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

Seven

After looping back to his dorm room to pick up his inhaler, Steve made his way to his second class: Dramatic Literature. Although Steve had been admittedly intrigued in the class originally, he knew that it wouldn't hold a candle to his first period. Unless Bucky happened to pop in unexpectedly to that class as well. Steve wasn't going to hold his breath on that happening though.

"You fucking him too?!" A burly boy accused as soon as Steve walked into the classroom.

Stunned by the allegation, Steve stood there in the doorway with wide eyes. Steve hadn't met very many people yet, but he knew for certain that he had never met the petite redhead that the guy was fighting with. Cautiously, Steve took a step back and checked to make sure that he was in the correct classroom.

Unfortunately, it seemed like he was.

"Yeah? What if I have been? What are you going to do?" The redhead challenged the angry man.

All too calm for Steve's liking, the guy said, "Oh, you don't even wanna know what I'm gonna do."

Not knowing who this couple was, but knowing that he didn't like the possibility of what could happen in that moment, Steve knew that he had to get between them. So, Steve stood in between the couple, causing the man to quirk a brow at Steve while clearly sizing the petite blond up.

"Why don't you sit down and cool off?" Steve suggested to the much taller and beefier man than him.

The guy was clearly shocked. However, he wasn't nearly as shocked as Steve was when the man started loudly laughing. Even doubling over to hold his stomach as he laughed. Steve's brows furrowed and the anger in himself started building. This wasn't anything new to Steve. In fact, many people had laughed at Steve all his life.

"And scene," the petite redhead chimed in from behind Steve.

"Scene?" Steve questioned as he glanced over his shoulder to look at the beautiful woman.

She nodded and clarified, "Improv. Ya know?"

"But," Steve started and looked over at the man who was gasping for air as he tried to calm himself. Steve asked, "You aren't...?"

The guy companionably patted Steve on his frail shoulder while telling Steve, "You're alright."

Steve's brows were set in a heavy furrow and Steve said, "Thanks?"

As Steve went to find a seat, the petite redhead called out, "Hey, slim!" Steve briefly looked behind himself and the redhead giggled as she reassured, "Yeah, you!"

Steve headed up the steps and stood next to the row where the redhead sat. She motioned with her finger for Steve to join her, and after a moment, Steve headed down the row to her seat. As he stood there, the redhead said, "Well, aren't you going to sit down?"

"Oh," Steve said, nodding and pulling the chair back from the table, "Sure."

The redhead watched Steve as he sat down next to her. A deep blush colored Steve's cheeks and started working its way up to the tips of his ears. Obviously, the young woman was beautiful. And Steve wasn't used to beautiful women taking any particular notice in him. Not for the first time, Steve was glad that he was gay because he wasn't sure how he would feel with such an attractive woman watching him if he was interested in women.

"So, slim," she started, still sizing up Steve, "You got a name?"

"Steve," Steve introduced himself, waiting for her to do the same.

"Natasha," the redhead said, then pointed her thumb to her side as she introduced the larger boy next to her, "Brock."

Steve nodded in acknowledgement and said, "Nice to meet you."

Before anything else could be said, a bald man with an eye patch calmly walked into the room. Not very many students noticed him. Until he nonchalantly dropped his heavy briefcase onto the wooden desk causing a loud bang.

Once the man had gained the attention of his students, he thundered, "Hello!" A few students replied with a soft greeting themselves, but he didn't seem to care as he loudly continued, "I am Professor Fury. You may refer to me as Professor Fury."

From beside Steve, Natasha let out a breathy giggle that she attempted to hide. Although Steve was slightly intimated by the sassy man, he was also fascinated.

"Now, to save us all from the tedious monotone that is known as the first day," Professor Fury began, leaning against his desk. As he crossed his arms, he smirked, "I thought we'd do something a bit different today."

The hair on the back of Steve's neck stood up. He didn't like when teachers said anything remotely to that. It usually meant that he'd have to talk about his third grade fears or something equally embarrassing.

"We're going to take a look at some myths," Professor Fury stated, removing some photocopies from his briefcase, "Norse, to be more exact."

Distributing stacks to the first two rows, so they could take a copy and pass the rest back. Steve was intrigued. There was always something deliciously magical about myths that Steve thoroughly enjoyed. So, he wasn't against the divergent to the syllabus, and was actually excited to be discussing them.

"Don't you look positively tickled," Natasha whispered when she noticed the small smile tugging at Steve's lips.

Steve quirked a brow and asked, "Do I?"

Natasha studied Steve's expression before allowing a warm smile to take hold on her lips. With an agreeable nod, Natasha turned her attention to the packet of paper in front of her. Steve kept watching the redhead for a beat before he noticed that the beefy man beside her was watching the pair with a clenched jaw.

Perhaps Steve's first assumption of the brunet were correct. The smile left Steve's face and he simply stared at the larger boy. Steve wasn't known for backing down, and he'd be damned if this particular person caused him to do so.

When Brock realized that Steve wasn't outright intimidated by him, he smirked approvingly at the petite blond. Although Steve directed his attention elsewhere, Steve still wasn't so sure about that guy.