Chapter Text
June 6th 2012
James finds himself in a lot of discomfort as he sits in the stiff hospital waiting room chair. He grimaces at the slightest movement. His right knee is rather bruised and swollen after a nasty fall at all. He notices a handsome, tall blond sitting in the congested hallway. His eyes catch the sight of bloodied tissues, a cloth mask and a bandaged IV port peaking out of the man’s shirt.
”Rough day?”, Bucky asked gruffly as they sit across from another. He wishes he could be anywhere but here. What Barnes wouldn’t give for a cigarette and his left arm.
“More like rough week.”, the blond quipped.
“What are you in for?”, Bucky gestures to the bloodied tissue.
”Ah. Nose bled. It won’t stop bleeding.”
”Sorry to hear that.”
”How about you?”, the blond softens.
”I fucked up my knee.”, Bucky shrugged. He doesn’t want sympathy. His empty left shirt sleeve often draws attention
“I’m Steve, by the way.”
”James. But my friends call me Bucky.”
"Do you come here often?", Steve's eyes twinkle mischievously.
"You fucking punk. I try not to frequent the emergency room anymore than I have to." , Buck chuckles.
"I can't say I blame you.", Steve offers a sympathetic, soft small.
"Say, about your nose. Did you get in a fight or somthin'?"
"The latter."
"I bet you like to pick fights."
" 'friad, not as much I used to."
"You look like you could still put up a hell of a fight."
"I bet--"
Steve pauses when he spots a similar face, "Sam?"
Their conservation is cut short when a handsome, black man arrives hot on the heels of a nurse. Bucky looks between them and Steve, noticing the black man raising his voice at the nurse. He chides the nurse, before getting an orderly to secure a wheelchair for Steve.
"You should've called me.", Sam sounds frustrated.
"I'm not your responsibility."
"You wound me, Cap."
Steve doesn't look real great, little energy to stubborn his way out of being put in the wheelchair. He is quickly taken from the emergency room bay. Bucky hears them continue their conversation back and forth. He catches Sam scold Steve for not calling ahead and expediting his wait in the germy ER. Bucky's heart sinks a bit, an oncologist? Chemo therapy? Low platelets. Bucky watches as Steve is rolled towards the elevator, his heart aches and his head spins. Will he ever see this smart mouth blond again?