“I swear, Stevie, if I have to drag your bloody ass from another alleyway, I’m tying you to the couch,” Bucky huffed, shutting the door to their apartment behind him.
It was stuffy in the living room, with the Brooklyn heating sweeping through the city, making the air thick enough to slice. The windows were edged with grime, and the old curtains were pulled aside, letting the evening light flood the room in a hazy manner. Stevie rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, running a hand through his hair, tussled from the recent fight.
“It’s not like I like try to get beat up, Buck.” The smaller boy, frowned, biting the inside of his cheek. The brunet sighed, his blue eyes looking more tired now. He walked over to where Steve leaned against the couch, arms crossed.
“I know,” he replied, holding the other boys shoulders. “I just hate to see them hurt you like that.” His bit his lip as he eyed the several scrapes on his high cheekbones, scuffed like scratched porcelain. He lifted his hand, as though to reach out and touch it, but he set it back down, and patted the boy’s shoulder. Steve took a deep breath, settling the disappointment in his gut.
“How ‘bout this,” Bucky started, that charming smile on his face. “I clean ya’ up, and then I’ll teach you how to win a fight? What do ya’ say?” He raised his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
Steve thought about it for a moment, suddenly getting nervous. Recently all he’d been thinking about was his best friend, in questionable ways. He thought about how he liked when Bucky woke up in the morning, hair messed up, and voice groggy with sleep. Or when he tried to hide a smile, telling Steve some dumb joke a guy down at the docks told him. Or after Bucky came home, grease stains on his face and shirt, too tired to walk to the bed to go to sleep, laying down on the scratchy couch, but energized enough to ask about Steve’s day. It all made Steve’s stomach coil with something he hadn’t felt before, except maybe that one time Coney Island, something mixed with fear and excitement.
“Stevie, you okay?” Bucky looked concerned now, getting closer to the blond.
“I’m fine, I just zoned out, I think.” He coughed, fidgeting. The brunet gently placed a hand on the side of Steve’s face, his thumb caressing his temple.
“You didn't hit your head, didya’?”
Steve thought he was going to have an asthma attack.
“I’m good, Buck. Lemme’ just go get cleaned up.” Steve quickly went around him, making his way to the bathroom, wiping his suddenly clammy hands on his pants. He leaned on the sink, looking in the mirror, sighing in relief.
“Here, I got it.” Bucky had grabbed a towel from the kitchen, the one they used for the usual clean up routine, with plenty of scattered bloodstains to be concerned about. He held in his other hand the medicine to smooth over the scrapes.
“I can do it,” the blond said, reaching for both items, but finding that they were just out of reach.
“If you’re gonna get mad at me, the least you can do is let me patch you up.” Bucky patted the counter, motioning for him to sit. Steve slowly climbed up, hoping the sink wouldn't break.
“I’m not mad,” he said firmly, frowning again. Bucky smiled, running warm water over part of the towel.
“You ain’t?” Steve could practically hear him light up, and it made his chest tighten.
“Nah, I know you’re only trying to help,” He looked up, watching as Bucky moved in between his knees, becoming acutely aware of how still he staying.
“Sorry, pal,” the brunet chuckled, “gotta get closer to you’re big ole’ face.”
“It’s fine.” Steve smiled back, his jaw tensing, clenching his teeth.
Bucky dabbed the warm towel over the scrapes on his high cheekbones, careful not to press too hard, trying not to linger on how smooth the other boy’s skin was. Silence settled over them as the brunet cleaned the cuts, heat coiling in his gut, thinking about the punk who put his filthy hands on Steve. If only Bucky’d been there. He would’ve taught him a lesson. Steve winced.
“Sorry,” Bucky whispered, calming down. He squeezed some ointment onto his index finger, and with the other hand held Steve’s chin, gazing a little too long at his blue eyes, finding some green specks he hadn’t noticed before, and turning his head to get a better look at the scrapes.
“S’okay,” Steve replied, barely above a whisper. The brunet smoothed the medicine over the scrapes, resting his palm on Steve’s jaw. The blond boy began wondering where his inhaler was as he felt Bucky’s warm hand on his cheek. He refrained from leaning into it.
“There. All better!” Bucky smiled, washing his hands in the sink as Steve hopped off, somewhat dazed.
“Thanks. I think I’m gonna go make me a sandwich. I’m, uh, hungry.” Steve hurried out of the bathroom, finding that somehow the humid living room was less stuffy than the bathroom, where he was too close to Bucky too fast. Soft footsteps followed behind him.
“Steve, you okay, pal. You seem kinda...off?” Steve slowly turned around, searching for something to say.
“Just thinking, I guess,” he replied, watching Bucky run a hand through his hair, making it stick up in all different directions. Steve’s stomach felt queasy. The brunet sighed, taking a step closer.
“Stevie,” he said, his somber eyes making Steve’s knees weak. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“I just feel like,” he started, fidgeting with his hands, and for a moment, the blond considered telling him his internal conflict, how he didn’t know what was wrong with him, and he didn’t know how to fix himself, because only now was he beginning to realize just what he was, and he knew what happened to people like him, and he was so scared, so, so scared.
“We’re best friends, you can trust me.”
Then, reality hit him unlike any blow he’d endured before, because this was a new kind of pain. He cleared his throat, crossing his arms.
“I just feel like I can never win a fight. And it bothers me that I always come home bloody.” He looked down at his shoes, trying to will his eyes to stop burning.
“Oh,” Bucky said, like he was let down. “Well, I guess I better teach ya’ how to win a proper fight, don’t I?” He plastered a charming smile on his face, if only to get the other boy to smile too. Steve shrugged his shoulders.
“Sure,” he replied, nervous when Bucky got down to his knees, immediately regretting his decision.
“Well, cmon’, how’re you gonna fight me from up there?” Steve was already weak at the knees, so it didn’t take much to get on Bucky’s level.
“Buck,” he questioned, trying to slow his breathing, “what’re we doing on the floor?”
“Remember when we were little, and we used to get into rumbles for the helluvit?” Bucky was pushing aside all the small binders and paint supplies that surrounded them.
“Yeah,” Steve chuckled, crinkling his nose. “I never won any of ‘em.”
“Welp, that’s what were gonna do.” The blond looked side to side.
“I don’t see how that’s going to help me. I’m practically the same size, and you got...bigger.” Steve felt himself slightly blush at the last part.
“You know it,” Bucky smiled, winking at him. Steve, poor thing, his face was on fire.
“Shut up. So, what? You’re just gonna toss me around like a rag doll?”
“Only if you feel up to it? I mean, I’ve never known you to turn away from a fight.” The brunet dazzled a cheeky grin.
“Alright, then.”
Next, Steve threw himself at Bucky, pushing him on his back, trying to pin his arms down, but Bucky shifted his hips to the side, knocking the blond off balance. The brunet rolled onto all fours, ready to crawl, but he found Steve was faster, for he had jumped on Bucky’s back, knocking him down, grabbing one arm and successfully pinning it to his back.
Seeing no way out, Bucky lied flat on his stomach and turned over, practically crushing the other boy. He clambered on top of him, wary of the other boy’s small frame, and sat on his hips, trying to grab a hold his hands, which were now flailing around.
“Is this how you usually fight, Steve. This is honestly sad.” The bastard was smiling, and Steve was having none of it.
“Fine,” He put his hands out, tickling the brunet’s sides.
“That’s cheating,” Bucky squealed, grinning as he tried not to fall off.
“Well, it’s working, ain’t it?” Steve was smiling too, hearing Bucky’s laugh wash over him like a warm shower. Somehow, it still made him shiver.
With Steve’s hands close, Bucky grasped them and leaned forward, pinning his wrists against the coarse carpet. They were laughing, out of breath, and then as they were catching their breath, realized that they hadn’t moved. Bucky was so close, Steve could practically feel the warm breath on his lips.
“Stevie,” the brunet breathed, “did you know there’s a little green in your eyes?” He gave a small smile that was beginning to fall as he admired the boy beneath him.
“Buck,” the blond whispered, biting his lip in anticipation.
Then, Bucky slowly leaned down to kiss the lips he’d always found so pretty, heart racing, and when he met their warmth, and felt Steve kiss him back, some of the fear he had always had dissipated. He let go of Steve’s wrists, using one arm to hold himself up, and his other hand to cup the boy’s jaw, bringing him somehow closer. Steve bit Bucky’s lip in excitement, eliciting a groan from the brunet. The blond felt his chest tighten, his lungs begging for air, so he broke away, heaving.
“You okay?” Bucky asked, brushing the blond hair out of Steve’s eyes.
“You’ll get in trouble,” he gasped, trying to count each inhale to regain his breathing. Bucky hushed him, holding him, and he listened to Steve’s breathing go back to normal. He climbed off of him, pulling him up so that their knees touched.
“What we’re doing is wrong, Bucky.” His voice was strained, forced through gritted teeth, but the crumbling look on the brunet’s face made him regret ever saying it.
“I know, Steve. But, but how do you, uh,” Bucky scrambled for words, and somehow this comforted Steve. The brunet’s eyes began getting watery, and it made the blond unable to breath.
“It’s okay, I’m not going anywhere. I’m just worried,” he said, his small pale hands, holding Bucky’s face. His thumb swiped across his cheek.
“I’ll be fine. I just- I want to- I.” He huffed, closing his eyes. “I’ve always felt like this was right, being with you. Since we were little I’ve wanted to be close to you, I just didn’t know how close. Not until we moved in together, and went on double dates together, did I realize how I felt. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry for forcing it onto you. I’m sorry for holding you, and patching you up, and hearing you laugh, and tricking you into living with me, and for kissing you.” A tear slipped down his cheek as he took in a shaky breath. “But most of all, I’m sorry for loving every minute of it.” His eyes were scrunched up, and the boy, who always charmed the girls with his smile, didn’t dare open his eyes. He felt warm lips being pressed against his temple, then at his cheek, his nose, forehead, the edge of his mouth, and then slowly on his own lips.
Opening his eyes, he saw Steve sit back on his legs.
“Thank you,” he whispered. “For reminding me who I am.”
Bucky looked at him, puzzled.
“What?”
“Buck,” he started, “don’t be sorry for any of those things. Because I loved them too, maybe even a little more than you did.”
“But you said it’s wrong.”
“I thought it was. But if we both feel the same way, then maybe it’s okay? Maybe there’s nothing wrong about it?”
“They could hurt you, Stevie, really bad. Maybe when I’m not there. They could gang up and start a fight.”
“Bucky,” Steve said, slowly kissing his best friend’s lips, tracing unknown shapes onto Bucky’s leg.
Breaking the kiss, they leaned their foreheads together, noses practically touching. “When have I ever turned down a fight?”
hey y’all! It’s just me, cooking up an angsty blurb thing. anyway this is my first post on here, so I hope you enjoyed it!
if y’all have any feedback that you’d like to give, or any questions or suggestions, pLEASE FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME!! I love hearing from y’all. so yeah.
"I gave a running hug to the wrong person at the airport and knocked you over" AU
You were meeting your cousin at the airport this afternoon, as he was staying with your family over the summer, so you were plopped in the uncomfortable waiting area, waiting for his flight to come in. You were nodding off to sleep when you caught a glimpse of a tall, blonde headed kid that looked like your cousin from the back so naturally you ran after him, screaming his name. You caught up to him and jumped on his back causing him to fall to the ground muttering an "oomph" and "what the hell". He stood up and you started blushing profusely when you realized he wasn't your cousin at all. He opened his mouth to cuss you out when he caught sight of you. He was baffled and couldn't form a coherent sentence.
"Oh my god. I am so sorry! I thought you were my cousin be cause you look just like him and oh god. I am so sorry." You started rambling as the stranger spoke up and stuck his hand out to introduce himself.
"It's alright. Just took me by surprise. I'm Luke." He smiled, biting his lip, which made you notice his lip piercing.
"Uh, Y/N." You stuttered. He laughed and picked your phone off the ground, putting his number in.
"Call me sometime Y/N." He said walking away just as your cousin ran in to you, causing you to fall for the second time that day.
New blurb- I hope you guys enjoyed! Please feel free to request!
