#peter parker & shuri

[jamesbvck]

start of you | b. barnes | one shot

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader Summary: It started out as a thought, a suggestion of getting out of the Avengers Headquarters to blow off some stress. Then it turned into carnival lights, cotton candy and seeing the world from the top of the ferris wheel with you. Word Count: 2.8K Warnings: None, just fluff! A/N: This can be read BEFORE or AFTER Back to You. Please let me know what you think, feedback is appreciated! :)

It started out as a thought, a suggestion of getting out of the Avengers Headquarters to blow off some stress. Everyone seemed to ho and hum about it, mulling over the idea Wanda proposed of going to Coney Island. Natasha seemed to be okay with the idea, nodding her head along as she looked to Steve. Steve shrugged and agreed that they did need to get out and not worry about the world for one day, there was only so much they could do. Sam was in and Parker, who appeared out of nowhere, was amped up to go.

“I’m not going to babysit you while we’re there, kid,” Sam told Peter. Peter blinked. “I’m not four. I’m seventeen.”

“Your baby face says otherwise. Let’s make sure he gets height checked to see if he can go on the rides.”

Steve laughed softly, shaking his head. The last time he was there was with Bucky and he threw up on the Cyclone. Bucky had fuzzy memories; nonetheless, the imagery painted in his mind of that night was still humourous to him.

“What do you say, hot shot? Gonna come out to have some fun?”

Bucky looked up as your approached him, arms crossed over your chest with a perfect tiny smile on your lips. His heart skipped and his mind started searching for an answer. Things between Bucky and you were always a mystery. Everyone knew that there was a spark, a connection that you had since you first laid eyes on each other. The issue was it was dangerous to have two people working in the same field, especially one that could be riddled with death at any moment. It was something you had both talked about at 3AM on the days you’d stay at the facility for training; sitting in the kitchen eating copious amounts of chocolate from the last country you were in. That’s when Bucky felt more like himself - when he was with you or Steve. He could say anything and not feel judgement like he did from the others sometimes. Bucky was still trying to piece together his life even since Shuri fixed him up in Wakanda. He’d forever be thankful to her and now it was his turn to have a life.

“Uh, I don’t know,” he finally replied.

“Come on, Buck,” Steve encouraged. “It’ll be fun for a few hours, maybe trace back some memories.”

“Yeah, come on, Buck,” you re-enforced.

Bucky’s downfall was your smile each time. Somehow it had this persuasiveness to it that seemed to be magic. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll go.”

“This is going to be amazing,” Peter whispered excitedly to himself.

Everyone scattered to their rooms to go get ready, leaving Bucky and you in the common area. “I thought it’d take more to convince you.”

“It’s not that I didn’t want to go, it’s the arm thing. People are still freaked out about it,” he explained.

“People are going to get over it,” you replied, half seating yourself on the table in front of him. “They live in a world where there are Spider-Mans and Ant-Mans and a girl with magic hands, robots… I think they can live with someone with an arm made of Vibranium. You’re not under HYDRA’s control anymore, you are in control of your life. You are Bucky Barnes, and you’re going to buy me some damn cotton candy when we get to Coney Island.”

Bucky let out a breath, watching you walk away. Between you and Steve, you always could talk him up to feel better about himself when his unhappy thoughts were getting the best of him. A moment passed and he rose from the chair to go back to his room. He changed out of his loungewear into some day clothes. He tugged on his black ball cap, exited his room and walked with Natasha down the hallway. She gave him a few smirky looks, but he brushed her off and began to walk ahead.

The large seven-seater SUV sat outfront of the doors. Sam was already in the driver's seat, impatiently waiting for everyone to haul their ass into the car. Nat jumped up and sat in the passenger’s seat, with Wanda climbing into the far back, followed by Bucky.

“Can I sit here?” Peter asked Bucky, holding his backpack to his front.

“No,” Bucky was monotone.

“Can I put my backpack there?”

“No.”

“Okay. Well can I--”

“Peter, why don’t sit with me in the second row,” Steve patted the kid’s shoulder with a grin.

Peter blinked a few times, nodding rapidly. “Really? I mean-- Sure, thank you, Mister Captain America, sir,” he scrambled to her into the car while Bucky rolled his eyes in the backseat, resting his head against the side of the car.

“Where’s [Y/N]? We’re burning gas,” Sam miffed.

“I’m here, relax, Sammy,” you said and climbed into the back. Wanda had shuffled over to the side as you plopped yourself in between her and Bucky. You brushed your shoulder with Bucky, slipping on your sunglasses. You tucked your small backpack under your legs and sunk into the leather seats as Sam started the journey.

The majority of the ride was accompanied by Sam’s playlist. No one was allowed to touch the radio, as he was still catching up Steve on the good music, and Bucky for that matter too. You caught Bucky bobbing his head to a few songs, unaware of his own actions. It was nice to see him out of his confined space at the headquarters and breaking out to do something new.

The sun was warm, beaming down onto the pavement. The air was humid and a little sticky. The group walked along to the entrance of the park with Peter leading the way, explaining how they all had to get wristbands for the rides.

“We’re letting the kid be in charge?” Sam asked.

“He knows more about it then I do,” Steve replied. “He’s excited and there’s nothing wrong with that. If anything, we should be more like Peter.”

“I’m going to pretend you never said that,” Sam shook his head. “Parker, watch where you’re going,” he quickened his pace to catch up to the teenager. Someone had to handle the kid.

You, Natasha and Wanda wandered along with eyes scanning the fun-filled surroundings.

“I can’t remember the last time I was on a rollercoaster,” Nat spoke.

“I’ve never been on one,” Wanda said, mentioning another thing to Natasha afterwards.

You turned your head back to see Bucky walking with Steve, chatting. There was an amused expression on Bucky’s face which made you think it was probably a memory Steve was sharing with him. Two old friends walking down memory lane, comparing and contrasting the then and now. It was what they both deserved after the last couple of years (and the many before that). Gently, you tucked some strands of hair behind your ear as you faced forward again.

Peter and Sam had everything settled at the ticket both, getting everyone a wristband for the rides. Peter clasped the pink wristband around your wrist.

“Thanks, Peter,” you smiled and he grinned back, moving on to help Wanda.

Bucky was struggling with his own. The metal of his fingers were slipping with the material of the wristband and it kept falling to the ground. Trying not to laugh, you walked over to help him.

“Instead of being stubborn, you can ask for help,” you said as you  took the band from him and adjusted it to his wrist size on his right arm.

“I would have asked eventually,” he murmured. “Thank you.”

“Can you promise me something?”

“What’s that?”

“Go on a ride with me later? You and me?” you asked, a hint of shyness in your tone.

Bucky nodded. “Promise.”

You smiled, your stomach flipping twice over. You moved back to walk with the girls as the day officially started. The lines were long but not horrid. Peter nearly went on every ride and you joined him for a fair few. Wanda was having the time of her life and Natasha was busy making fun of Cap for getting dizzy on all of the rides. Sam had managed to get Bucky on a few. You had never seen his face light up in such a childlike way. And Bucky hated to admit it, but he was actually having fun.

“I think this is cheating,” Sam observed, his arms firmly folded. “Two super soldiers playing Milk Bottles, one that has probably never missed a shot in his life and the other that’s just good at everything.”

“Sounds like you’re jealous, Sam,” Natasha quipped.

Sam scoffed. “Let’s put it to a bet. Two dollars on Steve.”

“Two dollars on Bucky,” Wanda inputted.

“I’m gonna be Team Winter Soldier,” Peter mumbled through caramel corn.

“Team Cap,” Natasha nodded.

The eyes turned to you as you idly ate the cotton candy Bucky had gotten you. Realistically you didn’t care who won at a game of Milk Bottles, the game was typically rigged anyway.

“Do I have to pick someone?”

“Yes, you are a contributing member of society,” Sam said.

You raised a brow, stuffing your mouth with some more pink cloudy fluff. “Steve.”

Sam was astonished by your decision, his mouth agape that formed into a wicked grin. “Bets are in, let’s go, boys.”

“This seems a little ridiculous,” Bucky mentioned to Steve. The game attendant handed them each three balls. Bucky picked one up, surprised by the weight. “It’s feather light, this won’t do anything.”

“Gotta use that arm of yours,” you commented before Steve could. You sat at the end of the booth, swinging your legs. “Come on, show me I picked the wrong guy,” your body leaned towards Bucky while his eyes watched you pluck more of the cotton candy to eat.

“Ready?” Steve asked, throwing the ball up and down. Bucky nodded, taking a few steps back. Natasha gave them a three second countdown. Unsurprisingly, the first stack of milk bottles was knocked clean by the both of them. The second stack didn’t stand a chance, crashing down with each toss.

Bucky glanced over at Steve who appeared to be having a blast. Something flashed back in Bucky’s mind to a time when Steve felt like he was worthless and couldn’t do anything, couldn’t win a dumb game, couldn’t do anything his normal sized friend could do. They were an even match now, yet Bucky wanted to do the right thing. As he gripped the ball in his hand, Bucky’s shoulder rotated but let the ball slide and hang to the left, only knocking over the top bottle. Steve’s stack was demolished.

You quirked your brow. Natasha and Sam cheered for Steve, but it was all just fun and games. Steve held his hand out to his friend, shaking hands for a moment.

“You let me win, Buck?” Steve whispered.

“Why the hell would I do that, Rogers? Ball got away from me,” Bucky replied.

Steve wasn’t convinced, just like you. He let it go, patting Bucky’s arm before the group continued on. You slid off the booth and matched Bucky’s pace. Silently you offered him the last of the cotton candy. He took it and placed it on his tongue to instantly dissolve. His eyes blinked a few times.

“Did they not have cotton candy in your time?”

“They did. Kind of forgot what it tasted like, how it disappears,” he explained. “Lots of things have changed, but the few things that are the same help.”

You couldn’t imagine what he must have been going through from day to day. Sometimes, if you were lucky, he’d tell you. Those were his good times, but he had his bad ones and you had been witness to a few. The therapist he was going to see also seemed to be making an impact. Perhaps he’d never be fully fixed, but he could live a better life.

Your body collided with another. The man was grumpy, cursing at you and telling you to watch where you were going. You muttered an apology, rubbing your shoulder. Bucky had stopped, darting his eyes at the man with a fist forming.

“Bucky, it’s fine. I wasn’t paying attention,” you wrapped your hands around his fist, slowing prying open his fingers until he relaxed. His eyes snapped to you, letting the nerve go, and nodded. You had a calming factor that he was grateful for. And there was what smile again, the one that always made his heart skip a beat. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Bucky nodded. “I’m good, doll.”

The afternoon sky transformed into the evening. The sun began to set over the bay, the water sparkling with light waves. Everyone was in good spirits since the stress of a typical day had melted away. Between the corndogs, waffle ice cream cones and a brain freeze from a slushie, it was safe to say it had been a good day. The crowds got thicker as your group pushed through the night time rush. You remained by Bucky’s side, gripping onto his clothing so you wouldn’t lose him. You couldn’t see Nat or Steve anymore, and Wanda, Peter and Sam must have been ahead with them too.

Bucky made sure he never lost you. Once there was a clearing, he moved you both there for a moment. “I thought of something, I made you a promise to go on a ride. We haven’t yet.”

You had almost forgotten as well. Too much sugar had gone to your head. A mischievous smirk lined your lips. “Come on, old man!”

“Wait,” Bucky stumbled along as you began to pull him through another crowd. Wanda’s ‘bright idea’ was nearly proving to be a nightmare.

You stopped once you arrived at the Ferris Wheel, a bright grin appearing as you turned back to look at Bucky.

“Don’t hate me, okay?” you tugged him into the line, wrapping your arms around his metal one. The metal felt cool against your skin in the humid night air.

Bucky couldn’t help but be fascinated by the neon lights that lit every angle of the park. From him and Steve, to you and Bucky. The future looked to be brighter. The lights hightled your face in the most appealing way; a shining glow of perfection that consumed his mind and heart. You were perfect.

“What are you thinking about?” you asked.

“Old times, different times. And you, doll.”

You laughed softly, playfully rolling your eyes. “Do you think they’ll notice that we’re gone?”

“I’m sure Steve will start a search party soon.”

The line moved at a moderate pace. Couples and friends got on, and others got off to go enjoy the rest of their evening. By the time you and Bucky got to the front of the line, the sky was a dark blue with stars twinkling. You flashed your wristbands, going onto the ride. Bucky sat next to you as the ride attendant secured the safety restraint. There was a sudden lurch before the wheel began to smooth rotate, stopping and going for new people to get on.

New York’s city lights were stunning at night. You swore they could go on for forever and ever.

“So was it worth it leaving the house today?” you asked.

Bucky’s eyes scanned the grounds, a single nod. “Should have done it sooner, with you.”

“I do like our 3AM snack dates in the kitchen.”

“Snack dates?” he chuckled. “Sounds a little pathetic.”

“Maybe…” you hummed. “Not pathetic. Not everything has to be a show. What matters is how the two people feel about each other. Love conquers a lot of things.”

Bucky turned his head to look at you. You were right, you were right about a lot of things. You were right by saying cookie dough ice cream was the best thing to have on a cold January night and hot chocolate was still warming in the blistering heat of July. He knew you were right when you said it was only complicated if you wanted to be, that it began with you. His better days and better memories started with you.

“You’re too good for me, doll.”

“Am I?”

He chuckled lowly. “Always will be.”

The ferris wheel halted as more people got on and off. They weren’t at the top but close enough to touch the stars. You glanced around before settling into Bucky’s gaze. “What?”

“Don’t hate me, okay?”

Gently, Bucky leaned forward. His hand molded to your cheek, his eyes closing, then yours when his lips connected with yours. He kissed you and the world seemed to fall away. Bucky’s thumb glided over your skin; the kiss was soft and slow and something you wanted to relive over and over again. You could feel his lips parting but before he could get away, you reeled him back in with the tug of his shirt.

“Took you long enough,” you mumbled against his lips. He smiled, pecking your lips again, and again, and again. You laugh, butterflies erupting in the pit of your stomach.

It was a perfect night with a person, another new memory started with Bucky.

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