"What happened to you?"

He cracked an eye open to see none other than Steve leaning over him, eyes wide with worry. He managed a tight smile and grimaced at the overall ache of his body.

"Would you believe I tripped over that log and wrestled with a bunch of squirrels?"

Steve bit his lip, studying him anxiously. "It was them again, wasn't it." He knelt in the mud and took his hands within his own. "Sweetheart, I am so sorry -- "

"Heh, deja vu." Bucky shifted positions. "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

"Hey, you're bleeding..." Steve pulled off his sweater and pressed it against the substantial flow coming from his right leg. Bucky inspected it with a wince.

"Ooh, didn't see that twenty minutes ago. Yep, that could be why I'm feeling dizzy, huh." He looked up at him.

"We'll get you all fixed up," Steve promised as he helped him to his feet. "Never get a days rest, do we?"

He chuckled a little and leaned against him for support, but couldn't help the invasive thought of where were you before, Steve? I needed you.

He shook his head to clear the thought away. Steve led him into the house and to the bathroom, where he got him to sit on the edge of the tub. As Steve busied himself with finding a first aid kit, Bucky stared at his hands and frowned. 

Steve hated the silence. He looked at him, his eyebrows pinched with worry. Bucky looked defeated; mentally, physically, emotionally worn down. Steve tried to think of anything to say to cheer him up while he worked on his leg quietly.

"Do you want to maybe watch a movie downstairs? We'll even watch your favourite," Steve volunteered. Bucky lifted his head and smiled a dry smile, looking up at him.

"Yeah? You'd be willing to watch Star Wars with me instead of the other one?"

"I'll even watch Revenge of the Sith," he promised. Bucky looked impressed and his smile grew. He appreciated that Steve was trying to make him feel a bit better. Finally, he nodded his head yes.

"Okay."

Steve wrapped his arms around him and kissed the top of his head, and Bucky hugged him back, resting his head on his chest and taking a steadying breath.

"Hey." Steve stroked a hand through his hair. His voice was soft. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you, I should've... I should've heard something, seen something -- "

Relief enveloped Bucky and he sighed a shaky breath as his grip tightened. "It's okay, Steve," he said quietly. "I'm okay, see?" He looked up, tried to flash a smile. Steve smiled sadly back and cupped his cheek. Bucky leaned into his hold.

"You're allowed to be upset," he reminded, his thumb smoothing over his cheek. Bucky stared up at him, desperate to feel safe again. "C'mon, let's pick a crappy movie to watch. You can borrow my favourite sweater," Steve added.

After getting everything sorted, Steve handed him the sweater he'd gotten for Christmas from Bucky -- a gift from his personal collection. Bucky grinned at him, rolled his eyes, and pulled the sweater on.

Now thoroughly contented and warm, Bucky hobbled over to the couch and pulled Steve down with him, resting comfortably against his chest, their hands loosely entwined as the movie started playing, the sound just loud enough for them to hear.

"Is this helping at all?" Steve mumbled half-way through the opening credits, and Bucky turned to look at him. "This, I mean." He gestured vaguely to their activities, face reddening.

Bucky's eyes were soft as he nodded. "This is nice," he concluded with a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."

Steve's arms tightened momentarily around him. "Anything for you, Buck, okay?"

A wave of warmth washed over him, and he relaxed, listening to his pulse as he watched the movie continue, flashes of colour catching his attention. Steve fell silent too and they watched in peace.

That is, until Bucky inevitably got bored. Steve stroked his hand distractedly, his thumb running over his knuckles as he watched. Bucky, distracted himself, twisted in his seat to face him more properly.

"Whatcha doing?"

"Mm, nothing." Steve looked concentrated on the movie, and Bucky shifted his position again, watching him. He hummed a little and sat back, now straddling his thighs.

Steve craned his neck to see the next scene as a fight picked up, light sabers swooshing and people yelling. Normally, Bucky was a huge Star Wars guy, but something was keeping his mind off of intergalactic battles as he considered other things.

His eyes flicked over Steve's invested expression, messily done hair, parted lips. "Stevie? Can I kiss you?" He tilted his head as he studied him, and Steve met his eyes. Smiling, cheeks flushing red, Steve nodded and shifted to hold him more comfortably.

Bucky leaned in and kissed him slowly, arms draped around his shoulders, and all thoughts of the future of the Jedi were pushed aside as Bucky felt at peace with Steve -- the only one who mattered to him. He pushed every negative thought to the side, and focused on the now -- he was with Steve, and he was happy. He was a happy person, and it would always stay that way.