Steve fell back against the wooden fence and felt splinter embed themselves in this back, through his thin coat.
"Oh c'mon." his breath rattles and he gets to his feet, legs shaking with effort. "That's all you go-"
Before he could finish the sentence, a fist came out of nowhere and Steve's head snapped back, colliding with the fence again. He was half-passed out, on the hard floor, blood from his nose joining the concealed blood on his split lip, when he hears a tiny voice pipe up; a high-pitched roar taunting the bullies.
The blood pounding through his ears blocked out most of the sound, but he could hear the rumble of the bullies voices and when he opened his eyes, a small boy (bigger than him, though) with a gap-toothed grin and shining blue eyes. The older boy's were gone, their retreating backs slinking down the alley.
"Hi, I'm James! Are you okay?" the boy attempted to dab at Steve's nose, his nose furrowed in concentration.
Steve batted him away, struggling to feet and almost falling, James catching him and steadying him.
"I didn't need your help. I had them on the ropes." he said plaintively. James' hands dropped from helping Steve and Steve saw the boy's smile dim.
Steve suddenly feels awful and nudges his shoulder. "But thanks. I'm Steve."
Immediately he perks up, bouncing alongside of Steve, who lead them in silence to his house, while his mother was still at work.
And later on, when Bucky (His middle name was Buchanan, and it was nicer than James. Not that James was a bad name, plus the other boy didn't mind, liked it even) was gently swabbing at his wounds with care, tutting at his bust lip and scrapes on his hands; Steve realised, that he actually really liked the dark-haired, gap-toothed little boy.
Hey, so I found out that some of my friends from school found this account (apparently they found Seducing Dumbledore, before realising that I wrote it.) so hey Indiana, Chip and Thor.
Next chapter of this will be up in a couple of days, seeing how I'm meant to be going on a school trip in.. Six hours to France. So I won't have WIFI. Again. Sorry?
Have a great day everyone!
Fez.