[He'd known getting into the Army was always going to be a long shot. Didn't matter how much he wanted it or understood right down to his soul that he'd be able to do good, contribute something, he owed a whole page of issues that only started with him being a whole head and shoulders shorter than any other guy in line with them. The boxing helped, it honestly did. His lungs felt stronger than they had in years after a week of scraping with Bucky. He'd go until both of their shirts were sticky with sweat, his hair damp but something righteous and satisfied pulsing hard through his veins. He tasted his own blood in the back of his throat -- but that was a familiar thing. There'd been enough scruffs in his life to know that metallic tang.
He wasn't the fastest but he could be quick. He couldn't hit the hardest but he could land a solid punch where he meant to put it. And if someone got him down, he'd get right back up again.
They didn't even let him get a word out. He didn't tell Bucky, but he went to two more recruiting stations after the first time and each one was a progressively shorter visit. Formally certified three times over. Steve Rogers (from Brooklyn, from New Haven ,from Paramus, sure) was one unanimous '4F' and there wasn't much he could do to convince anybody otherwise.
Bucky always started to get antsy around the full moons. He tracked it to at least a week off, his best friend would be more physical and affectionate. He'd shift a little more just because though it was hard for him to roam around the neighborhood without scaring somebody anymore. A dog the size of a horse would guarantee to do that much. Usually, his antics were pretty amusing even if they did have to clean it all up once he was done fooling around. Usually, Steve would be wrestling around with him, acting like they were kids again.
He was idling over his sketchbook but nothing was going down on the page when Bucky came over, a mass of warmth and familiar fur who could look over him while he was sitting in a chair. Steve shrugged, straightened out from his brooding hunch and looked over his shoulder.]
You've been trying that for years and it's never happened. Tonight's not gonna be any different.
[He turned around, snagging Bucky's muzzle with a little huff before he settled for scratching behind his left ear. One of his favorite spots.]
Don't you get tired of carrying me around? You're gonna be gone, I should probably get used to staying in on the full moon.
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He wasn't the fastest but he could be quick. He couldn't hit the hardest but he could land a solid punch where he meant to put it. And if someone got him down, he'd get right back up again.
They didn't even let him get a word out. He didn't tell Bucky, but he went to two more recruiting stations after the first time and each one was a progressively shorter visit. Formally certified three times over. Steve Rogers (from Brooklyn, from New Haven ,from Paramus, sure) was one unanimous '4F' and there wasn't much he could do to convince anybody otherwise.
Bucky always started to get antsy around the full moons. He tracked it to at least a week off, his best friend would be more physical and affectionate. He'd shift a little more just because though it was hard for him to roam around the neighborhood without scaring somebody anymore. A dog the size of a horse would guarantee to do that much. Usually, his antics were pretty amusing even if they did have to clean it all up once he was done fooling around. Usually, Steve would be wrestling around with him, acting like they were kids again.
He was idling over his sketchbook but nothing was going down on the page when Bucky came over, a mass of warmth and familiar fur who could look over him while he was sitting in a chair. Steve shrugged, straightened out from his brooding hunch and looked over his shoulder.]
You've been trying that for years and it's never happened. Tonight's not gonna be any different.
[He turned around, snagging Bucky's muzzle with a little huff before he settled for scratching behind his left ear. One of his favorite spots.]
Don't you get tired of carrying me around? You're gonna be gone, I should probably get used to staying in on the full moon.