Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Steve woke up to a tongue bath. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, his mouth tasting like road kill, he looked around. Where the hell was he? The couch was soft and a light blanket covered him, because the AC was up full blast. There was a large, furry dog licking his face.

“Hey, Sonya, down,” James said. And she was off him and by James’s bare feet, gazing up at him with adoring eyes as if the sun and moon set on him. Steve understood the feeling.

He appeared freshly showered, hair drying and curling a little at the ends. In grey sweatpants and a tight white undershirt, angels should look this good and edible in the morning.

“If you want to use the bathroom?” James smiled.

Steve bolted off the couch and into the bathroom, before he jumped him.

****

“Oh—my—god! I look like a raccoon!” Steve was in the bathroom, trying to smooth down his hair, when he looked up in the mirror. Staring at him was some zombie fresh from the apocalypse.

“A cute raccoon,” James said, his voice drifting into the room.

“Did you just call me cute?” Steve’s hackles always got up with someone called him cute. His neighbor, Mrs. Goldberg called him cute. He wasn’t cute. When he was 5 years old he was cute.

“Yeah.”

“My rep is ruined by my overzealous friends.” Steve let out a heavy sigh. “Hey?” He turned toward James who was standing near the bathroom entrance, leaning on the door jab.

“Hmm?”

“Did you kiss me last night?” He didn’t know how to say it so he blurted it out. The dream seemed so real, but then he could have imagined it. By the startled look in James’s eyes, he wasn’t expecting him to say that. And that it was true. Christ!

“Didn’t think you’d remember.” James ducked his head, looking at his own bare feet. Was he blushing? Maybe?

“I do, umm…do you want to again? Cause I’ll remember it better this time,” Steve said softly, kind of embarrassed himself, now that the words left his lips.

“Sure.” James slid up to him and kissed him on the cheek and walked out of the bathroom.

“That’s not what I remember!” Steve called out to James in a huff. Steve scrubbed his face clean and brushed his teeth with his finger.

When Steve came out of the bathroom he was greeted by James in the kitchen, mashing up a mixture in a plastic bowl.

“Pancakes?” He didn’t move his head, just glancing his eyes up at Steve.

“Eh?”

“I’m making pancakes. Want any?”

“Umm…sure.”

“Clint’s still sawing wood.”

Steve glanced to the other side of the apartment were the bed was hidden by the partition.

“Do we have to be quiet?” Steve lowered his voice.

“Nah. He could sleep through an air-raid siren and that was before the blast. He’ll wake up when he smells bacon.”

“You’re making bacon too?

“No.”

****

Steve was sitting at a small round wooden dining table that had four chairs.

James slid three pancakes on his plate. There was a fresh orange juice smoothie in a glass near the plate. James was right. Clint didn’t even stir when he was using the blender.

Steve breathed in deep the aromatic smells of the pancakes and smoothie. He smelled bananas. He poked at the pancakes with his fork. “What are these?”

“Banana pancakes with almond butter.” He said shoving a fork full in his mouth.

“Banana Pancakes? With almond butter? You fucking hipster…” Steve shook his head, laughing.

“Says the guy with the raccoon eyes.”

“Hey, I resemble that remark.”

“Try them.”

Steve cut off a small piece with his fork and took a bite.

“Oh. Oh…” He took another bite.

“Like?”

“Love!” The pancakes were a near orgasmic experience, but he wasn’t going to tell James that.

“So…” James leaned back in his chair, directing his laser focus at Steve. It still was unnerving being on the receiving end of that stare. “With all the questions last night, I have one of my own.”

“Oh?” Steve sipped at the smoothie, trying to look innocent but failing. Last night was wonderful, expect for the part where Steve cried all over this man’s shirt. He was going to forget that part.

“Why do you keep fucking up my name?” James’s smile was pleasant, but it didn’t fool Steve. He sensed a trap.

“Huh?”

“At the coffee shop you get it wrong almost every time.”

“I plead the fifth.” He was busted! Dammit!

“I knew it.” James smiled wide and Steve’s stomach flipped just like the first time he smiled.

“Can I die from embarrassment now?” Steve wanted to sink into the floor. A blush was creeping up his neck.

“Not until you finish your pancakes.”

“Thanks—that’s considerate.” And stuffed more in his mouth so he wouldn’t have to speak. Maybe he can call Sam to pick him up. But then he would have to tell him how much he failed as a Wingman.

“It’s Bucky, by the way.”

“Who the hell is Bucky?” It came out garbled with the pancake crammed in his mouth.

“Me, I’m Bucky. Well, my friends call me Bucky.” He chuckled, shaking his head.

“So I’m a friend?” Did he just get put into the friend-zone? Nooo…!

“Yeah and more I hope. I like you.” He started fiddling with his fork, a nervous gesture. He kept turning it around and around. “I mean more than like you. I want to see you.”

“You are seeing me.” Someone should have warned Steve that there was something worse than no. It was yes. His heart was going to burst out of his chest, his eyes rounded in shock.

“Go out with me.” And the look on James’s—Bucky’s face, he had to get use to that name, was sincere, his stare softening and not as scary.

“You are serious…” Steve voice dropped, drawing out the words. And now Steve was melting into that gaze.

“Yeah, I want to do things with you.” James gave a small smirk. It was mischievous and a little wicked. Steve decided it was a good look on him.

“What type of things?”

“Well, like this...” He stood up and came around to Steve’s side of the table.

He leaned over, closing the space between them while Steve arched up toward him. They met with a kiss; it was slow, sweet and a bit sinfully as Bucky gave a playful nip at his lower lip before pulling back and grinning. Steve licked his lips, his heart thudding hard against his chest. Wow…just wow!

”Been wanting to do that since the day of your birthday. Let it be known Bucky Barnes has no game.”

“It’s okay, I never had any game myself.” Steve’s cheeks were warm, along with the rest of his body.

“I find that very hard to believe. You had me at—Welcome to Starbucks. Can I take your order?”

“Ha, ha! Was that it?” Steve broke out in a big grin.

“Yep, that sexy low voice of yours had me at full attention. I was a goner.” Bucky shook his head, giving a short laugh. And lowered his head to give him another kiss.