Steve's eyes cracked open, he was assailed by a flood of light. A small groan escaped him and he tried to turn over. He frowned realizing there was a weight around his waist. He opened his eyes wider ignoring the aching feeling from the sun.

His heart began to speed faster and he nearly jumped halfway across the room. He looked directly at the sleeping face of Bucky. He watched him, was he still alive? He looked at his back, it was slowly rising and falling. Steve craned his head down and looked at the weight on his waist. It was an arm, but it wasn't just an arm. It was also connected to Bucky.

He tried to tilt his head around the room as much as possible without actually moving his torso. Where was he? The room looked so unfamiliar, but it felt..homely. The part of the wall that he could see was covered by beige wallpaper with small blue flowers in a pattern scattered around. It was an odd choice but reminded him of his parent's room when he was younger. He looked directly up above him. In an odd oval frame was a picture of him and Bucky. The angle he was looking at was weird but he could make out Bucky's arms around his waist, and his own wide smile seconds away from laughing.

When he looked back at Bucky his eyes were opening startling Steve. Steve froze staring dead set a sleepy looking Bucky.

"Morning darlin'," He mumbled in a sleepy gruff morning voice. Steve's face turned bright red for two reasons. He hadn't heard Bucky's morning voice in years. Probably with the last time being when he had lived alone with Bucky in an apartment. And the use of the word 'darlin' made his chest flutter. Bucky's eyes scanned Steve's face and chuckled softly. "What? That word only reserved for specific purposes and all day on my birthday?" Bucky smiled knowingly at that, Steve gave him a blank look confused about the statement.

"Good...morning?" He said slowly clearing the grogginess from his throat. He felt fully clothed but the way Bucky looked at him made him feel exposed.

"Morning Stevie. You look awfully awake, especially considering last night."

"Last night?" The question was evident in the air.

"Well yeah, I felt like we could go on forever. But you were so loud..." Bucky shook his head chuckling. "We had to let the neighbors sleep at some point." Steve gave him a wide-eyed look. He noticed Bucky hair suddenly, it was cut short reminiscent of his look from long ago.

"I don't follow..." He said sincerely looking at Bucky face for any clues.

"You're cute when you have morning brain." Bucky leaned in, it took everything Steve had not to move away. Bucky pressed a light kiss to his forehead, the arm wrapped around his waist was rubbing Steve's back in an admittedly relaxing movement. Bucky's lips lingered on his forehead. As confused as Steve was he took in as much of Bucky's scent as possible. It was as intoxicating as ever. When Bucky pulled away from him he gave Steve a longing look, like they were 60 feet apart rather than six inches. "I wish I could just lay down with you all day, you're so cute Steve honestly. How I manage to stay away from you is beyond me." Steve could only respond by blushing and trying to avoid eye contact. But Bucky's face had its own separate orbit and his eyes were always drawn back.

"You haven't been this shy after since..." Bucky hummed thinking, then shrugged. "Actually it wasn't too long ago." There was a growling sound, Steve touched his stomach. Bucky smiled at that, he sat up the comforter falling revealing an unshirted chest.

"Excuse me," Steve said slowly trying not to gawk at him like he was a teenager again.

"No excuses, I'll make us breakfast. Maybe we can take a shower after, watch an early morning lazy movie." Bucky raised his eyebrow for a response. Steve stared and nodded dumbly using his elbow to elevate his body slightly.

"Sounds good Bucky anything is okay." He mumbled out gripping the pillow. Bucky smiled sweetly at him, he leaned over ruffling up Steve's already ruffled up hair.

"You go from declaring wars, to the most agreeable human on the planet." He said fondly, he stood up. The comforter falling off his body. Steve's eyes bugged out, it was only then he realized Bucky was completely stark naked. Steve couldn't help take in Bucky's retreating form.

He crumbled back into the bed and stared up at the ceiling. He tried organizing his thoughts. But everything in his head was a jumbled mess. He looked around the room, the more he looked the more confused he became. There were pictures of him and Bucky that he didn't remember taking. The decor was as close to forties as it could get. This room felt just like home but it was as foreign as China.

He wanted to pull his shirt over his head and try again with the day. He touched the shirt and frowned. He looked down properly at his clothes, his shirt and pants were about one size too big for him. Weirder still they didn't smell like his clothing. He pulled the shirt up to his nose and took a deep breath. He was comforted, his nerves at ease, it smelled like Bucky. He looked down at the grey sweatpants again a size too big for him. Steve immediately knew the reasoning behind this especially because he and Bucky were relatively the same size.

If Steve had to guess he'd suspect that even his underwear was Buckys. He shifted around and froze. He felt himself to check for underwear style. He only succeeded in groping his bum, he was wearing no underwear.

Steve shot up in bed his face red and mortified. He had gotten in the habit of always wearing underwear to bed. It had started in the war where he always had to be ready to spring up and fight. And it spread out to his life with the Avengers and Tony's inclination for pulling Steve based pranks.

"What in sweet Jesus is going on here." He whispered trying to keep as calm as possible. He sat up and slipped out of bed. If this illusion, or dream, or whatever it was, was supposed to be an imitation of a room he'd like. Then it would have to have clothing of his as well.

He slowly paced around the room. He opened a few drawers, there was a mix of random miscellaneous things that only scared him more and more. More pictures, albums supposedly put together by Steve himself, socks and bow ties that he knew he'd get for Bucky if given the chance. He opened the closet, he spotted a small mini drawer hugging the corner of the wall. He opened it up, his eyes widened and he almost choked. The drawer was slammed closed, and the closet was shut just as quickly as it opened.

"No...I'd ne-...just no."

"Hey are you going to join me for breakfast or what!" Bucky yelled from the kitchen. Steve froze not sure if he could actually face this fake Bucky or not.

"Just uh...looking for some clothes!" He managed to yell back. He told himself he just needed to act as casually as possible. Cool, calm, collected on the outside and a mental breakdown on the inside.

"Aw Stevie I was hoping you'd just stay cuddled up in my clothes, you look so cute." He heard Bucky chuckling, it was so familiar that it nearly brought tears to his eyes. He hadn't heard his own Bucky laugh at anything directed towards him in awhile, lest it is some sort of joke or pun aimed at or against him. "But if you must disappointment me, you did laundry last night clothes are by the hamper."

"Hamper? Hamper, hamper." Steve mumbled to himself trying to scan the room again.

"Oh, and by the way Mr. Hypocrite you're not allowed to yell at me for leaving the basket on the washer to fall. You did it last night!" There was still humor in Bucky's voice most likely taking glee in getting one over on Steve. Steve frowned, the next time he blinked his eyes stayed closed. He clenched the wall around him, it was like a movie was being played in his head.

He felt put down the laundry basket in the wash. He bent over to open the dryer, wondering why the lid wasn't at the top. He felt a warm arm and a cool arm slowly slink around his waist. No matter the temperature of the arm they felt like they were burning his skin. Every second that Bucky was touching him the nerves on his skin felt alive, he felt awake, his heart sped. But he knew better than to give into Bucky right away. He was pulled back into Bucky's chest not forcefully, just a smooth transition from one being to another.

"Hmm hey," Bucky mumbled his chin nudging on Steve's shoulder. Steve raised an eyebrow trying to be as aloof as he could manage.

"Hey, aren't I supposed to be the cuddly one. Don't take my role in this relationship." He huffed softly, Bucky adjusted them so that Steve could see his face. Bucky's eyebrow was raised, a question in his eyes. "I'm teasing you can take any role you want." He added, Bucky chuckled at his addition. He pressed a light kiss to Steve's forehead and hummed against his cheek. He swayed them slightly to the left and right. Steve vaguely wondered if he had gone out drinking with Tony, he passed that thought over. He didn't want to have to think about the amount of alcohol it would take to get Bucky tipsy.

"The roll I want to take right now is your dance partner." Steve paused and looked Bucky full in the face.

"Excuse me? Is this some sort of sexual innuendo that I am not picking up on?" Bucky tipped his head back and laughed, he nearly snorted and shook his head.

"Depends, would you like to dance with me?" He said as mysteriously as he could turning Steve around in his arms. So that Steve's chin was rested on Bucky's chest.

"What is dancing in this scenario?" Steve asked in a whisper, his cheeks were burning. He didn't find it possible how Bucky didn't have to say a single sexual thing, and Steve's face still became as red as a cherry.

"Just follow my lead." Bucky murmured barely loud enough for Steve to hear.

Steve swallowed and let go of the now nearly cracked wooden doorframe. He slunk down along the frame. His face was still bright red, the memory continued going until it ended with him waking up this morning. He rubbed his temples hard.

"What is going on, a dream inside a dream?" He whispered because it had to be. There was no way that happened, that any of that happened. It wasn't possible.

"Oh? No reply, no defense to my acquisition Steve?" Bucky yelled still in the kitchen, Steve could now begin to smell the byproduct of Bucky's work. Steve took deep breaths, going from a crawl to a full stand. He needed to relax, treat the place like it was his mission.

"Bucky I didn't even get to sort the whites from the colors before you jumped me." He put a laugh in his voice but inside he was still flushed red. The memory occasionally popped back into his mind. Both mystifying and terrifying it. He walked to the front end of the hall, stepping into a part of the house he wasn't familiar with. He turned to the left and saw Bucky in an apron cooking.

"Jumped you say? Is that what you called consummating my dating proposal?" He turned his head over his shoulder smirking at Steve. Steve blushed and turned away from him.

"Bucky we've been together for three years and you forgot to officially ask me to be your boyfriend, that deserves a smack, not a kiss." He opened a door on the wall away from the kitchen and descended the stairs.

The laundry room looked exactly like it looked in his...dream? Fantasy? He wasn't sure what to call it. He found the laundry basket in a hamper that looked like a bear. He could tell that was his executive decision. He ruffled through the clothing and pulled out a pair of boxers. He dropped his pants and slipped them on. He hesitated before pulling them back up, considering changing into his better fitting sweatpants at the very top of the basket. He remembered Bucky's compliment and felt warm on the inside. He tied a loop using the tie on the pants ascending back up the stairs. Bucky turned around just in time to look at him. Bucky was holding a pan of eggs, and a pan of bacon. There were already pancakes on the island in the kitchen.

"If you wanted to be official so bad why didn't you just ask me yourself?" Steve had to think for a moment he really didn't have any real excuse. He decided to put himself in his own position.

"Well, I dunno...I just figured you just wanted to...you know with none of the strings. So I didn't want to make it awkward by asking and embarrassing myself." He had trained his eyes on the ground and dared a look up. Bucky's face was in one word appalled. He put the pans down and wiped his hands throwing the towel on the counter. He marched to Steve putting a hand on each of Steve's shoulder. They were both of equal height, but it still felt like Bucky towered over him.

"Steven Grant Rogers, if I didn't seduce you basically, you'd stay a virgin forever. You blush during sex, and you're bashful after. Hell, sometimes you blush when I'm naked in the same room." Bucky shook his head, he looked at Steve like he couldn't believe he had to go through this. "Steve, no strings attached? You? What do you think I met you yesterday? When you were 16 you fed a cat your dinner twice and you were heartbroken when it never came back. Steve remember when we were kids and we'd get candy from that mom and pop shop?"

"Little Carlene's," Steve added, a memory that he actually understood.

"You'd always smile extra wide for the owner when he'd serve us candy. Said something like you thought he needed it?" Steve nodded. "Then he switched cashier duty to his son and you wanted to stop coming because you said you and Mr. Harring-"

"Had something special." They said at the same time. Bucky rubbed at Steve's shoulders.

"You're the sweetest, kindest, most generous, and cutest human being I've ever set my eyes on. And you think I only want you for sex?" Steve blushed, internally, externally, always. He felt so exposed the way Bucky looked at him, the sincerity of his words. How tight he was holding him like he'd never let him go until he realized how in love he was.

"Sorry, Buck..." Steve murmured, he couldn't meet Bucky's eye. He couldn't or he'd explode with feelings or do something utterly stupid. Especially for a made up place, with this fake Bucky.

"Better be, tryna drive me crazy or something." Bucky leaned forward pressing a kiss to Steve's forehead, he finally let him go. "Hey, get some breakfast before it gets cold."

"Didn't you just make it?" Steve teased, trying to bite back his smile with his lip.

"Wind travels at high velocities in this house, a lot of air."

"Reminds me of someone," Steve said walking passed Bucky trying not to laugh. He heard Bucky scoff behind him.

"Is that sass Steve Rogers?" Bucky said walking behind him. Steve shrugged trying to seem as aloof as possible as he piled on the breakfast assortment. Bucky scoffed and peaked his head to the side of Steve's head, coming into Steve's peripheral.

"Can I help you?" He put his own plate down and picked up another plate, not having to think as he put food on Bucky's plate already prioritizing Bucky's favorite parts of breakfast. It was like an equation he always knew the answer to.

"Yes you can, I feel insulted. The only thing that can heal my heart is a kiss from Captain America." Steve resisted rolling his eyes and pushed Bucky's plate of food into his hands. Bucky took the plate but Steve hadn't let go yet. He leaned forward making a show of it, smooching sounds and all. Steve couldn't ignore the adorable mess, he leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against Buckys.

He didn't know how many time he was 'supposed' to have done this with Bucky, but to him, it felt like fire. It was such a simple kiss but he wanted to continue, he wanted to kiss him longer and harder. He pulled away feeling guilty, this was exactly what whoever done this to him wanted. They wanted him to feel comfortable and relaxed, he needed to get out of there quickly before he fell in too deep.

He shifted away from Bucky, disguising it as reaching for his place. Bucky gave him a strange look but didn't comment on the chopped kiss. Steve looked away from Bucky's general area looking for a dining room or someplace to eat. The island didn't have chairs so he didn't assume it doubled as a bar.

"Why don't we eat in the living room, we can watch some show and relax. I know you've kinda been stressing this week." Bucky said nudging Steve's arm with his elbow. Steve almost wanted to say no, they'd get food on the furniture. Finger foods were perfectly fine in living rooms, but all the syrup and especially milk would take forever to come out of carpeting and cloth couches.

"Uh sure." He immediately began walking, he didn't want to risk Bucky putting an arm around him or showing him any form of affection. He maneuvered around the coffee table and sat at the far end of the couch. Bucky looked at him strangely for a moment, he sat down giving Steve some space. He reached forward and grabbed the remote and turned it on.

The first thing that popped up was Vision. Not only that but original vision with red skin, he was wearing a suit and was in front of a board. There were a group of people sitting in front of him lecture style, of all ages. The word written in big black marker at the top was Blackhole.

"Ugh seen this episode already," Bucky mumbled as he channeled up until he landed on a show called MASH. He turned and smiled at Steve, he opened his mouth like he was going to say something then closed. He turned back around and grabbed his plate slowly eating his food. Steve became hyper-aware of Bucky, he wanted to ask him what was wrong. Ask if he was the problem, comfort him. But he couldn't, there just wasn't any good that could come of letting Bucky Barnes love him.

Bucky finished before Steve did and was resting his elbow on the arm of the couch watching the show silently. Steve finished and put his plate down sitting stiffly with his hands on his knees. Every natural instinct in his body was asking him to remedy the situation. But his survival instinct was right there with it, telling him to be aware and not to succumb to such an obvious trick.

Bucky was the first to break the silence. He turned around fully so that his entire body was facing Steve. He grabbed the remote and turned off the television.

"Okay, what's the matter? You went from okay, to let's not talk to me anymore." Bucky said Steve looked over trying to play as surprised.

"What? Nothing is wrong Buck."

"Listen, Steve, for the one you never let us eat main meals in the living room. Always something about syrup in the couch cushions, even when it's dinner time." Steve bit his lip cursing himself for not going with his gut.

"I wanted to...shake it up..." He mumbled weakly, Bucky shook his head and scooted closer to him.

"Did you not like what we did last night? I know you're pretty private about that stuff, but you seemed like you enjoyed it, and you said yes when I asked...well you said yes a couple more times...but seriously Steve was it that?" Steve blushed he was so flustered and at a loss for words, he only shook his head. "If it wasn't that, what was it? I'm your boyfriend I should only make you happy you know?"

"Bucky really don't worry..." Steve said quietly, he tried looking away he hated how worried Bucky looked. It was the same look he'd give him whenever he thought Steve had overexerted himself back in the 40s.

"Wait is it the boyfriend thing?" Bucky's eyes widened like he had an epiphany, he took Steve's hands in his. "Steve you know I was teasing, I'd never actually invalidate your anxiousness like that. I know you worry, and you wouldn't believe how shitty I felt knowing for three years you've been thinking I'd just drop you." He moved closer his face inches away from Steves. "Steve I'll go door to door informing everyone that we're dating if I have to, I want to be with you. I'll always want to be with you. Steve, I love you, you know that I've said that. But I'll say it again, and again for forever."

Steve was speechless, he felt so hot, he felt like electricity was snapping in his brains, he was short wiring he was sure of it. How was he supposed to say no to this, he hadn't felt this type of passion in so long. It was only aided by the fact that Bucky was actually speaking to him. Whoever had designed this place had really gone the extra mile to destroy him.

Bucky put a hand on Steve's cheek and a hand on his thigh. He leaned close enough for Steve to feel his breath. Bucky forced Steve's gaze.

"Can I?" He whispered softly, Steve there was no version of him that could ever not say yes. He nodded slowly and was rewarded with soft lips against his own. He didn't pull away this time, he couldn't. He felt that magical pull that Bucky always turned on at the wrong moments. At this point, Steve's body was angled towards Bucky and one leg was hanging off the couch. To reach him, Bucky had been on his knees looming over Steve. One of his knees was between Steve's legs and Steve was slowly being pushed back.

His mind was certainly not used to this, the last time he had even made out with someone had been for an extended period time, was basically back when Hitler lived. His body however moved and acted like this had happened more than once before recently.

Bucky's tongue lightly touched the bottom of Steve's lip. Steve was surprised at the contact but was even more surprised when he opened his mouth for Bucky. His back was fully against the couch. Bucky's hand had even drifted up to his waist.

He reconciled with himself, there was no way he could escape through evasion or ignoring Bucky. So he had to treat this as a hostage situation as wonderful as it was. He'd let himself indulge for as long as possible, and as soon as an opportunity arose he'd leave.

He smiled a bit as they kissed, now open-mouthed, he finally had a plan a way out potentially. Bucky took that as extra fuel and pressed his body closer to Steve's. Steve let out a small whimpered and closed his eyes letting himself be taken away.