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[bottledblond]

Not every universe in the far and wide cosmos is as lucky (however unlucky itself that seems) to encounter Thanos during a time where people live who can do something about it. Steve Rogers, a particular version of Steve Rogers who had only just suffered through his first night of basic training in New Jersey as part of the Army’s Project Rebirth and thus had not yet become Captain America, bent to untie his shoes and saw his hands begin to disintegrate. He doesn’t panic, panicking is for people who do not live like every breath is their last. Instead, he blinks in surprise as the barracks fill with shouting. He has time to contemplate two things. One, he wishes he’d done more with his life. And two, he hopes Bucky will do all right.

He’s still thinking about that last issue when he exhales his last in a universe where Captain America never existed and finishes it bent over in the ruins of the barracks, roof half open to the sky and walls a burnt and ashy gray.

It takes him an hour to get to the road and by then, his asthma is already getting the best of him. He blacks out for the second time ‘that day’ and wakes up staring at the ceiling of what is obviously a hospital.

It just doesn’t sound or smell like a hospital. Sure. People are running around and yelling, but it smells painfully clean, artificially so, and there are machines he’s never seen before connected by wires to his body. He does the thing people should never do and yanks them loose. The machines squawk strangely and frantically and Steve is almost out of bed when two large men in green pajamas force him back.

Nothing makes sense to him for days. People come to talk to him, to find out who he is and who his family is. Evidently Steve Rogers is a popular name, because they bring in more people to talk to him, to ask him questions about his life, but no one has any answers.

He explodes, as he’s wont to do when frustrated, demands answers, but nothing they say makes sense.

By then, the war is over. Not World War II, which has evidently been over for over half a century, but this new war. And Bucky Barnes had been told of his presence. Steve is in bed, arms crossed, looking dour and getting an infusion of something that honestly is helping him breathe better when Bucky bursts into his now private room. It’s been two months

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[bottledblond]

In all honesty, Steve doesn’t understand the hand holding or why Bucky wants to do it so often. No one seems to really care and if they get the impression that they’re... Well, Steve doesn’t think it’s a problem.

If he’d lost Bucky for five years or had been through torture without him, he’d wanted to constantly touch someone too. So Steve will indulge him.

“You used to do that because you thought I’d stop breathing if you didn’t,” Steve points out. He’s back to absently stroking his thumb along Bucky’s forefinger. “Or because if we slept out in your living room, Becca would overhead all of our plans and tell your mom.”

He wants Bucky to keep smiling. Reminding him of their childhood seems to do that.

[woundedwinter]

The touch helps keep him centered and as long as Steve doesn't object he'll likely keep doing it.

Steve's plan works and he laughs at the reminder. "Yeah well, I always knew you were too stubborn to quit at just about anything." Even breathing.

His smile goes soft at mention of his sister. "She always was a little rat and wanted to get me in trouble."

[bottledblond]

Steve’s smile grows somber and his eyes loose a little bit of their luster. “I didn’t make it to your send off party. I said I’d be there, but I was already on my way to Camp Lehigh. I called Becca that night and she said she couldn’t even see you in the sea of uniforms heading to the buses.”

The waitress interrupts again with their plates and Steve is distracted by the amount of food in front of him.

He’s not even sure how to tackle the burger.

“Uh— sorry. Wow this is huge. And sorry for not finding you the night before. I’m sure you were occupied with your lady friend. And that poor girl you got to go out with me was doubly relieved.”

[woundedwinter]

His smile mirrors Steve's and he shrugs a little. "It's okay. I wasn't really in a partying mood. I took Sarah home and just.. went for a walk." There was a lot to think about, things to worry about and he needed time alone before shipping out.

"I didn't want Becca to cry seeing me off."

"I had more fun at the Expo with you." Ever the nerd, Bucky wanted to see the latest in science and innovation before going off to fight and he wanted to share it with Steve.

"It was her loss if she didn't want to stay," he counters, picking up his first burger and taking a bite.

[bottledblond]

“Ah. I don’t know. Never been good at trying to keep someone entertained. And we both know I’m the worst company,” Steve says, watching Bucky make a huge bite and finding his mind drifting towards the inappropriate.

He’s quick to get to his own burger, though he lifts the bun to inspect it first and leans down to give it a sniff. Bacon for anything other than breakfast? How crazy!

What’s probably crazier is the way he outright moans at the first bite. Food has never, never been this good before. Juice cascades down his chin, but he doesn’t put the double handed burger down. He just leans over the plate more, sheer joy in his eyes.

[woundedwinter]

"Maybe I'm just biased then," he grins at him.

He's also grateful that they're sitting down because that moan sends a shiver of heat down his spine. What he'd give to pull sounds like that from Steve.

He sets down his burger and deliberately takes off his gloves before using his thumb to clean off his chin.

Fuck he's in so deep with him.

"Good, huh?"

[bottledblond]

Jeez he must be such a mess if Bucky has to clean up after him. Another bite, and Steve drops the bun back onto the bed of fries and goes for a napkin while he chews enough to be able to talk.

“You shoulda led with these. Pizza is great and all, but— These are so good!” He’s not going to be able to eat the whole thing but he stuffs himself as much as possible, licking his fingers and trying to dry his chin off whenever he remembers that he’s a sight and a half. “I could die happy tonight.”

[woundedwinter]

Taking care of Steve has always made him happy, so seeing him stuffed full and content manages to erase any lingering doubts after his session. They'll be okay as long as they're together.

And it's something special to share this new city with someone who understands barely scraping by and eating only what they could afford.

His second burger done and another beer emptied all Bucky can do is grin at him
"Pretty amazing isn't it?"

[bottledblond]

“Everything is.” He’s not a muscle bound hero, but he can’t help but feel lucky to be here. War is over for now, and sure, he’d never gotten his chance to make anything better, but perhaps if he did swap places with the other Steve, the super soldier will be able to fix all of the wrongs he couldn’t.

It’s a new chance for the both of them, though there is a degree of selfishness that Steve can’t help but allow to linger.

He shifts his plate to Bucky for him to finish it up and has the rest of his third beer of the day. He feels almost like a lush, and the happy dizziness hits him when they go to leave.

“Woah, Bucky, world is having fun at Coney Island right now,” he mutters, holding onto the table.

[woundedwinter]

Bucky catches his elbow easily. "Okay pal, let's take it slow. Give me a second and I'll get us a cab."

Sure they could walk home but Steve could probably do with the break. They can ride home and he let Steve nap on the couch with him.

[bottledblond]

A nap on the couch was honestly exactly what he needed, and he ended up half curling against the arm rest with socked feet pressed to Bucky’s leg.

He doesn’t any a change of clothes. All he’d left the hospital with was, well, himself and a sketch book.

[woundedwinter]

Bucky watches him nap, a hand curled loosely around his ankle as he shops online for more clothes and stuff for the apartment for Steve.

He'll answer Sam's texts when he's done. And after a long moment of quiet Bucky will tell the rest of the remaining Avengers that he's found Steve. Not the Steve they remember, but one from before the war.

Even with two day shipping or better Steve will still need more clothes. He'll have to find something for him to borrow until then or hit the laundry machines.

Steve will wake up to hear Bucky talking quietly on the phone in the bedroom. Bruce had been the first to reach out and he deserved to hear the story. He had left the city when Tony died, mourning in his own way and the rest had honored his need for peace.

[bottledblond]

He doesn’t have the super soldier hearing, but he does have the misfortune of having fallen asleep with his contacts in and so stumbles to the bathroom with half asleep legs and foggy vision without thinking that Bucky might need some privacy. He pauses just outside of the bedroom, squinting to unstick his eyes as he hears his name.

An embarrassment creeps up his neck, but he lightly knocks on the door anyway. He doesn’t want to eavesdrop. And Bucky should know he’s standing out there.

“Sorry to interrupt, but do you have contact solution?”

[woundedwinter]

".. I know Bruce. But I thought you should be the first to know. Hang on.." he pulls the phone away to open the door with a smile. "Yeah, they sent some from the hospital, it's in the bathroom."

As Steve goes to take care of his eyes he hangs up with Bruce and trails after Steve.

"Hey. Better?"

[bottledblond]

The world is made of blurry blobs, his eyes slowly adjusting to sharpen up the images. He leans against the sink, smiling up at the taller man in the mirror. “Yeah, just a kink in my neck,” he complains before he turns back around. “Think I can borrow some night clothing?”

Whatever Bucky has for him, he’ll probably be able to pitch a tent in, but that’s besides the point.

He doesn’t bring up the phone call though. Not his business.

[woundedwinter]

"Yeah. I've got some stuff coming in another day or two, but I managed to fuck up some laundry a while ago. They're too small for me so they should work for you."

He fetches them while Steve attends to his contacts.

"That was Bruce," he offers up because he knows Steve wouldn't press for details. "The guy with the curly hair in the pictures. He was.. he and Tony loved each other. Losing him was a hell of a blow."

[bottledblond]

Steve’s got his shirt off when Bucky returns and has it folded neatly on the back of the toilet. He takes the offered change of clothing, marveling at how soft they are, and as he begins to pull the black t-shirt over his head, still too large of course — he can’t help but pause at what Bucky says.

They loved each other.

“Like... love-love? That must be so hard. To lose someone like that. They’re both Avengers right? Like you and Steve?” He tugs the shirt down, happy it doesnt go all the way to his knees.

[woundedwinter]

"Yeah, like love-love." Losing Tony had been hard on all of them, but the hardest on Bruce. "They were both part of the Avengers. Bruce still is. He just.. stays away from the fighting anymore."

He's also over six feet tall and green so that's something else he'll have to prepare Steve for.

"He's a good guy though. You'd like him."

Then his smile turns a bit sad, "But me and the other Steve were never like that. He didn't think of me that way."

[bottledblond]

That is not what Steve meant. He meant to say that Bucky and the other Steve were Avengers. Not....

Steve still holds onto the bottom of Bucky’s shirt, tugging it further than it needs to go. Today has been too much already. His mind is too full. The world has changed too far.

“I uh... what, he didn’t want you to be an Avenger too?” He’s giving Bucky an out here because.... Because shit.

Shit.

Steve knows very well that no version of him could ever not feel that way for his best friend.

[woundedwinter]

He really needs to stop talking. But Sam also govts him hell for staring so he's pretty much screwed in either regard.

"I think Steve, the other one, wanted me to have some peace in Wakanda. But he was also pretty straight so.." he shrugs. "But it's okay." It was okay. Bucky could love him from a distance. It was all he'd ever had.

"I'm just glad you're here." He shucks his own shirt and heads to the bedroom to find something to wear after his own shower.

[bottledblond]

Is straight the same as square? Steve just looks partially confused as he nods. Bucky’s definitely spilling a whole lot of information that Steve doesn’t really understand. It’s a lot to keep straight in his own mind, but the thought that the other Steve wanted to get rid of Bucky in another country is horrifying.

Why? Because he was brainwashed? Maybe because he didn’t want to see him with Shuri? Steve had known that he’d always lose Bucky to some girl but actually seeing him happy with one had to have hurt.

Steve understands that feeling.

He sets up some sheets found in a closet on the bed in Bucky’s unused room after he heads to the shower and is about to settle back on the sofa with his sketchbook when there’s a knock at the door.

“Bucky, it’s me,” comes a voice that Steve is familiar with. He has to stand on his toes to see out of the peephole but recognizes Sam. It should be all right to let him in. He’s all smiles and Sam smiles. “Bucky’s indisposed. I’m sure he’ll be happy you’re here.”

“Not the Bucky I know,” Sam replies, smirking. They talk about how Steve is settling in and once the water’s off, Bucky will know that his best with the younger version of his best friend has been breached.

[woundedwinter]

Oh he's gonna kill him for this.

Maybe not literally but the principle still stands. He has to take a moment to claw down any instinct that demands Steve is his, that Sam can't have him, before he pulls on clothes and makes his way into the living room.

He won't consider his knives in the kitchen. At least not yet.

"Just make yourself at home why don't you?"

Dick.

[bottledblond]

“Thanks, already did. Your roomie even got me a beer. That’s hospitality, Bucky. And manners.” Sam has this shit eating sort of grin, obviously enjoying himself at Bucky’s expense. It causes Steve in his much too long shirt and cuffed pants to look between the two. He knew Bucky said he wasn’t best friends with Sam, but... he’d never seen Bucky show animosity towards anyone else.

That was usually Steve’s way of being.

“Sam just came to check on me. I was telling him about the hamburgers and that you showed me pictures with you and long hair.”

“Took real good care of it too. He was real proud,” Sam teases and Steve’s eyes light up.

“You should have kept it!”

[woundedwinter]

Bucky grumbles but it should be clear with Sam in his space that he's not legitimately angry with him or unhappy that he's in his space. It's more of a friendly animosity, if such a thing exists.

"Yeah, well he was always the one with manners, not me."

Bucky rubs a hand along his hair. "I couldn't. It was too much a part of who I was. Not who I am." Never mind that it took months before he was able to let someone that close to his face with scissors.

[bottledblond]

“I never had manner. You were always cleaning up my messes,” Steve shoots back before he grins at Sam. “Honestly, this guy could charm his way into or out of anything. We got a lot of free pies and nickel candies out of his doe eyes!”

“Doe eyes?” Sam says, looking skeptical. “This guy? No way people found him charming.”

Steve might have carried on with the teasing but Bucky’s explanation about his hair makes Steve feel bad for bringing it up. He’s walking on eggshells part of their time together and it’s not Bucky’s fault. It’s his own inability to understand what went on.

In time, he hopes to change that.

“Sorry,” he says, genuinely. “It’s not a bad haircut. Mine must look so old fashioned.”