Visits to Delacroix are usually filled with laughter and fun, but with a new cat in tow for the drive (and Bucky refused to get on a plane with the cat because he's read horror stories) and a new friend filling up the back seat on the drive out there, the trip itself is almost as joy filled. Bucky's been talking with Sam and Sarah about Peter and the cat, and Sam's met Alpine several times over now. Both siblings have asked on multiple occasions to meet Peter, though.
Now, on a trip to visit the family for an extended weekend, Peter is tagging along, happily chattering in the back seat while Sam drives and argues about music with the kid. Sarah had invited Peter as soon as she'd heard he had no family or friends to speak of outside of Bucky and Sam had backed his sister up easily. It had taken a little convincing to get Peter on board, but when Bucky told him he could ride in the back with Alpine and that AJ and Cass would probably love to try and play football with him, Peter seemed to light up at the prospect.
So, now they're all piled into Sam's car and headed to Louisiana. They already stopped off at a hotel the night prior and are on the second (and last) leg of the journey. Peter and Sam seem to be getting on well enough and Bucky's happy to see his boyfriend (and holy shit, he can actually call Sam that now?) and friend getting along. Peter's become a little brother to Bucky and he feels protective over him in the strangest ways.
He remembers a night not too long ago, when Bucky had been sitting up unable to rest for the night and got a panicked and apologetic phone call from Peter. The kid was somewhere deep in Queens and scared. He didn't give full details, but the fact that Bucky had to talk him through putting pressure on a wound and then literally step by step guide him back to his home over the phone had been more than a little unnerving. Peter never explained what happened, and here they are a week later with Peter expressing no signs of lingering injury.
Bucky heals fast. It's a blessing and a curse of the serum. From his time as the Winter Soldier, he remembers madness taking hold during weeks of isolation. The guards and handlers didn't care what he'd done to his body in a sheer panic, so long as he didn't blow his brains out. It was all under the guise of conditioning and curiosity, anyway. Bucky knows he heals far too fast to bleed out, at least from one injury, though damn did it come close. And he knows he heals too fast for infection to set in, though he's curious if he could even get an infection if he tried. He hasn't so much as gotten the sniffles since all this bullshit started.
But, he's starting to think Peter's hiding something similar about himself, the way he conveniently forgot to tell Bucky where his injury was, and how he hasn't let Bucky or Sam see his arms, legs, chest. Not that Bucky's looking, but a bunch of guys in a hotel room don't usually hide from each other too much.
Although, if Bucky thinks about it, it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibilities. People hide for a lot of reasons. He doesn't want to overstep Peter's personal boundaries. He's just concerned. The guy had sounded like he was ready to collapse.
As they cross the border into Louisiana, Sam lets out a breath and leans back in his seat, seeming to calm down a little. Bucky reaches over the console and takes Sam's hand in his own, smiling softly.
"Are you doing okay?" he asks, glancing over his shoulder to see Peter's chin to his chest, the guy finally having passed out from exhaustion. He's got his fingers curled into the front of Alpine's carrying cage and the cat is licking at his knuckles, but Peter is out.
"It's nice to finally be here," Sam says, pulling Bucky's attention again. "Not too far to go now. Sarah's expecting us for dinner. How's the kid doing?"
"Sleeping," Bucky hums, turning back to face forward again and squeezing Sam's hand before settling into his own seat. "Finally talked himself out. I didn't think he ever had an off switch."
"Is he always like that with you?" Sam chuckles. "Not complaining or anything. It's just, damn, Buck. I wouldn't pin you for being friends with someone so chatty."
Bucky yawns and leans his head back. "He talks like he has no one else to talk to," he whispers, voice sad. "It's almost like he's lost everything and he's still pushin' towards some kinda goal that I don't know if even he can see anymore. I feel like the guy just needs love."
Sam sighs quietly. "You're too good for this world, Bucky Barnes," he murmurs.
"Not remotely," Bucky frowns. "But thanks. All the shit I've done, I'm lucky if I can make one person smile before I'm finally in the dirt."
Sam doesn't say anything for a few moments and Bucky starts to itch, as though he feels he's said something wrong. He clears his throat.
"Sammy?"
Sam hums, but doesn't say anything. Bucky flinches.
"Did I upset you?" Bucky whispers, unconsciously curling into the far side of his seat, away from Sam.
He knows it's irrational. Sam is not one of his handlers. Sam is not Hydra. Sam is not going to punish him. They've never had that dynamic. But the sudden quiet sparked something in Bucky that set off terror bells and he can't shake it. He swallows thickly and closes his eyes, waiting with a shaking jaw.
After a few moments, he feels the car slow to a stop, then turn down a road and stop again. Sam cuts the engine and Bucky looks around, seeing they're at a gas station. He looks at Sam and he feels worry pinning him in place. "I'm sorry," he whispers.
There's a sound from the backseat, but Bucky's focus is on Sam. He doesn't want to mess this up. He feels like he already has. Sam's going to kick him out of the car and make him walk back to New York on his own. Sam's going to turn him away now. Sam hates him.
Sam opens his car door and comes around the car to Bucky's side, opening his door and kneeling down just outside it. He looks up at Bucky with a sorrowful gaze. "Sweetheart, you haven't done anything wrong," he says gently. He reaches up, gently tugging Bucky's seat belt. "Can you take this off and come here?"
Bucky moves shaking fingers over to unbuckle himself, then shifts to face Sam, planting both feet outside the car. He swallows heavily and slips off the seat, to his knees on the pavement. It's almost frightening how easily he can listen to Sam's suggestion, but then Sam catches him, wrapping him in a tight hug.
"I'm not upset at you," Sam clarifies firmly, voice gentle at the same time. "I'm never going to be upset at you. I'm sad. That they left you feeling like that about yourself. That you can look inward and think you don't deserve to be happy or to be seen as a good man, because you are. God, Bucky, you're amazing. I love you, baby. And I wouldn't love you if you weren't a good guy, okay?"
Bucky nods against Sam's shoulder, bringing his arms up and wrapping them around Sam before practically burying himself against the other man's chest. "The- the quiet," he whispers. "Sometimes, when it's quiet, all I can think about is them. And I get scared I'm about to get hit or punished. They- fuck, Sammy. The shit they did to me?"
There's a sound in the backseat again and then the door behind Bucky's opens. Peter steps out and comes around, worming his way in next to Sam and Bucky.
"You're really a great person, Bucky," he says softly. "And if you don't believe me, ask Alpine. She loves you, too. So do I. You're one of the best friends I've had in a long time."
Bucky takes a slow, deep breath in, then nods and reaches out to Peter with one hand. He drags the kid closer, into the hug with him and Sam. Sam opens his arms to include Peter and they all sit for a few moments, on the hot asphalt, wrapped in each other's arms.
It takes a good five minutes or more before they all decide to pull away from each other. Peter straightens and stands, rubbing at his eyes and cheeks with a watery sigh. Sam stands and helps Bucky to his feet. They all stand there a few more moments, quietly taking in the Louisiana scenery around them.
Then, with a soft smile, Peter giggles. "Maybe we should get some gas and some snacks while we're here," he says, wiping a few tears from his face. "I can't imagine what the cashier in there might be thinking."
"You saying we need to be paying customers in order to hug and cry in their lot?" Sam asks with a laugh. "I don't remember that being part of the policy here, but I've been away for a while, so things might have changed."
Bucky snorts and rubs at his face, then reaches over and wipes a thumb under Sam's eye. "I think we could all use a little caffeine or something to make it the last few hours, doll," he murmurs. "I can go grab some shit while you gas up. Pete, you're on Alpine duty. You want anything specific?"
"Can you get me a bottle of the white Gatorade?" Peter asks, slipping back into the backseat. Sam and Bucky exchange a look, but Bucky heads off to the store.
He already knows what to get Sam, and of course he knows himself. He gets through with the transaction and heads out, finding that Sam's moved the car to a gas pump and is filling up. Once all is said and done, they slide back into the car and Bucky hands Peter his Gatorade, setting a soda bottle into the middle cup holder for Sam.
"Why on earth do you like the white Gatorade?" Bucky asks as Sam pulls away from the station.
He doesn't expect Peter to launch into an hour long story explaining his reasoning, but it's soothing all the same.
When they get to the house, Bucky lets Sarah preen him and Peter as she hugs them both and welcomes them inside. She's got dinner ready and the boys are excited to see their uncles, she tells them. She takes the cat carrier from Peter and peers in at Alpine with a loving smile, gushing at the cat while Alpine purrs delicately from the blankets bundled inside.
Once everything's unpacked and Alpine is free, they all gather around the table to eat. The cat leaps immediately to Bucky's shoulder and curls herself up against his neck. She stayed relatively small through growing up, though she can stretch pretty far and get herself into dangerous little places. She fits almost perfectly on Bucky's left shoulder and seems unbothered by the metal under his shirt as she settles down and starts purring herself into a doze.
The boys ask Peter all sorts of questions and, by the time dinner is over, they've already convinced him to go out and play football in the waning daylight with them. Bucky and Sam help Sarah clean up and then they all head out to the porch to watch.
"He seems so young to be so alone," Sarah says softly as she sits on the other side of Sam from Bucky. "Poor thing."
Bucky nods and hums, sipping at his beer (though it's more for the comfort of the action than any effect of the alcohol, considering it would take an entire brewery to make a dent in Bucky's sobriety). "We've been hanging out more, and the kid seems like he's missing a lot," he says. "He doesn't talk about family or friends at all, but I've caught him starting to say things a couple times. He mentions a Mr. something every now and again. All I've heard is that I think it starts with an S, but he stops himself every time. He looks so sad when he says it, too."
"Maybe an old teacher he looked up to," Sam offers. "He's smart. I can see him bonding with a teacher. He's got that kind of personality."
"There's something else," Bucky admits. "There's something almost- I don't wanna say off? But I'm struggling to push away this feeling like I've already known him. As though we might have met sometime before the Blip maybe? Or around that time, I don't know. It's a blur. You know how bad my memories can get, though." He gestures at Sam, who reaches over and squeezes Bucky's knee.
"Maybe you saw him in passing in New York a few times before?" Sarah says. "You can see someone a bunch and never realize it until you actually talk to each other."
"Maybe," Bucky sighs. "There's just something so familiar about him, and it's got me feeling really protective? I don't wanna see him get hurt. I feel almost like Tony or Steve might come back and beat the shit outta me if I let anything happen to him."
"You think maybe he had a connection to one of them?" Sam says suddenly. "And that's how you know him?"
Bucky shrugs, letting his mind wander as he watches the boys tackle Peter to the ground over and over. Alpine weaves around his legs and settles at his feet, mewling softly before she starts to sleep again. She's just been fed as well, so she's lazy from a big meal. Bucky can relate. Sarah's cooking always makes him feel that way.
He yawns and reaches down to scoop the cat into his arm. "I think I might go crash early," he says softly. "I'm wiped." He bends and presses his lips to Sam's, then moves to Sarah and kisses her forehead. "G'night, babies."
—
Bucky is fighting side by side with Sam, making their way to the quinjet. They have to escape and Tony's team is throwing everything they've got at them, including a kid in a red and blue jumpsuit that seems very eager to play. Bucky watches as the kid slams through a window and knocks Sam back. He turns and swings at the kid, only to have his punch caught, metal arm groaning.
"You have a metal arm? That is awesome, dude!" The kid's voice is so familiar, but even more Bucky's slipping from the dream as he gasps and-
Bucky's awake, sitting upright in bed and struggling to draw in a breath. He feels Sam's hand around his bicep and shakes his head. "S'fine, Sammy."
"Sure didn't sound like it," Sam whispers. "You alright, baby?"
Bucky takes a deep drag of air and whimpers softly, nodding. "I- it was a dream. The- the fight with Tony at the airport. I feel like-" He blinks. "Do you remember some kid in red and blue that swung around and caught my punch?"
Sam frowns and shakes his head. "No. Can't say I do. Why?"
Bucky shakes his head. "I think I need a minute." He shifts and pushes himself to his feet, pulling on a pair of sweats nearby and heading out of the room before Sam can say more. He makes his way downstairs and to the living room, where he stops to check on Peter.
Peter is lying on the couch Bucky used to sleep on here, and Alpine is curled up on his chest. It's cute and Bucky can't help but smile softly at the sight. There's that tug of familiarity that pulls him toward Peter and he watches him for a few minutes, unsure.
"You have a metal arm? That is awesome, dude!"
Why did that voice sound so much like Peter?
He runs a hand down his face and sighs. This is getting too weird and he's exhausted by his own brain. He's overthinking things again and he knows it. Peter is just a kid and there was no red and blue kid on that battlefield. Tony wouldn't have done that.
Right?
He wouldn't have brought a literal child into that fight?
Because that's what Peter would have been back then. He would have been somewhere around 15, and that's too young to fight. Too young to be involved in it all. But, as Bucky rubs his hand over his eyes, he sees the red and blue blur hopping and running through the fields with the Infinity Gauntlet in his grasp and-
He opens his eyes and studies Peter for a moment, then shakes his head and leaves the room, heading up to the room he shares with Sam. When he slips under the covers, Sam hums and rolls over, wrapping Bucky up in a tight hold and easily dragging him back to sleep with him.
By the time morning comes, Bucky's forgotten about the strange dreams and memories. He watches on as Peter and the boys play video games together and Bucky helps Sarah prepare breakfast while Sam heads into town. It's a good day, and he's pretty sure it's going to be a good weekend.