Not Another Teen Fic...

Chapter Four

Steve

Steve stares at Bucky in awe. Impressed that somebody stood up to Howard, he started the clapping, which did not sit well with Tony.
"Why did you clap for him?" He asks angrily when the rest of the class calmed down (after being yelled at by Howard, who was glaring at Bucky and Wade like he wanted to bury them alive.)

"Because he's smart." Steve replies, sounding slightly defensive. "That arm looks very realistic, and it was a clever response to what Mr Stark said."
"But Howard is my dad!"
"That doesn't mean he's always..." Steve stops himself from finishing his sentence, realising that Howard is nearby and Tony would make a troublesome enemy.

Steve is willing to fight people if necessary, but that doesn't mean he likes being punched, regardless of Natasha's insistence that Steve is a masochist because he often gets into to fights that she has to get him out of. He can't help it; trouble always seems to find him, and he's given up trying to change people's perceptions of him. Let them believe whatever they want. If all goes to plan, he'll be far away from this goddamned town in a few years, anyway.

With a lot of help from Tony, Steve makes progress on his technology work. Eventually, the bell goes, signalling the end of their lesson. Steve smiles, realising he has art class now. He and Tony walk into to their art classroom and take their seats. Tony sits at Steve's left, and Wanda takes the seat to his right.

Mr Howllet enters the classroom and everybody quietens down. He tells them to begin their project, which they will have a month to complete. They can work in pairs or alone, he reminds them, and so Wanda gets to her feet and walks to the table at the back of the room where Vision is. She swaps with the person beside Vision, who Steve is admittedly glad to find is Bucky. The brunette sits beside Steve and instantly starts jotting down ideas on a sheet of paper, adamantly not looking up. Tony looks like he is about to start teasing Bucky again, so Steve quickly starts discussing what their project should be to distract him. They have to make a painting of something important to them, but this lesson is just for planning.

"I don't know." Tony shrugs. "You're the artist here." He leans back on his chair and looked around the classroom, then grins and gets up, walking to the other side of the classroom to a group of girls. Steve frowns at him, then sighs and starts jotting down ideas.

After a few minutes, he gets up and walks over to Tony, who is still talking to three girls.
"Hey, Tony." He says, folding his arms over his chest. "You need to come and help me. I don't even know what's important to you."
"Make whatever you wanna make, Steve." Tony replies, not even looking at him.

Steve scowls and walks back to his table.
"Are you okay?" Bucky asks quietly, looking at him with worry. Steve nods, his expression melting into a small smile.
"Yeah, I'm just... It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Okay." Bucky goes back to his work, and they don't speak to each other for the rest of the lesson.

However, Steve keeps stealing looks at him, and towards the end of the lesson, he's almost sure that Bucky is occasionally looking at him, too.