Lessons In Love: Chapter Thirty-Seven: Nigdy Nie - Never No (Part 1)

The older Steve was down in Tony's hiding spot at the Kamar taj. Some of the younglings were not up and about at that point, and he needed to talk to the older Tony.

"They won't leave the room."

"Ah, gotcha. So, now we know."

Now they both knew what would have happened if Bucky Wonder returned all those innocent puppy love feelings. Big Tony couldn't help but hold a grin. His smirk amused the older Steve, and he wanted to tug that brunette in close.

"Looks like you have the day off then."

Tony was not affected by Bucky Barnes, or their un-lived romance. He would have been greatly affected if he was seventeen. But those days were over, and the older Tony saw the world through a very different lens.

He was more confused about the lie Bucky told, but that was up to the golden boys to figure out and decipher. Tony had his very own mini-me to think about, and he was pretty sure that any news of Steve shacking up with Bucky would destroy his young soul.

"I'll tell Byron you miss him."

Steve decided that he liked that idea. He gave himself the day off, and he intended to visit his son. Tony smiled, and he let that soldier kiss him for a sec.

They both looked over at those stairs, because a little youngling was on his way down.

"See ya later, Cap."

Tony gently laughed at the nickname. They hadn't done any sort of "Avenger-ing" in such a long time. Steve flashed him his handsome smile, and the blonde waited at the bottom of the stairs.

The younger Tony stepped into view. He was squeaky clean and dressed in those dojo rags. He looked up at the older Steve, and his eyes grew wide.

Uh, hi.

HO Damn. What a looker. Baby Tony awkwardly smiled at him, and the older Steve told him to enjoy his day. OK. He would enjoy that day, just like he said.

Both versions of Tony watched him walk up the stairs. They both checked out what he had packing andddddd...

"Good morning."

"YUP. It's a good one."

Ack. Baby Tony felt stupid for staring at the older Steve. He practically gawked at his hotness. He entered the room completely, and he set down a bunch of fruit and snacks that he had in his hands.

Tony raided the food area, and he waited around for the younger Steve. He didn't see him anywhere, so the brunette headed to Big Tony instead.

They both snacked on what was brought, and Tony thought about mentioning what happened with Stephen. He felt like he could tell his older self anything.

Baby Tony almost said something, but he spotted a simple ring on that greedy hand. The older Tony was stealing all the snacks, and he had a wedding ring on the correct hand.

"You're married? Wait, I'm married? Because, you're me."

Hold up. He thought it was crazy to be married. Whoa. Baby Tony picked at the snacks that he stole, and his older self held a smile.

"Yup. I eloped and moved in with someone, when I was your age."

That elopement felt like it happened centuries ago, and there they were, in some shit. Big Tony thought about Steve, and his father when that phrase entered his mind.

Good times. ANYWHO, Tony looked at his hand, and then he decided that it was time to work.

"Who are you married to? Or, who am I married to?"

"That's top secret. Are you ready to start utilizing that freaky kitty beast that is manifesting itself inside your body?"

It was a good day for it. Baby Tony sorta laughed, because that wordy sentence amused him in many ways. He slowly nodded his head yes.

The two of them ditched the snacks, and they got to work. The objective for the day was to properly communicate with Hoggoth.

Stephen was in the library with Victor and Clea. The objective of the day for that group was to continue reading and going over what was written.

The name Agamotto kept getting brought up, and Stephen finally asked who it was. Clea hesitated to tell him.

She felt like the older Stephen needed to talk to him about Agamotto. That idea felt right. She told him that he wrote what he was reading, and told him to move on from the subject.

Victor was reading about levitation. He wanted to understand that more than anything.

The third group did not leave Steve's room. Bucky told the older Steve that they were not going to train. They remained in the room instead, because Steve's guilt overpowered him.

Bucky was sitting on his floor, and his head was resting on the side of his bed. Steve seemed a little paralyzed with his thoughts.

He got up a few times. The would-be-captain showered, and attempted to train, but his mindset told him no.

So there he remained, on the bed with his focus on the ceiling. Bucky had seen Steve get that way before. He became zombie-like after his mother passed away.

The rowdy brunette knew that it would pass, but he didn't want Steve forcing himself to train or interact with others.

It was fine for him to think things through. Bucky just wished he had a cigarette.

"Do you think, I should tell Tony what happened? He's going to .."

To, what? Hate him? Bucky almost rolled his eyes. The would-be-soldier was very blunt, and he was about to answer that question. He waited to see if Steve had something more to say. Bucky glanced over at the bed.

"You don't owe him anything. No apology, and no explanation. What happened happened, and it happened because you wanted it."

If Steve wanted to involve Tony Stark in every moment of his life, then that was on him. But, Bucky didn't see the world that way. He had some thinking to do on his own, and he straightened up his posture.

For Steve, that response sounded harsh. He liked Tony. Steve really wanted to take him out. He wanted to develop a relationship with him, and now look.

The blonde was very all or nothing. He believed in marriage, and finding the "right partner".

Which meant that he saw what he did as cheating. Bucky Barnes did not think that way at all, and he looked over at his friend.

"Well, why do I feel like I owe him an explanation?"

"Because, you are too nice. It's none of his business Steve, and you don't owe him anything."

Bucky repeated part of his statement, because he felt very strongly about what he said. Tony didn't own Steve, and that was not how Bucky interpreted relationships.

He actually didn't care too much for them, and the friend slowly stood up from the floor.

"If you slept with him tomorrow, you wouldn't owe me an explanation. I'm telling you that, because I don't own you. I believe you are free to do what feels right for you."

Come on Steve, surely he had to see that? Bucky figured that Steve preferred to please people, and he got that from watching his mother live under abuse.

Steve listened to his friend, and he saw Bucky pick up his shirt. The brunette put it on, and he decided to admit something to Steve.

"I'm not going to stay here that much longer. I feel like you're going to be ok with this group, and I intend to hit the road."

He wanted to leave back in Nebraska. Bucky planned to hitch-hike. When the would-be-soldier set off that fire alarm, he told himself that it was time to go. Steve sat up on the bed, and he gave his friend a devastated look.

Hit the road? Leave? Whu, where the hell would he even go?

Steve didn't understand, and he kept a shocked focus on Bucky. That look on his face was exactly why Bucky lied. Bucky understood that, and he wished that he lied to him again.

"Steve, I don't do relationships. I don't want you to hold the door open for me, and take me out. That's not how I live, and I know that is what you really want."

Steve Rogers was a hopeless romantic. He wanted all the cute grocery shopping, movie nights, and picnics. Bucky was never the type, but he absolutely would die for the blonde that was on that bed.

Steve just blankly stared, and he processed what he heard.

Bucky mentioned something about finding the other Steve. He needed to talk to him, and the blonde just nodded his head. He let his friend head out, and he said nothing.

Chapter: END

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