Stucky Soulmate AU -Cont.
Hey lovelies, sorry for the radio-silence these past few days. IRL drama has been... dramatic, to say the least. As recompense (and personal therapy): more Stucky Soulmate AU. For @abeautifullieaharshtruth, who got me back into this trope.Â
Steve had planned on confessing. On sitting Bucky down with the brunetteâs name on Steveâs wrist, a resigned smile on his lips, and a handful of cash saved up from a couple of Tijuana bibles. A quick visit to Redcloudâs down by the navy yard, a thick black band on Buckyâs skin and a story of a soulmate dead before their time, and Bucky would be free of Steve.
Happy Birthday Steve! Youâre dead.
Itâs probably what Bucky had been expecting (hoping for?) anyways. And itâd only taken Steve a couple minutes (tears, gasps into his nebulizer) to get up the courage. If this (if he) wasnât what Bucky wanted, Steve certainly wasnât gonna stand in his way. And small and sickly as he was, no one could ever call Stephen Grant Rogers a coward.
Ten minutes later, staring at âStephen Grant Rogersâ on Buckyâs skin in his own familiar scrawl, Steve felt every inch a coward.Â
âI...â Bucky sat next to him on their rickety sofa, stuttering and shamefaced and staring at his own name on Steveâs wrist. âI always knew it was gonna be you, Stevie. Ever since we were kids. Didnât wanna say anything though, just... just in case-â
âJust in case I died?â Steve spat, the truth acrid on his tongue. His skin flushed, blotchy red on hollow skin (hollow heart). âJust in case the universe wised up and figured out that thereâs no way you should be stuck with me for life?â
âNo!â Buckyâs eyes met his for the first time since the brunette had come back from the docks that morning, bright blue and brazen. âNo, damn you, donât you say that! Youâre too much of a stubborn punk to die, and hell if Iâd let you give up on me.â
The blonde scoffed. âGive up on you? Buck, I gave up on us the second you came home telling me you had someone elseâs name on your wrist!â
âIâm sorry!â Bucky rushed to grasp Steveâs hand in his, their marks brushing against each other and sending shivers up the younger manâs arm. âIâm so sorry Stevie, please, I didnât mean... I always knew you were meant for me Stevie, but whoâs saying I was meant for you?â
Buckyâs calloused fingers tightened around the bird-bones of Steveâs arm, and Steve clutched back with all of the desperate hope thrumming in his chest. âYou jerk,â he huffed, faint and fond as a small smile stretched across his lips. âWho the hell else would put up with me?â
The dock worker positively beamed in return. âDo I, uh, get a reward for âputting up with youâ?â He hinted, using his grip on Steveâs hand to tug the lighter man towards him on the couch. âSome sort of compensation, perhaps?â
âBuck!â Steve snorted at his matchâs ridiculousness.
âWhat?â Bucky smirked, urging Steve insistently closer until he was tucked into his matchâs side. âI gotta collect my payment somehow donât I?â His payment, as it turned out, was one final yank on Steveâs arm to land the blondeâs body against his side and lips against his own.
âAint gotta pay me for this.â Bucky murmured into his mouth who-knows-how-long later, never letting go of his hand. âYouâre all the reward I need, Stevie.â