Word Count: 1115

Tags: pre/post serum, mostly cannon compliant, cute, cussing

"And, God, it was like there was nothing I could do to stop him! He was so determined! He just went head-first, no backup, what was it? 40 miles? Into enemy territory, in his show girl costume- helmet and all!"

Steve swallowed and held his drink in a tight grip. Beside him, military men held on to each word Agent Carter gave them, laughing in part trying to impress her but mostly genuinely taken by her story telling.

"And that wasn't even the first time! The minute he got the injections he was off and running! Chasing bad guys down the street! Ducking behind a taxi cab door to dodge bullets!"

He felt the drilling glare of angered eyes behind him.

"Really? And what else did I miss out on our old pal Rogers doing?"

Shit. Last name. He was in trouble.

"Oh you wouldn't believe the fights he picked in basic! He wasn't even Captain America yet, still a little twig trying to join the army!"

"Oh, that's our Rogers. A real hero." A strong hand clamped down on his shoulder. "Well, we better head off now. It's getting late, right Steve?" He increasing pressure on his arm told him the question was rhetorical.

"Oh yeah! It was nice chatting with you, Peg. G'night." He allowed himself to be half dragged out of his seat and escorted away from the bar.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!"

"What," Steve responded with false nonchalance, arms crossed over his chest.

"Forty miles into enemy territory without any protective gear? Using a cab door as a shield? Any of that ringing a bell?"

"You're being over protective." He attempted to accuse.

"Oh, fuck you Steve. I am not overprotective. I have spent my whole life pulling your dumbass out of fights. Fuck you if you think that's suddenly over now that you've gone and Guiana pigged yourself into being all fit!" The fire in his voice was matched to the anger in his eyes. Steve stood quietly accepting that there was no escaping Bucky's berating.

"I mean what the hell where you thinking! I thought I made myself pretty clear when I said I'd come home! You were supposed to stay safe. At home. Not join the army as a science experiment and throw caution in the wind! What where you thinking!"

"I-"

"No, I'll tell you what you were thinking. You weren't! God damn it Steve what can't you just wait a minute and think! About your own safety! Ever! I just- Agh!"

" 'm sorry." Steve kicked his fort in the soft dirt. He paused and Steve glanced up hoping he was finished.

"C'mere you stupid fucking idiot," he pulled Steve into a protective hug. "You know I love you," he whispered, face pressed into Steve shoulder, a quiver barely noticeable in his voice.

"I love you, too." Bucky pulled back slightly.

"But I swear to god, Rogers. You gotta stop doing this. You're gonna make me go grey premature, and then we're will we be?" They laughed together and Bucky squeezed his arms one more time before letting go. The last spreads of sun had disappeared without warning.

"Let's go to bed."

•••••••••••••••••••••

"Honest to god! He stole it right off the mannequin!- He robbed the goddamn Smithsonian! Left the poor Cap mannequin with nothing but his shield over his junk to keep him decent." The group laughed and drank to Sam's story.

"Wait! I've got a better von!" Nat yelled out, her Russian accent slipping out with the Vodka.

"So we're on a plane, flying over the ocean, right? And we're meant to intercept a cargo ship that's been taking over by pirates, ya? So the haul opens and I'm bugging Steve asking why he won't go on any of the dates I set up- of course I didn't know he was gay then but that's beside the point! So I'm putting on my parachute and Steve- no fucking joke- leans back and just falls out of the plane- no parachute. Hasn't checked where we are. Doesn't know where we're meant to land. Just- ZOOM- leans and falls out of the plane to get out of conversing with me!" The drunkards were thrown into hysterics.

Steve paled. He didn't need any further prompting to get up and move when Bucky's hand gripped onto his forearm. Wolf whistles and cat calls tailed the couple as they walked briskly toward the bathroom of the bar.

"I don't suppose I can get out of this by offering to get your gun off."

Bucky laughed derisively. "Ohhhh Steven, you-" he cut himself off with and calming breath.

"C'mon Buck, don't blow a fuse. You're being overprotective again."

"I am just the right amount of overprotective for your dumb ass- jumping outa airplanes without a parachute like your some god damn movie hero! Like you are suddenly invincible!" Steve knew the routine. Drop his head. Take the lecture. Puppy dog eyes when he looks up. He stood nodding silently as Bucky ranted the same speech for the millionth time. 'Your being stupid.' 'That's dangerous, you know I worry.' 'I'm greying early cus of you.' He had it down line by line, like a Mad lib with blanks to fill with synonyms for idiotic. Head hung low, Steve held in a smile brewed from the nostalgia of it all. Back in Brooklyn. Coming back to the apartment late at night after getting into some gentlemanly fight over someone doing something disrespectful that Steve couldn't let stand. Bucky's face flooding with relief and then fury when he saw Steve at the door step, chin busted and nose bleeding. The sounds of city life outside while Bucky played nurse as best he could with his calloused fingers dabbing alcohol on various cuts and bandaging what could be bandaged. The gentle kisses that followed the flick to the forehead for being "a stupid fucking savior".

"Okay! I'm done! You can stop pretending to listen." Steve stood up straight, leaving the found memories behind.

"I's listening." He defended, almost childlike.

"No you weren't. You never do. If you did, I wouldn't have to repeat myself twice a day." They stared each other down for a moment before Steve's pout was replaced with a smile as the two of them laughed.

Bucky left out a deep sigh as their laughter died down. "What am I gonna do with you, Stevie."

Steve chuckled and pulled Bucky into his arms. "Kiss me and tell you you love too?" He offered, eliciting another laugh from Bucky. Steve raised his eyebrows egging Bucky on and nuzzled into Bucky neck.

"I love you, jerk."

"I love you too, punk."