I feel like Heated Rivalry is so hard for me to let go of because it's a Romance that respects the genre as an art form and the audience as intelligent beings.
I cannot remember the last big Romance of this scale.
Not a romcom. Not Romantasy. Not Dark romance. Or any of the other half genres.
Just an entirely romance based story that acknowledges falling in love in the society we live in is hard enough for it to be a valid central conflict and primary motivation.
A story where romance isn't treated as another obstacle to overcome, or a side quest to resolve on the way if convenient, or something you can fade to black and imply it resolves in an epilogue.
In this age of commodified intimacy where everyone has 4 different dating apps on their phone, people are crying about lonlienes epidemics and masc shortages, but the rest of existing requires so much time, money, and energy we're forced to accept a reality where situationships are the most anyone can commit to before ghosting you after a month.
I personally was fucking starved for romance.
I joke that they put drugs in the show because we can't stop watching, but it's actually just love without shame.
Finding someone who you could fall in love with is so hard right now, and most people don't shake hands with the love of their life at 17 and then spend the next decade doing everything they can to stay in each others lives.
Everything else now says that love is the latest luxury item that no one can afford. Falling in love requires you to already have your shit together expensive dates, once in a lifetime experiences, constant expensive gifts, immediate compatibility with no conflicts ever because you have to protect your peace. Most people treat dating like a multi-round job interview or a reality TV show.
Everyone is so focused on winning the prize of a partner who they could fit perfectly into their own individual plans for the future, love becomes an afterthought. But Romance is one of the oldest genres for a reason.
The makers of Heated Rivalry thought just a romance with a happy ending was worth the effort. Everyone did their best because they valued the story and wanted to make something to be proud of.
In the past decade it seems like the options for romance in western media at least is Winter Holiday romance, or Amazon reusing the same exact script 3 different times and just swapping out the nationality of the lead. (I'm so serious look up the movies 5 Blind Dates and Picture This.) In a genre overrun with mass market trope mad libs that is more focused on producing content than character, this show was a breath of fresh air that I as an enjoyer of Romance as a genre sorely missed.
When I think about the fact I found love twice and ruined both relationships, I genuinely wonder if another chance awaits. Theories suggest that anywhere from 3 to 7 times in your lifetime, you'll find love. I don't know how much I believe in that, and when I dwell on that statement, it makes it worse by thinking about all the people who came after them, the people who genuinely cared, or I felt that they cared, that I just recklessly used and discarded..
I do know that the older I get, the more normalized being alone has become.
And then there's the eventuality of consequence and karma, which brings me to my knees..
Summary: Bucky becomes acquainted with a woman at an ongoing film festival of old movies. Through a series of moments and misunderstandings something develops between them.
Length: 6.1 K
Characters: Bucky Barnes, OFC (named, not described), Sam Wilson, minor OMC (named, not described)
Warnings and other notes: Reference to the Blip, low self-esteem, misunderstandings. Set after TFATWS but before CABNW.
🎞️ 🍿 🥤
It wasn't the first time Bucky saw her at the movie theatre. But it was the first time he saw her there by herself and she seemed bothered by something. The movie that Thursday evening was A Guy Named Joe, a 1943 movie about a World War II pilot who crashed and died before he made it to his new posting as a flight instructor back home. He left behind his sweetheart, also a pilot, who ferried aircraft for the Air Transport Auxiliary. Starring Spencer Tracey, Van Johnson, and Irene Dunne, it was the fifth film in an ongoing film festival made up of 1940s movies. Sam bought a pair of passes for the ten film series but couldn't make it that night as he had to be in Washington. It was his way of getting the super soldier out and about, instead of brooding alone in his apartment. Bucky had considered not going that night, but felt a little guilty about wasting money that someone else spent on him and changed his mind.
The woman had always gone with someone before. For the first three movies, spaced out over three weeks, she went with the same man. Bucky assumed he was her boyfriend based on how animated she seemed with him, then on the fourth week she was with a woman. Tonight she was on her own, sitting two rows ahead of Bucky and over by several seats. He could see her face from where he always sat, trying to focus on the movie, but it was obvious she wasn't happy. At the end of the film, she wiped her eyes with her fingers, in a way that made him sure she was crying, and not about the movie, which had been quite entertaining. Although the special effects weren't even close to what movies these days had, for the time period, Bucky was impressed even with all the propaganda aspects of it. He was pretty sure he had seen it on the base in England when he was a Howling Commando as there were parts that seemed familiar.
As the house lights in the theatre came on at the end of the film, and everyone stood up, gathering their empty popcorn bags and drink containers, he watched as she sat for several minutes before standing. She picked up her sweater, put it on, and slung her purse over her shoulder, then moved towards the aisle. Bucky's sensitive hearing heard the sound of keys falling but she kept going. Quickly, he made his way to her row and saw the keys on the floor near her seat. Picking them up, he hurried towards the exit, trying to spot her in the crowd of people ahead of him. It wasn't until he got out of the theatre that he saw her, about half a block down, just at the moment she reached into her pocket and realized her keys were gone. Turning back towards the theatre, she scanned the sidewalk, then the people close by, and that's when he approached her. Up close, in the glow of the neon light that spilled onto the sidewalk from the window of the bar beside her, she was beautiful.
"Miss, you dropped these in the theatre," he said, offering them. "They fell out of your sweater pocket."
"Oh, thank you so much," she answered, looking up at him as she took them, hesitating for a second when she saw his leather gloves. "For a moment I panicked when I realized they were gone. I thought someone took them."
"If I saw someone stealing them from you I would have stopped them." He looked past her briefly before making eye contact with her. "I've seen you at the other films for the festival. You're usually with someone. So am I, but my friend couldn't make it tonight."
Although she smiled, she stepped back. Something sad but subtle flashed across her face, then it was gone.
"Yeah, I bought two passes for my boyfriend and me but we broke up ten days ago. My girlfriend came with me last week but she's not really into old movies so I guess I'm on my own for the rest." She looked away then lifted the keys up. "Thank you for these. I should be going."
Sam would have poked him in the side at that moment and whispered that he should keep talking to her but Bucky could tell she just wanted to go. Nodding his head, he stepped aside, essentially releasing her, and watched as she walked away from him, immersing herself in the stream of people on the sidewalk. Shoving his gloved hands in his pocket, he headed back to the quiet loneliness of his small apartment.
The week passed like it always passed for Bucky; lunch at one of several small restaurants in his neighbourhood, endless window shopping, with the occasional browsing in a book store, followed by a take out meal eaten in front of the television, not really watching whatever passed for entertainment on the screen. Most of it was too fast, with fake laugh tracks, full of double entendres, or sexual innuendo that made Bucky cringe most of the time. It's not that he was a prude. Hell, if he had a steady girlfriend he liked to think that he remembered enough from when he was the other Bucky to keep her satisfied. To someone who was alone too much, it seemed that television was a poor replacement for actual human contact. But he often felt like he was on display when he was out; recognized by people who were either afraid of him, or put off by the "resting bitch face" that Sam told him he had.
The pair of them had hoped that what they did with the Flag Smashers had proved to the authorities that there was still a need for the Avengers but the interest just wasn't there. They were okay with Sam, offering him contract work to deal with the occasional skirmishes that rose up, managing to spring the extra funds for anyone he brought in to help ... as long as it wasn't Bucky. Apparently the former Winter Soldier was still seen as too much of a risk. At least, that's how he understood it when Sam would break it to him that he couldn't get approval to add him to those missions.
"I'll keep picking away at them," promised his friend. "You're too good of ...."
"Don't say asset," warned Bucky. "I don't ever want to be associated with that term again."
"I was going to say you're too good of a resource to leave sidelined. They'll get it if I have to beat it into their heads."
With Sam back from Washington after his latest attempt to get secure funding he texted about the next film in the series. Bucky responded that it was Anchors Aweigh with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, a musical. Personally, he was ambivalent about going to it, but it had some musical numbers with the animated characters Tom and Jerry, and Bucky had always laughed at them back in the day, so they arranged to meet at the theatre.
As he waited on the street in front of the venue, he saw the woman approach, with a different man this time. By the way she was walking with the guy, whose demeanour bothered Bucky, it was probably a date. She tried to engage the man in conversation, but his replies seemed short and curt and his attention was on anything else but her. That changed a little when she saw Bucky and a small smile appeared on her face.
"Hi. Are you waiting for your friend?"
"Yeah," answered Bucky, quickly scanning the man with her. "He was supposed to be here by now. You found someone to use the other pass?"
"Yeah, this is my date," she replied. "Sorry, I didn't get your name last week. I'm Maddy and this is Hunter."
"Bucky," he said, sticking his hand out to her first, then her date. "You like old movies, Hunter?"
"Not particularly," replied the other man, briefly shaking hands. "But she already paid for it. If it's not my thing we'll probably end up at a sports bar or something."
That flash of sadness appeared on Maddy's face again, but she covered it up quickly, and reached for the door. Bucky beat her to it, holding the door for her with a smile, then stifled his urge to say something rude to Hunter. He definitely didn't like the guy and found it hard to resist the urge to punch him. With a smirk, the other man passed him. Through the glass door Bucky watched them get the passes scanned then Sam arrived, startling him.
"Sorry I'm a little late," he said. "You want popcorn?"
"Yeah."
They showed their passes then joined the lineup at the snack bar where Hunter and Maddy were already at the counter. He asked for a large popcorn, double butter and a large drink, while she ordered a small drink and a candy bar. When the amount was given, Bucky was ready to jump on the guy for his answer.
"You're paying, right? I'll get you next time."
Wordlessly, she took her bank card out and tapped it on the terminal. Hunter grabbed the popcorn and his drink turning away from the counter before the purchase was approved, making Sam notice and shake his head. With a grim acknowledgement of Bucky, she walked past him with her drink, following her date who was almost at the theatre doors. The two men watched him enter before her, reacting to that with grunts of disbelief.
"You know her?"
"She lost her keys last week. I picked them up and gave them to her, then we spoke briefly outside before you got here."
"He's not much of a date, is he?"
Bucky was saved from answering by Sam ordering popcorn for them to share as well as two bottles of water, whipping his wallet out immediately to pay.
Inside the theatre Bucky sought Maddy out, noticing several empty seats a few rows behind her and Hunter. Sam pointed to the same place and they sat, waiting as the theatre filled. They both noticed that Hunter didn't share, as he just shoved handful after handful of popcorn in his mouth, wiping his hand on his shirt. The house lights went down and the brief preview of the next week's classic film, Casablanca, generated some buzz as it was still a favourite. Then the preview ended and the opening credits came up for Anchors Aweigh. It was alright. Gene Kelly out danced everyone while Frank Sinatra irritated Bucky as much as he did in the 1940s.
Halfway through the movie, Hunter said something to Maddy and stood up, blocking the view of the screen while he took his time to get out, presumably to use the men's room. Considering he had ordered a large soft drink it was understandable he couldn't make it through the length of the movie. When he didn't come back in a reasonable time, Bucky focused on Maddy. She kept looking back for Hunter then pulled her phone out of her purse, reading a message on it and bowing her head in the darkened theatre. Watching her carefully, Bucky felt angry when he saw her wipe her eyes again, like she did the week before. Then she gathered her sweater and purse and apologetically made her way past the others in the same row.
"I'll be right back," he whispered to Sam, then stood up and went the other way as it was closer to the aisle. Hurrying to the lobby, he looked for Maddy, seeing her sweater disappear into the ladies' room just as the door closed. Approaching it, he waited outside but listened, sure he could hear someone crying inside.
"Asshole," he muttered under his breath.
Another woman came out, glancing at him, then shook her head, figuring he was the reason Maddy was in there. It was hard not to give in to the rage that was building inside, at how thoughtless Hunter had been. Then he heard the toilet flush and pushed himself away from the wall where he waited. A few moments later the door opened and Maddy stopped in the doorway when she saw him. Her eyes were puffy and red, and she looked away in embarrassment.
"Are you alright?" asked Bucky. She shook her head, pressing her lips together as if trying to stave off round two of crying. "Come sit with us." She shook her head again. "Okay, we can sit at the back where no one sees you."
"I'm not very good company."
"Well, I've been accused of that myself," he answered. “Once I would left a lady halfway through a date. It was wrong and I vowed never to do it again."
"What about your friend?"
He took his cell phone out and texted Sam, knowing that he always kept his phone on vibrate.
"I just told him that I'll be sitting at the back with you." Holding out his gloved hand, he waited for her to take it. "Come on."
Without looking directly at him, she placed her hand in his, letting him lead her back into the darkened theatre. They waited a moment to get their bearings, then slid into the third last row on the side where no one else was sitting. Bucky smiled at her, then returned his attention to the screen, while remaining fully aware of her beside him. The movie, longer than the one the previous week, still had another hour of run time but Maddy stayed there right until the end. As the house lights came on, Bucky stayed seated, waiting for Sam to appear in the aisle. He saw them as he came towards the exit, glancing over at her then stepped into the empty row ahead of them.
"Hey," he said, looking kindly at her. "I'm Sam."
"Maddy," she replied, looking at him carefully then she frowned slightly. "Sam Wilson, as in Captain America?"
"Yeah," he grinned. "That's me. Are you alright?"
She looked at Bucky, as if seeing him for the first time. "That means you're Bucky Barnes. You look different than you did on TV. You both do."
"In a good way, I hope," grinned Sam. "No offence but that guy you were with was bad news. He wasn't your boyfriend was he?"
"No, he wasn't. He's a gym bro that my friend set me up with to forget that my boyfriend cheated on me." She sighed. "I knew as soon as I met up with him that this wouldn't go well. I'm so stupid."
"No, don't say that," murmured Bucky. "You're not. Hunter was an idiot. You're better off without him."
The stream of people in the aisle thinned out a bit and Sam tilted his head slightly at Bucky, seeming to make a decision.
"Listen, we were going to head out for some food after the movie. Join us."
"I don't want to intrude," she said. "I mean this is your date, isn't it?"
They looked at each other and Sam started to laugh. "We're friends, not good friends," he explained.
"Occasional co-workers," dead-panned Bucky. "Can barely tolerate him most of the time."
That brought a smile to her face. Seeing it, the super soldier stood up and stepped to the aisle, as did Sam, waiting for her. Exhaling her breath, Maddy stood up, noticing that they let her go first and followed behind her. In the lobby, Sam stepped ahead to open the door to the outside, holding it for both her and Bucky. On the sidewalk, they placed themselves on either side of her.
"So, where are we going for food?" she asked.
"I don't know. Bucky, what are you feeling like?"
"Anything. You know me. I'll eat anything."
They walked past several places that were full, then paused at a pizza place, peering through the window to see if they were full. A man from inside came out and recognized Sam, inviting him in. Accepting, they sat and went through the menu, making their choices, ordering beer for Sam and Bucky, while Maddy chose a soft drink.
When their drinks came and they each took a sip she looked at the two men.
"So, you're into old movies?"
"Not exactly," answered Bucky. "I've seen a lot from the 1930s but not many from 1945 on. Just trying to catch up on what I missed."
It was a vague answer that seemed to make him uncomfortable as he pressed his lips together and looked away.
"I'll say it, if he won't," interrupted Sam. "He was captured in 1945 and didn't escape until 2014. Watching movies wasn't part of his training regimen. I've taken it on myself to get him up to speed but he's not the most cooperative guy."
"Sam." An imperceptible shake of the head was the only warning Bucky gave.
"I'm sorry I asked," said Maddy. "I guess seeing a 1940s musical is kind of trivial considering all you went through."
"I prefer that music," he admitted, then nodded at Sam. "He's trying to broaden my horizons in that as well." A shrug followed that comment. "I don't mind Motown and the Beatles are pretty good."
"Admit it, I'm a good friend for trying to get you up to speed." The other man gloated a little, then looked at Maddy. "So, what about you? What do you do for a living?"
"Nothing exciting like you two." She sipped her drink. "I'm a children's librarian at Brooklyn Public Library, the central library location. I enjoy it, although it's only part-time right now."
"Can I ask you something?"
Bucky glared at Sam who had apparently nudged him in the leg for asking that.
She closed her eyes then opened them. "He said I wasn't committed to him enough."
"Who said that?" asked Sam, confused. "The guy tonight?"
"No, the boyfriend I broke up with several weeks ago because he was cheating on me. That was his reason. The guy tonight texted me from the lobby that old movies weren't his thing and he didn't think we had anything in common."
"Not what I wanted to ask." She groaned and lowered her head to the table top before looking up at Bucky. His face softened. "Why do you like watching old movies?"
She sighed, wondering if he really wanted to know that. By the look on his face he did.
"They remind me of my childhood and spending the day with my grandma when I was sick because my parents couldn't take the time off from work. She loved the movies and we would watch Turner Classic Movies. I would be on the couch, with a blanket over my legs and a cushion behind me. She would make me eat jello and crackers, and drink ginger ale. It sucked being sick but I felt loved and like someone cared about me."
A satisfied smile appeared on his face. "That sounds nice. Is she still alive?"
"No, she died of cancer a few months after I came back from the Blip. Every time I hear about one of these old film festivals I buy the pass because the films remind me of the time I spent with her." She grimaced. "At least, it did until this one."
"Well, you know us now, so you don't have to go alone. Sam gets called to Washington sometimes but I'm always available for a movie ... with you." He smiled again then looked at Sam. "What's Turner Classic Movies and why haven't you told me about it?"
As Sam explained the pay television channel, their food came. Talking about the movies turned into raving about the pizza. It was hot, cheesy, and the thin crust had just enough crispness around the edges to make it well worth the effort. The banter between the two men entertained Maddy, who realized that beneath the teasing nature of Sam Wilson, and the snark emanating from Bucky, the two men were very good friends. It was obvious by the way they interacted with her and the restaurant staff that they were gentlemen. She appreciated the effort they made to include her in the conversation, by listening to her library stories while sharing tales about the people they knew and some of the crazy things they had done in their own lives before and after the Blip. The evening was one of the most enjoyable times she had experienced.
It was late when they came out of the pizza restaurant. The skies were dark with low hanging clouds and the air was humid enough for Maddy to check the weather app on her phone.
"I should get a ride share," she said, reading the forecast. "Looks like it's going to rain soon and I don't want to be stuck walking a couple of blocks from the subway in a downpour."
Sam took his cellphone out. "Let us book it for you."
"It's okay, I can afford it," she said, beating him to it. "I can text you both when I'm safe in my apartment, if you would give me your numbers. Just in case you want to meet for coffee or something."
The two men glanced at each other, then Sam unlocked his phone and handed it to her. After she returned it, he texted her, watching as she saved his contact information. With a mock scowl Bucky did the same, although he would never admit to anyone that he was thrilled about her asking for his number. Shortly after, her ride arrived. Sam opened the back door and helped her inside, while Bucky leaned through the open front passenger window.
"You don't leave until she's inside her door," he warned the man. "She's important to us."
Promising to honour that, the driver made sure Maddy had her seatbelt on before leaving. Sam and Bucky watched the car until it disappeared into the night before walking to the station together and getting on their respective trains. It started to rain just before they boarded.
During the week Sam was called out for another contract mission on behalf of the military, taking Joaquin Torres along. Bucky, taking a chance, texted Maddy to find out when she would be at the library and showed up when she was almost finished her shift. She was just wrapping up a story-time session for pre-school children, patiently listening to their comments about not just the story but things that popped up in their heads. After the kids and their parents finally dispersed, she came over to where he waited.
"Hi," she said warmly. "I hope you weren't too bored."
"Not bored at all. You were very entertaining."
They walked towards the staff room so she could clock out and pick up her belongings. As he waited for her, several of her work colleagues eyed him, which he tried to ignore as he leaned against the wall, checking to make sure his left hand was fully covered. The library was one of the places he felt comfortable in, although he usually went to a branch closer to where he lived, but this level of scrutiny made him feel too exposed. Joining her when she came out, they soon found themselves out in the warmth of the day. Lunch at a nearby bistro turned into several hours conversation and only ended when a reminder on Maddy's phone chimed and she excused herself to the ladies' room before she headed out for an appointment.
"You're going to Casablanca on Thursday, right?" she asked, on her return from the ladies' room.
"Yeah, and Sam is going to try to make it, if he can get his mission done by then."
He opened his wallet to pay, but was stopped when she put her hand on his. It wasn't an unwelcome touch, and he looked at her hand for a moment longer than necessary, before her words got through to him.
"I took care of it already."
"Maddy ...." He frowned. "I asked you out to lunch."
"I know but you're also on a limited income," she shrugged. "I insist."
"You only work part-time," he countered. "We could have least split the bill."
"Next time." She gathered her things and stood up. "I really have to go or I'll be late. See you Thursday."
She was gone before he could protest any further, hailing a passing taxi. As he walked to the subway, he thought of how much he enjoyed the time spent with her. Watching her interact with the small children in the library had shown a soft side of her, one that made him feel things he thought were buried too deep to ever come out again. The more he was with her, the more he wondered how those other men could dismiss her as not worth their interest. It made him look forward to Thursday, when he would see her again.
Maddy texted them while they waited outside the theatre to say she was running late and to go on in to get good seats. She arrived just before the preview of the next week's film, breathless after running from the subway. Sam stood up and moved over one seat so she could sit between them, handing her a bottle of water.
"You're a lifesaver," she rasped, then laughed and squeezed his arm in thanks. "Literally, you are. I've barely had a moment to myself for the past few hours." She started to explain then the house lights dimmed. "I'll tell you after."
The preview, The Best Years of Our Lives, with Frederic March, Dana Andrews, Harold Russell and Myrna Loy, drew applause and many audible comments from the audience about it being very good. Then the opening of Casablanca started and Maddy watched it intently, unaware of the few moments when she touched the hands of the two men on either side of her. They looked at each other occasionally, grinning, at how she became so engrossed with the film. At the end, when she cried, Bucky gave her his handkerchief, which she accepted with a teary laugh.
"Well, at least I'm crying over something good this time," she murmured. "That is still one of my favourite films. I could watch that many more times."
She handed the handkerchief back to Bucky, who looked up at the blank screen. "Didn't think when I first saw this during the war that it would become a classic."
"You saw it then?" She looked at Bucky with wonder. "Where?"
"In Milwaukee when I was on a weekend's pass from basic," he answered, then thought a bit. "I took May Warner to it." He smiled in a way that Sam had never seen before. "I met her at a dance the night before. Hadn't thought of her in a long time."
As one, they stood up and made their way to the aisle, shuffling their way to the exit. Outside, the two men bracketed Maddy between them while they walked along the sidewalk. Suddenly, she linked her arms with theirs drawing amused looks from them.
"You seem to be in a happy mood," stated Sam. "What's going on?"
Grinning, she pulled them in closer. "Well, I got very good news today." They stopped at the corner, waiting for a break in the traffic so they could cross. She resumed after they reached the other side. "You know that I turned to dust, was declared dead, etc., and pretty much lost everything as it all went to my family, who didn't exactly use it wisely. My grandmother invited me to live with her and gave me money as I couldn't get a full time job. She also changed her will, leaving me more money to live on." She looked at Bucky. "That's why even though I work part-time I'm not worried about money. When I wasn't working at the library, I worked on writing a novel. It got published, sold reasonably well and today the movie rights went for a lot of money."
"That's great!" exclaimed Sam. "What's the title of the book?"
She named it making Sam whistle out loud. "You seriously wrote that? It's kind of spicy, isn't it?"
Shrugging, she looked up at them in turn. "Yes. I might be a children's librarian but I'm not a prude. I write under a pen name, wear a wig and much more makeup for my head shot that's used on the book. I look different enough that fans don't recognize me. I'm still going to work at the library but now I don't have to worry about paying rent for a long time."
"Congratulations," said Bucky. "I'll have to read your book sometime."
"I'll give you a copy," she said. "Now that my work life is set I just have to take care of my love life." She seemed to shrink a little as she walked between them. "I admit that I haven't had the best luck in that department. I met Jared a few months after I reappeared and thought we had something special but he was cheating on me for some time. He had the nerve to say I was so wrapped up in writing that he felt like he came second. At least Hunter was only a single date but they both treated me like I didn't matter and didn't deserve the tears I wasted on them."
"No, they didn't," answered Bucky, who got quiet for a moment as he chose his next words. "Do you want our help in finding a new boyfriend?"
Sam glanced at him, wondering why Bucky asked her that. A small nervous laugh from Maddy was followed by her stepping close to a building so they were out of the way. At first she fidgeted a little then she found it in her to answer, sounding both hesitant and hopeful.
"Actually, I was wondering if either of you were interested in dating me. You comforted me when I was hurting, made me laugh, and I had the best time with both of you. I'm pretty easy to get along with, as long as you don't try to interrupt me when I'm writing."
"So, you want us to decide which one of us gets to date you?" asked Bucky, with a serious face.
"It doesn't sound so good when you say it that way. Do either of you even like me like that?"
The two men shifted their feet and looked pointedly at each other. Neither said anything, although by the way Bucky looked at Sam, she wondered if she had set one against the other. It filled her with a sinking feeling. With a glance around them, the super soldier pulled her towards where an alley opened to the street so they could have more privacy.
"Don't get me wrong," said Sam, as he followed. "I think you're something else and I like you but only as a friend since you're not my type."
"I'm not your type?" She frowned, then opened her eyes wide. "Oh ... oh! I feel so stupid. When I said you two were on a date and you said you were friends but not good friends I took it to mean you weren't ... it doesn't matter. I'm so sorry."
She covered her face with her hands and turned away. Sam looked at Bucky for help, then put his own hand on her shoulder, and turned her back towards him.
"It's okay but it's not that. I'm kind of flattered you think I'm boyfriend material."
Still upset, she started to back away so she could leave but Bucky reached for her and pulled her back once more, holding her by her elbow.
"Where are you going?"
"Home. I've totally embarrassed myself."
"No, you haven't." He slid his hand from her elbow to her hand, lifting it to his lips and kissing it gently. "I should have said something sooner."
"Sooner?"
"I didn't want to rush you. I mean you only broke up with your boyfriend a few weeks ago, and you had that terrible date that really upset you. It seemed better to be friends first and then ask you out."
"You like me?"
"Yeah, I do. But you need to know that I'm not easy." Sam rolled his eyes and huffed. "No comments from the peanut gallery."
She ignored Sam and focused on Bucky. "Why aren't you easy?"
"I have issues. PTSD, a tendency to withdraw when things bother me. I wanted to punch Hunter in the face as soon as I met him, which isn't good, but I figured he had it coming. If we start seeing each other I'll probably be jealous of any guy who tries to flirt with you." He sighed audibly. "I'll do my best not to let it be a problem. I was going to insist that you let me pay for things since I'm old school, but I can work on that. Truthfully, I wasn't sure that I was enough for you."
"Enough for me? Have you ...." She looked at Sam, in disbelief. "Does he know?"
"No, he hasn't a clue." Bucky glared at him. "You really don't."
"What do you two mean?"
The tall dark-haired super soldier was pouting a little and she couldn't help but place her hand on his cheek to make him look at her with those gorgeous eyes of blue framed by thick dark lashes.
"In the pictures of you when you were young, you were cute in a boy next door kind of way. But now ...." She breathed out. "You're in another league. When you came to see me at the library, even the most feminist librarians who were close to retirement were suddenly wondering if they should put some lipstick on, and check their hair. The next day they all wanted to know how I knew you and if we were a couple."
"They were staring at me," he mumbled. "I don't like being stared at. It makes me feel like they only see what I was."
"Oh Bucky. You're a big hunk of sexy man, who might have problems, but is kind and decent inside. That's more than enough for me." Once more he looked away. "Remember the night when you found my keys and gave them to me? I cried at the end of that movie, not just because of it but because I was wondering when I would finally find someone to love me the way that I deserved. My grandmother said that one day I would find the right love although I might not recognize it at first. She said the same things Spencer Tracey said; that the kind of love worth having is the kind that goes on living and laughing and fighting for what's right. That's you, wrapped up in a body that is something else."
Sam's face broke into a broad grin as she spoke. "She's right, Buck. I might tease you but I don't see the man who tore my steering wheel out of my hands when he tried to kill me. Haven't seen him in a long time. You have your faults like any other man, but you're one of the best men I know."
Bucky saw how she looked at him at that moment. Her eyes shone with an emotion that he hadn't seen for a long time, then she smiled in a way that he wanted to see as much as possible for as long as he could. There really was only one thing left that he had to do. Pulling her closer he cupped her cheek with one hand and pressed his lips against hers. With one of her hands on his back and the other pressed against his chest, she eagerly accepted his kiss.
Sheepishly, Sam moved away from them, turning around to give them privacy. He almost laughed at how much this moment was like one of those old movies where the rich heiress gets her heart broken by someone she once trusted. Then she finds true love in the arms of the grumpy, regular guy who thinks he has nothing to offer; nothing except kindness, decency, and a love that would always be just for her. Glancing back at the pair, he grinned at how good they looked together. It was just like in the movies.
One Shots Masterlist
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