Chapter 2
“Hi”, Bucky greeted Tony as he came in to the employees break room. Tony nodded in acknowledgement as he took another sip from his favorite canned coffee. He watched as Barnes idly sat in one of the far corners of the room, away from the chattering people, gazing down. He didn’t bother to start a conversation nor were others trying to do the same.
It looks like he really doesn’t have a single friend at work.
“Alright. We’re leaving. Goodnight, Tony~”, Clint called out as he and Sam went out the locker room to go back home. It was just him and Barnes again. Tony stares at Barnes who had his back to him as he put on his pants, zipping it up and tying in his belt. But then he stopped and suddenly turned around to face the brunet.
“Like I said. You’re peeking. Will you stop that?”. He growled.
“What?~ I wasn’t peeking. You’re so self-conscious”, Tony replied with a pout, putting the tip of his fingers together.
“Yes, you were! That face pisses me off”
“….”
“If you have something to say then just say it”
“Then…want to go back together?”, he suggested looking up at the taller male.
“It suddenly got chilly”, Bucky said as they walked side by side into the quite empty street of their neighborhood. It was the first time doing something like this with him. Tony was at a loss for words and only managing a ‘Yeah’ in response.
It was quiet, too goddamn quiet. It’s the kind of awkward quiet Tony hated. “So…”, he started.
“Yes?”
“This is the first time we talked like this isn’t it?”
“I guess so”
He wanted to ask ‘Why?’ but then he felt like it was inappropriate. So he decided to change the topic. “So that’s how your voice sounds like.”
“What?”
“Because we’ve only exchanged greetings so far and you only say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“It is. Say, you…like me?”. Tony decided to ask. He really had to confirm it. Just speculating and making wild guesses were tiring him out.
“Yes, I do”. Bucky replied and for some reason Tony felt relief to hear that.
“So, it’s not a joke”
“Who’d say this as a joke? That’s awful”
“You’re right. Then, what’s so good about me?”
“Even if you asked me that…”
“How did I catch your attention since we don’t even talk much, like at all?”, Tony questioned but Bucky said he honestly didn’t know either and the fact that Tony kept asking him about it so bluntly was pissing him off.
“Damn, seriously, even I’m thinking back on it. When I realized it I had already started to notice you and now here I am”
They stopped the conversation there and continued their walk until they reached a park. Tony asked if they could take a short detour there to which Bucky nodded in agreement. The park was completely dark except for the area around the street lights. Bucky took a seat on one of the bench and waited for Tony who had wandered off somewhere half way into the park.
After a minute or so Tony came back with two cans of warm coffee and hands one to Bucky who looked at it with a frown. “The money”, he started but was then told that it was a treat so he should just accept it with a smile.
They sat in silence as Tony open and slowly sipped in his drink as they watched the full moon shrouded by thin clouds. The wind blowing the fallen leaves along the road and towards their feet. Bucky clutched onto his drink not even opening it yet.
“So, why are we here? What do you want from me?”. He finally asked.
“Hmm, nothing really. Just wanted to talk to you properly I guess”. Tony answered with a shrug. “But you know, since you can talk, why don’t you usually do it?”. Bucky looked down, closing his eyes, “There’s nothing to talk about. Besides, talking to me is boring anyway”
“It is? Surprisingly, I’m having fun right now”
“That’s cause you’re weird”
“Hey! That’s not something you say to the person you like”, Tony pouted with a frown. “Anyway, are you that? Have you always been into guys?”
Bucky replied that he didn’t to which Tony ask if it was just him making him more annoyed than before. Earning a deadly glare.
“Geez, no need to get all worked up”, Tony said trying to calm him down. “Well, I guess you won’t know. Even I’m in no place to talk. But you know what they say. Love has neither reason nor rhyme. You’re probably in that position”
“You’re seriously weird”. He scoffs.
“Ha ha, I guess I am. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be able to return your feelings.”
“Like I said I’m not gay”, he said as he turned away from the smaller boy. “Why aren’t you grossed out?”, he whispered to himself.
“Huh? What did you say?”
Bucky quickly denied saying anything and got up from his seat, trying to leave. Tony was surprised at that, he felt like he didn’t do anything that would have made him want to up and leave like that. He then notices his ears going red. Wait, was he angry?
He grabbed on Bucky's arm, stopping him in his track.
“What’s wrong?”, Tony asked, kinda worried. He really didn’t mean to make the guy angry. Bucky insisted that it was nothing. Tony didn’t believe it in the least and continued to prod him and asking if he had done anything weird. He also asked if maybe it was because he bought him something he didn’t like to drink but Bucky said that wasn’t it either. Finally, with a small voice he told the brunet that it was because he didn’t want to waste it. The drink he had bought him as his ears began to beet redder with embarrassment.
Tony couldn’t do anything for a while except to stupidly stare at the guy. Then a small mischievous grin began to form on his lips.
“Then want me to buy you some beer instead?”
“No, thank you. I’ll be going”
“Huh?! Don’t you like me? This is an opportunity!”
“I just started disliking you”
“What?!”
He was one or two years younger than him. He didn’t know his favorite sport, his favorite food or where he lives.
“Come on~ Don’t be so shy, Barnes”
“Please let me go”
“It’s fine, dude. Just give up”
“Huh? Wait..! You’re annoying!”
But it turns out that the guy talks enough for his age, and that he’s also unexpectedly cute when teased, even wanting to keep something like a mere coffee can just because he received it from someone he liked.