Bucky crouched outside the apartment window, wishing the curtains weren't closed. He pressed his ear to the cold glass and shivered. He didn't particularly want to break his friend's window, but it couldn't be helped. Steve needed to be protected, and Bucky couldn't do that from out here, now could he.

Bucky's memories from before had slowly started creeping in and overtaking those he had from being the Winter Soldier, and as he had regained those memories, Bucky had realized that Steve (no longer his target) was . . . not like other men. If Bucky wasn't there, taking care of him, Steve would be found out, could even be arrested. So Bucky had set out to find him.

Which left him in front of the window. He knew he ought to either break it or give up. He could pay Steve back for the damages later. That problem being solved, Bucky drew his metal hand back and smashed the window.

It was the middle of the night, so Bucky didn't exactly expect anybody to be awake in Steve's apartment, let alone some stranger sitting on his couch watching TV.

The strange man (who did look familiar to Bucky when he saw his face) leaped up at the sound of the glass breaking. What was he doing in Steve's apartment? Did Steve know he was here? Did Steve want him here and allow him in? And the most important question for the moment – did this man know about Steve? Did he know what Bucky knew, the thing that could get Steve in so much trouble if anybody found out?

The man had a gun tucked into his pants. When Bucky charged at him, he pulled it out and pointed it at Bucky. His aim was steady. Bucky stopped, stumbled a little. Bucky hadn't eaten in a few days, which was why he was unsteady, that was all. It didn't mean he was afraid of the man he had attacked on the bridge. The man who was probably out looking for revenge.

Bucky backed up a little. He raised his hands up in the air. Where was Steve?

As if he had been reading Bucky's mind, Steve stumbled out of his bedroom, fumbling with his shield as he ran. To Bucky's surprise, the strange man didn't swing his gun around to point it at Steve. Perhaps not a hostile after all, then, if he was on Steve's side. Bucky had already known that this stranger was on Steve's side. He had already started to remember the metal wings he'd had on the bridge, before Bucky had –

"Sam, stand down!" Steve yelled. Sam. That was his name.

Bucky backed up another couple of steps, just in case. He was now right by the window, ready to leap out of it if necessary. It looked like it wouldn't be, though; Sam was already lowering his gun.

Steve took a couple of cautious steps toward Bucky. Bucky stood his ground. Steve was not a threat. Bucky's eyes flickered toward Sam, but Steve was not a threat. Steve was safe.

Later on, when it was lighter outside, Steve made breakfast. Sam went to take a shower, and Bucky sat down at the table. While the coffee was brewing, Steve sat down across from Bucky.

"Does Sam know?" Bucky whispered before Steve could say anything.

Steve furrowed his brow. He looked so adorably confused. "Does he know what?"

Bucky huffed and rolled his eyes. He would have preferred not to have to say it aloud, but if Steve was going to be this dense, Bucky was going to say it.

"You know exactly what, Rogers. That you look like a girl under all this," he waved his hand to gesture at Steve's clothes and his muscle and masculine build.

Steve looked vaguely guilty. Boy, was Bucky familiar with that expression.

"That's kind of offensive," he muttered. Bucky looked at him. They'd talk about that later. Finally Steve admitted, "I don't actually know if he knows."

Bucky was speechless. How could Steve not know something like that? This was important!

"What do you mean, you don't know?" he growled. "That's the kind of thing you ought to know, buddy!"

Just then Sam came in, wrapped up only in a towel. Bucky nearly choked.

"This is the kind of thing you two wear?" he hissed. "Do you wear that stuff, Steve? If you do, then he sure does know!"

"Know what?" Sam asked.

Bucky sent a hateful glare in his general direction. He couldn't be bothered to look straight at him, but he could do his best to get his feelings across.

Steve slowly walked toward Bucky. "Bucky," he said carefully. "Are you okay?"

Bucky let out a frustrated groan. He hissed, "Well, don't ask him if he knows, just think really hard! Does he know?"

Sam sidled up to Steve. "Is he lucid? What is he talking about?"

Steve still looked really guilty. He opened his mouth to say something but couldn't figure out what to say, so he shut it again. Finally he mumbled, "Bucky, can Sam and I maybe talk alone for a minute?"

Bucky nodded, granting his permission, but he didn't move. Sam and Steve got up from the table and went into Steve's bedroom.

"What is this about, Steve?" Sam gazed at him steadily. Steve looked down at his feet instead of meeting Sam's eyes. He took a deep breath.

"I have to tell you something."

Sam waited, but no more information was forthcoming. "Tell me what?" he prompted gently.

Steve fidgeted. "I was born a girl," he suddenly burst out with in one breath.

Sam nodded. He looked ashamed. "I know, Steve," he said. Steve was flabbergasted, but Sam wasn't finished. "I saw on the news that you're transgender, but I didn't really want to bring it up unless you did. I'm sorry about that."

This cheered Steve up significantly. "I was really worried," he admitted. "But I'm glad you're okay with it."

Sam's expression turned fierce. "Of course I'm okay with it! It's none of my business what you look like under your clothes. You're my friend; of course I'm going to accept you."

Steve grinned. He was the most at ease that he'd been since he started staying with Sam now that he'd heard that.

Sam clapped him on the leg. "Nor do I think any different of you, dude," he added. "It's not because you're Captain America, either. I'd do that for anybody."

Steve grinned. He grabbed Sam and hugged him tightly. Sam made a tiny noise of surprise and then hugged him back.

Steve was the first to pull away. He was still grinning. "Let's go tell Bucky he has nothing to worry about." He didn't add that Steve himself had nothing to worry about with his friends by his side.

Sam drove. Bucky sat in the backseat. His anger had lessened considerably, and he was eating a popsicle. Steve didn't ask why Sam had so many popsicles in his freezer.

It was the early morning, so there wasn't a lot of traffic until they approached the center of the city and Stark Tower. A security guard was waiting for them in the parking garage. He kept his hand on his gun and watched Bucky very closely as he escorted the three of them up to Tony's labs.

Tony, Bruce, and two women in white lab coats were waiting next to a large medical scanner. Steve and Sam tried to get Bucky to keep moving toward it, but Bucky balked at the sight of it and tried to turn around. They spent a fruitless couple of minutes trying to convince Bucky that it wouldn't hurt him. Finally Tony just muttered to Steve, "Take him out and try to get him to calm down. I have an idea."

Steve didn't have to do much to convince Bucky to leave. They went to Tony's kitchen, and Steve made himself a sandwich. He tried to get Bucky to eat one, too, but Bucky just shook his head. "What do these people know about you?" he muttered.

Steve considered dodging the question, but it would be obvious he knew what Bucky was talking about.

Steve sighed. "They know all of it, Bucky. There's nothing to worry about."

Bucky did not say anything in agreement. He just tensed his jaw and looked away.

When they got back to Tony's lab, Steve turned to close the door. Bucky marched back to Tony's side before Steve could catch up to him.

Tony grunted when Bucky effortlessly lifted him up by the throat. He couldn't say much else.

"You will never hurt Steve," Bucky growled. "Doesn't matter that he's different from you; if you ever do anything to him, I will hunt you down."

Bucky ignored Steve's efforts to talk him down or rip him away. His metal left arm was too strong.

Bucky pointed to Bruce and repeated it, but he didn't touch him. As soon as he let Tony down, Steve grabbed him and helped him sit down. "I'm so sorry," he gasped. "Are you okay? I'm sorry. We'll leave now. He won't hurt you again, I promise."

Tony waved his hand. He still couldn't speak, so Steve had no idea what he was trying to say.

JARVIS's curt voice came from the speakers all around them. "I have notified SHIELD. They are on their way now."

Tony didn't reply. His eyes were open, but Steve checked to make sure he was still breathing. He was. Steve asked JARVIS, "What part of SHIELD did you call?"

"Not the Hydra part, I assure you, Captain Rogers, unless, of course, Agent Coulson himself has been turned."

Steve nodded. He trusted Agent Coulson, but the thought of seeing him again didn't exactly help his nerves.

"Captain Rogers, hello." Coulson got there even faster then Steve thought he would. He nodded his head once. Coulson extended a hand to Bucky. "It's nice to meet you at last, Sergeant Barnes."

Steve waved a hand at Coulson, trying to get him to put his hand down. Coulson didn't. Bucky didn't come near him, though; he only eyed him mistrustfully.

Coulson started talking about possible safe places for Bucky to stay. During his speech, Natasha, Clint, and Thor came in. They positioned themselves in a loose perimeter around Bucky. Bucky didn't seem to notice or care. He was completely focused on Coulson.

Bucky was losing energy quickly, though. He didn't sound as threatening as he did before when he asked Coulson, "You don't have a problem with Steve? He's very brave. Don't even think about it . . ." He couldn't seem to finish and swayed on the spot.

Steve helped him sit down. Bucky swatted at his hands. Tony dug around in a drawer and came up with an energy bar, which he then handed to Steve to give to Bucky.

Coulson sat down, too. "I would never do anything to Steve," he answered Bucky. He looked up at Steve and smiled. Steve shifted around on his feet and smiled back a few seconds too late.

Coulson continued. "I'm gay. I've come out multiple times in my life, and I know it's hard every time."

Bucky looked at him as if waiting for more. Sam cleared his throat loudly. Coulson gave him an odd look.

"You're an asshole, Coulson," Bucky grumbled. "Just stop it."

Coulson's expression was somewhere between confusion and indignation. "Excuse me?" he said, barely politely.

Bucky didn't answer, so Sam took over. First he glanced at Steve, who was staring at the ground with his jaw clenched, and then Sam crossed his arms.

"You know that's offensive, right?" he asked. "It's not the same at all. It's like you telling me that just because you're gay, you know exactly what it's like to be discriminated against because of skin color. Racism is really different from homophobia, and so is transphobia.

"Steve isn't gay. He's transgender, and those two aren't the same thing. You're supposed to be an ally, Agent Coulson, you shouldn't be just lumping his experiences in with yours and calling it a favor."

Coulson was completely still for about four seconds, then he nodded. He said, "Captain Rogers, I'm very sorry I offended you. I won't do it again, but if I do say something bad, please tell me." He held out his hand, and Steve shook it.

Later, when the two of them were eating, Sam asked Steve, "Why didn't you tell him what he said was wrong?"

Steve shrugged. "I was going to, you know, then we got interrupted, and I lost my nerve."

Sam sighed. "I get that. Listen, if he or anybody else says something like that to you again, but you feel uncomfortable telling them off, come find me. I'll help you."

"Thank you, Sam. Um, same to you, if anybody ever gives you trouble."

Steve wished he could do more for Sam. Steve didn't have enough real friends, but he thought Sam might be one.