[fic] Ebony and Ivory, Flesh and Steel (Bucky and the Young Avengers, PG?)
Title: Ebony and Ivory, Flesh and Steel
Authors: jubilancy & glossing
Setting/spoilers: Fairy-tale AU of Civil War. Because we *can*.
Summary: Bucky babysits the (male) Young Avengers. Possibly it's the other way around.
Disclaimer: Neither of us is Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Simon or Jim Cheung. Gloss wouldn't mind being Allan Heinberg, though.
Warning-type thing: Piercing occurs.
When Cap brought Bucky back into the fold, it wasn't so much "brought" as "dragged" and "the fold" was more "a gang of weird kids".
It wasn't like Bucky planned to stay for very long.
"I haven't done as well by these kids as I should have," Cap had said. Worry-lines radiated from his eyes while his hand gripped Bucky's shoulder. "I think you could -"
Bucky had crowed at that, until he realized that Cap was blinking. That he had, in fact, meant that seriously.
Cap always got what he wanted; they were just lucky he was a good guy. So all this meant that Bucky was spending a hell of a lot of time with the aforementioned weird kids.
He was supposed to be their...big brother? Something like that, maybe like what Steve had been to him, a million years ago. Babysitter, maybe.
What he felt like was that they were all at the goddamn zoo.
From where he stood, *he* was the visitor, they were the freaks behind the fence.
But the way they looked at him, followed him around not-very-casually, the *questions* they asked - What was it like, not having television? came from the blond shaggy-haired one, and How the *hell* was 'mascot' an undercover secret identity? from the one-Bucky's-not-supposed-to-call-'colored' - made it clear that in their eyes, he was the exhibit.
Thing was, Bucky Barnes never lost the upper hand. Not even when the blond asked if his metal one had something called kung-fu grip.
This morning, he was on his way to the lounge, head full of Cap's plans for Reconstruction - most of which were good, of course, though Bucky was with Luke Cage and Sam on the fact that Iron Man deserved to rot in jail, not get a goddamn *pardon* - when the boys caught up with him.
"Would you like to play bridge?" the little witchy one asked. At least his questions tended to be focused. Even interesting, at times. "We need a fourth."
Bucky rubbed his forehead. "Look, I'm not a joiner -"
"You're a lover, not a fighter?" the black one said and snorted; the shaggy blond elbowed him and slapped his palm.
Bucky squinted at them. "Both."
Just be yourself, Cap had advised and Bucky didn't laugh at that. It wasn't funny; it was flat-out impossible.
The little witch - Billy, which was a nice, ordinary name pasted onto a skinny, pretty not-ordinary-one-*bit* kid - rolled his eyes at his friends, then met Bucky's gaze. "Whatever you want," he said. "We're just -"
"Really friggin' *bored*," Teddy said, shouldering his boyfriend aside. Behind him, Eli nodded, still smirking at whatever joke had passed over Bucky's head. "C'mon, man. Hang."
"Fine," Bucky said and shouldered Teddy aside in turn. "But no more stupid questions."
"Promise!"
"He says that," Billy said, sliding past both of them to claim the corner of the couch, "but you can't believe him."
Teddy protested loudly, Eli backed Billy, and Bucky sprawled in the big lounge chair, head in his hands.
"Dude, ask us anything!" Teddy said.
"Anything?" Billy's voice was soft, pretty hesitant, and Bucky had to hide his grin behind his hand.
"We're open books," Eli chimed in. "Some of us're longer than others, but -"
"You know what I'm wondering," Bucky said, when they'd quieted down. Teddy was next to Billy, arms up on the back of the couch, fingers straying through Billy's hair and down the nape of his neck. Eli sat on the floor at the other end of the couch, one knee up to his chest, arms around it; his gaze was steady and intent, so much like Cap's that Bucky had to blink and look back to the young lovers. "All that shit you've got in your ears. Bill's the swishiest of you all, but he -"
"Dude." Teddy sat forward, fists on his knees, glaring, but behind him, Billy smiled slightly, the expression small and secret. "Watch it."
Bucky had figured out almost immediately that the best way to get them off his case, out of his space, was to turn the tables. Play Mr. Stuck in Time, piss them off enough that they'd lose interest for a day or so.
He smiled now, tightly, and shrugged. "My day, you didn't see that kind of thing. Not unless you were some kind of..." He let himself trail off, let them imagine he'd said "deviant" or something worse, then flicked his own earlobe and glanced at Eli. "Makes sense for Jean Harlow over there, but what about you?"
Eli's mouth twitched at the corners. "Looks good, that's all."
"Sure," Bucky said, "if you're a *pirate*." Eli wasn't as serenely unruffled as Billy, but he was a lot harder to get a rise out of than Teddy. Bucky leaned in. "Sure you're not advertising?"
Eli cocked his head a little, so his earring glowed against his neck. "You buying?"
On the couch, Billy giggled, quietly, while Teddy snickered, then caught himself, his mouth hanging open while Eli and Bucky stared each other down.
"Body modification's nothing new," Billy said finally. He touched the hardware in Teddy's right ear, then met Bucky's eyes. "Semiotically, it's -"
"I am *not* seme," Teddy protested; Billy continued stroking his jewelry, lips moving silently.
Bucky had to look away. Not out of - he figured they assumed it was disgust, old Mr. Barnes couldn't handle the newfangled ways of love, but he'd never been able to look at couples being coupled, not for very long.
It was like seeing a girl before she put on her face, or Steve asleep in a puddle of drool: It wasn't right. It was an invasion of privacy.
Not that Bucky had ever had much of a problem with invading anyone's privacy.
"What're you smirking at?" Eli asked, extending his leg and kicking the sole of Bucky's boot.
"Nothing." Bucky moved out of range and squinted at the kid's ring again. "Your mama let you get that?"
"My *grandma* did, yeah." Eli touched the ring. "You're making a bigger deal out of this than -"
"Hey, hey -" Bucky held up both hands. "Just making conversation here."
"I could have piercings," Billy said softly. When everyone turned to look at him, he frowned and tipped up his chin. "They might not be *visible*..."
"Dude!" Teddy threw himself over Billy's lap, as if a grenade had just gone off.
Eli just laughed.
"I don't get it," Bucky said.
They all went quiet then. Bucky should have enjoyed the momentary silence, savored it the way they used to when a mission was over and the guns stopped firing. He was distracted, however, by the way Billy was blushing, cherry-blossoms scattered over his sharp nose, and by Teddy's wide, shocked stare.
"How's about we explain," Eli said, narrowing his eyes, "if - and only if - you get pierced?"
"Like a Prince Albert?" Bucky asked. Billy's flush deepened and Teddy's big hand tightened on Billy's narrow thigh.
"Like you're dodging the dare," Eli replied.
Bucky returned Eli's glare. They ended up like this more often than not.
"It doesn't hurt," Teddy said. "Much, anyway. Are you worried it'd hurt?"
Eli raised one brow. "Listen to the big guy."
Bucky swung his feet off the ottoman. Thuh-donk, thuh-donk, the boots hit the floor, and he waited until he was sure they were all listening.
"I've got five Purple Hearts and a posthumous Medal of Honor," he said. "You think I'm scared of a *hole* in my ear?"
Eli did not blink. "You're half-metal *anyway*. What's the problem?"
Bucky addressed Billy. "Where's Kate? She's the only one with a lick of sense around here."
Billy licked the corner of his mouth and looked down at his hand in Teddy's hair. "She's training."
"Which would be a good idea -" Bucky began, but Billy looked up at him and continued.
"And you're still dodging the question."
Teddy's shoulders lifted with laughter, only half-muffled against Billy's chest; Eli joined right in.
"Fine," Bucky said. "Bring out the scalpel, not like I care."
*
The hell're you doing, boy? Fury growled in Bucky's ear. In his *skull*, more like, as Bucky followed the boys into the back room of a piercing parlor in northern New Jersey.
His stomach still churned from Billy's teleportation spell, so Bucky didn't answer.
"...he wanted an ampallang," Eli was telling the woman at the counter, a creature like something out of Namor's court, tattoos running like kelp and algae up her neck and down her arms. "But we want to start him off *easy*."
Teddy elbowed Bucky's metal arm, then winced at the clang. "Dude, go for the ampallang. Cap'll *love* that."
Billy shushed him, blushing again, not meeting Bucky's eyes.
Barnes, Fury spat, feedback buzzing down Bucky's spine. What in holy hells are you doing?
"New Jersey," Bucky murmured and caught Teddy rotating his index finger at his temple. So they thought he was crazy; he *was* crazy. "Answering a dare."
"This is why I tried not to have children."
Bucky shivered, feeling the wintry sense of missing knowledge. Nick went silent, leaving Bucky to focus on how Billy had sidled over to him. "You don't have to do this, you know." He brushed his hair from his forehead, a furrow between his eyebrows.
Eli and Teddy were arguing pricing with the tattooed lady. As Bucky looked into Billy's pale face, he made a decision. "You all think that Cap and I were...sweethearts." He dragged the word from a past he wanted back, loud enough that the boys stopped their haggling. Eli shifted his weight, sneakers squeaking on the linoleum, and Teddy grew green under the florescent lights. "You all think that's funny."
"Not funny." Billy's low voice stilled Eli, made Teddy remember himself. It made Bucky ignore how Nick was hissing keep your secrets. "Never funny."
"Well, maybe it was." Cots had collapsed beneath their weight and kisses had been stolen behind Duffy's back. There had been the Howlers, first to joke about Cap and Bucky and last to suspect that their jokes were real. Bucky turned to the lady behind the counter. "Let's get this over with."
Barnes, do not get an ampallang. This is an order. You'll never piss right again.
"What do you suggest?"
The lady raised an eyebrow. "Usually I don't recommend spur-of-the-moment decisions on matters like this..."
I suggest you get your ass back to New York. This is your dick we're talking about.
"...but if you're determined to try a genital piercing, I'd start with the frenum. A barbell, I would think."
Teddy nudged Billy again, who this time did not blush. He nudged Teddy back.
Bucky lay on the table. "Fine." She looked at him, eyes expectant, and he was slow to realize that he needed to undo his fly. She watched his fingers fumble with the zipper.
Not a bad-looking gal. Some of the gruffness had gone from Fury's voice. Nice tits on her.
It was then that she grabbed Bucky's penis with a gloved hand. He tensed against the table, feeling the boys' eyes on him. Teddy in particular made no secret of where his interest centered, though Billy could probably see through his eyelids if he wanted. Eli studied the ceiling. Bucky could feel the coldness of a marker against the underside of his shaft.
Mmm. I see why you had to go to Jersey for that kind of service.
"Shut up," Bucky whispered. He closed his eyes, wondering if it had hurt when his arm had ripped off. That wasn't a memory he'd regained.
She is going to drive a piece of steel right through your cock. Nick and Bucky took a breath at the same time. You sure you don't want to see this?
"I'm sure."
The woman made a clucking noise. "Good thing, hon." Something clicked, making Bucky think of grenades and the way Teddy had jumped on Billy earlier. He felt a pinch.
Oh, God. The snick of a Zippo came over the air.
"Fuck, yeah." Teddy sounded like he'd muffled his mouth with his fist.
"Damn." It was the most sympathy Bucky'd ever gotten from Eli.
"Are you okay?" Billy had come forward, his small palm cupping Bucky's face.
Bucky opened his eyes. "Yeah." He just wasn't ready to get up, but Billy seemed content to stand like a sentry beside him.
You gonna show that to Cap, kid? Nick's words came with the easiness of an exhale.
"Maybe," Bucky said, and the boys didn't look at him as though they'd paid admission.
[end]
Authors: jubilancy & glossing
Setting/spoilers: Fairy-tale AU of Civil War. Because we *can*.
Summary: Bucky babysits the (male) Young Avengers. Possibly it's the other way around.
Disclaimer: Neither of us is Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Simon or Jim Cheung. Gloss wouldn't mind being Allan Heinberg, though.
Warning-type thing: Piercing occurs.
When Cap brought Bucky back into the fold, it wasn't so much "brought" as "dragged" and "the fold" was more "a gang of weird kids".
It wasn't like Bucky planned to stay for very long.
"I haven't done as well by these kids as I should have," Cap had said. Worry-lines radiated from his eyes while his hand gripped Bucky's shoulder. "I think you could -"
Bucky had crowed at that, until he realized that Cap was blinking. That he had, in fact, meant that seriously.
Cap always got what he wanted; they were just lucky he was a good guy. So all this meant that Bucky was spending a hell of a lot of time with the aforementioned weird kids.
He was supposed to be their...big brother? Something like that, maybe like what Steve had been to him, a million years ago. Babysitter, maybe.
What he felt like was that they were all at the goddamn zoo.
From where he stood, *he* was the visitor, they were the freaks behind the fence.
But the way they looked at him, followed him around not-very-casually, the *questions* they asked - What was it like, not having television? came from the blond shaggy-haired one, and How the *hell* was 'mascot' an undercover secret identity? from the one-Bucky's-not-supposed-to-call-'colored' - made it clear that in their eyes, he was the exhibit.
Thing was, Bucky Barnes never lost the upper hand. Not even when the blond asked if his metal one had something called kung-fu grip.
This morning, he was on his way to the lounge, head full of Cap's plans for Reconstruction - most of which were good, of course, though Bucky was with Luke Cage and Sam on the fact that Iron Man deserved to rot in jail, not get a goddamn *pardon* - when the boys caught up with him.
"Would you like to play bridge?" the little witchy one asked. At least his questions tended to be focused. Even interesting, at times. "We need a fourth."
Bucky rubbed his forehead. "Look, I'm not a joiner -"
"You're a lover, not a fighter?" the black one said and snorted; the shaggy blond elbowed him and slapped his palm.
Bucky squinted at them. "Both."
Just be yourself, Cap had advised and Bucky didn't laugh at that. It wasn't funny; it was flat-out impossible.
The little witch - Billy, which was a nice, ordinary name pasted onto a skinny, pretty not-ordinary-one-*bit* kid - rolled his eyes at his friends, then met Bucky's gaze. "Whatever you want," he said. "We're just -"
"Really friggin' *bored*," Teddy said, shouldering his boyfriend aside. Behind him, Eli nodded, still smirking at whatever joke had passed over Bucky's head. "C'mon, man. Hang."
"Fine," Bucky said and shouldered Teddy aside in turn. "But no more stupid questions."
"Promise!"
"He says that," Billy said, sliding past both of them to claim the corner of the couch, "but you can't believe him."
Teddy protested loudly, Eli backed Billy, and Bucky sprawled in the big lounge chair, head in his hands.
"Dude, ask us anything!" Teddy said.
"Anything?" Billy's voice was soft, pretty hesitant, and Bucky had to hide his grin behind his hand.
"We're open books," Eli chimed in. "Some of us're longer than others, but -"
"You know what I'm wondering," Bucky said, when they'd quieted down. Teddy was next to Billy, arms up on the back of the couch, fingers straying through Billy's hair and down the nape of his neck. Eli sat on the floor at the other end of the couch, one knee up to his chest, arms around it; his gaze was steady and intent, so much like Cap's that Bucky had to blink and look back to the young lovers. "All that shit you've got in your ears. Bill's the swishiest of you all, but he -"
"Dude." Teddy sat forward, fists on his knees, glaring, but behind him, Billy smiled slightly, the expression small and secret. "Watch it."
Bucky had figured out almost immediately that the best way to get them off his case, out of his space, was to turn the tables. Play Mr. Stuck in Time, piss them off enough that they'd lose interest for a day or so.
He smiled now, tightly, and shrugged. "My day, you didn't see that kind of thing. Not unless you were some kind of..." He let himself trail off, let them imagine he'd said "deviant" or something worse, then flicked his own earlobe and glanced at Eli. "Makes sense for Jean Harlow over there, but what about you?"
Eli's mouth twitched at the corners. "Looks good, that's all."
"Sure," Bucky said, "if you're a *pirate*." Eli wasn't as serenely unruffled as Billy, but he was a lot harder to get a rise out of than Teddy. Bucky leaned in. "Sure you're not advertising?"
Eli cocked his head a little, so his earring glowed against his neck. "You buying?"
On the couch, Billy giggled, quietly, while Teddy snickered, then caught himself, his mouth hanging open while Eli and Bucky stared each other down.
"Body modification's nothing new," Billy said finally. He touched the hardware in Teddy's right ear, then met Bucky's eyes. "Semiotically, it's -"
"I am *not* seme," Teddy protested; Billy continued stroking his jewelry, lips moving silently.
Bucky had to look away. Not out of - he figured they assumed it was disgust, old Mr. Barnes couldn't handle the newfangled ways of love, but he'd never been able to look at couples being coupled, not for very long.
It was like seeing a girl before she put on her face, or Steve asleep in a puddle of drool: It wasn't right. It was an invasion of privacy.
Not that Bucky had ever had much of a problem with invading anyone's privacy.
"What're you smirking at?" Eli asked, extending his leg and kicking the sole of Bucky's boot.
"Nothing." Bucky moved out of range and squinted at the kid's ring again. "Your mama let you get that?"
"My *grandma* did, yeah." Eli touched the ring. "You're making a bigger deal out of this than -"
"Hey, hey -" Bucky held up both hands. "Just making conversation here."
"I could have piercings," Billy said softly. When everyone turned to look at him, he frowned and tipped up his chin. "They might not be *visible*..."
"Dude!" Teddy threw himself over Billy's lap, as if a grenade had just gone off.
Eli just laughed.
"I don't get it," Bucky said.
They all went quiet then. Bucky should have enjoyed the momentary silence, savored it the way they used to when a mission was over and the guns stopped firing. He was distracted, however, by the way Billy was blushing, cherry-blossoms scattered over his sharp nose, and by Teddy's wide, shocked stare.
"How's about we explain," Eli said, narrowing his eyes, "if - and only if - you get pierced?"
"Like a Prince Albert?" Bucky asked. Billy's flush deepened and Teddy's big hand tightened on Billy's narrow thigh.
"Like you're dodging the dare," Eli replied.
Bucky returned Eli's glare. They ended up like this more often than not.
"It doesn't hurt," Teddy said. "Much, anyway. Are you worried it'd hurt?"
Eli raised one brow. "Listen to the big guy."
Bucky swung his feet off the ottoman. Thuh-donk, thuh-donk, the boots hit the floor, and he waited until he was sure they were all listening.
"I've got five Purple Hearts and a posthumous Medal of Honor," he said. "You think I'm scared of a *hole* in my ear?"
Eli did not blink. "You're half-metal *anyway*. What's the problem?"
Bucky addressed Billy. "Where's Kate? She's the only one with a lick of sense around here."
Billy licked the corner of his mouth and looked down at his hand in Teddy's hair. "She's training."
"Which would be a good idea -" Bucky began, but Billy looked up at him and continued.
"And you're still dodging the question."
Teddy's shoulders lifted with laughter, only half-muffled against Billy's chest; Eli joined right in.
"Fine," Bucky said. "Bring out the scalpel, not like I care."
*
The hell're you doing, boy? Fury growled in Bucky's ear. In his *skull*, more like, as Bucky followed the boys into the back room of a piercing parlor in northern New Jersey.
His stomach still churned from Billy's teleportation spell, so Bucky didn't answer.
"...he wanted an ampallang," Eli was telling the woman at the counter, a creature like something out of Namor's court, tattoos running like kelp and algae up her neck and down her arms. "But we want to start him off *easy*."
Teddy elbowed Bucky's metal arm, then winced at the clang. "Dude, go for the ampallang. Cap'll *love* that."
Billy shushed him, blushing again, not meeting Bucky's eyes.
Barnes, Fury spat, feedback buzzing down Bucky's spine. What in holy hells are you doing?
"New Jersey," Bucky murmured and caught Teddy rotating his index finger at his temple. So they thought he was crazy; he *was* crazy. "Answering a dare."
"This is why I tried not to have children."
Bucky shivered, feeling the wintry sense of missing knowledge. Nick went silent, leaving Bucky to focus on how Billy had sidled over to him. "You don't have to do this, you know." He brushed his hair from his forehead, a furrow between his eyebrows.
Eli and Teddy were arguing pricing with the tattooed lady. As Bucky looked into Billy's pale face, he made a decision. "You all think that Cap and I were...sweethearts." He dragged the word from a past he wanted back, loud enough that the boys stopped their haggling. Eli shifted his weight, sneakers squeaking on the linoleum, and Teddy grew green under the florescent lights. "You all think that's funny."
"Not funny." Billy's low voice stilled Eli, made Teddy remember himself. It made Bucky ignore how Nick was hissing keep your secrets. "Never funny."
"Well, maybe it was." Cots had collapsed beneath their weight and kisses had been stolen behind Duffy's back. There had been the Howlers, first to joke about Cap and Bucky and last to suspect that their jokes were real. Bucky turned to the lady behind the counter. "Let's get this over with."
Barnes, do not get an ampallang. This is an order. You'll never piss right again.
"What do you suggest?"
The lady raised an eyebrow. "Usually I don't recommend spur-of-the-moment decisions on matters like this..."
I suggest you get your ass back to New York. This is your dick we're talking about.
"...but if you're determined to try a genital piercing, I'd start with the frenum. A barbell, I would think."
Teddy nudged Billy again, who this time did not blush. He nudged Teddy back.
Bucky lay on the table. "Fine." She looked at him, eyes expectant, and he was slow to realize that he needed to undo his fly. She watched his fingers fumble with the zipper.
Not a bad-looking gal. Some of the gruffness had gone from Fury's voice. Nice tits on her.
It was then that she grabbed Bucky's penis with a gloved hand. He tensed against the table, feeling the boys' eyes on him. Teddy in particular made no secret of where his interest centered, though Billy could probably see through his eyelids if he wanted. Eli studied the ceiling. Bucky could feel the coldness of a marker against the underside of his shaft.
Mmm. I see why you had to go to Jersey for that kind of service.
"Shut up," Bucky whispered. He closed his eyes, wondering if it had hurt when his arm had ripped off. That wasn't a memory he'd regained.
She is going to drive a piece of steel right through your cock. Nick and Bucky took a breath at the same time. You sure you don't want to see this?
"I'm sure."
The woman made a clucking noise. "Good thing, hon." Something clicked, making Bucky think of grenades and the way Teddy had jumped on Billy earlier. He felt a pinch.
Oh, God. The snick of a Zippo came over the air.
"Fuck, yeah." Teddy sounded like he'd muffled his mouth with his fist.
"Damn." It was the most sympathy Bucky'd ever gotten from Eli.
"Are you okay?" Billy had come forward, his small palm cupping Bucky's face.
Bucky opened his eyes. "Yeah." He just wasn't ready to get up, but Billy seemed content to stand like a sentry beside him.
You gonna show that to Cap, kid? Nick's words came with the easiness of an exhale.
"Maybe," Bucky said, and the boys didn't look at him as though they'd paid admission.
[end]