Behind closed doors

Chapter 23

A/N- IWRHFIOWHEFOBADOFVCBADC

*Location- Rouge warehouse*

-Third Person P.O.V-

Bucky watched with a frown as he saw Peter rush out of the room, he would have gone after him, but he could tell how serious Peter was and the fact there was no way he would be able to keep up with him.

"What was all that about?" Sam asked, glancing mainly at Bucky as he was the one who knew Peter the most.

Instead of responding, Bucky stood and walked away moving towards the backdoor where he always went when he needed to think. No one followed him, as though they could sense the inner turmoil that was working its way through Bucky.

With a deep sigh, he settled against the wall and looked out across the dark alley. Something was wrong, and Bucky knew there was, but he just couldn't help but think about whatever it was that was going on.

This wasn't right.

Bucky thought back to the first time they met. Peter was being beat up, and Bucky had been able to stop him. The bruises on him had been bad, but it was obvious some of them weren't new, some as old as a week, but Bucky had just chalked it up to being from bullies, from by the looks of it they were more than capable of being able to hurt Peter that much.

But then there was the flinching.

Whenever Bucky would touch him, or go anywhere near him, Peter would either flinch, or stiffen as though he was readying himself to be hit. At first, Bucky had thought it was just him, after all, as much as he hated it, he was The Winter Soldier, and anyone would probably be scared and on edge of him doing something to him. Although the thought of ever doing something that could hurt Peter made his stomach curl and a sick feeling enter his entire body.

But even after Peter was comfortable around Bucky, Peter could still see the worry shine in his eyes and how he seemed as though he was holding back flinches when around new people. It could just be from the fear of new people, but it really, really didn't sit right with Bucky.

"God kid, what's happening," Bucky muttered to himself as he thought more back to the first time he meant Peter.

Nowadays, Peter can happily talk to Bucky with not a single stutter or stumble over his words, but when they first met, it seemed as though whatever it was Peter said he was worried Bucky would not like what he said and cause Bucky to lash out on him.

Peter also didn't seem to believe in Bucky helping him, like he didn't deserve Buckys help.

'th-thank you for helping me. But- but why did you. It's just- it's just I know who you are, and well- I think I know what- what happened and I don't understand why you would help- help me.'

Peter had been so hesitant to except any form of help, thinking that there would be something that would happen to him if he did except help. It hurt Bucky to think that Peter didn't think he deserved any kind of help, and if he did, there would be some evil motive behind it.

Bucky shook his head, it could all just be because of the bullying, Bucky knew what Steve was like when he was bullied, and although he wasn't as bad as Peter was, some of the things he did or said were things Steve said when he was being bullied.

"Buck, you good?" Steve questioned as he stepped into the light beside him.

Bucky had heard him coming, but he knew if he didn't he would have definitely jumped at having his best friend appear suddenly.

With a sigh, Bucky shrugged. "I don't know Steve, something just feels wrong," Bucky responded after a moment.

Steve settled beside Bucky, looking out at the moon just like his friend is doing. He himself knew exactly what Bucky meant, having seen the way Peter had acted just now and having seen how Peter had at least acted around people, including himself.