Drabble 4/?
Bucky Barnes meet-cute featuring puppies and baked goods.
997 words
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It was a Sunday, which meant the bakery you worked at was packed with happy families and cute old people on cute old people dates. It was busy, but you loved making people smile with the pastry and the sugar and the milkshakes and the tea. Your boss had to basically kick you out the back door, calling "Don't come back for an hour Y/N. Take a proper break, yeah?"
You sat on some milk crates and started to look through your messages and apps when you heard a voice. Male. Gentle. You locked your phone and walked to the end of the alleyway. It joined another at a T-junction. You stuck your head around the corner. There was a person lying flat, their stomach on the grimy alley floor, with one arm under a dumpster. They were whispering.
You tried to not make a snap judgement. The person could be anyone doing anything, but your best friend's voice sounded in your head. 'Exactly, Y/N. Anyone. Anything! You're too trusting. Walk away.'
Instead, you walked closer to them. As you did you took notice of what they were wearing - surely it would help you to figure out what was happening. He was wearing jeans and nice black boots that were getting scuffed on the toes from the position he was lying in. He had a leather jacket on. You stood behind him, but he didn't seem to notice you there.
You went to announce yourself when he started speaking again.
"Come on," he whispered, then made some weird kissing sounds and clicked his fingers under the dumpster. Animal! He was trying to get an animal from under it? "I won't hurt you, come on."
"Do you need some help?" you asked.
The guy jumped, then looked up from the ground. His bright blue eyes sparkled as he smiled.
"There's a puppy," he informed you. You nodded. He moved out of the lying position, but stayed sitting by the bin with his legs crossed. "I saw it out on the street. Looked lost. He came down here and I could hear him cryin'. I think he's got a collar."
You knelt down and looked. There was definitely some sort of small animal there. You looked back to the guy. His shirt and jeans were dusty but he obviously didn't care.
Putting two fingers in your mouth, you whistled. It was the only thing you could think to do. Then, a better idea. "I could go get some food from my work?" you suggested.
As you both stood, the animal emerged. A puppy trotted out, unafraid, and sat at your feet. “Ashford!” you exclaimed and picked the puppy up.
"You know him?" the guy asked, patting the puppy behind the ears.
"Yeah, he belongs to one of our customers. I haven't seen her today though, so I don't know what this one is doing out and about… Um, I can walk him home though. I think they live just a few streets over," you said.
The guy nodded, continuing to pet the dog. You did that thing then, where you don't really laugh, but you push air out through your nose. He looked at you. "What?"
"You can't keep him," you said. He stopped patting Ashford and ran his hand through his hair, then looked at you. His eyes flicked across your face to each feature.
"I'm Bucky," he said, after clearly deciding what he wanted to say.
"That's a weird name for a dog," Bucky said.
"Your name is Bucky?" you replied, amused.
"James, actually, Bucky is a nickname,"
"How is Bucky a nickname for James?"
"It's not. It's short for Buchanan. Middle name. James Buchanan Barnes."
"Bucky Barnes? Yeah. You're right. Ashford is definitely the one with the questionable name here,"
"Why are you being so mean?" Bucky laughed, following you as you began to walk down the alley.
"I'm not. I'm defending Ashford."
Bucky gave his attention back to the dog. He made faces at Ashford like you would a baby, which was not a logical thing to do. Ashford, however, watched Bucky. Eventually you handed over the small dog.
Bucky was happy and he held Ashford in his arms, also like you would a baby, and patted his tummy. It was kind of adorable. And, by 'kind of' you mean 'very fucking adorable and I am dying on the inside please set me on fire.'
"So, you work around here?" Bucky asked as you lead them through the streets. You told him about the bakery and how you loved it. "You smell like scones and donuts," he commented when you were done talking. You looked at him with an amused look. "It's nice," he finished, for clarification.
Ashford's street was pretty. The houses were clean and expensive, and the sidewalk was lined with green trees. Immediately you spotted Ashford's owner. She ran towards you and picked him up out of Bucky's arms. She said thank you a million times over, and offered a reward. You and Bucky both said no at the same time.
"Just glad he's home safe," Bucky told her. She nodded and walked away. You turned to Bucky. He was already looking at you. "Walk you back to work?" he offered.
The mid-afternoon sun was warm, and you walked close to Bucky, your arms brushing against his at times. As you walked, he made no attempt at further conversation. It was fine though. The silence was comfortable and easy.
Out the front of the bakery you said your goodbyes and you went inside.
'Well, he's clearly not a sociopath, Y/N. Should have asked him out! So cute!' Your best friend's voice was back.
You ran to the door and opened it, colliding with someone making their way in. You looked up. Bucky. He grinned.
"No, my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going," you replied.
"Where were you going?" he asked with a knowing tone.
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