Work Text:
Steve Rogers was beginning to think something was seriously wrong with him… Not physically, he was fine, in fact stronger than ever… Not mentally, well, maybe a little, but not in a diagnosable way, I mean he could stare down armed militias without flinching, he could deliver speeches to packed stadiums, fight aliens, and field questions from the U.N. without breaking a sweat… But put Congressman James Buchanan Barnes in the same room? Suddenly Steve was a walking disaster… Every time Congressman James Buchanan Barnes so much as looked at him, Steve turned into a bumbling mess.
The first time had been at a charity gala, Barnes had just arrived and said hi to Steve, Steve couldn’t even say hi back, his throat was tight suddenly, he had reached for a glass of water, knocked the whole tray over, and soaked his uniform... Barnes had simply handed him a napkin with a polite, “Careful there, Captain,” before moving on to charm half the donors in the room, no wink, no smirk, just polite… Steve had stood there looking at his soaked up pants, ears red, wondering what was wrong with him.
The second time was in the Capitol lobby, Barnes brushed past him with a warm “Good Morning, Captain Rogers,” and Steve, distracted by the warmth in his tone, walked directly into a marble column, Barnes hadn’t even slowed down, didn’t laugh, didn’t tease, just kept walking like nothing happened, while Sam nearly sprained something trying not to laugh out loud.
The third time was the infamous handshake, routine photo op, Steve extended his hand, Barnes clasped it firmly, gave him a professional nod, and that was it, normal, perfectly normal… Except Steve forgot how to let go, and ended up gripping Barnes’ hand about three seconds too long, the cameras caught it, of course, Steve’s ears blazing, Barnes looking politely puzzled, the internet had a field day.
Steve told himself it was nerves or jet lag or maybe something he ate, but every time he caught Barnes’ eye across a crowded room and got nothing more than a courteous nod in return, Steve’s stomach twisted, Barnes didn’t even see him that way, and he was Captain America, blushing like a teenager over a congressman who was just being… nice.
The day of the hearing, Steve swore he’d get a grip, uniform pressed, answers prepared, posture steady… He was Captain America, he was ready.
Then Barnes walked in, the suit was sharp, tailored just right, charcoal gray with just enough structure to make him look untouchable, like he owned every room he walked into, the crisp white shirt underneath only made the deep, understated tie stand out more, it was simple, elegant, but commanding, like he doesn’t need flash to draw attention, because all eyes are already on him, especially Steve’s… And then his hair, long, pushed back but not perfectly, like he ran his hand through it in frustration or thought and it just stayed that way, it framed his face in this maddeningly casual yet deliberate style, making him look both powerful and slightly uncontrollable, the kind of combination that left Steve weak in the knees.
Barnes’ expression was unreadable, composed in front of everyone, but his eyes, steady, sharp, impossibly intense… Steve felt like they could cut right through him if they ever turned his way, and suddenly Steve wanted nothing more than to be the one he let them slip to.
It was the kind of look that made Steve want to forget where he was, forget the crowd, the press, everyone in that court room and just… stare… Because Barnes was not just wearing a suit, he was wearing control, and it’s unfair how good he looked doing it… Steve was sweating from places he never thought he could sweat from…
The questioning started fine, standard procedure, Steve kept it together until Barnes leaned into his microphone and asked, “Captain Rogers, do you consider yourself accountable to the American people… or do you believe your own judgment is above the law?”
It was sharp, pointed, and fair, Steve could have answered it in his sleep, instead, he sat there, staring at Barnes’ mouth, brain short-circuiting, silence stretched, cameras clicked… Finally, he mumbled, “I-I believe in protecting freedom, tha- that sometimes means… uh… mak- making … ahem… judgment calls!”
Sam coughed behind him, loud, suspiciously like laughter.
Barnes simply nodded, writing something down, expression unreadable, just professional composure, Steve wanted to crawl under the table.
He escaped the chamber as soon as the hearing adjourned, desperate for air, he was almost free when-
“Captain Rogers”
Barnes, jacket slung over his shoulder, sleeves rolled, looking maddeningly relaxed.
“Congressman Barnes” Steve said stiffly.
Barnes gave him a polite smile, stopping a step away, “Please, call me Bucky” he stepped a little bit closer, Steve almost took a step back, “Didn’t think Captain America would get nervous answering a few questions”
“I wasn’t nervous,” Steve said too fast.
One brow arched, Barn- Bucky studied him, head tilted, lips twitching like he was fighting a smile, “Oh, yeah? So your ears just flush red like that all the time?”
Steve swallowed hard, trying not to combust, “Barnes-”
“What?” Barnes leaned in, even closer, close enough Steve could feel the warmth of him, his voice dropped, smooth and sure “Don’t tell me you’ve got a crush on your congressman, Steve”
Steve froze, absolutely froze... “I-… what-… no-… I-…”
That smile finally bloomed, slow and wicked, Bucky clapped a hand against his chest like he was humoring him, “Relax, Rogers, I’m flattered actually, take it easy!!” He nodded and left, then turned back, got, yet, even closer to Steve, leaned over, then, lower, right at his ear:
“Lucky for you… I happen to like a man in uniform…” voice, low, deep… And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving Steve standing there like a statue.
From behind him, Sam’s voice rang out, smug and far too delighted:
“Damn, Cap!! You’ve got it bad!!”
Steve groaned into his hands, he could fight Nazis, aliens, killer robots, Thanos for crying out loud, but James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes? He didn’t stand a chance.