my favorite thing rn is an older sister who feels just oh so guilty about wanting her little sister. she knows it’s wrong and she thinks she deserves the worst possible punishment for it but she just can’t help it. no matter what she does to escape it, nobody makes her feel the way her little sister does. and it’s eating her up inside
and this is exactly why i’m OBSESSED WITH Hook, Line, Sinker!!! haven’t finished it yet cuz i’m a slow reader but AHHH
A small fanart of Hook, Line, Sinker by @brainrotheartrot and triskadancer. This fic means a lot to me, so I just HAD to draw something<3
Took me a while to figure out how to do a modernized piltover, but I think I got the hang of it(?
Story Summary: Takes place after the events of Civil War - Bucky is living in an apartment in the City - one of the conditions of Tony and Steve’s new truce. Bucky seems to develop a soft spot for his neighbor across the hall.
Warnings: language, an almost-break in, fluff, angst, mushy shit.
A/N: Part 1 can be found here. Let me know what you think of this part, part 3 is in the works.
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Knock. Tap-tap.
The sound jolts you awake, but you keep your eyes closed, convincing yourself that it was just a figment of your imagination. A tree. The wind. You take a deep, calming breath and roll over, hugging Selene closer to you and snuggling your face into her shoulder.
Tap. BANG.
This time, Selene lets out a warning bark, sitting up and looking at your bedroom door. “What is it, girl?” You whisper, sitting up and clutching the covers around you, your eyes following her gaze. The noise continues and Selene leaps off the bed, leaving your bedroom to trot into the living room, barking twice more. You hear her let out a snarl, and you immediately bolt out of bed, peeking out into your home. When you see nothing, you take a few more tentative steps, the long t-shirt you’re wearing brushing against your thighs and making you shiver. “Sel?” You call out, looking for your furry companion. She lets out another bark, followed by a menacing growl and your head snaps towards your living room window. When you see the silhouette of a man standing on your balcony in the midst of the snowfall, you let out a blood curdling scream, blindly reaching for Selene’s leash and calling her over to you. Within seconds, you’re out your apartment door and barrelling down the stairs.
Before you can even reach the lowest level of the building, you hear someone else’s door open and they meet you at the base of that flight. It’s Bucky. “What happened?” He asks, noticing the panic in your eyes and the few tears that are on your cheeks. “There-There’s someone trying to get into my apartment.” You whimper at the same time Selene lets out a whine and turns around to face where you’d just come from, a few more barks leaving her. Bucky slips past you, quickly going up the stairs and straight into your apartment. “Wait! D-don’t go up there!” You shriek, so flustered that you don’t even realize that Selene’s leash has slipped from your grasp and she’s made her way up the stairs, too, following Bucky as she barks wildly. You take a deep breath in and slowly make your way back towards your apartment, wiping your cheeks with the back of your hand.
“Bucky?” You whisper-yell when you approach your doorway. Selene is no longer barking and you don’t hear any footsteps. You start to panic all over again.
You’re just about to re-enter the apartment when Bucky emerges, Selene in toe. You wrap your arms around yourself tightly, suddenly realizing just how little you’re wearing. “I think they’re gone, whoever it was.” Bucky informs you, his lips pressed into a tight line. “Did you see their face?” He asks, looking back over his shoulder into your apartment. You shake your head, tucking your hair behind your ear. “I-I just ran..” You admit softly, and his lips turn down in the corners. “It’s okay.. C’mon, lets get you back inside.” He reaches out and touches your arm, encouraging you to follow him.
“A-are you sure he’s gone..?” Your voice is small, pathetic sounding you think, but you don’t even care. You clutch onto Bucky’s arm as you both enter your apartment, finding that he’s already turned on all of the lights and checked each room. The curtain to the balcony is closed, preventing anyone from looking in or out. “I reckon your shrieking scared him off.” He tries to tease, but tears well up in your eyes in embarrassment. “You-you think I’m crazy..” You whisper, letting go of his arm and looking at your toes against the wood floor. “Hey..” He says softly, his right hand coming to your shoulder, rubbing the small slit of exposed skin there soothingly. “I never said that.. Do you know of anyone who might want to scare you? Hurt you?” The tone he’s using is so sweet, so caring, that the tears you’d been desperately trying to hold back begin to fall, and you have to quickly wipe them away with the back of your hand. “N-no.. I don’t.. I don’t really know anybody..” You offer up a sad smile and a shrug. “I keep to myself mostly.” You finish, doing your best not to make eye contact.
Aside from a small sigh, Bucky is quiet for what seems like hours before he speaks. “Do you.. I could stay on the couch if you want..” He trails off, motioning towards the couch. When your bottom lip quivers in reply, he speaks again. “Or! or.. You could stay with me.. I’ll uh.. I can call one of my buddies to come take a look at your balcony.. See if anything was left behind.” You nod at this offer and a smile of relief takes over his face, until a look of panic appears on yours. “Can.. Could..” You pause, lip quaking once more. “Can Selene come, too..? I promise she’ll be on her best behavior, and-and she’s fully potty trained!” Your words come out rushed and Bucky can’t help but think just how cute you are when you’re flustered. “Oh, doll.. Of course she can. You don’t really think I’d make you leave her here, do you?” You shrug, looking down at where Selene is laying on the floor, right beside yours and Bucky’s feet. “Not everyone likes dogs..” You mumble and he chuckles, reaching out to rest his hand on your shoulder to soothe you. “You know I do.. or did you forget that about me already?” His teasing tone makes you feel a little more at ease and you look up to meet his eyes. The way he’s looking at you makes your insides feel fluttery. “Thank you.” You manage to breathe, and he just nods. “C’mon, doll. Let’s get you all settled at my place and then I’ll call my friend, hm?”
---
You’re sitting on Bucky’s couch, shivering, while also wrapped in a cocoon of his blankets. You’re almost overwhelmed by the scent of his cologne surrounding you, but it’s comforting in a way. Almost as if he’s holding you. You quickly blink away the thought.
He’s on the phone, pacing back and forth through the kitchen. “She says she’s not sure… Yeah, I can’t think of why, either..” There’s a long pause and he stops in his tracks. “You don’t think…” He lets out a sigh, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with the palm of his hand. “That does make more sense… Yeah, I’ll see you in a bit. Thanks.” He hangs up his phone, letting out another long sigh before he walks back over to where you’re bundled up. “How ya doin’?” He asks, kneeling in front of you with a soft smile. “G-good.” You tell him, smiling through your chattering teeth. “You cold?” He asks, worry etching into his features. You shrug and his brow furrows. “I’ll turn the heat up.” He stands again, slowly, before making his way towards the thermostat. You can hear Selene following behind him. In his absence, you close your eyes and will your heart to cease its attack on your ribcage. You were going to be okay. Everything’s going to be just fine.
You don’t even realize how long your eyes have been shut until the cushion dips beside you and the weight of Bucky’s arm suddenly appears over your shoulders, pulling you to lean against his broad chest. “It’s alright, I’ve got you now..” He rocks you ever so slightly and you find yourself melting against the warmth of his torso, arm snaking across his middle. He takes in a deep breath, hugging you closer to him on the exhale. It brings a small smile to your face, though you aren’t sure why.
“Could fall asleep just like this..” He murmurs after a few minutes. Guilt suddenly courses through your veins and you gently pry yourself from his grasp. “I-fuck, I’m so sorry.. You probably have to work in a few hours, and here I am, keeping you up with stupid shit I probably just imagined, and--” Your rambling is cut off by one gloved finger pressing to your lips. When your eyes meet his icy blues, a lump forms in your throat at the adoration you find there. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now, alright? Don’t apologize.” Your mouth twitches into another nervous smile and you give him a quick nod, attention now falling to the hand he always seemed to keep concealed from you. “Why?” You wonder, the word falling past your lips before you can stop it. “Wh-Why am I helping you? Because I.. we’re friends, right?” He asks, uncertainty in his tone. “I like helping my friends..” You hum as you nod once more, thankful he didn’t realize what you were actually questioning.
He watches your eyes trail over his glove, as if your gaze was a seam-ripper, tugging and prying until his darkest secrets were revealed to you. He can’t help the uncomfortable feeling boiling in his gut, nor the way he gently pushes you from his lap, desperate to put some distance between you. You were getting too close, too soon. You miss the pain that crosses his features, and he misses the confusion on yours.
“Steve-uh, He’ll be here soon..” He says quickly, as if trying to mask his moment of panic. “I-I work with him.. He’s gonna double check your apartment for me.” You nod slowly at his back, trying your best to push away the feeling of uncertainty that had started to pool in your stomach. “Oh-sure.. Thank you.. Um..” You pause, calling Selene over to you with a snap of your fingers. Once her smooth fur is under your fingers again, you let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding in. Bucky turns to look at you at the sound. He watches as Selene nuzzles her snout against your ear, comforting you. When you smile and wrap your arms around her neck, his heart swells…. But he pushes the feeling away almost as quickly as it’s come on. He can’t.
“Bucky, um..” His eyes snap to your face at the sound of his name leaving your lips, and that feeling is back, threefold. “Could I use your bathroom?” You ask him, forcing a little smile. He breathes out a laugh and nods, pointing over his shoulder. “Second door on the right.” You gently push Selene off your lap, quickly making your way to the bathroom and closing the door behind you. When you’re finally alone, you breathe out another shaky breath of relief. “Get it together..” You murmur to yourself as you wash your hands and then wet your face, rubbing the still-clinging sleep from your eyes. You find an overly plush towel to dry your face off with before you exit the bathroom, your heart melting at the sight waiting for you.
Bucky is sprawled out on the couch, head at one end and feet dangling over the other. Selene has managed to stretch her torso out along his, her head nestled into his neck and her paws resting on his chest. His eyes are closed and the ghost of a smile is on his lips. You cover your mouth with your hand as you come closer, hardly believing this was actually happening. “I’m thinkin’ she might like me..” Bucky murmurs, only to have Selene confirm it with a whine. You both let out small laughs at her behavior. “She’s never been like this with anyone before.” You confess, kneeling beside them, reaching a hand up to scratch her behind her ear. Bucky peeks an eye open, readjusting and scooting further into the couch before he pats the bit of cushion next to him. “C’mon. There’s room for you, too.” His eyes widen once he says it, seeming as shocked at the invitation as you were. “Are.. Are you sure?” You ask, eyeing the small space. He bites the inside of his cheek for a brief second before he nods, a shy smile appearing. “I won’t let you fall, I swear.” Your cheeks flood with warmth, but you give in to his request, carefully climbing onto the couch beside him, your palm resting on his chest for leverage as his arm snakes around your shoulders to hold you that much closer. “See?” He sighs, closing his eyes and laying his head back. You hum, letting your own eyes close as you refrain from nuzzling into your super-hot, super-sweet neighbor.
It didn’t make sense for you to be so comfortable with him already. It probably made you crazy, didn’t it? But that didn’t seem to matter, as you drifted off to sleep, lulled by his fingertips tracing soothing swirls on your skin.
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When you wake, its to the sound of whispers. You keep your eyes closed, taking note of the fact that Bucky was no longer beside you and Selene on the sofa. “I really don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay here, Buck. We have no idea who it was, or if they’ll come back.” “Yeah, well I can’t just leave.” “You mean, you just can’t leave her.” Selene barks at the angry lilt to his voice, causing you to let out a yelp of surprise. You hear Bucky let out a sigh. “I’ll see you later.” The second voice says, before his footsteps retreat and exit the apartment. You can hear Bucky lock the door behind him before making his way back to the couch. He peeks over the back, resting on his arms as he looks down at you. “Hi, sleepyhead.” He whispers with a smile. You peek up at him and try to stifle a yawn, only prompting him to chuckle. “Steve says your apartment’s all clear.” The smile you’d been wearing falters, which does not go unnoticed by Bucky. “Oh..” the word comes out a half sigh as you sit up, readjusting your attire as you slip the blankets off your shoulders. “I um.. I guess we should get going, huh, Selene?” You look down at your furry companion, pouting when she lets out a small whimper of protest. You swear you see Bucky mirroring your actions from the corner of your eye.
“C’mon, girl. Let’s go home.” You stand slowly, plucking her leash from the coffee table and attaching it to your collar. You don’t turn to face Bucky until you’re mere steps from his door. “Thank you.. For everything.” He smiles in reply, shaking his head, “You don’t ever have to thank me... for anything.” He comes closer, biting his lip as his cheeks turn the lightest shade of pink. “So.. I uh.. I was thinking maybe next time.. We could run into each other.. On purpose?”
Your eyes go wide at his question and you can’t hold back your smile. “Like.. Like a date?” You clarify, and he nods with a small chuckle. “Yes. Would you do me the honor of letting me take you on a date?” His request makes your heart race and a giggle slip past your lips. “I-I’d like that. Yes.” You reply all-too-quickly. His smile in that moment lights up the entire room and you become aware of your desperate desire to kiss your super-hot, super-sweet, fucking-perfect neighbor.
But you don’t.
“Are you free tomorrow?” He wonders, “Could I cook for you?”
You nod slowly, in awe of his eagerness to romance you. “Perfect.” He reaches out to scratch Selene under the chin before squeezing your free hand in his own.
