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3. The Park
The door creaked open, then there was a sigh, before, "C'mon, boys, get your asses out of bed."
"Go 'way, ma," Bucky slurred, groaning into his pillow. His pillow that was warm and firm and had a pulse, of all things. He blearily opened his eyes and saw that he'd moved around in his sleep and was now laying his head against Steve's chest, with Steve's arms still wound around his torso and holding him in place.
Winifred sighed again, leaning against the doorframe. "I'm about to make breakfast."
That got Steve's sleepy attention. He blinked his eyes open and glanced over to Winifred. "What're ya making?"
"Pancakes," was all she said, before turning and disappearing down the hallway.
That was all Bucky needed to hear to get him out of bed. "Don't wait up."
"No, not yet." Steve tightened his arms around Bucky, burying his face in his hair.
Bucky fought against him. "But Steve, pancakes!" He twisted and nudged until he was finally free of the embrace.
"Fine, go," Steve pouted, rolling over onto his stomach. "I'll be down in five."
And then Bucky was gone, leaving Steve feeling cold where his body had just been. He stretched out on the bed, letting the faint trace of morning light through the curtains wash over him. The prospect of food did sound good, but going back to sleep for a little bit longer was also tempting. Except, if he did, Bucky would just come barging back in and wake him up again. Yeah, he'd just lay down for a few more minutes, then head downstairs for breakfast. That was a good plan.
Bucky may have loved it when his mom made meals with the slow cooker, but nothing could compare to her pancakes. If he had to choose a favorite food, he'd say this would be it. So he breathed in deeply as his mum made them, enjoying the familiar scent, and poured himself a coffee. A flash of white outside caught his eye.
"Did it snow last night?"
"Just a little this morning," Winifred explained, pouring the last of the pancake batter into the pan. "But it'll probably be gone by midday."
"Shame."
Bucky liked the snow and the cold; it meant he got to wear warm sweaters and coats, drink hot chocolate, and snuggle with someone to chase away the chill. Steve was definitely a summer person, but he was also a snuggler in winter because he dreaded the cold so much. Bucky liked that about him, especially during cold nights in their apartment when they were watching movies and sharing a blanket, and also because Steve seemed to run a little warmer than everyone else.
Winifred finished cooking the last pancake, then turned to lean against the counter with a small smile. "So..."
"So... what?" Bucky quirked an eyebrow, resting his mug on the bench.
"You and Steve," she said simply, as if that explained everything. "I won't lie. I've been hoping you'd date that boy ever since I found out he liked men too."
Had she really? Despite how close they were, Bucky had never actually thought about dating his best friend before, neither had it ever occurred to him that somebody else had thought about it for him. "Is that so?"
"It is. Do you love him?"
"Yeah, I think I do," Bucky pretended to admit, having wondered when this question was going to come up. "But, uh, I haven't told him yet... And he hasn't told me if he does either."
"Don't let that hold you back. One look at that boy and it's obvious he's head over heels."
Bucky rolled his eyes. "If you say so, ma."
Winifred just shook her head and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like stupid boy under her breath.
Bucky went back to his coffee, watching his mom as she got out the syrup and cream for the pancakes. He asked if he could help, but she waved him and off and simply said he could help wash the dishes that night. So he continued standing around idly, waiting for her to finish, when only a minute later did a pair of strong arms wrap around his waist from behind.
"Got any coffee for me?" Steve asked, peppering kisses up and down the side of Bucky's neck.
"Maybe," Bucky smiled, then turned his head so he could give Steve a kiss. "Let me get you a cup."
After breakfast and a shower each, they were feeling lazy and decided to relax on the couch, Bucky's head in Steve's lap. Some Hallmark Christmas movie was playing, but they ignored it, instead opting to texts their friends back in Brooklyn. Natasha and Sam had dragged Clint out to do some last-minute Christmas shopping, seeing as he'd left it almost too late yet again, and were documenting every sarcastic remark and complaint he made. Then Winifred and Rebecca announced they were going to get some groceries, so Steve and Bucky decided to tag along, just as something to do that'd get them out of the house.
When they'd finished grocery shopping, they ordered Chinese takeout for lunch at Rebecca's request. Steve had bought himself and Bucky some gaudy green baseball caps with red pompoms on the top and elf ears on the side. They convinced Rebecca take some photos, her only condition being they both had to pick one of the photos to post on instagram. Natasha was, of course, the first person to see those photos.
Nat (1:26pm): You two are SO cute
The text seemed innocent enough, especially if Rebecca or Winifred were to see it, but Steve and Bucky knew they were in for a world of teasing when they got home. And hell, they figured they might as well give her something worthwhile to tease them about, so they sent her the type of picture that everyone hated: the couple kissing photo. She replied with a winky face.
Yeah, they were definitely gonna regret it.
At home, Bucky helped put away the groceries while Steve talked to his dad in private. He was a little nervous about why. George seemed to approve of the relationship, but had Bucky misinterpreted all of his amused glances? Was he acting that way because he somehow knew they were faking it, and was ready to call out on it? Maybe he thought Steve was faking it while Bucky wasn't, and wanted to talk to him about hurting his son. Maybe he thought the opposite, and felt bad enough to warn Steve about getting too attached to Bucky. Maybe, just maybe...
Bucky cut himself off mid-thought, rubbing slow circles into his temples. All of these thoughts were going to give him a headache, and he all but leaped on Steve when the talk was apparently over.
"Let's go for a walk," he suggested quickly, needing some fresh air before he freaked the fuck out.
Steve raised an eyebrow, but let himself be walked out the front door. "Sure. I wanna see more of the neighborhood anyway. It doesn't even feel like we're in the city anymore."
"That's what I always think whenever I'm here." Bucky laughed, wrapping his arm around Steve's waist. He was wearing a thick coat and a scarf over his favorite knit sweater, but it was still quite chilly outside and he wanted all the warmth he could get.
Steve didn't seem to mind, wrapping his arm around Bucky's shoulder and holding him close. They walked in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the scenery. Winifred had been right. The snow had melted already, but the landscape was still icy, sparkling in the sunlight when it peaked between the clouds. The air was cold in their lungs, but smelled cleaner than it did in Brooklyn. They ended up at Vinmont Veteran Park and laid down side-by-side on the empty playground. It was completely deserted despite the time of day, but they figured it was due to the not-so-great weather.
"What'd my dad wanna talk to you about? Bucky asked carefully, after a few more minutes of silence. He knew ignorance was bliss, but he also just had to know, and better get it out of the way now while he had Steve alone.
"Probably the same thing he'd wanna discuss with a guy that was dating Becca." Steve said, turning to Bucky with a wide grin. "Said he approved of me, but if I broke your heart, then it wouldn't be pretty."
"Oh, my God, I'm so sorry you had to go through with that."
Steve chuckled. "Nah, it's fine. I understand where he's coming from."
"I'm just glad my parents are okay with us dating," Bucky mused. "This morning mom told me that she's been wanting us to get together for ages."
Steve looked surprised for a moment or two, before his eyebrows pulled together as he thought of something. "Wait, you remember when I introduced you to Sam?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well," Steve paused, the faintest hint of pink coloring his cheeks. "He thought I was going to introduce you as my boyfriend, and was shocked when he learned that we were just friends."
Bucky sat up quickly, looking down at Steve as he continued to blush. "Really?"
"Mhmm."
They stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter, Bucky collapsing on Steve's chest as he struggled for breath, clutching at the collar of his jacket.
"Shit. Everyone's thought about us dating except for us."
"I know," Steve agreed, wrapping his arms around Bucky without even thinking. "It's so weird."
Bucky relaxed on Steve, listening to his steady breathing and enjoying his body's natural warmth, while clouds passed across the sun and darkened the sky. All at once it started to rain, ruining the little moment they were having. It was only light, but considering the time of year, the droplets were ice cold.
"Fuck, let's head back." Bucky helped Steve to his feet, before huddling together and rushing home. They weren't quite drenched by the time they got back, but they were still quite wet, laughing and shaking their dripping hair at Rebecca just to see her squeal and run away, before heading to their room to get changed into dry clothes.
Steve was changing into sweatpants, which just so happened to be Bucky's. "Can I wear these?"
"Sure," Bucky smiled, a strange spike of pleasure shooting through his body at the sight of Steve wearing his clothes. It wasn't something they'd ever really done before. "But only if I can wear your blue sweater."
"Deal." Steve grinned as he chucked the sweater at him and continue getting dressed.
After dinner, Steve helped Bucky wash the dishes. Back at their apartment, they didn't usually have so much to wash between them, but all the same, they didn't mind doing the dishes for Bucky's family. Steve scooped up a handful of soap bubbles, then smeared them across Bucky's face.
"Oh, you're on!" Bucky laughed, scooping up his own handful and trying to smush it in his face.
Steve dodged around, only to get a mouthful of the bubbles once he let his guard down. In retaliation, he threw the wet sponge at Bucky, hitting him square in the chest and letting out a wet spray of dishwater. Bucky actually shrieked and threw it back, starting a sponge war between them. Winifred eventually sent Rebecca to break them up, and they finished the washing the dishes with barely contained laughter.
When they were done, George got out their old Grinch DVD and insisted on watching it, not that Bucky was complaining - it'd been his favorite Christmas movie while growing up. Winifred made everyone hot chocolate, and with the muffled sound of the rain outside, a nostalgic movie playing, and Steve cuddling him close, Bucky had never felt more content. Steve, too, seemed no less than satisfied with their current situation, and took to playing with Bucky's hair once he'd finished his drink.
Much like before, they went to sleep in each other's arms that night.