Chapter 1
Steve watches Bucky up ahead, practically skipping with excitement. It’s Sunday afternoon, and Bucky is fit to burst over the opening of the New York World’s Fair. Steve had scrimped and saved, picking up odd jobs and babysitting their neighbors’ obnoxious twins to save up for two tickets for Bucky’s birthday last month.
This event was supposed to drag New York and the rest of the country out of the Depression, and after the look on Bucky’s face when he opened the passes, Steve thinks it could do just about anything. He really wanted season tickets, but at fifteen dollars a pop, he’d have to work until he was fifty to get ahold of that kind of cash. Once he’d carefully counted out $7.50 for two souvenir passes, he felt like the richest man alive with the tickets heavy in his pocket. He wasn’t sure how they’d be eating next week, but it would be worth every penny when Bucky walked through those gates.
Bucky is crowing with delight, and has been running his trap since they picked their dates up at Sharon’s doorstep down the block. Steve has his hands behind his back, occasionally darting eyes over at his date, a pretty blonde named Eleanor.
“She’s just shy,” Bucky had whispered in his ear, nudging Steve forward as Sharon giggled into her hand. She beamed as Bucky pulled her tight against his side.
“Stevie, Stevie! Can you see it?!” Bucky’s walking backwards, blue eyes bright as a kid on Christmas morning. He points wildly up ahead at a large, white spherical shaped structure.
“Up ahead, look!”
Steve can’t help but chuckle, he hasn’t seen Bucky this happy since he landed his first job.
“I see ‘em, Buck. Careful where you’re going,” he chides. Bucky bumps into Sharon, who’s laughing at his antics. He lays a loud kiss on her cheek and she squeals. Steve tries for another glance at his date, wishing he was up ahead gabbing with Bucky.
He knew when he bought the tickets Bucky would want to bring girls, but Steve misses the days when they were just boys and could kick around town without entertaining dames.
“Oh, c’mon, Stevie,” Bucky would say, elbowing him good-naturedly. “You never know, you might get a good night kiss.”
He didn’t want a good night kiss, but he went along with a nod and a smile whenever Bucky invited him, satisfied with his company. Bucky never made him feel like the third wheel, and insisted he come along every time Bucky had a girl to take out. Steve had to admit, he always had a good time when Bucky was around, but tonight he would have given anything to have a night alone exploring with his best friend.
The sun is setting up ahead, pink hues framing Bucky’s dark curls, which are slicked to perfection with pomade. When the gates and impossibly long lines start to loom in front of them, Bucky turns on his heel and grabs Steve by the shoulder.
“I can’t believe we’re really here. Stevie, you’re the best friend a guy could ask for.”
His cheeks are flushed with excitement, his nose inches from Steve’s as they grin impossibly hard at each other, Bucky’s giddy elation contagious as the flu bug. Steve feels his hands tingle nervously at Bucky’s closeness, but then he’s gone in a flash, grabbing Sharon’s hand and skipping into the line.
——-
They step out of the Perisphere exhibit, Steve’s head still reeling from the heights, Bucky yanking on Sharon’s hand and yapping over his shoulder for Steve to come on.
“You girls want a cotton candy?” He crowed, trademark swagger in his step as he looped his arm around his date. “Steve got our tickets, least I can do is get snacks.”
The boys fall in line at the concession stand, leaving the girls to rest on a bench a few yards ahead.
“Man, I think this has been the best day of my life.” Bucky blows out a breath, nose crinkling as an uncontrollable laugh bubbles out of his mouth. He crosses his arms across his chest and rocks back on his heels. Steve smiles back and nudges him playfully.
“Geez, Buck, it’s just the fair.”
“It’s the World’s Fair, Stevie!” He exclaims, eyes wide and arms splayed. “This is the future! Trains, planes, automobiles. 'The World of Tomorrow!' Did you see when they put that Plymouth together?! That was a 3D film!” Bucky’s practically jumping up and down.
“Yeah, but did ya feel the air conditioning in that room?” Steve adds, collecting two cones of spun sugar and two foot-longs as Bucky pays. “That’s the kind of future I can get behind.”
“Seriously, man. This was the best. I had no idea this is why you were workin’ late all those nights. I’ll remember this birthday for the rest of my life,” he says earnestly, his big blue eyes as soft as the cotton candy Steve clutches in his sweaty palms. He practically trips over the sidewalk as Bucky looks over at him, an almost bashful turn of his lips.
“Aw, Ellie!”
“You’re lucky, Sharon. Bucky’s a dollbaby. So sweet and smooth. Steve’s just…”
She shrugs, pretty grimace pulled across her features that Steve can see up ahead. Steve falters and Bucky stops beside him as they approach the girls from behind and catch the end of their conversation.
“Okay, so he is kind of an Ethel, but at least he’s nice! C’mon, for me?” Sharon nudges her friend, and Steve and Bucky stand back far enough they’re out of sight.
“Hey, Stevie,” Bucky starts quietly, a hand on his bicep, but Steve’s already starting forward and shrugging him off.
“Ain’t no skin off my nose, Buck. Hey girls,” he raises his voice, presenting them with pink and blue cotton candy as they smile in return.
——-
It’s dark, and hundreds of people are spilling out into the streets as they leave the fair. Steve quietly bids Eleanor good night with a small nod while Bucky disappears with Sharon around the corner. When he returns a few minutes later, he kisses her hand and she blushes a pretty pink, wiggling her fingers as they go.
The boys plod down the dark sidewalk in silence. “Look, Steve---”
“You ain’t gotta say nothin’, Bucky. It’s just another night with another girl.” Steve sighs, avoiding his best friend’s gaze.
“Now don’t be like that, she was just a dumb broad. Don’t let her ruin your night.”
“It ain’t my night, pal. It’s your birthday. S’long as you had fun, I’m havin’ fun.” He tries for a smile and throws out an elbow.
“Look, I had the night of my life, girls or nah. But I can’t have it if you didn’t have a good time. You just didn’t get a chance to talk to her much, so she--”
“Aw come on, Buck, lay off. I know what the girls say about me, so why you always gotta drag some poor dame along to put up with me for the night? I’m too skinny, bony, delicate. Gonna shrivel up and blow away. Scared they’re gonna break my hand if they hold it. Homely, boring, you name it.” Bucky winces at his side, harsh lines on his forehead as he furrows his brow.
“You wanna take somebody out next time, just leave me out of it. I ain’t tryin’ to ruin anybody’s night having to stand around with an Ethel ,” he sneers, skinny arms crossed over his chest. The jeer cuts deeper than he'd like to admit.
“You shut your trap, Rogers,” Bucky snaps then, fingers closing around his bicep. He stops abruptly, Steve almost tumbling forward with the motion, and Bucky pulls him into an alleyway on their right. The little light they had from the street falls away, and they’re shrouded in darkness.
“Listen here, Stevie.” Bucky’s strong nose catches a sliver of moonlight, illuminating his face. “Yeah, there ain’t much to ya. Big deal.” He shoves Steve lightly with two fingers on his bony chest. “Most girls are just Dumbbells anyway. If they took the time to know ya, they’d know you were the best guy in all of Brooklyn. But you’re special, Stevie. A regular ‘ol guy can nab any dame, but you--you’re gonna find the right gal some day who’ll think you’re the bees knees. She’ll fall head over heels as soon as she lays eyes on you. Mark my words.”
Steve rolls his eyes and Bucky leans in closer, catching his gaze. “Believe me or don’t, Stevie. But I’m tellin’ you the truth. And you know what else?”
He waits, warm breath fanning over Steve’s lips he’s so close.
“If I were a dame, I’d take you just the way you are. I think you’re perfect, Stevie. I’d be damn lucky to have you.” His thick dark eyelashes fan over his cheeks as he slowly brings his gaze up to Steve’s. If it wasn’t so dark, he’d swear a blush was blooming over Bucky’s full cheeks. Steve’s fingers are tingling again, a mix of emotions fighting for space in his chest. He itches to pull Bucky closer.
“I like how little you are, ya know? Slim wrists, narrow hips, you fit so sweet right under my arm.” Bucky’s voice drops to a low whisper, his face sliding over Steve’s shoulder so he’s practically whispering in his ear. Arousal blooms hot in his belly, confusion and excitement buzzing under his skin.
Wisps of Bucky’s hair, curls loose from his style, brush against the shell of Steve’s ear. Steve wonders if Bucky can hear his heart thundering in his chest, because he feels like half of Manhattan can hear the sound. Sweat beads at his armpits and it’s all he can do not to squirm at the closeness, the fondness of his best friend’s words.
Bucky turns and runs the tip of his nose along Steve’s cheekbone. He replaces it with his lips to press a warm kiss to Steve’s cheek. It’s soft and sweet, lingering for several moments. The touch is so reverent it makes Steve’s bones ache.
Then he’s gone, pulled away and throwing Steve a crooked grin. “So don’t sweat it, Stevie. The right one will come along, just you see. Until then, you got me. Couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.” He winks and wraps an arm around Steve’s skinny shoulders, tucking him snug against him.
Steve feels so light he’s surprised he doesn’t float the whole way home.
Maybe he got that good night kiss after all.