Steve's late. The second the clock on the church strikes two, Bucky is up off their bench, mentally running through the most likely places where Steve could be being beaten up.
He doesn't even consider the fact that Steve could just be doing some last minute jobs for his mother, or maybe simply late, he could have been held up by anyone, asking after his health or his mother or his art.
He's glanced down two less likely alleys, before he hears punches and grunting just as he skids to the mouth of the biggest alley, the most favoured by the boys who beat up Steve, or who Steve beat up with his undying righteousness.
(the sound of fists on skin was probably the backing music to Bucky's childhood, either from his father to him, or by the people Steve would confront. The accompanying melody was definitely Steve's laugh)
He sighed in equal parts exasperation and fondness, before plunging down the alley, towards the nook at the end where they most undoubtedly were.
He waded straight into the fight, not even taking to account how the boy being beaten up was bigger than Steve, ginger and not wheezing after the boys grew bored and left.
Bucky watched them go, before turning, sighing, to the boy. The tall ginger lad was dusting himself off, frowning at the dark-haired boy who had burst into the fight without even knowing what was going on.
"You stupid fuck, Steve."
"Who the hell are you?" the boy had a strong Scottish accent, which was tinged with confusion.
"That mother-fuc..." Bucky ground out, before turning tail and pelted down the alley, Steve being out of his sight with the two tormentors out and about made him uneasy. He didn't like to engage in fights more than once a day. Especially as one of them had been in vain.
"No need to thank me!" he called behind him, to the bewildered boy.
"I wasn't going to." he retorted, before screwing his face up in an attempt to comprehend what had just happened. But this proved to be too hard, as he shrugged and walked after the mysterious boy, who was long gone.
When Bucky arrived back at the bench, he was ten minutes late, and out of breath.
Steve is just sitting there, swinging his legs, the picture of bloody innocence. He's holding a bag of liquorice, chewing demurely.
His eyes drift accusingly to Bucky's knuckles, which are bruised and bloody. He looks disappointed with him, like he didn't get into fights every other day.
"I ran down a alley thinking you were being beaten up." he explained, before plopping down next to Steve. He reached over, fixing the smaller boy with a deadly expression as he jokingly moved the bag out of his reach, for the liquorice.
(it's his favourite and he's touched that Steve got it for him with his limited money, instead of flying saucers which he loves and Bucky detests)
"How'd it go?" Steve asks, taking another piece for himself.
Bucky smiles, nodding. "I had them on the ropes." and Steve rams his shoulder, rather uselessly, into him. But his fond smile slides off his face as he realizes what Bucky's wearing.
"What's up with the uniform?" Steve scowls, hating how he wasn't allowed to join the army, even though he was perfectly capable of fighting.
(as long as the weather was mild, but not cold, and no seriously strenuous exercise was involved. And he couldn't run. And he didn't want to kill anyone. Totally able)
He dragged Bucky to the office and forced him to sign up, despite the fact that Bucky had protested violently that he needed to stay with Steve and look after him. Steve insisted he didn't need help, unfortunately, the yelling and arguing had reduced him to a coughing fit, leaving him gasping desperately into Bucky's chest.
Even after all that, he still hadn't given in.
"It gets me the ladies." he whispered to Steve out of the corner of his mouth, while winking and waving at a pair of giggling girls, swooning their way past them.
Suddenly, Steve started laughing, and Bucky turned to him.
"Are you saying I can't get a dame?" he joked.
Steve spread his arms, brandishing the liquorice, "Bucky Barnes: The Costumed Vigilante!" he crowed, before dissolving into giggles again. His almost-cackles were drawing looks and Bucky tried to look normal through his laughter.
"Hey, punk" Bucky chuckled, nudging the smaller blonde with his elbow, "Stop blowing my cover!"