The Encyclopedia Of Bucky Barnes' New Beginnings | Stucky

Seven ∆ The Bravest of All Popcorn Kernels

Bucky ate leftover white cheddar mac and cheese, sitting at the table since he was eating quick. Steve sat with him, the corner of the square table between them. Since Bucky didn't exactly need his left hand, he took Steve's and entwined their fingers together, just so they could be that little bit closer. They traded idle small talk, until Bucky came to asking about Steve's day, remembering a detail from before. "What phone call did you get earlier?"

"Tony and...shit, who was it? Anyways, I'm wanted in the city tomorrow. There's a meeting, and it could bring in a lot of money, which right now would be really, really helpful. It has to do with making fancy pieces to go into antique frames for an auction coming up, they'll rank up the prices and I'll get a percentage of each one that's sold on top of my official pay. Family portraits aren't exactly high sellers. I called Wanda, and she said that she could watch Liv while we're gone. The only time she's  around anyone is when she gets grocery pickup." Wanda was the clear decision. She happily worked from home with her Etsy shop, making soaps and handcrafted jewelry. It took up most of her time, after her husband Vis had gotten stuck in California and then passed away the month before. The stillbirth of her twins was already hard enough, but she loved being around their friends' kids when she had the opportunity, even if it brought up that familiar sorrow.

Bucky didn't focus too much on the nickname, instead asking, "Why not a Google Meet? Or a Zoom?" before shoveling another mouthful into his mouth. Bless Sarah for teaching her son how to cook.

"Because the organization is apparently above remote meetings, pictures and video manipulate the work 'beyond recognition.'" He scoffed, shaking his head. "Tony tried to convince them, but they wouldn't bite. He and I are going to stay a little out of the way, so we're not too close to them."

Bucky nodded, frowning. "Sounds dumb."

"Very. But it's good money, so I'm cooperating where I can. If they don't follow social distance and/or don't have masks or won't put them on, I'll walk out. Tony will, too. He's made sure that Stark Industries is following all the guidelines, and there's a no tolerance policy for employees and customers, and business partners."

Bucky had heard. They were loyal customers of their close friend's national company, partially for the very good discounts Tony gave them because he considered them family and the work that he and Steve did together. Mostly because they were usually ready to babysit his daughter Morgan at the drop of a hat. They got the customer newsletters, Tony's rants that Bucky and Steve were so easily sucked into ("why the fuck won't people just wear their fucking masks, this would've been over and we can party it up like - what is it? Sweden? Norway?" "Well, don't you know that the masks and tests are invasive?" "Tell that to pap smears and prostate exams, I bet they'll be shocked.")

"Okay...Okay. Are you staying overnight?"

"I don't think so. May need some extra kisses, just in case."

Feeding in, Bucky kissed him again, pulling away to happily turn his attention back to the last part of his previously full bowl. Steve made good money, doing what he did. He was one of the artists that got fortunately discovered, was able to make more than a penny off his fantastic work. Technically, Steve very much qualified as rich, but he liked to live comfortably over lavish. So their house was a two story with a full basement, had enough rooms so they could host holidays when it was their turn or make sure one of their friends didn't have to bother with a hotel room. It was nice, because even after Bucky got his promotion he didn't make much of anything. And Steve had grown up in a financial struggle, his parents living paycheck to paycheck, buried in loans and debt after Sarah's cancer kept coming back, after Steve was so sick as a kid.

Now it was mostly better. Sarah smiled through everything. Steve did his best to help his parents out. And their was just so much love and understanding in their little family, that just made Bucky so so sad but so proud to have gotten to know them the way he did.