Pugilist


-Brooklyn 1936-

It was a warm spring afternoon. The flower petals from the trees swirled around as Steve walked home to meet Bucky. They were going to the museum and then it was Steve's turn to pay for slice of pie afterwards. He quickened his step, eager to get home.

"Come on, doll face, let's go to the park," Steve heard a voice from nearby. He stopped and looked around the corner. Three burly young men around his age were following a young woman down the street. She was ignoring them, but they weren't taking the hint.

"Aw come on baby, don't be such a cold fish!" one of the men persisted. The woman was at a near run, clutching her bag with her head down.

"Hey!" Steve yelled. "She doesn't want to talk to you! Leave her alone!" He hurled a rock at the biggest one. It glanced off harmlessly, but the man turned, glaring at Steve. The woman ran away as the men advanced towards him.

"See what you did there punk?" the man growled. He walked over and shoved Steve to the ground. Steve jumped to his feet and held up his fists. He swung and missed by a wide margin. The man hit him in the gut.

Steve staggered backwards, gasping for breath, but ran back in. He took a hit to the jaw and dropped. His head was spinning, but he staggered to his feet, his legs shaking. He wasn't going to let this lug get the better of him.

"You don't know when to quit, do you?" one of the other men asked.

"I can do this all-!" A fist to the eye cut him off and sent him sprawling. Steve braced himself, expecting to hit the pavement, but he landed against something softer. He took a breath and looked behind him. It was Bucky. He set Steve upright and swaggered forward.

"You got a problem with my friend?" Bucky asked.

"He needs to mind his own damn business," the man said taking menacing step towards Bucky.

"Oh yeah?" Bucky asked, looking back at Steve.

"Well you need to learn some manners!" Steve barked. "There was a lady present and I don't think she appreciated the way you were acting."

Bucky smirked. "One thing about this guy," he pointed a thumb over his shoulder at Steve. "If he goes to the trouble of trying to whip your butt, you have it coming."

The guy stepped to swing at Bucky. Bucky dodged and clocked him on the jaw. The guy fell flat. Bucky looked at the other guys. "Anyone else need to learn some manners?"

The others picked up their friend and ran. Bucky turned to Steve, rubbing his knuckles. "You ok?"

"I had him on the ropes," Steve said, rubbing his jaw.

"The hell you did!" Bucky exclaimed. "You're going to have a black eye tomorrow!"

Steve touched his face, wincing at the pain. "Well I got him to leave the girl alone."

"You're too chivalrous for your own good. Lucky I came along when I did."

"I don't need you to fight my battles Bucky," Steve grumbled.

"He was beating you black and blue! Why do you always have to do this?" Bucky took Steve's face to examine the damage. "Let's go back to my place and I'll patch you up."

Steve huffed. "You don't have to take care of me, Bucky. I'm not your girl."

"I know you're not," Bucky said, turning to head home. "You're coming to the gym with me tomorrow. I'm going to teach you how to fight."

"You serious?" Steve said falling in beside him.

"If you're going to fight, you're at least going to do it right. I probably should have done this years ago."

"Boxing's your thing, I don't want to get in the way," Steve said.

"You're not. I just want to show you a few things so you don't get killed if I happen to be at work next time you have to put some lug in his place."

Steve hurried along beside Bucky. He had always been too sick or weak to do any sports, especially something like boxing. He would never be as good a Bucky, but he might at least learn enough to take out a few punks in a back alley.

More than that, he was excited that Bucky was taking the time to teach him. He seemed to enjoy bailing Steve out of fights, but Steve hated it. He didn't like getting beaten into the pavement but he always felt so useless when Bucky stepped in to help. Maybe if he learned how to fight, Bucky would stop worrying about him so much.


Steve followed Bucky into the gym cautiously. He had never set foot in one before. He had never even come to see Bucky box. Watching people box didn't really interest Steve and Bucky had never asked him to come. Now that they were together though, he wondered if he should. Bucky went to the art museum with him all the time. If this was important to Bucky, he should learn something about it.

"Hey, Barnes!" an older man called from across the room.

"Holman! How's the wife?" Bucky greeted him.

"Pretty as as a flower and twice as dumb. I thought you were taking a few days off! You have a tournament this weekend." The man eyed Steve doubtfully. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Steve," Bucky said. "I'm just going to show him a few basics."

"Alright, go easy on him. He looks like a light breeze would knock him over."

Bucky laughed and led Steve back to the locker room.

"Alright. Get changed," he said, handing Steve a pair of shorts from his bag. "These'll be a little big, but if you pull the drawstring tight enough, they should work."

"Changed?"

"You can't box in that. You'll get all sweaty."

Steve felt his chest tighten. For a moment he thought it might be his asthma, but this felt different. The thought of stripping down to his drawers in front of Bucky made him nervous. Bucky was already unbuttoning his shirt.

Steve turned around and started to undress. Quickly, he slipped off his pants and put on the shorts. He turned back around to ask Bucky something and forgot the question completely. Bucky was standing there in his underwear, casually folding up his clothes. His bare chest rippled with the motion of his arms.

"I, I'll be right back," Steve said in a hurry. He ran to the toilet stall and shut the door. He tried to take a deep breath. He was sure he had seen Bucky like that before but he couldn't remember feeling this ache in his chest. Bucky was stunning. He was hard and chiseled like the marble statues at the art museum. He had hair on his chest, but not too much, just enough for Steve to curl his fingers into. He imagine his mouth on Bucky's hard chest, wondering what his skin would taste like.

Steve stopped. What was he thinking? Bucky had brought him here to teach him something and all he could think about was licking Bucky's nipples. Steve frowned, wondering where that thought had even come from. Idea of licking someone's chest was weird. He had thought about Bucky before, but never in such a lewd way. What would Bucky would think if he knew what was going through Steve's mind? Suddenly Steve realized he had a bigger problem.

The baggy shorts helped to hide his erection, but if he went out there like this, Bucky would notice. He took a deep breath, trying to think of things that weren't going to excite him. He tried baseball, but all that came to mind was Bucky sitting beside him with his strong arm around Steve's shoulders. Desperately, he thought about the smell of cabbage cooking for dinner and about math class with the 65 year old teacher who always smelled like cheese and onions. Slowly he felt the pressure ease and stepped out of the stall.

Bucky was waiting for him. Thankfully, he had put on a shirt. It was tight and sleeveless, but it was something.

"Come on," Bucky said, clapping him on the shoulder. Steve followed Bucky out of the locker room, trying to keep his mind off Bucky's arms.


"Alright, make a fist for me," Bucky said. Steve curled his fingers over his thumb. Bucky took his hand and opened it back up. "No, no, no, that's your first mistake. If you do it like that, you're going to break your thumb."

He curled Steve's fingers down, placing his thumb over them. Steve looked up at him with those sharp blue eyes. Bucky felt his breath catch.

"Like that," he said, his hand lingering on Steve's just a moment too long. He let go and backed up a step to put some distance between them. Exhaling slowly, he held up the practice mit.

"Ok, punch." Steve threw a weak jab at the mit. Bucky dropped it on the floor and took ahold of Steve's thin arm. "Keep your wrist straight, and hit with the first two knuckles."

He picked up the mit and Steve struck again. "Better. Keep going."

Steve hit the target a few more times. His form was improving with each swing, but he wasn't going to kill a mosquito with that punch. Bucky put down the mit and led him over to the bag.

"Ok, watch closely. You're throwing the punch with your arm. That's not going to do much. All the power comes from your hips. You want to twist from there."

Bucky set up in front of the bag and hit it with his right. He punched again a few times to let Steve study his stance.

"Ok," he said, turning to face Steve. "Put your feet slightly apart, like this, and as you punch," he demonstrated slowly, "pivot on your feet."

He held up the mit again. Steve took a few practice swings to rehearse the motion. He stood back and swung full strength. He twisted too far and tripped. Bucky stepped forward and caught him. Steve landed with his back against Bucky's chest. Bucky held him for a moment, feeling the heat of Steve's thin body against his.

"You ok?" he asked, putting Steve upright and taking an extra step back to be sure no one got the wrong idea. He was glad his father had pushed him toward boxing instead of wrestling. He never would have made it having Steve pinned down under him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Steve said, bouncing on his feet a few times. "Let's try again."

Bucky watched as Steve punched the mit over and over again. He was terrible, but the fire in his eyes made Bucky smile. Steve was never one to back down from a fight, even a fight he had no chance to winning. It worried him sometimes, but it was also one of the things he admired most about Steve. There was something in him that refused to be defeated no matter the odds.

After several minutes, Steve seemed to be punching with some consistency. Bucky lowered the mit. Steve was breathing hard but he didn't seem ready to quit.

"Ok, that was good," Bucky said. "Let's take a quick break and we'll try it again."


Steve was exhausted when they finally finished. His arms were going to hurt in the morning but Bucky had already told him that they should come back tomorrow. He said that the best thing for sore muscles was to keep moving and loosen things up. Right now though, all Steve wanted was to go home. He was starving and he still had to study for history before bed.

He followed Bucky into the locker room. A hot shower sounded nice, but as Bucky peeled off his shirt, Steve realized what showering at the gym would mean. It wasn't the first time he and Bucky had seen each other naked, but he had never had any interest in looking before. Bucky barely seemed to notice that Steve was there as he stripped off his clothes. Quickly, Steve turned around, removing his clothes as slowly as he could without seeming like he was stalling. He waited for Bucky to head off to the shower before finishing.

Trying to think of anything except for Bucky's naked check, Steve followed. He hesitated for a moment, debating if he should take the shower head beside Bucky or one on the other wall. He didn't want things to seem awkward, but he also didn't want Bucky to feel like he was avoiding him. Finally he chose the shower beside Bucky, looking straight ahead. He counted the tiles on the wall as he washed trying to keep his mind off the fact that Bucky was standing a foot away from him, naked and soaking wet. He should never have agreed to this, but there was no way out now. He was just going to have to put aside his feelings and focus on boxing.

Steve jumped as a hand touched his shoulder. He lost his footing and slipped on the wet floor. Bucky stepped forward and caught him.

"Careful there!" Bucky said. "You don't want to fall and bust up your face again."

Steves stood there for a moment in Bucky's arms, trying to catch his breath. He could feel his body pressed against Bucky's. Again, the thought of licking the hard muscles of Bucky's chest popped into his head. He found his footing and stepped away, returning to his shower.

Bucky laughed. "Are you ok? You looked a bit distracted."

"I, I have a history test tomorrow," Steve stammered. He rinsed off and hurried to dress before Bucky finished. It was going to be a long week.


That night, Steve was in the bathroom getting ready for bed. He finished brushing his teeth and rinsed out his mouth. He was going to fail the history test tomorrow. All night he had been distracted by thoughts of Bucky in the shower. It would be a miracle if he remembered anything he had read. He felt himself getting hard again as he pictured the water cascading off Bucky's shoulder. Biting his lip, he looked over to make sure the door was locked. His mom was fast asleep, but he didn't want her to walk in. He sat on the edge of the bathtub and took a hold of himself.

He closed his eyes and thought about how Bucky's arms felt as he stroked himself. The firm muscles, the way he moved when he boxed, graceful yet strong. Steve had never thought about Bucky like this before, but it made him ache to feel Bucky's powerful hands on him. He remembered the touch of Bucky's rough, calloused fingers on his bare shoulder. He thought about Bucky's hard chest and what he had wanted to do earlier, picturing his tongue lapping at Bucky's nipple. Suddenly Steve couldn't stand it any longer. He bit his lip to keep from crying out as he came.

His heart racing, he went to the sink to wash his hands. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and stopped. After watching Bucky all afternoon, he suddenly realized what all the girls must see when they looked at him. He was pale and scrawny, with barely had any muscle to speak of. Compared to someone like Bucky, he never had a chance.

Suddenly he wondered what Bucky saw in him. He thought about Bucky, about his graceful feet and his taut muscles. Why would someone like that choose him? How exactly did Bucky see him? He was slender enough to look feminine, but if Bucky wanted a dame, he could find one prettier than Steve. But if he wanted a guy, why Steve? Surely he could find someone stronger, someone who might be able to have his back instead of needing to be rescued all the time. As much as Steve hated to admit it, he really did need Bucky's help. Even if he learned how to box, he wouldn't stand much of a chance. He hated feeling like a burden to anyone, and he wondered if Bucky ever got annoyed at having to save him.

Sighing, he tore himself away from the mirror and went to bed. Whatever the answer was, he wasn't going to figure it out tonight, and if he didn't get some sleep, he would never stand a chance on his history test.


Bucky watched carefully as Steve squared off against the bag. They had been working on this for two days and Steve was improving. He still wasn't any good, but he was learning.

"Good!" Bucky said as Steve hit the bag. It wasn't much, but he had managed to put a bit of power behind that one. "Again."

Steve hit a few more times. "Alright, I think you have the hang of it. Let's try some footwork. You probably won't knock anyone out, but you can at least get out of the way."

"I'm not going to run," Steve said fiercely.

"I didn't say run, I said duck," Bucky said. "Don't just stand there and get hit, punk"

Bucky showed him how to bob and weave. The odds of Steve knocking someone out were slim to none, but if he could show Steve how to move and how to dodge, maybe he wouldn't get hit quite as much. This part came harder to Steve. He didn't have the sort of muscle or coordination needed to move like that, but he kept at it. Bucky knew Steve was going to be sore the next day, but he didn't stop until Bucky told him to.

"Alright, that's enough for today," Bucky said. Steve leaned forward with his hand on his thighs, trying to catch his breath. "You're getting better." Bucky told him.

"That's not saying much," Steve muttered.

"Well at least I know you won't break your hand," Bucky said as they headed back to the locker room. "It'll be kind of hard to draw with a cast on."

Steve laughed at that. Bucky loved hearing Steve laugh. He could be so serious sometimes, but the way his eyes twinkled when he laughed made Bucky's heart flutter. Seeing Steve happy, even for a moment, always brightened his day.

They undressed to shower. Bucky had been a nervous at first about showering with Steve after the first time he realized it wasn't a big deal. This was no different from when they had showered together in gym class back in school. Today was different though. He wanted to ask Steve something, but he needed to work up the nerve. Bucky finished his shower and came out to get dressed. Steve was already on the bench tying his shoes.

There was a tournament Saturday that Bucky was competing in. Steve wasn't really interested in fighting so Bucky had never asked him to come before, but he wanted Steve there this time. It was selfish, and he knew Steve would probably be bored most of the day, but he wanted Steve out there in the crowd cheering him on. He turned around to get dressed. It would be easier to ask if he couldn't see Steve's face.

"Hey, there's a tournament Saturday," Bucky said, trying to seem casual. "Not sure I'll get very far, but do you want to come watch? I know boxing doesn't really interest you but it would be nice to have someone out there watching me."

"Yeah," Steve said breathlessly. "Sounds, uh, sounds fun."

Bucky grinned. He felt bubbly inside as he finished buttoning up his shirt. He picked up his bag and turned to Steve.

"Let's go," he said. "I'm starving."


Steve sat across from Bucky in the diner. His mom was working late so Bucky had suggested they go out. Steve had agreed since it was Bucky's turn to pay, but his mind wasn't on the food.

When Bucky had asked him to come to the match, he had been trying to think of an excuse but instead he blurted out yes. This week at the gym with Bucky hadn't been easy and Steve wasn't sure he could make it through an entire day of watching Bucky in the ring, shirtless and sweaty. He also didn't want to miss it. He knew that there would be girls there watching and he wanted Bucky to come home with him.

"Hey," Bucky said. Steve looked up. "You're a million miles away."

"Sorry," Steve said. "I'm just tired."

"I bet," Bucky said. "You've been working pretty hard this week."

Steve saw Bucky's arm extended under the table. He reached underneath and took Bucky's outstretched hand.

"Thanks for teaching me how to punch," Steve said. "Maybe next time I'll be able to take the guy down myself."

Bucky smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Steve wondered if he was having second thoughts about asking Steve to come to the tournament. He dropped Bucky's hand and turn his attention back to his food.

"So are we going to the gym tomorrow?" he asked.

"Nah, I have to work," Bucky said. "And you should take a day off. You don't want to push yourself too hard too soon."

Steve nodded. "So the tournament, what time should I be there?"

Bucky shrugged. "Starts at 8, but you pick me up at my place and we could walk over together."

"You're not going to get your dad to drive you?"

Bucky shook his head. "I need to warm up before the match anyway. The walk will be good."

Steve felt a wave of relief. Bucky did want him there. "Do you think you'll win?"

Bucky shrugged, but that cocky grin had returned. "There's some pretty good guys I'm the tournament."

"You'll lay 'em out before they can blink," Steve said, popping a potato in his mouth.


The night before the tournament, Bucky lay in bed, unable to sleep. His mind was racing, but his thoughts weren't on the upcoming match. For the first time, Steve would be watching him. He had been elated when Steve agreed to come, but now he was worried. He liked the idea of having someone in the crowd who was cheering just for him, not because he was winning, but because they wanted him to do well. He wanted Steve to cheer for him, but more than that, he wanted to impress Steve. After a match, the girl would always looked at him like he was the strongest man on earth. He wanted to see that look in Steve's eyes too, but he couldn't really picture Steve reacting that way.

That was one reason he had realized that he wasn't ready to settle on Steve. It was easy to impress the girls. They would fawn over him and tell him how great he was. Even if he had no interest in them, it made him feel strong. He had been raised to believe that a man should provide for his family and protect the people he loved. Bucky didn't have a family, but with his job the way it was, he wouldn't have been able to support one. The factory had been cutting hours lately and his plans to save up and move out of his parents place had been put on hold for now. Sometimes he felt a little insecure not even being able to provide for himself. He enjoyed those moments when he was out with a girl because he got to take charge. It made him feel strong and capable to have someone rely on him. He didn't always get that with Steve.

He liked Steve more than any of those girls, but their relationship had involved a good deal of compromise. Bucky didn't get to take the lead the way he did with the girls. He only got to pay half the time and Steve was always very clear that he didn't need Bucky to protect him. In some ways it was better. He could be himself with Steve instead of having to put on a show, but sometimes he missed that part. He missed feeling needed. He admired Steve's spirit and tenacity, but just once, he wanted Steve to say thank you for saving his ass instead of insisting that he could have handled things on his own.

The last week at the gym, he had had a chance to show off a bit, but Steve had barely noticed him. He had been focused on learning what Bucky was trying to teach him, but he had never once looked at Bucky the way any of the girls did. In fact most of the time he hadn't looked at Bucky at all. He had asked Steve to come tomorrow hoping that he might get a chance to show Steve what he could really do in the ring, but he wondered if Steve would even care. Was Steve excited to see him or was he just coming because Bucky had asked?

Groaning, Bucky pulled the covers over his head and rolled over. He could sort this out later but he needed to get some sleep. No one was going to be impressed if he fell asleep in the ring tomorrow.


Steve knocked on Bucky's door Saturday morning. It was early, but he had promised to come pick Bucky up for the tournament. Bucky's little sister Becky answered the door and turned away without a word to him.

"Bucky! Steve's here!" she called, leaving Steve to let himself in. That was always how things were at Bucky's house. He was the oldest of four and his mother always seemed to be in six places at once. The house was always loud and busy. Steve found it overwhelming, but he also envied the excitement. So often he was alone with nothing by his art and the neighbor's cat to keep him company.

Bucky came to the door, a piece of toast hanging out of his mouth and his jacket hanging off of one arm. He herded Steve out the door and finished buttoning up his jacket. He took the toast out of his mouth and took a bite as they headed down the hall.

"You ready?" Steve asked. Bucky nodded, chewing his toast. "Nervous?"

"Nah, what's there to be nervous about?" Bucky asked with a cocky grin. "I'd better hear you out there cheering for me."

"If I cheer you'd better win," Steve teased. He didn't really care if Bucky won or not, he was just excited to watch. Bucky looked around to be sure the hall was empty and then led Steve a small alcove near the stairwell, giving him a quick kiss.

"And what do I get if I win?" Bucky asked.

Steve didn't answer. He stood up on his tiptoes to give Bucky another kiss.

"Will that do?" he asked nervously.

Bucky smiled, brushing his cheek softly. "It's a start." He put an arm around Steve's shoulders and led him down the stairs. "Come on, I don't want to be late."


It was late in the day as the tournament drew to a close. Bucky had made it to the final round. Steve was excited about that. He didn't like fighting, not really, but seeing Bucky dominate his opponents like this had stirred something in him. Bucky was strong and fast and powerful. He had been nervous at first about spending the day watching Bucky half naked in the ring, but he had soon realized what an amazing opportunity he had. All week he had avoided staring at Bucky in the locker room. Now he could admire him openly without arousing suspicion.

The crowd settled down for the final match as the referee announced the competitors. Steve watched as Bucky climbed into the ring. Bucky waved to the crowd as his opponent climbed in. The referee introduced them, but Steve could barely hear over the screams of the girls behind him. They had come to support one of the other boxers who had lost early on and were now cheering for Bucky. Steve felt a surge of pride. When this was over, this man that everyone admired was walking him home. The girls were falling all over themselves to get Bucky's attention, but tonight Bucky was his.

Steve watched intently as Bucky faced off against his opponent. The crowd grew quiet. Everyone's eyes were on his feet and hands but Steve's gaze was firmly locked on Bucky's bare chest. Bucky had been fighting all day and hard muscles were glistening with sweat. Steve felt his heart start to beat faster at the idea of having those strong arms around him later. The bell rang to begin the match. Bucky's opponent rushed in to attack. Bucky ducked and slammed his fist in his opponents jaw. The man dropped like a rag doll. The crowd held their breath as the referee began to count. Steve watched in amazement. Bucky might have just won the match with one punch.

"Eight… Nine… Ten!"

The referee held up Bucky's hand to declare him the winner and the crowd erupted in cheers. Steve yelled as loud as he could. Bucky's eyes found him in the crowd. He blew a kiss. Steve felt his heart flutter, until the girls behind him screamed, obviously thinking that the kiss was meant for them. Steve looked at them, wondering if it had been.

Suddenly he didn't enjoy the sight of Bucky half naked in front of a cheering crowd. Bucky had seemed happy to have him there, but with this crowd, did it even matter anymore? Steve sat down on the bench as everyone surged forward to congratulate him. He looked at the girls who had been behind him and at a dozen more just like them. He sat there as the arena cleared out, wondering what chance he stood with Bucky against a flock of beautiful dames.

Steve waited in the empty arena for Bucky to come out. He knew Bucky wouldn't mind him going back to the locker room, but he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that had been plaguing him for the last few days. Finally, Bucky emerged from the locker room. He saw Steve and waved.

"There you are!" Bucky exclaimed. "I was looking for you! I must have shaken hands with half of Brooklyn."

"I didn't want to get stepped on by your admirers," Steve joked humorlessly.

Bucky grinned. "I did have to fight off a few of those."

"Congratulations," Steve said. "That last round really was something."

Bucky held out his hand to help Steve off the bench. "Come on, I'm starving, let's go celebrate!"

Steve forced a smile and allowed Bucky to help him up. His concerns could wait. This was Bucky's night and he didn't want to spoil things.


Bucky glanced at Steve as they walked along the quiet street. Steve had been quiet since they left the arena. He had hoped that his victory might get a reaction, but Steve was lost in his own world.

"What's with you?" he asked, punching Steve lightly on the arm. "I won! Let's see some enthusiasm!"

"You're really handsome Bucky," Steve said quietly.

Bucky grinned. "Thanks." So Steve was impressed. He felt himself walk a bit taller, but it still didn't explain why Steve was acting this way.

"Do you think I'm pretty?" Steve blurted out suddenly.

Bucky laughed, caught off guard by the question. "You have pretty lips."

"I'm serious," Steve said in a solemn tone.

Bucky stopped, looking at Steve in confusion. "Do you want me to think you're pretty?"

Steve looked up at him. "I want to know what you think I am." His posture was straight and sure, but there was an edge of uncertainly in his voice. "The girls you always date are always pretty, so what am I?"

"Geez Steve, do you think I'm that shallow!" Bucky exclaimed. Where had this come from? "I don't care what you look like, that's not why I like you!"

"Then what is it?" Steve asked again. "You're strong and handsome. You could have anyone you want. So why me?"

Bucky put a hand on his shoulder. He had been such a fool to worry about impressing Steve. Just because Steve didn't need him to pay for dinner or walk him home didn't mean that Bucky wasn't needed. Steve still needed him the same way he always had. Maybe he didn't swoon every time Bucky flexed his muscles, but there were other ways to be strong. Steve needed someone to be man enough to tell him when he was being mopy. He needed Bucky to be strong enough to tell him what he needed to hear.

"You're the best guy I've ever known," he said. "That's what I see. Not how that suit hang off of you because you're too damn skinny or that stringy hair. I'm looking at that guy who never backs down from a fight, who's going to stand and take a punch from someone who forgets his manners around a dame," he risked brushing Steve's cheek with his finger. "The guy who's willing to wait for me while I figure out what I'm doing here. Yeah, all those girls are pretty, but that's just window dressing. I like the way you laugh and that fire in your eyes when you're about to do something stupid. You're beautiful Steve, in a way I can't even describe."

"Wow," Steve whispered. He looked at the ground. "So when you think about me, do you get," Steve fumbled for the words. Bucky was certain that if it weren't so dark, Steve's face would be red. "Excited?" Steve said finally.

Bucky looked around quickly and pulled Steve into an alley. He pressed him against a wall, kissing him fiercely. He felt his pants getting tighter and he slipped a hand inside Steve's jacket. He could have found someone prettier but he would never find someone as loyal or understanding. People with the sort of spirit and compassion that Steve possessed were rare and precious. He wasn't the best looking guy, but that sparkle in his deep blue eyes was all it took to get Bucky going. He inched his hand down to cup Steve's ass, pulling him close.

"Do you feel that," he said in a sultry voice, grinding his hips into Steve's.

"Uh-huh." Steve's breath was coming in heavy gasps. Bucky could feel him trembling.

"Having you at the gym the last week, it's been hard to hide that. When I'm alone at night, I think about holding you in my arms while we dance and it drives me crazy." He leaned for a kiss.

"Wait," Steve said putting a hand on his chest. Bucky didn't let go but he took a step back to give Steve some space. "I don't know how to do this," Steve said lamely.

Bucky brushed a strand of hair out of his face. "Me either, but this seems like a good place to start."

He kissed Steve, pressing their bodies close together. Steve stood on his tiptoes, grabbing Bucky's tie to pull him closer. He broke off the kiss, his lips still hovering near Bucky's.

"I like watching you box," Steve mumbled shyly. "Can I come watch you more often? You, you're really handsome without a shirt."

"Whenever you want," Bucky said. Steve leaned back a bit. Biting his lip, he started to unbutton Bucky's shirt. With a shaking hand he touched Bucky's chest, brushing his fingers over a nipple. Bucky gasped. Steve leaned in to place a kiss on Bucky's chest. Bucky laughed as Steve's tongue tickled his skin. Steve's slight fingers curled, gripping the hair on Bucky's chest. Bucky grunted softly, pulling Steve closer. Something about Steve clinging to him like that made him feel strong.

A noise from the street caught their attention. Bucky jumped back and turned to fix his shirt. Steve shrank into the shadows. They waited in the dark, but no one came down the alley. Bucky breathed a sigh of relief.

"I think it was just a car backfiring," he said.

Steve was leaning against the wall, panting heavily. "That was kind of stupid"

"Maybe, but it was kind of exciting," Bucky said impishly. Steve looked at him flatly, still trying to slow his breathing. There was no danger, but the moment was over.

"Were you licking my chest?" Bucky asked. Steve looked away and jumped to his feet.

"I'm starving, let's go eat," Steve said, hurrying out of the alley. "Who's turn is it to pay?"

"Yours," Bucky said as they left the alley. "And we're celebrating so make it a good one."

"Do you want to get a hotdog?" Steve asked quickly.

"You know what those kind of look like, right?" Bucky teased as he followed Steve down the street.

-End-


A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Please review and let me know what you think! I love hearing from my readers.