notworthallthis

He's not sure what to make of all these quiet little bids for his attention, or the fact that Bucky somehow thinks that he would even want an easy way out when he's never taken the easy way out in his entire life, when all he's wanted this whole time since Bucky's been uncovered is a way in--all he knows for sure is that it's tearing him apart. Now he needs to see Bucky.

"Bucky--" It comes out a croak. He has to clear his throat, get a grip, but he needs to say this because apparently Bucky doesn't already know that he would drop everything for him. "If you want me there, I'll be there. All you have to do is say the word and I'll be there. For as long as you want. For as long as you'll let me."

He taps on a pipe to get Natasha's attention, looking the question at her with nothing more than the tilt of his head and a plea in his tired eyes. She nods with a roll of her own tired eyes, punching in the coordinates to head back. They could all use a break.

"We'd just finished making a couple of pirates walk the plank, so we're good to head back now. Should only take a couple of hours."

The emotion in Steve's voice is thick and cloying, and it's everything to Bucky at this moment. He closes his eyes and lets out a slow and deep, silent breath. "I do... I want you here." He needs him, is more like it, but that sounds pathetic and needy and desperate, so he keeps it to himself.

"Okay," a smile touches his lips, and he wonders if Steve can hear it in his voice. "then I'll see you soon."

Bucky is good at waiting, but that doesn't mean he likes to do it. He manages anyway, keeping himself busy with idle distractions, trying his hardest to keep his eyes off the door, like he might will Steve walking through it sooner if he does.

It's enough just to hear Bucky give the word.

He can almost picture Bucky smiling. Almost. Soon he'll be able to see it for himself--his own lips curve at the thought. "See you soon," he intones softly before hanging up.

True to his word, only a couple of hours go by before they're landing near the heart of the city, much to the bemusement of the same guards that had seen them off. Natasha takes point before he can, waving him off and going over to converse with the guards, so he wastes no time setting out for the farmland where Bucky lives.

One of these days he'll stop to appreciate the beauty of this place, but not today.

He's sure Bucky can hear his approach but he still stops to knock on the doorframe of the hut. Even with a written invitation, he wants to respect Bucky's personal space. "Bucky? It's me," he calls out, wondering if maybe Bucky was out in the field this time of the day...

Steve isn't left waiting long before Bucky appears, a small smile on his face. "Hey..." he practically breathes the greeting out. "Come in," he steps aside to allow Steve room to press further inside.

Suddenly, Bucky can't help feeling... a little overwhelmed and awkward in equal measure as he stands here staring at his best friend in the hut he'd been calling home. Had he really just asked for Steve to drop everything to come see him because he was lonely? That was crazy, right?

"Thanks for... for coming," he says with a soft huff of a thing. "Make yourself at home," he offers, gesturing around the room.

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