written 30.05.2020

Bucky: „Dammit Steve, why do you always have to pick fights?!“

Steve: „You know I can't stand bullies, Bucky!“

They were running from a group of angry miners. One of them still had his pick-ax with him and was waving it about.

Bucky: „Well, next time, can't you at least make sure, he's alone?“

Steve: „Where would the fun in that be?“

Bucky: „Dammit Stevie, I could be on a date now!“

They were cutting corners and chasing through the streets. Steve just turned round to an alley, doubling back to where they came from.

Steve: „Ah, running'll do you good!“

Bucky: „Like you? You're out of breath already!“

Steve: „Well... Time to catch a ride then!“

Bucky: „What the hell? Steve!“

They were back at the club. Two of the men, that had been making fun of one of the waiters, were still standing there, smoking outside. Steve was heading towards a rusty old jeep with no roof, its backseat lined with heavy work tools. Their pursuers were just coming around a corner, when Steve jumped into the driver seat shouting: „Get in!“, towards his friend.

„Hey! The little fairy boy is taking the car!“, one of the smokers yelled, and another miner (of course it had to be the one with the pick-ax!) screamed: „Get out of my jeep, you punk, or I'll kill you!“

Bucky, getting in: „Steve, are you sure about this?“

Steve: „Trust me Bucky!“

Steve pulled out some keys, started the car, hit the gas, and with a roar the jeep jumped forward, half onto the sidewalk.

Bucky: „Whoa Steve, look out!“

The miner: „Get back here you little shit!“

Steve: „Sheesh, what profanities!“

Bucky: „Never mind that, watch where you're going!“

The jeep screeched and bounced, but Steve finally managed to hold it in lane and pick up speed. Still, one of the miners was almost at their tail, roaring: „I'll make you pay for this!“, when Steve suddenly hit the break, and the man crashed into the rear, bounced back from the recoil and hit the road.

Bucky: „Holy shit, Steve! Are you sure you know how to drive?“

Steve: „How hard can it be?“

And with that, the jeep jumped forward once again, making Bucky shriek in surprise, and praying for traffic to stay as low as it happened to be, when they sped away from the suburbs, out of the city. Steve was panting heavily, but with every mile they gained, he relaxed more. As did Bucky, and when they passed a gas station with the slogan: 'So cheap, it's basically stealing!', he burst into laughter of relief, and Steve joined in.

They made their way along the coastline, and when they came to a cliff near a lighthouse, Steve slowly drove up, close to the edge, and parked. The sun was getting low already, dousing the ocean in orange light. It looked beautiful. Steve turned over to his friend and asked with a smile: „Good enough date for you?“ Bucky laughed and replied: „I think you're missing an important detail!“ But he had to smile. Then he asked: „For real, Steve, since when are you stealing cars?“ „I'm not stealing, I'm just borrowing it! I'll bring it back.“, he defended himself, but Bucky insisted: „Come on, you still stole his keys...“ „I didn't! They fell out of his pocket, when he took out his handkerchief to wave at the waiter! I was going to give them to him, when he started being rude and obnoxious!“ They both fell silent, remembering the spiteful things the men had said to the waiter, just to make fun of him. The poor guy tried his best to ignore the remarks and just keep serving people, but then the men had ganged up on him in a circle, spewing remarks and pushing him. So, Steve, again, had to be the one decent person in the place to stand up to them. And piss them off in the process.

Bucky: „Well, got to hand it to you, I'm impressed! I didn't know you could drive.“

Steve: „Neither did I!“

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Bucky gives him a stern look, but Steve just chuckles, so he has to turn away to keep a straight face.

Steve: „Say... If I remember right, you still owe me something!“

Bucky: „What? After all that trouble? Why?“

Steve: „The last time we went out, you complained how boring my ideas for a fun time are. And you said, if I manage to impress you, you'd think of something special to give me!“

Bucky: „Oh, that. Yeah, well... okay, how about, I'll do the dishes for a week?“

Steve: „Bucky, that's nothing special!“

Bucky: „How about a month?“

Steve: „Come on!“

Bucky: „Well, I don't know... You think of something then! What do you want?“

Steve thinks for a moment. He seems concerned, pondering his thoughts.

Bucky: „Look Steve, you know I'd do anything for you anyways, right?“

Steve: „Anything?“

Bucky: „Except laundry! You know I hate that! Please don't make me do that!“

Steve: „Well...“

Bucky (in a mock-desperate voice): „Please Stevie, have mercy, don't make me do laundry! I hate folding, it's so boring! And you're way better at ironing than me!“

Steve: „Alright, alright, keep your shirt on!“

Bucky: „Thanks.“

Steve: „Okay. Well... I have something. But I don't know, if you'll be able to do it.“

Bucky: „Oh, something hard? Okay, I like a challenge, what do you want me to do?“

Steve gives him a long and serious look. Then he says: „Close your eyes!“

Bucky, raising his eyebrows, asks: „Close my eyes? That's it?“

Steve: „Well, there's more to it. Close your eyes, and don't move until I say so!“

Bucky: „Okaaay? Fine, I'll close my eyes and keep still. This some kind of endurance test?“

Steve: „No. But you have to promise not to blink! And don't move.“

Bucky: „Okay, I'll promise.“

Steve still looks at him seriously and demands: „Swear it!“

Bucky: „Swear? Steve, what are you planning...“

Steve: „Will you do it, or not?“

Bucky: „Alright, alright fine!“ He raises one hand and looks Steve in the eye: „I swear, I won't blink or move, until you say so! There. Satisfied?“

Steve: „Okay. Then, close your eyes.“

Bucky closes his eyes. He is a bit nervous, because he can't think of any good reason for Steve's demand. At least none that wouldn't end in a prank.

Bucky: „This isn't about you getting even with me for the spider I put on your head, is it?“

But instead of an answer, there is a ruffling noise and then Steve is suddenly sitting on his lap, facing him.

Bucky: „Uh, Steve?“

Steve: „You promised!“ His voice sounds nervous too. 'What's happening?', Bucky asks himself. Then Steve rests his hands on Buckys shoulders, close to his neck. 'He isn't going to strangle me, is he?!?', Bucky thinks concerned and tries to joke: „L-look, if you're mad at me...“ But Steve puts a finger on his lips and hushes him: „Shshsh! And don't speak. Don't speak, don't look, don't move! You promised!“

Now Bucky is getting a bit scared. He tenses up, gripping harder at the seat, so as not to move. Steve is tilting his head upwards a bit. Bucky swallows hard. And then he feels something on his lips. Something soft. His head jerks back just a tiny bit, as he breathes in. And smells Steve's scent, very intense, very close. And he realizes: He's kissing him... Steve is kissing him! Holding his head, cupping his face, pressing his lips on that of his friend, very gentle, very soft, very careful. Bucky trembles. He's practically frozen, unsure what to do. He mustn't move. Has to keep himself from opening his eyes to look at Steve. Ponders: 'Why is he doing this? Why now? Why...'

Then he stops. Bucky feels him pulling back, letting go of his face. He hears him open the door, feels him climbing off his lap, and getting out. Then he closes the door again, startling Bucky into flinching. He hears him walking away.

Steve: „Okay. You're free. To do... whatever you want.“

Bucky opens his eyes. Steve is standing a few feet away from him, at the edge of the cliff, facing the sun. The bright orange glow has changed into a deep red, painting the sky with pink and purple clouds. Steve's blond hair glitters like gold in the sunlight. Bucky is confused. So confused. He blinks a few times, and looks around. Steve left the keys in the car. He's just standing there, at the cliff, very close to the edge. Looking down. Sunken shoulders, hugging himself, head hanging low. So far away...

Bucky opens the door and gets out, shouting: „Steve?“ Steve flinches. It looks as if he got closer to the edge. Bucky slowly approaches him, gently speaking: „Steve? Don't! Come back.“

He hears him sniffle. 'Is he crying?' Buckys heart is pounding hard, he reaches out for Steve, careful. When he touches his shoulder, Steve moves forward. Just a tiny bit, just leans out a little, but Bucky panics, he grabs his collar, pulls him back and yells: „Steve, no!“

Steve inhales sharply, raising his fists to cover his front, the way Bucky has taught him in the gym. But his friend isn't punching him. He's holding him, pressed to his chest, in a close embrace. Keeping him save. Away from the cliffs edge. His heart racing. Steve's is racing too. He looks up at his best friend, a few tears sparkling in his deep blue eyes. Bucky looks back at him, his own sapphire orbs reflecting the glow from the ocean. Then he swallows hard again and whispers: „Don't leave. Not now.“ And with a sly smile he adds:

„Don't you want to see, what I can do, if you allow me to move?“