things you said that I wish you hadn't with steve/bucky?
(send me a ship and one of these and iāll write a mini fic)
Selfish, Awful, Cold & Dreadful
āBucky, Iām gonna ask Peggy to marry me.ā Ā Steveās smiling, ducking his head a bit, cheeks warmed with pink like heās been in the sun. Ā He rubs a bit at the back of his neck, awkward.
Buckyās staring at him, stunned and stupid as his brain tries to catch up. Ā It really canāt be a surprise, though, can it? Ā Steve and Peggy have been dating a full year, give or take. Ā And Steveās the type who wants to settle down, do things right. Ā Bucky forces his best happy-for-you smile onto his face, bright and broad and maybe only half a lie. Ā āThatās great, Stevie!ā Ā His voice even sounds normal; heās doing this, doing okay. Ā āI know sheās crazy about youāmaybe almost as much as youāre crazy about her!ā Ā He chuckles, looking down as he shakes his head. Ā āI canāt imagine sheād turn you down.ā Ā (As much as heād likeāin the most selfish, awful, cold and dreadful corners of his heartāto pretend thereās a chance, that he ever had a chance.) Ā He swallows down his nausea as his body moves through the steps of clapping Steve on the back, grinning, saying,Ā āDo you already have a ring picked out? Ā Need any help planning something romantic for the proposal?ā
āNo, no,ā Steve says, shaking his head. Ā āI donāt need any help, Buckājustā¦support, I guess? Ā And a bit of encouragement?ā
āRight.ā Ā Bucky nods, flashes Steve a grin so happy it hurts. Ā āHey, whatās a best friend for?ā Ā This is who he is to Steve, after all. Ā Who heāll always be. Ā Itās enough. Ā It has to be. Ā Itās more than he deserves, really. Ā If heās very, very lucky, if thereās enough mercy in the universe, heāll continue to be allowed this. Ā He gives Steve another encouraging thump on the backāand if itās a little rough, well, thatās always how heās done it. Ā āHow about we have a drink to celebrate?ā
āShe hasnāt said yes yet, Buck,ā Steve points out, but he lets Bucky steer him towards the door all the same.
āBut she will!ā Bucky assures him as his heart shreds itself silently inside his chest. Ā āWe both know she will.ā














