move away, he just stood still.
“Last night was amazing Steve, we’re finally getting back on track, finally making time for each other…Now it feels like we’re slipping back into old habits”
Stepping backwards, Steve moved towards the closet, pulling out a purple dress shirt and black slacks.
Bucky reached out to him. “Please Steve, just talk to me”
Steve changed quickly, he walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll see ya tonight”
“Steve..” Bucky went to grab his arm but by this point he had already left the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Steve walked down to the garage, firing up the engine of his Lamborghini, rolling out into the street, he headed for LUX.
Pulling up at the front of the club, Steve stepped out, dropping his keys with the valete. Even though the club didn’t open for another ten plus hours, the club was used for business meetings and criminal conferences during the day, so a valete was always on stand-by.
“Good morning Mr Nomad, Rogers, sir.” Said the young man dressed in a black and white tux. “Park her around back” Steve said, not even looking up at the boy.
Fixing the button on his blazer, Steve stepped through the double doors. Remembering the first time he brought Bucky here and how scared he was. Bucky had been to the club a few times since then, each time ending in disaster. Walking down the steps he caught the eye of Rumlow, gesturing towards a private booth in the distance.
“Brock” He nodded, taking a seat, unbuttoning his jacket to get comfortable.
“Boss,” Brock was cut off instantly when a pretty, young waitress that worked for the club skipped over. “Morning fellas” The girl was in her early twenties, wearing a tight black cocktail dress with sparkly gold stilettos, just like all the other girls wore, who worked for Nomad.
Brock’s face lit up, running his lustrous eyes over the girl. “Hey darlin’ “
Steve rolled his eyes at the pathetic display in front of him.
“Say Boss,” She leaned across the table exposing her cleavage. “Want something to drink?”
“Whiskey neat” Steve said, not looking up at the girl.
The girl frowned at his uninterested response, She turned to Rumlow. “And what would you like?”
Brock leaned in to whisper something dirty to the girl, but he caught Steve’s displeased expression and withdrew. “Whiskey, please sweetheart.” He smacked her ass. “Coming right up” she winked, facing Steve again.
The girl huffed under her breath and walked away, Brock’s eyes were fixated on her behind.
“Finished undressing my staff with your eyes?” Steve snapped. “Sorry Boss, but it would be rude not to appreciate a good lookin’ gal once in a while” Brock said in defense.
“What’s rude Brock, is callin’ me with vital information, and instead of telling me, you waste my fuckin’ time!” He shouts. “Sorry Boss”
“Now, Tell me what you know”
“Pierce is moving, he’s recruited new men to take you down and anyone associated with you”
“Know any names of people he’s hired?” Steve asked, tapping his foot on the ground impatiently. “The usual low level New York underground scumbags, Obidiah Stane, obviously. And Jasper Sitwell”
“Shit, he got Sitwell?” Steve had, had run ins with the entire Sitwell family over the decades, they had started the hydra crime family back in forty three. The Sitwells were built on Fascists, Nazi’s, Sex traffickers and blood money..literally. Steve had been trying to wipe them off the map for decades and Now the last living member was working for Alexander Pierce.
Fortunately for Steve and unfortunately for Pierce, Jasper Sitwell was a nervous man, folds like a lawn chair in the wind.
“Any idea on Sitwell’s current whereabouts?”
“Nah, Boss. But I’m sure he’ll make his presence known sooner or later, he’s afraid of his own shadow.” Brock said, looking around discreetly for the waitress. She appeared from behind the bar, balancing a black serving tray in her right hand. Walking over she smiled sweetly at Steve, leaning over the table placing his drink in front of him.
“Here you go, Boss man” She whispered seductively.
Steve just grunted, he was lost in thought and didn’t even register the girl’s pathetic, classless attempts of seduction.
Sliding the whiskey over towards Brock, he patted her ass playfully. “What’s your name, Darlin’?”
“Ruby” She replied. Of course that wasn’t her real name. The girls and guys that worked in Steve’s clubs needed to protect their identity, a lot of passing visitors wanting details on Steve and his activity. So they needed to separate their private lives from their working ones.
All of the girls and guys at LUX had names associated with rocks or gemstones. At The Royale Flush, it was poker themed names.
‘The Nomad’s Jewels’ as they were known.
“Ruby?” He grinned, “But you can call me whatever you want” Her hand rested on his knee, sliding up towards his crotch.
Steve was snapped out of his plotting when he heard a low grunt coming from opposite of him. The blond’s eyes darkened.
“Ruby?” He said deadpan. Her head shot around with a beaming smile, hoping that he wanted some of her attention. “Yes Boss?” Ruby walked closer to him and leant down, as if he was about to whisper something dirty in her ear. “Fuck off” He spat at her, Steve grabbed her wrist and twisted it. “SorryB-boss” She whimpered, his grip increased, almost breaking her wrist.
Ruby screamed when she felt her wrist crack under her skin.
Job done, Nomad released her and pushed her away. The crying girl stumbled and fled back behind the bar. Two other waitresses rushed to her, checking over her broken wrist.
“Stupid girl” Rumlow muttered.
Steve looked Brock up and down, recently the man was stepping up his game, seemingly using his brain for something other than decoration. Seemingly living up to his recent promotion in Steve’s ranks, a real team leader. Even kept Rollins from being stupider than usual. Steve was impressed to say the least and a bit weirded out, he was keeping a close eye on him, making sure he wasn’t trying to take over or start his own organization.
Brock was separate from the other men under his employment, Him being a high level security guard at Shield, it was easier for Steve to use him as an inside man for information without any one else finding out.
Steve smirked to himself, might have to bump one of the other guys to take Rumlow’s spot at shield, especially if he keeps his game up, he could rise through the ranks to Steve right hand, Rollins got demoted for being stupid but Steve liked to keep them close, they were the only henchmen Steve was actually ….fond of to say the least.
Steve knocked back his drink, rising from his seat. “Oh, If you’re gonna hook up with one of my staff, at least make sure it’s a classy one, kay? Wouldn’t want you to not be able to do your job because your balls are one fire”
“Sure thing, Boss” Rumlow said, eyes fixed on one of Steve’s newest hires. Some kid from Staten Island named Peter, but he went by Spider Jasper at work, Spider or Web for short. Smart kid, was going to school for engineering when Steve hired him not for his flexibility and skills as a dancer, but because freshman year of highschool he ‘accidentally’ or so he says anyway, built a bomb in the school's science lab that no one found out about until it went off during spring break. Lucky for Peter no one was hurt or worse but Steve knew there was more to the story, there was something in the spider’s eyes that told him it wasn’t an accident.
Steve left the club out of the back exit, and was given his keys by the valet at the door, he didn’t even dignify the man with a response, he sped off down the road.