Chapter Text
It’s a simple mission.
Tony is going to run a few errands, and Bucky has to make sure he doesn’t break the Rules. Steve and the others gave Tony Rules for shopping, but he doesn’t seem overly inclined to follow them. It’s baffling, at least to the part of Bucky that can still be baffled. When he is given Rules or a Mission, it becomes the singular most important aspect of his life. He dare not disobey. Tony treats Rules like vaguely annoying suggestions or wholly unwelcome restrictions. That is why Steve gently orders him to go with Tony, keep an eye on him. It’s a welcome mission in many respects. Steve has finally learned that Bucky is the Winter Soldier still, he needs jobs, work, and something to focus on that isn’t whatever nonsense the TV spits out at one in the afternoon on a Thursday. It’s probably just Steve trying to kill two birds with one stone, Tony follows the Rules, and Bucky safely gets out of the house. He was going to stealthily follow Tony, blending in and interfering only when the situation demanded it, but that morning, Tony had drank his ninth cup of coffee, and shouted “WHOEVER CAPTAIN TIGHTPANTS ASSIGNED TO ME JUST GET IN THE DAMN SPORTSCAR!” loud enough to startle Bucky, who had been hanging from the rafters in the garage, into falling into the car. Satisfied, Tony had merely started the car and gunned it out of there. “Barton likes to hide up there too. To be honest I thought it was him, or I might have invited you a bit nicer,” Tony commented when they hit a red light. Bucky turned and gave him an unimpressed snort. “No you wouldn’t have.” That earned him a wide grin and a “Probably not,” before they were off again. The speed felt nice, the air cold and fast in his hair, tied back in a ponytail because some part of him didn’t want it cut. He was alert, focused, but relaxed by the simple fact he had a mission again. Steve and the others had read him the Rules, and he had an unnecessary physical copy written in purple crayon by Clint. The car swerved into a parking lot and Bucky allowed himself a small grin.
How hard could it be?