The negative aspect of dividing a one-shot into small chapters is that you're left with some chapters in which not much happens.
It takes Bucky seven weeks after Steve first found him to move in with him.
Steve's outburst two days prior works miracles with Bucky's recovery. He talks more, dares speak his opinion or give voice to wants, and he even smiles sometimes.
He would've gladly slept on the couch, but Steve insisted that he used the bedroom instead.
"The mattress is too soft; I sleep on the couch most days anyway, so it's not a bother" he had said. Bucky suspects it to be a lie, but the bed smells like Steve, so he does not really argue.
Now that he spends much more hours with the man, he notices Steve gets a lot of phone calls. Bucky knows most of them: Romanoff, Wilson, Fury, Stark. They all ask the blond to come back, and Bucky feels a bit guilty for keeping him here, away from all of his friends, even though Steve always laughs and just answers "soon" into the speaker.
Sometimes they ask the man about him too, and he tenses momentarily, but the blond smiles at him and all he says is "we're both ok". If any of his friends find that weird or have something to say about Bucky living with him, the man does not tell him.
They get a visit one day.
There's a knock on the door, and Steve turns at Bucky, confused.
"Are you expecting someone?"
Bucky shakes his head as Steve goes to get the door.
"Tony!"
"Hey Cap! What's up? Missed me?"
"Wha- why are you here?"
"Pepper and I are visiting Paris, and the exhibit we were watching was the most boring thing in the world, trust me, so I though, why not pay the old man a little visit? I put the suit on, and here I am."
"And Pepper knows about this?"
"She thinks I went to grab something to eat, which isn't entirely a lie… So, how have you been, Capsicle?"
"I- uhh… Great, thanks. Everything ok back home?"
"Meh, not much exciting stuff going on. Are you planning on staying here forever? I'll deny having said it if you ever tell someone, but we kinda miss you back there."
"Yeah well, your secret's safe with me, don't worry. We're just waiting until Bucky feels a bit more comfortable with dealing with people who are likely to be… judgmental" he says as he steps aside, letting him meet the man.
Bucky's nervous and hasn't moved since the billionaire stepped into the apartment, but Tony casually walks to him and offers his hand for him to shake it.
"So this is Mr. Ice Cube number 2, nice to meet you!" he greets him with a smile, but Bucky shakes his head.
"I killed your father" he states.
Stark drops his hand.
"Bucky! That's not –" Steve starts, but the man cuts him off.
"It's the truth…" he says, and he sounds terribly sorry about it. But Tony just smiles at him.
"No, old man, Hydra killed my father. The only thing you just killed is the mood" he teases, patting on his shoulder. Bucky slowly smiles back at him, and Steve breathes a sigh of relief. Of course they're going to get along well, Buck was always a teaser himself. Note to self: thank Stark, the fucking bastard, because from all of his friends he's probably the one with the most reasons to hate Bucky, and still he has not only helped him find him, but also said just the right words to let the man forgive himself.
He hands the two men a couple beers and lets them chat, Tony now examining with fascination Bucky's metal prosthesis, and though something inside him flinches when he sees Stark casually touching his friend's arm, he's happy to see that Bucky does not look uncomfortable.
"I'd better get going, before Pepper figures out the truth" the man says after a while, standing up. "You two geezers take care. Let me know when you want to come back, I'll send a jet to pick you up."
"Thanks, Stark", and Bucky's words carry much more than just gratitude for the offer.
"My pleasure. Do come visit me at the Stark tower, I think I might be able to help you with that arm, add a couple thermoreceptors maybe, make it feel more real."
"I-I will, thanks!"
The man nods and grins, and as Steve walks him to the door he thanks him for everything, but the ex-playboy simply shrugs as if it hadn't been a big deal.
"Anytime, Cap. See you soon, I hope."
"Bye, Tony. Tell everyone I said hi."
When he's gone, Steve turns to face Bucky. He doesn't seem bothered, but the blond apologizes anyway.
"Sorry, I was really not expecting him to turn up like that."
"It's ok. He's… funny."
Bucky smiles when he speaks of the man, and for some reason it annoys Steve.
A pained scream wakes him up that night.
It has happened before, occasionally, and it was extremely frustrating at first, because Bucky wouldn't even let him come close to comfort him, and he'd have to watch the man trying to catch his breath from the doorstep, clenching his fists and summoning all of his will-power to not rush to hug him, knowing it would only make it worse.
But they get a bit closer everyday, so this time when Bucky's nightmare wakes him, he's instantly sitting on the bed by his friend, holding his hand and anchoring the man to reality. Bucky does not shove him away. He's panting and sweating, and clings to Steve desperately, because the super soldier makes him feel safe in a way he can barely process.
"Shh, Bucky, it's ok. You're here, you're with me."
"Steve…" he tugs at his T-Shirt, and the blond complies and moves closer, hugging him.
"It's ok, bud. No one's going to hurt you."
But Bucky shakes his head.
"They– They were hurting you" he mumbles. Steve is speechless.
"God, Buck…" he simply says after a few seconds, holding him tightly and burying his nose in his hair.
"I won't let them. I won't let anyone hurt you."
And Steve kisses his forehead and smiles to himself, because he man doesn't even realise how much he really is James Buchanan Barnes.
"I know" he says.
- V7