Chapters: 13/13 Fandom: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers, Howling Commandos Additional Tags: Pre-World War II Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers, World War II, Hurt/Comfort, Past Child Abuse, Aftermath of Torture, Angst, Mutual Pining, Smoking, Jewish Bucky Barnes, Period-Typical Homophobia, Canon Rewrite, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Idiots in Love, Nightmares, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Major Character Injury, Domestic Fluff, Captain America: The First Avenger, Mild Sexual Content, Pre-Serum Steve Rogers, Post-Serum Steve Rogers, Reunions, Catholic Steve Rogers, Panic Attacks, Wartime Romance, Artist Steve Rogers, References to Illness, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Sexual Tension, Secret Relationship, References to Depression, Canon-Typical Violence, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Kneeling, Scars, Unhappy Ending, Complete, Canon Related
Series: Part 1 of Battle Born Summary:
Bucky thought the war was easier. He was made of war; down to the marrow of his bones — he and Steve both. Borne and died of it. Peacetime didn’t stand to reason. Maybe it had, long ago — not anymore.
He’d been only just stumbling into adulthood on gangly legs when he’d gotten that conscription notice. Playground to battleground, and he’d never made it home from the fight.
Snippet:
(I’m all yours.)
Like a spark to ignite a powder keg, the whisper of distance closed between them. Bucky hauled Steve in by the lapels—pins and honors be damned—to meet his eager mouth.
The force of the initial collision knocked Steve back a step. Both hands drew to clutch urgently at Bucky's waist—magnetic; like they belonged there. Marching Bucky backward, further into unlit seclusion behind cabinets and bookshelves, Steve shielded him from the door. A book tumbled and fell, knocked by Bucky’s shoulder. If Steve was overzealous, a bitten lip was nothing that couldn’t be smoothed over with a mumbled apology.
Bucky eased into it, deepened it with a sigh. Rich like coffee—the way he tasted. Lightly, Steve’s palm slid up the side of his ribcage. Too-aware, now, in the back of his mind, of his size—afraid of his own strength. Afraid to crowd space he’d been invited into.
All the apprehension dissolved when Bucky said, “Sugar.” Slick, dangerous—black ice on a road. With a tilt of his head, his grin grazed Steve’s lips. (There was that Hollywood smile.) Cradling the side of his neck, thumbing over his jaw, Bucky kept him at his mercy.
A really fucking bad idea. Bucky reminded him so between kisses. But the term of endearment had gone straight to Steve’s head; cost him his better judgment. Yes, the place was crawling with MP’s, but it felt so good to play with fire. (And Bucky felt so good pressed up against him. Bucky gave it up so sweetly.)
♥♥♥
https://archiveofourown.org/works/25295206 Part 2
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30430101 Part 3