Chapter Text
Peter was walking out of the new coffee shop when he spots a familiar face. In that little moment of nostalgia, his mind disconnects from his body as he flashes a bright smile.
“Hey Mr. Barnes, how’s your day been?” He asks.
The realization of what he’s done hit him in the gut as he watches Bucky’s expression change into that of confusion.
“Sorry, but have we met before?” Bucky questions. And if his puzzled expression is anything to go off of, it’s that Peter was an idiot.
“Oh. No, I um- I guess we haven’t. Sorry, you just- you reminded me of someone I know.” Peter replies as his mind supplies the reply (You knew me).
“Oh, alright…” Bucky can tell something is wrong by how the boy is wringing his hands together, “Well, have a good evening”.
“You too…” Peter says, before practically running off.
Bucky watches as the younger one sprints off in the opposite direction. He heads to the spot he and Sam had agreed to meet at, his mind drowning in the thought of what just happened. His train of thought is cut short by a voice that drifts in.
“Looks like winter came early this year” Sam voices.
“Only by three minutes” Bucky retorts. “Still early” Sam replies.
“So, what’s on your mind that’s got you all spaced out?” He asks, while raising a brow.
“It’s nothing…” Bucky mumbles while moving to sit next to Sam on the bench, “Nothing important at least”.
“Hey,” Sam places his hand on Bucky’s “you know you can tell me anything, right?”.
“Yeah… uhm, so, you know how sometimes I forget small things?” Bucky begins.
Sam straightens up with a serious expression now painting his face.
“What happened?” He asks, his voice giving away the concern he’s trying to hide.
“Well, I was uhm- I was walking over to meet you, right?” He starts, while squeezing Sam’s hand.
“Right…” Sam answered.
“Right, so I’m walking past that new coffee shop, the one on 43rd Street, and this kid starts talking to me,” Bucky continues.
“Ok that’s a little out of the ordinary” Sam comments.
“Yeah, but what’s really weird is that he knew me. Like, Sam, he knew my name.” Bucky finishes.
“What did he look like?” Sam questions.
“Short curly brown hair, brown eyes, I think his name was Peter? That was the name on the cup he was holding” Bucky answers, while listing back to the appearance of the young man he saw.
“Peter, no I don’t know anyone named Peter, maybe he knows you from seeing you on the field?” Sam inquires.
“Maybe, but that still doesn’t explain one thing,” Bucky adds in.
“What’s that?” Sam asks.
“Whenever I told him that I didn’t recognize him, I don’t know, he seemed almost sad…” Bucky’s voice trails off.
“That is weird,” Sam agrees. Just then the streetlamp above them lights up, as the sun dips down past the horizon line.
“Well, looks like we better get headed home” Sam comments, and holds out a hand to help Bucky stand up.
“Yeah, yeah ok” Bucky agrees as he takes Sam's hand.
The lock clicks open and Sam enters the apartment with Bucky following him in. Sam opens the fridge to find dinner.
“How do you feel about a 5-day old pizza?” He asks.
“Gross man, you need to throw that out yesterday” Bucky replied while kicking off his sneakers.
“Well I guess we’re getting takeout then, how about shawarma?” Sam asks as he stands up and closes the fridge door.
“Never had it” Bucky replies.
“Oh you’re in for a treat tonight. I get to pick the movie tonight” Sam calls over his shoulder as he sits on the couch.
“So top gun?” Bucky sasses as he makes his way to where Sam is sitting and places a kiss on his temple.
“You know me so well” Sam says, a dopey grin on his face.
Bucky swings, but his hand is caught mid punch by some guy in a red suit.
“You have a metal arm?” The person asks.
He knows this voice, and it feels like he’s heard it before. The dream shifts, he’s in the old avenger's tower, the same guy drops from the ceiling and takes off his mask.
“Hey Mr. Barnes!” He says as the mask is pulled off all the way, letting a mess of curly brown hair fall into place.
“Peter?” Bucky asks, he doesn’t know why but it leaves his lips before his mind can even register it.
“Are you ok Mr. Bucky, you look a little pale, should I get Dr. Banner?” the boy says.
“No, no that’s not-this isn’t right” his breath hitching.
“No!” He shouts while shooting to sit upright in bed, Sam turns on the lamp.
“Hey, hey it’s alright, I’m here, I’m here” he says while rubbing up and down Bucky’s spine with his palm.
“Peter- it’s Peter” Bucky heaves out, his breathing slowly calming down.
“what’s Peter, honey?” Sam asks, placing a kiss on Bucky's shoulder blade.
“I knew him, I knew Peter, and so did you” Bucky explains.
“Sweetheart, I don’t know anyone named Peter” Sam is growing worried.
“You did. He was. He was at the tower; he was Tony’s kid” Bucky rambles.
(Tony’s kid?) Sam thinks (that can’t be right, Tony only ever had Morgan).
“Buck, how about this: after breakfast I call Tony to ask him about the kid, and if we can have a look at the tower, ok?” Sam offers.
“Yeah, yeah ok, that sounds good” Bucky agrees, and sighs as he leans back into his pillow.
“Goodnight” he says before his eyes slip shut.
“ ‘Night, Buck” Sam answers as he lays his head on Bucky’s chest, arm wrapped around his waist.
“Peter?” Tony asks over the phone “no, I’ve only ever had Morgan”.
“Yeah that’s what I said, but he seems set on this idea” Sam replies.
“do you think we could visit the old tower, just to try and find anything?” Tony supplies.
“Sure, it couldn’t hurt” Sam responds, “Thanks Tony, I’ll call you after and let you know if we find anything”.
“Please do, I want to know about this supposed ‘secret child’ you have”. He can hear Pepper in the background of the call.
“Will do Peppermint” Sam chuckles, “Later Tony, and thanks again”.
“Sure thing, bye featherhead” Tony says before hanging up the call.
The elevator door pings before opening up to Tony’s old lab, it’s mostly empty save for a few bookshelves, some boxes of scrap, and a cluttered old work bench.
“If we plan on finding anything, we should start here” Sam says while walking over to a nearby bookshelf.
Bucky heads to the opposite wall and starts digging through a box of abandoned papers. Sam drags his fingers on the shelf, grimacing at the dust it’s covered in.
“Nothing so far” he says while turning to face Bucky, who is now at the desk, holding a framed picture.
“Sam” he calls, not taking his eyes off the faces in the frame “I think I found something”. He hands the frame over to Sam.
“No way…” Sam mutters as he looks at the faces. It’s Tony, no doubt, and… and Peter.
“no way” he repeats “We need to show Tony” he says as his eyes look to meet Bucky’s.
“I know” is all he gets from Bucky in return.