On his thirtieth birthday, Steve decided to cut back his jobs by half. He wanted to travel for fun, not to steal multi-million dollar items anymore. (He still would, of course, if it was something he really really wanted that wasn’t for sale, but, well. Special occasions. And for Bucky’s thirty-first birthday, Steve stole him the oldest ‘modern’ firearm in the world because he knew Bucky would love it. Bucky did.)
Bucky started cutting back on his jobs, too, because traveling the world with Steve or stealing from some rich guy for some other rich guy? No contest.
…
“Remind me,” Steve says, unimpressed, arms across his chest as he stares down at Bucky, “why the fuck you decided to work for Hammer?”
“Pepper Potts said she’d owe me a favor,” Bucky says, slouched in a very uncomfortable chair and trying to hide just how uncomfortable it is.
“And your team?” Steve says, rolling his eyes and going to the counter where are the files are waiting for him. Hardcopy, because Bucky has learned exactly how unsafe electronic files are. Even though Stark complains loudly about it.
“Potts planned it,” Bucky says, tilting his head to follow Steve with his eyes. “Natalia’s the grifter; she got us in. Stark for hacking, even though he kept sayin’ we couldn’t trust Hammer. He’s been fuckin’ annoying with all the I told you sos. And then, well, me.”
Stevie sighs like it’s all awful, turning around to give Bucky his most I am so unimpressed frown. Bucky shoots back with his You know you love me grin.
…
“You’re Captain?” Stark demands, gaping down at Steve. “You’re pocket-sized!”
Steve ignores him, smiling at Potts and shaking her hand. “Thank you for joining us,” she says. “Barnes has told us quite a bit about you and you’re reputation speaks for itself.”
“Thank you for having me,” Steve replies. “I’m eager to get started.”
He actually is, Bucky knows. Hammer would’ve been better off just hiring Bucky at the outset instead of this whole team. When Hammer double-crossed him, Bucky would’ve just killed the fucker and been done with it. But Potts, Stark, Natalia, and Steve?
They’re gonna leave the bastard alive and wishing to God he weren’t.
…
“You truly love him,” Natalia murmurs while Potts explains the plan in full to Steve.
Natalia was why he’d survived and the reason he has a left arm. She also introduced him to Rumlow, who led him to Pierce. Because of that, she thinks she owes him. So he turns to her and says, “You make sure Hammer has no idea Steve’s involved in this and everything’s square.”
She nods firmly, glancing at Steve with a small smile. She asks, “Still retiring after this?”
“That’s the plan,” he says.
…
Plans never survive intact. Hammer’s ruined, his company gutted and his reputation bleeding out, and Potts looks at each of them. “We could do some real good,” she says.
Bucky looks at Steve as Stark says, “Whatever you want, Pep, you know I’m in.”
Natalia adds, “I’ve got red in my ledger. I suppose destroying the corrupt could help wipe it out.”
Steve reaches for Bucky’s left hand, hidden in a dark glove, and says, “It might be fun.”
“Stevie, I’m with you ‘til the end of the line,” he says, so Steve looks back at Potts and nods. “We’re in.”
2/2: Steve/Bucky, Leverage AU
On his thirtieth birthday, Steve decided to cut back his jobs by half. He wanted to travel for fun, not to steal multi-million dollar items anymore. (He still would, of course, if it was something he really really wanted that wasn’t for sale, but, well. Special occasions. And for Bucky’s thirty-first birthday, Steve stole him the oldest ‘modern’ firearm in the world because he knew Bucky would love it. Bucky did.)
Bucky started cutting back on his jobs, too, because traveling the world with Steve or stealing from some rich guy for some other rich guy? No contest.
…
“Remind me,” Steve says, unimpressed, arms across his chest as he stares down at Bucky, “why the fuck you decided to work for Hammer?”
“Pepper Potts said she’d owe me a favor,” Bucky says, slouched in a very uncomfortable chair and trying to hide just how uncomfortable it is.
“And your team?” Steve says, rolling his eyes and going to the counter where are the files are waiting for him. Hardcopy, because Bucky has learned exactly how unsafe electronic files are. Even though Stark complains loudly about it.
“Potts planned it,” Bucky says, tilting his head to follow Steve with his eyes. “Natalia’s the grifter; she got us in. Stark for hacking, even though he kept sayin’ we couldn’t trust Hammer. He’s been fuckin’ annoying with all the I told you sos. And then, well, me.”
Stevie sighs like it’s all awful, turning around to give Bucky his most I am so unimpressed frown. Bucky shoots back with his You know you love me grin.
…
“You’re Captain?” Stark demands, gaping down at Steve. “You’re pocket-sized!”
Steve ignores him, smiling at Potts and shaking her hand. “Thank you for joining us,” she says. “Barnes has told us quite a bit about you and you’re reputation speaks for itself.”
“Thank you for having me,” Steve replies. “I’m eager to get started.”
He actually is, Bucky knows. Hammer would’ve been better off just hiring Bucky at the outset instead of this whole team. When Hammer double-crossed him, Bucky would’ve just killed the fucker and been done with it. But Potts, Stark, Natalia, and Steve?
They’re gonna leave the bastard alive and wishing to God he weren’t.
…
“You truly love him,” Natalia murmurs while Potts explains the plan in full to Steve.
Natalia was why he’d survived and the reason he has a left arm. She also introduced him to Rumlow, who led him to Pierce. Because of that, she thinks she owes him. So he turns to her and says, “You make sure Hammer has no idea Steve’s involved in this and everything’s square.”
She nods firmly, glancing at Steve with a small smile. She asks, “Still retiring after this?”
“That’s the plan,” he says.
…
Plans never survive intact. Hammer’s ruined, his company gutted and his reputation bleeding out, and Potts looks at each of them. “We could do some real good,” she says.
Bucky looks at Steve as Stark says, “Whatever you want, Pep, you know I’m in.”
Natalia adds, “I’ve got red in my ledger. I suppose destroying the corrupt could help wipe it out.”
Steve reaches for Bucky’s left hand, hidden in a dark glove, and says, “It might be fun.”
“Stevie, I’m with you ‘til the end of the line,” he says, so Steve looks back at Potts and nods. “We’re in.”