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

Thirty-Five

Finally making it to Potts Hall, Steve didn't have the first clue where Bucky was. It was a rather large building with many different classrooms. Steve knew that Bucky didn't have a class that night, but Steve didn't know where he would be tutoring. If he even was tutoring...

Stepping inside, Steve started walking down the main hallway. Really regretting not stopping by his dorm to get his phone. But he felt frantic. Desperate. All Steve felt was necessary in that moment was to find Bucky. That was his current, and only, mission: find Bucky.

"Steve!" Bucky called, gaining Steve's attention. Backtracking to the adjoining hallway, Steve found Bucky running down the hallway to meet him. Getting closer, Bucky smiled as he greeted Steve, "Hey."

Despite wanting to know who answered Bucky's phone and wanting to know why she called him, "babe," Steve smiled. It largely pulled at his lips as he stood on his tiptoes to greet Bucky with a kiss. Around Bucky's lips, Steve said, "Hi."

Bucky leaned back, a dopey grin on his face as he repeated, "Hi."

Although it might have been prematurely, Steve's shoulders sagged in relief. As though all his insecurities were melting away from his body with the sincere smile on Bucky's face. Steve was sure that Bucky was the only one who could do that. Make Steve feel safe and content and believe everything was truly going to be alright. Which could've led to trouble.

"What are you doing here?" Bucky asked, that gorgeous smile still on his face before he clarified, "Not that I'm not happy to see you. It's just, you usually have class."

Suddenly feeling like he should hold back the real reason, Steve went for nonchalance as he shrugged, "Just felt like skipping."

"God, you're such a punk," Bucky fondly teased, leaning back in to sweetly kiss Steve again.

Steve's heart welled. Until he remembered Brock's words. Until he remembered Brock's doubt.

Trying to think of the best way to question Bucky without outright accusing him, Steve pressed his lips together. And although Steve wanted to seem more casual, he still rushed, "What are you doing here?"

Seeming a bit more guarded, Bucky sheepishly said, "I don't know if I want to answer that."

Steve took a step back as his brows furrowed and he asked, "Why not?"

Bucky glanced down the hallway that he came from and he winced, "Because it's kind of... lame."

"Lame?" Steve questioned, eyebrow quirked. Bucky nodded and Steve asked, "Lame how?"

Bucky was worrying his lower lip with his teeth before holding his hand out to Steve. For a moment, Steve debated whether he should take Bucky's hand. But Bucky was his boyfriend. Bucky was in love with him. So, Steve took Bucky's hand and allowed Bucky to lead him down the hallway.

With their fingers laced, Bucky stopped outside one of the classrooms. Steve peeked in through the window in the door, and his brows furrowed. There were people scattered around the room using pottery wheels. Silently, Steve glanced questioningly up at Bucky.

When Bucky didn't say anything, Steve said, "This is a pottery class."

"Pottery club," Bucky corrected.

Playfully rolling his eyes, Steve shoved at Bucky's shoulder as he asked, "Why did you tell Nat and Clint that you tutored on Thursdays?"

Bucky chuckled under his breath before teasing, "You know the rules with Fight Club?"

"Yeah, you don't talk about Fight Club," Steve answered with an amused grin on his face.

"Well, it's kind of like that with pottery club," Bucky reasoned.

Steve loudly laughed and playfully shoved Bucky's shoulder as he joked, "I can't believe that I'm in love with such a fucking dork."

"What?" Bucky asked, affectionately watching Steve.

Trying to contain the grin that desperately fought to break across Steve's face, Steve took a step closer to Bucky and wrapped his arms around Bucky's waist as he confessed, "I'm in love with you."

Bucky cupped the side of Steve's face and lovingly held him as he pressed a tender kiss to Steve's lips. Steve's heart stuttered in his chest at the sheer gentleness in the moment, and held Bucky even closer.

Pulling back from the kiss, Bucky pushed Steve's hair out of his eyes. With his hand lingering and caressing Steve's cheek, Bucky admitted, "I'm in love with you too."

"I know," Steve beamed. Practically preening as he said, "I read your letter in the sketchbook."

"Yeah, but you already knew that," Bucky shrugged, chewing on his own lower lip again. Running his hand through Steve's tousled blond hair, Bucky said, "It was... before, ya know? And we needed to get there... now, ya know?"

Steve shook his head and explained, "I just read it."

"You just read it?" Bucky asked, brows furrowed so pathetically adorably. Steve nodded his confirmation and Bucky attempted to clarify, "As in, you just read it, again?"

"No," Steve shook his head, "I just read it. For the first time."

"For the first time," Bucky repeated.

Nodding his confirmation, Steve continued, "I didn't read it when I first opened it. It... it, uh, hurt... too much at the time." Despair flashed across Bucky's face and Steve admitted, "I hid it in my desk."

"That's why you didn't use it," Bucky assumed and pressed a kiss to Steve's forehead after Steve nodded.

"I'm sorry that I didn't read it sooner," Steve apologized.

"Don't be," Bucky reassured, "I'm sorry about... everything." Steve nuzzled further into Bucky and sighed in relief when Bucky wrapped his arms around Steve's slender shoulders. With Bucky's lips pressed to the top of Steve's head, Bucky said, "I love you."

"You already said that," Steve giggled into Bucky's broad chest.

"And I'll keep saying it," Bucky teased, kissing the top of Steve's head. Softly, intimately, Bucky whispered, "I love you."