Just two boys from Brooklyn

The nightmare

A/N I don't know the first thing about cooking (I managed to burn spaghetti once don't ask my how still I don't know) so don't kill me if I've explained something wrong...

October 1943/ 4 years later

Bucky was just returning from work when the news hit him. For the past four years he'd been working as a wrestler and according to Steve he was damn good at it. He didn't hate the job. . .okay he wasn't exactly thrilled either, but the money was good so he didn't complain.

Ever since they moved everything had been perfect. They'd discovered a gay bar where they'd spent every Friday night, they had made a few friends in the neighbourhood and Steve had only been sick sixteen times throughout those years. Then of course there was the war problem and Steve's enlistment obsession but Bucky had gotten used to it.

And then it happened. Bucky came home earlier than usual that day. He'd finished training and couldn't wait to come home and surprise Steve. As he moved passt the Mailbox he noticed that for the first time it contained an envelope he'd never seen before. Becca's letters usually had sketches on them and they never received mail from anyone else. Bucky frowned but took the envelope and decided to open it once he was inside.

"Hey Stevie I'm back" he shouted as he entered "Steve?" He said again but received no answer

He is probably out, he spoke to himself. He threw his coat on a chair and opened the envelope, curiosity taking over him. He immediately regretted his decision. Inside was a letter. A draft notice. Shit this can't be happening, he thought. He couldn't believe it. He was behind drafted.

"Hello?" Steve's voice interrupted his thoughts "whoever is in here I'm warning you I'm broke as shit."

Bucky laughed awkwardly "don't worry it's just me" he quickly hid the letter "I probably forgot to close the door"

"What are you doing here? Don't you have training?" Steve rushed to hug him

"I finished early and decided to surprise you" Bucky forced a laugh. He'd tell Steve later about the draft "where were you?"

"I um...I..." Steve scratched the back of his head

"Please don't tell me you were trying to enlist again" Bucky pulled back from the embrace and lifted an eyebrow

"I may or may not have been doing that" Steve answered finally

"What? Steve? Again? Why? I thought we talked about this" Bucky's eyes widened in shock. It wasn't the first time he'd heard Steve say that, why was he so shocked all of a sudden?

"Whoa relax" Steve took a defensive position "what's up with your ass today? You've never acted like that before!"

"I'm sorry" Bucky sighed "I'm just getting tired of this whole situation you know? First the war starts then the US joins. It's getting too much to handle"

"I know I know. Me too" Steve cupped Bucky's face and leaned for a deep kiss "let's take this to the bedroom and see if I we can do anything to get your mind off of things" he suggested between smaller kisses and Bucky didn't protest

After a while they were both laying breathless on the bed. Bucky opened his arms and gestured at Steve to cuddle. Soon he was sleeping. Steve tried to close his eyes and rest too but about ten minutes later he gave up that effort. He stood up, put on his boxers and pants and walked to the kitchen to prepare dinner, since his lunch was sleeping. Yes, another thing is that during the past year Steve had learned how to cook. And he could cook quite well. He took the meat and the potatoes out of the fridge and started cutting, big smile on his face.

Bucky on the other hand wasn't that lucky. He twisted and turned around in his sleep.

"Take cover" a man shouted as bombs exploded around them

"Bucky?" A voice got Bucky's attention, who was now wearing a military outfit

"Steve? What are you doing here?" Bucky saw the smaller man. He was standing in the middle of the battlefield, wearing civilian clothes.

The brunette started running to Steve but he couldn't reach him. Suddenly an explosion threw Bucky down. His vision got blurry. Steve stood exactly were he was for the past...how long had it been?

"Why can't you save me?" He whispered as a bullet went threw his thin body

"Nooo" Bucky screamed

He shot up, panting and covered in sweat. Just a nightmare, just a dream, he repeated to himself. He turned to his right to check on Steve only to be greeted with an empty bed. He got dressed and walked out of the bedroom. The moment he closed the door behind him a beautiful smell got his attention. He walked to the kitchen and saw Steve making the table for dinner.

"You took your sweet time waking up" Steve graced him with a smirk

"What's that amazing smell?" Bucky closed his eyes and took a deep breath

"Dinner" Steve replied "I thought since you took suck good care of me in bed I'd return the favour"

Bucky rolled his eyes "what are you cooking?"

"Meat and potatoes" he announced proudly

Bucky just smiled. The nightmare was playing over and over in his mind. How was he gonna tell Steve that he was leaving to fight someone else's war?

Over dinner Steve talked about every possible subject but Bucky just nodded his head in agreement to everything. He did want to talk. All he wanted to do was memorise every little detail about his boyfriend. The blond hair, the big blue eyes with little green lines in them, his expressions.

"Hey Bucky?" Steve moved his hand around, snapping Bucky back to reality

"Huh?" He shook his head "sorry what?"

"I said. Do. You. Want. To. Go. For. A. Walk. After. Dinner?" Steve said slowly

"Not tonight Stevie. I'm kinda tired" he stood up "The food was delicious. Thanks love" he exited the kitchen and walked to the bedroom

Steve cleaned up the table and then run after him. He slowly opened the door and saw Bucky, still in his morning clothes, laying on the left side of the bed.

"Hey. What's wrong?" He sat on his side 

"Nothing. I told you. I'm very tired" Bucky didn't turn to look at him

"Don't bullshit me James Buchanan Barnes. I know you better than I know myself" he moved closer and placed a hand on the man's back "talk to me. Don't shut me out. Let me help"

Bucky hesitantly turned around "there is something I have to tell you" he pointed at his coat laying on the side of a kitchen chair

Steve stood up and brought him the black piece of clothing. Bucky searched the pockets and revealed the envelope. He gave it to the blonde and told him to open it. Steve's eyes widened as he saw the notice.

"You got drafted?" He lifted his eyes from the paper "when did this arrive?"

"I found it when I came home today" Bucky explained "I didn't know how to tell you"

"Oh Bucky" Steve wrapped his small arms around the man's torso "when are you leaving?"

"I'm starting basic in three days and then they'll give me the details" he stole a quick kiss from Steve "but can we please not talk about it? I just need you right now" he forced a smile

"Of course" Steve smiled back and squeezed him as hard as he could earning a chuckle from the bigger man.

Three days later Steve came home to an empty apartment and for the first time in a long time he felt completely alone.