Bob finds out John has a "date" to the wedding, turns out it's his niece who didn't want to be alone.
Ooh. Jealousy and miscommunication. My favorite. I hope this is what you had in mind!
It's a comfortable day in the middle of the week. John has clearance to go home for a long weekend, a family wedding of a cousin or something and most of them don't really pay attention to the rest.
Bob had been grateful for John giving him an out. It's a big Southern wedding with a lot of very well meaning but nosy as hell family and he had just come off a depressive episode that had lasted almost a week. John would go, bring him some fresh produce on the way back, and all would be right with the world.
Until his suit had been delivered, with a swatch of pink fabric and a note 'to match the dress'.
Furious, Bob barrels into the kitchen and before John can get a word out, he punches him hard enough to drive him back a step.
"Bob what the hell?" Yelena demands.
John works his jaw for a moment, eyes guarded. "Mind telling me what's wrong Bob?"
"You were supposed to be going by yourself!" He hates how his eyes are filling with angry tears. "Your fucking suit arrived complete with the pink swatch to match your date's dress!" He throws the crumpled ticket at him.
John forces his shoulders down and picks the ticket up, following Bob back to his room. "Bobby wait, please!"
Before Yelena can intervene and flick the knife in her hand, Bucky closes his hand around her wrist. "Wait. This isn't on Walker."
Bob's door is closed and locked and John finds himself on the wrong side of it. "Bobby it's not a date the way you're thinking about it."
"Bullshit!" Comes the angry sob.
"Bobby look at your phone. I'm going to text you a picture. See that girl standing next to me? She's my niece. She wanted to go to the wedding but Olivia caught a stomach bug. Liv asked me to step up, so I'm taking her." He tips his forehead against the door. "Her name is Annabelle and she's nine years old. She's one of the few people in the family who doesn't hate me."
John plants his back against the door and locks his phone. "I'm trying to do better, Bob. I'm sorry, I thought I told you I was taking her. I love you. I would never do anything like that to you."
The door opens slowly and John tips until he's flat on his back, looking up at Bob. His face is red, cheeks wet and he's the most beautiful thing John has ever seen. "Hey handsome."
Bob drops to his knees, hair hanging over his face. "'m sorry. I'm an idiot."
"No you aren't," he reaches up to cup his face. "Sorry baby, I could have sworn that I told you about Annabelle. She's a cute kid."
"Think you could teach me how to dance before you go?"
A soft laugh. "Yeah Bobby. I'd love to."
