Only a Memory | Bucky Barnes

Chapter 7: Steggy Confirmed

Everything was as it usually was that day. Until it wasn't.

They sat at the picnic table before school, went to class, contemplated jumping through the second story window. All was well.

Then lunch came around.

Peggy wasn't around, which Bucky noticed immediately. While he talked to everyone else often enough, him and Peggy always sat together at lunch. It was their daily routine. If anyone else noticed this sudden change, they didn't say anything about it.

Bucky talked to Pietro, who was talking to Clint, who was off in space probably thinking about Natasha. Wanda and Vision were gone, probably making out behind the school somewhere. Bruce was sitting quietly and eating a sandwich. Peggy was gone.

It become apparent soon after where Peggy had been, or at least who she had been with. When she sat down at their usual lunch table she was accompanied by the one and only Steve Rogers. Bucky should've known this was coming.

"Peggy." Bucky nodded at her.

Peggy frowned. Nothing could get by her. That, or Bucky was being super obvious that he was bothered by the new addiction at their lunch table. More so, he was bothered by what it meant.

"Bucky." Her voice was quiet. It was like she knew. She couldn't have. Could she? "Umm. You know Steve, obviously."

She was looking at Bucky guiltily. It wasn't her fault. He shouldn't have been mad at her.

She didn't say that they were dating, but she didn't have to. Bucky saw Steve reaching for her hand before he sat down next to her. He wasn't even being discreet. Bucky knew he was being unreasonable, but he almost felt as if it was on purpose, and for whatever reason Steve was rubbing this in his face. Did he think Bucky had a crush on Peggy?

Steve was avoiding his eyes, which Bucky hardly noticed because he was doing the same thing. It was hard to look across at Peggy without looking at Steve, so Bucky ignored the two entirely. He knew it wasn't right, but Peggy would probably not even notice this, anyhow.

They were talking, Peggy and Steve. They were in their own world where nothing outside of each other mattered at all. Bucky wasn't sure why they'd even bothered to come at all.

"Bruce," Bucky said suddenly.

Bruce looked up. There was mustard on the corner of his mouth. "Yeah?"

"What do you think about a Halloween party?" It was the first thing he had thought of. Halloween was a week away, and he didn't actually think he'd be hosting a party, but he needed to start up a conversation somehow.

Bruce looked very unsure. "Party's aren't really my thing."

"Tony has a big Halloween party every year," Peggy said.

Natasha had convinced Bucky to wear his hearing aids to school, which Bucky found weren't all that hard to get used to once he actually wore them. However, sometimes he hated teenagers and their obnoxiousness and wished he wouldn't have to hear them so clearly.

All heads were turned to Peggy. She continued, "Steve already invited me. I'm sure you guys could come too."

Steve put on his charming Steve Rogers smile that was hard to look away from.

Oh god Bucky, stop—

Bucky looked away, catching Pietro's eye. Pietro raised a brow.