/AN: Set before Bucky is a soldier, right after Sarah Rogers dies though. Based more on movies than comic book personalities. And I do not own the main characters portrayed in this. One character is just someone I threw in, but Steve and Buvky belong to Marvel. Please Read and Review!

Steve Rogers was a young adult living in New York in 1940. He was small in stature, and very skinny, but had a heart of gold. He was known for getting into fights, though he had more of a bark than bite, however his bark was even a little weak. He had only recently lost his mother, while his father died during World War One. The only person he had left was his best friend, James Buchanan Barnes, otherwise known as Bucky. He was taller than Steve, and was more muscular than him as well, people often favoured Bucky over Steve; not that either of them paid attention to that. Bucky was better at talking to people, especially girls, than Steve was. They had been friends their entire lives, nothing could ever separate the two.

After his mother's funeral, Steve would be alone in his house, the two walked back in silence and upon arriving, Bucky spoke up, "Steve, I've been thinking... Why don't you just stay at my place?" Steve looked at him then smiled at the ground, he didn't say anything so Bucky continued, "I mean, my folks love you and it won't be that different, and you'll be alone here." Bucky looked at his less than average sized friend, he worried about him often, and the last thing he needed was to think about Steve in his Brooklyn house alone. After a pause, Steve looked at him, "thanks, Buck," he started, "but I can get by on my own."
"But you don't have to," Bucky insisted, "I'm with you 'til the end of the line, pal." Steve smiled at his friend, he was the best friend that Steve could have asked for, and he truly did appreciate the offer, but he refused, "I know, Bucky, but I'll be fine here." Bucky sighed, he knew how stubborn Steve could be, but he believed him, albeit reluctantly, when he said he'd be fine. "Well if you're not gonna stay at my place for a while, you can at least let me get you supper tonight. Put your stuff away and we'll go to the diner, alright? Go on." Bucky smiled at Steve, he hated seeing him upset, and wanted to do everything he could for him. "Alright, alright, cool your jets." Steve laughed as he unlocked his door and stepped inside, leaving the door open. Bucky followed him into the front room of his house, and waited as Steve walked to his room for a second to drop his bag off. "So why the dinner offer, huh?" Steve asked when he got back. "What? I'm not allowed to treat my best pal to dinner every once in awhile?" Bucky retorted.

"Of course you are, and I appreciate the gesture, but you also took the bill last time." Steve recalled. "And the time before that. You know I can buy my own coffee."
"I know, but it's fun to treat you, plus you always light up when I offer. It's cute." Bucky smirked at Steve, whose face had a slight redness to them. "Shut up..." Steve said as he shoved his friend who was now laughing.

When they got to their favourite diner, they sat in at their usual seat. The waitress walked over to them, her name was Violet and she was an older woman with curly white hair. She was short and a bit rounder, but always had a grin on her face framed in red lipstick. "Hello you two, the usual today?" She asked them, and they both nodded in response. "You've got it." She smiled and turned to the kitchen to place their orders and get their drinks. Steve seemed distracted, he would look at Bucky then turn somewhere else, until eventually he took a napkin and a pen from his pocket to draw.
"What is it?" Bucky asked, sounding concerned. "You've been antsy since we got here. You alright?"
"I'm fine..." Steve replied, still not making eye contact with Bucky.
"You sure about that? Come on, just tell me what's wrong. Please?"
"Well it's just that..." Steve sighed. "I wasn't expecting you to say that and it threw me off. See, it's nothing. I mostly just wanna know if you meant it."
Bucky looked at him and was about to speak as Violet returned, to whom his focus met, "Here's your coffee, guys. Food will be up soon." She smiled and turned away again. Bucky smirked, "that's what you're worried about? That I said you were cute?"
"Buck, can you answer the question?" Steve insisted. The assertion made Bucky smile more, he always thought Steve was especially funny when he was being abrasive. "Is it wrong to say my best pal is cute when he lights up?"
"Well no… I think, but... I don't know you've just never said it before. It took me by surprise"
"That was why I said it. Shock factor, you know" Bucky smiled again at his friend. Steve visibly relaxed. "Alright. I guess that makes sense," he smiled back at Bucky. At this point, Violet had returned with their food. Bucky had a cheeseburger with fries, and Steve had a small steak with vegetables. Violet turned away after telling them to enjoy their food and leaned on the counter to turn up the radio. The usual was playing, highlights from the baseball game, some new track, but something newer was on. This was the threat of war, and while America wasn't involved yet, they still made people aware. When they heard the radio, it was Bucky's turn to look down. "I wish they wouldn't play that here. It just makes people upset." He looked back up at Steve, "You okay?"

"I respect what they do, and they want to make sure people know what happens across the ocean, that's all." Steve replied. Bucky nodded in agreement, but then continued, "I just meant how're you doing, with everything you've had to deal with, and now on your own. I can't help but feel bad, y'know?"

Steve smiled at his friend, "But I'm not alone, Buck, you said it yourself, you're with me 'til the end of the line. If I've got your ugly mug looking after me, what could go wrong?" They laughed together, and Bucky sighed and began talking again, "if they start sending us over there, y'know to fight, I'm signing up. I just wanted you know know." Steve stopped smiling, and returned Bucky's serious gaze, "Well then I am too. It's the least I can do"

Bucky's brows furrowed, "What about your health, Steve, and I mean, your size…"

"I don't care about that stuff, Buck, I can't just sit back while other people are fighting. Especially since my dad died in the last war. It'd be disrespectful to his memory. Besides, if you go over, and I'm here, who's gonna look after you?" Steve smiled at Bucky, and he returned the smile.

"Y'know," Steve started, "It's cute when you light up like that."

/Once again, please review and let me know if you'd like me to continue!