Jump then Fall: Falling Series 2 (Modern Stucky College AU)

Thirteen

Holding out Steve's jacket to him, Bucky must've read Steve's face because he simply sighed, "Please, just put it on."

Sniffling, Steve took his jacket from Bucky and slipped it onto his slim frame. Originally, Steve had assumed that Bucky was going to get Brock to walk him home. So, when Bucky pulled on his own jacket, Steve's brows furrowed and he asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to walk you home," Bucky scoffed. As he fixed his jacket collar, Bucky paused and said, "Unless you'd rather have... someone else."

Silently, Steve replied by shaking his head. Steve didn't want anyone else. Not to walk him home. Not to bring him flowers. Not to hold him close. Not to comfort him. Not to kiss him. So, no, Steve didn't want anyone else. Not now. Possibly, not ever.

Regaining some of his courageousness, Steve assured and confessed, "I don't want anyone else."

"Okay," Bucky nodded. Bucky averted his gaze as he fixed his jacket collar, but Steve still spotted the small smirk on his attractive lips.

"Okay," Steve repeated, agreeing. Sniffling, Steve shoved his hands into his pockets while hunching over, as though he was trying to fold into himself.

Concerned, Bucky suggested, "C'mon."

Nodding, Steve wiped the few escaped tears and left the party with Bucky. Briefly, Steve wondered if he should go back into the house to tell Brock that he was going home. But Bucky had reassured Steve that he would take care of things. So, clearly Brock already knew, right?

"You okay?" Bucky softly questioned.

Steve directed his attention to the handsome brunet beside him to find that Bucky was already intently watching him. As his heart stuttered with the sheer vulnerability in Bucky's steel-blue eyes, Steve silently nodded his reply. Steve wasn't okay. Not even close. But he had a feeling that he could be.

With Bucky, Steve knew that he could be anything. Even if it meant that Steve was just content and okay.

As Steve shivered at both the breeze and the way that Bucky was looking over at him, Bucky asked, "Cold?"

"A little," Steve softly admitted. Sniffling in hopes of keeping the snot from leaving his nose.

"C'mere," Bucky offered as he securely wrapped his arm around Steve's slender shoulders, pulling him close. Steve was sure that if it wasn't so cold, Bucky would've offered him his jacket. But Steve knew that he'd always prefer this; sharing body heat on their way back to Steve's dorm.

Once they reached Steve's residence hall, Steve half-thought that Bucky would leave him there. Of course, Steve didn't know why he thought that when deep his bones he knew that Bucky would never leave him there at the door. Bucky would at least make sure that he was in his dorm.

The pair entered the building, with Bucky's arm still wrapped around Steve's shoulders. It felt like old times. Back when they were together. Steve longed to have that. No, Steve longed to have more.

Just thinking about what they had -- and what they lost -- made Steve want to cry. Leaving Steve absolutely racked with a deep melancholy. Even with Bucky's arm holding him close, Steve still couldn't stop the tears from building in his eyes.

Finally reaching Steve's dorm, he pulled the keys out of his pocket and handed them over to Bucky. Although Bucky had drank more, Steve was the drunk one.

Effortlessly, Bucky unlocked the door and pushed it open. Only then did his arm drop from Steve's shoulders. Steve, could feel it. That Bucky was going to leave. And in Steve's attempt to keep his emotions under control, he sniffled and quickly wiped the tears that escaped.

Noticing that Bucky had followed him into the room, Steve wiped at his face some more and told him, "I'm gonna brush my teeth."

"Okay," Bucky replied, closing the door and giving Steve some hope.

Sniffling again, Steve entered the bathroom and locked the door behind himself. Putting his hands on the sink counter, Steve studied his reflection. Blotchy, tear-stained face. Red-rimmed eyes that made the blue of his irises stand out. Mainly, Steve thought that he looked rather pathetic in the moment, so he quickly moved on to brushing his teeth like he told Bucky he was going to do.