#jsb4kcelebration

[indominusregina]

The Bet: Victory At Last

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Warnings: flirtacious Bucky

Word count: 2.9k

Notes: Part 4 is here! Getting close to the end. A reminder that this was for @justsomebucky 4k celebration! You should definitely go check out her works! Remember to leave feedback. Writing doesn’t happen without your comments, even if it’s just an emoji or a keyboard smash.

Masterlist || Part 3 || Part 5 || Series Masterlist

Three days. Three days left to this stupid challenge and your nerves are so frayed they can barely take it. It’s been four days since you realized you were falling for Bucky, and that meant four days of listening to shitty pick up lines and having your stomach flutter. Four days of feeling more and more vulnerable to his words, even if they hadn’t improved in quality. Still, he often laughs at your snappy responses and it reminds you of the night the two of you spent together, curled into each others’ sides. You hadn’t gone back inside until sunrise and Steve had caught you both on his way out the door for a morning run with Sam, happy to see you made up.

You shake your head to clear out the whispers of hope that run through your brain as you shoot another arrow towards the target. Agent Hill is coming by after her meeting with Tony to help you get better at target practice so you can out shoot Clint when he comes back from his mission. You frown as the arrow slams into the target, far from the bullseye. “You’re distracted.” Her even tone leaves no room for argument and your shoulders drop.

“You’re astute.” The sarcasm in your voice is heavy, and Hill rolls her eyes at you.

“You know, I won’t be much help if you can’t focus on this.” Her chin juts towards the target in front of you and you sigh. “Is this something we can talk through?” Chewing your lip, you weigh your options. On one hand, you can tell her about what’s going on and she might help you out, but on the other hand, she might laugh at you and tell you to get over it.

“Think you can do it without judging me?” You finally ask.

“Should I be judging you for whatever this is?” She raises an eyebrow, arms crossed.

“I do.” You frown as you sit down, nodding at the patch of grass beside you. “Take a seat and I’ll tell you all about it.” She sits next to you and you struggle to find the words to start. After a few moments of pained silence, you blurt out a question. “You ever fall for someone you know you shouldn’t?” She hums quietly, either in affirmation or sympathy and suddenly you’re telling her everything, the words coming out faster than you’d anticipated.

“...and you see, I know I shouldn’t give a damn, but I can’t help it.” You finish after several long minutes. She leans back beside you and you fidget a little, plucking at the grass as she keeps the silence she held through your entire spiel. At least she’s not laughing.

“So, let me get this straight.” Her words are even, measured, and you know she’s been thinking about it. “You and Barnes both bet on his ability to make you get flustered with some pick up lines. You win, he has to be your scapedate; he wins, you’ve got to be his wingman.” You nod, playing with a single, large blade of grass. “And along the way, you found that his pickup lines were working?”

“Not quite. It wasn’t the lines, but it was the…” You pause, unsure of how to fill in the gap.

“It was the time and effort he put into doing it.” Maria finishes and you nod, breathing a sigh of relief that she understood. “But now his lines are actually making you flustered. The way I see it, he’s already won.” You groan, dropping your head into your hands. “But he doesn’t know that.” Maria adds slyly and your head pops back up immediately.

“So you don’t think it’s hopeless?” You ask, already knowing her answer.

“Not entirely. But from my perspective, if you want this to work, you’re going to have to win. You put some effort into it and you win, and I’ll let you know my plan.” Maria winks and you grin, extending a hand.

“Deal.” She shakes your hand and smiles back at you before tilting her head towards the target downfield from you.

“Now, let’s get to work on this.”

---

When you run into Bucky later, he seems a little more determined than usual. You’re seated in the common area, replying to Natasha’s snapchat that you should meet her with a dumb selfie of your own when he sits down next to you.

“Hey, doll.” He raises his eyebrow and slings an arm across the top of the sofa behind you. “Whatcha up to?” You keep your eyes on your phone as Nat’s answer comes through. She’s with Wanda and now they’re both begging you to join them outside.

“Apparently, I’m going to go join Natasha and Wanda on the lawn.” You double tap her name to send her a response, making a face of resignation and sending it off. You stand immediately after that, blood rushing and making you dizzy. Bucky’s hands instantly steady your waist and you shoot him a small smile as the room stops spinning. “Thanks, Buck.” You head towards the door when he yells out.

“Wait! I’ve got a question!” You pause in the door frame, turning to face him. “Can I have a photo to prove that angels truly exist?” He puts on a falsely innocent face and your lips curl into a sly smile.

“Sure.” You head out, pulling a picture from a quick google search and attaching it to a message. You’re almost out of earshot when you hear him shout.

“WHAT THE HELL IS A CASTIEL?!” Your following giggles echo through the hall as you hurry outside before Natasha kicks your ass.

-----

You don’t see Bucky again until after dinner that night, when you’re munching on a candy bar. He walks into the kitchen as you’re talking to Sam, laughing about an old story of him and Riley getting up to crazy shenanigans while on tour. When he opens the fridge door, looking for something to eat, you put up a finger to pause your conversation with Sam.

“Hey, Buck. I got you some ice cream while we were out earlier.” He closes the door to the fridge and opens the freezer, finding a pint of his favourite ice cream with a note that says ‘SAVE FOR BUCKY’ in sharp, black letters. He pulls it out of the freezer slowly, an odd look on his face that you miss with your back to him, but one that Sam can’t ignore. Bucky clears his throat and thanks you before sliding up next to you to grab a spoon out of the drawer.

“Hey doll, you’re so sweet you put Hershey’s out of business.” He gives you a wink and you stay still, almost rigid as you look down at the wrapper of the chocolate you’re eating.

“I guess it’s a good thing they don’t make this.” You hold up your candy bar and turn back to Sam, watching Bucky slink out of the room out of the corner of your eye. As soon as he’s gone, your shoulders drop, the tension ebbing out of them.

“What was that all about?” Sam gives you a knowing look and you do your best to remain nonchalant.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You mumble, taking another bite of your chocolate. Sam crosses his arms and gives you a look that clearly says he doesn’t believe you.

“So you have no idea why your tension just drained out of your shoulders or why Barnes just gave you a weird-ass look?”

“Tone down the sass, Samuel.” You fix him with a pointed look and he just smirks. “Besides, I didn’t see whatever look you’re talking about.”

“It was when he grabbed his ice cream out of the freezer. It looked like this, but less handsome.” Sam contorts his face into what you figure is an attempt at confusion and a smile, but turns out just looking ridiculous. Your straight face fails immediately as you snort with laughter. It takes only a moment before Sam is laughing with you, and the two of you make silly faces at each other to spur on your laughing session.

When your laughter finally dies down, Sam fixes you with a serious and slightly concerned look. “For real, though. What’s eating at you, kid?”

“It couldn’t be anything like that stupid bet we’ve got going on, I suppose.”

“Tone down the sass, Y/N.” Sam grins at you as he uses your words against you and you smile back at him, although halfheartedly. “Are you alright? I’m sure Barnes would call this off if it’s bothering you.”

“I’ll be fine, Sam. I just gotta win this. Maria and I have a plan. I think. She didn’t really specify, but I have to win first.” You shrug and pop the last of your candy bar into your mouth.

“Do you want help?” Sam nudges you with his elbow and you shake your head, a more genuine smile on your face.

“I ‘preciate it, Sammy boy, but I’m pretty sure that if my terms would have applied to you if you helped Buck, his terms will apply to you if you help me.”

Sam grimaces. “No way I’m wingmanning for Frosty. Sorry, babe, you’re on your own.”

“That’s what I thought.” You pat him on the cheek. “Now, I have a book that’s basically screaming my name, so I’m gonna go be a hermit for the rest of the night.” You head towards your room, only to have him stop you with a hand on your shoulder.

“You know I’m always here for you, right?” He’s quiet and serious, and you give him a soft smile and nod.

“Yeah, Sam, I know. Thank you.” You give his hand a squeeze and he kisses the top of your head before you head back to your room.

The next morning, you’ve dragged your book out to the common room when Bucky approaches you again. He must have noticed that the lines he says flippantly get to you more than his strategically planned ones, since he pauses as he passes in front of you to quickly say his piece.

“If you were words on a page, you’d be the fine print.” You glance up from your book, a half smirk on your reading dazed face.

“So everyone ignores me and I screw them over in the end. Excellent.” You look back down at your page, and you’re grateful he can’t see your face clearly when he speaks next.

“I don’t know about everyone, but you could screw me.” Bucky hovers for a moment more as you take a deep breath, doing your best to not show how much his words are affecting you. As soon as he’s out of sight, you put your bookmark back in your page. There’s no way you’re going to be able to focus on words on a page after that.

Bucky makes multiple more attempts throughout the day and each time you thwart him, noting his slightly disappointed look as he walks away. You hate to make him feel bad in any way, but you can’t let him win. You know you’re in too deep now and your heart would break into a million tiny pieces if you had to be the one to set him up with someone else. You just can’t do it.

You call it quits during the movie that Tony has decided everyone has to watch. You were more than set to skip out on it in favour of hiding in your room, desperate to get a break before the final day of the challenge, knowing that Bucky will be doing anything and everything in his power to win. When you’d gone to unlock your room, popcorn ready for the Netflix marathon you had queued up, you’d found it locked. F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s voice informed you that Mr. Stark was having a mandatory meeting in the cinema and you scowled, knowing no good could come of this. Of course, when you arrived, the only seat open was next to Bucky in the back row, which is how you found yourself in your current predicament.

Bucky has his shoulder pressed against yours, his hand rooting around in your popcorn bag for one or two half-popped kernels that he can crunch. He’s on his best behaviour for the most part, making dumb comments every now and then on the movie. “A 600 pound twinkie? I bet Steve and I could eat that in one day.” You try not to laugh, not wanting to disturb the movie for Steve in front of you, who has never seen it. You glance over at Bucky and shake your head, lips curled in a smile. He fixates on them and you fight down every urge you have to blush.

C’mon, Y/N, think of Hulk modeling in a speedo for the cover of playboy. You bite the inside of your cheek, the pain and the image in your head keeping you grounded.

“Hey Y/N.” Bucky whispers next to you and you turn to look at him. “Your lips look so lonely. Would they like to meet mine?” He flicks his tongue across his lips, as if you weren’t already drawn to them. You’re frozen for a moment, vividly imagining those lips on yours. When Bucky’s lips tilt upwards into a smirk, your trance is broken. You shake your head before whispering your response to him.

“Actually, they’re more introverted. Sorry.” You get up, hurrying out of the room. You need to get away from him as quickly as possible. Only one more day.

That night, you don’t sleep. You try as hard as you can, but you toss and turn, the image in your mind of Bucky’s lips all over someone else seared in your brain. You won’t even risk leaving your room to wander the compound, fearing another run-in with Bucky that you’re sure will split every nerve you have. When the sun rises the next morning, you figure you got maybe an hour over the course of the night. You resign yourself to an agonisingly long day as you splash water on your face before applying some makeup to try and make yourself appear human.

When you walk into breakfast, Bucky’s there already. Of course he’s there already. You let out a groan as you find the biggest mug you can and fill it to the brim with coffee.

“Rough night?” Tony asks, looking pointedly at your cup. You growl your response as you flee the scene hurry out of the room and off to a secluded area of the compound. You know that you’ll be susceptible to Bucky’s charm today, and with it being the final 24 hours, you can’t afford to lose. You have a half hour of peace and quiet before Bucky manages to find you.   

“Hey doll, are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only ten-I-see.” He winks and you close your eyes, exhaling loudly.

“Please, just put me out of my Missouri.” You grumble, getting up and taking your coffee mug back to the kitchen for a refill.

Once you’re armed with a fresh round of caffeine, you head to the mission prep area of the compound, praying that no one will find you. You spend longer than you intend to reading through the intel the team has received, and when your stomach growls, your second round of coffee is long gone. With a sigh, you file away the stack of papers you were working on and head towards the kitchen.

You almost literally run into Bucky about halfway to the kitchen when he enters the hall from his room. “Where you headed, sweetheart?” He asks and you blink owlishly before his words register.

“Kitchen. Lunch.” You scrub your eyes, knowing you’ll need another cup of coffee before lunch is over.

“Can I follow you then?” He asks, and before you can answer he grins at you in the way he has been before he delivers a line. “Because my ma told me to follow my dreams.”

You frown, knowing that you must look like a gremlin with your lack of sleep. “I’d consider finding a dream that’s not a nightmare.” He looks you over thoughtfully before he responds.

“Well, I happen to be quite used to nightmares at this point. I’d say you look more like the thing I wake up to. The one that lets me know everything’s alright.”

You aren’t sure how it happened. It could have been the lack of sleep or the fact that hours alone had you lowering your guard. More likely, it was the way Bucky looked at you when he said it. Like you were the only person in the world that could make him feel that way. Whatever the reason, you could feel the heat rise into your cheeks, and you knew as soon as the shocked expression crossed his face that Bucky could see it too.

You both stood in silence, mouths slightly agape. Seconds ticked by as the gravity of the situation sunk in.

“....did...did you just…?” Bucky finally speaks in a hushed tone, but still can’t seem to finish his sentence. “I won?” His voice is still whisper-like, but you can hear it.

“I won.” Bucky’s disbelief turns into a small smile that grows by the second, even as your heart hits the floor and seems to go lower.

On the last day, with only hours left to this stupid challenge, Bucky won.

And you lost.  

Part 5

Tags: @childoftimeandmagic, @shugr12110629, @emolordisme, @dugan365, @sociallyimpairedme, @witchymarvelspacecase, @dontsassmecastiel, @peter-pan-hoe, @assbutt-son-of-a-bitch, @allofthesearetakendafuq , @radi0active-thoughts, @mizzzpink, @johnmurphys-sass, @sarahwroteathing, @the-nargles-made-me-do-it, @thellamalord, @asmilinghopelessromantic, @lilypalmer1987, @killjoynotes

[indominusregina]

The Bet: Epilogue

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Warnings: cute stuff!

Word count: 414

Notes: Surprise! I had some things I really wanted to use in the story, but they didn’t fit in the main content, so here we are! It’s really short, but really sweet. One final reminder that this was for @justsomebucky 4k celebration! I don’t think there’s anything on her masterlist that isn’t amazing. Please, tell me what you thought of this story! 

Masterlist || Part 5 || Series Masterlist

It had been two years. Two long years of ups, downs, and everything in between.

“Hey doll?” You could hear Bucky’s voice from your shared bedroom as you touched up your lipstick.

“Hmm?” You hummed as you pursed your lips, checking to make sure you had an even coat. Satisfied, you capped the tube of lipstick.

“I think I scraped my knee falling for you. Do you have a bandaid?” You rolled your eyes. Even after all this time, his lines hadn’t improved.

“Actually, yes.” You replied, pulling a couple of boxes out of the cabinet under the sink and emerging from the bathroom. “I’ve got three kinds. Waterproof, unicorn, and oh-” You stopped in your tracks, dropping the boxes as soon as you saw him.

Bucky knelt before you, a ring in his hand, hope in his eyes, and a stupid, cocky grin on his face.

“I’ll take the waterproof kind. Looks like your eyes are getting a little leaky.” You sniffed and wiped your eye, where a traitorous tear was welling up.

“Shut your mouth, Barnes.”

“Nah, I’ve got some words to say, and then, hopefully, you’ve got at least one to say as well.” He cleared his throat and shifted his weight around a little. “Y/N, I love you. I love you so much. I love your quick wit and how it keeps me on my toes. I love your willingness to accept me as I am, and all the ways you make me better. I love that you challenge me every single day, even when I’d really rather you didn’t. I love your smile and the way it lights up my world. I especially love that little thing you do with your tongue wh-”

“Bucky!” You cut him off, appalled. He only smirked back at you.

“Mostly, though, I just love spending every moment I can with you. If you’ll have me, I’d like to spend the rest of my life proving that to you in every way. So, Y/N Y/L/N, will you marry me?” You nodded, blinking away tears.

“Yes, James Barnes. I will.” He grinned as he rose up to his feet, sliding the ring to its new home on your finger.

“Told ya you’d have words to say.” He smirked, and you rolled your eyes.

“Shut your mouth, Barnes.” You replied, grabbing his neck and pulling his lips down to yours.

Yes, the bet really did work out for the both of you.

The End

Tags: @childoftimeandmagic, @shugr12110629, @emolordisme, @dugan365, @sociallyimpairedme, @witchymarvelspacecase, @dontsassmecastiel, @peter-pan-hoe, @assbutt-son-of-a-bitch, @allofthesearetakendafuq , @radi0active-thoughts, @mizzzpink, @johnmurphys-sass, @sarahwroteathing, @the-nargles-made-me-do-it, @thellamalord, @asmilinghopelessromantic, @lilypalmer1987, @killjoynotes​  @imeannooffensebabybut​, @buckybarnesxoxo

[indominusregina]

The Bet: Unforseen Consequences

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Warnings: Swearing Lite™, flirtacious Bucky

Word count: 2.1k

Notes: Finally, part 2! Lots of complications in my personal life led to a long gap between part 1 and 2, but I don’t forsee many more delays like this one! This part has the actual prompt (Is that the best you can do?) from the @justsomebucky challenge! Also, credit where credit is due, many of the wonderful responses are from @sarahwroteathing Enjoy part 2! Remember, feedback gives me life!

Masterlist || Part 1 || Part 3 || Series Masterlist

The rest of the morning, Bucky is quiet. You aren’t going out of your way to avoid him, but even so, he’s nowhere to be found. Although you’re not overly concerned by the bet, having him almost entirely vanish is setting your nerves on edge, making you more than a little paranoid every time you round a corner. Will he preempt his line with something? Will he just go for it?

Your fears are abated mid-afternoon. Just as you finally settle down on the couch to watch some Netflix and procrastinate on packing with a steaming mug of tea after a hard workout, Bucky strolls in and sits down on the other end. You tense up but continue your browsing, both of you waiting in silence. Just as you settle on a show, Bucky clears his throat.

“Hey, uh, is your name Earl Grey?” He starts, and you look over at him in confusion. “Because you’re a hot-tea!”

Your face quickly drops from confusion to unamused. “Leaf me alone.” You deadpan before returning your attention to the screen in front of you, selecting the show and staring ahead. There’s a brief moment of silence as your episode loads before he gets up and awkwardly walks away. So that’s how these two weeks are going to go.

~~~

The next time Bucky tries a line on you, you’re slightly more prepared. You managed to watch a few episodes of your show before Wanda dragged you away to start packing because “your stuff won’t pack itself, Y/N, and no matter how many times you ask me, no I will not put your things into boxes using my powers.” Lame. After spending some quality time with the dust bunnies at the back of your closet, you’re ready for a dinner break with the rest of the team.

You glance over at Bucky continually throughout dinner, which at this point is down to just takeout, since half of the kitchen has been packed away and is ready to be sent off to the upstate compound. He catches your eye after the tenth time or so and offers a wolfish grin. You raise an eyebrow at him in a silent dare. Unable to decline your challenge, he swallows his mouthful of food before clearing his throat.

“You know what’s on the menu? Me ‘n’ u.” He grins, and everyone else at the table pauses, some confused, while Natasha is intrigued.

“Gee, I thought it was foot, since yours seems to be in your mouth.” The words are out of your mouth instantly, followed by a chorus of “oohs” from the rest of the teammates.

“Would someone care to explain what just happened?” Tony asks as you continue to eat the food in front of you, unphased by the reaction of the group.

Natasha steps in to answer for you. “Barnes and Y/L/N have a bet going on. Barnes is doing his best to make Y/L/N blush with a pickup line. If he succeeds in the next two weeks, she has to wingman for him, and if he doesn’t, he has to be her escape date for a month.”

“What the hell’s an escape date?” Tony blurts out and you finally speak up.

“He has to pretend to be my date whenever some asshole - sorry Steve - won’t take no for an answer.” You respond as Steve mutters something about language.

“So you’re trying shitty pickup lines that you’ve clearly found online?” Sam turns to Bucky, an amused smirk on his lips.

“Well, where else am I supposed to get them?” He frowns and Sam laughs.

“Y’know what, Frosty? I just might help you out. This sounds like fun.” You narrow your eyes at Sam as he says this.

“Help him, Wilson, and the same terms will apply to you when I win.” Your voice is low and threatening, and Sam seems to reconsider his decision.

“Nevermind, you’re on your own.” He tells Bucky, quickly returning to his food.

“That’s what I thought.” You finish your food and stand, giving one last sweep around the room. “This is between Bucky and myself. Any of you step in, and you’re done for.” You throw your container out in one smooth motion as you continue on your way out the door. You can barely hear Steve as you leave.

“Well, good luck, Buck.” He clears his throat as he finishes his statement.

“Thanks, Stevie.” The sarcasm in his voice has you smirking.

~~~

You’re in the gym getting in one last workout before moving day has everything packed up when Bucky tries again. Clad in leggings and a sports bra, you’re busy with a barbell when he walks up. You lock eyes in the mirror as you squat, holding the weight steady on your shoulders.

Bucky eyes your backside as you lower yourself and grins. “Are those space pants? Because your ass is outta this world!”

You keep your eyes locked on his as you stand, setting the weight down on the rack behind you. You turn to face him before holding up your pointer finger in his face. “Phone home, E.T.” You leave him muttering as you move on to the next weight machine in your circuit.

~~~~

You’re dressed up for a benefit event, waiting in the living room for Tony, Nat, and Clint to make their appearance when Bucky walks in. He lets out a low whistle as he takes in your appearance, and you turn to face him. “I must be in a museum, because you are truly a work of art.” His voice is a little lower than usual, but you shrug it off.

“I’m pretty sure that you’re old enough to make anywhere you go seem like a museum.” You chirp, crossing your arms. Clint and Natasha walk in at that moment and Clint laughs. You raise your hand for a high five, which he gladly meets. “Better luck next time, Barnes. For future note, calling a girl a masterpiece might get you farther.” You turn on your heel as Tony strolls in, late as usual, and head with them towards the lift. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch Bucky actually making a note of your comment and you giggle as the doors close behind you.

~~~

The afternoon before the move, you find yourself practicing your bow and arrow skills with Clint. You’re doing alright, but you know you could be better. Bucky walks in just in time for you to actually shoot one into the center of the target. With a whoop and a grin, you do a little victory dance, eyes gleaming as Clint compliments you. You don’t notice Bucky until he speaks.

“Is there something in your eye?” You turn to face him, wiping at your eye and frowning. “Oh wait, it’s just a sparkle.”

Your earlier joy dies a bit at his comment. You were so excited to celebrate your tiny victory, and he had to cheapen it with a dumb line. Giving him a glare, your response is a bit sharper than it normally is. “Damn. My murderous glint must be losing its intensity.”

Bucky frowns at this and you turn back to the target, nocking another arrow on your bowstring and drawing. When you release, you score a close hit, but not quite as good as your last one. Your shoulders slump a little in defeat, and Bucky slinks away, feeling a little bit guilty.

~~~

The morning of the move, you go out for a run early, the anticipation of the upcoming move making you too jittery to sleep. After a few pre-dawn miles are finished, you’ve managed to burn most of the anxious energy out of your system, and you feel pretty satisfied as you make your way back to the (mostly empty) tower. As you ride the lift back up to the common area, you stretch, looking forward to a tall glass of water to help with your recovery.

The doors open on your floor and you beeline it to the kitchen, trying to level out your breathing as you come down from your runner’s high. You stand at the sink and, looking around and seeing no one, you duck your head under the running stream of water. It wasn’t worth it to try and find a glass, wash it, dry it, and repack it. After a few gulps, you stand back up, wiping your mouth and breathing a little harder than before after downing what was probably at least one glass of water. Of course, Bucky walks in at that moment.

“Well, gee doll, are you running out of breath from running through my head all night?”

You roll your eyes, still trying to catch your breath for a moment. When you finally decide to speak again, your response is yet another snarky comment “No, but this one was so terrible, I am speechless.” The idea of being in Bucky’s dreams has you unsettled. You know he has a lot of nightmares, and although this is probably just a line, you find yourself agitated that you might be something that upsets him. This new feeling accompanies you as you make your way back to your room to clean up and change into comfy travel clothes.

~~~

Later that afternoon, everyone files outside, with small squabbles over who gets to go in which vehicle. It’s already set that you’re in Nat’s van as navigator, and Steve is driving the other car with Bucky riding shotgun. You double check that you’ve got everything for your car, and find that in your file of information, you’ve got the map for the other car as well. As everyone finally settles on their car, you make your way to Bucky’s window, gesturing to Nat that you’ll be right back.

You knock on Bucky’s window, grabbing his attention. He beams as he notices it’s you at the window and rolls it down.

“Darlin’, what a surprise! You wanna come in this car?” You give him a look before you hold up your folder.

“Sorry, Buck. I’m navigator for the other car.” You give him a quick smile, and he smiles back. You stay that way for a moment before he clears his throat.

“Hey doll, do you have a map?” His words cause you to snap out of your daze.

“Huh?” You shake your head slightly, trying to clear your mind.

“Because I’m getting lost in your eyes.” He waggles his eyebrows at you and you give him another look before tossing the map you had for him into his lap and patting his cheek. Turning, you head quickly back to your car. What was that, Y/N? You’re going crazy. Your mind is a little off kilter again, and you can’t shake the feeling that something’s off throughout the drive to the new compound.

~~~

It’s a calm morning as everyone settles into life at the compound instead of the tower. There’s so much more room here, and everything is just quieter in general, leading to your peaceful mood as you start to make breakfast.

You set some coffee on and, knowing that it will draw a crowd, you pull out a pack of bacon and a carton of eggs, intent on making breakfast for whoever comes in. Humming, you set some strips of bacon into a pan and pull out another for the eggs.

Sure enough, as soon as you start scrambling some eggs for yourself, Bucky saunters into the kitchen.

“Is that the sun in here, or is your smile just that bright?” You roll your eyes as Bucky slides up next to you as you stir your eggs.

“Is that the best you can do today, Barnes?” You raise an eyebrow as he pours himself a mug of coffee.

“No, but you are.” He says with a wink, and your stomach does a little flip. You swallow hard, but it gets stuck in your throat, causing you to cough.

“I-In your dreams, Barnes.” You sputter out between coughs, eyes watering. Bucky sets down his mug and hurries over to you.

“Are you alright?” Bucky asks, concern in his eyes as he gently rubs your back. You nod, fighting the butterflies in your stomach. Suddenly, you’re grateful for the incident, as you’re no longer sure that the flush in your cheeks is strictly from choking.

As he turns back to his coffee and you turn back to the stove in front of you, it hits you.

Butterflies. Red cheeks.

Signs that indicate that you just might be falling for Bucky Barnes.

….

Oh shit.

Part 3

Tags: @childoftimeandmagic, @shugr12110629, @emolordisme, @dugan365, @sociallyimpairedme, @witchymarvelspacecase, @dontsassmecastiel, @peter-pan-hoe, @assbutt-son-of-a-bitch, @allofthesearetakendafuq

[indominusregina]

The Bet: Settling the Score

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Warnings: drinking, swearing, a real sickeningly sweet ending

Word count: 2.4k

Notes: Here we are, the end of The Bet! Thank you all for sticking with me through this! (This was a submission for @justsomebucky 4k celebration)

Feedback is always appreciated!

Masterlist || Part 4 || Epilogue || Series Masterlist

Five days have passed since the comment in the hall. Five days that you’ve spent avoiding Bucky at every turn. You’re sitting in Sam’s room, the two of you blasting the hell out of each other’s avatars in another intense round of video games.

“Not that I mind beating your ass, but-” Sam starts as you slam buttons on your controller and execute a move that puts your character in the lead.

“Excuse me, take a look at the scoreboard, Samuel, then check out the bruises on your own ass.” You scowl as his character manages a strike on your own, although it’s not enough to put him in the lead. One swift move later, though, and you watch as your avatar is blown up and the screen pronounces Sam the winner.

“As I was saying.” Sam grins at you and sets his controller down. “Not that I mind beating your ass, but don’t you have a bet to settle with Frosted Flakes?” He looks at you with some concern as you hang your head, elbows resting on your thighs.

“I guess. But Sam, I really don’t want to do this.” You look over at him, pain apparent in your eyes.

“Nobody wants to lose, Y/N, but you did. And you’re gonna lose with grace and dignity and all that other shit.” Sam pulls you to his side.

“Sam, I can’t hook him up with someone else. I can’t.” Your voice is low, and he squeezes your shoulder.

“Then what you’re going to do is you’re going to hype him up. Although why he needs it, I can’t imagine. Barnes’ ego is the size of the island all on its own.” You chuckle as he snorts in derision, knowing he’s saying things to make you feel better. “You don’t have to point him at anyone in particular, but you’ll be following through on your side of the deal. Deal?” He asks and you nod.

“Deal.”

Of course, your conversation with Sam doesn’t stop you from avoiding the rooms Bucky is in when you know where he is. Unfortunately, you can only miss so many meals, and none of Steve’s meetings. Each time you’re in a room with him, Bucky snags you on the way out and asks for your opinion.

“Hey, Y/N, where’s the best place to take a girl on a date? The movies? A restaurant?”

“What kind of flowers do women like nowadays?”

“Do people still consider walking together a good date idea?”

“Do men still go and pick up women or do they just meet out?”

“Do women prefer to be complimented on the way they dress or the way they act?”

“How should I dress if I’m looking to catch a dame’s eye?”

The questions seem endless, and you aren’t sure you signed up for this much work. By the time Bucky asks you to go out to the nearest club with him, you aren’t sure if you’re dreading it or relieved that the questions will finally end. You dodge it a few times, coming up with excuses here and there.

On his third attempt in a week to get you to go, Natasha answers for you. “She’ll be there.” She grabs your upper arm tightly to keep you silent as Bucky’s grin spreads across his face.

“Excellent! Tonight at 7, we’ll meet in the common area downstairs.” You nod as Natasha squeezes tighter, then pulls you away.

“Knock it off. You can’t avoid Barnes forever.” She hisses as she shoves you into your room, shutting the door behind you.

“You sound exactly like Wilson.” You cross your arms and she mirrors you.

“He’s got good ideas sometimes. Why haven’t you been listening?”

“Because I fell for him.” You let out a breath you didn’t know you’d been holding and move to sit on your bed. “I didn’t mean to, but somewhere along the way, I actually fell for him. I know I’m an idiot, but I just couldn’t help it.” She takes a seat next to you and gathers your hand in hers, rubbing small circles on the back of it with her thumb. As she comforts you, you spill your story and she listens empathetically, nodding and squeezing your hand as you pour your heart out to her.

She spends the rest of the afternoon curled up with you, talking through concerns for tonight. You spend more of the time in silence than not, and as seven o’clock creeps up slowly, she reminds you of just how strong of a person you can be. She slips out to grab you dinner as you get your makeup ready, steeling yourself for the night to come. When she returns, you scarf down as much of the food as you can stomach, thanking her for choosing something mostly bland.

You throw on the most lazy club outfit that Natasha will let you out of your room with. A pair of nice jeans, a sparkly top that she threw at you, and a leather jacket that feels like a shield for you tonight. She eyes you up and down once before nodding, then pulling you in for a hug. “You’ll be okay.” She whispers in your ear and you nod. With a deep breath, you figuratively pull up your big girl panties and strut out of your room determinedly. You don’t stop even as you pass Bucky on the way to the car, forcing him to fall in alongside you.

You drown out the possibility of conversation on the drive to the club by cranking up the music and glaring ahead at the road. The ride is tense, and you can feel Bucky looking over at you constantly. Once you arrive, you hurriedly push past him and into the club, barely stopping for the bouncer to check your ID. You head straight for the bar, ordering a shot and a strong drink and you down the shot as soon as it arrives. You slap some cash down on the bar to pay for your drinks and wait for Bucky to get his beer before making your way to a standing table near the wall.

You sip your drink slowly, allowing the alcohol to flow through your system and calm you down. The music pulses and throbs all the way down to your bones, and in a way it’s soothing. You wait until you’re most of the way through your drink before you look over at Bucky, who is also most of the way through his beer. He’s already looking at you. “What?” You ask, quickly downing the rest of your drink.

“Can I run my line by you?” He asks, sounding a little nervous. You shrug and he throws back the last few gulps of his beer. He wipes his face with the back of his hand and you cross your arms, impatient and annoyed with yourself for agreeing to this. He clears his throat before he speaks, looking at you through slightly hooded eyes.

“Excuse me, I think I dropped something. Looks like my jaw.” Bucky tries, voice low and smooth and God it gets to you.

“Yeah, it’s right down there with your dignity.” The snark is quick to come, acting as armor, just like your jacket.

“Ouch. Shot down in flames.” Bucky pouts, and you sigh, stuffing your hands into your jacket pockets.

“Sorry, Buck. It’s habit at this point. I’m sure it would work on some other girl here.” You look down, chewing your lip.

“Doesn’t matter. Clearly, it doesn’t work on the most beautiful woman in the room.” Bucky steps closer to you and you take a step back, your back hitting the wall behind you.

“Just point her out, Bucky. You never know until you try.” You take a deep breath and look up, directly into his steely blue eyes. Your breath dies in your throat, heart stopping with the intensity in his gaze.

“You see, Y/N, that’s just the thing. I did try. She shot me down in flames.” He takes another step closer and suddenly the air in the room doesn’t seem to have enough oxygen. You flatten your palms against the wall behind you, trying to feel something solid, real. Because this moment can’t be. You swallow thickly, clearing your throat and desperately trying to get your vocal cords to stay on the same page as the rest of you.

“Did you try it out on someone before this? I didn’t see you go anywhere.” Bucky shakes his head, hair falling into his eyes as he laughs. He pushes a hand through it, slicking it back as he looks at you again. “What’s so funny?” You narrow your eyes at him as his laughter dies.

“You really aren’t getting it, are you?” He smirks at you before leaning in, his lips almost brushing your ear. “It’s you.” You almost melt into him, his words making you feel boneless.

“That’s not funny, Bucky.” You push him away even while your heart screams for you to stop. Or maybe it’s Bucky shouting at you. You stalk out of the club as quickly as you can and you almost make it to the car before a metal hand on your arm spins you around to face its owner.

“Jesus Christ, Y/N. I know you’re stubborn, but can you just listen for a minute?” Bucky is exasperated and you roll your eyes.

“Fine.” His grip on your arm loosens, but he doesn’t remove his hand. Instead, his flesh hand comes up to your other arm and he locks eyes with you.

“I know you came here tonight with the intent of being my wingman. I’m also pretty sure you hated every second of it.” He raises his eyebrow at you and you draw your lips into a tight line as a way of affirmation and encouraging him to get on with it. “Unfortunately, you failed.” You glare at him and let out a scoff.

“If you dragged me out here just to berate me I- I’ll have you know I have been nothing but supportive of your stupid endeavour to get a girl with these idiotic lines and-” Bucky put a finger over your lips and your outrage drove you to silence.

“I asked you to listen, didn’t I?” You scowl at him before grumbling a yes behind his finger. He grins at you and you frown again. “You didn’t fail because you did anything wrong. Honestly, you’ve been more patient than I could have been in your situation. You failed because you couldn’t be my wingman and my target.” You blinked, his words slowly sinking in.

“I’m the target?” Your voice is quiet and Bucky nods, a small smile on his lips.

“I thought you had figured it out long before this. Natasha tells me that I’m far more oblivious to my own feelings than everyone else in the compound.”

“When do you talk to Natasha about this?”

“Daily, but let’s stay on topic here, shall we sweetheart?” Bucky’s eyes shine with mirth and a little bit of hope.

“We’re coming back to that.” Bucky nods before giving you a look to nudge you back onto the topic. You think about his words again before your brow furrows. “What did you mean by my situation?” Bucky flushes a little before speaking.

“Promise me you won’t get mad?” You nod warily. “I overheard you that day with Hill. I was on my way to talk to her about her meeting with Tony when I heard her with you, and I heard you telling her about why you were distracted.” Your cheeks fill with warmth, something that doesn’t escape Bucky’s notice. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed over. If you’d overheard any conversation I’d had with Wanda, you’d have heard a similar story.” You look into Bucky’s eyes, searching them for any hint of his lying. All you see is his open expression, and you bite your lip before speaking.

“So. Back there?”

“All true, doll. I happen to think you’re the most beautiful girl in any room. Even when you shoot me down every time I try to tell you.” You bite your lip again before taking a deep breath.

“I’ve got a question for you then.”

“Anything.” Bucky looks confused and you smile softly at him.

“What would you have done if I said the line worked?” He smiles back at you.

“Well, darlin’, if you’d said the line worked, I would have asked if you wanted a dance.” He moves his left hand, palm up in front of you and you slip yours into it. He slides his flesh hand to your waist and he starts swaying you to an imaginary beat.

“Then what?” You ask lowly, looking up at him through your lashes.

“Then I might have done something like this.” He spins you out, twirling you around before pulling you back in close, knocking the breath out of you. “And maybe something like this.” He tilts his head down, lips moving closer to yours, and stops with barely an inch between them, waiting for your reaction. You let out a shaky breath before leaning your head up, lips landing on his. It feels like coming home, like being wrapped in a blanket on a rainy afternoon. It feels comfortable.

Bucky pulls back first, resting his forehead on yours. For a moment, you both just rest in the quiet of the night. “Hey Bucky?” You ask and he pulls back enough to see your face clearly.

“Yes doll?”

“The line worked.” Bucky lets out a laugh that has your heart fluttering in your chest before making you giggle with him.

“Been waitin’ a few weeks to hear you say that, sweetheart.” You hum at this and he moves to your side, wrapping an arm around your shoulder. “Come on, let’s get home.” You wrap your arm around his waist and the two of you fall into step as you walk back to the car. You stay quiet until you reach the car, a grin on your face.

“Oh, and Bucky?” He hums, looking over at you with a raised brow.

“What did you mean, you talk to Natasha about this daily?” He laughs and shakes his head as he opens your door.

“I’ll tell you all about it on the way back home.” You nod, before freezing, one leg in the door.

“Does this also mean you’re my block against sleazy drunk guys at the bar?”

“For as long as you’ll have me.” Bucky shrugs, and you peck him on the lips.

“I think at least a month.” You wink at him and laugh as you sink into the seat, letting him close the door behind you. Turns out, the bet worked out for both of you.

Epilogue

Tags: @childoftimeandmagic, @shugr12110629, @emolordisme, @dugan365, @sociallyimpairedme, @witchymarvelspacecase, @dontsassmecastiel, @peter-pan-hoe, @assbutt-son-of-a-bitch, @allofthesearetakendafuq , @radi0active-thoughts, @mizzzpink, @johnmurphys-sass, @sarahwroteathing, @the-nargles-made-me-do-it, @thellamalord, @asmilinghopelessromantic, @lilypalmer1987, @killjoynotes  @imeannooffensebabybut, @buckybarnesxoxo

[indominusregina]

The Bet: The Fine Print

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Warnings: More flirtatious Bucky, swearing, a bit of angst, low self esteem

Word count: 3.3k

Notes: Part 3 at last! Thank you all for your patience. All the rest is written now, so the wait should only be a week between parts! This was a submission for @justsomebucky and her 4k celebration. Although it’s taken me a long time to get this out, the end of this chapter has actually been written since the first chapter was complete. Most of this is from Bucky’s point of view with the exception of a short section in the middle.

Remember, feedback keeps your writers happy.

Masterlist || Part 2 || Part 4 || Series Masterlist

Bucky isn’t entirely sure when this stopped being just a game to him. He knows it was funny when you shot him down at dinner, and even when he threw the museum line at you and you deflected it as easily as every other time he was fine. No, the nagging sensation in his heart gut didn’t present as a problem until he’d crushed that bit of joy he saw in your eyes when you were shooting with Clint. He’d gotten a good chewing out from the archer later that night, but it didn’t compare to the guilt stewing inside him. He figures it must have been around the time you handed him the map that it hit him.

Bucky rolls up the window after you pat him on the cheek with a dopey smile on his face, still a little bit caught up in his head. “Earth to Buck, is anyone in there?” Steve flashes him a wide smirk and Bucky rolls his eyes, swatting his partner in crime with the map you’d conveniently handed him.

Wanda’s voice floats lightly into the front seat. “Oh, there’s someone in there alright.” Both Bucky and Steve whip around to see her leaning back casually, a sly smirk on her face. The glare on Bucky’s face barely phases her, but she keeps her mouth shut anyway. The silence speak volumes, however, and the drive to the new compound is filled with teasing glances from Steve next to him.

When he runs into you in the kitchen the next morning, he pauses for a moment in the doorway. It’s a rare thing these days, finding you unguarded in his presence. He smiles softly as he watches you humming and scrambling your eggs before he spurs himself into action. When you choke a little in front of him, the concern that races through his system is genuine, and he thinks that maybe he doesn’t want to win this anymore. The thought makes him frown, an action that you don’t seem to notice and he slips away, no longer as hungry as he was when he walked in.

He avoids you for the rest of the day, too many thoughts racing through his head for him to deal with feeding you pick-up lines that he’s already forgotten. It doesn’t take him more than an hour or so to realise exactly why he doesn’t want to win. The rest of the day is devoted to crushing down the panic that rises in him every time he thinks about the fact that he’s stupidly, head over heels, already in love with you.

He knows he can’t be good for you, that you’re too good for him, but his heart just doesn’t want to listen to his head, logic be damned. He’s frustrated with this stupid bet, because winning means you have to help him land a girl when all he wants is to have you by his side but losing means helping you out when there are other guys hitting on you and he doesn’t know if he can control himself when he’s in your presence. He takes his frustrations out with a punishing run in the new terrain, simultaneously allowing him to familiarise himself with the area. When it hits him, he stops dead in his tracks. He does want to win. And he knows exactly what to do with his victory. With a grin, he picks his pace back up, his step already lighter.

Tony decides that the best way to welcome everyone to the new compound is a party down at the waterfront, where there will be ‘grilling, chilling, and thrilling.’ The phrasing doesn’t exactly excite Bucky, but it’s mandatory and you’ll be there in a swimsuit and he would die before passing that opportunity up. By the time Bucky shows up to the stupid party, you’re laying in the sun, in a swimsuit that makes his heart stop. Your face is turned up to the light, soaking in the rays next to Natasha and Sam, right near the shoreline. He grins at you as you turn his way, unable and unwilling to stop the line that comes out of his mouth.

“Hey doll. Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?” He waggles his eyebrows as you undoubtedly roll your eyes behind your dark sunglasses.

“You should just keep walking, Barnes. Don’t stop.” A smirk graces his face as he drops his towel, strips off his shirt, and kicks off his shoes.

“Can do.” He scoops you up, ignoring your indignant yells and kicks as he walks straight towards the lake. He doesn’t stop until he’s waist deep and you’re clinging to him and he doesn’t want to do anything else because the way you’re holding onto him is perfect, even if the way he got you there isn’t.

“JAMES BUCHANAN BARNES, PUT ME DOWN.” You scream one more time, and he complies, prying you off him and tossing you into the water. You screech as you hit the cold water and when you emerge there’s a fire in your eyes that rivals any he’s ever seen and it both excites and terrifies him, sending a chill racing up his spine. “You’re going to pay for that.” Your voice is low and threatening and the chill he gets from this is for an entirely different reason. The next thing he knows, you’ve launched yourself at him and he’s falling backwards into the water as his legs are taken out from under him. It turns into a full-on water war with Natasha coming to his aid as Wanda comes to yours and suddenly the whole team is splashing around together.

When the civil war dies down, he finds himself on a towel next to yours, drying off in the sun. Rhodey’s at the grill, getting instructions he doesn’t need from Tony while Bruce sits closeby, bone dry and sipping a beer. He refused to join in on the fun, citing his unfair advantage to get out of getting wet. Steve and Clint are sitting off to the side, having a hushed conversation that Bucky is sure will result in another, more highly strategised war later and he chuckles. As he lays next to you, he finds he can’t pass up another opportunity.

“Hey, Y/N. I wrote a poem for you.” He doesn’t look over at you, and he knows that the only movement on your part is a sassy little eyebrow raise as you respond dryly.

“Oh really?”

“Mhm. Roses are red, my face is too, that only happens when I’m with you.” He props himself up onto his elbows and glances over at you as you sigh.

“That also happens when you stay out in the sun too long. Here.” He watches you pat around the ground near you until you find what you’re looking for and throw it at him, landing accurately on his stomach. A bottle of sunblock. Bucky lets out a snort of laughter that has you giggling too, and he’s almost happy enough just with making you laugh. Almost.

“You look a little sick. You must be suffering from a lack of Vitamin Me.” He grins as you prop yourself up on your elbows beside him and lower your shades to glare at him. He can feel the flutter of his heart inside his chest as you focus solely on him.

“I am sick. Sick of these lines.” You narrow your eyes and he puts up his hands defensively.

“Alright, I’ll take a break. If you take a break from looking so damn gorgeous.”

“Bucky, stop.” The defeat in your voice bothers him, his gut twisting uncomfortably.

“What’s wrong?” He sits up, turning to face you better. “I was only teasing. Mostly. You are gorgeous.” His lip twitches up into a half smile that drops off his face as soon as he sees your returning frown.

“Just knock it off, alright. Jesus. I know you need help with getting a girl, but you don’t need to make everything you say to me just a part of this game.” You sit up, curling into yourself, and his brow furrows in confusion.

“I-” You cut him off before he can say anything, and as you speak, the confusion turns to frustration.

“No, Bucky. I don’t want to hear it. It’s just going to be another stupid line and I can’t handle that right now. I-”

“It’s not another line. What, do you think you’re not pretty enough to get genuine compliments without it being a game of some sort?” The flash of hurt in your eyes before anger replaces it is enough to tell him he hit the nail exactly on the head and that he went a little too far. He watches, half-frozen as you get up, shoving the glasses up your nose as quickly as you can, although he still catches a glimpse of tears before the shades obscure them. You snatch your towel, wrapping it around yourself angrily as his voice finally seems to work again. “Y/N, I didn’t mean-”

“Shut up, Barnes. Just shut up.” The tears in your voice are enough to silence him immediately and he watches in despair as you walk quickly away from him, shaking your head at whatever Natasha says to you. He waits only another moment or two before getting up as well, no longer in the mood to party. It kills him to leave you alone, to let you sort through this, but he knows his presence would not be welcome in the least. He won’t sleep tonight, not until he knows you’re alright.

You race back to your room, tears spilling out from your eyes unbidden, unwanted. He didn’t mean it, not the way you took it. You know this, but it doesn’t help that he managed to find the one thing that had been on your mind for the last few days. The nagging sensation that Bucky was only flirting with you due to the stupid bet when it was starting to mean so much more to you had turned into a voice that screamed its thoughts at you when he made his statement and it frustrates you incessantly. As you argue with yourself, you take a long shower, changing into pajamas and giving up on the rest of the day, resigning to an afternoon and evening of Netflix and introspection.

The rest of the day passes by in a haze. You don’t really remember the show you watched, your mind playing Bucky’s reactions over and over in your head. Yes, he’d managed to find and point out your insecurity, but as soon as he’d realised what he’d done, he had looked absolutely crushed. You frown, chewing on your lip until it’s raw and swollen, tongue running over it absently as you replay the last thing he tried to say before you ran away. Was it an apology? Did he really feel terrible for what he hadn’t meant to say? Did he also think this was more than a game? Or was it all just a horrible joke?

Your mind races with the possibilities. Sighing, you resign yourself to at least a few more hours of being wide awake. Rolling out of bed, you search for an oversized sweater, settling for one you stole from Sam. You throw on some sweatpants and scrounge for a pair of boots, then wrap your blanket around you. If you had to move to a more isolated area, you may as well take advantage of your newfound ability to actually see the stars instead of just blackness above as you contemplate just how screwed you really are. Slipping quietly out of your room so as not to disturb Wanda across the hall, you make your way to the stairs, blanket cape billowing behind you as you run, causing a few giggles to escape. You ascend the stairs, pausing at the top to take a deep breath before you open the door to the cold.

Bucky is about to take his self-loathing to the gym for a nice workout when the door to the rooftop opens, light pouring out and destroying his night vision. A grunt escapes his lips as he slams his eyes shut. “Oh shit, I’m sorry! I didn’t think anyone else would be up here.” It’s you. Of course it’s you. Who else could it have been but you?

“It’s fine.” His voice is coarse, unused, and he flinches at the sound.

“I’ll just leave you to...whatever you’re doing.” You open the door again, light flooding the rooftop once more.

“Wait!” He sounds desperate and he hates himself for it already, but God, he doesn’t want you to run away again. It would break him. You close the door, but he thanks every star that he can see, that is, if he could see, that you stay on this side of it. “Stay.” He cringes inside, but you haven’t left yet.

“Buck… I’m…. I’m not really in the mood for another line tonight, so I-” God, you sound so upset. Stupid bet.

“No lines. Please. We can sit in silence if you’d like.” It feels like every muscle he has is taut. He can’t remember the last time he’s felt this tense.

“Okay.” Your boots thud quietly on the roof, and with each step, he can feel his muscles loosen. You ease down next to him and pull your blanket tighter around yourself. His heart squeezes a little bit, and he’s thankful for the dark and the fact that your eyes can’t have adjusted well enough to see his cheeks darken. You rest your chin on your knees and he lays back, taking deep and soothing breaths to try to calm his racing heart. “Can’t sleep?” You ask, and he shakes his head before realising you can’t see it.

“No. Just not tired, I suppose. Felt like shit about earlier.” He answers you, and you respond with a hum. You both sit in silence for a few minutes before he gathers his thoughts enough to actually talk to you. “How about you? Nightmares?” He’s pretty sure you’re not usually up and about in the middle of the night.

It’s quiet for a minute before you respond. “Of a sort.” The words are slow, like you’re unsure if that’s really what you want to say. He waits to see if you’ll elaborate, but you just keep staring forward, eyes unfocused.

“Want to talk about it?” He asks, and you sigh.

“Not really. Felt like shit about earlier, too.” Your words fall into the night, but at least you lifts your head to see the stars above you. The quiet that was oppressive earlier has become comforting in your presence and it unsettles him a little. His own discomfort is quickly forgotten, though, as he hears your shuddering breath and can see your body quake. You shift, pulling into yourself more and pulling the blanket tighter around you.

“Cold?” He asks, a slight teasing lilt in his voice as he tries to lighten the mood.

“Aren’t you?” Your voice is incredulous as your head whips around to get a better look at him. He can’t help but bark out a short laugh, the sound sharp in the softness of the night.

“Super soldier, doll. I’m always hot.” He grins even as you admonish him.

“I thought we agreed on no lines tonight.” Your tone is light, and he can hear the smile in your voice even as you reprimand him. God, he’s in too deep and he knows it.

“Sorry. It was an accident.” He knows even without being able to see it that you’re rolling your eyes at him.

“Sure, Barnes. And I’m the Queen of England.” More like the Queen of my World.

“I’d just like you to appreciate the effort I am exerting here to not respond to that with another line.” You laugh, and his heart swells.  Thisisabet.

“Noted and appreciated, Barnes.” No longer just comforting, but light. Something you both needed tonight. “I’m sorry about running off.” You’re so fragile and it pains him more than a knife or bullet ever could.

“I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He’s fragile too. The moment would be ruined if he were anything else.

“I know.” You respond softly, a little less fragile, and he knows that whatever this was is over. You’re both forgiven for what was done. He watches as another shiver wracks your frame and he takes a deep breath.

“I could share some of that heat, if you want.” Again with the desperation.

“What?”

“It’s just that I run warm and you’re clearly cold and there’s this lovely patch of hard rooftop right next to me that seems like it could be calling your name.” He actually cringes this time. How pathetic can you get, Barnes?

The silence after his statement is excruciating until- “Fine.” You slide closer to him and stretch your legs out beside his before starting to lower yourself down. You bolt upright again and he freezes. “But no funny business!” He lets out a quick laugh, but promises anyway. Everything else falls away as you lay down next to him fully. You keep your distance, and he shakes his head a little.

“You can move closer. You’re not getting much of my warmth all the way over there, and I swear I won’t bite.” Unless you ask me to.

“You better not.” You move a little closer and he wraps an arm around you and pulls you into his side. You rest your hand on his chest and he swears you’re going to run once you feel just how fast his heart is racing. “I’m warning you. I’ve got some very powerful friends. You might have heard of them. They’re called the Avengers.” You rest your head on his shoulder and he can feel your grin and he swears that even if he died in this moment it might be worth it just for that.

“No, I don’t think I have.” He grins back down at you as you start to laugh. He’s already giddy and your laugh is contagious, so it’s only moments before the two of you are laughing together, tangled up in your blanket under a sea of stars.

The laughter dies down and you settle into his side, the last few laughs escaping both of you as your chests heave as one.

“Hey Bucky?” You tilt your head up to look at him and his stomach flips a little. He doesn’t trust his words, so he simply hums an acknowledgement. “Do you know any constellations?” He hums his assent with a nod. “Could you teach me?”

He clears his throat before taking his free arm and pointing up. “Do you see those ones? The three in a line?” You turn your gaze to follow his direction and nod. “That’s Orion’s belt. If you look carefully, you can see the rest of him. He’s the hunter, so he’s at the ready with his weapons.” You let out a short laugh and he lowers his arm.

“Sounds an awful lot like a super soldier I know. He’s pretty stellar too.” You giggle and he gives your side a squeeze, causing you to giggle more.

“I thought we agreed on no lines, huh?” You laugh as his fingers tickle your side, squirming in his grip until finally crying Uncle.

“I couldn’t resist.” He laughs quietly and you tuck yourself back into his side. “Can you teach me more?” He moves his hand back up to your arm and gives it a comforting squeeze as he points out the next constellation and prays for this night to never end.

Part 4

Tags: @childoftimeandmagic, @shugr12110629, @emolordisme, @dugan365, @sociallyimpairedme, @witchymarvelspacecase, @dontsassmecastiel, @peter-pan-hoe, @assbutt-son-of-a-bitch, @allofthesearetakendafuq , @radi0active-thoughts, @mizzzpink, @johnmurphys-sass, @sarahwroteathing, @the-nargles-made-me-do-it

[childoftimeandmagic]

This is fantastic!!

The Bet: Unforseen Consequences

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Warnings: Swearing Lite™, flirtacious Bucky

Word count: 2.1k

Notes: Finally, part 2! Lots of complications in my personal life led to a long gap between part 1 and 2, but I don’t forsee many more delays like this one! This part has the actual prompt (Is that the best you can do?) from the @justsomebucky challenge! Also, credit where credit is due, many of the wonderful responses are from @sarahwroteathing Enjoy part 2! Remember, feedback gives me life!

Masterlist || Part 1

The rest of the morning, Bucky is quiet. You aren’t going out of your way to avoid him, but even so, he’s nowhere to be found. Although you’re not overly concerned by the bet, having him almost entirely vanish is setting your nerves on edge, making you more than a little paranoid every time you round a corner. Will he preempt his line with something? Will he just go for it?

Your fears are abated mid-afternoon. Just as you finally settle down on the couch to watch some Netflix and procrastinate on packing with a steaming mug of tea after a hard workout, Bucky strolls in and sits down on the other end. You tense up but continue your browsing, both of you waiting in silence. Just as you settle on a show, Bucky clears his throat.

“Hey, uh, is your name Earl Grey?” He starts, and you look over at him in confusion. “Because you’re a hot-tea!”

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