Sometimes Bucky found comfort sitting in front of a nice fire, no matter how big or small. It reminded him of home, of better, quieter times where war wasn't a hot topic, when he was just a kid from Brooklyn hanging out with his best friend, unbothered by the thought of potentially getting drafted to serve his country.
More than once he would get lost in the flames dancing in front of him, blinking once or twice but staying awfully quiet which was unusual in him. Nothing or no one could truly pull him out of that trance except for one: Steve. Truly, he didn't have to say anything, just the fact he was sitting close to him in front of that same fire was enough to make the Sergeant look at him briefly, smile, and return his gaze to the fire.
"Got tired of drinking with everyone else? Geez, it must be exhausting to be so famous but stay here, Stevie", Bucky said, leaning back nonchalantly, placing his hands behind his body as support while he cocked his head with a devilish grin on his face, "I'll keep you safe from all the girls that are trying to keep you to themselves."
And that was half a joke, half a truth, because he knew that while it wasn't in Steve's nature to be a womanizer, to go from bed to bed and charm every girl he could...now the kid he grew up with who only had eyes for him might start to take interest in other people, look around with more confidence. And he couldn't blame him. Bucky hadn't truly been honest with Steve back then, he couldn't--he didn't want to think or admit he could be sick for being in love with another man, especially his best friend.
On the topic of jumping from bed to bed--Bucky was guilty of that. It helped to numb what he felt but it was only a temporary relief. He knew he liked women and enjoyed kissing them, touching them, making them feel a thousand different things when they squeezed their thighs around his head, but he had given the same opportunity to a handful of men although privately, and he hadn't feel bad about it. Except for when the deed was done and he was alone thinking something must've been really wrong with him.
But surprisingly (or not) all of those thoughts of self doubt and fear faded away when Steve was close by, so Bucky smiled and basked in the joy of his company.
