#with every doll I purchase the need to reorganize my displays and move some to storage grows

[window-view-orion]

I’m not really an OMG doll collector but I do have a few, and there are plenty that if I saw them in a store for a good price I would probably pick them up.

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Guess who I found in store for a good price? 😅

[buckyscrystalqueen]

The Cards: Part 3

Pairings: Bucky x Reader

Warnings: Swearing, angst, fluff, mentions of past abuse by readers ex.

Word Count: 3,408

Part 1 / Part 2

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“So when are you gunna introduce me to this guy?” You looked up at Sara and laughed. The two of you were working on putting out the new stock and updating inventory at the end of the day the day after the gem show.

“Should have showed up at work yesterday and you would have met him.” She scowled and rolled her eyes. 

“Please. Would you like me to have thrown up on someone?” You shrugged as you reorganized the shelves to fit two new amethyst geodes you had picked up.

“Yea well you win some, you lose some.” You paused what you were doing and looked over at her. “He saw the scars.” Sara looked up from the box of moonstone crystals she was counting. She whistled as she ran her fingers through her long blonde hair.

“How did that happen?” You huffed and grabbed an almost empty box of rose quartz crystals off the shelf.

“Well, he saw the ones on my stomach when I was washing the coffee off my shirt. Then when we were headed to David’s he asked how I got into all this.” You set the box on the counter and looked at your best friend. “He didn’t run. In fact, it almost brought him closer.” Sara pushed the box of moonstones out of her way and rested her elbows on the glass.

“Honey… the universe has spoken to you twice on this one. Maybe it’s time… it’s been eight years.” You nodded as you ran your hand through your hair and leaned on the counter next to her.

“I know I should trust the universe, S but I’m scared. Shit, I haven’t taken my clothes off for a man in eight years let alone letting someone in on a personal level. Telling my story is one thing…”

“Think that’s why you keep getting the four of cups?” You huffed and looked down at the display case.

“Yea…” Sara reached out and took your hand in hers, squeezing it reassuringly.

“Honey, you have to let it go. You have to give someone a chance other than me.” You nodded as tears well in your eyes. She gave you a small smile and brushed your hair behind your ears. “You are the most amazing and strong woman I know. You have overcome so much and you have come so far. You’re allowed to be scared but you can’t let fear hold you back anymore, sweetheart.” You nodded as a few tears slipped from your eyes. “Oh, honey.” She chuckled as she came around the counter and pulled you in for a hug.

“Oh… I’ll… um…” You smiled at the sound of Bucky’s voice from the door and pulled back away from Sara.

“No, you’re fine.” You said as you wiped the tears off your cheeks. “Just having a girl moment. Bucky, this is my partner in crime Sara. This is…”

“So much hotter than you said he was.” You whacked Sara’s arm as Bucky blushed.

“The hell is wrong with you?” You asked as you rolled your eyes. “Ignore her. She has no filter.” He nodded as he stepped into the shop.

“I mean, I guess I should be flattered that you talk about me?” You laughed and shrugged your shoulders.

“I guess. So what’s up?”

“Well, I was… no where near the neighborhood and wanted to see if you wanted to have dinner… make up for that fifty bucks.” You laughed and nodded.

“Yea, I’d like that. I have some things to finish…”

“No, she doesn’t.” Sara interrupted as she pushed you in the direction of the door. “She’s all yours. Sweep her off her feet and carry her away into the night.”

“Jesus Christ, Sara. Can I at least get my keys?” You laughed as you tried to fight against your friend.

“Shoes would probably be good, too. It’s still snowing outside.” You held your hands up at him and looked back at Sara.

“See, common sense to look out for my well being unlike you.” Your friend rolled her eyes as she darted around the counter to grab your things.

“I know you well enough to know if I don’t shove you out the door, you will tell him you’ll need five minutes and two hours from now you will both still be here.” She handed you your jacket, boots and keys. “Remember what I said.” You nodded as you pulled on your Uggs.

“Weren’t you just talking about how you wanted to meet him?” She shrugged and took a step back.

“I met him. Enjoy dinner and your days off!” You rolled your eyes as you pulled on your coat. You looked up at Bucky with a smile.

“So I guess we’re going to dinner.” He chuckled and nodded as he held open the door for you.

“That was the fastest turn around I have ever seen.” You laughed as you stepped out into the snow and turned toward your apartment. He moved to stand on your left side so he was between you and the road like a gentleman.

“Well, before we eat, I have to let my dog out.” He glanced down at you with his eyebrow cocked and you laughed. “Yes, after everything I have a dog. Part of my therapy.”

“What kind of dog?” You bit your lip as he reached out and took your hand in his; lacing his fingers with yours.

“She is the most vicious monster you will ever see.” You looked up at him and smiled. “She’s an Italian Greyhound.” He laughed.

“Did you name her Killer, too?” You giggled and shook your head.

“Her name is Chloe. I rescued her from the pound about four years ago. She usually comes to the shop with me except on days we restock. She tends to get in the way if I decide to move things around.”

“Did getting her help?”

“Surprisingly, yea. It was a process, though. First time I went into the pound I had a panic attack. Sara had to carry me out. But each time got a little easier. I got lucky with Chloe. She was just as scared as I was. She only a few weeks old when I got her.” Bucky nodded as you stopped at the main door of your walk-up. “You comin’?” He nodded as he let go of your hand and followed you up stairs. You unlocked your door and paused as the faint sound of nails scrambled across your wood floor. 

“Now I will warn you, she’s gunna lick you to death because you’re a new face. That’s the vicious guard dog in her.” You pushed open the door to your apartment. Chloe jumped at your legs for a moment as you flipped on the lights. “Hi, you little monster.” You picked her up as you stepped into your house to let Bucky in after you.

“She’s so small.” He said as he looked at the grey and white dog in your arms. He reached out to pet the top of her head as you pushed the door closed behind him.

“You can hold her if you want.” You said as she began to attack his hand with kisses. He nodded and gently took her from you. Like you knew she would, she attacked his face with her tongue, claiming him as hers with her kisses. “Told you she was vicious.”

“She’s a killer alright.” You laughed as you pulled off your jacket and hung it by the door.

“What were you thinking for dinner?” He scratched Chloe’s stomach when she made herself comfortable in his arms as he followed after you.

“Hadn’t gotten that far yet. I knew your shop didn’t close for an hour so I was planning on figuring it out with you as you closed shop.”

“Well, if it’s not too personal for you, what do you say to take out and Netflix here? That is my typical Saturday night routine.” You glanced over your shoulder at him as you opened a can of dog food for Chloe.

“I could be down for that but I’m paying.” You smiled and nodded.

“You’re gunna wanna put her down.” Chloe heard the sound of the metal lid of the can being pulled back and scrambled to get out of Bucky’s hands. Her nails scraped across the floor as she tried to seek purchase and she yipped at you happily. “Yes, yes. I got your food.” You said as you poured the small can in to her bowl. She jumped against your leg, her nails pulling at your navy blue skirt.

“What, do you never feed her?” Bucky teased as you set the bowl down on the ground. Chloe attacked it like it was her first meal in her life.

“You would think. OK, here is a bunch of menus from places around here that deliver. I’m gunna throw on some sweatpants and a hoodie so we can take her for a w-a-l-k. Ummm there is beer and bottled water in the fridge, I don’t trust the tap water to drink. Make yourself at home.” With a smile you turned and headed toward your bedroom. He glanced at the menus in his hand and picked one at random. He didn’t really care what he ate, he was just excited to spend time with you.

“Have you lived here long?” Bucky called out as he wandered toward the living room.

“Seven years. I moved down here from the Upper East Side.” He nodded to the open room as he casually strolled through your living room. Crystals of every size, shape and color, plants, and candles decorated every available flat surface.

“Do you miss it?” He reached out and let his fingers drag along the outside of a wooden triangle shaped shelf that held large quartz crystals.

“Not at all. I love Chelsea. It’s so peaceful here and the people are so much more pleasant.” 

“I can agree with you on that.” You laughed as he looked at the different geodes on your mantle. “Your collection is amazing.” You nodded to yourself as you pulled your hair up into a ponytail and walked out of your room.

“Thank you. Sara calls it an addiction.” He laughed as he looked over at you. The sound caught in his throat as he looked at you and you cocked your eyebrow at him. “What? Do I have something on my face?” You brushed at your cheeks as his eyes wondered down your body. He didn’t say anything for a moment and you laughed. “Earth to James.” His eyes darted back up to yours and his face flushed.

“Sorry, doll. You’re just…” Now it was your turn to blush.

“Oh, stop. I’m wearing sweatpants.”

“Well you make sweatpants look good, doll.” You laughed as you grabbed one of Chloe’s sweaters out of her basket.

“Well thank you.” You crouched down on the floor as Chloe came prancing over for her sweater, knowing the drill when you got home from work. “So what did you decide for food?” His brow furrowed as he headed back into the kitchen.

“This one is fine.” He said as he grabbed the menu for a pizza place. You glanced up at his choice and nodded as you attached her leash to her collar.

“Pizza it is. We’ll call on the walk.” He nodded as you stood up and handed him the leash. “You can be in charge of the pup.”

“That’s a big responsibility. Are you sure you can trust a stranger like me with it?” You smirked as you walked over and pulled your boots back on.

“I mean, I highly doubt you can mess it up. She’s a dog that is gunna last until the corner before she wants to get picked up and carried in the cold.” You grabbed your keys as Chloe began to bounce at your legs in excitement. 

“I don’t know if I want to take on that responsibility. It’s a lot.” He teased as he followed Chloe down the stairs. You quickly locked the door behind you and jogged after him with a laugh.

“I have faith in you.” You shivered as the two of you stepped outside into the snow. He moved the leash to his left hand, wrapped his arm around you and pulled you into his side. You ordered a pizza as Chloe did her business and sure enough, when you got to the corner she was jumping at Bucky’s legs to be picked up.

“She likes you.” He smiled as he bent down and picked up Chloe. He unzipped his jacket and tucked her inside, causing you to laugh. “Oh, you definitely just won her love.”

“Wanna keep walking for a bit?” He gestured down the street and you smiled.

“Yea, I’d like that.” You scratched Chloe’s head before she ducked into Bucky’s jacket to get away from the cold. You both laughed as he put his arm around your shoulder again. “Yea, you definitely won.”

“It’s probably because I’m ‘so hot’.” He mocked. You buried your face in your hands as he laughed.

“God, that’s embarrassing.”

“I think it’s funny.” You shook your head and grumbled as the two of you headed down the next block. “You know, I think this is the most normal thing I have done in decades.” You wrapped your arm around his waist and giggled.

“I still can’t wrap my head around that. So wait… technically, how…” You knew you were going down before it happened. You went to take a step and as you lifted your leg, a shooting pain shot from your hips down your legs from the cold. The leg that held all your weight buckled and you slipped out from under Bucky’s arm. You yelped and scrambled to try to grab at anything you could to keep you upright. With reflexes unlike anything you had ever seen, Bucky spun and grabbed the front of your hoodie. You felt it pull up slightly on your sides as he wrapped his other arm around you and pulled you to his chest. Tears filled your eyes as your legs felt like you were standing in fire.

“Hey, hey, it’s OK. What can I do?” 

“I need to get out of the cold.” He nodded as he held you up on shaky legs with one hand and he pulled Chloe out of his jacket. In a move that you would think had been practiced a million times before, he put Chloe on your chest and swept you up into his arms in one fluid movement. He promised you through your tears it was going to be OK as he carried you back down the block to your house.  You held Chloe with one hand as she lovingly licked your chin, her way of comforting you, as your other hand gripped the back of Bucky’s jacket.

“Where are the keys, doll?” Bucky asked as he walked up your front steps. You grabbed them from your hoodie pocket.

“I’m sorry.” You said as you unlocked the main door. He shook his head as he pushed the door open with his back.

“For what? I get to be a knight in shining armor. Which, if you think about it, is sort of fitting seeing as though my arm kinda shines in the sunlight.” You huffed a laugh through your tears as you unlocked your front door.

“My God… the cards were right… Bedroom, I gotta lay down.” He nodded as he kicked the door closed and carried you into the bedroom. “You should probably go… I’m gunna be laid up…”

“No way! You said dinner and Netflix and that’s what we are doin’.” You looked up at him as he laid you down on the bed and shook your head.

“You don’t understand. There is a process, a long and tedious process to get me back to walking again…” He shrugged as he took off Chloe’s leash and sweater.

“So you teach me.” You shook your head at the same time he did. “Nope. Civic duty practice. It’s mandatory.” Tears welled in your eyes again at the idea of what he was signing up for. He sat down on the edge of the bed and took your hands in his. “What? Tell me what…”

“I don’t want you to see.” His brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what you meant but his face softened as he realized a moment later.

“Your scars…” You nodded as you tried to pull your hands away but he held them a little tighter. “(Y/N), listen to me. I don’t care about your scars. Like you said, they don’t define you. What defines you is your heart. You helped me when I needed it, now it’s my turn. I want to help you.” He moved your hands to one of his so he could brush your hair out of your face. “If you really don’t want me to stay, I can go.” You shook your head and took a deep breath.

“I don’t want you to go but… this is a place I haven’t been in with a man before. Usually I have to call Sara so it’s just… it’s scary for me.” He gave you a tight lipped smile and nodded.

“If anyone can understand that, it’s me. Doll, I…” His breath caught for a second as his eyes searched yours. He swallowed hard and nodded as if he was psyching himself up. “I was a brainwashed Russian assassin. I have done things that make me sick to my stomach and the nightmares haunt me almost every night. You were going to ask me how old I was; I’m 99. 100 in a couple months with the body of a 29 year old. I don’t know how to do this…” he gestured between the two of you as the thumb of his other hand brushed the back of your hand. “So I’m just as scared but you make me want to learn. So how about we learn and be scared together?” You nodded as he brushed tears off your cheeks.

“You know I’m gunna be throwing you an over the hill birthday party, right?” He laughed and nodded slowly.

“Yea… I think I can handle that… but first, we have to get you walking again. So, teach away.” You sighed and nodded as he finally released your hands.

“Alright so basically, my hips to my toes feel like they are in fire.” He nodded as he looked down at your legs. “So first things first, I need my boots and my sweats off.” He glanced up at you and nodded as he stood up.

“They didn’t tell me in school it would be this easy to get in a dames pants.” He joked as he gently pulled off your boots. He chuckled at his own joke as you rolled your eyes.

“God, shut up.” He looked up at you as he pulled off the second boot and dropped them on the floor.

“I thought I was funny.” He reached up and tucked his fingers under the waist band of your sweats. You couldn’t help the tears that welled in your eyes and you looked away as he gently removed your sweats. You didn’t want to see his look of pity. “Hey, look at me.” You bit your lip and looked back up at him. His eyes didn’t leave yours as he removed your sweats and laid them on the bed beside you. “What next?”

Part 4