Serendipity

Tj woke up in a soft bed. He groaned, stretching out his arms and sitting up. He looked around confused and ran a hand through his hair that was stuck up in random places. He climbed out of the big, comfy bed and walked to the door curiously. The last thing he remembered was crying on Steve and Bucky. He sighed, he had cried on a man he just met and his friend that he hadn’t seen in years. He had never been so weak in front of people and he cursed himself for letting his guard down.

Tj walked out into the living room smelling something delicious. Steve was in the kitchen cooking what looked like pancakes and humming to himself. Tj smiled at the sight, he had no clue why, but just looking at Steve brought a goofy smile to his face.

“Hey Tj” Steve smiled over at him. He flipped another pancake on top of about ten other pancakes and cut the stove off. “I thought you might some breakfast” he said as he pulled off the apron he’d been wearing.

“Thank you, I love pancakes” Tj smiled coming into the kitchen and sitting on a stool. He looked around the kitchen and living room “Where’s Bucky?” he asked swinging his feet.

“He went out to go get some syrup” Steve chuckled sitting next to Tj. He looked Tj in the eyes and smiled “Ya know… You’re really cute” Steve said, his heart hammering in his chest. He’d never been open like this before.

Tj blushed “W-what?” he asked biting his lip slightly, he cheeks turning red. “T-thank you” he coughed trying to calm his heartbeat. “You aren’t so bad yourself” he smirked slightly, seeing Steve’s ears turn red.

The front door opened and Steve coughed awkwardly, trying to rid himself of his blush. He mentally scolded himself for admitting such things to a guy he just met. ‘He doesn’t like you like that he’s just being nice, you’re scaring him Rogers’ Steve reprimanded.

Bucky came in with two grocery bags in his right hand. Bucky was wearing his prosthetic but it really couldn’t do much, he had broke the mobile prosthetic he had and was stuck with the one he got when he lost his arm at 17, the arm still bent but his fingers were not able to bend and the base was quite uncomfortable. He desperately needed to call Steve’s friend Tony, he was working on a metal prosthetic prototype.

Bucky sat the bags down and smiled at the two, he picked up on Steve’s uncontrolled blush and felt the tiniest bit of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. He loved TJ, with all of his heart, and maybe they were a little too close as best friends, but he also loved Steve just as much, but had thought he was still in love with Peggy Carter, their upstairs neighbor. Bucky’s heart was in conflict, it took all his power to push the feelings back and join the two in the kitchen.

TJ smiled widely, rubbing his tired eyes and slipping off the stool to wrap Bucky in a hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring so much drama” TJ whispered clinging to the older male. Bucky looked at him pitifully for a few seconds before lifting TJ and rocking slightly making TJ laugh at the childishness of it all.

“Don’t ever apologize Teej, I’m your best friend I’m going to help and protect you at all costs. Never apologize for needing me or needing Steve. Everyone needs love” Bucky said hugging him tight, his heart beating a little quickly in want as he said the word ‘love’, it held a double meaning. That could either make or break anything.

Steve smiled softly at the two, watching them interact in awe. Despite how much they looked alike they were so much different. TJ was soft and sweet, his hair was fluffy, his clothes were perfectly oversized, and Steve thought that even though TJ’s been through so much he gave off an innocent aura. Bucky on the other hand was rough and rugged, his hair had grown down to a little past his chin, he kept a stubble, and he stuck to dark, tight clothes much like Steve himself. If Steve was drawing the two he’d color TJ in pastels, adding a golden hue around him like a halo. He’d draw Bucky in neon purple on a black page, letting him shine through the darkness just like his personality. Despite their differences, Steve would connect them with their loving personalities. They both always seemed to put others first.

When Bucky put TJ back down he grabbed the jam and syrup from the floor and dropped it on the counter with a loud thud. TJ giggled as he jumped slightly at the noise and Bucky walked over to Steve giving him a grateful hug. “Thank you for wanting to help me with TJ” he whispered. “I don’t know what I’d do without your help” he said before pulling away and giving TJ a sad smile. “Let’s eat! I got whipped cream too!” Bucky yelled trying to bring the mood up. TJ cheered and Steve -being an extreme health nut- groaned thinking about all the sugar his friends were about to consume.

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After breakfast they were sat on the big couch and TJ had started not feeling well. He shivered, curling up in between Steve and Bucky stealing the two muscled men’s warmth. His skin had started itching and he let out a small whimper as he realized what was happening. Withdrawal.

Bucky’s attention snapped to the shaking male, pulling him into his lap in an instant as his protective instincts took over. Steve, startled by the sudden movement, turned his attention to them subconsciously scooting a little bit closer. “Teej what’s wrong?” Bucky asked worriedly, holding TJ’s face between both hands.

“J-just not f-f-feeling too good” he whimpered pushing and burying his head in Bucky’s chest. He had started to sweat as his body uncontrollably shivered, honestly scaring Bucky a little bit. He’d never dealt with anything like this before, but Steve sure as hell had.

“TJ, is your skin itching? How are your muscles feeling? Are you feeling disoriented?” Steve asked going into mom mode. He gently pulled TJ’s face from Bucky’s chest to see how dilated his eyes were.

TJ rubbed his eyes, every fiber of his being either itching or aching. He whimpered nodding and leant his head onto Steve’s shoulder. Bucky’s arms were wrapped securely around TJ’s waist as he rubbed his chest. “N-not d-d-disoriented… we’re in Brooklyn” he sniffled feeling miserable. “F-feel nauseous th-though” he said holding Bucky’s prosthetic arm the was wrapped around his stomach, the pressure being quite comforting.

Steve nodded, laying TJ back against Bucky and getting up to get a trash can just in case TJ got sick. “What’s wrong with him?!” Bucky whisper yelled once Steve got back, his heart beating fast as he held a seemingly asleep TJ.

“It’s withdrawal Buck… it may be even more than just the cocaine. We don’t know what all he takes” Steve sighed dropping down onto the couch. He was fighting to not get mad at TJ. From what Steve knew TJ was actually a sweet guy, and he made Steve’s heart beat fast just like Bucky’s did, but all this drug business was hurting Bucky and he vowed a long time ago to not let Bucky get hurt anymore.

“Taken. He doesn’t do that anymore” Bucky defended quickly, pulling TJ closer. “He’s getting better” Bucky said softly, running a hand through TJ’s fluffy hair.

“He’s only been clean two weeks Buck, for god's sake, he brought cocaine with him!” He sighed resting a hand on TJ’s leg sadly, pulling the throw blanket over TJ who was shaking. “I’ve seen people like this, Sharon was like this… It takes way more than two weeks to believe them when they say they’ve got nothing on them and taken nothing. They lie to themselves” Steve said scooting closer and hugging both TJ and Bucky.

“TJ’s not like that… h-he’s the sweetest kid on earth. What made him do this?” He asked in denial, sniffling. Steve gave him a pitiful look and pulled both Bucky and TJ onto his lap with only a slight struggle, whispering comforting things into Bucky’s ear, trying to calm him before he started bawling on TJ who seemed to be getting warmer and warmer by the minute.

“He’ll tell you when he’s ready Buck… he does seem really sweet, and he doesn’t deserve this.. But obviously something very traumatic happened to get him this bad off. Please give him time to tell you Buck” Steve said softly, watching Bucky’s expression contort to anger when Steve mention what TJ’s past without Bucky might have been like.

“Traumatic? I trusted the Hammonds, do you think they’re the cause of this?” Bucky asked quietly with a growl in his voice, doing everything he could to not run off to D.C. before TJ’s family went on their campaign and tell them off.
“I don’t know Bucky, it could be anything… from all the press coverage TJ’s just always been a troubled kid… ever since he came out. It could’ve been that he was hanging out with the wrong crowd. Just try to ease your thoughts until you can talk to TJ himself” Steve said chewing on his lip, trying to fight the out of place feeling. He had just met TJ, and even though he felt the overwhelming need to protect the youngest male, he felt like TJ wouldn’t want him this deep in his personal business.

“He’s not a troubled kid” Bucky whispered heartbrokenly, giving up for now. He held TJ as close as he could to keep him warm, wiping his sweat soaked hair out of his face and trailing his fingers down TJ’s soft cheek. “It’s not supposed to be him, he’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met. He doesn’t deserve this… Yanno.. He wanted to be a music teacher? H-he told me that if the press ever left him alone he’d go teach piano at the local VA near his apartment” Bucky said sadly before turning angry. “They’re never going to fucking leave him alone” he spat leaning against Steve’s chest.

“Hey” Steve said getting a little angry at the press himself, he really didn’t know why though. He’d just met TJ not even 24 hours ago. “He can teach, he can do whatever he wants… he’s got us to protect him” Steve grinned, knowing that with those words he’d be with TJ for the long run, no matter what.