A Place to Crash - A Little Problem
A recent mission ends with Steve being de-aged. Bucky is not amused.
AN: FINALLY I’ve updated my slice of life Avengers fic, so here I go with Chapter 9! Enjoy!
(AO3 Link)
“Dammit Steve! Get back here!”
“Language, Barnes. Don’t think Cap’s gonna like it if he finds out about all the obscene words you’re using.”
“Shove it, Barton,” he snapped back at the archer. Or rather, in the general direction of his voice. Bucky hated this crap that Barton pulled, hiding in the goddamn air vents of all places just to get on his nerves. “Not like he’s gonna remember a thing anyway.”
“But there are people here who are gonna remember, aren’t there?”
“I swear to god, Stark -”
“Bucky!” Oh shit. Whatever the hell had turned Captain America into a toddler on a recent mission, Bucky still didn’t know, too busy chasing around a four year old Avenger to ever ask the details of the rest of the team. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know anyway. Whoever or whatever had the power to revert Steve into his 1920’s era self without removing the Super Soldier Serum, letting him run around the entire sixtieth floor of the Tower (now on effective lock-down to ensure Steve couldn’t escape; Bucky had threatened Stark for that one) attempting to fling himself around the furniture, well…
Bucky didn’t want to mess with them. It. Whatever.
“Whee!”
“No!”
One good thing the Red Room gave him: reflexes like no one’s business. Good to catch flying toddlers with.
One thing the Red Room didn’t give him? The ability to really deal with a Super Soldier, short of lethal force. Bucky really wished this whatever-it-was had removed the Serum for the time being. Skinny little twig Steve had been a bit easier to deal with, if a bit too self-righteous for Bucky’s taste, even at a young age. Though he’d been enough of a handful even back then.
Long story short, the little punk escaped again, was off and running as if Bucky hadn’t just saved his tiny ass from smashing into Stark’s marble floors.
“Pretty sure little Cap would’ve been perfectly fine if you didn’t catch him. Been complaining about the Serum enough anyway, Barnes,” Barton supplied, as helpful as ever and still hiding in his perch.
“Guess you weren’t here when that happened and he wouldn’t quit crying. Air vent not fast enough to get you here?” Bucky said, falling to the couch. Coast was clear enough for now. Although Barton and Stark were close enough to children Bucky wasn’t sure it even mattered.
“Geez, when did you become such a mom, Barnes?” Stark looked too damn smug for Bucky’s taste. The man was lucky chasing a tiny Super Soldier had just about worn him out. Not that he’d forget; he had plenty of ways to terrify Stark in ways that didn’t involve physical harm.
“Same second you wouldn’t tell me why he’s like this in the first place. And refused to help fix him.” That was the best he could do in the moment.
“That before you threatened me with bodily harm? Or after you started chasing him around?”
“Bucky!”
Goddammit.
“James?”
Oh thank god. Natalia always did have the best timing.
Just the use of his first name and he could hear Barton scampering off through the air vent - smart. The guy had been clear he had no problem with them dating, as long as he didn’t have to see or hear what they got up to on their own. Bucky could respect that. He sure as hell wouldn’t wanna know the intimate details of Barton’s relationships. And so any prank involving their relations had been banned from any future prank wars.
Fortunately, he didn’t give a damn about rules when it came to Stark. Neither did Natalia. This wasn’t a prank war anyway, so it wasn’t like the rules even mattered.
She was behind him in a second, arms draped around his shoulders, lips close to his ear, voice low. “Steve giving you trouble?”
Stark looked conflicted between standing his ground and bolting. Bucky couldn’t help but feel vindicated. “Something like that. Could really use some cheering up, doll.” Hell, Steve was right there just watching; parenting books probably hated him. Lucky he wasn’t a parent. Stark’s face was completely worth it.
“Oh come on! Thought we banned this sorta thing!”
“Who said this was a prank?”
“Keep up, Stark. Thought you were supposed to be a genius or something.”
“But if you’re so bothered by us, I’m sure Bruce would love some help in the lab.” Oh, Natalia was cunning, and he loved her for it. Bruce had decided to search for the cure for their...little problem. The fact he hadn’t pulled through yet meant he’d hit a wall. Bucky was proud of her.
With a huff, Stark willingly took the bait, stalking toward the door, and Natalia dropped down on the couch at his side. She shot him a playful sort of glare. “Doll?”
“What?” He grinned. “Had all the girls falling for my charm.”
“In the 40’s.”
He shrugged. “Gonna blame a guy for trying?”
She just shook her head. “Idiot.”
“That a yes or no? I allowed to use it?”
There was just enough time for her to roll her eyes before - “Auntie Nat!” (Little Steve had taken to her in particular - none of them knew exactly why.) then she was off extracting Steve from whatever he’d managed to climb on - Bucky didn’t even know what this time, too concerned with Stark when the kid had called out earlier. Then the question came to mind.
“Does this count as our first date?”
She gave him a sideways grin as she punched him in the shoulder, a surprisingly docile Steve balanced on her hip with the other arm. “Babysitting your four year old best friend as a date?”
He cocked his head to the side with a teasing affirmation. To be fair, nothing had gone off the rails yet - better than their track record with actual dating.
“Getting sloppy, James. I’m disappointed.”
“I prefer ‘lazy in my old age’.”
Natalia smirked. “Nice try.”
