Never Have I Ever…" pt. 2.16

Chapter 18

Summary: Steve introduces Bucky to his neighbors and they each receive a little friendly guidance and support.


Bucky waited for Steve to get further ahead and then slowly pushed away from the dock to follow him to shore.

When Steve reached the shallows he stood up and walked through the shallow water toward the two men waiting on shore. He smiled as he neared them and stretched out his hand. "Hi Jack… Tim… it's nice to see you. How are you doing?" Jack and then Tim took Steve's hand and shook it.

"We're doing great… how about you?" Jack asked, peering around Steve toward the man in the water taking his time swimming to shore. "Hope you don't mind the intrusion -."

"Not at all," Steve assured them and then lowered his voice as he bent down to pick up the two towels. "My friend is a little self-conscious, so if you could give us a minute –," Steve hinted to them. Luckily neither of them needed to be hit with a brick.

"Absolutely," Jack answered and Tim nodded. They turned around to head toward the picnic area to give them some privacy.

Steve turned away from them and walked back to the water. As Bucky made it to the shallows, Steve offered the towel now spread wide in his hands as a visual buffer and called over his shoulder. "Hey Jack… there's beers in the fridge! We'll meet you at the picnic table."

"You got it," Jack answered and tossed a glance at Tim who continued toward the picnic area to wait while Jack went up to the cabin to fetch the beers.

Bucky stood up as the two visitors turned and walked away. He walked into the towel Steve was holding open for him with an appreciative nod and Steve quickly draped it over his left shoulder and arm. Bucky adjusted the drape of the towel and, with care and attention he was able to hide all evidence of the metal atrocity.

Steve reached over and unfurled an edge that had rolled up near the top of his shoulder and Bucky adjusted it with his right hand, double checking the coverage and gave Steve a small smile in gratitude for the assistance.

"Okay?" Steve asked him softly to be sure he was ready to meet his neighbors. He would understand if Bucky opted out, but he hoped he wouldn't. When Bucky nodded, Steve smiled at him. "Come on," he said and escorted him toward the picnic table where Tim was waiting.

Jack came back out and walked down the slope holding two long necked bottles in each hand and approached them with a bright smile. He handed Steve the two bottles in his right hand and then handed one to Tim who was still standing near the table waiting for proper introductions.

Steve placed one bottle on the table for Bucky and then moved to his left, but remained standing as everyone found their places. Jack walked around the table to claim a spot beside Tim but before being seated he extended his hand toward Bucky.

"Hi, I'm Jack… this is Tim." Bucky accepted his hand with a shy smile and then Tim offered his hand.

"Bucky," he replied politely as he shook Tim's hand.

"Nice to meet you, Bucky," Tim told him as Jack and Steve took their seats across from each other.

"You as well," Bucky replied, as they took their seats next to their partners and across from each other.

Both Jack and Tim knew Bucky's identity and were well aware of the fact that he was hiding the evidence of who he was under the towel. They both felt bad for him; that he felt he needed to hide who he was from others. As a gay couple they understood the awkward feeling of having to hide their true selves from others which only made them feel like outcasts; ostracized from the rest of society because they were viewed as different from the norm.

They'd spoken at length the last few days regarding this meeting before deciding to come over uninvited and they had discussed how to handle it if their presence wasn't welcomed. Frankly, everyone in the country knew who Steve Rogers' best friend was and what had happened to him; it'd been all over the news for weeks after the Winter Soldier's identity had been verified by government officials through facial recognition software and Captain Rogers' personal verification. They had discussed the possibility that Sergeant Barnes might not be ready for company and they agreed they wouldn't take any negative response to their friendly intrusion personally. So far though, he'd been very gracious considering he had no warning at all before they simply appeared in front of him.

Jack and Tim were also well aware of the fact that whenever a situation called for it they could easily hide the fact that they are a gay couple if they felt their safety depended on doing so. That was a little harder for Barnes to do with a shiny metal arm hanging from his shoulder emblazoned with a large red Soviet star. Well, they were here now and wanted to try to help Barnes acclimate to a life of social interaction a little easier, not make it an anxiety filled affair.

"I'm glad you dropped by," Steve told them. "I was hoping to get the chance to introduce you to Bucky, and vice versa, before we left. If you don't have any plans for the afternoon, why don't you stay? We missed lunch. We can have an early barbeque…. Unless four o'clock is too early for you guys."

Jack and Tim both looked at Bucky to try to read the reaction he might have toward the impromptu invitation, but they didn't see anything negative. He just gave them both a grin and took another swig from his bottle.

"That actually sounds great," Jack replied. "Thanks."

"Umm," Bucky hedged a moment and Steve looked at him. "We were supposed to pick up more beer, remember?"

"Good point," Jack added. "I did notice there's only two left in the fridge after I took these out. You want us to run to the store real quick?" he asked.

"No, I can go," Steve told him, not wanting to put his neighbors out, but the look Bucky gave him bordered on panic and Jack picked up on it right away. He knew enough to realize that Barnes was not ready to play solo host to people he'd just met.

"Nah, let me go," he said. "You got the eats here? Enough for everyone or should I pick up something more?" he asked as he stood up.

"Yeah we have the food. Just need maybe a case… or two… to get us through," Steve told him and stood up too. "I'll get you some money. You can take my car."

"I got it," Jack told him, waving off the offer to pay. "You provide the food and we'll provide the drink. How's that sound? I mean, we did crash your little party here…"

Steve smiled and stepped over the bench, cocking his head to the side as to silently signal Jack that he wanted to speak to him in private. Jack gave a nod and looked down at Tim who was watching the whole thing play out.

"You can take care of that by yourself, right Jack?" Tim asked, wanting to stay to visit with Bucky.

"Sure, you can wait here," he replied. "I won't be long," he told him and followed Steve to the cabin.

"Since you're going to the store…" Steve told him as they stepped inside so he could find his wallet. "I was wondering if you could pick up a few things for me."

"Sure," Jack told him. "What do you need?"


"How are you enjoying your stay?" Tim asked Bucky now that they were alone.

"It's nice," Bucky told him. "It's quiet here. I like it a lot."

"It's a great place to fish," Tim told him and Bucky nodded.

"Yeah, we went out on the boat a couple of days ago. Brought home dinner," he said with a smile.

"Nice. You like to fish?" Tim asked.

Bucky thought about it for a second as he looked out over the lake and then he nodded. "Yeah, I guess I do. It was relaxing."

"We'll have to make plans to go out before you leave."

Bucky nodded again, but seemed a little distant. Tim watched him closely, trying to read where Barnes' head was at. All he felt was a kind of uncertainty and maybe a little social awkwardness, but he didn't feel any animosity toward him or the intrusion, so he ventured forward carefully.

"So what's it like?" he asked and Bucky looked at him with a blank expression, not understanding what he was asking. Tim smiled at him. "Being Captain America's best friend?" That made Bucky smile genuinely and then he chuckled softly. He thought about it for a moment and Tim waited with a grin.

"It's a pain in my ass sometimes," Bucky told him and took a swig from the bottle.

Tim chuckled and nodded his head. "I can imagine."

"No," Bucky told him as if in confidence. "You have no idea. He's all kinds of stubborn, that one." Tim laughed and he continued. "Before he became Captain America, he was like… a Chihuahua that thought he was a pit bull." Bucky shook his head and laughed softly before taking another long pull from his beer. He rested his hand on the table, still wrapped around the cold bottle and became thoughtful while Tim waited. "At least now he's got the size to match his attitude."

"I saw photos of him from way back in the day," Tim told him. "The transformation is amazing."

"Believe me, the only thing about him that's changed is his size," Bucky told him. "He's always been brave," he said and then shook his head. "Stupid, yeah that's the word. No bigger than a weed, he was… like a little bitty dandelion. A lot of people didn't even notice him most of the time… but he was full of all kinds of righteous fury," Bucky said and Tim had to laugh. "I think I spent more time finishing fights that he started but couldn't finish… and he always picked the biggest bullies on the block." Bucky shook his head thoughtfully and then grinned as he allowed himself to follow that memory.

"What about you?" Tim asked and Bucky raised his eyes to look at him.

"Me?" he asked and Tim nodded. "I've never been righteous… and I was always bigger than a dandelion," he added with a grin.

When Steve and Jack came out of the cabin, Steve handed him the keys to his car so he wouldn't have to walk a mile back to his place to get his. Besides, Jack was doing him a huge favor by agreeing to pick up a few things for him. Steve went back to join the pair at the table feeling like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He gave a casual wave as Jack put the car in reverse and backed it around the corner of the cabin to turn around. Steve took a deep cleansing breath and smiled, feeling more relaxed now that future plans were set in motion.

"So," he said as he returned to Bucky's side, squeezing his long legs between the bench and table, "what are you two talking about?" he asked. Tim and Bucky looked at each other, trying not to grin.

"Flowers," Bucky stated simply. Steve looked at him curiously and Tim had to bite back a laugh. It was obvious Barnes had a sense of humor, but he chose to change the subject before Steve asked any further questions.

"So, Bucky, what do you like to do in your down time?" Tim asked and Bucky just looked at him for a moment and then frowned thoughtfully.

Steve realized Bucky was stuck and answered for him. "He loves books… he spends a lot of his down time reading." With that, Bucky looked up and smiled with a nod.

"A bookworm, huh?" Tim asked amicably.

"Oh yes," Steve answered, "I sketch and Bucky reads."

"… and paint," Bucky added, before taking another sip.

"You paint?" Tim asked him and Bucky shook his head as he lowered the bottle, pointing at Steve around the bottle. "Not me, him. Steve's an excellent artist."

"No kidding," Tim said, regarding Steve with a smile. "You never mentioned that. What do you paint - landscapes?"

"Oh no, not much," Steve told him, "mostly impressionist style."

"Don't be so modest," Bucky scoffed. "He used to sit at the window of his apartment in Brooklyn and sketch the city block outside, complete with the guy shining shoes on the sidewalk for a nickel and the boy selling papers on the corner… and then he'd paint it. He's better than he lets on. He's got a great eye for color… and detail… "

Tim smiled at them. Steve stared at Bucky as if in awe of him as he talked about Steve's artistic talent. He could clearly see the mutual respect and admiration the two had for each other. It was understated for the most part but it was clear to see and feel if one paid enough attention.

"What about you, Bucky? What do you like to read?" he asked. "Are you a fan of unsolved mysteries or historical biographies?"

"No, nothing like that," Bucky answered. "I like fantasy stuff… science fiction… that sort of thing."

"Yep," Steve added, "Bucky was always dragging me to Coney Island so he could try out the new rides… or the Stark Expo every year, because there was no way a new futuristic invention was going to be revealed to the public and Bucky Barnes wasn't going to be front and center to see it." He dropped his hand onto Bucky's left shoulder near the base of his neck and gave it an affectionate little squeeze. Bucky smiled at the memory.

Tim looked at him closely for a moment. "What's your favorite book?"

"The Hobbit," Bucky answered.

"The Hobbit?" Tim repeated, obviously approving. "Great book. Have you read the others in the series?"

"There are others?" Bucky asked with interest.

Tim glanced at Steve before answering. "Yeah, they've been out for a while… mid 50's I believe."

"I was indisposed in the 50's," Bucky mentioned matter-of-factly. Tim and Steve shared a look before Tim continued.

"When did you read The Hobbit?"

"1937, when it first came out," Bucky told him. "It didn't hit the states until the following year, but I had a friend who had moved to England and he found it in a bookstore, read it then sent it to me."

"Wow, that's really cool. Have you seen the movies?" Tim asked.

"They made movies?" Bucky asked, eyes lighting up.

Tim laughed softly and turned to Steve. "You know he's a fan of The Hobbit and you haven't watched the Lord of the Rings series with him?"

Steve smiled and shrugged. "It actually never came to mind."

"The Lord of the Rings?" Bucky asked.

"Yeah, that's the name of the series that followed The Hobbit, carries on the adventure that started in the first book," Tim explained. "Oh, you guys have to come by our place sometime. We'll have a movie night. We'll cook up some burgers or steaks, drink a couple cases of beer or Jack if you prefer and watch The Lord of the Rings," Tim told them.

"That sounds like fun," Bucky replied with a smile.

"Fun for you," Steve teased.

"Oh you'll enjoy them too," Tim assured him. "There's a lot of action and danger and fighting strange creatures."

"Cool," Bucky replied with a sparkle in his eyes.

The three sat for a moment, each in their own thoughts and Tim ventured forward again. "So how'd the two of you meet?" he asked as Bucky took another sip of his beer noticing it was almost gone.

Steve smiled and Bucky had to swallow and then laughed softly. Tim couldn't help but smile as he waited to hear the story.

"On the playground… at recess," Bucky told him. "He was getting picked on by a couple of kids that were bigger than him… as usual."

"Yep, I tried to stand up for myself, until one of them pushed me to the ground," Steve told him. "There I was, lying on the ground, looking up at them and suddenly there was a third kid there. Standing with his back to me, facing off the other two… defending me," Steve recounted with a wistful look and a smile. Bucky was smiling too.

"How old were you?" Tim asked.

"First grade?" Bucky asked Steve.

"I was in first grade, you were in second," Steve corrected.

"Right, right," Bucky said, nodding. "So… what? You were seven and I was eight?"

"I was six, you were eight," Steve told him. "I would turn seven during that summer."

"Right," Bucky said, nodding.

"Wow, you guys literally have known each other your entire lives," Tim realized. "In the museum the exhibits mention that you two were inseparable on the playground, as well as the battlefield, but it doesn't really drive it home to onlookers just what that means."

"He's always been my protector," Steve mentioned fondly. Bucky smiled at the memory of it and of other instances that flashed through his head. Steve reached over and grabbed him by the nape of the neck and pulled him close to place a kiss to the side of his head and Bucky grinned. As Steve released him and he sat straight again, the towel he had draped over his left side slipped off his shoulder and he quickly grabbed for it, but not before revealing the shiny metal with the red star.

Bucky held it firmly in place with his right hand and lowered his head. He didn't say anything, nor did he look at Tim. Tim watched his reaction to being exposed and his quick recovery. That simple instance quickly changed Bucky's mood and it appeared as though he felt ashamed. He and Steve shared a look.

"You know, Bucky," Tim started slowly, feeling the need to address the elephant in the room so to speak. "Jack and I know who you are," he told him and Bucky bit down on his lower lip. "It's okay, you know, you don't have to hide from us. We've known Steve for – what? – five years now?" he asked and Steve nodded. "You're all he's ever talked about," he told Bucky who raised his eyes to look at him. "He was devastated to find out you were alive this whole time and he had no idea… and then to realize what had happened to you – what they put you through…"

Steve's expression was a mixture of pain and sadness as he listened to Tim. Bucky glanced at Steve and he, too could see how the truth of the Winter Soldier had hurt him.

"What I'm trying to say, and not very eloquently, is that… Jack and I know your story, we know what happened to you and what they did to you," Tim explained and when Bucky looked at him with a horrified expression, he added, "Not the details of everything that happened, just in general." Bucky nodded that he understood and Tim continued. "We also know that you're not that person anymore. We know that you would never have chosen to be that person… and we both really want to get to know you, because we know how important you are to Steve. Knowing Steve, and what he's all about, we know that you have to be an amazing person in your own right, for him to be so devoted to you."

Bucky listened and when Tim stopped talking he had to swallow the lump in his throat. He looked at Steve who was also having a little difficulty in not becoming emotional.

"Excuse me," Steve said and stood up.

"You okay?" Bucky asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Steve told him, "I'm going to get you a shirt to wear."

Bucky watched him as he stepped over the bench and walked away then he looked back at Tim. "Thanks," he said.

"For what?" Tim asked.

"For not…"

"Judging you?" Tim asked.

Bucky nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I guess, that and for what you said. I didn't realize Steve talked about me… before."

"Steve talked about you before and after and since," Tim told him. "When you were recovered from that life Steve was elated. I don't think I'd ever seen a man so happy and so sad at the same time. He was thrilled to have you back in his life, but he was sad and incredibly angry for what they'd done to you and had done to you for so long. Sometimes when he came up here to get away from it all… we'd get him talking and it all would just flood out of him."

Bucky listened and realized he'd never really known how hard all of it had been for Steve. He'd always done his best to be strong and not let on just how difficult it was for him. All Steve ever did was worry about Bucky, doing his very best to be there for him at all times. Bucky let go of the bottle and swiped at a tear that developed at the corner of his eye.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you…either of you," Tim told him and Bucky shook his head, giving him a little smile.

"No, I appreciate that. I never really," Bucky said and paused, taking a deep breath. "I never realized just how much all of it affected Steve. He never told me."

"Sounds like you guys have a lot more to talk about, huh?" Tim asked. Bucky looked at him as he considered that and then nodded. "Don't force it. It'll come around when it's time." Bucky nodded.

As they waited for Steve to return, Bucky reached up to grasp the towel and he stared at Tim who was watching him. He slowly pulled the towel down and as the metal arm was revealed his expression tightened almost painfully. Tim studied his face closely, realizing how difficult that action was for him and then he looked at the arm – that shiny metal arm that was a thing of legend. In any news story about the Winter Soldier that arm was the biggest focus whether in type or in pictures. Now to see the expression on the face of the man who was forced to wear it, really drove it all home for Tim; just how much that entire segment of his life had been forced upon him.

Steve came back to the table and paused beside Bucky when he noticed he'd allowed the towel to fall to his lap. Steve glanced at Tim who flashed him a small smile and then he handed the tee shirt to Bucky.

"Here you go, pal," he said.

"Thanks," Bucky replied and took the shirt from him. He slipped it over his head as Steve took his seat again.

"Everything good?" Steve asked. When Bucky looked at him, straightening his shirt as he pulled it down over his torso, Steve studied his eyes closely as if he'd be able to identify the slightest hurt in them. Bucky smiled at him. He could see the concern in Steve's eyes and the things Tim had just told him made him smile. "You good?" Steve asked again.

Bucky nodded and leaned toward him. They stared into each other's eyes as they closed in for a kiss. It was a chaste kiss in front of company but Steve's heart leapt in his chest because Bucky had initiated it in front of their visitor. As they parted, Steve reached up and wrapped his hand around the back of Bucky's head and drew him in again to touch foreheads. They smiled at each other and then both turned to look at Tim to see him sitting there beaming at the two of them. He raised his beer in silent salute and both Steve and Bucky did the same; they clinked their bottles to his and they all drank.