Disclaimer: Only the story is mine.

Also, this chapter has a lot of fluff. A LOT of fluff, guys.

Ready to Comply

"So basically I have to rip up the entire floor and put it in all new. I'm hoping I can salvage some of the wood, but it might just be time for a new look altogether. You can crack the eggs in this." Clint set a bowl on the counter.

Bucky had been listening to Clint detail the flood damage that had happened in his house a couple of weeks ago and his plans to fix it. Clint insisted that it was terrible and an inconvenience, but Bucky couldn't help but notice the excitement of a new project in him. They were standing in the kitchen, and Clint had insisted they wear aprons. Luckily, they weren't flowery. It looked like the household he landed in preferred solid colors. Every once in a while, Clint would stop talking about the household projects and give him instructions on what to do next. He cracked the two eggs in the bowl and started whisking.

"Just whisk the eggs for a bit then add them into the rest of it. So anyway, I figure, the floors were oak but I think I wanna put down hickory instead. It's time for a change, ya know? I found a great deal on some beautiful wood from this guy in Vermont. And the oak's been in there for a good long while." He picked up the sifter and started shaking all of the contents into another bowl. "Okay, you can put the eggs in with the rest and we'll add the dry ingredients. And I think I may even rip out the carpet in the dining room and continue it on through; hickory through the entire area."

"Didn't you just redo the dining room, Barton?" Natosha asked coming down the hall.

"Out!" Clint yelled so loudly Bucky's ears buzzed a little bit. "Out! Turn around and get out! This is secret."

"Relax, I'm just getting some water," she insisted.

"There's a lake out back." Clint turned her and shoved her back through the kitchen entrance and shut the door.

"What the hell, Barton?"

"No," was Clint's only reply. He started to take a step before turning around and opening the door again to an angry assassin with crossed arms. "And I only redid the kitchen cabinets," he told her. He shut the door again and walked back over to the counter where Bucky still stood, silently mixing the ingredients in his bowl.

"Okay, let's add these together so it can be ready to go in when that one comes out."

Clint and Bucky had just set the lids down when Steve strode into the kitchen. "Guys, you've been in here for hours and you've barred everyone from coming in. What the hell is going on?" He paused for a moment. "Oh, no. Barton, please tell me you're not planning to redo the kitchen. We can't, okay."

"Ha ha, you're so funny. But I'll have you know my work is damn good," Clint said.

"And frequent," Steve teased back.

"Hey, now," Bucky joined in. "Don't get on him about that stuff. Hickory is a great idea."

Clint turned to Bucky with slightly wide eyes. "Thank you!" He turned to gesture to Steve and the rest of the room. "Finally a little support." There was a joking gleam in his eyes and Bucky was smiling and Steve couldn't help but be happy about it.

"But, really, what's going on?"

Bucky shrugged. "We're done now, anyway."

Clint nodded his agreement. "Cap, mind finding everyone and telling them to come in here? That's the only way you'll find out."

Steve looked at Bucky and sighed. "Seriously?"

Bucky wrinkled his brow and nodded, managing to look both like someone who was supremely concerned about the situation and like a raging smartass.

"Okay. Gimme five."

A few short minutes later all inhabitants of the farm were gathered in the kitchen. Some looked grimy and dirt covered, some were still wearing lab equipment and all were looking expectantly at Bucky and Clint. Bucky started to speak but Clint beat him to it.

"Several hours ago, Mr. Barnes approached me with a problem. He asked for my assistance and, after he explained more thoroughly, I obliged. I did so because I believe his intentions to be honorable. I also feel a kinship with Mr. Barnes for reasons I will not go into at the moment."

"You were both brainwashed by crazy people?" Bruce asked.

"I told you," Thor sighed. "My brother isn't crazy."

"Fine," Natasha huffed, rolling her eyes. "They were both brainwashed, one by an evil group of Nazi affiliation and one by your completely grounded and well-meaning brother. But to be fair you call him 'beyond reason' occasionally and that is just a nice, demure way of acknowledging that he's occasionally batshit."

Thor crossed his arms and looked away. "I shall abstain from returning comment."

"Guys," Clint continued. "This is a serious moment."

"Baking is serious?" Wanda asked.

"Baking?" Clint asked back at her. "Who said baking?"

Bucky rolled his eyes. "They can smell it, you doof."

"Yeah," Natasha confirmed. "I smell spice cake."

Bucky threw up his hands. "Look, I did ask for his help. Basically, I wanted to thank you all for agreeing to let me be here but there are three people in particular that I wanted to extend more specific apologies to and Clint helped me do this." With that, he and Clint lifted the lids on the table behind them. On the table were three cakes—one with white icing, one with beige icing, and one with chocolate icing.

Natasha let out a small, appreciative sound and turned to Bucky. "You remembered about spice cake?"

Most of the people in the room turned to look at Bucky for his answer. Everyone except Sam and Steve who'd moved closer to the table and were staring quizzically at the cakes.

"Um, yeah," Bucky replied. "I remembered."

"Yeah," Clint said, turning to her. "What is this about spice cake? You've never talked about spice cake."

Thor raised an eyebrow at Clint. "What happened in Budapest, Clint?" he asked, pointedly.

"Uh, guys," Bruce said, holding back a laugh. "Look closer at the cakes."

Bucky and Clint both smirked as everyone moved in to look.

Steve spoke first, reading the message on the white cake. "Sorry I shot you while we were in a falling aircraft."

Natasha spoke next. "Sorry I shot you through my mark."

"Sorry I ripped off your wing and kicked you off a roof," Sam finished, reading the message on the chocolate cake.

Bucky smirked and turned his attention to Sam. "Are you happy now?"

Sam raised his eyebrows and accepted a plate from Clint. "Dunno. Is it poisoned?"

"Well, I didn't have my eye on Barton for the entire process so that entirely depends on how well you two get along."

Sam looked down at the piece of cake Steve was placing on his plate. "Vanilla? Really?"

"What?"

"This pastry is quite delicious," Thor insisted. "The three of you must forgive him."

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "I don't know how much of a hand you had in it but this cake is very good."

"I walked him through it mostly," Clint said. "Actually he needed an idea and was gonna go with, like, cleaning weapons or something, but then he mentioned what he'd said to you," he motioned to Sam, "and I knew we had to do that."

"Just your luck you found the one person here who bakes," Natasha smiled at Bucky.

"Spice cake?" Clint asked again.

Natasha smiled in the way she generally saved for throwing off a target. "Maybe I'll tell you in a few years."

"So," Steve glanced at Bucky quickly then back down at his plate again. "Does that mean you're accepting the offer to join up?"

"Course he is," Wanda answered for him. "You don't bake I'm Sorry cakes for people you're going to leave. Thank You cakes, maybe, but not I'm sorry cakes."

"That seems logical, even to me." Vision spoke up for the first time.

"Yeah," Bucky finally said, taking a deep breath. "If you're all sure about it."

"We wouldn't have offered if we weren't," Bruce assured him.

"Yeah," Sam smiled. "Plus, you're in Barton's debt now. That means the next time he rebuilds something, he'll recruit you first."

Bucky smiled and glanced at Clint. "Yeah, I've already been given the rundown on how heavy hickory is."

"Bozhe moi," Natasha said under her breath.

Bucky huffed out a laugh and quickly looked around at the people standing in the kitchen who'd broken off into smaller conversations. He still felt out of place, like he didn't belong there. He felt memories pressing in at the edge of his mind, trying to break through. He felt the headache that came along with the memories. He also felt the honesty of the offer to try to make a home with this group. They spent time apart, fought like hell, and spent most of their time together in danger, but they were obviously, and inexplicably, a family. He knew that if he was going to find a place to fit in anywhere, it would be with this odd grouping. Romania had worked for the years he'd been there, but he'd had no one that knew just who and what he was. It had been nice to have people think he was just a regular man, but it was a lie. As silly as Clint's insistence of baking the cakes had been, Bucky had to acknowledge that it had been the right move. Even if he had been roped into helping him put in new flooring. He found himself looking forward to it, oddly enough. A normal activity with a completely abnormal person.

"You should start training with us tomorrow morning," Natasha said to him, turning away from Bruce. "We're outta here in ten days. Might as well get a headstart."

"You want revenge?" Bucky asked, teasing lightly.

She shrugged. "The team that beats the hell out of each other together, stays together."

"That's not quite the way it goes, Romanoff," Steve called from the other side of the room. "But you should join us."

"Yes!" Thor agreed. "I get to fight you first. I'm the only one here who's not fought you or seen you fight first hand. I must put you to the test."

"No hammer?" Bucky bargained.

"No chance." Thor replied. "It's not like you'll take off your arm."

Vision turned toward Thor. "But you also are incredibly strong, not to mention heartier than even Mr. Barnes. Would that not be a fair fight?"

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "Plus, once Mr. Robotnik has been fighting for a few minutes, he starts to lag. Goes a little wonky. Not nearly as good as you think."

"Thanks," Bucky replied sarcastically. "But at least I'm not defeated by a kick off a roof."

"No, but that arm of yours doesn't stand a chance against a little webbing."

Bucky supposed it shouldn't be a surprise that a discussion on battle tactics and mishaps could last so long into the night.

The End

I will be starting the sequel to this story soon. It will be more of a mission-centric, Avengers-working-together-to-defeat-a-villain story. I already know most of what will happen in it, I even know who the big bad will be.

I will, however, be starting back to uni (one dreaded day of waiting left), so it will be a little bit longer of a wait between updates (unless I get in the mood to avoid reading about psychological disorders, criminal delinquents, Victorian courtrooms, and Austen heroines... basically, hw avoidance will drive that story). The compromise will be that I will be making those chapters much longer than the ones in this story.

Until then, thank you for reading this story! I hope you've enjoyed it!

Thank you to gandalf537, DarylDixon'sLover, and FireflyUpintheSky for the reviews! They are much appreciated!