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Well, if you were here, what would you do?

[ There's a smile in Bucky's voice as he teases Steve. If he's honest, not everything has been easy lately, but Steve tends to make it all a little more palatable. ]

[he's useless at things like this, and he knows it. always has been, and always will be. but when it comes to bucky, he doesn't care if he makes himself sound like an idiot. he wants to try.]

Me? Nothing. Unless you wouldn't do what I told you to.

[which, alright. that sounds worse than he means it to. but he's quick to follow up with-]

I'd get you stood in front of me. Tell you to take your clothes off, nice and slow. Make a show of it, just for me.

Those are some orders I wouldn't mind following.

[ And then, a little more quiet: ]

I like it when you watch me.

Guess it helps that you're such a good sight to look at.

[always has been, even back before their relationship took such a drastic turn]

Though, do you know how hard it is not to touch you when you're close?

[ Bucky just huffs, gentle and amused. It's distinctly possible that he likes teasing Steve a little when the opportunity presents itself. ]

I have an idea. I can't help being irresistible to national treasures. You can't hold that against me.

I've got something else I'd like to hold against you.

[it's a muttered comment that he's quick to regret airing. which is why he wastes no time in continuing]

You realize you were on display at the Smithsonian right alongside me, don't you?

[ A sigh. ]

Sure as your sidekick.

[ Not that there's any bitterness about it. He's spent a lot of his life choosing to follow Steve, because Steve's got a heart at least as big as his head and Bucky can't help putting his faith there. ]

You were center stage there. Right where you belonged. I was a good shot who watched your back. You were the hero.

No, Captain America was standing center stage. I may have worn the costume, but there's no me without you.

[physically and mentally. there's no way he would've have been able to make it that far without bucky there to keep him going for so long]

You've always been so much more than a sidekick, Buck. Anyone with eyes can see that.

Captain America's a silly costume. You did all those things. That was Steve Rogers. I'd follow that guy to Hell and back.

[ He pretty much has. ]

And not just 'cause the view from behind you is spectacular these days. I've been following you into fights since we were kids. You're a fucking menace, you know that?

Maybe it was easier to pick fights, knowing I had you there to back me up.

[or, as the case usually was, save his ass and finish the fight for him.]

You know, this really wasn't the way I'd imagined this conversation going.

[ Bucky can't help a quick bark of laughter. ]

Neither of us are great at doing things the easy way, are we?

[ And maybe that's something Bucky likes, too. Things aren't easy, but they still feel right. ]

Well, I do enjoy keeping you on your toes.

[preferably for good reasons. and he's hoping his reason for calling will only add to that list]

You'd get bored without me.

No one is quite as good at finding trouble as you are.

[ Not that Bucky minds that, either. ]

And I guess I must be trouble, since you're so good at finding me, too.

Won't need to find you anymore, cause I'm not letting you go again.

[possessive? sure. and he means every word of it.]

It's meant to be no more running for either of us, right?

Yeah, but it's nice to know that if I get lost again, you'll find me.

[ Because Steve doesn't know how to stop and it's something Bucky loves about him. He can't really bring himself to regret running. He'd had his reasons, but he doesn't have those anymore. He knows exactly how Steve will look at him, even knowing everything he's done. ]

Or the city will return me to my correct owner just to remind you what a pain in the ass you've managed to saddle yourself with.

[there's an "always" on the tip of his tongue. but then the rest of bucky's words come and steve- he has no idea how to take them]

I don't own you, Buck. No one does.

No shit, but don't tell them that.

[ Bucky knows. There's a part of him that does belong to Steve a little, but it's not the same thing. He's not here with Steve because of some stupid contract or the dumb rules. He's here because with Steve is where he wants to be. He can joke about it because he doesn't feel trapped by anything Steve's said or done. ]

You think I'd be wearing a collar for anyone else?

[he has to take a moment at that. a moment to process just what bucky's really saying beneath it all. it helps to alleviate some of that guilt he still feels for their two designations and just how much trouble its caused so far. marked or not, they're equals, as far as steve's concerned.]

I don't know. I think we'd both wear a collar for Peggy if she told us to.

[ He can't help laughing at that. It's true, of course. ]

She's a hell of a woman, isn't she? You're both pretty special.

Could say the same about you two. I think I'm the luckiest guy alive to get to be with you both.

[no matter the capacity. which is a thought that has him...turning a little quieter. more nervous]

I know you two have gotten closer. So...I need you to know that- I mean- If you and Peg... [huff. why is this so difficult to say?]

I wouldn't...be angry.

... Okay.

[ Because that's a lot of information. This is different from Caitlin, but then Bucky knows he feels an awful lot for Peggy at this point, too. It's not what he feels for Steve and not what Steve feels for her, but its own thing built on trust and fondness that she can't quite reciprocate as easily without memories of El Nysa. It's okay, though. Bucky will just feel what he feels and have the backs of the people who matter most to him. ]

Okay, good. 'Cause I wouldn't want you to be angry. Or sad or anything else like that. You matter too much. You both do.

I'm pretty sure that there's nothing you could do that'd make me angry.

[annoyed, sure. but as stubborn as he may be, he knows he'll never really be able to hold anything against bucky. they wouldn't have survived this long together if he did.]

Just don't take that as a reason to try. You two cause enough trouble as it is.

[look. he still hasn't forgiven them for getting themselves arrested]

Well I'm not gonna sit back and let either of you get into trouble without me.

[ It's a promise, because Bucky can't see not having either of their backs in a fight. He'll watch over them and keep them safe and if he can't do that, then he'll face the danger with them, because it's what he knows how to do. ]

And you've got a big mouth and she likes to look for danger, so I guess you'll just have to deal with it.

If that's your excuse for last time, you're going to have to try a little harder than that.

[not that either of them really need his forgiveness. sure, this city may force designations on them all. but he doesn't own either of them. bucky and peggy are still their own people, and he'll never try to enforce any level of control over them.

he'll just...continue to be annoyed about the fact they were caught in the first place.]

Still waiting on you to make it up to me.

You know there's not much I wouldn't do for you, Rogers.

[ Walking the fine line between fondness and innuendo, because Bucky very much means it in both of those ways. ]

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