Five Hundred Thousand?!

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Folks! Holy crap!

Half! A! Million! Views!

That's so insane! Thank you guys tons, that's way beyond anything I ever imagined this book becoming!

To celebrate, I'm writing a fluffy shot because y'all deserve it. You can imagine how many angry all-caps comments I've gotten over this book, and somehow, you're all still here, so thank you. Thank you for those who have stuck with me for 4 years (holy) and those who are maybe just coming across this book now. :)

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Up a hill, and trudging through the snow. Bucky puffs his cheeks out and follows Steve upwards. He admires him from behind and continues the trek, now more invigorated to finally reach the top and rest.

"Careful," Steve calls as he races up the hill. Bucky scoffs a little. Mountain goat, he thinks. Hills were all fine for Steve -- with his long legs and youthful soul. Bucky, older than him by one year, feels the time press on him as his legs begin to ache.

"Agh -- Christ," he huffs as he slips. "How much further, huh?"

"Just up there." Bucky follows his vague gesture up the hill. At least he didn't have to carry anything. Stacked in Steve's arms sits a picnic basket and two blankets.

The snow doesn't help matters. By the time they reach the top, they're out of breath. Steve lays out the blankets and Bucky collapses onto them, the snow crunching to fit his form as he sits. Steve joins him with a weary sigh.

Bucky takes in the surroundings. The city dressed in white was quite a sight, especially from their height and distance. The entire city looks like a miniature version of itself, and he marvels at the view.

"At least it's a nice day, one of the reasons I wanted to get outside," Steve speaks as he hands him a sandwich and drink. Bucky smiles in response and starts to eat, thinking.

He and Steve were a couple. Brand-new, not used to anything, really. Bucky was waiting to see what would happen. They used the term "boyfriends", and Bucky wasn't sure about the speed he wanted to take things.

Part of him wanted to tell Steve, "Hey, let's take it very slow because I've never dated a boy before and everything is new and intriguing and I don't know if this'll work out right away", but the stronger part said, "This is the time we have. I want to see how this goes -- it'll end how it'll end, and for now, I'm going with the flow and feeling it out".

He had a lot of thoughts to think about.

The playlist on Steve's phone plays quietly in the background -- their friend, Sam, loved making playlists for people, and Steve had asked him specifically for a playlist for the two of them -- him and Bucky. He listens to the words as he finishes his food, then leans back against Steve.

He was still hesitant, but it was okay. They had time to feel things out. Steve wraps his arms around him and they sit in comfortable silence as they take in the scenery of the sunny winter afternoon.

Steve starts talking about some drama between their friends, and Bucky closes his eyes and smiles.

"You know," he finally speaks up, "this is such a cliché."

Steve tilts his head, smiling at him. "Yeah? How so?"

"Sunny day, beautiful view, lovey-dovey music..." He waves his hand and tucks more comfortably against him. Steve holds his hands between his own and strokes his thumb over his knuckles.

"S'pose that's true," he agrees with a hum. "I don't mind though."

"Yeah." He closes his eyes again, listening to his heart beat, listening to "La Vie En Rose", listening to the birds overhead.

"We even get the songbirds," Steve adds as they fly past, twittering merrily, and Bucky chuckles.

The wind chill comes in, and they lie down and press together for more warmth. Steve talks a little more, and that's okay; Bucky's content to listen.

"What time is it?" Bucky mumbles into his chest. There's a rustle of sound as Steve presumably checks his phone.

"Almost four."

"We should head back, my hands are freezing," he sighs as he reluctantly rolls back into the cold and sits up. It had been an hour and a half already.

"Yeah," Steve agrees, watching him brush the snow off of his legs. "Wait -- I wanna try something -- " He sits up and Bucky looks over.

"Hmm?"

Steve smiles at him softly, tilting his head. "Can I kiss you?"

Bucky stares at him, cheeks flushing, a grin spreading over his face. "Uhm -- uh, yeah," he agrees in a small voice, suddenly bashful. "I've never kissed anyone before, so I don't-don't know what to do," he mumbles.

"That's okay, let me." Steve cups his face and presses his lips against his, and Bucky closes his eyes as he lets the feeling wash over him. They pull away and Bucky peeks at him, cheeks burning, smiling.

"Oh," he breathes, and Steve grins at him.

"Glad I can do that now," he teases and Bucky playfully rolls his eyes as he gets to his feet, unable to speak. "C'mon, let's start heading back."

"Okay." Bucky grabs the blankets, feeling strangely jittery.

"Wait, Buck." He raises an eyebrow at Steve. "One more for the road?"

With a smile and a nod, they meet halfway and, more prepared for it, Bucky's able to reciprocate appropriately. Steve is flushed as they pull away and start down the hill, grinning from ear to ear.

Bucky, the quieter one, looks down and smiles secretly to himself, a type of thrill igniting him.

"Let's go watch some Game of Thrones," he finally says, and Steve smiles and follows him back home.

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What? Based on a real life experience? *cough cough cough*

Any way, thank you again for so many reads, votes and comments, and I hope you liked this as much as I liked writing this. :) 

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