"Okay, lemme get this straight." Bucky juggled the soccer ball between his hands as he thought, furrowing his eyebrows. "Your parents had an arranged marriage type deal when you were how old?"

"We took that more as a joke than anything," Steve said quickly. "She's just an ex. We were better friends."

Bucky nodded slowly. "And, you never told me because..?"

Steve looked embarrassed. "I didn't think it would ever be important."

"Steve," Bucky said exasperatedly, throwing him the ball, "I made a fool out of myself in front of an English person? She sounded so much smoother than me!"

He blinked and studied Bucky. "That's... that's what you're upset with?"

He snorted. "I don't care you got with a lady, Steve. Long as she treated you right and you treated her the same, I don't care."

Steve looked relieved. "Okay."

"Seriously, though, English?" He nodded. "Good, strong accent. Very nice."

"Okay, Buck." He smiled, glad Bucky wasn't mad at him.

////

Bucky hated shopping. A crumpled list in his pocket, he browsed the small grocery store in town, clutching a handful of bills in his other hand. His mother had told him to bring along his siblings, but Bucky was certain that this was something he could do alone.

A jug of milk, gluten-free and regular loaves of bread, and some other simple ingredients. As he paid for the groceries, he noticed the boys from the summer who they'd gotten off on bad terms with. He swore under his breath and lowered his head as he quickly gathered his bags, forcing a quick smile and a thanks to the cashier as he left.

They followed. His pulse quickened. "Well, this is just perfect," he mumbled to himself as he tried to keep a casual walk down to the bus stop. Three boys led the way, Rumlow leading the charge.

Bucky felt relieved as the bus pulled up to the side of the street, with a hiss of the pipe and a strong scent of gasoline. He stepped inside, dropped the correct amount of coins, and tried to ignore the knot in his stomach as he noticed the other boys climb on after him, chatting amongst themselves.

His heart sank as Rumlow caught sight of him, smirked and elbowed his boys, and walked towards him. He swallowed and sank lower in his seat, momentarily closing his eyes.

"'Sup, f**? Didn't I see you in the summer?" Rumlow sat beside him, stretched out and crossed his arms as he grinned deviously over at him. "Your mom still kickin'?"

His blood began to boil and he struggled to bite his tongue, to stare ahead and say nothing.

"Hey. I asked you a question, man." A hand on his shoulder and he turned his head to gaze evenly at him, feeling his heart pound against his ribcage.

"Don't touch me."

Rumlow looked amused and patted his cheek. "Aww, Buck's trying to be scary," he crooned. "Don't worry, we can fix that."

He couldn't get off that bus quick enough. He spotted Steve's place a little up the road and he quickened his pace, knowing the boys were close behind him.

Almost home, almost home, he could see Steve on his balcony --

A hard shove sent him tumbling to the ground and the groceries went flying, the milk tearing open and disappearing into the cold ground. Bucky rolled himself over quickly.

"We missed you, Barnes," another boy croned, rolling his neck and cracking his knuckles.

"That's a little cliché, don't you think?" he breathed. Then they were upon him.

Scrambling in the dirt, Bucky tried to get out from underneath them -- arms pinned, legs bent under him, straining to free himself. Rumlow kicked dirt into his eye and he flinched away, face red and eyes tearing up.

"You guys really don't have to -- "

He grabbed a dark-haired kid's leg and sent him sprawling backwards, then he climbed to his feet. Grabbing the two groceries he could, he started sprinting, panic forcing his legs to carry him faster and faster. The boys chased after him, whooping and hollering.

He made way to the creek, leaping over branches and narrowly avoiding trees looming above. Essentially in his backyard now, all he had to do was keep going --

And he was tackled, tripped over a log, and he winced as he felt the bark and rocks slice up his leg and arms. Rumlow and one boy stood over him, and, chest heaving, he tried to pull himself up.

"You're an embarrassment," Rumlow growled. "You don't belong here, nobody wants you. Nobody does."

Bucky closed his eyes and blocked him out. He was positive, he was an optimist, he had to be --

"You're pathetic," he continued, cocking his head and studying him like he was a worthless creature. "Even your own family can't afford to have half of you. Look at you." A kick to the stomach and Bucky choked on a gasp, and they kept coming as his ribs, his chest, were hammered endlessly.

"And your mother." Rumlow looked at the other boy, clicking his tongue, turning back to Bucky. "She'll be gone too. What d'you think, huh? Two weeks? Three? And that's being generous."

"Shut the hell up," Bucky choked, and got another kick in response. Rumlow chuckled and glanced around, listening to the silence and Bucky's sharp intakes of breath -- pained. He stepped back.

"No knight in shining armor coming to save you now," he mused, and delivered a final blow to his head. He grabbed the other boy and they walked away, leaving Bucky lying on his back beside the creek, blinking hard to keep himself from crying.

"You're wrong," he said aloud and his voice gave way. Slowly, he pushed himself up and hung his shoulders, and groaned at the spike of pain through his head.

If he's wrong, then where is Steve? Wouldn't he have heard the commotion?

He cleared away the thought impatiently.

Steve loves me, he reminded himself, and climbed to his feet. He brushed himself off best he could and staggered, then leaned against a tree for support. Maybe if he just closed his eyes, everything would be better.

He sank to sit against the tree and hesitantly rubbed his face. It was quiet, now; peaceful. The sun was bright overhead, and he heard nothing but the occasional car and the chatter of birds. A warm breeze floated by, and he tried to stay calm as he took a deep breath.

Everything would be okay.

////

Yeah, it'll get worse for him as the story goes along...