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———
Before Bob moved into the Watchtower and became a part of the New Avengers, he had few things that made him happy. He liked seeing couples in love, cats or dogs getting doted on, a simple sunset or sunrise ( depending on how his previous night had been ) and he loved music. But even so with all of that, he still felt the twinge of loneliness inside him.
After moving into the Watchtower, however, Bob quickly found things that made him happy. Yelena’s hugs ( once he had the void under control ), Alexei’s war stories ( even if they went on forever ), Bucky’s grumpiness and how out of touch he was with certain things like computers, still making him clueless. He loved when Ava made tea for them all in the morning, and when she fazed through walls to scare the rest of the team, especially John . John was one of his favorite things .
There were so many things about John that Bob loved; how he gently touched the people around him, a light hand on the small of your back or shoulder to slide past you, the smile tugging on his lips when he was happy, the way he threw his head back in laughter, his blonde hair and blue eyes catching in the sun just right, and the way his dog tags would clink together lightly when he walked. God the dog tags . They almost made Bob feral. That was what led into his most favorite thing; stealing John’s dog tags .
It started off slow, he’d just touch and admire them as they hung from John’s neck, the metal and writing smooth under Bob’s thumb. He would reach out for them if he saw them swinging, almost like a cat following a toy that got its attention. He’d play with the back of the chain when he hugged John, fingers brushing against the nape of his neck, sending shivers down John’s spine. It was simple, domestic really, and if you weren’t looking for it you probably wouldn’t even notice it.
John almost never took his dog tags off, except to shower. He trained with them on, went on missions with them on, just tucked into his shirt or suit top so they wouldn’t be in the way. It was almost like a safety net or something to keep him grounded.
Bob stumbled into the bathroom one day, asking John a question from the opening of the door, when he saw the dog tags sitting on the counter. Slightly shiny and damp from the mist that fogged up the bathroom. An idea came to his head, a small smirk pulling his lips up as he reached out and grabbed them quietly in one swift and fast move. He paused for a second, making sure it was clear and John hadn’t heard; thankfully he hadn’t. He was quick to exit John’s room, walking into the common area with a new type of bounce in his step, a little too confident.
“What’s with you?”, Yelena asks, making a face at him from the kitchen island where she had a bowl of strawberries out, popping one into her mouth.
Bob shrugged; “Oh nothing just, these ”, Bob says, letting the dog tags fall from his enclosed fist, hanging down and reflecting in the light by where they wrapped around Bob’s middle finger. Yelena’s eyes almost popped out of her head.
“ Are you crazy ? What if he catches you?”, She stutters, her eyes still wide, knowing how protective John is of his tags.
Bob only shrugged again; “He can try.”
Yelena was about to say something else when a loud shout from down the hallway echoed through the room; “ SON OF A BITCH -“ John’s booming voice cut through the air like a knife as Bob scrambled to hide the tags in his pocket once again; with only a few seconds to spare as John stomped out into the room, his hair still wet and dripping lightly on his t-shirt. His face was red, as he huffed out a breath.
“ Alright , which one of you assholes took my tags?”, He grumbles, his eyebrow raised and a hand on his hip. He looks between both of them, pointing his finger at them as if it would magically get someone to confess.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Walker. Quit losing stuff”, Yelena deadpans, popping another strawberry in her mouth before she just took the bowl with her, padding off to her room.
Bob could immediately feel John’s eyes on him the second Yelena left the room, burning a hole in the back of his head, and he tried his hardest not to let the pink shade creeping up his neck show. He could hear John shift on his feet, his arms now crossed in front of his chest, muscles peaking out from below his sleeves; still shining with shower water.
“You wouldn’t happen to know anything… would you Bobby ?”, John asked slowly, almost like he already knew. Bob gulped and shook his head probably a little too fast.
“I haven’t seen them…maybe you misplaced them?”, Bob managed, his throat dry as John took another step towards him, pinning him between the blonde and the kitchen island.
“No see Bobby, I know they were on the counter when I got in the shower. The only other person who came in was you ”, John says, his voice hot on Bob’s face as he leans in so close, their foreheads are almost touching.
John licks his lips; “ So where are they, Bobby ?”
Bob opens his mouth to try and respond, only a small squeak noise coming out, making John smirk even harder. Bob scans his face for a minute, knowing he’s not actually that mad and that he’d really like to bother John more. So in one quick movement he ducks under John’s arm, sprinting out of the kitchen and towards the stairs, John’s groan echoing behind him.
“Jesus what the-“
———
Bob didn’t stop to turn around, he just ran, laughter echoing through the hallway as he did, managing to make it to the first flight of stairs. He can hear John calling after him, and his heavy footsteps getting closer, damn super solider serum . But he wasn’t giving up, he shut the door to the stairs, then shut off all the lights when he made it to the floor below them, crawling as quickly and quietly as he could into a hiding spot. He heard the door fly open a few seconds later, the scent of John’s cologne filling the room. He could hear him breathing, he was too close . He wasn’t losing this easily. He closed his eyes and carefully used his powers to knock over a lamp and some books across the room, John’s attention immediately snapping over as he booked it across the room. When he was far enough away, Bob sprang to his feet and went back out the door they had both entered.
“ Damnit, Bob !”, John’s voice rang when he noticed, Bob’s laughter filling the stairwell, followed by a half-meant: “ I’m sorry !”
Bob was up the stairs again, booking it down the hallway when Yelena’s door opened.
“What the hell are you?-“
“Shh, just hide me!”, Bob says quietly, pushing past her and quickly sliding himself in her closet, closing the door behind him.
“Bob what are you?-“
But her door swung open, a frazzled and sweaty looking John appearing, eyes scanning the room with extra precision.
“ What the hell, Walker ?? Ever hear of knocking??”, Yelena snapped.
John scoffed; “Nice try, I know he’s in here.”
Yelena titled her head, faking that she knew what he was talking out.
“Who’s in where?”, Yelena asked. John huffed, looking around the room for a moment before pointing his finger again;
“Alright, wanna play it this way, sure let’s have fun. Tell Bobby i’m watching him. I will get my tags back.”
He exits the room, the door shutting behind him. Silence fills the room before Yelena bursts out laughing, the closet door sliding open ever so slightly, Bob’s head peeking out.
“Is he gone?”, He asks, earning a nod from Yelena.
“You know he’s going to kill you right?”
Bob nods; “Oh for sure. I just wanna see how long I can keep this up for.”
———
An hour later Bob decides it’s safe to leave Yelena’s room, his head peeking out into the hall and checking both ways twice, before he steps out. He almost sighs in relief when an all too familiar voice is heard behind him.
“ Going somewhere, Bobby ?”, John asks, practically towering in his doorway.
Bob gulps; “Y-yeah, uh training? Yeah!”, He manages, his head whipping around to spy the elevator, that just so happened to ding open. Bob stared at John for a second, before taking off like a rocket towards the elevator, John hot on his tail.
“ Bucky press the button !”, Bob yells, Bucky looking up from his phone puzzled, before doing what Bob asked, his face turning to something between amusement and being stunned. Bob makes it into the elevator just in time, the doors closing behind him just as John reaches the door, banging his fist once against the doors.
“What the hell was that about??”, Bucky asks, his eyes wide and brow arched.
“Bobby’s got my tags”, John huffed.
Bucky smirks, maybe enjoying John’s bewilderment a little bit too much , before saying; “Well, good luck with that.”
John reached the stairs as Bucky disappears down the hall. This time he doesn’t rush, he knows exactly where Bob is headed; the gym . He always went the first place that popped into his head, and training was on his mind. John took his time, wanting Bob to stew in anticipation for a while, maybe even thinking John gave up, before he catches him.
But Bob knew him better than that, he knew he was coming, he just didn’t know when. He crouched down in the corner of the dark gym shower, the floor still slightly damp from whoever had used it earlier that day. He tried to calm his breathing, keeping his ears open for any slight noise that could be coming his way. He absentmindedly played with the dog tags in between his fingers, making sure they didn’t make any noise.
He sat there for what felt like hours, but only maybe ten minutes had passed. He knew John was doing this on purpose, trying to psych him out. But Bob wouldn’t fall for it. Eventually he heard the gym door open, the lights flickering on shortly after. He could again smell John’s cologne, confirming it was him and not someone else who had entered. He could hear John’s boots on the floor, no matter how hard he tried to be quiet and cautious, the confidence and super soldier serum running through his veins wouldn’t allow that. He was anything but graceful. Bob could practically hear his own heartbeat in his chest as he crouched closer to the wall, cursing himself because if he could hear it, John could hear it . He willed his heartbeat to slow down, begging for just this once to get away with it.
It must’ve worked, or John was messing with him again, because Bob could see him heading in the opposite direction. Shit , he thought, what’s my next move ?
He didn’t have much time to think about it, the curtain around him was yanked back, the blonde soldier staring over him with a wicked smirk on his face. Bob was quickly to his feet, but trapped in between John’s arms against the wall on either side of him.
“You think this is fun, Bobby? Making me run all over the damn tower after you?”, John says, his voice low and gruff in a way that made Bob’s stomach flutter.
“It’s a little fun…”, Bob mumbles, watching John’s face drop for a second as he looks at the brunette, who’s smirk now matched the way his own had looked.
“Just give me the tags Bobby, then you can go. No harm, all’s forgiven”, John tried, holding one of his hands out. Bob hesitates for a moment, moving like he’s going to give them back before ducking under John’s arm once again, sprinting out of the room.
“ Ah mOTHER FU- “, John voice booms behind him, Bob can hear his boots squeak on the damp shower floor as a he stumbles a bit to run after him.
———
Bob is once again in the elevator in no time, but John doesn’t wait this time, he’s sprinting up the stairs to meet him. The elevator opens a few seconds before John makes it there, seeing a blur of Bob’s blue sweater sprinting past him. He’s determined now, Bob will not get away again . Bob doesn’t know where he’s heading, he’s just going anywhere his legs will take him. He zig zags around every room on the living floor, wedging himself between the window and the side of the couch when John comes stomping in, something dangerous in his eyes. Bob whips his head around for anywhere to go, anyway out, but he’s stuck . The only thing he can think to do is run again. So he does.
He sprints past John, who manages to momentarily grab the end of Bob’s sweater pulling him back for a second before his grip slips, making them both stumble forward. But Bob’s still moving; he doesn’t stop, racing out of the common area and down the hallway again, still having no clue where he’s headed. He does a loop, somehow missing John, and sprints back into the kitchen, hiding behind the island. He doesn’t hear John’s footsteps anymore, can’t even smell his cologne. So he closes his eyes for a moment, sighing as he grips the dog tags tightly in his hands, when he’s suddenly being lifted off the ground.
A struggled gasp comes out of Bob’s lips as he’s lifted over John’s shoulder like a sack, John’s grip tightening once he’s up there.
“What are you gonna do now?”, John sneers, the brunette kicking in his grip, still trying to get away. John smacks his butt twice as he carries him down the hallway towards his room, the rest of the team watching in pity from their doorways.
“Poor Bob, so close ”, Yelena says.
“He’s never gonna learn”, Ava adds.
“I think he likes being caught”, Alexei adds, making the other three look at him with questioning eyes.
“ What ?”, Alexei asks, throwing his hands up in defense.
“Jesus i’m not even going to ask”, Bucky says, pinching his brow before return to his room.
Bob definitely liked being caught.
———
Once John has Bob in his room and the door shut, Bob knows he’s caught and done for. He’s flopped down on the bed, curls falling in his face.
“You still think it’s funny to steal my tags, pretty boy?”, John says, leaning over him. Bob shrugs, but no words come out.
John’s hands are up under Bob’s sweater, pulling it off just enough to reach Bob’s ribs, running his finger across them in the way that gets Bob giggling and scrunching up every time.
“Tickling isn’t fair!”, Bob protests, but John keeps going.
“What’s not fair is me having to chase you around the tower all day for something that you stole ”, John tells him.
Bob’s face is bright pink now, laughter escaping his lips as he gasps for air, John only stopping for a moment to press a kiss to his lips. He trails kisses down Bob’s neck and over his shoulders, kissing both sides of his jawline, biting ever so softly at the skin on his nape. Bob pushed him back with a huff.
“Biting’s not fair either”, Bob says, faking a pout.
“Well you shouldn’t have taken my tags then.”
Bob shrugs; “But I like them.”
John chuckles, allowing Bob to slide his dog tags back around his neck; “And I like you.”
Bob’s already playing with the tags hanging around John’s neck, not really listening to anything he’s saying. Just mesmerized by the silver chains, like a child in a candy store. He can tell John’s lips are moving, but he can’t hear any words come out.
“Bobby”, John laughs, taking his dog tags and spinning them around so the rest on his back now, making Bob pout; “You aren’t listening to a word i’m saying.”
“Yes I am.”
“What did I say then?”
“Uh…”, Bob tried to think of something, he knows his brain picked it up, his ears just weren’t listening.
“That’s what I thought”, John laughs again, before leaning down and kissing the end of Bob’s nose. He kisses both cheeks, right then left. He kisses his jawline, down his neck, and then at the dips at the bottom of his neck, sucking in air on each to leave a purple mark; even if they’d be gone by morning.
Bob’s giggling again, trying to push him away, but not really meaning it.
“Your beard tickles”, Bob tells him, running his fingers through the coarse but soft hair on John’s chin. John’s face cracks a wide smirk.
“You’re gonna be feeling a lot more than tickles here if you keep stealing my stuff”, John warns, but it’s playful, stopping Bob in his tracks for a second, before he tugs at John’s shirt. He pauses, speaking just before he presses their lips together.
“The dog tags stay on.”
———