Drawing Lessons

Over Tea

Bucky set down his empty mug of tea.

"Are you done already?" Steve asked incredulously, staring down at Bucky's empty ceramic container.

"Oh, uh, yeah." Bucky said, still a little embarrassed by his sister. 

"Hey, Buck?" Steve asked, voice small.

"Yeah, Steve?" Bucky replied, looking at the small blonde boy sitting before him.

"Just... thanks. For, you know, everything yesterday." Steve smiled a little as he looked up at Bucky's warm features.

"Yeah, it was no problem. I mean, I couldn't really just leave you." Bucky fiddled with the string of his tea bag as it hung out of his mug.

"No, you could've. Easily. Lots of people do it." Steve said quietly, his eyes looking into his swirling brown tea as his hands lay limply on either side of his mug.

"I couldn't just leave you." Bucky repeated, eyebrows creasing as he looked at Steve. Slowly, cautiously, Bucky reached his right hand across the table and wrapped it around Steve's left.

For a moment, Steve closed his eyes, lost in the warmth of Bucky's hand.

"Thanks, Buck." Steve whispered.

"Yeah, Steve. 'Course." Bucky responded. There was a lapse in the conversation in which both parties were overly aware of Bucky's hand as it enveloped Steve's. Steve's small radio played Sinatra softly in the corner.

"So, Steve," Bucky retraced his hand and stood up, taking care of his dirty mug in the sink, "When's your mom getting home today?"

"Late." Steve responded simply, leaving his tea as it was half finished on the table and standing up as well.

"You wanna have dinner at my place or something then?" Bucky asked, turning around, "Although, I might have to send Becca over to her friend's house. She thinks she's some sort of sleuth or something She's been really into spy books, so it's not much of a surprise." 

Steve laughed a little.

"Bucky, your sister is so interesting. Completely insane, but very interesting."

"Yeah..." Bucky trailed off, overly aware of his own discomfort after his sister had shown up at Steve's house. What was wrong with her?

"Anyway, I can't. I've got to make some food here so my mom has some when she gets home." Steve excused, his cheeks flushing with frustration because he really wanted to have dinner at Bucky's.

"Well, another time, then." Bucky said, smiling his charming smile at Steve, "Anyway, I've gotta go find Becca, so, see ya later."

"Bye." Steve said.

He heard Bucky's footsteps walking casually to his door. Once the door was closed he could barely hear Bucky pick up his pace, perhaps even running.

Steve was so confused.