Opposites Attract

Four

Saturday, a week after moving. Bucky, Christopher, Teddy and Rebecca were not going to be in school. Charlie was already preparing for college - Emma, to keep herself busy, was away most of the time looking for work. Both to help her parents, and to earn a little extra pocket money.

Bucky didn't mind that he wasn't attending school. Well, he did - but complaining about it would get him nowhere.

Besides, he was already learning a lot through Steve.

Bucky had made it his mission to befriend the blond. He came over when he could, which was usually after Steve's school, the "pretentious" school/Modern Hogwarts Bucky's dad had told him about.

It was Saturday.

Bucky leapt over to the balcony, quickly sitting on the railing and crossing his arms. "Hey, Steve baby," he teased. Steve rolled his eyes and smiled up at him, hunched over, doing some Socials homework.

"Still don't understand that nickname, Buck," he reminded. He didn't mind it; he'd just never had a nickname before.

"Suits you," Bucky explained. Steve's smile only grew as he shook his head. Bucky slid to sit beside him, looking over his shoulder.

"Civil War," Steve said, showing him the page, biting his lip as he thought. Bucky watched him quietly. "These parts of America disagreed on if slavery was good or not, the South and the North," he mused. Bucky propped his chin in his hand and listened as Steve listed off information neither would remember.

"What else do you do?" Bucky was lying on his back, looking at him upside down, his legs dangling between the white bars of the railing.

"Some sports, a bit of theatre, art class," Steve said dismissively, with a wave of his hand for good measure. "What about you?"

Bucky grinned. "I ain't putting up with that crap, no siree." Steve raised an eyebrow, gesturing for him to continue. "Well, you can tell we... aren't the richest on the block," he said, his tone lowering. Steve shrugged. "So, uh, we aren't in school yet. I'm at home watching the kids, making sure ma's comfortable."

Steve nodded silently.

"Anyway. I always loved science," Bucky continued, his eyes lighting up. Steve reveled in the moment, glad to see someone so happy with something seen as otherwise mundane.

He was surrounded by his parents, and students used to traveling first-class. Nobody he knew could take fifteen minutes to explain why space was beautiful for the smallest reasons.

Steve blinked when he saw Bucky wave a hand in front of his face. "You there, Stevie?"

He smiled and leaned against his door. "Yeah. Go on, Buck."

He could sit there and listen to him all day long.

////

Bucky decided over the next few days that he liked Steve. Steve, who was still very quiet, who had a subtle type of humour that went by unnoticed. Steve who secretly loved drawing cartoons, but never did because he was afraid of being judged for it. Steve, who was stubborn and hot-headed - and incredibly clever.

Bucky sighed softly as he worked on a puzzle with his mom. The other kids were outside, enjoying the sun. Steve was at school - Bucky was indoors.

"Was that a disappointed sigh or..?" Winifred glanced at him. Bucky smiled apologetically.

"Just thinking," he mused, tossing a puzzle piece between his hands. Winifred eyed him and softened, a smile on her face as she hummed. Bucky narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

"What?"

"I know what's going on here."

"Oh, really?" Bucky tried to reign in the sarcasm. His mother nudged him and he looked up again. She had that grin on her face. Bucky was growing red.

"Yep. There's a someone, isn't there," Winifred stated.

Bucky sputtered. "What? No! How?"

She shook her head. "Somewhere there's a someone, and I daresay you like them."

"Wha-- you have no proof," Bucky responded, wedging the puzzle piece into place. She looked at him, smug.

"Mm." She went quiet after that, allowing Bucky to stew in his thoughts. "Why listen to me? I mean, I'm just an old woman, so."

"No," Bucky said hastily. His mother smiled at him and stroked his hair.

"Mothers know these things." She kissed his forehead and stood, rubbing her head. "I'm for bed, dear. My head's giving me a little trouble."

"I'll be up with dinner," he replied. She smiled at him gently.

He sat and thought, listening to his siblings yell outside. Shaking his head, he got up and joined them.

He had time to figure out what he needed to figure out.