Take Off
Meanwhile in the Avengers-Tower:
Clint had hung up and Tony clapped his hands that the lights in Steve's and his bedroom turned on. They both sat on the bed, Steve visually shocked by what Clint had told but still with a clear brain.
“Okay – you make the jet ready for take-off and inform Shuri. I talk to Peter and pack some stuff. We meet downstairs.”
They got up and began to dress. Stuck at half in his pullover Tony tossed in: “But what are we going to tell Peter? We can’t let him know what exactly is going on with Bucky...”
Steve frowned while he put on his trousers.
“But why not? Tones, he has a right to know why we get up in the middle of the night, troubled as hell and leave the damn country. Don’t you think this might trigger something, considering how all of a sudden, we left the last time because Loki came around with these aliens? Peter was damn scared! ...Did you see my socks?” Tony, now finally in his pullover handed Steve his socks from under the bed and sighed.
“I don’t want him to know because if we only give him a rough explanation why Bucky is in that state, by time, he wants to know everything. And I’d like to avoid that he gets to know any further details about how Bucky and I are... connected... or even worse – that he looks up everything by himself. This is just too much for him to cope with. He is too young for that! I mean, even though Bucky and I have a complicated relationship I don’t want Peter and him to. This is a thing between me and Bucky – it shouldn't have a negative impact on Peter’s image of him.”
Tony sighed again.
“But... yeah okay, I get your point with us making a hasty departure. Well, we can assure him that one of us is available via video call or at least via phone 24 / 7. I ask Happy or Bruce if one of them can come over.”
The fact that Tony's biggest concern always was Peter's well-being deeply moved Steve. He walked up to his husband and cupped Tony's face between his hands.
"I talk to him. I won't tell him any details; I just tell him that it's an emergency and that at least one of us will be available the entire time we're gone. But no guarantees... you know how he is.”
Tony smiled half-hearted.
“I do...”
Steve shortly kissed him on the mouth but even though he tried to supress it, Tony could sense that Steve was way more worried and scared of what exactly was going on with Bucky than he pretended to be right now.
Tony pulled him in a loving close hug.
"We'll get through this... somehow. But we will, okay?"
“Okay...”
Steve nodded and took a deep breath.
They stepped out in the big corridor that led to Peter’s room and to the stairs to the floor below and Tony was just about to walk down the steps as a ringing laughter sounded from behind Peter's door. Steve turned around and raised his eyebrows in amusement. He mouthed: “What did I tell you?” Whereupon Tony only rolled his eyes, walked past Steve and knocked at Peter's door.
The heard a sigh and “Okay you’ve got me. Come in.”
Tony opened the door and got a sight on Peter sitting on his bed, next to him a hologram of Shuri who grinned and waved at them.
“Why are you up that late?” Tony immediately asked but as he saw Shuri he added: “Okay, never mind. Shuri, I needa talk to you! Now!”
He projected the hologram from Peter's tablet onto his high-tech watch and walked out of the room with her, starting to talk.
“Hey!” Peter called indignant and then looked visibly confused at Steve who had settled on the edge of the bed.
“What... what are you doing? Why- where is dad going? And why don’t you wear sleeping clothes? What’s going on?”
Steve opened his arms and Peter crawled over the bed and snuggled against his dad.
“So, what’s this all about?” He asked, and Steve could sense his rising fear because he seldomly saw Tony acting so concerned and serious.
“Peter...” He began but hesitated because he didn’t know how to formulate his words.
“Tony and I have to leave for a certain period of time. We got a call and it’s a… very serious emergency. That’s why we’re up at so late. Tony was just about to prepare everything for take-off, and I would’ve disturbed you two anyways cuz I was going to tell you about all this. But then we heard you’re awake and decided just to knock.”
“What emergency?” Peter asked.
“I- uh... I can’t tell you that. It’s uhm- let’s say, it’s very important and Tony wouldn’t be happy if I tell you.”
Peter’s facial expression changed from light fear and excitement to being downcast. He buried his face in Steve’s jacket and mumbled “I don’t want you to go...”
“I know, dear.” Steve’s heart sank, and he ran his fingers through Peter’s brown hair to calm him.
“Tony will call Bruce or Happy if one of ‘em can stay here, and either Tony or me will be available the entire time, okay?”
Peter sighed and looked up at Steve.
“I hate it when you can’t tell me what’s going on... but… can you at least tell me where you’re going?”
“We have to leave the country... so we definitely stay away for more than a week.”
“Oh... I mean sure, Jarvis and I will rock the house as long as you’re gone but...” Peter lowered his voice. “He ain’t the best company, you know... and we’ve already watched Tony’s whole movie collection the last time. Twice! Why can’t I come with you? I’m sure I could help. I mean... c’mon you know what I am capable of and-“
Peter went on counting other reasons that seemed convincing to him why he should join his parents while Steve internally started to panic. If he couldn’t make Peter understand that there was no way he could come with them without Tony being totally mad at both of them, they would lose too much time. And until he didn’t exactly know what the hell had happened to Bucky, wasting important seconds was not an option.
He deeply exhaled and cleared his throat.
“Ok. Peter, if you wanna come with us so badly, try to talk to Tony. If he says no, it means no without further discussions.”
They went outside where Tony sat in the jet’s cockpit having a heated discussion with Jarvis.
“...hell no!? Jarvis, we need to fly below radar level. God damnit!”
“I don’t want to interrupt your tight time schedule, sir, but actually you'd need Mr. Fury’s permission to take this jet to Wakanda for such a long time. Especially with a passenger who’s top one on nearly every secret service’s wanted list in the world and a furthermore incalculable when he’s in this state of mind.”
Tony sharply exhaled and raised his voice.
“Jarvis! You should know that I give a shit about Fury’s permission especially in cases like this and Barnes might be an international wanted terrorist, but he’s also a man who has dealt with way more violence and shit than your non-existent brain could ever imagine! So, for Steve's, Clint's and especially Bucky’s sake – overwrite all protocols as fast as you can. We take off in 20 minutes. No further discussions!”
“...you’re- you’re flying to Wakanda?!”
Tony wheeled around, managing to look angry and totally confused at the same time.
“What-"
He caught a sight of his husband.
“Steve! Why is Peter here?”
“Steve allowed me to-"
“Hey young man!” Steve interrupted his son. “I didn’t allow you anything. I said you should ask Tony whether you can come with us or not because you didn’t let up.”
Tony glared at Steve with his look saying what the fuck were you thinking?!
“Dad? Can I join? You know I could help you when you’re fighting and stuff...”
Tony sighed loudly.
“Steve... just... please pack our stuff, love. Kid, come here.”
As Steve came back with a few bags swung over his shoulders he saw Peter sitting on one of the seats, fastening his safety belt while Tony called Clint back, saying that they were taking off now.
He started the jet and at the right height he switched to autopilot or let’s rather say Jarvis-pilot. Peter went to the back of the jet whereupon Steve walked over to his husband and wrapped his arms around him from behind.
“I’m sorry Tones... I- just... we were running out of time and he was so desperate to come with us and...” He whispered.
Tony turned around and hugged him properly.
“It’s okay. I know this is an exceptional situation... though I’m still not entirely happy that he’s with us but... ah fuck, you know how hard it is to refuse his begs once he really starts begging.”
“If I didn't, I wouldn't have sent him to you” Steve said in the crook of Tony’s neck who had to smile upon that. “What did you tell him?”
“Mh... I said that he can come with us if he won’t ask any further questions about what exactly is going on with Bucky and that he’ll leave him alone if that’s what Bucky wants. I know this is only a temporary solution and that I have to tell him some day but...”
Tony interrupted himself absentmindedly and leaned against Steve, tightening his grip.
“…but let’s just hope this day doesn’t come too soon.”
“Sir, we arrived in Bedford–Stuyvesant over Mr. Barton’s and Mr Barnes’ house.” Jarvis interrupted their intimate moment.
Steve stiffened at that and took a deep breath scared of what was awaiting him. He looked Tony in the eyes.
“I dunno how quick we’ll be back...”
“It’s okay, love. Take your time. He needs you right now. Both of you.”
They shortly kissed, then Steve got out of the jet by jumping on the rooftop and hurried down the stairs to the apartment.
He rang and Clint opened the door immediately.
“Hey!” He said, visibly relieved that they had arrived and briefly hugged Steve. “After his heavy flashback tonight, he was kinda okay but now he’s somehow back in the situation he was going through then.”
He let Steve in and ushered him into the living room. Bucky sat on the couch with a two-thousand-yard-stare and mumbled something in Russian. Steve hunkered down in front of him not sure if his best friend recognised him. He looked totally worn out and Steve noticed that Bucky’s mind was miles and years away from the present.
“Hey Buck... It’s me, Steve.” He said quietly. The metal plates of Bucky’s left hand clinked as his pinkie twitched on hearing the name.
“Can you hear me, Buck? Do you know where you are?”
It was silent for a while. Then Bucky’s hoarse voice filled the room: “There is snow… so much snow. And blood. And-“
Suddenly he gave a wince of pain and grabbed his left shoulder. He gasped and his muscles started cramping while he stared at someone Steve and Clint couldn’t see.
“My arm! What- Who are you?! No! Leave me alone. Get your hands of me! No- no Hydra! NO!”
“Bucky! Hey Buck, there is no Hydra. You’re not back in 1945. You are here with me, Steve, and Clint. Your boyfriend.”
Now Clint kneeled down in front of Bucky too.
“Bucky, you threw up fifteen minutes ago and then we took a shower, I made you sit here while I was packing our stuff so we can bring you to Shuri, you remember? Lucky lay on your lap and you ruffled his fur. You are not back there. You are here with me and with Steve and with Lucky and you are safe, Bucky. You are at home.”
Bucky was still shaking but slowly came back to reality. By now he lay on his back on the couch heavily breathing, his right hand still pressed against his left shoulder. He turned his head.
“What- what happened… oh my god Steve, what are you doing here? I uh…”
His voice broke and he seemed visibly confused. They both got up on the couch and pulled Bucky into a loving and comforting hug while Clint calmly repeated what had happened.
“It’s okay, pal. It’s okay. We’re gonna bring you to Wakanda now. Do you think you can get up?” Steve asked.
“I dunno if I can walk straight...” Bucky whispered.
Clint and Steve pulled Bucky to his feet and tossed his arms across their shoulders.
“Is that okay, love?” Clint asked and Bucky nodded as he could safely lean on them while they slowly walked up the stairs to the rooftop.
Steve waved and Tony steered the jet, that it hovered in the air right next to the building. All three entered and as they had placed Bucky safely on a cot Clint sprinted back, grabbed their bags, locked the door and asked Simone to take care of Lucky.
As they were complete Tony flew them out of New York and let Jarvis fly the jet from then on.