Dive: Stucky

Epilogue

The ocean breeze drifted through the open windows of the beach house. Papers fluttered on a vacant counter and the drapes around the windows flowed with the cool, salty wind. The house was still, all except for Bucky, who was scrubbing down a particularly dusty shelf. He sighed and pulled his hair up into a messy ponytail as he worked, a skill he acquired from one of Steve's friends by the name of Natasha.

He walked through the house wearing an apron, a comfortable blue shirt, some torn up shorts, and bare feet. Even though he was human, he never much liked the idea of shoes. He dusted off the various objects that hung from the walls including an old medallion. He smiled fondly at it and remembered the feeling he had felt all those years ago. Of diving. Diving deep below the waves of the ocean. Feeling more free than he'd ever felt before.

He shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts, turning back to his work. Steve was captain of the Avenger, a marvelous ship of exceptional workmanship, and would be returning from his most recent voyage today. Bucky was giddy with excitement and wanted the house to be neat and tidy for his husband to return home to. 

Soon enough, he heard the familiar sound of keys jingling outside the door as Steve tried to let himself in. Bucky raced to the door and ripped it open to greet his most favorite person in the world. Steve may have been his husband, but he was also his best friend. 

Bucky swung the door open with enthusiasm to reveal Steve sporting a blonde beard, unruly dandelion hair topped with a cap, his familiar suspenders framed with a heavy overcoat, and the biggest smile on his face.

"Steve!" Bucky cried and threw his arms around his strong neck. "Oh, I've missed you so much!"

Steve laughs and hugs him just as ferociously. "It's only been three days Buck."

"Three days too long without seeing you~" Bucky grabs him by the collar and pulls him into the house, shutting the door behind them. 

He runs his hands along Steve's jaw and ruffles his beard, giggling. "This is new... I like it, it suits you."

Steve smiles and leans into his touch, wrapping his arms around Bucky's slim waist. "I thought I'd try a new look for ya."

Bucky rested his head against Steve's broad chest and closed his eyes with a happy sigh. Steve rested his cheek on the top of his husband's head and swayed them slightly. There was a soft pause.

"Do you remember the day we met?" he asks in a soft tone, "when I tossed you that fish?"

Bucky chuckled and nodded against his chest. "We were so young then~"

"Not many people can say they married a man that used to be a siren... what did they call you again? The green monster?"

Bucky pulls his head back to make a mock insulted face. "It was the Blue Devil and you know it!"

Steve laughed and leaned forward, kissing Bucky full on the lips, tugging his hair out of the updo and letting it drape down to his shoulders. Bucky gladly returned the gesture and deepened it, smiling against his lips.

"I love you," he whispered, smiling softly at Steve, who caressed his cheek.

"As I love you," he replied sweetly. "So, so much."

The happy little couple stayed together like that, listening to the tides thunder against the distant shore. Not far off from the spot, sirens danced in the water, singing happily and playing together. The chorus was a familiar tune:

Come, come, be free

Come, come, be with me,

Come, come, beneath the waves,

I will save you from the grave,

See the water,

Hear it speak,

Come, come, be free,

Come, come, be with me.

Their tails slapped against the surface and propelled them deep into the water, where they traveled deep, towards the sandy wasteland at the bottom. Faster they raced, torpedoing down with gleeful expressions, not a care in the world.

Diving. Diving. Diving.