Adagio

Steve Rogers had something to hide. What was that thing? Bucky had absolutely no clue. What he did know was that Steve was a terrible liar. He could tell there was some secret. When they were kids, Steve used to get very nervous when he had something to hide. He couldn’t even look Bucky in the eyes if he had a secret gift for him. Although it was bad for Bucky, it was great for Steve. Now he’d have to figure out what this secret was. 

Bucky invited Steve over to his apartment to help decorate, but what he really wanted was to figure out what was on Steve’s mind. He cleaned up his apartment a little and bought some cherry vanilla Pepsi and rice crispy treats. Steve was gonna love it.

Steve walked into Bucky’s apartment five minutes before he was supposed to. Bucky thought it was so sweet that he actually wanted to be early. Plus, he came bearing gifts.

“Heyyy,” Steve greeted, walking into his apartment.

“Hey, I’m glad you showed up,” Bucky said.

“Have I ever not showed up?’ Steve asked.

Bucky smiled at him. “No, I’m just happy to see you.”

Ever since that night in the car, Steve and Bucky’s relationship had been amazing. Of course, the fact that it was the week before their performance did slow things down a little. This was the first night in five days that they’d actually seen each other. Bucky was feeling confident enough in his performance to spend some time focusing on other things. 

“I brought you a few gifts,” Steve said.

Bucky  blushed. “Oh gosh. I have a feeling I’m about to feel like a really bad boyfriend.”

Steve laughed and shook his head. “It’s just casual, I promise. I just saw some stuff and thought of you.”

Steve handed Bucky a little bag as well as a large cup from Smoothie King. Bucky took a small sip: a Pineapple Surf. Steve really knew the way to his heart. In the bag was a pair of soft, blush pink slippers. Bucky smiled and put them on. Super warm and soft, as he’d expected.

“I thought maybe you’d like them to keep your feet feeling nice during the performance season,” Steve explained.

“I love them so so much, baby,” Bucky gushed. “They’re literally so perfect. You’re so perfect. Now the Pepsi I got for you feels like such a shitty gift. You’re so sweet and thoughtful.”

“But I love Pepsi a lot, it’s perfect,” Steve said.

Bucky handed him a Pepsi from the fridge and started opening the boxes filling his living room. Since they had brought all his stuff over from his childhood home, he’d simply left it put away. He knew that it would be fun to do it with Steve and he was also just lazy. He didn’t want to do it himself and he certainly didn’t want to do it until he absolutely had to.

“I was thinking we would start with the living room, since we’re already out here. And I did order all the bathroom stuff, by the way. They’re in boxes in my bathroom. Boxes are just everywhere now,” Bucky said.

“Well I can help fix that,” Steve offered, smiling warmly at Bucky.

There was something about that smile that reassured Bucky. He had been nervous due to Steve’s suspicious behavior, but now he seemed so laid back. Maybe nothing had actually been wrong and Bucky had just misinterpreted things. 

Steve took a sip from his drink before getting up to set down the living room rug. In fact, he set up the entire living room in ten minutes. Bucky couldn’t tell if he was being efficient because he wanted more time to just sit and talk or if he wanted to leave sooner.

“Only five days until performances start,” Bucky said. “Do you feel like you’re ready?”

Bucky could see Steve’s entire body tense up. There was definitely something that he wasn’t telling Bucky.

“I feel fine. You?” Steve responded.

“I feel great. I’m excited to prove myself with my first big role. I’m thinking that maybe I’ll get a good role in the Nutcracker now,” Bcuky said.

Steve merely nodded in response and took a sip of his soda. Was his secret regarding work? Maybe the show specifically? Or maybe it was nothing, maybe Bucky was reading into something that wasn’t even there.

“I’m excited for the dress rehearsal tomorrow,” Bucky said.

Steve became visibly more uncomfortable. Yeah, it was definitely something about work. Maybe he’d been yelled at for having a relationship with a coworker? Or he could be being replaced. Wait, he’d talked about possibly getting a new job. Maybe he’d gotten a new job and this would be his last show. But that felt like something he would tell Bucky about. 

“I like dress rehearsals because it’s fun to see everyone in their costumes,” Steve added. “I’ve already seen Nat’s and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Our costume department is really amazing.”

“They are. Both at their job and as people,” Bucky said. 

The costume department was full of Bucky’s friends. Well, he had two friends there. Jessica Drew and Cindy Moon. Cindy was actually just an intern there, as she was still in art school. Jessica was one of Bucky’s first friends at the company. Her son was absolutely adorable and she was very much a responsible mom friend. 

Honestly, Bucky loved all the people at the company. The other dancers, like Nat, were so supportive and sweet. The pit, like Steve and Molly, were really fun people to be around. The costume department, like Cindy and Jessica, were easy to talk to. Of course, there were plenty of other people at the company who were also amazing, but Bucky didn’t see them quite as much. There were only two people in the company that Bucky wasn’t a big fan of: Elektra and Tony.

Before their first rehearsal the next day, Bucky decided to pay Nat a visit. He thought she might have some good insight into what was going on with Steve. Because she was so high up in the company rankings, she often knew more about what was going on than the average company member. She was also very insightful when it came to relationships. 

“Hey,” Bucky greeted, walking into Nat’s room with two smoothies. A Pineapple Surf for himself and the Veggie Lemon Ginger Spinach for Nat. Yes, Steve had just bought him a smoothie last night, but you could never have too many.

Nat was sitting at her vanity, doing her hair. “Hey.”

“You’re looking prepared for this rehearsal,” Bucky said, setting her smoothie down in front of her.

She smiled at him through the mirror. “Thanks, Bucky. And yeah, I woke up early to make sure I was ready. I warmed up and stretched at home, which woke Matt up.”

“Yeah? Was he mad about it?” Bucky asked. 

“Nah, he was fine with it. He made us a nice breakfast,” Na answered.

“Well you’re a lot more prepared than I am,” Bucky retorted.

“I feel like I have to do more. You need minimal makeup and hair. So we’re probably at about the same level of ready,” Nat stated.

That was true. Bucky also warmed up and stretched at home, as he often did. Although, he did tend to rewarm up and stretch when he arrived at the company. Plus, the smoothie was his breakfast. All he really had to do was throw on his mascara and costume and be ready to go.

“Hey, Steve’s been acting really weird lately, especially when I talk about work. Do you know what’s going on?” Bucky asked.

“Steve’s just a weird guy. He’s probably nervous, and nervous for you. I mean, this is your first big role. He just wants you to do good,” Nat responded.

Natasha was probably right. Steve had no reason to hide something from Bucky, but being nervous for him was understandable. Honestly, Bucky was also nervous. A little less nervous now that he knew what was going on with Steve. Well, he didn’t know it for sure, but he had a suspicion that Nat was right.

“Are you ready to go full out?” Nat questioned. “I think Tony will be watching today.”

Bucky groaned. “Nooo, not Tony. Ever since his comments to me backstage, it’s felt weird. I have a feeling he doesn’t like me very much.”

“I don’t think he hates you or anything: you’re cool. Besides, he knows we’re friends and he loves me,” Nat said.

“I honestly don’t understand your relationship with him at all,” Bucky stated, sipping on his smoothie.

“I mean, he’s the one who found me. He saw me performing at my studio showcase and basically recruited me,” Nat explained. “And he really is a good guy, I like him a lot. We see each other probably once a month. Matt takes him out for drinks sometimes, too. But I doubt he dislikes you because he loves talent more than anything. He can see your talents.”

“That’s so sweet, thank you.”

“Well you wouldn’t have gotten this position if it weren’t for your talent.”

“I don’t think that’s entirely true,” said a voice from the hallway: Elektra.

Nat stood up from her vanity. “Hey, this conversation doesn’t involve you.”

“Well I’m just calling out your lies,” Elektra shot back.

“Elektra, I don’t care enough to lie,” Nat said.

Elektra rolled her eyes. “You know you didn’t get your position just from talent. If it were just about talent, you’d be the understudy.”

“Oh please, I can dance circles around you,” Nat responded.

“If you didn’t suck up to Tony so much, you’d just be a corps member. Everyone knows that you’re not even close to the most talented, Tony just thinks you’re hot and you play into it. I just know that if you were ugly, you’d probably be teaching stretching classes to seven year olds at your local studio,” Elektra said.

“Thanks for saying I’m prettier than you,” Nat retorted at Elektra, smiling at her.

Elektra rolled her eyes and stomped off. Obviously that one hit her where it hurt. If he was being honest, Bucky found it a little sad. Elektra was so jealous and insecure. Before Bucky got this role, he had been in the same boat. But he was never as rude as she was. Insinuating that Natasha had slept her way to the top was way too far. It was a low blow, especially considering it wasn’t true. Elektra was amazing, but Nat was still better. She was hands down the best in the company. She didn’t need to flirt, or sleep, with anyone in order to prove her worth.

“Well she’s extra salty today,” Nat said, stepping into her first costume.

“What else is new.”

“I just wish she would chill with the Tony stuff. I really don’t flirt with him, Matt and I are in a serious relationship. I bet if Matt never would have rejected her, she’d be sucking up to me 24/7.”

“I could see it. Hey, I’m gonna go change and stuff.

“See you on the stage.”

Bucky walked into his own dressing room, where he found Steve sitting on his armchair. He smiled at him.

“What brings you in here so early?” Bucky asked.

“I wanted to see you before we start rehearsal,” Steve answered.

“That’s sweet. I’m happy to see you. Last night was fun. Maybe you can spend the night next time,” Bucky suggested.

“Yeah, I’d really like that. And you can always stay at my place, too,” Steve offered. 

“Oh, I brought my slippers today,” Bucky said. “I figured they’d be nice to change into after we finish the dress rehearsal.”

Steve’s face flushed. “I’m sure they would be. I’m really glad that you like them.”

Bucky sat at his vanity and sprayed his hair with another layer of hair spray. He’d put some on at home, but he wanted to make sure it was secure.

As he was applying his mascara, Steve said, “You know, I was thinking that maybe we could skip the dress rehearsal today and go do something fun instead. We could pick up lunch, go bowling or something.”

Bucky laughed. “Oh god, can you imagine. That would be something else.”

“No, I’m serious,” Steve said.

Bucky turned around in his chair and looked at Steve. “What? We can’t miss our first dress rehearsal. Or any dress rehearsal. The performance is in a few days and we’re both super important parts of the show.”

Steve broke their eye contact, staring at the floor. “I just don’t really think you’re going to like dress rehearsal today. I think it’ll be hard. But just know that you’re so so talented and I love you a lot.”

“Thank you and I love you too. But, Steve, I’ve been through tons of dress rehearsals before. I know that they’re hard, but I can do it. You don’t need to be worried about me. I’m strong enough to get through it.”

“I know you are, baby,” Steve said. “I just want to protect you, you know?”

Bucky stood up and kissed him. “I do know. And it’s very sweet. But I promise that I’ll be alright. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Steve left so Bucky could put on his costume, which he absolutely loved. Seeing as this was his best role yet, this was also his best costume yet. He felt so powerful in it. It was a feeling second only to being with Steve. Bucky finished up his smoothie before making his way to the stage. Today he was going to prove himself to Tony: prove that he deserved this role and could do it better than anyone else in the company.

When Bucky opened the door to the stage, he stopped in his tracks. There was someone else on the stage, wearing the same costume as he was. And he was rehearsing lifts with Nat. 

Suddenly it hit him: he’d been replaced with his understudy.