[CLOSED TO disassembling - Not really a vacation

[whatsfondue]

Las Vegas had changed quite a bit in the last 70 years. The last time he was here this was only a back water town, a pit stop on the USO tour on their way west. Now it was an entire city that catered to tourists. Steve wandered around among the flashy buildings and (mostly) gaudily dressed tourists in the strip, looking for signs that matched the descriptions in the report he was given for HYDRA.

Nothing. Nothing that stood out to him of course.

Usually something like this was best assigned to Natasha or Clint, but Clint was on medical leave, and he'd been outvoted when it came to another mission that Bucky and Natasha had left on a day before he'd left. Thor and Bruce wasn't even considered and Tony had meetings Ms. Potts had said he was not allowed to get out of unless it was a global emergency. Tony had clapped on on the back and told him to go wild, which Steve had rolled his eyes at. He shook his head at a poster advertising spa and massages and decided to find somewhere quieter for lunch away from the main strip.

Of course, it was on his way out that he spotted a familiar face, a HYDRA agent they'd been on the lookout for the last few months. Of course Steve will put off his lunch to follow. And of course, something will go wrong and the last Steve remembered was feeling a pinch at the back of his neck and then blacking out

Comments

[disassembling]

He doubted that she would call her interest 'nosy', perhaps 'investigative' instead. If she had decided to be malicious, he probably would tried to kill her by now, but he had started to get along with her. "Your friends just want to see you happy," he said with a shrug. "Has he? Sam seems to be logical enough to know a lost cause when one presents itself."

Steve might not care about that, but he was certain that the media would and he was against making his friend's life unnecessarily difficult. Still, it would be interesting to not have to sneak around making excuses to attach himself to Steve in a non-platonic way. It was getting harder to find closets and abandoned rooms lately.

He waited for Steve to adjust before he turned and headed off, purposefully leaving the manhole uncovered. He pulled up the hood on his jacket and slipped on a pair of sunglasses from his pocket. "No, you will do all those things here. I refuse to listen to Stark whining about how you didn't use the room or enjoy yourself. We will stay until tomorrow."

[whatsfondue]

"I know they do. I just wish they were less enthusiastic in their attempts and actually let me be once in a while. And Sam's the only one with the common sense the rest of us seem to have lost somewhere along the way." Or never had in the first place, Steve had to admit. He really was glad that Bucky was getting along with Natasha now, instead of the unspoken threat of hidden weapons being brought out every time they spent more than five minutes together.

The media's persistent interest in the Avengers personal lives alternatively baffled and irritated him. He couldn't deny that they did have the ability to make his life outside Stark Tower difficult when they wanted to push. It wasn't in his nature to hide things, especially if he feels he has nothing to be ashamed off, though he liked his privacy. And there was nothing to be ashamed of in Bucky. It was even fun occasionally to be pulled into private places in the Tower for makeout sessions, something he never got to do as a teenager.

Steve followed along beside Bucky as they headed off and as they moved closer to the main streets he began to recognize their location. "Tony has no reason to whine; I've been here for two whole days already. But alright. I'll rent a car tomorrow and we can take the slow way back if nothing comes up before then. Since they're so insistent on me relaxing and all."

[disassembling]

"I believe the appropriate response is that they are doing it because they care," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. The Avengers seemed to poke around Steve's life a little more, most likely because his friend was the easiest target for such antics. "Sam might have lived the most normal life of all of those present as well."

He knew the hotel that Tony had gotten for his friend and took them towards that, thinking that time away from the scrutiny of the team might also do Steve well. Of course, his friend was going to have to check in with the Avengers to keep them all away for the rest of the night, but it would be quiet and just them. That was getting rarer now.

"Tony always believes he has a reason to whine," he pointed out as they moved along the streets casually. Or as casually as Steve could with a shield. "Think of all the sight seeing we could do," he said thoughtfully. And he was also thinking about how much they could use a back seat in a car well.

[whatsfondue]

"True enough." Steve admitted with a fond smile. "And you know they care about you too, right? Especially if Natasha is starting to poke at you about me. And I'll be subjected to a thorough questioning when we get back, especially if we do the road trip back." He suspected Natasha was already quite certain on what was going on between him and Bucky and only wanted him to actually say it. "And good for Sam...it's good for the rest of us too to have him around."

It was getting late and thankfully the crowds had thinned out some. However something as eyecatching as the shield was still getting stares and whispers and Steve could see some people taking out cameras and cell phones for a shot. No doubt there'll be some sort of report and speculation tomorrow in the news. It was a good thing, he mused, that they were leaving tomorrow any way.

"He does like the sound of his own voice a bit too much." He agreed. He smiled at the idea of sightseeing the way back. "That'll be nice. Right after I was...unfrozen and the battle at New York against the Chitauri, I did a bit of a road trip on my bike from New York down to Florida. It was interesting." And a bit lonely. He learned a lot of things about the modern world but ultimately the lack of something more concrete to do at driven him back to working in SHIELD.

[disassembling]

"They seem to be warming to my presence," he agreed, even if he knew that it was more than that at this point in time. He knew that the Avengers let him do missions with them, let him stay in their presence and even felt no fear of sleeping near him because they had some level of trust for him. "Don't you think they all will be asking if you found yourself a nice young woman, except Natalia and Sam?"

He ignored the gawkers, secure in his own personal disguise and kept his sunglasses on despite the fading light of the day. The shield marked Steve, and it was something that they had to deal with as always, especially when it got onto the internet as he heard a few phones clicking along with the giggling. Many found Steve very attractive.

The Soldier slowed as they neared the hotel that Steve was staying in, looking for signs of trouble but it appeared to just be people going about their business. "You did a road trip by yourself?" He glanced at Steve, seeming to pick up what was left unspoken. It was only because they were in public sight that he didn't lean right in to kiss his friend on the mouth. "This time I will be with you, and I can hold my bladder longer than you can."

[whatsfondue]

It was more than 'warming up', in Steve's opinion. Any one of them would be happy to spend time with Bucky even with Steve not there. It's just they think Bucky himself still feels mostly uncomfortable with it, so they don't push. "They won't be surprised by the 'no' I'll tell them if they ask." Steve answered with a shrug. "And some of them will whine about lost opportunities but it'll be nothing new." They really should know by now but he knew they still hope he'll get lucky or something. The thought of it had him making a face.

Steve had gotten used to random people taking pictures of him, not just journalists and paparazzi out to make a quick buck. Cell phones were really convenient that way and this was one of the times he wished it wasn't. And he was always disconcerted by the giggling he hears. Does have have a dirty nose or something? Or was his fly open?

Steve sighed in relief as they passed through the front doors of the hotel and headed for the front desk to check for messages and order some food to be sent up. "Yeah, I did. I didn't know the other too well at that time and they all had their own stuff to take care of." He had been at loose ends at the time and had nothing much beyond a bike, a meager amount of personal things and seventy years of backpay. "There's no need to do that...if one of us needs to go, I'll find a gas station or a rest stop."

[disassembling]

He might have still kept himself mostly aloof with the other Avengers, but he was more frequently at their little get-togethers. He didn't particularly participate in their jokes or their needling of one another, but he was present for it, which was an improvement. Aside for icecube jokes, they also didn't try to mock him. "No one will be surprised by that answer," he said with a shake of his head.

He loitered a little away from the front desk, stuck in the busy movement of people in the lobby but watching Steve. He knew his friend would order enough food for them both, and he pretty much ate anything that Steve put in front of him.

Once finished order, he lead the way to the elevator. "Well, I'm here to do those things with you," he said with an attempt at a smile. "People don't just pull over to the side of the road and urinate in the bushes anymore?" What a disappointment.

[whatsfondue]

"Then they shouldn't bother asking, though I suppose hope is eternal." He answered dryly. Steve knows he'll be in for more ribbing and poking about his answer but he'll take it all with as much patience as possible. Sometimes he considered 'coming out' to the other Avengers just to get them to stop their matchmaking attempts but that will invite a different sort of concern and talk he doesn't really want to handle, at least not yet. Though if Natasah and Sam had guessed, eventually the others will too. It was something to consider later.

The receptionist assured him with a smile that the food will be sent up shortly and informed him of the dozens of messages he's received while he was 'away'. Steve sighed, knowing that the first order of business was to calls his friends so they stop worrying and harassing the hotel staff. Done, he followed Bucky to the elevator, thankfully with only just the two of them, and pressed the button for the topmost floor. "Have I told you that I'm glad you're here?" He gave a delighted smile back at Bucky at his friend's smile (it was more than enough that Bucky tried for him). "No....there's a lot more people around now, so you can't just urinate anywhere you want." They'll never hear the end of it if someone sees, especially if there was a photograph involved.

[disassembling]

Eventually, he thought that Steve would be pushed too far and just tell them to get lost or just plain make it obvious that they were together as something more than friends. Aside from make-out sessions in dark deserted places, he had gotten a handle of his insistent urges to be close to Steve and explore the extent of what pleasure they could find from each other. He knew that once people knew, they would be given a talk.

He looked at the messages that Steve had and shook his head. "Clearly they don't trust me to get you out," he said as he leaned back against the wall of the elevator, a little surprised but relieved that they were alone. His posture softened at the compliment. "Not in the last thirty minutes, no," he said before pushing off and stepping up to Steve to kiss his friend's neck. "Life seems far too complicated to not be able to take a piss in the bushes."

[whatsfondue]

"No, it's me they don't trust. They don't trust me to stay out of trouble even after you're here." To be fair, most of them were from the day he neglected to call in to the day before Bucky finished his mission. The elevator and modern and quick and to Steve's surprise it didn't stop in any of the floors in between but deposited them directly on the top floor where the penthouse suite was. "Then clearly I have been neglecting you, so I'll say it now. "I'm glad you're here." And it was not just the 'here' of the moment, but by his side, still his friend, still pulling him out of trouble. He returned the kiss with one to Bucky's cheek, then his jaw.

He swiped the new keycard he'd gotten from the reception desk to the door of suite (the old one, like his wallet was taken by HYDRA). "I didn't say you can't do it at all, just there might be consequences you won't like because of it." Sadly, that was the way of things with everything. "I asked for room service to be sent up: sandwiches, soup and fruit. They told me it shouldn't take more than twenty minutes. I'm going to shower first. The shower and the tub here's as big as the one in Stark Tower."

[disassembling]

"You are generally out of trouble when I am around," he pointed out, though it was partially true. Steve had a knack for finding trouble, even in highly populated areas or in the secluded ones like elevators. "It will be nice to have time alone, though I do enjoy sneaking around looking for opportunity to assault your decency." He hummed at the return kisses and sucked on Steve's jaw before the elevator opened and they were deposited on the floor that Steve could call his own.

He shrugged his shoulders, knowing better how to hide his appearance, and a road trip sounded very nice. "Are they?" He followed Steve into the bathroom in order to properly investigate this claim and admitted that it was true. He then began to slip from his clothing to join Steve in the shower. "I have to make sure you stay out of trouble in even secluded places."

[whatsfondue]

"That depends on your definition of trouble." Steve said wryly. Every Avenger had their own definition of 'trouble'. Getting kidnapped by HYDRA two days ago was NOT his fault. Well, partially not his fault. That time where the elevator broke down on him and Bucky had to carry him out was definitely not his fault. Nor was the time HYDRA-masquerading-as-SHIELD tried to jump him inside an elevator. "You mean, you just enjoy sneaking around in general. Making out with me is just a bonus."

Steve stripped off efficiently as well and turned on the water. "Now you're just looking for excuses." Steve commented, amused even as he reached out to draw Bucky closer by the waist before leaning in for a kiss. They've been only apart for a few days, no more than a week, but he's missed Bucky already.

[disassembling]

"You are at the center of trouble," he said, knowing that regardless of how much of it wasn't Steve's fault, his friend was still somehow involved. He stepped into the shower and looked around at how big it was. They could probably spar comfortably in here, but then again, they only had twenty minutes. "You can't say you have been putting up protest to either my sneaking around or me making out with you."

He sidled up to Steve, stroking his hands up his friend's strong arms until he was gripping Steve's shoulders. He slid his mismatched fingers along the ridges of muscles until he could bury his fingers into Steve's hair as he leaned in to receive the kiss. "You sure we only have twenty minutes?"

[whatsfondue]

"But you'll be there to drag me out of it." Steve responded with a smile. The shower was big and spacious and had every amenity one could think of and some he couldn't. Steve probably would like it better if it wasn't so ostentatiously decorated. His attention however was fixed on the man sharing the shower with him instead of his surroundings. "Why in the world would I complain about something that's to my enjoyment as well?" There has been some close calls (and Steve is fairly sure JARVIS knows everything) but it has been fun so far.

With all the recent 'practice' he's gotten with Bucky, he's fairly sure Natasha should have no complaints about his kissing skills any more. He sighed in pleasure into the kiss as fingers, both metal and warm flesh run up along his wet skin. "Fairly sure. That's what the hotel staff said how long the food's going to take. Doesn't mean we can't carry on afterwards."

[disassembling]

"I will," he agreed because he was content to be at Steve's side regardless of the chaos and danger around them. There was a dispenser of exotic soaps, lotions and shampoos. He poked at it only to have to catch some fragrant liquid that oozed out under pressure. It was apparently shampoo, but it smelled very flowery, and he reached up to rub it into Steve's hair. The Winter Soldier did not smell like a field of flowers.

"We'll be eating after," he pointed out between kisses as he also slid his body up to rub a little on Steve's. "And then you'll want to sleep after."

[whatsfondue]

Sometimes he felt a bit guilty with the idea that he was keeping Bucky from a safe and peaceful life. But he also often reminded himself that they've both changed too much to live completely peaceably in the middle of no-where. Steve ducked his head so that Bucky could have better access to his hair, enjoying the touch of strong fingers working through his hair and scalp. He didn't mind smelling like flowers; at the very least it'll give people something to talk about other than the state of his relationships.

Steve groaned in pleasure and rocked back against Bucky's body, moving his mouth down to nuzzle and kiss downwards to the other man's neck. He hummed in acknowledgement of Bucky's comment, mouth busy against Bucky's skin for a moment to answer. "You're right. There's always tomorrow morning."

[disassembling]

He was safest and the most peaceful with Steve, who he had a great connection to. This, just this... it was all he needed. His fingers rubbed shampoo into Steve's hair, enjoying the simple act of caring for another when it had so long before been denied to him. He used his body to direct Steve's into the spray of water. "You are at your most vulnerable in the mornings. The perfect time to take advantage of you," he agreed.

He tilted his head with Steve's nuzzling and kissing, sighing even as his right hand blindly reached out and pushed at the dispenser and not really caring what came out. Apparently something to do with brown sugar and vanilla according to his nose. He rubbed it into his hair anyway, too distracted by Steve to care about anything else.

[whatsfondue]

It was moments like this between them that mean more to Steve than anything else. That after everything that had happened, he could still have something like this. Steve laughed at Bucky's agreement of his proposed solution as he back up so that the shower spray could wash the shampoo out of his short hair. "Yes...yes I am. And you love waking me up that way."

It's not like Steve was paying attention to what exactly they were using on their hair and bodies. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, it didn't make that much difference to him which part of their bodies they were meant for cleaning or what scent they have. He was too busy kissing and tasting line down from Bucky's throat to his shoulder. "Turn around and I'll get that and your back for you?"

[disassembling]

"I certainly don't oppose using such opportunities," he agreed. They seemed to sleep tangled up anyway, which meant he didn't have to maneuver too much to get in close to kiss Steve awake. Neither of them seemed to mind an early morning make-out session, and it was always worthwhile to wake up a few minutes earlier to just watch Steve sleep peacefully.

His hair was longer and took more to lather up, but he stayed very close to Steve and rubbed their chests and hips together even as his hands were occupied. He hummed at the order and eased his weight around, but he still pressed his ass into the curve of Steve's hips all the same. "No flowery soap."

[whatsfondue]

Bucky did not seem to mind his morning breath and he always slept better when Bucky was close enough to touch. Morning make-out sessions were a pleasant way to greet the morning and woke him up far better things like coffee. He let out a breathy sigh of pleasure as Bucky pressed close for skin to skin body contact and rocked back against his friend.

Steve huffed a soft laugh at the order. "Yes, of course. The Winter Soldier will be less intimidating if he smelled like flowers to his enemies." He did find the other offered shower gell that smell interestingly of juniper and rum and worked that into Bucky's back and shoulders, down to the curve of the other man's ass. "Your turn to rinse." He told Bucky, running a wet hand through hair, pushing the short hair flat and down against his head. By his inner clock it should almost be twenty minutes already and he'd rather be dry and dressed to greet the server.

[disassembling]

He shivered at the way that Steve pressed back against him, arched his back a little and enjoying these moments more and more. He growled at the idea that he smell like flowers, which seemed odd to him given how little personal preference he had previously taken to his appearance. It seemed that he was starting to insert that a little more now.

He nodded his head, his own internal clock also aware of the lack of time as he pulled away enough to get under the spray of the water to rinse his body off. He nestled up to Steve anyway as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to be rinsed clean, and it was he who reluctantly turned off the water to encourage them to dry off.

[whatsfondue]

Sometimes he thought he ought to be guilty about the large amounts of water (hot water even) that they used up whenever he and Bucky shared a shower. But it was a luxury he just couldn't regret, when he remembered communal showers of cold or barely lukewarm water but in the 30's and 40's, with severely limited amounts that cut off within a few minutes. Steve laughed again at the growl, leaning to to kiss the back of Bucky's neck, happy that Bucky was taking initiative to choose the things he wants for himself, even if it was something as small as the smell of his body wash. Even as they pulled apart to dry off Steve couldn't help but but run his hands down the sides of Bucky's body and lean in for one last kiss. Now that he can, he thinks he'll always be greedy for touches like this.

It was just in time that they finished dressing, extremely casually for Steve, with a ratty pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt he was using as sleepwear when the doorchime of the suite sounded. A cart was pushed in laden with food that Steve had requested, sandwiches, soup, fruit, and juice. As soon as the staff left (with a big tip from Steve) he was already digging at the food. "Come eat? I have to say, the food is pretty good here."

[disassembling]

He shifted and stayed close to Steve regardless of the fact that they had to separate in order to dry off, but he still stayed as close as he could for that activity. He leaned into the touches that Steve gave him, and returned them with little brushes of his knuckles and quick nuzzling before he was rubbing at his hair and slipping into a pair of sweatpants that he had brought, which was an improvement given his usual foray into nudity when alone.

The smell of soup was what drew him out of hiding after the room service staff had gone, and he sniffed his way over and eyed the spread. He took a sandwich first, then a piece of fruit and within a minute he had a full plate of his own and a bowl of soup cooling to enjoy. He leaned in between bites to kiss the back of Steve's neck. "If I eat too much, I'll make the noises that Tony always teases me about."

[whatsfondue]

Steve knew that it was only the fact that they were in a foreign place and not their own apartment where things were familiar that Bucky wasn't walking about nude. He'd more or less given up on insisting on clothes for Bucky in private except when in the kitchen where there was food preparation to be done. "Well, Tony isn't here right now to tease you about them." And he wouldn't say so out loud but he liked the noises Bucky made when the other man was particularly enjoying his food.

He ate steadily and well, polishing off enough sandwiches and soup for two normal men, only pausing to smile (almost dopily) at Bucky whenever his friend dropped a kiss on him. Knowing his appetite and Bucky's compared to normal restaurant servings, he's ordered enough for three or four people. He only slowed down his intake when it came to fruit, and started mirroing Bucky's earlier actions of kissing Bucky's cheek after every few bites.

[disassembling]

He seated himself next to Steve and ate off the pickings of his plate, still pausing between mouthfuls to kiss at his friend's neck and even clothed shoulder. He tried to keep his moaning and slow chewing down to the usual amount, but the fruit was rich, juicy and sweet, and it earned more than a few abrupt moans and head hanging from him as he fought with himself over how to deal with the taste.

The soup was just as good, a rich one that had him sighing like a lover on a romantic date. He was, as usual, far slower than Steve, but he managed to pack away what his friend didn't eat. He hadn't eaten anything save a package of crackers before shipping out here. He was also easily distracted by Steve sneaking kisses back on him. He eventually caught his friend's lips on one, tasting fruit juice in Steve's mouth and moaning deeply.