#Bucky Barnes love triangle

[piggyinthesea]

Why Do You Look At Her?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader , Steve Rogers x Reader (implied)

Warnings: smut, smut, smut, hinted love triangle, cursing, hickeys, jealousy, foreplay, hickey kink, slight insecurity (bucky)

Fuck Marry Kill?

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It was pretty usual of Tony to throw charity parties. It seemed almost routine at this point getting ready for them. The sparkly dresses, make-up usage, and occasionally hair curlers were all things part of the ritual.

“Fuck!” You yelp at the fuming curler wand that scarred your skin with an ugly purple burn with hints of blue on your neck. You knew it was gonna be cliché to have to explain yourself to the others that it was in fact a burn, not a hickey and they most definitely wouldn’t believe an inch of it. You contemplated covering it with makeup, but you weren’t a rookie against heat burns and you knew that would just further damage your skin even more. So be it, if it can’t be helped, it can’t be helped.

Finally done with your hair and makeup, you slipped into your gorgeous sparkly maroon dress. You looked at yourself in the mirror. Skin tight, breasts lifted, and it hugged your curves in all the right places. You were definitely going to thank Tony for this one.

One Hour Later

You finally arrived to the charity, making your way towards the only person you knew there. If only Wanda and Natasha didn’t take so long to get ready.

“You look wonderful, dear. Might just take you from Bucky.” Steve said, pulling himself away from the group he was chatting with prior.

You tilted your head back and let out a chuckle, “Oh stop. You know you love him too much to do that.”

“Why don’t you guys admit you’re together, everybody knows it, and it looks like he’s already gotten to you.” He smirks, glancing at the purple bruise on your neck.

“We’re not like that, and for the record this is a burn, as you can tell by my curls. Doesn’t take a spy to figure out I burned my hair with the curling iron.” Glancing at the tower filled with millionaires, you tried scouring the crowds for a sign of Bucky yet he was no where to be found.

“So what you’re saying is, you’re single?” Pried Steve, subconsciously taking a step closer.

“Is who single?” Said a voice that emerged from the backs of you both.

“Bucky!” You excitedly turn around and give your dear friend a hug. You failed to notice the look Bucky gave to Steve. If Bucky could, he’d hug you back instantly though his hands were occupied by two glasses of pristine champagne. The scent of his strong cologne reminded you of the ocean which you always loved because it reminded you of fond memories when you were a child. When he asked you if he should go for the deep forest or ocean cologne, you picked ocean. It was Tony’s suggestion to come with matching outfits. You with a maroon dress and Bucky with a maroon tuxedo. Maroon definitely suited him.

“I’ll leave you guys alone.” Steve awkwardly says, a cute smile placed on his face as he heads towards Tony and strikes up a conversation.

Bucky hands you a golden champagne glass. It’s contents appeared almost physically sparkly, you knew instantly the champagne would be marvelous. After all, this is a charity held by Tony Stark. Bucky raised his glass to you and the two of you clinked your glasses and took a drink.

“So, you and Steve?” Bucky says, attempting to hint at the obvious closeness of you and Steve, while also indirectly hinting at the evident mark on your neck. Though he was too busy looking anywhere but your face, you scrunched up your face in discontent.

“No, Steve and I aren’t like that. And since I know you’re dying to ask no, this isn’t a hickey. Let’s go to the minibar?” You say, attempting to quickly pass by this conversation. You were not going to have this conversation with Bucky.

He turns, finally giving you a full look. Instinctively, you stepped in front of him, fixing the crooked tie. He looked down at you, watching as you helped straighten his tie out and though it was only for a second, he did not miss the way your eyes sparkled as you looked back up at him.

5 glasses of champagne and 3 margaritas later…

“Okay, Okay. Fuck, Marry, Kill. Steve, Me, and Tony.” Bucky says, so obviously drunk with his slurred words and pale face.

You giggled, “You’re such a child. Okay, Okay, give me a second, my world is spinning. Fuck Steve, Marry You, and dear god please don’t let Tony hear this but, kill Tony.”

“Wow. You would fuck Steve, but not me? I’m truly hurt. I’m gonna go into a deep depression. ” Bucks jokingly, putting his head down attempting to appear ‘depressed’ . “I mean, the guy gets a serum and all of a sudden he’s a big macho man. Well I’ve been the macho man for centuries even before him! Where’s my recognition?” He mumbles into the table.

“But, if we’re married we’d be able to fuck anytime, with Steve it’d just be a one time thing.” You whisper into his ears, almost falling off your seat trying to get closer to him.

“Ah! You’re right. So Steve’s not better than me!” He lifts up his head, his eyes sparkling with victory.

A hoarse voice calls out from behind, “Oh, I am so better than you.”

You turn back at the blue eyed blondie who seems to enjoy hitting into peoples conversations. You’ve taken notice how well his deep navy tux looked on him. You never had any appeal to Rogers but you’d be a fool to not find attractive in his suit. . “I’m heading to the restroom, don’t have to much fun without me.” You say, an overwhelming urge to pee taking over you. Perhaps you had a little too much to drink tonight.

The two men looked as you walked away, carefully admiring the way the dark maroon sequins glistened under the fancy lighting of the tower. They didn’t dare to miss the way your hips swayed with each step almost elegantly. “Why do you stare at her?” Bucky asked with the utmost curiosity and almost hurt expression.

“I don’t stare at her.” Steve looks back at his friend defensively.

“You like her.” Bucky concludes, an urge to hear his friend admit the feelings he so desperately wants to bury. For what reasons? He’s unsure. Maybe to hurt his own feelings.

“I don’t, Bucky. You know I love Peggy. Maybe you’ve had a little too much to drink.” Steve lets out an exaggerated sigh, as he begins to dwell in his own thoughts. He doesn’t like you. His heart belonged belongs to Peggy.

“Alright then. I’m going to my room. Maybe I did have too much to drink.” Unconvinced and irritated, he begins to walk away. That was the last thing Steve wanted him to do. He didn’t want to be left alone with his thoughts.

During the walk to the corridors, he bumps into you. “Oh hey! You heading up? Guess I will too.” You say, noticing the weird expression on his face. Usually you’d be able to read him, but this time he has an expression on his face he hasn’t shown before.

It took about 3 minutes for the elevator to come down and go back up towards the room corridors and the both of you headed towards Bucky’s room. The corridors were filled with different rooms, each of them having a gold plate on the door with a different name. You passed by yours first, then Falcons, and finally you’ve gotten to Bucky’s. It was nothing strange, you’ve been to his room plenty of times. The two of you are almost always watching movies together. You kicked off your heels and mated down on his large and frankly not very comfortable bed. His room was pretty simple, it consisted of a grey headboard bed in the middle, a mahogany night stand by the corner, a drawer with a large mirror, and a restroom that directed into a large marble bathtub with a rainfall shower.

He aimlessly stared into the wall, almost as if something was on his mind. “What’s wrong?” You ask, you’ve never seen him like this and it was beginning to worry you.

He turned to you. His bright blue eyes looked pleading, as if his soul was attempting to reach yours when suddenly he kissed you. Instinctively, you kissed back allowing your tongue to explore his mouth as you positioned yourself on top of him. His hands roamed through your curves, squeezing your waist and coming back up to pull your hair. Within seconds the kiss became heated and your body ached for more. He flipped you under and took off his blazer and collared shirt which revealed his chiseled abs. You felt yourself becoming wetter with each second you stared. Sadly, it was cut short as Bucky began sucking on your neck, careful to not touch the side where you’ve dumbly burned.

You let out a moan, “Please.”

“Please what?” Bucky rasps out, completely hard. The effect you had on him was unlike any other women. You completely and easily had him wrapped around your finger without you knowing it. The moment you helped him out of a dark nightmare that night, he knew he could never let go of you. With each day that had passed where he had not kissed you, a little part of him died. He knew when his best friend caught feelings for Peggy. He definitely knew it too when he saw the way he looked at you earlier.

“Please touch me.” The request was simple, yet a little embarrassing. It was definitely not in your nature to beg. But for Bucky? You’d beg a million times.

It was as if he was possessed by some speed demon because in no time, you were completely out of your dress and almost fully unclothed except for the black lace panties you had on. You tugged on his belt, wanting him to be equally as vulnerable which he obediently took off with his pants. He spread your legs wide, toying with one of your nipples as he inserted a finger in you.

The ache of pleasure in your stomach was overbearing. You wanted to be closer to Bucky. As he began moving his finger’s pace he lightly twisted your nipple, “Why do you talk to Steve so much?” He shamelessly asks, jealousy reeking from him which he had no desire to cover up. Your moans filled the room as he added another finger.

“I don’t.” He twists your nipple slightly harder which earns a louder moan from you. “Please I just want you. Give me all of you.” You pleaded. His fingers were pleasurable but his cock would be so much better.

“Say you don’t want Steve.” He says removing his boxers and finally lining himself at your entrance.

“I don’t want him. I never did. Please just fuck me, Bucky.” Your stomach twirled with anticipation, excitement, and pleasure. Without warning he pushed his whole length into you, and immediately you let a loud almost pornagraphic moan. Your walls stinger with pain and pleasure yet you still wanted more. Bucky began a slow pace quickly turning brutal as his ears filled with your moans. The moans he’s causing.

You pulled his hair as you were chest to chest. Bucky groaned, “Doll, you feel so good. You’re so gorgeous.” He quickened his pace if that was possible, when he felt your nails digging into his back. He began sucking on your breasts, as if he were a starving dog. There would definitely be bruising tomorrow all over your chest. He lowered one of his hands down to your clit and began rubbing the pads of his fingers in circles. A burning hot sensation filled your body, if he continued like this you would be done for.

“B-Bucky. Don’t stop I’m close.” You moaned, the heat suddenly becoming overwhelming. You knew he was close by the way his thrusts began to falter. With a pinch of your clit, you moaned out in pleasure and came on his cock. With a final thrust he came inside you, his cum adding warmth to your walls while leaking out. He collapsed to your side, and you pulled him in for a kiss. You pulled his hair a little, sucked on his neck long enough for there to be a bruise in the morning and finally asked him, “Why’d you bring up Steve?”

“I think he likes you.” He says, not wanting to look back to you. You turned his head, and kissed him again “Guess I’ll just have to explain I like his best friend more.”

He smiled and pressed a kiss to your forehead. “I’ll be back.” He says heading to the restroom inside his room. Shortly after, he came back with a damp cloth in his hand.

-

Notes: So this is my first fan fic, please feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments. If there are any typos please point them out so I can correct them <3

Don’t know if there will be a part 2 buttt let me know if you guys would want one! I feel bad for Steve lol

[dbnightingale24]

My Little Decoy

A StevexReaderxBucky Messy Triangle

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Another story for Patreon! So, for this one, I'm a bit anxious (when am I not?), because this definitely took off in the complete opposite direction of what I initially planned. That being said, I hope you all enjoy it!

Thank you as always to @fuckingbye for the amazing moodboard, I love you to bits for literally everything you do! I was in the middle of updating three other stories when this idea came to me, so please just work with me! (I'm so sorry I'm like this.)

Anywho, here we go!

Word Count: 34,776 (I'm not even gonna apologize anymore)

Warnings: Honestly, this entire fucking story. SMUT (MINORS DNI 18+ ONLY), Threesome, Lying, Infidelity, Emotional Cheating, Swearing, Drinking, Infertility, Family Drama, Angst, Lusting, Daddy Kink, Running Away, Tie Play, Cuff Play, Crying, Fluff, Best friends to lovers...that's all I can think of? They're honestly so many.

Song(s) That Inspired This Chapter: Don't Look So Blue, You Should've Seen Right Thru, I'm Using You, My Little Decoy

Summary: You truly do have the best intentions when you try to move on and suppress your feelings for your best friend Steve, and try to move on with Bucky. Unfortunately, life doesn't give a damn about intentions. Neither does love.

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I do not give consent/permission for my stories/works to get posted elsewhere. I do not condone this type of behavior, this is for entertainment purposes only.

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You wonder how the hell it got to this point in the first place as you lay in Steve’s soft bed sheets. What feels like it should be a quiet moment of peace is juxtaposed with your current reality; Bucky pounding on the front door and you and Steve conspiring to think of some kind- any kind- of excuse.

You truly don’t understand how it got to this. 

It all feels like it started so long ago. You didn’t even know 6 years could feel so fast, much less pass so quickly. You look around at where you are now, at Steve, as you listen to the shaking of the front door against Bucky’s fist as he continues thumping away. Fuck. What if memories lie? Maybe it is that long ago.

~~

6 Years Earlier...

“Babe, you ever had a night out in the city?” Bucky asked as you took off your gear.

Training was brutal and everyone was looking for a way to relieve stress. You knew The Avengers were all planning to meet up at some club downtown, but you had other plans. 

“I have, and as much fun as it can be, I have other plans,” you laugh as you take your hair out of the tightest ponytail you’d ever had it in. 

“Oh? What are you getting into?” Natasha laughs, making her way over with Bruce holding onto her as if he’d lose her.

“My friend’s band is playing tonight. I promised her I’d go if we finished up early enough.”

“Oh, this I gotta see!” Bruce chimes in as you laugh and shake your head. “You never let us have a peak into your personal life!”

“God, I haven’t been to a show in forever,” Natasha chimes in with raised eyebrows.

He wasn’t wrong. You played everything so close to the chest; wanting to keep those you love and care for the most safe...wanting to keep yourself safe. Since none of them were relenting (not to mention they’re the damn Avengers), you finally agreed and told them to meet you outside of your room at the compound in about two hours.

“Is it too late for me to get in on this?” Steve asks just as the group was about to disperse.

“There you are!” Bucky interjects before anyone has a chance to say anything. “Y/N is giving us a peak into her personal life! We’re all meeting at her place in two hours and going from there,” he laughs patting his best friend on the back. 

Steve looked at you with a cocked eyebrow and you just laugh and nod, giving him the ‘OK’ to tag along. Unbeknownst to the others, you and Steve hung out the most. No, he’d never been privy to your personal life, but you two spent a lot of time watching movies and listening to music together on the weekends. Occasionally, Bucky would get in on the action, but it was mainly you and Steve. You and Steve had a certain level of comfort that you didn’t have with the rest of them. It was more of an unspoken, private thing and that’s how the both of you preferred it. You both understood each other, and neither of you ever made the other feel sad or out of place for things that had gone wrong in each other’s past. You both had wounds you were still healing from, and you gave each other the space needed for that to happen. 

You’d always had a thing for Steve. He kept himself at a distance, so it was difficult for you to tell if he ever felt the same. After a while, you’d stopped trying and just accepted him as a friend. He told you that he’d wanted to go back and stay with Peggy, but he was too afraid to leave Bucky on his own again, so he’d come back instead. He wasn’t even sure if Bucky would ever be okay with being alone; Steve just stayed without asking him. It seemed like the right thing to do, and he didn’t hate the current timeline too much.

Soon enough, everyone is in your small little complex, drinking and laughing as you put together the last bit of your outfit. The thought of Steve joining all of you had you more anxious than you cared to admit, so you chalked it up to the normal anxiety of inviting your work colleagues into your personal life.

Which was more than fair.

“I’m sure you look amazing, lets go! I’m too excited for this!” Natasha hollers as she makes her way into your bedroom.

“Nat!”

“Oh, they’re all in there drinking away! You’re fine,” she laughs, closing the door behind her. “Well shit!”

“I swear to God, I’ll change right now!”

“No! You look amazing!” she promised as her hands covered her mouth. “None of us have ever seen you out of work clothes, and babe...you look amazing,” she laughs in shock. 

“Should I change? I don’t want to give anyone the wrong idea-”

“If you’re comfortable, who cares. No one wants to interfere with your personal life. I think we’re all more afraid of pushing you away,” she laughs.

“You really think it’s okay?”

“I mean, I think you’re hot as fuck,” she laughed as you rolled your eyes, “but I think you look amazing.”

“You sure?”

“Get enough alcohol in them , they won’t even notice when you leave for the bathroom,” she laughed.

Even though you laughed along with her, you knew better. James Buchanan Barnes kept his attention on you almost as well as Steve, but you never thought anything of it. It always had a more platonic feeling than with Steve, almost more familial.   

When you came out, Steve was the first to look at you. His mouth slightly agape was enough to make you wanna go back, but Bucky was quick to chime in-

“Someone is ready for a night out,” he laughed.

That’s all it took. 

Soon enough, you were taking shots and laughing with everyone else. Even Pepper and Tony were excited and joined you all. Your life was something so foreign to them, and you could tell that they all felt extremely excited that you trusted them enough. 

In all honesty, you felt more comfortable because Steve was there. You knew he’d never let anything happen to you, and you’d never let anything happen to him. If you were being completely honest, you’d only wanted to invite him out. How it spiraled, you’re still not sure but it did. It The only thing that felt off was letting him see you dressed as you were. It was weird for all of them to see you dressed as you were, but Steve couldn’t take his eyes off you.

You were in red plaid crop top, with tight fighting black jeans that hugged your hips in just the right way, and black low top heels. You put your hair in loose curls, and finished it off with eyeliner and mascara. After a brutal day of training, you really didn’t wanna spend forever doing your makeup, because you knew you’d wanna come home after everything was over and go right back to sleep. Yeah, everything was hugging your body in just the right way, but you weren’t about to change. 

You were introducing them to your life.

Before you all left, Thor filled three flasks with his mead from Asgard for himself, Steve, and Bucky and you laughed pretty damn hard.

“We wanna enjoy this night too,” he winked at you as you rolled your eyes. 

The walk was easy enough, but it felt like it took forever. People kept asking for pictures with the OG Avengers, they had a million questions, and of course they were all happy to be as kind as possible. It’s not that you minded all that much, but you really missed your best friend. Work had been kicking your ass, she had been extremely busy, and was in the middle of planning her wedding. Nights off were extremely rare, but actually getting to see her and her friends perform? It had been forever.

“You made it!” she squealed once you were finally inside the club with everyone, almost knocking you over with how hard she hugged you.

“I told you I’d show! Even if I would’ve only caught the last song,” you laughed as you hugged her back just as tight. “We still on for drinks after?”

“Fuck yes! Your tits look amazing in this top, we’re definitely getting free drinks out of it,” she beamed with a wink and you burst out laughing. “Okay, I’ve seen all of you on TV, but I still wanna officially meet everyone,” she smiled at everyone. “I’m Meg.”

As everyone went around introduced themselves, you made your way to the bar, to grab your signature Jack and Coke.

“Hell yes! You made it!” Meg’s finance, Paul, beamed as he made your drink.

“Why is everyone so shocked that I’m here?!”

“You haven’t been to a show in years!”

“Blah, blah, blah,” you muttered as you reached behind the bar and grabbed his pack of cigarettes.

“You bring the Avengers with you and you dare to steal from me?” he sneered sarcastically as he handed you your drink.

You laughed as you reached across the bar and kissed his cheek, “I’m sure our friendship will survive it.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Dude, I had no idea the place would be so packed tonight.”

“I have a feeling everyone here had a long ass Friday.” “Yeah, well they better treat my baby right.” “You two!”

He rolled his eyes as he flipped you off, “enjoy the show!”

“Thank you, Paaauuullll,” you sang out as everyone joined you.

You looked up to see Steve staring at you intently, and he quickly turned towards the stage when he realized he was caught. Before you could allow yourself to think on it or feel flattered, you heard your best friend yell from the stage as she started to make her guitar scream.

“We’re ‘Flowers of Cinnamon’, and thanks for spending your Friday night with us!”

From that moment on, you were barely paying attention to your surroundings. With the exception of your drink, you didn’t focus on anything other than your best friend rocking the fuck out. It had always just been a hobby for her, but she had always been so damn good at it. You envied how effortlessly performing came to her. The band was a cross between Paramore, The Bangles, and All Time Low, and they were just as amazing as you remembered. You wouldn’t have been able to stay still even if you’d wanted to. You sang and danced along to every song, bouncing around, and screaming your head off. You had no clue that Steve had been watching you with the biggest grin on his face, Bucky had been watching your chest bounce up and down, or that Tony had been recording your reaction to your best friend’s music, smiling so hard at your happiness.

Every other song, your best friend made eye contact with you and laughed, and nothing else seemed to matter. Thinking back on it, you wished it had, because maybe things wouldn’t have gotten so fucked up, but you were just so damn happy. The more drinks got, the more you danced and sang around, finally feeling comfortable and happy, even with your new set of friends watching you.

“Okay, this is gonna be our last song for the night,” Meg smiled into the microphone and she laughed at amount of “boos” they received. “Listen, I wanna get fucked up too!” she joked, gaining laughs from the crowd. “Okay, so tonight is extremely special because my best friend on the entire planet is here and brought her friends with her! Thanks babe! So, our last song is gonna be a cover of one of her favorite songs ever,” she winked at you as you cocked an eyebrow.

As soon as you heard the first cord of ‘Decoy’ by Paramore hum out of the speakers, you screamed so loud that everyone in your group (and Paul) started laughing. 

‘Close your eyes and make believe that this is where you wanna be

Forgetting all the memories, try to forget love cause love’s forgotten me

Well hey, hey baby, it’s never too late

Pretty soon you won’t remember a thing

All I’ll be distant, the stars reminiscing

Your heart’s been wasted on me’

You sang along so effortlessly as you started to jump up and down.

‘You’ve never been so used as I’m using you, abusing you

My little decoy

Don’t look so blue, you should’ve seen right through

I’m using you, my little decoy

My little decoy’

You linked arms with Nat, who clearly didn’t know the song, but was more than happy to sing and dance along with you. You glanced around and it made you so happy to see everyone else happy and having a good time. It’s not like you were a stick in the mud at work but, you never let loose. Even when it came to holiday and birthday parties, you were pretty damn reserved. The only person who can claim that they’ve seen you fucked up is Steve, and even then it was just you being wine drunk on the sofa while you two listened to albums and discussed work.

No, this was you letting lose and everyone accepting it. Accepting you. You looked over at Steve and he a look of pure love and adoration in his eyes, and it made your heart swell. 

God, you wished you would’ve paid more attention to the way both he and Bucky looked at you that night, but you were just so damn happy and having so much fun.

If you could turn back time...

“Am I still okay at singing?” Meg asked once she finally made her way over to all of you.

“Dude, you’re still fucking amazing!” you beamed as you wrapped her in a tight hug and she laughed. “That was so good! Thank you for playing ‘Decoy’, almost making me cry!”

“Aha!” she teased before she looked at everyone else. “What about Earth’s mightiest heroes? Were you all able to tolerate it?”

“That was amazing,” Tony laughed, Pepper nodding in agreement.

“Why don’t you do this full time?” Nat asked as you waived Paul down and got another drink for both you and Meg.

“If I did this full time, I’d be so stressed all the damn time,” Meg laughed, “I’m much happier painting.”

“What do you paint? Do you have a studio?” Clint inquired and a smile came to your face.

Things were going better than you could have ever imagined. 

As everyone got acquainted, you snuck to have a smoke. A few moments later, a smile came to your face when you saw Steve come out after you.

“You said you’re quitting those,” he nodded towards the cigarette in your hand. 

“I stole Paul’s,” you laughed, standing a little further from him so as to not get the smoke in his face. 

“I can handle it,” he laughed as he placed his black leather jacket on you. “You’re pretty...exposed and I don’t want you getting cold.”

“Well, aren’t you just the sweetest man?” you teased before you inhaled your cancer stick. “Who else knows about this? I’ll call the ‘New York Times’” He snickered as he shook his head, “quiet you.”

“Are you having fun tonight?”

“I am, I like you seeing like this.”

You scoffed, “crazy?” “Happy...content. Secure.”

You felt your cheeks heat up at his words, and the look he gave you along with it, had butterflies appearing in your stomach.

“We should get back inside,” you smiled at up at him as you ashed the last of your cigarette and threw it in the nearby trash bin. 

And maybe that’s when it started.

You just missed all the signs that night, because you were convinced Steve didn’t want you.

He convinced you he didn’t want you. 

When the two of you got back inside, Paul had just finished up his shift and the guys had finished helping Meg back up her equipment which she had decided to lock up in the manager’s office for the night. 

“Dancing! We need dancing!” she whined once her eyes landed on you.

“Hell yeah we do,” you laughed as you linked arms with both her and Nat.

Once again, you didn’t notice the way Bucky ogled you or the way Steve kept a close eye on you. When you all reached the next bar, you instantly ordered more drinks and pulled Nat and Meg onto the dance floor with you, still wearing Steve’s coat. He leaned against the bar, talking with Tony and Pepper, but still kept an eye on you. As Janet Jackson’s voiced filled the giant building, you danced around with the biggest smile on your face (at some point Meg had put her sunglasses on your face), smiling and waiving at Bucky when you saw his eyes glued to you.

Well, glues to your ass.

By the time everyone was ready to call it a night, you were drunk as shit.

“You’re not coming back to the compound?” Nat asked as she stumbled out after you.

“Nah, I wanna sleep in my own space tonight. It’s closer,” you giggled as you started giving out hugs.

“I can take you,” Bucky offered with a slick grin.

“I can take her, she’s on the way to my house,” Steve countered, and Meg cocked an eyebrow at you.

You just started dancing and walking. 

“Goodnight everyone! Get home safe! I love you all!”

You were drunk, tired, and in no mood to figure out whatever that was about. You just wanted to go home and get in your bed. You honestly don’t know why you didn’t go back to the compound that night, but it just felt right to go to your own home. You already spent so little time there to begin with. A few moments later, you heard the hurried footsteps of someone behind you, but you kept looking ahead.

“You’re impatient when you’re drunk,” Steve laughed as he came up beside you.

A small smile came to your face at the fact that Steve was the one to walk you home.

You giggled as you leaned into him, “my feet hurt.”

No sooner than you said it, he scooped you up.

“Steve!”

“You weigh nothing, don’t worry about it, darlin.” “It’s a 30 minute walk!” 

“I’m very well aware of where your apartment is.” “Steve-”

“Hush.”

You pouted but did as you were told, leaned into him, and took in the scent that was all his own. Something between woodsy and fresh cut grass. In your drunken state, he felt like home.

“Why didn’t you want Bucky to take me home?” you asked after a few moments, not missing the way he stiffened a bit.

“He’s a little buzzed and he gets a little handsy and flirty at times. I didn’t want him to bother you.” You giggled as you took in more of his scent, “you’re literally carrying me, Steve.” “You said your feet hurt.” “Are you a little buzzed?”

“I definitely don’t feel sober,” he chuckled softly and you softly sighed at the comfort of rumble in his chest.

“Do you wanna sleepover?”

“I’ll order a car service once I drop you off.”

“Why not order one now?”

“It was weird...everyone hanging out tonight. I feel like we haven’t hung out alone together in a while.” “Then why not sleepover?”

“Cause I should go home. I don’t wanna accidentally wake you up or something. You worked hard today and you need rest.” “So did you.” “Y/N.” “You’re so weird sometimes, Steve,” you huffed as you laced your hand with his.

“What are you doing?”

“Holding your hand like I’ve done a million times before. What’s wrong?” “Nothing.”

You rolled your eyes and mumbled, “alright weirdo.” “I’m not being weird.”

“You’re not being normal.”

He let out a frustrated huff, “did you have fun tonight?”

“So much fun, I’m so happy you came out.”

“I’ve missed you, darlin.” “I’ve missed you too. Steve?”

“Hmm?”

“Sleepover.”

“Y/N-” “See? You are being weird. You’ve slept over my place a ton before, in my bed, and it wasn’t weird. What’s so different about tonight?”

He muttered, “so many things.” “Like what?”

“It’s just been a long night.”

“Fine, whatever. Go home, see if I give a fuck.” “Hey!”

“You’re being weird and you won’t tell me why. You know I hate when you do that shit.”

“I just think I should sleep in my own bed, darlin’. I’m not trying to be weird or make you upset.”

He sounded so strained and you couldn’t read his facial expression, so you couldn’t see how torn up he was. You couldn’t tell how much he was at war with himself.

You couldn’t tell how much he wanted you.

He chuckled when you didn’t say anything, “don’t get quiet on me now.”

“Can you at least stay until I fall asleep? It won’t take long.” “Everything okay, darlin’?”

“Yeah Steve, I just miss you,” you confessed softly. 

“We’ll do a sleepover tomorrow, alright? We’ll have it at my house.” “Fine.” “Don’t be upset.” “I don’t care.” “You’re also a giant brat when you’re drunk.” “You’re saying that you miss me, but won’t spend time with me!”

God, you sounded like a brat to your own ears. That was a huge part as to why you’d never let him see you so inebriated. It’s why you never wanted anyone from The Avengers (or S.H.I.E.L.D for that matter) to see you so drunk. It became harder for you to suppress your feelings for Steve, and he’s all you wanted when you were drunk. For reasons unknown to you (at the time), Steve wanted to go home. That should’ve been enough, but your drunk wanted to hold him all night. 

You were going out of your way to start an argument. 

He let out a heavy sigh as he reached your complex, “I’ll stay-”

“Don’t do me any fucking favors-” “Will stop arguing with me? And stop with swearing, you know I hate it.” “Well maybe I hate you.”

He scoffed hard at that, “no you don’t.”

“You don’t know that-”

“Yes I do, so stop saying it. I’ll stay, okay?”

“And you’ll sleep next to me?”

“Yes darlin’, I will sleep next to you.”

You pressed a soft kiss to his neck and you felt his grip on you get tighter, “thank you, Steve!”

“Anything for you, sweetheart.”

That night, he was good to his word and slept next to you, letting use his chest as a pillow and you were asleep almost instantly. The next day, he was back to normal and you didn’t think anything of his behavior from the previous night. You had no reason to. However, from that day on, things did slowly start to change more. 

It started with Bucky coming around more, especially when Steve was with you. You couldn’t sense it, because has always been entirely too good at hiding his emotions, but he slowly became frustrated. So much that he basically stopped coming around all together. 

“Hey, are you busy?” you asked timidly as you approached his office one day.

“Yeah, unfortunately.” “Oh...okay then-”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, you’re busy and I don’t wanna take up your time...”

You could feel your eyes welling up and didn’t know why. Steve always had a way of making you so damn soft and vulnerable, and you truly hated it.

You still hate it. 

“Darlin’-” “Please stop calling me that. The guy who started calling me that doesn’t seem to exist anymore. If he does, he’s making sure to stay away from me.”

“He still exists-” “Then what’s going on? Why are you staying away from me?”

He sighed as he threw down his pen, “nothing-”

“Alright, if you’re just gonna lie to me-” “I’m not lying!”

“Steve, you saw me walking with Bucky yesterday and literally turned in the other direction and walked away.” “You guys are just hanging out a lot now and I don’t wanna third wheel-” “You wouldn’t third wheeling! We’re just friends!”

“Y/N...” “Steve, why are you just abandoning me? You’re the one I’m closest to and you know that. You’ve always known that,” you sobbed as you closed the door behind you.

“Please don’t cry-” “Then why are you abandoning me?! What did I do wrong?!”

“Nothing-”

“Then what the fuck?! You’ve been acting so strange, but you’re saying I haven’t done anything! If I didn’t do anything, what the fuck is going on with you?!”

He let out another frustrated sigh and just stared at you, clearly at war with himself.

“Fuck this and fuck you, I give up,” you sobbed as you dried your eyes. 

“Darlin’”

“Stop calling me that! I’m just Y/N and you’re just Steve. I can’t do this with you anymore!”

After you stormed out, things only got worse, because you’d never felt so low and alone in your life. Unless it had to do with a mission or training, you barely even looked his way. The farther you got away from Steve, the more Bucky swooped in. In fact, the more you look at how everything happened, you realize that things wouldn’t have gotten so bad if you’d just shut things down with the both of them. 

However, it’s not as if thinking with a broken heart ever lead to a good thing. 

You cried a lot and Bucky was just there for you. He was sweet, he listened, and let you keep your secrets. Sure, he asked what happened between you and Steve (everyone was), but he dropped it when you told him you wouldn’t be talking about it.

You can’t explain what you don’t know. 

“Hey doll, we’re goin’ out tonight. You wanna come? Invite Meg!” Bucky asked one night after you let him in your apartment on the compound.

“Nah, I’ve got a hot date with a black and white French film and a few glasses of wine,” you smiled weakly.

“You can’t stay in here forever.”

“I don’t. Sometimes I go home.” “Babe-”

“I just wanna stay in, Buck,” you sighed as someone else knocked on your door. “I guess I’m just the most popular girl in the world.”

When you opened it the second time, Steve stood there looking just as upset as you felt. Instead of even trying to attempt to hear him out, a rage flared up inside you and you had to force yourself to not shove him. As far as you were concerned, he had a lot of fucking nerve to show up at your place after all the shit that happened in his office. 

“What?”

“I wanted to know if you’re coming out tonight-”

“No.”

“Well, can I come in and we can talk? I know I owe you an explanation-”

“I don’t want an explanation anymore, Steve,” you lied harshly, “I just want you to leave me alone. I stood in your office and cried like a fucking dumbass...that was a month ago. Now you wanna talk? Just leave things as they are.”

You truly wish you hadn’t spoken out of anger because none of it was true. You cried over him whenever you were alone, you missed hanging out with him, you missed falling asleep next to him...you missed Steve. Your Steve.

You’ve always been a hot head. 

“Darlin-” “What have I told you about that?” “Y/N, just give me a few minutes-”

“No, go away. Unless it has to do with work, we don’t have anything to talk about.” “You don’t mean that,” he more pleaded than told you.

“I’ve never meant it more!”

“Y/N-”

Bucky sighed as he came up behind you, “she just needs to cool off, Pal.”

If you hadn’t been so upset and hurt you would’ve laughed at how wide Steve’s eyes got.

“We’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”

“I thought you were coming out. It was your idea in the first damn place,” Steve snapped.

“I don’t wanna leave Y/N while she’s this upset. She shouldn’t be alone right now.”

Steve opened his mouth to say something, but all that happened was he clenched his jaw and looked away before he stormed off, punching the wall on his way out.

You should’ve spoken to him. You should’ve gone after him. Instead you pushed past Bucky and made yourself your first glass of wine of the night.

“Babe-”

“Buck, if you’re gonna stay here tonight, please no lectures. I just wanna be upset, okay?”

He just nodded solemnly, “I get it. No lectures, just drinks and weird French movies,” he smirked and you quietly laughed. 

Here’s the thing: it’s not that you never found Bucky attractive, you just never thought about him. You were always thinking about Steve. However, at that time, thinking about Steve brought you too much pain and you didn’t want to feel anymore pain for a while. You just wanted to feel numb. You’d rather have nothing, the void, than hold onto the pain Steve’s brought on. 

You rested your legs on him when he sat next to you, not thinking anything of it. When he started stroking your leg after the third glass of wine, you still didn’t think anything of it. You only started to pick up on his actions when he squeezed your thigh a little.

“Buck?”

“Yeah doll?” “What are you doing?”

“Trying to help you relax and feel better.”

“Buck-”

“I’ve never seen you this upset, babe. I just wanna help.”

The thought and the offer were tempting. You couldn’t remember the last time you had gotten off to something other than your vibrator. Of course you’d made subtle advances towards Steve, but he’d clearly turned you down. Plus, the women around the compound did talk. While Bucky had a reputation for being a skirt chaser, he also had a reputation for wearing women out in the best way.

It’s not like you were looking for anything. You just wanted to forget for awhile. 

He tested the waters a bit more by sliding his hand further up your leg, waiting to see how you’d respond. 

You placed your wine glass on the ground and opened your legs for him a bit, “you just wanna make me feel better?”

“So fuckin’ good, doll,” he husked, as he reached between your legs and easily ripped your panties off, “just lay back and enjoy, baby.”

His movements were slow, but his kisses were desperate. It felt good, but off. Not to mention you felt more guilty with every kiss he gave you, like you were betraying Steve.

‘Fuck Steve,’ you told yourself mentally, ‘he had his chance and he clearly didn’t want it.’

You closed your eyes in a vain attempt to shut out any thoughts of Steve, but that only made his face come to mind. You let out a sound between a moan and a frustrated grunt as you pulled Bucky’s hair.

“Please!”

“Tell me how bad you want it,” he smirked, his hot breath lapped at your pussy.

“So fucking bad, please! Need it!”

“Love seeing you like this,” he cooed, before he dipped down and dove in and his lewd moans filled the room.

This was the moment Bucky became your “decoy”. You didn’t want him in the same way he wanted you, but part of you felt like he didn’t actually give a shit. Since he’d lost Nat to Bruce, Bucky wasn’t ever really looking for a relationship. He liked to play around, entertain a woman (or two) for a few months, then he’d move on. As far as you were concerned, that night was only supposed to be a one time thing. 

“F-fuck!” you moaned, doing your best to be in the moment as you lulled your head back while he fucked you with his tongue and massaged your clit with his thumb. “Feels so good, Buck!”

You weren’t lying completely. It’s not as if Bucky was bad at eating you out, he just wasn’t the one you wanted doing it. 

You felt him smirk against your folds, and started to grind your pussy against his face, forcing yourself to focus on all the pleasure you felt instead of everything else.

‘Steve doesn’t want you. Steve doesn’t want you. Stop thinking about Steve!’ you told yourself mentally.

When he switched up and started sucking on your clit, he easily pressed two fingers into your soaked folds. You felt the knot in your core tighten and snap.

“FUCK!” you cried out as you came hard and a few tears escaped your eyes.

You hated how the tears weren’t from pleasure, but you masked it well enough as he fucked you through your high.

“Take off that fuckin’ shirt, baby. Let me fuckin’ see you,” he husked as he took off his own shirt and started to undo his jeans. 

You were quick to do as he said, taking all of him as you ignored how uncomfortable you felt being so bare beneath him as his mouth glistened with your juices.

You were doing this to feel better, so why weren’t you feeling any better?

“Waited so fuckin’ long, baby,” he groaned as he dipped down and worshiped each of your breasts while his thumb made little circles on your clit.

“Bucky!”

“I know baby, I’m gonna take care of you, gonna take such good care of you,” he moaned before you felt his tongue on the side of your neck, licking up little beads of sweat. 

You took a deep breath and told yourself you wanted it as you felt him at your entrance. You wanted Bucky. You just needed to let yourself relax.

“Jesus, you’re fuckin’ tight!” he grunted as he pushed into you.

“Oh fuck!”

“I know you can take me, baby! Your wet little pussy is squeezing me so tight, baby!” “Please don’t stop,” you whimpered as you wrapped a leg around his waist, trying to hang on to him as he fucked into you hard and fast.

You wanted this. You agreed to this.

He pushed himself up with his metal arm and looked down at you adoringly, “wanted you for so long, doll. Waited for...ah fuck!”

To avoid feeling anymore guilt, you wrapped an arm around him to pull him close and kissed him passionately, moaning into his mouth when you felt him fill you to the brim. He rode out both your highs before he rested his forehead against yours.

“So good, baby. You tired?” he asked, breath still coming heavy.

You just closed your eyes and shook your head no.

“Good girl.”

Bucky kept at it for a while, not feeling any real pleasure until he brought you off (which you had to fake half the time). There was nothing wrong with him. You found him attractive, and you knew that he wanted you, but it just wasn’t what you wanted. All of it felt so hollow and emotionless on your end. You felt like you were acting and Bucky was working his ass off to please you; to make matters worse, your phone kept going off and you knew who it was.

Steve would’ve hated you if he knew what you were doing and who with, but a part of you felt like he already did. When you both were done, Bucky was a gentleman. He pulled your shirt over your head, carried you to bed, and held you close until you both fell asleep.

You didn’t cry until the next day when you woke up alone in an empty apartment. You ignored calls from both Bucky and Steve, and eventually Bucky was the only one texting you.

Something in you knew that Bucky had confirmed his suspicions, and you just knew he was furious. You and Steve both knew Bucky wasn’t a bad guy, he was just a player and Steve never wanted that for you. 

Eventually you cracked and called Meg, and cried while you told her everything. 

“Well...fuck,” she muttered once you finally got everything out. “Are you sure Steve knows?”

“His calls and texts were incessant until they weren’t. He hasn’t done either in the last 3 hours.”

“Oh yeah no, he definitely fucking knows. Bucky?”

“Bucky went from every 30 minutes to every other hour.”

“Well, what’s wrong with him?” “Nothing...”

“Except?” 

“He’s not Steve.”

“Yeah, but Steve passed up on you, and he was kind of a dick about it. He waited a month until after the office situation? You’ve been showing him your available for how many years? I know you love him, but-”

“I don’t love him.”

“Yeah, cause that’s you’re crying to me about him instead of the skirt chaser that fucked your brains out?”

“Meg.”

“I’m not being insensitive, I’m being honest. Bucky was there last night, clearly wanted you, was with you all night, and all you could think about was Steve. Today, even though Bucky is still texting you, you’re more upset that Steve isn’t because you know he knows. If I were you, I’d be more worried about the guy that’s used to fucking around breaking my heart, than the guy who isn’t,” she sighed.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Steve had his chance, I need to let him go. I’ve been in my room crying all day...I have to stop.”

“Can you?”

“I don’t have much of a choice do I?”

“Babe, if you could end up with Steve, I’d prefer that, but that’s not really an option. Even if he came back, he gave you the run around for a bit. Just focus on you for now and what you want. You always want to make others happy, and you need to focus on you.”

“You’re right. I know you’re right.”

“Do you need me to come over?”

“No, being alone is good for me right now.”

“Alright, I love you, Y/N. It’s gonna be okay.”

You let out a heavy sigh as you sobbed, “I love you,” and hung up.

You ignored Bucky for the rest of the day, feeling guilty about it, but knowing it was for the best. You’d done enough wrong and you truly did need to focus on you and what you wanted.

However, before you fell asleep, you broke down and checked all your texts from Steve.

O Captain, My Captain: Darlin, please just talk to me. I’m so sorry.

O Captain, My Captain: I’m not going out tonight, please just answer me.

O Captain, My Captain: Don’t do anything with Bucky. He’s my best friend, but he’s not worthy of you. He won’t treat you right and you know that.

O Captain, My Captain: Please just answer me.

O Captain, My Captain: If I could take back my actions, I would. I’m so sorry. If you’d just talk to me, I’d be able to make you understand.

O Captain, My Captain: Please talk to me. I miss you so much.

O Captain, My Captain: I’m going to sleep, but give me a call whenever.

O Captain, My Captain: Seriously? All night and you’re still not talking to me?

O Captain, My Captain: Baby, please just talk to me. We’ve never gone this long without talking, and I fucking hate it.

O Captain, My Captain: Y/N...please.

O Captain, My Captain: Bucky just left. You’ve made yourself loud and clear, and fine. I got it.

O Captain, My Captain: Do whatever the fuck you want.

When you woke up the following day, you had the biggest headache from crying, and the last thing you felt like doing was facing either of them. You had a job to do though, and criminals didn’t stop being criminals just because you had a broken heart. Even though you were slower to dress than usual, you were still on time for training, and God, it was brutal.

Bucky kept looking at you, Steve wouldn’t even look your way, and you couldn’t focus. You’d never had a day so bad, and all you wanted was to crawl back into bed. During the meeting after, you just leaned against the wall, barely listening to anything Nick had to say. The one time you bothered to look up, you looked over at Steve and was glaring at you. 

God, you really fucking hated yourself. 

“Doll, wait up!” Bucky called after you once the meeting was over.

You’d practically run out of the room.

“Bucky, I really just want-”

“What did I do wrong?” he breathed once he caught up to you. “Everything seemed fine on Saturday, I thought we both enjoyed it.”

You didn’t miss the way Steve quietly scoffed as he walked past the both of you.

“Bucky, I just-”

“Did I hurt you? What...I really like you, Y/N. I have for a while and I just...was I too eager?”

You honestly hadn’t expected that.

“Wait...what?”

“I never said anything, because I thought you and Steve had a thing going, but that’s clearly not happening. You were just so upset on Saturday and I wanted to make you happy, and I’ve wanted you for so long...what did I do?”

Trash. You felt like absolute trash.

“I need to get to my room.” “Y/N-”

“Just...I’ll talk to you later, okay? You didn’t do anything wrong, I promise. I just have a lot going on in my head. I just need to be by myself for a while.”

“Please just-”

“I’ll talk to you later, okay? I’m sorry.”

~~

You can read the rest here.

[saratinz]

Maneater (Masterlist)

pairing ➩ Ex!Bucky Barnes x Promiscuous!Reader (College AU)

series warnings ➩ drinking, asshole!Bucky, enemies to lovers, exes to lovers, love triangle, smut, slut shaming, cursing

synopsis ➩ An enemies to lovers story.

word count ➩ 9k

a/n ➩ updates every night at 12 a.m. (edt)

Prologue (April 4, 2023)

Chapter 1 (April 5, 2023)

Chapter 2 (April 6, 2023)

Chapter 3 (April 7, 2023)

Chapter 4 (April 8, 2023)

Chapter 5 (April 9, 2023)

Chapter 6 (April 10, 2023)

Chapter 7 (April 11, 2023)

Chapter 8 (April 12, 2023)

Chapter 9 (April 13, 2023)

[reginaregen]

outrageous | tony stark

Tony Stark falls in love with Valentina, a girl who lives in the slums and has to take care of her four younger siblings.

Notes: This is an MCU and Shameless alternate universe crossover. The universes in this fiction are also connected by the following stories' universes:

BOND | Bucky Barnes

Perpetual | Helmut Zemo

Iolanda's Heart| Pietro Maximoff

ZELENA (Tony Stark x Bucky Barnes love triangle)

CHAPTERS:

Characters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

[matthewmurdockswife]

All to win her love pt.3

I hadnt confronted buck that day. I decided all it would do was create an awkward tension between us, theres already enough tension. Plus me jumping to conclusions that this was about me wasnt a good idea, I had no right to assume that he was there for me

But why was I so upset at that idea that he wasnt there for me but for another girl?

I can admit that i do hate the non stop fights between bucky and loki but i had never admitted feelings for either one of them

this cant happen I kept denying myself of either of the boys choosing one would only result in more chaos for the team, not to mention if a break up occurs? How bad would that screw up the team dynamic or missions? I cant do that to the team I cant do that to loki, to bucky, to me.

“choose bucky” wanda walks in

“ im not thinking about that right now wands You know I cant just pick one” I ask questioning myself at this point why couldnt I “why cant you ?” Wanda repeats my own thoughts out loud I should know better then to try and converse with a mind reader “because Im in love with both of them” this was the first time I had heard myself admit this out loud.

This was the first time I had admitted it.

I was stuck between two men.

And I didnt know who to choose.

A/n

Guys i dont know what im doing with this anymore cause idk who she should end up with 🤭 if you have any ideas pls lemme know anywho this is part three so thanks for the support im really tired and the rain hitting my house is stressing me out really bad rn so 😗

A/n 2

I really hated the og of this story so sorry if you liked it but i had to redirect the story to get it where I wanted it to be. I love yall also please vote on the poll on my page to decide who she ends up with <3

@fenoy7

[pastelbatfandoms]

MasterList 2.0

Banner not made by me!

5/28/24

This is the one that will be updated since the other post is full.

The Flash AU

Seeing Red (Thawne x OC)

Marvel AU

The Red Widow (Bucky x OC x Zemo x Magneto)

Rebirth of The Widow- Prequel

The Red Winter (One Shot)

Pisces Season (One Shot) Bucky x OC NSFW

When It Rains (One Shot) Magneto x OC NSFW

Fame Drs

Black looks good on you (Sebastian Stan) NSFW

Take Me Home (Tommy Lee) NSFW

[wntrsnat]

If Marvel Comics won’t give us winterwidow or clintasha, I say that we must get winterhawk.

[the-swift-escape]

So far it looks like my next part is gonna be longer than this one 🤞🏻

A Fine Team

Part 1 of (N/A)

Summary: The reader and Loki are sent on a mission at an art gallery, their objective is to pose as husband and wife to gain entry into a hydra auction. The reader has been falling for their friend for some time now and doesn’t think that he could ever feel the same.

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Author’s Note: I’m thinking of making this a multi-part fanfic, not sure how long but I have a few ideas for the plot. I’ve never written any fan fictions like this before and I’m mostly trying to get back into the groove of writing again.

Word Count: 3,422

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The art gallery is filled with a warm glow of light. The walls are paneled with a dark wood and the floor is a shining marble that echoes with each step of heeled feet. There’s low classical music playing but no one is dancing. The guests are either too occupied by the exhibition or conversation with their peers. If you didn’t know better you wouldn’t even suspect anything abnormal about this event. Just a bunch of old money socialites viewing art they’re hoping to bid for in the auction later tonight.

Unfortunately for you, this is a mission, not a social event. Loki is not your date, holding you close against him as you view a landscape piece. He’s not whispering sweet nothings into your ear. He’s observing the people around you, and he’s playing a part. He is your mission partner, not a lovesick newlywed. He is your friend, nothing more. When you think about the press of his hand against your lower back and his lips close to your ear, your heart clenches. It feels like the most exhilarating torture for him to be so close yet so far. He has no idea how hard it is to suppress the blush rising to your cheeks and you want to keep it that way so instead you watch an older man in a dark red suit jacket look at his watch.

“There he is, it’s almost time for the auction. Don’t lose sights,” you whisper, pulling your lips into a smile as you turn toward Loki.

“He couldn’t be more obvious if he tried,” Loki says while pushing a strand of hair behind your ear and your breath hitches and you pray he doesn’t notice.

“You guys are disgusting, I can’t believe I have to watch this,” Tony’s voice comes through your ear pieces.

Loki rolls his eyes, scoffing, “Would you rather me hold a knife to her throat, Stark? Would that be more in character?”

“For you? Absolutely,” Tony says pointedly.

You clear your throat.

“If you two are done having your dick measuring contest, the target’s moving,” You whisper harshly.

The man in the red suit goes to the back of the gallery and flashes his watch to a young bouncer. He looks at him with an over polite smile. He’s nervous, this must be the new kid that Hydra set to work this event. Fury was right, they didn’t see the avengers as a threat. To be fair, the intel was fresh and the event was just arranged a few days ago. They just hadn’t checked the museum staff for any spies yet.

Nat looks at you subtly from the bar as she abandons her spot behind the counter and heads toward the back room. Her hair is dyed a dark black and is swept into a braid. She has a completely different face, courtesy of stark industries, but she moves with the same practiced ease of Natasha. She touches the bouncer’s arm and lean towards him. His eyes go wide and he hastily steps aside and follows her past the velvet rope. When they turn the corner you hear a door close through her mic and then you hear a few grunts and you swear you hear a sharp cracking sound.

“You’re all good, auction is about to start,” Nat says her tone calm.

“You’re brillant, Nat,” You shake your head in awe and hold onto Loki’s arm.

His suit is a dark green. The material cool to touch and fitting across his arms. His dark hair is swept back into an elegant loose bun. His face is at ease and you feel your heart stutter as his green eyes sparkle with the chandelier light overhead. You’re wearing a long gown the same color as his suit, the neckline is revealing but not too revealing to warrant any unnecessary glances. The thin straps on your shoulders are beaded with gold and the details on your bodice are dripped in gold, to match his cufflinks. He insisted on your outfits matching perfectly. ‘To sell the illusion’, he said.

“You look lovely, my dear wife,” He says as you pass a small group of lower hydra operatives.

“I’d hope so, I picked it out just for you. Now that we’re married it doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying to impress you,” You laugh airily as the two of you approach the now clear hallway.

You make a show of batting your eyes at the man beside you as a few of the operatives turn to look at the two of you. Loki wraps his arm around your waist and pulls you close, giving you a featherlight kiss on your forehead. When you turn the corner down a darker hall you both stop and press your backs against the wall, waiting to hear footsteps. None follow and you relax against the wall and look over to see Loki looking at you with a wolfish grin.

“You play this part beautifully, darling.”

You roll your eyes at him, trying to hide the start of a smile on your lips.

“You can turn it down a notch, Loki, all these rooms are sound proof according to the blueprints we got from Fury. No one is here to hear your flirting-“

“Except for us, Reindeer Games, you’re making me sick over here,” Tony complains and you can’t help but laugh.

“Careful, Loki, y/n may have to kick your ass if you get too frisky. This is a mission after all, what would Fury say?”

Nat’s smirk is evident in her words. You wish you could stop the hope from rising in your chest when Loki doesn’t seem too interested in defending himself. But then it’s crushed just as fast and you see his smile drop and he raises one eyebrow.

“I’m not flirting, I’m staying in character. There’s a difference. I suppose that’s why I was chosen for this mission over you, Stark. I’m simply more professional.”

“Yeah that’s the reason, definitely not the fact that I’m an extremely famous billionaire, philanthropist and the owner of one of the tallest buildings in New York. Which just so happens to have my name on it. But you’re right, Rock of Ages-“

You hear a door open down the hall.

“Will you two shut up,” you hiss.

You look at your diamond encrusted watch. They must have just got done appraising the piece you’re here for. You see a supply closet out of the corner of your eye and grab Loki’s wrist and pull him silently into it, turning your ear piece on mute. The room is cramped, the space taken up by cleaning products and a rack of boxes and towels. You can’t help but press Loki against the door as you hold your hand over his mouth. Your heart is racing. It sounds like there’s about five men in the hall. Stopped right in front of the closet door. In the small glimpse of light peaking through the door from the hallway you see Loki’s eyes shut tightly, his eyebrows furrowed.

You listen in on their conversation but it’s mostly small talk. All they say that rouses any suspicion is that they’re meeting at a hotel a few months from now. As their steps echo down the hall they say their goodbyes. Hail Hydra.

You let your head fall against Loki’s chest and take your hand from his mouth. He reaches up to his ear as he breathes heavily.

“Darling, if you wanted to get me alone, I could’ve arranged that much earlier.”

His voice is as smooth as silk, if a little breathless. You try to chuckle but you feel like floating. Your skin pricks as you look up and realize how close the two of you are.

“If I wanted you alone, Laufeyson, it would have already happened,” You counter, trying to slip into your usual banter.

It’s harder when it’s like this. When it’s so close to the truth but it just isn’t. You want him, but you know there’s no way he’d have you.

Loki opens his mouth to reply, smirking, but he stops short. You’re close enough to hear the muffled noise from his ear piece and Loki clears his throat when you pull away to turn the volume up. You nod at him and he opens the door to the closet.

“Hello? Am I just talking to myself here?”

“No, Tony, sorry. Had to focus, heading to the auction room now,” You respond.

Loki offers his arm and you take it, avoiding his eyes in hopes of just appearing focused. The two of you reach the auction room and slip in unnoticed. You find the place marker with your aliases and your paddle number and take your seat in the back.

The auctioneer hasn’t gotten to your item yet but you pretend to be interested and whisper to each other when it’s time for Loki to put his paddle up. You bid low enough to lose but high enough to where you drive the price up on some of the smaller items. An hour or so passes with you and Loki waiting to see the painting you came here for. Every time he raised the paddle he’d steal a glance at you, pleased with how frustrated some of the older attendees sounded when they had to place a higher bid.

You couldn’t help but marvel at how far he’s come since the battle of New York. You were one of the only people that was able to connect the fact that Loki’s eyes were the same color as Clint’s when he was being mind controlled. Before Loki ever joined you’d brought it up multiple times but no one ever really took it seriously. After he arrived at the tower, and he opened up more, in his own ways he confirmed that your theory was correct. He hasn’t told anyone what happened that lead him to that point, though. Luckily, he’s adjusted pretty well and if some of the avengers still don’t like them- they have a begrudging respect for him. Loki and Bucky bonded and formed an interesting friendship, with what Loki has told you it seems that they’ve helped each other readjust to freedom in a way. Wanda has also helped Loki open up more, they tend to spend some time every few weeks training with their magic. Clint still keeps his distance but that’s not a scar that’s going to heal quickly, you don’t think.

Loki tears you from your thoughts, tapping the inside of your right wrist. He’s staring straight at the painting you’re here for. It’s a 1940s battlefield landscape. But you’re not here because of the art itself, you’re here for what’s sewn into the canvas. You know that Tony is listening in as the auctioneer announces the piece.

“Showtime, newly weds,” Tony comments.

According to Fury’s intel there’s a note with coordinates to a hidden hydra base that has been thought to be inactive since just after the war. There’s been whispers of a resurgence of the winter soldier program in a top secret location. This might be the key to finding the headquarters.

Loki waits for a few people to bid before placing his first one in. If you can get your hands on this painting it could completely destroy the last of the winter soldier program, if you don’t win then this mission will be a hell of a lot more difficult. He puts his paddle up again and rests his hand on your thigh, his fingers dipping just inside of the dress’ side slit. He keeps his face straight and you assume someone’s looking but you can’t take your eyes off his hand. Your breath is shallow but you try to focus, giving his hand a pat when you think he should bid.

The general protocol is that the highest bidders are given directions to a safe house where they can make the exchange. Hydra transports the item there in heavily guarded vehicles. Which the team will be tracking via the Quinjet. You feel your knives strapped to your thigh, all night you’ve been itching for a fight. Maybe it’s the pent up frustration from your ruse or just the fact that you’ve been surrounded by hydra agents all night. It feels like torture to blend in with them but it’s honestly not even close to being one of the most difficult missions you’ve gone on. It’s tame in comparison to most, little combat and little interaction with the enemy. The hardest part is keeping your heart in check when Loki’s touching you like that. You’re starting to realize how incredibly distracting it can be.

“Sold to number twenty-five!”

The auctioneer announces the winner and you realize it’s not you.

“Shit.”

“What’s up, (y/n)? Did you get it or not?” Tony pries.

“They cut the bidding short. Two men came in and delivered a note to the auctioneer,” Loki explains.

You didn’t even notice. How did that happen?

“It must’ve been rigged, get out of there, we’ll see you at the jet.”

You slip your hand into Loki’s, the cold of his fake wedding band nipping at your skin.

“Let’s go, honey. I have a little surprise for you back at home,” You tease seductively.

His green eyes cut to yours, you swear that for a moment there’s a flash of something there. You just can’t quite put a name to it. Loki’s tongue brushes over his lower lip, bringing your hand up. He leaves a lingering kiss on your matching ring. The look in his eye paired with the graze of his mouth on your skin sends a strike of electricity through your veins. He gets up, leading you to the door.

“Shall we?” He makes a show of letting you exit first after you exchange the customary hail hydras with the organizer and his bodyguards.

When you get into the hall the two of you pick up your pace.

“Now, what?” You hiss at Loki.

He grins mischievously.

“Now, darling, we have some fun.”

You can tell he’s thinking what you’ve been feeling, this has been too easy. Now, at least, it’s getting interesting. You really wish you had a body suit under this dress but maybe if you’re lucky you’ll be able to make it to the jet before you have to do any real damage. You get instruction from Tony to take a few turns down the hall to a back exit that leads to an alley closer to the meeting point.

The night air is breezy and goosebumps form on your arms. The stars are bright and the moon is little more than a sliver. Your heels echo softly on the pavement as you walk. Loki is close enough to where your hands brush once in a while as you walk. Each time it happens you feel yourself being pulled further into his orbit. There’s something magnetic about Loki, and most might say it’s because he’s a god or because he’s like a predator. Coaxing his prey into a false security, but you don’t see him that way. You see a man, a god, that has been through awful things. Like anyone else, he has struggled. He is hard to crack but when you’re able to see what’s underneath the calculating front he puts up, he’s not that different from the rest of the team.

“You did good in there, Laufeyson, I think you’re getting the hang of this whole avenger thing,” you bump his shoulder with yours, “who knows, maybe you’ve found your glorious purpose.”

He chuckles and rubs the back of his neck.

“I don’t think that the other avengers share that sentiment.”

Your chest pangs, because it’s true.

Then his face hardens, glancing back the way you came. You hear some low voices cutting through the night and before you can react, Loki is grabbing you by the waist. He’s spinning you around and the world is tilting on its axis. You close your eyes thinking something bad is about to happen.

Your back hits the wall and one of his hands is on your waist, the other supporting your head, guiding it to back gently. When you open your eyes he’s looking at you and he silently shushes you. Loki leans in close to you and his nose is brushing yours and his gaze drops to your lips. Your heart is pounding in your chest and your skin is tingling. He’s so close and his breath smells like whiskey. His cologne is coating the air between you and it smells like the forest and it’s warm and welcoming and it’s so hard to pretend like you’re not in love with him when he’s so close.

“You look truly divine,” He breathes.

“You don’t mean that,” You whisper back, shaking your head.

The footsteps are getting closer and closer and you screw your eyes shut. You have no idea what to do now that you’ve lost contact with the others and you can’t think straight. Loki always leaves your mind cloudy and usually it doesn’t effect your mission but you’ve never been in such a compromising position. He’s intoxicating and it takes all your willpower not to lean into him further. Not to press your lips to his or wrap your arms around his neck.

“Yes,” he leans a fraction closer, “I do.”

Then he’s pressing you further into the bricks and his fingers are brushing against your cheekbone. You open your eyes and he looks at you and his pupils are blown wide. Then he kisses you and it’s so soft. He’s kissing you like you’re going to disappear, like you’re made of glass. It’s fragile and you can tell he’s braced for rejection and even though you’re terrified that this is all for the mission somehow you melt into the kiss. A low noise is pulled from him as you slide your hands through his hair, it falls from its slicked back bun and the strands are falling against your cheek. The moment is everything you’ve ever dreamed it would be and still it’s so much better.

The whole world is slipping away and you ears are buzzing and you realize you need to breathe. You pull back, leaning your head back toward the cool night air and then his lips are on your neck and you feel weightless.

“Believe me, (y/n),” he whispers against your skin, his breath cool, “I could never lie to you.”

The sound of your name makes you whimper as his lips move further and further down. The footsteps are long gone, you realize. You should go, both of you should go meet the others at the rendezvous point. But you can’t move, it’s like you’re stuck to the spot and all you can focus on is this, this mischievous god against you and how his hands are chilling your skin and setting it on fire all at once. The way his tie has come slightly loose and how his cheeks are reddened. He’s disheveled and you never thought it would be for you, because of you.

“Loki-“ You choke out.

“(Y/n), come in. Can you hear us? Where are you, agent?” Steve’s voice breaks through the static in your ear piece.

Loki pulls back abruptly, the voice of your captain breaking through the moment. His eyes are wide as he looks at you and your heart sinks. He regrets it. You just lost your best friend. You sober up quickly and slip from Loki’s grasp and maneuver around him, looking down the alleyway.

“I hear you, Cap. We’re not too far from the museum, had to take a detour. On our way now.”

“We got eyes on the truck, good work you two, you make a fine team.”

You look at Loki for a second. You can’t read his expression as he straightens his tie and fixes his hair. He wipes his lips, erasing all the evidence of what happened just like that. As if it never happened, couldn’t happen. Not with you, at least. You sigh.

“Yeah, I guess we do.”

In silence you head to the rendezvous point. The tension thick between you. Maybe all he’ll ever be is your partner. Maybe you were naive to think that it could seriously be more. It was just the heat of the moment and it should have never gotten that far. Maybe you could learn to live with that.

[jobean12-blog]

This Is Love

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x female reader

Word Count: 918

Summary: You have a late day at work and Bucky wants to walk you home.

Author's Note: This is just some softness because why not! Thank you so much for reading! Much love always! ❤️❤️❤️Divider by the lovely @firefly-graphics thank you Daisy! 🥰

Warnings: soft sweetness and fluff, maybe our reader feeling a little jealous and possessive hehe

The evening breeze ruffles the bottom of your dress, and the fabric tickles the back of your thighs as the scent of hot dogs and car exhaust drifts from the street.

You glance at the curb. “Where’s your bike?”

“Home,” Bucky answers simply as he takes your hand in his. “Thought I could walk you back to the apartment. You know…the old-fashioned way.”

He doesn’t say this to earn any reaction from you, so he misses the way your eyes soften.

You’ve both had late days. You were finishing things up at the office and he was working with Sam at the VA. Now, however, it’s time to go home and he insisted on meeting you so you could make the trip together.

The busiest part of the day has come and gone but you’re still lucky to find seats together on the crowded train. You watch your reflection in the window opposite you and even in the grimy glass and beneath the harsh, often flickering fluorescent lights, it’s impossible to miss how beautiful he is.

He’s loosened his tie, unbuttoning the top of his dress shirt to offer up a triangle of smooth, tan skin. The open shirt frames his long neck, the tempting hint of collarbone peeking out just enough to make you wonder why you aren’t kissing it right now.

As if sensing your gaze, his eyes shift from the passing blur of the city and meet yours in the glass. Your reflections rock with the movement of the train, and he watches you too, a small, knowing smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.

More passengers board at the next stop and he moves, giving his seat to an elderly lady with a heavy bag in each hand. She showers him with sweet praise before sitting and smiling at you.

Bucky takes the spot in front of you, his right arm raised to grip the handrail suspended from the ceiling.

You now have an exceptional view of his torso and the front of his dress pants.

Yummy.

The sound of laughter draws your attention, and you see a group of girls seated only a few rows away. They sit with their heads pressed together and if their hushed giggles and wide-eyed stares are any indication, you know exactly what they’re looking at. Or rather, whom.

You look up to find Bucky looking down at the older woman, listening and oblivious to the leering glances being cast in his direction.

You can’t blame the girls. If you saw Bucky on the train you’d do whatever you could to get a better look. It makes you think back to the first time you met and how you were immediately drawn to him.

He laughs at something the older woman says, and you watch his blue eyes crinkle at the corners and the dark strands of his hair fall in front of his forehead. He looks boyish and gorgeous and you immediately glance over like the jealous wife you are and sure enough, every head in that group of girls is turned, eyes wide, mouths wider, swooning.

And even though you haven’t spoken a word, you begin to wonder if every thought you have is somehow projected onto a screen above your head. Because it’s this moment he chooses to glance down at you, eyes soft and warm as he reaches to brush his metal thumb along your bottom lip.

You turn into his hand and press your mouth to his palm.

He’s beaming when the train comes to a stop and takes your hand as you stand and pulls you out the door, sliding his arm around your waist as soon as you’re on the platform.

“I like this,” he says quietly, tucking you into his side.

You laugh. “Like what?”

“Walking you home.”

He kisses you sweetly in the middle of the street, causing several people to part and move around you, their muttered grumbles going completely unnoticed. The kiss is so soft, so earnest that your chest swells painfully and you wrap your arms around his neck to hold him to you.

The group of girls walk by and in the background you hear their wistful sighs and comments.

“She’s so lucky,” one of the girls says.

You pull away from Bucky and look their way, grabbing hold of his suit jacket possessively.

“Did you hear that?” you mutter.

“Hear what doll?” he asks, his eyes on you, having never left.

“Those girls have been swooning over you since we were on the train.”

“What girls?” Bucky asks, his full attention still on you.

You finally drag your eyes away from the retreating group to meet his.

“I wasn’t done kissing you doll face,” he says with the corner of his mouth turned up and his eyes sparkling.

His palm frames your cheek, and he pulls you closer, uncaring that you’re still standing in the middle of the busy city street.

You grab his wrist and lean into his touch.

“Bucky.”

The admonishment is totally empty, and he knows it, bumping your nose with his before the soft press of his lips is all you feel.

“You can’t tell me you didn’t notice them,” you whisper, eyes closed, and face pressed to his.

“Look at me,” he murmurs.

Your eyes open.

“I wish you could feel what I feel when I look at you doll,” he whispers against your lips. “Then maybe, just maybe you’d understand why I can’t look at anyone else.”

[brunchable]

𝐌𝐫. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 | 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞: Stucky x F!Reader

Part Two Pairings: Bucky Barnes x f!reader, Steve Rogers x f!reader | Daughter of Thaddeus Ross (Red Hulk) Words: 5.4K Themes: Forbidden Reader, Love Triangle, M for Mature, 18+ , Post-Endgame, AGE GAP (24y/o reader). Summary: Bucky Barnes expected another typical therapy session, but the moment he meets Y/N, a sharp and unflinching therapist who doesn’t back down, everything changes. Used to keeping people at arm’s length, Bucky finds himself intrigued by her resilience and the way she sees right through his walls. A/N: I am also obsessed with Bucky ok? I can't leave him out. I will not use "chapter" for now because IDEK how long this will be. Let me know if you want to be tagged. Ciao.

Bucky entered the therapist’s office, expecting the usual routine with Dr. Raynor. But when he saw a younger woman sitting on the couch, legs crossed, glasses perched on her nose, he froze. She was scribbling in a notebook, completely absorbed in whatever she was writing. His eyes swept over her—pencil skirt, white blouse with the top two buttons undone. Definitely not Raynor.

Raynor was a pain in the ass enough, but now they're throwing this at me? Bucky thought, his jaw tightening as he watched her quietly scribble in her notebook. He wasn’t sure if this was some kind of test or another attempt to “catch him off guard.” His whole life had been one test after another, and this—this felt like just another trick up their sleeve.

Great, he thought bitterly, as if I haven’t been poked and prodded enough. Now I’m supposed to open up to someone who probably just finished med school.

The calm way she sat there, so sure of herself, made him itch with irritation. He couldn’t figure her out, and he hated that. Was she here to push him harder than Raynor? Or was this just another bureaucratic move to switch things up, like changing therapists would suddenly crack him open? 

What’s next? A therapy dog? His mind was racing, constantly searching for the next hit, the next blow. He felt like they were always trying to break him down bit by bit, like he was still their weapon. 

But this? This is just insulting. He didn’t know what to make of her, or what she could possibly do for him, but his instincts were already screaming to keep his guard up, to watch her carefully. There was always something more to these situations. Always a catch.

"Did they lose my file or something?" Bucky raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You don’t look old enough to be out of med school, let alone help me with… this." His words came out dripping with sarcasm, testing her right from the start.

Y/N didn’t look up immediately, taking her time as she finished writing something in her notebook. When she finally met his gaze, she adjusted her glasses slightly, then pointed to the couch with her eyes.

"I assure you, Sergeant Barnes, you’re in the right place," she said, her voice calm and even. "If you’d like to sit down, we can get started."

Bucky paused, the smirk still playing on his lips. He scanned the room, as if making sure he hadn’t walked into the wrong office, then sauntered toward the couch opposite her. He dropped down, stretching out his legs lazily, crossing his arms over his chest, still eyeing her with playful suspicion.

"Right place, huh? Are you sure about that?" He chuckled. "Didn’t realize they sent kids to do the hard jobs these days."

"Lucky for you, I’m not a kid. But if you’re hoping for someone older, I’m sure you can take it up with the front desk. Or we could just get started, your call."

Bucky’s smirk widened slightly, impressed by the way she shot back at him. He leaned back on the couch, arms crossed. "Alright then, since you’re apparently the expert. What’s the plan here? Gonna wave a magic wand, make all my problems go away?"

Y/N raised an eyebrow, meeting his sarcasm head-on. "No magic wand. Just work. But something tells me you’re not afraid of a little hard work, are you?"

That caught him off guard. He was used to deflecting with humor, but she wasn’t backing down. In fact, she seemed perfectly comfortable in this verbal sparring match.

"Hard work, huh?" He leaned forward slightly, his tone softening but still sarcastic. "And here I thought you were here to hand me a quick fix."

Y/N smiled ever so slightly, just enough to show she wasn’t intimidated. "I don’t do quick fixes. That’s for amateurs."

Bucky stared at her for a moment, genuinely impressed despite himself. He had expected someone more nervous, someone he could easily rattle. But this woman? She wasn’t having any of it.

"Alright, doc," he said, nodding slightly, acknowledging her stance. "You’ve got my attention. What’s next?"

Y/N adjusted her glasses, flipping a page in her notebook. "Next? We talk about your progress. Or, we can sit here in silence while you continue throwing sarcastic remarks at me. I’m good with either option."

"You think I’m just gonna spill my guts? It doesn’t work like that."

"I didn’t expect it to.”

"I’m fine with silence.”

Bucky muttered, his eyes flicking to the window as if contemplating an escape. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about himself. Especially not with someone like her—someone so young and… focused.

Leaning forward slightly, his playful look faded into something darker—a cold, calculating stare. His blue eyes locked onto hers, hard and unblinking, as he gave her the same menacing look that had unnerved countless soldiers and enemies. It was the stare that said he wasn’t someone to mess with.

Most people would have flinched by now, maybe glanced away or shown some kind of discomfort. But Y/N didn’t move. She didn’t flinch. She met his icy stare head-on, calm and unwavering.

Seconds ticked by then into minutes. Bucky’s gaze bore into hers, daring her to crack under the pressure. But she didn’t blink. Didn’t shift in her seat. She held his stare, unshaken.

As Bucky realized she wasn’t going to back down. He clenched his jaw tighter, leaning in even more, his menacing stare intensifying. And still—nothing. Y/N just stared back at him. After what felt like an eternity, Bucky scoffed, the sound low and begrudgingly amused. He leaned back into the couch, letting out a breath.

"Well, I’ll be damned," he muttered, clearly impressed. His smirk returned, but this time, it was less mocking and more intrigued. "You didn’t even blink."

"I’ve seen worse," she shrugged.

"Most people can’t handle the stare," he said, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice. Bucky stared at her for a moment longer, still processing that she hadn’t buckled under his intimidation. 

"I’m not most people," Y/N replied, her gaze still locked on his.

"You’re not, huh?” Bucky let out another short scoff, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them gradually easing. Bucky leaned forward, rubbing his hands together as if contemplating his next move.

"Alright," he finally muttered, his voice quieter now, the edge of defiance softening. "Let’s get started."

× × × ×

Bucky walked down the street, hands deep in his pockets, his mind still stuck on the therapy session with Y/N. He couldn't shake the image of her holding her ground against his menacing stare. Most people crumbled under that.

He was impressed. Hell, maybe even a little thrown off by it.

He reached a small café, the door chimed as he walked in. He’d been coming here for weeks, liking how quiet it was. Bucky slid into a booth in the corner, the furthest one from the entrance, his usual spot. The place was small, quiet—barely anyone noticed him here. That was what he liked. No eyes following him. No whispers.

As he sat down, he glanced at the menu out of habit, though he already knew what he wanted. He tapped his fingers against the table, feeling the hum of anxiety still coursing through him. His thoughts wandered back to Y/N’s. Her refusal to let him dictate the session. It had been a long time since someone had stood their ground with him.

“Same as usual?” the waitress asked.

He nodded. “Yeah. Same.”

The door chimed again, and out of reflex, Bucky glanced up. His eyes landed on her—Y/N. But she was different now. She was dressed in a casual sweater and jeans, her hair down, and the serious, composed demeanor was nowhere to be found. She looked relaxed. For a moment, Bucky frowned. Was this the same woman from earlier?

She hadn’t noticed him yet, busy ordering her coffee at the counter. As she turned, their eyes met, and for a split second, surprise flickered in her gaze. Then she smiled. 

It wasn’t a polite, professional smile like the one she had in the office—it was real, warm. Bucky had to admit, she was even more beautiful when she smiled like that. She made her way over to him, her expression soft and light, a stark contrast to how she’d been before.

“Sergeant Barnes,” she greeted with an amused smile. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Didn’t expect to see you either. You got a twin or something?” Bucky leaned back, trying to hide the fact that her smile had thrown him. He gave her a skeptical look, still trying to wrap his mind around the shift in her demeanor.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Nope. Just me.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You sure? Because you’re not exactly giving off the same ‘don’t mess with me’ vibe as you did earlier.”

“I save that for the office.” She laughed lightly, the sound catching him off guard again.

Bucky blinked, still half-convinced she had to be a different person. “You’re… different outside of work.”

Y/N smiled again, and Bucky couldn’t help but notice how that smile completely transformed her. The serious, no-nonsense therapist was gone. 

“Therapist mode can be intense,” she said, settling into the seat across from him. “Gotta decompress too, you know.”

“Decompress, huh?” Bucky muttered, still eyeing her. “I wasn’t sure you even knew how to.”

“Oh, trust me, I do,” she said with a grin. “You think I’m a robot in the office?”

“Was starting to wonder. . .”

She laughed again, shaking her head as she took a sip of her coffee. “Nope. Just human.”

Bucky stared at her for a moment, taking in how much more approachable she seemed now. The difference between the Y/N sitting across from him now and the one who had held her ground in the office was stark. He hadn’t expected to see her like this—relaxed, smiling, laughing. It was almost disarming.

“You’re hard to figure out,” he said, still trying to process the shift.

She shrugged lightly. “That’s part of the job, isn’t it?”

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of the café filling the space. Bucky glanced at her again, her soft smile lingering in his mind. He wasn’t sure why, but seeing her like this, outside of the serious office atmosphere, made him feel… at ease.

Eventually, Y/N glanced at her watch. “I should get going. Got other plans.”

Bucky nodded. “Yeah, same.”

She stood, grabbing her cup. She paused for a moment, then gave him one last smile—a sweet one, the kind that lit up her whole face, making her seem even more different than the woman who had stared him down earlier.

“See you at the next session?” she asked.

Bucky chuckled, half-joking, "Hm, I don’t know."

Her smile didn’t waver. If anything, it deepened, her eyes holding him with a quiet confidence. "I will see you, Sergeant Barnes," she said, her voice more insistent this time, not leaving room for doubt.

Bucky raised an eyebrow, shaking his head slightly, "What’s the point of asking then?”

As she walked out of the café, Bucky leaned back in his seat, shaking his head with a small smile. She had completely thrown him. Her smile, her relaxed demeanor—it was all so different from what he’d expected. For a moment, he wondered if she really did have a twin. But then again, maybe she was just someone with more layers than he’d first realized.

And he found himself eager to know more.

× × × ×

Steve Rogers wasn’t sure how he had gotten talked into this. Well, actually, he knew exactly how—Sam Wilson had dragged him along to this party, claiming Steve needed to “loosen up” and enjoy life more. But standing in the middle of a loud, flashing room with music pounding in his ears, Steve wondered if he should have pushed harder to stay home.

"Come on, Cap," Sam had said with a mischievous grin as they walked through the entrance earlier. "You’ve been in retirement long enough. Time to see what the world’s been up to while you were busy saving it."

Steve stood near the bar now, trying to blend in, his eyes scanning the room. People were dancing wildly, laughing, and having fun in the swirling haze of strobe lights. It was a far cry from the kinds of parties he had attended back in the 1940s—those had been calm, slow, and filled with small talk and jazz music. 

This? This was chaos.

Steve shifted uncomfortably. He had barely touched his drink when Sam elbowed him from the side, laughing. “You look like you’re plotting an escape route. Relax, Cap. Have fun.”

Before Steve could respond, Sam was swept into the crowd by some friends, leaving Steve standing alone by the bar. Even in the anonymity of the darkened room, Steve still attracted attention. His broad shoulders, strong jawline, and quietly confident presence drew glances from several women who were passing by. The strobe lights occasionally highlighted his features, and more than a few curious eyes lingered on him as he stood by the bar.

“Hey there,” she said, leaning in slightly, her voice loud to be heard over the music. “You look like you’re way too good-looking to be standing here alone.”

Steve smiled politely, keeping his distance. “Just here with some friends,” he said, not giving much away.

She stepped a little closer, her eyes lingering on him. “Well, maybe I could keep you company?”

Steve chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Thanks, but I’m good. Just enjoying the night.”

She looked a little surprised but shrugged it off with a casual smile. “Your loss,” she said with a wink, before disappearing back into the crowd.

Steve let out a small breath, his shoulders relaxing as she left. He wasn’t here for that kind of attention, though it seemed inevitable. He glanced around, hoping to spot Sam or Bucky, but before he could move, another woman approached.

He was just about to step away from the bar when another woman, a petite brunette with a mischievous smile, appeared beside him. 

“I’ve seen you reject at least ten girls in the last ten minutes,” she said, her voice teasing. “Either you’ve got impossibly high standards or you’re just too shy to admit you’re having fun.”

Steve chuckled, shaking his head. “Neither, really. Just here with some friends. Trying to keep a low profile.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “A guy like you, keeping a low profile? Good luck with that.”

Steve smiled, nodding toward the crowd. “Seems like it’s working so far.”

The woman laughed, but before she could say more, the crowd surged again, and someone bumped into Steve, almost spilling his drink. 

“Sorry about that,” a voice said, half-shouting over the music.

Steve turned and caught a glimpse of another woman, this one different from the others. She was barely recognizable in the strobe lights, her features blurred by the darkness, but something about the way she carried herself caught his attention. She didn’t linger too long on him, and didn't try too hard. Her smile was brief but real.

“No problem,” Steve replied, raising his voice to be heard over the music. 

“Not your scene?” she asked, leaning a little closer to be heard.

“Not exactly,” Steve admitted, putting a finger in to cover one ear.

She laughed lightly, stepping closer, her eyes catching the light for a brief second. “Same. My friend dragged me here. I’m pretty sure she thinks I need to ‘loosen up’.”

“Guess we’re in the same boat,” Steve said, feeling a bit more at ease. She had a warmth in her voice, even amidst the chaos.

Before either of them could say more, a group of partygoers surged by, and one of them grabbed Y/N’s hand, pulling her toward the dance floor. She was caught off guard, stumbling a bit before turning back toward Steve, her hand still caught in the wave.

“Come on!” she shouted over the music, her face lit up with a playful grin.

“No—I don’t think—”

Steve hesitated. He wasn’t much of a dancer—especially not in a place like this—but before he could protest, Y/N grabbed his hand, tugging him into the crowd. The pulsing rhythm of the music pounded in his chest as they were swept into the moving mass of people. The lights flashed wildly, and before Steve knew it, he was dancing, caught up in the infectious energy of the room.

Y/N laughed as they moved, her hand still in his, and Steve found himself smiling despite the overwhelming atmosphere. The strobe lights flickered, casting everything in flashes of light and shadow, and for a moment, it was easy to forget who he was, to forget the weight he usually carried.

Steve didn’t have time to react before he found himself right behind her, the sea of people pushing them closer together. The music pounded through the room, the heavy bass vibrating under their feet. Steve felt her back press against his chest, her body swaying in time with the beat.

The lights flashed, casting her in and out of shadow, but Steve was caught in the moment. She moved to the music effortlessly, her hips swinging in rhythm, her back brushing against him with every movement. He felt the warmth of her body through his shirt, the closeness sparking something inside him he hadn’t expected.

The lyrics of the song echoed through the room: “I, I, I, I just want to watch you when you take it off, take off all your makeup, baby, take it off. . . I just wanna watch you when you take it off, take off all your clothes and watch you take them off.”

Y/N's body moved in perfect sync with the music, and Steve, despite his hesitation, found himself falling into the rhythm. Her hips pressed against him, swaying seductively in time with the beat. He hesitated for a moment before resting his hands lightly on her hips, unsure but drawn in by the intensity of the moment.

The crowd pushed them even closer together, and Steve’s grip on her hips tightened instinctively. She didn’t pull away; instead, she leaned into him, moving her body against his, teasing, playful, completely in tune with the energy of the music. Her head tilted slightly, her hair brushing against his neck, and Steve felt his pulse quicken.

She bit her lower lip, glancing back at him through the lights, a playful spark in her eyes. Steve’s breath caught, his hands sliding up slightly from her waist as their bodies continued to move together. The energy between them was electric, like nothing he’d ever felt before. The music drowned out everything but the pounding of his heart and the feel of her body so close to his.

Suddenly, the crowd pushed them even closer, and in the heat of the moment, Y/N turned her head slightly, her lips brushing against his cheek. It was a brief touch, but it sent a shock through him. His grip tightened on her hips, and before either of them could think, their movements slowed, the tension between them peaking.

“I just can't wait to see it all I'm so turned on”

Y/N turned her head fully, her lips finding his in a fast, unexpected kiss. His lips were unexpectedly soft. They parted-in surprise, she thought and then she slipped her tongue inside. It had been forever since she'd done this, never had she done this, but it came to her like breathing. It was electric, quick, but charged with the energy of the moment. 

Steve’s world narrowed to just the two of them—the music, the lights, the crowd—all vanished as her lips met his. He stopped her, just for a moment, then flipped it, deepening the kiss with a flick of his tongue and a firm grip on her hip. Now it was him kissing her, her soft sigh filling the space between them. He responded with heat, his desire matching the unexpected pleasure he found in her.

The kiss only lasted a moment, but it left both of them breathless. Y/N pulled back, her eyes wide with surprise, like she hadn’t expected it either. They were still close, her breath mingling with his as they caught their bearings.

Before either of them could speak, Y/N's friends found her and pulled her with them unaware of Steve, and she was swept away, disappearing into the throng of dancers. Steve stood there, frozen for a second, his heart still racing from the kiss, his hands still tingling from where he’d touched her.

He blinked, trying to steady himself, but she was already gone, lost in the mass of people. The music still pounded around him, the lights still flashed, but all Steve could focus on was the ghost of her lips on his and the wild, unexpected energy of the night.

Steve shook his head, still trying to process what had just happened. The kiss, the way her body had fit so perfectly against his—it was all too new, too different. The way young people dance these days, he thought, he can’t believe he allowed himself to be dragged like that. It was nothing like what he was used to. He exhaled slowly, needing a moment to collect his thoughts. Pushing through the crowd, he scanned the room for Sam. He was going to get an earful for this.

Steve spotted Sam by the bar, laughing with a couple of friends, and beside him was Bucky, nursing a drink and quietly observing the room. Steve made his way over, still feeling the lingering heat of the moment and trying his best to shake it off.

Sam noticed him approaching and immediately grinned, raising his drink in greeting. “There he is! Our man of the hour!” Sam shouted over the music, his voice laced with amusement.

Bucky raised an eyebrow, his expression more reserved but no less curious.

“I don’t know about that,” Steve rolled his eyes, but there was no hiding the slight flush still creeping up his neck. 

Sam’s grin widened as he leaned in closer. “Come on, Cap, you’ve got that look on your face. What happened?”

Steve hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to tell them. But Sam already knew him too well, and Bucky… well, there was no escaping his sharp gaze either.

“Nothing,” Steve said with a shrug, hoping to play it off.

“Uh-huh,” Sam said, narrowing his eyes. 

“Nothing, huh?” He took a sip of his drink, but the teasing gleam in his eyes was unmistakable. “Didn’t look like ‘nothing’ when I saw you on the dance floor with… what’s her name?”

Steve’s eyes widened slightly, “You saw that?”

Sam burst out laughing, slapping Steve on the shoulder. “Oh, I saw it. The whole room probably saw it! You were practically glued to her!”

Steve groaned, rubbing his forehead. “It wasn’t like that.”

Sam raised an eyebrow, still grinning. “Oh, really? Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were having a little too much fun.”

Steve shot him a glare, but the way Sam wiggled his eyebrows made it impossible to stay serious. 

Bucky, still quiet, finally smirked. “You’re not exactly blending into the background there, punk.”

“It just… happened, alright?” Steve admitted, his voice trailing off as he tried to explain. “We were dancing, and the crowd kept pushing us together. And then…”

“And then you kissed her!” Sam finished for him, laughing again. “Oh man, Cap, I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“I didn’t kiss her! She kissed me! It just happened—like in the heat of the moment.”

“Yeah, because ‘heat of the moment’ sounds nothing like you.” Bucky chuckled, finally downing his alcohol.

Steve shot him a look, “Who's side are you on?”

“The ‘heat of the moment’? You mean to tell me you got caught up in the lights and music and had your little dance-floor moment? That’s priceless!” Sam was practically doubled over with laughter now.

“It wasn’t like that. I didn’t even know her.” Steve couldn’t help but crack a smile despite the teasing. 

Sam straightened up, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “Doesn’t matter, man. That’s what makes it even better! You don’t know her, and you still ended up in some steamy dance-floor kiss? That’s wild for you.”

Steve groaned again, but the smile tugging at his lips was undeniable.

“Well, I’ll say this,” Sam said, leaning in closer with a sly grin. “You’re full of surprises, Cap. I thought you’d be sitting in a corner all night, but instead, you’re out here stealing kisses in the middle of a crowd.”

“Okay, fine. It was… unexpected. But I wasn’t exactly complaining.”

Sam raised both eyebrows in mock surprise. “Unexpected, huh? Is that what we’re calling it when you’re practically glued to someone in the middle of a party? I mean, the way you two were moving—if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were auditioning for a music video.”

Steve sighed, but a part of him couldn’t help but feel amused at the whole situation. He never expected to get caught up in something like that. 

“I didn’t even get her name,” he said, almost to himself.

Bucky tilted his head. “Classic.”

Sam’s grin softened into a knowing smile. “Well, maybe that’s the universe telling you it’s time to loosen up a little. Enjoy the ride.”

Steve smirked, shaking his head. “Maybe.”

Sam clapped him on the back again. “Look, Cap, you’ve spent your whole life saving the world. You deserve to have moments like that. Maybe even more than most people.”

Steve couldn’t argue with that. The memory of her lips on his, the way their bodies had moved together—it wasn’t something he was likely to forget anytime soon.

Sam raised his glass in a mock toast. “Here’s to Captain America, finally letting loose.”

“I don’t think I’m cut out for this.” Steve chuckled and clinked his glass against Sam and Bucky's.

“You’re doing just fine, Cap,” Sam said with a wink. “Just fine.”

+ + + +

Y/N’s heels clicked against the smooth marble floors of the mansion’s foyer as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. The security system beeped, and she casually entered the code, the familiar beep fading into silence. The house was large, quiet, and pristine—almost too quiet after the chaos of the party.

She kicked off her heels, phone pressed to her ear as she continued her animated conversation with her best friend.

“I’m telling you, it was insane,” Y/N laughed, still buzzing from the energy of the night. “I don’t even know how I ended up on the dance floor, but there I was, dancing like I had no care in the world. And, oh my god, there was this guy...”

She paused, biting her lip at the memory of the mysterious man she’d danced with. The lights had made it impossible to see him clearly, but the way he moved, how his hands had felt on her hips—it sent a thrill through her just thinking about it.

“I didn’t catch his name,” she continued, flopping onto the plush couch in the living room. “But we were so close, and when we kissed... girl, I don’t even know what came over me.”

Her friend gasped on the other end of the line, clearly invested in every word. “Wait, you kissed him? Who are you right now?”

“I don’t know!” Y/N laughed again—almost squealing, “It was one of those wild party moments, you know? The music was loud, people were everywhere, and then—boom—his lips were on mine.”

“Omg, didn’t you get his number?”

“No.” She frowned then she smiled to herself, enjoying the carefree thrill of the memory. “Honestly, I thought I’d regret it, but no. Imagine that? My dad would kill me.”

As she continued recounting the night, a slight rustling from the other side of the room made her pause. Y/N looked up, her heart skipping a beat as she realized she wasn’t alone. In the doorway stood Thaddeus Ross, her father, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.

He cleared his throat loudly, the sound cutting through the excited chatter still flowing from her phone. Y/N froze for a moment, her eyes widening as she realized she’d been caught mid-party recap in her usually reserved father’s presence.

Her friend’s voice buzzed in her ear, still going on about the party, but Y/N quickly pulled the phone away, muttering, “I’ll call you back,” before hanging up. The excitement drained from her face, replaced by a nervous smile.

“Dad,” Y/N greeted, forcing a casual smile. “Didn’t know you’d be home.”

“Apparently, you didn’t. Sounded like quite the party.” Thaddeus Ross narrowed his eyes slightly, stepping further into the room.

Y/N stood, suddenly aware of how much she’d let herself unwind. She straightened her clothes and tried to appear nonchalant. “It was just a party with some friends. No big deal.”

Thaddeus arched an eyebrow. “Friends?”

“Yeah, friends. You know, just... normal people.” Y/N shrugged, trying to downplay the whole thing.

Thaddeus studied her for a moment, his eyes sharp, as if trying to piece together the details she hadn’t given him. 

“I see,” he finally said, his tone unreadable. “It sounded a bit more... involved than your usual nights out.”

Y/N swallowed, brushing off the heat rising in her cheeks. “It was just for fun, Dad. Nothing to worry about.”

He didn’t respond immediately, just gave her a long, assessing look. 

“You know how important it is to keep certain parts of your life secure, Y/N,” he said in that familiar, commanding tone of his. “People might take advantage if they know too much about who you really are.”

Y/N gave him a playful smile, trying to brush off his seriousness. “Dad, I’m 24. I should be out there kissing strangers at parties by now, right?”

Thaddeus didn’t smile. He simply sighed, crossing his arms tighter over his chest. 

“I wasn’t wearing a neon sign that said ‘Mr. President’s Daughter’ on it. It was just a party. I’m allowed to have fun.” Y/N rolled her eyes, her tone still light but more pointed now.

Thaddeus didn’t seem to be swayed by her attempt to joke. “Having fun is one thing, but keeping yourself safe is another. You may think these parties are harmless, but they aren’t always what they seem.”

“Dad, relax. I know how to keep myself out of trouble. I mean, come on, I live here, don’t I? No one’s getting past your fortress.” Y/N sighed, but her smile remained. 

Thaddeus gave her a long, measured look, as if deciding how much more to say. Finally, he relented just slightly, his voice softening. “It’s not just about the security, Y/N. It’s about the people you surround yourself with.”

Y/N softened her tone too, standing up to face him. “I get it, Dad. I know you’re just looking out for me, but I’m not going to live in fear. I can take care of myself.”

Thaddeus didn’t reply right away, his eyes flicking to the security system panel before returning to her. “Just... be careful. Not everyone you meet at those parties will have good intentions.”

“I know, Dad. I promise I’ll be careful.” Y/N nodded, her earlier playfulness giving way to a more serious understanding. 

Thaddeus gave a short nod, clearly not fully convinced but unwilling to push the conversation any further tonight. “Good. Just remember what I said.”

He turned and left the room, leaving Y/N standing there with the lingering weight of his words. As the tension dissolved, she let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “I’m 24,” she muttered to herself, smiling at the absurdity of the situation.

“I heard that!” Thaddeus yelled from another area of the house.

“You were supposed to!” 

Despite everything, the memory of the night—the music, the dancing, the kiss—still played in her mind, and she couldn’t help but smile.

Next Chapter

[saratinz]

Maneater (Prologue)

pairing ➩ Ex!Bucky Barnes x Promiscuous!Reader (College AU)

series warnings ➩ drinking, asshole!Bucky, enemies to lovers, exes to lovers, love triangle, smut, slut shaming, cursing

chapter warnings ➩ cursing, mentions sex and slut shaming, 0.2 second mention of abuse, bleak perspective on love

synopsis ➩ A little introduction to some of our characters

word count ➩ 550

You’re not ashamed to admit that you sleep around. College is all about new experiences, and that comes with mistakes. It’s fair to say that you have made enough mistakes to last a lifetime. Although, you wouldn’t say your sexuality stems from immaturity. You want to feel good, and sometimes that means sleeping with some hot guy from your psych class. As long as people aren’t being dickheads, you don’t give a damn about what they do. Others don't seem to have the same mindset though.

You suppose men don’t really understand you, they treat you like you’re so different. But you think it’s the exact opposite, you’re so much like them that it pisses them off that you would dare stray from their ideal portrayal of femininity. I mean, it’s so terrible that you have an active sex life, that you can enjoy a relationship that’s strictly sex. I guess you’re just weird, right? Wait, but what about a guy who has fucked 60% of the female population on campus? That’s completely acceptable? You could sit here and whine about the double standard for hours, but that’s just a waste of time. Y’know, it’s sad, but you just had to accept that socially speaking, you’re a pathetic slut, and guys like Bucky Barnes are gods among men. During sophomore year you realized if a whore is all they see, you should just stop holding back and be the biggest whore they’ve ever met. And you haven’t gone back on that.

Back to James “Bucky” Barnes. Hot, muscular, playboy, quarterback, and your douchebag ex boyfriend. Though, you use the term boyfriend loosely because the relationship was more complex than that. Well, in the way that you were hopelessly in love with him and he liked that he was the first one to touch you. The story has been told a million times before. Guy takes an interest in the innocent girl who has a crush, but soon he fucks it up. And it always ends in one of two ways, either the guy realizes he’s in love and gets the girl back with a huge romantic gesture, or she ends up with someone else who treats her like a princess. But your life is not a fairytale. It’s not a rom com. The idea of love seems so foreign, plus, you know you’ll just end up getting hurt if a hook-up gets more intimate. Almost all romantic relationships end and you were so numbed by the pain from Bucky that every aspect of love seems fabricated. Someone came up with this idea and everyone went along with it, tricking themselves into caring about shitty abusers and pathetic cheaters. Love blinds you with its pretty face, the lifelong happiness it offers is the biggest empty promise. Love is for fools who think they have some soulmate that they’ll see one day and know, deep down, that they are meant to be together. Even thinking about the people who say that makes you cringe. In the end, people see what they want to see, that is until the reality of the situation hits like a freight train.

Masterlist / Next chapter

[thebisexual-disaster]

That is so gut wrenching,i cannot even-

Oh shit ,the angst

Love Triangle

Bucky Barnes Masterlist | Steve Rogers Masterlist AnonymityIsFun Masterlist

i have an idea... a love triangle.

now, hear me out.

an actual love triangle. not the love corner disguised as a love triangle.

bucky loves you, you love steve, and steve loves bucky. imagine the angst. the pain.

after all, no one leaves a love triangle unscathed.

no one.

we'll start with bucky, self effacing, self sacrificing, noble, bucky barnes. he swore he loved you from the moment he saw you. the one and only person to welcome him to the compound after his stint in wakanda.

he remembers it perfectly. every detail of the moment he first laid eyes on you. but mostly, your smile. it was that damned smile. so warm. so genuine. from ear to ear, you greeted the both of them. you reached out a hand to him. it was so unexpected, he couldn't remember the last time someone voluntarily stood that close to him. he couldn't remember the last time he didn't see fear shining in a stranger's eyes. you reached out your hand to him, only for him to kiss the back of your hand. you blushed and a little chuckle bubbled from your lips, and he fell just a little more.

you showed him kindness he'd long forgotten. a warmth that almost thawed all his years as the winter soldier. you listened to him. held his hand as he told his story. how easily you slid past his walls. he loved you so much it hurt.

and that smile. that damned smile.

it didn't take very long for him to realize that smile wasn't for him.

he could pinpoint the exact moment he figured it out. a mission gone wrong. him and steve barely made it out with their lives. he limped off the quinjet with steve hobbling right behind him. the door slammed open and you skidded across the hangar. panic and tears welled in your eyes. that smile. that smile bloomed across your face at the sight of them. he smiled back. his heart warmed at the sight of someone actually caring about him.

bucky couldn't help but think that maybe this would all be worth it if you were always there to welcome him back.

you sprinted up the ramp. you and that smile blew right past him. right into steve's arms. bucky's heart broke as steve wrapped his arms around your waist. even more as you nestled your head against steve's chest, right over his beating heart. all he could hope was that you didn't hear the sound of his heart shattering.

he sees you walking past him in the compound and he wonders how he never noticed it. how after all this time watching you, pining for you, he never saw it. your eyes don't search for him, they search for steve. his heart beats for you. and still, your heart beats for steve. of course it does, why wouldn't it? steve is everything that bucky is and so much more. this only proves it.

you're friends. that much is true. but your eyes, your heart, that damned smile, it's all for steve. and there's nothing he can do about it.

he'd give you up in a hearbeat. bucky would hand over the dream of holding you in his arms. the hope that one day you would look at him like you look at steve. he would give it up to see you smile like that for the rest of your life. he would live his life on the outside looking in, watching steve live the life that bucky wanted. he could take another lifetime's worth of hurt if it meant that you would be happy.

and then there's steve, captain america himself, head held high, stoic and unflinching. a moral compass personified. the moment he came out of the ice, he pined for the man that he promised forever to, he longed for bucky.

until the end of the line, he promised.

and he meant it.

it was wrong, he knew. at first, he liked your company. it only dawned on him months into your friendship that you felt differently than he did. he wanted to tell you. he just didn't want to hurt you. he didn't want to lose you. he liked the way you looked at him like he hung the moon and the stars. he liked being loved.

he wanted to love you, desperately so. he told himself he just needed time. loving you would be so easy for him, all he needed was time to move on from his first love.

the moment he finds out bucky is alive, he knows how wrong it really is. because he'd do just about anything for bucky, even breaking your heart over and over again without a second thought.

no one could ever compare to the man he spent more than seventy years loving.

he fought his way back to bucky. fought through all the politics, war, all the time lost, back to bucky. foolish hope bloomed in his heart when bucky uttered those same words back to him, 'until the end of the line'.

for a short moment, steve thought it was the start of a love story for the ages.

it only took watching bucky watch you, to know that bucky didn't mean it.

not the way steve did.

he wasn't sure why he thought it would be any different. beneath the serum, steve was still that kid from brooklyn. the kid that bucky defended, protected. he was bucky's friend, but he was never truly his equal. bucky had never given him any reason to think that he was remotely interested in him. he never gave him so much as a second glance. not in the way he wanted. not then and most certainly, not now.

bucky had eyes for you and only you. of course. you were amazing, exactly the kind of woman that bucky deserved. exactly his type. more than steve would ever be.

why would bucky ever look in his direction when you were right there?

how could he take bucky's chance at the love that he deserved? bucky deserved that, as much as bucky believed he didn't. steve knew he deserved that and so much more. so he stood aside. tall and unflinching. and watched bucky love you the way that steve always wanted bucky to love him.

and you. you came much later into their decades long saga. you were his first real friend when he came out of the ice. it didn't take long for you to fall.

you knew your mission. help him, be there for him.

you tried to talk yourself out of it, to keep yourself from falling. you were just an agent. just a friendly face to him. he was captain america. you were the shield agent that followed him around like a lost puppy. he never made you feel like that, never treated you as anything but his equal.

there was something about the way steve looked at you.

there was something about steve rogers that you couldn't let go.

he made you feel almost worthy of his love.

perhaps it was the way steve would call you in the middle of the night when he lie away sleep evaded. you didn't mind it, not one bit.

perhaps it was the way steve always held out an arm for you to hold on walks through new york city. you liked listening to his stories, watching him point out the things that were still the same.

maybe it was his warmth. the warmth of his overheated skin that could warm you from the inside out on blistery days. the warmth that radiated from his skin when he would hold you in his arms, listening to the sound of his beating heart soothing you like the most comforting of lullabies. the warmth of his smile. the warm blue eyes that you wanted to fall into.

sometimes, you thought he could love you, too.

until bucky catapulted back into his life.

it happened so quickly. and still, you'd never forget the moment you realized he would never love you like he loved bucky.

'you're going to do something stupid, aren't you?' you asked him on your final call before he disappeared.

'i love him' steve whispered into the phone. it was the way the words fell from his lips. love. it wasn't the sort of love that you declared for your friend. it wasn't familial, platonic. it was an intensity he'd never felt for you. in that moment, you're sure he never will.

a breath lodged in your throat. your heart splintering. 'you love him?'

'until the end of the line.'

and still, you couldn't stop loving him. you loved him enough to become a fugitive for two years. enough to run by his side knowing that he would never want you. two years worth of pain isn't enough for you to learn your lesson and walk away. it's not enough to stop you from loving him either.

even after the dust settled, when steve returned with bucky barnes. none of it is enough for you to walk away from him. and steve rogers is far too love struck to notice the way you watch him.

you curse yourself, how foolish you were to think that steve ever loved you. that was not steve rogers in love. it's clear to you now. it's clear because watching him like this, you know what love actually looks like on steve rogers. he never had a fraction of that for you. he never looked at you like that.

he never loved you. not even a little bit.

there's a part of you that wants to hate bucky, but you can't. you can't because he's pretty incredible too.

you can see exactly why steve's spent seventy years loving him.

you'll take your pain and bear it with the bravest of faces because he's perfect for him. you'll swallow all the hurt, the broken pride, the bruised dignity, all to see steve finally at peace. after all the decades of suffering and pain, they deserve their happy ending.

you wonder if he knows. if either of them know.

you wonder if you'll ever escape this feeling.

you don't think you will.

none of you will.

As always, let me know what you think! Reblogs and comments are always appreciated! 💛

Taglist: @marianita195 @meli18gonzalez@ludicbouquetfromearth@matchat3a@famousbreadcherryblossomsstuff@valoraxx@blue786sworld@buckyandgeraltsupremacy@geminigengar@ansaturn@ecolle@lexhalstead3@ybflkmj@mediocre-daydreams@shanye1112@thegirlnextdoorssister@toomanyfanficsbruh@moonlightreader649@breathtaking-cynthia@mirikusashes@beans-and-toast@niyahcoca@katiechikin@elxvrr@antiheroxsblog@infamouslyclumsy@krissydclayton93@buckysbarne@deadheadwbedhead @qualitygiantshoepsychic@whitexwolfxx310

[reginaregen]

Iolanda's Heart| Pietro Maximoff

While Iolanda struggles to maintain her mental health due to her obsessive love for Bucky Barnes, Bucky's ex-lover's return to the country throws things out of control. And there is only one person by her side throughout this process: Pietro Django Maximoff. Let's see if QuickSilver's true love for Iolanda is strong enough to pull her out of this swamp.

Warning(s): Sexuality, violence, eating disorders, jealousy, gaslighting, toxic relationship

Includes Doctor Strange

Bucky is a piece of shit in this story, lol

Chapter 1: Pie

Chapter 2: Iolanda

Chapter 3: Bucky

Chapter 4: Mother Violet

Chapter 5: Internet Wifey

Chapter 6: What you need is...

[buckys-little-belle]

Hi!! I love your story’s and am always looking for little and daddy Bucky story’s!! I was wondering if you could do insecure reader who’s bigger. She has bigger thighs a bigger tummy and face. Could you do reader is scared to sit on buckys lap or for him to pick her up and carry her around the house. She’s too scared she’s heavy and will crush him and his legs. or that he will drop her because she’s too big. She also never cuddles and sleeps with him in his room always sleeping in her room after he puts her to bed because she’s scared about her breathing or how she sleeps.

Bucky gets her to tell him why and then comfort. Just fluff fluff fluff. If your not comfortable writing this I totally understand!!! If you do could you ad paci use? Thank you!!! Sorry for the rambling…

Strongest Man Alive

Bucky Barnes x Plus Sized!Little!Reader (She/Her Pronouns Used)

Notes - This is not my best work, and has been in my drafts for MONTHS, it's something cute, and a little angsty at the beginning, but it does get super fluffy at the end. It's a little bit different than my usual writting style, so I apologize for that, but I do hope you like it and if not I'm so sorry! I hope I did this ask justice, and I hope everyone is having a good week!!! <3

Warnings - Talks of reader being self conscious for being 'bigger', kept very vague as she uses the words "heavy" and "squishy" to describe her body type instead of more concrete descriptions, the use of a pacifier is very brief as it's something I'm not used to writing, though I would be willing to continue, mentions of reader eating food "snacks" and "sandwich" though never specified, FLUFF at the end, but there is a moment of angst, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A COHEARANT STORY, it's from the drafts and I gave it a once over and I think it's 'good enough' so I apologize if it's terrible <3

SFW - Please keep all interactions with this post, and this blog, SFW.

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Y/n often spent their time at the Avengers tower sitting, standing, lingering around Bucky Barnes. It wasn't on purpose, the man just seemed to be the other half of some magnet imbedded deep in Y/n's heart. He just had some ability to pull her towards him.

Maybe it was the way he cut her sandwiches into perfect triangles, or the way his hand always found hers when she got scared. Maybe it was the way he seemed to be reserved around anyone but her that made her feel so connected to him.

He never sulked but always seemed to walk around with a frown stuck on his face, only ever changing it to a smile when she walked by his office or stopped by his room.

As much as Y/n felt like she was pulled to him, Bucky felt it multiplied by 100. His hands always aching to hold hers, his chest always feeling heavy when he began to think about her needing something and him not being around to help her.

The whole tower knew about Y/n's regression. Wanda and Peter often joined in, hanging out in little space and colouring in books Tony had provided, watching whatever new animated movie had just come out and sleeping over in makeshift tents in the living room.

Often other Avengers would help supervise activities, Steve loved playing action fighters in the common areas, Nat loved cuddle puddle on the couch, and Thor was always ready for a park day. Bucky on the other hand liked to stay in the shadows, buying stickers for the group of littles, making them lunch and dropping it off.

Bucky only stuck around if Y/n asked him to hang out with her. "Bucky can you hold my hand?" She had asked him when at the park, he of course grabbed her hand and helped her up the jungle gym.

"Bucky can you open this please?" She had whispered during a movie, her baggie full of snacks too difficult to manage on her own. He opened the baggie and held it in his own grasp, handing her a piece of candy anytime she had finished the previous one.

"Bucky will you colour with me?" She had yelled her ask one day when he was passing by the kitchen, Y/n sat at the island with markers scattered across the marble. He silently sat down and diligently coloured the page she had given him, helping her chase markers that had fallen.

He knew she was comfortable asking for what she wanted, and he knew she wasn't afraid of him ... so, it made his chest tighten every time she asked him to grab something from the top shelf instead of asking to be lifted like Wanda and Peter often asked.

He also felt off every time a little would come running out of their room after a nightmare, rushing into someone's room for a cuddle, yet Y/n's door never opened and neither did his.

Bucky was sure it was his fault she didn't seek him out for cuddles, he thought he had done something wrong when she never asked for a hug. Was it his arm? Was she scared he would turn on her? He couldn't figure it out.

That is until he realised she never asked anyone for a cuddle, or a hug. Nat, Wanda, and Peter would be all comfy on the couch and Y/n would be sat on the chair, a small frown on her face yet she never tried to find a spot next to her friends. And when she scraped her knee on the playground she declined Thor's offer of a "healing" hug.

"Y/n?" His voice was quiet but direct as he called out into the playroom, Y/n sat on the softly coloured rug, her stuffed animals scattered about.

"Hi Bucky!" She smiled, her pacifier tumbling out of her mouth and onto the ground.

"Hi." He sat down across from her, quickly pocketing the fallen pacifier before sought out the, now, dirty thing. "What are you playing?" His hands brushed a stuffed teddy, Y/n tilting her head in confusion as she looked around her.

"'m just dressen 'm up." She smiled at him, grabbing a stuffed unicorn and brushing it's fur back into place, shuffling closer to Bucky as she gathered a few other stuffed animals.

The moment her knees hit his she shifted back, so Bucky shifted his towards her again. Like clockwork she moved and left a small gap between them. "Y/n?"

"Mhm." She looked back at him, her smile one he could easily read through.

"Am I scary?" He asked calmly, not once loosing eye contact as she shook her head 'no'. "Do I smell?" He asked, this time with a laugh.

"No!" She giggled.

"Then why do you run every time I touch you." Instead of answering she bowed her head, hands running over the stuffed animal anxiously. "Why don't you hug Wanda or Peter?" He was worried that all the questions would make her want to run, but as she huffed and leaned into his space slightly he continued. "I know Thor was pretty sad when you declined his hug the other day." That one wasn't a lie, the man had gone on a rant about how he thought he had done something wrong, how he was sure Y/n hated him.

"I jus', I don' want them t' be mad." She admitted, huffing at the end of her sentence. "'m jus', 'm heavy, an' squishy. Wanda and Pete aren't heavy an' squishy." She admitted, eyes locked on the wall, the stuffed unicorn held a little closer to her body.

"What do you mean Baby?" Bucky asked, confused as to what she was alluding to.

"It's harder t' pick me up." She finally looked back at him, tears beginning to gather along her waterline. "And cuddling wif me wouldn' be th' same." She shrugged, trying to play it off like she wasn't bothered by her own words.

The tightness in Bucky's chest didn't ease up with his answer, his worry only growing. He had hoped it was an easy thing to fix, yet knowing Y/n didn't hug her friends, or him, because she felt too big made him hurt. "Baby," He began, not giving Y/n a second to doubt him, he picked her up and sat her in his lap. "you aren't 'too heavy' to pick up." He hated how quickly she curled into his chest, how clear it was that she was missing human connection. "I'm the strongest man alive, and you saying that you're too heavy is going to bruise my ego a bit, Baby." They both laughed, a few of Y/n's tears hitting the fabric of Bucky's shirt.

"I thought Steve was th' strongest man alive?"

"I let him win when we arm wrestle." Bucky admitted, causing Y/n to break out into a fit of giggles.

"'m gonna tell him!" She stood up, bolting for the door.

"Oh no you don't!" Bucky ran after her, lifting her off her feet in the middle of the hallway, Y/n pausing with a gasp, bracing for the two of them to fall, yet laughing along with Bucky as jostled her around, threatening to take her new colouring page off the fridge if she told anyone his secret.

After a pinky promise and some juice Y/n began to trust Bucky a little bit more. She let him pick her up at the playground, and gave him a hug before bed every night. She still worried her hugs were 'bad', that maybe no one would want to hug her because she wasn't 'little' but Bucky never once complained, instead asking for hugs in the morning too.

It took her a while to truly trust that Bucky wasn't lying when he said his back didn't hurt after picking her up, but eventually she became comfortable enough to run and jump into his arms, something she had always dreamed of doing.

It wasn't until a month later that Bucky woke up at 4 am to the sound of Y/n's hurried footsteps rushing to his door. Light creeping in from the opened door she didn't close as she ran to his bed. The sound of soft cries and whispers of "Nightmare" filling the usually quiet space.

Instead of letting her think too much about how she 'should' be cuddling, Bucky just scooped her up and tucked her into his bed, letting her know he'd protect her, and her stuffed animal. He liked having her in his room, it made him feel at ease knowing she was close.

After a few months of staying in Bucky's room, Y/n began to get out of her shell a bit more, hugging Wanda and Peter, and eventually accepting Thor's 'healing' hugs. She finally joined in during the weekly cuddle puddle, laughing along side Nat and her friends as they all got cozy on the couch. And for the first time ever she let someone else, the second strongest man alive, Steve Rogers pick her up. A pride filled movement the man would never forget.

Even though it took her a little longer than everyone else to be comfortable hugging and snuggling, she was happy to finally be apart of the group in ways she wasn't before. Bucky, the man who still often stayed in the shadows, helping from a distance, couldn't help but feel a little lighter every time he saw his girl get over her worries, knowing if anything got to be 'too much' she'd come running to him.

[pastelbatfandoms]

The Red Widow- A Marvel AU

A/N: No smut this chapter, sorry! I'm not really in the mood to write her and Zemo but I'll make a one shot of it! My face claim is Chloe Bennet.

Part 4

Part 5- Three's a Crowd

After their night together, Lilianne and Helmut got back to his place. Once they step inside they are met by a very pissed off Bucky Barnes, he doesn't ask where they had been all night, he didn't have to. As he immediately pinned Zemo to the wall.

"You son of a bitch. How did you convince her? Did you drug her?" Bucky practically growled, his voice low and angry. When Zemo didn't reply, Bucky grabbed him by the throat. "I should kill you right now."

"Bucky stop!" Lili cries out, "It wasn't like that. He didn't force me, I want to." I looked at him, hoping he would believe me.

"I asked her-" Zemo started to add until Bucky gripped his throat tighter. "You coerced her." Bucky ground out, glaring at Zemo.

"No I...well their may have been a little coercion but I wasn't manipulating her." The Baron admitted.

"Bucky just let him go. Can we talk in private please?" Lili asked.

Bucky's expression never changed but he did as Lili asked, letting Zemo go.

"I knew as soon as we walked in here and saw the look on your face.." Zemo muttered softly, "Bucky don't you think it ironic that you are doing the same thing I used to? Controlling her and not trusting her judgement? Let me spell it out for you James, her and I had a wonderful night and it was entirely consensual."

Bucky shot him a look, shaking his head, "Not if you activated The Red Widow. Did he?" Bucky questioned looking at Lili.

Lili nodded, "Yes." She could tell by the way she had responded to him. "But I wasn't brainwashed this time, I knew what was happening."

Zemo nodded in agreement, adding. "Yes Lili knew what was going on. I never messed with her mind. This time she was fully aware of everything."

"So you're just going to let him control you again?" Bucky shook his head, looking away.

"Bucky it's not like that. He's different now." I looked over at Zemo as I said that.

Zemo nodded calmly as he looked Bucky straight in the eyes, "Look I'm not the same person I was back then James. You can trust me or not but you should at least trust that she can make her own decisions."

Bucky only stared right back, his eyes boring into Zemo's. Zemo didn't flinch only staring calmly back. Lili sighed knowing Bucky wouldn't believe Zemo not yet. I put a hand on his arm. "Can we just talk in private?" I ask Bucky. Away from Zemo as he might listen.

Bucky let out a breath but nodded begrudgingly, "Alright." Bucky stepped aside, he looked skeptical but he was willing to hear her out.

They walked into the living room, while Zemo poured himself a drink in the kitchen. "if he activated The Red Widow then you had no choice. Brainwashed or not, you know you can't resist him in that mindset." Bucky told her, crossing his arms.

"Yes but doesn't that say more about our connection then him activating me?" Lili questioned, looking up at him.

Bucky nodded, still upset. "I guess. I just don't want to see you get hurt again after what he did. What he made me do..." Bucky trailed off then sitting on the couch.

Lili sat beside him. "I know trust me. But I put that fear behind me, we talked. Maybe you should too?"

Bucky stayed quiet for a few minuetes before replying quietly, " maybe you're right..." He replied looking at her, "I should try to talk to him again. You obviously see something in him that I just don't see yet. I don't understand it but I'll trust you if you say he's changed."

Lili smiled a little at that, "I hope we're still ok though?" They had been through so much together, she didn't want this to be the end of them, but she would understand if he did.

Bucky gave her a small smile back, "Of course we're okay. I understand why you'd be worried but I'll make sure that never happens again. No one is ever going to try and change your mind again or control you no matter what."

I sighed, closing my eyes. He still didn't quite get it. "Bucky he didn't control me. I wanted to. True it may have been nostalgic at first but that's not the only reason..."

Bucky raised an eyebrow at that, "What do you mean exactly?"

"I..." How could she tell him she still had feelings for Zemo? Although she still loved Bucky. She could try and hide it, but that never worked around Bucky he knew her too well.

Bucky leaned back, studying her for a moment, true to form her boyfriend knew what she was thinking, "Do you still have feelings for him?" He asked.

"Yes." I admitted, not being able to look at him.

"Are you planning on being with again?" He asked serious, already knowing the answer.

"I don't know. It's too soon to tell."

"So you're keeping your options open then?" Bucky replied sarcastically, with a scoff.

"Bucky...don't do this." She looked at him, pleading with him to understand. That she needed Bucky as well, she didn't want to lose either of them.

Bucky heaved a sigh, trying to calm down. "Okay Lili I'm not trying to start a fight and I'm sure you realize how much I care for you, so I'm not trying to blow this out of proportion but I can't help but be upset and hurt by the fact that you still have feelings for him. I mean after what he did to you, I don't get how you could have anything but resentment towards him."

"It's hard to explain," Lili let out a breath, calming her anxiety. "When you and Sam went off to fight The Flag Smashers, yes Zemo and I fought but we also talked. After what I said he actually broke down and felt sad, guilty. I told him he would have to prove he changed, then we would see. last night wasn't expected, it was a moment of weakness on my part."

"And how did he prove himself?" Bucky frowned, curious. Trying to be calm.

I took a breath before answering, "I asked him to help me take down Hydra."

Bucky only looked mildly surprised at that, "So that's what he's doing, making amends by helping you take down Hydra? And that's why your falling for him again."

"I didn't start having feelings for him. I just stopped suppressing them underneath anger and resentment." I admitted.

Bucky's eyes narrowed as he looked at me, "Okay...You're making it sound like you never stopped loving him."

"I'm not sure. I can't even say if that was real love back then or not but I think so." Lili wanted to tell Bucky that she felt the same for him back then and now, except with him it had been real without manipulation, but she didn't know if he would believe her now.

"Are you sure what your feeling for him is real?" Bucky asked looking over at her, "That he didn't manipulate you into anything?"

"No he didn't. Not last night." Lili answered.

"So everything you did last night happened because you wanted it to?"

"Yes. I was even in control for awhile. If he didn't care he wouldn't have allowed that."

Bucky was silent for a moment not sure what to make of all that, finally he asked what he really wanted to know, "Just answer this truthfully then. Do you still love me? Not The Red Widow but you Lili."

"Of course I do Bucky." Lilianne answered, looking at him in earnest.

"And your just going to throw all that away because of Zemo?" Bucky questioned.

Lili shook her head, "I don't...that's not what I want. I haven't even told him my feelings yet. But I don't want to lose you." Lili put her head in her hands then, not knowing what to do.

"So you'd want to have both of us in your life?" Bucky asked frowning.

"I know that probably sounds selfish of me but yes I'd like to keep both of you in my life. After last night I can't imagine losing either of you." Lili looked up sadly then.

"Selfish may not be the word but you're definitely asking for a lot. Your expecting to keep me in your life and with me being okay with you possibly being with him? What about Zemo? You think he's okay with that?" Bucky asks, serious.

"I think Zemo already know what I'm thinking with that. He didn't seem bothered by it." I told Bucky.

Bucky looked a bit surprised by that, furrowing his brow as he looked at her. "Really? He actually seems fine with it? Now I feel like I'm the only having issues with it."

"I mean I know it won't be easy and we have a lot of healing to do but wouldn't be easier to do that together?" I asked him, trying to find a reasoning.

Bucky still seemed apprehensive, "I don't know how to answer that, you're basically saying you want to be with us both. Which honestly I'm not that comfortable with. But then again you don't seem like you care that you're risking losing me if you do this." Bucky scoffs, looking away.

"I do care, If I didn't I wouldn't be trying to find a solution!" My voice going louder in frustration.

Bucky heaved a sigh, "I'm not trying to pick a fight, but tell me what is your solution? How do you plan on making this work?"

"I don't...I think it's too soon to make this decision. I'm not even sure how I feel right now. I just..." Lili tried not shake or break down. Her fight flight was kicking in and right now she wanted to pick flight. She tried to calm down to remember her training.

Bucky noticed her reaction as he tried to calm her down. "Hey hey calm down. Look I know right now it seems confusing but you need to keep a level head. Don't run away or shut down that won't help either, trust me. Just take some time to process everything that's happened and when you've made up your mind then you can tell me."

Lili nodded trying to calm down. But she was scared.

Bucky grasped her hands in his, softly. Genuinely concerned for her, despite what she had told him he still loved her. "Just try and calm down. It's okay to be scared but nothing bad has happened yet. We can still figure this out."

"But if I lose both of you..." If she did she was truly lost, even with Shield, she'd be alone again. Lili tried not panic, her legs shaking. Only one other person could calm her down...

Bucky looked at her, worried as he tried to reassure her, "Look I don't think you should worry about losing us just yet. You should try and sort out your emotions talk to both of us before jumping to conclusions. I don't want to rush you. So just keep a level head for now and don't worry about losing us, I don't think that will happen. It's just this is new to me."

Lili nods not trusting herself to speak. Knowing that Bucky's words were sound but at this point, she couldn't hear them.

Not knowing what else to say Bucky stays holding her hand, trying his best to calm her by touch alone, at a loss. Until he hears a familiar voice behind them.

"Hey is everything okay?" Zemo asks stepping over to them.

Bucky looked up at him not thrilled he was here, "Yeah. Everything's ok." He answered, but Zemo could easily read that he was lying.

"Are you sure? Neither of you look like it is." Zemo surmises, looking over at Lili concern darkening his features.

"I mean weren't you listening in?" Bucky snapped giving him a look.

Zemo lets out a chuckle at that, "I heard most of it yes. That's not important though what's important is how she's doing."

"I was trying to get her to calm down and process everything before you showed up." Bucky replied glaring at him.

Zemo glanced at Lili, before regarding Bucky, "Well that doesn't seem like it's working."

"Obviously not." Bucky snapped, then relented with a sigh. "Can you..."

Zemo gave a short nod looking down at Lili, noticing how far away she looked. Right now the relationship drama didn't matter, calming her down and getting her emotions centered was. Zemo kneeled down in front of her as Bucky let go of her hands, leaning back.

"Lilianne look at me." Zemo tilted her chin to look him in the eyes. Then said the phrases he knew would activate her. "Prinzessin. Kätzchen. Himmel. Meine Dunkelheit." (Princess, Kitten, Sky, My Darkness)

Bucky realized what Zemo was trying and sat up starting to protest. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Zemo put a hand up. "I'm helping. She needs to calm down and come back to herself. This won't control her, not this time. Remember your training Lili." Then he snaps his fingers.

As if waking up from a trance, Lili's eyes blink open, feeling like herself again. "Good girl. You are ok." Zemo says rubbing her back reassuringly.

Zemo's methods catch Bucky by surprise, a feeling of relief washing over him that it worked but she was still herself. Though it made him feel a bit jealous and inferior if he was being honest with himself, Bucky had trying calming her and nothing worked, Zemo had swooped in and knew exactly what to do...

"Thank you Mas- Zemo." Lili answered, realizing what she was about to call him out of habit and stopped herself. She turned to Bucky a sad look on her face, "I'm sorry Bucky."

"It's okay Lili, really. I'm just glad your feeling better." Bucky gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile but the jealous feeling was still there. He didn't like how she looked at Zemo like there was something special between them. He tried to remain calm but what he wished she would look at him like that. But he stayed silent.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Bucky asked instead, gently caressing her cheek. Trying to ignore his own emotions.

Lili smiled warmly at his touch, "I am now."

Bucky smiled back, "Good, I'm glad you're okay." This is what he needed to see her looking at him like that and that she was alright.

Zemo stood up quietly, observing them. He could tell that Bucky had seemed put out earlier so he was glad that seemed to have dissipated for the moment. As he watched them, though Zemo knew they might still have a lot more to sort out, for now he didn't interfere. Lili almost calling him Master again did not go unnoticed however.

While Bucky continued to caress her cheek he spoke up again, a bit more serious, "But you said earlier that you were going to talk with Zemo about how you're feeling right? That still needs to happen."

"Yeah I will."

"Ok because you told me that you never stopped loving him, you were just suppressing your feelings. And you still love me..." Bucky trailed off before continuing, "Was it your intention to be with both of us?" He questioned her.

Zemo eyed him, looking between the two, noticing Lili had gotten quite again. "Bucky...don't push her." He warned his former adversary.

"Don't tell me what to do." Bucky shot Zemo a look, dropping his hand from Lili, his tone more hostile towards Zemo, "I'm not pushing her. I'm just asking a question. I have a right to know how she felt towards you or feels...We never went into this being polyamorous. I thought we were monogamous until this point."

It's alright Zemo." Lili tells him. Zemo sighs irritated crossing his arms but keeps quiet. "I understand where Bucky's coming from but I didn't expect this either I thought Zemo would stay in prison." Ironic that Bucky was the one who let him out. "I thought I would just be with you and hate Zemo forever."

"So now that he's not you feel like you have to be in a relationship with both of us?" Bucky frowned at, trying to understand and remain calm.

" I don't feel like I have to be. It's not like he's making me. I just realized how I really felt. How I feel about both of you." Lili admitted, letting out a breath.

"So you're in love with us both?" Bucky asked though he already knew the answer, his feelings a mixture of hurt, anger and jealousy.

"I think so." Lili didn't want to fully admit that because she didn't know how Zemo felt about her yet.

Lilianne looked over at Bucky then noticing him trying to keep his emotions in check, "I can tell it's not what you want though." She looked down, defeated. She knew it had been wishful thinking, she should have known they could never put aside their resentment towards one another even for her.

Bucky tried to think of what he'd say to not make things worse but he didn't have the right words to say. He wished that things were different but he just had to accept this reality, he couldn't change how you felt. Did his opinion even matter at this point anyway?

Lili spoke up then, "It's your choice too, both of yours. I think we should just take a bit before we make any decisions." Lili shook her head then, getting up. She needed air. "Gods it was easier back when I didn't feel anything."

Bucky stood up then as well, agreeing with her, "Yeah, we should take some time before deciding anything. This is a big deal, you need time to think about your feelings and I need time to process this whole thing."

"Zemo what about you?" I asked, looking at him, since he'd been quiet this whole time.

"What about me?" Zemo looked over at them from where he'd been leaning against the wall. " I know how I feel and I plan to follow those and what I think is best for me." he replied matter of factly, "As for the poly part of this, I gather that will be decided later on probably when you two aren't so emotional right now. My only concern is you two being okay"

Lili looks at Bucky, "See? Zemo's actually concerned about us, doesn't that say something?"

Bucky shook his head, frowning, "Yeah but he's only looking at this logically. How do you even plan to make this work? A normal relationship is hard enough without trying to share you but having all of us be together? I don't see how that's going to work."

"I'm not asking you two to be together like that...Bucky I wouldn't ask that of you." I look at him concerned, was that what he thought? I knew the history between the two, I wasn't that selfish.

"You're not?" Bucky looked at her mildly surprised yet relieved, "I might have overreacted then. I thought you were implying..."

Lili looked at him understanding dawning on her face then, "No. After your guys's history, I would never...I mean if you two could try and get along that would be nice but I'm not holding my breath."

"Well at least we're on the same page with that. It's one thing for us to both be in a relationship with you. It's another thing to have us actually like each other. I don't see that happening at all honestly." Bucky answered, scowling.

Lili nodded, she'd thought as much. "Yeah though it might help if you talked. It' helped me get it out."

Bucky hesitated before answering, "The thought of that hadn't really appealed to me before but I guess I could give it a chance." He agreed begrudgingly. Bucky always hated talking about his problems but maybe he would make an exception for her.

"Sorry I know you don't like therapy...It helped you and I in the beginning though. Not that I'm suggesting that." Lili said in a rush, making sure he knew she didn't mean actual therapy.

Bucky sighed, his hands on his hips. "I'm not entirely against working this out. But it's not going to be easy. I mean what am I supposed to say to him huh? "I hated you for years because you controlled me in Hydra, helped turn me into a sleeper agent, made me almost kill the girl you claimed to care for but now that I'm in a relationship with her and you still like her too that all seems pretty irrelevant. Want grab a beer?" Bucky finished sarcastically.

Lili gave him a look at that, "Hey he did the same thing to me. But why are we talking about him like he's not even here?" She asked.

Zemo didn't say anything but stifle a laugh.

"Good point." Bucky agreed as they looked at Zemo, "So should we talk about this now?"

The three of them were silent for a moment contemplating. Eventually Zemo broke the silence, "Maybe we should make this a group conversation," He suggested, "We each get a turn to talk about our thoughts and feelings. That way it won't just be one of us talking, we all get time."

Lili nodded in agreement, "That sounds good. Bucky?"

"Yeah...I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Bucky shrugged.

"Alright then," Zemo smiled, "Who wants to go first?"

Bucky and I look at him in surprise as we sit down, "Wait right now?" But better now then never."

Zemo gave a slight smirk, "Yep. So which one of us is first?"

"I want to hear from Bucky." Lili chimed in.

Bucky was silent for a moment before speaking, "Okay...I guess I'll start off by saying that this whole situation isn't something I thought would ever happen...I've always hated him and I thought you felt the same. I never thought you'd ever want to be with us both. How am I supposed to accept that and not be angry about it?"

"I understand. I would probably feel the same." Lili agreed.

"Yeah it's a lot to take in." Bucky admitted, "I can't lie that it does make me jealous. I just feel like this whole thing is going to mess with my head. I don't mean to sound so selfish but..." Bucky looked away upset. He didn't want to ruin anything and he didn't want to sound like a jerk for how he felt but at the same time he couldn't really pretend like it was something he was okay with.

Lili regarded Bucky, sadly. "I know. I'm sorry. I wish I could feel differently but I can't."

"Well it's not like I can force you to feel otherwise." Bucky said with a sigh. Though he was still a bit bitter about this. "It's just going to take time for me to accept this I guess."

Lili takes his hand then, grateful that he let her, "Bucky I still love you. I need you to know that."

Bucky smiled slightly as he took her hand, "I know you do." His blue eyes still held some sadness though.

Lili smiled in relief. trying not to cry.

Bucky smiled back, not saying anything for awhile as they held each other's hands. It felt good to be close to her again and to hear she still loved him. Bucky just hoped it would be enough to convince himself to accept this whole polyamory relationship in the long run.

After awhile, Zemo spoke up, "I suppose it's my turn now."

"Yeah it's your turn." Bucky nodded as he let go of Lili's hand.

"I would like to know your feelings about this too." Lili told Zemo.

Zemo leaned back, still appearing calm. "Alright then. To be honest, you still feeling this way towards me isn't a big surprise. I already suspected as much." Zemo smirked at Lili who slightly blushed, averting her gaze, "The bigger issues lies with both of us being with you. As much as I love you I don't know, I'm unsure about living in a polyamorous relationship."

Lili looked at him then, "What about just sharing me for now? Maybe not putting a label on it just yet."

"That sounds better for now. No labels until we figure this out more. Are you okay with that though? No commitments until everything is sorted out?"

That would be hard. Especially with Zemo. But Lili would try for them. She nodded in agreement.

Zemo seemed satisfied with that as he grinned at her, "Alright, I agree that the situation with him and I is going to be the hardest part but we'll just have to give it a try and see where it goes." Zemo appeared more at ease then he was.

Lilianne smiled but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She was still unsure of Zemo's feelings towards her but she didn't think he'd talk about them in front of Bucky.

She was right, Zemo didn't like talking about his feelings in front of others not his real feelings or thoughts anyway. "Well that's all I have to say, Lili?"

"Bucky knows how I feel about him. I'm not ready to talk about my feelings for you." Lili told him, glancing at him but not meeting his gaze.

Zemo looked at her, frowning slightly trying to gauge why she was being so secretive now. But he realized that for now getting her talk was a lost cause, but eventually he would get her to open up. He looked over at Bucky then, "Well then a much as I'd love to stay here longer, I think we should all get some rest. We've had a long day and I'm sure everyone is tired of dealing with this emotional rollercoaster."

"Tell me about it..." Bucky grumbled, getting up.

"I think I'm going to sleep alone tonight." Lili stated.

"Yeah that's fine." Bucky shrugged, still a bit upset.

"I suppose that makes sense." Zemo agreed.

What they really wanted to do was hold Lili and never let go but now wasn't the time.

Lilianne decided to take Zemo's bedroom as he had taken the couch. She changed into black silk pajamas and tried to rest but her mind couldn't shut off after everything that had happened. So she decided she needed to talk to someone, someone who wasn't close to or hated either Bucky or Zemo. Someone who was like a brother to her. Lili decided to call Clint Barton.

To be continued...

[buuuuuuucky]

This is very sweet (except for Miles ewwww), looking forward to reading more!

🐚Chapter 1

Mini Series Masterlist ❤️

Summary: You invite both your best friend and your boyfriend to a three-day weekend getaway at a beach resort. This trip was meant to be relaxing, but tensions and jealousies rise as both Miles and Bucky fight for your attention. 

Pairing: BestFriend!Bucky x f!Reader

Words: 3.3k

Warnings: Nothing that bad I don't think? Language. Miles being a dick. Please let me know if I've missed something!

A/N: I really hope you like it! I don't have a taglist, but you can follow updates at @lostgirl-library instead

(Divider credit: @firefly-graphics)

Reader’s POV

“Welcome to FM 98.2, I’m Nash Reeves, and you’re listening to The Grooves. Now if you’ve been following us on our social media, you already know what’s up. If you haven’t then I’ll catch you up to speed. Today is the last day to win ‘The Groovy Giveaway!’ The prize? Win up to five tickets to an all expense paid visit to the SunHaven Sea Resort’s special beach houses! Now callers, you can find our phone number on our website, but—”

“You have the right number, right?” You interrupted the radio host and turned to Wanda. You were both sitting on the soft rug of your room, crowded around the small silver radio, waiting impatiently with your phone in hand.

“I’m not an amateur, of course I have the right phone number!” 

You’d both dialed separately, in hopes of doubling your chances of winning.

“We’re about to play ‘Guess That Sound.’ Callers, have the number ready, and dial in when you think you know. Best of luck to all of you out there! Here we go. In three…two…one.”

“whHScHRRRR-whHRiRI—” The most obnoxious sound attacked your ears, but neither of you jumped. You were Avengers. You knew how to act when the stakes were high.

“CALL IN WANDA, CALL IN!” 

“I DID!”

“THAT’S A BLENDER, I KNOW IT!” 

“We already have calls pouring in! But who called first? Let’s see…hello? Caller?”

“NOOOOOO!” You yelled, falling back onto the floor when both of your phones continued ringing.

“Stay calm, they might get it wrong! We still have a chance.”

“Hi Nash!” A cheery and nearly mouse pitched voice crackled.

“Hello! What is your name?”

“Sunny!”

“Fuck you Sunny!” You abruptly sat up, pointing at the radio, “I bet that’s not ever her real name!”

“Welcome to the show Sunny! What is your guess for the sound?”

“Is it a car starting?” She said with confidence.

“No, unfortunately it is not a car starting. If that’s how your car sounds when you start it, I recommend you see a mechanic ASAP. I think you’re having major car problems Sunny.”

“Does this mean I lost?”

“Alright, next caller!” He completely ignored her and hung up.

Wanda’s phone stopped ringing.

“Hello, what is your name?” The voice had a strange delay.

“OH MY GOD, IT’S US!” Wanda squealed, quickly covering her mouth.

“Answer him!” You quickly turned down the radio and forced her to put the call on speaker.

“Hi! This is Wanda.”

“Hello Wanda! Do you have a guess for ‘Guess That Sound?’”

“Yes,” Wanda leaned in closer to the speaker, “is it a blender?” 

“Sound the alarm everyone, Wanda guessed the sound!”

“YES!” You both jumped up and started bouncing around each other.

“Congratulations, you’ve won yourself one ticket. But can you guess what specifically is in the blender for four more tickets?” 

“Um…” Wanda stopped jumping and looked at you, then the phone, concerned. “Can you play it again?”

“I’ll play it one more time.”

The annoying sound blared again and you felt your heart stop. Holy shit.

“I KNOW WHAT IT IS!” You screamed, yanking the phone away from Wanda. “Frozen strawberries, non-fat yogurt, half a banana, ice, oh… and um…” you closed your eyes, thinking hard, “Oh! And milk!”

“...”

You waited for the response. Were you wrong? Was it actually a full banana?

“THAT IS CORRECT!” Nash cheered.

“HOLY SHIT, HOW DID YOU DO THAT?” Wanda grabbed your shoulders, shaking you with elation and disbelief. “I KNOW MY FUCKING SMOOTHIES!” You pound your fists in the air.

“We’re going to the beach!”

“Hell yes we are!”

With five tickets, you mostly already knew who you were going to bring. Wanda wanted to take her boyfriend, Vision, you desperately wanted to take Bucky, and you discussed bringing one of Wanda’s friends as your fifth. You had one problem. By taking Bucky, you’d be leaving behind your boyfriend, Miles, and you knew he loved the beach. And besides, you wanted to see if this could be the next step in your relationship.

You and Miles had been together for three months. Neither of you had said I love you yet, which you were secretly relieved about. You knew you felt something for him, you just weren’t quite sure if it was love yet. You had met at the bar spontaneously when he offered to buy you a drink. On any other night, you probably would’ve turned him down, but that night you went to ignore your confusing feelings for your best friend. You had been battling these strange emotions for months, wondering why you felt so uniquely about him. Do you love Bucky? Of course you do, he’s your best friend! But do you love Bucky? No. Right? Because that would make things complicated. And he would never love you back. But what did it matter if you didn’t even like Bucky like that? And anyways, how could you have feelings for Bucky if you were with someone else? That sort of logic led you to where you were now, dating Miles Proctor, a brown eyed, sandy blonde, relatively charming (when he wants to be), beach loving man.

You told Wanda your predicament, and she told you to bring both Bucky and Miles. Apparently, her friend had a work conference already scheduled, and wouldn’t be available for the trip. You felt bad that Wanda’s plan fell through, and you promised her she and Vision could take the master suite. 

DAY 1: FRIDAY 🐚

“Miles!” You called, once you spotted his red cap coming through the airport doors. He heard you, gave you a short wave, and made his way to you, immediately wrapping his arm around your waist and kissing your cheek. He failed to acknowledge Bucky, who was standing right next to you.

“Miles, you know Bucky,” you gestured, giving a radiant smile. You were ecstatic to have them there together.

“Bucky,” Miles slowly nodded, a lilt in his voice, “right.”

You felt your heart squeeze when Bucky lifted his left arm to initiate a handshake.

He’s going above and beyond! I thought he’d only nod his head!

You missed the way Bucky slightly pulled up his sleeve to reveal more of the metal. You also missed the way he squeezed with just a little bit too much pressure, causing Miles to wince.

“Miles.” Bucky stated like an observation. 

“We met at the…” Miles held the last word, prompting Bucky to respond.

“The gala.” His voice sounded bored. 

“Right.” Miles nodded, acting as if he still wasn’t sure.

“C’mon Miles, stop joking around, I talk about Bucky all the time.”

“All the time.” Miles gave Bucky a synthetic smile.

“Funny, she doesn’t talk about you that much,” 

“Yes I do,” you defended, and looked at your watch. “We’re running low on time, we need to start moving.”

You successfully got Bucky passed security with his arm, boarded and exited the plane, and the only step left was to get a rental car and drive for an hour. Bucky offered to drive, you took shotgun, which left Miles in the back seat. Bucky remained silent the entire ride, but Miles made up for it.

“It’s beautiful!” You cried as Bucky drove the rental car into the driveway.

“So your friends are already here?” Miles asked, unbuckling his seat.

“Yeah, Wanda and Vision flew earlier today.” 

“Why didn’t they take the same flight as us?” 

“No, I mean they flew here. Vision can fly, remember?” You stepped out of the car and went to grab your bags from the trunk.

“Oh, yeah. Weird.” Miles mumbled.

“I’d argue that anyone that works with the Avengers has got to be at least a little bit weird.” 

Bucky had beat you to the trunk, and had already grabbed your things for you.

“Some are weirder than the others,” Miles said, grabbing his own bags.

You ignored his comment, missing the way he glanced at Bucky when he said it. 

“You don’t need to carry my bags, Buck,” you smiled and shook your head at your best friend.

“It’s not a problem.” His voice was a bit gravelly.

Seeing as Bucky only brought a single small suitcase for himself, he literally had super strength, and the walk to the door was less than fifteen feet, you acquiesced with a thank you.

You followed the steps up the porch and didn’t even have time to knock before the door was opening.

“Welcome to paradise!” Wanda squealed, bringing you in for a quick hug.

“Happy to be here!” 

“Come on in!” She stepped out of the way and gestured to the living space.

Bright white walls surrounded you in sunlight, and teal accents covered the space. The area felt fresh and untouched, and smelled lightly of sea salt. 

“Are you sure you’re okay with Vis and I taking the master bedroom?” 

“Of course, Wan, it’s all yours.” You smiled, and slowly turned, taking in the area. “Where’s Vision?”

“I sent him to go pick up some groceries. He should be back soon. In the meantime, you guys should get settled.”

Wanda pointed you to the bedroom with the queen bed, which happened to be to the left of the foyer. You opened the door, and appreciated the cute pineapple theme of the room. You and Miles quietly got to work unpacking your things, and it stayed quiet until you started plugging your charger into the base of the pineapple lamp on the side table.

“So,” Miles cleared his voice, “Wanda and Vision get the master bedroom?” 

“Yeah,” you mindlessly answered, looking up the weekend weather for the fourth time.

“Okay…” 

“What’s wrong?” You glanced up from your phone. He was putting his swim trunks away.

“Nothing.”

“Okay.” You looked back to your phone.

87℉ right now, but it’ll start cooling down around six…I should probably put on some sunscreen—

“It’s just, why do they get it? Weren’t you the one who won the game?” He made eye contact with you and quickly added, “It doesn’t bother me, I’m just curious.” 

“Yeah, but the whole thing was Wanda’s idea. She just let me do it with her. And besides, she seemed to want the master bedroom more than me.” You tilted your head, “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Nope.”

“It kinda seems like you mind.”

“I mean, their bed is probably bigger.” He said matter-of-factly.

“This is a queen size bed, it’s plenty big for us.”

“It’s fine.” His voice was high. “Does Vision even sleep though? I mean, if it’s one big bed for one person, that seems a little weird, right?”

You sighed. 

“I’m going to go see if Bucky’s unpacked yet.” You politely smiled and left the room.

The walk to his room was short, seeing as it was just across from yours.

“Hey Buck,” you gently knocked on his door and it creaked open.

“Hey.” He replied, sitting on the side of the bed. 

His room seemed to follow a deep sea theme, his walls a deep blue with kelp and coral decals crawling up the walls.

“All unpacked?” You asked.

“Didn’t bring much.”

You nodded, and pursed your lips. He stayed silent.

“Are you okay? You were pretty quiet this whole trip.” You cracked the door behind you and sat beside him.

“You don’t need to worry about me.” 

“That’s kind of my thing,” you chuckled. “Seriously, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. You know me, just quiet around new people.” He shrugged.

“But what about the gala?”

“I didn’t talk to him much there.”

“Yeah. Well, I’m hoping this trip will be a great opportunity for you guys to get to know each other. I think you’ll get along.”

“Are you certain about that?” 

“Why? Did something happen?”

“Nothing,” he shook his head. “You’re right, I’m sure we’ll get along.”

“You’re the best.” You wrapped your arm around him into a hug.

“I try.” 

“I want you to have fun this weekend.” You let go of him and made sure he met your gaze. “Will you try to have fun?”

“Yes, I will try to have fun.” 

“Good. Because you deserve a vacation.” You said earnestly.

There came a small rumble.

“Somebody’s hungry, huh?” You nudged his side.

You could tell he was about to laugh until the door opened.

“Babe, let’s go swimming.” Miles stood leaning in the doorway, already in his green swim trunks.

“I think we should probably get some lunch first. I did some research earlier about the restaurants, the hotel has it’s own seafood place. We could walk if we wanted.”

“But I wanted to go swimming. We just got here.” He whined.

“We have all weekend to swim. And anyways, Bucky is hungry, and I’m getting hungry too.”

“Okay.” He changed his demeanor from pouty to cheesy. “Anything for you,” he walked in and kissed you on the head.

Bucky looked away.

Vision soon returned with the groceries, and the group made their way to lunch. It was around 3 p.m. when you got back to the house, and everyone decided to take advantage of the beach.

Wanda swam for a couple minutes before returning to sunbathe on the sand. Vision sat next to her in one of the provided blue striped beach chairs. You and Miles were splashing around in the water, far enough out that the water was up to your neck, but Bucky had yet to join in. He was sitting on the steps of the back porch, simply watching you.

“Does he seem lonely to you?” You asked Miles once he came back up for air. 

“Bucky? No, he’s fine.” He answered nonchalantly, flipping the hair out of his eyes.

“But he hasn’t even gotten in yet.”

“If he wanted to get in, he’d get in.”

“Yeah…” you agreed. But one more glance back at Bucky’s form had you changing your mind. You started to swim a little closer to the shore and waved vigorously above your head.

“Hey Buck, come on in! Come on!”

After a bit more coaxing, he stood and made his way to the water, eventually meeting you. However, where the water was up to your chest, the water only met him a little past his midriff.

“See, isn’t this fun?” You laughed, giving him a small splash. 

“I think I see the appeal,” he smiled, the first real one you had seen all day.

“Babe, come back out farther,” Miles whined, coming up behind you and wrapping his arms around you.

You shook your head.

“I feel safer here, we were a little too far out I think. I don’t want to get stuck in a current.”

Miles huffed.

You felt the sand give way to something hard under your foot. You leaned down, while also trying to keep your head out of the water, and grabbed it.

“Oh my gosh, look how pretty!” You held the peach colored shell up into the sun for the boys to see.

“I think that’s a conch,” Bucky noted, bringing his fingers up to the shell and lightly touching the ridges.

“It’s just a shell,” Miles rolled his eyes, “they’re at the beach a lot.”

“Obviously, but isn’t this one pretty?”

“Sure.” He shrugged, clearly disinterested. “I’m going back out.”

“Just be careful, okay?” 

“Yeah, yeah.” He quickly made his way back to the deep, leaving you and Bucky together.

“You’re bringing a bunch of shells back home, aren’t you?” Bucky asked, but it was definitely more of a statement.

“Do you want to find some cool shells with me?” You asked, giddy.

Your enthusiasm was contagious.

“There is nothing I’d rather do.” He smiled, and you could see the crinkle of his eyes from under his sunglasses.  

You spent the next ten minutes swimming around together, showing each other the cool things you’d found, and placing the keepers on the shore before returning to your searches. The waves slowly started to get bigger, eventually to the point where it was nearly knocking you off balance.

“Bucky, I think I found a starfish! Look!” You pointed somewhere in the sand. Bucky waded over to you and patted you on the back in a congratulatory manner.

“Probably should leave the fella’ alone, I don’t think it’s good to pick them up.” He said, removing his hand from your back.

“I know. It’s so cute, I wish—” you started, but were abruptly cut off when the biggest wave yet came crashing over you, pulling you briefly underwater. Within seconds, firm hands grasped onto your arms, and pulled you back above. Instead of letting you go, Bucky moved his grip to your hips, holding you steady as you coughed.

“Are you okay?”

“Yep,” your voice came across nasally, “just wasn’t expecting that. Salt water up the nose hurts like a bitch,”

“Are you ready to get out?” He asked, picking you up as another wave came rolling through, only forcing him to back up a step.

“I think so,” you wheezed. 

Bucky escorted you to the shore, using himself as a shield against the attacking waves.

The moment your feet hit the dry sand, you looked back at the sea. Where was Miles?

“Miles?” You called over the crashing waves. He was nowhere to be seen. “Miles! M–”

“Gotcha!” Miles came up behind you and picked you up in an effort to try to surprise you, but the way his hands stuck to your wet skin only managed to hurt you.

“Ow!” You yelped, turning to face him once he’d put you down. “What the hell! I thought you drowned!”

“Me? Drown? C’mon.” He wiggled his eyebrows but it only pissed you off that he wasn’t taking you seriously.

“You scared me, asshole,”  

“Alright, I’m sorry, jeez.” 

“Whatever,” you sighed. 

You didn’t even realize Bucky had walked off until he reappeared with a bucket full of shells you’d accumulated and a towel over his shoulder.

“I’m going to start washing these off,” he said, and tossed you the towel.

“I think this one’s a Sunray Venus!” You beamed, holding the shell to the laminated shell guide you'd found on a counter.

You and Bucky had set up shop at the kitchen table, admiring and identifying the treasures you'd found together.

“Doll, I think that one’s a Dosinia.”

“Oh. Yeah, you’re right. Bummer.”

“Bummer? What’s wrong with a Dosinia?” 

“Nothing, but Sunray Venus just sounds so cool. I haven't seen one yet, though.”

“We have a lot of cockles,” Bucky noted, picking another shell out of the yellow bucket and lining it up on the table.

“Oh my gosh, look Bucky! It’s a sand dollar!” 

“Too bad it’s broken,” he commented, holding it gently in his palm.

“What do you think the chances are of us finding the other half?”

“One in ten-trillion.” He looked you dead in the eyes.

“I don’t like those odds.”

“I’ll find you a full sand dollar.” 

“Good luck with that,” you laughed. 

Bucky put down the sand dollar and turned to face you.

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?”

“Wanda scheduled me and her appointments at the spa tomorrow, but besides that, I don’t think anything is on the docket. Is there anything you’d like to do?”

Bucky sat back in his seat a bit.

“Whatever you want to do, Doll.”

Oh Bucky, always the gentleman.

“C’mon, Buck. There’s gotta be something.”

“I’d be happy just reading on the beach with you.” He smiled, his voice gentle.

“Consider it on the schedule,” you nudged him. 

“Looking forward to it.”

You could tell he meant it. 

God, how did I end up with the sweetest best friend? If only—

...

If only.

A/N: Thank you so so so much for reading the first chapter! I really hope you like it. I’m pretty nervous bc even though this series is short, I still feel like it won’t ever be as fleshed out as I want it to be, so I’m just kinda forcing myself to be happy with it. I didn’t really know how to end it, but the next chapter is in Bucky’s POV!