Missing Piece
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Alpha!Steve Rogers, Beta!Bucky Barnes, alpha!Steve x f!omega!reader (Sweetheart), (eventual) stucky x f!omega reader, Bucky
Dividers by me in canva (picture credit to OG creators in both Canva and Pinterest). Beta'd by @buck-star. All of my work is 18+. Please read the tags. I do not give permission for my work to be reposted, copied, translated or put through an AI machine.
Tags/warnings: Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics, omegaverse, switching POVs, kinda fluffy, tbh this is just set up, hints towards homophobia (from the 30s not from anyone else), acceptance of sexuality (not prominent in this chapter), a hint of angst, eventualbucky x reader and stucky x reader
Summary: Captain America has been matched with possibly the sweetest most caring omega he could have wished for. However, she suspects that there's something more between him and his best friend than they're willing to admit - and plans to help them figure it out.
Word count: 2.2k
Large green trees rolled past the window and opened up past the town sign to a ghost town. Further on, the new houses situated in rows on a large strip of road. They were big, bigger than what both Bucky and Steve had ever lived in, and had an old-school look about them that was homely and inviting. Three to four bedrooms, large kitchen, even larger garden, spacious living areas... Bucky had claimed it was white-picket-fencing too close to the sun when Steve had originally suggested they move to this nowhere town. It wasn't until he'd looked into it himself, that he realised it was a programme to match alphas and omegas.
And he couldn't take that opportunity from Steve.
They're lives had been hard, confusing and traumatic. Steve had gone from an omega to an alpha thanks to the serum whilst Bucky had gone from an alpha, to an omega, to a beta, thanks to HYDRA conditioning and then rehabilitation. And that's before you add in growing up in the Great Depression and going to war.
Once Bucky was Bucky again, he and Steve vowed not to lose eachother again and had agreed to become a bonded pair. No one would attempt to take Captain America's beloved best friend and beta and vice versa.
However, a bonded pair came with it's drawbacks. Finding Steve an omega became difficult because Bucky was always there in the background. Omegas tended to be prissy at best when they found out about Bucky. Maybe he was too intimidating. Maybe one or two he intentionally scared off because they weren't good enough for Steve.
Now that an omega had been matched through this new program (that Bucky had investigated thoroughly to make sure it wasn't a ploy), he couldn't find a reason to argue that it wasn't a good idea other than having to tell his best friend he loved him.
"Would you stop frowning?" Steve chuckles from the driver's seat, eyes wide and excited as he takes in the street. "It's exciting Buck."
"Uh huh." Bucky says distantly.
"Come on, you've read her file right? She knows we're a pair. She's gonna love you, pal." Steve beams and Bucky hates that it's infectious, even if his heart twists uncomfortably. "Use some of that old thirties charm that got all the dames swoonin'."
Bucky scoffs. "Yeah. I'm sure she'd love that."
"What?" Steve glances over at Bucky with a slight pout and Bucky melts in his seat, holding Alpine's crate tighter. "She would. I did."
"You did?" Bucky presses, confused.
Steve coughs and looks back to the road, cheeks pink. "I mean, I did when you'd fail and get a drink thrown at you. It was quite entertaining."
Bucky shakes his head with a chuckle. "Yeah, that's more like it. Look, she's your omega. Don't worry about me."
"Our omega." Steve corrects, turning into a driveway that already houses a tiny car. Steve breathes out anxiously. "She's here. Jesus."
Bucky tries not to look forlorn as Steve wipes his palms on his jeans and fixes his hair in the rear-view. Steve turns to Bucky looking panicked.
"How do I look?"
"You look like you've driven for eight hours, pal." Bucky teases and when Steve looks back at the mirror, he rolls his eyes. "You look fine. She'll love you."
Steve glares over at Bucky. "Don't use my own words against me."
Bucky shrugs and opens his door, careful not to jostle Alpine too much. He looks up at the house then across to the houses that all look similar and fights the urge to get back in the car and drive back to New York before walking to the door.
You had been cooking through your nerves all afternoon. After learning that your new alpha was the Captain America, and your new beta Bucky Barnes aka the Winter Soldier, you had gone into crisis mode. You had researched tirelessly, found a few influencers that tested old recipes that were delicious and had honed your skills to try and make them both delicious and as true to their era-counterpart as you could. You wanted your new pack to feel at home and originally thought that a few memorable cakes from their childhoods may help you earn some points.
Then you thought it may be too traumatic and baked a few more things to cover up the fact you'd purposefully baked a chocolate fudge cake based on a thirties recipe. You had just put the roast bake into the oven and were wiping your palms on your apron when a voice lilted through the kitchen.
"Hi." You spin and see Steve Rogers smiling softly at you, hands raised in apology. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"That's alright." You say quietly, peeking up at him and wringing your hands nervously. You hadn't expected him so soon. "I was lost in my own little world."
"I could tell."
Steve steps fully into the threshold and you try not to audibly gasp. He fills the doorway, all lean but defined muscles that cascade inwards to grabbable hips. He's athletic, obviously, but in an almost hidden way. If he sported a baggy hoodie instead of a (stupidly tight) t shirt, you wouldn't have been able to tell he was all muscle.
Then Bucky steps in behind him.
Bucky fills the doorway entirely, as wide as he is tall, thick muscles bulging under a red Henley and a fluffy white cat cradled in his arms. They were quite the pair. You felt intimidated to say the least but Steve's warm smile had you slowly approaching the three of them.
There were too many scents in the kitchen to get a good smell of them when they entered, but as you approached there a delicate waft of their intermingling scents that almost had you swooning. Steve's scent, the stronger of the two, smelt like soft cinnamon; warm and inviting like his smile. Bucky's was more subtle; crisp green apples, sweet with a delicious tang. They paired expertly but you couldn't help but wonder why Bucky wasn't standing close to his mate.
Your eyes flit between the two of them for a moment before fixing on Steve with a shy smile. Steve lights up and you can tell that he's trying to reel in his excitement - but the upwards tug of Bucky's lips gives away that Steve's joy has spread through the bond.
"Smells good, doll." Bucky drawls finally, breaking the spell. "Even Alpine is interested in what you're cooking."
You look at the cat in his arms and tickle beneath her chin, giggling when the cat starts to purr. You can feel two sets of eyes on you; and the hair on the back of your neck stands on end when Steve speaks again.
"Why don't you tell us what you've been cooking, Sweetheart?" He wets his lips and looks flustered when you look over at him.
You rattle of your meal components ending with a chocolate fudge cake recipe from the 30s that, according to the internet, was ridiculously delicious. You watch with pride as their faces light up and, as Bucky gently sets Alpine to the ground, he offers to set the table.
"That would be helpful, thank you!" You beam. Bucky nods, finding the cutlery drawer and disappearing out the door he entered, leaving you and Steve alone. You peek up at Steve, feeling like a highschooler meeting their favourite singer, biting your lips nervously. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"You too." It comes out more like a breathy sigh and it makes you shiver slightly. "Bucky and I are real grateful to have you here with us. You'll have to give Buck some time to adjust though; he's not exactly great with new things."
You nod and take a mental note to give Bucky some breathing room. "I can dish up food now or wait for you both to unpack? I don't want you to feel rushed."
"Unpacking can wait for tomorrow." Steve says with an edge of excitement to his voice. "I'd like to spend the last few hours of the day unwinding with you... If that's okay?"
Your heart somersaults in your chest and heat rises to your cheeks under your alpha's gentle yet intense gaze.
"Yeah - that sounds like a good plan."
"See? She likes you." Steve preens, throwing the newly covered duvet into the air, scattering fresh cotton scent throughout the room as it falls perfectly onto the bed.
Bucky harrumphs as he fluffs a pillow and Steve glares at him. "Don't hmmph at me, pal. You know I'm right."
"Sure." Bucky grumbles. He could feel how happy Steve was through the bond - how elated he was to have found his mate - and while it was sweet to see the two of you get along, Bucky couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
You weren't like the other omegas that had tried to get with Steve - you went out of your way to make Bucky feel comfortable too. Included. You'd made delicious food with that cute little apron, prepped the bed sheets and brought him a hot tea unprompted before you settled down for a movie - just the three of you (plus Alpine). You even went so far as to offer him your space next to Steve. Which was odd. But sweet nonetheless.
Bucky's heart warmed at the memory of you and Steve cosied together; the both of you so content, and half-asleep. He wasn't surprised; Steve had done the majority of the driving and you had been cooking all day (according to your conversation at dinner) so you were both out for the count.
Steve definitely deserved this domesticity he'd always dreamed of. However, despite feeling happy for his best friend and alpha, Bucky felt a confusing mix of envy and hurt that he couldn't understand. It wasn't unmanageable - he'd felt this way before, just never to this level - but he always assumed it was a natural reaction to someone getting close to his alpha. Perhaps it was more prominent now that you were Steve's true match.
When his thoughts became too much, he had excused himself to go to bed - prompting you and Steve to jump up from your spaces. You immediately hurried off to gather three glasses of water and gave Bucky a shy peck goodnight on the cheek. It had made his chest grow tight and he shot Steve a glare when he gave him a thumbs up behind your back. Which led to now with Steve helping him replace clean bedsheets you'd washed in preparation.
"She's sweet." Bucky concedes. "Maybe she's just friendly."
Steve blows a raspberry at him and Bucky rolls his eyes.
"Go and enjoy your new 'mega, Stevie." Bucky teases, feeling bile rise up even as he says it. That was new. "She's probably waiting for you to come in and-"
Steve holds up his hands and frantically waves them as he stage-whispers, "Shut up! Shut up! She might hear you!"
Bucky pokes out his tongue playfully. "Better not keep her waiting then."
Steve huffs and turns to leave, patting Bucky on the shoulder and offering him a small smile. "Goodnight, jerk. Don't let the bed bugs bite."
Bucky offers a wry smile in return but keeps a filthy quip to himself, slowly relaxing his body with a sigh, the place were Steve had touched him burning like an itch he couldn't scratch. Bucky's bed is cold and empty as usual. Something he's grown accustomed too over the years. He wonders how long it will take for Steve to kiss you, to hold your hands, to fuck you; to hold you in his arms and promise to keep you safe like Bucky had promised him all those decades ago.
Buck falls asleep reminiscing those stormy nights before the war, when the power went out in Steve's shitty apartment, and they would huddle together to stay warm.
"Is Bucky not coming to bed?" You ask quietly, giving Steve a curious look. You'd been busy doing your nighttime routine (and trying to listen through the wall unsuccessfully) to catch what he and Bucky had been chattering about but Steve seemed flustered.
"Oh, no, he's taking the spare bedroom." Steve says, peeling back the covers.
Your brows knit together in confusion, studying a dust particle swaying in front of your face. "Why? Was it something I said?"
Steve glances up at you and huffs a sheepish smile. "No, Sweetheart, you haven't. We just... don't do that."
"Why?" You press, confused. Why would a bonded pair not sleep together? You tug at the sleeves of your pyjamas, the soft material doing little to calm the thoughts swirling in your head.
"Because- well..." Steve's face goes red, looking around the room as if the answer would appear before him. "It's kinda complicated."
Complicated.
Your mind flits to earlier, in the kitchen and at dinner; the teasing, the familiarity, the stolen glances, and the tender smiles when the other thought they weren't looking. It didn't seem like there was a lover's quarrel happening. So, how exactly was it complicated?
You crawl into the space next to Steve as he lifts the blankets for you, melting into his warm embrace. His arms wrap around you securing you to him as if you were going to disappear, however, you can't help but feel that something - or rather someone - is missing.
Sighing tiredly, you press your lips against Steve's shoulder, secretly vowing to get to the bottom of the mystery that is Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes tomorrow morning.
Part 1 END
A/N: Hello!! I was originally going to keep this as a one-shot but I thought it would be a little better as a mini series. But you know me. When are they ever just a mini series?
This was a part of the Pick Your Fic (if you remember it being that long ago lol)
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