fossilised | For Steve

For Steve

[This is a bad idea.

Bucky knows it as soon as he stops outside the little community centre where these classes run and he sees the other students milling about, chatting to each other in their own little cliques. The thing has been running for a while, it's an art group for anyone with any sort of mental health issue - depression, anxiety, psychosis. He's here for PTSD, practically bullied into it by his therapist at the VA, under the instructions that he needs to get out and start socialising more.

There are only six other people, four women and two men, and it already feels like too large a crowd. He makes sure his prosthetic is properly covered by a glove and long sleeve, stuffed into his pocket so nobody can tell it hangs strangely, and slouches in at the back. From the conversations he can overhear, blonde woman and redhead woman have anxiety issues, brunette #1 and the two men all have depression, and brunette #2 has psychosis. They're all so open with each other, chatting about medications and coping techniques and the work they've been doing in class already.

One of them approaches him and asks his name, and what he's there for, but he just glowers at her until she retreats again. He doesn't want anyone to know why he's here, and he's only here so Wilson will stop goddamn riding him about it.

He slumps into the seat nearest the back and waits for the teacher to arrive, already sure this is going to be a waste of time...]

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[Sprawled out and boneless against the bed, Steve winces and covers his face with his hand.]

Fuck.

[The post coital bliss is fading and embarrassment is setting in. How much of that did Natasha hear? He's such a shitty friend he should have thought to just be honest with her as soon as they got back to the room instead of letting his dick do the thinking and jumping right in.

He reaches blindly for Bucky's hand, needing the skin contact, the reassurance that there's at least one thing today he hasn't fucked up and give him courage to call out louder to Natasha.]

S-sorry Nat. I should have sent you a text at least, uh, earlier. I got a little... carried away.

[It's like a switch has flipped inside Bucky and he goes from relaxed to focused in a single heartbeat, all of his muscles tense underneath Steve's touch. He automatically goes to reach for a firearm that's not even there, before he catches himself and forces himself to sit on the edge of the bed and feign nonchalance.]

Maybe you should put some pants on and go out to talk to her?

[Damn it, why did she have to interrupt?

The door handle turns slowly. Nat has no intention of actually coming in, she just wants to scare Steve a bit, laughing as she calls back through.]

I think the whole building heard you getting carried away, I'm so proud of you. But the party's still going, so get your costume on, you're not getting out of it that easily.

[Steve feels Bucky's muscles tense, and when he looks he notices how he's gone from so relaxed to in alert mode. There's a brief but definate stab of frustration from that - not at Bucky, not even at Natasha, but at the general situation. Everything had been so perfect for a little while and then...

That's what he signed up for, though. He releases his held breath, sitting up with a wince he has to hide and rests a hand against Bucky's arm in a way he hopes is soothing.

Yes, Nat turning the door handle does spook him too. He wouldn't put it past her, okay.

Steve would be perfectly happy to carry on this conversation from this side of the door, but Bucky suggesting he go talk to her might be a subtle way of saying he needs a few moments alone, so Steve just swallows and nods.]

Gimmie a sec-

[He calls to Natasha, grabbing a pair of stretchy track pants from the hamper near his bed and pulling them on with a little difficulty, using an already dirty shirt to clean up some of the mess he had on himself. And yeah, he's limping a little when he goes to the door, both to go out and talk to Natasha and to let Bucky's dog in the bedroom so he isn't alone. Dog with a job, time to do your job.]

... how much of that did you hear? I need to know how badly to die of embarrassment.

[Yasha is pushing in as soon as the door is open even a crack, whining and wagging her tail both. At least Steve gets a last image of Bucky petting his dog, still butt-naked, before he closes the door so that Natasha can't peep in at his nude boyfriend.

She's dressed as Robin Hood, complete with a real bow that Clint lent her, all long legs in green tights and she's grinning like a cat with a whole saucer of cream. She's honestly ecstatic, she doesn't even care that she came all the way down here in worry, because Steve deserves this. He deserves happiness with someone.]

I heard enough to be kind of wonder if your boyfriend has a magic dick.

[Those were some loud and blissful shouts, friend.]

But don't you dare be embarrassed, it's sweet, it's good. That's what we got you the big bed for. Tony and Clint are gonna be so happy when I tell them.

[Yep, Steve gets a full body blush at the 'magic dick' comment.

Mostly because it's true.]

It was... nice. Real nice.

... I just love him so much, Nat.

[Her wicked smile softens a bit and she leans over to punch him lightly on the shoulder.]

I hope he feels the same way, Steve, if anyone deserves happiness then it's you. Even if I am mad at you for ditching my famous annual Halloween party.

[Steve gives her an exaggerated wince at the punch, smiling as well when Natasha does. Because Bucky does love him. Against all odds, Bucky loves him too.]

And I am SO sorry about that. Truly. Entirely my fault. Bucky had such a great costume too - but, uh... I really don't think taking stairs of any kind or much walking at all is in my future.

[She can't help it, she laughs properly at that.]

Oh, Steve, that's way too much information. I guess I'll let you off this time if you're feeling so delicate, but we're having a picnic in Central Park the day after tomorrow for the last nice day before winter sets in. You better be there, or I'm sending Tony around.

[Steve gives Natasha a look because yes it absolutely was too much information but Natasha also just ignored him trying to be respectful about keeping the reasons under wraps when he told her he couldn't make it over.]

No flaking out this time, promise. Please don't send Tony over.

Okay.

[She leans over and kisses him right on the forehead. Steve is one of her best friends, she is truly glad for him that he has this thing that makes him so happy.]

I know it will be tempting not to leave bed until the picnic, but do not forget to take nourishment, you need it with such... strenuous exercise.

[Try as Steve might, the glare has absolutely no fire to it and quickly melts into a smile.

Again, she's right. It would be deeply tempting to just beg Bucky to stay with him that whole time. Steve just hopes his neediness won't get on Bucky's nerves.]

Promise. If nothing else I gotta make him pancakes.

You get back safe okay, Nat?

[He's not going to bother to tell her what to not tell everyone else. Nat will always do things her way which will always frustratingly turn out to be the correct way anyway.]

[Pancakes.

God, she can just see this turning into domestic bliss, only Steve would find a wounded veteran and end up playing house with them like this. She wants to tell him not to give his heart away too fast, she never did, it took Clint years to earn hers, but... she knows that's not him. He'd never listen and he's been in deep since the first art class.]

Okay, okay-- I'll see you in a couple of days.

[She gives him one last kiss on the temple and lets herself out.

Bucky is in the bedroom, he's pulled on some sweats that belong to Steve meaning they're too long in the leg, and he's got Yasha pretty much on his knee. She's licking at the stump of where his arm used to be.]

[Since Natasha is leaving and they're no longer doing something that requires the dog to be out of the room, Steve just leaves the door open when he comes back in the room.

He takes a moment to just look at Bucky and Yasha. Bucky in his bed, in his clothes. Warmth spreads throughout Steve's chest and he's certain his heart stutters from the view.

He's just so in love.]

Sorry, I backed us out of the rest of the party... I don't think I'm up for much walking tonight if I can help it.

[Bucky had tried to discourage Yasha from this habit of licking his stump when he first got her, but she kept persisting, almost as if it was her way of showing that even the wounded parts of him were worth loving.

He looks up when Steve enters the room again, soft smile on his lips and the tension already mostly gone from his body. It had been the initial shock of the knock rather than any real perceived threat from Natasha.]

Good, because I'm pretty sure that I want to live in this room now, order pizza, and ban clothes.

[Oh thank goodness, but honestly, even if the rest of the evening was spent with Steve trying to soothe Bucky... that'd be okay too. He's very relieved it's not necessary, but he did know what he was signing up for.

With a shy grin, he slides the track pants off his hips to pool at the doorway and makes his way back over to the bed.]

I think I remember a flyer for a pizza place on my door at some point - what do you like on yours?

[Bucky drinks in the sight of Steve in front of him, able to look properly now that his gaze isn't clouded completely by lust. He's gorgeous, every inch of him pretty much impossibly perfect, but it's that smile that makes his heart melt.]

If I say pineapple are we gonna have our first fight? I dated this guy once who liked anchovies, it got ugly pretty fast.

[Steve laughs, leaning down to kiss Bucky again. He just wants to keep touching him, to remind himself that Bucky is real and here with him. It keeps seeming too good to be true.]

Are we having our first real fight then? Wait, no, because it's possible to order pizza half and half. Or just two pizzas. And I'm crazy enough about you that you could like anchovies AND pineapples and I think I'd just find it charming. How hungry are you?

Holy hell, you must really like me if you're willing to look past anchovies and pineapple on pizza, you crazy idiot.

[He's the one grinning like a crazy idiot, though. He's been struck with puppy love like a teenager, he'll be doodling 'Mr. Bucky Rogers' onto notebooks surrounded by hearts any moment now.]

Barbecue anything and a lot of peppers, that's the key to a good pizza, and I'm hungry enough for a whole one. Besides, if I don't eat it all, I can eat it tomorrow for breakfast.

[Steve has already done Steve Rogers-Barnes and Steve Barnes-Rogers a few times. You know. Just to see. So Bucky wouldn't be alone in that.]

Whole pizza it is. Although I was planning on making pancakes for breakfast...

[Steve climbs back onto the bed, though he does throw a leg across Bucky's thigh to be sort of half straddling his lap to kiss him softly again before he grabs where he discarded his phone from to place the order.]

[Bucky can't seem to take his eyes off Steve, even when he's doing boring everyday things like ordering a pizza on the phone. He's just so captivating, something about the curve of his lips or the way his eyes shine. God, he's in way too deep.]

You can make them for breakfast the day after tomorrow. Also, you're gonna need to call in sick to work, it's not my fault, I don't make the rules, but now you've shown me just what you're like in bed then I can't actually let you leave it or put clothes on for at least a week. Like I said, sorry, I don't make the rules.

[Steve kisses Bucky in lieu of answering right away, just a small thing at first before getting deeper and deeper. He doesn't think he'll ever kiss Bucky enough.]

I kinda had to promise Nat we'd be present for a picnic with the gang day after tomorrow to make up for my kind of making us ditch the party... but would you believe I have a lot of sick and vacation time banked because I never take either?

You know, somehow I would believe that without any doubt.

[Of course Steve is the sort of person to forgo holidays and sick time even when he needs it, he's got hard-worker written all over him. Not like Bucky, who once took three sick days because the new GTA was coming out.]

I guess if you feed me pizza and then let me sleep on you then I might forgive you.

[Somehow all of his previous concerns about wanting to stay in the same apartment as Steve overnight have dissipated. It's stupid and overconfident, to think just because Steve hadn't been repulsed during sex, and that it all went better than alright, it's safe to assume he's cured and nothing bad could happen.]

[Steve gently wraps his arms around Bucky's shoulders, sitting more comfortably across his lap so he can kiss Bucky again. Long, slow kisses to savor every instant. When he finally does talk his voice is a low, sincere murmur.]

There is nothing I would love more than to feed you pizza and have you sleep on me.

[Steve expects some difficulties on their first night together, but he's more than ready to face them.]

[The weight of Steve on his lap is a good one, one he knows that he could get used to dangerously quickly.]

Jesus, Steve, how aren't you married yet? You're like-- the perfect guy, there's gotta be something you're not telling me. Are you secretly a spy or something? Maybe you're a genetically engineered alien? A robot? Stop me when I'm getting close.

[Steve goes a little red at being called 'the perfect guy' - he's certain he's far from it, deeply relieved that Bucky is willing to look past all his inadequacies. Many as they are.]

I could say the same for you, mister brave, intelligent, funny, unbearably sexy...

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"to be kind of wonder" oh dear... fail brain

Dude I did not even notice.

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sorry for the wait, I've been ridiculously busy this week

Life happens, no worries!

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