Are You Flirting With Me?
Bucky remembered long nights with Steve before the war. Steve had changed so much, but so had Bucky. Bucky didn't think Steve would want go back to their old ways anytime soon, if even ever at all.
Steve was already ashamed back when they were in a complicated relationship together. Surely times have changed since then, because y'know, Steve wasn't much of a twink anymore.
By now Steve had already run to tell everyone that Bucky was his Bucky, but Bucky was still stuck in the bathroom remembering it all.
There was so much he'd missed.
Steve Rogers.
He remembered when they wanted to get married, but that time has passed now.
Back in the dining hall, Steve was searching for their leader.
"Where's Loki? He needs to see this." Steve questioned Thor.
"He should be in his personal chambers, but if he's not I'd rather you just wait for him until he returns." Thor replied.
If Loki was not in his room, where would he be? It wouldn't be surprising to find out that Loki disappeared throughout the day, but no one knew where he went.
He's probably off sacrificing virgins or something.
Steve must have really bad luck ,because speak of the devil.
As Loki entered the room he looked pissed. Steve was half expecting Thor to be angry too, but nothing could mask the distinct concern in the blonde god's face.
“Where’s your friend? We need to have a word.” Loki said while glaring at Steve.”He’ll have to explain why whilst I was on my walk I spotted a Hydra agent behind a tree with a gun.”
“Listen, Loki I'm sure he really didn’t mean to. It’s James, He’s-” Loki interrupted Steve before he could even finish his thought.
“He could have exposed us for all we know!” Loki argued. Thor took in Loki’s appearance, looking ashamed as the realization hit him.
“Steven, there was no Hydra agent. Do not worry.” Thor said solemnly as he swiftly grabbed Loki’s arm and yanking up his sleeve to reveal small pinkish dots lining the crook of his elbow. “He’s been using again.”
“Are you serious? I don’t understand why we can’t even trust our own leader!” Steve shouted.
“Uh, hey, Steve I wanted to talk to you.” Bucky awkwardly waddled into the room looking for Steve when he came face to face with three angry men. Well, Loki looked angry for a while but as he and Bucky made eye contact, a sly smirk grew onto his face.
“So, this is the little boy you’ve brought for me? I know I'm a great fucking king but do i really deserve this hot piece of-”
“Loki!” Steve yelled, interrupting him.
“Steve, I’m sorry he tends to get moody and disrespectful when he’s high.” Thor explained while glaring at his brother. To say this was disappointing would be an underwhelming truth. Thor’s statement seemed to only push him further.
“Come on Bucky, we’re gonna have to wait until he’s sober. In the meantime you can help me clean out his room of any PCP or needles.” Steve said as he lead Bucky through the door to Loki’s room. He glared at Loki before shutting it in his face.
"You aren’t going to let me play with your pet?” He called out loudly from behind the door. “I already called dibs. I’m the one who gets to fuck him and cut up his skin!" Bucky thought he was going to faint right then and there. The other two men chose to ignore the comment, so buck guessed this was his normal behavior. Bucky could feel his face heat up. `
“Loki,” Thor warned, his voice firmer than Bucky had ever heard. “You need to go rest. Leave them alone.” Loki’s mood changed immediately, and he slumped into Thor’s arms with a sob. He swallowed his pride in large gulps, trying to fill his empty lungs.
“Come, brother. Let’s go to my chambers.”Thor cood, his voice soft and supportive. Steve sighed behind the door. Bucky was worried for Loki.
“Go check in his closet for anything suspicious.We can’t have a druggie leader. I really love Loki as a leader, but it’s hard to respect a guy who's too weak to fight his own reality.”Steve’s voice tapered off at the end, like he wasn’t certain he meant that last part.
Bucky realized now how much Steve really had changed. He shuffled over to Loki’s closet as he thought of the old Steve and how he would see the good in everyone and take into account their reasons for their actions. Maybe they never really could get back together.“I’m sure he has a reason Steve, don’t judge him without knowing his side. This isn’t your fault, but you should at least feel bad for the guy.”
Bucky wasn’t sure Steve heard him as he pulled an orange shoebox out of one of the dresser drawers.
“God! There’s nothing in here. Great, now we have to figure out where he’s going to shoot up.” Steve said as he rustled through various multi-colored socks.
-
Natasha sighed as she inspected her nails. She looked extremely bored with the conversation. “Well sure Mr. Giggles and nice hair can manipulate people and reality and all that jazz, but he can’t do this!” and then Tony was watching in shock as ‘Tash somehow began to convince the Hulk to return to Mr. Banner. She said her line, the sun’s getting real low, and Banner started to regain control. Tony beamed. Natasha is the seventh wonder of this world.
While Bruce was climbing off of the muddy ground of the forest, Tony reached out a hand to help him up. Turns out Tonys not so strong without a suit. Bruce pulled him down into the mud while he jumped up to his feet.
“Fuck you, Bruce,” Tony mumbled as he wiped the mud from his forehead with the back of his hand.He then ran his fingers through his now dirty hair. “Now I have to go fix my hair. This took me forever to make perfect, you know!.” Tony pouted. Bruce rolled his eyes.
“Let’s Go back inside and get you a shower. Don’t come out until you’re spotless because I don’t want to see you otherwise.” Natasha’s voice teased as she pushed Tony towards the large brick building they called home.
“Wow Natasha, that took longer than usual, losing your touch eh?” Steve joked as the troupe entered the recreational hall.
“Shut up. Where’s Buck?”
“Showering. We just ate, so help yourself to leftovers.” Steve replied with a small smile. He was debating telling the rest of the team about Loki’s actions, but he was so exhausted.
He'll tell them tonight.
By the time Bucky got out of the shower, he was expecting to be sleeping for days. Except Bucky was awake and it was 4:26 am. He doesn’t want to have another nightmare.
“Why won't you just pass out?” Bucky asked himself as he rubbed his eyes.
“I wouldn’t want to miss a second of this. Too much stress coursing through your body It’s almost funny.” An accented voice said from the dark of Bucky’s room.
“Oh my-Listen, I wasn’t talking to you I was just-” Bucky’s heart felt like it might just pop.
“Talking to yourself. I get it. I can help you if you want.” Bucky suspected it was Loki before he flicked on a light.
“I don’t know about that,” Bucky replied. “I’m just so afraid. Everyone here is stronger than me and I can never know who might be digging around in my head.” Loki pushed his back against the wall as he raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
“What makes you think we’d do that to you?”
“Curiosity maybe. I don’t know.”Bucky lamely replied.
Loki scowled. “If I were you I would start trusting the people here. I certainly think they’re more inclined to protect rather than attack if you’re trusting and honest about something like this.”
“What do you mean ‘something like this’?”
“Emotions often appear before we realize we’re feeling them. It is not your fault you can’t help but fear me.” Loki’s face went dark. “But you should be careful.You know as much as I do things just aren’t as fun the easy way. Don’t try to meddle in someone's life when you know you aren’t going to be happy with the results.”
“What do you mean? I’m not trying to get involved in anyone's lives.” Bucky muttered the last part under his breath.
“You’re not foolish and either am I. We both know how this will go. You are going to attempt to be my friend and fix me, and all I ask is that you don’t. Everyone in the building is now fully aware of what happened earlier because Steven won’t shut his mouth. I lowered my guard and risked everything just for a fucking high.” The beginning of a smirk rose to Loki’s lips. “I can certainly tell you care for Steve.Hm.”
Bucky could be wrong but was that a hint of jealousy he heard? He lowered his head and his face turned bright red. “That’s personal.”
“My apologies. I won’t ask again,” He pushed away from the wall with a sigh. “But if you ever need some company I’m, uh, I’m always available. I assume you aren’t going to sleep anytime soon?” Loki asked.
“I’m actually getting pretty sleepy, so could try I guess.” Bucky replied.
“Great, great. I’m gonna take a shower. Ah, try and get enough sleep ok? Your poor body needs it.”
Bucky nodded his head.
“Loki?” Bucky called out before the lanky man could leave.
“Yes, James?” Loki swiveled back around.
“Thank you for this. Really, it means a lot.” Loki nodded his head.
“Anything you need, just say the word.”
“Wait, one more thing,” Bucky started. He hated how needy he sounded, but at the moment he had a million questions. “Are you gonna stop using the drugs?”
“I’m going to try.” Loki said with a sad smirk. He looked down at his feet shamefully and shuffled his feel on the little board of the door frame that separated Bucky’s floor and the hallway.
“Thank you.” Bucky mumbled as he snuggled himself deeper into the pillows. He pulled the blankets over his shoulders and sighed.
There was a shuffle of footsteps and Loki’s lips were suddenly gently pressed to Bucky’s forehead.
“Sleep well, James.”