Chapter Text
Epilogue – Desperado
“Desperado, Why don't you come to your senses
You been out ridin' fences, For so long now
Oh, you're a hard one, But I know that you've got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you, Can hurt you somehow”
In the Tower elevator heading down to the communal floors, Bucky sent a quick text to Shuri letting her know Tony was gone. He had kept her in the loop with everything happening in the Tower since he first began staying here. Shuri’s response returned quickly and was about what Bucky expected from her. The first was a raining cloud, complete with thunder striking every few seconds. The second was balloons flying through the sky and confetti raining down.
Yeah, that was pretty much how he felt about it to. Sad, but happy.
Returning the phone to the duffle on his shoulder, its weight seemed to become heavier as he neared his destination. After Tony had left with the others, in a blast of light befitting the one he always seemed to radiate, Charles, Rhodey, and Bucky went their separate ways. Rhodey opted to stay in Tony’s penthouse saying he needed the alone time and would call Vision when he was ready to leave. After Charles made Rhodey promise to visit his school the following week, he went to the X-Men waiting in their jet having left to give the others privacy.
Once Bucky separated from the pair, he took about 10 minutes to collect the few things he had before doing what he had promised Tony he would. He had already planned to leave when Tony was taken care of but had only just decided where he would go. As for the added weight as he drew closer, Bucky knew it was from the conversation he planned to have with Steve before leaving. He knew it was time for him to be a good ex lover/friend, and tell Steve some things he wouldn’t want to hear.
At the elevator began slowing to stop, Bucky poked at Winter, making sure he wouldn’t interfere.
’Stop being so dramatic, I agree with you and won’t interrupt…’ Winter’s irritated response made Bucky smile for a moment. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the overprotective man as he continued saying, ’Unless the witch uses her powers. You’ll hesitate because she’s a woman.’
Unwilling to argue, especially seeing Winter was right he would hesitate, he gave his approval to the other man as he stepped onto the training floor. Natasha and Clint were sparring in the boxing ring while Sam and Wanda practiced aerial dives across the room under Steve’s supervision. All movement in the room began to stop as he entered once Steve, noticing his approach and seeing the duffle bag, signaled the team to halt.
Natasha and Clint made it to Bucky first with Steve, Wanda, and Sam not far behind. As she neared Natasha raised an eyebrow in question before speaking, voice sounding unsurprised at what was unfolding. “Looks as if you’re going somewhere.”
Nodding the affirmative, Bucky waited until the rest were close before voicing his response. “I am leaving, got an offer to use what I know without having to hurt anyone, good or bad.”
“What do you mean Buck,” Steve started, tone revealing how upset he was. “You can’t leave. I just got you back…”
“It’s what best Stevie, but,” Looking around at the team Bucky paused before saying, “What I actually came here to let everyone know is that Tony is gone. He left not to long ago with the alternate versions of us Stevie, when their Tony came for them.”
Seeing how unconcerned they were at the news and the way they looked as if they were waiting for Bucky to tell them something more impactful, he just turned to leave saying, “Yeah, that’s about how he thought you’d feel but didn’t want you to think he’d just disappeared.”
Knowing Steve would follow Bucky didn’t look back as he left, sincerely hoping he’d never have to see any of them again. As he stepped back into the elevator he pushed the button for the communal floor as Steve entered running behind him saying, “Bucky hey, wait up.”
As the doors closed Bucky turned to Steve, interrupting him as he opened his mouth to speak. Knowing what he had to say would hurt the other man, Bucky chose his next words carefully. “Steven Grant Rodgers, I don’t know why, and I don’t know when, but at some point after I fell off that train you became the very man you used to hate.”
Looking confused Steve reached out to Bucky saying, “I don’t understand, where is this coming from Buck? Why… Why are you leaving?”
“For four weeks, I watched you not only condone the team while they did it, but actually take part in bullying an already broken man. You let Tony believe that everything that went wrong with the team was his fault, and the worst part,” Bucky continued, voice betraying the resentment he felt as he stepped into Steve’s space, “The worst part was you had him believing you were right.”
Seemingly irritated Steve crossed his arms and shook his head. “What does Tony have to do with anything? Because of him we were running and hiding for 2 years. He acted like a child and threw a tantrum when we wouldn’t sign his precious accords. If he hadn’t let his ego…”
“He was going to kill himself,” Bucky interrupted, voice no higher than a whisper but ringing through Steve’s ears as if he had yelled.
“…What,” Steve faltered before he managing to utter the response. He looked disturbed and overwhelming guilty, giving Bucky a little hope his old friend wasn’t completely lost. “I… I never meant… I loved…”
Winter’s sarcastic comment of ‘Well that explains a lot,’ pretty much summed up what Bucky was thinking.
Bringing his hands to rest on Steve’s shoulders as Bucky leaned in to bring their heads together, his mind finally connecting the pieces. He closed his eyes chuckling sadly as the doors to the elevator opened to their destination. “Damnit Stevie, why didn’t you just tell me you fell for him?”
“I couldn’t, everything happened so fast, and I just… I couldn’t lose you. Since Tony and I were already fighting…” Steve said trailing off.
“You decided to be an ass and keep him distant.” Bucky finished for him. Dropping his arms and stepping back Bucky brought his eyes to meet Steve’s blue sighing. “If you’d have just been honest with me, all of this might have been different and Tony might have ended up with us instead of them.”
“I know Buck, as soon as I saw…” Steve started with a pained expression, “I got so angry that day in the training room... because I saw what I should’ve had.”
‘Doesn’t change anything Bucky, and it doesn’t excuse what happened.’ Winter murmured to Bucky.
“I know,” Bucky said softly responding to Winter, though Steve thought he was speaking to him as Bucky’s next words were addressing his friend. “I told you when we came here I wasn’t sure if I could ever be with you again like we were before. Now Stevie, I know for sure the two men the fell in love 70 years ago, no longer exist.”
Face falling Steve began moving towards Bucky pleading, “Bucky no, please just stay here. Give us time…”
Bucky, raising his arm, halted Steve’s forward momentum as his hand met Steve’s chest. “I hope one day we’ll be able to reminisce as old friends with each other about this, and that it’s just another chapter in our story.” Bucky pushed a reluctant Steve out of the elevator and onto the communal floors. As he continued to plead with Bucky to stay, he finished saying, “You nearly killed someone we both love, and I just can’t forgive you for that yet.”
Once Steve was off, Friday began closing the doors heading to the roof without Bucky having to have done anything. “It was a pleasure having you here Sergeant Barnes. Should you need my assistance again, I’m always accessible through your Starkphone. Safe Travels.”
Brushing his hand against the elevator wall Bucky exited heading toward Charles’ jet and the people patiently waiting for his arrival. “Thanks Fri, couldn’t have done it without you.”
As the doors closed and Bucky took a seat off by himself, the others gave him the space he needed not intruding. Head cast down with a hand blocking his view of everyone else, Bucky thought of all the things he had lost, a love destroyed by fear, and all the hurt he caused and couldn’t unsee. Feeling a heaviness settle over him, he closed his eyes tight as his hands drew into fists trying not to buckle at the weight he felt.
Interrupting his thoughts, a hand unclenched the metal fist in his lap to lace through its own. Another from Bucky’s opposite side began to gently massage the muscles of his neck. Bucky didn’t bother opening his eyes knowing exactly who they belonged to. He knew only Eric could have pried open that particular hand against Bucky’s will, and Charles would be the only other who’d try to soothe the Winter Soldier. Relaxing into their touch as Charles played his mother’s voice through his head singing the lullaby she’d soothe him with when he was sick, Bucky began to breathe easier. He wasn’t alone, there were people around willing to share his load.
When his mother’s voice came to the end of the song and disappeared, Eric said quietly, “Those who have lived a lifetime fighting alone, often forget when they don’t have to anymore.”
“Freedom, Ah freedom, That's just some people talkin'
You're prisoners walkin', Through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime, The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
You better let somebody love you, Before it's too late” – The Eagles “Desperado”
Part 2 (Continuation of Tony’s story) - Unconditionally
Although Tony is settling into his new life with Steve and Bucky, he’s still dealing with the emotional trauma he’s been put through. Luckily, Tony now has not only two super soldiers to help, he also has a snarkier version of himself and a team that supports each other through the worst. As everyone helps Tony overcome his past, he begins to become confused about whose dating who in his new home. Natasha says she dating Clint but often spends the night with Bruce and Thor. Clint has weekly lunches with Stephen Strange who usually is sporting love bites afterward, but is supposed to be dating Loki.
When Tony can’t take the confusion anymore he’s told of the Avenger’s Poly relationship, which apparently since his arrival Bucky and Steve no longer participate in. Loving his boys as well as his new team Tony gives them permission to continue as they did before but doesn’t join in himself. Wanting to help Tony heal as well as show him the comfort of love and affection always being close by, the team begins mission ‘court Tony Stark’.
Part 3 (Bucky’s Story) - Desperado
Still haven’t decided on the pairing, could be one or two, maybe even five at this point. Guess you’ll have to wait until Bucky tells me. :)
6 Months after leaving the Tower to help Charles in his training of the young X-Men team, Bucky receives visitors he had not expected. Finally making their way back on earth, Thor and Bruce arrive to greet a broken Steve Rogers leading a team in shambles and Tony missing. Not knowing just how fundamental Tony was, the team has began to buckle under the strain of having to fill the engineers shoes themselves and failing in their attempts. With Friday having taken herself offline in the Tower, both men are lost in what to do to find out what’s happened until they recieve an interesting summons from a Charles Xavier to his school.
Bucky informs the duo of what transpired while they were away and that Tony is no longer in their universe. Having needed Tony’s help to secure a new home for his people, Thor is relieved when Charles offers his assistance. Still fighting his own demons, Bucky receives help in the most unlikely place when the God of Mischief takes an interest in him. Now Splitting his time between helping the Asgardians acclimate to their new home and Charles’ school, Bucky’s heart begins to pull him in multiple directions. Trying to figure out what road to follow becomes difficult, especially with Erik and Loki at each other’s throats everyday.