Chapter Text
Bucky dropped his keys on the counter and sat down as Steve handed him his usual coffee. It had been a week since he'd adopted the angel as a roommate and he'd finally gotten the hang of making food for himself without any major incident. Bucky smiled at the coffee, which was still a little too sweet for his liking but he drank it anyway.
"Gotta go out tonight, so dinner's gonna be earlier, alright?" He looked at Steve, who nodded and went back to the couch. Bucky turned so he could still see him, and tried looking at what he was drawing. "Whatcha doing today?" He set his mug down and itched the back of his left hand, out of habit, even though the metal didn't feel much.
"This cat I keep seeing in the hallway."
"Oh yeah, that's Mrs Carter's. They're not really allowed but she's never been one to follow rules much." Bucky had moved into the kitchen now and was setting out the things to make dinner; chicken casserole.
"Haha, really? She's not like you, then." Steve grinned over his shoulder at Bucky.
"Hey, punk, I'm just staying out of trouble!" He waved a spoon at Steve, who scoffed a "jerk," and returned to his work, not noticing the irony of what Bucky was saying. Steve hadn't asked why Bucky had been out in that forest at three am, nor where he was going tonight, so Bucky hadn't told him, just like with his arm. The two carried on in amicable silence until Bucky called that dinner was ready and Steve lay down his pencil.
"We should go out tomorrow, I'll show you 'round Brooklyn a bit if you want. Give you new things to sketch." Bucky offered, between mouthfuls. Steve nodded while he finished what he was eating then wiped his mouth and smiled.
"Sounds good! You're not working then?" He ate another forkful while Bucky shook his head. They talked a little more about it, Steve asking questions earnestly and Bucky answering as best as he could. Soon their plates were empty and it was time for Bucky to leave.
"I'll be back around ten, and remember-"
"Yeah I know, 'don't leave the apartment'." Steve rolled his eyes as he waved Bucky off from the doorway.
***
"Why on earth did you leave those couriers unguarded from behind, Barnes? They told me you were still a mile from base when you left them without a lookout. You should know better." Bucky hung his head as, Colonel Phillips as they called him, glared at him.
"I discovered something and had to take care of it." He waved it off.
"Discover it somewhere else next time. Right, better catch you up on the news you missed last week, Barnes. Sit down." Interrogation over, Bucky nodded and quickly sat with the others round the ramshackle table as they began discussing the latest government movements to shut them down and how to bypass them. As he gave suggestions, Bucky quietly hoped that Steve wouldn't cause him anymore trouble.
***
Darkness had truly settled when Bucky got home, so he felt his way over to the couch, where he saw Steve had fallen asleep. Bucky considered moving him to the bed but decided against it - he didn't know If he could handle Steve's dead weight, so he wrapped a blanket over him instead. Bucky had to hide a small smile when Steve reached out in his sleep and grabbed Bucky's shirt, and he had to untangle his fingers from it so he could go to his own bed.