Proposal for bucky_barnes

[oldschoolpatriot]

Okay. Here goes nothing. Marry me.

I can’t do this without you. When I woke up here all I wanted was you by my side. It was the most miserable time of my life trying to adjust here. I made a lot of mistakes. I’ve got you back now and I can’t do this without you. I don’t want to.

If you don’t want to marry me, fine, that’s fine. Just stay with me. Think of this as a promise ring. I promise to always be there for you. Whatever your past, whatever our future I will stand by your side.

So that’s it. That’s all I’ve got.

Comments

[bucky_barnes]

[Really, it was a lot to process first thing in the morning before his first cup of coffee. It took Bucky's sleepy brain to process just what the super soldier was saying in that sudden gushing of words. Blinking owlishly at his lover, Bucky stared at Steve for one confused moment.]

Whoa, slow down. [His voice was gruff with disuse. Scrubbing at his face, the brunette rubbed all traces of sleep from his eyes before climbing to his feet.] Gimme a sec. [He mumbled and stumbled across the kitchen to dig through the canister he kept flour in since it was pretty much the only place he could think of that Steve was unlikely to wander across. Bucky took care of the cooking duties after all so why would the blond go rooting through any canister aside from maybe the one they kept their coffee grounds in and the sugar bowl. The plain satin box he withdrew from the canister had to be shaken to clear any traces of the powdery substance from the black material.] I was planning on giving this to you on New Years since it kinda fit. New year, new lease on life, yadda yadda yadda. Trust you to dive in early.

[oldschoolpatriot]

[He couldn't wait. He should have, Steve knew that. He should have waited for Bucky to have some coffee and open a few of the other gifts first, but he couldn't wait. He had to ask. Of course it was awkward and fumbling, but it was honest.

He was also honestly afraid when Bucky got up and walked away from him. Had he screwed this up? Or was Bucky just getting coffee? Steve got to his feet, cautiously following Bucky into the kitchen to hover. He was ready to plead for his lover not to leave him when Bucky got his own ring box out.] You were going to ask me?

[bucky_barnes]

[If the brunette ever learned the depths of Steve's insecurity and just how deeply Tony Stark had shaken his lover's confidence, it was very likely that Bucky would have done something truly regrettable. Satisfying perhaps but regrettable all the same.

Thankfully for Tony, James was unaware of just how deeply Steve was affected by those nibbling doubts and irrational fears. Death hadn't been enough to stop the sniper from returning to Steve's side so what other force could truly sway him?] Yeah. I was thinking about it. [You didn't buy a ring when you were thinking about proposing, don't even try and act coy, Barnes!] I thought the symbolism of it was kinda appropriate. [He wasn't the type to get swept up in emotional sentimentality and when you were proposing to another guy, what was the procedure? Get down on one knee like you were proposing to a dame?]

[oldschoolpatriot]

[Bucky had to know better than anyone how insecure Steve really was. He still and probably always would see himself as the skinny, sickly kid. He had been shaken to the core over once again not being good enough for someone.

None of that mattered now though because he would always be good enough for Bucky. He always had been good enough for Bucky.] You put a lot of thinking into it. [Steve licked his lips, looking at the ring box in his hands.] I don't want to presume anything here but does that mean you're saying yes?

[bucky_barnes]

[But if there was one thing either of them could ever be completely certain of, it was their relationship and if falling from a speeding train halfway around the world hadn't been enough to separate them, what could? As empathetic and understanding as Bucky was, he'd never been able to grasp just how helpless Steve had felt all those years. It hadn't been until he'd found himself strapped down in that nightmare of a prison bunk inside the Hydra base that James had ever experienced a total loss of power such as Steve had faced every time a bully kicked him into the dirt.

Thankfully however, such dark thoughts were far away for once and utterly overshadowed by the bubbling amusement and happiness that threatened to spill over inside of him.] Heh. What do you think, Steve? [He sank down to the ground so he was on level with the super soldier and opened the box. The simple gold band inside was old and wasn't the ostentatiously bright and glamorous wedding bands these men in the future seemed to favor.] Of course I'm saying yes and asking you if you will do me the same honor? [When it mattered, Bucky could be downright parsimonious when it came to words. Unlike the glib, often sarcastic quips he often used, in this instance he was anything but glib.]

[oldschoolpatriot]

Yes. [There was no hesitation. Of course there wasn't, Steve had asked first. All he wanted was Bucky by his side. He wasn't doing this out of free or nerves about losing him. He was doing this because he loved Bucky. The man made him smile and laugh even in the darkest times. In the middle of war, when it felt like the world was ending Bucky had been at his side and kept him going.

He reached out with one hand, gently grabbed Bucky by the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss where he was smiling against his lips. He lingered just a little in the kiss. He had been so nervous over this and now he felt a little silly. Of course Bucky would never leave him. Only date had kept them apart. He pulled back slowly and rested his forehead against Bucky's.] I have no idea if this will fit or not. I guessed on the sizing.

[bucky_barnes]

[A smile tugged at the former assassin's mouth at that simple answer. He made no move to stop the blond when he pulled him in for that kiss. Instead, Bucky let his free hand slip around Steve's back to pull him closer.

Letting his forehead lean against the taller man's, the brunette smiled slowly.] I cheated and let the arm calibrate the ring size. I guess we'll see how good that guesstimate is, huh?