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There are apparently some habits he can't shake, no matter how many times his brain is scrambled by electricity, magic, or a bullet. Because when poor Kai comes home from a shift, and there's no Loki waiting for him….there are two sad strays.
In the dark, no less, for when Kai flicks on the kitchen light, there's Bucky sitting there, holding a sleeping Kevin in his lap. The little dog is out like a light, sprawled on his back , limp as a towel. James…..he looks worn and tired, but he's very definitely alive. Nevermind the fading dimple of a bulletwound on his cheekbone.
*
Kai comes in with a bag of groceries tucked in his arm, and he slips inside, quiet in case Loki is napping. Or plotting some kind of trick. It's one of the hazards of love. He clicks the light on, turns around, and the bag of produce, wrapped bacon, milk, and cereal hit the floor. Lucky Charms scatter. "…James?" he asks in a small, thin voice.
*
The milk, at least, James is fast enough to save. IT's an absurd quick dive, and it drops Kevin onto the floor where he plops and then whines. "Yes," he says, straightening, and handing the bottle of milk back to Kai, with aplomb. He's in an old leather jacket, faded jeans….ragged, but there. The blue eyes are clear….if still haunted. Wherever he was, it wasn't a vacation.
*
Kai startles into a defensive stance when James dives toward him. Then he sort of relaxes, or at least gingerly shifts his movements into less combat ready. He takes the milk, never looking away from Bucky even as Kevin comes over and starts snapping up pieces of sugary cereal. Kai's breath comes shallow, and his eyes shimmer. "You were dead," he whispers.
*
This is a field day for Kevin. But Bucky at least saves the bacon, setting it on the counter. Then he says, softly, "Yeah, I was. But….someone brought me back."
*
Kai kneels to collect the rest of the groceries and what can be salvaged of the Lucky Charms. Kevin wags his tail as he goes from piece to piece. Sniffsniff, down the hatch. Kai saves the head of lettuce and carrots. He's making salads sometimes. They're easy enough, just cut up everything and put it in a bowl. Loki is domesticating him. When he looks down to gather the last of the groceries, gravity pulls the tears from his eyes and they trickle down his cheeks. "I was heartbroken." He sniffles. "I know, it sound so… so gay, but I couldn't stop crying."
*
That has Buck staring down at him….still rather deadpan. But he looks horrified, in that sort of flat way. Like emotions are sort of rolling up slowly. He picks Kai up - taking a shoulder and urging him up. Then he's just wrapping his arms around Kai.
*
Kai puts the bag aside and wraps his arms around Bucky in turn. He sobs quietly, clinging to the man without shame or dignity. His voice is thick from weeping and muffled from his face pressed to Bucky's shoulder. "You were trying so hard to be you again, and you wanted it so much, and then you were just gone, you were over and I couldn't take it."
*
It feels like him, complete with metal arm. All muscle and bone, so little spare flesh. He holds Kai without hesitation. It calls up memories of the war - comforting a comrade in arms over a buddy they'd lost. The tears don't seem to make him uncomfortable. "It's okay," he says, awkwardly. "I mean….I'm here. I'm back." He doesn't sound overjoyed about it, but… "And you're one of my good friends, Kai. I'm sorry you were upset. But…it's good to know someone cared that I was gone."
*
"I cared," Kai says in a sad, small voice, and he doesn't let go of Bucky for anything. "I still do. I couldn't sleep. We couldn't even bury you, it was horrible, but it's going to be okay now." He might be dreaming for all he knows, but if he is, it's a dream he'll cling to as long as he can.
There is a rumpled bag of groceries on a table by the door, and on the floor, scattered Lucky Charms that Kevin is happily hoovering up. Kai stands in Bucky's arms, clinging tightly to him.
*
The door suddenly opens. And in comes Loki, "Kai! You will never belie-" His voice, cheering at first, cuts off the moment he sees the blond in the arms of another man, all clingy and close. Kai may not want to ever let go, but Loki takes a stride forwards and puts a hand on Bucky's sleeve to give him a twisting yank, "What is this?!"
*
He wants to argue….but there are times and places, and this isn't one. He's ragged and tired, wearing a long leather jacket, old jeans, too big t-shirt. And he's got Kai held gently in his arms, resting his head atop Kai's. A moment of peace.
And then there's Loki. Bucky's yanked away from the elf, and blinks at Loki in surprise. It's that same face - worn, hollow-eyed, tired….but clean. And so very a clearly a man who should be cold and dead.
*
Kai starts as Bucky is pulled away. His eyes are all shimmery from crying, his cheeks damp and flushed. He sniffles, then says, "Loki! Darling! Look, he's alive!" Then he flings himself at Loki in an attempt to worm his way into his arms. See? Nothing to be jealous about. It's just Bucky. It's a happy day! Right? "He's alive! Look!" Sniffle.
*
Loki arches his brows once he sees who it is, as surely he was not expecting him back from the dead. After a moment of surprise, though, and being jerked about by Kai's tugging and hugging, he slides an arm around Kai's waist and steps in closer to Bucky. "I thought you dead. Are you staying this time?" His face suddenly animates, "You know you have to. Kai have you…helped him out? Is this as good as his health gets?" A glance up and down Bucky, "You look terrible."
*
"I was dead," Bucky's just utterly matter of fact about that. "…..I can stay,' he adds, shyly. "I mean, I've got other places to hide out." He's apparently forgotten about the apple. "I still feel pretty terrible," he adds. "Nothing seems quite right, but…..I eat and drink and sleep, that all works fine…"
*
"Are you injured?" Kai asks, perking up suddenly. He'd forgotten about healing in the excitement of Bucky being alive at all. "Do you need a place to rest? We can leave you the apartment tonight." He squeezes Loki around the waist. Just a little clingy tonight. He wipes his cheeks on his sleeve. "Ugh, I'm sorry to fall apart like this. I just missed you so much."
Kevin come waggling over to Loki, nosing at his feet and gazing up at him wit doggy adoration. It is the meatball giver, he who permits snatching burgers off the ground.
*
Loki seems to relax a little after Bucky speaks like a human and doesn't groan at him or try to munch on them. "Did you plan it? Did you fake your death or plan it out to die, to get the law off your back?" This seems like a very important question. His tone suggests there is a definite wrong and right answer to this one.
*
Loki pats Kai once on the ass. "You should help him. See if you can improve him a bit."
*
"No," he says, simply. "I….the agency that had me was trading me off to another. Some federal authority thing. It happened like you saw in the papers. These mutants stopped the van, grabbed me. I…" He's gone very still, trying to tell it calmly, in the right order….and not fall apart. Buck takes a deep breath. "I tried to get away, from both of them. Someone shot me in the face." He indicates the little dimple of a bullet wound in his cheekbone. Not a survivable one, that. "I woke up later that day in an apartment. The mutants were trying to trade me to …to my masters, in exchange for explosive materials. They were…they were terrorists. I escaped, and I've been hiding out, since."
*
Kai smiles a little at Loki, and the pat gets a little more color in his cheeks. "You're right," he says. He kisses Loki on the cheek, then slips away to go hunting for his apple. "We won't tell anyone you're here," Kai says as he rummages. Where did he leave that thing? Kevin trots after him, wriggles under the couch, and brings it out, fetching it to Kai and laying it at his feet. Kai scoops it up and gives the dog a ruffle of his ears. He pockets the apple, then takes a moment to put the milk and bacon in the fridge. "Come stretch out on the couch," he says.
*
"You are /staying here/. Or, if you think that's too obvious a place for them to look, we can move you, later, to my apartment. I am here half the time anyway, so…it really would not matter." Loki's voice is a little sharp, but…he seems to have a goodness behind it. He looks down at the ground, then back up at Bucky. "It /is/ good…to see you alive." No weeping from Loki, but, someone around here has to be the Dad. "I will get all the blankets."
*
Welcome from Rogue, welcome from the Asgardians. It makes James's eyes go suspiciously bright. But he obeys, lying down on the couch….and it's clear he's still exhausted.
*
"Good idea," Kai tells Loki. Kevin goes to follow after Loki, to 'help' him gather blankets. He'll end up under a few and need extracted as he whines in dismay. Kai meanwhile perches on the edge of the couch so he can be close to James, and he tells him, "I need your chest bared." He's business now. Doctor Kai in the house. Though his eyes still glimmer. "It's so good to see you."
*
He sits up enough to strip off jacket and t-shirt. Still that metal arm, with its halo of scarring. Still well muscled, though his ribs are clearly visible. "'s good to see you, too," he says, with that shy note present again.
*
Kai grins, ducking his head. "It's nice to be thought of," he says. He lays the cool crystal to Bucky's chest. "This will make me sleepy," he warns, "because it always goes for the arm, and the arm won't heal, but it'll take care of your other ills." He lays his hand upon the crystal, and as it starts to warm, glimmering golden, he adds. "I could use a good night's sleep anyway. We'll have a nice breakfast in the morning. I know how to make eggs and bacon now."
*
The arm. Even after all these years, it has moments of giving him the horrors. He shifts uneasily, but as the apple works, he's increasingly sleepy, himself. "Don't tired yourself out," he advises, lids drooping. "'s not worth that. I'm okay." Except that he's drifting off.
*
Kai says lightly, "Don't worry your pretty head about it, James Barnes. A night's rest and I'll be good as new. Besides, I'm very loyal and my Lord did command…" The apple's warmth starts to seep in. Its energies seek out the worst wounds first. The arm. But it does spread out to the lesser aches, the bruises and worn muscles that make one weary. "You just rest," he says softly. "There's a good man. By the gods, it's good to have you back."
*
Pretty. When was the last time someone called him pretty? Did Pepper? "Mmhmm," he agrees, eyes closed. Relaxing, as he so rarely does, chest rising and falling evenly.
*
Kai smiles softly as he watches Bucky fall asleep. Yes, pretty. Even with that shot scar on his cheek. Kai hums as he lets the healing take its course. He's a melodious fellow, and those Alfheim lullabies are sweet and lilting. Once the healing is done, and the apple is put away, Kai gathers those blankets Loki has scared up, and he tucks Bucky in. Then he kisses him on the forehead, just a chaste thing, and murmurs, "Sweet dreams."