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“That temperature okay?” Steve rumbled softly, smirking a little at how much he sounded like a hairdresser. Bucky must’ve caught on too, giggling a little before nodding. His head tipped back and the ends of his chestnut hair splashed against the water. Steve was slightly thankful that Bucky’s eyes were closed in bliss, heaven forbid his boyfriend see just how smitten he was for him. The brunette already called the blonde a ‘sap’ on a regular basis. Sam was to thank for teaching him that word.
Steve concentrated on scrubbing the warm water into Bucky’s roots and lengths; it had been about four days since the last hair wash and his natural oils were starting to weigh down his loose curls. Steve knew there was no point applying shampoo until his thick hair was fully saturated. He’d made that mistake when Bucky first came to live at the Tower. Steve had naively assumed his 3-in-1 (which had since gone ‘missing’) would be sufficient in cleaning his love’s hair. Oh no , not once Natasha got a glimpse of their bathroom. Steve swore he’d never hear the end of it. So eventually he gave in and let Nat teach him the lather-rinse-repeat method he’d been clueless to his whole life. Hey , it wasn’t his fault he had about five inches of pin-straight hair.
Since that fateful day so early in Bucky’s time at the Tower, their hair routine had grown significantly. After Steve had spent some time really drenching Bucky’s hair with handfuls of warm water, he moved on to shampoo: sulfate free, full of amino acids and forty-five bucks? Jesus Christ, Steve had never noticed that sticker before. Bucky had picked it out with Nat, and honestly? It might be worth every penny. Steve would happily pay four hundred and forty-five bucks to witness that quiet inhale and soft smile on Bucky’s face every time he got a whiff of his own locks.
Steve first lathered a little shampoo into his wet palms, before massaging it into Bucky’s scalp, focusing on the crown. Buck huffed out a content little sigh and Steve honest to god felt his heart squeeze. There weren’t many times that Bucky looked as relaxed as in the bath. His achy bones and tight muscles melting into the hot, shimmery water. His eyebrows pointed upwards, not down, no such thing as a frown in the bath. Nothing for Bucky to worry about, nothing for him to work out. Nothing but Steve’s gentle touch and the sweet perfume of the honey and milk bubble bath.
Using the shower-head, set to a light spray, Steve tenderly cupped a large hand over Bucky’s eyes, careful not to let any suds run down into his face. Water on the head, and particularly the face, had been difficult for Bucky at first. Steve didn’t want to think why. They had built up to using a shower-head. Eventually, Bucky decided the lowest power was acceptable, but Steve was still mindful. He tossed the soft curls with his fingers, massaging out the initial round of oil and dirt build up until the water flowed clear.
Bucky peaked a silvery eye open as Steve uncapped the bottle and squeezed a slightly larger blob of shampoo into his hands. Now was time for the ‘real’ wash. Steve smiled coyly at Bucky, who returned his look with a shy smile of his own. The scarring around Bucky’s missing arm looked pink from the steam of the bath. Steve made a note to apply a little extra cream tonight, the hot weather was drying out Bucky’s skin. Steve instructed Bucky to close his eyes, lathering up the shampoo in his hands before ensuring he massaged it into every part of his boyfriend’s scalp. Bucky’s hair was so thick that sometimes it took a little extra product to penetrate the oils in the sides and underneath of his scalp. Steve spent a long time massaging the product into Bucky’s hair, bringing it through the lengths but avoiding the tips. Nat had told him that would make it ‘dry’, and Steve enjoyed running his hands through the softness of the smaller man’s hair as much as Bucky did. He’d do anything to avoid drying it out.
Once the head massage was finished, and Bucky was openly grinning like the Chesire cat, earning a snort from Steve, he rinsed the hair clean. Steve waited until Bucky’s eyes were open to press a kiss to his wet forehead. Bucky didn’t like being surprised by physical contact. And the glimmer of hope in his eye as Steve leaned in was worth the wait.
“Cond-itioner.” Bucky demanded mildly, Steve chuckled in response and squeezed the excess water from Bucky’s shoulder length hair.
“Oh really? I thought shampoo would be enough. Plus, it’s 3-in-1, so really, it has conditioner in it. And body wash.” Steve grinned teasingly, pulling a loud huff and cackle from Bucky. Steve picked up the shampoo bottle again, putting on a confident voice as he read from the pretend label. “Yeah, that’s right. Look, it says it right here: Axe, 3-in-1-” Steve was cut off by a playful splash from Bucky.
“No it don’t!” He grinned, beaming up at where Steve was knelt down. “Threwed it out…” Bucky mumbled quietly with a smirk, Steve whipped his head up.
“I knew it!” He said, victorious, tickling tenderly at Bucky’s soft tummy, he was finally starting to gain some weight back. “You little sneak.” Steve faux-grumbled, relishing in the look of joy on Bucky’s face as he leaned his head back. Steve applied a liberal squirt of conditioner to his palm, it was the same brand as the shampoo, and although this one was missing a price tag, Steve had no doubt that it was as outrageously expensive. He read the label as he set it back on the edge of the bath; Coconut oil, Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Quinoa Proteins. Steve was sure at least three of those were foods. But, damn it , if it didn’t smell delicious. Fitting , he supposed.
Steve massaged the silky conditioner into the lengths and roots of Bucky’s hair, combing his fingers through slowly to avoid pulling any knots. Bucky’s eyes were closed again. His lips parted slightly as he relaxed. Steve noted the way his remaining hand was curled and shaky in the water, today hadn’t been a ‘good hand day’. He hadn't managed to grip his spoon, nor his exercise ball. So there was no chance he’d be able to help in the bath. Not that Steve minded. And even when it had been a ‘good hand day’, Bucky normally requested Steve’s hair-washing services shamelessly, knowing how much they both enjoyed the time together.
Once Steve was finished combing out the knots with his careful fingers, he twirled the hair into a long twist and put it over Bucky’s shoulder, so the man could lean back against his bath pillow without washing any product out. Steve sat back on his haunches and openly watched the rise and fall of Bucky’s shiny chest. The flickering candles cast a golden hue on his tanned skin, his freckles throwing soft shadows over his torso.
“You look beautiful.” Steve whispered, relaxing as the conditioner worked its magic on Bucky’s hair. The brunette smiled without opening his eyes, his cheeks flushing to match the pink of submerged skin. Bucky liked his baths hot. So did Steve. Something about being kept in a glorified freezer will do that to you.
“Punk.” The smaller man replied lazily, his mouth curling up as the familiar word left it. Steve leaned back against the sink.
“Jerk.”
After the conditioner had some time to sit, and Bucky’s fingertips and toes had turned pruney, Steve set about rinsing it off. ‘ Longer than you think you need to ’, Natasha’s word’s ran through his head on repeat as he directed the stream over Bucky’s velvety locks, they looked almost black and dead-straight under the pressure of the water. Steve tussled the hair a little, mainly to elicit more of those sweet huffs and hums from Bucky’s cupid bow lips. Once the hair was totally conditioner-free, Steve helped Bucky to stand, wrapping his slack hand around the mobility aid bar on the shower wall. He made quick work of bundling the man in a fluffy blue towel and helping him sit on his chair, before pushing him into the bedroom.
Later that night, after the two men had enjoyed an episode of the new Lord of the Rings series Bucky had insisted upon watching (like Steve would ever say no. He’d watch the entire trilogy, director’s cut, ten times through if it made Buck happy), Steve removed the microfibre towel from where it had been wrapped around Bucky’s head, patting gently to soak up any remaining drops of water. Bucky had already pointed to the leave-in-treatment he wanted, tapping his toe somewhat impatiently as Steve fussed with the lid. Cheeky little shit, Steve smirked fondly. He spritzed the leave-in conditioner generously, focusing on the ends and lengths. Steve hushed Bucky as he pulled a wide-toothed comb through the protesting man’s hair. This was the only part Bucky didn’t like. But with hair as thick as Buck’s, tangling was inevitable.
“I’m being as gentle as I can, dove. I’ll be done in one minute.” Steve reassured soothingly, pressing a kiss into Bucky’s floral scented crown. Steve worked as quickly as he could, detangling the damp hair and pressing his fingers into Bucky’s scalp to massage him as an apology for the pulling. Bucky was quiet and settled by the time Steve reached for the last step of the routine. The smaller man’s hair was nearly dry by now, thank god , because it was getting late and Bucky refused to use the hairdryer. It’s loud and overwhelming. Definitely something to avoid if they don’t want a sensory overload.
“Cream.” Bucky put simply, nodding slightly at the hair moisturizer sitting on the bed. Steve nodded diligently, applying a small amount of the pearly lotion to the slightly-damp hair. In the morning, when Buck’s hair was completely dry, Steve would apply a little oil. He’d never thought a six-step process would be necessary for something that took him three minutes in the shower. But the sight of Bucky’s shiny waves always changed his mind. He was breathtaking . Truly and honestly. Steve didn’t know how he survived his asthma laying eyes on Barnes. And he was his. He’d chosen Steve . Twice. A thousand times. Everyday .
“What’cha look’n at?” Bucky drawled sleepily from his silk pillowcase, eye’s barely keeping themselves open. Steve blushed and curled up on the smaller man’s chest, a position quite unusual to them nowadays. Bucky normally spent his nights (and much of his days) spread out across the blonde, being held - not holding . Steve’s eyes fluttered shut at the feeling of Bucky’s smooth skin under his rough cheek. He needed to shave, he thought absently, focusing on anything but crying at the sheer emotion he felt in that moment. Steve gulped and turned his face into Bucky’s chest, breathing him in as hard as he could, tangling his strong legs with Bucky’s smaller ones, pressing as close as possible. He didn’t often let himself be vulnerable, weak, especially not in front of Bucky. Not now .
Slowly, Bucky’s arm came up to loop sloppily around Steve’s waist, pulling him closer, holding him together. Steve could’ve sobbed at the touch. He felt small, protected, loved. Could almost smell the smoky streets of Brooklyn and the pine soap they once used to clean everything from dishes to clothes. And Bucky, his Bucky, was here. Had been here the whole time. Strong, in a different way now. Softness where there had been hardness. Hope , where there had been none.
“You’re ‘kay.” Bucky rumbled tiredly, voice thinning as he fell asleep, still cradling Steve. “I got ‘ya, Stevie.”