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amythedvdhoarder · 4 years ago

Text

Playing by the rules

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Word count: 4.5K

Warnings: Swearing, little bit of angst, pining and loads of fluff.

A/N: This is for the lovely @jennmurawski13 to celebrate reaching a 1000 followers and to celebrate her birthday. Congrats on the followers hun! It is so well deserved and I hope you enjoy this early birthday present! I took the wonderful prompt of ‘fake dating’ fingers crossed I have done it justice.

This is my return to Bucky fluff, it has been too long! Not beta read so any mistakes are mine (there is a reason I am a science teacher not and English teacher 😏). Hopefully you enjoy this, any comments and reblogs are always much appreciated x

Masterlist

xxx

The pale gold envelope was staring at you from the table, taunting you. You already knew what it contained; an old school friend had texted you to give you a heads up.

“You gonna open that?” Bucky sighed. He had been watching you for the last half an hour repeatedly pick up the envelope, turn it in your hands only to put it down again. Frowning at him, you tipped your head back, letting it rest against the cushion.

“I already know what it is. I don’t want to open it because then it’s definitely real,” you huffed.

Bucky walked over from his seat by the breakfast bar and perched on the arm of your chair. “Hate to break it to you doll, it’s real regardless of whether or not you open it or not.”

You rolled your eyes. “Trust you to actually act like a wise old man for once.”

He elbowed you gently in response to your comment. “Just get it over with Y/N, you’ll feel better after.”

Reluctantly you took the envelope, turned it in your hand and ripped it open. You pulled out the thick card within and glanced over the contents. “Yup. Exactly what I thought it was.”

Bucky took the card from your hands and studied it. “It’s a wedding invite, what’s so bad about that?”

A snort escaped your lips. “Because Bucky, this is an invite to my exes wedding. If that wasn’t bad enough, he is getting married to by ex-best friend. He cheated on me with her and now they’re getting married. Fuck!” Leaning forward you dropped your head into your hands. “It’s next weekend. If I don’t go I’m going to look like a coward, if I do go then I’m going to look sad and lonely as fuck. This is so messed up.”

Bucky was confused, he didn’t really see the problem. Either go or don’t go, it doesn’t matter what other people think. He realised though, that if he said that to you then you may well kill him right there and then. “Ah ok. You know you wouldn’t be a coward for not going nor would you look sad and lonely if you do go.”

You looked up at Bucky and smiled. “I would if I went on my own without a date.”

He thought about it and grinned at you. “What if you did have a date?”

You shot him an exasperated look. “Bucky, I don’t have one, that’s the whole problem.”

He was still grinning. “I know but what if you did?”

Audibly groaning you ran your hand though your hair. “Buck for the final time, I don’t have one and am not going to find one in a week.”

His grin faltered at your tone but he was still smiling at you. “Well I have a plan, it could be mutually beneficial.”

xxx

There was a quiet knock on the door as you checked over your outfit one last time. “Come in,” you shouted at the door as you smoothed your hand over your green strappy top and swivelled to check the fit of your black skinny jeans over the curve of your ass in the mirror.

“You ready doll?” Bucky asked as he walked into the room and perched on the end of your bed.

“I think so,” you turned to face him, pulling your hair over one shoulder. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Bucky patted the space next to him on your bed.

“Y/N, we’ve been over this several times. We go on a few dates-“he framed the word in air quotes “it gets bird brain off my back and you have someone to go to the wedding. No one needs to know it’s not real.”

In theory it was a good idea. Bucky was one of your best friends, you enjoyed spending time with him. Nothing would really change between you two apart from hanging out alone a little more and putting on a bit of an act around the others. “I know, I’m sorry. I really appreciate that you’re going to come to the wedding with me.”

He squeezed your thigh and smiled fondly at you. “And thank you for helping me get Sam off my back. He is obsessed with the idea of me finding a girl. I mean I would end up beating his ass soon if he didn’t give it a rest.”

“Well then, it’s a win-win for both of us,” you twiddled your fingers nervously in your lap, “should we come up with some rules? Just to make sure you know, it doesn’t get complicated or anything.”

Bucky chuckled at you. “Sure doll. I don’t understand why we need to have rules but if it’s what you want the that’s fine by me.”

“Because Bucky, we don’t want to do anything to ruin our friendship.” You paused to look at him, he inclined his head in agreement. “So obviously we can hold hands when we’re around people, hug and dance obviously. Small touches here or there, just enough to make it more believable you know.”

“Hate to break it to you doll, we do most of that already. May be easier to go over what we can’t do.”

“Fine. No kissing on the lips, no spending the night in each other’s bed. Also, what happens if either of us meet someone we actually like?”

“Well then our arrangement ends. Simple as. There are no romantic feelings involved here so no problem. We just carry on being friends, nothing changes.” Bucky pulled you to your feet, his arm draping over your shoulder. “We’ll be fine Y/N. Nothing to worry about.” He let you go and picked up your jacket, offering it to you.

“Ok, let’s do this.” You took his hand and let him guide you towards the common room, trying not to ask the question that was concerning you the most. What happens if one of you did develop feelings? Bucky seemed certain that wouldn’t be a problem but as he squeezed your hand and smiled at you with that lop-sided grin you weren’t feeling as confident.

xxx

During the lead up to the wedding you went out a couple of times. The main reasoning to keep up your end of the deal for Bucky’s sake, but also to test out how you were as a ‘couple’. The ‘dates’ themselves had been enjoyable; you had been to the movies one night and then out for a meal. Bucky was attentive, making you laugh and was always the perfect gentlemen. A waitress had started flirting with him at the restaurant, which you didn’t mind. But Bucky had reached out and taken your hand across the table, smiled sweetly, immediately shutting down the waitress. When you mentioned to him that he was well within his rights to get the waitresses number, he shrugged it off. “I’m here with you doll, it wouldn’t be right.”

Around the compound you hung out as normal. The only difference was when people were around Bucky would place a lingering hand on your hip, waist, shoulder and you reciprocated; little kisses on his cheek and pressing your thigh against him when you were sat on the sofa. There was a little bit of teasing from the team but no one seemed to question it. Sam had even muttered something along the lines of “about time” as the pair of you had walked back from one of your ‘dates’ leaning in to each other, Bucky’s arm wrapped around your waist, him whispering some joke in your ear making your giggle. To the outside world you really did look like a couple. The pair of you had fallen into a comfortable routine so much so that at times your forgot that it was all an act.

Bucky wasn’t finding this as easier as you were. He felt bad for lying to you. He had kept his feelings for you hidden for years for the exact reason you had questioned this whole arrangement; not wanting to risk your friendship. But when he saw you face when opening the wedding invitation, he couldn’t resist offering to help you. Sam really had been nagging him about getting a girl, he just neglected to tell you that Sam had only been nagging him about asking you out. According to Sam, Bucky looked like a lost puppy every time you were around. He thought he could manage a couple of weeks of fake dating. But every time you pulled away from him when the team disappeared, or the way you politely said goodbye to him when he walked you back to room after a ‘date’, his heart sank a little. A small part of him had hoped that spending time with him, acting as a couple might cause you to develop feelings for him but it was becoming quite clear you weren’t. After the wedding he was going to put an end to the arrangement, it wasn’t fair to deceive you. The only thing he couldn’t decide on was whether he should admit how he felt and risk losing you or just tell a little white lie about having feelings for someone and just leave out the details of who.

xxx

The morning of the wedding you woke feeling nauseous. Mostly due to having to sit through a ceremony for two people you really didn’t want to see happy but also you worried about spending the day with Bucky. Last night you two had just chilled out and watched movies. Instead of focussing on the movie you found your self watching Bucky, taking in how his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, how he held his chest when he laughed and how is face would snicker up when he stifled a yawn. About halfway through the second movie he had dozed off and ended up with his head resting on your thigh. You hadn’t even realised you were running your hand through his hair until you felt him shifting underneath your touch. In a state of panic, you eased yourself off the sofa, careful not to wake Bucky, and quietly crept to your room. You chalked your actions down to how much you cared about Bucky, as a friend. But somehow you didn’t really believe that. The realisation that perhaps you had feelings for him kept you awake most of the night. Well that and the guilt of running away from him, even if he didn’t know.

Bucky didn’t mention anything about the night before as he drove you to the wedding, so you didn’t either. The journey out state passed in relative silence, only interrupted by the occasional bit of small talk about the weather or passing comments about the scenery. Neither of you seemed willing to start a meaningful conversation worried about what you may end up revealing. As you looked across at him as he concentrated on the road you couldn’t help but stare a little. When you opened your door to greet him he had taken your breath away. Gone were his long locks, replaced with a short, stylish tussled look. His suit was well fitted, highlighting his muscular frame. You thought it was impossible for him to get more handsome but Bucky just loved to prove you wrong.

“What you looking at doll?” Bucky’s voice interrupting your train of thought.

“I just can’t believe you had a haircut, you look so different.”

Bucky glanced at you and raised an eyebrow. “Well it was starting to get annoying. I needed a change.” he paused and bit his lip, deliberating whether or not to tell you the truth. He opted for a censored version. “Plus, I had to make sure I looked good enough to be with you today.”

“You’re kidding right?” You said in disbelief.

Bucky pulled the car up in front of the lodge where the wedding was taking place and turned to face you. “Y/N believe me when I say you look incredible. No one is going to be paying attention to the bride because they’ll be looking at you. I couldn’t show up looking like a mess, you deserve more than that.” Your mouth hanging open as you let the weight of Bucky’s sink in, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“I don’t know what to say Buck,” you mumbled, eyes falling to your hands where you were twisting at the ring Wanda had given you at Christmas.

“You don’t have to say anything doll. Come on let’s go.” Bucky walked around, helping you out of the car before linking your arm with his and leading you into the lodge. The small amount of contact sending a tiny shiver down your spine, one that didn’t go unnoticed by Bucky. You gripped Bucky’s forearm tightly as you approached the door, your ex there to greet you.

“Hi Y/N glad you could make it,” you mumbled a greeting as his gaze shifted to Bucky “Shit. You’re the winter soldier.” You were about to snap at Liam but Bucky beat you to it.

“Bucky’s fine,” he said politely, unlinking himself from you and offering his flesh hand to Liam to shake, metal arm falling your waist. “Do you know what, I should be saying thanks really. If you hadn’t, you know, I wouldn’t have got my girl. Good luck with the wedding.” Bucky guided you into the hall, leaving a stunned Liam stood at the door.

“That was mean,” you whispered “but amazing.”

“He deserved worse, he should consider himself lucky,” he smiled down at you and shrugged.

xxx

Bucky and you sat at the back during the wedding. Throughout the ceremony, Bucky made sure he always had a hand on you, stealing glances at you every now and again to check how you were doing. You knew it was all part of the act and it didn’t mean anything but it was setting your skin on fire. Everything he had said earlier replaying in your mind as you watched Liam and Leanne exchange their vows. You scolded yourself for reading anything into this, Bucky had said there were no romantic feelings involved. It was all fake, he was just acting.

Drinking seemed to be the only solution to managing the turmoil you were currently feeling. Bucky didn’t pass comment, realising that the day must be taking its toll on you. If only he knew. He stuck close to you throughout the reception, danced with you and made polite conversation. Nearly everyone you met commented on what a lovely couple you made. Liam’s parents even ventured over and introduced themselves to Bucky. You had been close with his parents, his mum had been devastated when you broke up and had even apologised to you for her sons behaviour. Whilst Bucky was keeping Liam’s dad entertained, his mum took the opportunity to lean in and tell you how glad she was that you had found someone who clearly loved you. Before you could comment, Bucky was back by your side and all you could do was politely say goodbye as they headed back towards their table. The whole encounter left you more confused than ever. The only thing that had become clear to you was that you definitely had feelings for Bucky, potentially ruining everything.

“Didn’t think you would actually show up,” Leanne sneered at you whilst Bucky had gone to the bar to get you another vodka and coke.

You turned and smiled sweetly. “I was invited.”

“Yeah well that’s Liam for you. Proper Mummy’s boy. She still talks about you, it’s quite annoying actually.”

“It’s your wedding day, don’t you have better things to be doing than trying to antagonise me?” You couldn’t believe that she was doing this right now.

“Yeah you’re right. I better get back to my husband,” Leanne’s eyes flickered towards Bucky briefly “He’ll leave as well you know, as soon as someone better comes along. Who knows he might have already met her?” With the final twist of the knife she sauntered away looking the picture of innocence.

You bit into your lip to try and keep the tears from falling. How could someone who had been your best friend say things like that. She had won, hadn’t she? But to make a joke about Bucky leaving you for someone else was uncalled for. Yes, you weren’t really together but the thought was still terrifying. You couldn’t lose him. Fear turned into anger as you watched her sidle up to Liam and kiss him before turning back to look at you. All you wanted to do was go and kick her ass, if Nat were here she would have encouraged you. You could see the headline now ‘Avenger assaults bride at her wedding’. Tony would kill you. Instead you marched right up to Bucky, took his whiskey, downed it before taking your own drink and downing that too.

“Whoa doll, slow down. What happened? I saw her coming to talk to you, what did she say?” He could tell you were angry by how your nostrils flared but the major worry for him was the look in your eyes. They looked watery and the way you were trying to avoid his eyes told him that whatever that woman had said was really bothering you.

“It doesn’t matter. I need another drink.” Sidestepping him you went to the bar and got a couple of double shots in an attempt to numb everything you were feeling.

xxx

Bucky watched you take a couple more shots before intervening. “Doll, let’s get out of here.” He wrapped his arm around you to hold you up, noticing the affects the alcohol had taken on you. He found your attempts to wriggle out his grip adorable. A cute little pout forming on your face as he steered you outside towards the car. You were loudly shouting your protestations even after Bucky had buckled you into the car making him thankful it was only a half an hour drive.

At some point during the journey back to the compound you fell asleep. Bucky tried to wake you up but you just grumbled at him leaving him no choice but to carry you up to your room. He deliberated putting you into your pyjamas but thought you wouldn’t be very impressed when you woke up. Instead he found a wipe to remove your makeup and took off your shoes before pulling a blanket over you.

The way you had looked today had driven him mad with desire. You had no idea how good you looked and he was right when he told you no one would be looking at the bride. Every man had run their eyes over you in your olive-green satin dress; the fine material hugging your curves deliciously and the split in the side hinted at the toned legs underneath. The women had also been staring enviously as well. The fact people thought you were with him filled him with a sense of pride. He had to fight every urge not to keep a protective arm on the whole time or even just sweep you up in his arms. But he couldn’t. You weren’t really his. As he looked at you sleeping peacefully he knew he was in trouble, there was no way he couldn’t tell you how he felt. He couldn’t keep it up, it was tearing him apart.

Knowing you were out for the count he risked it; he leaned down and quickly placed a kiss to your forehead.

“Bucky?” your eyes opened a fraction.

“I’m here doll.”

“Stay,” you sighed. Before he had chance to say anything your eyes fluttered closed and a soft snore emanated from you. He didn’t want to leave, he wanted to keep an eye on you; partly because of how drunk you were but also because he just didn’t want to be away from you for too long. But he also didn’t want to break one of the rules you had set before you began ‘dating’. He walked over to the chair on the other side of the room and sat down; it seemed like a fair compromise. When you mumbled his name again in your sleep he concluded that if he stuck to the other side of the bed then it would be ok. After all you had asked him to stay. He was only doing what you asked.

xxx

The pounding in your head woke you up, your throat felt dry and the light filtering into your room seemed blinding. You stretched out your arms and realised the other side of your bed felt warm beneath your fingertips. Groaning you tried to think back to what happened last night. Leanne had come and said some horrible things then you had a vague recollection of drinking and then it went blank.

“Hey, you’re awake much earlier than I thought you were going to be.” Bucky’s voice sounded as loud as a siren.

“Stop shouting,” you garbled against the pillow you had dragged over your head to block out the light and noise.

The bed dipped as Bucky sat down next to you. He pulled the pillow off you head and shook his head at your ridiculousness. “Here take these.” He offered you some paracetamol and a bottle of water. Manoeuvring yourself into a sitting position, you shot him a dirty look before gulped down a couple of tablets none the less.

You leaned your head back and let out a loud sigh. “Buck, I think we need to talk.”

This was it. Bucky took a deep breath and turned to look at you. Your eyes were sad again, just like they were last night after Leanne had spoken to you. “I’m sorry for breaking one of the rules Y/N. You were drunk I wanted to make sure you were ok. And-,” he stammered “you asked me to stay.”

He watched as your face scrunched up in confusion. “Oh, it’s alright. Um it’s not that.” Bucky waited patiently for the pain he knew was about to come. “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” You gestured between you and him.

“It’s ok, I understand,” he said softly.

“It’s not, we made an agreement. At least let me explain,” this wasn’t going to be easy. His damn face was so cute you were finding it hard to concentrate on what you needed to tell him.

“You don’t need to explain doll, we –.”

“No Buck I do. I can’t do this anymore,” you saw him grit his teeth “I can’t do this because I want more.”

“Yeah I get it,” he said quickly before fully processing what you had said. “Wait what do you mean more? Did you meet someone?”

You really wished you hadn’t drunk so much last night. This conversation would be so much better without an absolute banging headache. “Kind of. I don’t want to fake date you anymore because-.”

“Yeah, I get that Y/N you’ve said that already,” he grunted. Bucky climbed out of the bed, he looked ready to tear his hair out.

As he started to pace around the room you shouted “Fuck.”

“Y/N just tell me for the love of god. You’re killin’ me over here,” he pleaded. His Brooklyn accent slipping out.

“I’m trying to.” You felt his eyes on you and you had to close yours. Why did he have to make this so difficult? Taking another deep breath, you tried again. “I can’t do this because I want more with you. Shit. I think I love.” The string of words came out so fast Bucky thought he misheard. He looked across to see that you had tucked up your legs and buried your head against your knees.

“You love me?” He sounded unsure as he climbed back on the bed next to you.

“Uh huh.” You didn’t dare look at him.

“Thank god for that.” You slowly lifted up your head to look at him. Brow quirked in question.

“You’re not angry?”

“How an earth could I be angry that the woman I love actually loves me back?” His voice was soft

“Wait. You love me too? You asked still unsure whether or not you were imagining this.

“I love you Y/N. This last week as been torture, I wanted to tell you so many times how I really felt but I didn’t think –.” Bucky was interrupted by you softly pressing your lips to his and then snuggling into his chest.

You sat like this for a couple of minutes, neither of you saying anything just taking comfort in having each other. For real this time. Bucky traced his fingers over the exposed skin of your shoulder as you fiddled with the hem off his t-shirt.

“Do you think we should set some rules?” you whispered against his chest.

He looked down at you. “Well normally you don’t have rules for when you actually data someone Y/N.”

“Fine, let’s call it a condition.”

“I think that sounds worse,” Bucky teased.

You tilted your head up to look at him in the eyes. “If you meet someone better than me just tell me ok? I don’t think I can cope being cheated on again.”

“What?” Bucky couldn’t believe what you were saying. He understood you had been hurt before but still. “Where is this coming from?”

“It was something Leanne said to me. She told me you would leave me just like Liam did, that you had probably already found someone better,” your voice cracked as the tears started to roll down your cheeks.

“Those two deserve each other,” Bucky muttered. He caught the tears on your cheeks with his thumb. “Y/N look at me,” he tilted up your chin with his finger. “I’m not going anywhere. There is no one else.” He pressed his lips to your forehead. “How about we go on our first real date?” His lips tickled your skin as he spoke.

“Now?” He nodded at you. “Buck, it’s like – actually I don’t what time it is. I’m still in yesterday’s clothes,” to be honest you just wanted to stay in bed with him all day.

“Well luckily the place I’m thinking of doesn’t have a fancy-dress code.”

“Oh yeah, where’s that?” you rolled your eyes.

“Your sofa,” he watched as you shook your head, “hear me out. Whilst you have a shower I’ll go and make us breakfast/lunch. Then we can just chill and watch tv.”

“Sound good except for one thing. Can we make it the bed and not the sofa? That way I can have a nap and we can cuddle.”

Bucky cocked his head to one side as he deliberated over it. “Deal. You drive a hard bargain Y/N.”

“You’re ridiculous you know that?” You lightly elbowed him.

“Blame it on my age.” He bent down to kiss you. “Right come on Y/N you’ve got a hot date to get ready for.”

Taglist is open so let me know if you want in

Taglist: @stargazingfangirl18 , @silentcoyotesong, @queenofstarliqht, @buckys-henley, @lonelyheartsm @alexa-lightwood-blog

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