Chapter 6
Steve had been staring at flowers in the shop for at least forty minutes, eyes snapping between all the different bouquets, growl growing in velocity the longer he stood there.
The Apex was arguing, trying to sway him into buying red roses for Bucky. Steve shook his head sternly, he was trying to buy get well soon flowers for Brock, not make a romantic gesture to an omega that wasn’t theirs.
The Apex rolled his eyes, 'Brock isn’t the kinda alpha that will like flowers.’
Steve gestured madly to the basket he was carrying full of beer, “I know, that’s why I got him this.” He hissed under his breath.
‘Why flowers then?’
“They’re traditional,” Steve reasoned, “get well soon flowers.”
‘But we don’t want him to get well soon.’
Steve rocked on his heels with another growl.
“Yes we do,” he whispered firmly.
“Having trouble?”
Steve blinked himself out of his mind and settled his gaze on the old woman beside him. She smiled politely, finger tracking between the two sets of flowers Steve had absentmindedly picked up. One hand wrapped around a bunch or red roses, and the other holding a bunch of white lily’s. Steve frowned at the apposing choices and the woman did the same.
“Are you announcing your love? Or going to a funeral.”
‘Both hopefully.’
The Apex barked with manic laughter while Steve stood flustered.
“Urm...get well soon flowers.”
The woman’s frown intensified, she reached a shaky hand out for another bunch, pastel colours and all different types, “these...?”
“Thank you.” Steve replied, returning his two sets even with the Apex inwardly whining.
The woman moved along, finding her own flowers to marvel at. Steve went to leave but his feet stuck fast to the floor.
‘Roses.’ The Apex demanded.
Steve shook his head, inwardly telling the Apex to back off, but he persisted.
‘Our omega would like them, just imagine his smiling face...’
The Apex filled Steve’s head with all the crinkled eyed smiles Bucky had given them, the ones that brightened his face and made the blue in his irises shine bright.
‘Red roses.’ The Apex repeated, but Steve had met his limit.
“No roses!” he roared.
Everyone in the vicinity froze, the old woman jumped in alarm and fixed her surprised gaze on Steve. He held up his hand with a small chuckle, hoping to appease the surrounding shocked customers, all they did was nudge into each other and whisper. Captain America was having a break down over stupid fucking flowers.
‘Roses...’ The Apex smirked.
Steve pinched his brow, closed his eyes and breathed for a few seconds, inwardly asking the Apex whether he was done humiliating him.
‘Yep, I’m done...’
He opened his eyes a few feet away from where he thought he’d been standing but before suspicion could grow he noted the flowers in his grip, still the set the woman had suggested, he checked the basket and there was still just the box of beer.
‘What?’ The Apex asked with amusement, ‘I listen to you sometimes...’
Not quite trusting the Apex, Steve paid for the flowers and drinks before climbing back into his car. It had taken an hour to buy beer and god-damn flowers.
They were on their way to visit Brock, no longer in hospital but back home with his omega caring for him.
‘Only because he has to...’
Steve sighed, chucking the flowers on the seat next to him. Bucky had told him to keep his distance, he complicated things and the last thing Steve wanted to do was upset him.
‘Actions speak louder than words...’
Steve frowned at the Apex, needing him to explain more.
‘He says he wants us to keep away, but that CD in the player wasn’t ours...those chocolates in the glove compartment were half eaten-
“How do I know you didn’t do that to trick me?”
The Apex shook his head with a chuckle. ‘The hoodie...we left him a hoodie with our scent, and the first thing we smelled when we got back into the car, was his scent all over it.’
The Apex had him there, the clothing had reeked of Bucky and Steve had inhaled the clothing like a drug, panting desperately to draw the omega into his lungs. Perhaps Bucky didn’t hate him after all...
He had been off on mission for two weeks, both Natasha and Tony joining him. Sat in the car he remembered one of the odd moments that happened when he was away.
Tony had marvelled at his swelling gland on his neck, informing him he needed to mate the omega he had been flirting with.
Steve laughed the comment off, but Natasha’s eyes fixed on him like a hawk.
“What omega?” she snapped.
Tony had thrown his arm over her shoulders. “You not heard...he’s got himself a mystery omega.”
Natasha’s eyes narrowed, her nose lifted, and her voice darkened, “oh yeah? Steve hasn’t told me that.”
The Apex had began growling, focus unwavering on Natasha, his shoulders hunched, as if he wanted to burst free from their mind and throttle the other alpha.
“Tony doesn’t know what he’s talking about, me and...the omega...are friends...”
Tony jabbed his finger hard at the gland throbbing at Steve’s neck. “That says otherwise...is his the same?”
“His what?”
Tony rolled his eyes dramatically. “His gland, it all swollen and purple?”
He thought back to the clinic, the doctor prodding Bucky’s tender neck. “Urm yeah...”
Tony clapped his hands together with a bark of laughter. “Congrats, looks like you found yourself your mate...only took a hundred years.”
Tony smiled, but Natasha glared furiously, shaking her head left to right with a small growl. Steve couldn’t stop the Apex, couldn’t stop him forcing his voice box to vibrate and an intimidating rumble targeting the scrutinising alpha.
Natasha pulled away fast and Tony stood in the way with his hands up. “Easy there Steve.”
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, bringing his eyes up to Natasha’s wide ones, “I’m sorry...”
The rest of the mission he avoided Natasha, not just because he didn’t want to explain his awkward situation with Bucky, but the Apex despised her, saw her as a threat to their claiming of Bucky, more of a threat than Brock. Steve tried to sooth the Apex’s unease, but he wasn’t having it, he hated the red-headed alpha and growled every time she was in their view-
‘That’s because she could ruin everything.’
Steve sighed harshly, starting up the car, “there’s nothing to ruin.”
The Apex bubbled with excited energy wanting to see the omega after so long without. Steve wanted to scoff at him and roll his eyes and sneer, but he felt exactly the same. Each day he hadn’t seen Bucky, anxiety grew, darkened his mind and agitated the Apex Alpha inside. They were finally going to see him. He may’ve bought beer and flowers for Brock, but it was all a guise to see Bucky.
It wasn’t Brock that greeted them at the door but Bucky. The omega averted his gaze and bowed before welcoming Steve inside. The impulse to grab and tug the omega towards him came and went when Brock’s rough voice flowed in the hallway. The alpha was at the other end, using the wall for support as he beckoned Steve towards him.
“Come in...”
He smiled, attempting to force his unresponsive feet to continue past Bucky but they had frozen, the Apex didn’t want to move on without greeting him properly. Without basking in his scent and possibly rubbing their wrists together just a little bit.
“No way.” Steve muttered, making Bucky frown in alarm.
He tried again, addressing Brock, “I mean, I don’t wanna be in the way...just thought I’d drop these off...”
He held the beer and flowers higher, Brock’s eyes snapped to the alcohol and he licked his lips eagerly. “Really no bother...I’d quite like the company if I’m honest.”
The Apex huffed fiercely before releasing his hold on their legs, Steve stumbled towards Brock, following him into the sitting room and placing the flowers and box of beers on the coffee table.
“So how-how are you?”
Brock stretched nosily, darting a quick smile towards Bucky that was instantly returned.
“Achy,” The alpha chuckled, “I ache and hurt but I have the best nurse to take care of me.”
‘Bastard...’
Bucky beamed at the praise, snatching up the flowers and moving into the kitchen with them. Without the omega, the room soured with the scent of Brock, stale and clogging, Steve made a conscious effort to breathe through his mouth.
“Want a beer?” Brock asked.
He wanted to say no, had the word in his head and moulded his lips to make the sound but instead an eager ‘yes’ breezed past his lips.
“Yes, I could kill for one.”
The Apex chuckled darkly, proud with himself that he could force words through Steve’s lips. The realisation had Steve’s heart thundering, his stomach sloshing with unease. The Apex could take control any moment, attack Brock and-
‘Relax...I’ll behave...today...drink your drink...’
One beer turned to two, and two to three. It had no impact on Steve, but Brock slurred his words and mumbled to himself. The conversation was a non-omega, non-Bucky zone and for that Steve was thankfully. They discussed past mission, future missions, other alpha’s and beta’s in their team. The Apex rolled his eyes and huffed at the tedious chatting, but he didn’t interrupt, didn’t glare angrily at Brock and wish the other alpha dead which was at least one positive.
After the third beer Brock’s head bobbed on unsteady shoulders. He had lost all coordination and smacked his can flying trying to grip it.
“Think you’ve had enough.” Steve muttered.
There was a moment where Brock’s eyes darkened, where his lip tugged back to reveal his teeth and an argument brewed, but then the alpha stilled and nodded his head in agreement.
“Think your right Steve...”
He staggered to his feet only to collapse down again with a huff. Another attempt had him stumbling to the floor, using the table in front for support. Brock bashed his knee hard, not that he felt it in his drunk state but there was bound to be a bruise the next day. Brock floundered, walked as if he were on a deck in rough seas.
Steve knew he should help, aid the inebriated alpha, but the Apex didn’t allow it. He sneered and smirked watching the amusing sceptical of Brock attempting to stand.
‘Stupid, inadequate alpha...’
It was uncomfortable to witness, had shame and worry spiking in Steve when only a powerful self-satisfied confidence flowed within the Apex.
Bucky strode into the room and Steve finally had the power to push the Apex’s desire away. He rushed around the table to get Brock up, hoping Bucky hadn’t seen his reluctance to help.
Steve took one arm, Bucky took the other and they helped the bumbling alpha up the stairs, lowering him onto a mattress that reeked of overbearing alpha and submissive omega. Brock turned on his side and breathed heavily, passed out leaving Steve and Bucky to stare down at him.
Steve grimaced at the scent, and the Apex in his mind did the equivalent of spitting on the floor. Disgust didn’t even come close to how he felt sniffing the scent of Bucky and stale alpha sex.
Possessive thoughts swelled, images of pushing Bucky against the wall, mouthing his neck and biting his gland. Fucking the begging omega on the bed next to his sleeping alpha, the playlist the Apex produce was toxic, overpowering on a level Steve wasn’t comfortable with.
He had to leave, march out the house before he did something to Bucky, before the Apex attempted a claiming, he breezed past Bucky and the startled omega followed, slowly closing Brock’s door before following down the stairs.
Steve had just slipped a shoe on when Bucky caught up with him, gripping his bicep and giving a squeeze.
“Urm. Thank you...for the flower...”
Steve halted his dash from the house, spinning around to frown at the blushing omega. The dark thoughts of ownership faded, allowing Steve to think clearly again. Bucky was looking at him, first time in weeks and a hesitant smile spread his lips. Curse Bucky for being so god-damn attractive, for beckoning sweetly with his eyes. Steve pinched himself back to attention.
“The flowers were for Brock...” he whispered, “get well soon flowers.”
Bucky chuckled lightly taking a cautious step closer, “I know they were...but the rose hidden in the middle...that was for me right?”
Steve plastered a smile on his face, praying it looked genuine to the omega. He glanced back at the Apex in his head, preparing to see a cocky version of himself, a twisted smile or a jumping eyebrow. Instead the Apex had a look of utter determination, his lips were pressed firmly together, his fists were scrunched forcing the veins to protrude through his skin. Every muscle was tensing, vibrating with the effort of it and Steve realised the Apex was controlling himself. He had forced his possessive thoughts to mute, fought of his own desires for Steve to have a moment with Bucky. He may’ve been a manipulative bastard, but he was controlling himself for Steve.
“It was mine right?” Bucky whispered, blue eyes springing open in worry.
Steve held up his hand to calm the omega. “Course it was...I really missed you Buck.”
“I missed you too...”
Bucky grinned brightly tugging Steve’s arm for him to follow back into the house. He knew he shouldn’t, especially with the Apex in a territorial mood, but he couldn’t resist.
“Why the colour?” Bucky asked suddenly.
Steve bobbed his head, acting bashful but in reality having no idea what the omega was talking about. “Colour what colour?”
The omega rolled his eyes with a smirk, “Blue rose...why a blue rose?”
Steve gawped, mind racing trying to come up with a reason he picked a blue one and not a red. Eye’s, same colour as Bucky’s eyes, but when the omega returned to the sofa with the rose in his hand it wasn’t the shade of Bucky’s fragile irises, it was deep blue.
Bucky studied the flower with a huge grin on his face, eyes sparkling as he ran his fingers along the petals.
“Blue?” He asked again.
Steve needed help, he had no idea why the devious Apex picked a blue rose, didn’t know whether it was conveniently nearer or whether there was a reason. He wanted to ask, but the Apex had resorted to scrunching his eye’s shut to calm himself.
He thought to the back of his mind, hoping to find some clue the Apex had left him, some reasoning, and like a light bulb the answer presented itself.
Bucky beckoned with his chin, eyes so big and beautiful Steve was transfixed.
“Blue roses are a rarity of nature, it stands for something that is out of my grasp, something that’s near impossible to have, something rare and beautiful...something I want.”
The omega glanced away with a growing blush, Steve was certain he could see an extra sheen to Bucky’s eyes and then he blinked to dry them fast.
“Jesus Steve...”
He coughed awkward. “That...too much?”
“A little...sometimes you say the nicest things...and I don’t quite know how to handle it.”
Steve forced another half-grimace-half-genuine-smile, he had no idea what the Apex said when he was in control, whether he had pulled anymore stunts like the hidden rose.
“I like you Bucky...and if it wasn’t for this trained omega thing we’d probably be dating right now.”
‘We’d be ball’s deep right now...’
Steve shook the thought away, getting an erection would not help the situation.
‘I disagree...’
The omega bobbed his head sadly. “Brock’s been good to me...I know you think its wrong, but he’s not a bad alpha...”
A growl escaped the Apex, Steve managed to catch it and rubbed at his throat, disguising the sound as an odd cough and flicking his head for Bucky to continue speaking.
“If I got caught speaking to you he would punish me, and if he knew about the other stuff, the scenting and the kissing...I’d be in a lot of trouble, and so would you. You can’t pursue a trained omega, the penalties are severe. Brock could send me for retraining, he could sell me to an alpha faraway, a cruel one to punish me-
“I wouldn’t let anything happen to you Buck.”
The omega shook his head. “You may be captain America but you’re not above the law.”
“I swear to you, I’ll never let any harm come to you, I’d defy the world for you.”
Bucky clambered from the sofa with a rush of air, “Jesus...”
“Too much again?”
The omega’s curled forward, head dropping as he spoke quietly.
“If we do...whatever it is we might do...and we get found out...one way or another, you won’t be able to be captain America anymore...if you get locked up, or if we run, you can’t save the world, I’d-I’d be taking you from that...the world needs you, and my selfish wants would take you away...I don’t think I could live with that...”
Steve sagged into the cushion behind, Bucky’s words stung-
“What about what I want? Being Captain America am I not allowed to want anything?”
The words were snappy, prickly, not Steve’s but the snarling Apex, unhappy at being rejected for such a poor reason.
Bucky turned slowly, eyes wide and nose twitching at the waves of annoyance radiating from the sofa.
“I’m Captain America...but that’s not all I am. If the time comes where I have to chose between the shield and something I want, I will pick the thing I want.”
The Apex slunk back, still agitated and seething but accepting to watch events unfold.
“Brock needs me, he’s my alpha in the eyes of the law and everyone else-
Steve growled, snarl scrunching his nose like some feral beast as he waited for Bucky to say more.
“...But he’s not you, and- and I want you.”
Bucky straddled Steve’s lap before he’d stopped growling. The omega waited for the rumbles to quieten before leaning hesitantly forward.
‘Don’t fuck it up this time...’
Distracted by the Apex, Steve didn’t react to Bucky’s gentle kisses, had frozen to the sofa with his fingers curling around the cushions.
Bucky pulled back sharply. “Is this unwanted?” he asked panicked.
Steve tugged him closer, savaging his lips in a brutal kiss. It was what he wanted, without a doubt, he couldn’t express himself with words anymore only actions. He peppered kisses all over Bucky’s smiling face, nuzzled at his neck before returning to his slackened lips. Bucky didn’t protest being kissed with force, he moaned and whimpered at the intrusion in his mouth, his tongue so desperate to dance with Steve’s. Kissing Bucky like that, he forgot where he was, forgot the smell of the other alpha when he lapped up the scent of horney omega.
Bucky was sweet, mouth warm and welcoming and lips soft and rubbery. Steve nipped at them, ran his tongue on the small indents he made before biting again. Teeth and tongue and Bucky loved it, surrendered his mouth for Steve to manipulate. Steve shuffled along the sofa, knocking a can with hit foot. Brock’s beer can, just like that he was caught between to minds, one possessive that another alpha was nearby, the other side guilt that he was seducing Brock’s omega.
He was only upstairs, Steve pumped possessive pheromones out, unable to help it, needing to warn off all other alphas. It was only a matter of time before Brock smelled the challenge, before the drunken Alpha realised what was happening in his very house.
‘Relax...took care of it...’
Steve pulled his mouth from Bucky’s darting a look towards the stairs and inwardly asking the Apex what he meant.
‘Put something a lil extra in his beer...he’s well out of it.’
Bucky’s eyes had followed to the stairs too, his throat bobbed uncomfortably and Steve could smell his unease, felt the omega’s arms loosen from around his neck about to stop their kissing session.
“He’s-he’s just upstairs...” Bucky grumbled, “we shouldn’t do this-
Steve wrapped his hands around the omega’s back, stopping him from slipping from his lap. The Steve of a few weeks ago would’ve been disgusted at the Apex drugging Brock, would’ve hurried from the house and yelled at himself in a mirror, but in that moment only relief materialised in his head, relief he could have Bucky without being interrupted.
“What if he-
Steve distracted Bucky with another kiss, soothing the conflicted omega with his mouth. Bucky tugged himself away dazed.
“He could come down-
Bucky panted when Steve’s fingers found the bottom of his t-shirt. He leaned back for Steve to remove it easier, words saying they should stop but body saying different. They both produced conflicting scents, guilt, self loathing, possessiveness and lust, somehow the cocktail excited them more, they both had reasons for not doing what they were doing, hunger and need were more prominent, swamped the others till they were pushed into the background.
“It’s okay Bucky, I swear...”
That was all the persuasion Bucky needed, he reassumed kissing more eager than before, grinding desperately on Steve’s lap. Unease be damned, they wanted each other whether Brock was upstairs or not.
There were scars to Bucky’s body, deep ones that Steve’s fingertip’s could follow. Bucky stilled when he realised, pulling back with a sad expression.
“I have a lot of scars.” He said simply, but his scent changed to one of self-disgust and shame.
“When I have time I will follow everyone, with my fingertips first and then my lips.”
Steve cupped Bucky’s face, turning him to get a good look at his tender neck. It was worse than when he last saw it, darker purple with no lighter patches.
“I can put my t-shirt back on if it annoys you...”
Steve shook his head. “Doesn’t annoy me...I wanna kiss there though...if that’s okay?” There was a bob to Bucky’s throat, a nervous shift and Steve was quick to add, “if you don’t want me to I won’t...”
“It hurts to touch...”
“I’ll be gentle...” Steve said with a comforting grin.
Bucky tensed in anticipation, shoulder rising to protect himself from pain, but one press of lips to the tender area had him shivering, had his shoulder loosening and him craning his neck for Steve to access more.
“That hurt?” He asked.
“No...it feels good, real good...”
Steve grinned at Bucky’s floaty tone, kissing firmly at his neck till he shuddered and gasped. He ran his fingers down Bucky’s frostbitten arm, swearing he’d kiss every inch of it, not for Bucky’s benefit but for his own greed to caress every part of him.
Steve tugged him closer, hand reaching down the back of Bucky’s pants to feel the effect a little bit of kissing had on the omega. He rubbed the slipperiness between his thumb and fingers, grumbling in approval. Bucky’s body eagerly accepted a digit, the flesh had softened desperate for more stimulation. One digit wasn’t enough and Bucky whined softly, jolting on Steve’s lap for more.
He added another, curling inside, amazed my the slick that ran into the gaps of his fingers, coating the back of his hand.
“Touch me.” Bucky begged.
Steve chuckled, corkscrewing his two fingers in and out. The angle was restricted with Bucky’s pants still on and the omega whimpered pitifully.
Steve kept his teasing hand inside Bucky while unbuttoning the omega’s pants with the other. He yanked at the material, busting the zip but not caring when Bucky began panting loudly.
Steve worked the top of the pants wide, delving his hand inside to release Bucky from the soggy state he had got in.
His hand pumped slowly, rubbed the moisture into the head before pumping down to create more, his fingers curled inside the omega with the same insane pace. Bucky begged for Steve to do it faster, to be quicker when he needed to release so bad.
“You want it faster, you have to do it yourself...”
The omega straightened before bouncing up and down on Steve’s penetrating fingers, flexing his hips as fast as he could to get himself off on Steve’s hand.
Sweaty hair clumped on Bucky’s forehead, his cheeks glowed red, his eyes were scrunched shut and he moved so feverishly, whined so needy that Steve’s knot formed in his pants.
He wondered whether it was possible to come from no stimulus at all, purely from the sight in front of him. The smell of slick and Bucky, the sounds of his pants and the slap and rustle of their bodies. The throbbing in his cock and the ball of tingles in his groin told him it was a possibility to come untouched.
‘Don’t you dare humiliate us like that!’
He chuckled at the Apex’s fury, and the sound had Bucky’s eyes snapping open. The omega slowed his pace, sinking into Steve’s lap and dropping his forehead to his chest.
“You laughing at me?” he mumbled.
Steve shook his head. “I’m done teasing you that’s all.”
Bucky plastered himself to Steve’s chest, panting desperately while Steve finished him off. His frame tensed, his breathing stopped altogether and the tender gland hovering in front of Steve’s face was irresistible.
‘Bite!’
Steve ducked down, opened his mouth around the purple skin and sucked just as Bucky’s orgasm hit him. He didn’t sink his teeth in, but suckled at the omega’s neck who twitched and panted, emptying himself on Steve’s t-shirt. An extra wave of slick coated Steve’s fingers, and Bucky’s muscles tightened with the end of his drawn out orgasm.
His whole body relaxed suddenly, body sinking down on Steve’s fingers and pushing them deeper.
“Bucky?”
The omega had his eyes shut, lips slackened and sagged heavily into Steve’s hold.
‘You better not have killed him.’
Steve shook his head. “He’s breathing, I can feel him breathing.”
He smacked a palm to his mouth remembering it looked crazy to speak aloud to the Apex.
‘What’s wrong with him then?’
Steve leaned Bucky back, one arm wrapped around his back and the other still occupied between his cheeks. The omega flopped back, and the Apex stilled in alarm, all until they saw his blissed face, the dazed smile creeping up his lips and his fluttering lashes.
“You okay?”
Bucky hummed himself back to awareness blinking in quick succession before rubbing his fingers against the swollen gland in his neck. Steve replaced Bucky’s fingers with his mouth, kissing the purple skin gently making the omega’s breathing hitch.
“That was...intense...” Bucky whispered, pulling back to study Steve’s face with a look of wonder.
“Too intense?” Steve asked.
Bucky grinned, brow furrowing when he said, “you’re still inside me...”
Steve slipped them out with a coy smile, rubbing his dripping fingers and thumb in front of himself for Bucky to see. The omega blushed at the sight, averting his gaze.
“Excited much?” Steve asked.
Bucky narrowed his eyes, glancing back with his feisty expression. “Just you wait Alpha...”
He slipped off Steve’s lap before he could cage him, settling on the floor and attacking the top of Steve’s pants. He was already achingly hard, his knot had formed like he was some desperate for sex teenager and when Bucky saw he cocked his eyebrow and smirked.
“Excited much?”
Yes he was excited, the Apex thought embarrassingly so. His pants were wet, so wet Bucky sucked up the excess pre-come and groaned in approval. Steve replied with a sound not fitting of an alpha, a soft whimper instead of a thunderous grumble.
It could end embarrassingly quickly, it had been such a long time since he had gotten any stimulation, even from his hand.
‘Better let me handle it then...’
Steve shook his head at the smirking Apex, silently begging him not to interrupt. The odd prickling in his head started, the darkness spreading and thickening.
“Don’t...” He gasped, flesh having gone numb and sight compromised.
“Don’t what?” Bucky asked, voice softer than before with Steve’s hearing fast fading.
“Keep me waiting...”
His voice said the words, darker and thicker but not from him but the Apex fully in the driving seat. You utter bastard was Steve’s last thought as black swamped him and he was suspended in his mind again.