Chapter Text
It had been a long day. A very long fucking day and it was only morning. It felt like every day was just getting more drawn out since Stark had started being such an idiot with Loki Laufeyson.
Oh, Stark didn’t admit who the gifts were from, but Bucky knew. Bucky knew and it was enough to make his neck feel tense; it was enough to make Bucky watch his friend and quietly collect evidence on him.
It was more difficult than Bucky expected. If the idea wasn’t completely ludicrous, he’d worry about what Stark could do if he wasn’t on their side. But he had faith in that, in Stark. He talked a lot when he was drunk with people he trusted, especially about why he was here. No, Tony Stark wasn’t going anywhere.
Bucky just wished he could shake some fucking sense into the scientist before he got his head blown off.
It was like having a toddler somedays –a toddler with a massive intellect, his own personal security system, and enough stubborn resolve that Bucky had a snowball's chance in hell of stopping him. All he could do was watch from afar and try to keep his idiot of a friend from walking off a cliff.
Thankfully, Steve understood and helped whenever he could, even if it was just by not asking questions and calming his pacing form as he tried to keep himself from stealing Stark’s gifted knife and throwing it back in the face of the man it had come from. But he couldn’t. So he simply worried privately and got back to work.
A series of high-end robbers hardly held the kind of gritty hunting, fighting, and satisfaction that he wanted, but it was better than nothing.
He was down in the morgue talking to Dr Banner and Darcy Lewis (a security guard had died, a heartattack it turned out) when Steve burst in. His eyes were wild and worried, and Bucky instantly felt his own matching concern and wanted to reach out and run fingers through his hair until he could calm him. He wanted to wipe all the pain off his face and soothe every trouble on his mind, wanted to destroy what had hurt his lover - but he was forced to stay where he was.
Bucky was far too aware of the cameras and the people watching them to ever risk something so obvious as that.
“Stark’s been kidnapped.”
His whole body went cold, and even though Darcy had gasped and Dr Banner had dropped the clipboard in his hands, it was Bucky that drew everyone’s attention. His voice was devoid of all emotion but that facade of calm was only barely contained. His panic was rising underneath the surface. “What?”
Steve took careful steps forward, reading him like a book with his eyes bright with worry - for both of them. “Stark didn’t come in this morning,” Steve informed him flatly, “I went to his apartment to check on him.”
“Why?” Bucky demanded. Steve blinked, probably at how rough his voice was becoming, “Why did you go there, Steve?” Because you’ve been worried, his mind automatically filled in, because he’d been talking to Steve about Stark’s ludicrous decisions all without ever naming names. “Fuck!” Bucky started pacing, but he was already well aware of just what utter fucking asshole had grabbed his friend.
He strode towards the door, feeling Steve’s hand land on his shoulder, and despite every muscle feeling tense, and the fact that anyone else would have been glared and growled at, he stilled for his lover. “What?”
Steve wasn’t at all concerned by his spat words. “You don’t know who did this, Bucky. I know you want to find Stark, but you have to take a moment to think rationally.”
“I don’t need a fucking moment,” Bucky snapped, shaking off Steve’s hands. “I know exactly where to go to find him.”
“Bucky!” Steve tried, but he wasn’t being derailed again. Bucky had one person and one person only on his list for who had Stark. There was only one criminal mastermind who was obsessed with Stark and had gone out of his way to visit him before.
If Laufeyson had harmed one fucking hair on his friend’s head, Bucky was going to shoot off every finger until he told him where Stark was. No one hurt his friends. No matter how agitation inducing or idiotic said friends were, they were off limits. Bucky was going to explain that to Laufeyson, thoroughly and painfully, until he understood and left Stark alone.
“Bucky!” Steve called again, hurrying to catch up with him. He got an unfortunate advantage when Bucky had to wait for the elevator. Steve stopped close to him, too close really when they were still being monitored. “Bucky,” he hissed, “you need to calm down-”
Shooting a glare at Steve, Bucky bit out, “I’m just going to find out if he did it.”
“And what if he did?” Steve asked, “You’re more likely to provoke him than get Stark back.”
Bucky clenched his fists and Steve shifted, blocking the cameras and placing his palm over Bucky’s in support. “He’s not going to spill his evil plan; he’s much smarter than that.”
“I can’t just stand here and hope for a miracle,” Bucky whispered, slanting his eyes to Steve. “If he did this, I won’t be able to find him, not until Laufeyson lets me. That will be too late. I need to know now if he’s involved because,” Bucky swallowed, “because if he’s not, I’ll have more fucking faith we can find him in time.”
Steve pressed his lips together in a worried line, deliberating until the elevator arrived. They both looked at the open lift before Steve sighed. “I’ll give you a half hour start, then I tell Peggy where I think you went.”
Bucky couldn’t smile, not until he knew what happened to Stark, but he wished he could lean against Steve, take in his support and help it stiffen his spine. He had to settle for one more squeeze of Steve’s hand against his before he moved away. He held his hand over the doors once he was inside so they wouldn’t shut. “What was the crime scene like?”
“I’ll send you the photos I took, but we’ve got people on it now.”
Bucky nodded, but he knew he’d have to go there himself, see if Stark left anything only he’d be able to pick up. He’d need to speak with JARVIS too; see if the A.I. knew anything but hadn’t had a chance to say. “You speak to Stark’s A.I.?”
“He wasn’t on in the lab when I went there.”
Bucky stiffened. Fuck, that’s not good. He removed his hand so the doors could close. “I’ll let you know what I find.”
“Be careful, Bucky,” Steve insisted, a worried furrow to his brow.
Bucky didn’t say a thing; he didn’t want to worry his lover, not when he couldn’t promise an answer that Steve would be happy with. The increased distress said Steve knew what he was doing only too well. He’d make it up to him when Stark was back safe and sound. He’d have Stark make it up to Steve for being stupid enough to be kidnapped.
Taking a breath and carefully letting it out, Bucky locked up the worry and fear for his friend so that the rage and determination could take centre stage. He had to be at his best if he was going to take on Laufeyson and find out what he needed to know. He had thirty minutes to drag out enough information to either extend his interrogation with Loki on S.H.I.E.L.D. property or to gain a location for Stark.
That's not going to be enough. Bucky gritted his teeth. But you’ll have to make it be.
Bucky got to Laufeyson’s offices with fifteen minutes left on his Steve-allowed interrogation. He didn’t bother fucking around with pleasantries and breezed right past the indignantly squeaking receptionist.
“Mr Laufeyson does not wish to be dis-”
Bucky pushed the door open hard enough to let it slam against the wall. He was ready to pick up Laufeyson by his expensive lapels and shove him against his pretentious bookcase and threaten to peel off all his nails and make him choke on them until Bucky got the answer he wanted, but he didn’t need to. It took a handful of seconds and a quick survey of Laufeyson and the room for Bucky to know Laufeyson wasn’t responsible for what had happened to Stark.
Laufeyson was glaring at him, furious eyes wanting Bucky anywhere but where he was. You should have locked the door then, Bucky thought but didn’t say. He also knew he needed to leave and put his focus on figuring out who was responsible for taking Stark, but the investigator in him couldn’t move. Laufeyson was always the picture of perfect elegance and measured smirks - this man had his tie undone and his hair in disarray.
Laufeyson was off guard. But even more worryingly than that, Bucky knew what had caused that reaction, and that was just as alarming as Stark’s disappearance was.
“I’m here about Stark,” Bucky informed Laufeyson, as if it needed any explanation. He also gave Laufeyson the courtesy of not bothering with Stark’s fake name. The narrowing of criminal's eyes showed it was acknowledged.
The secretary was stuttering apologies and glaring at Bucky, but Laufeyson dismissed her with a wave. “It’s fine, Mrs Williams. Please leave Agent Barnes and I.”
She was obviously unhappy about it, but she was a well-trained little assistant and shut the door without another word. Laufeyson ran a hand through his hair when they were alone. It wasn’t a nervous gesture, but rather it seemed an attempt to regain his composure. Bucky was surprised to note that it, and the straightening of the criminal’s spine, did make him look less unbalanced. “How can I assist you, Agent Barnes?”
“Stark’s gone.”
Laufeyson did a good job of looking confused. “Stark?”
“Cut the crap,” Bucky ordered, “If you don’t have him, who does?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Laufeyson continued to lie, “but as I am not about to be cautioned or charged, I would have you wrap this up quickly.”
The edge to his voice was firm, but it was hiding a spark of frustration. Bucky didn’t like to draw similarities between himself and men like Laufeyson (sometimes there were too many uncomfortable parallels), but he couldn’t deny an understanding of that emotion. It was the same helpless one he’d felt since finding out Stark was gone – after seeing the pictures of his apartment.
Bucky didn’t do something as clumsy and revealing as closing his eyes or taking a breath. He steeled his mind and made himself do what he was trained to do, regardless of the worry it dug into his chest. “Stark is the man you visited at his apartment. He’s the forensic scientist making life difficult for you. He’s been taken by persons unknown, but based on the calibre of people he’s put away and made enemies of, you can understand the worry in our department.”
“I do not-”
“Stark is insulting and caustic. He pisses people off and not everyone has an ability to hold their temper around him.” Laufeyson’s lips thinned, and Bucky hated painting the potential reality of it, but if it made Laufeyson slip? “People have promised revenge on him before, and anyone who’s escaped his grasp aren’t the kind of people S.H.I.E.L.D can track easily.”
“Your point?” Laufeyson snapped, his fingers twitching like he wanted to clench them, or possibly shoot something.
“Who do you know who has that kind of grudge against him?”
Laufeyson let out a harsh laugh. “You must be truly desperate to come to me for-”
“Every second we don’t know where he is, he’s likely being tortured,” Bucky said bluntly, and Laufeyson’s face twisted like he’d tasted something sour.
“And aren’t you supposed to be protecting him?”
“Something tells me we weren’t the ones keeping the closest eye on him. So tell me,” Bucky took a step nearer, “wouldn’t they be more responsible for having something happen when Stark was under their watch?”
“I think you should leave,” Laufeyson told him, tone cold and all potential weak spots quickly armoured.
Bucky wasn’t about to stop poking even when Laufeyson was turning away as if he didn’t pose a threat. Bucky planned to take one more stab. “So you’re just going to hole up here and let him die.”
Laufeyson spun on him and growled, “Do you think I'd be here if I knew who had him?”
The second the words slipped free, they both knew it was a mistake. Laufeyson’s whole body went tense while Bucky’s flooded with a whole new worry. Fuck, Tony, how deeply involved with this guy are you!?
“Leave now or I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.” The way the words were hissed out meant Bucky had pushed him a step too far.
He didn’t care. Laufeyson had been his best shot, and he wasn’t involved. Worse than that, he didn’t know where Tony was either. Bucky was furious and worried and Laufeyson was the perfect target. “So I guess the criminal empire was more important than your pet scientist’s safety? What fucking good a protector are you?”
Laufeyson took a step towards him, eyes flaring with the kind of rage Bucky wanted. The kind of rage that would make Laufeyson hit him, make them fight, make him get arrested for assault, and make Bucky get out some of his anger. “I don’t think you-”
His words cut off when the door flew open for the second time. “Agent Barnes!” Bucky clenched his teeth as Peggy stalked into the room, throwing him a look that said disembowelling was on the menu. “You’re required at S.H.I.E.L.D. now.” She dismissed him without any further ceremony, but with the threat of reprimand heavy around her if he didn’t move. “Mr Laufeyson, I apologise for Agent Barnes' abrupt entrance.”
Laufeyson’s fury was drawn back behind the curtains of his polite and proper demeanour. “I would give that regret to my secretary. I am well used to this one’s,” he nodded at Bucky, “rudeness.”
Peggy’s teeth were clenched behind her smile. “Would you like to make a formal complaint?”
“No,” Laufeyson answered, “I would like you to both leave now.”
“Of course,” Peggy answered, gripping Bucky’s arm and digging her sharp nails in deliberately as she dragged him out. “My apologies for my agent’s attitude; he will be spoken to.”
Laufeyson didn’t say anything; he just waited impatiently until the door was shut behind them.
“Peggy-” Bucky tried.
“Not a word,” she hissed. “I came here as soon as I heard about Stark even though I hoped you wouldn’t be so idiotic.” She let his arm go, leaving perfect little indents. “Get back to S.H.I.E.L.D. and continue the authorised search for him. I’ll handle Laufeyson’s secretary.”
Bucky didn’t want to leave it where he was, but there wasn’t more he could say. His actions weren’t defensible; especially when it was obvious Laufeyson wasn’t involved. He could only do what Peggy had said: keep looking for Stark and hope that the Director wouldn’t come down on him too hard for his actions.
He didn’t like it, but what else could he do?
What he’d said to Laufeyson about Stark was far too possible, and with their top contender out of the equation, Bucky couldn’t waste another fucking moment winding up Laufeyson when Stark could need him.
Please be okay, Tony, Bucky prayed to whoever might be listening, I can’t find your corpse. I can’t investigate your murder. It’ll fracture far too much of me to ever repair.
Tony was the closest friend he’d ever had outside of Steve, and he didn’t know what he would do if he lost him. Tony Stark accepted him, trusted him, treated him like he was normal despite knowing the past and the fucked up things he’d done. Stark liked him. Out of everyone else at S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony picked him, and that had meant more to Bucky than he could ever express the moment he’d realised it.
I’ll kill whoever hurts you. I’ll make them wish they were dead.
Bucky had two people in his life that he truly cared about. He had his teammates and acquaintances at S.H.I.E.L.D., but he loved Steve, and he loved Tony too. He was engaged to Steve and couldn’t imagine his life if it wasn’t tied to the other, but he also had Tony. The man that was like the brother he’d never expected and never wanted to have. Who drove him half insane and tempted him to punch until Stark stopped twitching with idiocy - but it didn’t matter because Stark was his.
Tony was his brother in all but blood, and the only family Bucky had left to protect. If something happened to Tony, then he’d never forgive himself. He wouldn’t be worth forgiving.
I’ll find you, he promised himself, and he promised Tony, or I’ll find the person who took you.
One way or another, he wouldn’t fail his mission.