HUD: Gonna be one more chapter after this.

"Wanna grab some food?" Steve asked Bucky. The firefighter had just buzzed up; Bucky opened the door for him with Winter twirling between his legs. He was dressed in a shirt Bucky had never seen him wear before, and it looked soft and brought out his eyes.

"Now?" Bucky asked, gesturing slightly with his free hand to his attire. He stuck his foot out to keep Winter from barreling at Steve. Bucky knew Steve didn't mind Winter's fur, but he looked so nice and Bucky hadn't bought a new lint roller in a few days.

Steve nodded, leaning his shoulder against the door jam. "Yeah. I wanna not cook."

Bucky bit his bottom lip, looking down at himself. He wore worn sweats and a tank with a hole in the armpit. He knew he needed a shower, and maybe a shave, and would that be too much?

"I might be a minute," Bucky hedged, feeling somewhat nervous. Steve just smiled his beautiful smile and nodded.

"That's fine, Buck. I don't have reservations or anything," the blond answered. Bucky finally nodded and stepped aside to let Steve in. Winter immediately pounced on the man, weaving between his legs and mewling to be picked up. Steve chuckled and relented, bending down to grab the kitten. Bucky clicked his tongue at her.

"What?" Steve asked with humour, light dancing in his eyes.

"She's spoiled," Bucky murmured, turning into his living room as Steve laughed behind him.

"Like you're one to talk!" Steve announced. Bucky shrugged.

"Guilty."

Bucky spent all of twenty minutes getting ready, pulling his damp hair back into a loose bun at his neck and shrugging on a grey sweater. He trimmed his beard back to the standard stubble he'd decided he liked before stepping into his living room again. Steve was on the couch with Winter, patting at her back as she lolled around on his lap.

Bucky sighed and shook his head. "You say I spoil her?"

Steve looked up and blinked, his eyebrows drawing up slightly. Bucky shifted his weight, unable to read Steve's expression, until the man came back to himself and grinned. "Guess I'm guilty, too."

Bucky just shrugged and patted his thigh until Winter dislodged herself from Steve and flounced over to him. He attached her harness in the kitchen and grabbed his shoes from the hallway. Steve stood there and watched, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against Bucky's couch.

"Think she'll be okay in the cold?" Steve asked. Bucky looked down at his cat, her eyes bright and wide as they looked back at him. She was still small for her age, and Bucky knew she wouldn't really get any bigger. The idea of leaving her behind made his chest constrict in a very painful way, so he nodded.

"Yeah, I think so. I'll just carry her."

Bucky stooped to do just that and grabbed his wallet, keys, and phone on the way out. He paused for a moment, moving Winter to his left hand to lock the door, when Steve just gently took his keys from his hand and took care of it for him.

"You've got a lot goin' on, there," Steve said, and all Bucky could do was nod, because Steve hadn't showered at his place, he must have showered at the fire department or his apartment and without being prepared for it, Steve's body wash always took Bucky's breath away. It was a woodsy apple scent that was honestly the nicest thing Bucky'd ever had the pleasure to be around; and Steve was still standing close, still partially leaning over Bucky's shoulder, still holding his keys -

"Ready?" Steve asked, and then he was stepping back but he still had Bucky's keys. In fact, he was tucking Bucky's keys into his back pocket.

"Yeah," Bucky answered. Steve nodded, smiled, and set off a little ahead of Bucky. Bucky's eyes pulled to the lump of his keys in Steve's pocket and couldn't help but think about how nice they looked there.

Turned out it was getting a little too cold for Winter. She shivered against Bucky all night, and when it was time to head back, Bucky hailed a cab for her.

"I'm sorry, Buck," Steve said softly, once they were on their way back to Bucky's apartment. Bucky held his little kitty close to his chest, unclipping her harness and raising up a bit to shove it into his pocket.

"Not your fault," he answered with a grunt. Once he settled back down, he coaxed Winter to crawl under his sweater. "I thought she'd be okay, too."

Steve watched Winter until she poked her head out of the collar of Bucky's sweater, her little face pressed against the hollow of his throat. "We should've stayed in."

"Nah," Bucky said, shaking his head. He dropped his palm over Winter's face and rubbed her ears, enjoying her purrs. "Didn't wanna cook, either."

Steve grinned and chuckled. "She looks warm, there."

Bucky shrugged but smiled. "I'm certainly warmer for it."

Steve watched them for a few moments before he leaned back in his seat, presumably calm again. "Maybe we could get her a sweater? Do they make sweaters for cats?"

Bucky rested his chin on Winter's head and hummed. "Dunno. I'll look."

Once they were back in Bucky's warm apartment (Steve opened the door and set Bucky's keys on the kitchen counter without a word), Bucky pulled over his laptop and sat with Steve and Winter on the couch.

Apparently yes, cat sweaters were a thing, and yes, Bucky bought three. One to match her eyes, one grey one, and one that was bright red.

"You'll have to bring her by the department in the red one," Steve said, stretching out over the couch. "Bet the guys'll love seein' her as bright as a fire truck."

Bucky closed the lid of his laptop after paying for expedited shipping. Steve's socked toes grazed his thigh. "They'll be here in two days."

Steve's lips twisted in a frown. "I'll be on call then; won't be able to watch her model them."

"I'll take pictures of 'em," Bucky said; he pushed his laptop to the coffee table and grabbed the television remote instead. "Wanna watch somethin'?"

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine?" Steve asked hopefully, and Bucky couldn't help but grin. It was one of those silly comedies that Steve openly loved but Bucky only tolerated because Steve wanted to watch it. "There's that one where Amy goes to prison and I couldn't finish it at work - "

"Yeah, Brooklyn Nine-Nine's fine, Stevie," Bucky said and passed the remote over. He knew Steve would be smiling - when didn't Steve smile? - as he turned on Hulu and scrolled to where he'd left his episode off at work. Winter crawled up onto Bucky's lap now that the laptop was gone and curled into a little ball.

Bucky let his mind wander as they watched Steve's program, listening to Steve's chuckles and Winter's shallow breathing. The episode rolled into the next on autoplay, and Bucky moved to pull his legs under him. He nudged Steve in the process and breathed a low 'sorry', only to look over and see that Steve was sleeping.

Bucky couldn't help but sigh. Steve really was beautiful, almost painfully so while he slept. He had one of those strong arms tossed over his head and resting on the arm of Bucky's couch, his face tilted towards the tv. His lips were slightly parted, his eyelashes long and dark on his pale skin, and his usually perfect hair mussed from sliding down in his sleep. He made Bucky smile, made Bucky's chest tighten; Bucky wrapped a hand around Winter and stood up. She wriggled for a moment until Bucky rested her in the crook of his elbow. Bucky grabbed the blanket, the one Steve's mom made him but, according to Steve, Bucky didn't know that; he draped it over his unconfirmed roommate. Steve all stretched out was two feet too tall for the blanket, but Bucky made it work. He left the tv on, set the remote on the couch by Steve's other hand, and turned off the lights. It wasn't late by any means, but Steve always crashed after his longer shifts, and Bucky wasn't adverse to getting more sleep.

He took Winter with him and left the door open a crack. He could still see Steve after he changed and settled into bed. The light from the tv flashed against the blanket over his legs, and after a few minutes of watching, Steve stretched and rolled over. Bucky watched until sleep finally took over, his thoughts curious about whether or not Steve would agree if Bucky asked him to join him, Winter curled against the small of his back.

Bucky was wary to take Winter out until her sweaters came in. Steve, being the kind soul he was, offered to go out and get whatever Bucky needed.

"I need to run by my apartment for something anyway; just give me a list." Bucky huffed but did as he was asked, writing up a light list of food and supplies for the next few days, at least as long as Steve would be around.

"You stayin'?" Bucky asked before he handed over his list. Steve shuffled his feet, standing in his boots and FDNY zipper hoodie in the hallway between Bucky's kitchen counter and the front door.

"Is that okay?" He asked, and there was so much hope in his tone that Bucky couldn't have said no even if he really, truly, wanted to. He never wanted Steve to leave, not if he could help it.

Bucky nodded and jotted something else down before passing the list over. "Figured I'd make a cake."

Steve practically beamed at him, looking down at the list in his hand. "Apples? Apple cake?"

Bucky nodded, feeling heat steal up his neck at his friend's enthusiasm. Steve's beaming grin tapered down to a soft smile. "Thanks, Buck. That's awfully nice of you."

Bucky shook his head. "Nah, just didn't wanna eat it alone. Go on, now."

Steve nodded and left, the door shutting softly behind him. Bucky counted to twenty before leaving the kitchen to jog into his bedroom, pulling on jeans and a jacket in record time. Winter danced around him, hopping up to put her paws on his thighs as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Doll," Bucky said, kneeling to be closer to her. She sat back on her haunches and met his gaze. "I'll be right back; 's too cold for ya, and I'll only be five, ten minutes. 'Kay?"

Winter blinked her bright eyes at him and mewed. Bucky nodded and slipped into his running shoes. Winter followed him to the door, using the back of the couch to climb onto the counter. She pawed at her harness and stared at Bucky.

Bucky sighed through his nose. "I'll be back. I promise."

Winter let out a pitiful meow when Bucky grabbed his keys. He knew that she knew he was skipping a step, but he had to. He had to be back before Steve, and it was too cold for her outside. She jumped from the counter to follow after him, trotting to run right beside his long strides. Bucky sighed and scratched behind her ears one last time before quickly opening his door and slipping out. As he locked it, he could hear Winter's confused meow; it started softly before increasing in volume until even at the elevator, Bucky could hear her.

"I'll be back soon, baby," he murmured, willing the elevator to be faster so he wouldn't have to listen to his beautiful kitten crying.

Bucky was out on the street and down to the hardware store around the corner in only a few minutes. Steve was long gone, so Bucky wasn't worried about being seen. He grabbed a few odds and ends for his toolbox, things he'd been needing to get, while they worked on his order. When he heard his name, he brought his goods to the counter and paid; he was back in his apartment five minutes later.

Winter trotted up to him like he'd been gone for five years instead of fifteen minutes. He dropped his brown sack on the counter and wrapped her up in his arms, sighing when she burrowed and nuzzled his neck. She shivered a little from how chill his metal arm was from the cold, but Bucky moved into the apartment and changed back into his loungewear, putting away all of his odds and ends one-handed, still holding Winter to his chest.

He settled into the couch right when his phone went off, pinging with a text from Steve.

Be there in 10.

Bucky smirked. Don't threaten me, punk.

What're you gonna do, jerk? ;)

Bucky settled in with his kitten and the television remote, waiting for Steve to request to be buzzed up.

Bucky chopped apples while Steve cut mushrooms and peppers and onions for the fajitas he added to the list. Bucky had opted to make dinner for them as well, considering it being Steve's last day off before another four days on call at the department, but Steve insisted. Steve talked about how slow it had been, as far as emergencies went.

"I'm glad, ya know? That I don't have to go out for anything major. A few days ago it was just a few general calls, ones all of us have to show up for. There was a suicide watch on a kid at an orphanage, but the police were able to stabilize him before we had to stage a rescue." Steve scraped his veggies into a sizzling pan, mixing in spices Bucky didn't know the names of before Steve showed up. "Hopefully it'll continue that way."

Bucky nodded as he coated his slices in melted brown sugar and butter mixture. "Safer that way, too."

Bucky never really mentioned being concerned for Steve when he left; it was something that came along with the job, something Bucky understood very well. With the somewhat recent acceptance of Steve in Bucky's life, Bucky didn't want to imagine what a Steve-shaped hole in his life would do to him.

"Yeah," Steve breathed, and when Bucky turned around to grab something from the fridge, he realized Steve was looking at him. Bucky hesitated and blinked at Steve, who was sporting another of those unreadable expressions that Bucky noticed was being more commonplace than it should be. Steve was his friend - probably his best friend, if he were being honest - and he should be able to read Steve better than he had been, lately.

"You okay, man?" Bucky asked, trying to pretend that Steve's eyes on him weren't causing him to think about how his lips would feel against his neck.

"Yeah," Steve said in that same breathy tone, so Bucky swallowed and continued moving to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. "Just thinkin'."

"What 'bout?" Bucky asked; he wasn't so sure he wanted to know after the question was out of his mouth.

Steve turned back to stirring their dinner. "Nothin' really worth mentioning."

Bucky nodded and continued his portion of their meal. They fell into companionable silence, the only sounds the sizzle of food or Winter's purring as she watched them from the counter.

"Shit."

Bucky glanced over at Steve and watched the blond futilely attempt to sop up the beer on his shirt. Bucky stood from his seat on the couch and walked into the kitchen. He grabbed a hand towel and handed it over the couch to Steve, who again attempted to clean his shirt. He fumbled again, spilling more beer over his shirt and onto Bucky's couch.

"Aw, shit, Bucky," Steve murmured. He looked up at Bucky with earnest eyes and frowned. "I'm so sorry."

"'S okay, man," Bucky said. He smiled when Steve kind of pouted at him. "It's just beer; it'll come out. Go change and I'll clean up."

Steve sighed but stood up, moving around Bucky towards his room and bathroom. Bucky listened to Steve open his closet door and rummage around before moving into the bathroom and closing the door with a soft click. Bucky pushed Winter away while he dabbed at the beer, finally setting down a fresh towel to soak up what he couldn't. Steve came back in dressed in his sleeping sweats and a black tank.

"I suppose I deserve that," he offered, grinning. Bucky hummed at him while he took the soiled hand towels to the washing machine and dryer in an alcove beside the kitchen. "Shouldn't be drinking when I need to get up so early."

"Nah, it's just 'cos you're a clutz, Rogers," Bucky offered drily. Steve's laughter echoed across the apartment. Bucky shut the lid on the washing machine and walked back into the living room.

"That's true, too, and now I've got to sleep in it," Steve said with a sigh. "Thanks for the extra towel."

Bucky shifted his weight and decided to take a chance. He couldn't let Steve sleep on his beer-soaked couch the night before he had four days in on call. He was his friend - friends don't let friends sleep on beer-soaked couches.

"Sleep with me," Bucky offered. Steve spun around so quickly that Bucky thought he would have gotten whiplash. "That is," Bucky said, realizing what he said. And how it sounded. "We can share my bed. It's big enough, uh, as long as ya don't mind Winter hoggin' the covers - "

"You're serious?" Steve asked, holding up a hand to stop Bucky's rant. "You don't mind?"

Bucky swallowed. "Yeah, I wouldn't offer if I minded." Besides, Bucky could think of a lot worse things than sharing a bed with Steve Rogers.

Steve smiled slowly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Sure. Thank you, Buck."

Bucky nodded and led the way to his room for both Winter and Steve, pushing the door open slightly wider than usual. He was trying to make himself feel better about this, trying to calm his nerves. He and Steve shared a sink to brush their teeth, and Bucky laid down first to get comfortable while Steve washed his face. Winter jumped up and curled against his stomach; Bucky had his back to the empty space, to where Steve would lay.

Finally, the covers shifted and Steve slipped in, his weight already comfortable for Bucky. Steve reached over and turned off the lamp on Bucky's bedside table, plunging the room into darkness, save for the soft lights of the city managing to work through Bucky's blackout curtains. He attempted to calm his heart, fairly positive that Steve would be able to hear it in the silence.

"I don't," Bucky said, pausing. "Sometimes, I don't sleep well."

"I understand," Steve said softly, and Bucky realized that he actually did.

"Just," Bucky said shakily, careful to keep his back to Steve as he spoke. "If it happens, don't touch me. Just get away."

"I won't," Steve answered, and Bucky rolled over to look at him. Steve's eyes were shining in what light there was in the room. "I won't leave you alone."

Bucky bit his bottom lip. "I've got Winter - "

"And me," Steve added, almost to soft for Bucky to catch. He seemed to realize that, and said stronger: "You've got me, Buck."

Bucky didn't know what to say - he could only just stare at Steve, his hair mussed from washing his face and using Bucky's pillow. He was still so beautiful it almost hurt Bucky. He wasn't sure what he'd done to deserve such a kind man in his life, let alone as a friend, but Bucky had been working on his gratitude lately.

"An' you've got me, Stevie," Bucky answered, smiling softly. Steve smiled back at him, settling into Bucky's bed with a sigh.

"'Night, Buck."

"'Night, Stevie."

That night, Bucky woke with a jolt. He was suddenly warm, warmer than usual, even with the heat on. There was a weight settled across his waist that was too heavy to be Winter sleeping oddly, and a tickle at his neck. When Bucky reached back to scratch it, his fingers brushed a slightly stubbled jaw; he forced himself to freeze.

Steve. It was Steve, behind him, draping his arm around him. The tickle was his warm breath on Bucky's neck, and the slight touch on his chin birthed a sigh from Steve that was both sweet and agonizing. Bucky realized that warmth was Steve's solid chest against his back, raising and falling. Bucky swallowed and attempted to relax. Steve's steady breathing helped, and soon Bucky was able nearly to sleep again.

Steve held him just a little tighter, and if Bucky curled his hand around Steve's forearm, well, he could blame it on sleeping.

A/N: Thoughts? :)