Chapter Text
June 2
"He's been unconcious for less than 36 hours," Dr. Cho says aloud, retucking the young teen back in with a new set of sheets, warm and thick, just like Tony had demanded for. Buck stands two feet in front of the doorway, Steve leaning against it, effectively blocking the entry way. Dr. Cho looks at the pair, blinking a few times as she picks up her clipboard. "We are not certain at what point Peter will wake up, his vitals are all clear, no respiratory issues and there was no permanent damage to his windpip or esophagus."
Bucky visibly relaxes at the statement, Steve walks over to glide a hand over Bucky's flesh arm. His exhale is loud and though his shoulders aren't pinched together, his muscles are still taught and tense. Steven can feel the heat radiating off him, all his pent up emotion will lead to a bad crash later during the week.
"I highly recommend getting some rest, Barnes," Dr. Cho says, voice a bit softer as she dims the lights, for if Peter decides today is the time to day to. "You look like you haven't slept in the last four days, I wouldn't want to have to sedate you again," she smirks, nd he huffs, nostrils flaring.
The threat isn't an empty one, the two of them know. Steve recalls the time when Cho had injected Bucky when he wouldn't sleep all because Steve had caught the Super Flu. He side glances the chair next to the bed and his feet move before his brain even thinks, and Cho jus nods her head, happy to seee Bucky at least off of his feet.
"You going to be okay down here alone? Wanda is taking up a mission with Natasha upstate and the-"
"Don't let me hold you back. Go do your mission," Bucky sighs, slouching just slightly in the chair, unaware of how comfortable it really is. Steve gives him a look. A look that reads 'I can read right through your stupid face but I'm not going to argue because you're being nice.' "I'm serious, Steve, you don't have to keep watching over me like I'm going to disappear."
"Because we're over that. Right? No more sneaking off to go back to Wakanda or exploring the streets of Manhattan alone," Steve crosses his arms nd leans back against the wall this time. Bucky scoffs and thinks about the time Wanda had told him about the time Steve gave her a real Dad Pep Talk. He never thought he'd get to recieve one.
"I'm still here aren't I? Stark gave me one of his weird, stalker computer phones just so you all can find me."
"He gave those to all of us."
"In the likely chance we all go up against each other again."
"Doubtful. With the chaos the city has been going through I doubt we'd have the time to start another shebang like that."
"Did you really just use shebang to refer to a mediocre fight against a man in a tin suit?"
"Oh piss off, it's nearly 3am and you've been consistent on getting the minimal amount of sleep," Steve rolls his eyes, pushing himself up off the wall to stand in the doorway, ready to hightail it back to their little apartment in the living quarters.
"Such a potty mouth," Steve flips him off, scrunching his face and sticking out his tongue. "Go to bed, child, it's past your bedtime," Bucky teases and Steve walks out the room. Watching the blond leave is still difficult, even if he was just upstairs in their apartment. Bucky can never forget the moment when Steve had told him how sad and lonely he was when T'Challa had put him under the ice the first time. How tired he got by staying up to late into the night all because Bucky used to stay up going to parties, exploring the Stark Expo, visiting museums of science, and meeting men and women all over the city, only to sleep the day away.
It was different back then. All Bucky needed to do was look after Steve, make sure he was safe and cared for. Ensure Mrs. Rogers that Steven wasn't up to anything nasty and picking fights with men three times his size.
Bucky snaps out of his thoughts when he hears the rustling next to him.
Peter's eyelids barely move and chest heaves as his fingers twitch. Bucky stares down at his fingers flexing beofe the stop, settling against the blanket once again. His chest falls, his breathing evens out and when he looks at Peter's face, his eyes are shut, his curls fanned over his cheeks and a frown back on his face.
"I'll be here when you wake up," Bucky says quietly to the unconcious boy. "You won't be alone."