A Place to Fall: Falling Series 1 (skinny!Steve x Bucky Barnes College AU)

Four

After the boys went their separate ways, Steve knew that he didn't want to leave. All in all, it had been a good first day. Hell, it had been one of the best days that Steve had experienced in the past seven years or so. And they didn't even do anything spectacular!

Growing up, Steve had been taught to enjoy the little things, and to never take for granted the time that was shared with another person. Especially when the harsh truth of never knowing when one would be gone forever was thrust upon him at a very tender age. So, Steve tried to hold onto that lesson and cherish the day that he had spent with Sam and Sam's friends; hoping that one day, he'd be able to call them his friends as well.

Sam and Steve were lucky as they happened to have their own bathroom. Steve was lucky because Sam was very considerate. Especially when Steve was starting to brush his teeth and -- even though the door was open -- Sam respectfully knocked on the door.

"You mind?" Sam asked, holding up his own toothbrush and toothpaste. Since Steve's mouth was quickly filling with foam from him brushing his teeth, he couldn't talk, so Steve simply shook his head. Sam nodded and entered the bathroom as he said, "Cool."

For a moment, they just quietly stood there while they brushed their teeth. Both comfortable in their silence. Steve was surprised how well they were getting along. Especially since Steve knew that he wasn't the easiest to get along with. Steve reasoned with himself that Sam was just one of those people who could befriend anyone and everyone.

Once they were done brushing their teeth, they took turns taking care of their other nightly routines. Steve was the last to finish off and he headed into the room to find that Sam was aggressively shaking his pillow, to fluff it. Steve quirked a brow, but didn't say anything and just continued over to his own bed.

"You, uh," Sam paused as he climbed under his own covers. He turned his attention to Steve and finally asked, "You don't sleep with any sound devices or anything, right?"

"No," Steve softly, good-humoredly scoffed.

"Good," Sam sighed in relief. He started getting comfortable and wiggled around under the covers for a moment. When he was finally comfortable, he teased, "I was afraid that you'd be one of those weirdos who can't sleep unless whale sounds are being played."

Steve chuckled at that and pulled his navy-blue duvet up, over his shoulder. Steve admitted, "I was afraid you'd be one of those weirdos."

"Guess we both got lucky," Sam smirked to himself in the darkness.

"Guess so," Steve agreed.

After a moment, Steve realized that he was too excited to sleep. It was a good day, and Steve hoped that the rest of the year would be the same. Sure, Steve understood that not every day would be a good day, but Steve hoped that the good days would outnumber the unavoidable bad ones.

"You still awake?" Sam whispered in the darkness.

Steve smirked and softly chuckled as he confirmed, "Yup."

"So," Sam started. After rustling around in his bed to try and get more comfortable, he asked, "Got any siblings?"

"Nope. Just me and mom," Steve answered. Turning his head to look at Sam in the darkness, he asked, "You?"

"Same," a beat passed and Sam said, "But I have a lot of cousins."

Steve could hear the smile in Sam's voice and he asked, "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Sam clarified, "I'm the oldest out of 'em, so I used to babysit 'em a lot." Effortlessly, Sam continued by asking, "Where ya from?"

Rolling onto his side to face Sam's side of the room, Steve curled into himself and replied, "Brooklyn. You?"

"Harlem," Sam reasoned, "So, it's not too far away. Which is good, ya know? Because mom, she'd -- well, she'd probably relocate if I had gone to an out-of-state school."

Steve chuckled as he agreed, "My mom too."

Then, Sam asked the question that Steve always hated being asked. "You got a girlfriend?"

Even though Steve was sure that Sam couldn't see him in the darkness, Steve still feared that he'd be able to sense how tense Steve had gotten. Not that Steve was necessarily "in the closet", Steve just had a difficult time with telling strangers his preferences. Especially when -- even in this day and age -- some people still had a difficult accepting homosexuality. And Steve really didn't want to be asked why he was gay. Or how he could possibly know he was gay, if he had never had a girlfriend. Never had a boyfriend either.

"Did you fall asleep?" Sam cautiously whispered.

For a brief moment, Steve thought about playing along and pretending to be asleep until he actually fell asleep. But this surely wouldn't be the last time that this was bound to come up. And Steve was never one to back down. So, Steve cleared his throat and answered, "No, to falling asleep... no, to having a girlfriend either."

One could argue that Sam was far too perceptive for his own good because he noted Steve's tone. Deciding not to be so heteronormative, Sam asked in the same way that he asked Steve if he had a girlfriend, "Got a boyfriend?"

Still a bit nervous -- but in a completely different way than before -- Steve honestly answered with a wistful sigh, "Nope, don't have one of those either."

"Well," Sam smirked in the darkness, "I've been told that I'm an excellent wingman. So, if you ever need help picking up dudes, I'm here for you."

Biting back his grin, Steve couldn't believe how lucky he had gotten with his roommate. Letting out an unexpected yawn, Steve brought his hand up to stifle the loud sound that shattered the little moment. Sam gave a small chuckle before yawning too.

"Night, Steve," Sam said, rolling onto his side.

"Night," Steve agreed with a smaller yawn. Then, because Steve wanted Sam to know just how appreciative he was, he said, "And thanks, Sam. It means a lot."

"No problem," Sam quietly replied. Teasing, Sam demanded, "Now shut up before I kick your scrawny ass out."

Softly giggling, Steve got comfortable in his bed. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep with the warmness and contentedness that only happens when someone creates a lifelong bond with someone.