Shazbot
The next morning Steve called during breakfast to check in. Bucky turned it into a video call so that he could see for himself that everyone was alive and well. Peter was already wearing the Ironman pajamas and He could see the flags on the window behind them. Tony appeared on the screen with him. “What’s with the banners Banner?” They turned the screen so he could see all the flags. “Everyone with a room facing the Atrium had flags up for their fandoms so we got into the spirit too. We have An elven flag and Orc Flag,a star wars flag, and a Howling commandos flag.” Steve laughed. “I can’t imagine which flags Buck picked out. I’m glad to see you guys are enjoying yourselves.” He went to hang up when Tony spotted the Iron man pj’s. “Wait...Kid ...what are you wearing?” Peter grinned. “My pajamas. Don’t they look super comfy.” He rolled his eyes. “They look an awful lot like me.” They all began to laugh. “Thats cuz they are you.” Tony crossed his arms. “I don’t remember giving anyone permission to make those besides now I need a pair of those pjs.” Bruce smiled “I think we can get a pair for ya Tony.”
They headed down to finish seeing the artist area before the trivia contest. Bucky was not completely prepared for some of the content in the artist alley. “Fan art” as Peter explained, was still an odd concept for him. He knew it was no different than any other art but it was weird to see people’s drawings of people he knew. He was absolutely blown away when he found someone selling a picture of him, how he used to be. He looked down at the image. It wasn’t quite a recreation of any of the images seen in the museums or the comic books. The artist looked up from their book. “Well I’ll be damned.” Something about the tone made him snap to attention. He was now staring at a man in his 40’s, his badge read Damon Phillips. “You look an awful lot like him Captain Solo.” Bucky stammered a moment. “Do ...do I know you?” He shook his head. “I get that a lot. I’m told I look like my grandpappy, Colonel Chester Phillips. Most schools don’t cover world war two without mentioning him. That said I wasn’t exactly born yesterday and you look like you have seen a ghost. So the rumors are true huh? I guess stranger things have happened. Don’t worry I won’t let anyone know. Mind if I get a look at the arm?” He took a small step back. “I don’t mean any offence. He stood up from the table to reveal a crude prosthetic right leg. “What happened?” He took a seat again. “I would love to tell you it was lost in some great heroic fashion but it was removed a long time ago. I had cancer. They did all they could but this was the best option. Don’t feel sorry for me though. I get along fine.”
He was leafing through the other images, they were all scenes he recognized but he knew were not public information. Damon watched as his eyes lit up with each memory. “When I was sick, I spent a lot of time with him. He told me all kinds of stories but he didn't exactly have pictures. I decided it would be a great idea to try and provide the pictures for him. If I hadn't been as sick as I was I don’t think I would have had that time with him nor would I have taken to drawing.” He had stopped at a picture a few of them lined up battered and bruised after a fight at the Stork Club. Peg dead center her hair and dress perfect her knuckles bruised and a busted lip. “Which fight was this?” He let out a laugh. “That was inspired by the general Idea of how often you lot brawled.I was able to send that one to Mrs. Carter from what I understand it hangs proudly in her estate. I only met her once or twice. She was at Grandpappy's funeral. I was able to meet all of them well, most all of them.” He could tell from Damons inflection he meant Steve and himself. He quickly pulled his phone out. “Hold on a sec. Can I take a picture?” He nodded. “Stand up and look grumpy and serious.” The man obliged and He sent the picture to Steve. He received a reply back in seconds. “Why the random picture of Phillips?” He smiled at the text. “Hey wanna mess with Captain America?” Damon’s eyes lit up. Just about that time Bruce and Peter had made their way over to him. “I would be honored Sergeant.” He texted back “Long story is it a good time to call you?”
“Sure thing whatever you need Buck.”
Steve was sitting in Tony’s lab. He was as they put it being a mother hen so Tony put him to work testing some new toys for the team. As promised, Bucky called him. “Hello?”
“Captain! Just where the hell have you been? Looking for you was like looking for a needle in a haystack” Tony turned to see Cap go pale before he dropped the phone. “Whoa Cap? Hey Spangles what is it talk to me?” He could hear someone on the phone so he grabbed it. “Barnes WHAT the HELL?” He could hear the phone quickly being shuffled around. “Tony? What happened with Steve?” Tony sat him in a chair and gave him a drink of water. “Not sure but he sure as hell looks like he saw a ghost.” Bucky stopped laughing. “Oh shit really? Put him on quick.” He passed the phone over to Steve. “Your boyfriend wants to speak with you.”
“Hey Steve? Stevie? Ya good? I didn’t mean to spook ya. Come on, talk to me.” He could Hear his breathing steady on the other end. “I..wow Buck...who was on the phone. I could have sworn it was..was..”
“Phillips I know. It was kind of. That was his grandson Damon who looks and sounds SO much like him. That was him I sent you a pic of. I thought since it didn’t phase you that it wasn’t actually Phillips I would mess with you. I didn’t mean to put you in a fit.” He could hear an easy laugh on the phone now. “Damn. How did you manage that?”
“He’s one of the artists here. He has some amazing work. I know you would love it.” He could see Damon shoving a book towards him. “For you guys” He mouthed. “He gave me a book with some of his art so you can see it on sunday.”
“Oh..Ok Buck. I look forward to it. You keep having fun.”
Peter tapped him on the shoulder. “We gotta get to the trivia contest if you still wanna do that.” Damon was getting up from his table. “Sounds like we are headed to the same place. Don’t tell me you entered a Captain America trivia competition.” He gave him a sly grin. “Yes I did. Thought it might be funny.” Damon laughed. “Well It should be a fun time. I'm going to watch but I won’t tell anyone. It will probably be hilarious to see.” Bucky introduced Peter and Bruce to Damon as they walked to the events hall. As Bruce had mentioned the day before there was someone dressed as Red skull sitting in the audience. He was prepared for it this time. He found his spot and was soon greeted by one of the girls from yesterday’s dungeons and dragons tournaments. She smiled sweetly. “Come to get beaten again captain solo?”
He smirked at her. “Don’t get cocky kid.” She was wearing a brown leather jacket and fatigues with a project rebirth shirt underneath. She was dressed as Steve, little Steve. “Nice costume. Classic look, I respect it.” She smiled. He was now taking in what he saw. Her frame was small and fragile. He listed as each breath seemed to rattle in her lungs. “I’m James,” he said, extending his hand. She took it, “Margret.” Because of course she was going to just remind him of every important person. “That’s a nice name. So I take it Captain America is your favorite?” She nodded. “He came to our school last year but I was sick so I missed him. Maybe he will come visit again this year.” He leaned back in his chair. “He’s a good guy like that. I'm sure he would come visit your school if you asked.” She fidgeted in her seat. “Knowing my luck I’ll just be sick again.” He knew that look. That pained expression. Steve had worn that face pretty much constantly as a child. A few other participants ambled in.
They went through and as people answered a question wrong they were eliminated. After round one half the contestants were gone but Margaret was still in it. For some reason the moderator was giving particularly hard questions to Margaret. He got the impression that most of the competitors were not fond of her presence. He found it especially unfair when the moderator's next question for her was to name every single town they liberated and the dates. He didn’t quite remember all that. She took her time closing her eyes as she slowly listed them. He waited holding his breath until the mod gave a defeated sigh and marked it correct.
In the end it came down to the two of them and there was no end in sight. Someone came in to let them know they were at the end of their session and the moderator was frantically trying to find something at least one of them couldn’t know after having run out of questions. The bell sounded, signaling the end of the session. “Oh shazbot!” the man yelled. Bucky felt his brain lurch as the room began to spin. He woke up soon after on the floor with an ice pack on his head and someone holding his hand. His whole body hurt. The room was quiet except for the few voices he could hear. He was trying to look around but someone placed a hand on his chest. “I’ll get them for you” a tiny voice said.
“Excuse me Dr. Banner, James is awake now.” He heard a relieved sigh. Bruce Knelt beside him and eased him into a sitting position. There was a woman patting his face with a damp cloth. The little girl from earlier was holding his hand. “James it’s ok this is Margaret's mother. She happens to be a nurse. We think you had a trigger, nothing major but I think it’s best we take you back to the room for the day.” He could feel himself struggling to breath. Everything felt so fuzzy. He could tell by the taste in his mouth he had most likely threw up and if he hadn’t he sure was about to. He lurched forward barely making it to the trashcan in the room. He heaved for a few more minutes before it stopped. “Mission report?” He said, confused. Bruce froze “Ohhhhh We gotta call Steve.” Peter was still watching Margret and her mother whose name was Sarah (go figure). “Hey let’s take a walk? I think the adults have to do some adult things. Mrs. Sarah we are gonna go get a snack.” She nodded. Bruce was already on the phone with Steve.
“Yea, we found another trigger word. He seems ok but he’s confused. I'm gonna put you on video just do what you need to. Heads up one civilian in the room. Her name is Sarah and she’s been a huge help so don’t freak out.” He could now see the woman easing Bucky into a chair. “Hey Buck It’s me. Your Name is James Buchannan Barnes It’s August 9th you are at a convention with Peter and Bruce. You and I have been best friends for practically forever. You are safe now everything is ok.” The woman was still holding his hand as she gently rubbed his back. He was getting his bearings. “Hey Punk. Sorry to worry you.” He could feel the tension in the room loosen.
Bruce and Sarah helped him off the floor and to his feet. Peter came back in with Margaret as they were moving him. "We are taking him back to the room, let's go." It took a bit of work but they soon had Bucky settled. Sarah placed a new damp towel on his forehead and tucked the blankets around him. "You get some rest James. Plenty of fluids don't push yourself if you don't feel up to doing anything" she gave Bruce her card. "If you need anything my cell number is there we are only 15 minutes away if it's after convention hours." Bruce thanked them and sent them on their way.
Peter was sitting near the bed. "I guess we are done for the day." Bucky sat up as much as he could. "I'm done but you guys should keep enjoying yourselves." Bruce walked in shaking his head. "And what? get killed by Steve? Nope you aren't being left alone." He frowned but before he could protest his entire body cramped. Peter got the can over to him just in time. "Mr. Barnes my spidey senses are going crazy around you right now. I wouldn't feel right. What exactly happened?" Bucky wiped his mouth. "One last deactivation code. I thought we got them all."
They spent the rest of the day watching movies. Peter occasionally left to see things. That evening Jane let Bruce know she would be bringing them dinner. She arrived that evening with chinese food and Loki in tow. Loki shuffled as they waited in the elevator. "I don't see why I have to accompany you to have dinner with your college. I was perfectly fine on my own." She smiled as they stepped out of the elevator. "It will be fun. Trust me."
When she knocked on the door Loki didn't expect Bruce to answer the door to the penthouse suite. Loki stamped their foot and looked at Jane. "You tricked me!" Bucky looked up from the couch and immediately darted for the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Bruce looked at Jane "Are you kidding me Jane? He's already had a rough day, did you really need to add drama to the mix?" Loki pushed through the door and dropped the bags on the table and sat down next to Peter arms crossed.
Bruce headed towards the bathroom to check on Bucky. He was sitting on the bathroom floor knees drawn to his chest shaking when Bruce opened the door. He looked up at him with wet eyes. "I can't do this today. I feel miserable. I barely have the spoons to deal with Jane I can't deal with an awkward ex right now. Why would she do something like this to me?"
Bruce ran his hands through his hair. Before he could answer Jane led Loki in the bathroom. "Because Thor and I have watched both you and Loki broken hearted and lonely for the last few months. Even if you dont resume a serious relationship you two clearly care about one another. I just thought you might benefit from seeing each other."
Loki sat on the floor in front of Bucky. "I see you have been eating well." He blushed a bit "I um..Sam's mom...she was good to me. You look like you um.. have you been working out?" Loki nodded "Thor's way of keeping me distracted has been through improving my combat skills." Bucky nodded "I see. You look good."
"You as well you look…"
"Healthy? Yeah you too."
"I hear the blue haired woman is a traitor." Bucky winced "Yeah. Look Loki I wasn't wanting her over you. I wanted something physical with you but I couldn't ya know… visualize it. I still have a hard time with my head." Loki had scooted closer. "I suppose I'm just not used to things lasting. I'm used to one night stands. I may have let my fear lead to an over reaction." Bucky stayed put his back against the shower door.
"Well I don't have fancy mind powers so I need you to tell me things like if you want to be my buddy or my doll?" Loki was quiet "I don't know what I want." Bucky's stomach growled "well right now I want food so lets start there?" Loki stood up and held out a hand for him. "Fine. We shall start there."