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

Twenty-Four

To say that it was a long night would be an understatement. Steve hadn't been able to sleep. Not even when Sam and Kristin gave Steve extra pillows and blankets. Not even after Steve washed off his Halloween makeup.

All Steve could do was lay there, wide awake, staring up at the ceiling. He had kissed Bucky. His crush. His Bucky. It was more than Steve could've ever imagined ever really happening. Especially since Bucky had continuously set them up on doomed double dates. Especially since Bucky had spent most of the night surrounded by scantily clothed women who wanted Bucky nearly as much as Steve had wanted him.

And Steve had gotten him...

Steve had gotten him!

A smile played at Steve's lips as he couldn't help but allow the excited butterflies to flutter around in his stomach. He had been the one to go home with Bucky. He was the one to drunkenly make out with Bucky. Him, not the girls that hung around them.

Suddenly, Steve thought back to every friendly gesture from Bucky. Seeing their hang outs in a new light. All the tender touches. The arms slung around shoulders. The rare occasions when Steve would look over at Bucky only to find that the brunet was already looking at him.

Had Bucky been flirting with Steve all those times? Had Steve missed a very crucial part of their friendship? Had Steve allowed his own insecurities to skew the truth?

Steve couldn't believe that he had been blinded by his self-doubt. How could he have been so naïve?

Just as Steve allowed himself to ease into the overwhelming sensation of his crush liking him back, he heard Bucky groan. Pushing himself up on his elbows, Steve looked up at his bed where Bucky had been sleeping. For a moment, Steve wondered if Bucky was still sleeping. But considering how Bucky wasn't snoring like he had been prior, Steve assumed that he was awake.

Letting out another groan, Steve assumed that Bucky was hungover. Of course, Steve figured that he would be considering how much he -- they -- had to drink.

"Bucky?" Steve quietly questioned, trying not to wake up Sam and Kristin as they slept intertwined on Sam's bed.

"Steve?" Bucky asked, lifting his head. However, the movement must have been too much because he immediately held his head and laid back down in the bed.

When Bucky groaned again, Steve got up from the floor and headed over to the bathroom where he filled a glass of water for Bucky. Getting a couple of Aleves as well, Steve left the bathroom. Holding them out for Bucky, Steve's heart ached to see Bucky look so miserable.

"Thanks," Bucky rasped as Steve held out the items for him. After swallowing the pills and chugging half of the glass of water, Bucky asked, "What the fuck happened last night?"

Steve's heart dropped into his stomach, and he solemnly assumed, "You don't... You don't remember?"

Cautiously moving so Steve could also sit on his bed, Bucky closed his eyes as he thought. Steve watched intently as he took a seat on his bed. Then, Bucky mused, "I remember... I remember, uh, chugging beers... the alien chick giving out candy necklaces."

"Do - do, do you, uh," Steve averted his gaze to his hands. His brows furrowed as he finished, "Do you remember anything else?"

After a moment, Bucky shook his head, "No." Looking over at Steve, Bucky asked, "Should I?"

And just like that the best night of Steve's life twisted into the worst morning. Steve thought about telling Bucky. Reminding him of the kiss they shared. About how Bucky had told him that he loved him. But Sam's words saturated the mood. And ultimately, Steve decided against it.

"I didn't," Bucky started, moving so he could recline against the wall. His face puckering in embarrassment, Bucky asked, "I didn't do anything... stupid... did I?"

"Depends on what you consider stupid," Steve stated, forcing a huff of laughter out in hopes to heal his own broken heart.  Trying not to feel like the stupid one.

"Fuck," Bucky sighed and asked, "How much of an ass did I make myself out to be?"

"Well," Steve puffed his cheeks out as he thought about how much he should reveal of the night. Especially since his own memory was a bit foggy in some spots. Bucky bumped his shoulder against Steve's and Steve decided on, "You sang Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink. Loudly, I might add. I'm surprised that you didn't wake the whole building up."

Bucky dramatically winced at that. Then, he must have remembered the makeup because he touched his face and asked, "Am I still a pop art zombie?"

"Yup," Steve confirmed with a sincere smile.

Bucky simply closed his eyes and sighed. Seemingly annoyed with himself. Opening his eyes, he asked Steve, "Ya think it'd be too obvious if I just left it on?"

Steve held up his hand and showed a tiny space between his index finger and thumb as he stated, "Just a little."

With that, Bucky begrudgingly climbed off Steve's bed and headed for the bathroom. Steve stayed there for a moment, allowing himself to be crushed by his own hopes.