[closed to disassembling] - I Thought You Were Dead

[whatsfondue]

Bad luck always comes in threes.

Steve had never been the superstitious sort before (he was Catholic). First there had been an accident with Banner that had lead to a last minute switch-up in assigned team members for this mission. Then there had been an accident in an Stark Industries owned factory that left Stark worried, twitchy and furious. Not a good state of mind to be doing a mission with.

The third of course was the attack that had brought down the quinjet over the thickly grown jungles Steve was currently hiking alone through right now, having been forced (for once it was not his idea to jump out of a plane without a parachute) to hastily exit the plane while it was on fire. He'd been separated from the rest of the team in the explosion; he hoped they were alright...no, he KNOWS they are all fine. Now it was only a matter of getting back to civilization and getting in back in touch with the rest of the Avengers. Any civilization, he wasn't picky at this point.

He didn't know that by the time he made his way out of the bush into civilization, more than a week would have passed.

Comments

Oh Steve, bless your heart XD

[disassembling]

He had noticed the hardness pressed into his thigh where it had hooked in to keep his position, but he paid it little mind. All that mattered to him was that he was warm and comfortable and content to laze around for a few more minutes as his fingers occasionally remembered to stroke again before slipping off and then resuming a bit later.

Because of the quietness of the room, he heard the soft noise that Steve tried to extinguish, and slowly his blue eyes opened as he tipped his head up so his chin rested on the place between Steve's pectoral muscles. He peered sleepily up at his friend, the beginnings of a new soft smile before he shifted, cuddling closer and setting his arms tight against Steve's sides, limiting any action to dislodge him.

"Mmmm, you're so warm," he mumbled without a care in the world.

he tries so hard

[whatsfondue]

There were any number of things one could do to get rid of morning would. A cold shower, rub it out, think of something decidedly non-sexy. At least Bucky was relatively still and not doing anything that could make the situation he was in any harder. Still the first two options were out and it was harder to think about Colonel Philips wearing nothing but one those USO girls' uniforms than he realized with the feeling of Bucky's fingers continuing to too stoke against his sides.

"Good morning to you too, Bucky." He smiled down at the sleepy contented smile on Bucky's face. At least one them was happy right now. Not that he was unhappy per say, just feeling awkward about the situation he found himself in that was completely none of Bucky's fault. "Want to go find something for breakfast?" Maybe food can get his friend off to a safer distance.

Tries as hard as he is

[disassembling]

He, so far, did not suffer as Steve did, nor could he consider putting much stock into it, though he noticed. He simply ignored it as something that happened to Steve and was not particularly something that would involve him at all. However, a strange warm part of himself was whispering from what seemed like a long distance off, trying to make itself known but unable in the continued blanket of old abuse and training. It could have been some old lullaby for all he knew, and he paid as little attention to it as he did the fact that something between Steve's legs was against his bare thigh.

He considered the notion of a quest for food and shrugged his shoulders a bit, tightening his forearms on Steve's sides and letting his fingers stroke the immediate area just under Steve's arm pits. "I could eat, but I'm not hungry," he murmured in reply. "Unless you are?"

someone needs to put him out of his misery

[whatsfondue]

If something like this in the old days, Steve thought, there would have been a lot of teasing involved at the very last. Now, Bucky looked like he didn't even notice it. And Bucky himself certainly didn't seem to be having the same problem despite the fact morning wood was very common thing to have right after you wake up. Probably Hydra again, he knew, taking away something like this as well.

He shifted involuntarily as Bucky's fingers came very close to tickling where they were and bit down hard on his lip as to not to make any more noises as his erection rubbed against Bucky's thigh.

"The same." He said honestly as he tried his best to think about food instead, always a safe topic. "It's late for breakfast though. We could make it an extra big brunch instead a bit later. Pancakes or waffles with eggs, bacon and fruit."

Or make his misery better!

[disassembling]

He sighed, still content despite the fact that Steve again didn't seem that comfortable but was trying to lay still under him anyway. He didn't mind, cuddled as he was half-laying on his friend and content to stay that way. He did, however, notice when the rather obvious hardness rubbed on his bare thigh, and he shifted slightly so as not to lean too heavily on it. "Are you alright? I didn't think you were the type to bring knives to bed," he said, raising his eyebrows.

He knew what it was, but it was easier to just ignore it for the most part. Hydra had beat out and tormented his body enough where such a reaction was grudging in coming, perhaps in the future.

Of course, Steve had to mention food that sounded very good and appealing. He peered at his friend shifting his metal arm up to fold under his chin so he could peer down into Steve's face all the easier. "I feel better, more rested, less on the verge on wanting to kill something. I'd like brunch or whatever at some point, but only if you're there."

that too

[whatsfondue]

Steve groaned this time, dropping an arm over his eyes to prevent himself from breaking out into hysterical laughter. Knives as an euphemism for morning wood. Except Bucky as he was right now was too blunt for euphemisms. "No Bucky, I'm fine, this is normal, and I don't keep knives in bed." Between the two of them Bucky was the one most likely to keep a knife or a gun underneath the pillows, while Steve settled for just keeping his shield close, usually behind the headboard or underneath the bed. At least Bucky isn't pressing so completely on his erection any more. And if they continue this line of thought, it might just go away completely on its own.

That sounded promising. Maybe Bucky would be up to eating in the communal kitchens in the tower the rest of the Avengers usually shared. That would be the likely location of ingredients he could use to make brunch. And once he started cooking, it was likely the rest of his friends would start appearing on their own if they weren't there already. "Did you think I was going to leave you to fend for food by yourself? Of course, you're going to have to let me up at some point to make the food."

[disassembling]

He could tell immediately that Steve was about to be amused, something that he enjoyed because it was so free and the sound so unique to his friend. He liked it when Steve laughed, and after the last week, he longed for it all the more, though it had harder for him to earn such expressions of emotions. The other Avengers could with their silly bickering and bantering and stupid questions that had nothing to do with the situation at hand, but they all laughed. He didn't; he was still the outsider. "Were you having good dreams?" This time, there was a struggled hint of teasing his voice, a brief flicker of his old teasing self who would never not take advantage of this situation. "Was it someone I knew?"

The communal kitchens were a dangerous place. There were lots of knives down there and he knew the others were bound to show up, no doubt wanting to check in on Steve who they had had little contact with. "I can fend for myself," he said stiffly, tightening his foot around Steve's ankle. "I know how to make oatmeal," he added in his own defense. He knew how to cut up fruit as well, and he could easily follow cooking instructions if he read them. Those were just a mission. Doing stuff from his head... not so much and tended to end in a horrible disaster. "I don't want to let you up right now. I'm comfortable and you're safe here."

[whatsfondue]

Bucky's surprised him again. He had told himself, no trained himself not to actively expect bits of the old Bucky Barnes back, that Bucky would go at his own pace or not at all because he wants to, not because someone else expects the old Bucky back. So it was always a surprise, a pleasant one to see bits of his old self teasing at him. "Maybe." He bantered back, a teasing light in his eyes. Steve doesn't remember much of last night's dream, only flashes of heat and the slide of bare skin against bare skin and blue eyes. "Was there someone you think I should be dreaming of?"

Steve sighed. He'd been too optimistic again. "I know you can. But you know I like cooking for you and watching you eat." He flexed his toe against the top of Bucky's feet, rubbing gently with it. Other than meatloaf, breakfast foods were the other thing he was good at cooking. And cooking a big breakfast for Bucky AND the Avengers will go a long way to reassuring both that he really was alright, especially he didn't have the chance to talk too much with his other teammates yesterday. "I do have to use the bathroom eventually." He reminded Bucky. "And so do you." It wasn't urgent right now but soon he will be.

[disassembling]

Maybe? He eyed Steve as if he wasn't certain if he should believe the man at all, that his friend was actually holding out on him. His expression changed from a struggle for mischievousness to a set to the challenge. "Well, you don't have a girlfriend, so that's out. You don't have a boyfriend, so that's out. You can't like Tony that much despite his offers," he replied silkily before he was pushing himself up on an elbow and stretched his back. "Who else could you be dreaming about? Isn't there that old dame back from the early days? Are you into really old frail people?" He had a healthy respect for Peggy Carter whose file he had read.

He knew that, had seen Steve's enthusiasm for cooking and even the man's enjoyment for him sometimes prowling in to help or just plain get in the way. "So... you like watching me put your stuff in my mouth?" To be fair, Steve made very good food, always enjoyable, always flavourful. He would never stop his friend from making him stuff to eat either. "I can aim out the window; what's wrong with your aim?" He of course wouldn't aim out the window, which was closed and required getting up to open. He could still threaten it.

[whatsfondue]

"Very logical." Steve said dryly, cocking his head slightly to the side. His eyes took in the graceful line formed by the arch of Bucky's back and combined with the way the sunlight formed patches of light and shadow on Bucky's naked body Steve suddenly had a hankering to grab pen and paper to sketch it, out. Or paints, if he had more experience with paints he'd like to do a full painting. "I was and still am very fond of Peggy. But she's the past...not my future." Perhaps if things had gone differently in the past, he might have married her. But it was just a might-have-been now. And while Tony was handsome and could be very charming when he put his mind to it, he wasn't the person that's been haunting Steve's dreams.

He wasn't so oblivious that he didn't catch the way Bucky's question could have different implications than the obvious one. He turned slightly pink and opted for the safe answer. "I like watching you enjoy yourself." Whether it was only food in Bucky's mouth or something else later on. Steve looked exasperated. "My aim is just fine. But we're trying to be civilized here, so no, we are not aiming out the window. Not where there's a perfectly good bathroom just a few feet away."

[disassembling]

He shifted in stretching his back and huffed softly when Steve didn't seem to entirely be playing along. That was fine because he knew that the Peggy topic was probably one not worth joking about given what he had read about it. It was all words on a page to him, but he could imagine what it might have been like to Steve to wake up having left her behind. "And who is your future then? Who are you dreaming about?" He shifted suddenly, throwing a leg over Steve's waist and perching himself there on his friend's belly. He snapped his hands out in an attempt to pin down Steve's wrists to the bed, leaning over and ignoring his nudity.

"You don't think I enjoy myself enough as it is, then?" He supposed that he enjoyed food most of all though because there was no expectation involved but to savour it. "Fine, I'll let you go to the bathroom when it gets bad enough and you can't hold it any longer." Until then, he'd just sit on Steve like he was edging for a play wrestling match.

[whatsfondue]

He mostly feels sadness and regret whenever he thought of Peggy, who has good days and bad days. Good days when they could still smile and reminiscence together about the past. Bad days when she couldn't remember when and where she was. Then he was thrown off his thoughts about Peggy when Bucky shifted on top of him and pinned both of his wrists down by his head. Steve raised an eyebrow at Bucky, testing the hold of one wrist gently. He was sure he could get free if he really wanted but for now it didn't hurt to indulge Bucky who was clearly feeling playful.

"There's other ways to enjoy yourself other than food. Music for one. A good book." Or sex, Steve's mind filled in unhelpfully but he's definitely NOT going to mention that out loud. As it is, if anyone was to come into the bedroom right now, they'd definitely get the wrong idea about what was going on. And while his morning wood had gone done some during their earlier conversation was back to full mast with Bucky bent over him like this. "And so very kind of you to say that. If you wanted a spar, we could go to the gym."

[disassembling]

He noted that Steve didn't answer his questions, which left him the idea that he could try to 'force' the information out of his friend, though really if this was all natural, there might not be a person at all. It was just something that happened, and Steve seemed as unconcerned about his position sitting on his friend as Steve was of his lower problem that was easily ignored by him.

"I listen to music when you do, and I don't understand some of the references in books and television," he replied as his clasped his fingers tighter on Steve's wrists, leaning down all the more as he tightened his bare thighs against his friend's sides to keep his balance. "You are really determined to get me out of bed. I can put on pants if you're still uncomfortable around me?" He'd probably come right back to sit on Steve again though.

[whatsfondue]

His future was right here, right now, with the person who was perched on top of him. Steve wasn't going to voice it out loud though. Not now. Bucky's has said repeatedly that Steve as the only person he has but he didn't want to cut off any other choices in Bucky's future so soon. Not when Bucky still doesn't fully know himself yet. He could deal with his inappropriate thoughts and his uncooperative body himself with a bit of luck and his own right hand (the latter was getting harder as Bucky spent more time with him).

"You don't have to like the same things I do. If there's something you find you like I'll be listen with you as well." Steve's breathe caught in his throat as Bucky's new position had him pressing down on his groin with his ass. "It's not that....if you're happy the way you are right now then stay that way. You don't have to put yourself your preferences for mine all the time, especially if we're in private."

[disassembling]

His fingers flexed against Steve's elbows, enjoying the sensation of strong limbs under his grip. He eyed his friend for a sign that it would be alright for them to roll around wrestling in bed as they sometimes did in Steve's apartment. It was easier in the apartment though they had to be careful not to damage things. Here the room and bed was big enough where he was keener to see if something could get going.

"I don't... know," he muttered, aware of his tunnel vision. He tended to do things that Steve did, but it was hard for him to just go and do something on his own. He didn't know the music, the culture or much of anything. He tried the television a few times, but it was generally things he wasn't interested in. "Oh... so let's wrestle then. It will be... hmm, fun." He tugged on Steve's arms as if he were encouraging his friend to fight back.

[whatsfondue]

Steve enjoyed the playful wrestling they did in his apartment, something he and Bucky had not done too much when they were kids due to concerns for his health. And then they were both adults in a war with no time or inclination for what usually would be considered 'childish'. Now it was something fun and easy and he liked seeing Bucky enjoy himself, relaxed in what they considered a safe place. The tower was safe enough physically, but Steve was also well aware that JARVIS watched over everything. He'd never hear the end of it if Tony found out about naked wrestling matches in bed. Even if there was no actual sex going on and one of them still had pants on. Especially if there was no sex going on.

Still there was very little he could say no to Bucky. Without any further words he tried to break free with his hands. At the same time twisted his hips to to one side, hooking one ankle over one of Bucky's legs in the same direction, trying to get Bucky to lose his balance on top of him.

[disassembling]

The fact that he couldn't actually hide was one of the reasons that he didn't like being in the Tower. He knew there was always something aware of him, and his instinct was always to hide when it was uncomfortable, and that was difficult when there was literally no where that the AI couldn't locate him. It also made potentially ambushing Steve in the hallways difficult and the air vents were really Hawkeye's thing rather than his own. He only needed to peer in once to know it and gave up to lurk somewhere else. Behind doors was his second best option.

He rolled with the shifted of Steve's arms, his right relinquishing its hold but the metal left staying clamped. He swayed with the attempt to dump him, and he lost his advantage as he tipped to the side. He corrected and suddenly had to abandon his spot, rolling off of Steve and coming up with the blankets to throw at his friend.

[whatsfondue]

Despite his concerns about privacy (it was more that he understood Tony simply could NOT resist poking his nose where it shouldn't be rather than distrust of JARVIS) there were many conveniences JARVIS afforded the Tower in addition to security and safety. Such as ordering food for them ahead of time, taking account of their tastes and making sure it was delivered at an optimal time for consumption. JARVIS was also flexible enough to allow quirks like Hawkeye's fondness for crawling through vents and Bucky's habit of trying to jump on him from behind doors without undue alarm after he was warned ahead of time and once he saw this was more of a game to the participants.

As soon as Bucky tipped over to the side Steve was rolling up and on to his knees, made difficult with one hand still held captive by Bucky's metal one. He crouched lower in preparation to pounce but the sudden addition of blankets caught Steve off guard and he struggled with them in his hands for a split-second. A split-second that probably left him open to attack that would have been fatal in the field.

[disassembling]

These little games were rare, especially given the nature of their training and their jobs. Why fight each other when they spent pretty much their entire lives fighting? However, it was something that they were very good at. With Steve it was about learning to enjoy himself again and while he wouldn't go out of his way to listen to music, cook or sketch, he would make an effort for this.

He hissed in pleasure as the blanket did their job and he immediately launched to tackle Steve back over onto the mattress where he could regain his position on the top spot, his hands searching for limbs to pin down as he tried to wrap his legs around other limbs to keep them from getting away easily from him.

[whatsfondue]

Seeing the way Bucky radiated enjoyment and relaxation was why Steve indulged this with his friend. While he hoped that Bucky would eventually find other hobbies to enjoy, this play was good too. And despite the fact he liked seeing the smugness Bucky oozed when he one (he liked it when Bucky openly showed his emotions instead of hiding behind the blank emotionless mask of the Winter Soldier), he was competitive enough to try his best to win their little games.

Steve made a grab for the edges of the blanket as he went down backwards again and tried to wrap the blanket around Bucky, using it as an impromptu binding to force Bucky's arms against his body when his friends hands went groping for his to try to pin him down again. He may be on the bottom spot again but that didn't mean he'd lost yet.

[disassembling]

He felt the usual strange warm thrill that happened when someone of similar skill and strength took him on. Like all his other battles, he remained silent even if stealth was not something that happened here in bed. It was his turn to be a bit surprised when the blanket was used against him, and he struggled against the material from tangling up his arms.

His legs clamped on any part of Steve that they could find and the blanket was not doing so well against their combined strength. He personally didn't care about ripping material, just another victim of their play as he got his flesh arm loose and swung a fist in the approximate area he thought Steve's shoulder was.

[whatsfondue]

There weren't many that could take him on in a one on one head-on fight. Thor definitely could. Tony too, in his suit though Tony wasn't much for hand to hand fighting. Natasha could if she had the element of surprise. And of course there was Bucky. They always had an audience every time they sparred in the gym, even if said audience had to watch through cameras instead of ringside as per Steve's request.

Steve had been aiming to use the blanket as a start of a bear hug before pulling Bucky down and against his chest. That plan got interrupted when the blanket ripped instead he winced as the punch grazed his shoulder. He tried for the bear hug anyway even with only remains of the blanket in his hands.

[disassembling]

He could care less if people watched them sparring in the gym, but it was less of a spar with other people present. He reverted far too easily to the Winter Soldier and went for damaging and even killing blows sometimes, a warning to those observing that he played no favourites when he wanted to kill someone. Steve just happened to be very good at reading and dodging him, but he had noticed that few people observed anymore.

He smirked as his fist grazed flesh and scrambled to get a hold on Steve's shoulders. It didn't work as well as he would have hoped as his left arm became pinned against his side as Steve's arms locked around him. He hissed and grabbed back with his free right hand, trying to pry his friend's arms open so he could escape and try pinning again soon.

[whatsfondue]

Steve noticed after the first one with an audience so subsequent ones were always semi-private. Having to face off against against the Winter Soldier for real instead of a friendly spar with his friend was unsettling to say the least. He'd survived because he'd had prior experience against the way the Soldier fought. The gym unfortunately had to be redone entirely with the amount of damaged they'd done to the surroundings during their fight and thankfully Bucky had retained enough control not to take the fight outside of the gym.

He couldn't get a hold of the right arm, not with the way it kept trying to break hold of his armlock around Bucky and it was all he could do to pin the left arm down. So he bucked up with his own torso towards to one side the best he could with Bucky's legs still clamped around his in an effort to roll over. If he could pin Bucky down like this, it would be excellent.

[disassembling]

He had no taken up any of the others challenges for a spar, fought only Steve for the time being. His indifference only seemed to antagonize Tony a bit, but really he was using missions to study up on everyone else before he decided the best way to engage them in any sort of combat. He knew some would be difficult and others he could best if he applied himself well and with the tricks of his trade. Perhaps someday soon he would take on Thor or Tony who would be the hardest in his opinion.

He struggled hard, the plates of his arm shifting under Steve's grip as it settled more into combat mode, but he couldn't get it free with their current twisting struggling position. He had to suddenly uncurl a leg to try to catch the bed, but he underestimated the slick sheets and his heel just slid as he was flipped to his back. His right hand flew up to seize at Steve's throat, but there was a sudden strange warmth that flared when Steve's heavier body landed on his own. He couldn't explain it, but it felt... good.