"You can get out, now" Steve told Stark in a cold tone.
Bucky's eyes widened in surprise : he would have thought that Steve would get along well with a Stark. Tony was just as charming as his father – if not more – after all. Even Bucky could see that after spending only an hour with the new Stark.
Without a word, Stark stood up and left, stopping in front of Steve to glare at him for a few seconds.
As soon as they were alone, Steve ran to Bucky and hugged him tighly.
The supersoldier buried his face in Bucky's hair and fought back tears.
He wanted to say 'I love you' over and over. But it was probably too soon. Or too late, depended of how one would look at it. However one thing was certain : it was not the time. So instead, Steve settled for : "I missed you"
"I missed you too punk." Replied Bucky, voice thick with emotions.
Oh, how much Steve had missed this voice.
They stayed like this for a long time, just holding onto each other. Steve closed his teary eyes and listened to Bucky's heartbeat. Each beat seemed to sing Bucky's survival. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive.
When they broke the embrace, they both had wet eyes, and Steve wondered if Bucky had been listening to his heart too. He smiled sadly, and Bucky returned it.
"So, is it true ? We're in the future ?"
Steve gave him a short laugh.
"Yeah. It's crazy but it's real. And I understand you, believe me. I lived it too. What's the last thing you remember ?"
Bucky's grey eyes darkened as he went quiet for a few seconds, staring at the white wall in front of him. He looked troubled and confused.
Just when Steve was about to ask if he was alright, Bucky finally answered.
"The train. I fell. I should have died but... I survived. I lost an arm, left one. I was in so much pain, and everything was so cold around me that I stopped shaking. I was dying. Did you find me ? Why... How am I still alive ?"
Steve frowned. He had theories, but he didn't want to torment Bucky. If the man had some time to adapt to the future before he started remembering the Winter Soldier, that was a gift.
"I don't know, Bucky. I don't know. But let's focus on the fact that you are, alright ? Plus, you got a new arm."
Bucky smiled widely at the mention of the arm, and he moved in front of him, watching the metal move smoothly and silently. Then, he turned to the blond.
"Yes. Tony made it. I like this guy !"
Steve frowned at the mention of Tony, and Bucky seemed to notice it.
"Hey Steve, why aren't you getting along with Stark ?" Oh no. Steve didn't have any plan for this situation. Bucky kept going, seemingly thinking out loud. "I'd have thought you would make friends with Howard's son, I mean, it seems like he is a great person, a lot like his fath-" NO. Anger exploded in Steve's chest.
" Tony is nothing like his father" he growled.
Bucky seemed to understand that this was a battle already lost. He held his hands up jokingly and changed the subject, asking about Peggy. They both decided that Bucky could move to Steve's room, at least for the next few days.
That night, Bucky woke up from a nightmare he could not remember. Steve, by his side, watched him with sorrowfull eyes. Noticing that, Bucky directed a sad smile at him.
"Hey Stevie, don't be sad. Don't regret the past. We are not who we were before. I am not the Bucky you knew." 'But I still want to protect you and mother hen you and I love you so, so much' he almost added, but decided otherwise at the last second.
"Who are you, then ?" Questionned Steve quietly, and Bucky didn't understand why it sounded like Steve feared the answer.
"Well... I'm still trying to figure that out."
Steve woke up to lips pressed against his.
They were familiar, but they didn't feel like Tony's, which made him frown, confused.
"This okay ?" Came a slightly insecure, deep and quiet voice. Bucky ?
And then Steve remembered it all.
The Winter Soldier, Bucky, Tony, the choice. The heartbreak that followed. The blond opened his eyes sharply, trying desperatly to avoid the memory of Tony's broken ones.
Bucky was on top of him, watching him silently. His eyes were narrowed on his face. He had noticed Steve's struggle, and judging by his expression, he thought it was his fault.
"You okay, Stevie ? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Kissed you, I mean. Let's forget it, yeah ?" Bucky said while getting off of Steve.
"No !" Steve protested instantly, grabbing Bucky's flesh arm and pulling him down again to crash his lips against Bucky's in a rough, but meaningful kiss. The kiss then softened before they pulled back a few moments later. They were both smiling, and their faces were so close that Bucky's dark hair was tingling Steve's cheeks. "No." Repeated the blond tenderly.
"I take it we're still together then, punk ?" Bucke's tone was playful, but Steve could see the worry in his lover's eyes.
"Of course we are, jerk." Grinned the super soldier.
And for the first time since he woke up, Bucky didn't look so lost anymore.
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