Chapter Text
It’s a day like any other when Bucky Barnes gets betrothed.
The weather is nice and sunny and Bucky’s excited to spend what little money he’s saved up on a comic that he’s been eyeing for what feels like forever. While on his way to the comic store, however, the boy hears a commotion down an alley away. Backtracking a bit, Bucky quickly spots a trio of boys around his age, all surrounding something. Curiosity immediately overcomes him and he hurries to go and see what all the fuss is about.
What he finds makes his stomach instantly twist into knots. Caught in the middle of the other boys is the smallest kid Bucky has ever seen. He has blond hair, bright blue eyes, and pale skin. Upon his face is a fierce expression that says he’s about two seconds away from biting someone, even as the three around him push and shove at him. It isn’t long before Bucky also notices that, draped around the boy’s shoulders, is a strange looking coat. It’s as white as snow and looks soft and fuzzy. Just looking at it makes Bucky aware of just how warm it is and he vaguely wonders why anyone would be wearing something like it in this weather.
Before he can process it, however, one of the boys—Jimmy Nelson, Bucky recognizes, suddenly grabs hold of the coat with an ugly smile. “Let’s have it, Rogers!”
The boy’s eyes widen and he grips the coat tightly, desperately trying to pull it free from the older boy’s grasp. “No! Let go!”
“Hey!” Bucky yells, causing all four boys to look at him in unison. “Leave him alone!”
Jimmy lets go of the coat and takes a step towards the brunet. “Aw, c’mon, James,” he says, his voice sounding friendly, but underlined with a not so subtle edge. “We’re just havin’ a little fun!”
“I said, ‘leave him alone,’” Bucky repeats, unfazed. He balls his hands into fists and raises them, just like how his father showed him.
“You wanna fight?” Jimmy asks in mock laughter before his smile finally falls from his face entirely. “Why don’t you go back home to your filthy immigrant mother, Barnes?”
Bucky instantly feels his face begin to burn and he’s just about to throw his first punch when the kid with the coat suddenly launches himself onto Jimmy’s back, pulling his hair and hitting him with all he has. Just like that, the other boys spring into action and Bucky doesn’t hesitate to join the fray. Time is quickly lost in between all the punching and kicking and even occasional biting. The only thing Bucky is truly aware of is keeping the smaller boy safe. Before he knows it, the three assailants are running off, bloodied and beaten.
Bucky huffs a few breaths as he watches them go. “Next time, pick on someone your own size!” He yells after them for good measure.
He then spits on the ground and turns back to the smaller boy. He’s covered in scrapes and fresh bruises and his nose is bleeding in earnest. Bucky knows he’s in a similar state, but he’s still shaky with adrenaline and it makes the aches and pains dull for now. He’s about to ask the boy if he’s okay when the sight of his coat on the ground catches Bucky’s eye.
Wiping his hands on his pants, he bends down to pick it up. As he does, he faintly registers that the boy makes some kind of noise in protest, but Bucky is immediately overcome with such a strange feeling that he doesn’t even acknowledge it. The coat is as soft as it looks and Bucky’s fingers quickly begin to tingle as he holds it. His head feels weirdly light and his heart subtly begins to pick up the pace. He tries to speak, but finds that he has to swallow a couple times before he can even get a sound out. Oddly enough, the boy seems to be in a similar position.
“H-Here you go,” Bucky stammers.
The boy breathes deeply, his eyes the size of the moon. With a trembling hand, he grabs the coat. As soon as he does, Bucky is hit with the sudden desire to pull it back and run away with it, just so the boy can’t have it. Maybe he’d even chase after Bucky to get it back and isn’t that a thought? Bucky suddenly wants that very, very much. He feels his grip tighten ever so slightly, his feet ready to move, before he closes his eyes tight and shakes his head rapidly.
He lets go of the coat all at once and watches as the boy gingerly takes it back and wraps it around his shoulders once more. As soon as he does, all the strange thoughts and feelings suddenly disappear, leaving behind a new weight inside his chest. Bucky rubs at it, frowning. It’s not an unpleasant sensation, he decides. It kind of feels like how watching a fish swimming feels, if it were to feel like anything, he supposes. It takes him a second to notice that the boy is rubbing his chest now, too.
“So, um… My name’s James,” he says dumbly. “My friends call me ‘Bucky.’”
Bucky’s words seem to jolt the boy free from his dazed state and his face immediately scrunches up. “‘Bucky?’”
“Short for ‘Buchanan.’ That’s my middle name.” the brunet explains. “It’s loads better than being called ‘Jim’ or ‘Jimmy,’ like every other kid in school, anyways.”
“Fair enough,” the boy nods. He sniffs and rubs at his bloody nose. “My name’s Steve.”
Bucky winces at Steve’s nose on his behalf. “That looks rough, pal… You live ‘round here?”
“Yeah. My ma’s a nurse, too. She won’t be home for a while, though…”
“Well,” Bucky drawls. “My mom’s no nurse, but she can set ya straight. C’mon, home’s this way.”
Steve almost looks like he’s going to protest, but he eventually ends up nodding instead. Bucky can’t help but smile, the weight in his chest pleasantly rushing through him. As if he’s done it all his life, the boy swings an arm around Steve’s tiny shoulders and pulls him close to his side before beginning the walk home. Steve winces at the force of it, but he quickly smiles up at Bucky and allows himself to be pulled along.
On the way home, Bucky learns that Steve is six, only one year younger than him. He also learns that Steve is an only child in contrast to Bucky’s two younger sisters, his pa died in the war that Bucky’s father fought in, and that both their mothers are immigrants—Irish and Romanian, respectfully. He also learns some fun stuff about him too, like what he likes to do for fun and how cool it is that when they put their names together, it’s almost the same as the comic hero ‘Buck Rogers’.
By the time they arrive at Bucky's front steps, both boys are tired and aching and all the brunet wants is to take a big ol nap. Judging by Steve’s sluggish pace, Bucky’s sure he feels the same. So without a moment’s hesitation, he opens the door and leads the blond inside.
“Mom! I’m home!” He calls before turning to the other boy and gesturing to the coat rack by the door. “You can hang your coat up there.”
Steve, however, simply shakes his head and pulls it tighter around himself. “S’okay.”
Just then, Becca appears from around the corner and does a double take. Her eyes widen at the sight of Steve and Bucky’s injuries and her mouth falls open. “What the heck happened to you?”
“Jimmy Nelson,” Bucky replies, not bothering to hide his disgust. “Can ya get mom? Steve here got hit pretty good and his nose is in rough shape.”
Becca promptly runs off, calling for their mother along the way. In the meantime, Bucky leads Steve to the kitchen, knowing his mother would blow a fuse if either of them got any blood on any of the living room furniture. It isn’t long before Becca arrives with Winifred Barnes in tow. Bucky notices Steve stiffening in his seat a bit at her arrival. Without a word, Bucky places his hand on the other boy’s lower back, giving a casual wave with his other hand.
“Hey, mom,” he says.
“James Buchanan Barnes, what on earth—?”
“Jimmy Nelson,” both Bucky and Becca answer simultaneously.
Bucky’s mother closes her eyes and inhales deeply before asking Becca to go grab the medicine kit from the bathroom. Becca is once again gone in a flash, leaving Bucky and Steve to face her ire. Instead of yelling or scolding like she usually does when Bucky comes home more scraped up than necessary, however, the woman simply heaves a big sigh and opens her eyes.
“So. You got in a fight, did you?”
“Yes,” Bucky nods, already preparing himself to plead his and Steve’s case.
Before he can begin, however, Steve suddenly pipes up. “It was my fault, ma’am. I picked a fight with Jimmy first. Bucky only came to help me. He only wanted to help.”
Bucky’s mother stares at Steve for a moment before glancing back at Bucky. “Is that what happened, James?”
Bucky nodded wordlessly. His mother watches the boys for a moment longer before the tension in her face smooths out a bit.
Looking back at Steve she asks, “You’re Sarah’s boy, aren’t you?”
Steve nods. “Yes, ma’am. My name’s Steve.”
Bucky watches his mother smile just a smidge at that and it’s then he remembers her talking with his father once or twice about a friend of hers named Sarah. Does this mean his mother is friends with Steve’s ma? Maybe then, after his mother patches Steve up, they can see each other again! Maybe they can even become friends! The thought suddenly makes Bucky really happy.
Just then, Becca arrives with the medicine kit. Their mother thanks her, sends her on her way, and gets to work on fixing up the two boys. Bucky can’t help but wince and squirm under the ache of his mother pressing against his wounds and the sting of the rubbing alcohol. Steve, in comparison, stays relatively still and Bucky can’t help but marvel at it.
“So,” Bucky’s mother begins as she patches up the blond’s knee. “How’d you get into a fight with Jimmy, Steve?”
The younger boy seems to grow sheepish and he begins to fiddle with the hem of his shorts. “He was trying to take my coat,” he says softly.
Bucky’s mother tenses at that and looks up at Steve. “Did he?”
Steve meets her eyes and shakes his head. “No, ma’am. Bucky stopped him.”
Bucky nods, his chest swelling with pride. “Yeah. Steve did end up droppin’ it at some point, but it’s okay, ‘cause I gave it back to him!”
Instead of Bucky’s mother praising him for his actions, she suddenly becomes deathly still. Slowly, she turns to him. “You...gave it back to him?”
Suddenly, Bucky begins to feel nervous. The look his mother is giving him isn’t one he’s ever seen before. “...Yes?”
Bucky’s mother grows silent and Bucky can feel Steve tensing up beside him. The boy looks between the two, feeling more confused than ever. Did he do something wrong? Was it bad he gave Steve his coat back? Surely it wasn’t. His mother and father had always taught Bucky to be kind and helpful, after all. Giving someone’s coat back was being kind and helpful! So why then were his mother and Steve acting like it was something bigger than that?
“Are ya gonna tell my ma?” Steve asks quietly, interrupting Bucky’s thoughts.
Oh, so was that it then? He shouldn’t have touched Steve’s coat because his ma was going to be mad? Immediately, Bucky worries that Steve’s ma might not be a good one. He’d heard of a few parents that were extremely strict about certain things for no real good reason. There was once a girl at school who had accidentally spilled juice on her brand new dress and came back the next day with a difficult time sitting down. No one asked her about it, but they didn’t need to. They all knew what happened. With a tiny bit of dread, Bucky realizes that fur coats, real or not, are expensive. He then immediately wonders if this is the reason why Steve didn’t squirm while his mother patched him up...
Despite Bucky’s worries, his mother insists that she has to tell Steve’s ma what happened and the blond reluctantly relents. As Bucky’s mother leaves the kitchen to go phone the hospital where Steve’s ma works, the two boys are left alone. For a while, they’re quiet and keep to themselves, but when Bucky hears Steve begin to sniffle, he can’t stand the distance anymore.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” He asks, immediately turning to Steve and reaching out to brush the newly formed tears from his lashes.
“I jus’ don’t want my ma to get mad,” he whispers.
Bucky frowns, unsure of what to say. All he knows is that seeing Steve cry makes his chest feel heavy and still and he hates it. Without really thinking about it, he scoots in close and wraps his arms around the other boy. Steve startles a bit, but it isn’t long at all until he wraps his arms around Bucky in return. The brunet hesitates for a moment before he starts to rub the other boy’s back, hoping that he finds it comforting. Of course, it means he’s touching the boy’s coat again, but he supposes the damage has already been done. As he continues to rub Steve’s back, he’s once again taken by how soft his coat is. He also notices that, strangely, there isn’t even a speck of dirt on it left from the fight to ruin its pristine whiteness.
He’s just about to ask Steve how that is when his mother renters the room. The two pull away from each other and Bucky quietly misses the feeling of Steve’s arms around him already. Bucky’s mother has an odd expression on her face upon seeing the boys hugging, but she doesn’t say anything about it. Instead, she quickly focuses her attention on Steve.
“Your mother will be here in a moment, Steven,” she says.
“She’s not gonna be in trouble, right?” Steve asks, his blue eyes wide and fearful.
Bucky’s mother shakes her head. “No, don’t you fret. She’s telling everyone at the hospital it’s an emergency. She’ll be here soon, you’ll see.” Steve sniffles and nods, carefully wiping at his nose. She then turns her attention towards Bucky. “James? It’ll be a moment before Steven’s mother arrives. Why don’t you two go upstairs and play? Carefully, might I add. No rough housing with those bruises.”
Bucky immediately brightens upon hearing his mother’s suggestion and nods. “Okay! C’mon, Steve,” he says, grabbing the smaller boy’s hand.
Steve doesn’t have a chance to reply as Bucky excitedly pulls him along towards the stairs. He quickly races up the steps, only for Steve to suddenly stop halfway. Bucky turns and is about to ask what’s the hold up, only to find Steve doubled over. His heart instantly freezes and he quickly kneels down beside him.
“Whoa, hey! What’s the matter?”
“A-Asthma,” Steve eventually coughs. “Gimme a sec...”
Bucky frowns, but nods. “Yeah, sure.”
A few moments pass as the pair wait for Steve’s breathing to even out. Slowly, his wheezing dies down and he fitfully rubs his eyes.
“You okay?”
Steve clears his throat and nods, though he looks really tired now. “Yeah... Jus’ can’t go fast like that. Ma says my lungs don’t work right.”
“Gosh, I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean…” Bucky begins, but Steve quickly shakes his head.
“S’okay. Ya didn’t know.”
When Steve is finally settled, the pair slowly stand up and make their way upstairs at a much more leisurely pace. Once they’re inside his room, Bucky quickly brushes his worry away and begins to show Steve around. The blond is mostly silent while he talks, still coughing occasionally, but he pays close attention and giggles whenever Bucky says or does something amusing. After he’s done showing Steve his ever growing comic collection, Bucky then moves on to the main attraction; his toys. He’s got cards, jacks, marbles, and even a baseball for when the neighborhood kids want to play. But the toy he currently has his eye on blows all of em out of the water. Retrieving a part of it, Bucky turns to Steve to show him.
“Wanna play with this? It’s part of my new train set! I got it for my birthday last month.”
Steve’s face immediately lights up at the sight of the train car in Bucky’s hand. “Whoa, really?”
Bucky smiles back and nods. “Yeah! Consider yourself lucky, pal; I haven’t even let my sisters touch em!”
A little while passes and Bucky is absolutely certain that Steve Rogers is the best playmate anyone could ever ask for. He’s creative and funny and he never ever shuts down Bucky’s more outlandish ideas. If anything, he encourages them and adds onto them in ways Bucky couldn’t predict. Sure, Steve says he can’t run around too much or play baseball due to his asthma, but Bucky finds that he couldn't care less about that. He’s pretty sure that if Steve was ever to be bedridden for days on end, he would still enjoy spending time with him anyways.
While they’re still playing, however, Becca suddenly barges into the room unannounced. Steve visibly jumps and Bucky scowls at her. “Becca, what the heck!”
“Steve’s ma is here,” she says, by way of explanation. “Dad, too.”
“And ya couldn’t be bothered to knock, because…?”
Becca makes a face as if the very idea is offensive and leaves before Bucky can say anything else. The boy shakes his head. He can’t believe he’s related to her some days.
Out of the corner of his eye, Bucky sees Steve take a deep breath and clutch at his coat just a bit tighter. Bucky turns to him and nudges him gently. “Hey. It’s gonna be alright. I’m with ya, pal.”
Steve smiles at that and nods. “Thanks, Bucky.”
Bucky smiles back before standing up and offering his hand. Steve takes it and, to Bucky’s surprise, doesn’t let go afterwards. Bucky feels the weight in his chest swirl around—almost like it’s dancing at the connection—and his face soon becomes oddly warm. He spares a glance towards Steve’s face and finds the other boy in a similar position. He swallows hard and lets out small breath.
“L-Let’s go.”
As Bucky begins to lead Steve back downstairs, he sees his other sister, Beth, watching them with wide and curious eyes from her and Becca’s bedroom door. “Who’s that?” She asks.
Before Bucky can answer, Becca calls out from their room, “His new best friend, Steve!”
Beth’s eyes get even wider and her lower lip quickly begins to quiver. “What?”
Bucky immediately scowls. “Shut your trap, Becca!”
“Make me!”
The boy rolls his eyes with a soft groan before giving Beth his best smile. “Don’t listen to her, Betsy; you’re still my best girl.”
“...Promise?”
“Course! When have I ever lied to ya, huh?”
The little girl then gives a small smile before going back into her room, likely to try and scold her big sister for ‘telling lies.’ With breaking a five year old’s heart narrowly avoided, Bucky goes back to leading Steve downstairs. When they begin walking down the steps, he sheepishly glances at Steve.
“Sorry ‘bout my sisters. They can be real nosy.”
“’S okay,” Steve says. “I kinda always wanted siblings. Always seemed like fun.”
“It can be,” Bucky admits. “I just wish they minded their own business.”
Steve laughs a bit and looks like he’s about to say more but, once they enter the living room, he suddenly falters. There, on the sofa, talking in a hushed voice with Bucky’s mother, is Steve’s ma. Bucky’s first thought is that she’s real pretty and when she turns fully towards them, he can instantly see which features Steve ended up getting from her. At the sight of her son, her eyes widen a bit and she quickly stands before kneeling down with her arms outstretched.
“Steven!”
In an instant, Steve lets go of Bucky’s hand and rushes towards his ma. As he watches the blond immediately bury himself in the woman’s arms, any fears Bucky might’ve had about her are quickly forgotten. She quietly coos at him and breathes him in for a moment before eventually pulling away.
“Mo ghrá, are ya alright? Winnie says ya got into a fight,” she says, taking in all of his scrapes and bruises.
“’M alright, ma.”
“You’re certain?”
Steve nods and she pulls him into another hug. Bucky watches them for a moment before looking towards his own mother. She beckons him over and he obliges, sitting down on the sofa beside her and leaning into her space a bit. It’s then he notices his father is also in the room, sitting in his chair and watching the scene unfold before them. He gives Bucky a nod and a smile and the boy smiles back.
“James,” his mother says, placing a gentle hand on his back. “This is Steve’s mother, Sarah Rogers.”
Bucky looks at her and extends his hand like his father taught him to. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Miss Sarah smiles and shakes his hand. “It’s very nice to meet ya, James. Thank ya for helpin’ my boy.”
Bucky quickly nods. “O’course! Jimmy Nelson is the worst.”
Miss Sarah bursts into laughter. “So I’ve heard.”
Immediately, Bucky decides he really likes Miss Sarah. Stealing a glance at Steve, he sees the other boy is visibly more relaxed than before, seemingly happy that he and his ma are getting along.
“Well,” Bucky’s father begins. “Don’t you worry; we’ll be having a talk with that boy and his folks. This isn’t the first time James has had an encounter with him.”
Miss Sarah’s face turns grim and she nods. “Steve has crossed paths with him a few times, too.” Her grip around Steve’s shoulders then tightens slightly. “No one has ever tried to take his coat before, though.”
Bucky’s parents exchange a glance and Bucky quickly frowns. At this point, he definitely feels like he’s being left out of knowing something rather important. Miss Sarah doesn’t seem mad at all about Bucky touching Steve’s coat, like he thought she’d be, but there’s still something about Steve’s coat in general that worries her. He can see it in the way she holds her son close and the way Steve wraps the garment just a bit tighter around his shoulders. He also sees it in the way his parents, especially his mother, are looking at each other.
So, with a twinge of annoyance, Bucky finally huffs, “What’s so special ‘bout his coat, anyways?”
All four of them turn to look at Bucky and, for the smallest moment, he regrets saying anything. Nevertheless, he sits up a bit straighter, not allowing himself to back down. He quickly catches Steve’s eye and the blond looks up to his ma, almost as if asking her for permission. Miss Sarah returns her son’s gaze and sighs heavily.
“...I suppose this is something we can discuss over dinner,” Bucky’s mother says after a moment.
“Oh, Winnie,” Miss Sarah begins, “Are ya sure? We don’t want to intrude…”
Bucky’s mother dismisses Miss Sarah with a wave of her hand. “James? George?” She says. “Why don’t you see if Miss Baker will be willing to watch Rebecca and Elizabeth for the evening?”
Bucky’s father nods and slowly stands from his chair, minding the leg he said got injured in the war. “C’mon, then, James.”
“Yes, dad,” Bucky relents.
Bucky’s mother, meanwhile, heads off to the kitchen and Miss Sarah immediately follows, insisting on helping her finish getting the food ready. Steve then gets up to follow his ma, but not before stealing a glance towards Bucky. The brunet's chest fills with warmth and he allows himself a smile before quickly following his father upstairs. When his father tells Becca and Beth that they’re having supper at Miss Baker’s tonight, Bucky can tell they’re a bit confused, but they don’t question it much as they begin to get ready. Still, Beth does ask why Bucky isn’t joining them like he usually does when they go to Miss Baker’s.
“We have to have a talk with him, that’s all,” their father says.
“Oooh, Bucky’s in trouble!” Becca singsongs.
“No one’s in trouble. Now hurry up and wash your hands, little miss.”
By the time Bucky and his father have dropped off the girls and made it back home, the table is set and Bucky’s mother and Miss Sarah have finished setting the last of the food down. They take a seat and Bucky, much to his joy, finds himself ending up next to Steve. The pair share a smile.
“So,” Miss Sarah begins before the unsettled quiet from before can settle. “Bucky? Can I ask ya a few questions?”
Bucky nods.
She gives him a kind smile and asks, “Can ya tell me exactly what happened with Jimmy earlier today?”
“Well...I saw Jimmy and two of his friends beatin’ on Steve. I stopped em and, um… Steve’s coat fell on the ground at some point. I picked it back up and gave it to him.”
“I see. And did ya feel anythin’ when ya first touched his coat? Anythin’ strange?”
The boy blinks in surprise. “Yeah. Yeah, I did. I…” He trails off then, glancing at Steve and then his parents.
“It’s alright, son. Go on,” his father encourages.
“Well, ya see, I… I thought about...stealing it,” he admits, shame quickly flooding through him. Before anyone else can say anything, he quickly continues. “But I wasn’t gonna, I swear! I’d never do that! Never ever!”
“It’s alright, lad. I believe ya,” Miss Sarah says. “Was there anythin’ else ya felt?”
“There is one more thing... I’ve been feelin’ a lil funny right here, sometimes.” Bucky then places a hand over his chest. He looks at Steve and he sees the blond’s eyes widen just a bit as he too places a hand over his own chest. Miss Sarah nods at this, as if she expected it.
“One last question, Bucky. Have ya ever heard of selkies?”
Bucky thinks for a bit. “I don’t think so.”
“Well, most people think they’re a myth from where I was born. I came to America from Ireland, ya see. But I can assure ya that they are as real as anythin’. They are people that can change their shape into seals, just by puttin’ on their seal coat and takin’ it off again.”
Bucky frowns a bit. For a moment, he almost thinks Miss Sarah is messing with him, but one look at both of his parents across the table is enough to tell him that she’s being serious. Plus, there’s the fact that she sounds so sincere and isn’t using that voice that some adults use when they tell him tall tales.
“So...how do you know they’re real?” He asks slowly.
Miss Sarah smiles again and places a hand on Steve’s back before she answers. “Because Steve and I are both selkies.”
Bucky blinks and looks at Steve. The blond doesn’t say anything and instead looks away, pulling his coat tighter around his shoulders. Immediately, something clicks in Bucky’s head.
“Is that why Jimmy wanted your coat? ‘Cause it’s a seal coat?”
Steve shakes his head. “Jimmy doesn’t know. He’s just a bully.”
“Regardless, a selkie’s coat is very, very special to them,” Miss Sarah continues. “It’s a part of them, just like their arm or their leg is. So, takin’ a selkie’s coat away can be very damagin’ to them. They become chained to whoever stole it, helpless to escape unless they manage to steal it back.”
A sudden sense of dread slams through Bucky. If he hadn’t been there to stop it, Jimmy Nelson would have taken Steve’s coat and he’d have been stuck with him. The thought of that scares Bucky terribly. And, even worse, he almost stole Steve’s coat, too. Sure, it was only for a second, but he still almost did it.
Before Bucky’s shame can fester too much, however, Miss Sarah places a gentle hand on his shoulder. “But say that someone were to willingly give back a selkie’s coat after handling it, that chain becomes a much more balanced connection,” she says. “Their souls are still tied, but no longer in a way that hurts the selkie.”
“So, what you’re sayin’ is is that Steve and I… We’re...tied together?” Bucky asks.
Miss Sarah nods. “That’s right.”
“...Will it stop?”
“It can. But it has to happen on its own.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Bucky notices his parents share a look, but he doesn’t know what to make of it.
“I hope it doesn’t stop,” he says finally.
Miss Sarah blinks and a surprised, if not amused, expression decorates her features. “Oh?”
Bucky simply nods with as much conviction as he can muster for a seven year old. “Steve is the best.”
Bucky catches Steve smiling at that and Miss Sarah’s smile widens, too. “I think so, too.”
The rest of dinner is pretty uneventful compared to Miss Sarah’s revelations. Bucky had asked Steve some questions about what it’s like being a selkie—like if he can talk to actual seals, or if he knows anyone else like him and his ma, or if he can maybe turn into a seal and show him right now. (Yes, no, and yes, but he would need some water first.) It was when Bucky tried asking Miss Sarah why she didn’t have a coat of her own like Steve, however, that his mother cut in and told him asking too many questions like he was was rude. So, despite feeling absolutely restless with curiosity still, Bucky tried his best to settle down some.
Thankfully, by that point, everyone was finished eating. As Bucky’s father goes over to Miss Baker’s to gather Becca and Beth, his mother ropes Bucky into helping her clean up. At first, Bucky focuses on washing the dishes before he turns to his mother. Knowing that Miss Sarah and Steve are only a few feet away in the living room, he begins to speak Romanian.
“Did you know Miss Sarah was a selkie?”
His mother’s hands still for a moment before they continue scrubbing. “I did.”
“And Steve?”
She nods.
“I like him,” he says after a bit. “He’s real fun to play with.”
Bucky’s mother is quiet for a while, before she visibly swallows. “I’m glad, James.”
By the time they’re done, Miss Sarah and Steve have been introduced to Becca and Beth—who regard the blond with interest and barely contained jealousy, respectfully. Despite this, Bucky is quick to realize that it looks like Miss Sarah is thanking his father for having them and is getting ready to leave.
He quickly approaches Steve and tugs on his sleeve. “Are ya leaving?”
“It’s getting late, James. Miss Sarah and Steve have to go home before it gets too dark outside,” Bucky’s mother says.
“Do I gotta go?” Steve asks his ma quietly, his eyes big and wide. “I wanna stay with Bucky...”
Miss Sarah frowns, clearly torn. “Steven…”
“Please, ma? I’ll be good, I promise.”
She sighs and looks to Bucky’s parents. “Well, if George and Winnie are alright with it, I suppose…”
Bucky immediately turns to his parents, too, quickly giving his best pleading face. “Mom? Dad? Can he stay? Can he? We don’t have school tomorrow!” They just had to let Steve stay over! They just had to!
His parents exchange a glance and after a wordless conversation, Bucky’s mother relents. “I suppose. We just need to find a place for Steve to sleep.”
Bucky lights up immediately. “It’s okay, mom! Steve can sleep in my room!”
Bucky’s mother looks like she wants to protest before his father places a hand on her shoulder. “It’s alright, Winnie. Just this once. You and Sarah go ahead and tuck them in. I’ll go put Rebecca and Elizabeth to bed.”
She lets out a sigh, silently nodding. Bucky smiles wide and quickly grabs Steve’s hand, eagerly leading him upstairs to his room once more, being sure to go slow enough to not trigger his asthma again. Once they’ve reentered the room, Bucky excitedly flops down onto his bed with a joyous laugh. He then sits up and begins pulling at Steve to join him. Steve laughs too and playfully tries to resist before their mothers enter the room as well.
“Settle down, you too,” Bucky’s mother gently scolds. Bucky lets go of Steve and the two fight back fits of giggles as the blond crawls up onto the bed. Once they both finally settle, Bucky’s mother takes the blanket and pulls it up to their chests. “You’ve both had quite a day. So make sure to get lots of rest tonight, you hear me?”
“Yes, mom,” Bucky says and he obediently snuggles further down into the comfort of his bed.
His mother smiles and gives his forehead a kiss before going to wait by the door for Steve’s ma. When Miss Sarah approaches the bed she beckons for Steve to sit up. Once he does, she takes his coat from his shoulders and drapes it over him like a second blanket when he lies back down. The soft white fur ends up tickling Bucky’s nose and he giggles. Steve laughs too and Miss Sarah smiles warmly at them. She then brushes Steve’s bangs from his face and kisses his forehead before leaning over further and even giving Bucky a kiss of his own.
“Sleep well, lads.”
With that, Miss Sarah and Bucky’s mother leave and the two are alone. Bucky fights a yawn and, after a moment, turns onto his side to face Steve.
“Selkie, huh?” He whispers.
“Mhm. Ma says I gotta be careful with who I tell. Says it can be dangerous for certain people to know.”
“That makes sense,” he agrees, once again thinking about Jimmy. “Although I guess you’re stuck with me now, huh?”
Steve laughs a bit. “Guess so.” There’s a slight pause before he speaks again. “You’re not mad about that, are ya?”
“Nah. This just means we’re gonna be best friends, right?”
In the dim light, Bucky can make out Steve’s face breaking out into a big smile. “Right.”
A yawn escapes Bucky then and he feels his eyes start to close. Before he drifts off completely, he feels Steve shuffle the tiniest bit closer to him and hears him let out a soft, contented sigh. “G’night, Bucky.”
“Good night Steve,” Bucky mumbles, his chest swirling with warmth as sleep gently takes him.
When Bucky wakes, the room is noticeably darker. The sound of Steve softly breathing next to him meets his ears and he can just barely see the shape of him. Suddenly, he’s caught by the urge to reach out and try to brush some of his golden hair away from his forehead, like he saw Steve’s ma do earlier, but he refrains from it. Instead, he swallows and quickly realizes that he’s thirsty. So, he quietly sits up and gets out of bed, careful not to wake his new friend.
Making his way downstairs, he begins to hear the sound of his parents and Steve’s ma talking in hushed voices. He pauses and thinks about going back to his room. His mother always said it was rude to eavesdrop, after all. Bucky begins to turn around when he suddenly hears his own name.
Oh. They’re talking about him.
Curiosity ultimately getting the best of him, Bucky decides to creep down the steps and try to make out what they’re saying. By the time he gets close enough to listen, he catches his mother let out a shaky breath. Her accent sounds thicker than usual, which only ever happens nowadays when she’s really and truly upset.
“I never thought that this would happen to my son. Never. I mean...he’s just a boy, Sarah.”
“I’m sorry, Winnie,” Miss Sarah says and she sounds like it, too.
“Is there any way it can be undone?” He hears his father ask, his voice sounding strange.
He hears Miss Sarah sigh. “Not in any way that matters. Steve and Bucky are tied together now, in whatever way they decide that to mean.”
“But you told me that someone willingly giving back a selkie’s coat makes them as good as married,” his mother says.
Bucky pulls up short. Married? Him and Steve? But that was something only grown ups did. And, sure, he’s already pretty certain that Steve is as swell as can be, but Bucky knows that being married means kissing each other a lot and staying together for forever. At least, that’s what his parents say. And then there’s the fact that he and Steve are both boys. Bucky’s never heard of two boys getting married before, only a boy and a girl. And yet here’s his mother, claiming Miss Sarah said it was so. All because he gave Steve his coat back.
Suddenly, he feels like he shouldn’t listen anymore and he quietly creeps back upstairs, his quest for water forgotten. When he reenters his room, Steve is awake and sitting up, rubbing at his eyes. When he notices Bucky, he quickly frowns.
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh?” Bucky asks dumbly.
Steve begins to rub his chest again and Bucky suddenly feels the urge to do the same. Instead, he takes Steve in. He realizes that the blond is still practically a stranger, but the few short hours they’ve known each other have been aces. He isn't sure about the whole ‘kissing’ part of the marriage deal, but the idea of staying with Steve for forever doesn’t sound half bad. Not really. If anything, it just sounds like they’d be best friends like Bucky originally thought, but better. They could have sleep overs every night and play all sorts of games together in that amount of time, after all! Surely the both of them being boys wouldn’t be such a bad thing if that’s all a marriage between them could mean.
So, Bucky shakes his head. “Nothin’.” He then makes his way over to his bed and sits next to Steve. “Does your chest hurt?”
Steve shakes his head. “Not really. It just feels weird. But not like how it usually feels. Feels like it’s fluttering.”
“Fluttering?”
“Mhm. Like a bird.”
“Huh.” Bucky pauses. “Mine feels all swirly. Like a fish.”
Steve smiles a that, giggling a little. “A fish?”
“Yeah! A fish swimmin’ around!”
“Or a seal,” Steve offers, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Bucky considers this and nods. “Sure. That, too.”
The pair sit in silence for a moment before Bucky hears Steve ask, “What do you think about seals?”
His voice is small when he asks, almost timid. When Bucky turns to look at him, the blond’s shoulders are hunched up, almost like he’s trying to curl in on himself and hide in the fluffiness of his coat. Bucky suddenly gets the feeling that however he answers could either make Steve very happy or hurt him terribly. And he’s absolutely certain that he never ever wants to hurt Steve.
So, trying to sound as confident as can be, he replies, “I think they’re great.”
Steve startles and looks up at the brunet, the beginning of a smile quickly forming on his lips. “Really?” Bucky nods and Steve absolutely beams. “Hey, Bucky?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you picked up my coat.”
Immediately, the swirling in Bucky’s chest turns into a roar and, before he realizes it, he’s smiling just as much as Steve.
“Me, too.”