Workin' out
“Steve, what do I wear?” I rambled into the phone. “And stop laughing. I can hear you.” I squinted my eyes, picturing how the blonde’s shoulders would shake with his laughter.
“Stop stressing out then. You’re gonna be a mechanic, so whatever you wear will probably wind up all sweaty and covered in grease.” Steve cleared his throat, “Also, we’re talking about Tony here. He might look glamorous in all of his expensive suits but he’s also human. Mostly.”
I snickered at that, “So, I’ll just put on something old?” I looked at the mountain of shirts laying on my bed, “But Steeeve, I wanna make a good impression tomorrow!” I whined.
“You’re already hired, Buck. Now stop stressing out. I know you’re gonna do great and Tony already likes you. How could he not?” Steve responded.
“I know. I’m just that much of a charmer.” I grinned.
~
The first week working at Stark Tower passed in a flurry of grease smeared clothes, sweaty shirts and the relief of not coming up short on money.
I’ve always worked at least two jobs since I was thirteen, simply because I needed the money. I’ve never had a choice in working less than I did, because no one would support me otherwise. I have no family left and no friends to crash at.
Well, Natasha maybe.
But now everything’s changed.
Now, I am sitting on a couch next to my new friend, who is to be described as a blond, veteran, puppy-ish, incredibly friendly guy who doesn’t swear. Which is not particularly relevant, but I think it says something about him.
Now, I’ve got a night off without having to worry about losing my apartment.
Now, I’m doing fucking great.
“Hey, you wanna hang out tomorrow?” I asked Steve while opening another couple of beers for the both of us.
“Sure, but I’ve got a meeting first. If you want, you can come. It’s with an old army pal of mine, Sam Wilson.”
“What’s it about?”
“It’s a VA meeting. You don’t have to come, though. I’d understand.” Steve smiled.
I had to think about that. VA meetings were meant to help veterans. And even though I was one, I’d never been to one. I never really understood how it could help you. Instead I always politely declined whenever someone asked me to at least come take a look. I'd rather handle everything on my own.
I was fine, thank you very much.
“Well, I’ve never been to one.” I answered, very nonchalant.
Steve quirked an eyebrow, “Never? Why not?”
“I never thought it could help me.” I shrugged.
“Not everyone likes it.” Steve shrugged too, “But I promised I’d come, and it kinda helps me.” Steve said, zoning off for a second there, “I think it starts at ten A.M. and ends at 11.30 or something. But you don’t have to come. We can just meet somewhere for lunch after?” Steve offered.
“No, no. I’ll come with.”
I might not believe in VA meetings for my own benefit, but if it helps Steve, who am I to be a dick about it?
~
I found myself leaning casually against a wall, waiting for Steve to show up at around 9:30. I stared at an ant on the floor, scurrying off with a crumb twice its own size when I heard, “Come on, man! You just have longer legs!”
“Right, pfft. I passed you by easily. My stamina’s just better. Admit it, Wilson.” Steve’s voice came through the hall.
I turned my head to see Steve walking next to a shorter guy. Both were grinning and squabbling over… their legs?
I watched them for a few minutes with an amused smirk on my face, wondering if their conversations always sounded so damn ridiculous.
“I will not admit to anything. I want a rematch!” The shorter guy, Wilson-, eh, Sam Wilson, exclaimed, making a show of stretching his legs already.
Steve snorted and gave his shoulder a push, “I’d beat your ass, Sam. But if that’s what you want... Let’s set a date.”
“Alright. How about next Friday, nine A.M. sharp?” Sam proposed.
Steve stuck out his hand and the men shook on it before Steve turned to me and smiled.
“Heya, Buck. Glad you could make it. Bucky, Sam. Sam, Bucky.” Steve introduced us and we shook hands.
“Hey, man. I’ve heard a lot about you. Nice to finally meet you.” Sam smirked before opening a door to a room and letting all of the other people in too, who’d been waiting in the hallway.
Everyone had apparently been here before. They moved with practices precision to grab chairs from the back of the room and set them up in rows before taking a seat.
Steve saved me a seat and pulled me down to sit next to him, “Thanks for being here.” He whispered.
Before I could respond, Sam spoke up and started the meeting.
~
Honestly, I kinda didn’t hate it.
There may or may not have been a point where I had to pinch my arm to keep the stinging behind my eyes at that and not let it escalate, but when Steve looked at me after Sam told everyone to have a good week and call him if necessary, I felt the stinging reappear.
“You alright?” I asked Steve.
“Yeah. He just has a way of speaking.” Steve scraped his throat, “It hits a little close to home. But it helps. Makes me feel like I’m not alone.” Steve responded, looking at Sam. I followed his gaze, seeing Sam was talking to a man in a wheelchair, laughing about something with him. He really did have something about him when he spoke.
“You’re not alone.” I smiled. Steve smiled back, his eyes crinkled.
Sam spoke to a few more people, shaking hands and speaking in soft tones before he made his way over to us. Sam and me exchanged niceties before Steve and Sam got back into another heated argument about which one of them would be a better runner. I could only watch on with amusement before Steve finally excused himself to the bathroom, leaving me and Sam.
“So, Bucky...” Sam started, his arms crossed.
I felt the need to quirk an eyebrow and hide my grin. If he was gonna give me the talk on how to treat Steve properly, I was gonna burst out laughing right in his face.
“How did you like the meeting?” Sam asked instead.
“I liked it. You’re good at talking. It makes it bearable.” I said, trying to be a little light about it.
Sam scoffed, “Thanks. You don’t like these kinds of things?”
“Not really.” I rubbed the back of my neck, “They never really helped.” I admitted.
Sam’s eyebrows rose a little. He probably didn’t know I was a veteran too. “I can understand that. Not everyone likes it. That’s alright.” Sam stopped for a second, probably pondering on whether to ask me what happened to me, but just before he spoke up, Steve came back.
“Hey, guys. Something I missed?”
“Besides me? Nah.” I chirped, punching his shoulder and smiling brightly. New conversation.
“Very funny, Buck.” Steve smirked, before turning to Sam, “Hey, thanks for the meeting. You did great. And see you next Friday. Better start working them legs to try and beat me.”
Sam scoffed, “Yeah, man, but you won’t even see me. All you’ll be seeing is the dust I’m leaving you in.”
The men laughed, Sam and I shook hands again and Steve and I left to go grab some food.