Chance meetings
“Are you dizzy? Had anything to eat or drink?” Steve asked, walking out of the kitchen with a glass of water already
“No. And no. I’m fine, Steve. Really. Just a little, ehhm, shocked.” I replied.
“Why haven’t you eaten? You should. Here.” He said, placing an apple in front of me.
“I’m sorry I kinda ran you over tonight.” I whispered. As if tonight wasn’t already going horribly, I had actually recognized the man in front of me. The guy was built like a house. Had a soft but demanding voice. ‘Watch where you’re going!’. It was the man I ran into, literally, when I was late for Pierce.
“What?” Steve didn’t seem to understand right away, but after a few seconds it seemed to dawn on him, “That was you? Well, that’s okay, I’m fine.” Steve said with a small smile on his lips.
“I am sorry though.” I muttered as Steve sat down beside me on the couch.
“It’s fine. You were late, right? It happens to the best of us.”
I smiled bitterly to myself, thinking about how me being late got me into this situation in the first place.
“Yeah, kinda what got me into this mess right now.” I huffed, taking a bite of the apple.
“Care to explain?” Steve asked as he quirked an eyebrow.
“Well, it doesn’t matter now anyway.” I muttered, more to myself than to Steve, but I felt the need to explain at least a few things to this knight in shining armor. So I started talking, “So, I was working my first job and they were running late, which meant I was running late. I was late for my second job, which I’m supposed to be doing right now. Then my boss, Pierce, fired me, but I begged him to let me stay because I need that job. He agreed to let me stay if I make 1.500 bucks tonight. So far, I’ve got a third. I’m gonna lose my job, have a hole in the back of my head, almost been raped, and I'm talking to a stranger whom I have run over this same night. How’s your day going?” I asked bitterly.
Steve looked a little astonished, but quickly recovered, “1.500 you said? That’s fine, stay with me tonight so I’ll know you’re safe. That okay with you?” He said.
“What?” I muttered weakly, not expecting him to say anything along the lines of that. Did this guy want to have sex? After all of this shit? Wasn’t really a turn on, but oh well, fine with me. Money’s money. And I need that money.
I moved forward and put a hand on his knee, “How do you like it?” I asked, my flirty voice back on.
“No, Bucky.” Steve responded, a frown flashing over his features, “Sit down. I meant; you should stay here, just so I know you’re okay.”
I raised my eyebrow. Was this guy kidding me? Not one guy has been willing to pay without getting anything. And why would they? They pay me just so I would do things.
My first instinct was to talk back, to ask him if he was stupid. But hey, getting money, having no sex tonight and sleeping in a nice hotel? Fine by me.
“Well, alright, if that’s what you want.” I shrugged, “Should I-, like, do anything?” I hesitantly asked.
“No, it’s fine. You need to eat first and then you should take a shower. I think I’ll have to wake you every three to four hours, just to check if you don’t have a concussion or anything.” Steve informed me.
“You shouldn’t have to do that. I’ll just put on my alarm. You shouldn’t be awake for me. You’ve done enough.” I said, because this guy was being way too nice and I don’t know what to do with that.
“I insist. Now eat and shower. I’ll set up the couch, if that’s okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” I said, taking a bite out of my apple. After I finished it I quietly grabbed another one. Maybe I was a little hungry after all.
~
The shower was really nice and warm. Comforting. Allowing for my hands to stop shaking and for the ice cold fear to seep out of my fingertips and toes.
I gently scrubbed the blood out of my hair and made sure not to open the wound again, which thankfully didn’t even need stitches. I got all of the sweat and dust and whatever else was there off me. I even smelled good again. I got myself a towel, which was really nice and soft, and quickly dried myself off. Standing there all clean made me look down on my incredibly dirty pile of clothes. Maybe Steve had something I could borrow for the night.
Even a shirt would be nice.
I stepped out of the bathroom with the towel hung on my hips and walked into Steve’s bedroom, softly knocking on the doorframe to catch his attention.
“Hey, ehhm, Steve? Do you have a shirt I can sleep in? My clothes are kind of dirty.” I said, leaning against the doorframe.
Steve laid his book on the nightstand and walked over to his suitcase, standing in the corner of his room. It was a small one, decorated with an American flag.
Wow, patriotic much?
“Sure. A shirt, boxers, need socks?” Steve asked as he pulled out some clothes.
“Eh, no socks, thanks.” I said while he handed me the shirt and boxers.
I disappeared into the bathroom and stepped out in his shirt, which was just a little too big, and his boxers, which fit perfectly.
I walked over to the couch, which was now set up with a blanket and a few pillows, all neatly displayed.
“Thanks, Steve. It means a lot.” I felt so grateful, snuggling into the soft blanket while Steve emerged from the kitchen with something to drink for the both of us.
“It’s nothing. Now let me look at that head of yours. Still feeling alright? Not dizzy or anything? Remember your own name?” Steve asked.
“Yes, no and yes. I’m fine, really. And thanks.” I smiled into my cup of tea, feeling the hot steam on my face.
Steve sat behind me and carefully pushed my hair out of the way, “It looks good. I’ll check up on it tonight when I’ll wake you. Better safe than sorry.” He smiled.
“Yeah, that’s fine then.” I quietly said, sipping my tea.
“So, Bucky, tell me something about yourself? Unless you’re tired. You can go sleep if you want.”
“Oh, no, I’m not tired.” You looked up from behind your cup of tea and gave a one-shouldered shrug, “Well, what’s to tell?” I never really know what to say to people when they ask me that, but I figured something about the basics of my life would do.
“I don’t have any siblings, both my parents are gone.” I paused to sip my tea and think for a second before continuing, “I work in the bakery next to that coffee shop with the flowers, d’you know it?” I continued when Steve nodded he did know it, “And at night I work for Hydra. Not really proud of that, but a guy’s gotta make money, hmm?” I huffed. “And what about you?” I quickly asked, not wanting to talk about fucking Hydra anymore.
Steve nodded, “No siblings either. Parents same as you, passed away a few years back. I, ehhm, I am now a veteran I guess.” He rubbed his neck.
“You were a soldier? That’s so cool.” I exclaimed, before remembering he could’ve stopped for a million of unpleasant reasons. Curiosity got the best of me, “Can I ask why you’re not in the army anymore?”
Steve nodded, “I can’t really say much about it. Let’s say the people I worked for weren’t who I thought they were.”
“Oh.” I could only respond with. What the hell does that even mean? Spy stuff, explosions and big fights?
“You should sleep. I’ll wake you up in a couple of hours. Good night, Bucky.” Steve bid me goodnight before standing up and retreating to his bedroom.
Well, alright then. Conversation over.
I crawled under my blanket and laid on my side, trying not to irritate the wound on the back of my head. I sagged into the soft couch, realizing it was probably better than my own mattress. No thoughts came after that, my eyelids too heavy to fight off the sleep I desperately needed. It was a dreamless sleep, until I startled awake, realizing Steve had awoken me. His face hovered above me.
“How late is it?” I croaked.
“Four in the morning. Come on, I need to check you out.” He whispered.
I groaned as I sat up.
“Headache? Dizzy? Anything wrong?” He asked.
“Headache. That fucking bastard.” I grumbled, my hand coming up to my forehead as if that helped.
“Language.” Steve responded quickly, as if it was a reflex.
Did that guy just say 'language'. Really?
I quirked my eyebrow, suppressing a laugh.
“Sorry. Old habits.” He apologized.
I smiled at that. God this guy was so innocent.
“Take these and get some more sleep. I’ll wake you at seven. You can get some more sleep after. Sleep tight.” He hummed before giving me two aspirins and a glass of water.
“Night.” I said before he once again disappeared into his bedroom.
Sleep came quickly again until I startled awake again. I looked around the dark room, not seeing anything that could’ve awoken me. I listened intently for a second, waiting for something to come.
I heard a groan and wood creaking, realizing the noises were coming from Steve’s room.
Oh god, was he okay?
I tiptoed my way into his room to find him trashing in his bed, all sweaty and face wet from the tears streaming down his face.
He must be having a nightmare.
I stood there like an idiot for a beat, weighing my options. Going back to my bed? A dickish thing to do. Splashing cold water in his face? Probably also dickish, though effective. Maybe just waking him up would be best. But how do you get closer to a man that’s punching anything and everything?
“Steve, come on. It’s okay, no one’s there. It’s Bucky. Wake up. Come on, pal.” I tried. Maybe a voice could calm him down.
“Steve, come on, take it easy. Whatever you’re seeing, it isn’t there. Now please stop trashing around or you’ll break something. Probably me.” I huffed more to myself than to him.
He wasn’t waking up yet, but he did seem to be calming down.
“Alright, that’s it. Just listen to my voice and calm down.” I continued, daring to step closer. Just when I reached the side of his bed, reaching out to touch his arm, he turned around and managed to grab ahold of me, pulling me into his bed. He clung to me as if his life depended on it.
“Steve. Come on, let me go.” I whispered as I tried to pry his arms off of me, but Steve just squeezed harder, still not letting go. His screams and sobs had died down and he wasn’t fighting off an unseen monster. So, mission accomplished?
His breath was evening out and his heartbeat slowing. How did I know that? Because I was currently pressed into his chest. Still, there was not the slightest chance of him letting me go. This guy was strong as hell.
“Alright, I’ll stay, but only because you are the most decent guy I’ve ever met.” I huffed, knowing he wouldn’t hear me anyway.
I was lulled to sleep by the sound of his steady heartbeat in my ear, the comforting weight of his arms around me and I must admit, I’ve never felt safer.
Not in my shitty apartment where the door can’t even be locked properly. Not anywhere.
It wasn’t all that bad.