Chapter Text
Bucky made a point to sit at the back of the classroom. Always. The one time he’d sat at the front of the room, just to try it out? He’d nearly had a panic attack. There was something about having that many sets of eyes on him? Behind him? That freaked him out, especially after returning home from the Sand Box. No he was much more comfortable at the back of the classroom where he could watch everyone else. Plus he didn't like the side eyed looks he’d get from people. Even at his full height of 5’11” and a glare that would make most people’s eyes widen, there were still looks of concern, curiosity and disgust from his shoulder length hair, that sometimes made it into a bun, and an overly worn hoodie that probably needed to be retired, replaced or both. Didn't matter if it was clean, apparently there were far too many holes in it for this fine college, which was ironic considering some of the outfits that Bucky had seen returning back to the states had far more holes in it than his sweatshirt. Plus Bucky didn't want anyone seeing or commenting on the state of his left arm.
Bucky didn’t talk much to people either. He didn’t have a lot friends, or people he particularly talked to regularly either. There were people he knew would give him notes from the previous class if he’d missed it, but that’s as far as his ‘friendship’ went with many of the people he encountered day to day in his classes. He ended up doing the majority of the work on group projects, which many of his group mates adored, and kept to himself. He kept his head down and slowly reminded himself that in order to keep his GI bill he just needed to complete the courses and move on. As much as his therapist encourage him to cultivate friends, he found it really hard to find that balance that wouldn't just end up pushing people away and leaving him in a worse off state than what he’d be before meeting them.
If Bucky was really being honest with himself, he led a double life. He had the persona that people saw here, reserved, cut off, shy and book-nerdish, constantly scribbling stories into a notebook, and then there was his alter-ego. The side of him that could pick out a threat in second, assess whether someone had intent to do something, the side that flirted with danger as easy as breathing and had landed him a lot of tail, both male and female, back before his accident. There was a part of him that craved to be that person again, to get back to a place where he could trust being himself again, letting himself be carefree and get the attention and touches that he craved. There was a side to him that longed to be safe, held, worshiped, and if he was being honest told what to do.
Bucky was pulled out of his thoughts by a collective groan that rang out through the lecture hall. He lifted his gaze to find Professor Fury looking towards the back of the class, his brown eye zeroing in on Bucky’s row. Bucky shifted in his seat a little, readjusting the grip he had on his pen, his left hand flexing on the desk.
“I have received many emails over the last two days asking what your final project was going to be, as it has said TBD on your syllabus, I’m here to put your minds at ease.” The sarcasm dripped from Fury’s voice as he looked around the room, before finally stopping once again on Bucky’s row. “You will be completing a TEAM,” groans once again sounded throughout the room, “essay and project. I will assign your partner to you at the end of the week, and you will have until the following class to make a compelling argument to change your partner if necessary. From that point you will have the remaining ten weeks of this course to research, compile information and thoroughly learn about a subject before presenting it to the class with a very detail oriented presentation. This is not a class where the minimum will get you by. You will need the next ten weeks. This is also the last week to drop with a W. If you wish to leave this class do so now, I’m sure there are a few of you in here hoping to get add numbers still.”
The room shifted with movement and only one girl stood and exchanged a few words quietly with Fury before leaving the room.
“Is that everyone? Alright then.” Fury turned and tapped the button on the top of the projector and busied himself with lesson preparations.
Bucky groaned inwardly, sinking down into his seat as he contemplated working that closely with one of his classmates for ten weeks. Ten fucking weeks. He looked around the classroom, trying to imagine if there was even one person in this room he could fathom spending that much time with so closely, and as he looked around he could feel the signs of a panic attack starting to tighten his chest. His brain continuously started supplying reason after reason as to why he couldn't possibly working with them in such close quarters for such a long period of time. Bucky closed his eyes and counted to ten, trying to remind himself that he could work with others and had been doing so for the last eight years of his life in way worse conditions than this. One project wasn't going to get the best of him.
A few rows down from Bucky another student sat up a little straighter after the announcement. Pushing his long red tipped blond bangs out of his face, Steve Rogers nibbled on his lip drawing his lip ring into his mouth. He had thought this class was going to be another dull psychology class; even with the emphasis that it was sexual psychology, but Professor Fury was living up to the talk of his class. Steve was excited at the opportunity to be able to work closely with another student. He and Natasha had a little reputation around the campus and he made no effort to correct anyone. He’d been called everything from a stud, to a player to a god in the bedroom. It didn't faze him, and if some of the stories of his sexual exploits were a little over exaggerated, who was he to correct them? Steve turned slightly to lock eyes with Natasha, who raised her eyebrow in amusement. She brushed a few wayward locks from the shaved side of her head and smirked before flicking her pen onto her desk. Steve returned the smirk and turned to look around the room. This class truly boasted a wide range of people. From hippies, to Goths, frat boys and cheerleaders everyone in the class was easy for Steve to read and thus bored him almost instantly. His eyes finally fell on the hooded figure up on his left. Steve had never heard him talk other than when he was being spoken to or answering a direct question from Fury.
His eyes were sharp, but there was something there that Steve could tell he was holding back. He couldn't get a read on him and that wasn't something Steve was used to. Steve sucked his lip ring back into his mouth and squinted a little harder at the man behind him trying to get a little better idea on him. From the small amount Steve had seen him around campus, the other man had always kept to himself.
Steve watched as grey eyes surveyed the room, pen moving quickly across the pad in front of him, before stilling as their eyes met.
Bucky’s eyes narrowed a little with curiously before dropping back down to his desk, shaking his head a little to bring his bangs down to obscure line of site to his face.
“Well that was interesting.” Steve thought to himself.
Steve was roused from his thoughts as Natasha put her arm around his middle and pulled on him a little. “Your eyes are wandering Rogers, what’s a girl suppose to think.” Her voice was light and teasing and Steve knew she was checking out where Steve’s eyes had been. She hummed a little before standing. The classroom was a wave of movement as everyone packed up their bags. “This is going to be interesting. I don’t know if there’s anyone in here who isn't intimidated by me or looks at me like I’m a tasty piece of ass. Although the later may be fun to correct them on.” Natasha’s eyes glinted with mischief as Steve looked up and smirked at her.
“Don’t break anyone Tasha, we do still have to pass the class.” Steve turned back around and watched as the hooded man packed up his belongings.
“Steve did I loose you again?” Natasha asked, running her fingers against the grain of the shaved sides of his head.
Steve hummed as Natasha’s nails moved against his head, slowly dragging the longer parts away from his face. “I wondered if you’d noticed him. He is the most reserved in class.”
“Noticed did you?” Steve replied smoothly as he stood and gathered his bag.
“Are you going to say something to him? Or just eye fuck him for the rest of the semester and see if you can get that blush even more pronounced on his face.”
Steve rolled his eyes, but smiled all the same, the other man had blushed a little before his shook his hair in front of his face.
“Barnes.”
Steve blinked as the man in the hood pretty much snapped to attention, before turning to look at Fury who was regarding Barnes.
Bucky felt frozen in his spot and slowly counted to ten to calm his heart rate, “Yes sir?”
“I want to talk to you about your last essay, do you have time to stay behind?”
Bucky flexed his grip on his shoulder strap before walking towards the front of the room. “Of course sir.”
Steve watched transfixed as Bucky moved. There was a grace to him to spoke louder than the standoff waves the man exuded. An edge of danger that Steve wanted to explore.
Fury leaned on the edge of his desk before pulling two different essays towards him. “Since I seem to have gained your attention too Rogers, you’re next on my list of needing to talk to. Park it. Romanov if you’re staying park it too.”
Both Steve and Natasha slid back into their seats as Bucky readjusted his footing and tilted his head up to look at Fury. Gone was the man who shrank away from conversation and standing in his place was someone with confidence and strength. Steve’s mouth went a little dry at the thought.
Fury was silent for a moment before holding up the graded document. “Sadomasochism?”
“Sir?” Bucky tentatively reached out for his essay.
Fury pulled the paper back. “Given your work here,” Fury grabbed the other paper next to him, “and Rogers work here, I figured I would inform both of you now that you will be working together for your term project.”
Steve stood up as Fury glanced over at him. “Really?” Steve couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice.
Bucky had tightened his grip even further on his bag, his knuckles going white as he tried to remember the coping techniques Logan had taught him at their last session. He was still not prepared for this.
“Sadomasochism meet Bondage/Dominance.” Fury crossed his arms and handed Bucky his essay. Bucky widened his stance as he felt someone come up on his right and was very grateful for the hood he had on as another arm came into his peripheral. It kept eye contact to only Fury.
“So nothing wrong with the essay?” Bucky asked once he was able to breathe again. He really needed some air, and a minute to process the Adonis he was being partnered with.
Fury shook his head. “No, as a matter of fact, it was very informed and extremely well written. I would encourage you to hold on to it as your complete your Bachelors, and possibly rework it if you ever work towards a Masters.”
Bucky nodded as he felt Rogers shift a little closer. “Professor if it’s alright with you, and of course alright with Barnes, I would like an opportunity to read his essay? So I can get a little more acquainted with his though process and how he organizes his information.”
Fury leaned back onto his desk and crossed his arms nodding a little. “That’s a nice idea Rogers. Especially since you two will be working together for the duration of the semester. Do you have any issues with him taking your essay?”
Bucky bit into his bottom lip and shook his head, turning slightly so that he was facing mostly towards Rogers. He extended his arm holding the paper (thankfully his right) to Rogers. “Not a problem.” Bucky resolutely ignored the flood of heat that rushed into his face as Rogers hand brushed against his.
“Can I get your number too?” Roger’s voice was soft and a little on the teasing side, and Bucky’s eyes snapped up to his. Holy fuck they were blue.
“Um, what?” Bucky gracelessly answered.
“Your number? So I can call you once I’m done reading?” Steve offered a warm smile, and Bucky blinked feeling his cheeks heat up once again. He gave one sharp nod before turning back to Fury.
“Is that all sir?” Bucky whispered, ignoring the squint of a look Fury shot his way.
“You’re dismissed.” Fury turned and started packing up his materials.
‘Don’t panic. Don’t panic.’ Bucky thought to himself as he readjusted his backpack. He turned and ignored the red head that arched her eyebrow at him as he left the classroom. Once he passed through the doors, Bucky pushed his hood off and ran his fingers through his hair. He quickly grabbed the majority of it and threw it up into a small tight bun at the top of his head.
“You really don’t like people do you?” Rogers asked from his seven and Bucky turned around quickly.
“Excuse me?”
“People? You don’t really talk much in class and you never socialize with anyone outside of it.”
Bucky narrowed his eyes. “Are you watching me or something?”
Natasha put her hand on Steve’s bicep, “Would you like for him to be watching you?”
Bucky could feel the blush travel down past the neckline of his hoody. “No..it’s..um..”
“Maybe it’s something else.” Steve tilted his head to the side, once again much to Bucky’s dismay drawing his lip ring into his mouth. Bucky’s gaze flicked over to the redhead and noticed she sported the same piercing just on the opposite side of her face, as well as several other piercings adorning both ears. Bucky wondered what else Steve had pierced and his eyes slowly started to wander.
Natasha’s small laugh brought him back to himself and Bucky refixed his glare at the two of them.
“I bet this paper will explain some of you.” Steve said, bringing his bag forward to tuck the mentioned item away.
“What?” Bucky tilted his head. “It’s just a paper.”
“Uh-huh.” Steve’s tongue flicked out and Bucky watched as he whet his lips, catching site of silver, before straightening back up. So his tongue was pierced too. He caught Natasha’s gaze and watched as a wicked smirk spread across her face. He was so fucked.
“Have my paper read by tomorrow night, and then we can go over a few things before Wednesday’s class.”
“Project doesn’t start until Friday.” Bucky deadpanned.
Steve’s smile was mischievous, and Bucky mentally cursed himself. “Don’t let the metal or hair dye fool you baby doll, I plan on getting an A on this project. You’re going to do everything necessary to ensure we get one.”
Bucky’s gaze hardened and he crossed his arms. “I’m not going to write the fucking paper for you. I don’t know what else you’ve heard from anyone else I’ve worked with…”
“So you do play with others?” Natasha purred, biting her lower lip.
“Our A is going to have nothing to do with who writes the paper Barnes, I’m talking about the research necessary to get it. The leg work too.” Steve winked, and Bucky resolutely ignored the flip in his stomach.
“So you’ve already got plans on what you want it to be on?” Bucky was proud that his voice came out calm, and watched as Steve slung his arm over Natasha’s shoulders.
“Tomorrow okay? I can already tell that you and I are going to have some fun with this.” Steve smiled again, and Natasha winked at him before the two of them walked off.
Bucky stood rooted to the spot trying to sort out what just happened, and absolutely did not jump three feet into the air when someone touched his left elbow. It took all the strength he had not to put the person on the floor, and glanced down at the iron grip and the awkward angle he now had Steve’s wrist in, and watched as Steve’s eyes widened at the strength of his grip.
“Right, never sneak up on you.” Steve smiled a little as he tried to pull his wrist back, wincing a little.
Bucky dropped Steve’s wrist like he’d been burned and stepped back. “Sorry.”
“Naw man it’s cool. I know I’m large but I’m really light on my feet, like a cat.”
Bucky nodded, “I…yeah.”
“My phone number, since you know, you didn’t give me yours.” Back was Steve’s carefree smile, and Bucky really could get lost in the color of the other man’s eyes. “And call me Steve. Rogers is what my drill instructor called me and the grunts after that.”
Bucky’s eyes widened. “You served?”
“Reserves.” Steve smiled a little sheepishly. “I went on a peace keeping mission once, but literally never saw anything but the airport. I just ended up training a bunch of ROTC kids.”
“You’re lucky.” Bucky whispered out.
Steve’s smile gets a little sad before he straightens back up. “Anyway! I have unlimited text messages. So feel free to text whenever.”
Bucky nods a little slowly. “Okay.”
“See ya around Buck.” And Bucky doesn’t mind the way Buck falls softly out of Steve’s mouth or the fact that the blonds eyes seem to be tracking his mouth. Bucky’s breath catches as his jeans start to become a little tighter than he’d like, and takes a step back. Oh fuck not here seriously not now.
“I’ve uh, gotta go.” Bucky supplies quickly clearing his throat. Bucky lets his back pack drop slowly from his shoulder down to his forearm as he steps back, hopefully covering his waist. “I’ll see you tomorrow Steve.”
Steve fought the urge to smirk. “Sure thing Buck. I’ve got Pryde from 8-10 tomorrow morning over in the art building. Meet me outside of 3618.” Steve paused for a moment, waiting for Bucky to confirm or deny the meeting, but the smaller man just shifted his footing, his eye contact dropping. “Bring coffee. I always need one after that class.”
Bucky took a deep breath in threw his nose. “S-sure.”
“Have a good night Buck.”
And with that Steve jogged away to meet up with Natasha and Bucky stood wondering what the fuck he’d just agreed to.