Chapter Text
He knew it wasn't going to be good the second she came in with that signature bounce to her step missing. In all the time he’d known Pepper and sat in this very spot to listen to her deliver bad news with a disappointed frown, there had always been a hopeful skip to the click of her plain black heels that he didn't even realise comforted him. Now, it was gone, and took with it a big chunk of the security that came with this terrible mustard-yellow office.
Bucky shifted uneasily in his seat as Pepper sat down in front of him, her delicate frame all but swallowed up by the monstrosity that was the plush old chair. She took a moment to release a tired breath before laying two files on her desk gently. Still, she did not meet his eyes. Dread had begun to crawl up the back of Bucky’s neck and when, instead of maintaining her constantly perfect posture, Pepper finally gave in and just sagged back into the cushions he knew it was done. He was done.
“Bucky…” he tensed at the tone of her voice, the muscles in his arms aching with how tight they were pulled. Finally, her eyes flicked up to his and without further preamble she confirmed it: “You've been removed from the Thompson household, Sweetheart. I don’t think I can get you out of this one.”
Fighting to overcome the inability to speak, Bucky gave a small nod. “Does it matter that I didn't start it this time?” he croaked once the lump in his throat finally allowed the words out.
Pepper’s eyes, impossibly sad, glistened with moisture as she shook her head. “Not any more. There have been too many incidents too close together for that to mean anything now.” She took a moment to compose herself and sat up straight once more, the tears blinked back and her lips set in a firm line. “Eight homes in four years, James. Those kinds of numbers…they’re not something you can just brush off.”
He bit back a growl at the mention of his first name, especially coming from Pepper. She knew, and yet she still used it. Perhaps to get under his skin, show him just how serious this was. Well guess what, damn it, he was very fucking aware of what this meant! He didn't say a word, knew that opening his mouth right then would not help the situation. Bucky also knew that words weren't needed; Pepper could see the flash of anger that settled to a simmer in his eyes.
“So what does that mean for James?” he managed to bite out after an eternity of Pepper’s eyes boring holes into him.
“He’s young, his record is clean. I can keep him in circulation, Bucky, but we both know that he won’t take separation well…I honestly don’t know how long anyone will be able to handle him without you.” Pepper heaved another sigh, tucking a lock of red hair behind her hair. A thick silence settled between them once more, Bucky trying not to feel too proud about how close he and his brother were while Pepper considered something.
It wasn’t unusual for her to drift off into thought mid-conversation, especially where the Barnes boys were concerned. On more than one occasion she’d had to be quite creative when it came to reasons why the brothers should not be split. Her soft spot was the only reason James and Bucky hadn't been ripped apart the first time he’d stuck his foot in it barely six weeks after being integrated into the system. Finally, she resurfaced with the beginnings of a smile tilting up her lips that made Bucky’s heart nearly explode from the hope he was trying desperately to suppress.
Pepper managed to force the smile away and stab Bucky with the sternest expression she could muster given her recent plan. “One more shot, Barnes. One more. This is the last time I can do it – honestly, I don’t even know how its going to work but it will. It has to.” She jerked a finger out the curtained window that let Pepper see into the corridor where James sat on one of the old plastic chairs. “You go out there, look that boy in the eye and swear that you will not fuck this up. For him.”
Bucky’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the curse coming from sweet, determined Pepper. It momentarily stunned him into silence but when her words registered and he followed her finger to the window he gave a grim nod, set his jaw and promised Pepper and himself and James that he would keep them together – no matter what.