Marvel One Shots

A Day at the Lake (Stucky)

Where Steve and Bucky face Bucky's insecurities and finally get to spend a day a the lake

Bucky was insecure. Ever since he had lost his arm, the thought of showing people his body made him sick to his stomach.
And it didn't matter that Tony had made him the best prosthetic arm in the whole world and they had gotten the best neurosurgeon to attach it, giving him the chance to actually feel.
Bucky knew that it was not his arm and he was ashamed of showing it. Especially in public. He didn' go about in the summer because he would have to wear short sleeved t-shirt and he definitely didn't go to the beach, scared to scare the kids.
He didn't even want Steve, his husband of many years, to see him. Bucky always waited for Steve to be asleep to take a shower and even when they were being intimate, he always made sure to always have a t-shirt on and to never use his metal arm.

Years of therapy and of Steve going to extreme lengths to reassure Bucky that he was just as handsome as before, even with the scars, led to Bucky finally, but slowly getting better.
It started with Bucky finally agreeing to wear short sleeved t-shirts at first and then even tank tops, but just around the house. Sometimes, he agreed to it when there was only Steve there, and sometimes, when he was feeling a little bit better, also when Tony and Natasha were around.
Then, he agreed to take off his shirt when they were making love, but just if the light was off, allowing Steve to caress his scars and himself to use the arm.
Slowly, they turned on the light and started having showers together.
They were baby steps, but they were progress. And Steve was damn proud of his husband.

"I have a proposition for you"
Steve and Bucky were sunbathing on their balcony. It was one of the first times Bucky was topless outside, even if it was just their balcony.
Bucky opened his eyes, covering them from the sun with his hand.
"I'm not marrying you again, Rogers"
Steve chuckled, gently hitting Bucky on the shoulder.
"Seriously though. Tony has a cabin in the woods with a beautiful private lake and he's willing to lend it to us for the weekend. What do you say?"
"A lake?" Steve nodded "As in, let's go swim without my shirt on"
Bucky sat up.
"No, I don't think I can do it"
"Hey Buck, listen to me. I don't want to make you do something you don't want to do, but I think it'll be good for you"
"I know, and I appreciate it, but what if someone sees me?"
Steve took Bucky's hands in his, kissing them both.
"I can assure you, no one will see you. It's private property and no one trasparesses in aStark property"
A small smile appeared on Bucky's lips.
"Tony won't be there either, it's gonna be just us. I've seen you without your shirt. I think it's best if we try there in a safe environment, isn't it? And if you don't want to,no biggie, you can always swim with your shirt on. So, what do you say?"

They left in the morning, right after they stopped by Tony's to take the keys of the cabin.
The cabin was beautiful. It was extremely big for a cabin, but then again it was Tony's.
The lake was enormous, with a very nice shore, shaded by beautiful tall trees.
The weather was nice, it was warm for being April. It was sunny and a nice wind blew. It was the perfect weather for a day at the lake.
Steve and Bucky unloaded the car and got ready for the lake, changing into their swimsuit.
Bucky walked out with his t-shirt on and laid on the shore his towel. Steve was already in the water, holding out his hand for Bucky. Bucky walked towards Steve, taking his hand.
Hand in hand, they walked towards the center of the lake, until the water reached their hips.
Steve put his hands on Bucky's hips and Bucky put his arms around his neck.
"What do you say if we take the shirt off huh?" proposed Steve.
Bucky hid his head on Steve's shoulder, mumbling something under his breath.
"Buck, there is just me here. And I- Steve put his hands on the border of the t-shirt- think that you're beautiful just as you are. Can I?"
Bucky hesitantly nodded and Steve pulled off his t-shirt, kissing the joint between Bucky's shoulder and his metal arm. He knew it always made him feel better.
It was good. The afternoon, and the weekend, went smoothly. Bucky had been tense at first but then he let himself go. He was starting to realise that, with Steve, he was safe. He knew that Steve loved him but some stupid entity a the back of his mind, put into his head stupid thoughts.

Going to the cabin became a weekly tradition for Steve and Bucky. They would spend the weekend there, bathing in the lake.
As the time passed, Bucky was feeling more and more better about showing his body, even if it was just to Steve. At first Steve was the one to take Bucky's shirt off, in the water or on the shore, but then, much to Steve's surprise, he started doing it by himself.
Baby steps, but it was something.

It was the middle of the summer when, one day, Tony decided to organise a day at the cabin for their whole group of friends.
He asked Steve and Bucky as well, although he knew about Bucky's insecurities.
"I think we should go"
Bucky spoke up once Steve joined him on their bed.
"What?"
"I think we should to to the cabin with Tony, Tasha and the others"
Steve smiled, "Really?"
"Yeah, I think, I think it's time, y'know. It's them, they know, right?"
Steve chuckled and kissed Bucky on the lips.
"Ok then, we'll go to the cabin"

Tony had organised everything to make everything perfect for his friends.
It was hot, really hot, and the sun was shining. It was a perfect summer day.
Everyone was in their swimsuits, everyone except for Bucky. But they didn't care.It was big enough for him to be there, it had been years since the last time they had a lake day with Steve and Bucky.
Once everyone was ready to go into the water, Steve waited for Bucky, ready to stay out with him.
"You go, I need to go to the toilet"
Steve kissed him on the cheek and reached the others in the lake.
Bucky stood in front of the mirror, looking at the self, trying to find the courage to go out there.
Bucky puffed.
"It's now or never" he said to himself before walkin back out.
Steve was in the water, looking at the doorway, waiting for Bucky to come out.
Bucky stood on the shore, looked at Steve and finally pulled off his t-shirt, walking to Steve.
Steve had a big smile on his lips and, once Bucky had reached him, he took his hand and walked to the others, who were playing ball.
They noticed that Bucky was not wearing his usual black t-shirt, but didn't pay much attention to it. Deep down, they were just as proud of him as Steve was.

Tony was over to the grill, flipping burgers for their dinner.
The sun was setting and the temperature was getting cooler. Everybody was putting on clothes. But not Bucky. Maybe it was because it was dark, or maybe it was because he actually felt good in his skin. He didn't know but he didn't care.
It felt good, they had a good day, and it was all thanks to Steve.
Steve was sitting on one of the steps of the porch, looking at Bucky talking to their friends.
Bucky walked over to him, handing him a bottle of beer and sitting in between Steve's legs.
They were looking at the bonfire burning. Steve took a sip from his beer, putting it down on the steps and put a hand in Bucky's hair, caressing his chest with the other.
He put his mouth near Bucky's ear.
"I'm proud of you, you know that right?"
Bucky nodded and kissed Steve's hand.
They sat in silence for a while longer before Bucky got up, took Steve by the hand and walked to the bonfire.
Steve handed Bucky his sweatshirt and hugged his husband from behind.
Bucky turned, facing him. He cupped his face with the metal arm, for the first time, and brought their foreheads together.
"Thank you Steve"
Steve caressed his lips with his thumb and brought their lips together.
"I love you"