The Sun, The Sand, The Sea
Bucky woke up just after sunrise, feeling a weight on his left arm, he turns to see a messy brown-haired guy laying on his chest, slightly drooling on his shirt, he smiled at the sight. Totally forgotten what happened the night before, as he tries to pull away, Tony hugged tighter, he let out a small laughter, his phone in his pocket kept vibrating, shit! It must be Sam, he thought to himself. Sam was his roommate in college, his brother in arm, Sam was always worried for Bucky, when last year Sharon dump him, because he wasn’t good enough for her, Bucky literally got drunk at a bar, then somehow got into a freaky accident, and lost his left arm. Since then Sam would always call on Bucky, sometimes picks him up after work, and spend their free time together, Sam loved him as a younger brother, always having his back. Bucky slides the phone out of his pocket carefully, not to disturb the young man in his arm. He slides to answer the call.
“JAMES BUCHANAN BARNES! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU? I CALLED THE BAR AND THEY SAY YOU LEFT EARLY, I CALLED STARBUCKS AND THEY SAY YOU CANCELLED YOUR SHIFT TODAY, I FUCKING WENT TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TO FIND YOU!” Sam shouted over the phone, Bucky could hear the worry in his voice.
“Tell him to shut up, I’m trying to sleep here!” Tony said tiredly, as he tries to grab the phone from Bucky’s hands, he continues to grumble into Bucky’s chest. Bucky let a soft chuckle out.
“I’m okay hunny bee, I’ll be home soon, decided to take a detour from home, am at the beach, will be going off soon.” Bucky replied into the phone.
“Whose voice is that I hear? Better not some side piece you have alright! Just come back home safe, I’m worried as fuck you know that, I’ll make breakfast before I go work okay!” Sam replied, toning his voice down, Bucky smile into the phone.
“Ay ay Captain! See you alright!” Bucky said before hanging up the call. He smiles at the messy hair.
“Is that your boyfriend?” Tony asked as he rubs his eyes sleepily.
“Who? Sam? He’s my roommate, my brother actually, you get to see him one day, come on Doll, let’s go, you don’t want to end up covering in anymore sands okay.” Bucky said, as he ruffles up Tony’s hair.
“But’s it’s too early to get up! I’m still tired!” Tony whined as he hugs Bucky closer, Bucky likes the heat radiating by his side.
“How bout we get up and get back to the dorm, and continue there, I think my bed is a lot comfortable than these piles of sands.” Bucky said as he kisses Tony’s head, Tony continues to grumble, but yet he still sat up, looking around him, a bit confuses.
“Where are we?” Tony asked, not remembering how he got here.
“My little hideout where I kill my drunk victims” Bucky replies, winking at Tony, earning a gasp from the little man.
Bucky just stood up and brush the sands off his pants, offering a hand to help Tony up, where he reluctantly took, as they grab their belongings, walk to the bike, Bucky puts his jacket on Tony, to prevent the man from getting a cold, it was September anyways. As they rode back home silently, Tony couldn’t help but smile to himself. It felt good, to hold on to a stranger and riding down the highway.
As they got to their dorm, Bucky could see the car Tony drove yesterday was in the parking lots, meaning his friends got back home safely, he switches off the ignition, and pass the key to Tony.
“You should keep it, I don’t need it anyways.” Tony said as he passes the key back.
“No way doll, this is yours, I can’t keep it” Bucky pushes the key away.
“No, you keep it alright, I have no use of it.” Tony insisted, Bucky just shook his head, he didn’t want to take things from people.
“How about this, you keep it, so you could be my personal chauffeur around school and town, then we could go on late night rendezvous, or just grab coffee?” Tony replies as he smiles genuinely to Bucky.
“Fine, I’m only keeping it so I can go on dates with you okay.” Bucky replies, earning a slight blush on Tony, dates with Tony Stark?
He must be crazy, but he likes Tony a lot, for the past 6 months, he has seen Tony walking into Starbucks, ordering his usual black coffee and a muffin, sitting at his favourite spot while doing his work, he has seen Tony walking into the cafeteria with his gang and getting lunch together, he has seen Tony in the library with Bruce to find books for their studies, he has seen Tony coming in late for their English class which earned looks from the professor, he had watched Tony stayed up late in the labs to finish his mechanical engineering projects. Bucky wasn’t a stalker, but he was really observant, there were nights when he looks out of his bedroom window, to see Steve sending Tony back to his dorm, sometimes he could hear them arguing, or sometimes Steve would just ride off, there were days as he walks back from a late night shift, he sees Tony sitting by the steps, zoning out. Sometimes he would find Tony in his car crying, coming out with swollen eyes, sometimes even blue-black eyes. Bucky had been having crush on Tony for the past 6 months, it was no longer a crush but love. When he told Sam about it, Sam told him to go ahead, as Sam and Rhodey were close friends, they would share stories anyways, and Rhodey always told Sam about Tony, and it breaks Bucky heart to hear how shitty Tony life is getting.
As they walk silently to their dorm room, which were on the same floor, except Bucky’s was a few door further away than Tony’s, Tony was still tired from last night, he was walking in a daze, not realizing Steve Rogers was actually waiting for him outside his dorm, as he pulls Bucky’s jacket tighter, as the corridor of the dorm was Air conditioned, it was pretty cold for this small man. Bucky was walking next to him, when Bucky look up to see Steve Rogers standing there, he stretched out his hand to pull Tony closer to him, hugging him by the shoulder.
“You cold, Doll?” Bucky asked as he rubs Tony’s arm.
“Yeah, it’s kind of freezing, I wish I had some coffee you know” Tony replies as he looks up to Bucky, smiling softly at him. Bucky just laughs at the sight, he ruffles up Tony’s hair.
"Did anybody tell you how cute you look with those small smiles and puppy eyes, I can’t resist, I might eat you up soon!” Bucky teased, making Tony blushed even more. Tony almost trips while trying to look away.
“Take care of yourself Doll, I wouldn’t want you falling for others!” Bucky teased, as he stabilizes Tony, pulling Tony close.
As they stopped at Tony’s dorm, they heard someone clearing their throat, Tony turned to see Steve standing there, with a bruised eye, he wanted to just touch it and kiss the bruise away, but why would Steve deserve this kind of attention. Tony turn to look deep in Bucky’s eyes.
“Didn’t you say we should continue in the dorm? Your place or mine?” Tony teased, as he hugs Bucky by the waist, Bucky looks down at Tony, smirking at him.
“Aren’t you tired, my love? How about you get some rest alright, I’ll drop by tonight, I need to finish up some of my work first.” Bucky replies, as he kisses Tony’s cheeks, then he cups Tony’s face and kisses him in between his brows, earning a small giggle from the man.
Just as Bucky let go of Tony’s face, and turns to walk off, Tony pulls Bucky back in, only to grabs his face, and pressed a kiss on his lips.
“I’ll miss you babe!” Tony replies, as he presses another kiss on Bucky’s lips.
It was Bucky’s turn to blush, next thing he knows, Steve pulled Bucky by the shoulder and punched him, which Bucky in return pushed him away, as Tony got in between them.
“STOP IT STEVE! WHAT FUCKING RIGHTS DO YOU HAVE TO PUNCH HIM!” Tony spat out, which Steve pushes him away, throwing himself at Bucky, which Bucky dodges successfully.
Bucky continues to dodge a few more punches, before he pushes Steve away, Tony tries to pull Steve away from Bucky, which didn’t work but end up Steve punching Tony instead, which triggered Bucky, Bucky just pulls Steve away, and punches him in the jaw.
“I FUCKING TOLD YOU, DON’T FUCKING TOUCH MY MAN! WHICH PART YOU DON’T FUCKING UNDERSTAND!” Bucky growls, as he places himself protectively in front of Tony.
They must have caused a loud commotion, some students were standing in the corridor, some heads pop out from their doors, and there Sam was walking with Rhodey, from their gym session. Sam was furious, nobody can touch his Bucky, Sam walked to Bucky, examining his face, some cuts and bruises can be seen, he turns to face Steve who was already on the ground, coughing out the blood in his mouth. He grabs Steve by the collar, forcing him to get up, and he pushes Steve up the wall.
“I don’t know who the fuck are you and why the fuck are you doing here, if you ever touch my James again, I won’t hesitate to fucking kill you!” Sam warned.
“Enough Sam! Let him go, don’t waste your time on something useless.” Rhodey said as he pats Sam’s shoulder, Sam let’s Steve go, and he just grabs his gym bag.
“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT!” Sam shouted to the crowd that was forming around them.
Everyone went back to their room. Bucky was busy examining Tony’s face, he had a lip cut and a small bruise forming on his cheeks. Rhodey decided to ask them to go to his dorm, where all 4 boys went, Bucky took a seat on their sofa, groaning as his body felt sore. Tony had gone to the fridge to get some frozen peas, to iced on Bucky’s swollen face, as Tony sat next Bucky, dabbing the frozen peas on Bucky’s face, Sam just looked at them.
“You know you’re a love-sick puppy when you willing to get hit, just to protect someone you love, right.” Sam said, as he looks at Bucky, Bucky could only smirk at him.
“You know you loved me too much, to see me get hurt right?” Bucky replies, raising his eyebrows, Tony just looked at them both slightly confused, what was their relationship with each other anyways?
“Your Ma would be rolling in her grave if she finds out you got bashed up for protecting someone you loved, again!” Sam continues, as he raises an eyebrow, Bucky’s mum is dead? Tony thought.
” And your parents are smacking their heads in their grave, to realise their favourite son willing to beat the shit out of others, just for me!” Bucky laughed. Sam got up and walked to Bucky, smacking his knees.
“Before your boyfriend here gets jealous and launches himself at me. Just to be clear Tony, I’m his big brother, Sam. I’m always here to take care of him no matter what, I’m supposed to drag him away from any fights, not promote it!” Sam said as he took a seat next to Tony. Tony felt a sense of relief, at least he knows Bucky wasn’t with Sam.
“Just to be clear alright, Bucky is and has been single for a year now, and for the past 6 months he has been pinning for you, but he’s too scared to even ask for your number, so can I have the honour of getting your number for him?” Sam asked, and Bucky suddenly blushes a shade darker. Tony could only smile.
“Shouldn’t Prince Charming be the one asking for my number? Since he wasn’t afraid to punch my ex in the face, and twice call me his man?” Tony teased as he turns to the blushing Bucky.
“I like you Tony, I have never seen Bucky blushed for the past 2 years of being his roommate. I never seen him lost for words, he normally would answer back with something sarcastic.” Sam replies as he pats Tony’s shoulder. He got up and joined Rhodey in the kitchen, leaving the two boys alone.
“You never told me liked me before?” Tony ask as he dabs the cold packet on Bucky’s knuckles.
“Tony! Are you blind? I’ve been giving you heart eyes whenever you come and get coffee, I’ve been putting hearts on your coffee cups, I even gave you free muffins, I literally get up for morning classes, just to see your face. But well not everyone notices nice things that are right in front of them.” Bucky replies, he sighs louder.
“I’m sorry Buckaroo. You know I just got out from a rough one, could you maybe give me some time? Would you like wait for me?” Tony asked as he tilts his head, with a slight pout.
“Hell, I’ve waited for 6 months to finally talk to you, I wouldn’t mind waiting another 6 months, just to date you.” Bucky replies, as he rubs the bruise on Tony’s cheeks, Tony just smiles at him, he hopes he made the right decision.
His heart was still hurting and breaking, what if Bucky was like Steve? Or what if Bucky was like the others, only wanting him for his money? As he lays his head in the crook of Bucky’s neck, Bucky pulled him closer, pulling Tony’s short legs onto his lap, hugging Tony closer.
“I promise you, I won’t be like the rest, I promise you to always make you happy, I promise you that I will protect you constantly, I promise you that I would love you and only you.” Bucky whispered to Tony’s ears, as Bucky slides a hand down Tony’s chin, Tony tilts his head upward, Bucky place a soft kiss on Tony’s lips, sealing the promises he made. May everything go smoothly for this new-found couple.