Chapter Five
It was around 6pm. Bucky was sat in his bed reading a book Clint had brought him ages ago, rock music playing quietly in the background. He couldn't read, or really do anything, in complete silence so he always put on some music. He bobbed his head to the beat, even singing along when he took a quick break from the book.
This went on until he was about half way done with the book.
Bucky started getting fidgety from sitting still so long and decided that was enough for today. He closed the book, setting it on the growing pile near his bed as he stood up and stretched. The brunette grabbed his phone before walking out the room and towards the kitchen.
Now in the kitchen, Bucky dug inside the fridge looking for a snack, eventually deciding on some plums he had. Taking the whole bag, Bucky walked out and sat on the couch. He took a bite of one and pulled out his phone to shoot Clint a message.
To BirdBoi: wanna hang out? I'm bored as hell
From BirdBoi: can't, Scott asked me to help him pack
Shit, that's right. Scott was moving into a place with his girlfriend, Hope. Bucky had met her a few times and she seemed nice.
He texted back a quick reply before going to message Nat. She was also busy, sadly.
Bucky scrolled through the other contacts, sighing. There were very few people he actually felt comfortable enough to invite over, but they all just happen to be busy when he's in the mood for people.
His eyes suddenly stopped on Steve's contact. Should he try asking him? It's been a few days since they first talked, but would it be too soon? What if it weirded him out?
His finger hovering over the screen eventually clicked to pull up their chat. They had messaged a bit the last few nights, nothing too important, though.
Bucky swears he typed out and deleted the message 10 times before finally sending one.
To Steve: hey are you busy?
Instant regret hit him after it sent. There was no way Steve would hang out with him. He probably had far better things to do, better people he could meet with.
Bucky was about to backtrack and tell him nevermind, but a reply popped up.
From Steve: just making a quick store run rn
From Steve: what's up?
To Steve: i was just gonna ask if you maybe wanted to come hang out
Ugh, really? That's the best you can do, Barnes?!
From Steve: yeah sure! I'll head over when I'm done
Bucky's lips curved into a smile after reading the reply. It left almost instantly, however, when he glanced around the room.
His place was a mess.
The brunette jumped up and started cleaning; picked up the random clothes strung around the place, washed the dishes in the sink, folded the blanket normally thrown on the couch, etc. Normally he wouldn't put this much care into tidying up since his friends knew how he was.
But this was someone different. This was Steve.
And Bucky didn't need him thinking he was a total disaster right from the start.
A knock on the door caught Bucky's attention as he was doing a look over of his place.
He walked over to the door, trying to calm his nerves before he opened it to reveal the small, blue eyed dork.
"Hey," Steve greeted, looking up at Bucky with a small grin, hands wrapped around his bag's shoulder strap.
Bucky said a quick 'hi' back with a nervous smile, moving to let him in.
He watched anxiously as Steve glanced around his living room before turning to look back at him.
"Your place looks nice," the blonde said, causing a rush of relief to wash over Bucky.
An hour or so had passed and the two somehow ended up watching (insert disney film), Steve sat on the right side of the couch and Bucky on the left. The movie had been Steve's choice; he'd noticed the stack of films next to the TV and asked if they could watch one.
"I can't believe you have Disney movies," Steve had said, adding that Bucky didn't seem like the type to like them when the brunette asked why.
At some point during the movie, though, Steve had picked up the sketchbook he brought along and began sketching the brunette, trying to keep his glances as discrete as possible.
Steve didn't know why he wanted to draw Bucky, just knows he really wanted to. The blonde feels a bit of guilt doing it without permission, but Steve figured he'd say no to the idea.
"What're you doing?" Steve was working on the details of Bucky's folded arms when the brunette suddenly spoke up, causing him to jump and throw his book.
"Shit, sorry," Bucky apologized, "didn't think you'd get scared that easy."
"U-uhm it's fine," Steve replied, getting up to grab thr sketchbook.
"Can I see it, though?"
The blonde held the now closed book close to him, "I don't really show people..."
Bucky opened his mouth, but quickly shut it, giving a small nod instead.
Steve sat himself back on the couch, tucking his book away in his bag.
Like Hell he was going to show a drawing of Bucky to Bucky.
The blonde resisted the urge to continue and left the book alone. He tried to focus on the film, but Bucky's constant glances was making that impossible.
What if he'd seen the drawing and just asked to be sure? What if he thought Steve was weird? Oh god, he probably hates him-
Wait, why was Steve getting so worried? Since when did he care this much about what other's thought?
That thought was quickly interrupted when Steve's attention moved to the brunette as he stood, stretching slightly.
"I'm getting a drink, you want anything?" Bucky asked as he walked towards the kitchen.
"Just some water would be fine," Steve replied softly, still trying to calm his mind.
A minute later Bucky returned with a water bottle and some energy drink.
Sitting down, he handed the water to Steve before popping the tab of his canned drink and taking a quick chug.
"Those aren't good for you, ya know," the blonde mumbled before taking a sip of the water he'd been given.
"I'm not dead yet, am I?" Bucky mumbled before taking another sip.
"Enough of 'em and you will be," the blonde replied, lips forming into a small pout.
Bucky's eyes flicked between Steve and the can for a solid 30 seconds before shrugging and chugging the entire can.
The brunette set the can down as he stood up and walked back to the kitchen, coming back with another fucking energy drink.
Steve glared at him as he walked back to sit down.
When he saw the other go to open it he leaped over, grabbing it from him.
"You don't need two in such a short amount of time!"
Bucky's look of shock soon turned into a playful glare as he tried to grab the can from him.
Steve moved it out of his reach, even deciding to jump up and run away with it when Bucky tried again.
"Bucky, it's just a drink! Get up!" Steve groaned, looking down at the brunette who was currently staring at the spilt drink on the floor like someone who just broke their most prized possession.
"Let me grieve this loss in peace, Steve!!" Bucky shouted back dramatically.
Steve sighed, trying to hold back a small laugh, "If I buy a new one will you stop being so dramatic?"
Bucky instantly hopped up, neutral expression back on his face, "Yeah, sounds good."
"Are you serious? That's all I had to- yOU WERE DOING THIS FOR FIVE MINUTES AND THAT'S ALL IT TOOK?!"
Bucky couldn't hold back the laugh that came out at the sight of Steve's annoyed expression.
"What's so funny?!" Steve asked, glaring at him.
"Nothin', you just look cute angry," Bucky said between quieting laughter.
Steve's face suddenly went redder for a completely different reason, pout forming on his lips.
"I ain't cute," he mumbled, crossing his arms and trying his best to keep a glare.
"Sure ya ain't," Bucky replied with an eye roll, "Anyways, let's go get that drink, you wasted my last one."