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

Twenty-Five

"Hey," Bucky greeted, taking a seat next to Steve in the common room.

"Hey," Steve replied, sitting up straight in the comfy arm chair while also discreetly flipping his sketchbook closed.

Bucky smiled and told Steve, "You're just the man I've been looking for."

"Is that right?" Steve quirked a brow, mildly intrigued. He knew better than to think that Bucky meant anything more than platonic. Especially when nothing more came from Halloween.

"Yes," Bucky exclaimed with a shit-eating grin. Leaning forward in his chair, Bucky rested his forearms on his thighs and said, "Dani and Holly want to go out."

Steve rolled his eyes and opened his sketchbook to a blank page. Bucky noticed Steve's annoyance and Bucky asked, "What?"

"Nothing," Steve quickly stated, focusing on his sketch.

"Okay," Bucky said, unconvincingly. Wanting Steve's attention, Bucky reached over and tapped Steve's knee. Once Bucky had it, he asked Steve, "So, you in?"

Every cell in Steve's body was urging Steve to give in to Bucky's whim. If only so he could later imagine that he was Bucky's date. However, Steve told Bucky, "No."

"No?" Bucky questioned as Steve stood from his seat.

"No," Steve confirmed, heading over to the elevator.

Bucky was quick to follow and he scoffed, "You don't want to go out with the devil?"

Steve's brows furrowed and he softly chuckled, "What?"

"The devil," Bucky repeated, joining Steve in the elevator. Steve still seemed confused, so Bucky clarified, "From the Halloween mixer."

"Oh," Steve nodded, understanding. When they reached Steve's floor, Steve got off first and Bucky followed. Steve informed Bucky, "It's still going to be a no from me though."

"Why?" Bucky asked. Trying a different angle, Bucky said, "She likes you. She's been talking nonstop about your makeup and how cute you were."

"Okay," Steve sarcastically stated, heading into his dorm.

"I mean it," Bucky exclaimed, "She's crazy about you."

Steve turned to look at Bucky, "Well, tell her I'm sorry."

"C'mon, man," Bucky pleaded. Literally, he brought his hands up and pouted his lower lip, "You're a stud! Why don't you want to have fun?"

"Because I'm gay!" Steve blurted.

Realizing what he had confessed, Steve's eyes grew wide. His heart stuttered in his chest and he held his breath as he stood there, staring at Bucky. Bucky seemed equally shocked by the outburst and for one heart-stopping moment, Steve wished that he had never said anything.

"Dude," Bucky started. Sitting down on Sam's bed, Bucky was blinking rapidly, as though he was trying to make sense of it all.

Which worried Steve even more. Feeling his knees go weak, Steve sat down across from Bucky on his own bed. Steve just wasn't sure what Bucky was thinking. Especially since Bucky wasn't looking at him.

Finally, Bucky mused, "No wonder you're never interested in any of the girls I set you up with."

Steve let out a breathy chuckle, because no, that wasn't why Steve didn't like any of the girls that Bucky set him up with.  In fact, Steve was certain that if Bucky had set him up with other boys, Steve still wouldn't be interested in them because they wouldn't be Bucky.  Sitting quietly, Steve studied Bucky. Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Steve asked, "So, you're... we're... okay?"

"Yeah," Bucky reassured with an easy grin. His brows furrowed and he asked, "Why wouldn't we be?"

Steve shrugged and worried his lower lip as he sheepishly admitted, "Some people --"

"You have to know that I'd never think any differently of you," Bucky defended himself with large eyes, as though Steve suddenly thought differently of himself.

"No, I know," Steve quickly clarified, not wanting to hurt Bucky in any way.

The pair was quiet then. Both consciously choosing not to look at each other. Steve was sure that he just signed his death wish. Goodbye to sleep overs. Goodbye to strong arms around his shoulders. Goodbye to the way that Bucky playfully pinched at his sides just to watch him squirm away. Goodbye to --

"So," Bucky started, causing Steve to look up at the brunet. The sly smirk should've been enough warning. Yet, Steve was still surprised when Bucky asked, "What's your type?"

You. Bucky Barnes. Arrogant, talkative flirts that seem like bad boys but are actually cinnamon rolls. Someone who could choke me to death and I'd thank them.

"Oh, um," Steve shrugged, averting his gaze again as he blushed,. "Ya know, just," Steve paused. Never actually being asked something like that and not knowing how to describe Bucky without him knowing, Steve thought for a moment. Another shrug and Steve said, "Just, uh, a good person with a, uh, good... sense of humor."

"Okay," Bucky nodded, pursing his lips to think of guys that fit that description. Pointing at Steve, Bucky declared, "Okay, yeah, I know the perfect guy."

So do I.