Work Text:
Bucky watched his own arms turn to dust before everything went black. It was definitely in the top ten most terrifying moments of his life.
Having to watch his own limbs come apart. Turning into small flecks of skin, bone, muscle, blood, his tears didn’t have time to leave his eyes before he was gone. He yelled out for the one person who always made it better but that didn’t help. Deep down he knew they couldn’t help.
“Steve?”
He wanted to cry out. He wanted the tears to fall. But then he was gone. It was black and... orange, he didn’t feel anything. He was dead for all he knew.
It was... peaceful.
He hated it. Yeah, peace was great but he couldn’t deal with peace. No, all he was trained to do was fight. War and chaos was all he knew. It's all he knew.
The silence was so loud. All he could think was what happened to Steve and Sam and everyone else. Did Sam die? Did Steve?
All of a sudden he could feel everything. It felt like he was back with Hydra being pulled apart and put back together all over again. Except the pain wasn’t only in his head this time. It was everywhere.
Then he was falling for a while. After that, he suddenly hit the ground and it was like his nerves were on fire. Being put back together after being taken apart hurt in so many different ways. He convulsed against what felt like pavement.
It was so bright he put his hands over his face hiding behind his hair as well. The convulsing turned into jolts and shakes of pain. He whimpered trying so hard not to cry out. Then everything went black again. This time it was different though.
This time he could hear muffled voices. He felt hands touching him, he flinched and they stopped. They spoke about something he couldn’t hear, too much ringing in his ears, then a soft hand touched him again. He flinched once again but the hand stayed.
His tense body relaxed and then more hands touched him. He was being lifted after that. His arms were around two sets of shoulders. Then more hands lifted him at the waist and shoulders as well. He knew he was heavy, serum side effects.
When he woke up it was less bright. There was less pain. He wasn’t on concrete. He could hear faint voices from a distant room. He looked around to find himself in a prison cell.
This wasn’t a prison he’d been in before. It definitely wasn’t one that knew who he was or else he’d be chained or tied down or something along those lines. He almost banged his head on the upper bed. Right, normal prisons had bunk beds.
He heard a groan from above him and jumped up looking for some kind of weapon. Right, his arm. But then he saw who was laying on the bed. A child.
The kid blinked and leaned up on one arm to look around. The kid couldn’t have been more than sixteen and he was wearing... oh no…
“Mr. Barnes? Did you get all dusty too?” He asked and Bucky nodded in response to the teen.
“Spider-Man right?” He gave the boy a small smile which was returned by the boy.
“I guess you can call me Peter. Peter Parker.”
This was Stark’s little brat he pulled off the streets of Queens. Nat got letters from Pepper and most of the group got to read them. If Steve wasn’t talking about Tony it was the other people around him, Pepper, Peter, and Happy Peter's friends. Sam was always punching Bucky’s arm telling him to listen to Steve and or repeating what is always said.
“Call me Bucky kid.” He said to which the kid nodded and then moved off of the bunk bed.
“Do you know where we are? All I remember is Mr. Stark in space. Then it hurt a lot.” He said to which Bucky placed his flesh hand carefully on Peter’s shoulder.
“He's hurting? Protect!” Bucky winced at the voice but Peter didn’t notice.
“Are you still hurting?” Bucky himself was a bit sore but the boy just shook his head. “Good, let’s find out where the hell we are.” Bucky moved toward the cell door which was locked.
“We both have super strength we can get it open. Just quietly.” Bucky nodded at the kids thinking and got a good grip on the bars ready to pretty much pull the door off its hinges.
“Hey!”
A loud strong voice boomed through the cell block. Bucky moved out of arm's reach putting an arm out holding Peter behind him.
Guns were pointed threw the bars and Bucky backed up in front of Peter so the kid was in the corner shielded by his body. He felt Peter grip the back of his jacket and his heart twisted. He couldn’t let this kid die.
“Please, hurt me all you want but don’t hurt him. He hasn’t done anything.” Bucky noticed who was standing at the cell.
Civilians. In a prison? An older man who held himself like law enforcement. A dirty redneck with a crossbow. One who looked like his brother, older, the serious look told Bucky he’d killed before and wouldn’t hesitate. An Asian man who looked like he wasn’t well trained but still good with the shotgun he was currently pointing at Bucky.
Then there were two women. An older and a younger one. The older held the gun a bit shaky but still looked very able. The younger one looked ready to kill Bucky but also like she’d spare him depending.
“Who are you?” From the costume, Peter was wearing he was surprised they didn’t figure it out.
He looked back to find Peter now had his mask on. He then looked back at the strangers and knew he only had two options. Die or tell them what they wanted. Since they didn’t seem to know who they were Bucky decided to try and gain trust.
“My name is Bucky Barnes.” He didn’t speak about Peter who continued to hide behind him.
Bucky could feel him shivering. The kid was probably still in shock from… dying? They still didn’t know. They needed to find out where they were. They needed to find the others and make sure they were still alive.
“Threat. Protect child.” He didn’t wince this time but ignored it like always.
“I told you it was him, dad!” A kid yelled and the officer-like man shushed him.
“Your kid knows who I am but not you?” Bucky asked and they all gave him a look as if he should be in a nut house.
“He thinks you’re a comic book character. Tell us who you really are! Your friend too!”
Bucky looked back at Peter who made a choice. Bucky watched the mask disappear leaving his young teenage face out in the open.
“Comic book characters?” Bucky asked as Peter got on his tiptoes to see the group over the man’s shoulder. The guns and serious faces faltered when they saw how young Peter was.
“I’m—I’m Peter Parker. Spider-Man. Is that a comic book character?” A child’s face stuck between the officer-like man and the younger redneck.
“Yes! But Spider-Man isn’t real—“ Bucky put his hand on Peter’s chest keeping him behind him as he took a small step forward.
“Where did you find us?” Bucky asked as Peter tried to say something but the soldier turned to glare at him.
“You fell through orange—!”
“Carl get out of here!” The officer said to which the older woman went with him to the right out of Bucky’s view.
Bucky turned to Peter whose eyes were as wide as his. This was not good at all.
“Dr. Strange? Different universe?”
“That’s a stretch.” Bucky knew it really wasn’t much of one but he wanted to think logically.
"We just fought a purple raisin with a rock collection we're past 'a stretch'," Peter said to which Bucky glared trying to keep his smile off his face. "Real question, why are you civilians in a prison?” Peter asked Bucky getting between him and the bars when the boy stepped forward.
“We found this place. Finders keepers.” The one with the crossbow said his southern accent bleeding through into his words. Bucky frowned confused about why they would want this place.
“We don’t want your prison. We want to know where we are.” Bucky asked and the group looked toward the officer-like man who gave them a look as well.
“We’re not far from Atlanta.” The officer didn’t seem to want to give them an exact location. “Why are you here?” He asked again.
“Half the universe just got dusted, man! We thought we did too. Big purple alien, Thanos beat our asses.” Peter said to which there was another yell from down the hall.
“It’s them!”
“Carl be quiet!”
“The hell are you talking about? Thanos? Dusted?” Both of them went wide-eyed and looked at each other.
“Why are you in a prison? Is there something going on in this world?” They all continued to look very confused and some started to get angry.
“This world? What the fu—“
“We’re from a different universe! We think Dr. Strange might have sent us. We didn’t know he was that powerful. I also saw him die before me.” Peter frowned down at himself.
“I’m going to assume that our world is just a story here. Comic books your son is talking about. But we are telling the truth we can prove it to you.” Bucky tried and gave each other a look before the officer motioned to move away to talk privately.
Bucky turned to Peter who fidgeted with his fingers and bit his lip. Bucky put his right hand on the back of Peter’s neck making the boy look up. The teen's eyes were big and filled with sorrow.
“We’ll get out of here kid. I won’t let anything happen to you.” The sorrow in his eyes turned to hope.
“Thanks, Mr. Barnes.”
“You can call me Bucky, Peter. Please don’t call me Mr. Barnes.”
—
Soon Bucky and Peter were out of the cell and inside a large room with tables and a door to the outside. Bucky could run, could grab Peter, and run. They’d make it.
Peter seemed to read his mind and grabbed his wrist. He didn’t look at Bucky but the man looked down at him. These people didn’t seem bad. Just trying to protect their own.
The group in front of them was full of many different people. Old, young, a baby even, different races, different sizes, different backgrounds. They all stood as if to protect the ones near. This was a family created in conflict and trauma. What was on the other side of that exit door?
“Do the thing.” Bucky nudged Peter who still had his suit on for some reason.
Maybe he didn’t have anything else. Bucky sure as hell didn’t. He only had the clothes he was wearing when he got dusted and his knife in his thigh holster. Which was gone that was one of the first things he reached for.
“Do what thing?”
“The sticky thing.”
“Ohhhhh that thing.”
The group in front of them looked so very confused. Then Peter looked to the ceiling and seemed to calculate something.
All of a sudden a web was shot from Peter’s wrist to the ceiling. He was then standing on the ceiling looking down at everyone. The group looked up in shock.
“That’s so cool.” The officer's kid, Carl, said as Peter used a web to lower himself upside down while looking at the group.
“Thanks! I made the webbing material myself.” Peter said a smile on his face as he reached out to show the boy his wrist.
“Wait it doesn’t come out of you?” Carl asked as he poked the web shooter around Peter’s wrist.
“Nope. I’m just super sticky, strong, and have spidey senses.” Peter said getting his feet back on the ground with grace.
“Protect.”
He didn’t necessarily listen but he was feeling uncomfortable that Peter was closer to the group both before and after the word rang through his mind. He moved toward the kid grabbing his arm and pulling him back a couple of steps.
“That enough proof? Can we go?” Bucky asked just wanting to get the kid out of there.
“If you want more proof he can lift a car,” Peter said motioning to Bucky who glared down at the kid.
“This… ‘other world’ you keep talking about?” The officer-like man asked to which the two frowned.
“What about it?” Bucky asked thinking to himself about it actually.
How would they get back? Could they even get back? Did they need the others who were left to avenge them? We’re there any left?
“You said, aliens, my son thinks your superheroes—“
“He is, I’m not.” Bucky quickly corrected.
“What’s this world like? Is there a reason you’re in this prison?” Peter asked diverting the questions.
“It’s shit.”
“Hell on earth.”
Peter’s excitement faded from his face. He’d wanted to see the way the world was without the avengers. Guess it’s a lot different.
“The dead have risen. It’s the end of the world.”
—
Peter got new clothes and a backpack which he stuffed his suit into. ‘Mr. Stark gave me this I’m not losing it’ when Bucky told him that didn’t matter if the world here was at an end.
The kid now wore jeans, boots, a t-shirt, and a green army jacket over it. Bucky didn’t change he kept his blue one-sleeve jacket zipped up, his dark brown cargo pants, and his empty thigh holster—he hoped to get his knife back soon.
The group of survivors showed the two superhero’s the outside world. Bucky trailed close behind Peter as the officer, Rick Grimes he’d introduced himself as, lead them to the fence.
Peter stopped on the pathway just before the bus that was laying on its side. Bucky had been walking so close that he almost ran into the kid. Instead, he just grabbed the kid by the arm staring out at the same thing Peter was.
There were dead people outside the fence clawing at it. Zombies. Bucky never thought he’d ever see the day. He never even liked zombie movies in the first place.
“Bucky?” Peter said to which Bucky squeezed his arm silently telling him he was there. “We’re in Zombieland.”
“That was a terrible movie.”
"You watched it?"
"Sam made me."
Peter looked up at Bucky and raised an eyebrow. "Sam, right." Peter turned away smirking to himself. Bucky rolled his eyes but ignored him. He knew what the kid meant by it. He wouldn't argue with him while these strangers were near him.
They stood there for a while just staring at the undead that clawed at the fence. They groaned and stuck their fingers through trying to get inside. Peter grabbed him by the sleeve of his jacket.
“Bucky?” Peter asked in a different voice than the one he'd just teased the man with. “How do we get back?” He asked looking up at Bucky who wrapped his flesh arm around Peter's shoulders pulling him into his side.
“Comfort. Kill anything close.”
“I'll get you home, kid. Don’t worry.”
—
They told the surviving group more about themselves, to an extent of course. Peter didn't know a lot about Bucky, well, he knows everything he can know without having Bucky tell his side. He did want that, Bucky's side.
Bucky didn't talk much he just stuck by Peter most of the time. The kid liked it, he liked Bucky, and the man made him feel protected. Not that he couldn't protect himself. He could. But it felt nice to have a strong eye on his side ready to fight anyone who looked at him wrong.
Peter told the group a lot about their world, fights, missions, and good things as well. He smiled while talking about his friends, family, and about being Spider-Man. Carl and Beth listened with wide eyes, and amazed looks all around.
“He took your suit?” Peter nodded. “Then a building fell on you and you couldn’t get out?” Bucky continued and Peter shrugged.
“I did get out—!"
“But the suit could have helped?”
“Well I mean I guess but—“
“Gonna kill ‘em when we get back.”
“NO—!”
—
“Who the hell is this guy again?” Bucky asked as they pulled up in front of the mill. Another truck quickly pulled up as well.
“They call him the Governor. And honestly, I don’t know who he is. He’s just killed some of our people, attacked us, and continues to be a threat.” Rick said as everyone got out of their respective vehicles.
“Eliminate the threat.” Bucky ignored that stupid voice in his head again.
“I see you brought company.” The Governor’s voice was calm and it made the hair on the back of Bucky’s neck stand up.
He had an eye patch and held only a pistol on his hip. He stared at Bucky eyeing the metal arm before giving him a smile when he met the man’s eyes again. Bucky didn’t give one back.
“I’m—“
“I know who you are.” Before the man could introduce himself.
“They’ve told you about me.” The Governor clocked his tongue looking over at Rick.
“They didn’t have to tell me shit. I can see it from looking at you.” He said and definitely could.
Bucky had seen many things, and met many people, this man reminded him of one who used to control him—The Winter Soldier—and give him missions. Not just as The Winter Soldier. He saw people like this during the war as well.
“Who might you be? So we’re both on the same page.” He said stepping up to Bucky who just tilted his head.
Daryl stepped up behind Bucky as if to step in if needed. The Governor just stood up straighter as Bucky stared him down, not blinking, not moving, just staring.
“Sargent James Buchanan Barnes.” He said multiple people, not just on the Governor’s side, looked him over once again.
He clenched his metal hand closed into a fist and the groan from the metal on metal was audible to everyone. He knew how to clench his fist just right to do that. It usually made people uneasy, which was why he did it. It was only loud enough for each person to catch because of the silence in that moment.
The Governor as well as a few others looked the arm up and down. The man cleared his throat looking at Rick.
“Well, how about business then?” He said then they moved into the barn along with a blonde woman from the Governor’s side.
—
“Where’d you serve?” A dude from the other side asked. He looked like an army man from today, tough, “I have a big truck because I’m over compensating type”.
“Asshole. Eliminate.” Bucky just continued to stare.
After a while of not responding the guy gave up. Bucky liked the almost silence. There were a few conversations between those around him. Hershel had talked to both the woman, Andrea as he now knew, and another from the other side, a smart scientist man who held a notebook and asked if Bucky would tell him his story. He, again, only stared.
Daryl and the other guy, who he really didn’t care to know the name of, went off after a sound. They took out a few… walkers is what these people called them. Bucky thought it was dumb, Peter just asked what else others called them. The boy was interested in everything here.
Not long after they came back, Andrea had gone with them as well, Rick and the Governor come out of the mill. Bucky didn’t give any of them a last look as he got into the car and Rick drove them off back to the prison.
They didn’t speak about what happened between the two. What agreement they could have come to? Nothing.
When they got back Rick got a hug from Carl. Daryl gave the kid a fist bump. Hershel got hugs from his daughters.
Then a large mass hit Bucky in the torso and he almost lost his breath. He didn’t get reunion hugs. He was only gone for a few hours anyway.
But there Peter was hugging him around his waist burying his face into Bucky’s leather-clad chest. Bucky stood there, arms up as if unsure what to do. As if he didn’t know this kid at all. Which he didn’t.
But Peter was still hugging him. This child hugged him for no reason other than he came back. This kid who he had no idea about.
Then he realized that he and this kid only had each other. It was just Bucky and Peter. He was all the kid had. And he was, only a kid.
He let a small smile lose, very small, and let his arms rest around the boy. Once they did, left around his upper back right around the boy's shoulders holding the back of his head, he relaxed. Peter relaxed into the touch and Bucky didn’t hate it.
It was comforting. He… liked it. When the boy smiled stepping back he craved that connection again. The physical platonic touch of a child caring about you enough to have worried while he was gone. He’d never had that except Steve and… well he wasn’t sure if Sam cared enough to worry.
Peter then talked about his day and bounced on the balls of his feet. Bucky held back his smile as best as he could.
—
When Rick came to Bucky about the deal he seemed nervous. Bucky kept his still, calm, staring, mask over his face.
Sacrificing one of their own to gain freedom they weren’t sure they’d be able to keep?
“Kill to save.”
Rick noticed his wince but didn’t say anything. Bucky just looked from Rick to Daryl both of them seeming unsure. Well, Rick looked unsure Daryl looked like he was uncomfortable. Like he hated this whole idea.
Was he the problem or was this deal the problem? Did Daryl not like him? Wait, why the fuck did he care if Daryl liked him? Why does he care if anyone likes him?
“You already got Merle on board why do you need more muscle?” Bucky asked and Rick shifted looking around. Anyone could walk into earshot of their little secluded corner of the fencing.
“I value your opinion.”
“Liar.”
That tone in the voice made him look away. It was deeper and darker than usual. He hated this version of it. Dark in not only the tone but the meaning behind the word and its placement of it after Rick had said it.
Bucky knew why, his insecurities lived through that voice a lot of the time. Aggressive, violent, and blunt truths.
“You’ve known me less than a week.” Bucky countered and Rick shifted again hand on his hip leaning against the fence.
“So? I’ve trusted some in less time. Besides, there’s no way you’re a bad guy.” Rick said and Bucky scoffed looking away.
“He’s wrong.”
Bucky’s fists clenched his metal fingers scraping the metal of his palm. He looked back at Rick and Daryl to find their faces serious. He shook his head.
“You don’t know me, man.” With that, he walked away toward the prison. Where was Peter? He needed to see Peter the boy always made him smile.
—
Bucky noticed later the disappearance of Merle and Michonne. Daryl and Rick seemed to be freaking out when he saw them in the cells alone.
He then saw Daryl was leaving, Rick wasn’t going with him. Nope. His stupid instincts said that was a bad idea.
He was at the fence faster than the two men could blink. They frowned looking at him confused and he just swung the backpack over his shoulder and asked where they were going.
“I’m goin’ alone. Ma brother took Michonne.” Daryl said and Bucky nodded.
“I gathered that, ya know, from the fact that they aren’t here.” Daryl glared while Rick seemed relieved that Daryl had another person with him.
“You ain’t comin’,” Daryl said but Bucky chuckled.
“I wasn’t asking.”
Daryl glared at him through most of the walk. Bucky ignored the looks trying to be friends with him for the most part.
He didn’t know how long he and Peter would be in this universe. If he had to he could survive with Peter alone without anyone else he could. He just didn’t want to put Peter through that.
When the attempts at trying to get Daryl on his good side didn’t work, he got frustrated. He knew, from the few times he’s seen Daryl interact with people, that he didn’t like people. He didn’t trust easily but those he did trust he would give his life for.
“Why don’t you like me?” Bucky asked as Daryl continued to follow the trail.
When he didn’t answer Bucky asked again. When he didn’t answer that time either he grabbed Daryl by the arm and stopped him making sure they were facing each other.
“Listen, man, I can’t control whatever this is. All I know is I’m now in a world where I have to protect Peter. His safest place is with you and your people.” Daryl’s eyes shifted between Bucky’s not speaking. “I don’t care if you trust me but I’m going to pull my weight around here and help as best I can so Peter can stay. If you want me gone that’s fine, but let Peter stay.” Bucky said eyes continuing to drill into Daryl’s who seemed uncomfortable under the gaze but didn’t look away.
Then movement caught Bucky’s eye behind Daryl. He gave the man one last look before moving past him.
“Michonne?” He spoke and shit looked up from stabbing a walker in the head with her sword.
Daryl rushed past him walking up close to her eyes shoot invisible arrows at her. His body language said, “say the wrong thing and I’ll kill you”.
“Protect from each other.”
He winced but still went after Daryl hoping no fight went on between them. He didn’t want to see either of them hurt. That wasn’t the mission right now.
“Where’s ma brother?! Ya kill ‘im?” Daryl said looking around Bucky who stood between them.
“No, he let me go. He’s going after the Governor on his own.” That made Bucky turn frowning at the woman who looked as surprised as them.
Bucky and Daryl were running after that. Bucky knew Daryl cared for his brother. Stupid loyalty to blood even the guy was the classic bad of USA humanity. Bucky’s seen worse but still.
But he used all his strength knowing exactly where he was going. He got there long before Daryl. He heard shots and screaming and saw walkers eating the Governor’s army.
He didn’t see Merle or the Governor in the ones being eaten. He ran and searched the entire outside and inside of the buildings. Finally, he found him.
“Shit, the hell you doin’ here?” Merle winced from the concrete where he lay a bullet wound in his chest. It looked to be just below his rib cage.
“Daryl was right behind me but he’s not as fast as a super soldier.” Bucky quickly made work with what he had. He didn’t have much. Almost nothing. “Can you breath alright?” Bucky asked as he took his jacket off and then his shirt underneath. He was wearing multiple layers.
“Ya just hurts.” That was good no punctured lung. Bucky ripped the shirt in half using it to put pressure on the bullet wound.
“Okay, can you sit up?” As Merle groaned from the pressure. Bucky then helped him sit up and saw an exit wound. “Alright, no bullet inside your chest. That’s good.” Bucky said pressing the other half of the shirt to his back. “Does it feel better to sit up or lay back?” He asked as Merle’s eyes seemed to get heavy. “Merle!” He yelled making the man’s eyes go wider.
“Ya, fine, like this… better…” he passed out and Bucky cursed.
He tried to think hard about what to do. Pressure on the wound then get him to Hershel. That’s what needed to happen.
Bucky took his other shirt off leaving his torso naked. He had not prepared to help a wounded man.
He tied the shirts around Merle’s torso hoping it would keep too much blood from leaving his body. Hopefully, he’d be okay.
He stood trying to find the best way to carry this man. He was definitely not small that was for sure.
Merle ended up being better bridal style in his arms. Which was fucking hilarious and Bucky would most definitely get punched for it later.
He ran the way they’d came not getting far before running into Daryl who seemed slightly out of breath. This was good because there was also a car not far from them.
“Get the car now!” Bucky said motioning to the car that had open doors.
Daryl quickly got it started up by hot wiring it. Bucky busied himself with trying to get Merle relatively comfortable in the backseat while still being able to sit back there as well. Someone needed to keep an eye on him.
Bucky caught Daryl’s eye in the rearview mirror when the car started up. He got the memo and drove as fast as he could toward the prison.
—
Peter saw Bucky leave earlier with Daryl. Rick told them they were going after Merle and Michonne. Peter worried the whole time they were gone.
A car showed up at the front gate later. Bucky yelled for Hershel out the window as they pulled through the field and the second gate into the courtyard.
Peter watched as Bucky, with no shirt only an unzipped jacket, carrying an unconscious Merle into the prison. Daryl followed and Hershel was already inside.
The teenager moved for the entrance and followed the men inside. He followed their voices and how Carol was running to help.
He slowly made his way over finding Beth coming down the second-floor stairs Judith in her arms. She was called to grab something. She looked at Judith then up at Peter.
“Peter!” She said smiling and moving fast to help him hold the baby. He had never held a baby before. “Support her head and if she starts to cry you just bounce her on your knee. Now go sit. You’re doing great.” She said pointing toward the dining room. That’s what Peter called it at least cause they always ate in there.
He moved away hesitantly as Beth was called away. He bit his lip looking down at Judith who stared up at him with big eyes. She didn’t look unhappy.
Peter sat down at one of the tables looking down the corridor wanting to keep an eye on the others. He looked down at the girl and his face softened.
“Hi, Judith. My name is Peter Parker. I’ve never held a baby before. Do you think I’m doing okay?” Her face scrunched up and he shook his head. “No, no, no please don’t—“ she screeched tears in her eyes.
His overly sensitive ears felt like they were on fire. He looked around for something then remembered he still had his web shooters on.
“I’ve got a party trick for you,” Peter said carefully extending a web a slight bit longer than his middle finger. He bounced it above her and she stopped crying looking up at it curiously.
She giggled and wiggled her arms out of the bundle. Then she was reaching for the web as he smiled bouncing it up in front of her. She liked it. She liked him. Hopefully.
—
Many things happened after that. They hid from the Governor when he came to kill them, they scared him off, he shot up his own people, then they went back to his town to find Andrea. Peter didn’t know her but Bucky held him against his chest when the gunshot went off so she didn’t have to turn. Their group grew.
It was half a year without hearing from the Governor. They were happy and the prison grew to be a home.
Peter liked how his hair grew. He liked it when it got shaggy and about ear length. Almost preventing him from seeing but not quite. Little shorter than Carl’s except it was curly.
Bucky hated his hair. He always tied it up. Always trying to keep it out of his face. Tried to forget about it because it reminded him of such bad things. Beth always put it up for him, in a bun or a half-up bun. He didn’t like the ponytail look or the braids she suggested once.
But then one day he went to Peter with a knife in his hand and red-rimmed eyes. The boy looked up at him concerned and confused. He was worried while others around them looked very concerned. They were in the center of the courtyard after all.
“Cut it off,” Bucky said and Peter frowned. What was he cutting off?
“What am I cutting off?” Peter asked to which Bucky moved fast grabbing a chunk of his hair and bringing the knife to it. Peter was fast too so he grabbed both Bucky’s arms. “Okay! Okay! I get it! I’ll cut your hair for you. Just not here. Jesus Christ. Let’s go somewhere not here okay?”
Peter took the knife from him and grabbed his hand. Bucky allowed himself to be dragged through the prison. Peter grabbed a towel on the way through and a chair as they went out inside the shower room. It was usually only occupied at night so this was fine.
“What do you want? Like medium, short, short-short?” Peter asked but Bucky shrugged sitting on the chair.
“It was the winter soldier's hair, not mine. Every time I see my reflection. I just want to hate myself less.” Peter sagged where he stood behind Bucky.
Hearing him say that. This big strong guy who’s saved the world and overcome obstacles that no one ever has. Obstacles that would kill a normal person.
“Okay, uh, um…” Peter really didn’t know what to say.
He wanted to start listing out all the things that made Bucky good. He wanted to try and convince Bucky that he shouldn’t hate himself. But that wouldn’t help.
“I know a perfect look for you sweetheart.” They both looked up to find Carol in the doorway with a small smile on her face. She had scissors and a different kind of knife in her hand. “I used to cut hair.” She carefully walked up and took Bucky’s chin gently in her soft hand. “I think you should go short on the sides and fade into longer at the top. But still a shorter look. Yeah?” She asked letting Bucky’s chin go. He nodded.
“Please.” She didn’t bat an eye at his red eyes or his desperation.
“I’ll take the towel then Pete!” She smiled warmly at Peter who gave her a silent thanks as he passed the towel over.
Carol left not long after. It was when people started getting sick. After two had died.
Peter wanted to help. He wanted to make this go away. More people started dying and he couldn’t do anything.
He felt so useless in this universe. This wasn’t a place that had use for Spider-Man. This place was kill or be killed. This place was somewhere he’d die if he stepped off the pathway.
He didn’t want to be useless. He wanted to help. He wanted to do something even though he knew he couldn’t.
The kids went to another building away from the prison while others isolated deeper inside the prison. Peter refused to go. Bucky and him were in a standoff with the kids on one side of the courtyard behind Peter and the adults on the other behind the super soldier.
“You go or I’ll make you,” Bucky said but Peter stood his ground glaring up at the man.
“You’re not my father. You’re not uncle Ben. And you sure as hell aren’t Tony. So you can’t tell me what to do.” Peter went to walk past him but Bucky grabbed his arm pulling him back.
“I’d argue that Tony would cut my head off if I let you die here. But I don’t give a shit about him. I’d let him if that happened.” Bucky said and Peter frowned. “I give a shit about you kid. That means I’m gonna treat you like my own blood even though you aren’t.” Something in Peter’s chest warmed. “So go protect those kids and you stay the hell away from us. Please.” Bucky begged eyes pleading with Peter.
“Don’t get sick. Please.” Peter said hugging Bucky who hugged him back letting his lips brush the kid's hairline.
“I won’t.”
He lied.
After a few days of Bucky visiting him then all of a sudden he didn’t show up one day. The next day, Peter’s eyes welled up when Daryl came to the door to see him instead of Bucky. Daryl stood there a sorrowful look etched into his facial features as Peter whimpered.
“He’s dead?”
“Nah, just sick. Goin’ ta get meds with a team now. Don’t worry. He’s strong.”
It was days later when Peter saw Bucky again. By then the sick were getting better. Bucky pulled out of it much faster than anyone else. He had serum running through his veins so he wasn’t surprised.
Peter hugged him tight and never left his side for five days. Bucky didn’t hate it. Not until the kid started talking. But even then he didn’t.
—
The Governor was dead. The prison was destroyed. Everyone was separated.
Peter was alone for a while. Then he found Daryl and Beth outside a burning house.
Bucky wasn’t alone. He fought against the Governor and got hurt only to wake up with Glenn shaking him. He yelled for Peter once they got away but it was no use.
How would they find each other now? He was supposed to protect the kid. He failed. He’d never felt failure worse than this.
Weak. Find him. Protect.
He wanted to give into the voice. He wanted to give over his control but he couldn’t. He had Glenn to worry about. Tara seemed okay. These new people were strange.
Peter had been with Daryl and Beth in the beginning. He was faster than Daryl and used his webs to chase after the car. He got far until it stopped. He was out of breath by the time he landed on the ground behind the car two cops had gotten out.
“Please let her go! She didn't do anything-”
“What the hell are you?” One of them yelled finger on the trigger Peter stepped forward only for him to shoot.
Peter blinked awake thinking it was only a few seconds. He sat up groaning and wincing at the pain in his shoulder. He looked to find there was a bullet wound right below his collarbone in his shoulder. He tried to reach up and over his shoulder to feel for an exit wound. He winced and tried again only to feel nothing.
The bullet was still in his shoulder. Shit.
He held his left injured arm against his chest as he got to his feet. The car Peter had tried to catch up with was gone. His whole body sagged in realizing what this meant.
Beth was gone. Peter looked around as if he would all of a sudden see her. His eyes then stopped on the road behind him. Daryl, where's Daryl?
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” He just kept muttering apologies into the air. He directed them toward Beth toward Hershel, toward Maggie, toward Daryl, toward Bucky.
He gripped his shoulder tightly while muttering “your fault, it's all your fault,” his knees hit the ground and pain erupted throughout his body not just physically but mentally as well. He felt sick to his stomach but every time he dry heaved nothing came up even though he remembers eating before the Governor attacked.
Peter didn't notice the dragging footsteps and the groans until it was too late. He looked up to find a rotting, bloody, ugly face lunging toward him with a loud screech.
He didn’t think he just crawled backward. He screamed in agony at the pain in his shoulder. Didn’t have time, he did not have time to be in pain.
The walker was too close and there were five more behind him. Peter only had a small knife. He hasn’t prepared for this. The prison blew up and he had not prepared for this. He only had a small knife. That wouldn’t help him against six walkers.
He scrambled to stand and shoot a web his left arm against his chest. Going wide-eyed he found that he was out of web fluid. Shit. His other cartridges were with Daryl. Even then he only had four cartridges left.
So he ran. He only looked back once seeing a few more walkers had joined the group. After that, he didn’t look back.
He ran off the road into the forest and kept going one arm up against his chest. He was running further from Daryl though.
The one time he did look back he collided with something ahead of him. It definitely hadn’t been ahead of him a second ago. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the chance to get up and see what— who — it was. All he hoped was that it wasn’t a walker.
—
When he woke up he found himself in a bed. Like an actual bed. Not a cot like at the prison, not a floor, not the outside ground. No this was an actual mattress.
It wasn’t the most comfortable he’s slept on but it felt good. He yawned and sat up finding his arm bandaged.
Whoever it was he bumped into, he was glad it wasn’t a walker. Or a bad guy.
He looked around finding that it seemed to be a home. It wasn’t an apartment or a small cabin. It was a fancy home.
He stood finding himself in only boxers. At least they were the ones he remembers putting on not different ones. That would make him a bit uncomfortable.
Peter found that he had other smaller wounds that were covered with various bandages and butterfly stitches. He moved toward the bathroom to look at his face. He had a couple of bruises and a small scratch on his chin. The back of his head hurt. That’s how he’d been knocked out probably.
He froze when he heard it. The noise he hadn’t heard in what felt like forever.
Laughter.
Children’s laughter. Adult laughter. Happy voices. People just outside his window.
He didn’t recognize this room but maybe… maybe…
Peter ran to the window of the bedroom and looked out it. He did not know where here was but here looked safe. Here looked like there. It looked like before. It looked like home.
So he went to run but stopped. What if this wasn’t? What if there was a bad guy? What the Governor had him? No, the Governor was dead. What if those people had him? The people who took Beth.
So he looked around trying to find a weapon of some kind. He didn’t see anything close to him. He moved for the closed door finding it locked. Not safe.
That’s all his mind told him. Red flag. Red flag!
He easily broke it. When he got out he didn’t find anyone. Good. He needed to hurry then.
Peter looked around eventually in one of the empty rooms on the floor was a gun. A small handgun that was loaded. He took it holding it in both hands ready to shoot whoever got in his way to the door.
He almost got to the door but someone stepped out in front of him just as he got to the bottom of the stairs. He froze gun pointed at the man’s head. He didn’t look like someone from home. This was still a bad place. The apocalypse. Wasn’t it?
“Hey, kid, we’re not gonna hurt you so why don’t you put the gun down?” The man said arms up showing no sign of ill intent.
Peter didn’t feel his spider-sense tingling. Good thing. It was a good thing.
The man stood in front of the large double doors. This place was a mansion. A huge mansion.
The man himself looked clean. His long shoulder-length hair was well-kept. His beard was seemingly trimmed perfectly. His clothes were clean too.
Then all of a sudden he heard a footstep behind him and whipped around gun landing against the chest of a large figure. Peter looked up not having shot right away because well, that’s not who he was.
“Give me the gun kiddo.” The gruff voice of him was one Peter never thought he’d hear again.
“Merle?” Peter whimpered his arms falling to his sides. “You're- you- I-” Peter's breath caught in his throat and he froze. The gun was grabbed from behind and his grip on it tightened.
“Let it go kid,” Merle said grabbing his wrist. Peter let the gun go hesitantly glancing down as Merle let his hand go.
“I'm sorry,” Peter said eyes welling up with tears.
“You ain't got nuttin' ta be sorry fer.” Merle tried but Peter shook his head face screwing up as he brought his arms up to the back of his neck.
“Daryl, I left him I'm sorry. They- they took Beth and I went after her and- and-” Peter started to hyperventilate as Merle took him by the shoulders.
“Kid, hey, Hey! Peter!” Merle followed him to the ground as he went to his knees. “Calm down kid. Just- just breathe!” Merle really didn't know how to deal with sensitive kids.
“Can I?” The man knelt behind Peter who was curled in on himself with Merle's tense hands on his shoulders.
“Peter, this is Jesus.” Merle motioned to the man he called Jesus.
“Hey, Peter, I need you to take deep breaths, okay?” He carefully lay his hand upon Peter's shoulder. “In and out like me.” Jesus let Peter watch as he took a slow deep breath in and then one out.
Peter watched him then took a shaky deep breath in and held it for three seconds. Then he let it out as shaky as his breath had been on the way in. His eyes didn't leave Jesus' bright blue ones.
He fell back into Merle's chest only for him to go stiff. Comfort was not something he was able to do. He had no experience with it so what was he supposed to do with this fragile child?
“You okay kid?” Merle asked and Peter nodded seeming to shift back into Merle more. The man swallowed and tried to move away his arms moving away from the kid keeping the distance.
Jesus saw how uncomfortable Merle seemed and smiled at Peter. He lay his hand on the boy's shoulder. Peter looked up at him with wide eyes that made the man's face soften.
“Peter?” The boy nodded. “Merle brought you here. You'd been shot we patched you up.” He said to which Peter looked around. This lobby was beautiful. Peter thought it looked straight out of the 1800s.
“Where are we?” Peter looked up at Merle backing away so he could make eye contact.
“We call our camp The Hilltop. It's safe here for you.” Jesus said to which Peter looked up at the man unsure. He then looked back at Merle who nodded.
“'s been three days since, kid. I had my doubts.” Merle said looking up at Jesus who nodded agreeing with it.
“You definitely showed those doubts.” Jesus' eyebrows were at his hairline. Then he leaned toward Peter. “He punched our leader in the face,” Jesus said making Peter look up at Merle who glared at the other man.
“Gregory is a fuckin' asshole.” Merle practically growled out to which Jesus just sighed nodding his head defeated
Peter later met the leader, Gregory. He stood next to Merle innocent eyes wide head tilted slightly as he watched Paul, Peter found out that was Jesus' real name, trying to convince his leader to let them stay. Paul wasn't doing so great at it.
Merle seemed irritated by it. The bruise that highlighted Gregory's eyes was pleasing to see. Peter wanted to turn and smile at the larger man beside him and say he was proud. Violence was only a good thing if it was justified. This guy was ignorant and probably hadn't spent a single moment outside these walls since this all began.
Peter hadn't been in this world as long as Merle or his friends had but he knew the rules of it. He knew that these people couldn't just get by with only Paul as their scavenger. These people needed Merle and him whether they wanted them or not.
“We don't need them, Jesus! For the last time. They will leave immediately.” Gregory said sipping his whisky.
“We aren't leaving.” Peter blurted out crossing his arms as the room went silent. “From what I've seen Jesus is the only one who goes outside these walls, he could slip up and die. Not saying you will! You seem perfectly capable but it happens to everyone! And so Merle and I can go with him or train others to fight so you have more capable people to go outside the walls.” Peter said eyes still holding that innocence even though he just slapped Gregory in the face. With his words of course.
“No, thank you, kid. You don't seem like much of a fighter.” Gregory said looking Peter up and down to which he stepped forward.
“Let's go a few rounds then!” Peter yelled as Merle held him back.
“Kid, we all know ya can beat his ass. Ya don't needa prove shit.” Merle said before turning to Gregory who glared. “We're gonna stay and we'll pull our weight.”
“Good luck finding a place to stay-”
“They can stay with me!” Paul offered to which Peter smiled. “My trailer has a couch. We got blow-up mattresses for the floor.” Paul said with a warm smile as Peter looked up at Merle who nodded.
He had just been sleeping in the armchair in the corner of Peter’s room before. The recovery room as Paul had called it.
After that Paul brought the two back to his trailer. Merle flopped down onto the couch feet up on the coffee table while Peter looked at the overloaded bookshelves. It made him think.
“I’m never gonna be able to watch Star Wars with Ned again.” He muttered to himself but it was so quiet in the trailer the other two men heard.
“I got comic books in there. I know it’s not the same but—“
“Where?” He said wide-eyed wondering if he’d find them of himself. Carl had said they were comic book characters and if Paul had comic books.
“Just a few.” He said pulling a pile from on top of the shelf. It was about ten different comics, some a bit torn and folded but still very much readable.
The top one made Peter smile. Iron Man. On the front, it was an animated Tony his suit larger behind him. Pepper and Rhodey were smaller and off to the side.
Each was different. Not all we’re about his universe. There was the Iron Man one, a Captain America one, there were these two others called x-men. Then some not marvel ones, DC it had said at the top, three of those. They weren’t bad but he liked his universe ones, Marvel as they were called.
There was another not superhero-related comic book. It wasn’t bad but not important to his point. He needed to read the one about his universe, the Marvel ones.
The last two, coincidentally, were about him and Bucky. Except Spider-Man wasn’t alone in this comic. This had never happened to him but it was still interesting to read about. The other character was Wade Wilson or Deadpool. He was more violent but funny too. Maybe he existed in a different universe.
“Reading about yourself?” Merle asked as he came through the front door. It was dark out now.
“I’m curious about what comic me is like. Where’s Jesus?” Peter asked as Merle closed the door behind him no Paul in sight.
“Told meh ta come get ya fer dinner. Which is a ‘community event’ so we have ta go.” Merle used finger quotes while rolling his eyes.
“We should make nice with people here. Then maybe Gregory won’t try to kick us out again.” Peter said sticking the other comics inside the Spider-Man one so it would save his page.
“These guys ‘re stuck up. They haven’t been out in the real world!” Merle said but Peter just made his way to the door.
“I wasn’t from this world and now look!” Peter said as he passed Merle opening the door. “We’re besties now. Right?” Peter made sure to look as innocent as possible while Merle just rolled his eyes.
“Move yer ass kid.”
The dinner wasn’t bad. The food was really good and the people seemed nice. Peter was nervous in the beginning but Paul just bumped his shoulder and smiled warmly at him.
A young woman with a teenager beside her asked his name. Peter smiled and introduce himself then Merle who grumbled. They were sisters, Annabel and Jessica.
“He’s a little rude but oddly likable.” Peter got an elbow to the gut for that.
There were many people who were eager to meet new people. Merle had apparently spent most of his time with Peter while he was unconscious.
Paul introduced Peter to the doctors that saved him. He thanked both of them smiling widely. One was very nice the other seemed… quieter to say the least. They were brothers.
Then Peter met a woman and her small boy he looked to be about three. He was adorable. Kim and her son Nate. Peter made the little boy smile and said nice things about the mother being very polite. He was praised for it even.
“Your son is very polite.” She smiled at Merle who shook his head but before he could say Peter wasn’t his son she was already picking her son up and walking away.
Merle rolled his eyes when Peter smiled and teased him about it. Merle just teased him right back about how Annabel had looked at him over dinner.
—
They stayed at Hilltop for many days. Peter thinks it was a month at least. But one day when Merle was out on a run a group came through.
Peter’s senses were on fire when he woke to screaming. He’d just wanted to take a peaceful nap. Peaceful!
When he got outside the trailer he saw why there was screaming. There were strange people destroying things all over while the Hilltop people were kneeling in the center guns trained on them. A man with a bloodied bat stood in front of them.
Peter’s heart dropped seeing the bat pointing at Paul. He ran as fast as he could dodging multiple men he had never seen before.
He just got in front of Paul looking up at the man with the bat now pressing against Peter’s chest. He looked at the strange man pleadingly.
“Kill me instead—“
“Peter—“
“Shut up!” Peter yelled to him wondering where the hell Merle was. Merle would protect him, them, he would. But he was on a run. So Peter had to.
He looked back at the man who raised an eyebrow. He tilted his head looking Peter up and down. It made the boy shiver slightly.
“Negan. You’re name’s Peter?” He asked pulling the bat away and up so it rested on his leather-clad shoulder. He nodded and Negan had this slick smirk on his face that made Peter want to throw up or punch him.
“Peter don’t—“ Negan silenced Paul with a kick to the chest.
“Let the boy speak.” Negan said smiling as Paul went to the ground gasping for air. “You’ll die for him?” Negan looked down at Paul as if he was just a piece of trash under his foot.
“I’d die for all of them,” Peter spoke without a single hesitation.
“No…” Paul gasped out.
Negan tilted his head looking the boy's face over. His tongue darted out dragging his bottom lip between his teeth. Peter breathed deeply knowing there were many outcomes for this situation. There were only two logical ones.
“Would you live for them?” He asked to which Peter hesitated. Only for half a second barely noticeable.
“Yes.” Half a second.
“Then you wouldn’t mind coming to live with me?” It was more of a statement than a question. Peter knew there wasn’t another option. If he didn’t go Paul or someone else would die.
“Pete no, please,” Paul begged hand gripping Peter’s wrist.
“Yes.”
Paul got half a hug from Peter before he left. The words he whispered into Paul’s ear will forever haunt him. “Keep them safe for me.”
When Merle got back later he had a buck slung over his shoulders. He looked for Peter before Paul grabbed him.
Merle immediately understood the look on his face. It was one of sorrow and guilt.
“Is he dead?” His voice was only slightly shaky.
“I don’t know,” Paul explained what happened and Merle wanted to kill them. They didn’t know where the Sanctuary was or how many people they had or anything even close to that.
So it was hopeless. The Saviours came and went multiple times and Merle tried to follow once only to get shot in the leg. A threat was uttered that if they even tried it again Peter would be killed than the rest of them.
Paul and Merle were the only scavengers and they found another large community under the Saviour's control. The Kingdom, the leader was King Ezekiel. Merle thought he was pretentious but he seemed alright. Definitely better than Gregory.
Then one day while Paul was out on his own for a few days he came upon two men and a large truck. Paul tilted his head hearing their names. Rick Grimes and Daryl.
Daryl. That’s what Merle said his brother's name was.
He couldn’t take the chance that these were Saviours though. So he jacked their truck and went running. It didn’t go too well for him though.
They caught him and it was a cat-and-mouse game both just trying to get the truck with supplies. Neither got it in the end. The truck ended up in a lake and Paul woke up in the back of a car. He pretended to be asleep biting the inside of his cheek to prevent from laughing at multiple points.
Eventually, he was locked in a white room. He found a glass of water and a cookie, which was pretty good he wouldn’t lie. But he wanted to check out what these people had. So he slipped past Daryl out a window and made his way around.
He made his way into Rick’s house last. He found the man naked with a woman. They jumped at his voice and pointed their weapons at him. He raised his hands in the air unarmed.
“We should talk.” He glanced between them but his eyes didn’t leave their faces. “I’ll wait outside.” He said moving for the door as the woman grabbed her clothes and so did Rick.
He found himself with a gun to the back of his head just looking at a painting on the wall. It must’ve been Rick’s kid, he seemed strong ready to protect his family, and it reminded him of Peter.
Not long after both Rick and the woman appeared then multiple people stormed up the stairs guns in hands. He just raised his arms again not looking bothered.
“You wanna talk? Let’s talk.”
—
Paul told them about his settlement and how impressed he was with how they were doing weapons-wise, food-wise not so much. He spoke about how they could do business and let it slip he knew of other communities, well just the Kingdom.
The whole time he eyed Daryl who paced beside him. His eyes also moved over the man with the metal arm, Bucky. They’d all introduced themselves and he’d done the same.
Now that they knew each other and what they could do for each other he had to ask. Especially since they seemed like very nice people and they fit Merle and Peter’s descriptions.
“Dixon.” He spoke looking up at Daryl who froze eyes moving to Rick for a moment before going back down to him. “That’s your last name right?”
“How the hell do ya know that?” Daryl growled out stepping closer so he towered over the man. Paul stood only half an inch shorter than the man.
“I’d assume it’s the same as your brothers, yes?” He asked which had the air in the room changing. Daryl stepped back breath leaving his lungs face changing to both anger and hurt. “Merle?” Daryl sucked in a breath.
“You know ‘im? He’s alive?” Daryl asked to which Paul nodded.
“He came to our gate covered in blood carrying a boy with a gunshot wound. Good thing we have doctors.” Had. They only have one now.
“A boy? Brown eyes? Curly hair?” Bucky looked hopeful and Paul smiled slightly.
“Peter Parker.” He said to which they all let out relieved sighs. Paul’s face just fell “But uh, I don’t know if he’s alive. I’m pretty sure but…” he trailed off looking away as everyone questioned him.
“But what?!” Bucky stood as Maggie behind him grabbed his arm to keep him from going further.
“A man named Negan took him.”
—
Getting Peter back was all that mattered to Bucky for a long time after that. They were at war. Many things were happening. They would attack and take the Saviours but first, they’d meet with Gregory.
Merle and the others reunited when Paul brought them back. The Dixon brothers hugged for the first time since they were young. Merle didn’t expect anything from anyone else. He got some nods, handshakes, and a half hug from Carol. Then Bucky hugged him and thanked him for taking care of Peter.
“Wasn’t nothin’ he’s a good kid,” Merle said to which Bucky nodded looking away. “We’re gettin’ ‘im back,” Merle said anger in his eyes.
They tried to get him back but Negan wasn’t someone who went down easy. They went to take him out but it turned out just to be an outpost. Then they were met by a lot of his men, an ambush.
Glenn and Abraham were dead. Daryl was taken.
Merle and Bucky were with Paul and the others when it happened. And when they heard, although Merle never really knew either of them, he gave Maggie his condolences. She gave him a weak sad smile.
Bucky hugged her and she cried in his strong arms for a few minutes. He was the big strong super soldier with the metal arm that made everyone feel safe.
He’d been told that many times and to be that compared to the alternative felt so good. The alternative, the words used to describe him in his universe, he’d gotten used to but it doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
Dangerous. Killer. Weapon. And many many more.
Here he was just another survivor, a strong comforting shoulder to cry on. It felt good to be that. That he wasn’t known here, no one would look at him with disgust immediately. The only reason people would ever think he was dangerous was because in this world everyone was a danger.
Bucky stood by Glenn and Abraham’s graves later just staring down at them both. He should have been there. He should have protected them.
Failure to protect.
He winced openly at the voice. No one was around to see so on a sharp intake of breath he wiped his wet cheeks. He was close to everyone in Rick’s little group. Every death hit him hard.
He couldn't let Peter die. He knew he had to save the boy but he didn’t know how. The kid was his responsibility here.
—
Peter didn’t like it at the sanctuary. They tried to bribe him and Negan tried to bed him. And he hated it all. He knew Negan wouldn’t rape him and wouldn’t let anyone else do so. But it still made him uncomfortable.
He was there for a while before anything major happened. By major he means Daryl and Carl. He saw Daryl before he saw Carl. When Peter first laid eyes on him he froze.
He was walking the halls as he normally did around the early hours. His sleep patterns were permanently fucked from being awakened at all hours by walkers banging on the walls.
It was then that he saw Daryl, just a glimpse of him. Alone and naked in a concrete cell. He saw Dwight giving him food, it didn’t look too appetizing though.
Peter got a bloody nose, a black eye, and a cut to his forehead for asking them to let him go. When he went to Negan the man brushed him off but punished those who “busted my wife’s pretty face”.
He left Daryl small little notes, two of them. One said it was him that all he had to do was wait and Peter would get him out. The second was after Carl and Daryl both saw him in person along with the other girls.
The three of them had all froze, eyes moving from one to the other. Peter moved toward them both but Dwight stopped him from doing so. Before Daryl and Carl could get involved Negan and two guys got between them.
“How do you know them, Petey?” Negan asked as Dwight stepped back. Peter flinched away from the calloused hand that now lay on his cheek.
“We uh, I…” Peter looked for any indication that he should lie from either of them but didn’t find one. “We knew each other like a year ago. I thought they were dead.” Peter looked up at Negan big watery eyes.
“Aw, well unfortunately Daryl doesn’t get the privilege to interact with you. Carl, well he killed some of our people. I’m taking him home now.” Negan turned to give Carl a look before turning back to Peter.
He shivered when the lips hit his cheek. Negan told him to stay where he was and Peter nodded.
Carl hesitantly followed Negan out of the room Daryl was being pushed by Dwight and another guy. Peter knew he had to get Daryl out now. As soon as possible.
—
Peter put a note under Daryl's door after Negan left knowing now was the time. He'd gotten as many people away as he could.
He walked past the door not long after sliding the note underneath and saw it wide open. He ran for the nearest back door exit hoping to make sure Daryl got away.
Instead, he found the man wandering the halls as if he were lost or looking for something. No, no, no, he was supposed to be gone already. Why is he still here he doesn't have much time left.
“Daryl!” He yelled quietly hoping to not alert anyone. The man whipped around and looked relieved. He then grabbed Peter by the arm.
“We gotta go now!” Daryl said and Peter wasn't sure if he should or not. If he did they wouldn't have someone on the inside. They needed someone on the inside to win this war.
He pulled his arm from Daryl's grip just as they got to the back exit door. It was right by the vehicles so they had a few seconds. Peter knew Daryl would argue.
“You gotta go,” Peter said making Daryl tilt his head and frown.
“Nah, you ain't stayin' and I ain't leavin' without ya,” Daryl said grabbing his wrist a bit lighter this time. “Come on kid.” But Peter shook his head.
“I have to stay. You guys need someone on the inside.” Peter said as footsteps ran toward them and an alarm went off.
“Peter! Daryl! Perfect.” They both looked over to find Paul. Peter smiled and lunged for a hug which the man returned. “We gotta go Pete hugs later.” Paul pushed the door open behind Daryl giving his arm a comforting squeeze and a smile.
“You guys go. There are bikes right outside you can hot wire it or something just go please.” Peter begged pushing them out the door but Paul took his arm and dragged him out too.
“We're not leaving you here. Everyone is worried, Merle's ready to come in guns blazing, and Bucky is going out of his mind. Peter...” Paul pleaded but Peter just smiled.
“This is a war and you need someone on the inside—” Peter tried to convince Paul but Daryl interrupted.
“They'll know it was you,” Daryl said to which Peter shook his head. “They know ya know me, kid.” Peter's eyes fell to the ground. He thought about the things that would happen to him when Negan got back and found out it was him.
“We have to get out of here.” Neither had ever seen Peter so afraid.
—
When Bucky made it to Hilltop with the others he was happy to see Maggie and Sasha. He might have also given Merle a small side hug that no one saw.
“Jesus found somethin’.” Merle smiled widely making them all frown in confusion while Maggie and Sasha also smiled a little.
It was a small win. They had to celebrate the small ones and bring hope back to the group.
Just then Paul, Daryl, and Peter came around the corner of a trailer. No one noticed the closeness between Daryl and Paul they were just happy the two who had been taken were back.
Peter stood leaning against the corner he'd come around and watched the reunion. Bucky's eyes never left Peter's.
There were hugs all around a particularly long one for Rick and Daryl, not blood but still brothers. He got to Bucky who wouldn't look away afraid of Peter disappearing. Daryl looked back at Peter whose eyes shifted to him and he stepped forward.
“He's alright man,” Daryl muttered to which Bucky tilted his head eyebrows drawn inwards as he stepped toward the boy.
Peter had only taken a few steps toward them. He broke into a run when Bucky's face changed and he stepped toward the boy. Everyone watched as the two collided.
Bucky had his arms around the kid, one around his torso and the other cradling the back of his neck. Peter's hands clutched at Bucky's shirt keeping him close sobbing into his shirt. Bucky went down on his knees cradling Peter like a child.
“I'm sorry, kiddo. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.” He muttered into Peter's ear only for the boy to pull back shaking his head tears running down his cheeks.
“No, no, it's not your fault. We got separated. Just happy you found me.” Peter pressed his face into Bucky's neck as if to be safe.
“Was so scared you were dead, kid,” Bucky muttered into his hair eyes wide with tears.
“You found me,” Peter muttered arms winding around the hundred-year-old man. “You found me.”
—
The war went on between them and the Saviours. People died on both sides but they won eventually. They kept as many people alive as they could. Including Negan.
Peter’s head was filled with Maggie’s screams as she begged for his death. Her screams weren’t loud but the complete and utter pain in her voice as she wailed made more than a few flinch.
“We have to make it right!” She cried out over and over as Michonne held her back.
Peter understood letting Negan’s followers have a chance but not the man himself. Negan made these choices for his people, he killed so many people, their people. Like Sasha, like Abraham, like Glenn.
It made Peter fume knowing Rick was saving the man who’d killed their friends, their family. His hands tightened into fists and he bit his lip so hard he tasted blood.
Then the harm he caused himself stopped as soon as a hand lay upon his shoulder. He glanced over finding Bucky staring at the scene of Negan being saved with darkness in his eyes.
Peter couldn’t hear it but inside Bucky’s head was that dreaded voice telling him to run forward and do what Rick wouldn’t let Maggie do. He almost gave in but then Peter’s hand landed on his squeezing gently.
He glanced down at the boy and through their eyes passed a knowing look. Then Bucky squeezed Peter’s shoulder in a simple understanding of what would happen after this.
Peter hated this world. He hated that this violence was a necessity. That this killing and war, beyond his imagination before coming to this world, was necessary.
He knew it was necessary but he could still hate it. Hate it more than anything in this universe or the next.
—
Negan barely even gets a chance to see every corner of his cell. No Bucky got to him before he could.
He’d only been in there for a couple of hours. Bucky channeled his training with HYDRA getting in and out without even a glance from a passerby.
Success.
The voice made him wince while he washed his hands of the blood. He didn’t know how long he stared into that mirror but when he snapped out of it there were voices outside.
He saw a crowd gathering down the street where the cells were. They were hauling a body from it covered in sheets but everyone knew who it was.
Bucky found himself staring through his window down at Peter. The kid's eyes held such knowledge no one else had.
No one, until Daryl came to his house that night. Peter had already come back to the house earlier that day right after it happened.
They hadn’t talked about it but the look in Peter’s eye wasn’t any different than it had been before all this. Since this had all started, since they found each other in this universe, the look in Peter’s eyes had become one of love. He had never felt so loved by someone, so cared for, so willing to kill for someone.
Yes, Peter knew that May, Tony too, cared for him so much. He knew they’d do anything for him but goddamn this universe was brutal. It could tear anyone apart just by glancing at it. So he hadn’t been sure if his parental figures would be able to do the things Bucky had done for him here.
Bucky hadn’t had another care for him like Peter either. He knew for a fact that Steve wouldn’t last in this place. The killing, constant war, and violence for survival. He wouldn’t be able to do the things that were necessary to live peacefully in this place.
“Ya did it didn’t ya,” Daryl said once Bucky had invited him in.
It wasn’t a question it was a true statement and Bucky wished he had a beer right about now. His fridge was pretty empty at the moment though. Daryl closed the door behind him and stood there a few meters from the soldier.
“I think you already know the answer to that,” Bucky said eyes never leaving Daryl even when the man shifted on his feet and then moved closer.
“How’d ya do it?” Daryl whispered as if someone was listening to them.
That was possible, Peter was just upstairs and his hearing was good enough, but the kid was asleep. Bucky hoped he was at least.
He looked down at his hands as if the blood was still there. It was long gone from under his fingernails and the divots of his knuckles. Scrubbed so hard it hurt.
“Made him suffer if that’s what you want,” Bucky said hoping to god he didn’t ask for more detail but when he looked up to meet Daryl’s eyes his hopes were crushed.
“Wanna know how.”
Bucky knew what this was to Daryl. To Maggie in the near future knowing Daryl would tell her about this conversation. It was closure.
They’d known Glenn longer than Bucky or Peter had. They had every right to make sure that this man got what he deserved.
So when Daryl’s hand grabbed him by the shirt stopping him from pulling too far away he gave in. The desperation in Daryl’s eyes made Bucky finally agree.
Daryl didn’t flinch at the gory details of how Bucky had tortured Negan for an hour before finally ending it. He wished he could’ve gone for longer but he couldn’t have with how little time he had before another guard came by.
The guy had been snarky and rolled his eyes when Bucky first got there but by the end, he was begging for it to just end. Bucky told him about his time with HYDRA, about what he'd done, how he knew what to do with Negan to make him pay. Bucky knew that Daryl wasn't the type to comfort someone.
“Enough of my shit. Want a beer or something?” Bucky asked standing up from the couch and moving toward the kitchen.
He pulled the last two beers out of the fridge even though he didn't get an answer. Bucky moved back to the couch holding two bottles by the necks in one hand. He sat back down next to Daryl.
Daryl took the bottle offered to him while Bucky sipped his wishing that it actually affected him. They sat in silence for a long while just sipping their beers and starting off at the unlit fireplace in front of them.
Then Daryl turned to Bucky who felt eyes boring into the side of his head. It brought his attention to the other blue eyes connecting with each other. Bucky gave him a small smile before Daryl glanced down and then moved forward.
Bucky went wide-eyed when the warmth of another pair of lips touched his. He was tempted to lean in, he hadn't been touched in so goddamn long it would be nice, but all he could think of was someone else.
He just wished that it was someone else kissing him. Someone who wasn't here, someone who was gone, someone who wasn't Daryl. So he pulled back finding Daryl's eyes opening to meet his. When they did he jumped from the couch heading for the door.
“Daryl wait!” Bucky jumped from the couch following him. Bucky got there just in time to close the front door Daryl had been trying to open.
“Man just let me leave!” Daryl yelled but Bucky kept his vibranium hand on the door.
“I'm sorry—” Bucky tried but Daryl just stepped away from him.
“Whatever man—!”
“It's just cause there's someone else.” Bucky's voice cracked as he leaned back against the door. “And I would, I want to, badly but I...” he paused flesh hand going to his face.
Daryl stared at him as Bucky thought of the last time he was in his universe. Of the last time, he had seen him. He took a few shaky deep breaths and looked up at Daryl with tears in his eyes.
The thoughts over not just these past few seconds but the past...months? Years? Bucky hadn't kept track of the time he and Peter had been here.
“His name's Sam and I love him. I have hope that I'll get back, maybe I can't do anything from here but I believe that they're okay over there, in my universe.” Bucky said glancing over at Daryl who hadn't looked away.
Daryl hesitated but did eventually nod in response making the other give a relieved smile. He liked Daryl, he was a good friend, loyal, caring, and he was family now.
“'was thinkin' of someone else too.” Daryl practically whispered and if Bucky's abilities hadn't been heightened with the serum all those years ago he wouldn't have heard it.
Bucky thought back to the people Daryl interacted with. Rick could be who he was talking about but those two were brothers now and he had Michonne. Maybe back in the prison but that look in Daryl's eyes had faded into something else as time went on.
He thought about all the other options and one stuck out in his mind. Someone that seemed to hang around Daryl a lot these days and even during the war. Someone new to them but most had taken a liking to.
“It's Jesus, right?” He asked and the blush upon Daryl's face returned brighter than before.
“How'd ya—”
“I was trained to notice even the smallest details about people,” Bucky said and that was true but also Jesus flirted with Daryl so obviously. “Also he's not subtle when it comes to flirting with you,” Bucky said a smile appearing on his face. Daryl looked up at him not with shock but more sadness.
“Don't know how ta do that,” Daryl said making Bucky lean back against the door sighing.
“Flirting in the 40s was different than it is now, so I can't help you there. Sorry.” Bucky said and Daryl looked a little disappointed.
“I can help!”
They both whipped around to find Peter standing at the bottom of the stairs in his pajamas that had little iron mans on them. Merle had got them for him when he had been living at Hilltop. At first, it was a joke but Peter wore them every night. He was gonna be nineteen in a few months but he was still the little kid they all knew and loved.
“How long ya been there?!” Daryl asked ready to run out the door again.
“All I heard was you two talking about who you're in love with. Usually, girls do that but I don't judge.” Peter said smugly as he moved to the kitchen for a glass of water.
“You're an ass.”
“Screw you.”
Peter just giggled as he filled up his glass of water. He moved to the living room sitting on the couch. The two older men glared at Peter who lounged back with a smile.
“It's late go back to bed,” Bucky said making Peter roll his eyes.
“Who are you, my father? I'm an adult.”
“Then you can go live on you're own,” Bucky said making Peter narrow his eyes at the man.
“Maybe I will. I'll bring Carl and Enid, maybe Alden.” Peter said giving them a small smile and they both knew that smile.
“Alden? You mean the Savior?” Bucky said making Peter go wide-eyed realizing what it had sounded like.
“First of all, he's an ex-Savior. Second of all, not what I meant.” Then Peter thought for a moment. “But I mean he's not bad...” Peter looked away from the two and smiled thinking of the interactions he's had with the ex-Savior. It wasn't many but they had all been good and kinda flirty.
“No!”
“Not happening kid!”
“Awe my favorite dads protecting little old me from scary potential boyfriends.” Peter teased making the two scoff or roll their eyes. “Anyways, Jesus and Sam huh?” He said sipping his water imagining it was tea, he wished Ned and MJ were here. They'd love this.
“Get out of our business.”
“But I can help! I've had crushes and girlfriends and boyfriends and all that.” It wasn't an outright lie but it wasn't the whole truth either. Girlfriends were singular and Liz hadn't really been a girlfriend, more of a crush he went to homecoming with. Boyfriends he hadn't had either more of a single dude his age Tony had introduced him to. Harry? Henry? Harley? Yeah, that sounded right. He felt bad for not remembering. “Let me help?”
—
Peter did help Daryl with flirting which Jesus seemed to be impressed with. Peter gave him a lot of material but Daryl was only comfortable with a few comments here and there. Both Bucky and Peter saw the two and they looked happy, not together yet but they enjoyed each other's company.
“When we get back I'll help you with Sam,” Peter said with a smile as he and Bucky watched Daryl and Jesus unload a supply truck together. They laughed and gave each other friendly touches. Well, Jesus did, Daryl just blushed.
Bucky didn't say it but he felt like they'd never get back. They can't do anything on this end. They don't have Stark or Banner or Shuri to help. Peter said he'd try but they both knew it wasn't any use. This world wasn't as advanced as theirs so it wouldn't have the Stark tech they'd need.
The two didn't think about it though. They just watched on and lived with the family they'd created here. It was beautiful and tragic and all they had was each other. But it wasn't bad like that.
It was quiet now so the two from another universe just lived as if they belonged here. A few said they did. They were told that this was a miracle and that they had been brought here for a reason. The two of them still missed their families though. Sam, Tony, Steve, May, everyone they knew from over there.
But they had family here too and loved them all.
Since there was no war anymore everyone moved freely but cautiously between the communities. Peter went back and forth to Hilltop with Daryl to see Merle and Jesus as well as Maggie and Hershel. Sometimes Bucky or some others would come along with them other times it was just the two of them.
Bucky liked his place in Alexandria with Peter even if the kid wasn't there all the time. He loved babysitting Judith and Gracie. He loved spending time with Peter. He loved his watch shift with Daryl. He loved everything about this place except for the death.
There might be more of it than where he came from but he still loved the people here and how they all lived together. He barely heard the winter soldier in his head anymore. He hadn't really noticed it until after they'd finished the repairs from the war. It was good, no voice in his head anymore.
—
They'd been here five years when it finally snowed. There had been a few flakes in the past few years but the freezing level had never been low enough to hit them hard with snow. It was a year they finally decided to celebrate Christmas.
It snowed on Christmas eve a day after everyone had arrived. Bucky woke up late to the joyful screams of children. He had moved to his window finding a fresh blanket of snow that lay across everything. Out front, he saw Peter playing with all the other kids.
He didn't put many layers on as anyone normally would since he was built like a furnace. Just a coat, boots, and gloves, over his regular clothing of course. He stepped out onto the porch of the large multi-room building that a lot of people were staying in while here in the Kingdom for Christmas. His mouth fell open as the large flakes fell from the sky.
In all honesty, Bucky had never really seen snow. Sure through the winter soldier's eyes but he never got to touch or stare at it himself. So he watched Peter and the other kids giggle and play around. Just off from them was the gazebo they'd turned into a fire pit of sorts for small gatherings of people.
The adults of the group were sitting around the lit fire with blankets and heavy coats with smiles on their faces as they watched the kids play. Bucky watched his feet sink into the snow as he moved down the stairs.
“Bucky!” Peter was grabbing his arm in an instant. “Isn't this awesome! I haven't seen snow since the Christmas before we got here.” He said the widest smile Bucky had ever seen was plastered on the kid's face, he was an adult now but he would always be a kid to Bucky.
“Haven't seen snow ever kiddo,” Bucky said watching the snow pile up on Peter's toque.
“Really? You gotta have a snowball fight, and build a snowman, and make snow angels, and go sledding!” Peter said looking around at his friends. “Carl! He's never seen snow!” Peter yelled making all the kids scream their shock.
Not long after that Bucky was hiding behind a snow wall with a bunch of snowballs in his lap. Carl on one side of him Judith on the other while more walls not far away held more of their team. Peter was on the other side screaming for them to give up now.
This was the most fun Bucky has ever had to be honest. He wanted the others to be part of it too. They were all just sitting around a cozy fire watching. He needed to do something about it.
“We should through snowballs at your parents.” He said to the kids next to him making them give him evil smiles and nod in agreement.
The next time they popped up the three of them threw snow into the gazebo. Some snowballs missed completely while a couple hit the mark. Rick got one in the chest, Michonne got one in the shoulder, Daryl got one to the back of the head, Maggie dodged one only for it to hit Aaron, and the kids from both sides stopped to look. It was like the world froze to wait.
“It's on asshole!” Daryl yelled and the other kids ran to Bucky's side while the adults took the walls Peter's team had created.
It was the most fun any of them had in years.
—
Peter and Bucky disappeared after Christmas.
It had been a beautiful day that no one had celebrated since Before. It was more about the coming together than the celebration of the holiday. There were still presents passed between most.
There were scavenges beforehand dedicated to finding gifts. There were long lists and multiple groups that would go out. Bucky and Jesus went on theirs not knowing Daryl and Peter were going out at the same time.
On Christmas day most gathered in the Kingdom at a giant tree covered in lights, makeshift ornaments, and a star at the very top that glowed brightly. There were a few different fire pits to sit around, there was a barbecue, lots of food, and people passed gifts back and forth to each other.
Bucky watched from a distance as Peter talked to Alden. They stood too close, Alden would put his hand on Peter's shoulder, Peter would smile so brightly at him, and Bucky hated him. He was pulled from his trance when a hand landed on his bicep.
“He's growing up. It's alright, he'll make good choices, Alden is a good guy.” Maggie knew Alden and Bucky trusted her word but god damn if he isn't still worried about the kid.
“If it doesn't work out you'll be there to pick Peter up,” Michonne said the group around him all watching silently.
They were all looking over at the two making Peter turn to find everyone's eyes on him. He blushed then stepped back from Alden who glanced and stepped back as well rubbing the back of his neck.
“I'll find you later.” Bucky didn't feel good about listening in but he did it anyways.
“See you later.” Peter smiled and they stood for a moment more. Alden glanced at them again out of the corner of his eye then stepped forward. Bucky crushed the glass in his vibrainium hand when the guy kissed Peter's cheek.
“Bucky!” Maggie yelped out while a couple of others chuckled.
Bucky just watched Alden move away and Peter walked toward the group. His eyes landed on where Bucky was now picking up the pieces of glass. He smirked at Bucky before taking the seat that Tara had pushed between Maggie and Bucky.
“I like him, deal with it.” Peter punched Bucky's arm lightly making the man sigh putting the glass into the bin offered to him by Carol. She then put it back behind her beside one of the food tables.
“Just because you like him doesn't mean I gotta like him,” Bucky muttered stealing a beer from Merle who'd just gotten two others from the cooler over by the barbecue. He glared but didn't say anything else. “Liking someone isn't always good. Never good on this end at least.” Bucky muttered sipping the drink in his hand.
“Steve?” Peter asked making Bucky look over not feeling shocked even if he thought he should've been. “You looked at him like he hung the fucking moon,” Peter whispered making Bucky nod.
“Tragically straight,” Bucky said making Peter nod.
“Not Sam though. You got a chance with Sam.” Peter said as if there was ever going to be a way to get back. Bucky blushed when those around them cooed and asked questions.
“Sam?”
“Who is he!”
Bucky shook his head and tried to hide behind his beer. It wasn't working so he glared at Peter who just giggled.
“Falcon right?” Carl asked making Peter nod enthusiastically.
“They're like an old married couple.” Peter leaned forward with a huge smile on his face like he was going to tell all of Bucky's secrets to them.
“Stop.” Bucky groaned pushing the kid back into his seat.
“What? You like him don't be embarrassed.” Peter said but Bucky raised an eyebrow and Peter just shrunk back knowing he was embarrassed about him and Alden.
“Love,” Daryl muttered making everyone look over and Bucky glared. “Told me 'e loved that Sam guy,” Daryl smirked when Bucky gaped at him.
“Traitor. I'll tell them if you say one more word.” Bucky said and chaos broke out but the two were tight-lipped after that.
Most of the group just wanted to know who Daryl had a little crush on. They also teased him about it. He just glanced at Jesus while no one was looking and the guy only caught him twice.
Not long after that gifts were passed around the circle. The kids were ecstatic at what their parents had gotten them. Bucky passed Peter a box making the kid smile and pass one to him as well.
Peter ripped into his before Bucky and gasped. His eyes watered as he looked down into the box finding his web-shooters and a pair of glasses. They looked like the glasses Tony would were.
“Merle gave them to me a while back. Got Eugene to make some more webbing for you.” Bucky said making Peter smile as he took the glasses in hand. “Tried to find the closes I could to his, had to replace some lenses but I got it.” Peter looked up at him tears about to fall from his eyes. “I know I'm not Stark so I just,” he was worried Peter wouldn't like them, “I thought maybe I could bring a piece of him here for you,” Bucky said and Peter launched at him.
The kid's arms were around his neck and his found their way around Peter's torso. It was a bit awkward since the chairs were in the way but it was still good. Peter let the tears fall and Bucky felt them against his shoulder.
Peter pulled away tear streaks down his face but a smile pulling at his lips. Bucky tried to brush the tears away his own pricking his eyes but he refused to let the kid see him cry.
“I don't want you to be Mr. Stark,” Peter said leaning into the warm hand and closing his eyes not having to imagine anyone else comforting him other than Bucky. “I just want you to be my uncle Bucky.” He smiled making Bucky's tears finally fall hand moving around the back of Peter's neck to pull him into another hug.
“Sounds good kid. I'm always here no matter what.” Bucky muttered into his ear kissing the top of his head as they pulled away. There were a few glances from others around them but they were paying attention to their own conversations and their own gifts.
Bucky opened his gift next with Peter smiling and practically vibrating in the chair next to him. He wondered what the hell this could be as he took a glance at Peter next to him. This kid had too much energy.
Inside the box was a necklace and a few pictures. The necklace looked homemade, not perfect by any means but not awful either. It was a dog tag like the ones he always wore around his neck. The message wasn't army related though. It said, 'James B Barnes, we all love you — your other universe fam.' He laughed at it for a moment looking over at Peter to find Carl, Enid, Judith, Gracie, and a couple of others looking.
There were five pictures. One captured their snowball fight yesterday. Another was of him with toddler Judith and Gracie in his lap as he read from a book. The next was of him and Daryl from a year or so ago, they were both covered in deer blood as the skinned one was on a table in front of them, their smiles lit up both their faces. The fourth was of him and Peter from behind as they sat staring out at the little pond back in Alexandria, Bucky's head was leaning on Peter's who had his leaning against his shoulder.
The last was probably one of his favorites. It was from when the group was on the road when they'd found Gabriel and stayed in the church for a while. Peter nor Daryl were in it but it was still beautiful and made him tear up. Bucky was sitting on the ground leaning up against the pew with Judith in his lap. His smile was large as Glenn seemed to be speaking to Judith as he fed her but she looked so disgusted. Maggie was on Bucky's other side face frozen in laughter along with Tara who sat just on the other side of Glenn.
“I got this one from Maggie,” Peter pointed to the one taken in the church, “that one from Aaron,” of him, Judith, and Gracie, “then those two Carol had,” the snowball fight and the one of him and Peter by the pond, “and that one Jesus took,” Peter said with a smile and Bucky looked up at Peter then saw eyes on him from the corner of his own eye.
“Just wanted to make sure you know that this is your family,” Rick said and he nodded in thanks not letting the tears fall.
“We know you both want to get back to your world.” Maggie started with a sad smile. “We want that for you too. But if you don't you always have a home with us.” The rest nodded in agreement and Peter smiled at her as she lay a hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you.” Bucky choked out quickly wiping away the tear he couldn't hold back. This was his family, he looked to Peter, their family.
—
Jesus was at Daryl's door early the next morning. He'd chickened out of giving the older man his gift last night but he wouldn't now. Not that it was a big deal.
“'s early what'd ya want,” Daryl said opening the door looking like Jesus had woken him. Shit, maybe this wasn't a good idea. Maybe later.
“I woke you didn't I? Shit sorry, I'll come back-” Jesus went to turn and leave but Daryl caught his arm.
“Nah, ya woke me at crack ass in the mornin' yer tellin' me why,” Daryl said opening the door wider so Jesus could come inside.
It was just a little room for a couple of nights while he stayed. A bed, a dresser, a closet, and a bathroom down the hall. Jesus turned to Daryl and took him in.
He'd just woken up eyes droopy, hair messier than usual, a rumpled t-shirt, and sweatpants. He'd never seen Daryl like this, so comfortable. It wasn't a new thing but being able to see him in such a vulnerable state felt different.
“So?” Daryl's gravely sleep-filled voice pulled him out of his trance and almost put him into a new one. That voice.
“I forgot to give this to you last night.” Jesus held out the wrapped present with a bow on top. Daryl raised an eyebrow at him before gently taking it in his hand as if it was the most precious thing he'd ever touched.
Jesus gave him a smile and a nod when he looked up. Daryl opened it quickly and his face fell into the smallest bit of shock. It was a short book he'd only talked about once very briefly with Paul.
“My ma used to read 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' every Christmas before she...” Daryl had said one night drunk off his ass in Jesus' trailer. Jesus had told him his mother had read Animal Farm to him every year after the older man had picked it off one of the shelves in the trailer.
It was a good memory and Daryl swears that Paul wouldn't have remembered him talking about it. But apparently, he did. He cared.
“It took me a while but I found it.” That made Daryl look up. Paul went searching specifically for this book. He went looking for this, for Daryl. “Hope you like it.” Jesus gave a small smile and Daryl couldn't stop himself, he didn't want to honestly.
Daryl dropped the book and the wrapping paper reaching forward with both hands to pull Jesus' face toward his own. Their mouths crashed and it hurt a little with the clanging of teeth against lips. Jesus didn't pull away though he just squeaked in shock and then leaned into it.
Jesus smiled pulling Daryl in by the waist. The kiss went from frantic to soft and passionate. Daryl was awkward and seemed inexperienced but Paul just smiled through the kiss hands moving up to Daryl's face so he could move him the way he wanted.
After that, they moved together in sync hands pulling each other as close as possible. When they needed to breathe they pulled apart foreheads resting against one another as they breathed each other in. Their eyes connected and Daryl's face was red and full of joy.
“Thanks,” Daryl said making Jesus chuckle not letting go of where he had Daryl's t-shirt in his fists.
“If I'd thought I would get that reaction from the book I would've given it to you months ago,” Jesus said bringing him into another kiss more chaste than the last because someone interrupted them with a knock on the door.
Neither said anything before Rick was bursting into the room panting as if he'd been running from walkers. His eyes moved over the two as they pulled away from each other but he just shook himself out of it. He didn't have time for that conversation, they didn't have time for it.
“Bucky and Peter are gone.”
—