The Changing of Colours - Steve/Bucky, MCU, Game of Cards Battle p. 5
Word count = 338
He should’ve seen the signs. Isn’t that what people say?
Except he didn’t or maybe he just hasn’t. Is that worse…claiming ignorance?
When he enters the coffeeshop nothing feels wrong.
Steve kisses Bucky’s forehead before sitting in his seat. “Thanks for ordering Buck. I got tied up with Nat.”
He waits for the customary, or she tied you up, that’s Bucky’s favourite quip but Bucky stays quiet. Bucky doesn’t raise his eyes from the table top as he says, “I need to go.”
Thinking that his partner’s feeling overwhelmed he nods, gently bumping his foot against Bucky’s under the table. “Oh, okay, I’ll see you at home then.” He takes a sip of his tea.
And finally Bucky looks up. “No. Steve, I-I need to…”
And he sees it Bucky’s eyes, how he keeps looking at the exit and suddenly, the tea in his mouth has turned into stones as he struggles to swallow it down. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry.” And Bucky hesitates, but finally rises from his chair walking out of the door without looking back.
Steve never returns to the coffee shop again.
--
Steve finds himself surprised when he spots carved pumpkins littering the front of people’s houses. “It’s Halloween.”
Sam struggles to stand up, his breathing still coming out shallowly, sweat drenching the front of his t-shirt. “Yeah. It’s been Halloween for like two months already.”
He should’ve realised this earlier. “I’ve been distracted.”
“You’ve been something.” Sam stares at Steve. “Man, you’re grieving.”
“No one’s died.”
Sam rolls his eyes. “You ended an important relationship.” He says the words in his counsellor voice and it takes everything in Steve not to call him out on it. Snapping at his friend will do him no good.
“I didn’t end it,” he points out. Bucky did that. Bucky had to leave. Bucky always leaves.
“An important relationship ended,” Sam rephrases. “Steve, there’s no time limit on this stuff. You’re hurting.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Fake it ‘til you make it,” he quips.
He should’ve seen the signs. Isn’t that what people say?
Except he didn’t or maybe he just hasn’t. Is that worse…claiming ignorance?
When he enters the coffeeshop nothing feels wrong.
Steve kisses Bucky’s forehead before sitting in his seat. “Thanks for ordering Buck. I got tied up with Nat.”
He waits for the customary, or she tied you up, that’s Bucky’s favourite quip but Bucky stays quiet. Bucky doesn’t raise his eyes from the table top as he says, “I need to go.”
Thinking that his partner’s feeling overwhelmed he nods, gently bumping his foot against Bucky’s under the table. “Oh, okay, I’ll see you at home then.” He takes a sip of his tea.
And finally Bucky looks up. “No. Steve, I-I need to…”
And he sees it Bucky’s eyes, how he keeps looking at the exit and suddenly, the tea in his mouth has turned into stones as he struggles to swallow it down. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry.” And Bucky hesitates, but finally rises from his chair walking out of the door without looking back.
Steve never returns to the coffee shop again.
--
Steve finds himself surprised when he spots carved pumpkins littering the front of people’s houses. “It’s Halloween.”
Sam struggles to stand up, his breathing still coming out shallowly, sweat drenching the front of his t-shirt. “Yeah. It’s been Halloween for like two months already.”
He should’ve realised this earlier. “I’ve been distracted.”
“You’ve been something.” Sam stares at Steve. “Man, you’re grieving.”
“No one’s died.”
Sam rolls his eyes. “You ended an important relationship.” He says the words in his counsellor voice and it takes everything in Steve not to call him out on it. Snapping at his friend will do him no good.
“I didn’t end it,” he points out. Bucky did that. Bucky had to leave. Bucky always leaves.
“An important relationship ended,” Sam rephrases. “Steve, there’s no time limit on this stuff. You’re hurting.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Fake it ‘til you make it,” he quips.