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It starts because Bucky has a car and Steve’s always hungry. At least, that’s how Bucky explains the start of his friendship with Steve to people who ask.
Steve constantly argues that their friendship is more than Bucky giving him rides off-campus, but he can’t deny that the Sonic Drive-In has a special place in his stomach heart.
~*~*~*~
Steve notices a grin tugging at the corner of Sam’s lips, and he can’t help but to pry, “What’s got you cheesin’ so big, huh?”
Sam only shakes his head, the grin growing wider, and mutters, “Nothing, man.”
“Bro, seriously, what?” Steve pushes with a wrinkled brow, moving forward in the cafeteria line.
Sam gives his roommate a lingering look before huffing out a laugh. He nods behind Steve, in the direction of where Bucky has saved seats for them. “Y’all look cute together.”
Heat pools fast and furious into Steve’s cheeks, with him catching onto Sam’s implication, and he stammers out: “Uh, we’re not… Th-there’s nothing—I’m not even… We just got close because of the club and—”
“Whoa, hey, okay. S’cool.” Sam pats Steve on the back, chuckling. “Just sayin’, though, if I didn’t already know you two, I’d’ve thought you were dating.”
~*~*~*~
Steve is mindlessly swiping through his Snapchat stories one night, seeing his college dorm mates and high school friends and random students he’s partnered in group projects with having the time of their lives out on the town. He almost feels bad for not taking Sam up on his invitation to go out drinking with Riley and the other guys until he swipes onto Bucky’s story.
The video pans across a studio apartment, with cardboard boxes scattered around every visible surface, and skull emojis punctuating the end of tiny white text: get an unfurnished apartment, they said, it’ll be a lot cheaper, they said.
He laughs, typing out a quick, how long have you been unpacking?
Too long, Bucky replies.
You eat dinner yet?
Wtf do you think, Rogers?
I think an extra pair of hands will cost you a burger and fries, my guy.
I’m good.
Please
?
I’m hungry
Is this you asking for a ride?
It is if your answer is ‘yes, of course I’ll pick you up’
I’d need to get gas.
Then Sonic?
Ugh, fine. Then Sonic.
~*~*~*~
It’s been a while since Steve has seen Arnie after he moved upstate, but there’s nothing like a daytrip to the Catskills with his childhood best friend to prove just how quickly they can pick up where they leave off.
Arnie always drives like he talks, careful and observant, which is great on the winding interstate, but it still throws Steve off when he gets questioned: “So, how’s Bucky doing?”
“He’s… fine.” Steve looks at Arnie from the passenger seat, confused. “I didn’t realize you knew about him.”
“Yeah, well, your ma won’t quit talking with my ma about him and you.” Arnie smiles, taking a quick glance at Steve before returning his attention to the road. “Says he makes you real happy.”
“He’s great, yeah,” Steve says. “I’m glad him and Sam like each other well enough.”
“Where’d you guys meet?”
“Oh, Buck’s one of the officers in the art school’s student council. He TA’s for one of my studio classes, too, so we’ve gotten to spend a lotta time together.”
“Aw, that’s cool. You deserve someone who loves the arts as much as you do.”
Steve frowns, fully turning to stare at his best friend. “…what?”
“What?” Arnie echoes. “Can’t I be happy that you finally have a boyfriend?”
“Bucky’s not…”
“C’mon, Stevie, you can be real with me. It’s not like I’d judge for you dating a guy, especially since Mikey and I aren’t exactly discreet about—”
“Oh my God,” Steve deadpans, “you think Bucky and I are dating.”
“Um. Are you… not?”
“What? No! What? We’re just—really good friends.”
Arnie raises an inquisitive brow, skeptical. “If you’re sure.”
Steve huffs, crossing his arms across his chest. “I am.”
“Okay.” Arnie remains silent for nearly a full minute, yet it still feels as if he’s not quite ready to end the conversation.
From the corner of his eye, Steve sees Arnie open his mouth, and he lets out a warning Arnie, don’t just as his friend adds: “He just seems like your type is all.”
“Arnold!”
~*~*~*~
Bucky is a weirdo. Like, in a fun way. But the thing is, nobody but Steve really knows just how much of a weirdo he is. He’s usually reserved, quiet around people he doesn’t consider friends, with a ridiculous Resting Bitch Face that Sam constantly teases him about.
He has a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of Lord of the Rings that he brandishes at the oddest times. He clicks his pens to the beat of random songs that pop up in his head, which often results in him accidentally scribbling all over his jeans. But the thing that is so weird, that is simultaneously the most endearing thing that Steve’s ever witnessed, is that Bucky unapologetically screams the lyrics to Miranda Cosgrove songs whenever they park at their regular Sonic Drive-In.
Steve sits in the passenger seat of Bucky’s car, sipping at his shake and watching on with a wide grin. Bucky slaps his palms against the steering wheel, singing about Shakespeare and Sunday movies and kisses in the rain. There’s a warmth that blooms from within Steve’s chest that reaches the very ends of his fingers as Bucky dances in place, rocking the car the slightest bit, and it’s just…
He realizes that he loves him.
Bucky turns to Steve, pointing as the song builds up to the chorus once again, and Steve doesn’t miss a beat: He starts shouting the lyrics right along with Bucky.
He loves him.
~*~*~*~
It starts because Bucky has a car and Steve finds it easy to lean over the console to kiss him. At least, that’s how Steve explains how they first started dating.
Bucky reveals in his weddings vows that he’d love to drive around with Steve for the rest of their lives, especially if it’s to a Sonic Drive-In on a Tuesday night.