Pieces
"You need to talk to Bucky, Steve." Carol says.
"I know, Carol." Steve sighs. "I know."
"He needs to know this stuff is going on in your head."
"Normally, he's the broken one."
"Steve, being Captain America has broken you as much as Hydra broke Bucky."
Before Steve can say another word, Bucky comes home. The two look at him then they look back at each other. Carol smiles. She leaves the house, saying goodbye to Bucky and Steve. The silence between them is unbearable. Bucky sits on the couch next to Steve. They're quiet. It's almost like the 30s and 40s all over again.
"Loki and tony are sneaking around." Bucky breaks the ice.
Steve whips his head so fast to face Bucky "WHAT."
"Yep." Bucky shook his head.
"How did you find out?"
"Steve, it's me. Even before the war, I had a way to find out things."
"That's true. You're the reason the whole neighborhood found out about that nun living a double life as a docks prostitute."
"Boy, that was a shock."
Steve and Bucky laughed for a moment. It's been a while.
"Can I talk to you?" Steve grew quiet again.
"Yeah." Bucky spoke softly. "Anything."
"The last few months have been weird and rough..."
"Agreed."
"And I'm having nightmares here and there."
"I know."
Steve freezes. He doesn't know how to continue.
"May I interrupt?" Bucky whispers.
"Sure." Steve nods.
"Did I ever hit you? Back then?"
Steve was taken back but got closer to Bucky.
"No, Buck." Steve kissed Bucky's jaw. "Why would you think that?"
"I remember this one moment in our lives." Bucky explains. "When we broke up."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah but I can't remember why. I know we broke up and I know we got back together after a very short period of time. But I don't know why. And this distance between us started happening ever since that incident between Tony and Loki started. So I can't help but wonder if I ever hit you, Stevie. Maybe that's why it was so easy to nearly kill you before. Because I had abused you at one point."
Steve cupped Bucky's face and peppered his lips with kisses. Bucky wrapped his metal arm around Steve's waist.
"It's not like that, Buck." Steve whimpered. "I promise, you never put your hands on me."
"Then why?" Bucky asked, kissing back.
Instead of answering, Steve pulled Bucky on top of him on the couch and they made love.
"Later." Steve told himself. "I'll tell him later."