blind date
bucky barnes x fem!reader
summary: convinced that bucky will never like you back, you agree to a blind date arranged for you to forget about him.
word count: 3.7k
warnings: fluff. two idiots pining over each other (i know, i know. i love the trope). blind dates (they honestly scare me). boundaries being crossed. not so gentleman of a blind date. protective & grumpy bucky (yes, that's a warning!). pet names such as doll. lowercase writing. not proofread.
notes: happy 500 followers to us! hehe. sorry it took long, i waited until i reached that milestone and we finally did! we're growing in our small delulu home, and i love it. <3 i hope you enjoy this one!
dividers by @cafekitsune
comments, reblogs, and likes are highly appreciated. thank you! ♡
“come on! tell me more about this mystery guy.”
natasha plopped down the couch beside you while she held a pint of ice cream in her hand and a spoonful on its way to her mouth. you were talking about the blind date that sam arranged for you, and she hasn't stopped asking questions since you mentioned it.
“there's really nothing to tell besides that he's a guy looking for a date and that he's friends with sam. i'm actually surprised that sam set this all up, but i trust him, you know? maybe it'll be nice,” you answered, ignoring the fact that sam suggested this to help you get over your not-so-little crush on a super soldier.
your phone beeped, showing a message sent to you by your teammate. “speaking of the devil, sam just sent me the details but i'm really not sure if i should go. it doesn't feel right.”
“and leave the poor guy waiting? not happening." natasha stuck her spoon into her pint and set it down on the coffee table. “you feel that way because you like someone already, but nothing's going to happen if we'll sit here waiting. you're either giving this date a chance or ask bucky out. it's time you finally go out there and see someone. aren't you sick of us yet?"
“i'm quite sick of you, that's for sure.” you joked, having natasha as your room neighbour and basically your best friend. if you weren't spending your time sleeping in your room, you'd be spending it with her. “i just don't think i should be going on dates when i know i'm technically not emotionally available for others yet.”
“oh, you can't be sick of me. i'm great company." natasha replied confidently. “then why did you agree? we all know, besides barnes, that you've liked him for so long. plus, he's never been with anyone for ages. the two of you makes sense.”
you gnawed on your lower lip, hesitant to tell nat the reason why you agreed to this stupid date, but she was your best friend and also one hell of a spy to even try and hide it. “he told me that he found someone similar to bucky and that i might want to meet him. we agreed to let it be a blind date to avoid the mess of telling them that they're meeting an avenger.”
“i knew it. you're going on a rebound date!” she jumped on her seat, as if she'd solved the winning numbers to the lottery. “there was no way you'd suddenly go on a blind date without a catch. you're too hung up on bucky!”
“keep it down!” you pulled her back into the couch, nervously looking around the room to see if anyone was close by. “i'm pretty sure rebounds only apply to people i've dated. bucky's hardly a candidate for that list.”
“you've liked him for way too long that it basically feels like you had a relationship, and i'm pretty sure he likes you too,” natasha said. “trust me, my guts? golden.”
you winced at the thought. there had been zero signs that bucky liked you back. as much as you trusted natasha and her instincts, this was something you couldn't just assume.
“i don't think so, nat. i've given him enough hints. it's either he's too dense about it or he's just not interested. maybe it's just how it's supposed to be, and i can't keep myself stuck with maybes forever.” you sighed, deciding to finally go to the blind date. “help me pick an outfit?”
“like you even have to ask?” she smiled, dragging you to your room while you were still left with uncertainty in your heart.
the restaurant was one of those hole-in-the-wall places in downtown new york. it had a lot people dining inside, their noise easily heard from the outside, yet the ambiance already felt warm and welcoming. you wondered if sam suggested the place or the guy you were about to meet.
you sighed, giving your chest one last tap since it wouldn't stop beating so fast. it was a wonder how your heartbeat remained stable during a risky mission, while a harmless date had you this nervous. although with that, you felt human.
“okay, let's see where this goes,” you muttered to yourself, glancing at your watch that had a tracking device in it, as requested (or ordered) by your best friend.
natasha initially opted to come with you and seat somewhere far, but you told her that you didn't need it. so, she settled with a tracking device, as if you weren't an avenger who could defend yourself. you couldn't find it in you to complain, since this was natasha's own way of showing that she cared.
you entered the restaurant, eyes wandering around the room despite not knowing exactly what to look for. the only details you were allowed to know was that “joseph” knew where to take you, so you assumed that person was one of the staff that you had to look for.
once you found a waitress that didn't look too occupied, you approached her with a smile. “excuse me, may i know where joseph is?”
the lady looked up at you, recognition evident on her face. you were slightly worried that she knew your identity, but she gave you a warm smile and held your arm gently. “oh, he's right there by the counter. let me take you to him!”
she escorted you towards the man handling the counter that seemed to be where the orders were taken. he was shouting various orders behind him while arranging the food on the counter. by the looks of it, he could be the manager or the owner of the place.
“she's here!” the lady beside you exclaimed, catching the full attention of joseph.
“ah, there's our special guest for tonight!” joseph walked around the counter to hug you, as if you knew each other for a long time. “come, come! we have the best spot reserved for you. it's right outside where you can enjoy the view while also having some privacy, eh? your date already arrived, but no worries. he wasn't waiting for too long.”
you were rendered speechless as he took you to the patio, not expecting your date to arrive first, and most importantly not expecting to see him right away. you thought you were early enough, but it seems that your date was an earlier bird than you were.
once outside, all you could see was an empty patio with one man sitting not so far from where you were standing. you hated how you could only see his back and not his face, since he was facing the opposite direction. although, you immediately noticed how he was dressed similarly to bucky.
similar haircut, black boots, and a black jacket. while you weren't sure if they actually looked alike, sam wasn't kidding about them having some similarities.
“how come it's empty out here?” you asked with genuine curiosity. the restaurant was oozing with customers tonight, and they could surely use the extra space outdoors.
“well, uh...” joseph scratched his head, smiling awkwardly as he looked for an answer. “oh, well, stop worrying about that! you're here to go on a date and nothing more! let us worry about that ourselves, hm? come, let's not make your date wait for too long.”
you both walked towards the only table occupied, taking a deep breath before joseph announced, “your date has arrived!”
the man turned around, eyes widened at the sudden noise, but he eventually smiled once he looked at you.
“hey, nice to finally meet you.” he stood up, extending his hand. “i'm martin.”
one look at him and you knew that your heart stubbornly stayed with someone you shouldn't be thinking about.
“i still can't believe that i'm on a date with an avenger.”
you were barely done with your meal despite being here for more than an hour, and martin hasn't been able to stop gushing about your whole avenger sideline. while you understood his excitement, this wasn't the type of date that you hoped for.
“you think i could tell my friends?” he asked, suddenly nudging his chair closer to you that he was basically sitting beside you. “they probably won't believe me, so will it be okay if we took a picture?”
oh, so that's why he moved closer.
“sure.” you forced a smile. “but don't get too close, maybe? i'm.. i'm not that comfortable yet.”
as if you said nothing, he placed an arm over your shoulder, pulling you even closer to him. you've been through worse situations than this, but you were highly uncomfortable having your boundaries crossed.
bucky wouldn't do something like this. how did sam think that any of his behaviour was similar to him?
martin already had his phone out, capturing pictures and squeezing your arm, when you decided that this isn't what you wanted, but before you could open your mouth, you felt someone pulling his arm off of you, causing martin to scream.
“what is wrong with you!?” martin shouted, standing up and stepping away while he held his aching arm. when you turned around, you felt your heart stop to find the person you least expected to be here, but wanted the most to be with.
“bucky?”
he did not look at you, his eyes still fixated on martin, nostrils flaring as he took a step closer, standing in front of you as if he was shielding you, while martin took the same amount of steps backwards. “she clearly said no. what the fuck was so hard about understanding that?”
“look, man, i don't know what you're doing here, but i think this is between me and her,” he said, his eyes showing fear as he watched the ex-assassin approach him, hearing the gears of his metal arm whirring.
“give me your phone.” bucky ordered. “now.”
martin immediately fished for his phone, nearly dropping it, and gave it to bucky. “w-what are you going to do?”
“no, this is what you're gonna do,” bucky started, crashing martin's phone with ease and carelessly throwing it to the side. “this date never happened, your friends will hear nothing about tonight, and you will get out of here before i finish counting to three. one...”
in a snap, martin was already out of your sight. if you hadn't known martin before this, you would think he idolised pietro with the way he ran so fast.
“are you okay?”
forgetting about bucky for a split second, his voice jolted you out of your thoughts. you looked up, your heart racing, to find him right in front you.
“what are you doing here?”
“that doesn't really answer my question, doll. answer mine first, will ya? then i'll answer yours.”
“i'm okay, but i can take care of myself. you didn't have to scare the guy.” you sighed, trying your best to look displeased when in fact this has been the happiest you've been tonight. “so? why are you here?”
“well, it's really hard to explain...”
“you better try, barnes, because i am very confused right now,” you said. “one moment i'm on a date with someone, then suddenly my teammate, who i told nothing about said date, appears and crushes the phone of the guy i'm with?”
“natasha told me about it.”
you frowned, not surprised with natasha's gossipy nature, but confused about what she could've said that made him go all the way here.
“i was looking for you since you're always with us during dinner, and nat told me that you were on a date. i couldn't help but ask where and with whom, but she said that she had no idea, that it was a blind date. she was more than glad to tell me where you were, so i came here looking for you.”
“why?” you asked, confused and suddenly hopeful at the same time. although, you tried to keep your hopes down, not wanting to set yourself up for a heartbreak.
“what do you mean why? that's it. i was just worried, and now you're okay. can we go home?”
he turned his back on you and walked away, you were quick enough follow him, still unsatisfied with his answer.
once you've reached a dark alley where he had his motorcycle parked, you sighed and decided to ask one more time.
“what are you actually doing here, barnes?” you asked. “i want an actual answer or i'm walking home.”
“it doesn't matter,” bucky answered shortly, frustration. written on his face. “why did you agree to this anyway? doesn't feel like something you'd do.”
“you have no idea about what i feel and what i want to do,” you answered. “and you still haven't answered my question.”
“i don't know, okay? i don't know. i just..” he sighed. “i heard the word date and everything didn't make sense. all i knew was that i wanted to follow you here and stop whatever you were doing. i didn't like it.”
“what gives you the right to stop me from going on a date?” you asked, your head jerked back in disbelief. “and why would it even bother you? this is the first time someone went on a date in the team. so what makes mine so different?”
“what do you think?” he asked, his gaze challenging and curious, waiting for your response.
you stood in silence, his question causing a sudden drift in the conversation. you could feel the tension in the air.
“sam made me go to a blind date as well,” he spoke again. “i just remembered that he was asking me where i'd take someone on a date. days after that, he said he found a girl that i might like, and that i should go on a date with her, he suggested that it should be a blind date, knowing that i'm an avenger and all.”
“why didn't you go?”
“i couldn't. i wasn't interested. i knew it wouldn't work.”
“why?”
“because i already like someone.”
your heart sank, a lump forming in your throat as the reality set in that the person you've been pining for was already interested in someone else.
so much for going on a date to forget about him.
“what about you?” he asked. “why did you go?”
because of you, you idiot.
“trying to get over someone,” you simply answered.
“you were seeing someone?” he asked, completely clueless, but suddenly looking uneasy. “i never knew you were in a relationship. i guess, we're not that close, but i thought i'd at least know abou—”
“what? no!” you replied, voice rising as you spoke. "god, i agreed to this date because i wanted to get over you!"
the words slipped out of your mouth, your eyes widening in surprise as you accidentally reveal the feelings you had kept hidden.
bucky blinked, silence hanging in the air. the confession felt heavy between you as you waited for his response.
“i didn't agree to going on a blind date because i have feelings you,” bucky finally spoke, taking a deep breath before continuing, “because i knew i wouldn't enjoy it knowing i'd be thinking of you anyway, because as convinced as i was that you had no interest in me, i'd rather keep my eyes on you than on anybody else.”
“wait, wait, what? you like me?” you repeated in a slightly disbelieving tone, searching his face for confirmation.
“why would i follow you all the way here if i didn't?”
“because you care? and it might be dangerous to go on a date with someone i've never met?” you guessed. “i mean, i think you'd also do it for everybody else, as grumpy as you look like on the outside, you can be a softie sometimes.”
“if i had no feelings for you, i wouldn't be here. you're an avenger for christ's sake. some random guy would be like a training dummy for you,” he answered. “and no, i wouldn't be doing this for anybody else. if the situation's that dangerous, maybe, but a date? you're all adults. you know what you're doing.”
you couldn't help but giggle at his answer, which earned you a glare from him. “what?”
“nothing.” you shook your head. “you sound like an old man lecturing the younger generation.”
“are we completely ignoring the fact that we like each other?”
“that's the only thing on my mind right now.” you admitted. “are you sure about what you just said? it could be the hunger talking.”
instead of answering, bucky took his phone out of his pocket, swiping and tapping on it a few times before taking your hand and placing it on your palm.
“what am i supposed to—”
“just read it.”
choosing not to argue with him, you grabbed the phone with a frown. his messages with natasha were on the screen, starting from their messages from nearly four months ago. you scrolled through their messages, and while they lasted for months, they were all short and straightforward.
three months ago
bucky:
did you arrive safely?
romanoff:
since when did you start asking?
bucky:
?
romanoff:
yes, we arrived safely.
bucky:
👍🏻
romanoff:
really???
two months ago
bucky:
is she okay?
romanoff:
ohhh, that's why you keep texting.
bucky:
answer
romanoff:
geez, barnes.
yeah, she's okay.
bucky:
ok
one month ago
bucky:
she's sick?
romanoff:
yeah, wanna visit her?
you're basically immune.
bucky:
i have a mission
romanoff:
oh yeah
oops
bucky:
are you busy?
romanoff:
nope
why?
bucky:
take my place
romanoff:
no thanks, barnes.
bucky:
i'll take your next task
and the next one as well
romanoff:
why can't you just take this one?
bucky:
nothing
romanoff:
a reason or i'm not doing it.
bucky:
she's sick
i want to stay
romanoff:
oh my god
you're such a sap
fine i'll talk to steve
bucky:
ty
romanoff:
you're using abbreviations now???
bucky:
👍🏻
one week ago
romanoff:
movie night later, don't ditch us again
bucky:
busy
romanoff:
she planned this one
she's worried you won't come
bucky:
i'll bring snacks
romanoff:
i love knowing your weakness
bring popcorn!
bucky:
she prefers pizza over popcorn
does she like popcorn?
romanoff:
nope, but some of us do.
bucky:
ok
romanoff:
so you're bringing popcorn?
bucky:
no
once you were done reading, you returned his phone back to his hand. “you do like me,” you said, the confession finally sinking in.
bucky nodded. “and you like me too.”
“where does that leave us?” you asked, hoping. “are we.. dating now?”
“no,” he answered quickly.
you felt that ache returning in your chest, but before you could say something, bucky already sensed your worries and he wasn't letting you slip away that easily.
“no because i want to do this right. i want to take you out on a date first, bring you flowers, play music and ask you for a dance, all that stuff that you deserve,” he explained, bringing his warm hand to your cheek. “but trust me that it won't take long before i call you mine. i don't think i have the patience for it at this point.”
“you promise?” you rose to your tiptoes, wrapping your arms around him. “i don't want to wait that long either.”
“you won't,” he replied, leaning into you, his lips brushing against your nose before pulling you in a kiss. “i promise.”
this was supposed to have a lil bonus when they got back to the tower, revealing the team's true involvement with the blind date, buttt i might just do it some other time as a snippet/part 2 instead. i still have a few to write anyway, woops.
if you have any requests for bucky, send them my way! 💌
