Chapter 9
Natasha always thought of herself as a great friend. She was understanding and she tries to be sympathetic. That’s why she feels so bad about being suspicious of Bucky and Steve.
It was a Saturday night and she was over at Clint’s with Sam and oddly enough the new kid Tony. They were watching some awful Netflix horror movie while drinking alcohol they’d stolen from Clint’s brother.
She was suspicious because Steve and Bucky always hung out with them on Saturdays. Well of course they’re dating now, but things really haven’t been any different. Coupled with their weird shift in behavior over the past week and the flimsy excuse she got when Bucky told her they weren’t coming tonight. ‘My parents are taking us hiking’, he had said. Not with Steve’s asthma they’re not. Steve was so pissed off at Bucky last weekend that Natasha thought they’d never be friends again. Now they’re in love? Something happened that they haven’t told anyone about.
Natasha really tries not be cynical but it’s in her nature. She has a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with Bucky’s fear of water. She tries to keep her mind off of it, it’s none of her business. But the doubt keeps pestering her, she doesn’t know if she trusts Bucky anymore.
Her train of thought is interrupted by the end of the movie. Clint clicks the TV off and let’s out a big yawn.
“So, what’s up with Bucky and Steve?” Tony asked breaking the silence. Natasha eyed him carefully, she noticed how curious Tony had been about Bucky since they met.
“Apparently they went hiking with Bucky’s parents,” Natasha responded with unbelieving edge to her voice.
Tony turns to face her, “so you think Bucky’s a little fishy too?” Tony asked eyebrows raised.
“I didn’t say that,” Natasha replied monotone.
“You implied it,” he stated, staring her down trying to read her. Natasha wasn’t going to make it easy for him.
“What are you guys talking about?” Sam asked from the other side of the couch.
“You have to admit Bucky is hiding something,” Tony said addressing Natasha. Clint and Sam stared at him, they were confused. “I have feeling has something to do with his ‘water phobia’” he said with air quotes.
Clint was starting to pick up on what was happening, he nodded agreeing with Tony. “I’m still wondering about what happened at the beach last weekend. Somebody said they saw him jump in the water, naked. I don’t know if I still believe his story about hooking up with a frat boy. Especially if he’s still claiming to have bathophobia”.
“I hate to admit it but I agree with you,” Sam inputted. “Steve was so suspicious of Bucky last weekend and then all of the sudden he’s okay with it. I think Bucky told Steve and now Steve is in on the secret”.
Tony sat their with a smug grin on his face and then he looked deep in thought. Natasha picked at her nail beds nervously, she couldn’t help but feel like she was betraying Bucky by talking about it.
“What could he be hiding that keeps him from getting in the water?” Tony thought out loud. “I mean at least in front of people. Like come on, he’s built like a swimmer and his hair looks like he goes the beach everyday. So he’s obviously going in the water.”
“What’s your point?” Natasha asked.
“I want to know his secret, don’t you?”
“How do you suppose we find out?” Natasha rebutted.
“By getting him in the water,” Tony responded smiling.
—
Natasha officially felt like the worst best friend in the world, they were formulating a plan to get Bucky in the ocean.
The plan was to take Clint’s boat out and invite Bucky and Steve. Bucky had said he had no problem with boats, it’s just the idea of drowning that freaks him out. Then Tony is gonna be a little ‘drunk and clumsy’ and ‘accidentally’ knock Bucky into the water.
Now it was all they had to do was carry out their plan. Natasha sent Bucky a quick text:
Hey what are you doing next weekend?
—
Bucky didn’t get back to her until Sunday night, which was weird because Bucky was usually glued to his phone.
Nothing. You got anything in mind?
She texted back quickly, she still felt guilty.
We’re taking out Clint’s boat, you and Steve want to come?
Yeah, sounds like a blast. He replied quickly, Natasha suddenly didn’t feel as bad anymore. He was traumatized by a boat accident but he has no problem getting on a boat? Something didn’t add up.
I’ll send you the details later.
Ok was all he replied.
—
Bucky took Steve to the beach Thursday afternoon that week. The week had been rough, with the end of the semester coming up they had testing all week. But one more test meant one step closer to the summer break.
Bucky took them to a secluded beach. The water was warm and beautiful, a beautiful spring day. The warm evening sun reflected off the water and created a golden atmosphere.
Steve sat in the sand taking in the beautiful atmosphere, his eyes looked even more blue in the sun. Bucky was so in love.
“Do you want to get in the water?” Bucky asked.
“Yea,” Steve said. “I guess I can now that I don’t have my hearing aid,” he said with a smile.
“So what did the doctors say again?” Bucky asked. Sarah had dragged Steve to the ear doctor when he came home from Atlantis claiming he didn’t need his hearing aid anymore.
“They said my hearing was perfect and that I just grew out of my deafness. They were kinda baffled.”
“My mom didn’t really buy it,” Steve added.
“That’s what happens when your moms a doctor,” Bucky joked.
Bucky grabbed Steve by the hand and guided him into the water. At about mid thigh Bucky felt the euphoric feeling of the shift take over his body. He dove into the shallow waters as his legs changed into a long silvery-blue fish tail.
He pulled Steve into the water with him and guided Steve’s hands to his shoulders. Steve hung on as Bucky swam further out into the ocean. Bucky stopped swimming and felt Steve cling on tighter.
He grabbed Steve’s waist and brought him around to the front of his body so they were facing each other. “Steve are you okay?” Bucky asked.
Steve looked nervously down at the water, “You know I can’t swim, its just the waters a little too deep”.
Bucky frowned at him, “do you really think I would let you drown?”
Steve gave him a loving look, “no but it still makes me nervous”.
“I get it,” Bucky said and pulled Steve into a passionate kiss. Steve pulled away and licked his lips.
“So, Saturday we’re going on the boat with Clint, Natasha, and Sam,” Steve asked.
“And Tony,” Bucky added. Steve made a face. “What?” Bucky asked smiling.
“I don’t think I really like Tony. He seems kind of like a pompous jerk,” Steve said grimacing. Bucky agreed, over the past week at lunch Tony had done nothing but brag about how much money his family had, How smart he was, and how many chicks he could pull. It was irritating.
“Yeah well Natasha seems to really like him,” Bucky said wiping Steve’s wet hair from out of his eyes.
“Mmm,” Steve hummed in agreement. “That still doesn’t keep me from thinking he’s a raging ass cunt.”
Bucky giggled, “Steve!” He exclaimed.
“What? It’s true.” Steve shrugged laughing.
—
It was Friday, also the day of the Marine Science’s class trip to the aquarium. So Bucky found himself crammed on a school bus with 60 other teenagers and his dad who also happened to be his teacher.
He sat next to Steve in the very front row of the bus. Across the aisle, Tony had taken the only seat left on the bus next to Mr. Barnes.
“Hey Bucky,” Tony called getting Bucky’s attention.
“Yes?” Bucky replied.
“You’re not gonna freak out or anything at the aquarium, right?” He asked condescendingly.
Bucky side-eyed him, he didn’t like where this conversation was going. “No, why?”
“You know with your whole fear of water thing. You don’t think you’re gonna freak out when your in a room surrounded by water.”
Bucky knew that Steve was starting to get annoyed, “Tony why don’t you mind your own business?” Steve snapped.
“I’m just curious how this whole water phobia thing works. The more you describe it the more the whole thing sounds paradoxical,” Tony points out looking at Bucky with a glare.
“Mr. Stark I don’t think this is an appropriate conversation. I think you need to leave James alone,” Mr. Barnes said from beside Tony.
“Of course you would say that he’s your son, but whatever,” Tony slouches into the bus seat and crosses his arms over his chest.
Bucky can’t help but feel a sense of paranoia, like Tony knows more than he should. He looks over to his father and he can tell George feels the same way.
—
Steve never realized how fucking weird Bucky would be at the aquarium. As they walked through the halls, which were covered in large fish tanks as tall as the ceiling, Bucky would sometimes turn suddenly or jump.
They walked in a comfortable quiet, hand in hand. Bucky starts laughing, Steve looked at him strangely.
“What are you laughing at?” Steve asked, brows furrowed. Hoping his boyfriend wasn’t going crazy.
“They’re talking to me,” Bucky said with a bashful smile pointing to the fish in the tanks.
“Ohhhh,” Steve laughed, “I thought you were going crazy or something.”
“No they communicate with me telepathically, because you can’t really talk under water,” Bucky informed him.
“What do they say?” Steve asked curiously as he leaned into Bucky’s side.
“Oh my god, let me tell you they are the biggest gossipers I’ve ever met. It’s all ‘guess who mated in the seahorse tank’ or ‘Daryl got extra chum today which is so not fair’”.
Steve laughed elbowing his boyfriend playfully. “I wish I could hear them”.
Bucky looked at him with an ‘Are you sure?’ expression plastered on face. “Trust me you don’t,” Bucky said. “Because they never shut up!” Bucky called a little louder.
Suddenly a fish flew into the side of the tank where Bucky and Steve were standing. “Fuck you too, Alvin” he muttered under his breath.
Steve’s stomach hurt from laughing so hard.
They walked a couple yards behind the rest of their class, Steve noticed that Tony kept turning back to look at Bucky.
“Do you think Stark knows something?” Steve asked Bucky.
Bucky looked contemplative for a second and nodded. “He knows something that making him act so suspicious, I just don’t know what he knows”.
Steve sighed, “I wish he would just leave it alone.”
“Me too,” Bucky agreed. “Thank by they way for telling my mom about Alex,” Bucky said sarcastically.
“What do you mean?” Steve asked starting to get defensive.
“You told her he was abusing me, which is untrue.”
“No, I told her he was pushing you around,” Steve replied. “Why are you defending him anyway?”
“I’m not!” Bucky snapped, “it’s just she went on this hour long rant about how I should’ve told someone. She was treating me like I was weak” Bucky admitted.
“James Buchanan Barnes,” Steve turned around to face Bucky. He held his hands, “You are not weak, you are one of the strongest people I know. Alex is a douche that needs to be put in his place. I thought that might make you uncomfortable, so I told your mom hoping she would protect you. We were just trying to protect you,” Steve said sternly.
Bucky gazed at Steve emotionally, “Thank you Steve but I can take care of myself.”
“I know,” Steve admitted. “But as your boyfriend it’s my job to make sure you don’t have to got through those things alone.”
Bucky pulled Steve in for a quick but love-filled kiss, “you’re such a sap”.
“I know, but you love me”.