Blind dating.
As if online dating isn’t bad enough already. And weird.
Bucky understands the need to get back into civilization. To let go of his haunting past and move on. To build a new life in the present. He knows. He’s trying his best and he wishes people would just cut him some slack. Like that annoying therapist of his. Alright, she’s only trying to help but sometimes that ‘help’ is rather… nagging.
To be fair, nobody else had a past where they’d been pumped with super-serum, had a metal arm attached to their body, then brainwashed and sent to kill dozens of people for fifty years. As if that wasn’t bad enough, to jump from one war to the next.
That kind of burden is insurmountable. Yet, Bucky carries it on his shoulders and survives every day. Wakes up every day. Which, in itself, is the strongest thing.
So, one of the advice of the ‘few’ people close to him, including Sam, is to find a date. Leah, the girl at the restaurant he always went to on Wednesdays, and played battleship with, was especially encouraging about it. Borderline adamant too.
“You’re my regular customer,” she said, taking a sip of beer. “I just feel I should help you. You said you had no luck with online dating.”
“It’s confusing,” he replied. “I don’t know who or what I’m looking at. Tiger pictures. Pasta pictures. And… others I can’t even begin to describe.”
“You should try blind dating.”
“Am I not already doing that? I don’t see anyone’s actual face on these things, so it’s pretty much ‘blind’, isn’t it? What’s the difference?”
Leah chuckled. “The difference is, you might actually get lucky. You know nothing about the person except their names. You exchange numbers, then meet up at a place. It’s fun.”
Bucky shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The only time he blindly met people was decades ago, when he was sent to assassinate them. He brushed the morbid thought aside.
“Yeah, I’m not sure that’s something I want.”
“Come on, what do you have to lose? You said it yourself, you’re a hundred and six years old—” her speech was cut off with laughter.
He sighed. He wasn’t lying about that. Of course, nobody in the present world would believe him, except for Sam and the rest of the Avengers. Taking a big sip of his beer, he placed it on the counter. Leah tapped his gloved hand.
“I know a guy,” she said. “He’s nice. A little troublesome, but I think you’ll like him. I could set something up for you. You won’t know how it goes unless you try.”
She’s probably right. What’s the worst that could happen? He’s the Winter Soldier (kinda), with a vibranium arm that can crush anything. He’s faced aliens and large purple grape-headed villains. There’s nothing he can’t handle. How bad could one little date be?
“Fine.” He conceded.
“Great!” Leah beamed, pulling her phone out. “I’ll drop him a text. He usually responds quickly. Believe it or not, he’s currently looking for a date too. I think you guys will get along fine.”
Bucky hummed, downing the last bit of beer. He felt comfortable around Leah. She was one of the few people, other than Sam, who knew he was into men. She took it casually, as it made no difference to her. Open-minded people are refreshing to be with.
She grinned as her phone pinged. “That’s him! Told you he's fast." She glanced at the message. "He said he’ll text you his address… and a photo of himself. Seriously, I don’t think he knows the concept of a blind date. Though I guess it’ll be easier for you to find him.”
He smiled awkwardly. He meant to be polite, but ended up looking constipated. Smiling is foreign to him. He couldn't remember the last time he actually smiled so he always wondered if he did it right. There's no instruction manual. Leah didn’t mind though. She and him got along absolutely fine, regardless.
Perhaps by going on actual dates, he can make more friends. Hopefully. He could use a much-needed break.
“What’s his name?” he asked.
“Steve,” she replied. “Steve Rogers.”
Read on AO3.
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Stucky AU - Blind Date (part 1/4).
