fossilised | For Steve

[Steve’s hardly better than Bucky there.

Seeing him stumble he moves forward to assist, though Bucky catches himself and it means Steve is just now standing much closer to him than is strictly necessary for a conversation really and he’s got that sort of breathless smile of a person who is noticing absolutely nothing else in the world save for the person right in front of him.]

Hi.

[A second later of course he remembers, right, Natasha is here. Natasha who could possibly ignore Steve’s plea to behave herself, and with a new dog and Bucky’s sister around.

This could be very, very bad. Steve, quick, get ahold of the situation.]

Natasha - she’s the friend I’m always talking about. My former roommate too. She just came over to help me on a couple errands that needed doing. … Cute dog.

Thanks. She's called Yasha, she's the-- what I was telling you about.

[It's stupid to be cagey, Steve has probably told his beautiful former roommate that Bucky's a vet with a new service dog, but it's instinct that has him hiding it all the same.

He glances up the stairs, looking like he'd really rather be anywhere but here.]

I'll walk you down, I was just going down to escort my sister out anyway. Becca, this is Steve, Steve this is Becca.

[Becca doesn't look impressed as she descends the stairs, glaring at Bucky though she doesn't say anything about why, just forces a smile and holds her hand out towards Steve.

Natasha raises an eyebrow, but chooses not to comment, instead embarrassing Steve like he feared she might.]

Uh huh, we need to run some errands to make sure Steve is all pretty for tomorrow.

[Rebecca has no idea how much Natasha probably just saved her life right then. As Steve shook her hand he was debating whether he should pretend this was their first meeting or say something to Bucky after all when Natasha has to pipe up like that.

He hadn’t mentioned the fake arm or the service dog, actually. He did mention Bucky was a vet, and even if Steve didn’t bring up the PTSD he did originally talk about Bucky in the context of the class Steve met him in and Natasha was always keenly observant when it came to people so Steve doesn’t doubt she could guess even if he said nothing at all.

He still goes a little red.]

It’s fine, don’t worry - Natasha is clearly going to ignore my plea for her to behave herself so it’ll be better for my sense of shame if she doesn’t have more chances to go into embarrassing college stories. I’m, uh. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, though.

[Becca is spitting mad. The whole reason she argued to carry all this stuff upstairs was so she could get a look at Bucky's apartment - she's nearly sure that he's living in a terrible way, and she's worried about him, but he'll never let her in if she just drops round.

Now she's being essentially forced out again, because she's not going to embarrass him by arguing in front of Steve and his friend. Damn it. She looks so angry as she stalks downstairs, barely giving him a backwards glance.]

Yeah, forget it. I can walk myself out, James.

[Bucky sighs, making an apologetic face at the other two.]

Sorry, uh-- I would like to hear those embarrassing college stories sometime, though, everyone needs good blackmail material.

[Natasha laughs.] Oh, I like him. But I better go, Steve might cry if I start to tell you about the time he got arrested by campus security for running across the quad naked when Clint stole his clothes at the pool, and then his swimtrunks while he showered--- oops, guess I just told you. Oh well.

NATASHA!

[Riiight, there goes Steve’s face. Of all the stories you could tell, Natasha -

Bright red, Steve grabs Natasha’s arm quickly to direct her DOWN THE STAIRS AND AWAY.]

ByeBuckyI’llseeyoutomorrowgoodtoseeyou

[Yes all that is said in one single breath as Steve makes as fast a retreat out to the sidewalk as he can manage. And then he’s glaring at Natasha a glare that is the closest to pure murder as Steve Rogers has ever done in his life.]

[It's a shame that Steve beats such a hasty retreat, because he'll probably miss the quite rare sound of Bucky genuinely laughing. He does call after him to say goodbye, but it's again likely missed with how fast Steve is dragging Natasha outside.

She's nearly helpless with laughter, having to lean against the wall outside the building as Steve glares at her.]

W-What's the matter, Steve? I was a-- haha-- a total accident.

[With any luck Steve will get another chance to hear that, ideally under more favorable circumstances.

Instead he’s outside, too busy glaring at Natasha.]

You know what - I can handle the shopping by myself, thanks anyway. I will consider calling you on Monday.

[She's not about to be cowed, she knows that he's a big puppy underneath his rippling muscles, so she reaches out and grasps hold of his arm.]

Oh, come on, Steve, don't be a big baby. He liked it, he was laughing.

It was one request, Natasha!

[He is a big softie, and he’s more hurt than angry. Steve probably does get too easily embarrassed about things, but this is a guy he’s still getting to know who Steve very desperately wants to think well of him.

So, you know, Steve is also still so red he’s practically glowing.]

I know, and it was a request, not an order, so I decided not to grant it.

[She does stop laughing, though, and looks up at him with a glimmer of that perceptiveness shining through.]

Besides, the tension needed breaking. He's obviously had a fight with his sister, it was awkward, and everyone needed a distraction. I'm sure you'll sacrifice your pride for that.

[Any bit of anger hanging around drains pretty thoroughly at that. Much as Steve hates to admit it, Natasha is right. She’s usually right.

He covers his face with his hands and just sort of slumps to the sidewalk, his back against the brick of the building.]

He’s going to think I’m an idiot now and never want to see me again.

[She leans down to press a light kiss to the top of his head.]

You are an idiot, Steve, so he can be forgiven for thinking that. But I bet you my whole salary this year that it won't change how much he's looking forward to tomorrow. Now come on, we have a lot of shopping to do, no time to sit and mope about naked arrest stories.

[Steve's embarrassment isn't going to go away any tim3 soon, but she's right in that they're burning daylight here. He gives her another glare that's more sort of pathetic than actually angry before giving a great sigh and pulling himself back to his feet.

His mood will improve the more they're out, anyway. Even if getting condoms and some very flattering tight pants does make him sputter a bit.]

[She makes him buy both the condoms and the flattering tight pants, as well as a shirt that sets off the blue of his eyes, and talks him out of a tie (seriously, Steve, this isn't the 1940s). She also gets him some nice new sheets for his bed, a shampoo that smells like coconut and a body wash that compliments it. A haircut is the last thing on the list, just to make him properly neat and tidy.

After that, there's nothing much for her to do except drop him home and wish him luck, more sincerely than she's done anything yet.

Bucky has spent an evening also worrying about what he's going to do, rummaging through his pathetic backpack of clothes to pick out an outfit he hasn't worn since before he shipped out, and sorting out the dog. She makes too much noise on his floors, something that grates through him with every step, and she ends up having to fulfil her duties by bringing him out of a panic attack by the time night sets on.

Come morning, Bucky is ready. His hair is washed and neatly brushed, though left loose, and he's wearing dark jeans that look as if they've been painted on for how tight they are, and a leather jacket over a pale t-shirt. Yasha has also been brushed up to look good, now all he has left to do is pace until Steve comes to knock for him.]

[Eleven o’clock on the dot and Steve is knocking at Bucky’s door. He’d already showered and made a bunch of pancakes and have them all set out with a cloth over them to keep them warm, though he left things out in case Bucky wants more.

Steve may have woken up before the crack of dawn for all his fretting. He made quite a bit of pancakes to make up for that fretting. Even the shower doesn’t really mask the scent, so he ends up smelling mostly like coconut pancakes when he goes to get Bucky, trying not to fidget at the door.]

[Yasha is the first out of the door, giving Bucky the chance to once more slip out and close the door before his crummy apartment can be seen. Not that he makes it much further than his closed door before just stopping to gape a bit.]

Wow, Rogers.

[Wow indeed, how is he real? He's like one of those fantasy men, too perfect to exist outside of a daydream.]

You look gorgeous.

[Again, Steve is a little too distracted by Bucky himself to even try getting a look in his apartment anyway. Steve thought Bucky was attractive before, but seeing him all done up in bad boy splendor... If he does that low flirty voice again Steve knows he'll have no chance.

He swallows the lump in his throat. The first attempt at a hello doesn't really het anything more than an 'uh' but the second mostly works.]

Uh- H-hi, uh. Good morning. You look, um. Are you really single? You can't be.

[To be looked at like Steve is looking at him now is something special; it didn't used to be because he used to be assured of his looks and his appeal to others, but with how he feels about himself these days it's amazing. He can't help it, he takes a step closer to their already close proximity and presses a light kiss to Steve's lips. God and that's sinful because he wants to do it again as soon as he steps back.]

I'm kinda hoping that I'm not single, you're right.

[That is way too forward for a first date but it comes blurting out anyway. Jesus, Barnes, cool it or he'll go running a mile.]

Sorry, uh, I mean... this is Yasha, my dog.

[Unfair, Barnes, unfair. Steve doesn't really kiss back, but it's pretty clear why right away. That one light kiss alone has left him dazed, like Bucky might as well have just pinned him to the wall for an extended makeout session.

Get it together, Rogers.]

Uh, right, right!

Good to meet you, Yasha.

We should head down before the food gets cold. I, I'm, I got her some dog treats too yesterday, if that's okay.

[Yasha is a very well behaved and well trained dog so, unless Steve pets her specifically, she won't actually leave Bucky's side while he's out of the apartment. That's her job.

Bucky looks a little flushed, but he's grinning when he realises Steve isn't mad that he went for the kiss or that he might have insinuated that he wants this to be more than just one date.]

Sure, that's okay by me. Lead the way, Steve, I'm in your hands.

[He can't help it, buoyed by his success so far his flirty side comes back out, and that low purr makes it out of his lips again.]

Well-- not in your hands yet, maybe later.

At least wait until you try the pancakes.

[Steve's protests do not sound at all upset, and he's certainly flushed as well as he leads the way down to his apartment - which smells very much like pancakes and fresh coffee and a bunch of different kinds of fruit ... and a little bacon and eggs too - pancakes are the focus (most are plain but some are fancyish recipes he found on pinterest) but they're there for a well balanced meal if Bucky wants! He's even set up the kitchen island as a makeshift table and acquired an additional chair for it.

That's not even getting into him almost entirely rearranging the area where his bed and drawing desk are to catch the best light and move all the other lights in his apartment to in the event it goes long enough to get dark.

Basically Steve panicked, and when Steve panics Steve over-prepares.]

Have a seat, everything should be on the table, uh - let me know if you want anything else? Oh! I'll get a bowl of water out for Yasha.

[He can't deny that he's impressed with what Steve's done with the space in only a few days, it looks like a real home now. Everything smells good, looks inviting, but there's such an air of tension. It's like they're both trying too hard and he doesn't want this to get weird and strained.

So he stops Steve as he goes to grab a bowl and fill it with water, hand clasping over his wrist firmly, and tugs him to sit down.]

Uh-uh, she had some water a little bit ago, she can wait. We're gonna play twenty questions.

[It's so stupid, but he can remember it working as an ice breaker in other situations. Questions leading to conversation, leading to relaxing.]

I get to start, so-- my first question, is it true you were arrested for running nude on your college campus?

[Steve is happy enough to follow any direction Bucky gives. Until he goes and brings up that. That tears it, he's calling Bruce about the date when it's over with, not Natasha. Steve groans and covers his face with his hands.]

I wasn't arrested. ... it was campus security, not the cops. Campus security can't actually arrest you.

[He manages not to laugh through a Herculean effort, though there's definite amusement in his voice.]

Still counts. So-- were you trying to be sneaky, all crouched low and hands over your junk, or did you just go for it free and loose?

[Steve peeks out at Bucky from between his fingers.]

I’m not going to get out of this without just telling the whole story, am I?

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