Work Text:
Steve
Steve has always felt like he was being watched. Ever since he was a child. It always reassured him, made him feel safe.
He never realized it wasn't normal. No one ever told him. But he never really mentioned it to anyone either. So, who's really at fault here? Certainly not Steve.
And he's certainly not to blame for the glowy white monster he finds in the alleyway with a dead man. Steve recognized that man to be Brock, an old ex-friend of his that tried to kill him. His body was dropped from the long, thin tail of the monster holding it.
Back to the monster ominously hanging over Brock's dead body. It had many eyes along it's body, it's face replaced with a flower mouth. One of it's stretched limbs reached towards Steve, but stopped when he stepped back.
It stared at Steve for a moment before wings unfurled from it's back and curled around it's body. He blinked once and it was gone.
And for the first time, Steve felt he was no longer being watched.
The lack of that feeling made him shiver. He no longer felt safe or reassured. But he didn't feel that he was in danger either.
Spooked, he quickly heads home.
•
He couldn't sleep that night. That thing he saw in the alleyway, it's image was burned into his brain. The monster was all he could think about. He tried to ignore the fact that, he felt safer when it was there compared to when it left.
It's a shame what happened to Brock. He had done some bad things, but he didn't deserve to die.
Did he?
Steve turned onto his side and closed his eyes, trying to get comfortable. But they shoot open again when the feeling of being watched finally returns.
His body relaxes and he sighs, turning onto his back again. And soon enough, he's dozing off. All sleepy and comfortable.
He thought he heard a crackling noise, but wasn't awake enough to care.
•
Bucky
Bucky groans as his limbs correct themselves, the eyes disappearing and his face coming back to a normal, human-looking one. His body turns to normal human skin, except for his hands and feet, which stay white. He sits on the ceiling in the corner of Steve's room, watching quietly.
His wings and tail curl up and disappear.
Bucky crawls above Steve's bed before dropping down lightly, as to not wake the human. He lays beside Steve, watching him sleep.
He doesn't even notice, but he starts to purr. His eyes soften and he smiles.
But then he feels another presence and he's immediately up and ready to protect. He relaxes as he realizes it's just a demon, Jack.
"Do you need something?"
"Yes. You. Giving you a warning. What you just did for your little mortal toy-"
"He's not a damn toy! Also, I'm supposed to be his guardian!"
"You're not supposed to kill other mortals to keep him alive!"
Bucky growls, going quieter when he notices Steve shift in his sleep.
"The man deserved it. He was a monster."
"He's a human mortal. It's in his nature to be one. Just like that guy you're so keen to protect."
"Not Steve. He-"
But Jack doesn't bother hearing Bucky out.
"I don't care! Just don't do it again, or there will be consequences."
"Sure."
"I'm serious. The Seraphim are pissed."
Oh, so he's lying. Then he remembers something important."
"You mean the ones too busy praising God to keep an eye on humanity? You act like I did a great big bad thing."
"Because you did!"
"You're just mad you failed to take care of the human you were assigned to guard," Bucky points out.
"You killed him!"
"You let him out of your sight. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. Now will you shut up."
And Jack does. He glances away for a moment, and then he relaxes a little again.
". . . I get it, you were fond of your human. About as fond as I am of Steve. Hey, at least you'll see him in the afterlife."
"But he's going to hell."
"You can go there anytime, Jack. Now go away."
Jack nods, then glances at Bucky.
"At least I didn't interfere with mortal's lives and was seen," Jack says.
Bucky rolls his eyes and crawls back into place beside Steve.
Then he finally notices something about his hands. They've turned to a light gray color. Immediately, the room goes cold. He stares in shock before glancing at Steve.
He's aware of the punishments that may befall him if he interferes again. But he doesn't care at the moment.
Bucky notices Steve shiver, and turns the room warm again. He sighs softly.
The angel curls up next to Steve, closing his eyes. When nothing happens, he opens them again.
"That's how you humans gain energy? Eating and sleeping? It's interesting. Us angels don't do any of that. The way your bodies work disgust the others. But not me. I think you humans are beautiful. Especially you."
Bucky stays beside Steve the rest of the night, just watching him sleep.
When morning came, the angel turned his attention to the window, enjoying the sunrise.
The peaceful quiet was interrupted by an alarm, making Bucky jump.
"It's 5 already?" He mutters to himself, getting off of Steve's bed.
Bucky moves to stretch, having been stuck in one position for so long, he aches. Yeah, angels can cramp too. So, so many years of existence and he still wonders how some humans can sleep without much movement.
He looks over at the alarm clock, wanting to give in to impulse and just break it. He has a great dislike for such a sound. Then he glances over at Steve.
The angel crawls back onto the bed, wondering how he can wake Steve up with revealing his existence. He opts for blowing in Steve's ear, hearing a soft grunt that lets him know he succeeded. He moves as the human sits up and yawns.
Bucky watches Steve turn off the alarm and move on to his morning routine.