keepcruising | OPEN POST FOR STEVE!

[ Steve does his best to not overthink the movements, following Bucky and only occasionally stepping on him with a socked foot. Letting Bucky lead is easier the longer he does it, like his body just needs to remember that it's Bucky of all people and trusting him is like trusting his lungs to breath. ]

I guess I have an alright teacher.

[ He bumps their noses together affectionately and lets his hand settle on the back of Bucky's neck. Dancing with Bucky is nice, but it's more about the fact that it's Bucky than anything else. The right partner really does make all the difference. It's something he's always known in theory, but dancing like this with Bucky, free of pretense and everything out in the open, really proves the point. ]

Just alright?

[It's said with a fond smile at the way Steve stays close, at the warm touch on the back of his neck. It's nice enough that when the next song comes on Bucky doesn't even bother with dancing anymore, just pulls Steve closer with both arms wrapped around him.]

I think there's hope for your left feet yet. [A beat.] Slim hope, but hope nonetheless.

[Hey, it's not like he's going to forego the teasing entirely! Thumbs stroke down either side of Steve's spine though, simply happy in keeping Steve close.]

Well I've only had one lesson so far.

[ His newly freed hand brushes some of Bucky's hair back behind his ear.

Having Bucky's arms around him feels safe in a way Steve rarely bothers to look for anymore, but he likes it. He feels secure, tethered to the ground. After years of surprises throwing him for a loop, having something as dependable as Bucky is huge.

He leans in to kiss Bucky's cheek and then his jaw. ]

And my teacher thinks he's funnier than he is.

We'll keep working on it.

[Not that it's really about dancing anymore, though he does have the stray thought that it would be fun to dance more regularly with Steve. A lot of that is born simply of the desire to hold him close, to stay tucked right against him and enjoy the space they've found together. All teasing aside it's grounding in a way, more comfortable than he would have anticipated.

He can't help but laugh with the way Steve's lips trail along his cheek and jaw, sheer happiness in the sound.]

Your teacher is hilarious. And good looking.

[ Steve doesn't mind the dancing. He knows he's not that good at it, but just like Bucky he likes the closeness of it. Bucky is warm and solid in his arms and he sounds so relaxed right now. There's not much Steve wouldn't agree to if it would keep Bucky here smiling with him. ]

He's a little too aware of it.

[ With the tease, he leaves a final kiss under Bucky's ear and squeezes the hand on Bucky' neck affectionately, pulling back just enough to look at Bucky's face again. ]

Yeah, okay, he's pretty good looking.

[The dancing isn't the main event, even though it's really what started this conversation. The dancing isn't even really that important in the grand scheme of things. What is important is the closeness, holding Steve and being held in return, the quiet motion of their bodies moving together.

Of course, it brings to mind other ways their bodies might move together, but that's for later, after they've figured out a few things first.

Bucky's smiling when Steve pulls back, relaxed and happy and it's probably clear that he is in no way opposed to those little exploratory kisses. In fact, he'd like a lot more of them, and that's something he's definitely going to want to explore with Steve.]

I'm glad you agree.

[A glance to the side reveals that the coffee maker has finished its job and Bucky's smile twists into a lopsided, amused thing.]

Still want that coffee?

[ Steve doesn't really want to let go of Bucky, but he expects that to be a regular feeling now. He's already been admittedly a little overly touchy since he got Bucky back in his life, but this is different. All that time he spent wanting to touch Bucky like this hasn't made it feel light or casual now that they're here. ]

Sort of.

[ But he's not quite ready to let go and he leans in for one last kiss before he starts to pull back. He could get lost in this. Part of him wants to just lose himself in Bucky and not worry about when he'll come up for air.

The thought has one kiss turning into another before he can stop himself. ]

Only sort of?

[It's actually something to which Bucky agrees quite heartily; why would they possibly want to break apart, even for something as tempting as coffee? But he also thinks they could work this more to their advantage because as nice as it is to linger like this, he has another idea.

One he's not quite given the chance to voice before Steve's lips are on his again and he can't help the soft sigh that slips into it, a quiet little noise that passes right from his mouth into Steve's and broadcasts exactly how much Bucky enjoys kissing Steve.

Still, they eventually do have to part for air, and Bucky can't quite help the way his tongue flicks out over his lips as if chasing the last of Steve's taste.]

Honestly, I'm thinking coffee and curling up on the couch together. [His grin is a little crooked.] Not that I think we're going to drink much of the coffee.

[ It's impossible to miss that sigh and it mirror exactly how Steve feels right now. He can't remember ever feeling this content. His life hasn't exactly been full of calm, slow moments like this. It's something he really wants to hold onto as much as he can.

For the first time in longer than he wants to think about, he and Bucky are being pulled together by something that isn't tragic or violent. All he wants to do is let that happen, because he's not naive enough to truly believe that he'll ever be done fighting, but he wants this so much it hurts. ]

You have no idea how good that sounds.

[ His voice is a little hushed, even though he knows it's just the two of them here. He doesn't want to break the moment, even as he starts to slowly disentangle himself from Bucky, fingers brushing over skin as he pulls them back. ]

I might have a little idea.

[Disentangling happens only with lingering touches and eyes that don't want to leave Steve's face, but eventually Bucky steps away to pull two mugs out of a cabinet. Coffee follows, the rich scent filling the space as he carefully pours and offers a mug to Steve. It's quick and efficient, the entire thing, because Bucky's more interested in leading Steve to the living room where they can sprawl on the worn but comfortable couch.

Which he'll do, sprawling against the corner of the cushions and trying to look inviting. The coffee table is more than close enough for the mugs and Bucky just wants Steve to be as close as they were in the kitchen.

They'll figure it out from here.]

[ Steve stays close as Bucky takes care of the coffee, leaning against the counter and watching him until he offers the mug. From there, it's easy to follow him, take a cautious sip of the almost-too-hot coffee and rest his mug with Bucky's on the table.

Bucky really does look inviting, like something Steve isn't even sure he'd know how to resist, not that he wants to.

With a shy smile, he crawls on the couch next to Bucky and settles against his left side. This would have felt different when he'd been smaller, but Steve likes this a lot more, he thinks, like they're on equal footing now. ]

[It's uneventful, the relocation from kitchen to couch. And that's okay. Bucky rather enjoys how Steve lingers close, how all it takes is the slightest shift for their hands or arms to brush. It's a novelty of a sensation, but in the best way possible.

Steve settling into the couch next to him is even better.

His left arm immediately curls around Steve's shoulders, without the hesitation he usually has in touching people with that limb. It's heavy, dangerous, deadly — but this is Steve, and he trusts Steve more than anyone else in his life. Trusts in his strength, his acceptance, his friendship, his willingness to explore even more of this.

Their poor coffee is going to be so neglected.]

I'm glad you came over tonight. [Understatement of the night that, but whatever. It doesn't matter how silly it sounds because he is happy to spend this time with Steve.]

Me, too, Buck.

[ Craning his neck, Steve kisses Bucky's jaw quickly and then relaxes to rest his head on Bucky's shoulder. He can feel the joint between flesh and metal through Bucky's shirt and he knows that it's not exactly normal, even if he doesn't have a lot of experience to compare this to, but he doesn't really care. Nothing about either of them is entirely normal anymore.

Bucky's metal arm feels different than a flesh one might, but it's not something Steve overly concerns himself with. He knows Bucky's done violent things with that arm, but he's also seen Bucky feel pain through it. It's really no different from any other arm in most ways and it's a part of Bucky.

He reaches over to lace his fingers with Bucky's right ones. ]

Just wish you would've--[ No, that's not fair of him. ]--I should have said something sooner.

[That little affection, the kiss to his jaw makes Bucky inordinately happier than he thought it would or could. He’s smiling and he probably looks like a fool for how wide it is, but he’s happy. He’s so damn happy to be curled up on the couch with Steve pressed close.

And when Steve reaches for his fingers? Bucky happily lets the digits intertwine with Steve’s, raising their joined hands to his lips to brush a kiss across the backs of Steve’s fingers.]

Stop. [Gently, because he’s learned to be careful with it, his left hand squeezes Steve’s shoulder. There’s nothing of fault or blame, not for either of them.] It wasn’t the right time, for either of us. But we have time now.

[ The thing is that Steve is sort of a champion for waiting too long and running out of time. He's lost so many opportunities, so many people, and he just wants to carve out a space for this before something else happens. He wants to make Bucky smile like that for as long as he can.

In any case, Bucky kissing his hand has his attention. He's pretty familiar with Bucky's moves. It's not like he hasn't seen a lot of them used on women, but this is different. It's so different when it's him. It almost makes him fall for Bucky all over again. ]

You're right.

[ He squeezes Bucky's hand. ]

Now what?

[Bucky's honestly not thinking about things like missed opportunities or waiting too long. Maybe it's stupid, but he's not ignorant to the reality of their lives. Nothing is certain; the world could turn upside down tomorrow. But if it does, that's tomorrow's concern. Today, tonight he has Steve leaning close and smiling and all he wants to do is kids him over and over again.

They have time. A little of it at least.]

Anything you want. [He returns that squeeze with a smile.] As long as it involves a hell of a lot more kissing.

[ Steve can't help the way he lets regrets swim in his head. He's had too much time to dwell on things by himself and it's become a real habit, even if he usually keeps them to himself. Losing Bucky had been a big one, though, and having him here is a reminder to be thankful for what he can have.

Selfishly, he's a little thankful that Bucky's here at all, even though he knows that Bucky faced some horrible things to get here, but he would never tell Bucky that. It isn't even something he should think.

He shifts around, leaning up to kiss Bucky again. He could probably spend the whole night just doing this and he'd be happy. They don't need to get to know each other. They already know each other about as well as two people can. They just need to figure out this new component of what they are and he thinks they're doing an alright job of it already. ]

I wasn't planning to stop. Don't worry.

Good.

[He’s perfectly happy to accommodate Steve’s shifting, to welcome him in close and snug and to sigh quietly against his mouth. Kissing is fun, he’s always thought so, but kissing Steve is more than that. It comes with a lightness and a sense of contentment. Maybe it’s at odds with the realities of their lives, and it’s a grim thought indeed that maybe Bucky had to suffer as he did in order for them to be together. But the fact is that they are together now, and all he wants to do is explore that dynamic.

He sinks his fingers into Steve’s hair, welcoming him to stay close as lips part under his kiss. It’s an invitation for Steve to explore, to learn every nuance of how their mouths fit together.]

If you were we’d have a real problem here.

[ As Steve's fingers slip out of Bucky's, he moves his hand to Bucky's side, thumb stroking over the soft fabric of his shirt. He doesn't know what he's doing and with anyone else, that might have made him nervous, but the idea of being that kind of nervous with Bucky is laughable. Bucky's seen him do much more embarrassing things than a little bumbling. He really does just need to relax, just like with the dancing. Just like with anything where Bucky's concerned.

He follows Bucky's invitation, parting his own lips and deepening the kiss with a sigh. Bucky's fingers feel good in his hair, the warm, solid weight of Bucky's side against him, and he turns his body into Bucky more, like he isn't aware of how big he really is now. ]

[There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Steve’s bumbling; if anything it’s a little endearing. Like that hand on his side that makes him smile, he’s honestly just thrilled to be with Steve, to have the opportunity of finding it how much more they can be.

And Steve’s responding to the kiss; that little sigh actually makes a shiver run down Bucky’s spine. He chases the vibration with his tongue, chasing Steve’s taste into every corner of his mouth and damn but he thinks he could very easily get addicted to kissing this man. Though when Steve shifts against him it’s his turn to sound into the press of their mouths, a little wanting thing that’s a hair shy of a whine and is accompanied by a tug at Steve’s shoulder because Bucky wants him even closer.]

[ Oh. That little sound Bucky makes has Steve's fingers gripping just a little harder at Bucky's side, because that's for him and he's not sure he's ever pulled that sort of reaction out of anyone, but he really likes the idea of being the cause of it coming from Bucky. He wants to get Bucky to make all sorts of sounds like that for him.

Then Bucky's tugging at him a little and the only logical way to move is to wind up sort of half on top of Bucky, at least from the waist up. He pulls back just long enough to drag in a few quick breaths and then he's pressing his lips to Bucky's again, breath just a little short. ]

[Steve on top of him? Oh yes, it’s something Bucky most definitely wants. The weight of his friend’s body feels good, grounding and comforting in a way he hadn’t anticipated. Especially when it’s combined with the way Steve’s hand tightens on his side, the acceptance Bucky reads in the gesture.

And more kissing? Definitely more kissing, and Bucky’s getting a little breathless from it as well. He tries pulling Steve even closer (how much closer can they realistically get?) and kisses him a little harder, a little hotter. A hand skates down Steve’s back, finding the hem of his shirt and slipping underneath. Needless to say, he’s okay with going a little further than just necking, but he also doesn’t want to push for more than Steve’s ready to give, teasing about stripping aside.]

Do you have any idea how good you are at this?

[ Bucky's hand against his skin feels like an anchor. He's not sure what he'd expected anything to feel like, but the reality feels so intimate already, like Bucky can see into his soul with those touches and he's okay with that. He doesn't want to keep secrets from Bucky, anyway. Bucky urges him closer and his leg winds up between Bucky's as more of his weight shifts against Bucky.

He can't help chuckling, though, at Bucky's words. Kissing is about all Steve knows how to do and now he's just trying to follow Bucky's lead and do what feels right. It's good to know that his instincts aren't completely failing him. ]

Probably not nearly as good as you are.

[Oh, Bucky likes this: Steve leaning more into him, legs starting to tangle, kisses growing steadily more heated. In encourages him to continue with those soft touches, working Steve's shirt a little higher to get at more skin.

Isn't lead and follow the theme of the night though? Doesn't just have to be about dancing. Or maybe they're just that compatible.]

I am a damn good kisser, but it takes one to know one. [Take the compliment, Steve.]

[ That attitude on anyone else wouldn't be the same, but Bucky's joking and his confidence have always been some of his best qualities. He's downright charming and he knows it, but Steve can't fault him for it, because he finds Bucky charming as much as anyone else does.

One more kiss and then he ducks his head to kiss Bucky's aw, lips brushing stubble. ]

Might have to prove it to me.

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sorry for my slow! busy work week.

no worries!

♥!

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