Work Text
1932
Steve spent a couple years hiding it. It wasn’t something that was right. It was a sickness, a sin. Or, at least, that was what everyone said. But he didn’t understand how it could be wrong.He loved Bucky. He’d loved his best friend since they’d met as children. He’d loved him like a best friend, like a brother, like family. But, as they grew, as time went on, Steve’s love changed. Now, at the age of fourteen, he looked at his best friend and wanted. He wanted to hold hands with him. He wanted to kiss him. He wanted the safety and peace that could be found in his best friend’s arms. He wanted to give safety and peace in return.But he didn’t say anything. Because everyone said that two fellas loving each other was wrong. Maybe Bucky thought the same.*****
1933
Steve was acting strange. He’d been acting strange the last couple weeks, but Bucky had ignored it. It was coming up on his sixteenth birthday, after all. He didn’t want to get into a fight with his best friend.Truthfully, Bucky was about the only person Steve never wanted to fight. Sure, they’d had their squabbles over the years, but nothing serious. Nothing like the fights Bucky routinely pulled Steve out of with others.For his birthday, they spent the day at Coney Island, then walked the boardwalk along the beach. After that, they caught a ride home on the back of a delivery truck because they didn’t have any money for the train after Bucky had blown the last of it flirting with a girl. They spent the evening at Steve’s home, just the two of them because Ms. Sarah worked the late shift at the hospital.Now it was time for Bucky to go home, Steve in tow, to spend a few hours with his folks. Bucky was reaching for their jackets when Steve turned to him. His face was set and his body tensed. He looked like he was about to throw a punch.Bucky searched both the apartment and his mind for whatever had agitated Steve but couldn’t come up with any reason. “Steve, what—”“I love you, Buck.” Steve’s voice was hard and dared him to disagree.For a moment, Bucky didn’t know what to say. “…Okay?”Steve’s shoulders eased and his fists loosened. “I love you.” This time it was said as an exhale, soft and tender.Bucky wasn’t sure why Steve was stating something that they both had known almost since they’d met. But it occurred to him that maybe it was because they almost never said it and today was Bucky’s sixteenth birthday.“I love you, too, pal.” He smiled and reached again for their coats, tossing Steve his, and going to open the door.And, with his back turned, Bucky never saw the disappointment on Steve’s face.*****
1935
It was the middle of summer and the heat was blazing. Steve and Bucky were lying on the floor in the middle of the apartment, trying to soak in what little cool there was to be found in the worn, wooden floorboards.The window to the fire escape was open because the extreme heat outside was the lesser of two evils. Keeping it open helped keep the temperature inside the apartment from rising even higher. But, even so, it was like being in an oven. The only benefit was that, inside, the sun wasn’t shining down on them, cooking them from the outside in.They were both lying there in nothing but their briefs, their arms and legs spread out in an effort to not touch anything, not even other parts of themselves. They were a good five feet apart and neither was willing to come any closer, in case they accidentally touched and shared body heat.Steve watched Bucky move in a sudden surge of motion, rising up off the floor and going to their bedroom. He thought that maybe Bucky was doing something in there on his side of the room but, when he came out, he had Steve’s sketchbook.“What are you doing?” Steve asked warily. He hated how tired and weak his voice was, but they both ignored it. Bucky looked and sounded wrung out, too.“I know you don’t like anyone going through your drawings, and I’m not doing that,” Bucky reassured him.It was a relief that he could always trust Bucky to never look. He didn’t know what he’d do if his best friend saw just how many drawings there were of him in there.Buck handed the sketchbook over easily. “But,” he continued, obviously seeing Steve’s confusion and explaining, “if you rip out a page or two, we could make fans.”“That’s…brilliant, Buck.” Steve sat up, peeling himself off the floorboards with effort, and flipped to the end of his book.Unfortunately, he’d forgotten that he needed a new book. He’d used his last page days ago to draw another closeup of Bucky’s laughing face.He flipped through the pages, looking for one he didn’t mind ripping out, one didn’t mind Bucky seeing. There were none. The book was filled with his mother—as he remembered her, not how she’d looked before dying of illness—and of Bucky. Steve wouldn’t—couldn’t—lose a picture of his mother, so, the only other choice was one of his best friend. Whom he loved.Swallowing his pride, he tore one out and handed it over.Bucky looked at the drawing for a long moment, examining his own smiling features as seen through Steve’s eyes. There was too much emotion in every piece. Bucky glanced a question at Steve before moving to fold the paper into the shape of a fan.Not knowing what else to say, Steve girded his loins and tried again. “I love you, Buck.”Bucky glanced up at him with a soft smile and, for a second, Steve found a ray of hope. But it was crushed, once again, with his friend’s easy tone.“I love you, too, pal. Gotta, in order to stand seeing your ugly mug every day.” His words were filled with teasing. It was the same tone that Bucky used to tell his little sisters that they were a nuisance, while making it clear that he loved them, no matter what.Disappointed, Steve melted back onto the floor, letting his eyes fall shut.A minute later, a hot air began wafting over him in short bursts, courtesy of Bucky. He tried to let the disappointment flutter away on the weak, hot breeze.*****
1940
Bucky had set up a double date for him and Steve. They were supposed to take out Mildred and Marie in two hours and, for some reason, Steve was suddenly fighting him on it. He’d seemed just fine with it when Bucky had brought it up the weekend before, but now he apparently wasn’t.“What the hell is wrong with you?” He hadn’t meant to shout but, more and more over the last few years, they’d been getting into stupid, inconsequential arguments. “You didn’t say one word about not wanting to go on this date when we asked them. Why the sudden change of heart? Just tell me why, Steve.”Steve’s mouth stayed stubbornly shut, the same as his arms stayed firmly crossed. He wouldn’t even look at Bucky.Letting his own anger ride him, Bucky turned to the door. “Fine,” he said cuttingly. “Do what you want. I’ll be back in an hour and a half. If you won’t go, then I’ll take them both out myself.” He jerked the door open as he muttered to himself about his best friend not even giving a reason, just suddenly saying no.There was no way he heard what he thought he heard as the door slammed. There was no way his best friend of fifteen years had randomly said ‘I love you’ just seconds after a stupid fight.*****
1943
Steve frantically searched Azzano for his best friend and love of his life. As he ran, he promised himself that he wouldn’t try, anymore, to convince Bucky that he loved him. If only Steve could find him alive. He would never again let his feelings spill onto his friend, if only he could save him, bring him home.He let the prisoners out of the cages and pointed them towards the way out, knowing that they would cause one hell of a distraction. Then he kept running.The base was a warren of tunnels and he had no idea where to look. It wasn’t until he saw a little rat of a man scurrying out of a room off a side hall that he struck gold. He finally found Bucky.But, seeing him stretched out on the table, Steve’s eyes watered. He looked dead. Had he been too late? The rat might’ve killed Buck on his way out. It would be the smart thing to do.He approached the table and through tear drenched eyes, saw his best friend lying still as death. He was so thin and pale. He did look dead.Bowing his head to lay on Bucky’s chest, Steve murmured his last goodbye. “I love you, Buck.”He jolted when Bucky twitched in fear, words starting to tumble out of his mouth in a mumble: his name, rank, and serial number. Steve saw, when he pulled back, that Bucky’s eyes stared unseeingly at the ceiling.He was alive! He was in bad shape, but still alive. All he had to do was get his best friend off the table and out of there.And he would keep his promise.*****
1945
“Hold on, Buck!” Steve shouted over the wind. “I’m coming!”Bucky watched his best friend climb out of the rushing train and onto the scrap of metal that used to be bars on a wall. Even as he prayed for it to hold, Bucky didn’t hold out much hope.“Steve, it’s—I can’t.” Shrieking metal sounded, even over the rushing of the wind, as the blasted-open wall rubbed against the outside of the train. It wobbled dangerously. “It won’t hold us both!” Bucky screamed.“Don’t you dare let go! I’m not losing you!”Bucky knew that he was the last of Steve’s family. He’d been the last of Steve’s family since Ms. Sarah’s death so many years ago. He was sorry that things were going to end this way, that Steve was going to lose him, too.But maybe all was not lost, yet. Bucky was sure he was going to die today. There was little doubt that he would plummet to his death within the next few minutes. But maybe he could save Steve.“Take care of my family, would you?” he shouted over the wind, trying to make his voice heard, trying to give Steve something to live for.“I can’t lose you!”Bucky watched his best friend edge farther out on the blasted-open wall. They were within a few feet.Steve always had been a stubborn cuss.With his determination pushing courage into Bucky, they both reached out. And the stress of his weight finally broke the metal railing the rest of the way off and Bucky plummeted down, down, down. He watched Steve scream, try to reach out to catch him. And he saw Steve’s desire to jump after him.“Noooo!” Bucky shouted. He let it carry, long and loud. He hoped with everything in him that Steve understood that it was an order to stay on the train, not a plea for himself. Bucky was dead. He would be dead when he hit the ground. That was a surety. But Steve was alive. He needed to stay alive. Steve wasn’t allowed to jump after him.The train whisked Steve away and soon he was lost to sight. Bucky didn’t remember anything after that.*****
2015
It was hard, now, to keep his promise. Steve wanted to tell Bucky every day that he loved him, that he’d always loved him. But he wasn’t about to scare his best friend away.Bucky had finally come home. Only a month ago, he’d finally stopped running and tracked Steve down. Now, it was almost Christmas and Steve was doing everything he could do to try to make his best friend want to stay. And one of those things was not telling Bucky that he was in love with him, and had been for most of his life.Bucky was doing surprisingly well, considering everything that had happened to him after falling from the train. Steve had been prepared for him to be constantly angry or to have violent outbursts, depression, mood swings, or any number of other things. But every day he seemed more like his old self.Sure, he was quieter. And he didn’t go out near as much as he used to before the war. He didn’t go on dates with women multiple times a week or go out dancing or drinking. But he smiled more. He allowed touch—mostly Steve’s, but sometimes Natasha’s and Sam’s. Steve even heard him laugh sometimes.He still had nightmares. But, then, so did Steve. Steve doubted that anyone who’d gone through what they had would be nightmare-free.Steve still dreamed of crashing, drowning, and freezing. He still dreamed of watching Bucky fall, fading into the distance. He still dreamed of killing and of death and of waking up to a room full of lies and more.There were many times when Bucky crawled into bed with him in the middle of the night, now. Sometimes it was to chase away his own dreams, but other times were to help chase away Steve’s.Every day Bucky seemed to become more himself. And every day Steve had to bottle up the words his heart wanted to say. He knew by now, had known for years, that Bucky would only ever see him as a friend, as a brother.*****
2016
Bucky didn’t know what he was doing. He’d never been in love before. But, with each day that passed, he fell just a little bit deeper. He didn’t know why he was feeling this way, when he hadn’t before, but each day he spent with Steve had him wanting to spend more time in his company.Steve had been his best friend since they were seven and eight years old. They’d been so close all those years that it was only natural that they’d begun saying that they loved each other. Bucky had told his parents and sisters that he loved them all the time. It only made sense to love Steve, too.But things felt different now. He didn’t know why they felt different, only that they did.After he’d healed up enough to go back to Steve, after he’d gotten his mind and body back under his own control, he’d started to notice things.With a decent chunk of his memories still missing, he wondered if Steve had always been this kind, this thoughtful. Bucky thought he had. He vaguely remembered Steve being patient and kind with Bucky’s younger sister, often letting her tag along behind them, despite Bucky’s annoyance over it at the time. And he had a few clear memories of Steve helping stray animals and strangers.It didn’t help Bucky’s situation, though.Every day, Steve was steady and patient. He was supportive and kind. He never complained when he made Bucky food or put on a movie or gave him a book to read and Bucky didn’t like it. He just made something else. He just put something different on the television. He just gave him a different book to read or something else to do altogether. He let Bucky touch him. He let Bucky lean on him when he craved kind touch. He let Bucky sneak into his bed when the memories followed him into sleep.Steve was perfect.Well, he wasn’t actually perfect. He never did the dishes after cooking, instead, just letting them pile up. And he was in the habit of leaving his wet towel crumpled up in the bathroom after a shower, or tiny little hairs in the sink after shaving. He left his sketchbook lying around to tempt Bucky into opening it, even though he knew better.But he was perfect in his imperfections. Bucky loved him.It took more than six months before he was ready to say anything. And, even after that, he waited. He wanted the moment to be right.He said it for the first time in the morning. It was a couple of months after Steve’s birthday. Neither of them had had a nightmare the night before but Bucky had still climbed into Steve’s bed. He liked cuddling and Steve was almost always willing. And the few times he hadn’t been, when he’d wanted to be alone, he’d been honest about it.Bucky had been awake for twenty minutes before Steve began to stir. He watched him blink sleepily, yawn, and scratch at his morning scruff. He kept clinging as Steve stretched his body for the first time that day. Bucky watched him yawn again, eyes fluttering back closed.He had such pretty eyelashes, Bucky thought. They were long and fanned out over his cheekbones, a dark-blond shadow lying against creamy skin.And, watching the morning wake-up routine, the words rose up in Bucky’s throat. “I love you, Steve.”Steve froze for a moment and so did Bucky’s heart.But it started back up, an insistent drumbeat, when Steve shifted and turned until he faced Bucky. “I love you, too, Bucky,” he said with a small smile, eyes still sleepy.It was beautiful. And it was wrong. Bucky didn’t know how he knew, but he did. Steve didn’t understand. Steve thought he meant as a friend when Bucky meant as more.It was with disappointment running through him that Bucky gently disentangled himself and made his way to the bathroom to start his day.*****
2018
All Steve’s friends were throwing him a birthday party, spearheaded by Bucky, Natasha, and Sam. It was supposed to be a secret, a surprise. And, considering nearly half of the people involved in planning it were master spies and assassins, it would have been. They hadn’t counted on one thing, though.In an unexpected show of understanding, Tony had called Steve down to his lab under the guise of trying on the newest version of the Cap suit. And he had tried it on. But, while making slight alterations, Tony had talked.“I know you don’t like surprises. Surprises are usually bad—people trying to hurt or kill you or one of us.”Tony’s words were startling because Steve had really thought he’d hid that post-war aspect of himself well. No one else had noticed, not even Bucky.Not sure where his friend was going with it and wanting to make light of the unexpected observation, Steve jokingly asked if Tony had installed surprise rocket launchers in his suit.Instead of laughing, Tony looked him right in the eye and whispered about the party. “I just want you to be forewarned. I know I would want to be.” His eyes gleamed with emotions, ones that Tony rarely showed. It seemed that, in this, they were the same.Touched, Steve had quietly thanked him. Then they finished up the alterations as if they’d never had words on the subject. They teased and joked and bickered like normal. And, when finished, Tony had turned away, his brilliant mind already thinking about something else.It was easy to act surprised and happy when he knew about the party in advance. Without Tony’s warning, he might’ve reacted badly enough to confuse, or maybe even worry, the others. This way, everyone was happy.There was a brief moment when Steve met Tony’s eyes in silent thanks, but neither said a word.The first hug after the initial surprise was from Bucky. Music was playing, a few people danced and others talked. Steve leaned against the wall in the corner, smiling softly as he watched everyone have fun. It kicked up into a grin as he watched Bucky head over with two glasses.“Happy birthday, Steve,” he said, handing one over. Then he gathered him up into a hug. “I love you,” he whispered softly in Steve’s ear.It still hurt, even after all this time, to know that Bucky would never mean the words the way Steve wanted him to. But it was easier, now, to say them back, pretending he was fine just being a friend. “I love you, too, Buck. Thanks for throwing me a birthday party.”“You deserve it,” Bucky mumbled as he backed away.“Steve!” Sam called. He came close and pulled Steve into an enthusiastic hug, slapping him on the back. “I love ya, man!”Natasha, a step behind Sam, did the same, said the same. “A hundred years old today,” she teased after stepping back.It had a shit-eating grin forming on Steve’s face. “And, yet, I hardly look over thirty,” he told her. “Think you guys’ll look this good when you hit one hundred?”That set Sam off into good-natured grumbling and teasing.Out of the corner of his eye, Steve watched Bucky wander off, something sad in the line of his shoulders. It bothered him that he didn’t know why.*****
2023
Bucky had told Steve half a dozen times, over the past seven years, that he loved him. But, each time Steve misunderstood, the harder it was for Bucky to try again.It hurt. He knew it shouldn’t. He knew he should accept things as they are. He knew he should be grateful for what he did have. And he was. But it still hurt. Even from a distance.Bucky had spent the past two years in Wakanda. The country had come out to the world as a powerhouse with advanced technology that they wanted to use to help others. Within days of that revelation, Stark had gotten a message that consisted of an invitation to Bucky to come to Wakanda to get his brain healed the rest of the way. The princess there was positive she could get rid of the last of the brainwashing and triggers hidden in his mind.It had been bittersweet, leaving Steve. The invite hadn’t included him, and the country was very careful about who they let in their borders, so he’d had to stay behind. They’d spent their last long day and night just being around each other, soaking in the feel of the other. When it was time for bed, Bucky hadn’t even pretended to go to sleep in his own room. He’d grabbed Steve’s hand and they both walked to Steve’s room to cuddle all night.He didn’t know why he hadn’t told Steve about his feelings then. It was quiet and dark. It would have been the perfect time to say ‘I love you.’ It would have been the perfect time to ask Steve to be his fella, to go steady with him.Hell, it had crossed Bucky’s mind to ask Steve to marry him that night.But he’d held his tongue, unwilling to ruin what might’ve been their last night together.Shuri had said that she could remove the brainwashing and triggers, that she could heal the damage done to his mind, but Bucky hadn’t been able to shake the thought that it would all go wrong.But, in the two years he’d been in Wakanda, he’d come to believe that Shuri really could do it. And it was proven that she could when she did.Now he was waiting for Steve. Steve had finally gotten permission to visit, so they would get to see each other without a computer screen and an ocean between them. Video calls were all well and good, but they were nothing compared to having the man he loved in front of him. It was nothing compared to pulling him into a hard hug.Shuri knew about his feelings. Playing in his brain as she had, it had been hard to miss. It had taken more than a year before he’d consented to even talk about it. Since then, she’d badgered him about it a lot.“Just tell him!”“I have told him, Shuri! He just doesn’t get it!”“Well, what did you say?”Bucky had closed his eyes on a sigh and rubbed at his temples. “I’ve told him I love him a bunch of times.”There’d been a long silence before: “You’re an idiot.”Bucky had tried glaring at her but it never seemed to work. She just ignored it.“How many people say ‘I love you?’” she demanded. “Is it always meant romantically? Have you never said those words to him before you fell in love?”“I—”Bucky had gotten a great deal more of his memories back since he’d arrived and he knew he had. He and Steve had occasionally said the words all throughout their lives. But it was only after Bucky had come back to himself, back to Steve, that he’d started meaning them differently.Shuri had just stared at him pointedly before walking away muttering about idiot white boys.So, now, two years after leaving, more than seven years after coming home to his best friend, Bucky was going to do more than say the words. Steve just had to get there.*****
2023
Steve landed the quinjet, nervous despite himself.It had been an exceedingly long two years without Bucky. Parts of it had flown by fast. But other times seemed to drag on and on. He’d done his best to keep busy, fighting with the Avengers wherever his team was needed. He’d thrown himself into it. He’d also thrown himself into training the newbies for when he and the others eventually wanted to retire.Tony, Steve knew, wasn’t that far off. They’d even talked about it a few times. The man who, once, would have never admitted to any sort of failing, had confided in Steve that he was getting tired. “When you start waking up, dreading the coming day, dreading what fights and horrors it might bring,” Tony had said softly, late one night in his lab, “then maybe it’s time to hang up the suit. I’d like to settle down, ask Pepper to marry me. Maybe even start a family.”Natasha had already started to slowly transition toward a leadership-only position. Bruce and Clint weren’t fighting at all anymore, both content to stay on their farm and in their lab, respectively. Even Thor seemed to have hung up his cape, spending all his time with the colony of Asgardian refugees. He’d even given up his title of King to someone that was, in his words, ‘eminently more suited to ruling than I.’Now, with most of his friends easing into retirement, Steve thought maybe he should seriously think about it, too. The only real thing that held him back was his feelings. Retiring meant more time to think about his unrequited love for his best friend.He had no hope left. Not really. He hadn’t had any hope of his feelings being returned in far too many years. The most he could hope for, now, was that, two years apart, with only the occasional video call, hadn’t distanced their friendship on Bucky’s end. Steve would never willingly give up their friendship. It was all he had and he would take anything Bucky offered.Lowering the ramp so he could finally see his best friend, Butterflies fluttered nervously in his stomach. It didn’t matter that he tried to reason with them, to calm them. He was about to see Bucky for the first time in two years and they wouldn’t settle.A grin grew on his face to match the one on Bucky’s, even as he approached. Bucky was all but bouncing on his toes in anticipation.Dropping his duffel bag on the ground, Steve reached out for a hug. Bucky did the same at the same time. It was like they were in sync, like nothing had truly changed.Then Steve got the shock of his life as Bucky leaned back, just enough to meet his eyes, before covering Steve’s mouth with his own.*****
2023
Bucky’s heart almost stuttered to a stop when Steve froze completely against him. But Bucky couldn’t—wouldn’t—let this chance slip by. He figured, just this once, it was like the saying said. It was better to ask for forgiveness than permission. He figured they’d been friends long enough that he wouldn’t permanently damage their friendship. If Bucky being a murder-puppet didn’t do it, he doubted a single kiss would.After several long, heart-stopping seconds, after he took a chance and lightly flicked his tongue out to lick at the seam of Steve’s lips, Steve’s hand slid up into his hair. He angled Bucky’s head a bit and, to Bucky’s complete surprise and wonderment, kissed him back.Unfortunately, the kiss didn’t last nearly long enough.Steve pulled away, leaning back enough that he could look into Bucky’s eyes. His own face showed pure, unadulterated shock.Bucky’s heart began to break. There was no relief, no awe, no happiness. There was nothing to indicate Steve wanted another kiss or anything more than that. He started to pull away fully, but Steve’s arms locked tight, holding him in place.“I am…very confused.”*****
2023
Steve had no idea what was going on. His brain, the damned thing, could think of multiple reasons Bucky would kiss him and mean it entirely platonically. It was Steve, weak as he was, and had always been for his best friend, who’d turned that kiss into something more.He’d broken the promise to himself that he’d made back in nineteen-fucking-forty-three to not try to let Bucky know about his feelings ever again.“I…” Bucky began.And dammit. Steve must’ve succeeded in truly sucker-punching their friendship. This was why he’d made that promise to himself so long ago.Bucky licked his lips. “I love you.”It sounded strained and Steve silently cursed himself for it. About to backtrack, about to apologize, to shove himself firmly back into the role of nothing more than the best friend, Bucky spoke first.“I’m…in love with you.”This time, it was Steve who licked his suddenly-dry lips. He opened his mouth. Then it snapped shut. He tried again.“How… How long?”A part of him couldn’t help but hope. Maybe Bucky had loved him, too, and had only thought that Steve wouldn’t take it well if he’d known it was romantic love. Maybe it had caused him to keep quiet. But his heart sank a little when the answer came.Bucky shifted his eyes to the side and down as he muttered out, “Seven years.”That wasn’t anywhere near how long Steve had loved Bucky.But did it matter? Did it truly matter how long if the love was there now?Steve took a steadying breath. “I gave up trying to tell you how I felt after—” But he stopped and shook his head, looking away. It wasn’t a competition of how long they’d had feelings. It shouldn’t matter.He didn’t count on Bucky reaching for his chin to bring their eyes back up to meet. “When?” Finish your sentence, punk, Steve heard.He swallowed. “After Azzano. I promised that, if I found you alive, I wouldn’t try to tell you anymore. I wouldn’t try to push my feelings at you anymore.”The look on Bucky’s face was awful. He looked devastated. “How long did you try to tell me?” he asked roughly. He didn’t even bother to try to clear his throat.Steve looked away.*****
2023
When Steve turned his face away again, hiding what looked very much like the beginnings of tears, Bucky’s heart sank into his stomach. How long had he been hurting his best friend?“I’ve been in love with you since I was twelve,” Steve whispered. “I didn’t say anything until I was fourteen.”Bucky couldn’t help but do the math. Ninety-three years since Steve had fallen in love. Twenty-six years, counting only the time he’d been awake.Now it was Bucky’s eyes that filled. “I’m so sorry.” He could think of it, now. With the memories he’d gotten back, he could recall a number of times when Steve had said something, had looked like he’d been preparing for a fight, and Bucky had brushed it off like it had been nothing more than friendly words. Familial words. After all this time, it was a miracle that Steve didn’t hate him for it. “You probably don’t want me anywhere— I’m sorry…” Bucky moved to pull away again.“No!” Steve’s arms turned to iron, locking him in place. “I love you. I still love you. I always will.”And, at that, Bucky crumbled. He couldn’t even tell what he was feeling at the moment. Sorrow, hurt, shooting pain in his heart that ached from his chest down to his fingertips. But, underneath it all, there was still that all-abiding love. And there was hope.“I love you, Bucky,” Steve whispered into his hair. He placed a tender kiss on his temple, even as he held Bucky up, murmuring softly.Bucky’s tears turned to relief. With each word murmured, with each ‘I love you,’ Bucky calmed. Eventually he could lean back and look Steve in the eye. “I love you. I promise you’ll hear it from me every day. I love you. So much.”And Steve smiled.*****
2025
The past two years for Steve and Bucky had been filled with joy and love. And a little heartache.Steve retired, handing off the shield to Sam when he’d learned that their friend wasn’t ready to give up the fight just yet. Bucky didn’t retire right away, feeling the need to atone for past deeds, despite numerous therapists, as well as the government, assuring him that he wasn’t at fault. He followed Sam for a year, having the new Captain America’s back. But, in the off-times, he always went home to Steve.Tony retired, too. He married Pepper, like he’d wanted, and they now had a beautiful baby girl. Even at a year old, she showed signs of being just as smart as her old man.Clint was a grandfather, now. His oldest kid had fallen in love early and started a family as soon as he could. Though Clint no longer fought on the team, he still made the time to visit, often bringing his twin grandsons with him.Bruce, long since settled with being both him and the Hulk at the same time, had gotten back together with his ex, the woman he still loved, even after so many years. They still had problems with her family not liking it, but they were determined to be together and worked with what they had.Natasha now ran the new Avengers, coordinating things from a central hub that sent the right people to the right places. There were members on the team from all over the world. Her knowledge in strategy and tactics, warfare, spy craft, gift with languages, and organizational skills all allowed her to converse with and lead the new members. There was even a dozen or so aliens on the team. She loved it and thrived.There was also a pretty credible rumor going around, amongst the original Avengers, that Nat had bunked up with Thor’s old flame and her former assistant, Jane Foster and Darcy Lewis. It looked like she was even thinking about making the arrangement long-term, if not permanent.When Bucky had finally come home, deciding to retire, Steve had been overjoyed. Bucky had been, too. They spent their days learning to live together full-time again, negotiating their relationship and what it now meant.Tonight, Steve was going to pop the question. It was time. They’d waited long enough, had struggled long enough, to have their happily ever after.If Bucky said yes—and, quite frankly, even if he didn’t—Steve was also going to broach the subject of children. He’d always wanted a family. Bucky’s little sisters had given him a taste of it when he’d been hardly more than a kid himself. He wanted to try his hand at being the best dad he could be. He knew he could do it. He knew Bucky could, too. And there was no one he’d rather go on that adventure with.Life, with all its strange twists and turns, had led them here. And they all deserved to thrive.