Chapter 4
Steve was angry. He sat in Sam’s car, the air was silent and tension-filled. Bucky had been lying to Steve for a long time. The longer he thought about it, the angrier he became.
“Steve, man, are you okay?” Sam asked glancing over at him with worried eyes. Hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
“I never want to talk to him again” Steve muttered, staring out the window at the city as they drove.
“I think you should wait until you know the full story” Sam said, he was far too wise for his age. But that’s why Steve appreciated Sam so much.
Steve leaned back in the passenger side of Steve’s car and sighed. “He’s been lying to us Sam” Steve argued, “I really don’t care what he has to say”.
“I don’t know about you man but I’m really curious as to why he made up something like this” Sam commented, eyes fixed on the road as he drove.
“Attention. Pity. I don’t fucking know it doesn’t make any sense” Steve said biting the edges of fingernails, a nervous habit.
“He obviously has a reason. I think you should find out before you throw away ten years of friendship” Sam sighed, looking at Steve and hoping his powers in persuasion were working.
. “You’re also going to have to talk to him when he comes to get his clothes and phone,” Sam said pointing to Bucky’s belongings in grocery bag on Steve’s lap.
Steve glared at him. “Or I could just leave them with you?” he challenged.
“You could,” Sam agreed. “But deep down I think you need a reason to talk to him” Sam said.
“You should be a therapist” Steve said, shrinking farther down into his seat, arms crossed over his chest. Sam was right, Steve needed to talk to Bucky. He needed closure.
---
Steve arrived home 15 minutes after his midnight curfew. His mother was a scary woman, and he was hoping not completely unreasonable. He found her sitting on the couch flipping through channels on the TV. And with the eyes on the back of her head, a trait that most mothers seem to have, she turned around to face Steve. She gave him a sharp look, her blonde hair tied into a messy bun and blue eyes narrowed with age.
“You’re cutting it close kid” Sarah reprimanded with a stern voice, that only someone with years of military training could possess. Although, with one look at Steve her maternal instincts took over, she knew something was wrong. “Stevie, is everything okay?” she questioned worriedly.
Steve shook his head and fought back the urge to cry. Sarah patted the seat next to her and Steve collapsed on the spot. “I’m late because I had to get a ride home with Sam. Bucky and I had a fight,” Steve admitted with a sigh. He was bitter.
Sarah gave him an assessing look. “What about?” she asked pulling him into her muscular arms for some much-needed comfort.
“His water phobia, I told him I thought he was doing it for attention. I regretted it as soon as it happened, but he’d already stormed off,” Steve explained to his mom about the clothes, his conversation with Winnie, and the witness saying they saw Bucky jump in the water.
“That is odd, although I trust Winnie enough to not be that concerned, but-” Sarah said, deep in thought. Steve eyed her hoping she’d continue her thought. She didn’t.
“Ma, I don’t know what to do, there’s something he’s no telling me”
“I think that you and Bucky need to work this out for yourselves,” Sarah suggested.
“Communicate about what happened, and if he doesn’t trust you enough to tell you. Is he really your best friend?”
Steve had a lot to think about.
---
Bucky was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. He was finally allowed to share a major part of his life with Steve, and he was practically counting down the hours until he was in Hawaii again. He couldn’t wait until he could bring Steve to Atlantis.
He found his parents in the library, his dad was grading papers and his mom was reading yellow-paged books from when she was young. Bucky snuck up on his dad from behind and gave him a big hug, it was his dad’s idea after all.
His dad laughed, “Hey, Buck what’s up?” Bucky took a spot next to his dad.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you” Bucky chanted, a huge smile had taken over his face.
.
“What for?” he dad asked smiling yet perplexed.
“Grandpa just told me I have permission to tell Steve everything, about this place, that I’m a merman, literally everything,” Bucky glanced at his mom, her face depicted mixed emotions happiness and worry.
“He’s never given permission for that before” she admitted, “I had to go behind his back to tell your father,” she chuckled. “This is really special James” his mom added and edge to her voice.
“Well, I guess he can tell how much I care about Steve” Bucky beamed.
His mom looked skeptical, “I don’t know baby, I think there’s some other things at play here” she finally revealed. Bucky was confused.
“Should I not tell Steve,” he asked, he cared about his mother opinion. Her lips were pursed in thought.
“No, go ahead tell Steve it won’t hurt anything” she told him honestly. “I’m just concerned this is more of a political move than love for his grandson.”
“Winnie your being paranoid” George pipped up from his spot at the table.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about George,” Winnie snapped, “I’ve dealt with the politics of humans and merpeople a lot longer than you’ve been alive, I’d say my suspicions are pretty valid” Winnie finished with a patronizingly calm disposition. George faded away into the papers he was grading trying to not to upset his wife any further. Bucky still a lot to learn about his kingdom.
---
The night before Bucky returned to Oahu, he spent the night with Alexander. The energy was different that night, Bucky’s mind was on Steve. Alexander picked up on the distraction.
“James are you alright?” Alexander asked sincerity in his icy blue eyes, sandy blond hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. Bucky wrapped himself in the silky white sheets thick brows furrowed.
Bucky leaned in and giggled, “Can you keep a secret?” he asked cheekily. Alexander looked at him lust-filled, he liked when Bucky was playful.
“Yes, I promise” he whispered. Bucky settled into his arms and smiled so big he put his hands over his face.
“My grandfather told me I can tell Steve about this place” Bucky revealed, a tension filled the room that Bucky didn’t expect. Bucky looked up at Alexander, his face was clouded with emotion. He scooted away from Bucky. His face was hard, he looked pissed, like Bucky told him he just kicked his puppy. “Alex?” Bucky questioned, rage flashed in his eyes and he stood up abruptly.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Alexander muttered pacing the room is his underwear. Bucky felt scared, uneasy, his heartbeat spiked ever so slightly.
“Alex, what is it?” Bucky asked frantically eyes strategically followed Alex around the room.
“I Have to go” he said, breaking out of his stupor.
Bucky sprang out of bed and stood in front of the door, arms crossed across his chest. “Not until you tell me what’s going on?” Alexander was pulling on his clothes.
Alexander reached Bucky, “move” he growled.
“No”
“You little—“ Alexander held back breath coming out slow and shallow. He was calming down, the flames in his eyes were being extinguished. “Bucky, will you please move?” Alexander asked charisma on display, almost like a cult leader.
“Not until you tell me what’s going on”. Bucky’s ultimatum did not sit well with Alexander, he growled his eyes were an inferno with rage. He shoved Bucky into the wall, and slammed the door open. Alexander left, Bucky sat on the floor of his bed room tears stinging his eyes. He hoped he never saw Alexander Pierce Jr. again.
---
Sunday night, Steve was doing homework when there was a knock on his door. Bucky stood at the door, hands in his pocket looking down at his feet. Steve stared at him stubborn anger in his eyes. Bucky coughed awkwardly.
“Nat, told me you had my stuff,” Bucky grumbled nervous energy palpable. Steve slammed the door, and retrieved Bucky’s things. He opened the door as Bucky began to walk away. Bucky looked at Steve sadness apparent in his eyes. He turned to face Steve, and Steve shoved his clothes at him phone still in the pocket. He was slamming the door again, when Bucky stopped the it with his hand.
“Steve wait! I think it’s time that I finally be honest with you” Bucky had Steve’s full attention.
---
The car was filled with nervous tension, Bucky drummed his fingers on the steering wheel to a shitty pop song on the radio. Steve couldn’t sit still, his leg shaking in anticipation. The sun was setting on a beautiful Hawaiian day, an eerily calm setting for such an intense atmosphere.
“Are we almost there?” Steve asked breaking the awkwardness of the silence, and the first words he’s spoken to Bucky since their fight.
“Yes, ten more minutes” Bucky replied as he made a turn onto a secluded road that would take them to the coast.
“Looks were heading straight for the ocean, which weird for someone who claims he’s afraid of water” Steve said bitterly, shooting Bucky a smug look from across the car. His face was illuminated by the pinks and oranges of the sky.
“You’re right Steve, I’m not afraid of water” Bucky teased, choosing not to further elaborate to keep Steve on edge.
Steve’s eye grew wide, “I knew it! James Buchanan Barnes I’m so mad at you!” Steve yelled, voice cracking, “you lied to me for so long” Steve said putting his head in his hands.
Bucky’s heart broke, he completely violated Steve’s trust, he needed to save this friendship. “Can you please just listen to my explanation before you jump to conclusions.”
Steve took a deep breath in and ran his hand through his hair, “ok”.
---
They stood at the edge of the jungle, which would live to a cave where most of Bucky’s tutoring took place. Steve stood arms crossed, unreadable expression across his face, “what are we doing here?”
“Just follow me” Bucky said stepping forward hoping Steve would trail behind him. If it weren’t for the crunch of sticks under Steve’s feet, Bucky wouldn’t have known that Steve was behind him.
Bucky reached the cave a few steps before Steve, the darkness was intimidating, but Bucky took a step forward. Steve grabbed his shoulder with a bony hand, “wait, is it safe?” Steve asked eyes wide, mind racing.
“Yes” Bucky assured, and grabbed Steve’s hand and dragged him forward. The darkness of the cave was soon illuminated by the blue shades of light reflecting off the water, the sound of water hitting rock rung through the cave. Bucky’s nerves were electrified.
“Buck” Steve whispered, looking into Bucky’s eyes, “your eyes, they’re glowing”. Bucky smiled, his eyes glowed in dark water in order to help him see. Never on land though, unless he was extremely close to the water. Bucky didn’t respond to Steve, he just pulled him to the edge of the water. “What is going on?” Steve asked almost hysterically.
Bucky took in a shaky deep breath, “There’s a part of my life that I’ve been hiding from you since we met, ever since I can remember I’ve been told I wasn’t allowed to tell anybody about this part of my life. That it could endanger me, my family, and my people” Bucky started, Steve looked up at him completely engaged, Bucky’s heart beating faster.
“I’m gonna sound completely crazy, but I’m a direct descendent of Poseidon, and the crown prince of the lost city of Atlantis. When I get into waist deep water I sprout a tail, so I created a fear, hoping nobody would ever find out. This night of our fight I travelled to Atlantis and my grandfather, the king, granted me permission to tell you. I couldn’t lose you, I love you too much”.
Steve had a pitying look on his face, “Bucky, either you’ve gone crazy or you believe I’m actually fucking stupid”
Bucky just smiled back, “I had a feeling you’d say that”. Bucky quickly shed his clothes and jumped into the water.
“Buck-“ Steve shouted, but his face fell and eyes grew wide as he watched Bucky’s legs fuse together into a silvery blue fish tail. “Holy Shit” Steve commented smiling, it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.