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“Oh, come on, Buck. You know I can’t dance.”
Bucky chuckled, tugging on Steve’s hand. “It’s not that hard. I’ll show you. And besides, you’re good at everything, right?”
“I don’t know about that…”
“Well, I do. You’ll pick it up real fast.”
“I can’t, really,” Steve insisted. He glanced around the dance hall from the side wall, where he and Bucky stood. The room was lit with a warm glow and full of couples swinging. The music was just the right volume and was impossible to dislike. Steve surveyed the space one more time, then turned back to his best friend. “Look, even if I wanted to, which I don’t, we can’t just, you know, dance. Together.”
“Yes, we can!” With a final pull, Bucky brought Steve out to the dance floor, his hand finding Steve’s waist with no hesitation. He began to slowly sway back and forth, aligned with the tempo of the song. It was nice, like the two of them moved at such a pace that they slowed down time until they were in their own world.
Bucky began to hum along with the band, giving Steve a soft look that surely all the girls would find romantic. Steve smiled, because naturally, he adored that look, especially when it was directed at him. Still, he asked, “I thought you wanted to come with me tonight because you wanted to find yourself a nice gal.”
“Is it so hard for you to believe that I’d rather spend my night with you?” Bucky asked back, pulling in Steve just a little bit closer. It was then that Steve decided to let go of all of complicated thoughts and really started to enjoy the night. He closed his eyes and let Bucky spin him around. Despite what he thought, he actually wasn’t that bad of a dancer.
The band transitioned from ballad to swing, so Steve and Bucky picked up the pace. They laughed as Steve stumbled over his feet before finding the rhythm, and soon enough, they were naturals. Bucky even gave Steve a twirl, which made him blush furiously. He couldn’t look at Bucky after that, because he knew that if he did, his face would burn like wildfire.
A few songs later, they took a break. Steve, thankfully, felt his cheeks cool down, and he stood by a tall table as Bucky went to get drinks. He watched the other dancers with joy. In the past, he had always been envious. Or maybe just worried, worried that he would never find the right partner.
Even when I have nothing, I have Bucky, Steve happily thought to himself.
In his periphery, Steve saw a strong figure approaching. He thought it was just Bucky, but the man who stepped in front of him was far from familiar.
Steve cleared his throat. “Do you need something?” He kept his words even and calm, as if he was just asking how the weather was.
“Had a quick question for you,” the man said in a gruff tone.
Quickly, more quickly than he’d care to admit, Steve became frightened. But he knew he had to stand his ground. “Yes?”
“You don’t have yourself a lady, do you?”
“No.”
“So, who was that man you were dancing with?”
Steve sighed. This was just what he was afraid of. “It’s a misunderstanding, he’s just my friend—”
The man picked up Steve by the collar before he could finish. He gasped and tried to swing his limbs around, but try as he might, he was just too small.
“I’ll teach ya a lesson about doing something like that, you freak!” the man shouted, his eyes wide and crazy and angry.
“No!” Steve cried, flailing helplessly. “You don’t understand!”
“I understand plenty. You’re first. Then I’ll get your stupid friend.”
“Wait, please! Don’t!”
Before the man could say anything, a glass shattered upon hitting the back of his head.
“I won’t tell you twice, so you better listen,” Bucky threatened, practically growling like an attack dog. Steve was relieved to see him, standing with closed fists and a ready stance behind the man. “Put. Him. Down.”
“I’m not taking orders from no sissy,” the man snarled.
“I tried to warn you,” Bucky said with a shrug, swiftly kicking the back of the man’s knees. He screamed, dropping Steve and turning around to face Bucky. Steve watched from the floor, a defenseless heap of haphazard skinny limbs.
“Buck, be careful!” he called, even though Bucky was the best fighter he knew. Bucky flashed Steve a grin, then started throwing punches.
It didn’t take long for the man to realize how string Bucky was. And it also didn’t take long for someone to spot the brawl, see the blood, and kick out both of the ruffians. Steve pushed his way through the curious crowd and their suspicious whispers, all the way until he made it outside.
Rain was pouring down and the bully was nowhere to be seen. Bucky was right outside the venue, sitting on the curb. He was already soaking wet. His brilliant brown hair was slicked back, smooth as velvet.
For a moment, the two locked eyes. Steve from above, taller, for once. Bucky below, where he hardly ever was. They become more and more drenched by the second. Their gaze conveyed so much: Steve was eternally grateful for Bucky. Bucky was just happy that his best friend wasn’t harmed.
“Sure made a scene in there, you punk,” Bucky said, smiling.
Steve gave a single laugh. “That was all you. Jerk.”
Bucky rose to his feet, closing the distance and wrapping his string arms around Steve. “I am so, so sorry,” he whispered, leaning down to reach Steve’s ear. “I should’ve listened to you, and I shouldn’t have left you.”
“Hey, it’s ok. It’s ok.”
They were silent, but the pound of rain on the street was loud enough to resemble drums.
That gave Steve an idea.
He pulled back and looked at Bucky, whose face was full of bad ideas. “James Buchanan Barnes, may I have this dance?”
Bucky scoffed endearingly. “Steven Grant Rogers, you may.”
Just like in the dance hall, they wrapped their arms around each other and swayed. It was easy to imagine nature as a symphonic band, lively and joyous. Bucky went back to humming, and Steve rested his head on Bucky’s chest, feeling the vibration of his voice and heartbeat.
As they danced down the lamplit street, it seemed to Steve that Bucky really wasn’t lying about wanting to spend his nights with him. Maybe Bucky didn’t need to worry anymore about finding himself a gal. Maybe…he already had the right partner.