Archive of Our Own ^beta

The coffee from the teacher’s lounges archaic machine is bad enough for John to consider giving up his caffeine addiction. He grimaces as he takes a sip and turns away from the counter to scan the small room.

Croz and Bubbles are sharing the loveseat, no doubt discussing the upcoming theater production when they should be discussing midterms. He smiles at them as they look up and catch his gaze. They know he’ll be the last one to tell them to focus on the academics rather than the extra-curriculars.

His first and second period Health classes are over and he’s free from the classroom until the final period of the day. Extra-curriculars are his forte after all. This quick pit-stop in the lounge before heading to his true domain in the gym offices to meet with Rosenthal to discuss this evening’s baseball game is still a necessity.

He ignores the attempted eye contact from all the other staff he can feel on him as the door to the lounge opens and in walks Bucky’s necessity for standing in this uncomfortable room, drinking the equivalent of muddy water.

Bucky pushes his weight off the counter as soon he sees that beautiful head of blonde hair push through the heavy oak door. His favorite substitute teacher, best friend and soon to be something much more if he has any say in it walks into the lounge at the same time each morning, and today is no exception.

They met at the end of last school year, spent the summer becoming friends and have been on four dates in the last three weeks. Bucky is smitten and everyone knows it. Well, everyone but Gale, but Bucky is slowing but surely showing him that he’s worth a damn.

Bucky watches as Gale looks around the room, taking in his surroundings as he does in every new space he walks into. It takes only a moment for those blue eyes to meet his and Bucky is still blown away by the relief and happiness he sees shine through them when Gale finds him each day.

Bucky smiles and Gale smiles back as they meet at the table between them. There is a pinched expression to Gale’s face that he isn’t accustomed to seeing, especially at work, but he does earn himself his favorite fond eyeroll when he rushes forward to pull the other’s chair out for him like a proper gentleman.

Gale takes a seat and leans forward, hunching over the table.

“Good morning sunshine,” Bucky greets with a smile.

“Morning John,” Gale returns. That low rumbling voice always gives Bucky a good start to his day, but today it seems rougher.

One of his favorite pastimes nowadays is looking at Gale, so he takes the opportunity to do so now. He takes in his hunched posture, the slight furrow between his brows and notices a slight flush to his cheeks. One of his other favorite pastimes is making the other blush, but nothing in this morning’s interaction warrants that reaction. Concern rushes through Bucky immediately and he leans into Gale’s space.

“Buck,” he keeps his voice low, knowing that Gale hates unwarranted attention. “Are you feeling alright?”

Bucky watches as a myriad of expressions crosses Gale’s expressive blue eyes. Surprise, confusion, fear for a moment before it’s hidden away, and finally fondness. It breaks Bucky’s heart how easily shocked Gale is by the evidence that someone cares about him enough to show it.  

“Yeah, I’m okay John,” Gale replies, voice still too rough for Bucky’s liking, and that’s saying something because he loves Gale’s low timbre. “Stomach isn’t feeling the best still, but I’m alright.”

Last night, Gale had cancelled their dinner plans because of a stomachache and Bucky had thought nothing of it, especially after he and Gale had made up for the missed date by staying up late talking on the phone until they both fell asleep. Now though, Bucky thinks something of it.

“I don’t think a tummy ache is supposed to last 24 hours,” he informs the other and gets another one of his favorite eye rolls in return for his childish word choice. He reaches forward and sets his hand on Gale’s forward and feels a little too much heat there before his hand is batted away. “And they’re definitely not supposed to give you a fever, Buck.”

The seriousness of his tone makes Gale hunch further in his seat and stare at the table and Bucky has to grit his teeth for a moment before he begins again. He reaches across the table and places his hand on Gale’s arm, letting his thumb stroke the joint of his wrist.

“Buck if you’re sick,” he begins in his most soothing voice, “it’s okay to take the day. Better than okay, honestly.” He watches Gale swallow and shake his head a fraction before finally returning his gaze. Bucky has to school his expression to avoid reacting overtly to the pain he sees in the other’s eyes. He just can’t tell if it’s physical or stemmed from memories of whatever happened to make him think he doesn’t deserve any kindness or care when he’s feeling under the weather.

“Please Buck,” John implores. “You have one class to sub this afternoon and its band. You don’t even play an instrument. They won’t miss out on your genius teaching like the math and science kids would.”

Gale’s eyes narrow, “How do you know that?”

“That you don’t play instruments? Gale, you can’t dance for shit, you have no rhythm. You think I’d believe you have a musical bone in your body?” Bucky teases.

Gale scoffs quietly, but it turns into a grimace, and he presses a hand to his side. Bucky frowns.

“No,” Gale says, and Bucky is ready to protest, before Gale continues. “How do you know that’s my only class today?”

Bucky smiles and would feel sheepish for his response, except for the fact that he is completely smitten with Gale Cleven and feels no need to hide that fact since everyone already knows.

“Well, you mentioned it last night and I remember literally every word you speak to me,” he smiles as Gale ducks his head and he sees the hint of that shy smile he loves. “And I check your schedule on the Teacher Portal online every morning so that I can accidently run into you in the hall every now and then.” He finishes with a wink that has Gales’s cheeks blooming even more crimson.

“You’re ridiculous John,” Gale tells him, looking at him from under his lashes and John wants to take him home, bundle him up, spoon feed him soup and rub his belly.

“And you’re sick, Buck.” He fixes Gale with a look that can only be described as mixed with worry and fondness. Gale returns the look, assessing him for a moment before letting out a sigh and Bucky knows he’s won.

“Okay John, I’ll go talk to Principal Harding and head home for the afternoon.” Bucky can tell that Gale is disappointed in himself for a perceived failure and he feels that familiar ache in his chest he gets often when he gets a glimpse into Gale’s complicated history. But he is happy he seems to have won this battle.

Until Gale’s words register, and he lowers his eyebrows to give Gale an assessing look. Gale looks back innocently, hand once again pressed to his side, looking like he’s working up the momentum to stand.

“Head home for the afternoon, huh?” Bucky questions. Gale meets his gaze. “You wouldn’t happen to have a shift at Curt’s tonight, would you? Because you definitely didn’t mention that last night.”

Gale rolls his eyes but doesn’t deny it. “Ham had to call off because his mom is real sick. I just got the text an hour ago and agreed to cover.”

“Well un-agree. No need to be waitin’ tables when you’re real sick too Buck,” Bucky states.

He receives a frown, in return. “I’m not sick, I just don’t feel well,” Gale clarifies.

Bucky guffaws and shakes his head. “You’re in pain, you have a fever and your voice is shot to shit. What’s the damn difference Gale?” He can’t manage to keep the frustration out of his tone, but he does try.

Gale makes himself smaller in his seat and Bucky hates himself a little. He squeezes Gale’s hand and is rewarded with a palm turned and grasping his. “I’ll go home.” Gale mutters. He looks up at Bucky for a moment and moves to stand.

Bucky moves with him, especially when he sees him grit his teeth as he straightens out his lean torso. His hands hover but Gale looks pointedly at the clock on the wall and shakes his head. “You better get going, Rosie is probably waiting on you to talk strategy for your game against the polka dots tonight.”

He gives Bucky a small smile that makes him feel less like he fucked this all up. He glances around the lounge and sees that they don’t have much of an audience, so he reaches up and cups Gale’s cheek, smiling when Gale leans into the touch.

“Please call Curt and tell him you can’t come in tonight,” he strokes the too warm cheek and wishes he could follow Gale home and take care of him. “I’ll call you when the game is over tonight, and I’ll come by with some soup.”

Gale looks a little surprised by his words and there’s that flare in Bucky’s chest again, but he pushes it aside and smiles at this beautiful man. Gale’s eyes soften and he gets one of his favorite shy smiles in return.

“Sure, Bucky.”

- - - - - - - - - - -

They’re at the bottom of the eighth inning when Bucky finally gives in to the urge to check his phone. He hasn’t heard from Gale since well before the game began when the other had informed him that he was going to lay down for a bit.

Now John has spent the last few hours worrying and hating that he’s worrying, but also loving that he gets to worry about Gale; because what else could be a better use of his time than worrying about the most beautiful, sweet, gentle human being he’s ever met.

He pulls his phone out of his bag, and it only takes a few seconds to feel the disappointment that he hasn’t received any new messages or calls from Gale. That disappointment is immediately replaced by confusion and then worry when he realizes that he has half a dozen missed calls from Curt.

There’s one text from Curt that clenches his gut and has him signaling to Rosie that he needs to make a call:

Curt: Call me ASAP asshole, its blue eyes.

Curt calls Gale blue eyes, and Bucky can’t breathe for a moment. He has the phone to his ear, and it takes three rings for Curt to answer.

“Bucky!”

“Biddick!”

Bucky groans as they speak over each other.

“Is something wrong with Buck?! What’s going on?!” Bucky breathes through his nose and clenches the phone. Curt’s heavy accent comes though immediately, and he sounds flustered.

“Bucky, thank God! I tried calling yous’ a million times!” Bucky rolls his eye because six is not a million but relents. “Buck came in to serve for Ham tonight but he wasn’t lookin’ too good, you know. I tried to send him home but he gave me those puppy eyes and said he really needed the money, so I let him go on the floor.”

Bucky closes his eyes and runs a hand through his curls, frustrated and at a loss for what to do about his man. Gale makes him feel so much without even trying.

“Let me guess,” Bucky says into the receiver. “He couldn’t get a tray of drinks out to one table before you had to force him to go home.”

He hears Curt take a breath and waits for the confirmation that he needs to stop by the grocery store and the pharmacy before heading to Gale’s and possibly call off work tomorrow to play doctor in a very un-fun literal sense.

“Look Bucky, I don’t know how to say it, so Imma just say it,” Curt says. Bucky takes a sharp breath and feels panic in his chest. “He’s too damn good at pretending he’s okay when he ain’t. Give him a fuckin’ Oscar. He served for over two hours before he finally threw up and then passed out in the walk-in cooler. Yous coulda cooked an egg on his forehead, Bucky, and he wouldn’t wake up no matter what I did. Ambulance took him to St. Pete’s over an hour ago.”

Bucky can’t breathe.

- - - - - - - - - - -

The drive from the high school to St. Pete’s would take twenty-five minutes for a levelheaded person, following all traffic laws and speed limits. Bucky does not have a clear recollection of the trip from the field to the visitor’s parking lot at the hospital, but when he checks his phone as he thrusts the parking brake on his old Chevy into place, he sees that he made the journey in fifteen.

His long legs carry him quickly to the Emergency Room doors, mentally preparing to put on his best act to convince the hospital staff that he needs to be provided information on Gale. He’s not sure if “We’ve been on a few dates, I never stop thinking about him, and I’m afraid he’s slowly becoming the most important thing in my life,” is going to be a compelling argument to avert hospital policy, but he’s been known to charm even the most uncharmable people in the past, so he’ll give it a shot.

The wind is taken out of his sails however when he enters the room and is immediately greeted by Benny Demarco getting up from a hard plastic chair against the far wall and walking towards him.

Bucky has met Benny a few times now. Gale introduced the two of them after their first date and Bucky had liked him immediately. Benny and Gale had been randomly paired as college roommates their freshman year and had become fast friends. They’d roomed together all four years and remained close following graduation. Through the process of getting to know Gale, Bucky had been concerned about his lack of family and it had been an honest relief to learn that he had someone like Benny in his life looking out for him.

“Bucky!” Benny finally made his way over to John and placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him away from the sliding doors to an empty corner of the waiting room.

“Benny, what’s going on? Curt called and said Gale was brought here in an ambulance from the restaurant and I’m freaking out here.” Bucky did his best to keep his voice even, but he could tell from the soft look Benny gave him that he didn’t quite manage to keep the panic from seeping through.

“He’s okay, Bucky,” Benny began, but then grimaced. “Well, as okay as you can be after having your appendix cut out of you.”

Bucky blanched. “His appendix? You’re telling me that his stomachache was appendicitis, and he just went about his goddamn day?!”

Benny sighed and suddenly looked very tired. “Yeah, apparently. I’m his emergency contact and they called once he was taken into surgery. I just got an update before you came in and he’s already out and they’re setting him up in a recovery room now.”

Bucky nodded and took a deep breath, finally feeling some of his anxiety over the situation lesson with the knowledge that Gale was going to be okay.

“They say everything went alright?” He questioned.

“Yeah, they said they got it out before it could rupture, but it was close. If it had, we’d probably be having a much different conversation.” Benny shook his head.

Bucky felt a shudder run through him at the thought of how much worse this could have been, scenarios running through his mind without his permission, and he clenched his fists.

Benny noticed the change in his demeaner and put a hand on his shoulder. The squeeze he gave helped ground Bucky in the reality that those nightmare scenarios did not happen.

“They said that he can have visitors as soon as he’s awake, which they said should be within the hour. I already put your name on the list.”

“Thank you, Benny.” Bucky’s relief shone in his eyes.

The last thirty minutes between Curt’s phone call and now felt like a lifetime suddenly, and he just wanted to see Gale with his own eyes. He needed to see for himself that he was okay.

“Just so you know, when he’s not out of it from the anesthesia, I’m giving him the sternest talking to he’ll have heard in years.” Benny’s worry was mixed with some anger and Bucky had a moment of protective fire burning in his chest before he let it go.

“He’s got it coming to him,” Bucky concedes. “I’ll give him my own thoughts on the matter, but I ain’t gonna lie. I don’t think I’ll even be able to pretend to be mad when he turns those baby blues on me.”

Benny rolls his eyes but huffs a laugh, “Well I’ve been immune to those puppy dog eyes for years Bucky, so I’ll talk some sense into him.”

“You’re a stronger man than me Benny,” Bucky laughs.

“Just have more practice is all,” Benny returns, and Bucky finally feels like he can breathe properly again. Benny can dole out some tough love and fill Gale in on all the ways he’s been an idiot and then Bucky can swoop in and coddle the shit out of him. The thought brings a smile to his face.

A nurse in blue scrubs calls out for the family of Gale Cleven and Benny and Bucky turn in tandem.

Benny greets her with a smile. “I’m Benny, Gale’s best friend and next of kin and this here is Bucky, Gale’s boyfriend.” Bucky’s heart does an embarrassing skip at Benny’s introduction. He and Gale haven’t labeled anything yet, but he wants to hold that title more than he’s wanted anything in a long time.

“Gale actually prefers to be called Buck,” Bucky throws in and smiles when Benny rolls his eyes.

“Noted,” she smiles back politely. “Nice to meet you both. We’ve got Gale all settled into a room and he’s waking up now. Visiting hours are over in an hour, but I can take you back to see him now if you’re ready?”

They both nodded and followed her to the elevator she’d initially come from. As Bucky leaned against the wall in the back of the elevator as it climbed, Benny joined him and leaned over so their shoulders were pressed together.

“You mind if I go in first?” Benny asked.

Bucky fought down the initial protest that wanted to come to his lips, pushing away the possessive feeling he tends to get around Gale and nodded.

“Just go easy on him, huh?” Bucky could only imagine how vulnerable Gale would be feeling at the moment and the thought of him realizing that he’d upset his best friend made him wince in sympathy.

Benny’s eyes were soft when he looked at Bucky. “I will Bucky, no need to worry. I’ll the save the really heavy lecture for when he’s home and not off his rocker from the drugs.”

Bucky nodded, relieved. “I hope you’re okay with an audience for that one because once I take him home, I’m not letting him out of my sight for at least the next week.”

The elevator doors opened, and they exited and followed the nurse down a hallway.

Benny turned his head and raised his eyebrows, “Oh, is that right? What makes you think it’s you and not me that’s going to be taking our boy home and nursing him back to health?”

This time, the possessive feeling sweeps through Bucky and he decides not to fight it back down. He stops to give Benny a look to show he’s going to win this fight if they have it, but when he makes eye contact with the shorter man, all he sees is mirth in his gaze.

Bucky gives him a gentle shove in retaliation for the teasing. “Fuck off, Benny.”

“You should have seen your face!” Benny laughs and shakes his head, “Trust me, I know Gale better than anyone and the only person he’s going to want around is going to be you. He might push and say he doesn’t need any help, but just out stubborn him because it’s all an act with him.”

Bucky had been starting to realize that about Gale lately. Gale appeared stoic to most people, and it was true that he was the strong, silent type, but Bucky had been collecting evidence. Like how Buck practically molded himself into his side whenever Bucky threw an arm around his shoulders. How he liked to hold Bucky’s hand while they were driving in the truck. How he couldn’t keep the blush off his cheeks whenever Bucky complimented him. How he’d never walk away from Bucky without leaning in to kiss some part of his face. So many more little instances flooded his mind and made him smile, suddenly overwhelming ready to get through the door the nurse had stopped in front of and see Gale.

“I’ll be quick,” Benny told him, and Bucky knew he wasn’t keeping his eagerness off his face.

“Don’t be silly Benny, take your time.”

Benny smiled one of those soft, understanding smiles as he watched Bucky rock back and forth on his heels. “I know what’s best for my best friend, and that’s going to be seeing you, John. I’ll be quick.” He winked and then disappeared into Gale’s room.

Bucky gave a nod to the nurse when she reminded him of the approaching end to visiting hours, already deciding that that rule wasn’t going to apply to him. He leaned against the wall across from the door blocking him from Gale and waited.

- - - - - - - - -

Bucky hovered near the closed door now on the inside of the room for just a moment before stepping carefully over to the hospital bed that held his precious cargo. Benny had told him Gale had been struggling to stay awake when he’d finished his visit, and Bucky wondered if he’d lost his battle with consciousness as he observed the man in the bed.

Gale’s eyes were closed, blond hair falling over his forehead instead of brushed up in his usually stylish waves. The bruises under his eyes were more prominent than Bucky had observed at school today, made the more obvious by the pallor of his skin.

Still beautiful though, Bucky couldn’t help but think as he finally closed the remaining distance. He let his hip rest against the bed as he looked down at the younger man. He suddenly felt like he wanted to cry, and he didn’t exactly understand why. He looked up at the ceiling for a moment to compose himself before returning his gaze to Gale, eyes sweeping over the blanket covering his torso, imagining the surgical stiches no doubt lying underneath, soon to be causing pain. He glared at the offending spot until a raspy voice startled him out of his thoughts.

“You watchin’ me sleep?” Bucky brought his eyes back to Gale’s face and couldn’t fight the smile that crept onto his face at the sight of those blue eyes, even slightly glazed and half-lidded as they were.

“Watching you do anything is one of my new favorite hobbies Buck,” he returned and internally did a victory lap as his comment led to an eye roll.

“How’re you feeling?”

He watched the other consider the question for a moment before he shrugged with a wince. “Tired mostly, little out of it. Doesn’t hurt too bad though, way better than before. Just sore.”

Bucky worked to control his expression, having already promised himself he’d save any lecturing, no matter how gentle they’d be, for much later.

Gale watched him for a moment, lips twitching into a hint of a smile before his eyes skirted away and he took a trembling breath.

Bucky noticed the change immediately and moved to sit on the bed next to Gale’s hip, careful not to jostle him. He reached out and wrapped his hand around Gale’s, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze.

“Are you mad at me?” Gale asked, words coming out quiet enough that Bucky barely caught them. Bucky squeezed his hand again and with his other reached up to brush that blond hair off Buck’s forehead. Smiling as it just fell back down like a wave. He let his hand slide down until it cupped the other man’s jaw and with slight pressure tipped his head up so that Gale’s eyes were back on his.

He smiled down at him and stroked Gale’s cheek with the pad of his calloused thumb, heart squeezing in chest when Gale’s eyelids fluttered, and he leaned into the touch.

“I’m not mad at you Gale,” he started, smile growing when Gale’s eyes widened slightly at the shock of hearing his name. “I was worried last night. I was really worried in the break room at school, and I was downright terrified when I heard you were here. But I wasn’t mad, and I’m not mad now. I’m just so damn glad you’re okay.”

Gale held his gaze even as his pale cheeks dusted a charming light pink. He seemed to be looking for something in Bucky’s expression, so Bucky just let him see the total adoration he felt and was satisfied when he received a real smile in return.

“Now, Benny? He’s mad at you. Very mad. I have it on good authority that you’re going to be getting a stern talking to once you’re on the mend.”

The eye roll he received for that comment was fond, but he still looked sheepish. “I probably deserve it.”

“Oh, you definitely deserve it Buck,” Bucky laughed. “But I’ll leave the lecturing to your best friend and I’ll get the boyfriend privilege of smothering you for the next seven to ten days.”

Gale’s breath hitched and the blush on his cheeks came back full force. He looked up at Bucky with wide eyes and it took a moment for Bucky to realize what he’d said. He felt a blush of his own creep up the back of his neck as he tried not to panic. He was pretty sure they were on the same page with which direction their relationship was headed, but it wasn’t a topic Bucky had planned to bring up in a hospital room following emergency surgery.

He felt a squeeze from the fingers cradled in his larger hand and returned Gale’s gaze. He felt only relief when he noticed the hope shining in the younger man’s eyes.

“That okay with you?”

Buck cleared his throat before giving a slight nod. “You can have the boyfriend privileges, but I think seven to ten days is pushing it Bucky. I’ll be good as new in three at the most.”

Bucky dropped Gale’s hand to raise both of his in the air in mock exasperation. He pointed a finger in Gale’s face, “You are ridiculous! You’re also delusional if you think I’m not going to win that fight. I’ll be on you like a barnacle until I decide it’s not necessary. Got it?”

Surprisingly he didn’t get an eye roll this time, just a soft smile and then a yawn. “My barnacle.”

Bucky resumed his hold on Gale’s hand, content with his victory. He returned his other hand to the messy head of blond hair and let his fingers scratch lightly at the other’s scalp.

“Drugs coming back for you sleepyhead?” He questioned softly and smiled at the hum he received in return.

“Don’t want you to go, keep talkin’ to me,” Gale muttered.

“’Bout what,” Bucky continued the soothing motions with his fingers.

Gale blinked slowly, taking longer than before to open them again. “Did you win your game tonight?”

Bucky scoffed lightly, “Don’t know. Got a frantic phone call during the bottom of the eighth, and yes, I know you have no idea what that means, from Curt about my boyfriend collapsing at work and being rushed to the emergency room. I don’t even remember if I told Rosie I was leaving before I sprinted to the truck. I probably looked like a loony.”

He watched as this information filtered into Gale’s exhausted and drug-added mind and he fought for wakefulness for a moment as guilt settled over his features. Bucky squashed it immediately.

“None of that now Buck,” He soothed. “I don’t care about the game, haven’t even thought about it once till you asked.” He let his rest on top of Gale’s head for a moment and made sure the guilt was easing out of his eyes.

“I coulda been coaching the final game of the World Series and I’d still have bailed just a fast,” he explains gently. “You kinda made your way into the top spot on my list of priorities and I’m going to keep you there for as long as you’ll let me.”

He soothed his thumb over the furrow in between Gale’s eyebrows as he watched his words sink in. Gale looked beyond tired, eyes now red and slightly watery, but he smiled Bucky’s favorite shy smile and held Bucky’s gaze.

“I want to stay at the top,” Gale practically whispered, and Bucky felt like his heart would burst with the sheer amount of affection he held inside for this beautiful man.

He brushed the hair back from Gale’s forehead again and leaned carefully forward to press a kiss to the space his hand had cleared.

“Spot’s your forever, far as I’m concerned.” Bucky whispered against his skin. He leaned back to see that Gale was officially losing the battle to stay awake.

“Go to sleep Buck,” he spoke softly, trying to soothe. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Visiting hours’r over any minute,” Buck mumbled, words slurring as his head relaxed back into the pillows. Bucky began his light scratching over his scalp again, knowing it brought the younger man comfort.

“Those don’t apply to me Buck,” he told him and watched, amused as Gale’s lips twitched.

“Good,” he had to lean forward to hear the words said on an exhale as sleep finally took him. “Wan’you to stay.”

Bucky smiled down at the now sleeping man and withdrew his hand from the other’s hair. He looked around the room and noticed a chair in the far corner, but one look back at Gale and he decided to just stay where he was.

He needed to text Curt and give him an update. He needed to text Rosie and give him an explanation.

But right now, he decided to just watch Gale sleep for a while, since watching Gale was one of his favorite things to do.