The three days between Tuesday and Friday went by quickly. Work kept him busier than usual but otherwise Steve's week was nothing special. Except for occasionally feeling eyes on him. And the frequent texts from Bucky that never failed to make him smile. Today though… Today has been rough. He hadn't heard from Bucky and his boss seemed to have it out for him more than usual. Steve groaned when he realized it was already 6:15.
"Everything okay, doll?" Steve leapt out of his seat with a shriek at Bucky's sudden voice. The brunet chuckled as Steve pressed a hand to his chest, trying to slow his heart rate before he had an asthma attack. Suddenly his inhaler was in front of him. "Breathe out." Steve did. "One, two, three." Bucky instructed and Steve inhaled as Bucky activated the inhaler. After holding it then letting it out he could breathe easier and Bucky set the inhaler back down on his desk. "Sorry, doll, didn't mean to scare you that much."
Steve quickly shook his head. "It's okay. But what are you doing here?" He asked.
"It's 6:20 and I haven't heard from you. You're usually out on time. I was worried." Bucky explained as Steve returned to his seat. He glanced at the clock on his computer screen (it was actually a few minutes after 6:20 now).
"I'm sorry, Buck. I didn't mean to stay late but I have to finish this project. I know you're already here to pick me up but I think I'll have to take a raincheck on our date." Steve admitted.
"No need to go that far. I can wait." Bucky declared as he dropped into the seat next to Steve. He looked content to wait for quite a while, but Steve sighed.
"This is going to take hours, not twenty or thirty minutes." Steve insisted. Bucky sat up straighter, but didn't look ready to go.
"Isn't that illegal?" He asked and Steve shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe. I just know if I don't get this done today I'll be in huge trouble with my boss and I can't afford to lose this job." Steve explained.
As if summoned by Steve's mention of him Brock Rumlow appeared at Steve's desk and he was angry. "Rogers! Who the hell is that?" He demanded.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Rumlow. He's my ride and came to pick me up but got worried because of how long I've stayed over." Steve explained.
"What, had a date planned?" Rumlow obviously thought the idea was distasteful and Steve curled into himself a bit. Bucky, however, stood up.
"And what if we do?" He challenged without anger.
Rumlow looked between them before answering. "I won't have a gay man working for me." He decided with his arms crossed.
"That's not a valid reason to fire someone." Bucky reminded.
"No, but I'm sure I could make a case about how Rogers cost us the most valuable contact we've had in years because he didn't complete it in time." It was a threat, and not even a particularly veiled one, but Steve couldn't help but get defensive.
"You gave this to me at noon today and told me to have final drafts done before I went home! I barely just got the first drafts done, let alone gone through revisions, coloring, and final approval. You asked me to do several peoples worth of work that normally takes a week or more in seven hours." Steve objected.
Rumlow looked ready to say something when Bucky suddenly reached out and touched the small pin he what's wore on his lapel. Bucky leaned in close to Rumlow's ear and muttered something. When Bucky pulled back Rumlow was noticably paler. He didn't move for a moment before he looked at Steve. "Send me the drafts, then you can go. I'll have first approval done by Monday so you can finish next week." Rumlow ordered. He saluted Bucky before he practically fled the room.
It was the salute that caught Steve's attention. It was the salute that left him frozen in his seat and speechless. "Hey, come on. Send those drafts so we can go." Bucky encouraged brightly, seemingly unaware of Steve's current state. He was on autopilot as he sent Rumlow his drafts. He was on autopilot as he logged off and collected his things. He was still on autopilot when Bucky took his arm and led the way down to the parking lot.
They were standing next to Bucky's bike when Steve finally found his voice. "That…" He mumbled and Bucky looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "Bucky, why did he give you a HYDRA salute?" Steve finally asked. Bucky paused and didn't say anything. Steve turned to face him fully. "Bucky, what did you do?" He asked.
Bucky sighed, running a hand through his hair, before he answered. "Before I answer, I just want to say that I wasn't only defending you, though I certainly would. I was defending myself as well. But all I did was inform him that I have friends within HYDRA in the kinds of places you don't want to go making enemies. That's it." Bucky promised.
Steve shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable and nervous. He liked Bucky, and trusted him, but all he could think about was how much damage HYDRA could do to his life. Bucky suddenly touched his chin, gently tipping his head up to look him in the eyes. "I really like you, Steve. And I'd never use those connections to push a relationship on you. Or, if you're afraid I'd use them to hurt you if this ever goes sour just know I have more pride than that."
"I know that. I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't even think about it, but... " He folded his arms and glanced around. No one was nearby enough to overhear. "HYDRA scares me." He admitted and Bucky nodded. He gently lined Steve's cheek, cradling his head soothingly. Steve leaned into the touch, a hesitant smile forming on his face.
"They scare me to, sometimes. I only know them personally because I spent half my childhood in Russia and they're everywhere there. But I won't let them, or anyone else, hurt you. Even if this doesn't work out." Bucky assured him. Steve slowly relaxed as he nodded.
"Well, thank you, for helping me to keep my job." Steve mumbled and Bucky smiled at him.
"Any time, doll. Now, I imagine you're hungry so let's go get some dinner." Bucky declared and Steve nodded. Food did sound good. Bucky pulled Steve's helmet onto his head and clipped it. Silently they got onto Bucky's bike and Steve held on tightly as he started driving. The warmth from Bucky's body helped him to relax.
Silently he kept reminding himself of several facts. "Bucky almost certainly won't hurt me. Just because he knows some members of HYDRA doesn't mean he's a member. And even if he was I've done nothing that could get me into trouble." By the time they reached the restaurant Steve was feeling much better.
It was a casual hole in the wall locally owned pasta shop that smelled incredible from the outside. "I'm noticing you like places like this." Steve commented as they approached the building, arms linked
"Places like this?" Bucky questioned.
Steve nodded. "Small, locally owned, family run." He offered and Bucky looked at the building as if he were only just noticing that for himself.
"I suppose I do." Bucky agreed and they shared a smile. They entered the building then; it wasn't super busy, but there were enough occupied tables it was obvious the place was popular. The hostess looked at them and smiled.
"Welcome. Table for two?" She asked brightly. Bucky only had the chance to nod before she grabbed two menus and started walking. "Follow me." Their table was set for just two and the tables on either side were open. Bucky pulled Steve's seat out once again and the blond gave him an aspirated smile before sitting down.
"You're never going to give me a chance to be a proper gentleman if you keep doing that." Steve commented and Bucky just chuckled.
The brunet was still behind his chair and leaned in close to his ear. "I like being a gentlemen for you, but if you'd like to take over the role I'm sure I can still please you without being a gentleman." Bucky murmured and Steve swallowed hard, pushing down the rising lust in his body. Bucky stayed there for a breath, just long enough to make Steve squirm, before he took his own seat.
The hostess looked torn between cooing and being embarrassed so she simply placed down the menus. "Your waiter will be right with you." She promised before she returned to her booth at the front of the restaurant.
Steve picked up his menu and quickly looked through it. He decided right away what he wanted and glanced up to see Bucky was looking at his own menu still. As if he felt Steve's eyes on him Bucky glanced at the blond from over the top of his menu. "Decided what you want already?" Bucky asked and Steve nodded.
"I'm being boring." Steve informed him. Bucky looked interested so Steve smiled sheepishly. "I just want spaghetti and meatballs." He admitted. Rather than giving him a disdainful look Bucky smiled at him, chuckling under his breath.
"I was actually thinking about having that too." He admitted with a wink and Steve couldn't help but laugh.
A waiter came over to their table then, a pad in hand. "Hello. My name is Marvin. I'm your waiter for tonight. What drinks can I get for you?"
"Just water for me." Steve said and Bucky ordered a soda.
"Alright. I'll be right back with those drinks." He said.
"Actually, we're ready to order." Bucky caught him before he could walk away. The waiter turned back towards their table and pulled out his pad again. "Two orders of spaghetti and meatballs. Any special requests for yours, doll?" Bucky added and Steve shook his head.
The waiter looked between them, a slight frown on his face as he wrote down their orders. "I'll have those drinks right out." His sounded a bit more tense than before and walked away quickly. Steve watched him go, slightly confused.
"I wonder what happened. He seemed kind of tense." Steve commented. Bucky glanced back at their waiter.
"Must be a bit of a homophobe. It was after I called you doll he got upset." Bucky answered. Steve reached out and took Bucky's right ungloved hand, since the other was hanging at Bucky's side. Bucky smiled at him and laced their fingers together, which made Steve feel warm.
"Well, if he doesn't like it that's his problem. I'm not embarrassed or ashamed." Steve declared and Bucky chuckled.
"How could I be ashamed of someone like you, doll?" Bucky added a wink that made Steve chuckle. "But if he gets rude then I might have to teach him a lesson." Bucky added, glancing in the direction the waiter went.
Steve tugged on his hand to get his attention. "Come on, don't go picking a fight." He requested. Bucky squeezed his hand.
"For you? I'd fight an army." Bucky replied, his tone just a touch teasing. The words made Steve blush and his smile turned embarrassed. Steve squeezed Bucky's hand. Thoughts of what happened earlier were far from his mind.