dollymixtures | It's all coming back to me now (Spot and Bucky)

When the Hydra facility had been raided, the last thing anybody expected to find was a 16 year old kid on ice, and yet there he'd been. Steve had been the one to stop the Hydra scientist from shutting down the life support, but they hadn't got there in time to prevent the destruction of a good half the facility's records - including the ones about who the kid was or why he was there.

So what choice did they have but to wake him up and find out?

He was uncooperative at first, refused to give them any details other than the name 'Spot' and kept threatening to fight anybody that came close, though they managed to work out pretty easily that he was from Brooklyn and he'd been on the ice almost as long as Steve had. It's when he overhears a comment about Bucky that he seems to change his tune.

"Bucky Barnes?" he asks, and while he still seems wary, for the first time since he woke up he says something actually helpful "I'll talk to him. Tell him the name's Sean Conlon."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

not_a_commie

"I would eat too fast right now, you're just out, you'll puke," Bucky said grabbing a slice, but he doesn't try to stop Spot. He goes to the fridge and grabs a couple of sodas putting one down in front of Sean. He quiet for a minute just eating his pizza his years as a sniper makes him comfortable with long stillness.

"Probably should get you clothes, can't live in scrubs forever... also ask what you want, unless it's top-secret I'm an open book."

From:

brooklynishere

Spot gives him an unimpressed look but he does slow his bites a little, forcing himself not to just shove the whole slice in his mouth in go. It's good pizza, he's got to admit.

"Uh, yea," he shrugs, glancing down at the scrubs in question. They were comfortable enough, but he'd definitely welcome some proper clothes.

"You and Steve..." he starts, since it's on his mind. He also wonders if Bucky will hide things from him the way his mother did - though he was always more observant than she realised. He trails off there, though, unsure how to phrase the question.

From:

not_a_commie

"The answer to what your asking is yes." He laughs folding the slice in half and taking a bite, "That a problem for you?" He asks easily, he knows the era the kid grew up in, it was the one he and Steve hide to hide everything about themselves so they didn't get beat to death.

"Since he pulled me out of that hydra lab, then I fell off the train." He blinks taking a sip of his soda, metal fingers flicking the pull tab on the soda can. "But we look at is a fate, all that shitty stuff was kind of worth it, would I rather not have PTSD, hell yeah, but being able to live with Steve, and not get arrested, I'll take being in therapy, and having nightmares sometimes." He shrugs.

From:

brooklynishere

"...No, not a problem," Spot said quietly, taking another bite and chewing slowly as he stares down at the tabletop as he listens to Bucky's explanation. He nods slightly.

"Back at home there's... there was," he corrects himself "this kid... Racetrack. Race. He... we were pretty close." he's too used to speaking carefully, to not revealing himself unless he's absolutely certain it's safe, but he wants Bucky to know that he gets it. Then something Bucky says clicks in his mind and he looks momentarily surprised, until he gains control of his features again

"Not get arrested... so it ain't illegal anymore?"

From:

not_a_commie

"Nope." He says smile spreading across his face, "I uh don't have a left hand that can wear a ring anymore." He snorts wiggling the metal fingers, "But about six months ago, we got married... it's mostly good now, still assholes, but they get in trouble now, still got aways to go..." He says pulling a chain out from under his shirt that had a silver band on it with one of Steve's old dog tags before tucking it away.

"So he was your boyfriend?" Bucky asks torn between father and older brother, the kid in front of him would have been 5 or 6 when he died... but now he's looking at a 16-year-old in front of him.

From:

brooklynishere

Spot's about to ask about the arm when he's interrupted with the news that Bucky and Steve are married. For all Spot's really good at staying cool and composed most of the time, that just floors him - and obviously so. The idea that two men could not only live together without fear of arrest, but also get married? It's a moment before he manages to say anything else, and when he gets over his shock he actually has to fight to keep from grinning at the thought, because it's a pretty big deal. Instead, he clears his throat a little awkwardly and nods, muttering something almost unintelligible but that sounded like a congratulations.

"Yea...No... I guess...We was somethin'" Spot shrugs. Not like he and Race had ever talked about their relationship, that was just how they operated, it had all been stolen kisses and heated looks and Spot's way of caring, which was to get angry and demanding and also to soak anybody who dared so much as look at Race funny.

That's about when it hits him.

"I ain't never gonna see him again, am I? Not him or Jack or Davey or any of the Brooklyn boys..."

From:

not_a_commie

There it is Bucky thinks, Steve went through it, he went through it, the wheels clicking together that all your friends are probably dead, everyone you loved gone. But He and Steve have a few people left, the youngest of their friends and the ones they were pretty sure made pacts with god or the devil not to die in Germany. Bucky had made a pact with God... then he 'died' in Poland. But he supposed God kept their end of the deal because he's alive, married to Steve... He shakes the rush of memories, of labs, of murders he didn't want to do, but his free will and memory of all that was good, was locked in some steel cage in his mind.

He stands up and moves to sit next to Sean, "Probably not most of them, Spot." Bucky nods, "Some of them will be gone, either the other wars Vietnam most likely, or time, or illness." He's honest but his voice is kind, "But you're 21 years younger than me, so you'd only be 78 or 79, so some of them are alive." He takes a sip of his soda, "Depends if you want to look for them if you think it's fair to them to hunt them down." He goes on.

"My friends found me... I had this big war crimes trial, pissed the Commandos off that they would even think of hanging me or putting me in Leavenworth." He gives Sean a look, "The press is gonna find out, but you probably have some time to think about what you want, and Steve and I are good at cover stories, we'll just say we adopted you or some shit."

From:

brooklynishere

"Dunno..." Spot shrugs, "Probably couldn't even find them. Jack or Davey maybe, but how the hell am I s'posed to find a guy when the only name I got for him is Racetrack?"

Without knowing how much easier tracking people is in the modern era, it seems like an impossible task. Besides, he's not sure if he wants to see them knowing they've lived their whole lives and he's still a kid.

"If you's gonna say you adopted me... that mean I'll probably be living with you?" he doesn't look at Bucky as he says it, and his tone is a little too obviously casual.

From:

not_a_commie

"Super secret spy, you know, so are my friends Nat and Clint, three of us can find anyone, we do the stuff Steve can't or won't, and I..." He doesn't finish the next part, that can wait instead Spot gets, "Though it's not always a good thing if the three of us are looking for you." He snorts.

He smiles that smile again, "Yeah else did you think you'd stay? Not gonna let you stay here, Tony is way too much... anyway, you're family." Bucky says as if it's the easiest thing in the world.

"Think Peter probably has left some clothes here, that might fit you, he's 16, probably, he's from queens but he's okay." Bucky gives Sean an amused grin. "Gotta get you clothes and into school." He says pushing fingers into his hair knocking the hair tie out.

From:

brooklynishere

"Oh..." Spot looks thoughtful for a moment before nodding slightly "I guess if you find 'em I can figure out later if I wanna go meet 'em, right?"

He nods again at the comment about staying with them, and though he doesn't respond there's a shift, a slight relaxation of tension in his shoulders, a flash of obvious relief in his eyes as he starts on the pizza again. He's never liked uncertainty, he's just not very good at expressing it, so he's grateful for the reassurance even if he doesn't say it.

"You want me to wear clothes from Queens," Spot looks affronted, but there's almost a hint of a smile playing about his lips that gives away he's just joking - a smile that drops immediately as Bucky continues "School?"

From:

not_a_commie

"Yeah, school, summer so we can try and get you caught up on some stuff." Bucky says for the first time sounding a little more serious, "Not gonna be a high school drop out like me, Steve finished college before he got shipped out, art degree." He smiles. "But yeah you're going to school." He repeats. "Maybe get you into a summer program try and get you caught up on computers and shit, Bruce or Peter would probably help you with the math." He sounds like he strategizing. "Gotta get you phone too." He laughs making a mental checklist.

"Be right back." He says dashing up the stairs, and coming down a few minutes later with a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. "Bathrooms over there," he nods, "change and we can head home."

From:

brooklynishere

The affronted expression on Spot's face is entirely genuine at this point. It shouldn't be a surprise, but he'd just assumed with all the upheaval that he wouldn't bother going back to school, he hadn't exactly been all that big on it before he'd been taken, and had been pretty much planning on dropping out as soon as he could anyway.

"There ain't no point in me going to school, come on..." he protests, even though he can already tell it's going to fall on deaf ears.

So when Bucky leaves the room he goes back to eating his pizza with a scowl on his face, a scowl that doesn't really abate even after he grabs the clothes and goes to change.

It's good to be in real clothes again, even if they are kind of weird and not what he's used to, and they're an okay fit, so he doesn't spend too long messing with them before coming back out again with his hands shoved in his pockets, still looking a little sullen.

From:

not_a_commie

"Don't give me that look." He laughs pulling on a leather jacket and picking up two motorcycle helmets from by the door. "Can't let you stay home and sit on your butt." He snorts grabbing his keys off the hook and shoving them into the pocket of his jacket. "Wanna go home first, or clothes first?" He asks easily. "See your room.. we'll it's the spare room now, can figure out if you wanna change anything, it is yours now." He says opening the door.

From:

brooklynishere

"I could just get a job," he tries, though his mood does seem to improve a little at the sight of the helmets - argument aside, motorbikes are pretty cool.

"Clothes" he decides, mostly because he wants to see more of this place, how much everything's changed - he's curious about the house, of course he is, but it'll be waiting there. Plus he'd rather be in clothes of his own than borrowed ones.

From:

not_a_commie

Bucky scans his pass once they get down to the entrance hall, a security guard standing at the front door. "Later, Sgt. Barnes." He says easily.

"Later, Mark." Bucky waves, taking the lift down to the garage. He walks over to a space, where there is a jeep, but the bike is gone. "Little shit took the bike and not his helmet." Bucky scowls. "Gonna have a chat with Steve." He shakes his head but there is affection and worry on his face. He tosses the helmets into the back of the jeep with a huff, "Parking is gonna be a pain now." He smiles a Sean, "He's a worrywart though, probably knew I'd just toss you on the back and tell you to hang on."

Once they are settled in the jeep, after Bucky unzips the top cover, figures he should let spot see everything. He starts heading for the Brooklyn Bridge.

From:

brooklynishere

Spot's mood is somewhat mixed as they set off - sure there's a lot to look at and take in as they drive, but he had been hoping for a ride on the motorbike and now that's not happening, plus he's still a little annoyed about the whole school thing.

Which is probably why he's blunter than even he means to be when he drags his gaze away from the surroundings and looks over at Bucky instead.

"What happened to your arm? An' how comes you keep your hair so long?" Spot's not used to seeing hair like that on guys, for a start, not to mention the picture he had of Bucky back in the day definitely had a much more era-appropriate length.

From:

not_a_commie

"My arm, well..." He sucks in a breath, "Steve and I were on this train fighting Nazi's and Hydra, this guy was coming for Steve, grenade went off. I flew out the door when it blew off, shoulder was broken, Steve was trying to grab my hand I was able to reach for him, he had my fingers, but..." He stops talking for a minute taking a breath. "I fell, like 150 feet down a mountain, last thing I remember is seeing Steve's face, and hitting a snowpack, then getting dragged off." He sucks in a breath. "Pretty sure, the only reason I lived was because of whatever they were pumping full of in that lab before Steve saved the first time." He ends it there, "The rest I don't like to talk about." He says honestly.

"The hair, they never cut it while I was under, I get it cleaned up." He shrugs, "I like it, feels more like me these days." He shrugs, "Also Steve loves it." He laughs mood coming lifting up again. As the Brooklyn Bridge comes into view.

From:

brooklynishere

'The rest', he assumes, has something to do with those war crimes he mentioned, and while he is desperately curious about them he also really doesn't want to ask. He figures he'll find out soon enough - whether they tell him or not. Honestly, though, he's starting to suspect Bucky will tell him - he's already been more open with Spot than his mother ever was, and this story is no different. Bad mood or not, he can respect the honesty.

The sight of the Brooklyn bridge chases away any trace of sullenness, and he's far more relieved than he ever thought he would be to see it, looking almost entirely unchanged from how he remembers it.

"Home sweet home..." he murmurs, eyes fixed on the bridge. "Man I love Brooklyn..."

From:

not_a_commie

"Me too, kid." He says as they head over, some parts are still lower to middle income, but some have grown up, it's cleaner more welcoming and the residential streets are tree-lined.

Bucky drives until they get into a neighborhood filled with shops, stores, and restaurants. It takes him about 20 minutes to find parker for the jeep. Bucky feeds the meter enough for an hour, even though he has military plates and should be fine.

From:

brooklynishere

Actually getting into Brooklyn is weird, there's a mix of places he recognises and plenty he doesn't. He still feels like he could probably navigate the streets without much problem, but it's not quite the same level of knowing the place like the back of his hand that he used to have. He'll get that back, though, he's sure of it.

The hardest part is expecting to see familiar faces mixed in with the passersby, but knowing he won't.

"So where we headed?" he asks, glancing over the storefronts and trying to figure out which one Bucky is aiming for.

From:

not_a_commie

Bucky shrugs putting the cover back on the jeep and locking it up. “We can walk around a little, see someplace you wanna go in just let me know.” He says easily, he reopens the car and tosses the leather jacket in deciding it’s too warm for leather if he’s not on the bike.

“Not just clothes either goes for bedding and other stuff you’ll need.” He shrugs as they start to walk.

From:

brooklynishere

"...ain't it gonna get a bit pricey?" Spot asks dubiously, giving Bucky a sideways glance. A whole new wardrobe plus whatever else Bucky figured he'd need? It felt a little extravagant after coming from a time where his shirts had to be darned because they couldn't afford to get new ones.

He can't help but let his gaze wander, checking out the kind of clothes people wore these days - more of them matched the jeans and t-shirt Bucky had borrowed for him than the kind of thing he was used to wearing, though he did spot a few people wearing more familiar outfits.

From:

not_a_commie

“You know how much back and hazard pay they had to give me for 75 years as a POW then trying to hang me for war crimes?” He laughs, “Steve and I make money, I mean we can’t go crazy, basic needs today. Build up as we go.” He says honestly, “Steve already picked up a phone for you.” He adds, “probably need your own computer for school.” He adds and there’s that s word again Spot. “Anyway you’re my kid, so it’s worth it.”

From:

brooklynishere

It's not that long a sentence, but it contains a number of things that catch Spot's attention; the mention of phones and computers he can dismiss, though he's still a little adrift in all these modern technologies he figures he can work that out in time, and the mention of those war crimes again does stoke his curiosity but he's still willing to wait that one out, knowing he'll learn all about it eventually.

Bringing up school again nearly sets him off, and he's about to start arguing when Bucky cuts him off.

You're my kid.

He knew it, of course he did, and he knew Bucky knew it, but at the same time neither of them has actually said it until now.

He ducks his head, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"If you say so." he mutters.

From:

not_a_commie

Bucky smiles to himself and yeah it’s weird to say it out loud but he and his mom had always planned on figuring that out when he got back, so everyone could be happy.

He stops at a clothing store that’s mostly basic and some more fun clothes. “Wanna look around in here first?” He asks nodding at the door.