Natasha was waiting for him as he exited the hospital, eyes wide and dazed, along with the rapid beat of his heart pounding in his chest. He slowly got into the car, gaze unblinking as he shut the door behind him, letting out a swift breath.
"I love you," Bucky had told him, leaving Steve in his current predicament: Overwhelmed and not quite knowing which way was up.
"How'd it go?"
Wouldn't it be great if I had an answer to that question?
Steve shook his head, shrugging as he attempted to process what had just happened. He would need time...a lot of it. "I don't have a fucking clue," He answered flatly, head falling back against his seat.
Natasha nodded, knowing Steve would open up when he felt ready. "Is he doing alright?"
The blond could only nod, head spinning and wanting nothing more than to get out of the car and go back to Bucky. "I... I need to talk to Sharon..." He whispered, chest tightening in fear. "In person." He looked towards Natasha who's gaze widened slightly in realization, though she said nothing. Instead she pulled out her phone, typing in Sharon's number as Steve let his face drop into his hands.
She answered immediately.
"All yours," Natasha murmured, handing Steve her phone. They both knew Sharon wouldn't answer if she saw Steve's caller ID.
"Hello?"
Steve swallowed, feeling sweat bead down the back of his neck. "Hey, Sharon..." He hadn't called her babe. That was a first, and he wondered if she'd noticed. "I... I think we need to talk."
"You're right, baby... I have so much I need to apologize for."
And shit, if this wasn't going to be hard enough. Now she wasn't even mad at him.
"I'm at Starbucks right now if you want to meet me."
Steve swallowed, glancing out the window of the car which was still parked in the parking lot. "The one by Francis Hospital?"
"Yeah, it's right next door. Does that work for you?"
"I'll be right in," He murmured softly, slowly taking the phone away from his ear and hanging up. "Do you mind waiting here?" He asked, handing the phone back to Natasha.
"Think it's going to end that badly?"
Steve shrugged, gaze sad and fearful. "I'm going to tell her I'm gay and have to cancel our wedding," He answered, opening the door back up as he got out. "Can't imagine any scenario where that goes smoothly."
Steve shut the door, taking a deep breath before making his way over to Starbucks, a million thoughts running through his head. Hopefully, they could still be friends after all of this, but he doubted it. He quickly wiped his palms against his jeans before opening the door, a little bell ringing to announce his entrance. He spotted her immediately, sitting in the middle of the cafe and a two person tab;e. "Hey," He greeted, voice strained, and by the way she narrowed her eyes he knew she could tell.
Either way, a small smile appeared on her face, and no, this was going to make it so much harder. Why couldn't she be mad at him? He was about to break up with her and here she was welcoming him with open arms? She leaned in to kiss him but Steve quickly turned away, pretending he had to cough.
The guilt was creeping up on him like ivy climbing up a wall.
A worried look flashed across Sharon's gaze but it disappeared almost as soon as it had arrived and she laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're not getting sick, are you?"
Steve only had the heart to smile back, knowing any words would just be more lies. This was where the truth would come out.
"Look, baby... I'm so sorry. I've been thinking a lot about what happened, and... The way I reacted was completely inappropriate. I know we're tight on money, and I want you to know that accepting the bet was the right choice.
Your damn right, Steve thought, remembering the way he felt as Bucky just about kissed the life out of him. It was if he'd been taken to heaven and back.
Steve slowly nodded, feeling his throat start to close up. She wasn't supposed to be apologizing. She should be yelling at him right now, telling him what a horrible person he was. It would make it so much easier.
"So were you already here?" Sharon motioned for him to sit down, leaning back casually as if it was just another one of their dates.
"Next door," He explained, sitting down across from her. "I was n-"
"What?" Sharon interrupted, eyes widening, "Are you okay? Why were you at the hospital?"
Steve felt the panic slowly creeping in, his throat tightening as he tried to find the words to speak. "Sharon. I need to explain something," he murmured, meeting her gaze. "and I don't want you to say anything until I'm finished."
What am I doing? I have everything i could ever want...
Atleast he used to. But then he lost a bet and realized how much he really didn't have.
Sharon silently stared at him, giving the smallest nod.
"I was with Bucky at the hospital," He began, voice steady for the first time in ages. "God, okay. There's no easy way to explain this..." Steve slowly drew in a breath, holding it for a count of two seconds before releasing it, gripping the table to steady himself. "You're right about telling me the bet was a good idea. I discovered something about myself that I didn't know existed, and as soon as I did..."
I love you
"I realized I've finally found who I am."
Steve suddenly couldn't meet her gaze.
"I haven't felt anything with you..." He continued, softly, remembering every time they'd kissed and feeling so empty.
the tables had turned. Steve was now the mountain lion, getting ready to rip the sheet's heart wide open.
"I never thought it would end like this, but... I think I'm falling in love with Bucky."
The words were out.
Steve had never seen so much sadness in one person before, but Sharon was a perfect example of someone who had lost their entire future in the span of a second.
"I'm so sorry it came to this...You'll find someone else, someone so much better than me. Someone who deserves you."
Sharon shook her head, trying so hard to remain strong but she was gradually breaking. In one swift movement, she slipped the ring off her finger, placing it down on the table in front of Steve. "I have to go," She whispered, quickly standing up and wiping a hand under her eye as the tears started welling up in her gaze.
For the second time, Steve watched as she walked away.
This time, however, she wouldn't be coming back.
The wedding was off, leaving one more call to make. It could wait, though. Tony's ego boost could be held off until tomorrow.
***
Steve had gone back to the hotel that night, though he had never felt so alone before. He hadn't been in the room without Bucky, and he quickly found he wouldn't be able to sleep that night.
Only a few more hours, Steve encouraged himself, painfully glancing towards the clock.
It was 4:45. He could pick Bucky up at 8 am.
Steve groaned softly, sitting up in bed and picking up his phone. He just needed to hear his voice.
It's nearly 5 am, his conscience reminded him. The other man would be asleep.
Little did he know, Bucky was staring at his phone debating the same thing.
Biting his lip he hesitantly punched in Bucky's number, and to his surprise, Bucky answered almost immediately, murmuring a soft "Hello?" through the phone.
Steve felt his heart rate quickly spike up upon hearing him, unable to keep the grin from blossoming across his face. "Hey, Buck," he murmured, finally laying down, exhaustion able to sweep over him at last. "Did I wake you?"
"No," the tired voice replied. "Couldn't sleep."
"Me neither..." Steve hesitated, thinking back to the hospital. "Did... did you mean what you said?"
"What did I say, Stevie?" Bucky's tone was laced in amusement, and of course he was going to make Steve say it, the little shit.
"You told me you loved me," Steve answered softly, fear gripping his heart. Maybe it had just been said in the moment. Maybe he hadn't really meant it. "...Was it true?"
"Steve, you're as dumb as hell sometimes, you know that?"
Steve gave a weak smile.
"Of course I meant it, you punk." The other man sighed softly. "I've been in love with you for so long..."
For so long
How did he never notice?
"You never told me," he breathed, suddenly feeling the distance of how far away Bucky was.
The brunette hummed softly. "And ruin our friendship? You never once doubted your sexuality, Steve. There was no point in telling you."
Steve nodded, wanted nothing more than to in Bucky's arms in that moment. "I told Sharon," he admitted, taking a deep breath before continuing. "The wedding's off..." He trailed off, suddenly finding the words difficult to say. "I lost the bet, and...she know's I'm falling in love with you."
A soft gasp followed his words before Bucky whispered, voice filled with emotion, "Steve..."
"I'm falling in love with you," he repeated. "I'm falling so hard, Bucky."
•••
Bucky must have died and gone to heaven. There was no way Steve felt the same. Yet here he was, sitting alone in the dark hospital room with Steve pouring his heart and soul out to him. If he'd known that all it would take was a kiss-which he was slowly starting to believe he'd been dropped into some gay fairy tale with some tragic plot that had some happy ending- then he would have kissed Steve ages ago.
"I'm falling in love with you," He heard Steve repeat, his words sending chills up his spine. "I'm falling so hard, Bucky."
And Bucky couldn't help but smile, glancing briefly at the clock.
5:30. Two and a half hours till he could see the man he'd given his heart to. "About damn time," He replied, head falling back gently against his pillow. Rough and uncomfortable, smelling like all the rest of the hospital. He hated it, but none of that seemed to matter anymore. Steve may not love him back just yet, but he'd already waited 30 years. He would keep waiting for as long as it took.
They ended up talking until the sun had risen and 8 am arrived before he even noticed it. A knock sounded at the door, echoing throughout the room and announcing the arrival of one of the doctors or nurses. Sure enough Doctor Banner walked in, reporting that they were releasing him with a clean bill of health. The doctor helped him into the wheelchair, insisting it was part of the protocol, regardless of the fact that he was, "Perfectly capable of walking."
"Steve?" Bucky put the phone back up to his ear. He could hear noise in the background on the other end of the line and couldn't help but wonder where the blond could be.
"Yeah, Buck?" Steve sounded distracted, and Bucky frowned as he listened to him speaking to someone else.
"Steve, they're letting me out right now... I was wondering if you'd be able to come pick me up...?"
When no reply came, Bucky pulled the phone away from his ear as he was wheeled down the hallway, realizing the line had gone dead.
Maybe his phone died...
The doors to the waiting room opened automatically as soon as the wheelchair got in range, and Bucky's gaze widened in shock because Steven Fucking Rogers was standing right there, smack dab in the middle of the room.
Of course he was.
You make my heart shake, bend and break
"Screw the wheelchair," Bucky muttered, pushing himself out of the chair.
But I can't turn away, and it's driving me wild.
Bucky threw himself at Steve, wrapping him tightly in his arms...
And then they were kissing, Bucky starved of Steve's love and Steve kissing back, willing to give everything in his heart to the brunette.
It was perfect, the kiss dragging on and on, and as they slowly returned to Earth from their temporary high, it didn't even matter that they had an entire crowd of people watching the show: Some spiteful glares, others grinning excitedly, gazes shining with approval, and then there were the mothers in the corner, covering their children eyes so they didn't see the two grown men kissing.
None of it mattered.
Bucky was happy. Happier than he could ever remember being, because, against all odds, Steve could be his. "I love you," He whispered, into the blond's ear as they rocked back and forth, holding on tight to each other, as if either of them let go they would be woken up from whatever this dream was to find themselves back in reality. "I love you so much."
And it was okay if Steve wasn't ready to say it back, because he would get there eventually, and that was all that mattered to Bucky.