For Endsinafight

[brooklyn_boy]

 Steve has bad luck when it comes to holding up his part for dates. It's now an established fact considering he's racing up to Bucky's apartment a full six hours after their brunch was supposed to take place. He's out of his uniform but the remnants of what kept him are still all over his body. Fading bruises still cover a few places he'd been shot. His face has a long cut from his jaw to his ear that is scabbed over but still looking ugly and his hair was poking up all over, still spiky from sweat and being kept in a helmet for hours. Steve goes to the buzzer and leans on the one for 'Barnes'. People look at him and it takes a second for him to realize it's because he forgot a disguise in all of his rushing. Christ. He tries to smile back but is too distracted to do more than a small thing. 

He needs to just talk to Bucky. 
 

Comments

[endsinafight]

Bucky'd spent nearly an hour getting ready for his second date with Steve. He'd put on a soft black Henley and a pair of black jeans, trying to ignore the way his stomach fluttered nervously as he made his way to the diner that Steve had suggested. He'd ordered a cup of coffee, which in hindsight, probably wasn't the best choice for his nerves. As it turned out, it hadn't mattered because Steve had never shown up at all.

He'd waited for an hour and a half before giving into the realization that he'd been stood up. He knows he shouldn't feel as disappointed as he does. He should have seen it coming, probably. Guys like Steve Rogers could get a date with anyone on the planet. Why the hell would he settle for someone like Bucky, who had more issues than a subscription to Rolling Stone?

Dejected, he'd made his way back home to his apartment, changing into an old t-shirt and a comfy pair of sweats, settling onto his sofa and turning Netflix back on to the show he'd been marathoning: Orange is the New Black. He must have fallen asleep at some point because he startled awake at the sound of the door buzzer.

Figuring it's Becca coming by -- since she was generally his only visitor -- he heaves a sigh and manages to pry himself off the sofa, making his way to the door.

"Come on up," he responds, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve is surprised. Bucky doesn't sound great but he's not obviously angry. He's also letting him up which is encouraging. Steve doesn't question it and takes note of the number of Bucky's apartment before racing inside. He skips the elevator and takes the stairs three at a time, almost tripping once in his eagerness to get to the other's door.

He knows what he's going to say. It's a lot of 'sorry' with some begging for forgiveness and another chance. Because God he wants another chance. Steve's just found someone he feels like he could spend a lifetime with and has fucked it up in one day. He has to at least give this a good try. He'll never forgive himself if he doesn't.

At Bucky's door, Steve bangs hard against it. Too hard since he makes a dent in the wood and. Yeah. Good start, Rogers. He hisses at himself and opts for his voice instead.

"Bucky, it's me. Steve," just in case. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please can I explain myself? Please?"

He's not above grovelling.

[endsinafight]

The loud banging on the door signals that his visitor is most definitely not his sister, who has a consistent habit of knocking three times rapidly, pausing, and then knocking three times again. And if it isn't Becca, he has no idea who he's just allowed into the building and he curses himself internally for being so stupid.

And then --

Steve.

Steve Rogers is at his doorstep, apologizing through the closed door and he feels a wary sense of unease even as he makes his way to the door, not even sure he's ready to see him again after the sting of being stood up. But he unlocks and opens the door anyway, pressing his lips together and freezing at the sight in front of him. Steve's there, all right, bruised and cut up like he'd just been through a battle.

"Christ. Tell me it's not more aliens," he grumbles, stepping aside to let him in. "Are you all right?"

[brooklyn_boy]

"No." He flinches a little at that though because, even if it wasn't aliens, they definitely weren't from Earth. "Er. Well. Not the same aliens," he amends while looking sheepish. Steve walks into the room and scrubs his hands through his hair. Flecks of debris and blood come off as he does so and Steve watches helplessly as he makes a small mess on Bucky's floor.

Great.

"I'm sorry," he repeats, figuring how he was is irrelevant in the face of those facts. "I didn't have your number or I would have called you. It just happened and I couldn't leave the battle until we got the warlock defeated. Then he grabbed Tony and Nat was almost taken out by some enemy fire and..."

He pauses, realizing none of this likely helps.

"I'm sorry, Buck. I really am. I wouldn't have missed the date for anything less than an emergency, I promise. And I was thinking of finishing it up to get to you the whole time."

[endsinafight]

Not the same aliens. Well. Fuck. It's kind of impossible to be pissed at a guy for standing you up when he stood you up to help save the earth from aliens. He follows Steve's gaze to the floor, to the mess that's now there and he blinks a couple of times, before moving and shutting the door, then locking it. Can't be too careful, even when you've got an injured superhero in your apartment.

In your apartment and apologizing for missing the date they'd planned because he'd been saving the world again.

And speaking of, the guy's still bleeding.

"Jesus, Steve, stop." He holds up his hand, shaking his head, his eyes slightly wider than usual. "Just -- stop. Are you okay?" He moves closer to him, reaching up and gently turning his head so he can look at the cut that runs from his ear to his jaw, scabbed over but nasty looking. "Sit down." He guides him over to the sofa and nods to it.

I NEVER. HIT. ENTER.

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve opens his mouth, fully ready to argue and insist that he is fine. But Bucky's tone of voice doesn't seem to be asking for his opinions, right now. Steve just nods dumbly and moves over to the sofa, crashing down onto it. God, it feels good to sit. Steve moans lightly, the soreness of his body finally having a chance to settle and let itself be known. He closes his eyes and leans back just a little, stretching out his healing muscles. Even that hurts, now.

"I'll be fine," he answers finally. "I heal fast. Should only take...maybe a day or two. My ribs are already pretty much knitted back up.

"I think."

XD I'm famliar with this kind of oops.

[endsinafight]

The moment Steve sits down, Bucky's heading toward his bathroom, crouching down in front of the sink and retrieving his First Aid Kit from the cabinet there, rolling his eyes even as he hears Steve's assurance that he'll be fine. He has no doubt that he heals faster than normal, considering he's got super soldier serum running through his veins.

"That's great, but right now you're still bleeding and you're in pain," he retorts, moving back out to the living room and sitting down on the coffee table in front of Steve. He studies him for a moment, worrying his lower lip with his teeth absently and then opening the kit and motioning for Steve to lean forward as he tears open an alcohol swab to clean the gash in his head.

FOR TWO WEEKS

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve winces a little at the alcohol since, even with the serum, he's not immune to pain. Still, he bears it with silent stoicism. His eyes track Bucky as he moves anywhere in the room, almost as though he expects the other man to run away. And he must since, the minute Bucky leans back, Steve is going to reach out and grab onto the other's wrist to hold him still at the closer distance.

"And I'm sorry. Real, real sorry, Bucky."

He lets him go and hangs his head forward. Adrenaline gone, he was getting tired. His eyes close for a short second and open once more.

"Thanks for taking care of me even though I stood you up..."

well...okay. You win.

[endsinafight]

"Sorry," he murmurs as he gently cleans the wound and starts to sit back, intending to go and put together an ice pack for his ribs, but Steve catches his wrist and stops him, apologizing, and he's almost dubious. He almost gives him the world's most sarcastic response imaginable. Almost. It's only how exhausted and just drained he looks that makes him respond more seriously instead.

He presses his lips together. "Hey. Steve. It's okay. I'm not upset with you," he says honestly, because what kind of an asshole would it make him if he was? Any hurt feelings he'd had earlier had pretty much melted away the moment Steve had shown up on his doorstep, clearly injured and upset.

"Pretty sure aliens attacking earth take priority over a lunch date." He rises to his feet and moves to sit beside Steve, carefully sliding an arm around him. "Come with me." He's absolutely going to steer him back toward his bedroom so he can lie down and rest.

I WIN THE WORST CONTEST

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve wants to protest but there is no way he's going to be able to for long. He allows himself to be brought up and led towards Bucky's room. Seeing the bed, though, makes Steve blush. He hasn't even kissed the guy yet and he's already going to slide into the other's bed? Sure just to sleep but...still.

But if he fights much longer he's gonna just fall asleep on his feet.

"I was really looking forward to it," he grumbles as he walks. "My luck to finally like someone and then aliens attack on our second date."

WHAT SORT OF PRIZE DO YOU GET???

[endsinafight]

He's glad Steve doesn't protest, though he looks like he wants to, and he notices the blush, but he has no idea what's caused it. He helps him toward the bed, letting him go long enough to pull the blankets back and then he slips his arm around his waist once more to help ease him down onto the mattress. "I was too. But it's okay. We'll just reschedule. Now make yourself comfy," he tells him sincerely, moving toward the windows and pulling the blinds and curtains to make the room darker.

"I'm gonna grab you an ice pack for your ribs." He heads for the door, then stops and glances at Steve over his shoulder. "Does pain medicine do anything for you?"

SADNESS

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve grumbles a little but that only lasts until he's laying down. Bucky's bed feels like heaven after that long fight. He turns, face pressed into the pillow, inhaling the scent of the other man that clings to it. It's nice. Comforting, in a way. He exhales and looks up at the question, almost bleary already.

"Meds? No. Don't work. Just need some time."

He pauses and looks at the bed and then back at Bucky. His cheeks are pink but Steve still really regrets their lost date. Still really wants to get to know this man better.

He scoots a little closer to the edge.

"We can talk a bit, still. If you wanted to? I am sure I can keep my eyes open for a bit."

*Gives CHEER*

[endsinafight]

Bucky's expression softens at the offer and a faint smile touches his mouth. The disappointment he'd felt earlier when he realized he'd been stood up has faded away entirely, replaced by understanding.

By admiration.

"Tell you what. I'll go get the ice pack. You get some rest. When you wake up, I'll order in something for us to eat, and if you're up for it, we can have our date here. Just a few hours later than originally intended. What do you saay?" He bites his lower lip, arching his eyebrows as he waits for a response.

*Cheered*

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve's face breaks into a smile that could light up the darkest cave. "I say that I have never heard a better offer in my life." And he means it, too.

Steve settles back into the bed but watches Bucky with warm affection. "I'm paying," he demands. "Whatever you wanna eat. I'll just... Close my eyes for a few minutes and then we'll have the date we were meant to."

The idea clearly is an exciting one to him as his smile doesn't even dim. If anything it seems to grow brighter even as his eyes flutter towards closed.

:D

[endsinafight]

That smile takes his breath away, and for a few seconds, all that Bucky can do is stare at him, his own smile lingering on his face, cheeks growing warm at the response. He ducks his head, almost shyly.

"You got it," he agrees, watching him for a moment longer, seeing the way his long eyelashes flutter closed and he draws in a slow breath before heading down the hallway, heart beating a little faster than it had been before.

Nothing about the day has gone according to plan, and he certainly hadn't pictured it resulting in Steve being in his bed -- even if it's truly for the most innocent of reasons. It occurs to him that other than Becca, no one else has even step foot in his apartment since he'd moved into it a few months ago. If anyone had told him a week ago that Captain America would be the second person to see the inside of his bedroom, he'd have simply laughed.

He quickly makes up an ice pack, sealing it carefully with the fingers of his right hand along the seam of the Ziploc bag and the counter top and quietly heads down the hall once more, hesitantly nestling it up against Steve's ribs before moving and covering him up with the blankets.

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve passes out for a solid six hours. He didn't even blink when the ice pack was put against his ribs nor did he move when the blankets were wrapped up around him. In fact, the only movement he makes in all those hours is to turn and curl into the space where Bucky must normally sleep. His ribs heal up and the scent of the other man is comforting. When Steve finally wakes up, he feels well-rested and calm.

Until he looks at a clock and nearly swears.

Sheepish, he walks out into the main room, looking better but also a bit (emotionally) worse. "I am really bad at keeping dates."

[endsinafight]

Bucky isn't bothered by the fact that Steve sleeps for six hours. He occupies himself with job-searching on the Internet, trying to find something solid where he can work from home, preferably. He applies for a couple positions and then shuts down his laptop, grabbing a Dean Koontz book off his bookshelf and taking to the couch, lying down and settling himself into it, almost finished by the time he hears movement from the back of the apartment.

He dog-ears the page and sits up, gaze locking on Steve the moment the other emerges from the hallway. His face has re-gained the color it had lost, and the cut on his face is almost gone. It's kind of incredible, which...yeah. He rises to his feet, dropping his book on the sofa.

"You needed the rest," he tells him honestly, voice firm.

[brooklyn_boy]

"I needed to make up for standing you up," he counters."

Bucky looks good, though. Steve pauses and looks him up and down. He looks so comfortable and relaxed that he can almost imagine that this is normal for the pair of them. Steve waking up and seeking him out. Finding him and wrapping his arms around the other. Steve almost steps forward to do just that but stops before he gets too close. This is just the second date, after all.

Kind of.

"I...uh..." He looks over at the clock and frowns. "I think the options for food are limited at this time but... I could cook ya something? Or. Maybe pizza?" He scrubs at his head.

"I don't know how to not make this second date awful and I really don't want it to be awful._!

[endsinafight]

Steve looks sleep-warm and comfortable and if he was bolder, he would wrap him in a one-armed hug and bury his face against Steve's neck. His brain cautions that it's way too soon for that. He doesn't want to scare Steve off. But part of him wonders if he'd protest the closeness. Wasn't touch a basic human need? He certainly aches for it.

He takes a couple steps closer to him when he scrubs his hands over his head, like he's stressed out and it makes him want to soothe him.

"Hey, hey. You're being way too hard on yourself. It's been a long, shitty day, Steve," he tells him. "Pizza's fine with me, for the record. I got stuff for a salad if you want that, too."

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve's eyes, wide and awed, look up at Bucky like he hung the moon and every single star. It's terrifying, really, how his heart leaps with hope and affectionate after knowing this man for a day. Terrifying how stupidly hard it is to not blurt out 'God, I love you,' when it's too soon to not only say that but to feel that, as well.

Instead, he swallows it back and reaches for Bucky's hand helplessly. He holds onto it, thumb over his knuckles, drinking in the only contact he's had today that hasn't come with pain. Steve smiles and ducks his head, blushing.

"Alright. Let's get some pizza and...watch some movies? Nothing with aliens, please?"

He looks back up and licks his lips. He's sure his face is giving away what a goner he is but there's nothing for it. He might as well give in.

"I'd take you up on the salad but... I'd rather just sit with you than mess with greens."

[endsinafight]

No one in his entire life has ever looked at him like that, and it makes his breath hitch in his throat. He swallows heavily as the other man reaches out and takes his hand and Bucky lets him, curling his fingers around and through Steve's as their digits lock together like puzzle pieces. This time he can't stop himself from moving closer, lifting his gaze to glance at the nearly-healed cut on Steve's face, then letting his eyes lock with Steve's.

"Yeah. Pizza and movies sound good to me," he says quietly. "How are your ribs? Wanna another ice pack while I order food?" he offers.

He can't help but smile at the refusal of salad, but more so the reasoning behind the refusal. The tiniest of smiles touches his mouth. "I'm not complaining about that one." He rubs his thumb against the back of Steve's hand, absently.

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve thinks about it a second and, yeah, he's mostly healed up. He shakes his head and presses a kiss to the top of Bucky's hand before releasing it so he can call. "I'll be good just as long as nothing punches me. And....as long as we order two or three pizzas." Fighting makes him ravenous.

Steve crosses to the couch and already feels bereft from the lack of 'Bucky' near to him. He busies himself with figuring out the TV instead and how to get a streaming service on. Steve's eyes, however, give him away as he keeps cutting impatient looks at Bucky as though wondering when he'll come over.

"What do you wanna watch first?"

[endsinafight]

"Well, good news. I have no intention of punching you," Bucky tells him with a lopsided grin, heart skipping a beat when Steve kissed the back of his hand. He watches him move over to the sofa and sit down, leaving Bucky to head to the kitchen to grab his cell phone off the table.

"Oh. Whatever's fine with me. I got a bunch of stuff saved to my queue if any of that looks interesting. What do you like on your pizza?" he asks, pulling up the number to Little Italy's.

[brooklyn_boy]

"I don't care, really. I can eat anything."

Steve goes into the queue and flips around until he comes up with something he's heard about from the team. Harry Potter seems to be some sort of cultural phenomenon so Steve flicks it on and starts to read the summary just to get an idea of what the plot might be. At least there are no aliens, but Steve frowns halfway through when he realizes this might be a children's movie.

Maybe he should go back to working his way through Pixar movies.

"Anything you like especially? Remember I've missed out on a whole bunch of movies so almost everything is new to me."

[endsinafight]

Well, that was something Bucky could relate to. He'd never met a pizza he hadn't liked so far.

He places an order for three pizzas, which he figures should be enough food for the two of them, even with Steve's increased metabolism and ability to pack away a lot of food. After all, Bucky could put a pretty good dent in a meal, too.

Bucky glanced over at the television and saw him glancing at Harry Potter. "Oh. Yeah, have you seen that? It's pretty good. Kind of a big deal in pop culture too." It wouldn't be the worst idea to try and help Steve wrap his mind around some of the more common references he was going to be coming up against.

[brooklyn_boy]

It's terrifying how much Steve is already wrapped around this man. The fact that he seems to effortlessly pick up on both the fact that Steve wants to watch this and that it's a cultural point he's missed out on is astounding. He's looking back at Bucky with a warm, tender smile before he realizes how unsettling that might be. He reluctantly turns back to the screen and selects the first movie to play. Apparently there are eight of them which makes Steve hope a little bit that this can become a routine.

"Do you like them?"

It matters to him more than he wants to admit. Steve wants to know everything about Bucky. All his likes and dislikes. The idea of this date going badly (or worse, rather) is anathema. He simply can't let it happen.

[endsinafight]

He's not sure what to make of the look on Steve's face, but that smile earns Steve one of his own and he absently tucks a lock of hair behind his ear before moving to sit down beside him on the sofa. "Believe it or not, I haven't seen them yet. I've read the books, though. They're great. I've heard the movies do a pretty good job of sticking with the books so if that's true, I'll be happy."

He's been putting off watching them, worried that he might not like them as well as the rest of the population seems to. But Steve seems interested, so he figures maybe it's time to give it a chance now.

"Wanna give 'em a shot with me?"