"Steve, what am I gonna do with you," Bucky sighed as he walked into the war-torn bar. There was Captain America, back against the wooden bar, staring ahead at nothing at all. He seemed not to notice the snow around him, or didn't seem to care, anyway.

Bucky shuffled close and pressed their shoulders together, looking off into the night. A hole had been blown through the brick directly in front of them, opening to the beautiful night. His eyes trailed a path of stars and Bucky, somehow, in that place, felt a moment of calm.

"Dugan watching the group?" Steve's voice was a murmur; he didn't look Bucky's way, but that was okay. Bucky shifted closer and reached, tangling his fingers with Steve's own.

"He's got it covered for a while," he said, looking at him. "Wondering if you're okay though."

"I -- "

"You're gonna say you're fine, but I know you, Steve." He studied him for a moment, eyeing his posture, mannerisms, the tightness to his shoulders. "It's okay not to be."

Steve had no response for that, but he did hold Bucky's hand tighter, like a lifeline, like Bucky was the only thing still anchoring him to the land.

"Can I do anything to help?"

Steve shook his head, then said after a moment, quietly, "just you is enough."

Just you and the sky fall of winter stars that would hopefully always remain the same. Just you and the comfort of knowing you'll always be there. These were the unspoken words that both acknowledged, without speaking.

Bucky smiled tiredly and leaned into his shoulder, pressing a chaste kiss there before anyone could see. Steve smiled, finally glancing at him.

The thank you was also unspoken, but Bucky smiled in response and gave his head a tilt.

"You okay?"

Bucky simply nodded. It was too much to put into words, yes or no if he was truly okay or not, but for this moment, he settled on the easy answer and committed to the peace of mind he'd been chasing.

As the night stretched on, grew colder, the two inched closer under the guise of huddling for warmth; less of a guise, more of the whole truth than they'd wanted to let on. Of course, the army didn't know that Captain America was dating his sergeant, much less his male sergeant and best friend -- Bucky joked about there being a mutiny if word had spread about them, if only to try and make light of the possible situation.

Steve tried not to think of that now as Bucky held him, arms comfortable around his shoulders, head nuzzled underneath Steve's chin as he murmured something about Steve being a 'damn furnace, how are you not burning up'.

"I run hot," he mused with a grin of nothing shorter than adoration. Bucky noticed; he blushed and hid against his chest once more.

"I know you do," he muttered, just for the two of them, and now Steve looked away to hide his own pink cheeks and pleased grin. Bucky squeezed him briefly tighter and stared out towards the stars.

The crackling of the radio and the faint buzz of cars amidst the shivering night was a surprisingly calm mix. Bucky yawned and rubbed his eyes; Steve glanced briefly around then kissed the top of his head, a brief brush of the lips easily misconstrued as something other than a display of romance.

Later they would go back to camp, back to Captain America and his right-hand on-your-left man: now, though, they were two boys in love, alone in the night, and happy.

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I swear my writing style changes every other chapter 😅 what'd y'all think? I liked it!