Chapter Text
“I'm nervous.” Steve grimaces, hands shaking a little. Bucky sets his hand firmly on Steve's knees stroking up and down his thigh, trying to comfort him.
“Steve, Clint is family. He’s gonna love you. There's nothin’ to be nervous about baby, I promise you.”
“I'm still concerned, though. He’s the only family you've got Bucky, what if he hates me? Or thinks I’m not good enough for you or something.”
“Then I will kick his scrawny behind and make him like you.” Bucky grins back at him.
“I'm serious Buck...” Steve trails off and sighs a little. It's a massive thing for him to finally meet Clint. It's been 2 weeks since he woke up in Bucky's arms the night of his rebirth and they have finally surfaced from their self imposed-somewhat delicious-incarceration.
“So am I Stevie, I will kick his ass for you, but I promise I won't need to. He’s gonna love you.” He punctuates each word with a kiss to Steve's temple. “It's gonna be fine, baby.”
Steve stands up, squares his shoulders and raises his head to take a deep breath.
“Okay let's do this.”
“The apartment isn't too far from the shop, just a few blocks over, Clint should be around at this time of the evening. Knowing that lazy little shit, he will still be in bed. With me not around for the last few weeks I dread to think how he has been surviving. I'm like 70% of his fucking impulse control.” They start walking slowly down-town, fingers laced together, shoulders bumping softly as they go.
“You think he could get hurt?” Steve asks with quiet concern for the brother he has yet to meet.
“Nah,” Bucky responds with a chuckle. “More likely he will have got himself drunk or high and forgotten I even exist. He was a bit of a lost cause when I found and turned him, ya know? And he never really lost that side of himself, when I ain't around he doesn't take care of himself, I tried to teach him over the years but, old habits die hard, I guess?”
“Do you spend a lot of time apart?” Steve questions with a frown.
“Not really, no,” Bucky responds. “Sometimes we spend a few nights apart, maybe a week at most, nothing more than that usually though. Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering what the plan is now that I'm around is all,” Steve says, quickly adding, “There's plenty of time to figure that out. Don't worry, let's just get this over with, we can talk about that later.”
He sees Bucky's forehead crinkle up in thought but he stays silent with a shrug of his shoulders so Steve knows that conversation is done for now. They come to a stop outside an apartment block and Bucky nods at the door. “This is me, well…, us I guess.”
“Okay, lead the way.” Steve gestures with his hands to the door and Bucky walks ahead of him opening the main door and letting them into the building. He walks a few steps and they hit another door. Bucky raps on it with his knuckles, three short sharp knocks and then swings the door open.
They walk into the apartment. Steve takes in his surroundings briefly, and he takes note of the peeling wallpaper, the yellowing, flaking paintwork, and the faint mould smell that gets stronger the further he walks into the room.
“You guys been here for long?” He asks, trying to be nonchalant, but Bucky sees right through that facade.
“It's certainly not a mansion, but it's just for sleeping Steve. We don't need luxury.”
“I didn't mean…” Steve stops talking because he sees Bucky's smile spreading across his face.
“We tend to go for low key places, lower rent, lower class of people around. They don't usually ask too many questions about us that way.” Bucky continues. “Yo Clint! You better be dressed, man, we got company,” he shouts through a door that Steve presumes leads to a bedroom.
Steve hears a groan from inside the room and then a shuffling and a shaggy mousy brown haired man appears at the doorway. He's wearing jeans that are unbuttoned, slung low on his hips showing off his happy trail.
“So, who’s the company,” he asks with a yawn.
“Clint, this is Steve. Steve meet Clint, my asshole room mate,” Bucky says waving his hand in Clint's general direction.
Steve tips his head and starts to say a quick hi, but Clint actually stands a little straighter. His mouth has dropped open and he is eyeing Steve with what looks like astonishment.
“Dude!” He takes 3 steps over to Bucky and grabs him up into a massive hug. “You son of a bitch! You could've texted me or something! I thought you were dead. Did you get any of my messages?”
“I did. Sorry I didn't reply man, but I was a tad um...preoccupied you know?” He inclines his head to Steve who just shrugs and says, “We were kinda busy, long conversations were had, you know the drill right?”
Clint howls with laughter. “Oh sure, I know the drill alright. I expect there wasn't much talking going on at all. I remember what it was like waking up, wanted to rip his fucking throat out, right dude? Ended up fuck-”
“Okay!” Bucky cuts in quickly. “That's enough of that I think.”
Steve narrows his eyes at Bucky and then glances back to Clint who is grinning like the cat who got the cream and winking at him.
“Oh.” Steve puts the pieces together. “I see.”
“Oh, don't worry Steve. I'm not into Sarge that way. I prefer my love interests with tits anyway,” he smirks.
“Shut up Barton before I kick your ass, like I promised Steve I would.”
“I’d like to see you try it Barnes,” he replies and swiftly gets Bucky in a headlock. They are scrabbling around the floor so Steve goes and sits on the sofa, leans back, gets comfy and just watches with amusement at the idiots grappling like school kids.
“Are we quite done, children?” he asks in an amused tone.
“Yeah, let me just rip Barton's head off and we’re good,” Bucky smirks.
“It's nice to finally meet you, Steve,” Clint gasps out. “Bucky, you gotta let me go. I can't breath, dude.” He let's out a ragged breath as Bucky let's go and flings himself on the sofa next to Steve with an exasperated flourish. He is such a drama queen, Steve thinks. He's gonna love getting to know these goons.
“So he finally grew a pair and told you, huh?” Clint asks.
“Clearly,” Bucks says with a roll of his eyes.
“So, how long did it take him to convince you, huh? I didn't get a choice but I know he was all for giving you one. And I can clearly see the choice you made since you’re here and all. Good call by the way. It's not so bad being tied to this fucker for all eternity, you know. Be nice to have someone else around to talk shit ‘bout him with me, though.”
Bucky grimaces and goes quiet and Steve thinks he knows why. Clint presumes that they will all stay here together. Bucky-by the look of it-is not thinking that way. Well, Steve thinks he can fix this fairly easily.
“I look forward to ganging up on him with you, but you do realise we won't be staying here, right?”
“Oh.” Clint's face drops and he says quietly, “Yeah, okay. I see. Always wondered when this would happen.”
“What would happen?” Steve asks innocently. “We can all move into my place. I mean it's big enough for us all. You can even have your own room, Clint. What do you think Buck, you okay with Clint third-wheeling?”
Bucky looks at Steve, slack jawed, his mouth gaping open like he is catching flies for dinner.
“Sarge, are you speechless,” Clint questions. “I ain't ever seen him lost for words, Steve. I think we’re gonna be great friends.”
“I think so too man, I really do.” Steve grins at him. Clint high fives him and then wanders back into the bedroom mumbling about finding some clothes to wear.
Bucky seems to have found his voice at last and says quietly, “You-, you would do that for us. For me?”
“Of course I would! I offered didn't I? That is okay, isn't it? I mean, you said he was family. I didn't mean to presume anything but it just felt like the right thing to do,” Steve offers a little sheepishly.
“It's perfect, Steve. Thank you. I love you.” He kisses Steve chastely on the side of his mouth and Steve smiles.
“I know you do.”