Author's ((( (((<,^,>))) ))) Note
I found this picture online and thought it fit the chapter nicely. Credit to "jack-o-lantern12" on Devotion Art.

Bucky hid behind a building to watch Harge's fight with Steve. He'd decided that even though he'd probably hurt himself badly, he'd join it if Steve needed him.
Gil jabbed Steve hard right in the stomach and Bucky flinched. The punch caused Steve to double over and cough and as he did that Gil hooked the side of his head. Bucky grimaced. 'C'mon Steve!' He thought to himself 'Stop leaving yourself open!' Steve seemed to have read his mind because he blocked the next punch and started shuffling around a bit. He socked Gil in the nose from the side. Purposely, he held back a little bit with that jab (not that his punches had much power behind them in the first place). He did not like Gil, but he didn't want to hurt his already broken nose too badly. Gil shouted out and grabbed his nose and Steve took the opportunity to punch him in the now unblocked stomach. Harge however didn't double over like Steve had hoped, and boffed him in the jaw. His teeth cut the inside of his lip. The boys went on like this for a while until Gil got bored with his "opponent", giving him a good punch to the face, knocking him over, and ran away. Steve groaned, slowly getting to his feet as Bucky limped out of his hiding spot over to him.  "I guess I hit him harder," referencing what his mother had said a few days ago.

Bucky responded with lopsided smile, "sure looked like it."

   Wiping some blood off of his lip, Steve remarked  "We gotta go home before y'r ma figures us out"  He took off, walking quickly towards Bucky's house.

Bucky tried to keep up, hopping along with his stinging knee, "long as we don't run...I'm not allowed to run"

Steve slowed down a bit "I forgot...sorry pal." They reached Bucky's house a few minutes later than usual.  Fortunately for them, Mrs. Barnes didn't pay much attention, assuming that it was because of Bucky's injury. They made it to Bucky's room without a hitch and started their homework. That lasted for about 10 minutes...

"I need a haircut," Bucky stated rubbing his fingers through his hair.

"I could give ya one," Steve said with a proud smile on his face.

"Nah c'mon Steve ya really think my parents'd let you?" Buck responded.

"Well...I've watched a barber cut hair before. Besides, it'll save 'em money.  They'll be happy about it," Steve coaxed.

"My pa usually cuts it for me anyways," Bucky said, on the fence.

"It'll save 'im time and it'll be a surprise when he gets back home," Steve answered.

Bucky gave in, "Okay, but if we get in trouble it was y'r idea," Steve didn't say anything and set his book down. He walked over to the bathroom and pulled out a drawer with scissors in it.

"Do ya usually buzz the sides?" he asked.

"Yeah, but y'r not doin' that," Bucky answered.

"Fine," Steve said as Bucky sat down in front of him. Carefully, Steve started snipping at Bucky's hair, keeping it around finger length. He was doing a pretty good job until he got about halfway.  He started getting cocky and didn't use his fingers to measure the length as he got to the middle of Bucky's head.
   Steve got to right above Bucky's ear when Mrs. Barnes knocked on the ajar door. He had been in his own world when he was busy with the haircut, so he jumped.

"Ah! Ya nicked my ear!" Bucky shouted.

"Sorry Buck," Steve apologized, wincing. He gave Bucky a handful of toilet paper to put against the cut.

"Boys? Everything alright?" Mrs. Barnes questioned with suspicion.

"Um...yes...everything is copacetic" Steve said.

Mrs. Barnes walked into the room and saw dark brown chunks of hair all over the ground. Then, she looked up and saw her son's interesting hairstyle. She gaped at Steve who started rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably "Bucky needed a hair cut, so I told 'im I'd do it."

"Steve this isn't okay. I'd expect this from a five year old!" Mrs. Barnes explained as she continued checking how bad James' hair actually looked.

Steve looked down at his feet "Sorry ma'am, I thought...maybe it would save ya time," he muttered sheepishly.

"You were wrong," Mrs. Barnes said matter-of-factly, still looking at Bucky's head.

Steve looked up, "It still looks pretty good though doesn't it?"

Mrs. Barnes looked up, meeting Steve's approval-searching eyes.  She couldn't stay mad at Steve for too long, he was like a son to her and he evidently didn't know any better. "It's okay...it looks like you did well until you went to the front. Want me to help you fix it?" she offered.

"Sure," Steve said, picking up the scissors as Bucky glared. Steve gave him a big fake grin, whispering "It looks darb* Buck," and started his hair again.

*More 20's slang darb=great