Chapter 2
When they got home they each took a bag and carried it up the few stairs into the apartment. It wasn’t an apartment building, and Sarah was very thankful of that. When Steve was about seven they had moved into this little duplex, living in the bottom apartment. It was a decent size for two people, sometimes feeling a little too big.
When Bucky walked into the home after Steve they were in a living room, a couch pressed against the wall with a small TV against the other wall. It was clean- Bucky assumed they had been cleaning for his arrival and felt a small wave of guilt wash over him. He was quickly pulled from those feelings because Sarah was speaking to him.
“Do you prefer green or blue? I didn’t know what sheets to put on the bed because I wasn’t sure and-” Steve cut her off.
“And she over thinks things and wouldn’t listen to me when I said you wouldn’t care what color the sheets were.” He was leaning against the wall in the kitchen- just before a small hallway that lead further back into the house.
“Blue is fine, Mrs. Rogers-” Bucky said, pushing the stray hair out of his eyes. He couldn’t help but smile, these people were too kind.
“What did I say? Call me ‘Ma.’” Sarah said. She nudged past Steve, bumping him with her hip to get him out of the way. He rolled his eyes and set his milkshake down on the counter.
“I’m sure you’ll get used to her by the end of the week.” He walked over and took Bucky’s bag from him, pulling in through the hallway to the room Sarah was in.
“This will be your room.” She said to him, pulling the sheets flat. “Steve is right next door to you if you need anything. The bathroom is around the corner near my bedroom, okay?” She stood up and set a light blanket on the foot of the bed. Bucky nodded, stealing his bag back from Steve to put it on the bed. His shirt was sticking uncomfortably to his back, and he grimaced when he moved.
“Why don’t you shower before dinner?” Steve offered. “And then after I can help you unpack and get settled in here?” Sarah grinned at the two of them.
“Would it be okay if I just ordered a pizza for us then? I think it’s too hot to actually cook.” Sarah said, fanning herself with her hands. Bucky snorted softly at her. She really seemed like a fun mother-figure. She still looked young, but a few grey hairs showed through her fair blonde hair. Steve was a spitting image of her.
“Sounds good, Mrs- Ma.” Bucky said, sitting on the bed. She smiled and left to go to the kitchen. Steve sat on the bed next to Bucky and bumped him with his shoulder. He then quickly wrinkled his nose at the feeling of sweaty shirt against his bare arm.
“Ew.” He teased. Bucky bit his lip, feeling self conscious. “Okay, why don’t I just show you how the shower turns on and then I’ll leave you to it, okay? We’ll be in the kitchen.” He got up after a moment.
“Oh, and before I forget. Ma’s a nurse, she works nights during the week, so when he get home from school don’t be surprised if she isn’t here or just leaving.” Bucky nodded and watched as Steve walked out the door and turned in the direction of the bathroom. He stayed on the bed and took a deep breath- he just needed a minute to take everything in.
He was currently sitting on a twin bed, that was just made with sheets he picked because the woman of the house was worried he wouldn’t like the color of them. He was going to be living with them for months, and this room was going to be his during that time. This twin bed, the mismatching dressers and small closet… He had just gotten here and somehow it was already starting to feel like home. Bucky pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stop the prickle of tears behind his eyes. Home.
“Hey, sweaty. You want a shower, right?” Steve teased, poking his head back into the room. Bucky jumped slightly but couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, I’m coming.” He stood up and went into his suitcases, digging out clean and weather appropriate clothes. He was thankful to have someone his age in the house too, it would make it feel less lonely. He followed Steve to the bathroom and got a lesson on how to use the weird faucet set up.
------------
Bucky stood in the bathroom for a long time after he had gotten dressed. He heard that the pizza had arrived and knew he needed to go out and eat- it would be rude if he just kept hiding in the bathroom. But… he couldn’t bring himself to go out yet. The t-shirt he was wearing stopped short of hiding the mangled scars on his left arm. A car accident had damaged it enough that it was hard to move, but not enough that they would take it off. Bucky wished they had just amputated it, he could live with just a stump.
He knew that the Rogers’ probably wouldn’t care- in fact they seemed like the kind of people that would go out of their way to help Bucky if he needed it. But, that wasn’t what Bucky wanted either. He just wanted to be seen as a normal person, not a freak, and not someone who always needed help. He took in a deep breath and nodded to himself. He had to go out there.
“Hey, we got half pepperoni if you like it or wanted to try it and half plain cheese-” Sarah said as he re-cut the slices. When she looked up she stopped for a moment, eyes focused on Bucky’s arm. And then she just went back to what she was doing. “Would you like soda, or water, or milk- we have some juice too?”
Bucky was surprised that she just completely breezed by it. She didn’t stare- just looked and then looked away. She didn’t freak out and immediately ask if he was alright. She just...acted like it was normal. And then he remember what Steve had said earlier. Sarah was a nurse, she worked with sick and hurt people everyday.
Steve on the other hand seemed to be looking curiously but not saying anything. He was staring at Bucky expectantly. Bucky shifted uncomfortably under Steve’s gaze. “Well? What do you want to drink?”
Bucky blinked. Oh. “Water is fine, sorry.” Steve nodded and got him a glass of ice water while also pouring one for himself.
Sarah got a plate ready and looked at Bucky too. “Cheese, pepperoni, or both?” She smiled softly at him.
“Uh- both please?” He hadn’t realized just how hungry he was until the smell of hot melted cheese surrounded him. She nodded and put two pieces on a plate for Bucky and dished out a piece of cheese for Steve.
Bucky sat at the table with his plate and glass of water and watched curiously as Steve blotted off the excess grease from his pizza. He smiled timidly at the brunette. “The grease hurts my stomach.” He explained quietly. Sarah chuckled.
“So, Bucky, tell us a little more about yourself? They didn’t explain that much.” Sarah asked before she took a bite of her pizza. Bucky had some in his mouth when she asked and he quickly covered it and tried to chew quickly so he could answer.
“Oh- What do you want to know?” He asked, looking for a napkin. Steve grinned and handed him one.
“Why don’t we start with some important things? Do you need anything special to help with your injury? They didn’t mention that, and I’m not being rude. I just want to know.” Sarah asked, taking a napkin to wipe her hands. Bucky turned red with an uncomfortable twisting in his gut.
“Uh- No. I don’t need anything special…” He said, putting his hands in his lap. Sarah’s smile faltered some, and she put a hand on Bucky’s shoulder.
“If you ever do, just ask me and Steve okay? If it hurts, or aches we have a lot of heating pads and pain relievers.” Sarah gave his right shoulder a little squeeze. He nodded and looked down at his food- suddenly not as hungry.
Steve looked at his mom and then at Bucky. “You don’t have to feel bad about it.” He bumped Bucky’s foot with his, catching his attention. Steve turned his head and took off a hearing aid Bucky didn’t even notice before. “I’m mostly deaf in my left ear, and Lord knows I have a lot of little health issues I need to be on top of. You don’t need to feel uncomfortable with us.”
Bucky smiled a little bit at that. “Sometimes it aches, but I’ll let you know when it does…” He said softly. Bucky picked up his pizza and ate a slice while they all comfortably chatted. He learned that Sarah had work tomorrow night and that Steve was really into art. Once dinner was over and cleaned up Steve went into Bucky’s room with him and helped settle his clothes in the closet and dressers.
Steve flopped onto Bucky’s bed with a huff and smiled down at the older boy where he sat on the floor. “So, are you tired or are you up for some movies?”
Bucky hummed and looked at the time on his phone. It was only about 9 o’clock at night, and he was tired but not enough to sleep. “Yeah, I could watch a movie.” Steve grinned at him and sat up.
“Awesome.”