Lessons In Love: Chapter Eighty-Three: Seven Nation Army (Part 3)


Baby Steve needed to do something before he returned to the Kamar taj. It was almost 9 AM, but the blonde told himself that he needed to return to Brooklyn. Steve headed up to the top floor. He knocked loudly on the door to Bucky's apartment.

Steve heard Bucky's voice. He told the soldier-in-training that the door was unlocked. Bucky was fine with Steve letting himself in. Bucky was by the window that was near his kitchen.

He liked to sit there so he could blow the smoke outside. He was eating breakfast as well, and he glanced over at Steve as he walked into the space.

Steve was still mad. Bucky could tell. The brunette inhaled a long breath, and he exhaled a bunch of smoke outside. Steve kept his focus on the giant pile of empty beer bottles. Bucky was surrounded with them, and he also had a bunch of empty cigarette boxes all over the place as well.

Bucky didn't care what Steve thought about his space. That apartment was his space, and that unruly brunette barely noticed what Steve was staring at.

Bucky kept his focus out the window. All of his messages on the transmitter were ignored, so Bucky didn't have that much to say.

Steve almost grit his teeth. He saw something else in the apartment that irritated him. He saw a yellow jacket on the chair that looked like it fit a woman. Bucky moved on, obviously, and Steve tried to ignore it.

"Want some coffee?"

Bucky pointed at the coffee maker. It was very small, and Bucky liked the basic features. He bought a few things for his place, but his supplies were very minimal.

Steve didn't look where he pointed. He kept looking at his friend and debated what to tell him.

"I didn't give you the key to your apartment. It's on the counter, beside you."

Bucky told Steve about that on the transmitter. He wasn't sure if Steve even read the message. The two of them had never really argued before, or had any sort of conflict.

It felt awkward for Bucky, but Steve wasn't going to be "too nice" about anything. He was friggen pissed.

"What exactly are you doing? Sitting around here sulking?"

Steve pointed at Bucky's MESS. He didn't understand it, and Bucky's behavior confused him. Nothing felt clear to him, and he didn't like it. Steve didn't want to be angry with him. He glared at that jacket again, and Bucky watched him cross his arms.

"I don't know, Steve. Should I be doing something?"

Bucky just made a bunch of money. He was doing a whole bunch of crap to secure a place for the two of them. Now, he wasn't doing anything ...and he liked that. Bucky didn't WANT to do anything. He was content with his coffee and cigarette.

"I don't like what I'm seeing. This doesn't feel right. You look miserable, and I hate it."

Steve hated what he was looking at. In his mind, Bucky looked depressed. Steve thought that Bucky wasn't in a home at all. He was just occupying space. Steve wanted to do something for him, and somehow make it better.

His affection wasn't wanted, and Steve didn't know what to do with that. He wanted to say more, but he stared down at the floor instead.

"Steve, I was like this before we came here. I wouldn't call it miserable, but this is how I live."

Bucky never showed Steve that side of him. He always went to Steve's home, or they went out on the town. Bucky was distant, and that's how it was going to be.

Steve stepped closer and he moved one of the chairs. He sat down and looked Bucky straight in the face. Steve wanted to take Bucky somewhere. He wanted to get him out of his booze pile and start spending time with his friend again.

The transition out of the 1930s damaged their friendship. Steve wasn't sure how to fix it, but he gave it his best shot.

"I took a job offer from Howard Stark. Tony isn't going to like it, but ...he can deal."

Steve smiled a little after he changed the subject. He accepted work from Howard, and he was officially on the Stark payroll. Bucky's mouth pulled up into a small grin. He liked the idea of Tony not liking something.

It amused him. Bucky leaned back in his chair. He held himself back with his foot and he thought about Tony Stark. Now that Bucky knew his father, he could say with confidence that Tony was a spoon fed snob.

"Can I be there when you tell him?"

Bucky needed that in his life. He wanted to see Steve be more assertive with what he wanted. He was "too nice" and dominating Tony was a big step. Steve maintained his smile, but Bucky's comment made him playfully roll his eyes.

"Maybe. I'll let you know."

Steve needed to leave. He told Bucky that he had to return to the Kamar taj. He wanted to be sure that Bucky was ok. He was angry with him for days, but ultimately Steve was really worried. Bucky knew that. He told Steve not to worry about him.

Bucky re-lit his spent cigarette just as Steve formed a portal back to Kathmandu. He noticed immediately that the place was completely deserted. He didn't see anyone from the older trio, and his version of Stephen and Tony weren't there either.

Steve took a seat by the tree and he waited for someone to arrive.


Chapter: END

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