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The punching bag rattled as Steve kept throwing punch after punch. Sweat dripped from his body as he exerted himself, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. If he paused for even a second, the horror of thoughts from before would resurface.
The Accords. Germany. Siberia. The words he said to Tony.
The secret he kept from Tony.
He knew the reason he kept the secret. If Steve told him on his own, Tony would've flipped out, knowing his parents weren't killed in a car accident, but by a HYDRA assassin. Steve's best friend, no less. He'd been planning to tell Tony, but then Ultron happened, the Accords were brought up, King T'Chaka was killed, Germany happened, they got to Siberia, and the rest is history.
Ever since that happened, Steve and Bucky have been hiding in Wakanda. A few weeks ago, Shuri figured out how to remove the programming of HYDRA from Bucky's head, so he's been walking freely for the last two weeks. Two days ago, Steve had returned from a mission with the other fugitives and was ecstatic that Bucky was back. But with him back, there was a small problem.
He'll notice Steve's eating problems.
Due to everything, Steve spends most of his days on missions, in the gym, or lost in thought (which he tries to prevent by doing the former two). This means he constantly forgets or skips meals, which isn't very healthy, especially with his super soldier metabolism. So far, he's been able to hide his unhealthy eating habits from Bucky, but he doubts it'll last long.
Steve threw the last punch and wiped his forehead, turning to grab his water bottle. A wave of fatigue washed over him as he reached for it, causing him to stumble a bit. He grabbed the bottle and sat on the ground, hoping it would help with the symptoms. Right when he tried to take a sip, his vision went black, and he slumped onto the ground, the water bottle rolling on the floor.
~+~
Bucky walked into the dining room, bowing his head slightly to T'Challa and his mother. As his eyes scanned the table, he furrowed his eyebrows in concern and noted that Steve wasn't sitting among them. Again.
"Do you know where Steve is?" he asked, turning his gaze to the two royals in the room.
"Last I saw, Rogers was heading to the gym," T'Challa replied, then seemed to have a realization as his face, too, became concerned. "That was after breakfast. He didn't show up for any meals today. Or for most of yesterday, for that matter."
Bucky sighed in exasperation, turning to the door. "I'm going to get him. The man has a faster metabolism than I do. He can't just be skipping meals."
He made his way through the buildings, heading to the building next door where the gym was. He waved to a few people as he strolled past, as he knew some of them from the market he frequently went to. He entered the building and made his way to the gym doors. As he opened them, he spotted a blond figure lying on the ground.
It took him a second to realize it was Steve.
Oh god.
Bucky sprinted over and flipped Steve over on his back, violently shaking him. "Steve? Stevie! Steven, wake up, you punk."
For a second Steve lied still. Bucky's heart started beating faster as he shook Steve more vigorously. If it weren't for the fact Steve's chest was rising and falling, his mind would've immediately thought the worst.
God, why didn't he notice this before?
Steve groaned as his eyes fluttered open, taking a second to focus on Bucky. "Buck? What—"
"What the hell, Steve? Why didn't you tell me you were skipping meals?" Steve's eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights. "You know your metabolism needs more food than usual; this is torturing yourself! I almost had a heart attack when I found you lying face-first on the floor, Stevie. Don't scare me like that again."
Helping Steve sit up, Bucky hugged him tightly, arms around his waist and face in the crook of his neck. Steve hugged back just as tightly, more to comfort Bucky than anything. After a good five seconds, Bucky let go. He stood up and dragged Steve before striding out the door, still gripping Steve's wrist.
"Where are we going?"
"Dinner, then straight to Shuri to check your vitals. If I get my way, you're never skipping a meal again," Bucky told him in a decisive tone.
Steve scoffed slightly. "Bucky, it's not much of a big deal—"
"It is!" Bucky said, letting go of Steve's wrist and whipping around to face him. "You're a super soldier. You need more sustenance than others. I speak from experience. You're hurting yourself if you skip meals, Steve." He stepped closer to Steve and looked into his eyes, his expression turning to worry and sadness. "I don't want you to neglect yourself. You're important to me, Stevie."
More important than he knows, Bucky thought.
That little kid from Brooklyn was the love of his life. Bucky realized it a few weeks before he was stationed in the 107th, and somewhat accepted it by the time the two went to Stark Expo. He knew he probably wouldn't see Steve again once he joined the army and, therefore, wouldn't have to tell him, but oh, how wrong he was. He's learned to hide it well for the most part, but there were times like this when it would seep through.
Bucky was astounded at what happened next, though.
Steve searched his face, raised his hand to Bucky's chin to turn his head up, and put his lips on Bucky's.
Bucky just stood there in shock. Steve was kissing him. Him. What the hell was happening? He knew Steve loved Peggy, so what was this? Did Steve move on? Did Steve actually reciprocate his feelings this whole time, and Bucky was too dumb to notice?
Steve must have mistaken his unmoving body for him not reciprocating his feelings, because he retracted his face and immediately started apologizing. However, before he could finish his sentence, Bucky grabbed his neck and pulled him back into the kiss. Steve melted into it and kissed back, putting his hands on Bucky's hips.
After a few seconds, the two pulled away, but Bucky rested his forehead on Steve's.
"You know, this won't keep me from forcing you to care for yourself."
Steve's laughter filled Bucky's ears. He smiled at the sound before pulling back and grabbing Steve's hand. "I'm serious, come on. Punk."
"You know you love me," Steve drawled, accepting his fate and walking beside him.
Bucky blushed slightly but didn't deny it. "Indeed, I do."
~+~
Bucky and Steve stepped into the dining room, hand in hand. By now, all three royals had gotten their portions and were eating. Shuri glanced at them and waved before widening her eyes and having to do a double-take. She shrieked in delight and stood up, alerting T'Challa and Queen Ramonda.
"You two are holding hands! Has the Stucky ship finally sailed?!" Shuri exclaimed, pointing at their intertwined fingers.
Steve tilted his head in confusion. "Stucky? Ship?"
"A ship is a relationship, and Stucky is apparently our ship name, Steve." Bucky looked at Shuri in suspicion. "Were you rooting for us?"
"Oh, come on, I can see the tension between you two. A string of tension." Shuri put her thumb and index fingers together on both hands and touched the two hands before separating them, imitating a string.
Bucky shrugged. "Fair enough. It hurts to know you were shipping us and didn't tell me, though." He then shoved Steve into a chair. "Sit. I will get you your food, and I want you to eat all of it, or you're not leaving this table."
"Over-protective, much," Steve muttered.
"Damn right I am, after being chucked off a train and finding out you did a shit ton of stupid things while I was gone. Apparently, you kept the stupid with you." Bucky ignored Steve's wince at the reminder and looked at Shuri. "Shuri, I'd like you to make something to remind Steve when he needs to eat."
"On it!" Shuri said, whipping out a Wakanda tablet and tapping away.
"Shuri! No electronics at the table," T'Challa scolded her.
Shuri pouted but reluctantly put her tablet away. "Sorry, Brother."