Chapter 4
Steve realizes he should probably stop reading reports on his StarkPad and walking simultaneously when he stumbles into Clint’s still form.
“Sorry bout that… Clint you okay?” He’s staring off into the common area. “Clint?”
“That’s a fucking bear. Do we know a bear?” Steve peers over his shoulder to find a bear snoring on the couch. And Tony fucking Stark sleeping on top of said bear.
Steve sidesteps the immobile archer and makes his way toward the pair on the couch, and pokes Tony Stark who just growls and burrows himself further into the sea of dark fur beneath him.
“Tony.” The man grunts. “Tony, I need you to take a look at something.” He lifts his head just enough to open one eye and glare at the captain. “Please? I’m trying to figure out if I should take Nat with me on this op or not.” No sooner are those words out of his mouth that the tablet is snatched from his hands and Tony’s sitting cross-legged on his bear throne. Said bear throne rumbles in displeasure but is shushed when Tony’s hand pats its head.
Tony’s eyes read through all of the reports even faster than Steve managed and he tosses the tablet back at the blonde. He scrambles to catch it in time and sends a glare to the genius who’s rubbing at his eyes and says, “Sounds like a waste of time and resources but take her with you. She’s actually capable of being stealthy. You’re a walking carnival balloon.” While Steve gapes in outrage, Clint’s laughter erupts behind him.
“A carnival balloon, please!” Clint’s got an arm around his own stomach as he tries to smother his laughter with his free hand. He seems to fail as there’s a startled yelp and Tony’s sent to the floor as the bear sits up and glares at them.
“Sorry honeybear. Go back to sleep, they’ll leave.” The bear sends a withering look to the billionaire but huffs and lies back down. Steve holds out his hand for Tony to help him off of the ground, which he took happily. He gives a pat to Steve’s arm, “Make sure Nat does the reading before you leave, she’s better at faking than I am. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a nap to get back to.” Tony climbs his way back onto the bear who seems to sigh when he finally settles.
The soldier rolls his eyes and makes to leave the room, “We’ll be back in a couple of days.” Tony waves him away in dismissal and acknowledgement.
***
“So there’s sketchy activity and I’m tagging along because you can’t be trusted to keep quiet. That’s what I’m gathering.” Natasha has the necessary files open on the StarkPad in her lap and she doesn’t sound thrilled at all. She sounds disappointed.
“You just read the file Natasha. There’s people walking around with large guns moving things in and out of some unknown base not visible from satellite. Are you telling me that doesn’t seem weird to you?” Steve’s in his patented ‘no nonsense’ stance with his arms crossed and game face on. The redhead just rolls her eyes and continues scanning the information.
“Sure, it sounds weird. But how does that equate to an Avengers threat level? You send in the police first. Not people who went up against an alien army.” She tosses the pad into the seat adjacent to hers and gives the Captain an unimpressed look. “Why do you want to go out there Rogers? What do you think they’re hiding?”
“How is this about me? Shield is-”
“Not the type of organization to risk becoming public knowledge. We work in the dark, so what did you do to get the okay, to take this op?”
“I didn’t do anything,” There is an unmistakable pout to the captain’s lip and Natasha can’t help but smile. “The intelligence guys just asked my opinion and i said it felt off.”
Natasha’s eyes narrow. “Like it felt off because it’s obviously suspicious behavior? Or it felt off?”
“Why did you say it like that? It feels off Natasha-”
She shakes her head and sits up in her seat, “No. Steve,” She lets out a huff of air and makes eye contact, “do you have a feeling that something’s off? That feeling where it feels like your guts are rearranging themselves? Hair on the back of your neck standing up? Chill down your spine? Any of the basic something isn’t right type of feelings?”
The blond rubs at the back of his neck and sighs, beginning to pace. “It’s nothing extreme like that. What’s with the twenty questions anyway?”
“I’m trying to figure out if you’re just looking for something to occupy yourself or if this is more of an instinct thing.”
“Why would it be an instinct thing?”
The redhead pinches the bridge of her nose and takes a calming breath, “Look Steve, just do something for me. The closer we get to this secret hideout, just let me know if you’ve got a prickly feeling on your skin or something along those lines.”
“Why-?”
“Oh my god Rogers, just do it.”
“Okay.”
***
“So this feels weird.” They’re just inside the treeline with a view of the decrepit hangar doors leading to the bunker that is clearly more spacious than it lets on. The spider’s eyes twitch as she shoots a look at her partner.
“Just because you say it’s weird, doesn’t change the fact that you’re basically saying the same shit Rogers. Weird how?” The griffin pouts and itches at his neck.
“Uh, kinda hot? I only felt like this one time I think. Back in the war?” Interesting. She gives him her clear attention as he stares at the doors with an odd look.
“When did you feel like this?” There’s no answer forthcoming but the griffin’s eyes spark with a red flash.
“...Austria.”
***
A slumbering dragon is not something anyone wants to deal with. So why was Tony just rudely awakened by shattering glass and a loud thud? The loud thud being his person landing gracelessly on the floor while the bear bed he was resting on startles at the disturbance.
All he catches sight of is feathered wings darting out of the room and down the hall.
“Jarvis, what am I dealing with here?”
“I believe that was Captain Rogers, Sir.” Killer Queen begins playing in the chaos as a picture displaying Natasha Romanov appears.
“Dear, did you happen to misplace anything?” At her unimpressed look over the video feed he continues on, “What happened?”
“Not too sure. Instinct was definitely playing a part though. He shifted to break into the bunker and flew back out with something big.” A gunshot rings out and the redhead curses.
“Did Captain Noble just leave you in a hot zone. When he knew there were hostiles?”
“Don’t kill him Tony-”
“The guy that gives me shit when I know I can trust you guys to keep an eye on each other on the field and he left you? I’ll do whatever I damn well please!” Teeth gripping his shoulder halt him in his tracks so he takes a breath and tries to relax. “Get home right now Nat, I’m not kidding.”
“Hostiles are neutralized. I’m investigating, I’ll be home by tonight.”
“Nat-” The video feed cuts off and the dragon’s nostrils flare. “Let’s go find out what was so fucking important.”
***
“Did you leave Natasha in a hot zone for a fucking fridge?” There’s a tube of some sort underneath the griffin’s body that’s sparking as the dumbass on top tries to cover as much of the surface as possible. “Don’t you growl at me you fucker! Give me some answers or I’m gonna-”
“Whoa is that Cap? He’s fuckin’ huge!”
“Not now Clint!” Tony’s a bit snappish, sue him.
“Who’s in the box?” Clint steps into Steve’s room and if possible, the griffin is even more tense.
“The fuck do you mean who?” The dragon’s eyes widen and he takes a big breath of the scents in the air. “Steve is that a fucking cryo tube? You idiot! Whoever’s in there could fucking die and you just rip it out of the wall?” Steve seems to come back to himself if the slump of his shoulders is anything to go by. “Get it down to the lab, I’ll see if I can fix it.”
***
“Care to explain yourself?” Tony managed to get the cryogenic chamber in suitable working condition. Not that he’s ever worked with one before, but when on a ticking time clock, move quickly and efficiently. Steve shifted back in the time it took to repair and he hasn’t been far from the thing since.
“Instinct apparently.” The blonde pauses and shoots a look in the genius’s direction. A guilty look on his face, “Is Natasha okay?”
“She’s always okay. Just doing what you were both supposed to do. Except the whole discreet and quiet involved got catapulted out of the nearest window when you charged in the front door.”
“ ‘M sorry Tony,”
“Don’t apologise to me. Apologise to the one you left behind.” The dragon sighs and takes a seat next to Steve. “Look, I’m upset, clearly, but you,” He grips the other man’s shoulder and squeezes, “you need to do something about that instinct of yours. Shift more often, it helps. Just don’t let something like this happen again.” He can only nod and his eyes trail back to thing across the room. “Who is it anyway?”
“I don’t really, they smell like,” he tilts his head and sniffs at the air. “Sorta like,”
“Smell like?”
“Like Bucky.”
***
The team is gathered outside of the spare lab where a recently defrosted James Buchanan Barnes sits with the captain and the billionaire.
“This is pretty fucked up.” Clint is on sense for trouble duty, and so far he doesn’t like the feelings transfering to the ground. The guy feels like an husk, not much substance, just enough to be considered something. “Nat?” The spider’s nails are scraping at the table’s surface as her eyes haven’t left the trio on the other side of the glass.
“He’s death.” Everyone at the table tenses at her remark and a few shift in their spots around the room. “Death follows in his wake. And he’s in the same room as our team leaders.”
“Tash, trust me, this guy isn’t planning anything. He probably can’t even stand right now.”
“The base was Hydra. He can’t be trusted.” She leaves her chair and leans on the window to the other room.
“He’s Steve’s friend. Give it time, maybe he’ll come back to himself.” Bruce attempts to placate.
“Or maybe he’ll kill you all in your sleep.”
“Ever the optimist Tash.” She gives a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. She’s working with people with little to no survival instinct.
Or maybe she just remembers the Hound too well.
***
Over the course of a few months, there’s a more obvious shifting point, where there’s more Bucky than Soldier. It’s the day Steve smiles a triumphant grin as he says, “He remembered my birthday,” and everyone lets him have it.
No one likes to mention that Bucky has far more nightmarish memories than pleasant ones. No one likes to be around the guy when he’s clearly having a bad day.
The first person in the rest of the Avengers Bucky really lets near him is Natasha, and it’s the same day he comes down to the kitchen with Steve for lunch. His eyes catch on hers as he’s rubbing at his metal shoulder, he mumbles out a “Sorry I shot you,”
Everyone else stops moving, taking a look around for an angry dragon that may be ready to murder the soldier. Natasha finishes off her coffee and pushes off the counter, placing her mug in the sink and smiles softly.
“Apology accepted. Make sure not to mention that around Tony until you’re better acquainted.”
And then somehow they were friends? Maybe not friends but they sure sparred and stuck around each other more. Steve was pretty jealous about it and in retaliation, spent more time with Tony in his lab. Natasha takes Bucky? Steve takes Tony.
And Tony thinks it’s fucking hilarious when Steve finally confesses why he hasn’t left the couch in the shop in two hours even though he’s fidgeting non-stop.
“God, you’re the biggest stereotype.” The genius wipes his eyes but yelps when a pillow hits him in the face. “Geez, fine. I’ll try to distract my Spider Queen tomorrow alright?”
***
The plan works for a whole two hours before Barnes shows up. Tony suggests staying for a few more minutes when Natasha tries rolling out of bed... which turns into an hour. What can he say? He’s good with his hands. After their shower, she’s carried down to the workshop, and kept there by a bright-eyed pouty-lipped please, we haven’t had breakfast together alone in weeks.
Obviously he was up to something, but she would let it play out a little longer. When Bucky actually knocks on the glass outside, Tony just rolls his eyes. The redhead shoots him a look which he just laughs at.
“Captain Jealous can’t say I didn’t try now at least.” The spider blinks at that as Tony waves Bucky in. “Morning Frostbite!” The man flushes lightly at the name and falters a bit. “You eaten yet? There’s still bacon and toast.”
“No but, you guys are busy, so I’ll just-” He makes a vague motion over to the door and steps back when Tony shakes his head and stands up.
“No, no I insist, I am a gracious host and we haven’t spoken much since you’ve been here. How ya doin’?” Bucky finds himself in a chair in front of the food and blinks in confusion. “How’s the arm? It doesn’t look comfortable at all. If anything it looks like it’s steel based with another lining.”
“Watch out Barnes, he’s getting technical.” Natasha takes a bite of toast and winks at the soldier who softens his hold on the table.
“You love it. Don’t lie.” She just shrugs as she allows Bucky to collect himself and decide if he’d like to stay or not.
***
The plan ultimately backfires after that. Bucky remembers his love of science and he spends more time between Tony and Natasha. The spy came down to gather her dragon and walks in on the debate between adamantium and vibranium. She leaves them to it.
What ultimately shifts everything around however is when Tony’s been gone for a week to open the new Stark Industries in Florida. Natasha, Bucky, and Steve have been sparring more often than not. She gets stressed when her dragon’s at the other end of the coast, and the super-soldiers are willing to help her out.
Steve has to step away after a call from Fury and Bucky actually manages to beat her.
“Lucky hit Frosty.”
“You’re distracted. It’s the easiest hit I’ve landed on you.”
“Keep talking shit. See what happens.” Natasha reaches for a towel and wipes the sweat from her brow.
“Did you have to take my towel? Now it’ll smell disgusting.” He actually has the audacity to wrinkle his nose.
“If anything it’ll smell better, wet, sweaty dog is as bad as you can get.” She steps out of the gym and laughs at the cut off growl as the door shuts behind her. She makes her way to the penthouse and is pleasantly surprised to find Tony tossing his suitcase into the closet.
“Welcome back,” he pivots at the voice and makes a grabby motion with his arms outstretched. She makes her way over with a smile pulling at her lips. “Have fun?” Tony’s ducking his head to her neck and rubbing.
“Never, never fun, they’re competent enough they don’t need me-” He stops suddenly and buries himself further into the juncture of shoulder and neck, breathing in. “You smell like Barnes.” He states bluntly.
“I’m sure. I need a shower so your sensitive nose is no longer assaulted,” She moves to pull away when her wrist is caught in Tony’s grip.
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it.” He honestly looks surprised when he admits it.
Well that’s interesting.