The Arms Hotel, Room 616, Sunday Evening

[screwyoumarvel]

As Bucky walked down the sixth floor hallway, he realized that he had, in fact, managed to avoid Steve for an entire weekend. Mission accomplished, he could now pick up his bag, head back to New York, tell Fury he'd spent the entire weekend in Fandom, and not get his arm turned off without any uncomfortable sharing.

He missed Steve so much it hurt, but he really wasn't sure he could do this.

And then Bucky unlocked his door, opened it...and found Steve Rogers sitting on his bed.

((Posted from this LJ because I'm pretty sure zimniisoldat isn't on y'all's flist. Continued in the comments.))

Comments

[zimniisoldat.livejournal.com]

Bucky looked down at the doorknob to make sure he hadn't crushed it, then back up at Steve. "I could have shot you."

[screwyoumarvel]

Steve gave him A Look. "You wouldn't even shoot me when you were brainwashed."

[zimniisoldat.livejournal.com]

"But I could have," Bucky argued. He shifted from foot to foot, still standing in the doorway. "When did you learn to pick locks?"

[screwyoumarvel]

"Long story." Steve held up a box. "I brought you cookies."

[zimniisoldat.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." This was, in fact, the most awkward conversation of Bucky's life. The floor could open him up and swallow him any time now.

[screwyoumarvel]

"I miss you, Buck," Steve said softly. "You're my brother."

[zimniisoldat.livejournal.com]

Bucky shook his head. "I miss you, too. But I'm not that guy any more."

[screwyoumarvel]

"I think you are," Steve argued, then stopped because 'I believe in you,' would probably send Bucky rabbiting.

[zimniisoldat.livejournal.com]

"I'm not so sure. So..." Bucky shifted again. "I guess you want to talk?"

[screwyoumarvel]

"No," said Steve. "You're alive. I'm alive. We've been given, what, a third chance each? We've got more lives than cats, Mr. Barnes. So what's there to talk about?" Steve smiled. "Did you get your mail?"

[zimniisoldat.livejournal.com]

"You draw me a lot," said Bucky.

[screwyoumarvel]

"I get bored. So, no. We don't have to talk right now. I'll just send you a letter. And then, when you're ready, you can send me one back. You know my address, and the Fandom Postal Service will find you." Steve stood up, leaving the box of cookies on the bed, and stepped past Bucky out the door. "We're going to work this out, Buck," he said in a voice that brooked no dissent. "We are."