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Peter woke up to the sound of Star-Spangled Man blaring from his phone.
Moving nothing but his right arm, he blindly reached out for it. When his hand finally found the small device, he brought it towards him, opening his eyes just enough to read the screen.
The ringtone gave it away, but Captain America was attempting to get ahold of him.
If he wasn’t still half-asleep, Peter might’ve been concerned. Instead, he immediately accepted the call, yawning as he brought the phone up to his ear.
“Mr. Wilson! Or should I call you Cap?” Peter mused. He didn’t give Sam a chance to answer. “Wow, you’ve never called me before! I forgot you had my num—”
Before Peter could get too carried away, Sam interrupted him. “Don’t worry about it. Listen— I know it’s late, but I could really use your help right now.”
With widened eyes, Peter turned on his light and slowly sat up. From his voice alone, he could tell Sam was extremely concerned about… something (or someone). His gaze bounced around the room, already looking for his bag. Heroes always helped other heroes.
“What is it?” Peter rushed out.
Sam sighed. “It’s Bucky. I was on the phone with him, and it sounded like something happened. I can’t get ahold of him now. I’m states away, so do you think—”
It was Peter’s turn to butt in. “I’m on it! One wellness check, coming right up. Do you know where he is?”
Just a few weeks ago, Bucky literally saved his life. He was the only one who picked up after someone slashed his chest during one of his patrols. Peter definitely owed Bucky a favor, but even if he didn’t— It was his job to look out for people.
“Yeah, I do. I’m sending it now.”
Within a few seconds, his phone pinged. After putting Sam on speaker, Peter glanced at his texts. According to Maps, he wasn’t far. With his webs, he’d be able to get to him in a matter of minutes.
Grabbing his bag, he quickly started changing into his suit. “Don’t worry! I’ll find him. He’s probably fine, right? He’s got super strength.” Peter didn’t know much about Bucky’s abilities, but he understood Captain Rogers’. They were given the same enhancements, weren’t they? It took a lot to bring him down, so it had to be the same for Bucky.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure he is,” Sam remarked. “Thank you. I know you have school in the morning, but he could’ve gotten hurt.”
It wasn’t the first time Spider-Man duties kept him from getting his full eight hours. He’d live. They hadn’t talked since Bucky stitched him up, but he considered them friends. If he was possibly in danger, then school and sleep could wait.
“I’ll be okay, Mr.— Captain?” He changed the call to the speaker in his mask, then silently made his way out of his apartment. The last thing he needed was Aunt May catching him. It was way past his curfew.
“We’re both Avengers, aren’t we? How about Sam?”
When Peter landed in front of Bucky’s last known location, he was met with a grungy-looking alleyway.
At first sight, he didn’t see anyone. He took a few steps forward, continuing to look for Bucky. “Bucky? It’s me, P— Spider-Man.” Close one.
A faint cough came from the hidden side of the dumpster. Without hesitation, Peter rushed over.
His worried eyes met Bucky’s glassy ones. Bucky was leaning tiredly against the wall, blood dripping down his face from a cut across his cheek. His non-metal arm was pressed protectively against his chest, presumably to keep it still. Peter figured it had to be either sprained or fractured.
It took Bucky a second to figure out he wasn’t alone anymore. “Isn’t it past your bedtime?” he grumbled.
“Actually, yes,” Peter quipped. He leaned down, trying to get a better look at Bucky’s injuries. “But when Captain America asks for a favor, I don’t think you’re supposed to say no.”
Despite his current state, Bucky emitted a small laugh. Peter couldn’t help but smile. Bucky was hurt, but he wasn’t bleeding out or on the brink of death. He’d be okay. Peter could relax a little.
“He’s gonna kill me,” Bucky mumbled. “Might just let him do it too.”
Peter doubted he was supposed to hear either sentence, but his enhanced hearing let him. He paused, suddenly unsure of what to say. Maybe it was meant to be a joke, but it didn’t sound like one. What was going on in Bucky’s mind? Was he—
The older of the two seemed to realize his words were heard. He cleared his throat, slowly shaking his head. “I’m fine, Peter. I’m just… tired. It’s been a long day.”
As much as Peter wanted to pry, he knew it wasn’t the time. They also weren’t that close, so Sam was probably the one who needed to talk to him about it. He would have to mention it to him once he got Bucky somewhere safe.
“What happened? Did you get in a fight?” Peter questioned.
Bucky shook his head again. “Someone recognized me and they got mad. Fighting back didn’t feel right.”
Peter’s hands curled into tight fists. How could someone just do that? He understood that the Winter Soldier did some awful things, but Bucky wasn’t in control. It wasn’t his fault. Peter was only seventeen and he could recognize that, so why couldn’t full-grown adults do the same?
“You could’ve fled,” Peter countered, barely managing to suppress his frustration. None of it was actually aimed towards Bucky— He just didn’t like seeing the people he cared about get hurt. “You’re like, a super-fast runner. I’ve seen it.”
All Bucky offered was a short shrug. Peter decided to momentarily let it go.
“Are you bleeding anywhere else?” The wound on his face didn’t seem too deep, but Peter wasn’t sure if he needed stitches or not. As far as he knew, Bucky’s healing worked differently than his own.
Before Bucky could reply, Peter gestured to his arm. He had so many questions. “What about your arm? Is it okay?”
Bucky let his eyes fall shut. “Not bleeding anywhere else. Arm’s broken.”
If he had a broken bone, he needed a hospital. If Bucky didn’t get it looked at, it could end up healing the wrong way. Peter almost made that mistake before. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Stark’s last-minute advice, some of the pain would’ve become permanent.
“There’s an ER a few blocks away,” Peter mentioned.
At least a couple of times a month, he had to bring someone in. Not everyone was able to wait for an ambulance. The one positive was that now, he knew where the main hospitals were.
“No,” Bucky hissed. “No hospitals.”
Figuring their argument would take a moment, Peter went ahead and sat down. “Come on, dude. They’re not that bad.”
As he waited for a response, he noticed Bucky’s breathing was a little uneven. When he first arrived, it hadn’t been an issue. Was he afraid of hospitals? If that was the reason he was saying no, Peter could understand that. He had plenty of fears of his own.
“You don’t understand, kid,” Bucky added, his voice clipped. “And I don’t expect you to.”
Dropping his hand, Peter let his fingers tap against the concrete. It took him a minute, but he came up with another idea.
“I could stay with you.” Normally, they allowed patients to have someone with them. Peter was sure it wouldn’t be a problem. “Would that help?”
Bucky blinked his eyes open. He tried staring Peter down, but the dark circles under his eyes stopped him from looking intimidating.
“You need to go home,” Bucky snapped. “Leave.”
His tone sent a shiver down Peter’s spine, but it wasn’t enough to send him packing. Bucky clearly needed someone. If he was going to be stubborn, then Peter would play the same card.
“Bucky, I don’t know how you see me, but you’re my friend.” They were probably closer to being distant co-workers than buddies, but Peter cared about him. In his eyes, that made them friends. “You’re hurt, and I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe.”
Peter waited. Eventually, Bucky’s aggravation turned into disappointment.
“Fine,” Bucky breathed out. “You can walk me there, but you’re not staying.”
As long as he walked through the doors, Peter would be content. He just wanted to be sure Bucky got the care he needed.
After getting to his feet, Peter checked the area around them. Once he was sure no one else was around, he took off his mask and hit the spider in the middle of his suit. The material loosened, allowing him to step out.
He’d forgotten he was wearing pajamas. Peter thought about putting the suit back on, but having it off was so much easier. If he did end up staying, he didn’t want to be stuck in it the entire time.
He stuffed the suit into his bag, then held out his hand. Hesitantly, Bucky grabbed it and stood up.
When they got to the hospital, Peter knew he wouldn’t be going anywhere.
The moment they stepped inside, Bucky’s body language changed. His limbs started trembling, his lungs began working in overdrive, and Peter could hear his heart racing.
The trip was necessary, but Peter still felt terrible. No wonder he’d been so against going.
The waiting room was empty, so only a few minutes passed before they called Bucky in. He didn’t follow the nurse until Peter started walking in front of him.
Despite the doctor warning him before each touch, Bucky flinched every time. He didn’t look like he was in pain; he just looked scared. At some point, Peter looked away. Watching made him feel like he was invading Bucky’s privacy. He doubtfully wanted anyone to see him so strung out, let alone some talkative teenager from Queens.
The only time Peter wasn’t able to stay with him was during the x-ray. When Bucky got back, his eyes were bloodshot. Peter wanted to ask him if he was okay, but he already knew the answer.
As they waited for the doctor to return, Bucky quietly spoke up. “Did you— Have you called Sam?”
Peter sat up a little straighter. “No… I should probably do that.”
Reaching into his pocket, he dug out his phone. As he looked for Sam’s number, Bucky held his free hand out.
“Can I talk to him?” Bucky’s voice sounded so small. Peter had to hide his dismay.
Without a word, Peter gave him his phone. While Bucky waited for Sam to answer, he sank into the chair. It was nearly four in the morning. He was supposed to be getting ready for school soon.
Aunt May would have to call them. Even if he somehow managed to get home within the hour, he’d never make it through a full day. The last time he fell asleep during one of his classes, his teacher didn’t even bother waking him up. It wasn’t worth it. His aunt would understand.
Well, she’d understand if she knew what was going on. Once he got his phone back, he would have to text her. If she got up and saw he wasn’t there, she wouldn’t be happy.
“Sam? Hey, it’s me.”
Peter wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but the only sound in the room was Bucky’s voice. Not listening wasn’t really an option.
“I’m fine. Peter took me to the hos— No, Sam, you don’t need to come.”
Peter didn’t know much about Bucky’s relationships, but he knew he’d been good friends with Captain Rogers. With him gone, Peter was glad Bucky had Sam in his life.
They seemed close. They had to be if Sam was willing to drop everything over a broken arm.
“I’ll call you when I leave, alright? Stop worrying. Get some sleep.” Moving the phone from his ear, Bucky hung up, then held it out.
As Peter took his device back, he couldn’t help but notice Bucky looked a lot calmer. Did talking to Sam really cool him down, just like that? If he’d known that, Peter would’ve called him earlier.
After sending Aunt May a quick text, he stuffed his phone back into his pocket. “He really cares about you, Bucky,” Peter mentioned quietly.
Bucky snorted, a small smile gracing his lips. “Yeah, I know.”
When the doctor – Dr. Caldwell – finally returned, he didn’t have the greatest news. As Bucky suspected, his arm was broken… but in several places. He was given a sling, but Dr. Caldwell told him he would have to see an orthopedist. The mention of another doctor visit had Bucky sinking into the bed.
Peter figured that was it, but then they started discussing the results of a CT scan. He didn’t even know Bucky had one. According to what they saw, Bucky had a linear skull fracture.
Considering how strong Bucky was, the person who attacked him would’ve had to use a lot of force.
Peter had to suppress his anger again. He would never harm someone for no reason, but that didn’t stop him from thinking about it sometimes. His friends and family meant everything to him. He would do just about anything to protect them.
Dr. Caldwell saved the best for last. Since Bucky had a head injury, he wanted him to stay until at least the afternoon.
“What?” Bucky seethed. “Come on— You have my file. I’ll be fine.”
In an attempt to prove his point, Bucky swung his legs over the side of the bed, then got to his feet. He made it halfway across the room before he started swaying.
Was he doing that when they were walking to the hospital? Had Peter missed it somehow?
The doctor tried helping Bucky back to the bed, but he waved him off before Dr. Caldwell could put a hand on him. He slowly walked over on his own, then hesitantly laid back down.
“We walked here,” Peter squeaked. He didn’t mean to share his thoughts out loud, but they were threatening to pull him under.
Both Bucky and the doctor looked over at him. “Symptoms stemming from brain injuries can be delayed,” Dr. Caldwell assured. “Some people don’t experience any until days or even weeks later.”
His answer calmed Peter down. No way he wouldn’t have missed something like that. He considered himself to be super observant. If Bucky had been dizzy before, he would’ve noticed.
“We’ll check up on you every couple of hours,” Dr. Caldwell stated. “Try to get some rest.”
Peter watched as the doctor left the room. He knew Bucky wasn’t thrilled about it, but the hospital was the safest place for him. If anything happened, a team of nurses and doctors were on standby. They would make sure he was okay.
“You can go home,” Bucky whispered. “I’m ninety years older than you. I don’t need you to babysit me.”
“Bucky—”
He interrupted Peter before he could even try to argue. “Just stop, alright? I’m fi—”
“Why do you keep lying?” Peter interjected. When he realized he spoke over Bucky, his mouth snapped shut. He just didn’t understand why he was so set on convincing Peter he was okay. Clearly, he wasn’t. Peter recognized that the second he saw him.
The room grew silent. Bucky was glaring at Peter, but Peter was watching him with a sad look in his eyes. He wasn’t a stranger to shoving emotions down. Most of the time, when something was wrong, he didn’t tell anyone. He didn’t want to burden anyone with his over-the-top problems.
Yet, just a few weeks ago, he let Bucky in. Granted, he was injured and half out of it, but he’d understood what he was sharing. He talked about his last few moments with Mr. Stark, and he expressed just how much he missed him. Bucky was the only person he opened up to about it.
“When I needed someone, you were there for me,” Peter noted. “Now it’s my turn.”
“That’s different,” Bucky immediately chided. He shook his head, finally looking away.
Peter wasn’t trying to start a fight, but Bucky wasn’t making any sense. “How is it different?” he challenged. His gaze stayed on the other.
Bucky took a slow, uneven breath. His rage was almost tangible. “Because—” he started, his metal hand moving to grip the side of the bed. “Because not everyone deserves to be saved.”
The sentence seemed to use up the rest of Bucky’s energy. With a defeated sigh, he leaned back, his eyes flickering shut.
Peter’s whole body tensed up. How could Bucky think that? For a small group of people, yeah, they were too far gone to be saved. Peter could admit that, but Bucky wasn’t one of them. Whenever he had the choice, he always did the right thing.
“You’re right,” Peter eventually admitted.
Bucky’s eyes opened again. The look he gave Peter… He was hoping for anger, but all Peter could see was a hint of grief and full-on acceptance. His chest tightened.
After shaking his head, Peter used his legs to scoot his chair closer to the bed. He should’ve said everything at once.
“But you do, Bucky, and I know Sam would agree with me.”
Bringing Sam into it felt like the right play. Maybe Peter’s opinion wouldn’t mean much, but he knew Sam’s would.
Bucky just shook his head, his expression turning stoic.
“When I called you— Why did you help me?” Peter blurted. He wasn’t sure if Bucky would ever accept his side, but he had to try.
Bucky lifted his hand, holding it up in disbelief. “What? You were hurt, Peter.”
Peter raised his eyebrows. “So? You could’ve left me there.” Bucky easily could’ve said it was too late and hung up. He wasn’t obligated to help him, but he still did. To Peter, that counted for something.
“You gotta be kidding me,” Bucky retorted. “What kind of person ignores a kid who’s bleeding out?”
Peter cleared his throat. “The kind of person who doesn’t deserve saving.”
He watched as the color drained from Bucky’s face. For a second, he wondered if he needed to grab a nurse. Peter hadn’t wanted to pull him into a deep conversation while he was in pain, but he couldn’t just let everything go. Leaving it alone would’ve only made things worse.
When Bucky didn’t add anything else, Peter continued. “Most of the bad guys I’ve dealt with— They started off good, but then something really bad happened to them.” It was why in his mind, even the worst villains could potentially be helped. If they used to be a decent person, wasn’t it possible that they could be decent again?
“Something really bad happened to you.” Peter would never know everything, but he knew enough. What they did to him was evil. “But when you got out, you helped Captain Rogers. You fought against Thanos. You never became a bad person, even though you could’ve.”
The older man’s eyes watered, but he still wasn’t adding anything to the conversation. He looked completely stunned. Peter figured his silent reaction was still better than him denying everything.
“So, I’m going to stay here,” Peter concluded. He shifted in the chair, attempting to get a little more comfortable. “Because I know you’re not okay, and you shouldn’t have to be alone when you’re hurting.”
As soon as a tear rolled down his cheek, Bucky fell out of his haze. Lifting his hand, he swiftly wiped it away. With a small sniffle, he offered a near-silent “Okay.”
Peter’s lips curved into a warm smile. Maybe their brief talk didn’t solve everything, but Bucky stopped fighting him. It was definitely a win in his book.
The space between them grew quiet again, so Peter let his eyes close. In the last twenty-four hours, he’d only been asleep for two of them. The exhaustion was starting to catch up with him.
He was almost asleep when Bucky spoke up. “Peter? You still awake?”
Peter raised his hand and waved it around. It seemed easier than opening his mouth and saying something.
“Just— Thank you for finding me,” he whispered. “You could’ve said no too.”
Peter yawned, slowly shaking his head against the back of the seat. “You gotta be kidding me,” he repeated softly, only half with it. “What kind of person… ignores a guy who’s bleeding out?”
Seconds before Peter fell asleep, he swore he heard Bucky laughing.
Around eleven in the morning, Peter woke up to two voices whisper-yelling at each other.
“I told you not to come, Sam.”
“Yeah, well— You said you were fine.”
“I am fine!”
“Seriously, Buck? You broke your skull. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“They didn’t tell me until after we talked!”
When he opened his eyes, he was met with Bucky sitting with his legs dangling off the side of the bed. Sam was standing in front of him, arms crossed and looking rather annoyed.
It took Peter a moment to see it, but behind Sam’s irritation, he could see relief. Maybe even some degree of admiration too.
He didn’t get to think about it too long. Both of them realized they were being watched, and Sam let his head fall back.
“I told you you’d wake the kid,” Sam complained. “Why don’t you ever listen to me?”
Bucky rolled his eyes. “Because I don’t listen to anyone,” he explained. The two stared at each other for another moment, but then they both started beaming.
Definitely admiration. Definitely disgusting. Definitely time for him to go home.
“Right… I should probably be getting home. I already missed school, so Aunt May is probably waiting for me. She doesn’t like when I disappear for more than…” he trailed off, glancing at the clock. “Nine hours, so I’m gonna go. I’m glad you’re okay, Bucky. And it’s good to see you, M— Cap, I mean— Sam.”
As Peter scrambled to his feet, Bucky bit his lip to keep himself from cackling. Sam, on the other hand, didn’t even try holding back. With a hand against his chest, he burst into laughter.
“Yeah, yeah. Good to see you too, Pete,” Sam eventually added, small chuckles still rolling past him.
Peter offered an awkward grin before grabbing his backpack, shuffling his way over to the doorway.
“Wait, Peter—” Bucky interjected, causing him to stop in his tracks. Peter quickly turned around, looking back at him.
Bucky gave him a soft smile. “Stay safe out there.”