But as the months had stretched on, those periods of silence had gotten longer and longer, and Steve had grown more and more distant, not just from Bucky, but from everyone who cared about him. And while it was true that Steve had long been prone to trying to push people away, Bucky had always refused to be pushed. She was worried, and had no intention of leaving her best friend to marinate alone in his grief.

Which was why she was here today, on his doorstep, with a crock of soup cradled in one arm. It had been over a week since she'd last seen her Steve's face, and he hadn't answered the door the last two times she'd dropped by. Frankly, Bucky had had enough. What if he'd taken ill again? What if he'd been pummeled in some alley and was lying in bed with broken ribs? Space was space, but this was simply too much for Bucky to tolerate.

he debates going onto the roof until she leaves but a part of him knows that if she's willing to make this kind of ruckus that she's probably ready to camp out which...he could do without right now.

Bucky rolled her eyes. "Wouldn't be worth it," she said. "You punch him, he'll punch you, then I'll punch him, and when my dad finds out I been fightin', I'll prob'ly get a smack."

George Barnes didn't raise his hand against his oldest daughter often, not the way some fathers in the neighborhood were prone to when disciplining their children, but that didn't mean Bucky liked the smacks that were an inevitable consequence of getting into a fight. If she could avoid them, she would. And a dumb galoot like Tommy Malone, even with his bad breath and loathsome kisses, just didn't seem worth the trouble.

With a wink at Bucky, Mr. Dunkelberger slipped two apples down the back of his stall, one for her and one for Steve, and smiled when she gave him a salute in response. Bucky passed one to her friend and then peeked over the top of the stacked bananas.

not that he plans on her ever knowing. bucky finding anything out about his home life would probably end the friendship he'd grown to need. he'd never let anyone in before and he hadn't meant to let her in but she'd been...pushy.

❛  we'll just have to make do.  ❜ ❛  come on, it'll be fun.  ❜ ❛  wait, where are we going?  ❜ ❛  you can't be here. go now!  ❜ ❛  it's just a dream, a stupid dream.  ❜ ❛  don't be afraid. i'm a friend.  ❜ ❛  i can't stand up. what should i do?  ❜ ❛  now listen, i'l tell you what to do. if you stay here, they'll find you. i'll distract them while you get away.  ❜ ❛  you have no choice if you want to survive here ... and save your parents, too.  ❜ ❛  why do i need a weakling like you?  ❜ ❛  trembling, aren't you? still, i'm impressed you made it this far.  ❜ ❛  what a pain. you're gonna pay for this.  ❜ ❛  keep your wits about you. if you need anything, ask me.  ❜ ❛  hey, are you okay? don't fall apart on me.  ❜ ❛  listen to me. i'll promise i'll save you.  ❜ ❛  what did you expect after all that rain?  ❜ ❛  i'm gonna get there someday. i'll get out of here for sure.  ❜ ❛  i was just coming to wake you up, look!  ❜ ❛  what should i do? he'll die!  ❜ ❛  what's so funny? wipe off that smile.  ❜ ❛  don't do anything stupid until i get down there.  ❜ ❛  you see, someone i really care about is badly hurt. i've got to go right now.  ❜ ❛  this is our little secret. if you tell anyone ... i'll do the same to you.  ❜ ❛  what are you going to do? he needs help.  ❜ ❛  becoming a sorcerer's apprentice is dangerous business.  ❜ ❛  well, getting there is one thing. getting back's the problem.  ❜ ❛  [name], i promise i'll be back. please don't die.  ❜ ❛  don't you understand? it's love.  ❜ ❛  what took you so long? this is a total disaster!  ❜ ❛  what do you want? you can tell me.  ❜ ❛  what, you're still alive?  ❜ ❛  you still don't see it? she's played a trick on you.  ❜ ❛  since when do you talk that way?  ❜ ❛  you held this, and nothing happened to you?  ❜ ❛  i'd like to help you, but there's nothing i can do. it's one of our rules here.  ❜ ❛  but can't you even give me a hint?  ❜ ❛  everything that happens stays inside you ... even if you can't remember it.  ❜ ❛  see? you have a talent for this.  ❜ ❛  [name], i no longer blame you for what you did. but be sure to protect this girl.  ❜ ❛  will we meet again somewhere?  ❜

“Psst! Steve! Over here,” Bucky hissed from where she was crouching behind Mr. Dunkelberger’s fruit stall. “I’m hidin’ from Tommy Malone. He keeps blowin’ kisses at me and his breath is terrible.”

Once she’d caught her best friend’s attention, she hunkered down until she was out of sight again. Mr. Dunkelberger didn’t usually get involved with spats between the neighborhood kids, but he’d had a soft spot for both Bucky and Steve ever since the two of them had chased off a bully who’d been picking on his daughter – little Rifka, who was only eight and not much bigger than Steve herself. So he was a reliable adult to choose when either of them wanted to escape the attentions of some dolt they knew from school or from the street who wouldn’t leave them be.

grumbling, steve makes his way as quickly as he can to the other's side shooting her a bit of a glare. this was not what he thought they'd start the day off doing but here they were.