This is the last part of this particular collection. Might be the last of this book; considering the responses to it I think it's run its course, which is okay :)

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"Stop lying to me and tell me the truth!"

////

"Steve, I'm fine."

"For some reason, I don't believe you," he said, sitting across from him. Bucky rolled his eyes and slouched back into his chair, holding what remained of his left arm. "What happened out there?"

"Nothing," he dismissed, going to stand up. Steve put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a look, sitting him back down. "Seriously, Steve, leave it alone," he protested and stood, stumbling a bit.

"Why won't you tell me what happened?"

Bucky closed his eyes briefly and reflected on it. The mission had gone horribly. A handful of casualties and some collateral damage to the city, and a lot of paperwork to manage.

"Look, nothing happened," he insisted. "I am one hundred percent fine and -- "

Steve crossed his arms. "Stop lying to me and tell me the truth!"

Bucky blinked, took a breath, and put his hand in his pocket. "Well -- it was a really s*** mission," he managed, blinking the images of the dead civilians out of his mind, the echoes of cries, the dust of fallen buildings filling his lungs.

A look of concern took replaced the look of annoyance and Steve moved closer to him, then gently lay a hand on his left shoulder. "So this..?"

"Got crushed under rubble," he muttered. "I'm fine though," he said half-heartedly. Steve studied him and pulled him against him, and Bucky's eyes fell closed as he exhaled. "Sorry, I don't like to worry you."

"Sorry I pressed, Buck," he said. "I just -- I want you to be okay."

He smiled tightly. "I know."

He held him at arms length. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Stop worrying so much," he replied with a more genuine, teasing smile. "It's nothin' I can't ever handle."

"At least rest," he said, and Bucky nodded.

"I will. Thanks, Steve." He headed into his room in the apartment and Steve watched him go with a sigh.

////

"How could you keep this from me?"

////

It was all planned out. Steve had it down to the last letter -- everything about the proposal was going to go well. He didn't want anything too extravagant, because Bucky didn't like giant celebrations. A simple dinner, romantic, nothing huge.

He adjusted the collar of his shirt and shuffled anxiously in his seat. Bucky arrived not more than five minutes later, in a nice pressed shirt and dark jeans, hair up in a ponytail.

"Hey," he said with a smile as he sat down, drumming the metal fingers of his hand briefly on the edge of the table. Steve grinned at him and studied him a moment, taking in the sight of him.

"Hey, you look... great," he mused, and Bucky turned pink.

"So? Nice place," he said, glancing around. "What's the occasion?" His eyes were bright, his cheeks warm, and Steve's heart melted.

"Um, I just wanted to take you someplace nice," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck. Bucky looked amused, his chin in his hand as he watched him. He seemed anxious for something, and Bucky could make a guess at what -- they had, after all, been dating for almost five years now.

"Actually," Steve added hastily, "you know what? I'm -- I'm just going to come out and say it."

Bucky raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his wine. "Mhmm?"

Steve closed his eyes briefly to gather himself. "Um -- Bucky, I -- "

"Wait," Bucky said suddenly, pulling his phone from his pocket. Steve stared at him, furrowing his eyebrows.

"What is it?"

He answered the phone, holding up his pointer finger. Steve sat quietly and glanced at the velvet box in his lap, waiting.

"Okay -- okay, understood, we'll be there in ten." He looked at Steve, looking concerned. "It's Tony, he needs us uptown," he spoke. "Terrorist threat."

Steve quickly got to his feet and shoved the box into his pocket. "Okay. Let's go."

Disappointment panged in his chest, but he pushed it aside as he and Bucky dropped cash and fled.

Half an hour later, they were fighting side by side -- watching each other's backs, wordlessly, in tune to the other's actions.

"Watch your four, Steve," Bucky warned, and Steve charged to the right to meet the oncoming foe. Bucky darted to the left, armed and ready.

An hour passed. They lost sight of each other in the chaos. When everything started to die down, Steve spotted Bucky, and ran to meet him.

About to call out to him, he was caught off-guard as a bullet dug itself through his back. Coming to an abrupt halt, his arm curled around his stomach and he stumbled to a knee, taking a sharp breath.

Bucky was looking for him. Gritting his teeth, Steve jogged over to him, trying to act unfazed. Bucky, still dazed from the intense fighting, was struggling for breath and turning in a circle to see what was going on.

"I got it from here, boys," Tony announced over their earpieces. "Publicity is my deal. Go home."

Bucky grabbed his shoulder and they set off for home.

Half an hour later they collapsed through the door. Steve claimed one side of the couch, Bucky fell onto the other side. Steve closed his eyes, panting for air, face pinched in pain.

"You okay?" he breathed, opening an eye and looking at him, vision blurry. Bucky nodded and waved a dismissive hand.

"You?"

Steve merely shrugged and slouched further, clutching his stomach but his grip becoming looser as blood steadily fell from the open wound. "I'm okay, I'm just... super tired."

Bucky nodded and grinned weakly. "I hear you there," he croaked. They were silent for minutes more until Steve was sure Bucky was asleep.

He finally decided to say something about what had happened. "Hey, Buck?" he murmured, pulling the ring from his pocket. Bucky glanced over at him, at the outstretched velvet box in his hand. He stopped.

"Bucky Barnes, I'm so godd*** stuck on you," he muttered and smiled weakly. "I love you. Will you... marry me?"

He looked pale. Bucky cupped his cheek, heart racing. "Of course I will, Steve." He smiled briefly, emotions swirling around him. "Now tell me what's the matter."

Steve's head tilted back, breathing shallowly, his eyes closed. "I just need a minute," he said. Bucky patted his cheek.

"No, no, keep your eyes on me, Steve." He stared at the wound in horror. "How could you keep this from me?"

"Not on purpose," Steve replied. "But you can't get mad, 'cause I just proposed." He smiled a little and Bucky huffed and fetched the first aid kit.

"Just stay with me, okay?"

"Always," he mumbled.

////

"Your bedhead is really cute."

////

"Buck, c'mon," Steve said softly and sat on him. Bucky groaned and blinked an eye open.

"What d'you want?"

"You promised tonight we'd see the stars," he replied, and Bucky looked up as he tried to recall it. Finally, he sighed and sat up, holding Steve on his lap.

"Lemme grab a coffee first," he mumbled and kissed his neck. Steve smiled and moved to get off of him, but Bucky stood and held him secure.

"Your bedhead is really cute," Steve mused as he studied him. Bucky grunted his reply, but Steve saw his cheeks flush a darker shade, and he smiled. Bucky made them both coffees then grabbed a blanket to lie on, before they made their way up to the roof of the apartment.

"Christ, it's cold..."

Steve laid out the blanket and lay down onto it, tugging Bucky with him. Cups of coffee at their sides, bundled in each other's arms, they looked up at the sky. Thankfully, it was a clear night, and Steve looked awed to be there in the dark night.

"So? Glad we came out here?"

"Yeah," he agreed and held him closer. Steve took his hand and sat there in the quiet, studying the stars with a smile on his face.

"Thanks for doing this, Buck."

"'Course," he said through a yawn, and he gulped down his cooling coffee. "You know I'd do anything for you."

"Same for me." He looked over at him and smiled gently. Bucky cupped his cheek and leaned in, pressing their lips together. Steve closed his eyes and held him close under the stars.

////

"You belong to me."

////

Steve's ex was a douche. Plain and simple.

He and Bucky had only been walking down the street, hand in hand, talking about what type of pet they'd like to share someday. Nothing huge, nothing dramatic; they were just being them.

Then Richard appeared and started stalking towards them. Steve, having not noticed this, was smiling as Bucky explained his favourite dog breed.

"Really? I always had you pegged for a pitbull type... " He trailed off, staring past Bucky, his face quickly draining of colour. Bucky noted the change and looked around, but saw nothing.

"Steve? What's wrong?" he asked cautiously. "Baby, tell me," he hushed, squeezing his hand.

"Nothing," he wavered and cleared his throat, and swallowed. "It's nothing. C'mon." He kept walking, faster than before, and his grip on Bucky tightened.

"Steve, tell me what's -- "

"There you are," a low voice growled, and Bucky looked to his left to see a tall brunet storming towards them, at least two inches taller than Steve; Steve who looked like he'd seen a ghost, Steve who had come to an abrupt halt, his stance firm.

"Leave me alone," he demanded and went to walk away again. Richard grabbed his shoulder and Steve flinched.

"Don't touch him, man. What's the matter with you?" Bucky stood in front of his boyfriend and folded his arms. Richard straightened up to his full height, ignored Bucky completely, and stared at Steve.

"Think you can replace me with this fairy, huh?" He lunged forward and wrapped a vice-like hand around Steve's arm, pulling him forward. Steve pried himself away and Bucky moved to help him. "You belong to me," Richard snapped at him.

"I don't belong to anyone," Steve breathed, struggling to free himself. Bucky scratched and pulled at Richard's arm. "Get off of me," he said louder and bent his arm, freeing himself.

"There's nowhere you can go where I can't find you!" Richard yelled as they started walking away. He moved to storm after them, but yelled again and headed the other direction.

Steve exhaled and they kept walking, stone-faced. Once they rounded the corner, Steve wobbled to his knees, blinking fast.

"It's okay, you're okay," Bucky hushed as he kneeled with him. Steve gasped for air that wasn't coming as the world shrank and expanded around him. His chest was tight, and he clung to Bucky's arms and hung his head.

"He didn't... he didn't... hurt me," he choked out, eyes watering.

"No, Steve, it'll be okay," he whispered, rubbing his back as Steve struggled through his panic attack. It went quiet except for his choked off sobs, and Bucky held him close.

"Well, at least we know why you can shorten the name to Dick," Bucky mused. Steve cracked a watery smile and pressed his head against his chest. Bucky held him against him and smoothed a hand through his hair.

"Thank you, Bucky," he murmured. He smiled sadly in response.

"It's okay, Steve."

////

"I think you'll be happy to know that I'm not wearing any underwear."

////

"Oh, hello," Steve said and blinked a few times. Bucky waved and kept his eyes trained on the tv. "You're... not wearing a shirt."

"There a problem with that?" There was a glint in Bucky's eyes that Steve found hard to trust. He hastily shook his head and dropped his shield by the door, and started removing some of his gear.

"No, no problem," he agreed.

"Mhm," Bucky hummed, shifting his position. "I think you'll be happy to know that I'm not wearing any underwear," he added as an afterthought, and his eyebrows lifted up.

"Comfortable," Steve said as he sat. Bucky slid over to him and straddled his legs, then examined him.

"Didn't get hurt?" he checked. Steve shook his head, watching his movements as Bucky ran his fingers down his chest.

"Barely anything noticeable, I'm just a little sore," he answered. Bucky smiled a little and tilted his head.

"So what I'm hearing is that you need a shower, huh?"

Steve quirked an eyebrow, glancing down for a second. "Couldn't hurt," he said and looked up at him, a small smile pulling at his lips. Bucky smiled back and stood.

"Come on, then." He tugged him into the bathroom and kissed him eagerly, then helped him strip. They stumbled into the shower and Steve sighed as the hot water washed over his aching body.

Bucky kissed him, pressing his back against the cold shower wall, moving his knee in between his legs. Steve groaned into his mouth and cupped his cheeks, flicking his tongue over his lip.

"I missed you," Bucky mumbled. Steve nodded, breathless, eyes closed.

"You too," he hummed.

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And that's it, folks! As of now. Thanks for those of you who read, commented and voted, it means a lot to me! :)