"Listen, the only reason I'm here is because you saved my life and I owe you one," Steve growls, closing the door behind him. Bucky leans back on the couch, smirking as he watches the uptight investigator.

"So a little corruption in our legal system, hmm? Can't say I'm at all surprised," Bucky speaks, fixing his hair up into a messy bun. Steve rolls his eyes as he walks over to him, hands on his hips.

"I said I owed you one favour," he hisses, glaring down at him. "So what is it going to be?"

Bucky blinks up at him slowly. "I need something taken care of," he says and Steve raises his eyebrows. "I need you to... be my token."

He blinks once, twice, and rubs a hand over his face as he curses.

Being a police officer who owed his life to a petty criminal was bad enough -- pretending to masquerade as his partner was crossing a line Steve didn't think he'd ever reach in his time.

"Just for a while," Bucky adds quickly, straightening up his posture. "I'm getting close with a gang and I need help."

"No," Steve says flatly, crossing his arms.

"Look, they're taking my territory and I'm not letting them get away with it," Bucky speaks. "I'm trying to stop them, for God's sake. Isn't that what you all are supposed to do? You're welcome for doing your job."

"So you can steal more?" Steve snaps. "I should've arrested you months ago, you know."

Bucky smiles up at him, his eyes glinting. "So, why didn't you?"

Steve shakes his head and steps away.

He didn't know why he let him go. He didn't understand why, months ago in a shootout, Bucky had leapt in front of him and taken a bullet to the stomach. It'd gone completely through, and Steve had been baffled. He'd gone with him to the hospital, waiting until he was stable to tell him that he'd reportedly lost him, as he said in the official report.

Now, five months later, Bucky was calling in his favour.

"You said 'be your token'," Steve mutters, shooting him a look. "What, exactly, does that entail?"

"In that group, every powerful member has a someone," he explains. "Someone to show off, someone insignificant who can pretty much pass undetected," he dismisses and Steve rolls his eyes again.

"Sounds really fun," he says dryly.

"You would get information and help me take them down," Bucky says, spreading his hands out. "Isn't that what you want?"

"What gang is it?" Steve pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes, looking impatient.

"The Red Knights."

Steve's mouth runs dry and he stares at the brunet. "Are you serious?"

"Uh, yeah," Bucky defends, frowning at him. "They're in my territory and I want to get rid of them."

"You'll get slaughtered." Steve had tangled with the Red Knights for years. Never in person, they would've known him then, but after they'd killed his partner, he'd had a personal vendetta against them all.

If he was going to do this, he had to take them all out, make sure no stragglers were left behind. He wanted to be rid of the Red Knights. The sooner they were off the streets, all the better for New York.

"If that's what it takes." Bucky looks at him, almost pleadingly. "Please."

Steve stares at him as he processes this. "So I pose as your "token", get information, and help you take them down? Only us?"

Bucky nods grimly. "I'm not fond of the chances we're up against, but..."

Steve purses his lips. "I'll play your game, but we're getting these guys. If it comes down to it, I won't hesitate to call in back-up to take them down. Is that understood?"

"Fine." Bucky stands and offers a hand. "All you have to do is keep your mouth shut. You're a cop, but hopefully you can do that for at least a little while."

Steve takes his hand and shakes it firmly, frowning at him before pulling back. "After this, I owe you nothing."

"Agreed." Bucky levels his gaze and offers a playful smirk. "Come back tomorrow, we'll discuss this further."

"If this is some sort of trick..."

"I swear on my ma's grave," Bucky recites, raising his hand. "This isn't a trick."

Steve studies him a brief second more before nodding and walking out without another word.

////

"I hate this." Steve stares at Bucky, eyes wide. Bucky looks down at his own outfit, fixing the tie.

"It's a fancy event, they're selling art work," Bucky explains as he looks at himself in the mirror.

"And do I want to know how they got the artwork? Or how you secured us tickets to this event?" Steve puts his hands on his hips. Bucky looks at him over his shoulder and smiles.

"It's my specialty," he says as he steps back and turns to Steve, fixing him up.

"You sold them the artwork." Steve doesn't even meet his gaze as he says this.

Bucky has the grace to look slightly red in the face. "Gotta earn a living somehow, Captain. Now listen," he says as he fixes Steve's tie, "I need you to be quiet tonight. If you say the wrong thing, or someone recognises you, we're in trouble. I know how these people work and first I have to earn their trust. I need you to do exactly what I say."

Steve shoots him a dark look, and Bucky raises his eyebrows.

"If I could've found someone else, I would've."

Steve looks away impatiently and steps away once Bucky's finished. He glances at his reflection in the mirror, frowning at the suit. It was a smidge too small, but Bucky's fit him well.

"Okay." Bucky takes a deep breath. "Are you armed?"

"Always," Steve scoffs, reminding himself of the gun inside his suit jacket.

"Leave it." Bucky gives him a look. "They have scanners at the front, you'll be caught instantly. I don't want a cop dying for me."

"There is a lot of paperwork to do," Steve mumbles and shakes his head. "Okay. Let's get this over with."

////

Steve hated... crime. The drug lords, the masterminds and thieves were all gathered under one roof, and he had to pretend to be one of them. Worst of all, he could feel himself flushing red as Bucky was walking close against him as they stepped up to the establishment.

"Ready?" Bucky glances over at him. Steve, looking stoic, nods and commits to the bit by linking their arms together and proceeding. Bucky hands over the tickets and makes small talk while Steve quietly analyzes everybody gathered. He recognises quite a few faces, surprised that a handful of head honchos are stepping out tonight.

Bucky squeezes his hand to give him small signals -- yes, no, stop, and simple sayings like that. Internally, Steve curses, but externally he keeps it together and smiles politely.

After talking to a powerful group, Bucky leads Steve outside to get a breath of fresh air. It was beginning to rain.

"You doing okay?"

Steve purses his lips and looks away, folding his arms. "We're talking to despicable people. Twice I've seen people who have taken the lives of close friends. Some of them felt like family. And they're gone because of... them." He jerks his head back inside. Bucky's quiet as he leans against the wall, letting them both think.

"We aren't done yet. I need to cause a distraction so you can sneak -- s***," he hisses before pulling Steve into a kiss. Steve freezes, his brain screaming at him to pull away. His body doesn't cooperate.

A window creaks and Bucky glances up to see it sliding shut again. They'd been spied on. He breaks away, breathing hard, and gives Steve an apologetic look before disappearing back inside.

Steve stands for a second or two longer, floored. Wondering what just happened, hesitantly touching his lips, he follows Bucky inside.

As he steps in, he sees Bucky causing a scene -- screaming in someone's face, riling them up. Bucky brings his fist back and punches the bigger man hard in the face, his head jerking to the side.

Everyone immediately gathers and Steve can feel his heart stuttering in his chest. "Bucky..?"

Bucky shoots him a look, and Steve watches a grim smile cross his face. Then Steve slips away, down into the basement where all the information was kept.

After rushing to loot everything he can -- records on bank accounts, calendars of important dates, files on people the gang thought intimidating and useful -- Steve slips back upstairs and is greeted with the sight of Bucky with a gun in his face, eyes wide.

"Where'd this rat slip off to, huh?" Someone grabs Steve and he thrashes in the taller man's grasp.

"No! He isn't part of this," Bucky hisses as he tries to go to Steve. The safety is clicked off and Bucky pauses, raising his hands, realising his mistake once he's confessed his connection to Steve. They turn to the blond, who stares blankly ahead, his mind racing. Bucky is let go, and Steve is instantly fired at as the big guy holding the gun turns to face him.

Chaos erupts at the gunshot and everyone starts to panic, grabbing their own concealed weapons. Steve's hit in the leg and staggers to the ground with a cry.

Bucky runs to him and helps him up, and they make a quick getaway. Bucky hurriedly hotwires a truck and shoves Steve inside, then climbs in himself and takes off. Steve stares at him incredulously.

"Are you insane?" he barks, gritting his teeth and holding his leg. Bucky shifts the gear stick and goes whipping around the corner, clutching the wheel tight. "Was that the plan? Get me shot and send New York's worst crime ring after us?"

"Look, I really don't need this right now," Bucky yells as they speed through a red light. He can hardly see through the rain.

Soon enough, a police siren is heard and Bucky swears loudly as he pulls over. An officer Natasha Romanoff walks over, tipping her hat up and cocking her head.

"Sir, were you aware that you were speeding over double the speed limit?" She looks bored as she stands there, flashlight in hand. Steve bites his lip to keep himself quiet. Natasha was a close friend -- the last thing he needed was to drag her into this mess.

"I'm sorry," he says apologetically. "My... husband broke his leg."

Oh, s***. Steve mentally curses, leaning his head back against the headrest. Natasha shines the light through the window and freezes as she sees Steve sitting there, trying not to cry.

After a beat or two of silence, she speaks up. "You've got a lot of explaining to do, Rogers."

////

"So let me get this straight," she says slowly. She hadn't expected her friend and co-worker to ever actually come over to her apartment, but under the circumstances it was worse than what she was hoping for. "Actually, never mind, I cant even fathom what you're doing."

"Yeah, I know." Steve grimaces as Bucky removes the bullet and stitches him up.

"It's not his fault," Bucky dismisses. "Hi, Bucky Barnes, local thief. Nice home."

Nat shoots him a warning glare as she approaches Steve. "So how long is this... mission... supposed to take?"

Steve looks at Bucky, who shrugs. "Another week or two? Steve might need to go in solo a couple times."

"Absolutely not," Natasha reprimends. "I'm going with him."

"What?" Steve sits up and instantly regrets it. Bucky studies Natasha, frowning slightly.

"If we're going to pull this off, you're going to need me." She folds her arms and looks between the two boys. "I'll even be the gopher between the police and you guys, keep you out of trouble." She nods to Steve. He and Bucky exchange a look.

"What if you get hurt?"

She gestures to his leg. "If that's how they shoot, I think I'll be okay."

"Okay," Steve reluctantly agrees. Bucky watches him quietly. Nat sighs and grabs her jacket and wallet.

"I need to grab some food and medicine," she mutters and glares at Bucky. "Touch anything, and I'll kill you."

Bucky salutes. "Understood, ma'am." Nat rolls her eyes and leaves. Bucky turns to look at Steve, and finds him on the verge of passing out. He sits next to him and sighs. "Busy day, huh?"

Steve grumbles something, his eyes closed.

"You know, you're a scary cop," Bucky speaks as he leans back into the couch. "Put on a show and all that, bad cop routine, but deep down I bet you're a nice guy."

Steve huffs in response and cracks an eye open. "Okay, Barnes." He closes his eyes again and is soon fast asleep, the first time Bucky's seen his features relaxed. He smiles a little at the sight and stands, stretching.

A  busy day, and they hadn't even started yet.

////

The following weeks get them into a couple spots of trouble; Natasha ends up intervening, and rounds up two connected groups. Still, no capture of the Red Knights. It was a frustrating time for them all.

Confusing, too, especially for Steve. A man convinced of his sexuality as straight, he was having a hard time coming to terms with the way he was seeing Bucky.

It's the role I'm playing, that's all, he tells himself. Maybe we're warm, but I'm not seriously attracted to him. It's the attention, or, it's the lack of anyone else around.

However, on one small mission he and Natasha parade as a couple while Bucky steals more documents and uses those to disrupt members of the Red Knights by causing drama and splitting up couples, betraying groups and lying to get what he needs.

To avoid suspicion, Nat pulls Steve into a kiss and he kisses her back, pulls her close, and feels nothing besides embarrassment.

They pull away and Steve goes to check on Bucky, accidentally startling him. "God, Steve!" he hisses as he clutches his chest. "Thought you were a murderer."

"Wouldn't surprise me here," Steve says dryly as he helps him. Natasha retreats and does surveillance while the others get the job done.

////

"We're almost finished," Bucky explains as they walk back to Natasha's apartment, their hideout. It was secluded enough and unassuming; Bucky thought it would be safe.

He opens the door and shouts a warning before he's bashed over the head and crumples to the ground. Steve reaches for him and is stopped by the skinny guy holding the weapon. After a brief tussle, Steve's thrown against the wall and knocked out cold. Natasha is the last to go down.

////

"Steve?" Bucky slowly lifts his head and winces, feeling blood drip down his temple. After his eyes adjust to the light, he notices Steve slumped up against the wall, Natasha nowhere to be seen. "Oh, you b*******," he growls, thrashing in his seat.

"Not surprised we had a rat," a small man drones, pushing off the far wall, his stringy hair in his eyes. Bucky glares at him and spits. The man's brown eyes glint as he grins. "Oh, very well done. You've insulted me so." Bucky decided he hated this man's voice -- slimy, nasally and high-pitched. Annoying.

"I heard this one was your other half. Ward spotted you moochin' out the window," he says non-chalantly. Bucky resists the urge to roll his eyes, anxious to get him and Steve away from this monologuing idiot.

"Yeah, you're dying first," he hisses. The man laughs at him.

"From you and what army?" He kicks at Steve, who doesn't react. Bucky feels a jolt of fear as he watches him. The man looks at him as he kicks him again, gauging his reaction.

"Stop," he snaps, tensing in his seat.

Steve forces himself to sit up, disoriented. "Buck..?"

Bucky looks at him, looking desperate.

"So you do know each other, eh?" Another kick, then Bucky winces as Steve is dragged and thrown into a table he hadn't noticed before.

Steve lies still as the man towers over him, leering. When the man grabs him again, he leaps into action, jerking his knee up into his stomach and slamming his head against his. Steve scrambles away, forcing himself to his feet, shaking as he unties Bucky.

"Come on, we have to go," Steve pants as he frees him. Bucky stares, wide-eyed, before nodding and following him out. Steve carries himself with a determination Bucky'd never seen before.

"What the h*** was that?" Bucky gasps as they run. Steve looks at him and raises his eyebrows.

"You think that was my first time held captive?" They round the corner and Steve presses himself against the wall, closing his eyes and trying to quiet his breathing. Bucky can't help but stare at him, impressed.

"I think I love you, Rogers."

Steve scoffs and they keep running, and Bucky smiles to himself.

////

Their work paid off. The Red Knights' hideout was discovered, and as Steve and the others arrested them, they never came back to Bucky's territory, and therefore Bucky toned down the whole "robbery" thing.

"Your debts paid off, like I promised," Bucky vows, nodding at him. "Now you don't ever have to see me again."

"I'm sure our paths will cross eventually," Steve muses, and Bucky smiles.

"That a promise, Rogers?"

He tries to cover a smile. "'Course, Barnes."

////

Woah, this got slightly longer than what I usually do. This was fun though.