Basil arrived back to his flat to find Bucky and Henry in the living room. The tv was on and Queenie had made herself comfortable in the cross of Bucky's legs. The grey cat purring almost loud enough to rival the background chatter of the news as metal fingers scratched behind her ears. (Bucky was her new favourite person and Basil would be miffed over the blatant favouritism his cat displayed if he didn't also melt at the sight of Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier, being unable to resist the whims of a demanding spoilt queen). Heads turned to him as he hung up his long leather coat and pulled off his boots. 

"Hey", Bucky leaned his head back over the couch cushions to greet him. "How was the clinic today?" 

Basil yawned as he dropped into the sofa at the blue eyed man's side, Bucky lifting an arm for him to nuzzle under in a practised routine they had been carefully crafting for months now. "Long. We are still trying to get people healthcare after returning from the snap and new people come in every day. But two new doctors are supposed to join in a few days, which should lessen the workload slightly". 

"That's good", Henry commented as he got up. "Tea?" He called as he headed for the kitchen. 

"Yes please. How was lunch with Yori yesterday?" Basil turned green eyes onto his partner. He had not been able to ask the night pervious, Bucky needing the time alone in his own apartment. It was a relief to see him here now. 

Bucky wasn't looking at him. His metal hand still stroking Queenie as he stared unseeing at the tv. A senator had been arrested for her crimes, which had recently come to light. Basil didn't need to know who it was. Her arrest had been circling the news all week. He was glad that her name had been scratched off Bucky's list of amends. But whatever weight had been removed from his shoulders earlier this week, he could see it inching back into place. A new weight, or the reminder of an old one, falling onto his brow and stiffening his back. Healing was not a straight road, Basil knew. It had twists and turns. Though Bucky's road did have more than most. Basil doubted that the either of them would ever be fully healed. They would carry the scars, psychological and physical, for the rest of their lives. They just had to learn how to make sure that they didn't tug too much. 

"It was okay. Yori got upset over the red bean mochi". The words were ended in a guilty sigh. Basil leaned his head onto Bucky's shoulder and watched the tv flicker. In the kitchen the kettle began whistling and he heard Henry get out mugs. 

The redhead returned with two cups of steaming tea a few seconds later. Raspberry and lemon fruit tea for himself and a spiced green for Basil. He set the mugs, one reading 'what do you mean caffeine addiction' and the other 'I like my soup spicy' (you could guess which mug belonged to who), on the coffee table and resumed his spot on the other side of the sofa. 

On the screen the news changed to show a press conference that was obviously a reshowing of something that had occurred earlier that day. Probably mid afternoon if Basil could guess. A man who he vaguely recognised but couldn't place in that moment was standing at a podium outside the White House. Camera lights flashing on him as he spoke. 

"While we love heroes who put their lives on the line to defend Earth, we also need a hero to defend this country". 

Basil sat up with a suddenness that made Queenie jump. The cat rolling off Bucky's lap and glaring at the interruption. He didn't care. At his side felt Bucky tense an caught Henry sitting upright. 

"We need a real person who embodies America's greatest values", the man on screen continued. 

"They can't be doing what I think they're doing", Henry muttered. "Bloody American government. All gangho about their 'values'"- Basil tuned the rest of the ex British spy's mutterings out as he watched the screen. 

"We need someone to inspire us again. Someone who can be a symbol to all of us. So, on behalf of the Department of Defence and out Commander in Chief, it is with great honor that we announce here today that the United States of America has a new hero". 

"They can't do this!" Basil exclaimed, throwing up his hands. "What about tribute to Steve? What about Sam?" 

"Join me in welcoming your new Captain America". On the screen, the doors to the White House opened and a familiar, yet unnervingly alien, man in a red and blue suit came bounding out to meet the crowd. On his arm hung the same shield that had saved Basil's life. That meant so much to them all. It looked wrong. Disjointed and erroneous to be on some random man's arm like he deserved it. It made Basil want to seethe. 

That shield had been Steve's. Steve had given it to Sam, who had given it up for display in tribute to what Captain America had been, what Steve had been. Steve, who had stuck to what he had thought was right when the whole world would tell him otherwise. Stupidly noble. self sacrificing and with his morals engraved in his bones. The man who had made Captain America and the man who had destroyed it for the very two men watching this scene in this living room. No one could come close to Steve. Not even Sam and that was the point. Sam was noble in his own way. He deserved to have the shield. Not this stranger who Basil had never heard of or seen before. It was almost criminal. 

Basil felt a hand intertwine with his as he stared in horror and disgust at the screen. He could still hear Henry muttering away in his corner about the hypocrisy and deceitfulness of governments. But Bucky next to him was silent. Basil squeezed the hand in his and turned to look at the man, taking in the clenched jaw and the emotions in those blue eyes. The anger, the almost defeat, the repulsion, and the flickering of grief. 

Basil leaned back and sagged against him with a boney weary sigh. He felt old. Older than he looked and exhausted. He rested his head against Bucky's shoulder and shut his eyes, unable to keep on looking at the pathetic attempt of a copy. After a few seconds he heard Henry let out another swear and turn the tv off. There was a moment silence. 

"Do you think Sam knew?" The ginger asked. 

Basil opened his mouth. "No. He may have given the shield up but he wouldn't agree with this. He wouldn't agree with this anymore than we would". 

"Should have expected it". Bucky's voice was a tired as Basil felt. Both men over a hundred and suddenly feeling it. "Steve wasn't a very useful puppet soldier for them. They no longer have me. Of course they would want another". 

"Don't make me feel sorry for the boy", Basil huffed, opening his eyes again. "That kid probably thought the job was an honour". 

"That makes him a fool", Henry scowled. Basil agreed. Foolish young men. He had been one once. He knew what they were like. The world was full of them. 

They sat like that in silence for a few more minutes before Henry got up. The sound of his bedroom door closing loud in the quiet apartment. Basil's stomach rumbled. Bucky nudged him. "There's macaroni cheese in the fridge for you. Made it earlier". (What Basil had discovered actually living with the man out of the battlefield is that Bucky was a fifty fifty cook. Either he was great at a dish or terrible and it was even chances on what side the coin would land. Macaroni cheese, he was amazing at. Far better than Henry or Basil, who's cooking turned out consistently nice, could attempt. It was good enough to raise the dead). 

"Sarge", Basil groaned into the man's shoulder. "You are a lifesaver". That earned him the first smile of the night. Nothing more than the familiar fondness in his gaze and a twitch of the lips. However, to Basil (who had got a doctorate in the study of James Buchanan Barnes) it was enough. 

unedited

sorry for not updating this in so long. life has been busy and emotionally hectic. also, tv shows are harder to write from than movies and they take longer too. 

anyway, love my boys.