Unsteady - Stucky

8. New friend

2 days had passed. 2 boring and very long days and Steve had finally texted Bucky that he was on his way home. Bucky was ecstatic, once he actually was alone he remembered just how much he hated it, and how it could even bring him to panic attacks sometimes.

Once he heard the lock on the front door turning and then opening, he immediately paused his current episode of How I Met Your Mother, a show he had binge-watched since Steve left, and he looked over to see Steve walking through the door. A huge smile plastered on his face and he shot up from his bed and walked over to Steve.

"Hey, Buck." Steve smiled. Bucky wrapped his arms around Steve's neck and pulled him down for a hug, needing the caring touch, once he felt it all his anxieties washed away. He calmed down and leaned into Steve's strong arms.

"I missed you." Bucky whispered against Steve's neck. Being alone was officially his least favorite thing in the world. It reminded him way too much of his past and caused way too many panic attacks, being alone was something he never wanted to be ever again. Steve genuinely smiled at Bucky and his hug, not knowing the whole back story, and just hugged him back as tightly.

"I missed you too." 

***

They spent their whole afternoon watching How I Met Your Mother, Steve jumping in at season 2, episode 3, he didn't really need to know everything to follow the show pretty well. Bucky just told him a quick summation. 

Bucky was leaning against Steve, trailing lines and circles into Steve's hair, peacefully and quietly watching the show, until Steve broke the silence.

"I will be going on more missions this month.." 

Bucky rose his head and looked into Steve's eyes with confusion.

"What?" He asked. He was.. hurt? He felt some sort of betrayal like Steve was going away from him.

"I'm sorry. It's temporary, just this month and maybe next I will be gone for the most part." Steve said sadly and sunk his head low. Bucky didn't know what to say, he could already feel the panic in his throat.

"B-but.." he said, he felt his eyes starting to water.

"But what, Bucky?" Steve asked with furrowed brows as he placed a gentle and comforting hand on his shoulder. Bucky took a deep breath and looked at Steve from the corner of his eyes.

"I really don't like being alone, Steve." He said sternly as one tear ran down his cheek, but he was quick to wipe it away.

"Why?" Steve asked, still confused.

"I.. I umm.." Bucky didn't know how to phrase it himself. Steve's eyes grew wide.

"Of course, you don't have to tell me! I won't pressure you." He was very quick to say. Bucky smiled a little at him.

"Thank you." He whispered.

Then Steve got an idea. He immediately jumped out of bed, Bucky whined at the loss of contact, he ran into the hall and began getting dressed.

"Wait! W-where are you going?" Bucky said and whined, tears once again filling his eyes.

"I'm sorry Buck, do you think you'll be okay alone for maybe an hour?" Steve asked and put on his shoes. He looked up and saw how sad Bucky looked, he started to feel really bad but he remembered why he was doing this. Bucky simply nodded and turned his attention back to the television. "It'll be okay. Just watch the show and I'll be back before you know it." Steve reassured and ran out of the door, quickly closed it, and locked it behind him.

***

1 hour and 3 minutes later, Steve walked back through the door, with a box in his hand.

He walked into the living room, only to see the couch empty and the TV still running, he grabbed the control and quickly turned it off.