Never Have I Ever, Pt 2.19

Chapter 21

"The Talk", pt 3

Summary: Jack explains the gifts he bought for Steve and Bucky. Yeah, finally.

Note: This chapter is dedicated to my good friend, Gothabilly13… and to Bucky1984 for being so patient while waiting for Jack to reveal what he purchased for Steve and why. *See End Notes for a special mention.*

Note: I have to tip my hat to mirrormymalady for making a comment in her feedback for Ch 17 that made me laugh out loud for real. I just had to use that line in this chapter because it fit so perfectly with Jack's ability to keep things light while being informative. Thanks for that. – W6C


Jack stepped into the cabin and waited by the open door as Steve grabbed two bottles from the fridge. When he turned around, the thoughtful expression clouding his features relaxed and he smiled to see Jack had followed him.

"Here you go," Steve said, twisting off the cap and handing the bottle to his friend.

"Thanks," Jack replied, taking the beer. He waited for Steve to twist the cap off his own bottle and throw both into the trash. When Steve turned around to look at him, he said, "I thought now would be a good time to go over the items I picked up for you."

"Oh, right," Steve said, nodding. He leaned to the side, as if searching for Barnes out the window.

"They're still on the pier," Jack told him. "We'll be back outside before they realize we're gone."

Steve nodded. "Okay. I put them in my drawer in the bedroom," he told Jack and gestured for him to follow.

Steve set his bottle down on the dresser and opened the bottom drawer. The bag was rolled up as tight as he'd been able to get it and hidden under the clothes there. He turned and held the bag out to Jack.

Jack grinned, placing his bottle next to Steve's and took the bag. He pulled out a box and handed that to Steve. "This is the lube you asked me to pick up. This brand is my personal favorite… it's a water-base and perfect for proper coverage of toys as well as body parts."

"Toys?" Steve asked; confused. He didn't have any toys and wouldn't know how to go about getting any.

Jack smiled at Steve's confused expression before it shifted to worry; as if he'd missed a needed step. "I got you covered, Steve," Jack assured him. He removed the flat wide box that Steve had opened earlier that had left him completely perplexed. He set the box on the dresser and opened it. Inside were five pink "things" that resembled, strangely enough, penises of various sizes. They weren't anatomically detailed, Steve noted and all had a softly curved shape much like a banana. Each was wider at the base and tapered to a soft point. The smallest was about the size of his pinky finger and the other four increased in size with the largest being slightly smaller than a well-endowed, fully aroused human male. They were identical, except in overall size, with a large silicon ring at the base.

Jack picked up the one in the center and handed it to Steve. He took it and felt the weight of it, the surface was velvety soft but it was firm enough to hold its curved shape without being floppy and had a little give to it.

"This," Jack told him, "is referred to as a toy. In sexual play or exploration, any item being used to facilitate a pleasurable experience that is a non-human thing, is simply referred to as a "toy'. Sometimes these toys are just that – they're used with the focus on fun and play and simply making the encounter more spicy and toys come in all sizes, shapes and colors."

Jack picked up the smallest toy in the box and slipped his middle finger into the ring at the base. "Never use a toy that doesn't have a wider bulb or a ring at the base. This is a safety ring… your finger should be in the ring to keep the toy from penetrating the body too deeply. If you lose control of it, and it slips inside your partner, it can travel upward through the rectum toward the colon and cause serious issues." Jack looked up from the one he was holding to see the worried expression on Steve's face. "Do not fear, my friend. It all takes practice and you can go as slow as you need to, okay?"

"What are these?" Steve asked.

"They're called dilators," Jack told him. "They're great to use to prep yourself or your partner. You could use your fingers to stretch and prep but I prefer these. You don't have to worry about your nails scratching your partner or having a hangnail or… I don't know, the whole "dirty under the nails" thing just steers me toward these. I think they're cleaner and safer than using your hands."

Steve nodded as he studied the one he was holding.

"You begin with the smallest of them and work your way up in size. It's called "stretching" and you want to do this properly so you don't cause intense pain or injury by just moving forward with the big gun without preparation. So, you start with this one," he instructed, indicating the one he was holding. The next size up was about the size of his ring finger and they became progressively larger. "When you or your partner is sufficiently comfortable with these then you can attempt penetrative intercourse. No judgment here, but I will give you a bit of a hint… if this one," Jack mentioned holding up the largest of them, "is bigger than you are when aroused… don't use it. You want to stop with the dilator that will prepare him to take you… or you, him… without stretching him so far that he wouldn't feel you inside him. Understand?"

Steve nodded, scrutinizing the medium sized one he held in his hand. He turned it over and over; getting a good feel for it and imagining himself using it on Bucky… or Barnes using it on him. He swallowed heavily and Jack could see his apprehension.

"Steve," he said and waited for Rogers to look at him. "Remember, all of this… is not something that needs to be rushed. Take your time… give him his time… and talk to each other through it all. If this part frightens you too much, don't go there… not until you're ready. Okay?" Steve nodded and let out a deep breath.

"Okay, now," Jack continued, placing the tiny dilator back in its box and opened the upright silver box that contained a large tube of K-Y lubricant. He turned to show the container to Steve and picked up the largest of the dilators from the box. "Never - ever - penetrate your partner with anything that is not fully lubricated. I can't stress this enough, but if you ever forget this part, you'll be reminded real quick. Unlike a vagina, the anus is not self-lubricating… unless there's something about super soldiers the rest of us don't know, like they suddenly have the power to self-lubricate?" Jack asked trying to get Steve to see the humor and lighten up. When Steve looked at him, Jack smiled.

"What?" Steve asked, suddenly aware that he maybe was supposed to answer that question. "No – no, of course not," he replied.

"Didn't think so," Jack said to make his point. "So you're not going to ever forget this part. It would be extremely painful and can cause serious injury if you attempt to enter without liberal lubrication."

A sound; almost like a whimper, was heard as Steve exhaled. Jack looked at him and saw the sorrow in Steve's expression. He'd let his thoughts go back to the horrible treatment his friend had suffered at the hands of Hydra and Jack could see it clearly.

"Steve?" Jack waited. "Steve," he said with a serious tone and Steve looked at him. "Don't go there. If Bucky wants this too he'll let you know. Just make sure you go slow, you use plenty of lubrication and -."

"How much is plenty… or how much is too much?" Steve asked, interrupting Jack's instruction.

"That's easy," Jack assured him. "When you've applied what you feel is enough… apply more," he told him. "There's no such thing as too much lubrication when starting out… and you'll learn as you go just how much you need at the start and when to re-apply as needed."

Steve nodded, still rolling the dilator in his hands, holding it lightly with his finger tips.

"Okay, this is how it's applied and what it feels like," Jack told him and squeezed a large amount of the viscous liquid onto the dilator in Steve's hand. "It's cool to the touch," he said and Steve nodded. "Just wrap your hands around it and spread that over it until it's completely coated." Steve did as Jack instructed and immediately felt the difference the lube made, almost dropping it. Jack chuckled as Steve wrangled the silicon toy. "See? It slides much easier against dry skin like that." Steve nodded, his eyebrows arched high at the new experience. "Make sure when you're ready to use these that they are washed with mild soap and water before and after each use. You want to be absolutely sure they are clean before inserting them and most definitely after your night is over… and never use them between the two of you without washing them. This is not the time to decide 'double dipping' isn't all that bad. It is. If you use these on him, he's not to turn around and use them on you without washing them thoroughly first. You don't want to be sharing that kind of bacteria between you. Understand?" Jack asked, and Steve nodded. "If you want to use them on each other at the same time, you can always get a second set and you can even label them so you always use the same set on him and he on you."

Steve nodded, relaxing quite a bit as he let his hands get used to the sensation of the lubricated toy.

Jack watched him fondling it for a moment then grinned. "Feel kind of familiar, does it?"

Steve looked at him, then; realizing he'd been stroking the toy with his hand wrapped fully around it he laughed lightly with a light blush coloring his cheeks. Jack chuckled along with him.

"Oh," Jack said as an afterthought, "when you insert them, always guide them in with the curve toward the front of the body. It doesn't matter what position he's in, or you're in, these go in with the curve pointed toward the belly button."

Steve looked at him questioningly.

"Trust me, buddy," Jack said, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "When this thing hits his prostate, you're going to know it… and he's going to beg you to keep going."

Steve nodded then he looked at the bag on the dresser. "There was another bottle in the bag," Steve mentioned. "What is it?"

"Oh," Jack nodded and put the lube back in its box to pull out the other item he'd purchased. "It's called Pure for Men and it's really a godsend for men who are in a same sex relationship. It's a fiber pill that helps to keep your digestive tract clean and clear, so there's no delay when you two suddenly feel amorous," Jack said with a grin. "Take two or three capsules twice a day and it'll keep you both running clean. It's gentle and it's all natural, so there aren't any real side effects. I mean if you don't have any fiber in your diet now, you might get a stomach ache or find yourself running to the bathroom until your systems adjust, but I think you guys shouldn't feel any negative effects from adding this to your dietary plan. And, it only takes a day or two to start working effectively, so you should be more than ready when you get to that point."

Steve nodded and took a deep breath.

"You're going to be fine, Steve. You'll see," Jack assured him. "Just follow your heart and do what feels right at any given moment. Talk to him, listen to him, and you'll get through it together… as it should be."

Steve smiled at him and nodded. Jack had a way of explaining the details and the emotional nuances of the entire experience that really helped to assuage his concerns.

"Now, go in the bathroom and wash that off," Jack told him, gesturing to the slippery object in Steve's hands. "Wash your hands and dry it off thoroughly... here, take all of them with you. Wash them all with soap and water… dry them and you can put them in this nice little velveteen bag they give you to keep them clean." Jack handed him the box and showed him the dark blue bag with a drawstring that was folded at the bottom of the box.

Steve left the room and Jack followed him out. While Steve went into the bathroom to do as he'd instructed, Jack carried their beers out to the kitchen. He sat down in the chair near the door and sipped his brew while he waited for Steve to finish. He could hear Tim on the pier with Bucky as his voice increased in volume and Jack could tell he was regaling Bucky with another story. He imagined the animated theatrics Tim was probably displaying; jumping around or spinning and flailing his arms and he smiled to himself.

When Steve finished with his detail, he placed the bag and lube in the bottom drawer and replaced his clothes over them. He didn't want Bucky to know they were there yet as he didn't want Barnes to feel obligated in any way, but if their make out sessions turned more serious in the weeks to come at least they'd be ready to move forward - as Jack said - safely.

He came back out, tearing apart the box the dilators came in and stuffed it into the bottom of the trash before Jack stood up, handing him his untouched bottle. Steve took it and gulped down the entire thing without stopping. Jack watched him with an amused grin and then chuckled as the bottle was emptied. Steve lowered it and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed lightly.

"I think I needed that," he said and the two friends laughed. "Let me grab some more and we can head down to the pier," he said and Jack nodded.


Bucky could feel the vibration of the boards under him as he sat on the edge of the pier and turned to see Steve and Jack walking toward them. He smiled at Steve and reeled in his line. Tim was standing a few feet to his left casting out his line.

"You two look like you're having such a good time out here we thought we'd join you," Jack said as he and Steve stopped beside them.

"We were wondering how long it was going to take for you to miss us," Tim replied as he set his bail and turned to Jack for a quick kiss.

Bucky watched as Jack snaked his arms around Tim from behind and gave him a soft peck on the mouth before Tim turned his attention back to his line. Steve remained standing and watched Bucky watching the other couple. When Jack rested his chin on Tim's shoulder and spoke softly to him, Bucky turned away to give them a little privacy. Steve was still standing behind his right shoulder. Bucky looked up at him, squinting against the bright sky and smiled. Steve looked down at him and returned the smile before sitting down on Bucky's right.

"You want to fish?" Bucky asked him, offering the rod.

"Sure," Steve replied. He handed Bucky the beer he'd opened for him and took the rod, setting his bottle on the pier beside him. He checked the bait, getting a feel for the rod and reel before casting it out. He and Bucky watched it make a small splash a good fifty yards from where they sat.

"Damn, that was one hell of a cast," Tim remarked. "I've been trying to get mine out there for half an hour."

Barnes stood up and reached for the fishing pole in Tim's hand. Tim let him take it and held his beer while Bucky reeled in his bait. He and Jack watched as Bucky readied the line and cast it out. Tim's line dropped just to the left of Steve's and he set the bail before handing it back. Tim smiled at him and returned the beer in exchange for the pole.

Steve smiled when the other line landed the same distance out as his and waited for Bucky to sit back down. He kept his attention on the two lines as he waited for a bite. Steve's thoughts had detoured back to the items hidden in the bedroom when Bucky's voice made him start a little.

"So what were you two doing?" Barnes asked him.

"Not a lot," he replied. "Watching you two having fun out here mostly."

"I noticed you weren't at the picnic table anymore," Bucky told him. "Figured you'd gone into the cabin."

"Yeah," Steve told him. "We did. I went in to get us more beer and Jack wanted to tell me something so he followed me."

Bucky nodded, looking out over the water. "What did he want to tell you?" he asked and turned to look at Steve. Steve swallowed thickly as he didn't want to actually reveal that part yet. Bucky waited patiently.

"Oh," Steve shrugged, "It wasn't anything important, really. Just something that came to mind… he wanted to mention it before he forgot again."

Bucky didn't respond at all, Steve noted as he kept his eyes on his line. In his peripheral vision he could see Barnes looking at him, as if studying him. Steve was certain that Bucky knew that wasn't the whole truth of it and he waited for him to respond. It felt like an eternity as Barnes stared at him but he finally nodded before turning away to watch the lines.

Steve held the pole in his right hand and reached over with his left to rub Bucky's back lightly in reassurance. He felt Barnes stiffen slightly at his touch and realized Bucky was just as intuitive as Tim. Steve leaned toward him and whispered, "I'll tell you later. Not now."

Bucky looked at him and his expression softened. He smiled and nodded; Steve was grateful that was all it took to set his friend's mind at ease. Bucky trusted him so completely that it took only a few reassuring words from Rogers to soothe Bucky's concerns. That was an incredible gift Steve never wanted to lose. He glanced up at Jack to see him whispering in Tim's ear.

"Hey," Tim suddenly spoke up. "Could we take the boat out?" he asked Steve.

"All of us?" Steve asked.

"Umm.. well no," Tim answered with a conspiratorial grin. "I was thinking just me and Jack. If that's okay with you."

Steve smiled at him. "Sure, you can take the boat."

Tim smiled wide and began to quickly reel in his line. Bucky smiled and looked at Steve then turned to watch Tim's line coming toward them. It caught on something and Tim tried to release it. "Oh great. It figures," he grumbled as he pulled on the line. "I'm snagged on something." It loosened briefly and then went taut again. Then the line began to move to the left.

Bucky chuckled just as Jack exclaimed, "You're not snagged, you got a bite!"

They all watched as Tim worked the line toward them and it appeared he had a decent fight on his hands. It was entertaining to watch and a little exciting to anticipate what he was going to land. A few minutes later he had his catch up against the pier and reeled it up.

Jack reached down to grab the fish by the lower lip and held it aloft as he pulled the hook out. "Wow, there are some good sized bass in this lake," he exclaimed.

Bucky reached down beside him and pulled up the stringer he had resting in the water just below where he and Tim had been sitting. He held the stringer up so Jack could add the latest catch to the seven fish already snared on it.

"Wow, you guys have had a good day!" Steve said, resting his hand on Bucky's shoulder.

"Tonight's dinner," Bucky told him.

"We were thinking of having steaks," Jack told him and Steve.

"Surf and Turf," Steve said with a big smile.

"That's a lot of food for just the four of us," Jack figured. "That'd be two fish for each of us plus steaks and sides?" Steve and Bucky both looked up at him as if in question; wondering how that was a lot of food. "Oh right," Jack realized and nodded. He couldn't help but chuckle as he added Tim's fish to the stringer and Bucky lowered it into the water again. "Super soldiers," he said lightly and Tim smiled as he made his rod safe to carry to the boat.

Steve reeled his line in and attached the baited hook to the keeper. "Here. Take mine too," Steve told him, holding it out for Jack. "Go have some fun."

"Thanks," Jack said. "You sure?" he asked before actually taking the proffered fishing pole.

"Yeah, I think we're good here," Steve told him and flashed a smile at Barnes. Bucky grinned and turned to face forward as he waited for Jack to decide.

"Okay, thanks. We shouldn't be long." Jack took the rod from Steve and picked up the small tackle box they'd been working from.

"Take your time," Steve told him. "We're not going anywhere. Right?" he asked Barnes and Bucky smiled at him.

Jack nodded and followed Tim off the pier and into the little row boat Steve had moored up near the shore. Steve and Bucky watched over their right shoulders as they got situated in the boat. Once they were all set, Jack took up the oars and headed out past the floating dock and beyond the buoys. Steve and Bucky had to turn to look over their left shoulders to keep them in view. Jack rowed while Tim regaled him with a story; his arms moving around in the space between them. Jack smiled at his partner and that made Bucky smile too.

Bucky watched them thoughtfully and turned back around. He looked at Steve to see he was still turned as if looking beyond him toward the boat but his eyes had shifted to look at him and Steve smiled. Bucky looked down at the water, wanting to ask a question but he wasn't sure if he should. Steve noticed the change in Bucky's behavior; as if he suddenly became shy or cautious.

"What is it, Buck?" Steve asked, prompting him to share what he was thinking or feeling.

Bucky glanced at him then looked straight ahead before asking, "Do you think we can ever be like them?"

Steve thought about it and had to smile. He put his arm around Bucky to rest his hand on his shoulder. He tugged on him a couple of times making Barnes rock side to side and Steve told him, "We're already a lot like them, pal. We've always been closer than brothers, right?" he asked and Bucky nodded. Steve squeezed his shoulder and continued. "To get to where they are intimately, we just need to wade into deeper waters." Bucky looked at him thoughtfully. "When we're ready. In our own time," Steve assured him.

Bucky thought about that and he smiled. He looked at Steve and nodded. "I want that," he told Steve.

Steve studied him for a moment and nodded. "Me too," he said and tugged his friend closer to drop a kiss to his temple before letting him straighten again. Steve felt Bucky had again opened the door for him to step through and didn't want to let the moment pass without acting on it. Steve removed his hand from Bucky's shoulder and dropped it to gently cover his hand resting on the pier between them. Bucky was still turned away, watching the other couple, but Steve saw him smile in response to the hand holding. Steve curled his fingers and Bucky squeezed his hand lightly. They sat in comfortable silence waiting for their friends to return.


TBC'd