The Path to the Tower

1.1: 'Til the End of the Line

"Get up, punk."

The sound of Bucky's voice was enough to wake Steve, but even if it hadn't the hard shove to the back that knocked him out of the bed and onto the floor certainly did. "Jesus Christ, Buck," Steve said, rolling onto his back and looking up at the dark-haired man who'd just shoved him unceremoniously out of bed. It wasn't unusual for Steve Rogers to wake up in pain, it was a constant feature in his life. He could have done without the sudden jolt up his spine though.

"I need to get to work and you were lyin' on top of me," Bucky said, sitting up and stretching out. He stood up and scratched his stomach. Steve watched as his fingers pulled the skin on his stomach taut. Bucky caught him looking and grinned, dropping him a wink. "Like what you see?" He asked.

Steve punched him in the leg. "Jerk," He said. "Besides, I thought you liked me being on top of you."

Bucky started laughing and pulled Steve into a headlock and started ruffling his hair. "You are such a little punk."

Steve pulled Bucky down onto the floor and the two started wrestling. Steve didn't have a chance and deep down he knew it. It didn't stop him from trying to beat Bucky. Really he appreciated that Bucky never tried to baby him like most people. If Steve's Ma had ever known that Bucky and he used to rough house or about the incident on the Cyclone, she woulda never let them hang out in the first place.

Then again there was a lot about Steve and Bucky's relationship that his mother wouldn't have approved of. Like the fact that Bucky's hand had just slipped down into Steve's underwear and he was teasing his fingers over his cock. Or the fact that Bucky's lips were pressed against his throat and the way his teeth grazed over his skin. Bucky made Steve feel ways no one had ever made him feel. Strong and whole. Capable. Desirable. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with this man. It may be a pipe dream but he was still his dream and he held onto it like something precious and fragile.

"Oh fuck, Buck." Steve groaned, his hips rolling into Bucky's hand. "I thought you had to get to work."

"So I'll be late," Bucky whispered.

Steve hummed and tangled his legs with Bucky's so that every time he rutted against Bucky's hand his thigh rubbed on Bucky's dick.

Bucky groaned and crashed his mouth into Steve's, kissing him hard. There was a hunger and need to it that made Steve breathless and each time they broke apart even for a second he gasped and started to pant before slamming their lips together again. The stubble that had grown in overnight made Steve's lips numb and tingle, but he couldn't seem to stop kissing him, even as his lungs burned, trying to pull in air.

They worked each other's boxers down and off before Bucky flipped them both over so Steve was straddling him. "I knew you liked it when I was on top." Steve teased reaching under the bed and pulling out the well-used tub of Vaseline.

"Alright, Stevie. Settle down." Bucky shot back leaning up and capturing his lips again.

Steve coated his palm with the sticky jelly and started rubbing both their cocks in tandem, his fingers only barely reaching the whole way around. Bucky let out a low rumble and bit at Steve's lips. "Oh god, Stevie. Give it to me. I need it." He whispered.

Steve kissed Bucky's throat. "You need it? Is that right?"

Bucky groaned and bucked his hips up. "Fuck, Stevie." He whined.

Steve shifted between Bucky's legs and Bucky pulled his knees to his chest. Steve stroked his cock, pulling the foreskin back and forth before teasing the head over Bucky's asshole. Bucky groaned pushing back against Steve so the head pushed into his tight hole. Steve keened and pushed in further before pulling out again. He leaned in and Bucky grabbed hold of his shoulders pulling him into a kiss as Steve started fucking him.

He moved quickly and fucked him deeply, relishing in the feeling of his cock inside Bucky. The way he groaned and whimpered as Steve pressed on his prostate. Even as Steve's knees burned from kneeling on the cold wooden floor, he fell apart in ecstasy. Steve wrapped his hand around Bucky's cock and began to pump it quickly. Bucky mewled and arched under him. "Oh god, Stevie. Yes. I'm gonna..." He panted as his muscles tensed and relaxed and his legs began to tremble.

Bucky arched back violently, the tendons in his neck pulled taut, thrusting a fist into his mouth to muffle the cry as he came in waves over his stomach. Steve groaned and dropped his head, his breathing was becoming labored and it burned to pull in air but he kept thrusting. His cock began to twitch and he pulled out and stroked it groaning as he released, his come mixing with Bucky's. He sat back, leaning against the bed, wheezing.

Bucky moved beside him and rubbed his back. "You okay there?"

Steve nodded his head, though he knew he wasn't really. Bucky kissed his brow. "You want one of your asthma cigarettes?" He asked.

Steve nodded again and Bucky got up wiping his stomach with his boxers. He grabbed Steve's cigarettes, matches, and ashtray and brought them over, lighting a cigarette and inhaling the herbal tasting cigarette smoke before handing it to Steve. "I'll run you a bath. Okay? I gotta go, but I'll stay if you need me."

Steve inhaled deeply and held it as long as he could before breaking down into a violent coughing fit. "I'll be okay. You can go."

Bucky got up and started moving around the tiny apartment as Steve sat smoking and trying to relax so he could breathe again. He turned on the water in the bath and cleaned himself off properly before going and putting some coffee off the burner to brew. He dressed and by the time he'd switched the faucets off in the tub, Steve's breathing was less labored and the coffee was ready. He poured a cup and brought it over to Steve.

"I should be getting my orders today. I'll come find you if I do. You got plans?" Bucky asked.

Steve shook his head. He had planned to try and enlist again, but he didn't want Bucky to know that. "I might go catch a picture," Steve said.

"You better not be goin' to try and enlist again." Bucky scolded.

"I'm not!" Steve argued.

Bucky shook his head. "You're gonna get arrested, pal."

"I'm not, Buck," Steve said more seriously.

"Sure you ain't." He ruffled Steve's hair. "Take a bath. I got some broads to go to the Expo tonight. Should be fun."

Steve sighed. The final facet of James Bucky Barnes that Steve's mother wouldn't approve of. Steve thought she could maybe accept everything else even if his dad couldn't, just because Bucky made him happy. The fact that Bucky didn't seem to be able to commit, not just to him out of some fear of people finding out, but to anyone. He went through women like most people went through their rations. He had this notion in his head that one day they could find the right two and somehow share. That that would be okay. Somehow more okay than just admitting you were gay and settling for Steve. Or falling in line and letting Steve go and getting married and having kids like everyone else.

"Come on, Stevie. They're really nice. They like each other. You can tell. Maybe... you know? And if not? Well, we see some stuff from the future and we go dancin'." Bucky said excitedly.

Steve nodded. "Yeah, okay, Buck. Whatever you like. I'll see you later."

Bucky smiled and headed out the door. Steve sat on the floor finishing his coffee and cigarette before he got up and started to get ready for the day.