sporadic | avengers

TWENTY-TWO / when captain america didn't like fireworks

NOW PLAYING AMERICA BY SIMON & GARFUNKEL

steve climbed the steps to the loft. once there, he sprawled a blanket out and laid down on his stomach.

he opened to a blank page of his sketchbook and withdrew a pencil from his pocket.

he looked through the floor-to-ceiling windows. the night was dark, but the fireworks illuminated his work.

he mindlessly sketched to the song and to the night.

"it's beautiful."

NOW PLAYING PARTY IN THE U.S.A. BY MILEY CIRUS

"steve?"

in spite of himself, steve hummed quietly to the song. it was catchy, who could resist?

bucky chuckled to himself and lightly kicked steve's socked foot with his own. steve's body jolted at the scare and he turned to see bucky's face, illuminated by a red firework.

steve pulled out his earbuds and turned the song off.

"party in the u.s.a.? a classic," bucky grinned and laid down next to steve. steve's body warmed when bucky's touched it.

bucky glanced down at the sketch of new york from here.

another firework, and steve noticeably winced.

"what's wrong?" bucky asked.

"i don't like fireworks. the sound, at least."

"too loud?"

steve paused a moment before saying, "they sound like gun shots."

"we deal with gun shots everyday," bucky said plainly. steve closed his sketchbook and shoved it away.

"i just don't like to be reminded of that at night."

nightmares. that's it.

"oh," bucky said quietly. his mood shifted and he felt a pressure on his lungs. sometimes, all bucky wanted to do was pull steve close and tell him everything would be alright.

"yeah," steve said, uncomfortable with having nothing else of substance to say.

"give me your phone." bucky waved the phone over. steve handed it to him.

bucky's thumbprint was recognized and he began to search the archives of apple music to find what he was looking for.

"earbuds in," he commanded. steve obeyed and heard the first beats:

NOW PLAYING AMERICAN PIE BY DON McLEAN

steve's head rested on his hands, laid flat on the blanket, and his eyes lay on the illuminated sky. bucky rested on his elbows and watched steve closely.

every movement was noted and adored silently.