Please don't go

The Airport Scene All Over Again

The next thing Bucky knew, he was in a white bed in a just as white room. Looking around, he saw only T'Challa standing there. "Good evening." T'Challa said, and Bucky nodded a greeting. "It has been 5 weeks. We performed the procedure for removing the certain brain cells, and at the same time we replaced your arm, now with vibranium. We will keep you here for a week, then you can figure out where to go from there. Steve has been calling you frantically, might want to face time him. Your phone is on the bedside table. Call or text me if you need anything, my number is in your phone." T'Challa nodded and left.

Bucky looked over at his phone as it lit up. A picture of Steve's shield showed up with a request to FaceTime. He reached over and hesitated a second before propping it up against the headboard and shifting, hitting the answer button. Steve's face lit up the screen, concern etched into his face. "Hey, Stevie." Bucky said softly. Steve's face immediately lit up, a grin appearing.

"Hey, Buck. How are you feeling?" Steve asked, worry crossing his face again.

"Not sure. Just woke up with a new arm and brain cells probably removed from my brain, and then you called me."

"I can call you back if you want..."

"No, it's ok!"

"Let me know if you want me to hang up or anything, ok?" Bucky nodded, and smiled a little.

"So, how are you doing, Steve? Given that you've only been out for 2 months and..." Bucky trailed off, a surprised look crossing both of their faces. "...and 23 days..."

"How did you know that?" Steve asked, face becoming a whole other level of surprise.

"I...I could have just said random numbers...you said you've been out half a year..."

"No...I just calculated and I've been out exactly 2 months and 23 days..." Both stayed silent, staring at each other. "I had told T'Challa to unfrost me when he unfrosted you, but he unfroze me about a month and a half before so that I could re-integrate myself into culture. I...I visited you before I went into Chyrofreeze, but I didn't know you would remember that..."

"I didn't either. I guess I still 'hear' what people say even when I'm frozen."

A silence stretched between them for a while before Steve broke it. "Has T'Challa told you how long it is before he'll release you?"

"One week." Bucky answered

"Do you have any plans for after you're released?"

"Um... again, I've just woken up, but I kinda want to move back to Brooklyn, to be honest." Steve's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"You could move in with me! I have an extra bedroom and tons of space! T'Challa insisted that I have a large place, and I also have a gym. I don't mind, honest!"

"Thought about this a bit, Stevie?" Bucky asked, smiling a little. Steve blushed and looked away. Bucky's chest constricted, but he pushed it away, knowing it was a bad idea for later but not caring in the moment. "I don't want to impose..."

"I don't mind, honest! Please, Bucky?"

Bucky sighed, flopping over on his bed and bringing his phone with him. "You're very persuasive, Steve. Yes, I'll move in with you if you promise to tell me if you want me to leave."

"As if I'd ever want you to — ok! Ok! I promise to tell you if I want you to leave. Ok? Now you better get your butt out quick, and I'm gonna go make your bed—"

Bucky burst out laughing. "Calm down, Steve. It's a week away." Steve halted his rambling, and Bucky laughed again. "K, I'm feeling tired, but I'll FaceTime you the night before I leave, ok?"

"Ok. Missed you, Bucky." Steve said, reaching to cut the connection. Bucky gave him a soft smile as the connection was cut off.

Bucky put his phone in the side table before flopping down on the bed again. As his eyes closed, he let the caring from Steve wash over him. The love that wasn't love. His unreturned love from Steve. It hurt, yanking at his heart, but he closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep, closing his mind from that thought process.

A week later Bucky found himself FaceTiming Steve. Steve had answered immediately, and they had been chatting about their week when Steve cut to the point. "When are you coming tomorrow?"

"Around 8 PM. I'll arrive at your place around 9." They had exchanged addresses earlier that week.

"Um... Tony has forgiven me, but I think he's still hunting you down. I'm working on tracking down recordings of your torture, though I don't really want to see them, it might help. I just don't want you to get hurt—"

"Steve, that's two hours on the road for you."

"I know. I'll see you at the airport then!" Steve winked before ending the call and the argument at once. Bucky shook his head, sighing as he wondered why Steve was still as stubborn as he was 100 years ago. Damn, though, that number scared Bucky.

The next afternoon, Bucky was boarding a plane headed for an airport just outside of Brooklyn. Once Bucky was in the air, he sent Steve a text as well as a picture. Steve responded immediately, saying he was waiting at the airport.

Bucky: Steve! I'm an hour and a half away!

Steve: Awesome! I've been counting down.

Bucky: 🙄

Bucky: Clearly you don't get what I'm saying. WHY ARE YOU SO EARLY!?

Steve: ROFL!

Bucky: Don't roll on the floor! It's probably filthy.

Steve: lol. Get some rest, I'll see you soon.

Bucky: 🤦🏼‍♂️

Bucky did end up falling asleep, so when the plane landed, he was rested and awake. As soon as he walked into the airport, Steve was beside him. "Just saw Tony. He's undercover with two other people and he didn't look happy. Might not be you, but let's play it safe. Follow me." Steve grabbed Bucky's small bag that Bucky had been carrying while Bucky shouldered his backpack again, which he had had with him during the flight. Steve started a brisk pace, which Bucky matches easily. They reached the door to outside when Steve suddenly grabbed Bucky's backpack strap and pulled him into another room. "Tony." Steve said, and Bucky nodded, before pulling Steve along through a set of doors and hallways before they ended up in the back of the parking garage. "How—" Steve started to ask, then pulled Bucky through rows of cars until they reached his.

"I examined the map before I came down." Bucky answered Steve's unfinished question as they climbed into the car. "And yes, I saw Tony there too. There's a way out to the left that won't pass Tony. Go left now...now a right, and just follow this road."

"Thanks, Buck." Bucky gave Steve a soft smile as they drove out of the parking garage, starting on the hour-long drive to Brooklyn.