Stucky: My Blood Red Heart

8 - Him

"So you're telling me that you think the person who sits next to you, gave you their number, and basically is only nice to you doesn't romantically like you?"

"Well... no."

"Bitch, I'm the one studying psychology, so shut your mouth." Steve barked out a laugh while James tried to commit murder using pillows. 

They had been doing homework and assignments for the past hour or so. Clint had gone back to his dorm, leaving the three of them to bro it out. James had gotten more done on this project than he thought he might with Loki's help, which Sam was very persistent in bringing up. 

James did feel guilty about not telling them what he had heard at the football field, but he didn't fully understand it himself, so he figured he shouldn't worry his friends about it. Though if Tony really did like Steve, there might be blood spilled, who knows?

"You're an asshole, you know that right?" James said with a sigh.

"Well, you are what you eat- OW STEVE!" Sam complained, rubbing his head where Steve had popped him with his backpack. "You jerk, that wasn't very patriotic of ya."

"Maybe you should leave, Sam," Steve said in a warning tone. 

"Ah, right then. I should be off, me mates!" Sam said in a terrible British accent, shoving his things in his bag and waving as he left the room. *Another time, governah!"

Steve laughed quietly and said to James, "You know, he could have been a theatre major." James nodded with a small smirk, ignoring his heartbeat that was quickening every second. Something about being this close to Steve, this alone, this intimate and private set his heart racing. 

Sure, he knew it was completely one-sided and pointless, but you couldn't help liking the guy. He was kind and courteous but had a funny and adventurous side. He was That Guy, the jock but the artist, the player but the devoted, literally anything you could want in a man. He was perfect, and not just in James' eyes. The girls were all over him and the guys want to be him, which was probably great for a bisexual such as Steve. Just kidding, as if that awkward bitch could handle talking to a girl for a minute. 

But the other problem was that James had tried making advances before. Small ones, sure, but he had still tried asking him on friend dates or asking him if there was anyone he liked, but those went unnoticed by Steve. 

Either way, it probably wasn't a good idea to be thinking about his crush in the same room as him. In the same very, very tiny room as him. James was right all along, dorming together would only make it ten times as awkward. 

"So I was talking to T'Challa earlier," Steve said, breaking the awkward silence. "He's having a Halloween party, and he said I could invite my friends."

"You're asking me?" James asked incredulously. 

Steve laughed softly. "Of course, bud. You're my best friend." 

James' heart fluttered in his chest, but he managed to say, "Sure, sounds like fun."

"Nice. It's a date then." Steve said with a joking smile. James grinned back carefully, attempting to not give away how he was internally screaming. 

Well, fuck.

***

"My friend, it does sound as though he has romantic feelings for you."

"Boom, what gay Shakespeare said!"

Isn't that redundant?

James groaned and lay his head on the table.

It was lunchtime the next day, and it appeared that all his friends were very persistent when it came to love.

"I'm just SAYIN, if you wait and never tell him, you won't know for sure," Sam argued. 

 Loki chimed in: "And it is beneficial to have absolute trust between friends, correct?"

Do you always talk like you're in a play? Asking for a friend. Clint signed with a small smile on his face. James appreciated the redirect, though he knew how determined Sam was.

"Ok, just say that I theoretically want to tell him I like him. When would I be able to do that?" James asked, already regretting confiding in them. He had told Sam in high school, and Clint had figured it out not much later, but he didn't think they knew just the extent of his feelings.

"Bitch, you're around him 24/7, anytime would be good." Sam groaned."You're just lucky he sucks at science and needs tutoring." 

 "When you are alone together, preferably just the two of you would be best," Loki said, stealing a fry from James' discarded lunch and feeding it to Lucky under the table. "Speak from your center. Rogers is a good man, I don't believe he would break your heart."

Sam made an ehh noise and did the wishy-washy sign with his hands. "Debatable. He's kind of a jackass when it comes to love. He broke up with one of his girlfriends, like, right in front of her mom. He's really fucking oblivious too, you could kiss him and he would still think you're best buds."

James sighed and closed his eyes. "So it's hopeless. Cool, can I leave now?"

"Bucky, if you really do love this man so, why are you easily detoured from confessing?" Loki asked, nudging James slightly with their elbow. "Surely you do not fear rejection enough to hide your emotions for as long as you have. What is it really?" 

"I just..." James said slowly. "I feel like if I do tell him and he tells me he likes me too, where do we even go from there? We're close as brothers, yeah, and I'm honestly not that interested in sex. Dates confuse me, and I just genuinely don't know where our relationship will go. We already do everything together and almost nothing will change. Worse, if he sees me as a boyfriend and nothing more, I'll get tossed out in a few weeks. It's a no-win circumstance."

Do you really think Steve would see you as just a boyfriend? He cares so much about you already, I don't think he'd break up with you that easy. Clint signed, giving James's hand a reassuring squeeze. 

"If he breaks up with you in a month, I'll steal his kneecaps. No questions asked," Sam promised. "You deserve better than that. Yeah, relationships are weird, but it doesn't have to be the kind of relationship that everyone expects of you. It's about you and him, and I think you could work something out that fits both of you. I mean, look at Clint and I. Queer-platonic partners and we rock the shit outta it! Relationships come in all shapes and sizes, my dude."

"If you are seeing signs like the ones you saw yesterday, I do not think that you mean so little to him. Everything that happens in a partnership is up to you, and you do what you like with it." Loki said with a small smile. 

"I-" James muttered, wiping hurriedly at the corners of his eyes. "Shit. Thank you, guys." 

Sam grinned and clapped his shoulder. "Aw, don't start crying on us now! Ya sappy bitch." 

Clint grinned and scratched Lucky's ear. I'm glad you heard all this. Sammy isn't a psychology major for nothing. 

"I'll try to tell him," James said quietly.

"Aw fuck yeah!" Sam whooped. "Fucking finally!" 

"I'm gonna do it when I'm ready, though. That might take a bit," James said quickly. "Don't get your hopes up."

We're just happy you opened up. 

AN: I'm very sorry its crap and no action happened-