Bucky gazed blankly at the steaming cup of coffee in front of him. A group of betas and omegas chattered pleasantly around him, but he couldn't concentrate enough to hold an intelligent conversation with either of them. 

     A warm hand placed itself on top of his, "Are you okay Bucky? You seem out of it." It was Jane's, the president of the Omega and Human Rights Club. 

     The people around him peered at him curiously, like they had just noticed that he was being quiet. "I'm fine," he quickly answered, "I'm just tired."

     The group broke into another round of chatter, giving him tips on how to keep his life balanced. He earnestly tried to listen, but his mind was too distracted to grasp at the words directed towards him. "Have any of you guys heard of an alpha called Steve Rogers?" He asked them hesitantly, "Tall, muscular, blue eyes and dark blonde hair."

     Most of the first and second years shook their head but the older students nodded. His question started another chatter around the group.

     "Steve is so hot!"

     "He's so damn fine!"

     "Really? I don't think there's anything special about him."

     "Why are girls and omegas so crazy over him?"

     "That's because he's walking sex."

     "Not only that, he's really kind and considerate."

     "Really?"

     "Yeah! He treats us omegas like his equal."

     "He's super intelligent too and he's good at art. We had an art course together first year."

     "Lucky!"

     "I would spread my legs for him any day!"

     "Devaughn!"

     "What? Leave me alone."

     "I heard he's from a family which lives in Rose Gardens."

     "No way! He's that rich?"

     "I just lost all my hope of being with him."

     "No, he lives in Chapel Hill. He lives 15 minutes away from me."

     "I forgot you were a rich bitch."

     The conversation quickly became inappropriate. Bucky zoned out to muse on the  information he gained on his possible enemy. Steve was supposedly a lovable alpha who most omegas wanted as a mate. He was kind and considerate too.

     Bucky thought back to how Steve let go of him when he thought he hurt him and even apologized. His treacherous mind also recalled the fact that he whimpered, even though he promised himself that he would never remember that.

     His cheeks turned warm. He felt like burying himself alive. "Are you interested in him Bucky?" Jane asked. "I bet you see him a lot now that he's back. He's enrolled in the military tactics program too."

     Bucky didn't even have time to answer before  a beta scoffed."Bucky with an alpha? You're right." Bucky nodded.

     She was right, Bucky would never go for an alpha. All alphas were the same. They pretended to be different but just controlled their omegas. The few different ones were either taken, related to Bucky or not interested in omegas who looked like him.

     He had already decided that he would settle down with a nice beta. What ever had happened before with Steve would never happen again, he told him self. It had just been a long time since he had been that close to an alpha. 

--

     The weekend rolled around quickly. Bucky had no classes to attend, but he had to work a shift in the morning. He did his job happily, catching up with his work mates and manager.

      His shift ended so quickly it startled him. He took the first empty seat he saw in the café and started catching up on all of his assignments. Occasionally, one of his workmates would slip him food with a wink. 

     A body slipped into the seat in front of him. Bucky's eyes flickered upwards, expecting to see a friend. Instead they met with the familiar blue which were Steve's eyes. He shut his eyes for a brief moment and groaned internally. 

     Steve looked as neat and handsome as usual. He smiled amicably but Bucky leaned his body back in his chair.  Steve raised his hands. "I promise not to touch you," he said, taking note of Bucky's defensive posture. Bucky gave him a hard look before nodding and seating comfortably. Steve wouldn't try anything, they were in a very public space.

     Bucky expected the alpha to speak, instead Steve just stared at him in a way which made him uncomfortable. Bucky was about ready to stand and walk away when he finally spoke. "I'm sorry for yesterday," he smiled apologetically, "I'm just very curious about why you broke in and took nothing."

     Bucky sighed, "Can you please let it go?"

     "Would you?" Steve raised an eyebrow. As much as Bucky hated to admit it, he was right. If the roles had been inverted, he would have already reported Steve to the authorities. He considered telling Steve the truth, then remembered Tony. 

     If Tony got in any more trouble at school, there was no telling what his father would do to him. It was better for him to take the blame. Not to mention, what he had stolen wasn't really Steve's so Bucky wouldn't get into much trouble. 

     Steve stared at him expectantly. 

     Worry twisted in Bucky's stomach. Steve was rich and he was a nobody from the slums. Steve could get him in trouble if he wanted to, even if he was innocent. He could loose his scholarship. 

     An idea floated into Bucky's mind. His lips parted to speak but closed again. He couldn't bare to say the words but it was the easiest way out. He took in a deep breath, "I'm in love with you."

     Steve's eyes widened, "Pardon?"

     "I said I'm in love with you," Bucky repeated. Saying those words caused him physical pain. He imagined it was comparable to banging his head against the table twenty times. "I've been in love with you since I saw you when I toured the university in high school." Bucky felt a blush creeping onto his skin, he felt so embarrassed.

    "I thought I would feel closer to you if I broke into your dorm. I didn't do anything creepy I swear." Bucky was desperate to recant his words but knew he couldn't.

     Steve stared at him for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. Bucky felt offended. He knew he was not what alphas considered 'attractive', but was it necessary to laugh in his face? "You don't have to be a dick about it!" He felt like punching Steve in his perfect teeth.

     "I didn't expect that at all," Steve said between laughs, "We both know I am missing something." 

     Bucky gaped indignantly. Mortification clawed at his insides. He wished the ground would open and swallow him whole. 

     "A friend gave that to me a long time ago. He's a narcissistic piece of work sometimes, but I hold him dear. Also, it's more dangerous than it looks so please give it back. How did you even get in?"

     Steve's words replayed in Bucky's mind, narcissistic piece of work. "You know Tony Stark?" he asked. Steve seemed surprised to hear the name but nodded.

     Tony knew the dorm number and that Steve wasn't supposed to be home. Not to mention, he had a key card! Bucky connected the dots. Steve hadn't stolen the mini arc reactor from Tony, Tony had given it to him. His father confiscated his other inventions, so he needed that one back to power everything else he made. He tricked Bucky knowing that he would never willingly break into some one's dorm.

     "That fucking asshole!" Bucky cursed. He had assumed the key card was one of Tony's inventions, a universal key card or something. "Fuck, give me my last few words back!"

     "That's quite impossible, don't you think?" Steve smirked. 

     Bucky realized that Steve somehow had all the other students fooled. He wasn't a kind and gentle saint, he was an asshole. He could have cut to the chase and saved Bucky all the embarrassment but chose not to.

     Bucky angrily packed his belongings and stood up. "If you want the stupid arc reactor back, go ask Tony for it!" With that, he indignantly stormed off, cursing the very ground both Tony and Steve stood upon.