Winter's First Snow

Frosted Glass

          "What do you mean I should take him home?!" Bucky was shouting at a nurse that had given him the news that there was literally nothing that they could do for Steve. "I mean sir, that he would be much more comfortable at home in his own bed with the people he loves most. He's a fighter that boy but we can all only fight for so long." Bucky looked like he was about to blow up at the woman but before he had the chance the boy in question piped up from where he had sat up in his bed. "Buck, she's right. I'll be more comfortable and a lot happier just being at home. C'mon Buck take me home."
          Bucky looked at Steve. He remembered that from somewhere. Like Steve had said it to him before... He had. They were probably in the eighth grade and they were sitting under a tree out behind the school after it had ended. Steve was eating an apple that his mother had put in his bag that morning. Bucky had been talking about the big bully of the school saying how Steve should just stand up to him and kick his ass. "You could do it Steve, you should do it. If you never stand up and push back they're just gonna keep doing it to you..." Steve shook his head at Bucky looking at him like he was insane. "Buck he's probably two feet taller than me and a hundred pounds heavier." The other boy was a tenth grader from the highschool just down the road. In the memory Bucky looked back at steve and gave him the same look Steve was giving him but it was somehow more comical and Steve couldn't help but snicker and shove at Bucky's shoulder.
        What neither of the boys had realized in that moment was that the tenth grader and his group of goons had been standing behing a close by trash can listening to everything that the pair had said. Especailly the insults from Bucky's own mouth. The next day was a tragedy. Steve was walking out of the school building towards the tree that him and Bucky would sit at for a little while each day after school would be let out, when he was suddenly grabbed and thrown over someones shoulder like he was a small sack of potatoes. He shreiked and struggled trying to get away from his attacker. He was thrown onto the ground on the other side of the school by the dumpsters. It knocked the wind from his lungs as his body hit the floor. He rolled onto his back groaning and spasdically rushed himself off the ground and tried to run which was a mute point. He was stopped and held by both arms while Jared started throwing punches. Steve's knees buckled as Jared landed a punch right in his stomach. Steve groaned and was dropped by Jareds goons for a few seconds.
           He was then picked up again and thrown against the wall where Jared pinned him there by his scrawny shoulders. Soon enough everything stopped. As though it was frozen in time. There were no longer hands on Steve's shoulders. His eyes were shut, he was afraid that Jared was just reeling back for a punch to the nose or the eye. But when Steve slowly opened his eyes he saw Bucky trying to throw punches at Jared. The older boy looked a little surprised that Bucky was fighting back but he knew damn well that Bucky stood no chance. "Buck STOP!" Steve really didn't want Bucky to get hurt. Jared sneered at Steve and Bucky before he simply shoved Bucky aside and walked away. Bucky was still shouting at him even when he couldnt be seen. "Fuck you, you goddamn asshole! Motherfucker!" Steve touched Bucky's shoulder softly. He stopped yelling and took deep breaths. "C'mon Buck, take me home." Whenever Steve said that it always meant that he would never stop aspiring even when some asshole would kick him down hed get back up. Bucky looked at Steve slowly. "Jesus Stevie..." Steve nodded, he knew what he looked like. For gods sake he looked in the damn mirror every day. Bucky looked at Steve now, where he sat on the hospital bed, looking just as small and broken as
he had in middle school. "Shit Stevie. C'mon. Lets go home."
He offered Steve his shoulder to support him while he got up out of the bed. They both slowly made their way out of the hospital and into a cab and eventually on their way home.
        The only thing the doctor had given steve were some vitamins to enhance his immune system and some cough syrup. It was like the doc was saying right to his face: 'sorry kid but you're really not gonna make it.' Bucky looked at Steve while he got out of the cab. He was groggy, and his whole body moved like he was a living jar of molasses. The pair of young men slowly went up the stairs and into their apartment. Steve made straight for the bedroom and plopped himself onto the bed. Bucky went for the kitchen and made Steve some tea. He put a spoonful of honey and a splash of milk, just the way Steve liked. And also as a way to soothe Steve's throat. He slowly carried the teacup into their bedroom and placed it on the bedside table. He sat on the edge of the bed and stroked the hair away from Steve's face. "I love you Stevie..." Bucky whispered as he leaned down
and kissed Steve on the cheek. Steve smiled and let himself
drift off to sleep. It was late for him. going on ten. Bucky had to leave for work soon. He walked out of the bedroom and made himself a cup of coffee on the stove and sat on the couch with a book. He had to keep himself occupied for a little while. If he wasnt doing something he would break down. And he couldnt do that now. He had to be strong for Steve. He always had been and therefore he would always have to be. Even if his boyfriend was dying right in front of his very eyes...