The Chilling Adventures of Steve Rogers: Book 2 (Magical Hydra Horror AU)

Seven

Watching the way that Steve watched the redhead cross the room and sit on the opposite end of the sofa, made Bucky's blood boil. Not only because Steve's blue eyes were so kind in his observation. But because Bucky knew that look as well as he knew his own name. That look of such adoration that it made whoever was under that gaze feel special.

Needing a moment to catch his breath, Bucky stood from his seat and kept his gaze locked on the kitchen. Never letting his eyes drift back over to Steve the way they wanted to. Instead, forcing his attention to remain forward as his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Bucky didn't stop at the kitchen though. Bucky needed to pace and he very well didn't want to do so where she could see him. So, Bucky kept going until he got to the laundry room. Closing the door behind himself and trying to fix his thoughts. He needed to get control over his emotions while he was at it, because all he wanted to do was yell at --

"Buck?" Steve questioned, opening the door a crack and peeking in.

Pausing in his pacing, Bucky stared at Steve. A deep furrow in his brows as he tried to form a coherent sentence. Only, his mind was a tangled clusterfuck that kept asking new questions and repeating them into jumbled half-sentences. So, Bucky simply threw his arms around in the air wildly in his frustration as he gestured in the direction of the living room.

Steve slipped into the laundry room then. Holding his arms up in an appeasing fashion as he started, "I can explain."

Bucky found that hard to believe, but since he wasn't going to be talking any time soon, he decided to just keep his mouth shut. Crossing his arms, he dropped his gaze to the blue tile floor.

"Natasha is a friend from school," Steve clarified, "She doesn't have a family, and I felt bad about leaving her at the academy by herself."

Natasha. Vaguely Bucky remembered hearing about her. It felt like a lifetime ago. But Bucky remembered. And just like then, Bucky felt his jealously blossom. Of course, this would happen. Of fucking course.

"Well, aren't you just the greatest best friend," Bucky spoke through his teeth with much more venom than he originally intended.

Steve's face dropped at his comment. Looking utterly miserable, and Bucky had to dig his fingernails into his arms to stop himself from closing the space and wrapping Steve up in his arms. Every fiber of his being was demanding that he comfort Steve. It was easy to see that Steve was hurt. And that hurt more than his own hurt.

"We're just friends," Steve whispered, unable to make his voice any louder.

Bucky swallowed around the lump forming in his throat and forced himself to question, "The way we were?"

Shoulders dropping, Steve looked like a kicked puppy as he assured, "Buck, no. No one could be like us."

"You sure?" Bucky pathetically asked. So ashamed of himself for needing the reassurance, he kept his gaze down, on his feet. He didn't want to see how Steve was probably judging him.

Then, he felt Steve hesitantly touch his chin. Steve's hold was tender, as though Bucky was something precious. Or fragile. Carefully, Steve tilted Bucky's face up, in a move right out of James Buchanan Barnes' book. It was odd, looking up at Steve who was now a couple of inches taller than him.

Stroking his thumb along Bucky's freshly shaven jaw, Steve promised, "No one could ever be you."

Crumpling, Bucky's knees gave out beneath him as tears started spilling down his cheeks. Steve caught him before he could fall and held him close. Allowing Bucky to bury his face in his broad chest while he stained his sweater with his thick, hot tears.

"I missed you," Steve whispered into Bucky's ear while rubbing comforting circles into his back. His lips touching the shell of Bucky's ear as he strongly -- leaving no room to argue -- confirmed, "Every day."

"I missed you too," Bucky conceded, wrapping his arms tightly around Steve's unfamiliar strong torso. Pulling themselves flush against one another, Bucky confessed, "I miss you, Stevie."

Steve held him closer, tighter. Making Bucky feel like he'll never let him go. That was all Bucky wanted. To be Steve's. To love Steve and be loved by Steve. To know that he'll always be the luckiest man alive to have his best friend and the love of his life by his side, always.

That was how things were supposed to be...

Wanting to see Steve's face, Bucky pulled back. Lifting his hand, he cautiously cradled Steve's face. Half-convinced that at any moment, he would turn to dust. Completely evaporate into thin air.

Needing to make sure that Steve was actually there, Bucky leaned in. Before he could press his lips to Steve's though, Steve stopped him. Bucky's heart shattered. The sharp shards of the broken pieces cutting his stomach.

"It'll hurt too much," Steve reasoned. Taking Bucky's hand in his and removing it from his face, Steve informed, "If I kiss you, I'll never want to stop."

Bucky rested his forehead to Steve's and suggested, "Then, don't stop."

Steve's gaze dropped to Bucky's lips, as though he was seriously considering doing just that. Good, Bucky thought victoriously. Although, when Bucky decided to follow his instinct and Steve's nonverbal cues, Steve stopped him again with a warning, "Once winter break is over, we'll be going to different schools."

"So?" Bucky scoffed, feeling Steve's breath on his lips. Bucky begged, "Come back. Everything was better with you there."

"Buck, I can't," Steve replied in a voice so broken that Bucky's eyes immediately snapped to his. There were tears building in his blue eyes as he explained, "I've already put you and Sam and Sharon, and your family in danger. Just from you knowing what happened. If I show up at school looking like this --" he gestured at his new frame "-- it'll disrupt things too much. Cause too many questions. Put so many more people in danger."

Desperate, Bucky grasped at any straw he could, "Isn't there something you can do? A spell? Something? Anything?"

Steve licked over his lips as he thought. Bucky could almost see the wheels turning in his head. It would've been cute if his words didn't break his heart, "I'm not powerful enough."

"Steven Grant Rogers, I don't want to hear you say that about yourself ever again," Bucky held Steve's face in his hands, making sure that Steve was paying attention to him, and him only. "You are the most stubborn person that I've ever met, and if you put your mind to something, it'll happen."

Despite the tears streaming down Steve's face, his lips quirked into a small smirk, "You sound so sure."

Bucky shrugged a shoulder, "Spend fourteen years with a mouthy punk who can't keep their nose in their own business, you pick up a few things."

Playfully, Steve rolled his eyes as he joked, "Clearly, how not to be a jerk, wasn't one of 'em."

"You know you love me," Bucky teased, falling back into his old self as though he was slipping on a beloved sweater.

Steve's brows furrowed as he took in a deep breath. Bucky waited for Steve to say that he did still love him. Then, he waited for Steve to say anything. It felt like an eternity before Steve gestured over his newly broad shoulder towards the rest of the house as he suggested, "We should get out there. Start watching movies."

Not waiting for Bucky to respond, Steve left. Bucky stared at the spot where Steve stood and quietly mocked himself and the situation, "Love you, too, Buck."