Next To Me // A Stucky Au

Chapter Twelve

The next day, Steve was feeling much better, although Bucky refused to let him go into work. The night's sleep had done him a lot of good, even if it meant that Bucky had had to sleep on the sofa to let Steve have the bed.

Steve shuffled into the lounge, blankets still wrapped around him and plopped himself down on the couch next to Bucky. Bucky handed him a plate of toast that he had gotten ready which Steve nibbled contently.

"How are you feeling?" Asked Bucky when he saw Steve.

"A lot better," Steve admitted and continued eating his toast.

"I called in to your work to say you were taking a sick day, you weren't doing anything major, right?"

Steve shook his head, his mouth to full of food to answer. Bucky switched on the tv and began surfing through channels. They sat together in silence. A comfortable silence. A sort of silence that you never want to leave.

"Hey, Bucky," said Steve,  looking away from the program. "Can I do something?"

Bucky looked confused for a second, "Yeah, sure," he answered, "but wha-"

Steve cut him off, yet again, by kissing him full on the lips. Bucky's body failed for a second, from shock, suprise, and a genarally freaking out. Steve pulled away much to soon, and Bucky wished he wouldn't.

"I-I'm sorr- " Steve stammered, except he didn't have time to fully apologize before Bucky kissed him again. This time, both Steve and Bucky melted into the kiss. Bucky ran his hand through Steve's soft, blond hair, and decided that he needed to appreciate this moment. Their moment. The moment that both of them wished would last forever, just spent sharing a sweet kiss. Bucky felt Steve cling closer to his body, and felt the warmth of the other man as well. When they pulled away, at last, they hardly moved, and they both giggled like a couple of teenagers.

Bucky planted one more kiss on Steve's for head before getting up to wash the dishes, and Steve felt himself wishing that Bucky's warmth would come back. Steve was delighted when Bucky walked back in and squeazed in on the couch next to him. Steve cuddled up into him, placing his head on Bucky's chest, listening to the rythmic beat of his heart. He could feel Bucky running his hands through his hair, making tiny, little braids and plaits.

And that's where they spent the rest of the morning, curled around each other, limbs gradually getting more tangled together. And they both loved it.

------

They spent the rest of the day lounging around the house, apart from when Bucky popped out to Steve's hours to get him some fresh clothes (the ones he was in were starting to smell). Bucky decided that Steve should have an early night that night, to 'let himself heal' and Steve was in no condition to protest.

Steve had been laying in bed for a good 15 minutes now, and still couldn't get to sleep. He was relieved when he saw Bucky poke his head through the door to check up on him.

"You still awake, Stevie?" Bucky said in a gentle voice, walking over to Steve's bed.

"Yeah."

"Okay then. Goodnight, don't let the bed bugs bite." Bucky whispered back to him, and turned to leave again.

"Buck?" Steve asked from the bed. "Please stay."

Bucky turned back around and walked straight back over to Steve. "You don't have to tell me twice, that sofa was uncomfortable as hell."

Steve laughed and snuggled into Bucky's chest, feeling comforted when he felt Bucky wrap his arms around him. He cherished the other man's warmth, and they were both asleep within minutes.

------

The next day was Thursday, and while Steve was still not well enough to go into work, Bucky couldn't take the day off again. Steve eventually decided to go with Bucky to work, curled up on the sofa, watching as the others worked around him, occasionally talking to one of them. But Bucky was always near by. He sat on one of the other couches or on the same couch as Steve when he wasn't talking to everyone else. And Steve loved it. Steve loved the look he had in his eyes when he was completely focused on his work, or the calmness of his face when he listened to the other's songs.

The day flew by and Steve was suprised when Nat announced that she was going to pick up Peter. He liked the young boy, and admired Nat for having the mental stability to be able to teach Peter, because sometimes that boy was just so hyper he wondered how many espressos he would need to get himself up to that level of being awake.

After about half a hour, Nat returned with an extremely exited Peter, who rushed over to the drums and was ready to start in two seconds flat. Steve laughed to himself at this.

"Hey doll," he heard Bucky say from behind him, "I made you a hot chocolate." Bucky kissed him on the forehead and handed him the warm drink.

"Thanks," Steve replied. He then realised that the room had gone silent. Peter wasn't even playing the drums. He looked up, mortified, and saw everyone staring at him and Bucky.

"So," said Sam, "let's hear it for the happy couple!"

Everyone around the room started to applause, and Steve felt his face go bright red, although it wasn't very long until he was laughing along with the rest of them. The noise finally died down, and Nat asked, "So how long has this been going on?"

"Since, like, yesterday." Bucky said, and they all smiled.

"Clint, you owe me five dollars!" Nat yelled across the room at Clint, which only made everyone laugh harder.

"But, seriously," Sam said at last. "We're happy for you guys."

"And not just for betting reasons," Peggy butted in, glaring at Clint and Nat. "Do you guys want to do something on Sunday, like go out to eat instead of just going round to mine. Hey, Peter, do you want come to?"

"Yeah!" Peter yelled, "Thanks Miss Carter!" Steve smiled at the kid's enthusiasm. That would be something to look forward to.

A/n: what is uuuupppp you wonderful people who actuAlly have the ability to put up with my awful writing. You guys have skill. Thanks thanks thaskjcajhcndmzkxjkskx for reading constructive criticism is good, goodnight.