Chapter Text
Bucky was down on the ground for the moment while Sam was somewhere unknown to Peter actually. They were trying to look inconspicuous and stay mostly out of sight for the moment.
That meant that Peter wore his night monkey suit from Europe. It was the only inconspicuous thing he had. He was currently on top of a building looking down at the flashing lights below where Bucky was.
“What's the plan?” Bucky's voice spoke in his ear through the coms.
“Karli's gotta be close.” Sam's voice joined in. “Keep your eyes open.”
“It could be anyone Bucky watch your back,” Peter spoke trying not to let the concern in his voice show too much.
He watched Bucky move through the block aid from his crouch on the edge of the building. Peter watched some guy in a toque approach him from behind. They exchanged a few words and the man took his... face off?
Oh, Peter relaxed slightly as his mask eyes zoomed in on the face, it was just Sharon. Her toque comes off to reveal blonde hair. What was she doing here?
“Sharon, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Relax. No one's looking for me here.” Her voice echoed through the coms and Peter watched them move toward the front door.
“Is that Sharon?” Sam's cheery voice said through the coms.
“Unfortunately.” Peter snickered at Bucky's annoyed tone.
Peter wanted to sit for a moment and eat a snack but he didn't have a moment. He also knew they would be moving in soon. He should've taken the offer of food from Sam before coming here.
He saw Sam go through a window looking absolutely badass in his new suit. That was his cue. Well, Sam didn't explain it exactly like that but it was close enough.
“Spider-Man can you stop them?” Peter knew Sam was in the presence of some bad people if he was calling him Spider-Man. He almost disobeyed and went for Sam wanting to help him but he knew that wasn't what they needed right now. Sam could get out of it, he was Captain America after all.
Peter swung to the building doing the same thing as Sam and breaking a window. He found his way down to the parking garage and saw them all being loaded into armored police vehicles. Peter didn't catch them in time as they sped down the street.
“Sam? There's a helicopter taking off. Gonna need you to speed things up.” Sharon's voice echoed through their coms just as Peter heard a motorcycle approaching. A little late but whatever.
“Bucky!”
“Can't fly man that's your thing.”
“I could come—” Peter tried as he swung one last time and landed on the top of one of the vehicles.
“Sam's got it, kid. You can't fly either.” Bucky said as the vehicles stopped at some roadblocks.
Peter saw Karli and her friends run up tot he vehicles and jumped. He came down on her first cause she was the target at the moment. Her people came upon them as the two threw punches at each other.
“Bucky!” He yelled as four including Karli surrounded him. Shit, shit, shit, he could take them but not four at a time. He'd have at this point.
“I got you, kid.” Bucky's voice chimed in his ear as Karli got him in the jaw. He had a gun to his head from another one but they were taken out when Bucky flew off his bike and tackled them.
“Yay!” Peter smiled through his mask but then got kicked in the back landing on his face. He gets distracted too goddamn easily.
He turned over just as a fist landed in the concrete next to his head. He sprang up and it looks like he was taking on two at a time. It's okay he could do it. Bucky looked to be doing alright when Peter glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
He got caught up with one of the guys while Karli turned to another. He saw her talk to three others who'd appeared making him worry. What the hell were they doing?
Then he saw two of them grab gas canisters and god no. He tried to move toward them to stop them from setting the trucks on fire but he was pulled back by the guy he'd been fighting. He was strong and threw Peter into one of the concrete meridians.
“Winding people is cheating.” He said tot he guy as the trucks went up in flames. Shit, he didn't have time for breathing anyways.
The guy was distracted for half a second and Peter moved for him tackling him and ultimately bouncing his head off the ground. It knocked him out and then he went for the truck as Bucky went for the other.
“Morgenthau!” Peter looked over his shoulder but Bucky didn't. What the hell was that asshole doing here?
Peter took a different approach while Bucky just started pounding on the door. He went for the gas can and took it away then shot webs at the fire putting it out. Good thing he had more.
He reloaded as he saw four of the flag smashers beating on Walker who lay on the ground. This seemed like a good time for a snack and to watch. Except his gut told him to save the murderous asshole. Stupid conscious this guy sucked.
So Peter kicked himself in gear and webbed up the pipe the guy aimed for Walker. Bucky was right behind him taking the guy down but Karli was on his back with the another. Peter fought Karli but saw the other guy push Bucky off the ledge.
“Bucky!” He yelled at the same time Karli kicked him over as well.
He landed on his stomach and this was bullshit, being winded was illegal. This winding was worse than the last, he had still been recovering from the last one.
“Breath kid!” Bucky yelled as he took on one of the dudes who had come down from above. He needed to get up, especially when the second guy came down.
Peter didn't have time to breath. He got up again as the flag smasher went for him. They fought long and hard but Bucky took his guy down first so he helped Peter.
Once they were both down Bucky moved to Peter's side hand on his chest. Peter just took some more deep breaths.
“Yeah, you're okay Peter. I got you.” Bucky said but Peter saw something out of the corner of his eye.
“Bucky the truck!” He yelled out making the man turn to find the truck about to go over the edge. People above had their cameras on ready to capture the entire thing.
“I got it, kid,” Bucky said pushing at Peter's chest then moving under the truck hoping to catch it and not be crushed. Then Peter was by his side.
“Not alone you don't.” He said shooting a web for the scaffolding that was the last thing holding it up. Peter got himself up there and behind the truck. He shot webs for the back of it and tried his best to hold on. It was a heavy ass truck alright?
The scaffolding wasn't going to hold and the flag smashers got to him before he could pull it all the way back up. He held it with one hand and tried to fight with the other. He only took one down before two others tackled him tot eh ground below.
Bucky wanted to move for Peter and help but the truck was coming down fast. Peter pushed the flag smasher off him punching the other and moved to get under the truck with Bucky. The truck was already falling there was nothing he could do but help Bucky catch it. Hope for the best.
The truck never came down on them. There was a flash of white, red, and blue then the truck was being pushed up by Sam. Both Peter and Bucky looked up at him with smiles on their faces.
Peter looked over at Bucky expecting to fist bump or high five maybe. Hopefully. But the super soldier was just smiling up at Sam with, well Peter would describe them as heart eyes. Ned was so right.
The moment was interrupted when Peter's spider senses turned into fire. He turned to catch the pole moving for Bucky. The guy was too entranced by Sam to have been ready for it. They both looked over at the other flag smashers ready to once again fight them. Do they ever get tired? Come on.
Before anyone could even move to continue fighting a blur of red, white, and blue hit each of them except Karli. Sam was standing in front of the two of them intending to protect them.
“You of all People bought into that bullshit,” Karli said after taking off her mask.
“I'm trying something different. Maybe you should do the same.” Sam said but then what sounded like a rocket launcher went off.
Everything was smokey and no one could even see their hand in front of them. Peter took a deep breath focusing on his spider senses. He refused to call them a tingle any more. That's what May called it. He closed his eyes and focused for her.
“This way.” Sam's voice echoed through the air. They weren't fighting? Peter felt a hand on his back pushing him forward.
He ran entering an enclosed area where the smoke hadn't gone yet. He saw Sam in front of him and glanced back to find Bucky behind.
They ran and Peter thinks they were following Karli. He and Bucky flanked Sam as they ran through the underground construction area. Bucky spoke to Sharon through the coms telling her where they were.
“You look so badass,” Peter told Sam making the guy smile.
“They split up,” Sam said his smile falling remembering what they were doing. Peter was off in an instant in the direction Sam had pointed.
“I got it,” Bucky said to Sam who didn't get a chance to say anything else. It made it sound like they were his parents. Jesus.
—
“With great power comes great responsibility. And you didn't use it responsibly.” Peter said like a kindergartner, he even stuck his tongue out like a child since his mask was up over his nose. He was careful not to crush his snack when he crossed his arms over his chest as he and Bucky stepped out in front of the flag smashers.
“It's a great app,” Bucky said holding up his phone as sirens echoed and lights flashed. SWAT moved in and Peter turned away to follow Bucky.
They walked away and Peter really wanted this to be the time so he put his fist up making Bucky frown but kept walking. Peter wished he didn't have his mask on so he could make puppy eyes at the super soldier but he didn't have to.
Bucky rolled his eyes but did bump fists with him. Peter let out a soft 'yes' that made Bucky turn his head away to smile. The kid was adorable.
“Smart thinking with the app kid,” Bucky said making Peter's smile beneath his mask widen even further. “Also what the hell was with the 'great power great responsibility' thing?” Bucky asked to which Peter just smiled remembering.
“My aunt said it to me.” He said remembering how she'd said it after Peter got back from a particularly bad patrol day when someone got hurt. It had been a couple of days before she went into a coma.
Bucky snuck his arm around Peter's shoulders pulling him in for a hug when they made it to a place no one could see them. Bucky pulled the mask from Peter's head causing his fluffy hair to get in his eyes. Peter looked up at Bucky who pushed the hair back.
“Sam told me.” He said and if it was anyone else Peter would be mad at Sam. “I know what it's like to be alone. But just know that you're not.” Bucky said looking down at the kid who bit his lip holding his snack to his chest as if it was his childhood stuffed animal.
“Everyone I care about dies. My parents, uncle Ben, Mr. Stark, and May. They're all gone.” Peter's lip quivered as tears started to form in his eyes.
“I know that Your aunt and uncle, your parents, they were your family. I'm sorry you lost them.” Tears slipped down Peter's rosy cheeks. “But listen to me Peter,” Bucky said vibranium finger lifting Peter's chin so their eyes connected. “Stark brought you into another family. Me, Sam, Pepper, Happy, Morgan, and all the avengers are your family too. Same with those two friends you got, MJ and Ned?” Bucky said and Peter moved forward his arms coming up to grip the back of the man's jacket.
“Thank you.” He whispered his voice shaking as he did. Bucky smiled down at the boy his hand coming up to rest on the back of his head and between his shoulder blades.
“Yeah, we got you kiddo. I got you.”
After that Peter composed himself before pulling away from Bucky and putting his mask back on. He and Bucky found themselves moving between ambulances while Sam touched down with Karli dead in his arms.
They just watched silently as Sam side-eyed the press and then moved for the government officials. He looked sad and Peter watched Karli get loaded into an ambulance. She wasn't much older than him. He agreed with her cause as did Sam, but not her methods.
Peter and Bucky watched and listened to Sam. His speech was so beautiful. Peter's eyes watered and he tried to keep it away. He can't cry more than once within an hour. That's for when he was alone.
Then Peter looked over at Bucky. The look on his face said he'd never been prouder of Sam. Peter was too but the look on Bucky's face was different. It was soft with a small smile. It was pure love not that he thought Bucky knew that yet.
“Sorry. I uh, I was texting, all I heard was, um, 'a black guy in stars and stripes.'” Bucky faked as the three of them walked side by side. “Nice job, Cap,” Bucky said with a wider version of the smile he had a few seconds ago.
“Thanks.”
Then Sharon was in front of them holding her stomach. Peter didn't listen to the words exchanged just pulled out his phone finding texts from Pepper, Happy, MJ, and Ned. Most were positive having seen the live news from the last hour or, couple of hours? Peter didn't know how much time had passed.
Then a man called for 'Cap' and it made Peter smile beneath his mask for Sam at the recognition. Sharon turned away still actually being wanted in the country and all.
“We should go,” Bucky said looking to Peter who nodded.
“See you later Spider-Man?” Sam called and Peter gave him a solute.
—
Bucky and Peter helped Sharon with her bullet wound before they parted ways. Peter and Bucky paused before parting ways.
“Thanks for earlier,” Peter muttered giving Bucky a smile. “I gotta do something.” He said to which Bucky nodded.
“Me too,” Bucky said with a sad nod. Peter wasn't going to ask cause it seemed like a personal thing he had to do on his own.
“See you later though?” Peter asked hope clear in his voice.
“Of course kid. Got my phone if you wanna call between now and later.” Bucky said and Peter nodded. He'd like that.
The parted after that. Peter went to the hospital and straight to May's room. He'd texted MJ and Ned earlier so they were there sitting in a couple of chairs around the hospital bed May was in.
They were all silent as Peter moved up to the bed and stared down at his aunt. His eyes were already wet as he grabbed May's hand. Ned and MJ made contact with Peter hoping to provide comfort for him.
“I love you May. Always will. And I'll always remember what you taught, what you told me. I'll fight for you, just like I always have.” He said as the doctor moved for the machine and Peter closed his eyes. He squeezed her hand as the sound of the beeping stopped.
—
Peter invited MJ and Ned to the Wilson party on the doc. They showed up and Sam smiled at each of them introducing himself.
“Holy shit man, Captain America is shaking my hand,” Ned whispered back to Peter who smiled while Sam smiled as well.
“Well, kid, Captain America wants you to come and eat with him too,” Sam said motioning to where his sister and a couple of others were dishing out food to people. Ned and MJ went on ahead once Peter nodded.
Peter felt Sam's arm around his shoulders and looked up at him. Sam gave him a sad smile. Peter swallowed taking a deep breath.
“Funeral's in a week. Can you come with me?” Peter asked but before Sam could answer he added one more thing. “I want my family to be there.” He whispered out making Sam smile down at him nodding.
“Yeah, Pete, of course, I will,” Sam said pulling the boy into a hug. When they pulled away Peter took a deep breath. “How about some food?” He asked and Peter nodded with a smile.
Peter got to see Cass and AJ who tackled him with hugs making him laugh. They told him about how they watched Sam on TV and how Bucky was there. They explained it in detail with sound effects and laughter.
When they told Peter that Spider-Man was there he just nodded. But when they said Spider-Man was their favorite Peter smirked up at Sam who rolled his eyes calling them both traitors.
Then Bucky showed up with a store-bought cake. Cass and AJ were immediately up and running toward the super soldier with huge smiles on their faces.
MJ held in her excitement keeping her face serious as she shook his hand. Her eyes trailed over his arm only curiosity behind the look though. Ned gaped as the man shook his hand and began to ask way too many questions about the functions of his arm and his super soldier abilities.
“Ned stop,” Peter said tugging on his best friend's jacket. “You'll freak him out he's like a cat he'll disappear to hide under the couch.” Peter got a smack to the back of the head for that while Sam laughed agreeing.
Peter talked with a lot of different people, ate amazing food, and overheard some conversations. Like Bucky telling Sara he and Sam were moving in together. Peter doesn't know what they've talked about or if they've even had time to talk at all.
But then as the sun started to set and Sam watched at the end of the dock Bucky walked up to him. People weren't paying any attention but Peter watched them from where he sat at one of the tables. MJ and Sara were immersed in a conversation he wasn't listening to. Ned was busy trying to convince Cass and AJ that Spider-Man could never win a fight without some guy, he doesn't know who it is though of course, behind a computer helping him out.
“Hey,” Bucky said to which Sam gave him a smile as he stood looking out at the sun setting over the water.
“Hi,” Sam said in return leaning to bump their shoulders which made Bucky smile. Then there was a silence between them. Not awkward just unsure of what to say next.
Bucky had a question on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't force it out. He wasn't sure what Sam would say. He could've changed his mind by now about Bucky. He could've been screwing with him from the start. He could be—
“You should ask it,” Sam said making Bucky turn away from the beautiful view only to find Sam staring off at it. “The question that you want to ask right now.” Sam turned to look at him as well.
Bucky was in awe of this man every time he saw him. Sam's face was lit by the gold of the setting sun. His eyes sparkled, his skin was sun-kissed by the setting sun, and his lips were tilted up at the edges ever so slightly. He was so beautiful, so perfect, Bucky could die happy just staring at this man right now.
“Ask it,” Sam said and all of a sudden wasn't hard anymore. It wasn't easy to push those four little words out of his mouth toward Sam. He was what made it easy.
“Go out with me?” He whispered eyes holding hope and anxiety that disappeared as soon as Sam's smile widened to show off his white teeth.
“I get to choose what we do,” Sam said leaving no room for argument as he turned his whole body toward Bucky and slid his hand to the back of the super soldier's neck leaving Bucky breathless.
“Whatever you want,” Bucky whispered into the space between their mouths. His vibranium arm wrapped around Sam's waist while his right took the other man's chin between his index finger and his thumb.
Their mouths collided so softly that Sam had to swallow the whimper Bucky let out. God, it was so good. Everything was so good. Their hands touching each other. Their lips moving against each other as if they'd done it millions of times.
Bucky was wrong before. He could die just like this and never regret a single thing. Right here, in Sam's arms. With Sam's warm mouth against his. With Sam's hand against his neck and his other pulling Bucky closer by the hip. It was heaven on Earth nothing could be better than this moment right here.
“You know how to wolf whistle right, Ned?” Peter asked making Ned frown but nod.
“Yeah, why?” Peter just pointed behind him at where Sam and Bucky kissed with the sun setting behind him. He hated to ruin such a beautiful picture but he'd already taken one with his phone so time to be an ass.
Ned let out a loud whistle with both his fingers in his mouth. MJ and Sara started cheering while Cass and AJ screamed to match it.
Bucky and Sam pulled away but didn't look away from each other. Bucky looked murderous while Sam seemed more annoyed than ever.
"I'm gonna kill him,” Sam growled out looking over to glare at Peter who smiled brightly from his seat and started to cheer as well.
“As long as I get to help.”
“Of course, babe.”
—