Something fun to get the creative juices flowing. Is it clingy brotherhood? Is it slash? I don't even know yet. Took a bit of liberties with their being able to leave and have a bar. Just go with it. XD Enjoy!~

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There had been about a week lapse of time following Steve's rescue of the captured soldiers from Hydra. For Bucky, it had been filled with medical visits, psychological examinations, and occasional bouts of good-natured griping about his treatment. He was 'ready to get back to the action', as he put it. Steve wasn't so sure about that, and their conversations thus far hadn't had the opportunity to be meaningful. Not towards Bucky's state, or Steve's, and it terrified him a bit. Because despite Bucky's apparent instant acceptance, he still wondered if Bucky was really okay with Steve being in charge...with him being...as he now was.

But if it was bothering him, the jerk sure wasn't letting on.

"You're just too pretty t'be a nurse, y'know that? You shoulda been an actress." Bucky crooned to a blonde vixen who flushed and smiled up at him, clearly smitten.

In light of everything that had happened, they'd been given a short reprieve and the men were all too happy to spend it in the miniscule excuse for a town not too far off from their military encampment. The booze was terrible, but it was cheap, and the cozy atmosphere was a relief from the mud-and-muck war lifestyle they'd been trudging through.

That being said, some of the soldiers hadn't been cleared to leave the camp due to medical restrictions, Bucky being one of them. Which, naturally, hadn't stopped him from slipping out and it wasn't as if any one would rat him out. Steve had taken notice, and come shortly after to observe Bucky from a distance. Because despite Bucky's easy smile and dismissive responses to the contrary, Steve was sure he wasn't 'just fine'.

The vixen pressed a little closer to Bucky, who leaned closer and apparently said something funny [or dirty] given the way she giggled and smacked a hand against his chest lightly.

Steve was reminded of days past, constantly watching Bucky from behind as the girls fell in line to be by his side...and ignore Steve. Bucky always tried to arrange a set-up for Steve, but it never worked out and when he ended up with both girls, he never went out of his way to send one his direction. And he couldn't hold it against him. They were what they were, and it wasn't Bucky's job to get Steve a date. Bucky had already done more for Steve than he'd ever thought a person could do. He'd taken up the mantle of Steve's protector, caretaker, and best friend and he'd never judged him like the others did. So he couldn't be bitter.

That being said, there had always been a competitive streak between them. And that being said, it was possible that he felt just the tiniest bit possessive of Bucky. Possibly.

And that, he told himself, was the reason for what came next.

"Mind if I cut in?" Steve asked with a light grin as he came to stand beside Bucky and the vixen.

The pair broke apart, and the girl fixed Steve with a wide-eyed look of admiration while Bucky blinked in surprise and then smirked. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up."

"Well, I was supposed to be keeping an eye on a certain sergeant, but he seems to have run off so I guess I'm free tonight." Steve replied pointedly, to which Bucky grinned unrepentantly. He then inclined his head towards the girl. "Who's your friend?" he asked, although he knew perfectly well that she was Clara, one of the newer nurses.

"My name's Clara, it's such an honor to meet you, Captain America!" she gushed.

"Oh, Steve will do just fine, Clara...we're all friends here, right, Buck?"

Bucky, for a brief moment, seemed slightly confused [or perhaps suspicious], but then he inclined his head. "Nothing but the best here."

Steve kept his expression innocent and smiled winningly at Clara as he gave a half-bow and held out his hand. "The music's not the best for this sort of thing but...I don't suppose you'd care to dance?"

The girl gasped and clutched a hand to her chest before she placed her hand in his as she exclaimed. "Would I!"

Bucky lifted a brow, and Steve kept up the smile. "You don't mind, do ya, Buck?"

"What's to mind? Be my guest." he made a gesture for them to hop to it, and Steve led the girl to the dance floor. Bucky watched them for a moment, and Steve watched him from the corner of his eye. But just as quickly, Bucky turned away and nursed a beer, and while Steve twirled the girl around on the dance floor Bucky never looked back.

"You're such a great dancer, Cap-I mean...Steve." The girl giggled shyly.

Steve smiled at her, although his thoughts were elsewhere as he said absently. "Well, I had a good teacher."

"Ohh, she was a lucky lady!"

Steve didn't bother to correct her. To explain that Bucky had taught him to dance would confuse most people. Tough-guy Bucky Barnes had danced with Captain America? That wouldn't register for most people. They didn't understand how Steve used to be, they didn't understand the bond he had with Bucky, that it had been them against the world.

That Steve had never had anyone else willing to dance with him.

"Even if I could get a girl to dance with me, I don't know how to dance. So it'd be pointless."

Bucky scoffed. "You're gonna get girls to dance with you. And you're gonna know how to dance."

"How do you figure that?" Steve asked with a roll of his eyes.

Bucky smirked, and Steve frowned suspiciously before he found his wrists grabbed as Bucky invaded his personal space.

"Bucky, wha-"

"I'm gonna teach ya. So pipe down and pay attention."

Steve flushed and tried to tug away. "Idiot. It's fine. You're being creepy."

Bucky looked mock-hurt. "I go outta my way to teach my best pal to dance, and this is the thanks I get? Now look, put your hand here-"

"-Wait, I'm leading?"

"Well, I'm teachin' ya, aren't I? Don't want you dancin' like the girl when it gets down to it." Bucky said as though it should have been obvious.

"There's no music, Buck." Steve muttered, and he avoided Bucky's gaze, embarassed. Their close proximity just high-lighted the differences between them. Gone were the days when he and Bucky were eye-level, now he had to crane his neck to meet the other's gaze. Bucky dwarfed him, along with most every other guy. No matter what Bucky said, who was gonna wanna dance with Steve, especially when Bucky was around? And now Bucky was going out of his way to make him feel better, without understanding that it just made him feel worse. It was a catch-22 with Bucky. Bucky was the best friend he could ever ask for, they were practically brothers, but if they weren't friends...Bucky was exactly the type of guy he would have been jealous of. He hated that, he hated that he'd even let himself think of it. Hated that in the back of his mind, he didn't think Bucky could see him as an equal, but rather as someone who needed taking care of. And he hated that he could think that way. And mostly, he hated that he couldn't match Bucky. Not as his friend, or even as his rival.

Steve was stirred from his unpleasant thoughts by humming, and he realized that Bucky was singing, his deep voice rumbling with a Brooklyn drawl. A little off-key, but familiar and comfortable. "Got a dame I can't get off my mind, what I wouldn't do to make her mind. Guess I'll just have to say, 'would you like to dance with me today?'"

Bucky always did have a thing for old music.

Bucky coached him in between verses and when it was done, Bucky clapped him on the shoulder. "Not bad, punk. We'll make a ladies man out of you yet." he grinned cheekily.

Steve snorted and smacked Bucky's shoulder lightly. "And leave you the wallflower, jerk? I'd feel too bad."

A strange look crossed Bucky's face, almost as if he'd realized something but not quite, and then Bucky slung an arm around Steve's neck as he ruffled his hair with his free hand. "I wouldn't mind. It'd be nice to see you havin' fun."

Steve was a bit surprised by the comment, and wondered just what Bucky meant by that. "I have fun all the time."

Bucky seemed like he wanted to say more, but in the end, he seemed to decide against it as he pushed Steve away with a laugh. "You'll understand when you're older." he teased. "I need a sandwich, all that hard work made me hungry." he disappeared into the kitchen, but his head appeared in the doorway as he added with mock-severity. "You tell any one I taught ya to dance..."

"And what, you'll ruffle my hair, sweetheart?" Steve crooned back teasingly, and Bucky playfully scowled before he disappeared again.

The sound of shattered glass caught the attention of most of the bar occupants, although few looked on for long since it was hardly the first time someone had dropped a cup.

Steve's gaze zeroed in on Bucky. He was crouched down by a broken glass and he cursed as he cut his hand picking up one of the pieces. "Excuse me, Clara." he said politely as he made his way over to Bucky.

"Whoa, slow down, pal, they'll clean it up. Come on, let's wash your hand...Bucky?"

Bucky's body was tense, his jaw clenched and his gaze fixed on the cut on his hand. He seemed lost in a reverie a moment, and when Steve grabbed his shoulder in concern, he jumped. "Steve?" Bucky blinked as though surprised to find him there before he looked back down at the glass and tugged his arm away. "It's fine-"

"-Not a problem, I've got it." The barkeep had joined them and started to clean.

Meanwhile, Clara had joined them and at the sight of Bucky's hand she was in a tizzy at once. "Oh, no! We've got to get him cleaned up! It'd be bad if he got an infection and we had to am...ampu..."

Bucky stared at her incredulously while Steve fought a sigh. Most of the nurses he'd dealt with were tough, they didn't take flack and were used to soldiers and the harsh realities of war. But every now and then, you got a Clara.

"I'll take care of him. I need to escort him back anyway, it's past Seargant Barnes' curfew."

"But-"

"-Curfew?" Bucky's voice dripped defiance as he rose to frown at Steve while he wiped his hand on his pants casually. "I'm fine. Hand just slipped, no big deal." he said dismissively as he turned to the barkeep who'd returned to his post. "I'll have another."

"No, he won't." Steve said firmly, and he cast a firm glance to the barkeep besides. He was so tired of hearing 'I'm fine' from Bucky when he knew it was a lie. The look he'd had when Steve had grabbed his shoulder...he was far from fine. And Steve was tired of not knowing where he stood with Bucky now. He just wanted it over with, he wanted to know, good or bad what place he had in Bucky's life now. Bucky hated taking orders, how would he react to having them from Steve? How would he react to Steve not needing Bucky to fight his battles? Would it make him happy or...

Bucky shot him a glare as he stood toe-to-toe with Steve a moment. He didn't have to crane his neck, but he did have to look up to see Steve. For Steve, it was both strange and nice, what was it for Bucky?

Steve put on his 'captain' voice as he pulled rank. "Problem, Sergeant Barnes?"

Bucky's jaw clenched, and Steve half-expected Bucky to take a swing at him. Now there were definitely eyes on them. But in the end, his lips twisted into a tight smile as he inclined his head. "Not at all, Captain." He glanced around and shot the nosy occupants a cool glare before he stalked out.

Steve internally winced, but he diffused the situation with a laugh. "Little too much to drink...I hope I won't be having this conversation with any one else tonight, alright?" The levity resumed and he followed out after Bucky, who was already a good few feet ahead. "Bucky...Bucky...Bucky, stop!"

Bucky finally drew to a halt, and he turned to face Steve as he splayed his palms by his sides. "That an order, Captain?"

"If it was, it wasn't from the captain." Steve said as he reached Bucky, and again found himself squared off with the other.

Bucky pursed his lips a moment before he chuckled ruefully. "You always were a bossy little punk."

"And you were always a stubborn jerk." The pair went silent a moment before Steve set a hand on Bucky's shoulder, surprised and a little more hurt than he cared to admit when Bucky tensed and drew back a little, although he didn't move Steve's hand away. Even so, Steve let his hand fall. "What's wrong, Buck? And don't say 'I'm fine', 'cause I'm not buying it."

"Okay, I'm just dandy, that better?" Bucky drawled. A typical Bucky diversion tactic, sarcasm and, or humor. And there was the way he couldn't quite meet Steve's gaze. But things were different now, he could force the issue, and he stood closer so that he filled Bucky's view.

Bucky's eyes met his, and Steve couldn't read the look he found there. It was disconcerting, because he could always read Bucky. "I'm worried about you, Buck." he admitted, and that was the wrong thing to say.

"You don't need to. Nothing's wrong." Bucky pulled away and started walking back towards camp.

Steve scowled, a mixture of exasperation and concern as he followed and ended up walking side-by side with Bucky who for his part, seemed determined to stare straight ahead. "I know you have nightmares, Buck."

Bucky's step faltered a moment but he didn't stop walking as he shrugged. "Wouldn't know, don't remember."

"They're about what happened at Hydra, right?" Steve pressed gently.

"Like I said, I don't remember. They kept me nice and loopy in there. End of story." But Steve didn't miss the way he started rolling his fingers. He tended to do it when he was impatient or excited, or in the rare cases that he was anxious.

"Bucky, I want the truth-"

"-That is the truth." Bucky snapped back. "Mind your own business!"

And just like that, Steve flared up. He had tried to be gentle about it, and give Bucky his space, but the dried blood on his hand was visible proof that he wasn't himself. Bucky wasn't clumsy, and he wasn't drunk.

Steve whirled around and grabbed Bucky, a little roughly, before he had him shoved back up against a tree.

Bucky's eyes widened in surprise, and then his eyes narrowed as he tried to shove Steve away. But there was no budging the super-soldier, he kept his forearm pressed against Bucky's chest and applied just enough pressure to keep him there. Bucky's right hand lifted with a clenched fist, and Steve lifted a brow.

"You gonna punch me, Buck? Go ahead, if it'll make you feel better."

Bucky inhaled sharply, and their gazes locked a moment before the anger seemed to leave Bucky and his fist dropped. He sighed heavily, and seemed impossibly weary then. "I'm not gonna punch ya, Steve." he finally muttered. You know I'd never hurt you went unspoken but hung in the air between them anyway. Steve knew it, he'd banked on that when he'd challenged Bucky to punch him.

Steve watched his friend a moment before he pulled his arm away. Bucky shifted uncomfortably and rubbed his chest almost absently before Steve spoke. "You are my business, Bucky...I thought we were each other's business...but maybe you don't think that way now that...I'm like this?"

Bucky's head jerked up and he stared at Steve with such confusion and surprise, Steve was almost tempted to laugh. "What's the supposed to mean?"

Steve felt like he was the one being scrutinized now, and he hadn't meant to bring that issue up-not while he was trying to see what was actually wrong with Bucky, but...he hadn't been able to help it. "...You won't look me in the eyes...you won't be honest with me...you pulled away when I put my hand on your shoulder..." he mentally chastised himself for the bit of hurt that bled into his words, especially on that last bit.

Bucky's expression flickered guilt a moment before he muttered. "That's not...I wasn't...it's not on purpose."

"Then what is it?" Bucky's expression twisted, and silence stretched on between them. When it was clear that Bucky wouldn't reply, Steve gave a bitter half-smile. "You can just say it...I can take it. You don't want to be my friend now that i'm like this."

Bucky's head once again snapped towards him, eyes wide and disbelieving. And then anger flared in his expression again as he suddenly shoved Steve. Steve took a couple of steps back, not because Bucky had actually used enough force to move him, but because he felt staying immobile would only frustrate Bucky more. "Where the Hell did you get that idea? If anything, you're the one who doesn't need me-" he cut off as he realized what he'd said, and he flushed as he turned away. "Forget it. I-"

"-What?" Steve cut him off, and when Bucky started to walk away again, he caught him by the arm and whirled him around.

Now that annoyed him, he jerked his arm away to glare at Steve. "Quit swinging me around like a damn ragdoll!"

"You always did the same thing to me."

"That was different!" Bucky snapped.

"And why's that?" Steve snapped back.

"Because!"

"Well that was eloquent." Steve drawled sarcastically. And something occurred to him. An idea of sorts. "What if I don't quit? What're you gonna do about it?" he grabbed one of Bucky's wrists and twisted his arm a bit.

Bucky seemed taken aback and then his glare returned full force as he tried to tug away. "Let go of me, Rogers." he growled.

Steve tightened his grip as he took a step closer. "Nah, I don't think so. We're gonna stand here until you feel like being honest with me."

"Let. Go." Bucky said lowly.

Steve smirked in reply and said in his most obnoxious voice. "Make me, if you think you can."

Bucky's fist connected with his face, and damn it was a good punch although in the grand scheme of things, it really didn't hurt him much. Steve released Bucky, and he watched as Bucky's expression of fury became one of stunned surprised as he released what he'd done. "I-...Steve...I...I didn't mean..."

"Yeah, you did, and that's okay." Steve said with a grin as he rubbed his face for Bucky's benefit. "You got a mean right hook, pal." Bucky's expression flooded with guilt, and Steve shook his head. "I'm not made of glass, Buck. You don't need to protect me anymore." He thought that would be a relief, that had been the point of goading Bucky into punching him, to show him that Steve could stand as his equal now. That he didn't have to lie to shield his feelings or carry his burden alone. What he didn't expect was the look of misery and resignation that flashed across Bucky's face, or the way his shoulders slumped slightly.

"Yeah..." he finally said, his voice quiet, and he chuckled, but his heart wasn't in it. "You really don't need me."

That was the second time Bucky had said that, and only in hearing it the second time did Steve really make a connection. Steve hadn't been sure where he stood with Bucky, but maybe Bucky hadn't been sure where he stood with Steve either?

"Buck..." How to phrase it? "You know I'm...still me on the inside...right?"

"Well, yeah..." But there was a flicker of doubt in his voice.

Steve tried to piece together the pieces of the puzzle that was Bucky. He'd tried to get the other to be honest, but maybe he oughta be honest first. "...I was so happy when I found you alive, Buck...you have no idea. When I heard you were dead...it was like everything just stopped. I couldn't breathe...remember, you were always the only one who could talk me down?" Whenever Steve had an asthma attack and didn't have an inhaler handy, Bucky could always talk him through it.

Bucky stiffened and he tilted his gaze to regard Steve, his expression guarded.

"And then I was scared." Steve admitted.

Bucky's brow furrowed. "Scared...scared of what?"

Again, how to phrase it? "...I don't know how to explain it well, Bucky...I guess...I just didn't know how you'd react...and it scared the Hell out of me."

"React...to what...? You becoming...this?" he gestured to Steve.

"Well...yeah." he repeated Bucky's earlier words. "You always took care of me, Buck...always had my back...you listened to me, you knew me better than anyone, no one else even bothered to try...even when I had nothing, I had you...and it didn't seem like you minded, even though people gave you crap about hanging out with me. Even though I couldn't give you anything in return..." he cut off as Bucky snorted in disbelief.

"Are you an idiot?"

Steve frowned. That wasn't exactly the response to his attempt at sincerity and honesty that he'd expected. "Well, apparently you think so."

"You have no idea...no freaking idea..." Bucky muttered as he ran a hand through his hair and then rubbed his face wearily. Then he frowned at Steve as he met his gaze. "It always bugged me when you'd talk like that. No matter what I said or did, it was like you didn't really believe me. Like I was hanging out with you out of charity or something." he shook his head at the thought before he continued. "I thought eventually, you'd see I wasn't leaving, you'd get it...but you still don't, do you?"

It was Steve's turn to be taken aback. He wasn't sure what to say, and he was spared an answer as Bucky stepped up to him and continued.

"A lot of people thought you hung out with me just so I'd protect you." Steve scowled at the thought and Bucky pressed on. "But I knew better. You'd fight tooth and nail till the end. You'd yell at me for fighting for ya sometimes." And at that, they both smiled a little.

"You just wouldn't take 'no' for an answer."

"Apparently I'm a stubborn jerk, remember?" Bucky shot back, and then he sighed as he kept up his earlier narrative. "But sometimes, I'd wonder why you did hang out with me. It wasn't for the girls, cause most of the time, you'd make a fuss when I dragged you out. It wasn't so I'd protect you. You never wanted money even when you needed it. Most everything I did for ya, I had to force down your throat, you pain in the a**." he grumbled.

Steve blinked at the realization, because it was actually pretty accurate. He had hated accepting a hand, he'd always wanted to prove himself, to do it on his own. Steve usually let Bucky help him, but rarely without some form of argument or griping afterwards.

"If you'd...been any one else, they'da wondered why you were hanging out with me. Bucky Barnes, resident bad influence. Always picking fights, always stealing, cheating, and lying...just a dumb hoodlum-"

"-You're none of that! You were never!" Steve rallied to his defense, as he'd always done.

Bucky smiled at that, and he lifted a hand to punch Steve's cheek lightly. "You were always like that. You always saw something good about me, even when no one else did. And I wanted to be that for you, I wanted to be the Bucky you saw when you looked at me."

Steve stared at Bucky, stunned. This was the first he'd heard of this. He'd had no idea Bucky had felt that way. There had never been a question for him. Sure, Bucky picked fights, and it wasn't like he'd never stolen or lied, [although Bucky was no cheat], but he had reasons for what he did, it wasn't on a whim. And Bucky was one of the smartest guys he knew. He only got bad grades because he didn't try in class, and when you knew you were being shipped off to fight in a war the next year, what was the point? "You were always that Bucky."

Bucky chuckled softly. "Not always. I wasn't as nice as you think I was."

Steve wasn't sure what to make of that. He'd never known Bucky to be anything but confident in himself, he didn't care what any one else thought.

"You made me be better." Bucky said suddenly, and he avoided Steve's gaze. This time sheepishly, if Steve didn't miss his mark. "There were people who wanted to be my friend, or girls who wanted to date me even though I had that kinda reputation...but that's why they wanted to. Not 'cause they liked me, they'd didn't even know me. You were the only one that...saw me."

Steve felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. How many times had he thought that about Bucky? That despite everything, Bucky was the only one that ever looked at him and saw...him.

"If I didn't have you...I don't know where I'd be right now. I always knew in the back of my mind I had to make sure I came back to you. Had to make sure I took care of you. I wanted that. It was mine. It wasn't about babying you or thinking you couldn't take care of yourself...it was just...you were the only thing that mattered to me...still are, really." Bucky finally admitted, and he stared down at the ground as if afraid to hear Steve's response. "And then all the sudden you're Captain America...you could snap me like a twig." he laughed, but it almost sounded like a sob. "You got all these guys lining up to follow you...you could have any one you want by you now, and you wouldn't even need them anyway, you sure as Hell don't need me...so...I just...wasn't sure you'd still want me around."

Bucky had always seemed a little larger than life to Steve. Nothing fazed him, he was always strong, never gave up, he was always there, and always too kind for his own good where Steve was concerned. And now, still a bit banged up from his time with Hydra, probably exhausted from restless, nightmare-filled nights, confessing things Steve would never dream were possible...he seemed small, somehow, fragile as he shuffled his feet and rolled his fingers in anticipation of Steve's reply, and it was a side of Bucky he knew no one else would ever see. A part that no one else could reach. Just like the part of Steve that was still that 'scrawny kid from Brooklyn who was too dumb to run from a fight'. That Steve was Bucky's, plain and simple.

Steve wasn't sure what he was doing until he'd already done it. He'd stepped forward and pulled Bucky into a tight hug. For once, it was his arms around Bucky's shoulders. And after a moment, and a choked noise that again sounded suspiciously like a sob, he found Bucky's arms wrapped tightly around his waist as the other rested his face on Steve's shoulder. Bucky's fists clenched Steve's shirt, and Steve felt Bucky's body tremble just slightly. He kept one hand firm around Bucky, and used his other hand to rub Bucky's back soothingly. It couldn't have been long that they stayed that way, though it seemed hours had passed when Steve finally pulled away a bit. He kept Bucky at arm's length, a hand firm on his shoulder as he forced the other to look at him. Now he had something to say.

"You were right...somewhere in the back of my mind, no matter how I trusted you, and believed you...I was always waiting for that other shoe to drop. I couldn't see what you were getting out of it. And I was frustrated...because I felt the same, Buck...you were what mattered to me too, and I couldn't do anything for you. And I was...a little jealous of you. I hated that. Everything you did for me made me...love you more and hate you more at the same time. I wanted to protect you too...I wanted to be the only one you could rely on, that way you were for me."

Bucky looked up at him with a slightly open-mouthed expression, and he formed an O before he laughed, and Steve frowned.

"Okay. I pour my heart out. You laugh. Fair enough."

"It's not that...it's just...jeez, we're a pair, aren't we? How stupid can we be? We wanted the same thing the whole time, and the whole time we both had it all along."

"...Sounds about right." And it was Steve's turn to be a little sheepish. But then he added. "...It's gonna be a little different, there's no way it can't be...but don't ever think that I don't need you, Buck...or that there's any one I'd rather have watching my back or fighting by my side...I do need you. We've been together too long. I don't know how to live without you, not because of what you do for me but...just because we're...family."

Bucky drew in a long breath before he swallowed hard and nodded. "Till the end of the line...brother."

Steve felt his heart swell and after something that sounded suspiciously like a sniff on his part, he held out his hand. "Then it's settled. Together till the end."

Bucky eyed his hand, and then with a chuckle, he clasped their hands together even as he used his free arm to pull Steve into a tight, one-armed hug. "And probably even after. Whatever comes next, I'll still be keeping your pain-in-the-a**-self in line." Bucky drawled.

Steve laughed, and with a sudden smirk, locked his arm around Bucky's neck the way the other had always done to him as he ruffled his hair playfully. "And apparently I'll be keeping you on the straight and narrow, jerk."

"Punk." Bucky retorted as he scrunched his nose, but grinned.

The moon had passed the overhead mark in the sky, and was on it's way towards sinking in anticipation of the sunrise. Steve cast a glance skyward before he released Bucky. "We'd better get you back...I'll feel bad if I have to write you up for sneaking out after how sweet you were."

Bucky groaned. "I'm not gonna hear the end of this, am I?"

"Nope." Steve grinned cheekily as they walked along together. The journey back was more light-hearted than when it had begun, and when they got back, Steve cleaned and bandaged Bucky's hand with minimal complaint on the latter's part. He made sure Bucky found his way to bed, he had been cleared to sleep outside of the medical tent, and Steve had arranged for Bucky to be his tent-mate.

"Night, Buck." Steve yawned as he got settled in his own bed.

"Mmm." Bucky mumbled in reply, "Y'too'Stevie." Despite his front, Bucky really was exhausted.

The pair drifted off to sleep, but their night wasn't over yet. Only a couple of hours later with sunrise yet a few hours off, Bucky's tossing, turning, and occasional moans woke Steve. It was another nightmare.

Steve had let Bucky have them up till that point, because things had still been shaky and he hadn't wanted to push Bucky...but now...

"Buck...Bucky? Wake up, pal." he shook the other lightly as he sat on the edge of his bed.

Bucky jerked awake with a gasp, a fist clenched instinctively before he saw Steve in the dim light and relaxed, though his breathing was heavy.

"Another nightmare?"

"It was nothing-"

"-Bucky." Steve's voice was a gentle chide as he set his hand on Bucky's shoulder. "I told you, didn't I? You can rely on me too."

Bucky hesitated, and then after a moment, his voice cracked as he spoke. "I'd come out of it, sometimes...the drugs would wear off...and it all...there was so much pain. What they did to me...over and over. I'd hallucinate sometimes. Sometimes I'd see you, sometimes I'd see mom, and they'd realize it sometimes...they'd tell me you were dead-because I didn't save you. They'd tell me they killed you, that they'd tortured you. They'd try to get a rise out of me, everything was an experiment and I was too messed up to think it through...that it was a lie...one time they..." he cut off, and he swallowed the bile in his throat.

"Go on, pal." Steve said softly as he squeezed Bucky's shoulder.

"...They dosed me...and then they showed me a body. Picked someone small, put his blood on my hands and said I killed him...that I killed you...I thought I was gonna die. They said they wanted to test me...I don't know what they were lookin' for. And then they went back to the torture and the physical experiments...I was so sure I was gonna die there...and when I close my eyes, I feel those straps and see those lights and..." he choked.

"Bucky..." His heart constricted as worry for his friend, a desire to wipe away his pain warred with anger and a desire for violence against the people who'd hurt Bucky.

"And then I saw you...I don't think I knew for sure it wasn't a dream until we started walking back...till I felt the sun...you saved me, Steve...I..."

"You woulda done the same for me." Steve said with certainty.

Bucky smiled weakly. "Finally believe in me now, huh?"

Steve thought about his answer, and he settled for. "I always believed in you, Buck...and now I believe in us too. And you're not going back there. Ever. I'm gonna protect you." Finally, he could.

Bucky blinked before his smile widened a bit. "You're such a girl, sometimes, y'know that?"

"Pfft. What was that about being good because of me?"

"You said you loved me." Bucky taunted back.

"I said I hated you too." Steve reminded him, without any malice, and a smirk.

"Fair enough." Bucky conceded, and after a moment, he said softly. "I love ya too, punk...thank you. I mean it."

Steve smiled, and he gave Bucky's arm a final squeeze. "Thank you too, jerk...I don't know where I'd be right now without you either."

"Probably woulda gotten your block knocked off for running your mouth so much." Bucky drawled.

"I always had 'em on the ropes."

"I know you did." Bucky chuckled. The pair fell into silence a moment before Bucky pinched Steve's side, and Captain America gave a rather undignified yelp. "Now get back in your own bed, you're creeping me out." he quoted Steve from not so long ago.

"Yeah, yeah, real funny, pal." Steve flicked his forehead in revenge, and Bucky scrunched his nose with a grin. Steve headed back to his own bed and settled in. "Tomorrow's gonna be a long day." he sighed, and when Bucky didn't reply, he glanced over at the other only to find him already asleep. He had no idea how Bucky managed to pull that off, even when they were kids. Steve snorted, then smiled as he closed his own eyes.

Whatever came at them, they'd be ready. They'd be together till the end of the line [and thereafter, apparently, according to Bucky-which Steve certainly had no problem with].

...

"You're my friend." Steve smiled, because he knew it for certain truth, and there was no going back from that.

"You're my mission!" But the Winter Soldier's face was no longer expressionless, there was a familiar confusion and fury in his gaze.

"Then finish it...because I'm with you till the end of the line." Steve meant every word. They'd promised it, after all.

...

The Winter Soldier drug Captain America from the depths of the water, where he deposited him on the shore and studied the damnably familiar face. There was an echo in his mind, one that fueled an instinct he didn't understand. It said protect.

"Your name is James Barnes."

The Winter Soldier heard the approach of others, and he took his leave. But he couldn't get that man's face-Steve's face- out of his mind. It drove him to abandon protocol, and to a place called the Smithsonian Museum, where he stood before a memorial to a man named 'James Barnes', one with whom he shared a face.

"Thanks, Bucky...but I can take care of myself."

"I know, but the thing is...you don't have to I'm with you till the end of the line, pal."

"Bucky Barnes..." The Winter Soldier let the name roll off his tongue. It didn't sound all that familiar, but it didn't sound wrong either. The Winter Soldier left the museum, and as he stepped outside and felt the sun on his face, he felt a strange tugging sensation in his chest where his heart was. "Till the end of the line." he murmured, and unknowingly, the ghost of a smile danced on his lips.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Okay, wow. Originally, the summary for this story was going to be 'The one where Steve shamelessly uses his status as Captain America to cockblock Bucky and it leads to a much-needed conversation'. I have now stayed up way past my self-imposed bed-time, and indulged in copious amounts of fluff...and yeah. I'm good with that. It didn't turn into slash, I managed to keep it brotherly. XD Quite the feat, actually, because there were a few moments there...XD I digress! Reviews are like verbal hugs for me. Enjoy!~Witchy~