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Bucky honked for a fourth time; they were already late, and for John to not have been out already was weird.
Bucky was tempted to honk one more time, but he saw the front door open.
Even with the sunlight blocking most of his view, Bucky knew it was John. Cap on and clearly in a hurry.
"Hi, babe," John said as soon as he opened the car door.
"Hi"
John tossed his bag into the backseat and kissed Bucky on the cheek.
"Sorry, Ava occupied the bathroom for a whole hour. And Bob decided to burn breakfast, twice."
Bucky answered with a grunt.
His mind was elsewhere; he wasn't sure if it was his imagination or a light effect, but he saw something on John's face.
He didn't start the car.
He keeps looking at the side of John's face.
John finally gazed at Bucky without turning his whole face.
"What's up? We are late, babe."
"John, look at me, please."
Seconds passed.
John sighed and looked at Bucky, turning his whole face.
Bucky frowned, taking John's cap off.
His right eye was black, his lip was split, there was a big red bruise on his cheek, and there was another bruise that looked like it was between some knuckles or scrapes.
"Who did this to you?"
Bucky asked, concern in his voice.
John passed his tongue over his lips, pondering what to say.
"No one. I had an accident this morning; nothing serious."
It was clear that John did a bad job cleaning the wounds; he probably didn't go to the hospital for a CT scan.
"John, seriously, you look like you got jumped, and you want me to believe that shitty excuse?"
Bucky was caressing the outside of each bruise, making sure not to hurt John.
"Bucky, it's not an excuse."
John locked eyes with Bucky.
A soft smile appeared on John's face.
"I really love that you are so worried. You look like you are about to murder someone. But unless you want to fight a pole and the floor, there is nothing you can do about it."
John placed his hand above Bucky's.
They joined their foreheads like they were opposite magnets.
"And, first, I wouldn't lie to you about being beaten. Second, if I look like this, then the others would look worse. So trust me when I say it was an accident."
Bucky closed his eyes and let a soft sigh out.
"I trust you, only that you really look like shit. What were you doing out in the morning?"
John rolled his eyes.
"Couldn't sleep, so I went out with the cycle. It was still dark, so I didn't see the giant hole down the park."
Bucky couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"And I assume you didn't go to the hospital."
"Not like I got hit that hard. I was using my helmet."
Bucky pulled away and grabbed John's hand.
"Since we are already running late for classes, let's go to the hospital first.
John groaned and only shook his head.
A big smile now brightening his face.
And Bucky was also feeling his own mouth curving upwards.
He finally started the car.