Based on your last post, would you write a fic with Bucky who has a fever but doesn’t realize he’s sick until Steve takes his temperature in lumberjack!AU? That’s my favorite AU I’ve ever read!
🥺 🥰 Thank you so much!! I’m so so glad everyone really seems to like this AU. It’s so fun to write! I have included a little more of the town they live by in this one. I love the prompt, and i hope you enjoy it.
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He feels off in a weird, hazy way. They’re in town today, not to sell but to buy and get some lunch. Bucky’s sure they’ll go to the small art store too, Steve’s been talking about needing a few new brushes, and Bucky’s happy to get them for him- not that he needs to, Steve can obviously buy them himself, and really they have a joint checking account. But. It’s the gesture that counts.
Bucky’s body feels heavy, and he knows it’s because of all the wood he’s been chopping recently, now that Autumn has come and the crisp, cool air has arrived. It’s not just the heaviness that’s making him feel....weird. His head doesn’t hurt, but it feels a little swimmy, like if he shakes his head his brain might fall out. Turning his attention back to what’s going on around him, Bucky laces his fingers with Steve’s, which makes him receive a smile and kiss to the cheek.
“I was thinking we can do lunch first? Maybe at the cafe, and then we can go get the shopping done?” Steve suggests, swinging their hands a little. Bucky looks at him and nods. Steve’s wearing one of his nice, warm blue sweaters that Bucky so adores on him. It shows off his muscles, but makes him look soft and cuddly. Bucky’s wearing an old henley and vest his dad had bought him from L.L.Bean a few years back.
“To the cafe then,” Bucky says as they make their way across the street and into the local cafe. It’s not full, but it looks like there’s a steady stream of people. Bucky goes to find them a booth, while Steve goes to order their usuals and two sodas. As a treat, he gets a cookie for them to share.
Walking over, he watches his husband, soft dark hair and beautiful grey eyes yawn and stretch a little, rubbing his face. He looks tired and ready for some food. He’s a little pink cheeked too, a little pale. Steve thinks he maybe should have ordered some soup, but it’s done now, so he sits down.
“Hey sleepyhead,” he teases, setting the drinks and cookie down before reaching across the table to take one of his hands. Bucky looks up and gives him a closed-lip smile, eyes crinkling.
“Hey you,” he responds, letting his foot bump against Steve’s, squeezing his hand.
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Bucky still feels off after eating, and unfortunately the heat hadn’t been turned on yet in the cafe, so he’d tried to hide the shivers that had crawled down his spine a few times. He’d asked Steve if he’d been cold but Steve had just looked a little confused, pursing his lips and shaking his head.
They don’t drive much around town, as most of the stores they frequent are on the main street, so it’s more parking the truck and walking than anything else, unless they need to run to the bank or post office, which is a little ways up the road.
Steve loves how homey everything feels around the town and can’t help but smile most of the time they walk around. There are a fair amount of family owned shops with clothing, an apothecary which has both of the men’s favorite soaps and face washes, the butcher, the general store, and a lot of others both tend to like.
Walking out of the cafe, Bucky wraps an arm around Steve’s waist as they make their way to the first stop on their list, the bookstore. It’s warmer than the cafe when they arrive, and it smells of coffee, books and some kind of candle Steve always says he likes. They move to their respective sections, Bucky going to sci-fi while Steve goes over to non-fiction.
As Bucky examines all the different books in the Star Wars section, he coughs, but suddenly he can’t stop. He muffles them into the crook of his arm, thankful when it stops and he clears his throat. Odd. He walks over to Steve after finding a book for himself, wrapping his arms around him from behind. “Finding what you’re looking for sir?”
Steve tilts his head and nods, showing him a book about something to do with conspiracies in America. Bucky snorts, of course Steve would pick a book about questioning the Government’s motives. They check out and start off to the next place. After grabbing some more shampoo they end up at the general store. Bucky’s exhausted, it’s hitting him hard now, and the weird, off feeling is making him feel a little hazy. A headache is starting in his right temple.
He walks over to Steve, resting his head on the mans shoulder as he looks at the different jams. “Do you mind if we go home?”
Steve turns to look at him, a frown on his face.
“It’s fine if we stay,” Bucky says quickly, not wanting to upset his husband, but Steve just shakes his, raking his bright blue eyes over him.
“It’s fine,” Steve says with a soft, concerned voice, kissing his cheek and grabbing his hand to lead them out.
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Bucky realizes halfway through the ride home they didn’t go to the art store, and he looks out the window. Damn.
“Sorry we didn’t get to get you your brushes,” he says guiltily, looking at Steve who’s driving. He gets a head shake and Steve glances at him.
“It’s fine sweetheart, there’s always tomorrow.” But Steve’s sure they won’t be going for a few days. Bucky’s been quiet today, more so than usual, and he can tell something’s wrong, but he’s not sure what, exactly. Once inside, Steve lets Bandit outside and then turns to his husband who’s grabbing out a mug and a bag of tea.
“Why don’t I do that and you sit down, hmm? You were up early this morning working,” Steve says, walking over and pressing a kiss to his lips. Bucky kisses back and looks into his eyes before nodding.
“I can make my own tea, Stevie, but I guess if you’re insisting,” he chuckles, then goes to sit down at the table. As he waits, he rubs at his face and doesn’t realize Steve’s left the tea steeping while he goes to get something until he’s back and in front of Bucky.
“Open up.”
Steve’s holding their thermometer, and Bucky gives him a confused look, eyes squinting, but he obliges his husband and opens, letting his tongue touch the top of his mouth so Steve can slip it under.
“I’m fine Stevie,” the words come out mumbled around the instrument, but Steve shushes him and kisses his forehead, waiting. It takes another few moments and then the thermometer beeps. Bucky tries to his his eyes and look downward to see it.
“100.5,” Steve reads aloud, looking at Bucky with a slightly raised eyebrow, smirking just slightly, as if to challenge him to start trying to say he’s fine again, slipping it back out.
“Oh...” Bucky’s brow furrows again, creasing his forehead a little. Steve kisses it, then shakes his head.
“Go change and get in bed. I’ll bring you the tea. I knew something was off about you today.”
“I felt weird, but I didn’t think I had a fever,” Bucky says mostly to himself as he gets up and walks to their bedroom, still a little confused. Steve smiles after him, going to check the tea.