An-Peter doesn't want to go to pride alone

TW-Descriptions of sexual assault

——————

"Why looking so glum?" Bucky asked, nudging Peter with his elbow. Peter sighed, removing his head from his elbows and shrugging.

"It's nothing." He muttered. Bucky smiled softly and sat down next to peter. By now the team were listening, looking up at Peter and Bucky.

"I can tell you've been crying. What's wrong?" Bucky asked firmly. Peter groaned and flopped out onto the couch, his feet in Bucky's lap.

"MJ and Ned can't go to Pride with me cause stuff came up," Peter said. His arms were crossed over his chest and he had a sour look on his face.

"Why can't you go alone?" Steve asked, looking up from his drawing pad where he had been drawing Bucky yet again. Peter made a face.

"Well, it's really not safe to." He said like it was obvious. Steve made a face of confusion in return.

"Why?" He asked confusedly. Peter sighed.

"Well, if someone who didn't like or support aspect of the LGBT+ community and you have a flag or a T-shirt or a badge that has a pride flag on it or they saw you at pride and you're alone you're in danger for someone to attack you," Peter explained gently. Steve nodded slowly.

"I could go with you." He said simply. Peter attempted to sputter out a protest only for Steve to beat him to it.

"Well, who's gonna mess with Captain America? Besides, we weren't allowed pride parades in the forties and it'll be nice to not hide for once." Steve said casually. That stopped Peter, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Hide what?" He asked. Steve shrugged.

"If you were gay in the forties you'd die if someone found out," Steve said, picking back up his pencil.

"You're gay?" Tony asked suddenly. Steve looked up and nodded like it was obvious.

"Of course I am." He said in confusion.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Bruce asked. Steve shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"Well, I didn't even know that homosexuality was legalised until Peter came out and I looked online. Then I was worried about what you guys would say or do." Steve said.

"Why would you be worried?" Natasha asked with narrowed eyes. Steve sighed and glanced at Bucky who nodded encouragingly.

"Back before the serum, this guy from high school found out cause he found nudie pictures in my locker that I stole from my ma. He held it as blackmail and uh, well he made me do stuff. To like, well to pleasure him. Cause I couldn't tell anyone what he was doing cause I'd get in trouble, not him." Steve explained quietly, putting his pencil back down and closing his note pad shut.

"Did it ever stop?" Sam asked. Steve nodded his head slowly.

"Yeah. Bucky found out because he walked in on it and punched the guy to high hell. Wouldn't let me walk anywhere alone for weeks after that." Steve said, a small fond smile on his face. Peter's eyes suddenly widened, looking between Bucky and Steve who knew he'd caught on.

"Oh my god! You guys are dating! I knew you were more than best friends!" He shouted, standing up on the couch and pointing between Steve and Bucky who were chuckling at him.

"Good job kiddo, you're the least oblivious." Bucky snickered. Peter pointed down at him.

"You have to come to pride! It'll be great! I promise!" Peter tried, Bucky narrowed his eyes, stroking his chin in his metal hand.

"But I'm not gay. I don't know the word for it. Stevie's great an' all, but I still like to look at dames." Bucky said. Peter nodded, dropping back onto the couch, grinning madly.

"You're like me! It's called bisexual, attracted to both genders." He said excitedly. Bucky nodded for a few moments before grinning.

"Guess Stevie and I should prepare."

----------

"Stay still I need to pin the flag on," Peter said, his tongue sticking out of his lips in concentration as he pinned Bucky's bisexual flag to his leather jacket.

"Stayin' still is for wimps." He mutters, making Steve slap him across the arm. Bucky only stopped squirming when he noticed how nervous Steve was, his hands were shaking, face pale and eyes flickering around the empty alleyway.  Once Peter finished his flag he went off on his own, leaving Bucky to sidle up to Steve's side and hug him around his waist.

"We'll be okay Stevie. No ones ever gonna hurt you again." Bucky soothed. Steve nodded curtly, bringing his arms around Bucky's shoulders and resting his head against Bucky's.

"I know. It's, it's just really scary. Peter and I were talking about it, he says it's really normal what I'm feeling and that's it's called internalised homophobia. He says he has that." Steve said quietly, smiling as he saw people walk past the alleyway in flags.

"Scary for me too. But we'll get through this like we always do." Bucky said softly. Steve hummed, pulled away and squeezing Bucky's hand which he had taken.

"I'm with you till the end of the line." He said softly, Bucky nodded firmly.

"Till the end of the line pale." He said back. He smiled when Peter walked back up to them, shirt off and just doing his trans pride flag binder and dress pants.

"Look at you, all spiffy." Bucky teased. Peter rolled his eyes.

"Shut up. Mr Stark got it as a surprise. Anyway! Let's go!" He said excitedly.

Let's just say that new York was very surprised to see The Winter Soldier and Captain America holding hands, kissing for cameras (With Bucky holding up his middle finger), and even photos of Peter on Bucky's shoulders cheering. But Bucky and Steve were happy, and Peter had the best day of his life. That's all that really mattered.