Rude Boy: Blue Series 1 (Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes Modern California AU)

Nineteen

By the end of the work day, Steve was jittery.  Jiggling his legs while he sat impatiently at his desk.  Jingling his keys before spinning his key ring around his finger.  When it was time to finally clock out, Steve was practically the first one to do so.

"Where's the fire?"  Clint teased with a quirked brow.

"He's probably meeting up with Bucky," Sam mused as the three left their shared office.

"Um, nope," Steve answered, messing with the strap on his messenger bag that he slung across his torso.

"You sure?"  Sam asked as the three of them entered the elevator.

"I'm sure," Steve declared even though he was fidgeting.

Clint and Sam exchanged a look before both men started loudly laughing.  Steve ignored them, or at least tried to for the most part.  The only thing that Steve was concerned with was leaving here as quickly as possible.  Not that he didn't enjoy spending time with his friends, he did.  But Steve really just wanted to figure out what his next move with Bucky should be.

As the three of them exited the elevator, Steve quickly crossed the lobby and called out, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See ya," the other two men called out, laughing while Steve rushed out of the building and out to the employee parking lot.  As Steve climbed into his car, and wondered if it was too soon to call Bucky.  Then he wondered why he was wondering to begin with.

Wanting help with his Bucky issue while also wanting to be distracted, Steve drove towards the one person he knew could help.

-------

"What's the emergency?"  Sharon asked, sounding out of breath as she opened her apartment door to Steve.

Steve headed straight into Sharon's apartment, crossed through the dining area, and plopped himself down on the coral sofa.  Letting out a dramatic sigh, Steve declared, "What should I do about Bucky?"

Closing the door and turning around to face Steve, Sharon's brows furrowed and she asked, "Are you serious right now?"

"Yes," Steve sat up straight and pleaded, "What should I do?"

"Steven," Sharon warned and sighed in annoyance.  Walking over to the sofa, she swatted at Steve and explained, "I nearly had a heart attack thinking that something was seriously wrong, you jerk!"

Steve was rapidly blinking as Sharon plopped down on the sofa next to him.  Steve questioned, "Did you, 'Steven,' me?"

"Yeah," Sharon sighed and nodded her confirmation, "I did because you scared the living shit out of me.  I thought you got into an accident or something was wrong with your mom."

"Wow, you went to a really dark place after I called you," Steve mused with a heavy brow and a playful smirk.

"That's what an emergency is," Sharon scoffed and shoved at Steve's broad shoulder.  "An emergency is not wondering what to do after having an amazing date."

"Okay, Miss I Need Help Picking Out What to Wear On a Date With Kevin, It's An Emergency," Steve teased, playfully ruffling Sharon's blonde hair.

"Hey, you said that you were happy to help," Sharon defended herself, "And I told you what I needed your help with before saying it was an emergency.  All you said was that you needed to come over because you had an emergency."

"And I do have an emergency," Steve whined.

"Unless Bucky broke into your apartment and is actively threatening to cover his body in your blood, it's not an emergency," Sharon clarified with a smirk.

Steve rolled his eyes and said, "Fine.  I at least need your help with a Bucky situation."

"A Bucky situation?"  Sharon teased.  Steve's face pinched in mock agony and Sharon playfully rolled her eyes, "Fine.  What's going on with you and Bucky."

"Well," Steve sighed and explained, "I'm not sure what to do."

"What do you mean you don't know what to do?"  Sharon asked studying Steve.

Steve scrubbed his hand over his face and questioned, "Should I call him?"

"Do you like him?"  Sharon retorted.  She knew that Steve hated when Sharon -- or anyone, really -- answered his question with another question.  In that moment though, Sharon figured that Steve deserved to be messed with a little bit.

"Isn't it kind of obvious?"  Steve asked, knowing exactly what Sharon was doing and trying not to give in too soon.

Sharon crossed her arms along her chest and questioned, "So, this is serious?"

"Again, isn't it obvious?"  Steve stubbornly asked.

Sharon smirked and quirked a brow, turning to face Steve, "What do you like about Bucky?"

"What's not to like?"  Steve mimicked Sharon's stance.

Taking in a deep breath, Sharon caved, "Okay, fine.  Seriously though, what do you need my help with?"

Steve triumphantly raised his fists in the air before asking Sharon, "How soon is too soon to call?"

"Are you serious?"  Sharon pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, "Is that seriously your emergency?"

"You deal with this type of stuff," Steve reasoned.

Sharon shook her head, "I don't though.  I usually come to you and ask why a guy isn't calling me by Thursday when we went out on Saturday.  And then you tell me that if he calls then I shouldn't agree to another Saturday date unless it's for the next Saturday because I don't want him to assume that I'm too available or easy."

"Do I really tell you that?"  Steve asked with a wince.

"Yes, you do," Sharon exclaimed while her eyes widened and she pushed at Steve's shoulder.  "Why?  Is it not true?  Were you just --"

"What?  No," Steve interrupted, "Of course, it's true.  I just don't think that it applies when you're the one calling, right?"

Sharon pressed her lips together before asking, "What if Bucky decides to call you?"

"We agreed that I would call him," Steve answered with a large toothy grin.

Nodding, Sharon tried to think of something.  She wasn't used to giving Steve advice though.  Usually, Steve was the one giving her advice.  Of course, that probably had something to do with Steve being only moderately interested in any of his former dates turned fuck-buddies.  That and the fact that Steve was usually the one making the calls then receiving them.

"When's the last time you talked to him?"  Sharon asked.

"This morning," Steve answered, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks.

Sharon realized the significance of Steve's statement and she rapidly blinked, shocked.  She held her hand up as she declared, "Wait.  Did you... spend the night?  On a weekday?  When you had work?"  Studying Steve she could already tell what the answer was and she teased, "Who even are you?!"

Steve slid down in his seat and covered his blushing face.  Steve was hiding the large grin on his face and he weakly tried to defend himself, "Bucky has a really comfortable bed."

"I can't believe you," Sharon playfully swatted at Steve's thigh, "You never stay the night!"

"I know," Steve sighed and bit his lower lip.  Helplessly, Steve looked at Sharon and asked, "What should I do?"

"You really like him," Sharon mused and Steve nodded.  Sharon feigned thought before saying, "I think that this calls for Chinese takeout and social media stalking."

A large grin cut across Steve's face as he willingly agreed.  For a moment, Sharon just fondly looked at Steve. Despite Sharon following the same suit as his other past relationships, Sharon and Steve actually were friends. Not only did they enjoy spending time together, they actually cared about one another. Sharon knew that Steve was serious with Bucky. Even if Steve might not have realized it himself yet.