Next five!

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"You're dead to me."

////

"You're dead to me."

"Come on, Stevie..."

"I asked you to do this one simple thing and of course  -- " He closed his eyes and impatiently pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I think you're being a little overdramatic."

Steve slowly looked up. "You had me convinced you were literally dead for almost a year."

Bucky looked a little ashamed, his cheeks turning red. "Yeah, um... I did have a reason for that," he said slowly and Steve narrowed his eyes.

"Oh yeah? I'm sure."

Bucky sighed. When Steve got upset he became stubborn. Really, really stubborn. That stubbornness also brought out his sarcastic side, which normally Bucky loved. He didn't think it would be terribly appropriate to mention that there, though.

"If they'd thought I was still with you... Steve, they would've killed you."

Steve was silent for a moment. Bucky waited.

He sighed and looked at Bucky, frowning.

"I... I guess," he finally relented, crossing his arms. "You could've come talk to me."

"I know, I'm sorry," he muttered, taking half a step closer. Steve remained defensive, arms folded, but he cocked his head to the side and studied him warily.

"You aren't going to leave again, are you?"

He shook his head. "Never again, doll." He took his hands and squeezed, and Steve nodded.

"Okay." Then he pulled him tight against him, clutching at him as if he's going to disintegrate right before his very eyes. Bucky hugged him back, closing his eyes and sighing softly.

"I won't leave you," he murmured quietly, and Steve closed his eyes as Bucky pressed a kiss against his cheek. "I love you."

He smiled a little. "You too."

////

"I just want you to know that I'll never stop loving you."

////

It was happening. Finally, finally happening.

Bucky Barnes was married.

He and Steve were on the dance floor, Bucky in a white suit, Steve in black. Bucky grasped his hand as they carefully danced, gliding across the marbled floor. He felt Steve looking at him and he looked up, turning red.

"What're you staring at down there?"

"Watching my feet, I can't dance," Bucky whispered back with a bashful grin. Steve smiled and shook his head, his eyes bright as they slowly spun.

"Well, you're right, but I don't think anyone can tell," he mused, and Bucky chuckled against him as Steve pulled him closer.

When Bucky looked at him, he looked so hopelessly in love, a heartwarming look in his eyes. Bucky's own chest swelled with emotion, but he'd already shed enough tears at the altar as Steve'd told him, "I do."

"Hey, Buck?" He looked at him, a small smile on his lips. Steve smiled back and held his hand a little tighter. "I just want you to know that I'll never stop loving you," he said softly.

"Stop, you'll make me cry again," he replied with a grin, teary-eyed once more. He spun him once more and the song ended, and the crowd burst in applause.

"Aww, c'mon, baby." He kissed his hand as he led him off the dance floor. "Don't cry."

"I can't help it, I -- I had dreamed for this for so long and -- " He took a breath. "We're finally here."

"We are, Buck." Steve cupped his cheek and smiled softly, wiping a tear off of his cheekbone. Bucky smiled a watery smile and rested his head on his shoulder. Steve looped an arm around his waist and they stood for a moment, watching the guests.

Once they were dragged back onto the floor by Thor and Bruce, Nat pulled Steve against her and they started dancing to an upbeat tune. Bucky grinned as he watched them, watched Steve laugh with his friends.

Sam side-eyed Bucky, a grin tugging his lips as he saw the lovesick smile on his face. He nudged him and smiled. "You look happy," he hummed.

"I am happy," Bucky replied, his features soft as he watched his husband grin over at him as he and Nat swung past. Bucky smiled back, and Sam looked at the exchange fondly. "It's a nice feeling," he said softly.

"Go on," he encouraged. "Go get 'im, man. Go be happy. You deserve it."

Bucky squeezed his shoulder and smiled softly. "Thanks, Sam." He joined them on the dance floor and grabbed Steve again, pressing a kiss to his neck as Steve laughed.

Nat sidled up to Sam, tilting her head. "C'mon," she hummed, pulling him to join them all.

"I love you so much," Bucky said with a grin as he carded through his hair. His arm around his waist, Steve smiled against him and nodded.

"I love you too, Bucky Barnes."

////

"I f*cked up, alright? I'm sorry."

////Boys have a fight. :/

"If it's such a hassle, then leave!" Steve shouted, red in the face. Bucky was frozen by the door, trying to contain his anger, breathing hard.

"I can't deal with you right now," Bucky growled. "You're the most immature, self-righteous, annoying prick I've ever known -- "

"I told you countless times," Steve scoffed. "I don't need you to look out for me all the time! I don't need you!"

"You don't need me, huh? That's real rich coming from the kid who wouldn't have survived a week without me bein' there!"

"Says the guy who almost ki-- " Steve stopped himself, clenching his jaw. He closed his eyes briefly and gritted his teeth, and Bucky took a step towards him.

"No, no, go ahead," he dared, voice dangerously low. "Say it." Steve shook his head and swallowed. Bucky shoved his shoulder. "Say it, Rogers."

A beat of silence passed. Bucky's eyes were dark, hardened.

"You gonna say that I almost killed you, Steve? Because trust me, I know," he hissed, getting in his face. Steve simply glared at him and said nothing. Bucky studied his reaction, then scoffed and looked away. "Shoulda' left you in the ocean, Steve," he uttered before storming out, slamming the door behind him.

Steve paced the living room, built up anger with nowhere to go. He didn't even know when it'd escalated so quickly. He couldn't remember what the original argument was about.

Twenty minutes passed, and thirty. Steve swore and yanked the door open, and that was when he noticed the rain pouring down. Slamming the door roughly behind him, he jogged out into the storm to find him, still seething with fury. The rain did cool him off a little, though.

He checked their usual haunts and finally found him in a burnt out bar downtown -- due to be destroyed the next month. Bucky was at the bar, surrounded by smashed glass, absent-mindedly toying with a broken piece with his metal hand.

Steve entered and sat a stool away from him. Bucky didn't move, and the silence continued, broken only by the rain pattering on the roof.

"I f***** up, alright? I'm sorry." Steve stared straight ahead, a muscle in his jaw ticking with frustration. No answer. He pursed his lips. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Buck." Still, nothing. "Christ, Bucky, could you even acknowledge -- "

"What does it matter? You don't need me."

Steve looked at him, his anger fading. Bucky was staring at his metal hand and the way it caught the dying light.

"Bucky -- "

"Stop it, Steve." He sounded tired; he rubbed his cheek with his good hand. "Don't you understand? I'm tired. I'm tired of the fights, of you against me, I'm so godd*** tired of defending myself."

"You were right," he said quietly. "I wouldn't be here without you. I owe you, Buck."

"That's no good either," he said dryly. "As you so eloquently put it, I almost killed you. I can't win."

Steve was silent for a minute. "I'm sorry, Bucky. I shouldn't have said what I did -- I don't have any good excuse. I'm just -- sorry."

Bucky went quiet again, and Steve lowered his head, heart heavy. "I didn't mean it," he said softly. "I want you here, Steve. I shouldn't have said that."

Steve nodded and blew out a breath, thinking hard. "Hey," he said quietly, and Bucky finally looked up. His eyes were misty -- it almost looked like he'd been crying when Steve wasn't there. "How 'bout I treat you to a real drink, and we decide if we hate each other or not?"

Bucky drummed his fingers along the wooden surface, watching him. Finally, he put a hand on his shoulder and nodded once.

"I don't hate you," he uttered as he stood. "But you're buying."

Steve cracked a small smile. "Got it."

They walked out together, Bucky's arms slung over his shoulders, pulling him close.

////

"We should try adding a third person."

//// ... *cough cough*

Bucky huffed as he got into position, planting his hand on the yellow circle.

"Good job," Steve said, distracted by his book as he sat on the couch. Sam shot him a look as he tried to reach the red, lifting his leg off the ground and awkwardly balancing. Nat spun again and looked between them all.

For now, paint Twister was going okay -- except Steve, being the ever stick-in-the-mud, had elected to read instead of participate. Bucky had begged his friend, but he had stubbornly disagreed.

"We should try adding a third person," Sam said pointedly to Steve, raising an eyebrow. Steve wrinkled his nose and shrugged.

"Please?" Bucky asked, looking at him under his arm. Steve looked back, considered, and finally sighed as he bookmarked his place.

"Fine, you've swayed me," he sighed.

"Awesome! Tag out," Sam said happily, scrambling off the board. Steve looked betrayed.

"You said three people!"

"I changed my mind," he dismissed, glancing at Nat out of the corner of his eye. She merely smiled and studied the board, lifting an eyebrow slightly. Steve moved to join him and soon enough they were uncomfortably pressed together, already covered in paint.

Bucky was looking quite red, however. He continuously shot Natasha looks of pure embarrassment. He'd had a crush on Steve for the longest time, and doing an up-close game of Twister almost shirtless was almost too much to handle.

Bucky held his position awkwardly hovering over Steve, looking at him, his cheeks flushed. Steve shifted a little, his arms and legs shaking as he focused on keeping himself up. Nat seemed to be taking some extra time spinning the wheel as they stared at each other.

"This is cosy," Steve mused, and Bucky laughed breathlessly, nodding and glancing away. Finally, he moved his hand to red and was now face to face, barely above him. His knee was pressing against his side.

Steve's eyes darted to his lips, and Bucky's eyes did the same. Then their eyes met, and they paused. Understanding and realisation washed over Steve's face.

"Game! Bucky, your knees are on the floor," Sam announced, jolting them to their feet.

Natasha and Sam offered to clean up and the other two left quickly, both red and smothered in paint.

Bucky pulled Steve around the corner and pressed their lips together, and Steve kissed him back.

////

"Your hair is really soft after you wash it..."

////

Steve collapsed onto the couch with a groan, eyes closed and teeth clenched. His heart was still racing a mile a minute and the feel of dirt and blood was embedded into his skin. Forcing himself up, he stumbled into the shower, grabbing a towel and pajamas as he went.

Bucky rolled over in their bed and rubbed his face, then blinked at the ceiling. Steve was home. He sat up then sat back, absently working the tangles from his hair.

Steve walked out a while later in sweatpants. He looked exhausted --  mentally, physically and emotionally -- worn out and injured.

He climbed into bed, only noticing Bucky awake at the last moment. He moved in close and wrapped his arms around his waist, moving until his head was in his lap.

"Hey, sweetheart," Bucky greeted in a soft tone, stroking through his hair. Steve groaned and held him tighter, and Bucky moved his other hand to rest on his shoulder, where a new injury was flaring along his back, along with a few smaller, minor marks.

"Sorry I'm late." His voice was rough from use, and he sighed quietly and tried to relax as Bucky continued to smooth his hair.

"It's okay," he hushed. They were silent for a while, until Bucky mumbled, "your hair is really soft after you wash it..."

Steve made a sound of acknowledgement and finally got comfortable, finally relaxed as Bucky sat with him.

"Get some sleep, okay? You're safe now."

Steve kept his eyes closed and held him tighter to show his appreciation. "Love you, Buck," he murmured, almost asleep. Bucky smiled softly and did the same, pressing his head back against the headrest.

"I love you too."

It was a quiet, peaceful night for them both.

////

Whoo, been a long while since this book existed...