I may have nearly cried reading the lovely reviews. And all the faves. And the request that this be continued that was accompanied by two alerts even though this was supposed to be a one-shot. I won't make a continuous story out of this, but I've got several ideas for lovely one-shots to be set in the same story-verse. I'll have the titles coded for the time they're in. PS=Pre-Serum, HC=Howling Commando, PWS=Post Winter Soldier. Expect fluff sweet enough to make your teeth hurt, heart break, some character insight, and humor. Now remember. Reviews are what inspired me to continue. That's the power of hugging my soul with your words. XD Enjoy!~

Summary: In which Steve gets bullied, Bucky plays nice in front of Steve, and the bullies learn not to touch Bucky's best pal later.

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

...

"Not so tough now, are ya, midget?"

"Look at him, he's gonna cry for his mommy!"

The pair of seniors sneered as they succeeded in hurling fourteen-year old Steven Rogers into the trash cans. But per his usual, Steve stumbled back up to his feet as he wiped a little blood from his bleeding lip.

"The only ones who'll be crying are you two chuckleheads." he replied, as he geared up to punch them, only to find himself sucker-punched in the stomach. The other teen lifted a foot to stomp Steve's head, only to be stopped by a left hook to the face.

The boy stumbled back as fifteen-year old Bucky Barnes stood before Steve and glared. He aimed a fast kick to the other boy's stomach that sent him stumbling back, and he put up his guard. "Next one of you dipsticks tries touchin' this guy, I'll knock yer block off." he snarled.

"Ooh, I'm so scared." One of the teens said. They were pudgy, bigger physically and several inches taller than Bucky to boot. Not that he was concerned.

One of the boys tried to punch him, and Bucky smirked. This was too easy.

...

"I coulda handled it, Buck." Steve mumbled as he brushed himself off and walked off with Bucky, who had taken the older boys down as easily as swatting flies.

"I know, pal. But I can't let ya have all the fun." Bucky replied smoothly as he clapped a hand on Steve's back with a grin. When he noted Steve's suddenly glum expression, he frowned. "What'sa matter?"

"I tore my shirt..." Steve had just noticed it, and he supposed he'd gotten it caught on a trash can lid. His mom didn't have money for new clothes, she wasn't going to like seeing the cut. She could sew it, but if he explained it was due to being bullied...she just got such a sad, resigned look on her face, so he never wanted to tell her.

Bucky knew this, of course, and he knew how much it would bum Steve out. Anger flared in his gut at the continued trouble those cowardly a**wipes had caused his best pal. "When I see those clowns again..."

"Don't!" Steve insisted. "It just makes it worse...then every one really thinks I can't take care of myself."

"No, then they know not to mess with my best friend." Bucky corrected.

"I mean it, Buck. Don't sink to their level...it's okay, really...I'll...just get Mom to sew it." Steve trailed off, glum again.

Bucky considered it and then loped an arm around Steve's shoulders with a smile. "Tell ya what, let's just have my mom do it. She's got'a soft spot for ya, so no problem. She's real good too, so your mom won't even notice."

"I don't want to cause any trouble-" Steve started, but Bucky cut him off.

"-It's fine, trust me, pal. Now smile, or else." Bucky warned as he waggled his fingers threateningly, Steve was more than his fair share of ticklish.

Steve grinned then, and leaned into the one-armed hug. "Thanks, Buck."

...

"Now let's go over this one more time." Bucky said, his voice chilling as he smiled maliciously at the older teens. One had a split lip, one had a budding black eye, and both had been forced to strip down to their underwear.

Bucky had caught them hanging out near the alleyway they'd ganged up on Steve at. They'd tried to pick a fight anyway, which worked out since he'd been looking to start one. He thrashed them, and then he'd pulled out the cheap but sturdy pocket knife he'd gotten for his last birthday. Bucky had convinced them that they were gonna slashed if they didn't listen up, and he got them to strip down. He'd proceeded to knife their clothes to ribbons before tossing them into the trash.

Now, push come to shove, he never would have used the knife on them. But that didn't mean he couldn't put one Hell of a show on that he would.

"You ever...ever mess with my pal again..." Bucky leaned forward with a leer and brandished the knife in front of them threateningly. "And I'll gut ya like a fish." he mocked. "And if ya wanna tell on me, go ahead. Let every one know you got your a**es handed to you by a freshman. I'll let them all know how you cried like sissies and ran home in your boxers. And then I'll finish what I started." he added coolly.

"Okay! Okay! We're good! Please!" One of the boys sobbed.

Bucky smirked and took a step back. "Now run." he snapped, and he laughed when they took off like rockets. They wouldn't be messin' with Stevie again, that was for sure.

...

The next day, the rumors flew about how a certain pair of seniors had gone streaking through the town in their boxers. Different theories emerged, but the truth was kept quiet as Bucky figured it would be.

"Guess that's what they'd call 'karma'." Steve noted as he walked alongside Bucky. "I heard they picked a fight with a gang leader from another school. That's gotta be crap, but still...they pissed off the wrong person." He'd caught a glimpse of them, and they'd barely made eye-contact but he'd noted they seemed pretty beat up.

"Serves them right." Bucky drawled.

Steve's brow suddenly furrowed as he glanced at Bucky. "Buck...you didn't...have anything to do with it, didja?" But Bucky seemed distracted and he followed his gaze to where Sarah Parks was talking to some of her friends.

Bucky let out a loud whistle. "Look at that, Stevie...I know who I'm taking out tonight."

Steve nearly sighed. Bucky's attention span could be almost pathetically short sometimes, and throw a pretty girl in front of him and jeez. Nah, there was no way Bucky had done it. Sure, he'd get vicious protecting Steve and he had a temper, but to go out of his way to beat up and thrash them just for picking a fight? Plenty of guys had picked on Steve and hadn't got skinned for it. Bucky wasn't like that. Steve snorted. "Good luck with that."

"Well, thanks so much, oh ye'a little faith." Bucky had successfully distracted Steve from his suspicions without having to lie [which he couldn't have done-not to Steve], or admit what he'd done. "Just watch and learn, punk." Bucky ruffled Steve's hair before he smoothed his own with a wink and went off to make good on his boast.

"Jerk." Steve called after him with a laugh.

Bucky could kick their butts and let them off for the bullying, but there was no way he coulda gone easy on them for hurting Steve's feelings like that. Making him all sad and worried...that wasn't acceptable. They needed to learn a little respect, and Bucky was plenty willing to teach 'em.

Anything for Steve.

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I think Bucky does have a bit of a dark side anyway. Even where Steve's concerned [watch his expression in First Avenger when he tells them to cheer for Captain America. He grins all warmly at Steve, and then gets a twisted look on his face. He's got a few other similar expression throughout. He [brotherly] loves Steve to little bits and pieces, but he's also...well, like I said, got a dark side. XD And don't worry, this isn't counted as the teeth-aching fluff. Probably falls under 'character insight'. Look forward to truth-or-dare with the Howling Commandos, Steve and the Winter Soldier dancing, and more! XD