Stasis || Bucky Barnes (1)

Thirteen

Bucky woke up to the bright warmth of the sun shining across his face. Basil could hear him groan as the man shifted slightly in the starched sheets. He looked up across the room as Bucky blinked open his eyes. "Morning Buck", Steve greeted from across the room. He was trying to peer at the small mirror over the sink, face furrowed as he made  to adjust his tie. Bucky lifted his head enough to blink at them with a tired sigh before struggling up into a seated position. He yawned widely and ran a hand over the morning stubble decorating his chin.

"What time is it? You didn't think to wake me?" His voice was raspy from sleep. Basil forced himself to ignore it and turn back to his letter. The pen scratching on the thin paper.

"It's eight twenty nine", Steve answered. "Damn, I'm late". He scooped up his uniform jacket and headed to the door, waving at them as he passed. "I'll see you later", he called as the door shut loudly behind him. Bucky blinked at him and shook his head fondly at the closed door. There were a few distance thumps and scattered apologies from the hall as Steve left.

"It's still weird seeing him so big". The comment was quiet, half hushed under a breath. Basil looked up to watch as Bucky got out of bed and stretched his arms up with a sigh. The man was wearing a thin white vest over pale blue pyjama bottoms. The sleep wear, along with all their other clothing, recently brought and still stiff. (All their old clothes and belongings still lost in the hydra base).

Bucky blinked, blue eyes clearing the last of the sleep away. He smiled at Basil and strode across the room to the sink where Steve had just been standing. Their room in the London lodging house that the brass had put them in, was small with four beds occupying most of the space. There was a small in one corner with a chipped mirror hanging above it. Underneath the square window was a old scuffed desk that Basil was currently occupying. The room's walls were a a weird shade of cream that was cheap but had faded into a grubby grey. The furniture creaked and the beds were too soft, springs all broken. (But after sleeping on the ground or on hard army cots for months, every bed was too soft). But the whole lodging house had a comfy and casual attitude that made it far better than anywhere Basil had stayed in over a year.

The three other beds were all made. Bucky narrowed his eyes at them, not amused at being the last to wake. "Steve had his thing with mr Stark", Basil reminded. "Monty left half an hour to go and meet a few friends of his. Take advantage of the days off".

Bucky hummed in reply as he washed his face over the sink. Basil turned back to his letter. The tip of the pen hovering over the paper as he thought. He didn't know what to say. There was only so much he could write, and half of that was confidential. It was frustrating him. Basil sighed heavily and jumped, pen jolting so that a drip of ink hit the paper as a hand landed on his shoulder. He turned to glare up at Bucky. He hadn't heard the man walk over.

Bucky's face was still damp and there was a clear drop of water lingering on his jawline. His brown hair was limp on his forehead, tips wet. "What you doing?" He asked, leaning down to have a look. Basil grimaced at the letter.

"I'm trying to write a letter to my brother, thought I'd send one before we leave. Just in case. But the words just aren't working". He huffed and ran a hand through his curls. Bucky hummed and turned back to the room. Basil could hear the clatter of moving objects as the other man got out his shaving kit turned on the taps.

"What's your brother like?" The question made Basil blink.

"He's a grump. An outdoors boy. When I was home for the summer, I used to spend hours wandering through the woods near our house looking for him", Basil snorted at the memory, a nostalgic smile on his lips. "Of course he would be up a tree and I would have to climb up to help him get down. No matter how many times he got stuck, he still climbed trees".

"Sounds like he has your persistence", Bucky remarked. "My sisters were all little terrors. Had half our street wrapped around their little fingers. Everyone doted on them".

"What? And they didn't dote on you too?" Basil laughed, turning to watch the other man. Bucky smiled at him through the mirror. One hand holding a blade over the foam covered skin oh his cheek.

"Maybe", he didn't smile, too busy gently smoothing the blade down his face. But there was a twinkle in his eyes. "But that was different".

Basil's lips twitched with amusement as he turned back round to his letter. Calm silence feel lightly over the room again, atmosphere comfortable. Only small soft sounds, like the scratch of pen on paper and the rustle of cloth as Bucky shaved, was audible in the small room. As if to keep up with the relaxed mood, the weather outside was almost present. For the English spring, it was light and the clouds were pale. Sun peaking through enough to add colour to the city streets. Time passed and Basil let out a satisfied sigh as he signed his name at the bottom of the page with a scribble. He smiled fondly as he scanned the letter through and folded it up for the envelope.

"Done?" Bucky asked. The man had long finished shaving and was lounging in a casual state of undress on his mattress. Shirt hanging open to show the vest underneath, feet bare and hair still messy. Basil licked the envelope to seal it and grinned at him over his shoulders.

"Yeah. Just need to drop it off at the post box". He waved the envelope then dropped it back onto the desk. He stood and stretched his arms up over his head, yawning with 'morning and nothing to do' type of laziness.

There was a squeak of bed springs and Basil dropped his arms down as Bucky pushed himself to his feet. "So Steve has left me for his badass brunette", he huffed. "The others are out enjoying London. What are your plans for me Parrish?" His eyes glinted teasingly. Basil wanted to tell the man all of the plans currently forming in his brain, but he doubted that they appropriate. Bucky was his friend. He didn't want to ruin that, regardless if the other man shared his likes. It did not mean that Bucky liked him.

"Do you say that to all the girls?" Basil sniped back. Bucky laughed.

"Well I'm sure you know a few dance halls", he urged. Basil leaned his hips back against the desk chair and huffed.

"Of course I do. What sort of question was that? Come on, get changed and I'll show you to the best pub in London".

"I'll hold you to that", Bucky pointed at him with a smile as he grabbed for his socks. Basil beamed.

Unedited

AN: I wrote this listening to Perfect places by Lorde.
Also, what do you think of my photo edit above? I think it came out rather good.