Chapter Text
Slap. Slap. Slap. The rhythmic tapping of his trainers on concrete was all Bucky Barnes could focus on as he jogged down his usual running route. It lasted a little over 20 miles, and cut through the different boroughs of New York city, starting in Manhattan going through Brooklyn and ending in Queens; Had to burn off super soldier energy, right?
The only reason Barnes had gone out was to get away from the chaos that was Stark-no Avengers- Tower. It was starting to get too much. The electric hum in every room was pissing him off, the bright lights in every room was hurting his eyes, Steve’s mother henning, Starks cold glare-
And if he had the chance to stay out of Sam and Clint’s childish and slightly pathetic prank war, then that was just an added bonus.
He was starting his cool down routine (read: wondering around a not-so-friendly part of Queens) trying to get his heart rate to calm down as he slowly made his way back to the tower. Bucky always thought this was the best part of his impromptu runs; He saw it as an opportunity to get reacquainted with the city everyone had told him he grew up in. Things have changed a lot since the 1940s. He knew it was dangerous to just stroll in public with only a knife and handgun as protection regardless whether he was an ex-wanted brain washed assassin or not. James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes was an honorary Avenger after all, an easy target for desperate ballsy muggers. Especially in public-
Wait. Where the fuck was he?
You had one simple task Barnes was all he could think. Avoid alleyways and stay on the main road.
He sighed deeply and tried to get his bearings.
The Tower was still in sight. Okay. Good. All he had to do was walk towards it and he’ll get there eventually-
“Hey! Little shit! Get back here!” a hoarse voice shouted at him
Are they talking to me?
Bucky turned around to snarl at the direction of the crude call, when suddenly a small body came bashing in to him at 100 miles an hour
“Fuck! Oh my god mister I’m so sorry sir I’m kinda in a rush I really didn’t mean to run in to you- Holy shit!” they squeaked and dove to Bucky’s left
“You should be shittin’ y’self! I catch y’ here again Imma-“
Bucky finally processed that the extremely intimidating woman was one: not addressing him, and two: after whoever was hiding behind the dumpster next to him
“There a problem ma’am?” Barnes grunted.
“A problem? A problem! If you see a little fuckin turd you tell me! I never want to see that shitbags face ever again!” She spat.
“Sorry, I haven’t seen anyone around here.” Bucky deadpanned
The woman continued looking around frantically, her bleach blonde hair flying around and hitting her face as she was ranting.
Finally, she marched away, still muttering angrily to herself. Once the coast was clear the dumpster diver came out of hiding. Their eyes grew wide in recognition after they saw Bucky’s face. “Oh my God! You’re the Winter Soldier! It’s an honour man-”
Bucky finally got a good look at them, and was mildly shocked to see a teenage boy, no older than 16 years old. About 5’7” maybe 5’8” making Bucky completely tower over the boy. He had curly brown hair long enough to reach his eyes that was in desperate need of a haircut, or at least a wash. His face was round, but his eyes had the biggest bags underneath them and his cheek bones were prominent, making him look gaunt. The tip of his nose was dry and flaky, his lips were chapped and his pallor made him almost ghost like. The way his ratty blue jumper hung on him and the way his skinny jeans weren’t quite skinny on him didn’t help his case. But… he had such an air of wholesomeness that just threw Bucky off completely. He actually reminded Bucky of-
“… Captain America! Sorry Mr. Winter Soldier- Mister Soldier- Mister Barnes- Sergeant Barnes sir wow okay I’m rambling you probably don’t wanna hear about your own team. Are you lost or somethin’?” he asked with a Queens drawl. “You need help getting back to Avengers tower? In Manhattan? It’s the least I could do after you covered for me back there.”
Bucky looked down at the over excited and fanboy teenager. What? Oh yeah, he had to get back. God knows how long he had been gone. The boy was looking at him, waiting for a reply
“That would be really great, thank you…?” Bucky asked cautiously
“Peter,” The boy- Peter- filled in for him
“Peter.” Bucky confirmed. “And its Bucky kid,”
“Sure thing Mr. Bucky sir!”
They walked back to edge of Brooklyn, the whole time the kid was prattling on about some new scientific breakthrough by Tony Stark and Dr. Banner. Bucky was at the tower at the time. He remembered there was a shitload of explosions and quarantine periods until they finally made progress. It did interest him (HYDRA could never brainwash the nerd away), but Peter was talking about the technical complexities that he just couldn’t keep up with.
Damn this kid wont stop talking
“Don’t forget to breathe kid,” Was all Bucky said to him.
Peter stopped himself and his cheeks flushed a light pink before starting to profusely apologise
“You hungry?” Bucky cut him off casually. Of course, he was. This boy had all the textbook signs of his body going in to starvation mode. “We can grab something to eat. My treat.”
Peter froze in his tracks. His face was unreadable, but his eyes made it look he was having an internal battle. After a pregnant pause he replied:
“I guess I could eat.”
***
Boy, could that kid eat.
Peter scoffed down the cheeseburgers they grabbed from some hole in the wall joint, his appetite seeming to rival Steve’s super soldier one. He made enough chit chat for the both of them.He also made a lot of pop culture references that he diddnt get, but all Bucky had to do was give the occasional hum of agreement before the kid continued rambling
“This was really cool Mr. Bucky. Like seriously, I don’t know if you can tell but...I’m freaking the hell out right now. If someone told 14 year old me you the Winter soldier is gone buy you 3 cheeseburgers after he covers for your ass he woulda laughed his face off and called 420 to ask what you're smokin- I’m rambling aren’t I” Peter sighed after cutting himself off, running a hand through his shaggy curls. “You can grab a cab or somethin’ back to Manhattan from, here right? It would take hours to walk back from here, and it's late.” Peter remarked. He was getting up, starting to throw all their crap away and slyly grabbing the leftovers. Not that Bucky would have stopped him anyway.
“Yeah I guess I should. It’s getting late. You wanna split?” Bucky muttered.
Peter gave him a solemn smile. “Nah. I gotta get back to Queens, so…”
Bucky nodded. “Okay. Was nice meetin’ you kid.” His accent started to slip back.
“Right back atcha Mr. Bucky!” The kid cheered as he left the shop.
Bucky looked at the kid disappear in the crowd from his window seat. Never had he felt so conflicted about someone before. He rustled through his tracksuit pockets until he found his phone.
“Hey, you mind picking me up? I’m in Brooklyn… can’t you track my phone? Old man… Ugh whatever I’m on Bushwick Avenue… near where Alice McKesson used to live... Yeah that’s the same one what’s ya point? Just get your ass here man.”
Surprisingly, he never noticed that dude making observation notes on him.