Back on Track

“I’m sorry. Why should they stay at the compound?”

Everyone was gathered around the dining room table. Steve had sat right in the middle, staring at Sam’s tablet, from which Tony’s face was giving them a grave look.

“I am not familiar with the specifics of your current location, but I honestly doubt it has a heliport.” Steve rolled his eyes at Tony’s answer. “No? Good. Then, T’Challa and your Tin Soldier friend are coming here. You can come visit!”

“Can we?” Everyone stared at Scott. “What?! Don’t look at me like I’ve betrayed you! I’m just taking an opportunity to be confined in a different building.”

“Actually, Gulliver there made a good point. You could all come! The trial’s in less than a week. And they don’t have their eyes on me since I basically made clear that you all betrayed me and that I hate you. It’ll be like old times!”

“How were old times? Was the food any good?”

Clint, Sam and Wanda answered Scott’s question in unison.

“It was.”

“Yeah.”

“So good.”

Steve started considering it. Maybe it wasn’t the safest option. But, did they have any other? At this point, he’d rather be taken to a cell than spend another week in that house. And without Bucky. He didn’t want to seem to keen on the idea, though.

“Okay. Let’s vote. Who wants to go to the Avengers compound?”

Slowly, everyone else started raising their hands. Sam and Wanda gave him apologetic looks.

Steve shrugged. “Then I guess we should start packing.”

*****

“Captain Rogers.”

Vision nodded as he saw him enter the compound’s living room. Main living room, to be precise. Steve had just left his luggage in his room. The one he had before…everything.

“It’s good to see you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to see you last time you visited.”

Vision was wearing his informal clothing, which was, as usual, a bit too formal. Steve wondered if he would ever get used to seeing him wearing anything other than his green suit.

“It’s okay. I was told you were with Rhodey at a doctor’s appointment. How is he doing?”

“Good, sir. He’ll be joining us later.”

“Great, big reunion.” He smiled.

Steve heard steps approaching and, for the look on his face, Vision did too. Soon, Scott made an entrance.

“I’ve got a room. I’ve got an Avengers room!” He gestured, in disbelief.

“Hello, Mr. Lang.” Vision had taken a few steps forward towards him.

“Hey. I remember you. You phased through me.” Scott held out his hand for a handshake, and Vision shook it. Scott gave him a distrusting look. “Do you do that often?”

“I tend not to. I’ve been informed it makes people uncomfortable.”

Scott nodded. “Good.” He turned to Steve. “I’m gonna go call Cassie.”

Steve frowned. “You’re not gonna tell her where you are, right?”

“I- Nooooo.” Steve gave Scott a grave look. “I mean, she’s a big girl, she’s not gonna tell anyone.”

“Scott.”

“She’s quite responsible for an eight year old. She kept a giant ant as a pet for weeks! She definitely knows how to keep a secret.”

“You let your daughter keep a giant ant as a pet?!”


“Didn’t I tell you that? Ah, I thought I had told you that.” He looked at Vision. “We’ve spend months under the same roof and we barely know each other. Understandably. None of them is a sharer.”

“Look, just- Just don’t give her any details, okay?”

“You got it, Cap.” Scott waved them both goodbye.

Steve sighed. He started wondering how they were all going to get along until the trial. Everything seemed fine when they were living at the compound. But now Scott would be there as well, and T’Challa, and…Bucky. At least they now had more space than at the safe house.

“I think I need some air. T’was good to see you, Vis.” Steve patted Vision’s shoulder and proceeded to leave the room.

“Captain Rogers, I was told to advice you against leaving the premises.”

Steve turned around. “Don’t worry, I won’t be out long, and I certainly won’t go far.”

He exited the room and walked to the compound’s main entrance. He opened the glass door and closed it behind him, and then sat on the ground. Just to try clear his thoughts. Momentarily resting his head on the glass wall and closing his eyes.

******

Steve woke up to the sound of a helicopter landing. He jumped, right before Tony opened the door on his left.

“Welcome back, sleeping beauty! Did the sound of your long-lost friend landing wake you up?”

“Wha- Is that them?” Steve rubbed his eyes.

“They are, yes.” Tony took a pair of sunglasses from his pocket and put them on. He looked at the sky.

“You said they were coming tomorrow.”

“Woops.” He shrugged. “Come on, they’ll be getting in any minute now.”

They got into the compound and walked to the exit that was closer to the heliport. Vision and Pepper were already welcoming T’Challa. Steve wondered where Bucky was, and then he saw him, right behind the king of Wakanda.

“Thank you for the ride from the airport, Stark.”

“My pleasure, your majesty. And, please, call me Tony.”

Steve slowly approached to Bucky, who was introducing himself to Pepper. How should he act? Their last reunion had been in the middle of a gunfire. There hadn’t been much time for sentiment. Then Bucky was voluntarily frozen. Quite appropriately, their last farewell had been cold. Steve had tried really hard to hide how much it hurt to see his friend go one more time.

And now it seemed Bucky was back for good! Steve was thrilled. But mostly worried about everything that was to come. At that moment, though, he was mostly excited. It felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest.

Bucky had let go of Pepper’s hand once he saw him. Muttering an apology, he got closer to Steve.

There were no words to say. Or so Steve though, as he wrapped his arms around Bucky, who hugged him back with his only arm. Jessica’s question resonated in Steve’s mind, and he held Bucky tighter, resting his head on his shoulder. Bucky pulled him tighter into the hug as well.

His best friend was back. And back to normal.

Steve could have stayed like that forever, but he figured it would be awkward for everyone around, so he slowly let go of the hug. “I thought they would have made you an arm. A provisional one, at least. Tony mentioned you single handedly took an entire army. But I didn’t know he was being so literal.”

Bucky shrugged. “I didn’t have much time to get ready, you know.”

Steve smiled.

“No worries, I’ll take care of that. In time.” Tony was standing right next to them. He turned to Bucky and held his hand out for a handshake. Bucky complied. “I think we haven’t been properly introduced. Tony Stark.”

Steve could see the panic on Bucky’s eyes. The guilt. But his friend somehow composed himself.

“Bucky Barnes.” He let go of Tony’s hand. And spoke, his voice huskier than usual. “I know there’s nothing I can say to make things better. But, now that I know. Now that I remember, I must apologize for what I did. I knew Howard, he was a-“

“Please, stop. Look, I don’t think I’m ready to hear you talk about my father. You are a different man now, I get that. You weren’t you when you did what you did, etcetera. So just let me welcome YOU, friend of my…” He raised his eyebrows. “-friend, to our home.”

Bucky nodded. “Thank you.”

“You can thank me later. Once you have the new arm I made you on.“ He pointed at Bucky’s missing limb. “Doctor Cho will come tomorrow. If everything’s alright you will be able to clap your hands in less than 24 hours.” Tony then turned to T’Challa and rested his hand on the king’s shoulder. “I’mma show you your room.”

They left, and Bucky and Steve were left there with Vision and Pepper.

“Welcome, Sergeant Barnes.” Vision was floating a few centimeters above the floor, as he usually did.

“Bucky, this is Vision.”

Bucky gave Vision a quick look, from his feet, until their eyes made contact. Then he shook his hand.

“You can call me Bucky.”

“May I accompany you to your assigned room?”

Pepper intervened. “I’m positive Steve knows his way around the house. Could you help me set the table? I may also need to make some calls to make sure everyone will be here in time.”

“Certainly.” He then turned to Steve and Bucky. “I should then inform you, dinner will be ready at seven.”

Bucky smiled. “We’ll be there. Thank you, Vision.”

Vision nodded once. “Until then.” He looked at Steve. “Captain Rogers.” He turned to Bucky. “Bucky.” Steve raised his eyebrows in surprise. And Vision and Pepper took the nearest set of stairs.

“He called you Bucky.”

Bucky shrugged. “I asked him to.”

“He’s only ever called me ‘Captain Rogers’. And I've known him for almost two years!”

“Did you ask him to? I asked him to.”

“I'm pretty sure I did.”

Bucky was smiling, amused by Steve's reaction. “You can try asking him again. You know, people still do that nowadays.”

Steve rolled his eyes. But, at the same time, felt a wave of nostalgia. He was alone with his friend for the first time in decades. No gunshots, no imminent danger, not Sam as a shotgun… God, had he missed Bucky. And that, of course, included his attempts to annoy him. He smiled.

“Come on, I’ll show you around.”