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

Twenty

Gleefully, Tibby gorged herself on her candy lot. Bucky being a pushover, had let Tibby meagerly eat the spaghetti that Bucky made, so she could fill herself with Kit Kats and Snicker bars. Whenever Mandy or Becca mentioned something, Bucky reminded them that they had done the same at her age. It was a rite of passage, Bucky claimed.

And after the sugar high, Tibby passed out. Bucky carried her up to the third floor of the brownstone. Then, he and Steve settled in the bathroom to paint their faces. It was a simple solution for neither having proper costumes.

"Damn, Stevie, going all out, huh," Bucky commented, looking at Steve's reflection in the mirror and then his own.

"That is the point of Halloween, isn't it?" Steve asked, finishing up. In his opinion, it wasn't that impressive. Steve's inspiration had been the skull makeup that Evan Peters wore in the Murder House season of American Horror Story, and Steve was positive that his own work didn't come anywhere near the show's.

"Do me?" Bucky pleaded, causing Steve to choke on his own saliva. Trying to help, Bucky patted Steve's back and asked, "Do you need your inhaler?"

Regaining his composure, Steve shook his head, but his eyes were watery. He turned his gaze to Bucky and cleared his throat, "Sure. I-I-I can, I can do... that."

One of Bucky's dazzling smiles crossed the brunet's face and Steve knew that he was done for. Of course, that was basic knowledge by that point in their friendship.

As Bucky washed off his own attempts, Steve used Bucky's sisters' setting spray. When both were done, Bucky excitedly turned towards Steve. Steve's heart stuttered as he tried not to focus on how attractive Bucky was in that moment.

Stepping around Steve, Bucky brushed against the petite blond, causing Steve to forcefully think of anything other than Bucky's body against his. No matter how brief the moment was, Steve hadn't been expecting it and knew that he wouldn't be quick to forget it.

Bucky took a seat on the closed toilet, Steve cleared his throat again before asking, "Any specifications?"

"Nope," Bucky cheerily relayed with a large smile. He confessed, "I have complete faith in you." Then, he told Steve, "Do whatever you want, I'm just along for the ride."

Steve focused on the Halloween makeup kit as his eyes widened down at the palette. Blinking away all the dirty thoughts that flashed through Steve's mind, Steve fought off the boner that threatened to make an appearance if Steve didn't get his mind out of the gutter.

With shaky hands, Steve gently tilted Bucky's face up and started with covering Bucky's face with green makeup. Once that foundation was finished, Steve moved on to blackening one of Bucky's eyes to create an eye-socket. Really having fun with it, Steve added missing flesh spots and created a view of the torn jaw. All the while, Bucky patiently sat there.

Of course, patiently didn't mean silently. Bucky teased, "How's it looking?"

"Pretty good," Steve answered, keeping his attention solely on his work at hand.

"Yeah?" Bucky asked, intrigued. Then, almost worried, Bucky questioned, "It's not too gory or anything, right?" Steve paused and evaluated his own work, judging for himself if it was too much. However, when Bucky teased, "I still wanna get laid tonight," Steve rolled his eyes and got back to work.

"I bet we could find you someone too," Bucky confidently promised.

After a moment, Steve assured Bucky, "That's okay. You don't have to."

"What are friends for?" Bucky declared, closing his eyes when Steve touched up some spots up.

"It's okay though," Steve reassured, "I don't mind leaving alone."

Peeking at Steve with the eye that Steve wasn't working on, Bucky studied the petite blond. Steve could feel Bucky watching him, but he refused to let it show. Bucky asked, "Is this because of Emily?"

Steve paused. With a heavy brow, Steve and Bucky locked eyes and Steve asked, "What? Why would --"

"How she acted," Bucky clarified. Steve went back to work, and Bucky stated, "Because not everyone is like that." Steve rolled his eyes at that and Bucky pulled back so Steve would look at him. Once he had Steve's attention, Bucky continued, "And I have complete faith that you'll find the right girl."

Steve knew that he should tell Bucky. But Steve wasn't sure how the rest of the night would go if he did. Although Bucky didn't seem bigoted in the slightest, Steve was still terrified. Terrified that if he started confessing, he wouldn't be able to stop. Terrified that there wouldn't be any more of these nights.

So, Steve fixed a small smile on his face and agreed, "Right." Which seemed to appease Bucky enough for Steve to put the finishing touches on his work.

Once Steve was done, he looked over his work to make sure that it suited the masterpiece that Bucky already was. Then, Steve used the setting spray and took a step back so Bucky could stand.

Nervously, Steve chewed on the inside of his cheek, watching Bucky carefully. When a large, enthusiastic smile stretched at Bucky's lips, Steve let out a sigh of relief.

Bucky tilted his face in different angles as he looked over himself as he praised Steve, "This is amazing. You are truly gifted, Steven."

Steve chuckled and downplayed his talent, "It's not that impressive."

"It sure as hell is," Bucky corrected. Clasping onto Steve's shoulder, Bucky told him, "Dude, we gotta work on your confidence."

Steve blushed and averted his gaze. Bucky gave Steve's shoulder an encouraging squeeze before turning and leading the way down to the first floor of the house. Reaching the bottom step at the exact moment that Mrs. Barnes entered the home, Steve instantly found Bucky's features in her own stunning face.

"Wow," Mrs. Barnes greeted the boys, "Don't you two look dashing."

"All thanks to Steve," Bucky stated, with a pleased smirk on his face.

"Steve?" Mrs. Barnes declared with a delighted expression. She told Steve, "It is so nice to finally meet you."

Again, Steve was amazed to find that Bucky had talked about him with his family. Sure, Steve had told his own mother about the new friends that he had made thus far. But Steve never expected anyone to talk about him.

"Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Barnes," Steve informed Bucky's mom.

"Oh, please, call me, Winifred," Mrs. Barnes corrected. Then, realizing the time, she seemed frazzled, "Goodness, you should get going."

Steve started pulling on his sneakers and smirked when Winifred tilted Bucky's head down, so she could kiss the top of his hair without messing up Bucky's makeup.

Winifred thanked the boys, "Thank you, so much, for watching the girls."

"Well, you do pay my bills and wire me cash, so," Bucky teased. Winifred playfully narrowed her eyes and Bucky chuckled, "It really wasn't that big of a deal, mom." Exchanging a look with Steve, Bucky continued, "It was fun."