Bucky Barnes did not get sick. Or so he swore. He had spent so much time around Steve that he had built up an immunity to any illness that come their way. He had even managed one year not to get the flu. But something about working in the docks seemed to have ruined whatever immunity he had built up. It must have been the amount of people bringing things through and the smog choking up his lungs. But he had a cough that rattled to him to his very bones and his sister was starting to worry that it might be pneumonia. While most people his age could easily fight off that illness, Bucky knew that Steve was not one of those people. Even a little bit of exposure could do Steve great harm. The issue with that was that they lived in the same goddamn house now. Bucky had moved in a year ago with Steve so it’s not like he could just whole up at his family house and hide away from Steve. No he’s in contact with the other every damn day.
So far he feels like he’s hidden pretty damn well, kept the coughs as just clearing his throat or covered by their loud running water. But tonight was rough. So rough that the fellas down at the docks had told Bucky to go the hell home and gave him pay if he promised he’d drag his sickly ass back home. While it wasn’t ideal, he still got paid and that was really the silver lining in all this. The walk home is long and Bucky swears if this is how Steve feels all the time he isn’t sure how he musters up the courage to get our of bed in the morning. His bones ache and his chest feels someone’s sitting on it. The biggest problem he’s gonna face is keeping his distance from Steve. Not only does he want comfort feeling like this but he knows that being sent home early is a clear sign that something is wrong. Bucky never comes home early, in fact he often does the opposite. He tries to work as much overtime as he can so he can Steve aren’t having to look under couch cushions for pennies.
His feet drag up the stairs and he realizes maybe it wasn’t smart to work the morning shift at the YMCA this morning then attempt to try to work on the docks. He’s feeling the effects of the evening sun, burning his skin and making him feel feverish. A terrible part of him hopes that Steve isn’t home. Maybe he’s on shift at the grocery store and Bucky could draw himself a hot bath and pull himself together before Steve gets home. Uncharacteristically, Bucky enters the apartment quietly. He doesn’t announce himself, instead he rests his head on the door for a moment as he locks it and carelessly tosses his jacket on the the kitchen counter.