OOM: post-Slenderman

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

It's obvious, from the moment they step out of the cave, that the oppressive evil that had held the bar captive is gone. The night is clear, with only a few wisps of clouds to drift over the waning moon; there are nocturnal but benign creatures stirring in the woods; but more than that, it just feels different, lighter and sweeter in every sense. Magical. A good magic, white magic.

Steve keeps an arm around Bucky as they walk, though he suspects Bucky will be better soon. All he has to do is breathe.

Comments

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I get it," Steve says. "I do."

[nerves_of_ice]

"If anyone would, it'd be you."

He says it lightly, still smiling, but the look in his eyes is serious.

"Thanks for pulling me out of hell. Again."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve swallows and says quietly, "You're welcome. What are best friends for?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky grins, quick and bright, and disappears into the bathroom.

The sound of the shower can be heard less than a minute later.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve watches the door a moment, then opens the file to read Doyle's intelligence and Bucky's notes about their conversation.

[nerves_of_ice]

It's a good quarter of an hour before the water shuts off, and another minute or so before Bucky strolls back out, shirtless save for his tags and the damp towel slung around his neck to catch the water still dripping from his hair. His t-shirt's draped over the crook of his elbow, along with a clean towel.

He's also barefoot, holding a washcloth together with his socks in one hand, and his boots in the other.

"There's chocolate in the seams," he grumbles, as he crosses to the bed and sits down. Bucky dumps his socks and shirt in a heap to one side, then spreads out the clean towel, sets his boots on it, and begins scrubbing away at one of them with the washcloth. "Worse than mud."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Leave the clothes for laundry back at the base," Steve advises.

"I guess you're no closer to knowing where Doyle's getting his information from?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Good idea."

He picks up the boot, eyeing it critically, then renews his efforts on one particular seam.

"Not yet, no. I did tell him you wanted to meet him. He's not up for it."

Bucky looks at Steve.

"Hinted that he's worried about attracting the wrong kind of attention if the two of you are noticed together."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"The wrong kind of attention," Steve says, puzzled, then huffs. "Milliways.

"I must know him in the future or something."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Could be, given what he was reading the first time I ran into him."

He shrugs.

"I'm okay with being the go-between if you're good with it. The stuff he gave us last time was useful, and if this's anywhere close..."

Bucky's smile appears, small but real.

"Besides. When it comes to sneaking around, I am better at it than you."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I'm okay with it."

He smiles back at Bucky. "You are. I still haven't quite learned how not to jangle."

[nerves_of_ice]

He grins.

"We'll work on it. Don't know that we'll be able to do anything about hiding that shield of yours, though."

Bucky examines the boot again, deems it satisfactory, and puts it on the floor before starting on the other one.

"But that's okay."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"That's the trouble with a symbol--I don't want to hide it."

His eyes flick over Bucky, still containing a measure of worry.

"When do you think you'll head back?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Exactly. There's something to be said for letting HYDRA know Captain America's coming for them, not to mention everyone else."


He doesn't answer Steve's question at first, giving all his attention to the seam he's working on.

"Depends, I guess. We came in together on this one, right? So..."

Bucky glances up at him.

"... when were you thinking to head back?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Tomorrow," Steve says, apologetic. "I want to let Orpheus know everything's okay first."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods.




"Tomorrow it is, then."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I can speak to him and come back."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles, a little.






"Remember when we were kids, telling each other ghost stories in the dark after lights-out?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yeah," Steve says, not sure what that has to do with this.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Of course we never really believed them, or so we all said, but it didn't matter."

His smile grows.

"Because we both knew we'd have each other's back if anything came after us. And that was enough."

A beat.

"I'm not going to say no, don't come back. But it's okay, either way."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve nods and closes the file. "How about I come back and say good night after I've checked in with him? Just to see how you are.

"And you know where to find us if you need me, right?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Right," Bucky confirms.

Another beat, and a wry grin.

"Who knows, by the time you get back, I might even have finally gotten the last of the chocolate out of my boots."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve chuckles and gives Bucky's head an affectionate rub.

"See you later, punk."

[nerves_of_ice]

He laughs, and claps Steve on the shoulder.

"Count on it."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve leaves with a laugh.



He comes back hours later--longer than he planned, but he's feeling quite loose and easy as a result--and when Bucky doesn't answer his (admittedly soft) knock, uses his key to peek inside.

Bucky's rifle is once again hung on the bedpost, and his newly-polished boots are arranged by the closet. Bucky himself is asleep. All seems to be well.

Steve watches him sleep for a moment, then quietly closes the door, making certain it locks behind him.