Welcome To The New Age: Bucky/Avengers Fanfiction

Chapter 11

Forty minutes and one passed psych evaluation later, the doctor was filling out the forms to send Bucky home. He was still sickly, and needed support from Steve to stand and walk, but he was well enough to leave the hospital.

As he got into the car that was waiting for him, Bucky felt much better. The fresh air was doing him some good. As they pulled up to the tower, Bucky saw a large banner across the front of the building. It read "Welcome Home Bucky" in large red lettering, and "(and Steve too)" in much smaller lettering, almost as an afterthought. Bucky smiled and pointed it out to Steve who laughed and ruffled Bucky's hair. Steve pulled him out of the car and helped Bucky limp into the tower. In the small living room, all the Avengers were gathered around a cake, all of them wearing party hats.

Bucky took the scene before him in. Tony had a large bottle of booze, which was half gone. He was drunk out of his mind, stumbling around the floor and muttering unintelligible things.

Bruce was sitting on the edge of his chair, looking around the room and nervously wringing his hands. Sam was sitting on a couch, beer in his hand laughing with a very large man with ridiculously large muscles and shoulder length blond hair. He had a booming laugh and bright blue eyes. Bucky assumed this was the famous Thor.

Then, Bucky saw a face that made him freeze in place. The infamous Black Widow. They'd had an encounter once before, many years ago. It was back when Bucky wasn't Bucky. He was only The Winter Soldier. It was the time when he had no name, no friends, no knowledge of anything but how to kill. He'd shot her. Straight through the hip. Bucky wasn't sure he wanted to talk to her, for fear she still wanted to kill him.

Next to Natasha, or as he knew her, Natalia, sat another man. She had her legs wrapped in his and they were holding hands. They each had glasses of wine in their hands and Bucky assumed they were dating.

After a couple more minutes, Tony finally realized Bucky and Steve had arrived.

"Eeeeeeeeeyyyy I know you guys! It's Captain Spandex and his sidekick Hobo Man!" Tony slurred.

"Don't let him get to you, he's a nasty drunk." Steve whispered into Bucky's ear as he faked a smile. "Nice to see you too." He aimed at Stark sarcastically.

The rest of the Avengers all stood and greeted Steve while Bucky stood uncomfortably to the side. Once Steve had greeted all his friends, he turned and frowned at Bucky, beckoning him to come. Bucky stepped forward slowly, suddenly feeling self conscious. He tried to hide his arm behind his back and lowered his head.

"Hey bud, you alright?" Steve asked his friend quietly when he was close enough.

"Just a bit nervous and tired is all." Bucky replied with a weak smile.

"Then let's meet the team." Steve said with an ear to ear grin.