The Moon Song
I'm lying on the moon
My dear, I'll be there soon
It's a quiet starry place
Time's we're swallowed up
In space we're here a million miles away.
'The Moon Song'- Karen O
The city sang in its normal whistle as the two teens walked down the street with popcorn in their teeth and sugary sodas in hand. The bright sun brought a pink tint and darkened freckles upon the gaunt face Bucky would never get tired of. So many things were held behind those baby blue eyes and concentration bit lips. Steve still had soft blue acrylic paint stuck in the cracks of his left pinkie finger. He refused to let anybody see it until it was done, so Bucky had no idea what it could possibly be. It would take the foul-smelling paint remover that made his eyes water to get it off his skin. He wore a large pink shirt with a yellow collar that was tucked into soft blue jeans. They were cuffed just enough to see golden hair that dusted his bony ankles. Soft and beautiful, just like always.
He couldn't help but notice every detail about him. He loved him so much it hurt sometimes. There were so many things to look at. The scar above his right eyebrow, the slightly crooked teeth that appeared through his ever-present smile, the starry eyes, and those thick long lashes that were too often clumped together by tears. He wanted to cradle that gentle face in his broad hands and never let the world see it. He would hurt and bleed if it meant that those eyes held onto their innocent gleam a little while longer.
No one was quite like Steve. Despite the things he has seen and the life he has lived in his short fifteen years, he was still so good. He went out of his way to fight for what was right even though he knew it would mean a bloody lip and endless torment.
"Bucky? Do you think we can maybe go to the park? I mean it's Spring and-" He looked down at his scuffed sneakers as he took small steps. Bucky could see the flush on his skin even through his light sunburn. Only he would get a sunburn in Spring.
"No problem. Got nothin' to do anyway, bub. Well, I do have some homework, but that can wait." He grinned and wrapped his arm around Steve's shoulders. The warm body tucked into his torso giggled slightly and lightly patted Bucky's chest.
As they walked, Steve told stories about the new flowers he was going to plant in his backyard. He couldn't decide between carnations and big bright sunflowers. Bucky weighed in that sunflowers would be best though he didn't say why. Perhaps it was his sunny disposition, warm smile, or honey golden hair. Whatever it was, those big flowers reminded him of the pure sweetness curled underneath his arm.
Bucky's arm curled tightly as they walked past Brock and Howard. He pulled Steve into his chest ever so slightly to block him from seeing the two boys walking their way. He could feel a small smile through the thin material of his Nirvana shirt as the other boy wrapped his arms tightly around his belly. The light touches made his skin burn. They must look strange, but Bucky couldn't bring himself to care at all. He didn't miss the way Brock and Howard looked at them with disgust. He would have to talk to them tomorrow after school. You think they would've learned by now that Bucky wasn't afraid of swollen knuckles anymore.
"Stevie, how about we go to my house after the park, yeah? I got some new CD's you should hear." He rubbed his hand over the thick warm material over Steve's back. His after school job at the grocery store paid well enough that they both could go and get lunch and some new CD's after school on Fridays. Steve's allergies were too rough last time, so he braved the world without his best bud to get the brand-new Weezer album. The leftover money went to the kind of tissues infused with lotion so the skin around his nose wouldn't be sore.
"Sure. We can take a nap too, right? Those silly allergies take it all outta me!" Bucky found the slight Irish twist to his voice absolutely adorable. Sarah is teaching him Gaelic now, and that's making his voice even more drawn out and pronounced. It will be useful when his grandparents come and visit.
"Hell yeah, bub," he said through a grin, "Mama doesn't get home until real late, right? Stay at my place tonight. We can put the couch cushions on the floor like when we were kids. After we go to the park, we will go to your house and get your stuff." Steve being home alone was never a good idea. He almost burned down the old apartment trying to make pancakes. And maybe he just wasn't ready to let go of him for today.
"Don't curse," that earned him a rough tap on the middle of his spine, "Mama works till 5:00 in the morning. I get to pick the movie we watch. You always pick the scary ones, Buck." He may or may not pick the scary movies so Steve will move a little closer to him.
"Whatever you say, Stevie."
When they got home, they immediately set to work pulling the cushions off the couch and gathering blankets from unsuspecting Barnes'. It took them all of an hour with a small break in between for a dinner of Hamburger Helper and peach lemonade.
Steve changed into his soft sleep sweater and a pair of plaid pajama bottoms while Bucky just changed into his father's old work shirt and stayed in his boxers. They sprawled out on the cushions while Forrest Gump played on the box TV.
Long fingers traced the inside on Bucky's forearm. He was doing absent-mindedly - he most likely didn't even know he was doing it. His face was contorted into a small frown while Jenny gave Forrest a peace sign before being driven away by the bus.
As they got older, he couldn't help but notice that Steve loved to touch him. Just small touches like fingertips grazing across his arms or hands tangled into his dark hair. He wasn't like this towards anyone else. Just him. It was comforting, he guessed. Maybe touches like that were small reassurances that Bucky was still there and he wasn't going anywhere. Whatever the reason he did it for, he was more than happy to let him touch. It always left a warm fuzzy feeling.
He stayed focused on the light touches and let his mind drift, thinking of nothing in particular. Small unidentifiable patterns burrowed into his flesh as fingers danced lightly. He loved moments like this. Everything was calm and quiet. Steve's skin was untainted and he was smiling.
A small little 'thump' and pressure meant Steve had scooted closer and rested his head on Bucky's shoulder. He smiled and scooted just as close so he could lay his head against the other boy's.
They were both asleep before the movie ended.