Only the Good Die Young

Chapter Nine

You made yourself some coffee while you waited for Bucky, usually you were ravenous first thing in the morning but your appetite had been replaced by an uneasy knot that sat in your stomach like a rock. You had so many questions for him. It was troubling, really, how little you know about his increasingly complex past, but your determination to get him to spill his secrets was now stronger than ever.

You heard the door downstairs click open and slow footsteps crept up the stairs. Bucky appeared in the kitchen a few seconds later, looking like he was ready to call it a day on any and all matters involving deep emotions. Well, tough.

"Thanks for that," he cautiously moved towards you, "although she does seem to think we're all happy families over here."

"Yeah, sorry about that. It was just easier if I went along with it, plus it seemed to cheer her up a little."

He was trying to smother a smug smile as he leant against the counter in front of you. "S'alright, it cheered me up too."

A brief silence fell, the sound of your teaspoon clinking against the inside of your mug resonating around the whole apartment. Your mind was occupied trying to think of the most inoffensive way to compose your next sentence.

"Buck, do you mind if I asked what happened between you and your mom? You said you barely speak but, I don't know, your relationship seems pretty good."

"It is. I just... choose to stay away."

Christ he was fucking cryptic, it was like trying to crack the enigma code.

"Right. Just, from the way you spoke about her, I thought maybe it was drugs or something."

"Nah. I mean she drinks like a fish, but she's not nearly as bad as my dad." He glanced over and saw you raise your eyebrows at him, prompting him to continue, which he did with a sigh. "She just won't leave him, no matter what he does. I've tried everything."

"I see."

"I love her and I help her out when I can, but it's too hard to just stand by and watch how he treats her. I gotta keep a distance or I get sucked back in."

"That must be really hard."

"Don't worry," he forced a smile, "I'm used to it."

"Well, I'm glad you told me. It's good to talk about these things."

"Nah, you don't need all my shit piled on top of yours."

He dropped his keys on the counter and moved to walk away, but you swiftly reached out and grabbed hold of his arm.

"She's really proud of you, Buck."

The disingenuous smile was slowly swallowed as a beaming grin spread across his face. He turned and took your hands in his, pulling you towards him, looking pleasantly surprised at your lack of resistance. He was definitely still in the doghouse, but you were ready to cut him a little slack.

"She is? No idea why."

"Cause you're a good guy," the slack was used up faster than you'd expected, "when you're not throwing punches and getting yourself arrested."

He chuckled and cautiously wandered his hands up to your waist, ready to be swatted away at any moment. That boy could do an entire figure-skating routine on the thinnest of thin ice and not fall through.

"You're just gonna keep bringing that up, aren't ya?"

"Yep."

"You ever gonna forgive me?"

"Maybe, but only after I've had my fun."

"As long as you stick around you can chew me out whenever you feel like it," he slid his hands around your back and pulled you closer to his chest, "you can try to push me away but I'm not going anywhere."