Chapter 2
Bucky’s so wrapped up in the conversation with Steve, that before he knows it, they’ve arrived at the gate. They are fortunately right on time for their group to be called, so they shuffle into line along with all the rest of the economy level passengers.
Like with every flight Bucky’s been on, it feels like it takes an hour to move even a couple of feet which does not help tamp down the ever growing pit of anxiety taking up residency in his stomach. However, it seems like Bucky’s not the only anxious one because as they get to be only one person away from the check in desk, he is concerned to see that Steve starts anxiously fidgeting, hunching his shoulders in and pulling the brim of his baseball cap lower across his eyes to try and hide his face.
Bucky bumps his shoulder against Steve’s and when Steve glances at him with a confused expression, mouths “Are you ok?” Steve’s face immediately dissolves into a grateful smile and he leans in closer to Bucky to whisper “Yeah, I’m fine. I just don’t really want to be recognized.”
What? Bucky is suddenly very confused; it feels like he’s missed a very important part of their conversation. Since when does Steve get recognized? Is he someone that people recognize? Should Bucky have recognized him? He doesn’t think so. He’s pretty sure he would remember seeing someone as gorgeous as Steve before, even if it was just from a photo. He racks his brain for any kind of clue from their previous conversation that could explain what Steve means, but, with no thanks to the three gin and tonics he had, he comes up empty. Deciding just to ask Steve, he cocks his head to the side with a puzzled expression on his face. “Recognized? What do you mean?”
Steve’s face immediately falls into an almost identical expression of confusion as he stares back at Bucky. “Wh-what? You know, recognized. Me.” Steve makes a vague gesture with his hand towards himself which does not help clue Bucky in at all.
“Pal, I’m sorry but just repeating what you said doesn’t help me at all.” Bucky ruefully shakes his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“What? You don’t?” Steve peers intently at Bucky’s face, searching for a hint of dishonesty and when he doesn’t find any, because really, Bucky has no fucking clue what he’s talking about, his face breaks out into a gigantic grin. He lets out a disbelieving laugh and exclaims, “Oh my god. You really don’t.” Apparently this is a bigger deal than Bucky originally thought. Suffice it to say, Bucky is intrigued.
“I really don't know what? What don’t I know?” He hopes that with some pleading Steve will be nice enough to fill him in on the situation, but annoyingly, Steve just keeps chuckling. Now that is bordering on being rude. The unspoken rule of secret keeping is that if you tease someone about not knowing it, the decent thing to do would be to tell them what the secret is. That’s just how it is! Everyone knows that; everyone except Steve it seems. If he were one drink soberer, Bucky would be above whining, but since he’s not, he sticks out his bottom lip a smidge and tugs on Steve’s sleeve. “C’mon Steve. That’s not fair! I want to know what’s so funny.”
Steve just looks back down at Bucky and says, “Nope, don’t worry about it. It doesn’t matter.”
Bucky gives a huff of frustration in response and turns away from Steve. Although he’s dying to know what Steve’s talking about, he begrudgingly acknowledges that if Steve doesn’t want to divulge his secret, Bucky shouldn’t make him.
Sighing, he turns back to Steve and with a smile to reassure him that he’s not actually mad, says, “Fine punk, keep your secrets.” Steve’s face simultaneously softens at Bucky’s subtle gesture and lights up at nickname.
They continue teasing each other until they arrive in front of the desk and it's their turn to check in. Bucky has no idea what ticket to give and if the attendant needs to scan it or take it, so he just shoves his slightly crumpled ticket at the attendant. The attendant gingerly takes the ticket, muttering a sarcastic “thanks” in exchange.
The ticket is scanned and the attendant nods in satisfaction. “Okay Mr. Barnes, it looks like everything is in order. You are sitting in economy class, seat 23, row C.”
Bucky just gives a hum of acknowledgement, slightly afraid that if he opens his mouth to say something, the tendrils of fear that he has successfully been ignoring for the past 15 minutes but that have suddenly come crawling back out, will make his voice crack or do something equally as embarrassing. Nonplussed, the attendant merely offers his ticket back and Bucky grabs it with trembling fingers, quickly stepping out of line to make room for Steve.
Steve shuffles up to the desk and immediately ducks his head, not that it helps much, seeing as he’s tall enough that he automatically has to look down at the attendant. The attendant, with his gaze still fixated on the computer in front of him, holds up a singular finger and says, “Sorry, I’ll be right with you.”
Steve glances at Bucky with an apologetic look for keeping him from boarding the plane, but Bucky just gives a thumbs up in response; he would honestly be willing to wait the whole day if it meant he wouldn’t have to board alone. Finally, the attendant finishes up with whatever had captured his attention on the computer, and glances up at Steve, immediately doing a double take. His jaw drops as he gapes in astonishment and he blurts out, “Holy shit! Y-you’re Captain A-.” Steve quickly cuts him off with a fervent shake of the head and gives him a significant look.
“Yep, that’s me! Just a regular ole’ army captain!” He emphasizes, his eyes slightly frantic as he casts a panicked glance at Bucky.
The flight attendant stands speechless for a moment before he visibly shakes himself and stammers out, “Y-yeah, of course, whatever you say, Captain.” He stares at Steve for another second before he slowly turns back to his computer. “Oookay, it looks like you are in economy class as well, seat 35, row D.” The flight attendant’s brow furrows as he reads out Steve’s seat. “It seems like there’s been a mistake concerning your seat, Captain. Fortunately it’s an easy fix.” The attendant taps a few keys and, with a flourish, prints out a brand new ticket. As he hands it to Steve, he says, “You're all set now. Your ticket has now been upgraded to first class.”
Steve looks mortified as he stammers out “O-oh, no really, that’s not necessary. I’m fine with my original seat.”
The attendant’s face crumples into an expression of confusion and he starts anxiously ringing his hands. “Uh, are you sure? Cause’ it’s no trouble at all, honest. I think I might even get in trouble if I don't upgrade you.”
Steve once again casts a panicked look at Bucky who just looks back with a slightly aghast expression, not understanding how Steve could willingly refuse an upgrade; an upgrade to first class no less.
Faced with both Bucky’s bewildered expression and the fact that the flight attendant seems like he’s on the verge of some kind of breakdown, Steve relents. “Alright, yeah, you can upgrade my seat. But you also have to upgrade my friend over here.” He gestures to where Bucky is standing a few feet away, and if Bucky was shocked before, he’s absolutely stunned now.
The attendant glances at Bucky with a surprised look on his face, but quickly schools his features into an expression of professionalism. “Yes, of course, let me fix that for you real quick.” The attendant quickly prints out another ticket and holds them out to Steve. “You are both now sitting in first class, seats 1 and 2, in the first row.”
Without another moment of hesitation, Steve snatches both their tickets and immediately rushes over to where Bucky is standing, his entire face and neck painted a tomato red. “Alright, uh, shall we go in then?”
Bucky can only stare in shock and confusion, because what the fuck was that about?