Steve
He’d been going nonstop: searching for Bucky, working with the Avengers, and taking down what was left of Hydra. He was burning at both ends with almost nothing left to give. He barely closed his eyes long enough to sleep. He barely ate enough for a normal person much less a super soldier.
But it wasn't enough.
He was worried sick for Bucky.
"Cap?" Natasha was waving a hand in front of his face.
Steve forced himself back to the present. "Yes?"
"We were asking which base you wanted to hit next," she said her brow furrowing as she looked him over.
He tensed knowing that she saw deeper than the others. "I don't care where we hit next as long as we hit hard."
The rest of the Avengers were looking at him now.
"Cappuccino, maybe we should take a bit of a break," Tony said without his usual swagger.
"No." Steve glared at him.
"Look, it's almost Christmas. We all deserve a bit of a break anyhow."
Steve grit his teeth. "Fine." He wouldn't be celebrating Christmas anyway. He'd look for Bucky with or without help.
Bucky deserved at least that. Bucky deserved more than that.
He watched for a moment as his friends laughed and shared Christmas plans.
Thor was going to spend his first Christmas on Midgard with Jane.
Tony and Pepper were going on a Caribbean cruise on his yacht.
Natasha and Bruce were going to Russia to see old friends.
Sam was going to his mother's.
Clint was going home.
But Steve didn't have any family other than Bucky. Most of his old friends were dead. His mother was dead. His home was gone. All he had left was Bucky.
***
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